Strange Bedfellows

The Sweet Sweet Valley Boys continue their dangerous reading spree through the Sweet Valley books this week with a deep dive into the life and times of Robin Wilson, a character who frankly deserved better. (Please be careful not to confuse this discussion about the novel "Power Play" – about a bunch of young people using their superior numbers to gang up on an isolated member of the group – with the hockey term "Power Play," which is about the same thing, except with a lot more ice.)

Music credits:

“A Sitcom,” by HitsLab

“Dark Lullaby,” by J Blanks

“Summer Memories,” by Trixtor and Pantsmode

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After realizing just how out of their depth they are in the dangerous narrative universe of Sweet Valley High, the Sweet Sweet Valley Boys call in an expert to help them navigate these choppy waters. And not a moment too soon, because Bruce Pac-Man is being aggravatingly perverse, Jessica Wakefield is not helping at all, and pretty much everyone from Todd Wilkins all the way to some guy called Tony is playing, this week, with fire.

Music credits:

“Chopstick Slapstick,” by OurMusicBox

“Vibe,” by Marble Space

“The Prophecy,” by Fox Beat

Listen to Marissa Flaxbart's "Sweet Valley Diaries" here or wherever you get your podcasts!

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Sweet Valley Jack and Tanner are back to investigate who's keeping secrets and who's telling lies in this scintillating novel by Francine Pascal about a world where sentient cars battle for supremacy with hideous creatures made of amorphous flesh and teeth. Also, Ronnie's going to the dance with Jessica, and it kind of looks like George Wallace and Enid are an item? Scandalous!

Music credits:

“A Sitcom,” by HitsLab

"Secret," by Audio Library

"For Scary," by Silverhoof

“Chopstick Slapstick,” by OurMusicBox

“Stardust,” by Fox Beat Stock Music

Thanks to Baby Bee Kelsey for the "Jack Googles" theme.

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The "Dark Library" is a collection of forbidden texts composed by Ann M. Martin before it was given to her to weave the great Sitters' Cycle. It is unknown what words of power are writ inside the hidden tomes of the Dark Library — all that is known is that anyone who dares to read them is driven mad. This Scholastic-approved biography of Ann M. Martin was written by Margot Becker R., one of the few living beings to have seen the Dark Library and witnessed its macabre secrets, and as such, it's a pretty perilous read! This week, our two brave boys are opening their minds to this dangerous book on your behalf, so dive in and enjoy ... but consider yourself warned.

Also, be sure to preorder "We Are the Baby-Sitters Club: Essays and Artwork from Grown-Up Readers" wherever you get your books!

Music credits:

"Old Fantasy Legend," by _Blacksmith_

"Dark Fantasy Ambient," by Orchestralis

“Carnival Lament,” by Robert Austin

“Haunted,” by LucaFrancini

“The Prophecy,” by Fox Beat

"Risky Low," by Purple Planet

"Path of Doom," by Purple Planet

Thanks as always to original Baby Boy Scott Lamb for the intro music, and to Superbrat for the outro music.

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Five years ago, two men made a solemn promise: They would tell the story of Agent Associate Baby-Sitter Shannon Kilbourne the way Ann M. Martin always intended it to be told. Almost immediately, one of those men fully delivered on that promise, but literally no one noticed, primarily because of an almost overwhelming lack of interest from the other man. But now, in full technicolor, you can finally hear the breathtaking tale of danger and intrigue known in Baby-Sitters Club-associated circles as "A Time to Kilbourne."

Music credits:

"Mysterious Spy Movie," by Shorties

"A Suspense," by Fat Bunny

"Suspense & Crime," by Alexander Rufire

"Fight Back," by Shorties

"Suspenseful Background," by Luca Francini

"Tech Glitch Opener," by Gentle Jammers

"Spy on Me," by 2A Soundworks

Thanks as always to original Baby Boy Scott Lamb for the intro music, and to Superbrat for the outro music.

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In 1992, the brilliant but reclusive game designer Milton Bradley created what was to become his masterpiece, a game so compelling and so dangerous that few have ever dared to play it. Nearly 30 years later, two of the world's foremost Baby-Sitters Club experts sat down with an accomplished, brave, and highly credentialed Dungeon Master to immerse themselves in Bradley's legendary role-playing experience. This is their story. Prepare yourselves for an epic, shocking, and occasionally quite sexy adventure in the magical, mysterious world of The Baby-Sitters Club Mystery Board Game.

Music credits:

"Medieval Story," by Orchestralis

"Slow Sad Ominous," by Flossie Wood

"Monster Squad," by J Blanks

"Lonesome Gaucho," by CineMedia

"Motivation Speech," by Positive Sound

"The Heart Beat Vibe," by Adigold

"Exorcism Tension Horror," by Wild Kitty Tunes

"Inspire," by Orchestralis

"Angels," by Heart Drum Machine

"The Triumph," by Anuch

"Happy Ending," by _Blacksmith_

Thanks as always to original Baby Boy Scott Lamb for the intro music.

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The boys are joined by a very, very, very special guest to discuss a little-known MTV Buzz Bin act called Ednaswap. Also, the novel Karen’s Unicorn.

This is a bonus episode from our Patreon. To get an episode like this every week for just $5 a month, subscribe to the show here! We love and also kiss you!

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In this special one-off episode, Dan Brown scholars and archivists Jack Shepherd and Tanner Greenring collaborate to painstakingly recreate the first chapter "The Da Vinci Code" for posterity. This astonishing oral history will be part of the living memory of our culture for as long as humans tell stories to one another, and as an act of public service for a world community that hungers to collectively remember this vital text, it is unparalleled.

Music credits:

"Cinematic Victory," by Florews

"Be Suspense," by Art Haiz

"Mystery Cinematic," by Gentle Jammers

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Kind of a frantic energy about this one. Tanner reveals a big secret. Karen disgraces herself. Jack is ... distracted.

This is a bonus episode that aired on our Patreon on April 16, 2020. To get an episode like this every week for just $5 a month, subscribe to the show here! We love and also kiss you!

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Some fun (and let's be honest, quite sexy!) spoilers for the classic baby-sitting novel (she's a governess!) "Jane Eyre"  in this episode — a book you've had 174 YEARS to read. What else do you need to know ... let's see ... Team Jane all the way, Rochester's a mega-creep, and the name of the First Century British queen who led an uprising against the Romans can in fact be pronounced "Bo-Di-See-A" — I looked it up — so eat it, Tanner. We can also officially reveal that this book is very good and also we loved this one!

Music credits:

"Classical Hope," by Alex Bird

"Epic Love," by Luca Francini

"Classical Piano," by Orchestralis

“Typewriter Blues,” by AllenGrey

“The Prophecy,” by Fox Beat

Thanks as always to original Baby Boy Scott Lamb for the intro music, and to Superbrat for the outro music.

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