Being the Ricardos
So many innovations for the medium of television, and yet - a difficult marriage at the center. Why did everyone love Lucy? Was it in spite of (or because of) the scandals that dominated her and Desi’s lives? Come learn the important reasons behind the success of America’s most groundbreaking show.
Contact:
Reach out on instagram - @illiteratepod
Extras:
trailer, Being the Ricardos (2021) https://bit.ly/beingricardos1
article, history of Lucille Ball and Communism https://bit.ly/beingricardos2
video, the pregnancy announcement episode https://bit.ly/beingricardos3
article, on Desilu Studios https://bit.ly/beingricardos4
The Beatles: Get Back
An epic 8 hour journey into the creation of an album. And yet - where has this footage been all these years? How did Peter Jackson become the one to make it? Wait - wasn’t this already made into a film before? Come learn the answers to the process behind the documentary, and the process behind the Beatles.
Contact:
Reach out on instagram - @illiteratepod
Extras:
trailer, Get Back (2021) https://bit.ly/bgetback1
article, creation of Get Back (Vanity Fair) https://bit.ly/bgetback9
trailer, They Shall Not Grow Old (WW1 documentary) https://bit.ly/bgetback3
Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus (Michael Lindsay-Hogg doc) https://bit.ly/bgetback6
video, Hey Jude promo film https://bit.ly/bgetback7
song, Paul McCartney & 1982’s “Here Today” on John Lennon https://bit.ly/bgetback8
app (Spleeter) for audio editing, isolating sounds https://bit.ly/bgetback4
video, Things We Said Today podcast interview with PJ (isolating the instruments demo starts at 01:21:30) (isolating private conversation demo starts at 01:23:30) https://bit.ly/bgetback5
clip, McCartney composing “Get Back” https://bit.ly/bgetback2
The Electrical Life of Louis Wain
The story of a man, almost forgotten, after changing the way we see cats. Who was he, why did he disappear, and what can he tell us about artists and their process? Louis Wain is on Prime Video, with Benedict Cumberbatch and Claire Foy.
Contact:
Reach out on instagram - @illiteratepod
Extras:
trailer, The Electrical Life of Louis Wain (2021) https://bit.ly/louiswain1
rare footage, Louis Wain (1921) https://bit.ly/louiswain2
artwork for sale, Louis Wain https://bit.ly/louiswain3
antiques roadshow, Louis Wain early sketches https://bit.ly/louiswain4
pottery, Louis Wain cat vases https://bit.ly/louiswain5
article, Toxoplasma gondii parasite https://bit.ly/louiswain6
article, history of cats https://bit.ly/louiswain7
article, biography of Louis Wain https://bit.ly/louiswain8
film, Glen Campbell: I’ll Be Me (2014) https://bit.ly/louiswain9
Cry Macho
Clint Eastwood (at age 91!) comes out with another Western. What does that mean for the genre? What are the tropes and history of the Western story? And what took so long for this book to get adapted? Let’s dive in and learn together!
Contact:
Reach out on instagram - @illiteratepod
Extras:
trailer, Cry Macho (2021) https://bit.ly/crymacho1
trailer, Every Which Way But Loose (1978) https://bit.ly/crymacho2
newspaper article interview, author N. Richard Nash https://bit.ly/crymacho3
article, on producer Al Ruddy https://bit.ly/crymacho4
article, on Revisionist Westerns https://bit.ly/crymacho5
article, on the decline of Westerns https://bit.ly/crymacho6
book, Cry Macho: A Novel (1975) https://bit.ly/crymacho7
Impeachment: American Crime Story
We dive in to the recent depiction of the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal, and how it focuses on the female characters involved. What actually happened to Monica Lewinsky? Why make this show now? And who created the story in this new way? Let’s learn together!
Contact:
Reach out on instagram - @illiteratepod
Extras:
trailer, Impeachment: American Crime Story (2021) https://bit.ly/acsimpeach1
article, on Jeff Toobin https://bit.ly/acsimpeach2
interviews, showrunner Sarah Burgess https://bit.ly/acsimpeach4 https://bit.ly/acsimpeach5
article, making of the series https://bit.ly/acsimpeach11
podcast, Slow Burn season 2 https://bit.ly/acsimpeach6
video, press briefing from Linda Tripp https://bit.ly/acsimpeach7
trailer, Wag the Dog (1997) https://bit.ly/acsimpeach9
article, Monica Lewinsky’s Vanity Fair return https://bit.ly/acsimpeach8
TED Talk, Monica Lewinsky’s “The Price of Shame” https://bit.ly/acsimpeach3
article, WP article on Betty Currie (secretary) https://bit.ly/acsimpeach10
UFO
Join us as we dissect the new documentary, the article it’s based on, and the history of airborne phenomena in art and media.
Contact:
Reach out on instagram - @illiteratepod
Extras:
pilot episode, Showtime UFO Series https://bit.ly/ufoshowtime1
article, original NYT 2017 exposé https://bit.ly/ufoshowtime8
footage, Phoenix Lights from 1997 https://bit.ly/ufoshowtime2
footage, 2004 UFO encounter w/ fighter jet https://bit.ly/ufoshowtime3
national intelligence report, UAP assessment in June 2021 https://bit.ly/ufoshowtime4
footage, verified 2019 pyramid shapes above ship https://bit.ly/ufoshowtime5
footage, lenticular clouds https://bit.ly/ufoshowtime6
article, “UFOs” in classical art https://bit.ly/ufoshowtime7
book, UFO Sighting Desk Reference https://bit.ly/ufoshowtime9
Nollywood
We dive in to the second highest-producing film industry in the world, Nigerian cinema. The historical origins, the unique cultural trends, and the big plans for the future - do NOT sleep on this one!
Contact:
Reach out on instagram - @illiteratepod
Extras:
trailer, Living in Bondage: Breaking Free (2019) https://bit.ly/nollywoodfilm1
youtube channel, Nigerian Nollywood Pictures https://bit.ly/nollywoodfilm2
article, Nigeria happiness poll data https://bit.ly/nollywoodfilm3
full film, Living in Bondage (1992) https://bit.ly/nollywoodfilm4
documentary, Making it In Nollywood https://bit.ly/nollywoodfilm5
article, Folorunsho Alakija, worth more than Oprah https://bit.ly/nollywoodfilm6
Godzilla vs. Kong
Learn the mighty origins of the massive movie classics, which came first, and why they’ve been fighting for so long.
Extras:
trailer, Godzilla vs Kong (2021) http://bit.ly/godzillakong1
video, on the original Gojira film http://bit.ly/godzillakong2
film clip, Grass (1925) http://bit.ly/godzillakong4
concept art, Kong vs Frankenstein http://bit.ly/godzillakong5
comparison, US vs Japanese King Kong vs Godzilla (1962) http://bit.ly/godzillakong6
US trailer, King Kong vs Godzilla (1962) http://bit.ly/godzillakong7
trailer, Frankenstein Conquers the World (1965) http://bit.ly/godzillakong3
Contact:
- How to get a free sticker: Send a message to @illiteratepod on instagram
- Want to help the show? Leave a review! www.ratethispodcast.com/illiterate
- Reach out on instagram @illiteratepod
Minari
Learn the origins of the incredible story of Lee Isaac Chung, and his family’s farm in Arkansas. What is Minari, and who is Willa Cather, and how did a voice in a coffee shop lead to six Academy Award nominations?
Extras:
trailer, Minari http://bit.ly/minari1
interview, Youn Yuh-Jung and Bong Joon Ho http://bit.ly/minariyoun
interview, Lee Isaac Chung and Bong Joon Ho http://bit.ly/minari3
article, writing of Minari http://bit.ly/minari4
article, Youn Yuh-Jung’s career http://bit.ly/minari5
Contact:
- How to get a free sticker: Send a message to @illiteratepod on instagram
- Want to help the show? Leave a review! www.ratethispodcast.com/illiterate
- Reach out on instagram @illiteratepod
Moxie & Mean Girls
Come learn about the Riot Grrrl movement, the history of women in stand-up and television comedy, and the parenting guidebook that Mean Girls is based on.
Extras:
trailer, Moxie http://bit.ly/moxiefilm1
song, the Linda Lindas perform “Rebel Girl” http://bit.ly/moxiefilm2
playlist, inspired by the Riot Grrrl movement http://bit.ly/moxiefilm3
doc, Women in Comedy on PBS http://bit.ly/moxiefilm4
doc, The Punk Singer, Kathleen Hanna http://bit.ly/moxiefilm5
stand up, Moms Mabley http://bit.ly/moxiefilm6
book, Queen Bees and Wannabees http://bit.ly/moxiefilm7
book, Moxie http://bit.ly/moxiefilm8
book, We Killed: The Rise of Women in American Comedy http://bit.ly/moxiefilm9
Contact:
- How to get a free sticker: Send a message to @illiteratepod on instagram
- Want to help the show? Leave a review! www.ratethispodcast.com/illiterate
- Reach out on instagram @illiteratepod
The United States vs Billie Holiday
Come learn the true story of Billie Holiday, and the Federal Narcotics Bureau team who couldn’t stop her. The United States vs Billie Holiday is on Hulu, based on the book Chasing the Scream by Johann Hari.
Extras:
trailer, The United States vs Billie Holiday http://bit.ly/billieh1
live recording, Billie Holiday singing Strange Fruit http://bit.ly/billieh2
article, best books about Billie Holiday http://bit.ly/billieh3
trailer, Billie documentary http://bit.ly/billieh4
trailer, Lady Sings the Blues http://bit.ly/billieh5
book, Chasing the Scream http://bit.ly/billieh6
Contact:
- How to get a free sticker: Send a message to @illiteratepod on instagram
- Want to help the show? Leave a review! www.ratethispodcast.com/illiterate
- Reach out on instagram @illiteratepod
Judas and the Black Messiah
Uncover the origins of the Black Panther Party, the assassination of Fred Hampton by the FBI, and the depiction of the Black Panthers in media. Judas and the Black Messiah is on HBO Max, based on the book The Assassination of Fred Hampton by Jeffrey Haas.
Extras:
trailer, Judas and the Black Messiah http://bit.ly/blackmessiah1
interview, William O’Neal http://bit.ly/billonealint
official Black Panther reading list http://bit.ly/blackmessiah2
interview, Fred Hampton http://bit.ly/blackmessiah3
interview, Shaka King (director) http://bit.ly/blackmessiah4
Contact:
- How to get a free sticker: Send a message to @illiteratepod on instagram
- Want to help the show? Leave a review! www.ratethispodcast.com/illiterate
- Reach out on instagram @illiteratepod
One Night in Miami (Kemp Powers)
These four iconic men had a night together in 1964. What happened? One Night in Miami is on Amazon, directed by Regina King, based on the play and screenplay written by Kemp Powers.
Extras:
trailer, One Night in Miami http://bit.ly/miaminight1
interview, Kemp Powers http://bit.ly/kempinterview
screenplay, One Night in Miami http://bit.ly/miaminightscript
documentary, Two Killings of Sam Cooke http://bit.ly/samcookedoc
paintings, Jacob Lawrence’s Great Migration series http://bit.ly/jlgreatmig
Contact:
- How to get a free sticker: Send a message to @illiteratepod on instagram
- Want to help the show? Leave a review! www.ratethispodcast.com/illiterate
- Reach out on instagram @illiteratepod
Bridgerton
Join us as we learn about stories of sex, scandal, and what makes the Regency and Romance genres so popular. Bridgerton is out on Netflix, based on the book series by Julia Quinn.
Extras:
trailer, Bridgerton http://bit.ly/bridgertontrailer
article, Queen Charlotte’s black ancestry http://bit.ly/charlotteart
book, Jane Austen’s England http://bit.ly/jaengland
book, Mad & Bad: Real Heroines of the Regency http://bit.ly/madandbadbook
interview, Shonda Rhimes (producer) http://bit.ly/shondainterview
interview, Chris Van Dusen (creator) http://bit.ly/chrisvdinterview
article, history of the romance novel http://bit.ly/romancehistory
article, Stacey Abrams’ romance novels http://bit.ly/staceyaromance
Contact:
- How to get a free sticker: Send a message to @illiteratepod on instagram
- Want to help the show? Leave a review! www.ratethispodcast.com/illiterate
- Reach out on instagram @illiteratepod
Weddings
Come learn about where all those traditions come from, some great cinematic weddings, and where Evan and Taylor will be this week.
Extras:
article, origins of wedding traditions http://bit.ly/weddingtraditions1
article, origins of engagement ring http://bit.ly/weddingtradition2
article, Emperor Nero’s same-sex marriages http://bit.ly/nerowedding
website, Evan and Emily’s wedding https://www.theknot.com/us/emily-rayl-and-evan-russell-jan-2021
Contact:
- How to get a free sticker: Send a message to @illiteratepod on instagram
- Want to help the show? Leave a review! www.ratethispodcast.com/illiterate
- Reach out on instagram @illiteratepod
Hallmark Christmas Movies
Hallmark is not just cards. Learn about the twisty history the company has in TV, children’s toys, and even a famous invention!
Extras:
Hallmark is not just cards. Learn about the twisty history the company has in TV, children’s toys, and even a famous invention!
happiest season trailer // 3 min http://bit.ly/happiestseasontrail
interview with hallmark programming vp // 39 min http://bit.ly/hallmarkvp
history of hallmark // article http://bit.ly/hallmarkcable
classic hallmark card commercial // 2 min http://bit.ly/hallmarkcommercial
every hallmark movie ever parody // 4 min http://bit.ly/hallmarkparody
Contact:
- How to get a free sticker: Send a message to @illiteratepod on instagram
- Want to help the show? Leave a review! www.ratethispodcast.com/illiterate
- Reach out on instagram @illiteratepod
Hillbilly Elegy (JD Vance)
What’s the book about, and why does the film miss it? And what the heck’s an elegy? Hillbilly Elegy is on Netflix, based on the book by JD Vance.
Extras:
trailer for Hillbilly Elegy // 3 min https://bit.ly/hillbilly1
Appalachian Reckoning // book https://bit.ly/hillbilly2
the NYT book review // article https://bit.ly/hillbilly3
NPR on “culture of poverty” theory // article https://bit.ly/hillbilly4
interview with JD Vance // 60 min https://bit.ly/hillbilly5
Contact:
- How to get a free sticker: Send a message to @illiteratepod on instagram
- Want to help the show? Leave a review! www.ratethispodcast.com/illiterate
- Reach out on instagram @illiteratepod
The Crown (Peter Morgan)
What’s the purpose of the Royal Family, the Queen, and why are people so obsessed with them all? The Crown is on Netflix, based on the play The Audience by Peter Morgan.
Extras:
The Crown trailer (2020) // 3 min https://bit.ly/thecrown1
The Queen trailer (2006) // 3 min https://bit.ly/thecrown2
The Audience (play) trailer (2013) // 1 min https://bit.ly/thecrown3
what the Royal Family thinks of The Crown // article https://bit.ly/thecrown44
why people are obsessed with the Royals // article https://bit.ly/thecrown5
Celebrity Worship Syndrome // article https://bit.ly/thecrown6
the Royal Family from The Crown’s historian // article https://bit.ly/thecrown7
The Crown Dissected (historical accuracy) // book https://bit.ly/thecrown8
Contact:
- How to get a free sticker: Send a message to @illiteratepod on instagram
- Want to help the show? Leave a review! www.ratethispodcast.com/illiterate
- Reach out on instagram @illiteratepod
The Queen's Gambit (Walter Tevis)
Is the life of Beth Harmon, chess prodigy from the 1960s, based in fact? Why did this take so long to make? And how many more people are buying chess sets now? The Queen’s Gambit is on Netflix, based on the book by Walter Tevis.
Extras:
trailer, “The Queen’s Gambit” (2020) // 3 min https://bit.ly/queengambit1
trailer, “Searching for Bobby Fischer” (1993) // 3 min https://bit.ly/queengambit2
trailer, “Pawn Sacrifice” (2015) // 3 min https://bit.ly/queengambit3
Madwoman’s Book Club sign up // article https://bit.ly/queengambit4
trailer, “Queen of Katwe” (2016) // 3 min https://bit.ly/queengambit5
a chess expert’s take on the series // article https://bit.ly/queengambit6
Judit Polgar’s take on women in chess // article https://bit.ly/queengambit7
the life of Walter Tevis // article https://bit.ly/queengambit8
Contact:
- How to get a free sticker: Send a message to @illiteratepod on instagram
- Want to help the show? Leave a review! www.ratethispodcast.com/illiterate
- Reach out on instagram @illiteratepod
Elections
A MISSING EPISODE! We recorded this episode about elections in books and films through history, but unfortunately lost the audio. Please enjoy a few re-recorded moments, and check out the rest of the show notes for all the other resources and media.
Mentioned:
Democracy, An American Novel (1880) // book http://bit.ly/illelection1
Primary Colors (1998) // trailer http://bit.ly/illelection2
State of the Union (1948) // film clip http://bit.ly/illelection3
The Candidate (1972) // trailer http://bit.ly/illelection4
Tanner ’88 (1988) // article http://bit.ly/illelection5
The Frontrunner (2018) // trailer http://bit.ly/illelection6
Chappaquiddick (2017) // trailer http://bit.ly/illelection7
Other Media (not mentioned):
Betty Boop for President (1932)// short film http://bit.ly/illelection8
All the Kings Men (1946) // film clip http://bit.ly/illelection9
Election (1999) // trailer http://bit.ly/illelection10
Contact:
- How to get a free sticker: Send a message to @illiteratepod on instagram
- Want to help the show? Leave a review! www.ratethispodcast.com/illiterate
- Reach out on instagram @illiteratepod