Shit We've Read

Welcome to our first-ever TTRPG special!

It’s the summer of 1987, and nestled among ancient forests and rolling hills lies the quiet town of Pinewood Falls. But this idyllic town is far from peaceful—strange weather and mysterious sightings draw three childhood friends back together to uncover a long-buried mystery. Join Bellz, Jason, and Laura—guided by Game Master Sir Aaron Carter—as the echoes of a childhood discovery make their way back into their lives…

A special thanks to Jayson LaFrance and Sander Richardson for their invaluable help in setting up this session. This game was played using the Kids on Bikes RPG. Check it out and start your story today!

Credits:
Shit We've Read is hosted by Laura Benson, Jason Rico, and Bella Romero, with music by Joshua Chilton and editing by Jason Rico.

Headless Horseman by Alexander Nakarada (CreatorChords) | https://creatorchords.com
Creative Commons / Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Bræuw Fra Æ Bjæuw (Letters From The Mountains) by So I’m An Islander | https://soimanislander.bandcamp.com
Creative Commons / Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0)
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en_US

CURSE by Mehul ShaRma | https://www.instagram.com/mehul_sharmaofficial/
Creative Commons / Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0)
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US

All music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com

Support SWR!
Check out our MERCH STORE! Get your SWR t-shirts, hoodies, drinkware, and more. Plus, keep an eye out for new designs coming soon.

We're also an affiliate on bookshop.org! Order books through our link HERE and a small commission will go towards the podcast.

Create your podcast today! #madeonzencastr

Thank you for your support!

Connect with SWR!
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Request transcripts on our website: shitweveread.com/contact

Join our Discord!
We love connecting with our listeners and are excited to have another way to connect with you all. ⁣Whether you're into sci-fi, fantasy, romance, or anything in between, there's a spot for you HERE.

Trick or treat! It’s a fun size episode of SWR After Dark as we explore MONSTERS’ MANOR by Leigh Miller—a steamy paranormal romance where a reluctant witch finds herself working in a haunted manor brimming with real monsters. Join us as we share whether this tale lived up to our Halloween expectations, Emma talks proper tail hygiene, and we debate whether the vibes lean cozy or fluff. Plus, Laura makes an important plea to the furry community. So, grab a drink with a little extra pumpkin spice and settle in for some Halloween heat. Thanks for listening, and Happy Halloween!

CONTENT WARNING: This episode features discussions of an adult-themed book, contains explicit language, and is intended for mature audiences only. Listener discretion is advised.

Join our Discord!
We love connecting with our listeners and are excited to have another way to connect with you all. ⁣Whether you're into sci-fi, fantasy, romance, or anything in between, there's a spot for you HERE.

Support SWR!
Check out our MERCH STORE! Get your SWR t-shirts, hoodies, drinkware, and more. Plus, keep an eye out for new designs coming soon.

We're also an affiliate on bookshop.org! Order books through our link HERE and a small commission will go towards the podcast.

Create your podcast today! #madeonzencastr

Thank you for your support!

Support SWR!

Instagram | TikTok | Discord | Website
Request transcripts on our website: shitweveread.com/contact

Shit We've Read After Dark is hosted by Laura Benson, Jason Rico, Bella Romero, and EmmaSkies, with an introduction by Jessilee Windhaus and editing by Jason Rico.

Horror by Alex-Productions | https://onsound.eu/
Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com
Creative Commons / Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0)
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US

The Lonely Ghost by Purrple Cat | https://purrplecat.com
Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com
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Climb aboard as we set sail through the first volume of EARTHDIVERS, Stephen Graham Jones and Davide Gianfelice's time-hopping comic series about far-future Indigenous outcasts on a mission to kill Christopher Columbus.

Join us as we share our occasional frustration with ongoing comic series, explore the 'earth-diver' cosmogony among Indigenous peoples of the Americas, and uncover the moral dilemma that caused Bella to lose more brain cells.

Join our Discord!
We love connecting with our listeners and are excited to have another way to connect with you all. ⁣Whether you're into sci-fi, fantasy, romance, or anything in between, there's a spot for you HERE.

Support SWR!
Check out our MERCH STORE! Get your SWR t-shirts, hoodies, drinkware, and more. Plus, keep an eye out for new designs coming soon.

We're also an affiliate on bookshop.org! Order books through our link HERE and a small commission will go towards the podcast.

Create your podcast today! #madeonzencastr

Thank you for your support!

Connect with SWR!
Instagram | TikTok | Discord | Website
Request transcripts on our website: shitweveread.com/contact

Shit We've Read is hosted by Laura Benson, Jason Rico, and Bella Romero, with music by Joshua Chilton and editing by Jason Rico.

Witch By The Sea by Darren-Curtis | https://soundcloud.com/desperate-measurez
Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com
Creative Commons / Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0)
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US

Taking center stage in this After Dark episode is COSMIC KISS by Clio Evans—a steamy alien romance where a rising star finds herself in a tantalizing love triangle with two irresistible aliens.

Join us as we break down the balance of smut to plot, revisit our love (or not) for the fated mate trope, and, of course, get insights from our resident tentacle expert, Jason, on the use of tentacles in this book. Plus, the quest to get Barefoot Wine as a sponsor continues!

CONTENT WARNING: This episode features discussions of an adult-themed book, contains explicit language, and is intended for mature audiences only. Listener discretion is advised.

Join our Discord!
We love connecting with our listeners and are excited to have another way to connect with you all. ⁣Whether you're into sci-fi, fantasy, romance, or anything in between, there's a spot for you HERE.

Support SWR!
Check out our MERCH STORE! Get your SWR t-shirts, hoodies, drinkware, and more. Plus, keep an eye out for new designs coming soon.

We're also an affiliate on bookshop.org! Order books through our link HERE and a small commission will go towards the podcast.

Create your podcast today! #madeonzencastr

Thank you for your support!

Support SWR!

Instagram | TikTok | Discord | Website
Request transcripts on our website: shitweveread.com/contact

Shit We've Read After Dark is hosted by Laura Benson, Jason Rico, Bella Romero, and EmmaSkies, with an introduction by Jessilee Windhaus and editing by Jason Rico.

Ready by Ron Gelinas Chill Beats | https://open.spotify.com/artist/03JYfsI9Ke7JFuxHD239m2
Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com

Epic Christmas by MaxKoMusic | https://maxkomusic.com/
Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com
Creative Commons / Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0)
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en_US

Be gay. Solve crimes. Take naps. In this episode, we dive into Courtney Smyth’s “witty and quirky fantasy murder mystery,” THE UNDETECTABLES.

Join us as we celebrate the strong friendships between the main characters, explore the disability representation and its impact on the story, and hear Bella share how their expertise in micro-mobility and transportation equity shaped their interpretation. And Jason? He’s embracing his new title as “Thot With the Thoughts” while breaking down how this mystery stacks up against the greats like Agatha Christie and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

Plus, don’t miss his shoutout to Australian breakdancing sensation Raygun, who made waves at the 2024 Summer Olympics!

Join our Discord!
We love connecting with our listeners and are excited to have another way to connect with you all. ⁣Whether you're into sci-fi, fantasy, romance, or anything in between, there's a spot for you HERE.

Support SWR!
Check out our MERCH STORE! Get your SWR t-shirts, hoodies, drinkware, and more. Plus, keep an eye out for new designs coming soon.

We're also an affiliate on bookshop.org! Order books through our link HERE and a small commission will go towards the podcast.

Create your podcast today! #madeonzencastr

Thank you for your support!

Connect with SWR!
Instagram | TikTok | Discord | Website
Request transcripts on our website: shitweveread.com/contact

Shit We've Read is hosted by Laura Benson, Jason Rico, and Bella Romero, with music by Joshua Chilton and editing by Jason Rico.

The Long Dark by Scott Buckley | https://soundcloud.com/scottbuckley
Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com
Creative Commons / Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

It’s our most “wibbly-wobbly, timey-wimey” episode yet! Guest host Erin Harris returns to join Jason and Laura in discussing Kate Mascarenhas’ debut, THE PSYCHOLOGY OF TIME TRAVEL.

Tune in as we explore this ambitious time travel murder mystery, attempt to untangle the complexities of time travel, and debate if we have what it takes to journey through time. Plus, we tackle the intriguing question on every potential time traveler’s mind: “If you could meet yourself from another period in time, would you hook up with yourself?”

This episode is a wild ride that left our brains hurting, but we hope you enjoy it!

Join our Discord!
We love connecting with our listeners and are excited to have another way to connect with you all. ⁣Whether you're into sci-fi, fantasy, romance, or anything in between, there's a spot for you HERE.

Support SWR!
Check out our MERCH STORE! Get your SWR t-shirts, hoodies, drinkware, and more. Plus, keep an eye out for new designs coming soon.

We're also an affiliate on bookshop.org! Order books through our link HERE and a small commission will go towards the podcast.

Create your podcast today! #madeonzencastr

Thank you for your support!

Connect with SWR!
Instagram | TikTok | Discord | Website
Request transcripts on our website: shitweveread.com/contact

Shit We've Read is hosted by Laura Benson, Jason Rico, and Bella Romero, with music by Joshua Chilton and editing by Jason Rico.

Sexy Sax by Alex-Productions | https://onsound.eu/
Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com
Creative Commons / Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0)
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US

We’re back with a new set of After Dark episodes, and this one is knot to be missed as we are discussing Emma’s pick—DARK CITY OMEGA by Elizabeth Stephens; a “dark fantasy romance full of [...] omegas with magic and monsters who always get the girl.”

Listen in as Emma gives us a rundown of the Omegaverse, we hear Jason’s embarrassing attempt at a brogue accent, and we discuss what sets this A/B/O story apart from others. All that plus we continue our quest to get Barefoot Wine to sponsor our podcast and Laura reveals her pick for our next After Dark book!

CONTENT WARNING: This episode features discussions of an adult-themed book, contains explicit language, and is intended for mature audiences only. Listener discretion is advised.

Join our Discord!
We love connecting with our listeners and are excited to have another way to connect with you all. ⁣Whether you're into sci-fi, fantasy, romance, or anything in between, there's a spot for you HERE.

Support SWR!
Check out our MERCH STORE! Get your SWR t-shirts, hoodies, drinkware, and more. Plus, keep an eye out for new designs coming soon.

We're also an affiliate on bookshop.org! Order books through our link HERE and a small commission will go towards the podcast.

Create your podcast today! #madeonzencastr

Thank you for your support!

Support SWR!

Instagram | TikTok | Discord | Website
Request transcripts on our website: shitweveread.com/contact

Shit We've Read After Dark is hosted by Laura Benson, Jason Rico, Bella Romero, and EmmaSkies, with an introduction by Jessilee Windhaus and editing by Jason Rico.

Gjallar by Alexander Nakarada (CreatorChords) | https://creatorchords.com
Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com
Creative Commons / Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Join us as we sit down with author S.T. Gibson to discuss her enchanting new book, Evocation; "the first book in a spellbinding and vibrant new series filled with fortune telling, tarot cards, intrigue and unexpected romance."

Listen to our impromptu therapy session as we all bond over being reformed Catholics, we discuss the importance of bi-visibility, and Jason and Saint gush over their shared love of Leda. Plus, Saint tells us about the time she joined something cult adjacent and so much more. Whether you're a devoted fan or new to Gibson's work, this episode promises to be magical.

And if you haven’t already picked up your own copy, Evocation is available now!

Other Books Mentioned by Saint in this episode:

Guest:

Saint is a literary agent, author, and village wise woman in training. A graduate of the creative writing program at the University of North Carolina at Asheville and the theological studies program at Princeton Seminary, she currently lives in Boston with her partner, spoiled Persian cat, and vintage blazer collection. She is represented by Tara Gilbert of the Jennifer De Chiara literary agency.

You can find her on Instagram @stgibsonauthor, the X formerly known as Twitter @s_t_gibson, and by joining her Substack at saint.substack.com

Join our Discord!
We love connecting with our listeners and are excited to have another way to connect with you all. ⁣Whether you're into sci-fi, fantasy, romance, or anything in between, there's a spot for you here.

Support SWR!
Check out our merch store! Get your SWR t-shirts, hoodies, drinkware, and more. Plus, keep an eye out for new designs coming soon.

We're also an affiliate on bookshop.org! Order books through our link HERE and a small commission will go towards the podcast.

Create your podcast today! #madeonzencastr

Thank you for your support!

Connect with SWR!
Instagram | TikTok | Discord | Website
Request transcripts on our website: shitweveread.com/contact

Shit We've Read is hosted by Laura Benson, Jason Rico, and Bella Romero, with music by Joshua Chilton and editing by Jason Rico.

The Long Dark by Scott Buckley | https://soundcloud.com/scottbuckley
Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com
Creative Commons / Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Hello and welcome back to another season of Shit We’ve Read! We’re kicking off Season Four with a discussion of the first volume of the Eisner, Harvey, and Hugo Award-winning comic book series, SAGA! Written by Brian K. Vaughan with art by Fiona Staples, this “sexy and subversive adult drama” is the “sweeping tale of one young family fighting to find their place in the worlds.”

Join us for another episode of “Is this more scifi or fantasy?”, we discuss the book’s theme of outsourcing war, and Jason explains why you shouldn’t buy this book for your grandson. Plus, learn why Bella describes Jason as “That Girl”. ‍♀️

Join our Discord!
We love connecting with our listeners and are excited to have another way to connect with you all. ⁣Whether you're into sci-fi, fantasy, romance, or anything in between, there's a spot for you HERE.

Support SWR!
Check out our MERCH STORE! Get your SWR t-shirts, hoodies, drinkware, and more. Plus, keep an eye out for new designs coming soon.

We're also an affiliate on bookshop.org! Order books through our link HERE and a small commission will go towards the podcast.

Create your podcast today! #madeonzencastr

Thank you for your support!

Connect with SWR!
Instagram | TikTok | Discord | Website
Request transcripts on our website: shitweveread.com/contact

Shit We've Read is hosted by Laura Benson, Jason Rico, and Bella Romero, with music by Joshua Chilton and editing by Jason Rico.

Cosmic Meditation by Arko_S | https://sites.google.com/view/arkosmusic/
Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com
Creative Commons / Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0)
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US

It’s our Season Three finale! We’re returning to the world of Legends & Lattes with a discussion of Travis Baldree’s BOOKSHOPS & BONEDUST; “a journey of high fantasy, first loves, and second-hand books.” Join Jason, Bella, and Laura as we discuss how well this prequel connects to the first book, Jason questions if the genre of cozy fantasy is for Laura, and we share what we would call “smut” in a fantasy setting… Plus, we give our predictions for the type of cozy business a future book in this series might be about.

As a reminder, this is our last episode of the season, but we will be back in May for Season Four! Thanks for listening and for all your support this season. To keep up with any updates and announcements we make during our break, be sure to follow us on social media!

New Ways To Support SWR:
We're excited to announce our new merch store! Get your SWR t-shirts, hoodies, drinkware, and more. plus, keep an eye out for new designs over the coming months.

We're also an affiliate on bookshop.org! Order books through our link HERE and a small commission will go towards the podcast.

Thank you for your support!

Connect with SWR
Instagram | Twitter | TikTok | Facebook | Website
Request transcripts on our website: shitweveread.com/contact

Shit We've Read is hosted by Laura Benson, Jason Rico, and Bella Romero, with music by Joshua Chilton and editing by Jason Rico. This podcast is part of the BYLO Network. Visit BYLONetwork.com for more great geeky podcasts.

Magic Tavern by Alexander Nakarada (CreatorChords) | https://creatorchords.com
Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com
Creative Commons / Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/