The Blume Saloon: A Judy Blume Book Podcast

"The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13 3/4," March 3-April 10, 1981. Happy Christmas Eve, Blume Heads! Adrian turns 14 and calls the emergency doctor over a case of zits, Nigel and Pandora split up (so do Adrian's parents), Bert Baxter terrorizes the OAP Skegness outing, and dad clobbers Mr. Lucas at their Civilized Meeting. Join Alison and Jody for a cup of Bovril and a deeper dive into Simone...

"The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13 3/4," Jan 16-March 2, 1981. Adrian stalks Pandora and gets his first WD, Mrs. Lucas moves out and takes her shrubs with her, Dad gets fancy groceries, and Mum's on a feminist journey. Jody and Alison muddle through Horlicks, seaside rock, betting shops, Beano, and spotted dick. Alison does her best Time and Temperature impression, and Jody misses her SAD l...

"The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13 3/4," Jan 1-15, 1981. Say hello to our new book, the Sue Townsend classic! Jody and Alison chat about 1981's events, music, movies, and TV... UK-style. Welcome to the year of John McEnroe's Wimbledon tirade, Charles and Diana, The Yorkshire Ripper, Bucks Fizz on Eurovision, and the teen who tried to shoot the Queen. Adrian starts the new year with some lof...

The long awaited Superfudge wrap-up! Join us for a meandering episode full of Special Reports, '80s talk show clips, and Blume Head correspondence. Alison presents some one-star reviews, Santa stats, and introduces us to wok-master Stephen Yan. Jody finds more bizarre book edition updates, performs some Peter/Sheila fanfic, and spends a very long time talking about dog poop. Thank you Helen and Su...

"Superfudge," chapters 11-12. The final episode, can you believe it?! Brian Tumkin and Uriah come to town, Tootsie walks, Peter picnics, Fudge and Daniel elope, and the Hatchers make a big decision. Jody and Alison (with the help of tiny guest stars Charlie, Finn, and Arthur!) perform the most dramatic of readings. We also fully discuss salami symbolism and Mrs. Manheim's lewk -- including the ico...

“Superfudge,” chapters 9-10. Jimmy Fargo and Alex Santo finally meet, Peter gets a KISS, Fudge becomes a tiny Christmas tyrant, and Daniel Manheim makes quite the impression on us all. With the help of Blume Head Michelle, Jody and Alison compare and contrast the publisher’s technology and pop culture updates (BRING BACK THE POCKET CALCULATOR). There’s dramatic readings, vintage ads, and the usual...

“Superfudge,” chapters 7-8. Welcome, Uncle Feather and helloooooo, Halloween! (Seriously, how did Judy know it was Halloween in the real-life now-times?!) Fudge gets a myna bird because he does cute paintings at school. Peter and Jimmy fight about the price of art. The gang goes trick-or-treating and tastes their first worm cookies. Jody and Alison cover all the hilarious scenes and nostalgic deta...

"Superfudge," chapters 5-6. The Hatcher family settles down in Princeton and keeps their local Baskin Robbins in business. Peter and new bestie Alex Santo go into the worm business and scam Mrs. Muldour (she's definitely eating them, right?). Fudge creates a most legendary ruckus on the first day of school. Join Jody, Alison, AND four-year-old voice actor prodigy Poe for dramatic readings and hila...

“Superfudge,” chapters 3-4. The Hatchers are moving to Princeton! In a week. WTF. Pee-tah has a fight with Jimmy Fargo, a run-in with Sheila, and almost pees in a flower pot. Fudge decorates Tootsie with trading stamps. Jody talks about her recent eyebrow mishap and a *thing* she did in the kitchen sink. Alison continues to channel her inner four-year-old muppet. There’s dramatic readings, a Speci...

“Superfudge,” chapters 1-2. Back to Judy Blume, y’all! Jody and Alison discuss this treasured children’s novel featuring Pee-tah, Fudge, and… Tamara Roxanne?! Alison paints a picture of 1980 events and affairs (lots of Cold War shenanigans), while Jody recaps the movies, TV, and music of the new decade (Paul McCartney’s Coming Up is a BOP.) Over in Fudge-land, there’s a new Hatcher baby and Fudge...

Exciting bonus crossover alert! Jody joins Esme, Anne, and Emily on Stuck in Stoneybrook to chat about the Baby Sitters Club – in particular, Dawn and the Big Sleepover (#44)! They discuss the psychological benefits of altruism, the white savior-dom of this whole enterprise, and whether Ann M. Martin continued to be influenced by “Dances With Wolves.” Tune in for some '90s Dinosaur Nostalgia, a ca...

Jody and Alison salute The Luckiest Girl with the help of some dedicated Blume Heads! This extremely chaotic episode is chock full of Special Reports on Beverly Cleary's stint in SoCal, dating in the 1950s, giant roadside oranges, old-fashioned doorbells, and basketball culture. Huge thank you to listener correspondents Michelle, Danielle, Alison C., and Helen!

"The Luckiest Girl," chapters 15-16. Can't believe we're finishing this Beverly Cleary beauty! It's Shelley's last day of school with some mediocre yearbook signing, a biology win, and a heart-to-heart with Jeannie. There's also a solemn date to the roadside orange, middle school dance crashers, and first L-O-V-E. Alison and Jody serve up some analysis and radio plays with a side of space ice crea...

"The Luckiest Girl," chapters 13-14. We're cruisin' through Beverly Cleary's 1958 coming-of-age novel! Shelley and Hartley spend quality time together solving word puzzles, washing dishes, and touching hands. Katie makes a toothpaste cake and Mrs. Stickney comes to knit. There's some carnival drama (not as much as Jody would like), and an ALMOST-kiss! Alison and Jody are joined by Jody's mum, who...

"The Luckiest Girl," chapters 11-12. Alison and Jody discuss Beverly Cleary's charming 1958 novel about a Portland gal finding herself in SoCal. Shelley watches Katie go through her very own Roses-in-the-Disposall moment, flubs an interview with poet Jonas Hornbostle, but wins some time with Hartley. Alison saves the day by recapping TWO chapters and Jody's sister Rosie makes her podcast debut! Jo...

"The Luckiest Girl," chapters 9-10. It's Beverly Cleary's 1958 teen novel about first love in a strange land, and things ain't looking good. Shelly and Philip have a serious chat and it does not go as she'd hoped. There's a lot of homesickness and a raucous, disappointing basketball game with paper pom poms and an electric(!) megaphone. Jody and Alison create outsider art, play 1958 TV commercials...

"The Luckiest Girl," chapters 7-8. Jody and Alison are loving this 1958 Beverly Cleary novel about Shelley Latham and her magical year in SoCal. There's an epic barn dance with wagon wheels and highly flammable hay, an ALMOST kiss from hunky Philip, and a shockingly bad report card. Your hosts chat about Benson Bubblers, Commercial Curriculums, and reenact the pivotal scenes with dramatic flair. S...

“The Luckiest Girl,” chapters 5-6. Beverly Cleary transports us back to 1958, where Shelly is interviewed in The Bastion and makes a BOLD move, Luke is crowned Queen of the May, and Katie wears salad to the big dance. Alison and Jody chat about school newspaper names, Reese Witherspoon’s toes, and sperm headwear. Dramatic readings and implausible theories abound. It’s a Judy Blume Book club. Join...

"The Luckiest Girl," chapter 4. Join Jody and Al for Beverly Cleary's wholesome 1958 tale of Shelly Latham, a Portland gal in SoCal. Shelly receives WRITTEN PROOF that mysterious Phil's into her, but it's Hartley who takes her on the donut date. There's more Michie family laundry, weird food combos, and general Katie tomfoolery. Jody reveals some shocking news about Margaritaville Las Vegas and pr...

"The Luckiest Girl," chapters 2-3. In this charming 1958 Beverly Cleary novel, Shelley makes it to San Sebastian and snobs out over smudge pots, dry riverbeds, long bedrooms, and old high school towels. But some witchy Michie moonlight laundry really turns her around. At school, she meets heavy-handed Hartley and Sunburned Philip, and wins the day via donut holes. Join Jody and Alison for some cha...

"The Luckiest Girl", chapter 1. It's high time for some Beverly Cleary (who famously inspired Judy Blume's writing), so we're riding a jetliner back to 1958 – the year of hula hoops, Auntie Mame, quiz show scandals, and Shelley Latham! Jody briefs us on world events and inventions, while Alison reports on music, movies, and TV. They also chat about Beverly's life, literary works, and achievements....

Special bonus crossover! Alison joins Emilie and Margaux on the Old Millennials podcast to chat about American Girl Dolls in honor of their 35th anniversary! They discuss their obsession with the catalogs, the longing for a doll, and the overall joy in remembering something from childhood that wasn't outrageously problematic. See you next week for our NEW BOOK, "The Luckiest Girl" by Beverly Clear...

"Starring Sally J. Freedman as Herself," the appendix! Dedicated to all things Sally: a brief history of baton twirling, sex ed in the 1940s, child psychology, Howard Hughes' cantilevered bra design, everything you wanted to know about Creme de Cacao, and Esther Williams' dalliance with LSD. Esme and Anne from the Stuck in Stoneybrook podcast join Alison and Jody for Judy Blume deep cuts and chat...

"Starring Sally J. Freedman as Herself," chapters 25-26. Sayonara Sally! The Freedmans get ready to head back to Jersey, but not before Sally ambush-kisses Peter behind the Temple and swaps secrets with Douglas. Alison and Jody reenact some classic Judy moments and discuss Taylor Swift internet fandom and laptops from the '90s. It's a Judy Blume book club. Join us every week! PS – RIP Mr. Zavodsky...

"Starring Sally J. Freedman as Herself," chapters 23-24. The penultimate episode of this marvelous Judy Blume kidlit novel! Sally's up for 5th grade Posture Queen, Andrea gets a new kitten, Douglas wants to see some boobs, Bubbles is with child, and Sally has some good D&M's with Ma Fanny and Doey. Oh, and there's a Goodyear Blimp trip! Jody and Alison do their usual dramatic readings and chat abo...