Best Readalong Podcasts (2024)

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Episode 210 - Getting Cozy with Our Mystery Man, John Valeri 1:45:19

1h ago1:45:19

1:45:19

Welcome to Episode 210, where we have the pleasure of welcoming back Our Mystery Man, John Valeri! For those of you who are new to the Book Cougars, John is a frequent guest. He’s a reader, professional reviewer, and interviewer extraordinaire (check out his BookTube channel, CENTRAL BOOKING). John joins us to not only recommend some hot new myster…

1
Ghost Is One of the Flavours - ”The Undetectables” Perimortem IV 14:31

5h ago14:31

14:31

Episode 345 "The Undetectables" by Courtney Smyth, Perimortem IV Can you kill something that's already dead? Anita revisits some of the mystery around the killer's targets, while Scott wonders if Theodore's murder years earlier is linked to the current mystery. You can follow The Read-Along on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook @thereadalong, and join…

1
Is “Forrest Gump” Still Apolitical Today? Was It Ever? (1994 Film) | Book vs Movie 1:21:22

4d ago1:21:22

1:21:22

The filmmakers behind the adaptation of Winston Groom’s novel all contend that Forrest Gump is “apolitical,” but watching it today puts that claim into serious question. Besides, was it ever really true? Join Luke Elliott & James Bailey in episode 314 as they discuss Tom Hanks running his way into American hearts with a more wholesome version of th…

1
Ex Machina Deluxe Volume 03 1:17:32

5d ago1:17:32

1:17:32

Send us a Text Message. "If the city gets too comfortable in the belief I'm going to personally fix everything, they'll stop striving to solve problems on their own." In this week's episode, Mike and Alex are here to discuss Ex Machina Deluxe Volume 3 (issues #21-29 plus Special #3) from Brian K. Vaughan and Tony Harris. The guys dive into how the …

1
An Apparent Parent - ”The Undetectables” Chapter 23 14:13

7h ago14:13

14:13

Episode 344 "The Undetectables" by Courtney Smyth, Chapter 23 A recap of clues turns into deadly danger! Scott considers that one suspect hasn't necessarily been honest about their background, while Anita think Cornelia is starting to resent her privilege. You can follow The Read-Along on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook @thereadalong, and join our …

1
Forrest Gump’s Nasty Heart (In the 1986 Novel) 1:05:31

21h ago1:05:31

1:05:31

Winston Groom’s original character is markedly different from the Tom Hanks version that won over the world. In episode 313, join Luke Elliott & James Bailey as the wonder what drew Robert Zemeckis to this version of Gump, wrestle with an orangutan named “Sue,” break down what makes satire effective, and try to understand the purpose of the off-put…

1
Ex Machina Deluxe Volume 02 1:35:48

13d ago1:35:48

1:35:48

Send us a Text Message. "I don't know when I went from hero to villain in this town, but it sure as s*** happened fast." In this week's episode of Storied Arcs, Mike and Alex tackle Ex Machina Deluxe Volume 2 (issues #12-29 plus Specials #1-2) from Brian K. Vaughan and Tony Harris. The guys jump right into the various storylines presented in this v…

1
Episode 209 - Author Spotlight with Sara Paretsky 1:36:43

14d ago1:36:43

1:36:43

Welcome to Episode 209! We were thrilled and honored to talk with New York Times bestselling author, mystery legend, and social justice advocate Sara Paretsky. We talk with Sara about her newly published novel, PAY DIRT, the 22nd installment in her V.I. Warshawski series, founding Sisters in Crime, and so much more. Don’t miss our conversation at t…

1
It's Very Suspicious - ”The Undetectables” Chapter 22 17:59

7d ago17:59

17:59

Episode 343 "The Undetectables" by Courtney Smyth, Chapter 22 Theodore is released from jail, just in time to find himself in more peril. Scott and Anita discuss the very suspicious behavior of a very suspicious suspect. You can follow The Read-Along on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook @thereadalong, and join our Goodreads Group to get your discussi…

1
Ex Machina Deluxe Volume 01 1:35:03

16d ago1:35:03

1:35:03

Send us a Text Message. "Everyone was scared back then, and when folks are scared, they want to be surrounded by heroes. But real heroes are just a fiction we create. They don't exist outside of comic books." Welcome to the new season of Storied Arcs, where Mike and Alex are diving deep into Brian K. Vaughan and Tony Harris' Ex Machina, originally …

1
Adaptation Magic | Is “The Prestige” Christopher Nolan’s Best? (2006 film) 1:18:51

26d ago1:18:51

1:18:51

Christopher and Jonathan Nolan pulled off one of the greatest magic tricks in film history with their ambitious adaptation of Christopher Priest’s novel. In episode 312, join Luke Elliott & James Bailey as they try to crack the code, get philosophical about duplication, let Christian Bale teach them about sacrifice, marvel at Hugh Jackman’s showman…

1
A Halloween Vampire Castle - ”The Undetectables” Chapter 21 21:14

17d ago21:14

21:14

Episode 342 "The Undetectables" by Courtney Smyth, Chapter 21 The girls crash a vampire funeral, and uncover some disturbing historical information. Scott wonders if the Whistler has some lofty vengeance in mind, while Anita considers if the killer's magic is contaminating some suspects. You can follow The Read-Along on Twitter, Instagram and Faceb…

1
Intro to Ex Machina & Creator Spotlight: Tony Harris, Tom Feister, Jim Clark, and JD Mettler 1:06:18

20d ago1:06:18

1:06:18

Send us a Text Message. For the new season of Storied Arcs, Mike and Alex strap on their jetpacks and soar into the sky as they get ready to discuss Ex Machina by Brian K. Vaughan and Tony Harris, originally published by DC under the Wildstorm imprint beginning in 2004 before moving over to the Vertigo imprint and then eventually to the Black Label…

1
Episode 208 - Author Spotlight with Sara B. Franklin 1:33:17

22d ago1:33:17

1:33:17

Welcome to Episode 208, which features a fantastic author spotlight with Sara B. Franklin. Her new biography, THE EDITOR: HOW PUBLISHING LEGEND JUDITH JONES SHAPED CULTURE IN AMERICA, is a must-read. It is not hyperbole to say that everyone reading and eating today has been touched by Judith Jones’s work, and Franklin’s writing is a delight to read…

1
Ghost Jail - ”The Undetectables” Chapter 20 18:19

1M ago18:19

18:19

Episode 341 "The Undetectables" by Courtney Smyth, Chapter 20 Theodore talks himself directly into jail. Anita and Scott discuss Cornelia's kind gesture to Mallory, and how Mallory is falling into the "waiting for the right time" trap to break some bad news. You can follow The Read-Along on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook @thereadalong, and join ou…

1
Illusion Is Shared Delusion in “The Prestige” (1995 Novel) 1:02:53

26d ago1:02:53

1:02:53

Before Christopher Nolan’s film blew audiences minds with its shocking reveals, Christopher Priest’s book had already been dazzling readers for over a decade. In episode 311, join Luke Elliott & James Bailey as they explore the differences, enter the Pact of Acquiescent Magic, try to heal a generational rivalry, sabotage a séance, hear whispers fro…

1
Creator Interview: Lydia Sherrer 2:18:08

24d ago2:18:08

2:18:08

Send us a Text Message. Welcome to a very special bonus episode of Storied Arcs! This week, Mike and Alex are ecstatic to bring you a conversation they had with writer Lydia Sherrer, the author of the Love, Lies, and Hocus Pocus series aka The Lily Singer Adventures! They get into everything here, from how Lydia built and planned her book series fr…

1
Crazy High - ”The Undetectables” Perimortem III 17:05

1M ago17:05

17:05

Episode 340 "The Undetectables" by Courtney Smyth, Perimortem III Another person close to the detectives gets got. Scott assures everyone he's not reading ahead, while Anita is suspicious someone is targeting Cornelia. You can follow The Read-Along on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook @thereadalong, and join our Goodreads Group to get your discussion…

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From the Vault: The Hobbit (1977 film) 48:48

29d ago48:48

48:48

In this former Patreon-exclusive, Luke & James see Middle Earth in a time before Peter Jackson’s films, fall in love with a cat-like Smaug, get creeped out by a frog-like Gollum, reckon with a sterner version of Gandalf, discuss the evolution of animation outside of Disney in the states, and dream about owning a piece of LOTR history. Vote on Quart…

1
Creator Interview with Erica Schultz 1:11:55

1M ago1:11:55

1:11:55

Send us a Text Message. This week, Mike and Alex are pleased to be joined by writer and letterer Erica Schultz, one of the co-creators of Bylines in Blood. They start by covering the origins of Bylines in Blood, how Erica got hooked up with both Van Jensen and Aneke to create this comic, and what the experience was like working with a co-writer in …

1
Episode 207 - Spotlight with Author & Rare Book Dealer Rebecca Romney 1:46:16

1M ago1:46:16

1:46:16

Welcome to Episode 207. We are thrilled to have the opportunity to talk with rare book dealer and author Rebecca Romney. Her first book was PRINTER’S ERROR: Irreverent Stories from Book History, and she made a significant contribution to the world of romance fiction with her collection, THE ROMANCE NOVEL IN ENGLISH: A Rare Book Survey, 1769-1999. Y…

1
The Lily Singer Adventures & The World of Love, Lies, and Hocus Pocus 35:48

1M ago35:48

35:48

Send us a Text Message. And now for something completely different (that isn't actually that different at all). Back in fall of 2023 at the Cincinnati Comic Expo, Mike got to chatting with writer Lydia Sherrer, author of the Love, Lies, and Hocus Pocus series aka The Lily Singer Adventures. While not specifically comic-focused, Lydia has a passion …

1
The Beginning of Maturity - ”The Undetectables” Chapter 19 24:21

2M ago24:21

24:21

Episode 339 "The Undetectables" by Courtney Smyth, Chapter 19 A late-night snack leads to Beckett getting kicked out. Anita is starting to see growth in Mallory, while Scott wonders if the next victim will be one of the suspects. You can follow The Read-Along on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook @thereadalong, and join our Goodreads Group to get your…

1
A Wild Trip Through “Alice in Wonderland” (1951 film) | Book vs Movie 1:00:04

1M ago1:00:04

1:00:04

This just might be Walt Disney’s strangest adaptation, but that’s appropriate considering the source material with Lewis Carroll’s ALICE’S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND & THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS. In episode 310, join Luke Elliott & James Bailey as they take a tumble down a rabbit hole into Wonderland, eat some body altering mushrooms, get psychedelic …

1
Bylines in Blood 1:32:17

1M ago1:32:17

1:32:17

Send us a Text Message. "Reality is, there is no truth. Everyone's got their own perspective. No one gets to be the arbiter of that. The only thing you can do is make your own truth." On this episode of Storied Arcs, Mike and Alex are ready to fight for the truth as they dive deep into Bylines in Blood by Erica Schultz, Van Jensen, and Aneke from A…

1
An Official Accusation - ”The Undetectables” Chapter 18 22:59

1M ago22:59

22:59

Episode 338 "The Undetectables" by Courtney Smyth, Chapter 18 Mallory and Cornelia have an unusual talk with the Night Mayor. Scott officially opens up the Accusing Parlour and explains to Anita who he thinks the serial killer is. You can follow The Read-Along on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook @thereadalong, and join our Goodreads Group to get you…

1
A Rabbit Hole of Controversy in “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” (1865 novel) 55:40

2M ago55:40

55:40

Lewis Carroll gave the world perhaps the most iconic children’s books of all time with ALICE’S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND and THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS, but his legacy has become shrouded by controversy by modern scholars. In episode 309, join Luke & James as they follow the White Rabbit into a magical world, play logic and word games, appreciate pun…

1
Intro to Bylines in Blood & Creator Spotlight: Erica Schultz, Van Jensen, and Aneke 1:05:29

2M ago1:05:29

1:05:29

Send us a Text Message. Welcome to a new season of Storied Arcs! For this outing, Mike and Alex will be diving into their (and perhaps last, question mark?) series from AfterShock Comics, Bylines in Blood (issues #1-4) by Erica Schultz, Van Jensen, and Aneke. They start by pitching you on why they love this comic, including the way it balances mult…

1
Episode 206 - Author Spotlight with Rebecca Rego Barry 1:37:21

2M ago1:37:21

1:37:21

Welcome to Episode 206 where we have a fantastic conversation with Rebecca Rego Barry, author of THE VANISHING OF CAROLYN WELLS: Investigations into a Forgotten Mystery Author. One reviewer referred to Barry’s book as a “process biography.” It is true, Barry takes you along on her investigation into the life of Carolyn Wells who, it turns out, wrot…

1
Hotelier - ”The Undetectables” Chapter 17 24:41

2M ago24:41

24:41

Episode 337 "The Undetectables" by Courtney Smyth, Chapter 17 The detectives manage to briefly corner a suspect at a funeral. Scott is getting more convinced he's identified the killer, while Anita appreciates something Mallory does for her friends. You can follow The Read-Along on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook @thereadalong, and join our Goodrea…

1
Seeing Beyond the Singularity in “3 Body Problem” (2008 novel & 2024 Show) eps. 5-8 1:21:56

2M ago1:21:56

1:21:56

It's time to finish Liu Cixin’s novel THE THREE-BODY PROBLEM & the Netflix adaptation, then discuss the biggest questions it poses. In episode 308, join Luke Elliott & James Bailey as they play a game of “Would You Do It?”, unfold a sophon, react to Chekov’s nanofiber, cryogenically freeze a brain, sail on bursts of radiation, and debate the ethics…

1
Creator Interview: Kyle Starks 1:11:56

2M ago1:11:56

1:11:56

Send us a Text Message. This week, Mike and Alex are super excited to be joined by Kyle Starks, the writer of their most recent discussion, Assassin Nation, along with so many other great comics. They cover a wide range of topics, including how Kyle got started working in comics (and why that might be Matt Fraction's fault) and how he was able to f…

1
Dangerous Mastermind or Harmless Idiot - ”The Undetectables” Chapter 16 23:05

2M ago23:05

23:05

Episode 336 "The Undetectables" by Courtney Smyth, Chapter 16 Mallory gets to have a frustrating conversation with Beckett. Anita admits she's finding it hard to like our protagonist, while Scott thinks something Beckett says points to a different possible suspect. You can follow The Read-Along on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook @thereadalong, and …

1
Who Speaks for Humanity? “3 Body Problem” (2024 TV Series) eps. 1-4 1:10:57

2M ago1:10:57

1:10:57

The first four episodes of Dan Weiss and David Benioff’s Netflix adaptation of Liu Cixin’s novel THE THREE-BODY PROBLEM show some promise, but they’ve burned us in the past so it’s hard to get too excited. In episode 307, join Luke Elliott & James Bailey as they propose humanity’s envoy for a first contact scenario, discuss the choice to change Wan…

1
Assassin Nation 1:13:18

2M ago1:13:18

1:13:18

Send us a Text Message. "So, what's the best way to stay safe from a hitman? Hire a bunch of better hitmen." Mike and Alex are here for another season of Storied Arcs, and this week they're discussing Kyle Starks and Erica Henderson's Assassin Nation (issues #1-5) from Image Comics. The guys jump right into things, looking at this story through the…

1
Episode 205 - Author Spotlight with Yulin Kuang 1:35:11

2M ago1:35:11

1:35:11

Welcome to Episode 205! April is National Poetry Month and we are here for it. Emily is currently reading YOU ARE HERE: Poetry in the Natural World, a new anthology edited by Ada Limón, and Chris is reading BOATS FOR WOMEN by Sandra Yannone.Since our last episode, Chris finished listening to WAKE UP WITH PURPOSE! What I’ve Learned in my First Hundr…

1
Rich Girl Naive - ”The Undetectables” Chapter 15 20:44

2M ago20:44

20:44

Episode 335 "The Undetectables" by Courtney Smyth, Chapter 15 We finally meet Detective Inspector O'Sullivan, and the girls start pondering motives. Scott thinks there's a possible suspect the girls aren't considering, while Anita worries that Cornelia's extreme wealth has impeded her common sense. You can follow The Read-Along on Twitter, Instagra…

1
Just Getting Started With “The Three-Body Problem” (2008 novel) 59:53

2M ago59:53

59:53

The first installment of Cixin Liu’s epic trilogy “Remembrance of Earth’s Past” takes its name from a famously unsolvable problem in orbital mechanics and that sets the tone for the heady, complex, hard science fiction of what’s to come. In episode 306, join Luke Elliott & James Bailey as they are just beginning their journey into this series with …

1
Intro to Assassin Nation & Creator Spotlight: Kyle Starks and Erica Henderson 1:01:38

2M ago1:01:38

1:01:38

Send us a Text Message. For this season of Storied Arcs, Mike and Alex are diving head first into the crazy world of assassins and hitmen with Kyle Starks and Erica Henderson's Assassin Nation from Image Comics. They guys discuss a little about what drew them to this book and then give some background on both Starks and Henderson and the other comi…

1
Creepy Questions - ”The Undetectables” Chapter 14 19:35

2M ago19:35

19:35

Episode 334 "The Undetectables" by Courtney Smyth, Chapter 14 Asking creepy questions at the Observatory leads to some chilling answers. Anita comes up with a better cover story for the team, while Scott considers the suspects with the new clues. You can follow The Read-Along on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook @thereadalong, and join our Goodreads …

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