Illiterate

The magical cinematic journey from book to screen.

Extras:

the first screen test with Harry, Hermione, and Ron // 12 min

Diagon Alley on Google Maps street view // link

JK Rowling’s new free book, The Ickabog // link

the terrible NY Times review // article

a conversation between Rowling and Radcliffe // 53 min

a conversation between Rowling and Kloves // 47 min

why Harry’s eyes aren’t green // article

Robin Williams as Hagrid // article

Eight-part Entertainment Weekly reporting // article

How Daniel became Harry Potter // article

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How does 11 million dollars go missing from the best school system in the nation? And what does Charles Dickens have to do with it? Bad Education is a film on HBO starring Hugh Jackman, written by Mark Makowsky and directed by Cory Finley. The story is based on the New York Magazine article on Frank Tassone, written by Robert Kolker.

Extras:

Bad Education trailer // 2 min

the original New York Magazine piece // article

interview with director Cory Finley // article

interview with writer Mike Makowsky // article

podcast interview with Frank Tassone // 33 min

interview with actor Hugh Jackman // article

aftermath of the embezzlement // article

on the film’s creation // article

history of Charles Dickens’ book, Martin Chuzzlewit // article

clipping regarding Dicken’s book // article

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How it all began, with the woman who made the best-selling book series of all time.

Extras:

JK Rowling on her extensive notes // 5 min

interview with the publisher on accepting JK Rowling // 4 min

documentary spotlight on JK Rowling // 24 min

Oprah interview with JK Rowling // 40 min

radio interview with JK Rowling, 1999 // article

Harry Potter in Ancient Greek // article

New Yorker piece on JK Rowling // article

book on the origins of Harry Potter // book

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We tackle the history of legal thrillers, the journey of a lawyer-turned-author, and if violence is hereditary. Defending Jacob is a miniseries on Apple TV, based on the book by William Landay.

Extras:

interview with show creator Mark Bomback // article

talk at Google with author William Landay // 45 min

interview with author William Landay // 7 min

Abraham Lincoln’s true crime writing // article

LA Times reporting on the “murder gene” // article

1997 Esquire article about the “murder gene” // article

Italian court case with reduced sentence due to gene // article

the science behind MAOA gene // article

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The comedic sci-fi series you wish you understood, and now, you can! Learn about Douglas Adams, the number 42, and why you shouldn’t panic. It’s the 15th anniversary of the film, and the 42nd anniversary of the original work.

Extras:

the trailer // 2 min

Elon Musk’s love of HG2G // article

Douglas Adams on Letterman // 7 min

original radio play (episode 1) // 24 min

Douglas Adams TED talk // 1hr 30 min

Douglas Adams rhino costume dance // 4 min

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Learn about one of the most influential women of the 20th century, how amendments work, and a college sophomore who uncovered a 202-year-old loophole in the constitution. We dive into Mrs. America, a miniseries on Hulu, and the books The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan, and A Choice Not an Echo, by Phyllis Schlafly.

Extras:

Mrs. America trailer // 3 min

the debate on Good Morning America // 24 min

writer Dahvi Waller on creation // 13 min

the historical accuracy of the show // article

the 27th amendment that was found by a 19-year-old // article

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We uncover the origins of the hit TV show on HBO, the beginning of computer effects in film, and the life of the author of Jurassic Park. Westworld is a show on HBO, and a movie (and novel) from 1973.

Extras:

Westworld (2020) trailer // 2 min:

Westworld (1973) trailer // 3 min:

interview with Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy on the show // article:

the history of the original Westworld’s SFX // article:

clip of the 1973 Westworld’s first computer effect // 2 min:

Arnold Schwarzenegger citing Westworld as his influence for the Terminator // article

the life of Michael Crichton // article:

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Journey with us into Regency England, Beverly Hills in the ’90’s, and what Jane Austen invented that changed literature.

Extras:

Emma. (2020) trailer // 2 min:

Clueless (1995) trailer // 2 min:

interview with the writer (Eleanor Catton) // article:

interview with the director of Clueless // 10 min:

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The odd (and real!) town of Shaker Heights, baby adoption in the 1990’s, and Evan and Taylor’s earnest attempt to understand motherhood. This week, we cover Little Fires Everywhere, the show on Hulu and the book by Celeste Ng.

ALERT: We also made another podcast as an April Fool’s joke!

Extras:

trailer, Little Fires Everywhere (Hulu) // 2 min:

interview with showrunner Liz Tigelaar // article:

interview with Reese Witherspoon // article:

Captioning Emily by Celeste Ng // article:

essay by Celeste on fiction writing // article:

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We give you the imaginary presidency of Charles Lindbergh, the cycles of human history, and what the heck was really going on in 1940. This week, “The Plot Against America”, a limited series on HBO, and a novel by Philip Roth.

Extras:

The Plot Against America trailer // 3 min

interview with author Philip Roth // 5 min

interview with author Philip Roth // article

the 1939 opinion poll on Jewish population // article

Charles Lindbergh’s anti-Semitic speech // audio

the 1936 poll about FDR becoming a dictator // article

the history of quotas on Jewish students at Ivy Leagues // article

the Howe-Strauss generational cycle theory // article

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Want to help the show? Leave a review!

Reach out on instagram