Best Terrible Book Club Podcasts (2025)

1
Black Moon Rising by Frankie Rose (Callie Hart) Patron's Choice - Episode 213 1:57:31

1d ago1:57:31

1:57:31

Chris had to go to space again this week. This time, he takes us to a galaxy kinda far away and sort of a while ago (or maybe now? or in the future?) because our Patron Miles requested Black Moon Rising for his Patron's Choice this year. Miles wrote to us saying, "Since I requested two books in a row that were both deeply political, I figured I'd i…

1
Sex-Positive Books for Tweens and Teens (And Parents!) 45:09

2d ago45:09

45:09

Sex ed in schools isn’t cutting it, and studies show that kids are turning to porn for answers. In this episode, Traci Thomas of The Stacks podcast joins us to suggest books that help tweens and teens navigate the complicated world of sex and relationships. We’ll cover fiction and nonfiction — plus a few picks to help spice up the sex lives of pare…

1
The Forgotten Goddess of Memory, Mnemosyne & All She Gave Us 35:44

12h ago35:44

35:44

Introducing Mnemosyne // the Memory Collective, Liv looks at the goddess of memory, and memory itself. Learn more about the Memory Collective here. Submit your question for the next Q&A at mythsbaby.com/questions and get ad-free episodes and so, so much more, by subscribing to the Oracle Edition at patreon.com/mythsbaby CW/TW: far too many Greek my…

1
Women's Patience/Patients & Hippocratic Medicine w/ Dr Christie Vogler (Part 2) 1:55:41

7m ago1:55:41

1:55:41

TW! Horrors of Women's/Female Health. Liv speaks with Dr Christie Vogler about the long and storied and utterly infuriating ancient history of women's medicine in the West. Check out Christie's podcast, Movies We Dig, now part of the Memory Collective podcast network! Submit your question for the next Q&A at mythsbaby.com/questions and get ad-free …

1
Ep809 Unraveling Irish Mythology: Shamrocks, Leprechauns & Legends 50:23

7h ago50:23

50:23

With St. Patrick’s Day around the corner, Emily and Kate explore the rich and complex history of Irish folklore and legends... 🇮🇪 🍀 Emily covers an overview of Irish mythology, exploring the mystical roots of some of Ireland’s most enduring tales. 🌈 Kate takes on the leprechaun—from its mythological origins to its modern (and problematic) evolution…

1
The Myth of Aspasia, Woman, Politician, Philosopher, Wh*re 39:44

1d ago39:44

39:44

Aspasia was an intelligent, independent and influential woman at the heart of Classical Athenian politics. She was also a sex worker. This is the instagram reel this episode is 'responding' to. Submit your question for the next Q&A via email or a voice note. Get ad-free episodes and so, so much more, by subscribing to the Oracle Edition at patreon.…

1
Conversations: Othering Women in the Origins of Western Medicine w/ Dr Christie Vogler (Part 1) 1:34:47

5d ago1:34:47

1:34:47

Liv speaks with Dr Christie Vogler about the long and storied and utterly infuriating ancient history of women's medicine in the West. The video clips referenced: Competing Medical Practices in Domina: Livia & Augustus's story in 'Domina' - Part 21; Medical Pluralism on HBO’s Rome: Rome Pullo has surgery HD; and if you want to see the transition to…

1
When Andrea Silenzi Joined Mom Club 43:15

7d ago43:15

43:15

Last time we heard from Andrea Silenzi, she was navigating the wild world of sperm shopping as a single woman in her mid-30s who wanted to become a mom. Five years later, Andrea’s back with an exciting update. Hint: she’s no longer single and no longer shopping. … Hear “The Single Lady’s Guide to Sperm Shopping” • #208 Sperm Series: I Download an A…

1
The Subtle Art of Women's Work, Arachne the Weaver 56:55

8d ago56:55

56:55

Arachne wasn't just a talented weaver and artist, she was a woman who dared to become more than her feminine station allowed. Breaking down the 'womanly arts', weaving as a form of independence and the threat that posed to the patriarchal order. Submit your question for the next Q&A via email or a voice note. Get ad-free episodes and so, so much mo…

1
Liv Reads Statius: The Thebaid (Part 2) 1:03:05

20d ago1:03:05

1:03:05

Liv reads Statius' Thebaid, book 2, translated by JH Mozley. The ghost of Laius travels from the Underworld; Polynices and Tydeus return to Thebes and threaten the king Eteocles. Submit to the quarterly Q&A at mythsbaby.com/questions and get ad-free episodes and so, so much more, by subscribing to the Oracle Edition at patreon.com/mythsbaby This is…

1
The Worst Oscars Ever?? with Michael Schulman 1:20:12

13d ago1:20:12

1:20:12

What do Lily Tomlin, Snow White, and Kenny Ortega have in common? They were all part of the 61st Academy Awards, a broadcast now remembered as the worst of all time, and masterminded by Allan Carr (lover of spectacle and producer of Grease). But awards season correspondent and New Yorker staff writer Michael Schulman is here to argue that the tacki…

1
Rabid Heart by Jeremy Wagner - Episode 212 1:17:51

16d ago1:17:51

1:17:51

Somehow we ended up with another zombie romance around Valentine’s Day for the second year in a row. Paris chose Rabid Heart for this season after her partner randomly turned to her one day last year and said, “Hey did you realize Jeremy Wagner from Broken Hope is an author?” This piqued her interest since she fondly remembers being at Broken Hope’…

1
Why Did Clytemnestra Kill Cassandra, Another Q&A (Part 2) 43:23

15d ago43:23

43:23

The seminar referenced is In the Ruins of History: A CAWS/#EOTalks Roundtable in Solidarity with Palestine. Find out more about Liv's event/live podcast recording in London, April 15th, alongside Cosi Carnegie of Cosi's Odyssey. Submit to the next Q&A episode at mythsbaby.com/questions. Get ad-free episodes and so, so much more, by subscribing to t…

1
Conversation: Singing the Songs of Sumer, the Mesopotamian Mythology of Ancient Iraq w/ Alex W 1:36:35

19d ago1:36:35

1:36:35

Liv is joined by Alex W to discuss Sumerian mythology and some broader history of Mesopotamia/Ancient Iraq. Learn more from Alex vis his podcast, the Drumbeat Forever After, here. As mentioned in the episode, Aseel Jad El-Haq is 28, the youngest of seven sisters. She grew up in Khan Younis, the daughter of a successful clothing company owner, going…

1
Cyndie and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Year 38:33

1M ago38:33

38:33

Cyndie Spiegel built a career on optimism — inspiring audiences with messages of hope and writing a bestselling book about the benefits of positive thinking. But when 2020 hit, her world unraveled in ways she never saw coming. As she faced mounting struggles with family and health, the affirmations she once preached were no longer working, and she …

1
Angry Women Speaking Truth to Power; a Q&A Episode (Part 1) 34:11

30d ago34:11

34:11

Liv answers listener questions about Hera's attempted coup, jewellery, and more... Submit to the quarterly Q&A at mythsbaby.com/questions and get ad-free episodes and so, so much more, by subscribing to the Oracle Edition at patreon.com/mythsbaby CW/TW: far too many Greek myths involve assault. Given it's fiction, and typically involves gods and/or…

1
RE-AIR: Conversations: When Ovid Invented Pick-up Artistry, the Ars Amatoria w/ Imogen Briscoe 1:40:37

1M ago1:40:37

1:40:37

This episode originally aired in February 2024. Liv is joined by Imogen Briscoe to talk Ovid's Ars Amatoria, the Art of Love, aka the first pick up artist playbook. Did Ovid create the 2000 years of misogyny we've had since? Nope, but he sure made it worse with this one! Read more from Imogen on Twitter and at the Ekklesia Magazine. Help keep LTAMB…

1
Ep808 “Spare Devil Titty” Stories of Maryland witches and Marie Laveau 50:59

28d ago50:59

50:59

🎙️ In this episode of Witchcast Podcast, Emily and Kate stir up some spellbinding history with a special storytime session! 🔥 First, Emily tells the terrible, lesser-known stories of two Maryland women wrongfully executed for witchcraft in the 17th century– and how the state now is looking to posthumously pardoned those accused. ⚡ Then, in honor of…

1
Emotional Labor with Rachel Monroe and Ash Compton of Bad Therapist 1:01:48

28d ago1:01:48

1:01:48

What is "emotional labor," and why is it probably not what your boyfriend accuses you of making him do when you want him to go to Ikea with you? Psychotherapist Ash Compton and journalist Rachel Monroe are here to tell the tale of how the term sociologist Arlie Russell Hochschild coined—in her 1983 book The Managed Heart—has come to mean, well, alm…

1
Lunar Justice by Charles L. Harness Patron's Choice - Episode 211 1:27:37

30d ago1:27:37

1:27:37

Our Patron Beastwiththeleast sent us Lunar Justice through the mail, presumably straight from his colony on the moon. This may be our favorite way of receiving Patron requests. Join us today for a very 1990s version of the future, including judicial malfeasance, musical patents, jurisdictional insanity, and guillotines - in space! We hope you enjoy…

1
AHFG Book Club: Jenny Williamson's Enemy of My Dreams 1:15:15

29d ago1:15:15

1:15:15

In a very special episode, Liv and Genn McMenemy of Ancient History Fangirl interview debut author Jenny Williamson. Find Enemy of My Dreams wherever you get your books. Submit to the quarterly Q&A at mythsbaby.com/questions and get ad-free episodes and so, so much more, by subscribing to the Oracle Edition at patreon.com/mythsbaby. CW/TW: far too …

1
Conversations: To Palestine, With Love... Ancient & Biblical History of the Levant w/ Dr Chance Bonar 1:42:17

1M ago1:42:17

1:42:17

Liv speaks with ancient and biblical scholar Chance Bonar about the history of Palestine and the ancient Levant. This conversation examines the history of the place and the people, people which included Jews and Judaism co-existing with others who have called that land home since the Bronze Age, those same people the west seeks to erase. There is n…

1
How to Not (Accidentally) Raise a Rapist 48:28

1M ago48:28

48:28

Consent education in school is mostly insufficient or non-existent — even when it’s required by state law. An organization called SafeBAE is trying to change that by training teens to teach each other about consent. SafeBAE’s executive director Shael Norris talks about what works and what doesn’t when discussing this topic with young people. We’ll …

1
RE-AIR: Conversations: A Long and Storied History of Sparta, Modern Misuse & Misconception w/ Stephen Hodkinson 1:40:25

2M ago1:40:25

1:40:25

This episode originally aired in January 2023. (Note: we'll return to new episodes very soon, there's been some behind the scenes changes and loads of recordings we're perfecting, stay tuned!) Liv speaks with Stephen Hodkinson, expert in all things Sparta. They discuss Sparta throughout history including its use in politics from the founding of the…

1
Alice Kyteler and the First Witchcraft Trial in Ireland with Molly Aitken 1:04:30

1M ago1:04:30

1:04:30

In County Kilkenny, Ireland, in an early year of a century not too long before our own, Alice Kyteler was accused of witchcraft. But the story doesn't end there. This week, Molly Aitken—author of BRIGHT I BURN—is here to tell us a tale where the more things* change, the more they stay the same. (*Men) Read Molly's books: https://www.penguinrandomho…

1
Hermes Historia: Giorgos the Oikist, Colonization in Greek Antiquity 42:43

2M ago42:43

42:43

Michaela teaches Liv about 6th century Greek colonization for not at all relevant reasons. Submit to the quarterly Q&A at mythsbaby.com/questions and get ad-free episodes and so, so much more, by subscribing to the Oracle Edition at patreon.com/mythsbaby CW/TW: far too many Greek myths involve assault. Given it's fiction, and typically involves god…

1
Ep807 “I’m a Killer 😭" with shaman Andrea Coleman 1:05:29

1M ago1:05:29

1:05:29

🎙 Red Lipstick, Car Accidents & Joan of Arc—Oh My! 🔮 What do these three things have in common? They’re all a part of the incredible journey of guest Andrea Coleman—comedian, lawyer, Reiki master, and shaman! In this episode of Witchcast Podcast, Emily and Kate sit down with Andrea to explore her spiritual evolution, from growing up in a Southern B…

1
Elsie's Girlhood (Elsie Dinsmore #3) by Martha Finley - Episode 210 1:18:50

1M ago1:18:50

1:18:50

Paris tackles today's selection, which was suggested by listener Deborah, self-proclaimed Unrepentant Sinner! She wrote in to us last summer saying, "Would you consider an episode on a book popular in another era but one that is actually currently being sold to indoctrinate the home school religious zealots? Elsie Dinsmore was popular after the Civ…

1
RE-AIR: Queering the Classical World w/ Yentl Love (the Queer Classicist) 1:21:46

2M ago1:21:46

1:21:46

This episode originally aired in June 2023. Liv speaks with PhD student Yentl Love about queerness in the ancient world and Greek mythology, about classical reception in Lil Nas X, and so much more. Follow Yentl (the Queer Classicist) on Twitter, and learn more on her site. Help keep LTAMB going by subscribing to Liv's Patreon for bonus content! CW…

1
RE-AIR: Very Extravagant Rich People, Ancient Sparta & The Spartan Mirage (Part Two) 49:04

2M ago49:04

49:04

This episode originally aired in January 2023 as part of the research series on ancient Sparta. We're talking all things Spartan culture: all the things made them Spartan, set them apart from the rest of the Greek world. Help keep LTAMB going by subscribing to Liv's Patreon for bonus content! CW/TW: far too many Greek myths involve assault. Given i…

1
The Staircase 39:02

2M ago39:02

39:02

We’re back after a 5-year hiatus! Hillary kicks us off with a story about her anxiety over her daughter’s first experience with unwanted male attention — and her subsequent misadventures in trying to get the girl’s school to teach consent. Artwork for this episode by Lindsay Stripling. … If you’re new to the show or want to get reacquainted, check …

1
What Does it Mean to Rebel? (Ancient) Resistance to Imperial Violence 41:08

2M ago41:08

41:08

Revisiting the story of Europa of Tyre alongside the true story of the siege of Milos. Submit to the quarterly Q&A at mythsbaby.com/questions and get ad-free episodes and so, so much more, by subscribing to the Oracle Edition at patreon.com/mythsbaby CW/TW: far too many Greek myths involve assault. Given it's fiction, and typically involves gods an…

1
Liv Reads Statius: The Thebaid (Part 1) 1:01:58

2M ago1:01:58

1:01:58

Liv reads book one of Statius' Thebaid, translated by JH Mozley. Oedipus looks back on the mess that was his family. His son Polynices is refused his share of the Theban throne and travels to Argos where he meets the king and hero Tydeus. Submit to the quarterly Q&A at mythsbaby.com/questions and get ad-free episodes and so, so much more, by subscr…

1
Hermes Historia: Homer, have you heard of him? Pretty chill dude 52:24

2M ago52:24

52:24

On today's Hermes Historia Michaela tells Liv the Homeric origins of her favourite messed up ancient family... For future episodes of Hermes Historia (aside from a few one offs we might release now and then!) subscribe to the podcast's Patreon. The Oracle Edition features AD-FREE episodes, Hermes Historia, and so much more! patreon.com/mythsbaby CW…

1
Ep806 “Butter in the hole” All about Trolls with Rose Aurora 51:34

2M ago51:34

51:34

In this enchanting episode, Emily and Kate are thrilled to welcome back the captivating Rose Aurora (she/her)—sorceress, faerie seer, and trollkvinne! This time, Rose takes us on a deeper journey into her magical world of trolldom, the ancient and powerful tradition of Scandinavian folk magic. Rose unpacks the layers of the word “troll”—from its ro…

1
Maradonia and the Guardians of the Portal by Sofia Nova/Gloria Tesch - Episode 209 1:36:05

2M ago1:36:05

1:36:05

Happy (?) new year, listeners. We discuss Chris's journey through the latest Maradonia book that reboots the series entirely, proving that we are all caught in this loop together within the worst timeline. Although not strictly necessary, we recommend listening to the other Maradonia episodes in the following order: Maradonia and the Seven Bridges …

1
Behind Every ‘Great’ Man… Metis, Thetis, and the Power of Prophecy 41:21

2M ago41:21

41:21

The stories of Zeus and two goddesses defined by prophecies and patriarchy. Submit to the quarterly Q&A at mythsbaby.com/questions and get ad-free episodes and so, so much more, by subscribing to the Oracle Edition at patreon.com/mythsbaby CW/TW: far too many Greek myths involve assault. Given it's fiction, and typically involves gods and/or monste…

1
POD55.mp3 0:58

2M ago0:58

0:58

NEW EPISODE? @pyramidserum DQG @tsunamiholmes MRLQ XV WR WDON DERXW VRPHWKLQJ! WKH OLQN WR LW LV KLGGHQ VRPHZKHUH LQ RXU ERRN RI ELOO SRGFDVW. JRRG OXFN!By Charley Marlowe; Ella Cesari; Shelby Sessler

1
Aron Ralston with Blair Braverman 1:15:01

2M ago1:15:01

1:15:01

What would you do if you were pinned down by an 800-pound boulder, and no one knew where you were? In 2003, Aron Ralston had to answer that question. Today, our survival correspondent Blair Braverman is here to tell us the tale of the man, the myth, and the multitool. Blair Braverman tells us how the legendary story of one good dog is actually a st…

1
Conversations: They Weren't Always F***able, the History of Sirens & Harpies w/ Dr Ryan Denson 1:32:05

2M ago1:32:05

1:32:05

Liv speaks with returning guest, the Sea Monster Guy Ryan Denson, about the history and transformation of Sirens and Harpies. Find more from Ryan on Twitter/X. Submit to the quarterly Q&A at mythsbaby.com/questions and get ad-free episodes and so, so much more, by subscribing to the Oracle Edition at patreon.com/mythsbaby CW/TW: far too many Greek …

1
Greek Myth is So Much More Than Terrible Gods and Misogynist Monsters 50:24

2M ago50:24

50:24

What makes a myth, and what does that mean? Liv looks at mythology as a concept and the sources that shared it with us. CW/TW: far too many Greek myths involve assault. Given it's fiction, and typically involves gods and/or monsters, I'm not as deferential as I would be were I referencing the real thing. Attributions and licensing information for m…

1
RE-AIR: Conversations: Beware of the Splash Zone! Gladiators in the Greek World w/ Alexandra Sills 1:45:15

3M ago1:45:15

1:45:15

This episode originally aired in September 2023. Liv speaks with Alexandra Sills who studies spectacle! and, specifically: when Gladiators went to Greece... They talk mythologizing gladiatorial games, adapting things (splash zone!) and even, the evidence for women fighting in games. Read more from Alexandra at Bad Ancient and Working Classicists. H…

1
Singing in the New Year with Carolyn Kendrick and Each Machine 32:00

2M ago32:00

32:00

There's one last present at the toe of our stocking, and it's a new album by producer Carolyn Kendrick. We'll be back with a regular episode next week, but for now, come listen to some music, and join us for a conversation about making art and community in uncertain times, and the new year's dreams that will sustain us in 2025. Find Carolyn's songs…

1
Hermes Homerica: They're Making an Odyssey Movie & We Have Thoughts 47:52

3M ago47:52

47:52

In a special New Years Eve episode, Michaela and Liv discuss the news that Christopher Nolan is making an adaptation of the Odyssey... For the first time, this was recorded in person so the audio isn't ideal but there will be video available on the podcast's YouTube in the next couple of days. CW/TW: far too many Greek myths involve assault. Given …

1
Luna's Edge by Roxana Macias - Episode 208 1:52:02

3M ago1:52:02

1:52:02

It's the final episode of Season 9! Luna's Edge was self-published in June of 2024 by author Roxana Macias. Just like our last episode, this author contacted us and asked us to read their book. While we normally don't take authors up on these offers, the book was described as a bilingual sci-fi novel which sounded like a new and potentially fun con…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Terrible Book Club Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Quick Reference Guide