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Oftentimes when movie plots are derived from books some of what made the book so intriguing

Verity seems to have it all: a successful career, money, a handsome husband, Jeremy, played by

Enter Lowen Ashleigh, played by Dakota Johnson. She is also a mystery novelist, but far less

As Lowen digs through Verity’s notes, she begins uncovering unsettling things about the author

The film takes a while to get to the crux of the plot. There are scenes that could have been

I was also disappointed with how little the film does with Anna, Verity’s nurse, played by Irina

But the film’s shining performance belongs to Anne Hathaway. Her Verity is intense and fierce, a

Overall, Verity is a good mystery-suspense film that should satisfy viewers looking for a few

For the KSQD Film Gang: Molly Sullivan.

October is LGBTQ+ History month and we are learning about the LGBTQ+ history archives that exist in Monterey and Santa Cruz Counties.  David Reichard co-founded the Monterey County LGBTQ History Project and archives now available at the CSU Monterey Bay library when he was a professor there. Rob Darrow has been involved in sustaining the LGBTQ+ archives at the Museum of Art and History in Santa Cruz and documenting Santa Cruz County LGBTQ+ history. Together they talked about the importance of archives to preserve LGBTQ+ history and the many stories found in the archives. 

Primetime, directed by Lance Oppenheim and distributed by A24, invites a deeper look into performative morality and what those in the entertainment industry will do for ratings.

Based on the 2007 Esquire article Tonight on Dateline This Man Will Die by Luke Dittrich, the film follows the production of the reality television series To Catch a Predator.

Chris Hansen, played by Robert Pattinson, does not disappoint. He dramatically feigns interest in catching bad guys trolling young teens on the internet. Pattinson has been busy of late…think, The Odyssey, The Drama, Die My Love and Mickey 17.

While dealing with a tough subject, Pattinson distracts the audience with his character’s personal obsession with notoriety and nobility. In the process, he becomes the contradiction at the heart of this sad premise for a television show.

As a reminder, true crime and reality TV were popping up everywhere. Streaming, quality binge-worthy shows, and movie-quality television had not yet widely reached mainstream viewing patterns, leaving plenty of room for more sensationalized fare. The audience response to To Catch a Predator was so strong that the network put the show up against Lost on Thursday nights.

Merritt Wever plays the show’s head producer. You may recall her from Nurse Jackie, for which she won two Emmys. Her acting style is natural and approachable, but underneath, she is a complex character. To the audience’s surprise, she evokes a wounded animal in a rough business, one that then preys upon others to satisfy her ratings goals.

Skyler Gisondo earns his acting chops as Dan Plum, a young aspiring actor hired for the show’s sting operations and trying to earn his SAG card by getting a “speaking part” on a television show. His “decoy” performance is both humorous and heartbreaking—a performance that stays with you after the movie ends.

It is obvious that Oppenheim takes creative license with the characters and events in making the film. This is displayed in Pattinson’s psychotic dream sequences, the campy portrayal of a local sheriff’s department, and the parade of caricatured predators.

I did not find the creative direction distracting, as the film accomplishes its central themes: performative morality, winning the ratings game, and trying to break the mold of television offerings circa 2006.

For KSQD’s Film Gang: Susan Lovegren.

The Christian Fixation on Political Power

“Be Bold America!”

Aired October 2, 2026 at 5:00pm (PT) 

Christian fixation with political power is the theological emergency of our time. – Dr. Matthew D. Taylor

In this interview, Dr. Matthew D. Taylor traces the origins of Christian supremacy. Jesus directed his followers away from the race for power, but somewhere along the way, many Christians turned Jesus into a mascot for imperial domination. Where did it all go wrong?

In his book, Defying Tyrants, Dr. Taylor excavates scriptural texts and unpacks the notion of Christian antichrists and quarrels with Christian supremacy. He challenges us to put steel in the spine of Christian resistance to tyrants and reprimands the Christian leaders who bless them. He spotlights a counter tradition of Christians who have lived generous lives of sacrifice and stood up to authoritarian through the centuries.

Interview Guest:

Matthew D. Taylor, Ph. D., is an award-winning author, public intellectual, and nationally recognized speaker focused on religion, politics, and democracy in the United States. Matthew Taylor holds a PhD in Religious Studies from Georgetown University and an MA from Fuller Theological Seminary. His research and commentary have appeared in outlets including: The New York Times, NPR’s Weekend Edition, On the Media, Rolling Stone, Politico, The Bullwark, Sojourners, and Religion News Service.

Episode 95: Eating disorders can be frightening, isolating, and hard to recognize — and they often appear in teens who seem successful, high-achieving, athletic, social, or “fine” on the outside. In this episode of State of Mind, student leader and mental health advocate Sophia Krish guest hosts a conversation shaped especially for teens, young adults, families, educators, and anyone who cares about a young person who may be struggling. Sophia is joined by psychologist, author, and body image expert Dr. Charlotte Markey, along with Mia Perry and Austin Gautreau, who share their personal experiences with eating disorder recovery.

Together, they explore how eating disorders can develop, the role of social media and cultural messages about food and bodies, the pressure of perfectionism, and why eating disorders are often missed or misunderstood. Austin’s story also highlights the added stigma boys and men may face when their experiences don’t fit common assumptions about who struggles with eating disorders.

The episode also includes In Your Voice stories from Katherine and Ellie-Kate offering additional teen perspectives on social media, asking for help, and the courage it can take to let others know something is wrong.

Throughout the conversation, guests emphasize that eating disorders are serious mental health conditions — not choices, phases, or vanity — and that recovery often begins with being seen, believed, and supported. The episode closes with practical guidance on early intervention, prevention, treatment, and how teens and families can take a first step toward help.

Broadcasts: 10/4/26 & 10/12/26

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Books & Reading

The Body Image Book for Girls: Love Yourself and Grow Up Fearless, Updated Edition by Dr. Charlotte Markey (2026) – A practical, evidence-informed guide to help girls understand body image pressures and develop a more compassionate and critical relationship with appearance ideals.

The Body Image Book for Girls: Love Yourself and Grow Up Fearless by Dr. Charlotte Markey (2020) – A resource for girls and the adults who support them, focused on body image, media literacy, health, and challenging harmful appearance ideals.

Being You: The Body Image Book for Boys by Dr. Charlotte Markey, Daniel Hart, and Douglas Zacher (2022) – A book addressing body image concerns among boys, helping normalize their questions and experiences while offering research-based information for young people and caregivers.

Body Positive: Understanding and Improving Body Image in Science and Practice edited by Elizabeth A. Daniels, Meghan M. Gillen, and Charlotte H. Markey (2018) – A research-based book focused on positive body image and practices that can help people develop more accepting relationships with their bodies.

Websites & Organizations

The Body Image Books – Website featuring Dr. Charlotte Markey’s body image books for girls, boys, young adults, and adults, with resources related to food, bodies, and well-being.

ANAD — National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders – A nonprofit organization offering eating disorder information, support groups, peer support, and resources for people affected by eating disorders and those who care about them.

F.E.A.S.T. — Families Empowered and Supporting Treatment for Eating Disorders – A nonprofit organization supporting parents and caregivers of people with eating disorders. The website includes evidence-based guides, videos, webinars, and information about diagnosis, nutrition, and treatment options.

Be Real USA – A nonprofit organization focused on body image education and prevention work with adolescents, families, schools, and communities. Their resources include tools for creating more body-confident environments for young people.

The Body Positive – An organization that trains educators, student leaders, and providers in body image and self-acceptance curriculum. Their website includes training opportunities and free resources focused on body acceptance and cultural change.

FEDUP Collective – An organization focused on eating disorder support and advocacy for trans+, intersex, and gender-diverse people. Their site includes information, vetted provider resources, and support group information.

STRIPED — Strategic Training Initiative for the Prevention of Eating Disorders – A public health initiative based at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Boston Children’s Hospital. STRIPED focuses on eating disorder prevention, body image, weight stigma, beauty ideals, supplement use, and policy advocacy.

Centre for Appearance Research – A research center at the University of the West of England focused on appearance and body image. Their website includes research, videos, resources, and the Appearance Matters podcast.

Eating Disorders Coalition – An advocacy organization focused on public policy and legislative work related to eating disorders. This may be especially useful for listeners interested in advocacy or policy change.

Treatment, Counseling & Support

Eating Recovery Center – A treatment organization offering eating disorder care at different levels, including inpatient and outpatient support. Mia shared that ERC was an important resource for both her and her parents during recovery.

SAMHSA National Helpline – A 24/7 confidential helpline in English and Spanish that provides referrals to mental health and substance use treatment resources. Call 1-800-662-4357 for support.

LGBTQ+ Healthcare Directory – A directory to help people find LGBTQ+ affirming healthcare providers. This may be especially helpful for LGBTQ+ youth and families seeking inclusive care related to eating disorders or mental health.

Mental Health & Coping Tools

Headspace YouTube Channel – A meditation and mindfulness resource with accessible videos and guided practices. Mia shared that meditation and grounding practices have been helpful in her recovery.

NIMH — Eating Disorders: What You Need to Know by the National Institute of Mental Health (Revised 2024) – A federal health publication offering an overview of eating disorders, symptoms, treatment, risk factors, and guidance on finding help.

NAMI Ask the Expert – A series of recorded webinars featuring experts discussing mental health topics. This can be a useful general mental health education resource for listeners and families.

Podcasts, Videos & Media

TED Talk on Eating Disorder Recovery – A talk recommended by Ellie-Kate as a resource that helped her feel less alone during recovery. This may be especially meaningful for younger people looking for a relatable personal story.

Appearance Matters Podcast – A podcast from the Centre for Appearance Research exploring body image, appearance, and related social and psychological issues.

Advocacy & Policy

STRIPED — Strategic Training Initiative for the Prevention of Eating Disorders – STRIPED works at the intersection of eating disorder prevention, public health, research, and policy advocacy, including efforts related to youth safety, weight stigma, and diet products.

FEDUP Collective – In addition to support resources, FEDUP advocates for trans+, intersex, and gender-diverse people with eating disorders and highlights the need for care that addresses both eating disorders and gender identity.

Contact Guests

Charlotte Markey, PhD.

*Indicates a Monterey Bay Area resource

Visit BABBLERY.com for the full podcast stream, more information, transcript, and links.

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In this emotional and engaging interview, jazz violinist Nora Germain speaks of her drive to achieve in an industry shaken to the core by new technology. Without a traditional agent or label, she uses social media as her public relations firm. She talks about the importance of mentorship and collaboration between musicians, including her longtime collaboration with American roots musician Jon Batiste. And she explores the way her difficult childhood, coming to terms with her parents's alcoholism and the early deaths of teen friends, influences her drive and her mindset.

The Babblery features conversations about who we are and how we got this way. Modern humans can seem like the ancients building the Biblical Tower of Babel, cursed by God/nature never to understand each other. As Visiting Translators at the Tower of Babble, our guests delve into their work, their research, and their own experiences to try to explain the bits they’ve learned about Earth’s most perplexing species. Though we all speak different languages, here at The Babblery we aim to promote understanding, one conversation at a time. Visit The Babblery at https://babblery.com/. The Babblery is produced by Suki Wessling with support from KSQD.

Sustainability Now! Sunday, 5-6 PM, September 27th, 2026

We’ve all heard about the terrible Himalayan flash flood that traveled nearly 100 km down the Lende Kholā and Trishuli̇̄ Kholā rivers on the Nepal-Chinese border, devastating towns and villages along the way, killing at least 1,250 people and leaving more than 5,000 missing in the two countries.  The causes remain under investigation, but climate change appears to have played a major role in the disaster.  Join host Ronnie Lipschutz for a conversation with Jonathan Mingle, an independent journalist and author whose reporting and writing is focused on the science and politics of climate change, energy, health, and technology.  In 2015, he published  Fire and Ice: Soot, Solidarity, and Survival on the Roof of the World, in which he reported about the shrinking glaciers across the Himalayas and California, the role of black carbon in that shrinkage and the impacts on the people and nature who live there.  More recently, he published an essay, Mountains are Coming Undone,” in The New York Times (August 29, 2026).

For a detailed analysis of the disaster, see: “Rapid warming in the Himalaya exacerbates geohazard cascades beyond adaptation limits,” (WWA scientific report No. 92) World Weather Attribution. DOI: 10.25560/136420.

Laurie Corn searches for the way home again.

Hear the coming out story and rise to fame of Kristin Key, a nationally touring queer musical comedian who performed to a sold out crowd at Santa Cruz Shakespeare on September 21. She is known for her high-energy performances, guitar-driven humor, and her viral “Lesbian Army” comedy. Kristin joined the Pride Perspectives show to share about her life and her journey as a lesbian comedian and musician. She grew up in Texas, the daughter of a minister and first came out at age 16 and discovered her passion as a comedian at an open mic night in college. She then went on to be a finalist on the Last Comic Standing TV reality show in 2006. Check out Kristin’s recent show, “Lesbian Army” on Amazon prime or her multiple shows and music on YouTube.