The Righteous Gemstones & Tammy Faye
Two big releases this week, all about megachurches and televangelism. Didn’t this fizzle out in the 80’s? The answers to the origins of this media go back to the 1920’s, and has actually just kept growing. Come learn with us!
Evan and Taylor’s projects:
go watch Evan’s film work https://linktr.ee/evanscottrussell
sign up for Taylor’s weekly newsletter http://newsletter.podcastgod.net
Contact:
Reach out on instagram - @illiteratepod
Extras:
trailer, The Righteous Gemstones https://bit.ly/gemstones1
trailer, The Eyes of Tammy Faye https://bit.ly/gemstones2
book, PTL: The Rise and Fall of Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker’s Evangelical Empire https://amzn.to/3ulmwcn
book, Sister Aimee: The Life of Aimee Semple McPherson https://amzn.to/3gisZwJ
article, statistics on megachurches https://econ.st/3gpgDCZ
interview, Danny McBride https://bit.ly/gemstones3
video, animated backstory on Danny McBride https://bit.ly/gemstones4
Nightmare Alley
Guillermo del Toro’s latest film has nothing to do with monsters, but everything to do with regular ‘ol humans. How did he get into this noir carnival story, based on a book from the 1940’s? And what did the original author (of the book’s) life and work have to say about searching for answers? Come down this twisty, shadowy trail and learn with us!
Evan and Taylor’s projects:
go watch Evan’s film work https://linktr.ee/evanscottrussell
sign up for Taylor’s weekly newsletter http://newsletter.podcastgod.net
Contact:
Reach out on instagram - @illiteratepod
Extras:
trailer, Nightmare Alley (2021) https://bit.ly/nightalley1
article, on author William Lindsay Gresham https://bit.ly/nightalley2
article, origin of the term “geek” https://bit.ly/nightalley3
article, history of noir fiction https://bit.ly/nightalley4
article, on the death of William Lindsay Gresham https://bit.ly/nightalley5
full film, original Nightmare Alley (1947) https://bit.ly/nightalley6
trailer, Shadowlands (CS Lewis film) (1993) https://bit.ly/nightalley7
Scream
It’s been a decade, and here’s another sequel-reboot-remake-hybrid film. What makes Scream different? Where did the original slasher come from, even before filmmaking existed? And what do artists have to say with the genre? Come learn with us!
Contact:
Reach out on instagram - @illiteratepod
Extras:
trailer, Scream (2022) https://bit.ly/screamfilm2
trailer, Scream (1996) https://bit.ly/screamfilm1
article, Grand Guignol theatre and original “slasher” plays https://bit.ly/screamfilm3
article, how Psycho changed slasher films https://bit.ly/screamfilm5
trailer, Wes Craven’s New Nightmare https://bit.ly/screamfilm6
article, list of real-life associated “Scream killings” https://bit.ly/screamfilm4
Euphoria
The biggest first night of any show on HBO Max…was based on an Israeli miniseries? How did that come to be, and what changed? And is all the controversy on the nudity, sex, violence and drugs truly original, or something we’ve seen before? Let’s find out!
Contact:
Reach out on instagram - @illiteratepod
Extras:
trailer, Euphoria Season 2 (2022) https://bit.ly/euphoriashow4
trailer, original Israeli series (2012) https://bit.ly/euphoriashow1
video, Sam Levinson talking about his life at the premiere https://bit.ly/euphoriashow6
trailer, Kids (1995) https://bit.ly/euphoriashow10
study, the show 13 Reasons Why and youth suicide https://bit.ly/euphoriashow9
study, reduction in teen drug use (2018) https://bit.ly/euphoriashow7
article, Euphoria and teen sex and drug use stats https://bit.ly/euphoriashow8
interview, Ron Leshem (original creator) https://bit.ly/euphoriashow2
interview, Sam Levinson https://bit.ly/euphoriashow3
interview, Hunter Schafer https://bit.ly/euphoriashow5
Don't Look Up
It’s the third most-watched film on Netflix…and half of everybody hates/loves it. What is a “satire”? Is this doing it right? We’re going back to ancient Greece, the 1960’s, an Animal Farm and a Lottery, all to figure this week’s episode out. Come learn!
Contact:
Reach out on instagram - @illiteratepod
Extras:
trailer, Don’t Look Up (2021) https://bit.ly/dontlook1
pew research, climate change attitudes https://pewrsr.ch/3F5OXNe
article, NASA DART asteriod redirect mission https://go.nasa.gov/3HHhf2k
interview, Adam McKay https://bit.ly/dontlook2
comparison, Dr. Strangelove and the film https://bit.ly/dontlook3
letter, TS Eliot to George Orwell https://bit.ly/dontlook4
interview, Astronomer Amy Mainzer https://bit.ly/dontlook5
article, types of satire https://bit.ly/dontlook6
article, Aristophanes the Father of Comedy https://bit.ly/dontlook7
Best of 2021
Evan and Taylor replay the top moments from the year, and their picks for the must-listen episodes!
If the show has helped, educated, or inspired you this year, we’d love for you to share an episode with a friend. It’s the reason we come back every week, and would mean so much to us. Thanks for learning along with us in 2021.
Extras:
find a list of all the episodes (with links!) http://podcastgod.net/illiterate
go watch Evan’s short film “Luna Fish”, password given at (00:50) in the episode https://vimeo.com/653796501
subscribe to Taylor’s weekly newsletter, “Things” http://newsletter.podcastgod.net
Our Key Episodes:
My Hero Academia go listen here
James Bond (part 2) go listen here
Contact:
Reach out on instagram @illiteratepod
The Matrix
What are the hidden influences behind the trilogy? Why is there a new film now, after all these years? And what exactly are the Wachowskis up to? Come learn something new!
Contact:
Reach out on instagram - @illiteratepod
Extras:
trailer, The Matrix: Resurrections (2021) https://bit.ly/matrix41
article, on the Wachowskis (written 2012) https://bit.ly/thematrix42
interview, the Wachowskis (2013) https://bit.ly/thematrix43
video, the Matrix and a transgender perspective https://bit.ly/matrix48
video, Ghost in the Shell opening sequence (1995) https://bit.ly/thematrix44
video, showing the book “Simulacra and Simulation in the Matrix (1999) https://bit.ly/thematrix45
interview, Lana Wachowski on The Matrix 4 https://bit.ly/thematrix46
article, The Matrix and the start of superhero films https://bit.ly/thematrix47
book, The Art of the Matrix (2000) https://amzn.to/3eiCSt7
films, 10 disc DVD Matrix set with commentary https://amzn.to/3pjqm30
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 Power of the Dog
A revisionist western from an award winning writer/director, after a decade away. So where did this adaptation come from? Who is the author Thomas Savage, and what from his life made its way into the story? Listen and learn! The Power of The Dog is on Netflix, written and directed by Jane Campion.
Contact:
Reach out on instagram - @illiteratepod
Extras:
trailer, The Power of the Dog https://bit.ly/powerofdog1
article, on cinematographer Ari Wegner https://bit.ly/powerofdog2
article, life of Thomas Savage (U of Montana) https://bit.ly/powerofdog3
article, life of Thomas Savage (Montana Magazine 2008) https://bit.ly/powerofdog4
video interview, Jane Campion https://bit.ly/powerofdog5
video interview, J. Campion, B. Cumberbatch, K. Dunst, K. Smit-McPhee, A. Wegner https://bit.ly/powerofdog6
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
Ghostbusters
A beloved, merchandise-laden property, with very few movies to its name - why is that? What took so long? And why is Dan Aykroyd’s family so into ghosts? Come learn the twisty-turvy spooky history of the Ghostbusters franchise.
Contact:
Reach out on instagram - @illiteratepod
Extras:
trailer, Ghostbusters: Afterlife https://bit.ly/gbuster1
book, Peter Aykroyd’s “A History of Ghosts” https://bit.ly/gbuster4
ILLITERATE episode, The Conjuring https://bit.ly/gbuster5
trailer, Abbot and Costello’s Hold That Ghost (1941) https://bit.ly/gbuster6
pilot, 1970’s The Ghost Busters original live action show https://bit.ly/gbuster11
song, Huey Lewis’ “I Want a New Drug”, similar to theme song https://bit.ly/gbuster2
pilot episode, “The Real Ghostbusters” https://bit.ly/gbuster9
video, Filmation’s “Ghostbusters” cartoon intro https://bit.ly/gbuster7
article, why the Ghostbusters video game is the third film https://bit.ly/gbuster10
article, the history of Ghostbusters production https://bit.ly/gbusters8
Clifford the Big Red Dog
We know the massive lovable pooch, but why did he become such a staple of children’s literature? Who is responsible, and is there any psychology or science to his appeal? Come learn about Scholastic Book Fairs, Clifford, and more!
Contact:
Reach out on instagram - @illiteratepod
Extras:
photo, the original Clifford artwork https://bit.ly/cliffordoriginal
trailer, Clifford (2021) https://bit.ly/illclifford1
article, history of Scholastic https://bit.ly/illclifford2
article, history of Clifford books https://bit.ly/illclifford3
illiterate episode, on Dr. Seuss http://podcastgod.net/illiterate-episodes/drseuss
article, science of Clifford’s appeal https://bit.ly/illclifford5
article, CGI puppeteers interview https://bit.ly/illclifford6
video, tik tok “clifford horror puppet” https://bit.ly/illclifford7
video, baby’s color vision development https://bit.ly/illclifford4
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
You
This hit Netflix series only gets bigger, but was it actually a Netflix show? How does the author’s books affect the story? And why do people let a killer kill…for love?
Contact:
Reach out on instagram - @illiteratepod
Extras:
trailer, You season 3 (2021) https://bit.ly/younetflix1
article, showrunner Sera Gamble https://bit.ly/younetflix2
article, actor Penn Badgley https://bit.ly/younetflix3
interview, author Caroline Kepnes https://bit.ly/younetflix4
interview, author Caroline Kepnes (2018) https://bit.ly/younetflix5
roundtable conversation, Caroline, Sera, and Penn https://bit.ly/younetflix6
video, Evan’s film with Dylan Arnold https://linktr.ee/evanscottrussell
Dune
AT LAST, the truly epic tale is getting a film…series? What’s the big deal about the sweeping story? Why couldn’t it be adapted well? And how did it change filmmaking without even getting a proper chance on screen? Let’s learn!
Contact:
Reach out on instagram - @illiteratepod
Extras:
trailer, Dune (2021) https://bit.ly/illdune1
video, analysis of Frank Herbert’s writing style https://bit.ly/illdune4
interview transcript, Frank Herbert (1969) https://bit.ly/illdune7
interview transcript, Frank Herbert (1977) https://bit.ly/illdune8
article, the usage of the word “jihad” in Dune https://bit.ly/illdune6
trailer, documentary on Jodorowsky’s Dune (2014) https://bit.ly/illdune5
trailer, Dune (1984) https://bit.ly/illdune2
trailer, Dune miniseries (2000) https://bit.ly/illdune3
My Hero Academia
Come dive in as we learn the history of manga, and this particular series by Kohei Horikoshi. What is his mysterious past and creative process, and why is this series blowing up internationally? What more can be said about superheroes? Let’s learn!
a correction in the episode: the genre Shōjo manga should be pronounced more like (SHOW-JOE) than (SHOW-JOO). Apologies!
Contact:
Reach out on instagram - @illiteratepod
Extras:
article, brief history of manga https://bit.ly/mhamanga1
trailer, My Hero Academia: World Heroes’ Mission (2021) https://bit.ly/mhamanga2
trailer, Your Name anime film (2016) https://bit.ly/mhamanga9
interview, Weekly Shonen Jump Editor in Chief https://bit.ly/mhamanga3
article, original 12th century “manga” https://bit.ly/mhamanga10
interview, editors of My Hero Academia https://bit.ly/mhamanga4
interview, creator Kohei Horikoshi https://bit.ly/mhamanga5
page, One Piece creator supporting Horikoshi https://bit.ly/mhamanga6
free first issue, My Hero Academia chapter 1 https://bit.ly/mhamanga7
video, Horikoshi’s other manga works https://bit.ly/mhamanga8
James Bond (part 2)
Follow along our jam-packed look on what made the Bond series progress, decade after decade. Why did the actors and tone of the films keep changing? What is the story behind the spy genre? Who was responsible for it all? And - can we predict what the future of the series will hold? Listen and learn!
Contact:
Reach out on instagram - @illiteratepod
Extras:
trailer, No Time To Die (2021) https://bit.ly/nttd0072
data, Bond box office tracking https://bit.ly/bondpt21
article, copyright battle for Thunderball https://bit.ly/bondpt22
book, the history of the bikini https://bit.ly/bondpt23
article, the “anti-Bond” Harry Palmer series https://bit.ly/bondpt24
article, tidbits on all Bond films https://bit.ly/bondpt25
James Bond (part 1)
The longest running film series in history…what was it BEFORE any of that? Let’s learn about the creator, the reason for making Bond, where his quirks come from, and what he was originally like before the films.
Contact:
Reach out on instagram - @illiteratepod
Extras:
article, JFK’s recommendation of 007 https://bit.ly/nttd0071
trailer, No Time to Die (2021) https://bit.ly/nttd0072
article, job history of Ian Fleming https://bit.ly/nttd0073
video, Casino Royale TV movie (1954) https://bit.ly/nttd0074
article, list of real-life James Bond inspirations https://bit.ly/nttd0075
book, Ian Fleming biography https://bit.ly/nttd0076
Marvel's What If…? & Star Wars: Visions
These two mega-mythical properties are at it again, this time with a whole new set of creatives and wild ideas to shake up the franchise. What are these animated anthologies saying about the properties, and has this been done before? Let’s learn together!
Contact:
Reach out on instagram - @illiteratepod
Extras:
trailer, Marvel Studio’s What If…? (2021) https://bit.ly/marvsw1
trailer, Star Wars: Visions (2021) https://bit.ly/marvsw2
article, history of Multiverse idea https://bit.ly/marvsw3
interview, What If writer AC Bradley https://bit.ly/marvsw4
character, Man-Spider (Spider-Man multiverse) https://bit.ly/marvsw5
book, Star Wars Visions (2010) https://bit.ly/marvsw6
production brief, What If…? https://bit.ly/marvsw7
article, Star Wars Japanese influence https://bit.ly/marvsw8
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