Lit Think Podcast

Alicia and Sarah take some time during their summer break to reflect on two years of podcasting and their hopes in preparation for Season Four, coming in August. Sign up for the newsletter and follow us on Instagram or Facebook . Music by Craig Harmann Cover art by Matt Holman This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit...

In their last episode of Season 3, Alicia and Sarah use Elizabeth Gilbert’s book Big Magic to discuss the creative processes on display in the television series, Daisy Jones and the Six , based on the novel by the same name. They apply Gilbert’s five step process to analyze the fictional creative process of the characters in the television show. At the end of this week’s discussion, they talk abou...

Alicia and Sarah work through the grief and trauma of the characters in the Academy Award nominated, Women Talking . They discuss the rhetorical appeals used by the women as they make a life changing decision and the role of consent in their final conclusion. At the end of this week’s discussion, they talk about the things they've been reading, watching, and analyzing outside of the classroom. Lit...

Alicia and Sarah change directions in the superhero world with their discussion of the Academy Award winning film, Everything Everywhere All at Once . They look at culture, relationships, the superhero motif, and all things multiverse. At the end of this week’s discussion, they talk about the things they've been reading, watching, and analyzing outside of the classroom. Literary terms of the week:...

Alicia and Sarah discuss the history of whodunnits, mystery, and even true crime as they analyze Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery . Covering everything from Jack the Ripper to Clue , they look at the ways Glass Onion exemplifies the best elements of the mystery genre. At the end of this week’s discussion, they talk about the things they've been reading, watching, and analyzing outside of the clas...

Alicia and Sarah expand their understanding of science fiction through the unconventional time travel story in Octavia Butler’s Kindred . They discuss how the Hulu adaptation has updated the forty-year-old novel while still challenging audiences to consider the lasting effects of slavery on our modern consciousness. At the end of this week’s discussion, they talk about the things they've been read...

Alicia and Sarah explore their darker sides with a discussion of the new Netflix original series Wednesday . They investigate the elements of gothic literature and cover centuries of gothic literature, leading right up to the Addams family. At the end of this week’s discussion, they talk about the things they've been reading, watching, and analyzing outside of the classroom. Literary terms of the...

Alicia and Sarah go back to a childhood favorite, Matilda , as they discuss the Netflix adaptation of the Broadway musical. They discuss archetypes as they appear in Roald Dahl’s original story, plus the good, bad, and ugly of using them to generalize groups of people. At the end of this week’s discussion, they talk about the things they've been reading, watching, and analyzing outside of the clas...

Alicia and Sarah go back to Freshman English as they discuss the Hulu original film, Rosaline . They discuss elements of satire and look at the film as an example of using alternative views of classic stories to teach students how satire can strengthen and modernize arguments made in the original text. At the end of the discussion, they talk about the things they've been reading, watching, and ana...

Alicia and Sarah take a walk on the wild side through their environmental analysis of the movie Avatar . They talk allusions, hubris, colonialism, and care for the planet. At the end of the discussion, they talk about the things they've been reading, watching, and analyzing outside of the classroom. And Sarah’s dogs apologize for their barking ten minutes into the conversation. Literary terms of t...

Alicia and Sarah explore the value of quality adaptations, particularly adaptations of Pride and Prejudice . Both Bride and Prejudice and Fire Island give us the opportunity to look at a classic story through a modern lens. At the end of the discussion, they talk about the things they've been reading, watching, and analyzing outside of the classroom. Literary terms of the week: adaptation, classic...

Alicia and Sarah embrace their darker side to discuss all things zombie with a particular focus on the feature film Zombieland . At the end of the discussion, they talk about the things they've been reading, watching, and analyzing outside of the classroom. Literary terms of the week: monstered other, zombie, satire Sign up for the newsletter and follow us on Instagram , Facebook , or Twitter...

Alicia and Sarah discuss the movie adaptation of the novel Where the Crawdads Sing . They discuss the role of prejudice and oppression related to poverty and gender and the presence of naturalism throughout both the novel and movie. At the end of the discussion, they talk about the things they've been reading, watching, and analyzing outside of the classroom. Literary terms of the week: cycle...

Alicia and Sarah bring history and comic book nerddom together in their discussion of the Disney+ original series, Ms. Marvel . At the end of the discussion, they talk about the things they've been reading, watching, and analyzing outside of the classroom. Literary terms of the week: others, differentness, unhomeliness Sign up for the newsletter and follow us on Instagram , Facebook , or Twit...

Alicia and Sarah discuss the Jurassic Park/World franchise and connections to science fiction in the classroom, particularly Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein . At the end of the discussion, they talk about the things they've been reading, watching, and analyzing outside of the classroom. Literary terms of the week: stereotype, character archetype Sign up for the newsletter and follow us on Instagr...

Alicia and Sarah discuss their love for the Star Wars franchise and the latest installment from Disney+, Obi-Wan Kenobi . They look at Obi-Wan as both the wise guide and the middle-aged hero of his own story. At the end of the discussion, they talk about the things they've been reading, watching, and analyzing outside of the classroom. Literary terms of the week: allusion, monomyth, hero’s jo...

In the first episode of season three, Alicia and Sarah discuss changes for the next season of Lit Think and then analyze the role of stereotypes and archetypes in the hit ABC show, Abbott Elementary . At the end of the discussion, they talk about the things they've been reading, watching, and analyzing outside of the classroom. Literary terms of the week: stereotype, character archetype Sign...

In the last episode of season two, Alicia and Sarah discuss the power of writing and words through their analysis of the new motion picture adaptation of the 2018 musical Cyrano . They discuss the different versions of the classic tale throughout literary history, the prevalence of love triangles in stories, and the destructive power of pride. At the end of the discussion, they talk about the thin...

Alicia and Sarah discuss their personal history with the mystery genre and the world of podcasting as they analyze Hulu's original series, Only Murders in the Building . They discuss the mystery genre, the role of podcasting and true crime, and the complex layers that get peeled away in a good mystery tale. At the end of the discussion, they talk about the things they've been reading, watching, an...

Alicia and Sarah discuss the greater world of humanity and their close ties to Indiana in their discussion of John Green's podcast and book of essays, The Anthropocene Reviewed . They discuss the varied nature of the essays Green selected for his book, the importance and value of doing thorough research, and highlight their own likes and dislikes about Indiana and Indianapolis. At the end of the d...

Alicia and Sarah dig deep into their love for dystopian literature and the realities of living through a global pandemic during their discussion of the HBO Max adaptation of Station Eleven. They cover the connections to the novel, the artistic changes that worked for a different medium, and themes of survival and hope through the creation of art. At the end of the discussion, they talk about the t...

Alicia and Sarah go into full Disney mode with their discussion of all things Encanto . They reminisce about the Disney films that made them think, their roles in their families, and the universal themes of Disney's latest animated film. At the end of the discussion, they talk about the things they've been reading, watching, and analyzing outside of the classroom. Sign up for the newsletter and fo...

Alicia and Sarah return to their love of musical theatre with a full analysis of the Netflix adaptation of Jonathan Larson's Tick Tick Boom . They reminisce about their own struggles turning 30, review the power of nostalgia for RENT fans, and analyze themes of success, fear of failure, and the need to make one's mark on the world. At the end of the discussion, they talk about the things they've b...

Alicia and Sarah return to their love of all things Marvel with a complete analysis of Spiderman: No Way Home . After a heated discussion over who played the best Spiderman, they discuss the hero's journey, coming of age, redemption, grief, sacrifice, and the fascinating possibilities with the introduction of the multi-verse. At the end of the discussion, they talk about the things they've been re...

In their first episode of the new year, Alicia and Sarah return to their love of musicals with a complete analysis of the new film version of West Side Story . They discuss star-crossed lovers, racism, the social justice system, and the power of language, all wrapped up in the classic lyrics of the late Stephen Sondheim. At the end of the discussion, they talk about the things they've been reading...