Hansel & Gretel (by the Brothers Grimm)
An interview with the director, Oz Perkins of the new film, Gretel and Hansel. Plus, were the Grimm Brothers really so grim? And why are there so many stories about eating children?
Special thanks to Osgood Perkins for speaking with us this week! Go check out Gretel & Hansel.
Extras:
- Trailer for Gretel & Hansel (YouTube): http://bit.ly/hg2020trailer
- How the Nazis used Grimm fairy tales (Telegraph): http://bit.ly/nazifairytales
- An interview with Osgood Perkins (Daily Beast): http://bit.ly/ozinterview
- Grimm’s law of linguistics (YouTube): http://bit.ly/grimmslaw
- Tim Burton’s Hansel & Gretel (YouTube): http://bit.ly/timburtonhg
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
New Year's Special
Evan and Taylor recap the best episodes, uncover shocking new developments, and say what’s in store for 2020. Also, YOU can get some FREE illiterate swag. Here’s how:
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
Contact: reach out on instagram - @illiteratepod
Contact:
reach out on instagram - @illiteratepod
Cats (featuring Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats)
Musicals from the 80’s, an almost-animation, the history, the hype, and why on earth there’s a movie now. Cats is based on TS Eliot’s “Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats”.
Extras:
(LOOK) at the artwork for the un-made Spielberg animation:
(WATCH) the trailer for the film Cats:
(WATCH) a clip of “Memory” from the musical:
(WATCH) a 30 minute doc on the making of the 1998 film:
(READ) an original Variety review of the 1982 premiere on Broadway:
http://bit.ly/catsvarietyreview
(READ) the TS Eliot poem “Memory” is based on:
http://bit.ly/rhapsodyonawindynight
Get a copy of Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats:
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
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
Frozen (featuring The Snow Queen by Hans Christian Andersen)
The decades-long production of Frozen, the wild life of a Danish man, and how a 150-year-old story made just a few billion dollars. Frozen is based on The Snow Queen, written by Hans Christian Andersen.
Watch/read/listen:
- (WATCH) the original 1957 animated Soviet version:
- (WATCH) about Solvang, California
- (WATCH) the statue of Hans in Central Park, NYC
- (WATCH) a trailer for 1952’s Hans Christian Andersen with Danny Kaye:
- (WATCH) uncut behind the scenes of the Frozen production:
- (READ) the original text of The Snow Queen:
- (READ) about Frozen 2’s monopoly of S. Korea’s theaters:
- (READ) about Hans Christian Andersen’s sexuality:
- (READ) about the weird theme park in China
Get a copy of Hans Christian Andersen’s tales:
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
Stephen King (featuring Doctor Sleep)
Everything you need to know about the master of horror. Also, the tale behind his latest adaptation, Doctor Sleep, the sequel to The Shining.
Watch/read/listen:
- WATCH: the trailer for Doctor Sleep
- WATCH: the trailer for Gerald’s Game
- WATCH: The Shining TV miniseries trailer
- WATCH: Oscar the therapy cat
- WATCH: the Misery trailer
- WATCH: George and Stephen chat
- READ: The Rolling Stone interview
- READ: an interview about Doctor Sleep
- READ: about Stephen King winning the National Book Award
- READ: his fav book, Lisey’s Story
- READ: his memoir, On Writing
Get a copy of Doctor Sleep:
Topics from today’s episode:
01:05 - what is Doctor Sleep?
04:10 - voting for King’s next book
05:50 - a real-life psychic cat
09:40 - father and son influences
12:25 - Stephen’s childhood
15:50 - the garbage, Carrie, and a million bucks
18:30 - the struggle of alcohol and drugs
21:05 - the now-famous author friend
24:30 - free from addiction
27:20 - the near death accident
28:30 - literary merit
29:25 - Stephen’s favorite book he wrote
32:45 - what Stephen is afraid of
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
Nancy Drew - Carolyn Keene
Learn about the bizarre changes to Nancy Drew over time, who wrote the stories, and why she’s inspired millions, even if we can’t remember what happened in her books.
Watch/read/listen:
- (VIDEO) Trailer for the new CW series:
- (VIDEO) Trailer for the 2019 film:
- (VIDEO) An episode of the 1970 TV series:
- (IMAGES): A chronological comparison of cover artwork:
http://bit.ly/covercomparisons
- (IMAGES): The international cover art differences:
- (ARTICLE): The 1930 newspaper article about the shark-shooting author:
- (ARTICLE): About the adaptability of Nancy Drew:
- Get a copy of an original Nancy Drew book:
Topics from today’s episode:
01:30 - Nancy Drew’s mom is dead?
04:00 - Stratemeyer, literary genius
05:50 - the real-life Nancy Drew
08:30 - scandal of the true authors
10:00 - author shoots shark from airplane
13:00 - Nancy’s artwork in other countries
15:15 - the anti-racist revisions in the 60’s
16:50 - the sexual revisions in the 80’s
19:30 - who is Nancy Drew for?
23:50 - Nancy overtakes the Hardy Boys
25:50 - strange and failed adaptations
29:10 - the CW’s take on Nancy
32:00 - why Nancy Drew is so great
34:30 - you could be Nancy Drew!
Contact:
reach out on instagram - @illiteratepod
Joker
Join us and learn about the history of the Joker, and the real world assassinations and scandals that created the Joker character over the years. Now a major film “Joker” with Joaquin Phoenix.
Watch/read/listen:
(IMAGE) The comparison photo between “The Man Who Laughs” and Joker:
(VIDEO) The trailer for “Joker”:
(VIDEO) Batman vs. Alien vs. Predator
(BOOK) The Joker: A Serious Study
(BOOK) An Assassin’s Diary (Arthur Bremer)
Get a copy of “The Killing Joke”:
Topics from today’s episode:
01:00 | Children’s socks with a murderer on them
01:40 | The Killing Joke book
08:10 | the 1928 silent film Joker comes from
11:45 | media controversy
15:20 | Joker’s changes thru the decades
19:30 | audience voted on who Joker should kill
20:40 | Joker becomes the ambassador to Iran
22:30 | how Harley Quinn got made
24:00 | real assassination attempts
28:10 | Joker becomes Batman
29:30 | Batman vs. Alien vs. Predator
30:50 | Joker in Shakespeare
31:30 | the iconic laugh
34:00 | let us know what you think
Contact:
reach out on instagram - @illiteratepod
Judy Garland & End of the Rainbow
Learn about the the tumultuous life of Judy Garland, and the lesser know play End of the Rainbow - which the new film “Judy” is based on. We also reveal connections to The Wizard of Oz, A Star is Born, and a fake ringleader for gay relationships in the military. It gets wild and interwoven in this one. Be sure to check out the links below for all the bonus materials we discuss.
SUPPORT US:
Get a new YA book to your door every month:
Use the code “PSL5” and it’s only 10$!
Get a copy of the play “End of the Rainbow” by Peter Quilter:
BONUS LINKS:
(VIDEO) The trailer for “Judy”:
(VIDEO) The audio tapes for Judy’s unreleased biography:
(VIDEO) The HBO dramatized special “Me and My Shadows”:
(VIDEO) Judy sings “Battle Hymn of the Republic” live:
(VIDEO) An episode of “The Judy Garland Show”:
(VIDEO) The trailer for the TV show “Emerald City” that aired on NBC:
http://bit.ly/emeraldcitytrail
(ARTICLE) Renee Zellweger’s essay after her absence:
(ARTICLE) The NYT obituary (1969) for Judy’s death:
CONTACT LINKS:
reach out on instagram - @illiteratepod
reach out on email - illiterate@email.com
the website for more shows - https://www.podcastgod.net
Heart of Darkness - Joseph Conrad
Learn about the space epic Ad Astra and the 19th century novella it’s based on, Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad.
SUPPORT US:
CRAZY DEAL - 5$ for your FIRST BOX (’til Sept 30th)
click the link and use the code “YALIT”:
Get a copy of Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad:
BONUS LINKS:
(VIDEO) The trailer for Ad Astra:
(VIDEO) The trailer for Monos:
(ARTICLE) An interview with James Gray (director):
(ARTICLE) Critical take on the themes in Heart of Darkness:
CONTACT LINKS:
reach out on instagram - @illiteratepod
reach out on email - illiterate@email.com
the website for more shows - https://www.podcastgod.net
The Goldfinch - Donna Tartt
Don’t let this one pass you by. Learn about the Pulitzer-Prize winning epic that became a box office bust. By Donna Tartt.
SUPPORT US:
CRAZY DEAL - 5$ for your FIRST BOX (’til Sept 30th)
click the link and use the code “YALIT”:
Get a copy of The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt:
BONUS LINKS:
(VIDEO) The trailer for The Goldfinch:
(VIDEO) Donna Tartt interview with Charlie Rose in 2014:
(VIDEO) Donna Tartt interview on tour for Goldfinch:
(VIDEO) The destruction of the Buddhas of Bamyian:
(ARTICLE) How the film reconstructed the Met:
(ARTICLE) Donna Tartt interview before the Goldfinch was written:
CONTACT LINKS:
reach out on instagram - @illiteratepod
reach out on email - illiterate@email.com
the website for more shows - https://www.podcastgod.net