Dust off your Walkmans and grab your flamethrowers, we're heading into the Upside Down! Marianne, Sean, Lizzie, and Katie join the pod for an unprecedented 5(!) person recording to discuss our favorite moments and legacy of Stranger Things and share our thoughts on its final season.

01:13 - First experiences with the show

04:08 - Impact & nostalgia factor

07:34 - Favorite season

10:41 - Favorite cast members

18:15 - More thoughts on characters

22:55 - Final season

35:24 - Actors and Easter eggs

39:08 - Final thoughts

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For our complete show notes and links to items we mention in this episode, visit sayvillelibrary.org/podcast.

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In our last episode of 2025, Marianne, Rachel and Katie join the pod to share their favorite books, shows and more of the year!

0:01:10 - Everything Must Go by Dorian Lynskey

0:06:50 - The Sunflower Boys by Sam Wachman

0:12:25 - The Briar Club by Kate Quinn

0:17:17 - Papilio by Ben Clanton, Corey R. Tabor & Andy Chou Musser

0:21:12 - Life, and Death, and Giants by Ron Rindo

0:27:55 - Adolescence

0:34:46 - TerraGreen, Haminations, and TheOdd1sOut (Youtube Channels)

0:37:41 - Task

0:42:18 - IT: Welcome to Derry

0:50:17 - Secret Mall Apartment

0:56:54 - "Good Hang" with Amy Poehler

1:00:21 - Despelote

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For our complete show notes and links to items we mention in this episode, visit sayvillelibrary.org/podcast.

Have a question, comment or topic idea? Let us know at [email protected]!

On this very special, "Ho! Ho! Ho-liday edition" of the pod, we rank (almost) every Rankin/Bass animated holiday special, from Rudolph to Santa, Baby! Spoiler: it's a bumpy sleigh ride!

02:11 - Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

07:17 - The Little Drummer Boy

10:43 - Frosty the Snowman

14:12 - Santa Claus is Comin' to Town

18:10 - The Year Without Santa Claus

21:46 - 'Twas the Night Before Christmas

25:39 - The First Christmas

27:43 - Frosty's Winter Wonderland

29:32 - Nestor, the Long-Eared Donkey

32:45 - The Stingiest Man in Town

34:31 - Rudolph & Frosty's Christmas in July

38:28 - Jack Frost

42:17 - The Leprechaun's Christmas Gold

45:43 - The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus

49:30 - Santa, Baby!

56:33 - Closing thoughts

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For our complete show notes and links to items we mention in this episode, visit sayvillelibrary.org/podcast.

Have a question, comment or topic idea? Let us know at [email protected]!

Our Best of the Year episodes continue! This time Tory, Kristina and Evan drop by to discuss their favorite books, music, shows and video games of the year. This fun conversation is not one to be missed!

(00:01:10) - Everything is Tuberculosis by John Green

(00:05:36) - The Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow

(00:09:30) - Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid

(00:12:03) - Shadow Ticket by Thomas Pynchon

(00:18:32) - The Baker's Wife

(00:23:44) - Ego Death at the Bachelorette Party by Hayley Williams

(00:25:55) - Phantom Island by King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard

(00:29:27) - "Gnarly" by Katseye

(00:34:00) - Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

(00:39:46) - Blue Prince

(00:48:14) - Merrily We Roll Along

(00:55:13) - "Disney's Living Characters: A Broken Promise" by Defunctland

(01:05:07) - Death by Lightning

(01:09:07) - The Rehearsal

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For our complete show notes and links to items we mention in this episode, visit sayvillelibrary.org/podcast.

Have a question, comment or topic idea? Let us know at [email protected]!

It's time for our end of the year wrap-up! Lizzie, Sean and Tim join the pod to share their favorite books, shows, albums and more of 2025!

01:04 - The Antidote by Karen Russell

04:41 - Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins

08:44 - The Tenant by Frieda McFadden

11:34 - Wool by Hugh Howey

14:01 - Enshittification: Why Everything Sudddenly Got Worse and What To Do About It by Corey Doctorow

21:29 - Music for People Who Believe in Love by Joe Jonas

24:46 - Man's Best Friend by Sabrina Carpenter

28:49 - Getting Killed by Geese

33:50 - Death Stranding 2: On the Beach

39:51 - Common Side Effects

43:35 - The Pitt

49:15 - Alien: Earth

54:50 - Bugonia

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For our complete show notes and links to items we mention in this episode, visit sayvillelibrary.org/podcast.

Have a question, comment or topic idea? Let us know at [email protected]!

Sean and special guest Sharon O'Halloran (our first ever non-library worker guest!) join the pod to discuss their favorite war movies.

0:00:50 - Introduction

0:05:35 - Our Top 10 War Movies

0:09:44 - Saving Private Ryan

0:13:50 - Black Hawk Down

0:19:26 - Apocalypse Now

0:24:22 - Full Metal Jacket

0:27:41 - Dunkirk

0:32:26 - Das Boot

0:36:27 - Greyhound

0:40:49 - Come and See

0:44:46 - Warfare

0:54:34 - Paths of Glory

0:59:41 - Lone Survivor

1:03:00 - The Hurt Locker

1:06:27 - All Quiet on the Western Front (2022)

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For our complete show notes and links to items we mention in this episode, visit sayvillelibrary.org/podcast.

Have a question, comment or topic idea? Let us know at [email protected]!

The spooky season is upon us! That means it's time once again for our Horror-ween Movie Challenge! Peter, Lizzie and Kristina join the pod to reveal this year's horror movie categories and share some of their film recommendations to send shivers down your spine.

01:11 - Introduction

02:55 - Takes Place in NY, Vampires, Zombies & Folk Horror

07:28 - Stephen King Adaptation, Creepy Children, & Horror Series

12:59 - Demonic Possession, Body, Sci-Fi, & Classic Horror

16:27 - 80s, 70s, Holiday Slasher, & Killer Animal Horror

22:12 - Yuppie Nightmares, Asian, Inanimate Object, & Comedy-Horror

28:23 - Found Footage, Ghost, Kanopy/Hoopla, Remakes, & Invisible Killers

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For our complete show notes and links to items we mention in this episode, visit sayvillelibrary.org/podcast.

Have a question, comment or topic idea? Let us know at [email protected]!

Sean and Lizzie help kickoff the NFL season by discussing their favorite football movies and shows.

01:05 - Football movie tropes and themes

07:31 - Do you have to be a fan to appreciate football movies?

10:21 - Remember the Titans

18:18 - Any Given Sunday

22:15 - When the Game Stands Tall

26:29 - Friday Night Lights (movie)

31:48 - Friday Night Lights (show)

36:50 - Rudy

40:03 - We Are Marshall

46:02 - Hurry-Up Reviews

54:38 - Fantasy Football Movie Draft

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For our complete show notes and links to items we mention in this episode, visit sayvillelibrary.org/podcast.

Have a question, comment or topic idea? Let us know at [email protected]!

Tory, Kristina and Meg join the pod to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the original The Phantom of the Opera film by discussing its many adaptations, including their review of "Masquerade" the immersive theatrical experience!

0:01:35 - "Fan-toms"

0:05:39 - Changes to the story

0:09:16 - 1925 film

0:18:16 - 1943 film

0:22:49 - Broadway version (1986)

0:31:16 - Phantom (1991)

0:43:14 - 2004 film

0:53:13 - Masquerade (2025)

1:07:10 - Final thoughts

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For our complete show notes and links to items we mention in this episode, visit sayvillelibrary.org/podcast.

Have a question, comment or topic idea? Let us know at [email protected]!

Resident movie buffs, Alex and Sean, sit down to discuss The New York Times' "Top 100 Films of the 21st Century" and compare it to their own lists.

01:17 - How the list was created

04:21 - Initial impressions & how many movies we've seen

13:25 - List theories and insights

20:34 - Snubs

28:39 - Surprises

35:08 - Personal film rating/ranking criteria

41:16 - NYT's Reader Poll

44:38 - Final thoughts and game

~~~~~

For our complete show notes and links to items we mention in this episode, visit sayvillelibrary.org/podcast.

Have a question, comment or topic idea? Let us know at [email protected]!