Halloween Special
BOO! Learn the history of Halloween traditions, and origins of the monsters from literature and film.
Check out our other spooky episodes!
ep. 87 - Lovecraft Country
ep. 86 - Haunting of Bly Manor
ep. 85 - Books of Blood
ep. 56 - The Invisible Man
ep. 52 - Color Out of Space
ep. 51 - Hansel and Gretel
ep. 40 - Stephen King
ep. 31 - It
ep. 27 - Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark
Extras:
the best Halloween movies streaming // article
http://bit.ly/halloweenflixlisttraditional Halloween “souling songs” // 8 min
http://bit.ly/soulingsongs
Contact:
Reach out on instagram @illiteratepod // https://www.instagram.com/illiteratepod/
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
Avatar: The Last Airbender
How did the hit Nickelodeon show come to be? What made it so revolutionary? And why is it all up in the news again? Avatar: The Last Airbender was created by Bryan Konietzko and Mike DiMartino, based on the folklore and cultures of Chinese, East Asian, South Asian, Indian, Mesoamerican, and Inuit peoples.
Extras:
original trailer for Avatar: The Last Airbender // 1 min http://bit.ly/avatartrailer1
documentary on Bryan and Mike about the show’s creation // 32 minshttp://bit.ly/avatardoc1
podcast interview with Bryan & Michael (series creators) // 40 minshttp://bit.ly/avatardoc2
original test pilot episode for Avatar // 11 mins http://bit.ly/avatarpilot
Joseph Campbell on The Power of Myth // 56 mins http://bit.ly/powerofmyth1
cultural influences in the world of Avatar // 12 mins http://bit.ly/avatardoc3
master list of influences on the Avatar series // article http://bit.ly/avatarinfluences
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
Harriet (Bound for the Promised Land by Kate Clifford Larson)
Join us as we learn Harriet Tubman’s incredible life, as an abolitionist, spy, and Civil War hero. And why are the only things about her life from children’s books? Harriet is a film by Kasi Lemmons, and Bound for the Promised Land is a book by Kate Clifford Larson.
Extras:
the new photo of Harriet Tubman found in 2017 // article https://bit.ly/harrietphoto
trailer for Harriet // video https://bit.ly/harriettrail
on Harriet Tubman’s visions // article https://bit.ly/harrietvisions
on Harriet Tubman’s Civil War raid // article https://bit.ly/harrietraid
Harriet film vs real life facts // article https://bit.ly/harrietfacts
interview with author Kate Clifford Larson // video https://bit.ly/harrietauthor
Bound for the Promised Land biography // book https://bit.ly/harrietbio
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
Watchmen (HBO)
We tackle the race massacre of 1921, the lead-up of the Red Summer of 1919, and the hidden history uncovered in modern times. Watchmen is created by Damon Lindelof, based on the book by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons. The Burning is written by Tim Madigan.
Extras:
Watchmen (HBO) trailer // 2 min https://bit.ly/watchmenhbotrail
interview with Damon Lindelof on writing // 10 min https://bit.ly/damonlinterview
Tim Madigan’s book, The Burning // book https://bit.ly/theburningbook
WEB DuBois essay, “Returning Soldiers” // essay https://bit.ly/returnsoldiers
the history of the Tulsa Race Massacre // article https://bit.ly/tulsarm
the history of the Rosewood Massacre // article https://bit.ly/rosewdmassacre
press during 1919 massacres // article https://bit.ly/1919press
1921 Tulsa article after the massacre // article https://bit.ly/tulsajune2
Donald Byrd’s dance “Greenwood” // 38 min https://bit.ly/greenwooddance
Teaching for Black Lives materials // resource https://www.teachingforblacklives.org
Rosewood (1997) trailer // 3 min https://bit.ly/rosewoodtrailer
interview with Olivia Hooker, a survivor // article https://bit.ly/oliviahint
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
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
The Plot Against America (by Philip Roth)
We give you the imaginary presidency of Charles Lindbergh, the cycles of human history, and what the heck was really going on in 1940. This week, “The Plot Against America”, a limited series on HBO, and a novel by Philip Roth.
Extras:
The Plot Against America trailer // 3 min https://bit.ly/plotagainsttrailer
interview with author Philip Roth // 5 min https://bit.ly/prothinterview
interview with author Philip Roth // article https://bit.ly/nytrothinterview
the 1939 opinion poll on Jewish population // article https://bit.ly/1939poll
Charles Lindbergh’s anti-Semitic speech // audiohttps://bit.ly/lindberghspeech
the 1936 poll about FDR becoming a dictator // articlehttps://bit.ly/fdrdictator
the history of quotas on Jewish students at Ivy Leagues // articlehttps://bit.ly/ivyleaguedisc
the Howe-Strauss generational cycle theory // articlehttps://bit.ly/generationaltheory
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
Parasite
The South Korean film that swept the Oscars this year, and the meaning behind the big film and literature prizes.
Extras:
Parasite trailer / 2 min: http://bit.ly/parasitetrail
interview with Bong Joon Ho / article: http://bit.ly/bongint
interview about set design / article: http://bit.ly/architectureparasite
interview about editing / article: http://bit.ly/editorparasite
video about the french sisters / 10 min: http://bit.ly/papinsisters
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
Animal Farm (by George Orwell)
Learn about how the CIA paid for the film version, the links to the Russian Revolution, and how the author (literally) lost his voice. This is a dive into a literary classic, Animal Farm by George Orwell.
Links:
- (WATCH): the full 1954 version on YouTube:
- (WATCH): the full 1999 version on YouTube:
http://bit.ly/animalfarm1999film
- (READ) the missing preface about censorship:
- (WATCH) China’s ban on Animal Farm in 2018:
- (READ) about the early Polish influence, Bunt:
- (READ) the one-to-one parallels to Soviet history:
http://bit.ly/sovietparallelsanimal
- (READ) Orwell’s book, “Down and Out in Paris and London”:
- (READ) the CIA’s balloon drop of Animal Farm into the Soviet Union:
http://bit.ly/ciaballonsanimalfarm
Giveaways & more:
- How to get a free sticker: Send us a message to @illiteratepod on instagram saying you want some!!!
- Want to help the show? Leave a review!
www.ratethispodcast.com/illiterate
- Get a copy of Animal Farm:
Contact:
reach out on instagram - @illiteratepod
Little Women (by Louisa May Alcott)
The story behind the progressive book from 150 years ago, and why it keeps being re-told. Little Women is based on the book by Louisa May Alcott.
Links:
- (WATCH) the trailer for the 2019 film:
http://bit.ly/littlewomen2019trail
- (WATCH) the trailer for the 1994 film:
http://bit.ly/littlewomen1994trail
- (WATCH) the reaction of Joey on Friends:
http://bit.ly/friendslittlewomen
- (WATCH) full episodes from the anime TV series:
http://bit.ly/animelittlewomen
- (WATCH) a comparison of the film adaptations:
- (READ) about A Long Fatal Love Chase:
Extras:
- How to get a free sticker:
Send us a message to @illiteratepod on instagram
- Want to help the show?
Leave a review!
www.ratethispodcast.com/illiterate
- Get a copy of Little Women:
Contact:
reach out on instagram - @illiteratepod
The Irishman (featuring I Heard You Paint Houses by Charles Brandt)
The mafia, Jimmy Hoffa, and the Irish guy who told it all. The Irishman, directed by Martin Scorcese is based on the (maybe) true book, “I Heard You Paint Houses” by Charles Brandt.
Extras:
- (WATCH) the Mythbusters ep about Hoffa in the stadium:
- (WATCH) a tv doc on the Irishman’s interviews with the author:
- (READ) an article refuting the book’s validity:
- (READ) about the de-aging effects in the film:
- (READ) about DeNiro’s warning by journalists not to make the film:
- (READ) about Jimmy Hoffa in film:
Get a copy of I Heard You Paint Houses:
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
Motherless Brooklyn - Jonathan Lethem
Watch/read/listen:
- (WATCH): the trailer for Motherless Brooklyn
http://bit.ly/motherlesstrailer
- (WATCH): the trailer for the doc Twitch and Shout
- (WATCH): a doc about the NBA player with Tourettes
- (LISTEN): to the Radiohead version of the main song
- (LISTEN): to the Jazz version of the main song
- (LISTEN): to Prince’s extended version of Kiss
- (READ): the guest list for Radiohead’s concert
http://bit.ly/guestlistradiohead
- (READ): An Anthropologist on Mars neurology book
- (READ): The Power Broker about Robert Moses
- (READ): an article about the road through Washington Square Park
Get a copy of Motherless Brooklyn:
Topics from today’s episode:
01:05 - why you should listen to the audiobook
02:50 - the worldwide history of detectives
08:00 - who is Jonathan Lethem?
08:15 - what does Motherless Brooklyn mean?
10:00 - why the detective has Tourette’s
12:00 - Edward Norton finds the book
16:30 - the secret man who ran NYC
21:45 - Edward Norton almost gave up
23:05 - ‘90s music in a ’50’s world
25:10 - Prince and Tourette’s
28:00 - the NBA player with Tourette’s
29:20 - the beautiful last line
33:10 - let us know what you’re into
Contact:
reach out on instagram - @illiteratepod
The Laundromat - Secrecy World by Jake Bernstein
Explaining the biggest worldwide monetary scandal everyone promptly forgot about. The Laundromat is out on Netflix, based on the book Secrecy World by Jake Bernstein.
Watch/read/listen:
- (WATCH): the trailer for The Laundromat
- (READ): about the boat sinking insurance scandal:
- (READ): about the murder of the businessman in China:
- (READ): the full interactive database for the Panama Papers:
- Get a copy of Secrecy World:
Topics from today’s episode:
01:30 - the movie’s comedic take
02:20 - reasons for a shell company
06:45 - strange origins of the company
10:55 - tax avoidance or tax evasion
12:45 - how they got so popular
15:30 - who tried to stop this?
17:10 - the pot starts boiling over
22:00 - the real boating accident
24:25 - the secret art world
26:45 - the flood of leaks
32:45 - the murder in China
Contact:
reach out on instagram - @illiteratepod
Jojo Rabbit - Caging Skies by Christine Leunens
How the film Jojo Rabbit was birthed from a tragic book, the history of Hitler satire, and what all the dictators are writing about. Jojo Rabbit is out now, starring Taika Waititi, based on the book Caging Skies by Christine Leunens.
Watch/read/listen:
- (WATCH) the trailer for Jojo Rabbit:
- (WATCH) the Mercedes commercial the author of Caging Skies modeled in:
- (WATCH) an Interview with Christine Leunens about New Zealand:
- (WATCH) Taika Waititi falling asleep at the Oscars:
- (WATCH) Taika’s short film, Two Cars One Night:
- (WATCH) The Great Dictator - full film (1940):
http://bit.ly/greatdictatorchaplin
- (WATCH) the trailer for The Producers (1967):
http://bit.ly/producers1967trail
- (WATCH) the film Look Who’s Back on Netflix:
- (WATCH) the trailer for the Australian show Danger 5:
- (READ) about the store in India called Hitler:
- (READ) about “What Can We Learn from Dictator’s Literature?”:
- (READ) about “Hitler’s Forgotten Library”:
- (LISTEN): to a New Zealand radio interview with Christine Leunens about the film adaptation:
Get a copy of Caging Skies, the book Jojo’s based on:
Topics from today’s episode:
00:01 - a Nancy Drew collector hit us up
03:20 - Caging Skies is wildly different
07:20 - The supermodel who wrote Caging Skies
10:00 - this story happened to her friend
11:40 - how it’s Taika Waititi’s mom’s fault
18:50 - the history of Hitler parodies
27:20 - Saddam Hussein wrote romance fiction
29:40 - Hitler’s secret library
31:10 - the future of satirizing Hitler?
Contact:
reach out on instagram - @illiteratepod
Chaos - Tom O'Neill
The theories and web of connections you’ve never heard in the case against Charles Manson. We discuss CHAOS by Tom O’Neill (a masterwork 20 years in the making), and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, now a major motion picture.
SUPPORT US LINKS:
Pick up a copy of the book, “CHAOS”:
Sign up for Book of the Month Club YA
BONUS LINKS:
The Hippie Trip (BOOK):
The Family (BOOK):
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood trailer (VIDEO):
Cease to Exist documentary (VIDEO):
The Bandit Documentary trailer (VIDEO):
You Must Remember This podcast series on Manson (PODCAST):
The Last Podcast on the Left Charles Manson series (PODCAST):
CONTACT LINKS:
email us any questions, comments, or curse words - illiterate@email.com
follow for silly memes on instagram - @illiteratepod
go to the website for more shows - www.podcastgod.net