Written and Watched

Magician and writer Eoin Smith joins us for a rich, thoughtful discussion on The Prestige — comparing the novel and Nolan’s adaptation through the lens of someone who actually lives in the world of illusion. We unpack: • Why the film’s “simplification” actually strengthens the story • How real magicians approach method, secrecy, and deception • Victorian magic rivalries and their modern equivalent...

In this episode, we sit down with Scottish magician and author Eoin to unravel the mysteries of The Prestige — the Christopher Priest novel that inspired Christopher Nolan’s film. We break down the book’s layered structure, shifting genres, and intricate character psychology while weaving in real-world magic history, backstage knowledge, and the ethics of illusion. From Victorian séances to modern...

We wrap our Andromeda Strain two-parter with the 1971 film. From Robert Wise’s old-Hollywood gravitas to the split-screen tension and tactile lab tech, we dig into why the movie often outpaces the novel. We also touch on BookTok’s retail revival, tech-bro nutrition, modern conspiracy ecosystems, microbiomes/decontamination logic, and the film’s still-spiky ending. Verdict: if you’re on the fence,...

In this episode of Written & Watched , we crack open Michael Crichton’s The Andromeda Strain and map where it sits on the spectrum from hard science fiction to speculative thriller. We unpack the Wildfire complex and its “odd-man” nuclear failsafe; nitpick biology (pH myths, the limits of personality indices, extremophiles); and explore the bigger questions the book tees up—What counts as life...

We watched Annihilation! We have thoughts on this Alex Garland interpretation of the text. https://upnerd.captivate.fm/ https://www.youtube.com/@UpNerdPodcastNetwork

We read Annihilation! We have thoughts on this creepy strange, polarizing text! https://upnerd.captivate.fm/ https://www.youtube.com/@UpNerdPodcastNetwork

We watched World War Z, and talked about zombies, warfare, and the heinous movie that this is! SS Fitzgerald: https://www.ssfitzgerald.net/  

We read WWZ, and talked about zombies, warfare, and the epistolary text! SS Fitzgerald: https://www.ssfitzgerald.net/   AMA covid MARCH 9th 2020 with Max Brooks: https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/fhj24f/i_am_max_brooks_author_of_world_war_z_and_i_am/   Guardian article on preppers: https://www.theguardian.com/news/2022/sep/04/super-rich-prepper-bunkers-apocalypse-survival-richest-ru...

Wow is this movie bad. We watched "When Nietzsche Wept" and gave it some credit, ok, no credit. Which it deserves. (minor audio issue at start, crackles go away)

Anthony and I read "when Nietzsche wept" Any interest in philosophy? Historical fiction? Lou Salome with a riding crop? (thought that one would get ya!!)

We watched "The Iron Giant" and have some things to say. More Laughing Briar here: https://laughingbriarbooks.com/ Kickstarter here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/laughingbriar/gambling-on-common-sense-novel-by-l-briar

We read "The Iron Giant" and have some things to say. More Laughing Briar here: https://laughingbriarbooks.com/ Kickstarter here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/laughingbriar/gambling-on-common-sense-novel-by-l-briar

Noah and I watched "Perks of Being a Wallflower" and, well, we have some thoughts... More of Noah Here: https://twitter.com/noahmussay

Noah and I talk about the book "Perks of Being a Wallflower" by Stephen Chbosky. More of Noah Here: https://twitter.com/noahmussay