Happy New Year and Happy We’ve Made It Through Season 1! And boy was it a journey! Together we have weathered fires, ensorcellment, plagues, murders of hungry crows, rabies, blizzards, hailstorms, explosions, and Johnny Johnson.

In addition to reflecting on some of the highlights of Season 1, we discuss how Pa meets the future version of himself in a struggle that on the surface seems like a case of fragile masculinity, but ends up being something much deeper. Amy, Julie, and Marissa discuss getting older, what events we’d enter in the Walnut Grove Founder’s Day, and why the pie baking contest is deeply flawed. But most importantly, we learn that sometimes it is more important to be kind that right.

For more articles, photos, and other resources on each episode, visit our weekly companion blog here.

Special Thanks to David Rose Publishing for allowing us use of his iconic theme for the Little House on the Prairie show. (Composition Credit) © 1974 David Rose Publishing Co. | (Master Recording Credit) ℗ 2010 David Rose Publishing Co.

As a late Christmas present, we present you with a lighthearted episode featuring fan-favorite Mr. Edwards and Walnut Grove’s resident scarecrow Johnny Johnson. This week, we learn that Johnny has allowed just-enough book learning to seep into his misguided head to cause trouble. Combine that with his father’s ultimatums on focusing on his chores and schoolwork and Mr. Edwards’ tall tales, and we have a lanky, ginger tornado of cringey-ness.Johnny decides he is through with school and is determined to strike out on his own and see the world and a guilt-ridden Mr. Edwards reluctantly tries to set him on the right path back home. In Mankato, both fellows are outwitted and outplayed by a local saloon girl forcing Mr. Edwards and to learn when it is time to fold ‘em.This week, we also discuss Reverend Alden’s alter ego, the dark and fascinating history of #PutABirdOnIt, and Julie’s love of architecture.

For more articles, photos, and other resources on each episode, visit our weekly companion blog here.

Special Thanks to David Rose Publishing for allowing us use of his iconic theme for the Little House on the Prairie show. (Composition Credit) © 1974 David Rose Publishing Co. | (Master Recording Credit) ℗ 2010 David Rose Publishing Co.

Happy Holidays from Walnut Grove! We go back in time (in season 1) to just after Laura goes on her spiritual journey to the mountains to get her baby brother back. Since then, Pa and Ma have apparently bribed her to stay home with a beautiful pony named Bunny. The pony is so nice that Nellie Oleson keeps pressuring her father to buy the pony off of the Ingalls for Christmas, but Laura isn’t selling.

With low funds, every member of the Ingalls family must get creative with their gift-giving this Christmas. Mary earns money by helping the town seamstress, Ma hoards extra eggs to sell, Pa becomes a wheelwright overnight, Carrie has gold hidden throughout the forest, but Laura has no marketable skills (aside from speechwriting.)

In this nod to O’Henry, we reflect on our own gift-giving snafus, favorite Christmas traditions, and laugh way too long about inside jokes from an episode of America’s Next Top Model. Marissa gives a brief history of Christmas in the United States, Amy embarrasses herself by attempting to become a Biblical history scholar, and Julie regales us with tales of her Starbucks Barista days.

For more articles, photos, and other resources on each episode, visit our weekly companion blog here.

Special Thanks to David Rose Publishing for allowing us use of his iconic theme for the Little House on the Prairie show. (Composition Credit) © 1974 David Rose Publishing Co. | (Master Recording Credit) ℗ 2010 David Rose Publishing Co.

Bundle up, because this week we weave a tale of the Ingalls family stranded on the road in an abandoned cabin while they wait out a torrential blizzard. During this time, they must keep their spirits up, fend off starvation, deal with a “renegade” Sioux lurking in the forest nearby, and above all… survive the overwhelming hatred that consumes the US Marshall stranded with them.This week we also discuss the commonly used TV trope of bottle episodes, commercials in the 1970s, US Government and Native American relations, the Donner Party, and how Germans were duped into immigrating to the state of Missouri.

For more articles, photos, and other resources on each episode, visit our weekly companion blog here.

Special Thanks to David Rose Publishing for allowing us use of his iconic theme for the Little House on the Prairie show. (Composition Credit) © 1974 David Rose Publishing Co. | (Master Recording Credit) ℗ 2010 David Rose Publishing Co.

This week Pa holds the equivalent of a Tupperware party for corn all thanks to a bushy-chested ginger named Joe Coulter with a college degree and big ideas. When a tragedy strikes on Joe’s journey home, Pa must venture out on a one-man search party while the rest of the Walnut Grove farmers stew in a growing rage fest of sweat and bitterness.

Amy, Julie, and Marissa talk all things 127 Hours, Titanic, Castaway, things that spook horses, and why corn is one of the largest and most problematic crops in the United States today. Amy also gives a lot of unwanted advice about how to act around pregnant women, leaving notes about where you are going, and sugar consumption. Enjoy!

For more articles, photos, and other resources on each episode, visit our weekly companion blog here.

Special Thanks to David Rose Publishing for allowing us use of his iconic theme for the Little House on the Prairie show. (Composition Credit) © 1974 David Rose Publishing Co. | (Master Recording Credit) ℗ 2010 David Rose Publishing Co.

Trigger Warning: This episode involves alcoholism and child abuse.

This week we explore another dark episode that portrays some troubling social issues: alcoholism and child abuse.  When John Stewart (not that Jon Stewart of Daily Show fame) beats his son into unconsciousness in a drunken rage, the town of Walnut Grove (and especially the Ingalls family) cannot choose to ignore what is happening any longer.

Thanks to Miss Beadle, Ma, Pa, and Doc Baker, appropriate measures are taken in order to provide healing to both the father and son.

For more articles, photos, and other resources on each episode, visit our weekly companion blog here.

Special Thanks to David Rose Publishing for allowing us use of his iconic theme for the Little House on the Prairie show. (Composition Credit) © 1974 David Rose Publishing Co. | (Master Recording Credit) ℗ 2010 David Rose Publishing Co.

This week, a tenderhearted yet garishly dressed conman comes to Walnut Grove and nearly kills Mrs. Oleson with some placebo drugs, and Jack (the dog) narrowly escapes death once again. In addition, we discuss nightgowns for men, Edgar Allen Poe, shower plants, and Amy educates everyone on her new favorite term “enscorcellment”.

We do have a few echo-y sound snafus in this episode. We promise that this will be fixed by next week and greatly appreciate your patience with us as well as your listens.

For more articles, photos, and other resources on each episode, visit our weekly companion blog here.

Special Thanks to David Rose Publishing for allowing us use of his iconic theme for the Little House on the Prairie show. (Composition Credit) © 1974 David Rose Publishing Co. | (Master Recording Credit) ℗ 2010 David Rose Publishing Co.

Welcome back for a Halloween episode about one of the scariest things in the world… infectious diseases. Walnut Grove is rocked to its core by a plague that thankfully only kills people we aren’t invested in. Pa and Mr. Edwards bromance reaches a new level, we learn how to properly dispose of bodies ravaged by the plague, and we get our first ice bath out of 25,000 in this series. It will give you chills.In addition to this dark, skin-crawling tale, we discuss the worst sicknesses we’ve ever experienced, our favorite Halloween candies, and what we are going to dress up as this year.

Special Thanks to our nurse researchers Courtney Schuman and Nicole Ellsworth for answering our many questions.

For more articles, photos, and other resources on each episode, visit our weekly companion blog here.

Special Thanks to David Rose Publishing for allowing us use of his iconic theme for the Little House on the Prairie show. (Composition Credit) © 1974 David Rose Publishing Co. | (Master Recording Credit) ℗ 2010 David Rose Publishing Co.

This week, Amy and Julie introduce Marissa to the world of Christian romance novels, we all talk about Downton Abbey way too much, and (most importantly) a stylish young woman catches the eye of Doc Baker.  She’s got amazing outfits, recognizes a woke bae when she sees one, and is a genuinely lovely person. We are just as taken with Kate Thorvald as the doc. 

The only problem is, Doc Baker is at least 20 years her senior and has extensive sun damage. Will Hiram Baker’s bachelor lifestyle come to an end? Will Mr. Hansen get over his jealousy now that his best buddy suddenly has less time for him? Will Harriet Oleson (Kate’s aunt) allow the two lovebirds to get married? Find out all of this and much more on this week’s episode.

For more articles, photos, and other resources on each episode, visit our weekly companion blog here.

Special Thanks to David Rose Publishing for allowing us use of his iconic theme for the Little House on the Prairie show. (Composition Credit) © 1974 David Rose Publishing Co. | (Master Recording Credit) ℗ 2010 David Rose Publishing Co.

Have you ever wished for a podcast about Harriet Olseon AND Harry Potter? Look no further!

This week there is trouble in paradise for Nels and Harriet. When their marriage and the town’s economy seem to be on the brink of destruction, Charles Ingalls is the only one capable of saving the day!

Julie shares a shocking story from her waitressing days, we assign determine what animals represent various characters in Little House, and then we all gush over the details of the Oleson’s home and lifestyle. This episode is full of physical comedy, the townies we all love, the famous Michael Landon laugh, and pure perfection of Katherine McGregor’s (Harriet) craft. It has quickly risen to the top as our favorite episode so far.

For more articles, photos, and other resources on each episode, visit our weekly companion blog here.

Special Thanks to David Rose Publishing for allowing us use of his iconic theme for the Little House on the Prairie show. (Composition Credit) © 1974 David Rose Publishing Co. | (Master Recording Credit) ℗ 2010 David Rose Publishing Co.