Required Reading

By Erin Bowles

Required Reading revisits the most impactful books from our childhood with a new guest every week.

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4.6

99 ratings

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FAQs about Required Reading:

How many episodes does Required Reading have?

The podcast currently has 108 episodes available.

Required Reading episodes:

March 26, 2026 Malice with Lev Francesca
It's Slenderman...before Slenderman...This week writer Lev Francesca AKA Lisco2000 joins me to discuss a book no one has ever heard of (probably) Malice by Chris Wooding - a novel combining graphic novel and prose and miscellaneous documents to tell the story of a graphic novel that's really pulling kids in.
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1h 1min
March 18, 2026 The Count of Monte Cristo with Tocarra Elise!
This week comedian Tocarra Elise joins me to discuss her favorite revenge classic: THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO by Alexandre Dumas!
After 14 years of wrongful imprisonment, sailor Edmond Dantes transforms himself into the Count of Monte Cristo in order to exact revenge on those who imprisoned him.
Follow Tocarra's Library and check out her work on the Getty kid's podcast If Objects Could Talk!
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1h 18min
March 04, 2026 The Witch of Blackbird Pond with Courtney Young!
What is a witch if not a woman by a pond?
This week Courtney Young joins me to revisit everyone's favorite book from 4th grade: THE WITCH OF BLACKBIRD POND!
In colonial America, Kit Tyler leaves Barbados to come to her aunt's family in Connecticut but finds herself quickly under suspicion by the Puritanical community. A girl who's a little bit different? Must be a WITCH!!
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1h 9min
February 25, 2026 The Martian Chronicles with Mel Thomas!
Can you believe it took this long to get to Ray Bradbury? Better late than never as this week incredible video essayist and writer Mel Thomas joins me to discuss THE MARTIAN CHRONICLES - a science fiction novel-in-short-stories about human colonization of Mars.
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1h 2min
February 19, 2026 Jane Eyre with Madeline North!
We're back! Erin got laid off and then went on vacation, but now we're back! We as in the royal we.
Madeline North also returns to discuss Charlotte Bronte's 1847 classic: JANE EYRE. And we also talk a lot about Wuthering Heights. It can't be helped!
Jane Eyre follows orphan Jane from ages 10-20 as she escapes a cruel home to go to an even crueler boarding school, then becomes a governess, falls in love, almost gets married, finds out her employer/fiance's been keeping a secret wife in the attic, gets the heck outta there, joins a family, finds out they're her real family, gets a lot of money, goes back to the employer and makes him a husband. And that's what you missed on Glee!
In this episode we discuss my video essay about the book (ooooooo) and this video essay about some common Charlotte Bronte misconceptions!
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Listen to her previous episodes on Eragon and The Princess Bride!
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1h 25min
January 08, 2026 Vampire Academy with Liz Wiest
Welcome to 2026 and welcome to the VAMPIRE ACADEMY where we are horny, confused, and Catholic. Writer Liz Wiest joins me to discuss Richelle Mead's 2007 novel.
The plot is complex but it's girls at an academy for vampires. You get the gist.
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59min
December 17, 2025 MEASURE FOR MEASURE WITH CARLY O'BRIEN!
Folks, it's episode 100. Professor Carly O'Brien returns for her fourth episode (first time a guest has made it to four episodes, a historic one indeed) to cover a play that fundamentally shaped who I am as an artist and as a lil freak.
Measure for Measure is known as one of Shakespeare's three problem plays. It follows a Duke, a nun, and, well,.,, just listen.
This is the last episode of 2025! See you next year!
Cover art is James McMullen's poster for Lincoln Center.
Check out Carly's previous episodes about A Christmas Carol and Johnny Tremain and Where the Red Fern Grows!
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1h 32min
December 10, 2025 Frozen in Time with Justina Engel
Favorite person alert: Justina Engel returns to discuss Ali Sparkes' 2009 sci-fi novel FROZEN IN TIME.
During summer vacation siblings Ben and Rachel dig up a bomb shelter in their backyard. Inside the bomb shelter are their great aunt and uncle, cryogenically frozen (and there's a puppy there too). Family mysteries, government conspiracies, and international intrigue come to light - and fingernails fall off!
Check out Justina's previous episode! It's the American Girl Doll episode!
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1h
December 03, 2025 Angus, Thongs, and Full-Frontal Snogging with Britt Migs
An ode to the magic and miseries of girlhood - but mostly the magic. Comedian and Emmy-winning producer Britt Migs joins me to discuss Louise Rennison's 1999 British classic: Angus, Thongs, and Full-Frontal Snogging.
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1h
November 26, 2025 Flowers in the Attic with Lauren Badillo Milici
Yes, it's the incest book. This week Lauren Badillo Milici joins me to discuss VC Andrew's salacious and iconic first novel Flowers in the Attic.
Four siblings are trapped in an attic by their mother and grandmother in an attempt to hide their existence from their grandfather.
Check out Lauren's book and her work at GamesRadar!
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1h 8min

FAQs about Required Reading:

How many episodes does Required Reading have?

The podcast currently has 108 episodes available.

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