In this episode we cover Chapters 45-49 of East of Eden. We are committed to being a SPOILER-FREE podcast. We will only be discussing what has happened through Chapter 49. From now through January 20, 2026, join us every Tuesday for a new episode where we break down the novel chapter by chapter in preparation for Netflix's East of Eden miniseries. Next week is the season’s finale! And we’ll be breaking down Chapters 50-55.Content warning: due to the nature of East of Eden’s story and characters, throughout this read-along we’ll be touching on some mature and complex themes, including but not limited to violence, abuse, suicide, alcoholism, racism, war, death, and sex work. If those topics are difficult for you, please listen with care.Like, Subscribe, and follow us on Instagram and TikTok @pigheadedandwellread. You can also find us on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.Feel free to DM us or email us at [email protected](0:00) Episode Introduction and 3 Sentence Summary(5:20) Chapter 45(25:45) Chapter 46(36:14) Chapter 47(52:47) Chapter 48(59:03) Chapter 49(1:18:48) Nate’s Takes!(1:23:21) East of Ethan(1:26:52) Netflix Adaptation Notes(1:30:52) Steinbeck Stats(1:32:37) Nate’s Predictions and Wrap Up

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.

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