The Blume Saloon: A Judy Blume Book Podcast

Take a seat inside the Blume Cocoon for chapters 4-6 of Judy Blume's 1974 novel, "Blubber." This episode is chock full of bullies, bitches, and BMs. Poor Linda is harassed in the bathroom, the gang gets up to no good on Halloween night, and fan favorite Miss Rothbelle sings bizarre lullabies while touching every student one by one. To wind down, Jody and Alison share personal horror stories of bla...

The gals start a NEW BOOK, "Blubber" – written by Judy Blume in 1974 as a first-hand account of 5th grade mean girls and bullying. Linda Fischer gives a speech on whales, Jill decides to be an asshole flenser for Halloween, Wendy turns into a baby Regina George, and cool Kenny drops some Guinness Book knowledge. Alison and Jody travel back in time to the mid-'70s bringing you some real talk on cur...

WE'RE BACK, kicking off 2018 with super in-depth coverage of the made-for-TV movie, "Forever." Released in 1978 and starring Stephanie Zimbalist, Dean Butler, and Diana Scarwid, this film is the opposite of timeless – in the best possible way! Get ready for ren faire, Sexy Surfer Santa, so many Vivaldi montages, and a truly magical tree house. Alison and Jody compare/contrast the move with the Jud...

Alison and Jody FINALLY finish "Forever..." Judy Blume's 1975 novel about a young girl's journey through first love, sex, and spinach. Grandpa passes away and Kath and Theo share a special moment. Mike surprises Kath at camp, but although he buys her a lobster dinner it does not end well. Jody and Al discuss their predictions and read from "Letters to Judy." Join us after the new year for a Very S...

Sybil has her baby, Kath experiments with reverse cowgirl, the gang graduates high school and takes a trip Down The Shore to LBI. It's all here in chapters 20-23 of Judy Blume's "Forever..." Most notably, Kath goes to CAMP! She meets a hunky young tennis coach who makes her question her true love vow to Michael. Alison and Jody are in it to win it with more dramatic readings and graphic descriptio...

So much drama this week! Alison and Jody read through chapters 17-19 of Judy Blume's turbulent 1975 novel, "Forever..." Kath receives terrible news that could shatter her future plans with Mike, Erica decides she needs to be single, Artie takes drastic measures, and the gang gets hammered at The Playground. Meanwhile, Al and Jodes reminisce about their Warped Tour punk days, summer camp, and piran...

Happy Thanksgiving! Alison and Jody sail through chapters 14-16 of "Forever..." by the one and only Judy Blume. Kath, being the savvy young woman she is now, takes a day trip to New York City and swings by Planned Parenthood to get THE PILL! Then she and Mike both catch the flu. But they soon get better and go to the bone zone approximately seventy-three times in one weekend. Also, Jody reveals th...

Kath and Mike FINALLY do it! So settle in for lots of awkward sexy readings as Alison and Jody cover chapters 10-13 of  "Forever...", a 1975 classic. The gals workshop new names for their lady parts and reveal the shocking truth about Ralph. They also receive a truly outrageous letter from a devout Blume Head who literally dreamed up the next Judy Blume novel. It's a sort-of book club. Join us eve...

Pour yourself a glass of Scotch, you're gonna need it! Come join Alison and Jody as they bravely venture through chapters 7-9 of Judy Blume's notorious YA novel, "Forever..." Erica vows to help Artie discover his sexual orientation, while Kath and Mike head to the mountains for some skiing and dry humping. We also meet a new character this week: Ralph. Get ready for a very special report, a though...

Alison and Jody tackle chapters 4-6 of Judy Blume's iconic work of YA fiction, "Forever..." Kath continues to rebuff Michael's persistent advances, Erica wonders why Artie isn't into her, and Elizabeth throws a party for the cast of "Butterflies Are Free." Oh, and who could forget The Great Soap Fight of 1975?! It's a real whirlwind of lemon chiffon cake, backgammon, and pillow talk. It's a sort o...

The gals start reading "Forever..." Judy Blume's controversial novel about first love and first sex! Alison and Jody set the scene by exploring life in 1975 – the music, the movies, and current events. The Vietnam War is finally over, "Jaws" slays the box office, and disco's coming to town! They discuss chapters 1-3 and find themselves both intrigued and repulsed by Michael, Katherine's new beau....

After all this "Deenie" talk, have you been wondering what it's like to wear a Milwaukee brace? Been reminiscing about your own toe-touch screenings in P.E.? Ever thought about which scoliosis celebrity you are? Well, this is the episode for you! Alison and Jody put on their nerd glasses to bring you the who/what/why of all things scoliosis, including some of the controversy on different treatment...

It's the Deenie Finale, y'all! Alison and Jody wrap up chapters 19-21 of Judy Blume's 1973 angst-ridden novel about scoliosis and special places. Deenie befriends Barb (aka Creeping Crud), makes out with Buddy Brader at Janet's basement party, and finally bonds with sister Helen. Al and Jodes discuss mean and murderous doctors, censorship, and Pound Puppies. Last but not least, they receive field...

Deenie makes it through her first day of school with the brace (just barely)! She’s become a real sasspot, but is still putty in the hands of Buddy Brader. Jody and Alison cover chapters 15-18 of “Deenie,” Judy Blume’s mega-angsty YA novel about a gal and her S-curve. The ladies put their voice-acting skills to the test with a TON of dramatic readings and re-enactments. They receive a wonderful le...

The Angst-O-Meter is in the red! Jody and Alison talk about chapters 11-14 of Judy Blume's YA novel "Deenie," in which their heroine suffers a Britney-inspired psychotic break after being fitted into her Milwaukee brace. Not even Ma's eggplant parm will help. Tune in for some bad backs, bad haircuts, and bad a capella. Check our Facebook page for a chance to win a Blume Saloon pin and your very ow...

Poor Deenie has scoliosis! And she has to wear a Milwaukee brace for four years! Alison and Jody discuss chapters 7-10 of Judy Blume's "Deenie," a true YA classic. Join them in the sweltering Blume Cocoon as they reminisce about awkward hand-holding, learn the history of X-rated movies, and take a quiz to see what 1970s celebrity they are. Who's gonna get stuck with Donny Osmond? Check our Faceboo...

Join Al and Jodes as they analyze chapters 4-6 of Judy Blume's ninth novel, "Deenie." Follow along as Deenie fights with her overbearing Ma, tries to escape the Creeping Crud, and is repeatedly asked to touch her toes by the grownups in her life. Something's up, and our gal Deenie doesn't like it. Also in this episode: a special report on special education, and a wonderful package of vintage goodi...

Alison and Jody crack open "Deenie," Judy Blume's YA novel about a beautiful teen with scoliosis! Deenie gets rejected from Barbizon, disappoints her ma, and doesn't make the cheer squad. But she does get a few lunchtime stares from Buddy Brader! Meanwhile, Jody and Alison take a look at life in 1973, swap stories of disastrous cheerleading tryouts, sisterly rivalry, and practice their ASMR techni...

Join the gals for a mini-episode to welcome back Alison and special guest baby Poe! Jody, Beth, and Al test their knowledge of early-70s pop culture and Aussie slang, do a recitation of the fifty nifty United States, and resume lots of talk about weed. They will start reading "Deenie" next week. It's a sort-of book club. Join us every week!

Beth and Jody finish "Then Again, Maybe I Won't"! They review chapters 9 and 10, in which Lisa gets a Corvette, Joel gets what he deserves, and Tony gets some inner peace. Beth tells the tale of how she once crashed into a 7-Eleven storefront, and Jody talks a lot about weed. They also play some vintage 1970s TV commercials and read an incredible letter from a Blume Head with a Blue Box. It's a so...

Jody and Beth are back in the Blume Cocoon to talk all about chapter 8 of Judy Blume's 1971 novel, "Then Again, Maybe I Won't." The girls discuss some very mediocre shoplifting adventures, Beth's Montessori school for budding tyrants, and Jody's rekindled obsession with Parrot Heads. Meanwhile, poor Tony Miglione ends up in the hospital after a killer case of gas... err... Nervous Stomach. It's a...

Jody and Beth hold down the Blume Cocoon while Alison's out on maternity leave! This week, they provide in-depth coverage of chapter 7 of "Then Again, Maybe I Won't" by Judy Blume. Tony (kind of) wins his big basketball game, the three amigos get wasted in Joel's basement, and Ted's secret lover is revealed (hint: her last name rhymes with "goober"). Jody shares her research on the wild world of p...

Take a breather from Tony's boners and travel back to 1971 by way of vintage TV commercials, hip slang and hot celebrity couples (some real and some faux). Alison's out on maternity leave, but the gals have you covered. Play along with their quizzes and keep listening until the very end to find out who Michael Jackson and Gene Simmons have in common. We'll get back to "Then Again, Maybe I Won't,"...

Burps, binocs, and boners! Alison and Jody talk about chapters 5 and 6 of "Then Again, Maybe I Won't," Judy Blume's popular YA novel about a seventh-grade dude in the throes of puberty. Along the way, they swig root beer, make up songs, and attempt to figure out why boys are so weird. It's a sort-of book club. Join us every week!

Grubby shoplifters. Hot swimmers. Ugly babies. Mad grandmas. And... raging boners! Jody and Alison make their way through chapters 3 and 4 of "Then Again, Maybe I Won't," Judy Blume's groundbreaking young adult novel about "a boy with problems." Alison recounts her first five-finger discount and a run-in with airport security, while Jody drops some Flip Wilson trivia and learns how to hide a pocke...