Shows
Anatomy of a Scream Pod SquadHey YOU: S05E10 "Finale"Joe and Sharai say goodbye to Joe Goldberg and discuss what turned out to be a very decent sendoff for this serial killer. We also unpack how Brontë became the voice of all of the women Joe silenced, why Cardi B loved this episode, and commiserate over Kate still being alive.Plus: A discussion of where the show leaves all of the women who survived Joe.Connect with your co-hosts:> Sharai: @Misssharai / @sharai (BlueSky)> Joe: @bstolemyremote / @joelipsett (BlueSky)If you like the podcast, please rate, review, and subscribe!2025-05-0847 min
Anatomy of a Scream Pod SquadHey YOU: S05E01 “The Luckiest Guy in NY”Sharai and Joe return to kick off the fifth and final season of Netflix's YOU with the premiere, “The Luckiest Guy in NY.”It's a soft reset as Joe and Kate relocate to New York, Kate gets a bunch of retcon step-siblings and Joe tries to turn over a new leaf.Plus: Madeline Brewer's Brontë as the new love interest or fictional character, Penn Badgley's renewed energy, and our predictions for the final nine episodes.Connect with your co-hosts:> Sharai: @Misssharai / @sharai (BlueSky)> Joe: @bstolemyremote / @joelipsett (BlueSky)If yo...2025-04-2530 min
Anatomy of a Scream Pod SquadThe Girls on The Boys: Gen V Part 2 feat. Joe LipsettAs the semester winds down, Jenn and Rachel join returning champion Joe Lipsett to cram for finals on puppet sex, popping heads, shocking cameos, and Chekhov’s supe virus with the second half of Gen V S01.Wanna keep up with the show? @girlsontheboys> Jenn: @jennferatu - @LosersClubPod, @theladykpod, @SfAntagonist > Rachel: @VinylGrrrl - @HalloweeniesPod, @LosersClubPod > Joe: @bstolemyremote, @horrorqueersIf you like the podcast, please rate, review, and subscribe!Check out Anatomy of a Scream for more great content and the other Network pods Hosted on Acas...2024-06-201h 47
Anatomy of a Scream Pod SquadThe Girls on The Boys: Gen V Part 1 feat. Joe LipsettSchool is in session and the Girls are going to college! Join Jenn, Rachel, and Guest Professor Joe Lipsett (@bstolemyremote) to chat about devastating deaths, surprising strengths, horny hookups, and muppet mayhem as they get to know a new class of supes in the first four episodes of Gen V. Wanna keep up with the show? @girlsontheboys> Jenn: @jennferatu - @LosersClubPod, @theladykpod, @SfAntagonist > Rachel: @VinylGrrrl - @HalloweeniesPod, @LosersClubPod If you like the podcast, please rate, review, and subscribe!Check out Anatomy of a Scream for more great content and the...2024-06-061h 36
Anatomy of a Scream Pod SquadSuch Sights To Show: Episode 19 - Books of Blood Vol. 5Bryan and Joe return to tackle Clive Barker's Books of Blood Vol. 5.It has four longer stories, but at least two of the four are distinctly less Barker-y. We spend most of our time on The Madonna (Joe's fave), Babel's Children (the rare political satire), and In The Flesh, which Bryan and Joe have differing interpretations of. More on The Forbidden next time!Wanna connect with the show?> Bryan: @eviltaylorhicks (Instagram/BlueSky)> Joe: @bstolemyremoteMusic Credit: Hellraiser Theme by Christopher YoungCheck out Anatomy of a Scream P...2024-01-2544 min
Anatomy of a Scream Pod SquadBodies of Horror: Episode 60 - Saint Maud (2019) feat. Joe LipsettNichole is joined by Anatomy of a Scream’s very own “Man Behind the Boards” and amazing voice here on the network, Joe Lipsett, to discuss Rose Glass’ film, Saint Maud. Illness/disability and aging in the LGBTQIA+ community, caregiving, faith…we leave no stones unturned here.Connect with Joe: @bstolemyremote / @horrorqueers / @hkhspodWant to recommend a film to be covered, or just reach out and say hello? Of course you do! Find me on X? Twitter? Twix? at @BodiesHorror or find me on BlueSky at bodiesofhorror. I have just started posting on Instagram, so you can fi...2023-11-281h 41
Anatomy of a Scream Pod SquadSuch Sights To Show: Episode 13 - The Last Illusion / Lord of IllusionsBryan and Joe return to Clive Barker territory to discuss a magical (or illusory?) double bill. First up is 'The Last Illusion', the 1985 short from Books of Blood Vol. 6 that introduces private investigator Harry D'Amour. Bryan likes the creatures, particularly Valentin, though Joe finds the plot meandering.Next up is Barker's 1995 film adaptation Lord of Illusions, which is both ambitious and feels like Barker succumbing to Hollywood demands. Joe is nostalgic for its messy queerness and prefers the Director's Cut, while Bryan finds it busy and notes that characters lack agency.Wanna connect...2023-07-2053 min
Anatomy of a Scream Pod SquadHey YOU: S04E09 'She's Not There' (2023)It’s the penultimate episode of YOU’s fourth season, and Joe and Sharai have questions! Firstly, who is not haunting Joe at this point? Secondly, doesn’t this feel like it’s going to be the final season? Thirdly, what happened to the Nadia we used to know?Plus: Penn Badgley takes great direction from himself, questioning how great sex with Joe can be if you avoid doing it, and talking expectations for the finale.Connect with your co-hosts:> Show handle: @HeyYOU_Pod> Sharai: @Misssharai> Joe: @bstolemyremote Host...2023-03-1228 min
Anatomy of a Scream Pod SquadHey YOU: S04E08 'Where Are You Going? Where Have You Been?' (2023)Well, it turns out that Joe Goldberg is “full fat, extra sugar, deep-fried fucking insane” and now we're just frustrated. In what feels like a poorly constructed twist, Joe and Sharai question the logic of making Joe mentally ill, the logistics of disappearing for days on end and constructing the box in London, as the benefits of using half the episode's runtime on Marienne's fairytale. Plus: this has got to be the final season, right? Because a "happy ending" for Joe is off the table! Connect with your co-hosts:> Show handle: @HeyYOU_Pod2023-03-1125 min
Anatomy of a Scream Pod SquadHey YOU: S04E07 'Good Man, Cruel World' (2023)A boring episode suddenly turns into something wild as the glass cage makes a surprise reappearance. Joe's not convinced this isn't still a frame job by Rhys, who gets his balls played with a bit before dying. Sharai, however, shatters Joe's fragile little mind with the suggestion that Joe has been Sixth Sense-ing Rhys the whole season!Connect with your co-hosts:> Show handle: @HeyYOU_Pod> Sharai: @Misssharai> Joe: @bstolemyremote Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.2023-03-1026 min
Anatomy of a Scream Pod SquadHey YOU: S04E03 'Eat The Rich' (2023)Sharai and Joe dress to impress as YOU hits the funeral as Joe and Kate grow closer (and more intimate).Plus: wanting Joe to be proactive, saying goodbye to Vic, updating our suspect list, and speculation about the cliffhanger.Connect with your co-hosts:> Show handle: @HeyYOU_Pod> Sharai: @Misssharai> Joe: @bstolemyremote Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.2023-02-1124 min
Anatomy of a Scream Pod SquadHey YOU: S04E01 'Joe Takes A Vacation' (2023)Sharai and Joe are back to unpack the season four premiere of YOU. Up for discussion: Joe in London, the new toxic friend group, the show remembering that it's on Netflix and why this soft reboot feels energized.Plus: thoughts on Marienne, Malcolm's penis and who our prime suspect is!Connect with your co-hosts:> Show handle: @HeyYOU_Pod> Sharai: @Misssharai> Joe: @bstolemyremote Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.2023-02-0927 min
Anatomy of a Scream Pod SquadHey YOU: Season 3 OverviewJoe and Love hit the suburbs as Sharai and Joe unpack the slightly messy third season of Netflix's YOU. After a promising four episode start, the wheels fall off the back half of the season, including YOU's reluctance to explore Joe's queer side and the dicey representation of polyamory. Plus: the shift from Love to Marienne, baby Henry and why won't this show just kill people?!Connect with your co-hosts:> Show handle: @HeyYOU_Pod> Sharai: @Misssharai> Joe: @bstolemyremote Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy...2023-02-0835 min
Anatomy of a Scream Pod SquadHey YOU: Season 2 OverviewSharai and Joe are back to dig into the second season of Netflix's YOU, which finds Penn Badgley's Joe fall for Love Quinn (a sublime Victoria Pedretti) in a season that satirizes Hollywood and Los Angeles.Plus: why is Jake Sully playing straight? Why won't the show let Joe be a murderer? Baby Jenna Ortega's storyline, and comparisons to Caroline Kepnes' second (inferior) book.Connect with your co-hosts:> Show handle: @HeyYOU_Pod> Sharai: @Misssharai> Joe: @bstolemyremote Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.2023-02-0731 min
Hazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrThe Moth DiariesSpooky season continues as Brenna and Joe tackle 2002's gothic vampire lesbian boarding school text The Moth Diaries by Rachel Klein and its 2011 adaptation by Mary Harron. While we're intrigued by the unreliable unnamed narrator and the teen girl drama, Brenna is very frustrated by the book's Afterword, which eliminates all ambiguity. Joe is more receptive because of his familiarity with Carmilla, but finds the film's disinterest in vampirism perplexing.Plus: Scott Speedman in full whisper phase, Joe's love of a particularly bloody scene, bad flying and Brenna delivering backhanded compliments about Joe's choice of vampires2022-10-2554 min
Anatomy of a Scream Pod SquadWhite Ladies in Crisis: Candy Episode 1Gena, Jenn and Joe kick off a new limited series on Hulu's 'Candy', starring Jessica Biel and Melanie Lynskey.For episode 1 "Friday the 13th," they discuss bad wigs, needing more Lynskey, Joe Bob Briggs, the cultural value of true crime, and an extended tangent on CW shows.Wanna connect with the show?Gena: @genadoesthingsJenn: @jennferatuJoe: @bstolemyremoteMusic Credit: Saturn From Spaceship by Marco MartiniIf you like the podcast, please rate, review, and subscribe!Check out Anatomy of a Scream for more great content and the other Network pods. 2022-08-1234 minHazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrLove, Victor Season 3 feat. Terry MesnardIt's the end of the road for Disney+ & Hulu's Love, Victor, which is sad and disappointing. Sad because Brenna, Joe and special guest Terry Mesnard still love these characters, and disappointing because this final season...isn't very good.Whether it was always designed to end here, these last eight episodes seem to forget basic plot and character beats from earlier seasons, particularly issues of class.Plus: Doing Pilar dirty, our eternal love for Felix and male friendships and discussion about Victor's "Bravery" (aka Gay) award.Joe & Terry's written coverage:-Love, Victor...2022-06-2156 minHazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrIf I StayBrenna and Joe return to the liminal space between living and death for a discussion of Gayle Foreman's 2009 novel If I Stay and its 2014 film adaptation by RJ Cutler. Brenna grates against the prioritization of the romance, preferring Foreman's more complicated sequel, while Joe critiques the disappointing visual depiction of Mia's condition and Chloë Grace Moretz's bored performance. On the positive side, we think this is better than Before I Fall, and that the film features the best YA parents since Easy A. Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter @HKHSPod or use t...2022-05-1748 minHazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrCODABrenna and Joe are late to the (Oscar) party, but we're finally checking out Sian Heder's delightful film CODA (2021).Yes, we recorded this episode before CODA won several significant Oscars, but the conversation about why the feel good film featuring multiple underrepresented actors from the deaf community wound up resonating with audiences. We celebrate Troy Kotsur's performance, Brenna wants more of Daniel Durant's Leo and Joe just wants more of the family (despite appreciating Emilia Jones and Ferdia Walsh-Peelo having great chemistry, we've seen this story before).Plus: why populist isn't bad, comparisons to the...2022-04-1240 minHazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrLet The Right One InThis week on the pod, Brenna and Joe hit the vampire theme hard with a discussion of John Ajvide Lindqvist's 2004 novel 'Let The Right One In', as well as the 2008 Swedish adaptation by Tomas Alfredson AND the 2010 American remake, 'Let Me In' by Matt Reeves. C/W: bullying (all texts), pedophilia & sexual assault (book)Brenna is really put through the wringer this week as we tackle a very long book (filled with a million characters with their own subplots and a hyper-accelerated finale), plus two movies. And they're about vampires?! The truth is that the...2022-04-0554 min
Hazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrSaved By The Bell S02School is back in session at Bayside and Brenna and Joe are very happy to be back with this lovable crew of misfits! Since we've previously covered the show, we jump right into how the show has matured in its second season, how it handles its own COVID year and which storylines are working best for us, including the season-long Spirit Award rivalry with Valley and the Lexi/Jamie relationship.Plus: using the adults wisely and more sparingly (Joe is especially appreciative of Elizabeth Berkley's Showgirls riff), wanting more for Devante, uncertainty about how Aisha's b...2022-01-1826 minHazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrIn My SkinWoo boy, is this the wrong text for Joe! While In My Skin is undoubtedly an excellent show with great performances, this was a rough watch for Joe, who cried his way through all five episodes of series one.Talking through the feels, Brenna addresses the class issues in this depiction of Cardiff, Wales, we discuss the depiction of queerness and how (if?) the comedy works to balance out the upsetting depiction of Bethan's really difficult life.Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:Brenna: @brennacgrayJoe...2021-12-0728 minHazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrShe's All That (1999) feat. Lindsay TravesIn advance of the gender flipped Netflix remake He's All That, Brenna, Joe and special guest Lindsay revisit Pygmalion / My Fair Lady update She's All That.The film has an all-star cast, but doesn't seem to know what to do with most of them. And while Lindsay and Joe still find it funny, there's no question that the gender politics, as well as the handling of race and fatphobia have aged *badly*. The film's disinterest in exploring Cook's Laney Boggs in order to prioritize Zack's white male privilege is very late 90s.On the plus...2021-08-2436 minHazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrShadow and BoneGrab your daggers and your Kefta because we are diving into the sprawling lore of Ravka, Fjerda and Ketterdam! Brenna starts off grouchy, but eventually she acknowledges that this series is pretty compelling (despite all of the walking).Joe is more friendly to the world of magic, particularly the two twists that subvert expectations involving the Darkling and Alina's friendship at the Little Palace. Plus: praise for Inej, Jesper, Kaz and Zoya, discussions about the show's racism and cultural appropriation, Joe disses Ben Barnes, Brenna's Hot Take on the age of the Six of Crows' c...2021-07-201h 00Hazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrBlinded By The Light feat. Brennan KleinShout out to listener Andrew for recommending what turned out to be our most divisive text to date! Brenna quite likes both the book and the film, while Brennan and Joe...do not.Brenna argues for the book as reflective of a specific period in British history and also of a kind of British Dude Lit ©, while Brennan and Joe find it too cold and episodic.All three of us agree that the film amounts to fan-fiction for Manzoor’s own life. As a work of "mainstream" pop culture, Chadha's film leans pretty heavily into com...2021-07-1357 minAnatomy of a Scream Pod SquadWhite Ladies in Crisis: Physical - Episode 5For episode 5 of White Ladies in Crisis, co-hosts Gena Radcliffe, Jenn Adams and Joe Lipsett talk about Sheila's bulimia back sliding as her female friendships take on new dimensions.Plus: We finally have confirmation that Bunny and Tyler are together; Gena diagnoses Danny’s tendency for male mimicry, Jenn is riding high on her love for Tyler and an extended discussion about an intriguing sexual fetish.Wanna connect with the show?Gena: @porcelain72Jenn: @jennferatuJoe: @bstolemyremoteMusic Credit: PowerPunch by 2050Discover more fabulously spooky Anatomy of a Scream Pod Squad shows at a...2021-07-0235 minAnatomy of a Scream Pod SquadWhite Ladies in Crisis: Physical - Episode 4For episode 4 of White Ladies in Crisis, co-hosts Gena Radcliffe, Jenn Adams and Joe Lipsett discuss the arrival of Danny's shitty campaign manager, Jerry and his influence during an all-important fundraiser.Plus: Danny's admission while high, Sheila's latest theft, and debates about whether John Breem is afraid of the water or just stuffy! Wanna connect with the show?Gena: @porcelain72Jenn: @jennferatuJoe: @bstolemyremoteMusic Credit: PowerPunch by 2050Discover more fabulously spooky Anatomy of a Scream Pod Squad shows at anatomyofascream.com and follow the network on Twitter and Instagram @aoas_xx!2021-06-2539 minHazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrLove, Victor Season 2 feat. Terry MesnardWe're checking back into Creekwood High with the crew of Love, Victor. In between seasons the show has really figured itself out because S2 is a marked improvement in both complexity and maturity.First and foremost: we're obsessed with how the Hulu show is tackling tough issues like bad allyship, unsupportive parents, racism, class, and religion. The two mom storylines hit Brenna hard, while Terry and Joe appreciate the discussion of 'masc for masc' culture and the depiction of different types of gay men (though when will we see a few queer ladies, show?!)Plus...2021-06-221h 01Anatomy of a Scream Pod SquadWhite Ladies in Crisis: Physical - Episode 3For episode 3 of White Ladies in Crisis, co-hosts Gena Radcliffe, Jenn Adams and Joe Lipsett tackle the show's female trifecta: Sheila, Bunny and Greta, who has a powerful response to Sheila's new aerobics class.Plus: John Breem's (possibly Mormon) background, missing Tyler, more questions about money and actually feeling sorry for Danny? What is going on here?!Wanna connect with the show?Gena: @porcelain72Jenn: @jennferatuJoe: @bstolemyremoteMusic Credit: PowerPunch by 2050Discover more fabulously spooky Anatomy of a Scream Pod Squad shows at anatomyofascream.com and follow the network on Twitter and...2021-06-2043 minAnatomy of a Scream Pod SquadWhite Ladies in Crisis: Physical - Episode 2Hosts Gena Radcliffe, Jenn Adams and Joe Lipsett are back to talk AppleTV's Physical episode 2 which is heavily dedicated to discussions about just how awful Sheila's shitty husband Danny is.Plus: Joe is surprised by Sheila's education, Jenn laments the lack of female friendships (blame the Patriarchy!) and Gena praises the lack of origin story about Sheila's eating disorder. Also: are Tyler and Bunny brother and sister?!Wanna connect with the show?Gena: @porcelain72Jenn: @jennferatuJoe: @bstolemyremoteMusic Credit: PowerPunch by 2050Discover more fabulously spooky Anatomy of a Scream Po...2021-06-1942 minAnatomy of a Scream Pod SquadWhite Ladies in Crisis: Physical - Episode 1White Ladies in Crisis is podcast dedicated to media depicting (white) women in over their heads or spiralling.For season 1, hosts Gena Radcliffe (Kill By Kill Podcast), Jenn Adams (PsychoAnalysis and Loser's Club Podcasts) and Joe Lipsett (Horror Queers Podcast) are tackling S1 of AppleTV's Physical starring Rose Byrne. In episode one, they discuss their relationship to 80s shows, Sheila's eating disorder, her shitty husband and Craig Gillespie's strong direction.Wanna connect with the show?Gena: @porcelain72Jenn: @jennferatuJoe: @bstolemyremoteMusic Credit: PowerPunch by 2050Discover more fabulously spooky Anatomy of...2021-06-1837 minAnatomy of a Scream Pod SquadNightmares & Dreamscapes: Lisey's Story - Eps 1 & 2Welcome to Nightmares & Dreamscapes, the series dedicated to Stephen King adaptations. For this inaugural run, hosts Joe Lipsett and Terry Mesnard will be discussing each episode of AppleTV's miniseries, Lisey's Story.For the launch, we discuss our relationship with King, with the text and then dive into episodes 1 & 2 of the show to tackle its dreamy visuals, complicated narrative structure and stacked cast. Plus: Dane DeHaan's role as an alt-right fan boy, water imagery and Julianne Moore's mouth acting.Wanna connect with the show?Joe: @bstolemyremoteTerry: @gaylydreadfulMusic Credit: ForestTales by Sebastian Pa...2021-06-0540 minAnatomy of a Scream Pod SquadXOXO Horror: Gena Radcliffe and An American Werewolf In LondonHost Joe Lipsett is joined by Gena Radcliffe, writer for The Spool and co-host of the uproarious Kill By Kill podcast, to discuss her favourite horror film, An American Werewolf In London.Follow the show and guest:Joe: @bstolemyremoteGena: @porcelain72 / genaradcliffe.com / The Spool / Kill By Kill PodcastAnatomy of a Scream: @aoas_xxVisit Anatomy of a Scream for reviews and editorials.If you like the podcast, please rate, review, and subscribe! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.2021-01-2746 minAnatomy of a Scream Pod SquadDevelopment Hell: Episode 5 - Alien 5 w/t Joe LipsettJosh talks with Joe Lipsett (film critic and cohost of the Horror Queers podcast) all about the never made ALIEN V. They take deep dive into the many failed iterations of the sequel, and the all of the drama that plagued its path. Check out the incredible spec art from Neill Blomkamp ALIEN V concept hereFollow Joe: @bstolemyremote on Instagram & TwitterFollow the Podcast:@DevelopmentHell on Instagram@DevelHellPod on Twitter@JoshKorngut on bothOriginal music by Drew PidgeonDiscover more fabulously spooky Anatomy of a Scream Po...2021-01-051h 10Hazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrSaved By The Bell (2020)Saved By The Bell mega-fan Brenna introduces Joe to the wonders of Pacific Palisades as we tackle the very self-aware new version, who is surprisingly smart, class-oriented and progressive. It's also very funny!We also follow-up on our holiday activities.Brenna:Mind the Gap, Dash & Lily by Rachel Cohn & David LevithanDarius the Great Is Not Okay by Adib KhorramLong Way Down: The Graphic Novel by Jason ReynoldsJoe:PEN15Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-GarciaSlay by Brittney MorrisWanna connect with the show? Follow us at our new Twitter handle @HKHSPod or...2021-01-0554 minHazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrYA In Focus: Kevin Williamson / Judy BlumeOn the advice of Max (and liberally stealing a page from Joe's friends' podcast - thanks Talk Movie To Me) we're putting the careers of Kevin Williamson and Judy Blume under the microscope to consider how and why they've made an impact in YA.Homework:Brenna:Lucky Penny by Anath Hirsch & Yuko OtaGiant Days by John AllisonA History of My Brief Body by Billy-Ray BelcourtJoe: Cemetery Boys by Aiden ThomasWanna connect with the show? Use #HKHSPod on Twitter:Brenna: @brennacgrayJoe: @bstolemyremoteHave something longer to say or a...2020-10-1338 minHazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrDegrassiReady for a 40 year run down of Degrassi? Well Brenna has you covered as she walks Joe through the cultural importance of the series, its evolution across multiple broadcasters (public and private), how it handled sensitive topics in non-patronizing, but still teen-friendly ways and why suddenly we may need to consider a future episode on Road to Avonlea!Episodes (if you wanna watch along with Joe)Degrassi High "It Creeps"Abortion arc 1 & 2HIV/AIDS arc 1 & 2Degrassi: The Next GenerationSchool Shooting arc 1 & 2:Trans arc 1 & 2Wanna connect with the show? Use #HKHSPod o...2020-09-1539 minHazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrA Wrinkle In TimeAfter hearing so much about what this book means to fans - particularly young girls - Brenna and Joe are surprised to discover that it has not aged with. Blame the current pandemic, but a story that prioritizes individuality above all else doesn't quite the same way in a society that refuses to even wear a mask for the greater good.There's also the strange critique of communism/totalitarianism that is also an unabashed ode to Christianity that doesn't quite sit well. Thankfully we can see why Meg Murry is a friend to all smart, outsider girls...2020-08-2549 minHazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrBring It On / Work ItTo celebrate the great Kirsten Dunst/Gabrielle Union showdown of 2000, Joe makes Brenna watch Bring It On ! While some of the racial politics and its approach to queerness haven't aged particularly well, we appreciate the white girls coming in second, a competitive approach to female rivalry and a bounty of sassy dialogue.Faring less well is director Laura Terruso and writer Alison Peck's Work It (2020) which exists solely as a vehicle for Sabrina Carpenter, whom Joe describes as a charisma vacuum. Thankfully we have the comedically styling of Liza Koshy's Jas and the cuteness of PS I...2020-08-1837 minHazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrThe Sun Is Also A StarPerhaps the second time is the charm? After a *not great* experience with Yoon's first book Everything, Everything (see previous episode), Brenna and Joe tackle her most recent text, which balances a timely discussion and racism, immigration and deportation with a falling-in-love-in-one-day perfect date. Brenna is much more in favour of the book, especially Natasha's Jamaican background and Yoon's playful side-story telling. Joe is less enthused with Daniel's Korean storyline, which he argues feels too familiar, as well as the narrative confines of the single day premise. What we can both agree upon is that the...2020-07-2848 minHazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrSierra Burgess Is A Loser & The Half Of ItWhile Joe refuses to read a Victorian-era play, he's more than happy to watch film adaptations of them! This week we're checking out a plethora of YA tropes: the collaboration between suitors in an impersonation ruse, a "tricky kiss" and an epistolary romance. On one side of the ring is Sierra Burgess Is A Loser, one of our few remaining Noah Centineo joints, which gets as many things right as it does wrong (pour one out for the disinterest in female friendships!). On the other is the queer, POC frontedThe Half Of It, which is a...2020-05-121h 02
Hazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrMay & June 2020 ForecastIt's time for another YA Forecast as we run down our top picks for May & June 2020. First up we discuss homework: Brenna lauds Tiffany D Jackson's fall release, Grown, as well as Nic Sheff's Tweak, while Joe praises Liz Lawson's The Lucky Ones.Then it's time for our interview with former The Hunger Games guest, Alex Heeney. She stops by to discuss Seventh Row's new ePub, The 2019 Canadian Cinema Yearbook, which includes several prominent coming of age films.Finally, it's time to forecast for May & June. Here are a few stand-out picks:Brenna:2020-04-2845 minHazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrThe DUFFDUFFs unite!Brenna and Joe are diving back into YA written by teenagers and it's another rocky property as we struggle with Kody Keplinger's 2011 book, The DUFF, as well as its 2015 film adaptation by feature novices Ari Sandel (director) and Josh A. Cagan (screenwriter).Part of the problem? That title! Despite the book's best attempts to reduce the stigma of the term, Brenna can't overcome the cruelty and judgment of the moniker. While the book at least attempts to explore challenging topics (shame is handled well; alcoholism less so), at least it's more interesting than...2020-04-0751 min
Hazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrSex In YAUnder threat of duress, Joe manages to wrangle Brenna into recording a minisode and, given the current state of the world, what better subject to tackle than S-E-X in young adult literature.Prompted by Joe's polarizing reactions to books that are graphic (Lev AC Rosen's Jack Of Hearts), pre-occupied (Camryn Garrett's Full Disclosure) or tepid "fade to black" fantasy (Casey McQuiston's Red, White & Royal Blue), we tackle the shift from provocative, even risque sexuality in the 70s to the response to AIDS in the 80s and 90s, with a brief bit of blame on the chastity of f...2020-03-3127 min
Hazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrNetflix Algorithms and The Expanding Universe of Ashley GarciaBrenna and Joe check out a new Netflix YA series, The Expanding Universe of Ashley Garcia, using its under-the-radar status to pose some questions about Netflix's changing priorities and the relevancy of its algorithms. Broad discussion: how Netflix Originals have altered the streamer's original niche programming angle (the "made for Brenna" channel), why everyone winds up watching Love Is Blind, and how little (read: diverse) shows get buried.Narrow discussion: with special help with listener Max, Brenna and Joe discuss Ashley Garcia's appeal, its connection to a burgeoning movement of smart Latina girls and why a...2020-03-1742 min
Hazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrMore Sex Education S2 / March & April 2020 ForecastWith so little precious podcast time to spare, Brenna and Joe are scaling back the forecasts. Presented for your enjoyment is a double dose for March and April, along with two important pieces of correspondence about our recent episode on Sex Education, which demanded we dig in (and problematize) both our reactions and word choice a little more deeply. Brenna's Picks:We Are Totally Normal by Rahul KanakiaAvocado Bliss by Candace Robinson and Gerardo DelgadilloCheck Please Book 2: Sticks and Scones by Ngozi UkaduJoe's Picks:Witches of Ash and Ruin by E. LatimerFight like a...2020-03-0353 minHazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrSex Education Season 2Minisode or regularsode? You be the judge as Brenna and Joe check back in on the British Netflix series Sex Education, which released its second season back in January.How does the series avoid traditional (read: North American) depictions of trauma and abuse? How are new (potentially tokenistic) characters introduced? What aspect does Brenna think the show handles best? And why character has quickly become Joe's favourite?Also, we're getting back to homework basics! Brenna provides an update on her Bingeworthy promise to check out the ridiculously-named High School Musical: The Musical, which Joe catches...2020-02-1845 min
Hazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrFeb 2020 ForecastFeb 2020 is a slighter month than January, so there are still great books to add to your library hold lists! Brenna and Joe have poured over the month and selected their top 3-4 picks, along with a few honourable mentions.JoeAlice by Heart by Steven SaterNo True Believers by Rabiah York LumbardRed Hood by Elana K. ArnoldWhat I Want You To See by Catherine LinkaPlus: Solstice by Lorence Alison and Below by Alexandria WarwickBrennaYes No Maybe So by Becky Albertelli and Aisha SaeedThe New David Espinoza by Frank...2020-02-0432 minHazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrLooking For AlibrandiAt the request of listener Emily, Brenna and Joe travel Down Under to Sydney to check in on Italian-Australian Josephine Alibrandi, the sassy/spunky heroine of of Melina Marchetta's 1992 Aussie YA Classic, Looking for Alibrandi and its 2000 film adaptation by Kate Woods.The pair are hardly surprised that the book is a staple of the high school curriculum, given its myriad of relevant YA themes focusing on the immigrant experience, class issues, societal pressures and sex & relationships. Brenna and Joe dedicate a lot of time discussing the novel's handling of John Barton and his suicide, how it d...2020-01-281h 14
Hazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrDefinition of YA LitMore than a year into the podcast, Brenna and Joe decide to tackle the definition of Young Adult literature (better late than never, right?)Thanks to a prompt from listener Garrett, in the first (true) minisode of the new year, we delve into the specifics:YA as a category, not a genreUsing content and age ranges to distinguish Middle-Grade from YA from New AdultThe appeal of YA for adult readersA bit of history, including the term "adolescent" and its ties to capitalism, particularly in North America; andWhy YA exploded in the mid-to-late 90s and beyond (hint...2020-01-2135 min
Hazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrJan 2020 ForecastJan 2020 is now firmly underway, so it's time to update those library hold lists! Brenna and Joe have poured over the month and selected their top 3 picks, along with a few honourable mentions, to start the year off strong. Joe Deep and Darkest Red by Anna-Marie McLemoreWe Used To Be Friends by Amy SpaldingYou Too? Edited by Judith GurtlerPlus: Spellhacker by M.K. England,Tweet Cute by Emma Lord and Freeform's Party of Five rebootBrennaThe Hand on the Wall by Maureen JohnsonNot So Pure and Simple by Lamar GilesThe Gr...2020-01-0736 minHazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrLet It SnowFor the final regular...er...full length episode of the year, Brenna and Joe embrace the festivities of the season with a trip to Starbucks and a dip into 2008's Let It Snow, the trio of novellas by Maureen Johnson, John Green, and Lauren Myracle. We're also checking out the 2019 adaptation by Luke Snellin, which coincidentally stars every teen actor under contract on a Netflix series.Up for discussion: which of the three novellas does Brenna *strongly* dislike and what makes it far less successful than the other two (A: Addie & Starbucks)? A debate whether this is...2019-12-241h 20Hazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrLittle WomenOn the eve of a brand new interpretation by Greta Gerwig, Brenna and Joe travel back 151 years to discuss Louisa May Alcott's defining American text Little Women, as well as Gillian Armstrong's 1994 adaptation and the excruciating 2018 modern take by Clare Niederpreum.Comparisons to Jane Austen abound as we try and identify the source of the text's popularity, which prospers in the first half and fumbles the second half by betraying its lead protagonist, Jo March. Up for discussion: May Alcott's erasure of the Civil War, how the heat between Winona Ryder's Jo and Christian Bale's Laurie actually...2019-12-171h 23Hazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrTschick (Why We Took The Car / Goodbye Berlin)For the first time in ages, Brenna and Joe venture outside of North America and the UK to tackle a foreign text: German author Wolfgang Herrndorf's bestselling 2010 novel Tschick (published in English in 2014 as Why We Took The Car), as well as Fatih Akin's 2016 film adaptation (English title: Goodbye Berlin).Brenna and Joe discover that this deceptively complicated road trip narrative is the anti-thesis of I Love You, Beth Cooper (see Book 1, Episode 28). Maik's journey of self-discovery addresses both class and race, as well as lessons about trusting strangers and not judging people by their appearances. There's...2019-12-031h 11Hazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrThe Golden Compass / His Dark Materials feat. Heather CyrBrenna and Joe are joined by Heather Cyr to discuss the first book in Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy: Northern Lights or, to North American audiences, The Golden Compass (1995). We're also chatting the failed 2007 $180 bloated children's film adaptation, as well as 2019's HBO/BBC One co-production, His Dark Materials.Brenna and Joe have more interest in the complicated politics and religious tension than the text itself, so Heather steps in to round out our appreciation. Along the way we discuss CGI effects, Nicole Kidman vs Ruth Wilson and why the two minute fight scene between bears l...2019-11-261h 26Hazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrWatership DownOne year ago, Brenna and Joe embarked on a grand podcasting adventure. This episode marks our birthday/anniversary and we can't think of a better way to celebrate than read the book that we bonded over back in university: Watership Down, the horribly traumatic story of a group of intrepid bunnies who embark on their own adventure to find a new home. Yes, folks, the time has finally come to discuss Richard Adams' 1972 classic YA tome and Martin Rosen's 1978 animated adaptation (along with brief mentions of the 90s TV show and the 2018 Netflix remake). Up for discussion: t...2019-11-191h 14Hazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrSpeak feat. Lucia LorenziThe time has come for Brenna and Joe to discuss Laurie Halse Anderson's revelatory 1999 YA bestseller, Speak, its 2004 made-for-television film adaptation starring Kristen Stewart and the recent comic with art from Emily Carroll. Joining us for some difficult conversation is Lucia Lorenzi, who helps to unpack why both book and film are so powerful and important.This episode is quite broad, and it addresses sensitive topics such as rape, suicide, depression and trauma. Many of these topics can be triggering, so we recommend listeners proceed with their own self-care in mind. Up for discussion: the h...2019-11-121h 28Hazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrHowl's Moving CastleLock up your hat store and prepare to meet the wizard because Brenna and Joe are jumping aboard British author Diana Wynne Jones 1986 fantasy novel Howl's Moving Castle and Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli's 2004 animated...interpretation.That's right, we're calling it: in a first for the podcast, we have two titles so radically different that the film is barely an adaptation of the source material. The novel is a female coming of age narrative that's a little draggy and a little too full of serialized adventures. The film eschews its female character to tell a war story...2019-11-051h 08Hazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrLooking For AlaskaIs the third time the charm? After The Fault in our Stars and Paper Towns, Brenna and Joe are checking back into Manic Pixie Dream Girl territory with John Green's problematic first novel Looking for Alaska, which was just adapted by The O.C. and Gossip Girl scribes Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage into an eight episode Hulu series. Up for discussion: does the book contain enough sign posts that protagonist Miles' perspective should not be trusted? Does the book suffer without its titular object of affection? And how has the controversy around this novel driven Green's e...2019-10-291h 27Hazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrSomething Wicked This Way ComesWith Halloween fast approaching, Joe forces Brenna to indulge in a creepy (not scary) pick for the pod: noted speculative science-fiction author Ray Bradbury's 1962 novel Something Wicked This Way Comes and Jack Clayton's 1983 Disney adaptation. How does Brenna fare with this tale of a dark carnival that arrives in the middle of the night to feed on the souls of small town Americans?Just fine, it turns out! The pair discuss Bradbury's lyrical prose, his disinterest in writing women and the text's fairly simplistic moral message. The film, alas, doesn't fare quite as well: the child actors...2019-10-221h 05Hazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrNancy DrewRiverdale is SO last week! This week, Brenna and Joe are solving mysteries - with convenient expertise - in River Heights, as we both tackle our first ever Nancy Drew mystery in advance of the new CW series. Just to make things extra complicated, we're discussing the first two books by Carolyn Keene (The Secret of the Old Clock & The Hidden Staircase) as well as two movies - Andrew Fleming's Nancy Drew (2007) and Katt Shea's Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase (2019).Up for discussion: how post-war American history contributed to changes in Nancy's characterization in th...2019-10-151h 18Hazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrArchie / RiverdaleBuilding on the discussion that began in The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina and continued in Josie and the Pussycats, Brenna and Joe travel to a place outside of time and space to discuss the long history of Archie comics. Specifically we're tackling Mark Waid and Fiona Staples' revitalizing run on Archie, Vol 1 & 2 that began in 2015, as well as Roberto Aguirre-Saca's television series, Riverdale, which began in 2017.Up for grabs: the unconventional friendship between Jughead and Betty, the nebulous tonal balancing act that is undermined by Archie's pratfalls and Staples' iconic art. But the focus is really on...2019-10-081h 10Hazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrEmma / Clueless feat. Brennan KleinFor only the second time, Brenna and Joe venture far into the past for a classic lit / contemporary adaptation comparison. Thankfully we have Jane Austen superfan Brennan Klein around to lend a hand unpacking her 1815 text, Emma, as well as Amy Hecklering's "loose" adaptation Clueless (1995).On deck for discussion: how Austen uses her narrator to comment on her most "unlikable" heroine, Brennan's queer reading of Emma and how quietly groundbreaking a book that is seemingly just about marriage actually is.And for the film, we talk about Cher's progressive take on virginity, the litany of...2019-10-011h 14Hazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrThe Hunger Games feat. Alex HeeneyBrenna, Joe and special guest Alex Heeney are ready to volunteer as tribute as we dive into the 74th annual Hunger Games, courtesy of Suzanne Collins and filmmaker Gary Ross.The trio have plenty of thoughts on the value of Peeta to the text, how the film sets up future franchise instalments for failure, why Collins is such a skilled world-builder and the retroactive damage of Mockingjay on perspectives of the first book/film.In Homework: Joe discusses YA Forecast pick Destroy All Monsters by Jeff Jackson, Brenna dips her toe into Buffy water with Kie...2019-09-241h 28Hazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrGhost World feat. CC StapletonPrep your cynical disdain and your green tint (or is it blue?) because Brenna and Joe - plus special guest CC Stapleton - are headed back into comic territory with Daniel Clowes' 1997 comic and Terry Zwigoff's 2001 film adaptation, Ghost World. The discussion includes the depiction of teen ennui, the idea that certain texts are more meaningful if you read them at a particular stage of development, as well as the film's focus on new character Seymour (Steve Buscemi). Plus: thanks to a completely out of touch Roger Ebert review, the trio make the startling discovery that the t...2019-09-171h 11Hazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrThe Maze RunnerBrenna and Joe have patched up their differences and just in time, because they find themselves locked up with the Gladers, a bunch of annoying, mediocre (mostly) white boys from James Dashner's 2009 dystopian YA, The Maze Runner and Wes Ball's 2014 film adaptation, starring Teen Wolf break-out Dylan O'Brien.Brenna is firmly displaced with both texts unwillingness to explain the need for an all-male society and for their poorly reductive use of women. Joe is more willing to embrace the action sequences of the film, but finds the endless unanswered questions of the book and its abrupt cliffhanger...2019-09-101h 01Hazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrHarry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone feat. Hannah McGregorBrenna and guest star Hannah McGregor arrive at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, but Joe is nowhere to be found! The result is more drama than a Gryffindor v Slytherin Quidditch match as Brenna has to duck out early, meaning Hannah is less guest, and more like the glue holding this episode together.When Joe finally joins (presumably after his Remembrall turned red), the trio discuss the reasons why Harry Potter has become such a phenomenon, why the series has lent itself to so much fan fiction and the troubling class and race issues that Rowling...2019-09-031h 27Hazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrAfterBrenna and Joe head off to College for a sexy educa-Nope! Can't do it! There are no jokes to be had regarding the painfully unsexy and potentially damaging "erotic" coming of age book by Wattpad "author" Anna Todd.On the other side of the gulf is director Jenny Gage's bland-as-white-toast film adaptation starring human block of wood Josephine Langford and horribly miscast (and inconsistently British) Hero Fiennes Tiffin.Looking for better erotica? Check out Smart Bitches, Trashy Books instead!Topics for discussion include the sad reality of why this book didn't employ...2019-08-271h 15Hazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrEvery DayBrenna and Joe aren't feeling quite themselves - in fact they may be experiencing an out of body event as a result of reading David Levithan's 2012 book Every Day and screening Michael Sucsy's 2018 film adaptation.Or perhaps it is simply that they are struggling with pronouns and personhood as a result of A's constantly changing bodies.In addition to callbacks to the repetitive cycles of Before I Fall and Everything, Everything, Brenna and Joe discuss how the book, like Adam Silvera's writing, fails to understand its own appeal. Thankfully the film adaptation makes a strong...2019-08-201h 10Hazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrThe GiverBrenna and Joe join the uniformly black and white life of the 'Sameness' as they dig into Lois Lowry's 1993 Newberry medal winner dystopian text, The Giver. Unfortunately because this is still a YA adaptation podcast, they're also forced to check out Philip Noyce's 2014 film adaptation, which Joe politely describes as a "run of the mill dystopian garbage fest with hot people".In this episode Brenna provides an overview of Lowry's quartet of novels, the pair discuss why the book's focus on empathy, feelings and ambuigty is so powerful, and why The Giver may actually be inappropriate for...2019-08-131h 17Hazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrJosie And The PussycatsBrenna and Joe return from their long recording sabbatical with bright eyes and cat ears. For the start of Book 2 (aka our second season) we wanted something fun and frothy, so what better to kick things off with than the tale of friendship, success and capitalism that is Josie And The Pussycats?!For the first time Joe & Brenna are covering two texts that don't speak to each other, as the 2001 film by Harry Elfont and Deborah Kaplan was produced well before the Marguerite Bennett and Cameron Deordio scripted / Audrey Mok inked comic revival in 2016.We...2019-08-061h 10Hazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrMysterious SkinBook One comes to a close as Brenna and Joe delve into the dark and horrifying world of Scott Heim's 1995 novel Mysterious Skin and Gregg Araki's 2004 adaptation, which is celebrating its 15th anniversary this week.Take the trigger warning to heart as both texts deal with very mature themes. Brenna and Joe, while appreciative of the craftmanship of both texts, frequently resort to the word "horrifying" to describe their experiences. Rest assured that there is lightness to be found, though, including Joe's embarrassing mix-up over Heim's last name, the struggle to reconcile Brian as a "boring" character...2019-06-251h 15Hazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrI Love You, Beth CooperIt's graduation night and Brenna and Joe should be enjoying a wild night of debauchery and wacky hijinks, but instead they're angry (like REAL ANGRY) about Larry Doyle's 2007 book, I Love You, Beth Cooper and Chris Columbus' 2009 adaptation.Listeners who enjoy the episodes where the pair get a little frustrated with one or both texts (think The Kissing Booth) are sure to delight in just how much Brenna and Joe HATE this pairing. The structure is repetitive, the characters are stock, the content is frequently offensive and the jokes simply aren't funny. Strap in and expect plenty...2019-06-181h 06Hazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrEverything, EverythingBrenna and Joe are under house arrest, so please be sure to decontaminate properly before you listen to this episode on Nicola Yoon's 2015 novel Everything, Everything and its accompanying 2017 film adaptation by Stella Meghie.In all seriousness though: MEGA SPOILER WARNING - If you have not read the book and plan to, DO NOT LISTEN!!!Brenna and Joe discuss why the format of both texts don't quite work, how the film wastes the likeability of gifted teen actors Amandla Stenberg (The Hate U Give) and Nick Robinson (Love, Simon) and why we need to become...2019-06-1156 min
Hazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrAppendix D. 2019 YA Forecast Part 2Welcome to the halfway point of the year! As promised, Brenna and Joe have selected some forthcoming new young adult literature and adaptation selections for summer/early fall 2019. Get the Library holds list prepped for an onslaught!Brenna:The Virtue of Sin by Shannon Schuren (June)An Indigenous People’s History of the United States for Young People by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz, adapted by Jean Mendoza and Debbie Reese (July)Frankly in Love by David Yoon (September)Joe:Ordinary Girls by Blair Thornburgh (June)Destroy All Monsters by Sam J Miller (July)Full Disclosure by Ca...2019-06-0441 minHazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrThe Virgin SuicidesBrenna and Joe head to the 70s suburbs for a deep dive into the problematic world of Jeffrey Eugenides' 1993 "not YA" novel The Virgin Suicides and a comparison of Sofia Coppola's film adaptation, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary.After 25 episodes, Brenna FINALLY clarifies to Joe a foundational component of YA Literature. The pair also discuss Eugenides' lack of empathy for his female characters, Coppola's feminist treatment of the material and Brenna's biggest issue about the adaptation.In homework: Brenna galley-brags about her advance reading copy of Julie Murphy's new Middle School book, Dear Sweet...2019-05-211h 06
Hazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrThe Stand-In / The Perfect DateBrenna and Joe put on a puffy prom dress and rent a tux for their first dip into male protagonist realist YA romance. Unfortunately they selected Steve Bloom's 2016 novel The Stand-In and Chris Nelson's 2019 Netflix adaptation The Perfect Date which not even current It-Boy Noah Centineo can save.The pair marvel at how badly written and problematic the book is, while acknowledging that it is one of the few texts to actually address wealth & income inequality. They then contrast it with the film, which has removed 95% of the book's problematic aspects, but in the process, has also...2019-05-071h 03
Hazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrOrange Marmalade feat. Paul LeBrenna and Joe are joined by Paul Le as they venture into the world of South Korean manwha and webtoons. The trio checks out the first 25 episodes of Seok-woo's Orange Marmalade, a YA vampire romance that originally ran between 2011-2013, as well as its accompanying 2015 KBS2 TV series.The unique episodic format of the webtoon poses some narrative challenges, but its clever and unique use of space and scrolling generates plenty of discussion. The trio also analyzes why the TV season is like melodramatic catnip, its unusual ties to Felicity and Brenna poses a Stephenie Meyer-inspired question...2019-04-301h 07
Hazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrThe ChangeoverBrenna and Joe travel to the other side of the world for an investigation into Margaret Mahy's 1984 Carnegie Medal winner, The Changeover and its 2017 film adaptation by Miranda Harcourt and Stuart McKenzie. Brenna appreciates the prickly, unconventional mother/daughter relationship, Joe unpacks how the film uses the 2011 earthquake to inform its narrative and, for the first time on the podcast, an ending dramatically alters the pair's appreciation of one of the texts.In homework: Brenna and Joe chat about the impact of Disney's closure of the FOX 2000 studio, which produced Love, Simon, The Hate U Give and...2019-04-231h 09
Hazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrThe Lesser BlessedBrenna and Joe venture to Canada's Northern Territories to spend time with Richard Van Camp's lyrical and melancholy 1996 novel The Lesser Blessed and Anita Dorin's 2012 film adaptation. This is an extremely heavy, but ultimately rewarding pair of texts that merit the extra-long run time (fun fact: when Brenna teaches the book, it takes her three weeks to unpack!)Brenna goes into much-needed teacher-mode to elaborate on the background of Residential schools, one of Canada's most shameful historical events, which is essential for understanding the book's exploration of trauma and pain. Joe, meanwhile, makes a shocking discovery in...2019-04-161h 14
Hazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrElla EnchantedBrenna and Joe stumble into a fairy tale world that compels them to do everything they're told...so long as it's compare Gale Carson Levine's 1997 Ella Enchanted and Tommy O'Haver's over-the-top wacky 2004 adaptation, which is celebrating its 15th anniversary this week!The book proves to be a good example of how straightforward and non-subversive books for young adults were in the 90s, while the film makes good use of a game Anne Hathaway's capacity for physical comedy, but goes over board on extra characters and bad CGI. Plus: come for the discussion about misused WOC and stay...2019-04-091h 04
Hazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrChilling Adventures of Sabrina feat. Emily von SeeleBrenna and Joe venture deep into the Greendale woods to perform a dark ceremony in advance of Brenna's birthday and they're joined by a very special guest: Emily von Seele! The three unpack the gorgeous art and risky narrative in Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa's 60s-set dark reboot of Chilling Adventures of Sabrina and contrast it with the more risk-adverse 2018 Netflix adaptation - just in time for its return on April 5.Along the way Brenna wonders why the goat masks in both Sabrina and its companion series Riverdale mean completely different things, Joe vents about the series' aesthetic choices (enough...2019-04-021h 07
Hazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrDivergentBreak out your black tights and your pink hair because Brenna and Joe are headed into the Dauntless Pit with Veronica Roth's 2011 bestseller Divergent and the Neil Burger-helmed 2014 adaptation. Both hosts have mixed feelings, contrasting their initial enjoyment of the texts back in the day with the more complicated, less fun reading of both in a post-Trump, anti-intellectual world. It's not all doom and gloom, though: it turns out Brenna's brother and Joe's husband have nearly identical reactions to the film, Brenna gets far too much pleasure whispering the titular term and the episode ends with a SHOCKING revelation...2019-03-261h 12
Hazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrSimon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda / Love, SimonAfter several weeks of...challenging texts, Brenna and Joe dive into the warm comfort of Becky Albertalli's 2015 Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda and Greg Berlanti's 2018 adaptation Love, Simon. The pair break down the book's great writing, problematize the film's depiction of Leah and Ethan and praise what may be the best, most supportive parents in YA.It's a bit of a gush fest, honestly.Plus: Brenna doubles down on Albertalli with a discussion of Simon's sequel/spin-off, Leah On The Offbeat while Joe softly recommends the new Sick Kid film, Five Feet Apart, starring...2019-03-191h 00
Hazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrMortal EnginesHold onto your Old Tech because Brenna and Joe are on the run from London and the other Traction Cities as they tackle Phillip Reeves' 2001 novel Mortal Engines, as well as 2018's significantly less interesting film adaptation by Christian Rivers. The text has fascinating colonialist and caste implications that are mostly abandoned in the film, in favour of pretty CW-styled actors and a really bad hairpiece by Hugo Weaving's villain. Come for the discussion about the impressive visual rendering of Municipal Darwinism and stay for Joe's invention of a brand new Harry Potter pre-quel franchise.Oh, also...2019-03-1258 min
Hazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrPersepolisAfter several weeks of dystopian and urban fantasy, Brenna and Joe travel back in time to the 1980s and the Iranian Revolution for a deep dive in Marjane Satrapi's award-winning comics & animated film, Persepolis.Brenna touches on a vital lesson in semantics re: the classification of the text as a comic vs graphic novel (and why the distinction is so important). We also address the cyclical nature of the two volumes, the melancholy implications of the text’s ending and the universality of Satrapi’s sparse visual style, which is so effective at drawing audiences in.Pl...2019-03-0550 min
Hazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrThe Mortal InstrumentsMundanes Brenna and Joe muddle their way through a three for one as they tackle Cassandra Clare’s 2007 urban fantasy novel The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones, the CGI atrocity that is the 2013 film adaptation and the 2016 Freeform TV adaptation, Shadowhunters (which they declare the best version of the story).Expect A LOT of sighs, guffaws and questions as the pair address the book's generic narrative and love triangle, Clary Fray's lack of agency in the climax and the film's failures in set design, special effects and acting. Perhaps the best thing to come out of this we...2019-02-261h 05
Hazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrThe Umbrella AcademyStrap on your space gear and take off your shoes because Joe and Brenna are tackling The Umbrella Academy, Netflix's latest TV adaptation, which is based on the first two volumes of the mega successful comics by Gerard Way (of the band My Chemical Romance) and artist Gabriel Bá.Join the pair as they attempt to unpack the generic apocalyptic threat and similarly drawn characters, discuss why sometimes you should begin with Volume two instead of one and heap praise the show's fun, evocative dance sequence set to a classic 80s tune. Just be warned: if you p...2019-02-1957 min
Hazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrThe Kissing BoothWelcome to full-on vitriol. Brenna wants to barf and Joe wants to burn this book.In this take no prisoners dressing down of Beth Reekles’ massive Wattpad success The Kissing Booth, Brenna and Joe don’t expect to make any tween fans from Los Angeles happy (or is it South Wales? Or is it South Africa?).Adult listeners wishing to destroy their livers are welcome to play the “Edit!” drinking game as Brenna and Joe lament the inept job that Random House UK did in shepherding a 15 year old’s online serial into a book. Thankfully...2019-02-1252 min
Hazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrThe Fault In Our StarsBrenna and Joe tackle our second namesake in as many weeks with a deep dive into John Green's 2012 realist YA The Fault In Our Stars and Josh Boone's 2014 film adaptation. The discussion skews a little more towards the book, including Green's extensive fan community, issues of representing "cancer kids" authentically and Joe's issues with the character of Gus.Plus: our news is dedicated exclusively to Canadian Indigenous content! Joe discusses Patti LaBoucane-Benson's graphic novel The Outside Circle while Brenna recommends both Pemmican Wars (written by Katherine Vermette and illustrated by Scott B. Henderson), as well as Cherie...2019-02-051h 07
Hazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrThe Hate U GiveFasten your SJW seatbelts because Brenna and Joe are tackling racism, privilege and duality in our most vital (and emotional) Chapter yet as we cover Angie Thomas' amazing The Hate U Give and George Tillman Jr.'s 2018 film adaptation.The discussion about the book and recent racist events in the media brings one host to tears, prompts a rage-fuelled clap back against #AllLivesMatter, but we're mostly here to heap effusive praise on the best YA book we've covered to date.Plus: Brenna goes to bat for book two of Strong Female Protagonist, a web comic...2019-01-291h 02
Hazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrA Discovery Of WitchesBrenna and Joe dive deep into Deborah Harkness’ 600 page tome A Discovery of Witches and discover…that they don’t care for supernatural romances. They debate the attraction to mates that can kill you, question the editorial decisions of the book and praise Teresa Palmer’s performance in the TV adaptation (available now on Sundance Now and Shudder).Plus: Brenna gets excited for the June release of Abdi Nazemian’s Like a Love Story, a vital queer love story set during the AIDS crisis. Joe, meanwhile, seeks comfort in John Allison’s graphic novel series Giant Days.If you...2019-01-2259 min
Hazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrScott PilgrimBrenna and Joe dive headfirst into the graphic novel universe of Bryan Lee O’Malley’s Scott Pilgrim, its toxic masculinity and its Maple-soaked Canadian identity. A text to film comparison with Edgar Wright's adaptation reveals that some problems persist in both mediums, but - mores than any other text thus far - this is the one that reveals how far YALit has changed in just a short span of 8-9 years. Strap yourselves in folks…’cause we’re calling out the fanboys and the haters!Plus: Brenna recommends Netflix comedy Atypical, in conjunction with the hashtag that probl...2019-01-1558 min
Hazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrAppendix C. Sex EducationIn a special appendix edition of the show, Brenna and Joe check out the first episode of the new Netflix series, Sex Education. The discussion ranges from Joe's love of Gillian Anderson, the balance between raunch and heart, and speculation about what role nostalgia, timelessness and class will play in the subsequent seven episodes of the first season.If you want to connect with the show, use #HKHSPod on Twitter:Brenna: @brennacgrayJoe: @bstolemyremoteOr send us an email at hkhspod@gmail.com. See you on the page and on the screen! Hosted on...2019-01-1524 min
Hazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrThe Scarlet Letter / Easy ABrenna and Joe are back with our first full Chapter of 2019 and it's a doozy: Nathaniel Hawthorne's 1850 puritanical novel The Scarlet Letter and Will Gluck's delightful 2010 "loose" adaptation, Easy A. Come for the lively discussion about how to pronounce Hester Prynne's last name, why Salem sucked for women (shocking!) and how much we love Emma Stone.Plus: 2 new YA Bingo terms. In the news, Joe laments the 50 Shades of Grey-esque trailer for the YA adaptation of Anna Todd's After while Brenna champions the rare Indigenous YA text, Cynthia Leitich Smith's Hearts Unbroken, and Debbie Reese's great resource...2019-01-0844 min
Hazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrDumplin'The time has come to enter the Miss Teen Bluebonnet pageant! That's right, Brenna and Joe are talkin' Julie Murphy's 2015 fat-positive YA hit Dumplin' and Anne Fletcher's 2018 Netflix adaptation. Listen as Joe tries a Southern accent, we discuss Manic Pixie Drag Queens and Brenna offers a few other texts to check out in the same vein (including Jes Baker's Landwhale: On Turning Insults Into Nicknames, Why Body Image Is Hard, and How Diets Can Kiss My Ass).All that, plus: 2 new YA Bingo terms and Brenna offers a YA text for your holiday shopping needs....2018-12-1846 min
Hazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrBefore I FallThis week's "Chapter" is a doozy! Brenna and Joe struggle through Lauren Oliver's breakout 2010 novel Before I Fall and the 2017 film adaptation of the same name by Ry Russo-Young. Tackling questions about character likability, white privilege, redemption arcs, the financial viability of killing your protagonist and a quick discussion of Vancouver housing prices, this may just be the week that breaks Brenna!Also: we introduce three new YA BINGO squares, Brenna highlights Paperback Crush by Gabrielle Moss and Joe goes off on J.K. Rowling's bad screenplay for the new Fantastic Beasts film "The Crimes of Grindelwald".2018-12-1144 min
Hazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrTo All The Boys I've Loved BeforeAfter abuse and zombies, Brenna and Joe are psyched to dive into the adorably sweet love life of Lara Jean Song, the heroine of Jenny Han’s 2014 book To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before and the 2018 film adaptation by Susan Johnson. Come along for the frank discussion of POC representation, how the two texts balance the family vs romance storylines and heartthrob Noah Centineo (of course!)Also: A bunch of new YA BINGO squares and we gush about the pitch perfect trailer for Anne Fletcher’s Dumplin’. Meanwhile, Brenna gets excited for Tomi Adeyemi’s Children of...2018-12-0446 min
Hazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrWarm BodiesIt’s time for a Zombie Rom Com! Brenna and Joe tackle Isaac Marion’s 2010 book Warm Bodies and Jonathan Levine’s 2013 film adaptation of the same name to discover which one has an obsession with penises and which one can’t help but conform to typical action finale shoot-outs.Also: We add 2 new squares to our YA BINGO cards. And in our news update, Brenna is excited for Netflix's adaptation of Anne Fletcher’s Dumplin’ (out Dec 8), while Joe doubles up on actress Teresa Palmer’s filmography with a screening of her new UK TV series, A Discovery of...2018-11-2740 min
Hazel & Katniss & Harry & StarrThe Perks of Being A WallflowerWelcome to the inaugural outing of Hazel & Katniss & Harry & Starr! Brenna and Joe tackle Stephen Chobsky’s 1999 coming of age novel, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, and his 2012 film of the same name. Marvel at the heaps of misery loaded onto these young teens, lament the excised abortion plot in the film and join us in our first ever round of YA BINGO!Also: in our news updates, Brenna is excited for Nic Stone's Dear Martin and Ibi Zoboi's Pride, while Joe is annoyed by a spoilery trailer for YA adaptation, Mortal Engines.Connect wi...2018-11-2744 min