Zola
The THOTyssey, the 148 tweet thread about a road trip that leads to prostitution and murder - everyone said should be a movie…is now a movie. How did it get adapted, what’s true, and how does the story actually end in real life?The original tweets by A’Ziah King are now in theaters. Buckle up!
Contact:
Reach out on instagram - @illiteratepod
Extras:
trailer, Zola (2021) https://bit.ly/zolatweet1
the original 148 tweets from Zola https://bit.ly/zolatweet2
Jess’s story posted on Reddit https://bit.ly/zolatweet3
the original Rolling Stone article https://bit.ly/zolatweet4
interview, w/ Zola in 2021 https://bit.ly/zolatweet5
book, hardcover version of “The Story” https://bit.ly/zolatweet6
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
Concrete Cowboy
Learn the history of riding on the open range, the Kentucky Derby, urban horse-stables, and the original Lone Ranger. Concrete Cowboy is on Netflix, based on the book Ghetto Cowboy by G. Neri.
Extras:
trailer, Concrete Cowboy http://bit.ly/ccowboy5
article, history of Black cowboys http://bit.ly/ccowboy7
video, US Marshall Bass Reeves bio http://bit.ly/ccowboy8
fundraiser, Fletcher St Urban Riding Club http://bit.ly/ccowboy2
fundraiser, Philly Urban Riding Academy http://bit.ly/ccowboy1
photo series, Fletcher St stables http://bit.ly/ccowboy3
org, Neighborhood Film Co. http://bit.ly/ccowboy4
TED talk, Ricky Staub http://bit.ly/ccowboy6
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
Nomadland
Learn about the joy and sorrow of a rootless life on the open road. Nomadland is written and directed by Chloe Zhao, based on the book by Jessica Bruder.
Extras:
trailer, NOMADLAND http://bit.ly/nomadland1
interview, author Jessica Bruder http://bit.ly/nomadland2
video, parody of #VANLIFE http://bit.ly/nomadland3
short film, Amazon’s CAMPERFORCE http://bit.ly/nomadland4
interview, nomad Bob Wells http://bit.ly/nomadland5
interview, director Chloe Zhao http://bit.ly/nomadland6
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
Steven Spielberg (pt 1 & 2)
Learn the twists and turns of the biggest director of the past 40 years.
HBO documentary “Spielberg” trailer // 2 min https://bit.ly/spielberghbo
Indiana Jones brainstorm notes // article https://bit.ly/indianajones1
interview with Spielberg’s mom // article https://bit.ly/spielberg2
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
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
Tread (Killdozer by Patrick Brower)
Why did a man build a war machine and wreak havoc on a small town in Colorado? What films and movies might have inspired this? And is this the first time this has happened? Tread is a documentary, based on the book Killdozer by Patrick Brower.
Extras:
trailer for Tread documentary // video https://bit.ly/treaddoc
interview with author Patrick Brower // article https://bit.ly/pbrowerint
the Killdozer route and locations on Google Maps // video https://bit.ly/killdozer1
San Diego tank rampage of 1995 // video https://bit.ly/killdozer2
Marvin Heemeyer’s manifesto tapes // audio https://bit.ly/killdozer3
bulldozer attack of 1998 // article https://bit.ly/killdozer4
full film of cult sci-fi Killdozer(1974) // video https://bit.ly/killdozer1974
Boogaloo attack in June 2020 // article https://bit.ly/boogalooarticle
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
Alexander Hamilton (by Ron Chernow)
The ten-dollar Founding Father without a father, and how his story came to be. Hamilton is a musical on Disney Plus, based on the book Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow.
Extras:
trailer for Hamilton on Disney+ // 2m https://bit.ly/hamtrailer
Hamilton’s America PBS documentary // 1hr 30m https://bit.ly/hamiltonpbsdoc
interview with Ron Chernow // 1hr https://bit.ly/ronchernowint
interview with Chernow, Kail, and Miranda // 42m https://bit.ly/hamilinterview
Hamilton History channel documentary // 1hr 30m https://bit.ly/historychint
Hamilton word count // article https://bit.ly/hamilwordcount
Lin Manuel Miranda at the White House (2009) // 5m https://bit.ly/lmrwhitehouse
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
I'll Be Gone in the Dark (by Michelle McNamara)
A civilian investigator becomes the foremost authority on a decades long manhunt. I’ll Be Gone in the Dark is a miniseries on HBO, and a book, written by Michelle McNamara.
Extras:
trailer, I’ll Be Gone in the Dark (HBO) // trailer https://bit.ly/McNamaratrailer
the book, “I’ll Be Gone in the Dark” // book https://bit.ly/mcnamara5
Billy Jensen’s book “Chase Darkness with Me” // book https://bit.ly/bjensenbook
Michelle’s blog, “True Crime Diary” // site http://www.truecrimediary.com
about Michelle’s childhood // article https://bit.ly/mcnamara1
the SXSW panel, “Solving Murders w/ Social Media // article https://bit.ly/slvsocial
Michelle’s solving of the missing children case // article https://bit.ly/mcnamara3
Michelle’s original 2013 article in La Mag // article https://bit.ly/mcnamara4
the Golden State Killer pleads guilty // article https://bit.ly/gskguilty
Patton Oswalt interview about Michelle’s book // video https://bit.ly/pattonos1
interview with Michelle on The Dork Forest podcast // podcast https://bit.ly/mcnamara2
My Favorite Murder podcast episode on GSK // podcast https://bit.ly/mfmgoldenstate
The Murder Squad, with Jensen and Holes // podcast http://themurdersquad.com
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
Da 5 Bloods (by Wallace Terry)
Let’s talk about our history. We learn about the black veterans of the Vietnam War, and hear the stories of military service of African Americans in the United States. Da 5 Bloods is co-written and directed by Spike Lee (now on Netflix), based on the book Bloods by Wallace Terry.
Extras:
Da 5 Bloods trailer // 3 min https://bit.ly/da5bloodstrailer
Bloods In ‘Nam PBS Frontline doc // 45 min https://bit.ly/bloodsinnam
audio from the front lines recording // 45 min https://bit.ly/cominghomevietnam
Bloods: Black Veterans of the Vietnam War: An Oral History // bookhttps://bit.ly/bloodsbook
Missing Pages: Black Journalists of Modern America: An Oral History // bookhttps://bit.ly/missingpgs
on the ending of Do The Right Thing // 15 min https://bit.ly/dtrtending
Wallace Terry greeting the segregationist governor // photohttps://bit.ly/wallaceterryphoto
on racism during the Vietnam War // article https://bit.ly/vietwarracism
military history of African Americans // article https://bit.ly/uswarhistory
statistics on Black Americans in Vietnam // book https://bit.ly/ussoldierbook
every movie reference in Da 5 Bloods // article https://bit.ly/da5bloodsrefs
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
Bad Education
How does 11 million dollars go missing from the best school system in the nation? And what does Charles Dickens have to do with it? Bad Education is a film on HBO starring Hugh Jackman, written by Mark Makowsky and directed by Cory Finley. The story is based on the New York Magazine article on Frank Tassone, written by Robert Kolker.
Extras:
Bad Education trailer // 2 min https://bit.ly/badedtrailer
the original New York Magazine piece // article https://bit.ly/badsup
interview with director Cory Finley // article https://bit.ly/cfinley
interview with writer Mike Makowsky // article https://bit.ly/mmakowsky
podcast interview with Frank Tassone // 33 min https://bit.ly/ftassone
interview with actor Hugh Jackman // article https://bit.ly/hjackmanbadsup
aftermath of the embezzlement // article https://bit.ly/pgluckin
on the film’s creation // article https://bit.ly/badedfilm
history of Charles Dickens’ book, Martin Chuzzlewit // articlehttps://bit.ly/dickenschuzzlewit
clipping regarding Dicken’s book // article https://bit.ly/chuzzlewit
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
Mrs. America
Learn about one of the most important women of the 20th century, how amendments work, and a college sophomore who uncovered a 202-year-old loophole in the constitution. We dive into Mrs. America, a miniseries on Hulu, and the books The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan, and A Choice not an Echo, by Phyllis Schlafly.
Extras:
Mrs. America trailer // 3 min https://bit.ly/mrsamericatrailer
the debate on Good Morning America // 24 min https://bit.ly/gmadebate
writer Dahvi Waller on creation // 13 min https://bit.ly/dahviwaller
the historical accuracy of the show // article https://bit.ly/mrsamericafactvfiction
the 27th amendment that was found by a 19-year-old // articlehttps://bit.ly/27amendment
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
Pandemics
Stay safe, wash your hands, socially distance, and call your parents! This week, we cover pandemics in history, and some old movies that are now popular again.
Extras:
CDC reviews pandemic movies // 22 min https://bit.ly/cdcreviewmovies
1918 outbreak, Philly vs. St. Louis // article https://bit.ly/phillystlouispandemic
1885 cholera map data in London // article https://bit.ly/jonsnowmap
interview with expert Ian Lipkin // 17 min https://bit.ly/ianlapkinint
Outbreak trailer // 2 min https://bit.ly/outbreaktrailer
Contagion trailer // 2 min https://bit.ly/contagiontrail
The Hot Zone book // full book https://bit.ly/hotzonebook
the history of pandemics // article https://bit.ly/pandemichistory
Frank Snowden, epidemics and society // article https://bit.ly/franksnowden
The End of October book // book https://bit.ly/endofoctober
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
High Flying Bird (Revolt of the Black Athlete)
An under-the-radar film shot on iPhone, the 1968 Olympic protests, and The Revolt of the Black Athlete. The book is by Harry Edwards, and High Flying Bird is directed by Steven Soderbergh on Netflix.
Extras:
High Flying Bird trailer / 2 min. http://bit.ly/hfbtrailer
Unsane trailer / 2 min. http://bit.ly/unsanetrail
Tarell Alvin McCraney (writer) interview / article http://bit.ly/writerinhfb
High Flying Bird historical context / article http://bit.ly/historicalhfb
Harry Edwards story / article http://bit.ly/hedwards
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
Martin Luther King, Jr
The Civil Rights movement in the 60’s, the missing speech paper, FBI threats, and the biggest Star Trek fan. We cover Martin Luther King Jr, and Selma (2015).
Bonus links:
- King in the Wilderness doc (free on YouTube): http://bit.ly/kinginthewild
- Eyes on the Prize, Selma episode (YouTube): http://bit.ly/pbsdocselma
- FBI note sent to MLK (Vox): http://bit.ly/mlkfbinote
- the man with the “I Have A Dream” paper (YouTube): http://bit.ly/georgerav
- Nichelle Nichols on MLK and Star Trek (YouTube): http://bit.ly/nichellemlk
- Selma trailer (YouTube): http://bit.ly/selmatrail
Free Stuff:
- How to get a free sticker: Send us a message to @illiteratepod on instagram
- Want to help the show? Leave a review! http://ratethispodcast.com/illiterate
Contact: reach out on instagram - @illiteratepod
Star Wars (featuring Splinter of the Mind's Eye)
A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, there was a book. The Star Wars saga is more intertwined in books than you’ve ever been told. Also, so is The Mandalorian. Featuring Splinter of the Mind’s Eye, by Alan Dean Foster.
Extras:
- (WATCH) the trailer for The Mandalorian
- (WATCH) the full Star Wars Holiday Special (1978):
http://bit.ly/swholidayspecial
- (WATCH) the trailer for George Lucas’ first film, THX1138:
- (WATCH) the trailer for the doc, The People vs. George Lucas:
- (WATCH) a video on Lone Wolf and Cub:
- (READ) Shakespeare’s Star Wars:
- (READ) about Star Wars: From the Adventures of Luke Skywalker:
http://bit.ly/swadventuresbook
- (LIST) of the best Star Wars books if you’ve seen the movies:
- (LOOK) at the Star Wars comics from 1977:
Get a copy of Splinter of the Mind’s Eye:
Contact:
reach out on instagram - @illiteratepod
Thanksgiving Special
Learn the history of Black Friday, media to watch/read this season, and the juicy details on the Christmas films we all love. (Yep, they were books.) Check out the links in the show notes for everything!
Thanksgiving films (trailers):
- PLANES, TRAINS, & AUTOMOBILES:
- PRISONERS:
In theaters now (trailers):
- A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD:
- FROZEN 2:
- KNIVES OUT:
- QUEEN & SLIM:
http://bit.ly/queenandslimtrail
- PARASITE:
Book recommendations:
- BILLY LYNN’S LONG HALFTIME WALK:
- THE GREATEST GIFT:
- A CHRISTMAS STORY:
http://bit.ly/christmasstorybook
- THE LIFE & ADVENTURES OF SANTA CLAUS:
Music recommendations (video):
- MUST BE SANTA (Bob Dylan):
History notes:
- (READ) an article about Franksgiving:
- (READ) an article about Philadelphia’s Black Friday:
Get books this holiday season from your independent bookstores:
- Indiebound
Contact:
reach out on instagram - @illiteratepod
Ford v Ferrari (featuring Go Like Hell)
Everything you need to know about Le Mans, racing, and the underdog team that changed the game. The film Ford v Ferrari, based on the book Go Like Hell by AJ Baime.
Watch/read/listen:
- (WATCH) the trailer for Ford v Ferrari
- (WATCH) Jacky Ickx walking to his car
- (WATCH) the trailer for the 1971 film Le Mans
- (WATCH) the trailer for the doc about the 1971 film
- (WATCH) the trailer for The 24 Hour War doc
- (WATCH) the director’s breakdown of running to the car
- (WATCH) the sons as stunt drivers for the film
http://bit.ly/fordvsferrarisons
- (READ) AJ Baime’s book about Ford in WW2
Get a copy of Go Like Hell:
Contact:
reach out on instagram - @illiteratepod