Tales of Our Time

Today we're revisiting an old children's classic book that always makes us feel a little better, with (unofficial co-host) Michelle Chiang! Many are familiar with the animated classic "The Rats of NIMH", but did you know that it was based on children's book? Today, join Michelle and host Amanda as they fight cute aggression and breakdowns discussing Robert C. O'Brien's "Mrs. Frisby and the Ra...

Today I'm joined by Tyrel Cameron Eskelson, a published writer who lives and works in Japan, to discuss one of the most famous American films: "It's A Wonderful Life".    Directed by Frank Capras, and released in 1945 it's maintained it's place in American filmography as a story with not only an important message, and a moving plotline, but the relatable plight of struggling to do what i...

Today is a very special interview where host Amanda Stephens and fellow Rti cohost Joey Chou sat down with Documentary Filmmaker and Affiliated Research Fellow at the Centre for Austronesian Studies University of Central Lancashire: Tobie Openshaw!   Tobie recently published a book about Taiwan's indigenous SaSiyat tribe's myths featuring "little people", or "Koko ta'ay"--...

This is a special format episode! Whereas last year (and week) we reviewed the stories that touched us the most in 2024, this week we discuss media coming out in the new year that we CAN'T WAIT to get into! I'm joined by my fellow Rti arts host Fil Leskovsky, as well as Tristan Hildebrand, and Iris Hsu!   Topics of discussion include: The Rehersal (Created by Nathan Fielder), "Hospital Playli...

This is a special format episode! On this special TAKES of Our Time episode, I talk with some of the guests from 2024 and a fellow Rti host about the stories that moved them the most this year! I'm joined by English Literature teacher Kyle Swayne, Pre-K Educator Cat Trites, and film afficianado/Retro Reels host Hanna Bilinski.    Topics of discussion include (in order of discusion): The...

Sending us into the holidays is a very special episode recorded with repeat guest Kim Gordon from perhaps her favorite and most formative series-- Buffy the Vampire Slayer.    While we can't cover the whole show, sit in on our conversation about the 1998 Season 3 Christmas episode, which covers the struggle that often comes with wanting to start over, and the support that can help when m...

Host Amanda Stephens' younger sibling is back to talk about another show that made a HUGE impact: Bob's Burger's season 11 finale: Vampire Disco Death Dance.   We talk about the unique place the show holds in adult animation media, and how it's possible to relate to EVERYONE in a family drama, and how it's okay to take your time and enjoy the things YOU like (even if you're the only one!).

For today's show, I'm joined by my far-traveling guest Cody Gates to discuss the 1982 cult classic: Blade Runner.   While it's been a long time since the last watch, Cody and I dig into what the film did for it's genre, what it may have to say on the future of humanity and AI, and Cody offers his insight as a city planner into just what made the setting of this movie so iconic.

In this episode, we're rejoined by an old friend Tyler Gelbar to look into a new(er) show: The Apothecary Diaries.   While originally a Japanese light novel series (by Natsu Hyuuga), we discuss the animated series' episode 6: The Garden Party, and how it manages to truly show off all that the show is about, perfectly balancing serious issues, and responsibilities with light-hearted humor.

Amanda and Rti host Joey Chou discuss 2004's Troy (directed by Wolfgang Petersen).    We talk about the ways in which the "epic historical war film" actually humanizes the characters, and the story overall, not only by physically removing the gods from the story, but also by giving us a visual touchstone for why people act the way they do. (Spoilers, its probably ego...)

Amanda and her guest Tarn Parker discuss the infamous sci-fi film: The 5th Element.   Directed by Luc Besson in 1997, it's a movie that has been referenced almost too many times to count in pop culture, sci-fi, and even memes. But what does it have to say about the future of humanity, and how we should approach the question of doing good in the face of so much disaster?

Today host Amanda talks to Jujutsu Kaisen expert Megan about the movie: Jujutsu Kaisen 0 (2021, directed by Sunghoo Park)!   Don't be fooled by the show's killer animation, and interesting world-building-- it also has a layered message about love, and the ways that our relationships can sometimes warp us into people we don't even recognize.

This is the FINAL  episode of our series FALL FREAKOUT where, for all of October (temporarily official) co-host Michelle Chiang, and forever-host Amanda Stephens introduce YOU (through a thorough summary) to a Taiwanese horror movie that would DEFINITELY make ONE of us freak out! TRIGGER WARNINGS: SUICIDE, DISTURBING IMAGERY, VIOLENCE, BODY HORROR (wounds/illness) To finish off our Fall Freak...

This is the fourth  episode of our series FALL FREAKOUT where, for all of October (temporarily official) co-host Michelle Chiang, and forever-host Amanda Stephens introduce YOU (through a thorough summary) to a Taiwanese horror movie that would DEFINITELY make ONE of us freak out! TRIGGER WARNING: Spiders (very small and extremely big) Michelle explains all about Abyssal Spider to Amanda, who...

This is the third episode of our series FALL FREAKOUT where, for all of October (temporarily official) co-host Michelle Chiang, and forever-host Amanda Stephens introduce YOU (through a thorough summary) to a Taiwanese horror movie that would DEFINITELY make ONE of us freak out! Amanda and Michelle are back with the ghosts again, this time with "THE BRIDGE CURSE". Somewhere between the multiple ti...

This is the Second episode of our series FALL FREAKOUT where, for all of October (temporarily official) co-host Michelle Chiang, and forever-host Amanda Stephens introduce YOU (through a thorough summary) to a Taiwanese horror movie that would DEFINITELY make ONE of us freak out! TRIGGER WARNINGS: Suicide, gore, disturbing imagery. Join hosts Amanda and Michelle as they dive into the gory, surprin...

This is the first episode of our series FALL FREAKOUT where, for all of October (temporarily official) co-host Michelle Chiang, and forever-host Amanda Stephens introduce YOU (through a thorough summary) to a Taiwanese horror movie that would DEFINITELY make ONE of us freak out!   Today we're covering, "The Tag-Along" or 紅衣小女孩. This 2015 movie (Directed by Cheng Wei-hao) is maybe on...

This week is a special episode-- a very large excerpt of my interview with Ramona Diaz, the writer, director, and PRODUCER of the documentary "And So It Begins".   Of course, we give a short summary, and then we discuss and compare elections in the Philippines and the USA, as well as the surprising ways in which history is rhyming as we watch!! If you'd like to hear the interview in it's ENTI...

Emily Daniels is BACK baby, talking about a short story "A Tale of Love and Horror" presented in 3 parts from the podcast series, "Welcome to Nightvale".   Technically we discuss Welcome to Nightvale episodes 121 - 123.   In a series defined by a non-sequitur approach to sci-fi horror, this short story stands out both for the mundanity that the parent show is known for, but also for the...

My guest Chris Carnahan and I discuss the plot of a DLC tag-on to the popular videogame, "Cyberpunk 2077".   We talk a little bit about the cyberpunk genre as a whole, and then about how this particular version, in video game, may be one of the best ways to really get players to grapple with the issues the genre represents.

Trigger warnings for the OA include: Abuse, Captivity, and Suicide. We don't go into detail, but if these are topics you're sensitive, it's reccommended to skip the summary on this one. Fellow Rti host Tristan Hildebrand is back to talk to us about episode ONE of one of her most favorite Netflix series: The OA.   We talk about what this show has to say both as a drama, and potentially as...

This is part of Spicy Summer.   This week, I'm joined by fellow Rti host Olek Shyn, where we talk about two different gay romance films: "Your Name Engraved Herein" (Directed by Patrick Kuang-hui Liu, 2020), and "God's Own Country" (Directed by Francis Lee, 2017).    We talk about the how what constitues a "happy ending" in a romantic film varies drastically depending on the sexual...

This is the penultimate episode in our "Spicy Summer" theme.   This week, I'm joined by Jared Friesen to discuss Shakespere's play: 12th Night.     We have a good laugh at what feels very much like the first romcom, and spend some time digging deeper into the ways in which how the play was once viewed, may now change.  

This is part of the monthly theme "Spicy Summer".   Returning Guest Emily Daniels and I make a TALES-first foray into FANFICTION. It's a huge world out there, where readers take control of a narrative and explore areas of the story they'd like to see more.   In our conversation, we dip our toes into water with the fanfiction series: "Rivals", byt Reiya, on Archive of Our Own.   Why...

Why should you read it? "Love will surprise you."   For the first episode of our ROMANCE month, we're joined once again by Kim Gordon to discuss the book: A Court of Thorns and Roses, by Sarah J Mass.   We dig into how this book compares to other romances, as well as what it was able to teach about advocating for yourself.