Mandatory Media

This week we take a look at Ted Chiang's novella Stories of Your Life and Others , the inspiration for the 2016 film Arrival. We talk linguistics, Paradise Lost, and Calvinism (for some reason).

John Carpenter's They Live is a remarkable film from years gone by that remains eerily prescient to our modern society. Join us as we talk aliens, Reaganomics, Doctor Who, and the 15 minute fight scene in an alley way.

Bret takes the group through a deep dive on John Milton's Il Penseroso & L'Allegro, a pair of poems layered in mythic reference, Milton's iconic literary style, and wonderful storytelling. Main Texts referenced: L'Allegro Il Penseroso ⁠Gordon Teskey⁠'s The Poetry of John Milton

In a break from usual format, David takes the crew through some some selected episodes from the hit TV show MASH. They discuss the changing landscape of TV, classic jokes, and the backdrop of the Korean War. Selected Episodes: S1.12 - Dear Dad S1.15 - Captain Tuttle S4.25 - The Interview S5.22 - Movie Tonight S8.11 - Lifetime

Just in time for Jaws' 50th anniversary, Seth takes the pod through Spielberg's 1975 classic film. We discuss the unjustly persecuted shark that always broke down on set, incredible suits, and John Williams' iconic score.

For our 40th episode, Bret takes us through Keats' wonderful ode, To Autumn. We talk native bees, reflections on the poem, and the beautiful nostalgia of fall.

S.E. Hinton's The Outsiders is a staple of middle school English class that somehow both Bret and Seth had never read. Join our three hosts as they discuss Robert Frost, Coppola's movie adaptation, and the lasting power of then 15-year-old Hinton's novel.

Seth takes the gang through Kurosawa's wonderful Shakepeare adaptation/reimagining, Throne of Blood. Join us for reflections on MacBeth, praising Toshiro Mifune's acting, and so much more.

Join us as Bret takes us through a wonderful Gerard Manley Hopkins poem. We talk rhyme schemes, Catholic theology, and of course, poetry.

David takes the gang through Bon Cop Bad Cop 2, a Canadian action film full of excitement, jokes about americans, and references to Canadian places.

Today we cover the legendary 90s film by the Wachowskis, the Matrix. We talk literary allusions, cool 90s sunglasses, and Seth does a remarkably good Keanu impression.

In this special Bret-isode your three plucky hosts can't find the time to record together, so the stalwart hero Bret van den Brink goes it alone with a reading of his wonderful poem The Patient Bride , originally published in Mars' Hill Newspaper. He discusses his inspiration behind the poem and gives a fantastic reading of the poem itself.

In first episode about music, Seth takes us through Bon Iver's For Emma, Forever Ago, a masterful album made in the Wisconsin wilderness by musician Justin Vernon. We talk his inspiration, floaty vocals, and how Skinny Love is that one song everyone remembers from the 2010s.

A classic of the 2010s, Captain America: the Winter Soldier is a wonderful time capsule into the superhero movies of yesteryear. Join us as we discuss the plot's comic book origins, how the film reflects a post-Snowden America, and the fact that Bret saw it for the first time yesterday

Unsanck your snoods listeners, because Bret takes us on a deep dive of Wallace Stevens and his wonderful poem, Late Hymn From The Myrrh-Mountain. We talk literary allusions, not understanding poetry, and whether or not Seth can find his water bottle.

Seth takes us through Fellini's 8 1/2, a thought provoking film from bygone eras of Italian cinema. We talk dubbed soundtracks, quotes from Origen, and the funky clown guy at the end of the movie.

In another lively episode about classic poetry, Bret guides us through Coleridge's uncompleted poem Christabel. We discuss popular readings, Coleridge's unique writing structure, and debate whether or not the poem includes a vampire.

Join us as we explore the world of Hades, the 2020 video game from Supergiant Games that many have hailed as one of the greatest games of all time. We talk art style, Greek mythology, and the wonderful challenge of game difficulty.

Today we talk about adapting books, why books sometimes aren't better than movies, and what makes Savage the Jane Austen of the West.

Bret takes us on a wonderful journey through an excerpt of Harold Bloom's The Art of Reading Poetry. We discuss poetry (wow!), a U2 album, and the awesome power of poetry.

Today we tackle Adam Robinson-Yu's adorable indie video game A Short Hike. We explore this beautiful love letter to the outdoors and the amazing power of emergent storytelling.

Seth takes us through Elaine May's Ishtar, a film once called "the worst film of all time" that is now having a critical revaluation in the modern era. We talk Beatty and Hoffman, whip smart jokes, and U.S. foreign policy.

Bret takes the guys through a wonderful example of baroque poetry. We cover Saint Teresa, martyrdom, and the wonderfully witty words of Richard Crashaw.

This episode we tackle Verhoeven's cult classic Starship Troopers. We talk military satire, cheesy 90s effects, and the magic of Neil Patrick Harris.

Seth takes us through Beckett's classic tragicomic play Waiting for Godot. We talk the befuddling nature of the play, how there's a Harold Bloom quote for everything, and the real meaning behind Lucky's psychobabble monologue in the first act.