Required Reading

Vampire Academy 2: Frostbite with Liz Wiest

16 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

It's winter break at the Vampire Academy and Liz Wiest and I are sinking our TEETH into the sequel Frostbite. From Richelle Mead and the pivotal year ...

CARRIE with Kate Hagen!

08 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Kate Hagen (SVP, The Black List) joins me to discuss Stephen King's classic novel of teen girl rage: CARRIE!High school outcast Carrie gets her period...

Malice with Lev Francesca

26 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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) Mali...

The Count of Monte Cristo with Tocarra Elise!

18 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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 wron...

The Witch of Blackbird Pond with Courtney Young!

04 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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...

The Martian Chronicles with Mel Thomas!

25 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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...

Jane Eyre with Madeline North!

19 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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 Br...

Vampire Academy with Liz Wiest

08 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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 20...

MEASURE FOR MEASURE WITH CARLY O'BRIEN!

17 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 indee...

Frozen in Time with Justina Engel

10 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Favorite person alert: Justina Engel returns to discuss Ali Sparkes' 2009 sci-fi novel FROZEN IN TIME. During summer vacation siblings Ben and Rachel ...

Angus, Thongs, and Full-Frontal Snogging with Britt Migs

03 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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...

Flowers in the Attic with Lauren Badillo Milici

26 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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. Fou...

Artemis Fowl with Kevin T Porter

19 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Miracle of miracles! Kevin T Porter of Good Christian Fun returns to discuss one of the best-selling book series of all time: Artemis Fowl by Eoin Col...

MISERY with Enor Bishop!

13 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Comedian Enor Bishop joins me to discuss Stephen King's immortal classic from 1987: Misery.Author Paul Sheldon's life is saved after he is pulled from...

Goosebumps: Say Cheese and DIE!

05 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Another week, another Goosebump! Book 4 in the series is Say Cheese and Die, where a mysterious camera causes misfortune to whoever appears in a pic! ...

Halloween Movies!

29 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It's a mini episode and a solo episode so you know it's gonna be absolutely whack-a-doodle. I talk about my favorite Halloween movies! Here's my lette...

Frankenstein with Paul Feig

22 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

AAAAAH! Legendary director Paul Feig joins me to discuss Mary Shelley's immortal Frankenstein from 1818. Check out Paul's newest film The Housemaid on...

The Clique with Georgia Shenk

08 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Original guest and girlhood expert Georgia Shenk returns to discuss a book I was not allowed to read and the touchstone for "mean girl"-hood of the 00...

A Little Princess with Caroline Ely

01 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week on the podcast it's an all-time classic of girlhood: Frances Hodgson Burnett's A LITTLE PRINCESS with podcaster Caroline Ely!Sarah Crewe ent...

Warrior Cats: Into the Wild with Jillian Tsai

24 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

TV writer Jillian Tsai of Netflix's Haunted Hotel joins me to discuss the first entry into the mega-series WARRIORS from 2003! Rusty is a cozy house c...

The Westing Game with Sierra Marilyn Riley

17 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Author Sierra Marilyn Riley (The Dark Cove Theatre Society) joins me to discuss one of MY all-time favorite books from childhood: THE WESTING GAME!Whe...

James and the Giant Peach with Jenny Bicks

10 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Mind-blowing writer Jenny Bicks (Welcome to Flatch, Sex and the City) joins me to discuss our second Roald Dahl book JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH. Fun fa...

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants with Kelly Krauter

03 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Bellbottoms, capris, cargos: its the summer of pants. Kelly Krauter joins me to discuss Ann Brashare's 2001 immortal classic THE SISTERHOOD OF THE TRA...

Theater Geek with Kelsey Buckley

27 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Kelsey Buckley returns to wrap up our summer camp series with a nonfiction book: THEATER GEEK. Theater Geek by Mickey Rapkin chronicles one summer at ...

Harriet the Spy with Joanna Truman

20 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Writer Joanna Truman joins me to discuss one of the most iconic characters in children's literature: Harriet M Welsch AKA Harriet the Spy!!From Louise...

The Phantom Tollbooth with Maggie Winters

13 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Comedian Maggie Winters joins me to discuss THE PHANTOM TOLLBOOTH by Norton Juster with illustrations from Jules Feiffer! The Phantom Tollbooth follow...

Required Viewing: Camp Rock with Natalie Ortega

06 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Broadway's Natalie Ortega returns to discuss another entry in Camp Required Reading: CAMP ROCK!From 2008, the DCOM (Disney Channel Original Movie, of ...

Goosebumps: The Horror at Camp Jellyjam with Keara Sullivan

30 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Keara Sullivan returns to Required Reading to go to camp and, frankly, it's horrifying. We dive into Goosebumps THE HORROR AT CAMP JELLYJAM by RL Stin...

Fear Street: Lights Out with Victoria Harley

16 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Camp Required Reading is BACK, campers!Victoria Harley (A Breath of Fresh Movie podcast) joins me to discuss RL Stine's 12th book in the Fear Street s...

Eragon with Madeline North

09 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Author, creator, and marketing maven Madeline North returns to discuss a dragon classic: ERAGON by Christopher Paolini. Young Eragon finds a dragon eg...

Goosebumps: Welcome to Camp Nightmare with Chelsea Pope

25 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It's week two of Camp Required Reading and Chelsea Pope returns to discuss Goosebumps #9: Welcome to Camp Nightmare!The food at Camp Nightmoon isn't g...

Sunkissed with Haley OC

18 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week I am debuting a special summer camp series!!Haley OC joins me to discuss SUNKISSED by Kasie West, a YA romance inspired by Dirty Dancing. Av...

The Adventures of Captain Underpants with Chad Morton

11 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Writer Chad Morton (Abbott Elementary) joins me to discuss the most banned book of the 21st century: Captain Underpants by Dav Pilkey.Fourth graders G...

Lord of the Flies with Krista Moy

04 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Krista Moy returns to discuss William Golding's 1954 classic Lord of the Flies! Also it's EPISODE 75!! We did it babes! A group of boys crash-land on ...

Meet Samantha with Justine Engel

28 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week Justine Engel joins me to read our first American Girl DOLL book: Meet Samantha! In 1904 wealthy orphan Samantha Parkington realizes the inj...

Where the Sidewalk Ends with Molly McGlynn

14 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Filmmaker Molly McGlynn joins me to discuss our first poetry collection - Shel Silverstein's WHERE THE SIDEWALK ENDS! We ask the critical question: wa...

Required Viewing: Barbie of Swan Lake & The Swan Princess with Sara Childrey

07 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Longest episode title ever? Perhaps. You're welcome.Teaching artist Sara Childrey joins me to discuss TWO movies: The Swan Princess (1994) and Barbie ...

The Awakening with Erin Taylor

30 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Poet and author Erin Taylor joins me to discuss Kate Chopin's 1899 novel THE AWAKENING.Edna Pontellier struggles between her increasingly unorthodox v...

The Great Gatsby with Alex Brunkhorst

23 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Author Alex Brunkhorst joins me to discuss what was almost our very first book - The Great Gatsby by F Scott Fitzgerald. It just turned 100!Set in the...

Goosebumps: Monster Blood

16 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Another solo episode! Do you like these? Please let me know.Goosebumps book 3 follows Evan Ross when he discovers a can of "Monster Blood" in an old t...

Goosebumps: Stay Out of the Basement

09 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Book two in our Goosebumps deep dive! Something weird is going on with Dad ever since he got fired from his job - and why is he wearing that hat all t...

Fablehaven with Zannah Schorer

02 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Zannah Schorer returns to discuss Brandon Mull's absolutely buck wild novel: FABLEHAVEN.Kendra and Seth discover their grandparents live on a nature p...

Required Viewing: The Last Unicorn with Christin Campbell

26 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

I love this one :) Writer Christin Campbell joins me to discuss the 1982 Rankin/Bass film THE LAST UNICORN!A unicorn leaves the protection of her ench...

Midnight for Charlie Bone with Rachel Moss!

19 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Rachel Moss joins me to discuss Midnight for Charlie Bone by Jenny Nimmo from 2002! Many write it off as a Harry Potter rip-off but - hear this - it m...

Goosebumps Book 1: Welcome to the Dead House

05 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It's just me this week! I am debuting a new intermittent series where I read all of RL Stine's immaculate Goosebumps series!Follow me!Support the show...

The Scarlet Letter with Madeline Douglass and Luke Henke

26 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Madeline Douglass returns and this time we've got a third: former co-worker Luke Henke! We all worked in a Girl Scout Museum in college. Jealous?From ...

Crown Duel with Gretchen Schreiber

12 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Not to be biased but this is a really good one!Author Gretchen Schreiber joins me to discuss two-books-in-one, Crown Duel and Court Duel by Sherwood S...

The Host with Jess Woodworth

05 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Its a long one because its STEPHENIE MEYER!!!! It's what she would want.Repeat guest Jess Woodworth returns to discuss The Host!The book is about Eart...

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory with Darrin Simpson

29 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Author Darrin Simpson (Abby's Big Debate) joins me to discuss Roald Dahl's CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY in our 60th episode!!Support the show! Fo...

The Little Prince with Kelsey Buckley

22 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week it's French! Kelsey Buckley joins me to discuss Antoine de Saint Exupery's 1943 classic The Little Prince! There's a little "easter" "egg" i...

Redwall with Carter Hambley

15 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week we are all eating dirt - comedian Carter Hambley joins me to discuss Brian Jacques' sword-toting-mice-fantasy series Redwall!Watch Happy Gil...

Rebecca with Lena Kouyoumdjian

08 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Writer Lena Kouyoumdjian (Welcome to Flatch!) joins me to discuss the immaculate Rebecca by Daphne DuMaurier!A young bride discovers herself haunted b...

A Christmas Carol with Carly O'Brien

25 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Merry Happy! Professor Carly O'Brien returns for her third episode (!) to discuss A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens from 1843.Support the podcast!F...

The Giver with Trish Franks

18 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Trish and I have known each other since 6th grade, and this week we revisit the first book we read in 6th grade!!!!! The Giver by Lois Lowry from 1993...

Regarding the Fountain with Elle Potruch

11 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Talent manager Elle Potruch of EP Talent joins me to discuss Kate and M. Sarah Klise's 1998 epistolary novel Regarding the Fountain. And I somehow man...

Into the Wild with Dylan Adler

04 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Comedian Dylan Adler joins me to discuss Jon Krakauer's 1996 book Into the Wild about the life and death of Christopher McCandless. And also Wicked. F...

The Princess Bride with Madeline North

27 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Book influencer Madeline North joins me to discuss William Goldman's The Princess Bride: S. Morgenstern's Classic Tale of True Love and High Adventure...

Sweep: Book of Shadows with Taylor Ortega

20 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Actually this could be a coven meeting right now...Fellow Welcome to Flatch cast member Taylor Ortega joins me to discuss the first book of the Sweep ...

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn with Niles Abston

13 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This episode was recorded November 4 2024Comedian and writer Niles Abston joins me to discuss Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, often r...

Wuthering Heights with Olive Lorraine

06 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Actor and writer Olive Lorraine joins me to discuss a perfect misanthropist’s heaven: Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë from 1847.Summary: Lockwood...

Mercy Watson Goes for a Ride with Adriene Vento

30 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This might be the most I've ever laughed in an episode? Slay.Adriene Vento joins me to discuss several entries into the Mercy Watson series written by...

The Last Lecture with Rishi Mahesh

23 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Rishi Mahesh joins me to discuss Randy Pausch's The Last Lecture from 2008. Carnegie Mellon computer science professor Randy Pausch delivered a "last ...

Jurassic Park with John Paul Sarni

16 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

John Paul Sarni of Stampede Ventures and the Page and Screen podcast joins me to discuss Michael Crichton's 1990 staple: Jurassic Park! Listen to Page...

Dear America: Across the Wide and Lonesome Prairie with Emily Schmidt

25 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Sometimes mosquitos get in the pancakes and you have to eat them anyway. Writer Emily Schmidt walks me through one of the most popular and traumatizin...

Ella Enchanted with Bailey Benningfield

18 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

I wouldn't have predicted that I would ever say the phrase "acquiescence mushrooms," but here we are. Bailey Benningfield joins me to discuss Gail Car...

Required Viewing: The Nightmare Before Christmas with Jess Woodworth

11 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

What's this? A bonus episode? This week Jess Woodworth returns to discuss a seasonal staple that I had never seen before: THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTM...

The Mysteries of Harris Burdick with Delaney Circe

04 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

It's a picture book - with lore. Delaney Circe joins me to discuss Chris Van Allsburg's The Mysteries of Harris Burdick from 1984. In an encounter bet...

Inkheart with Shelby Copple

28 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Shelby Copple joins me to discuss a book about lovin books: INKHEART by Cornelia Funke.The story follows bookish twelve-year-old Meggie, who learns th...

Macbeth with Kylie Brakeman

21 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Get your freak on theater kids, we're doing Shakespeare. Kylie Brakeman joins me to discuss William Shakespeare's immortal classic: Macbeth. Listen to...

Wayside School is Falling Down! with Kevin T Porter

14 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Kevin T Porter joins me to discuss the second book in Louis Sachar's Wayside series: Wayside School is Falling Down! Our original Wayside episode with...

Uglies with Natalie Ortega

07 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Natalie Ortega (Wicked!!!) joins me to discuss Scott Westerfeld's 2005 library staple: UGLIES. Also, a movie of this 19 year old book is coming to Net...

I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You with Grace Bahler

31 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Grace Bahler joins me to discuss the first book in Ally Carter's Gallagher Girls series: I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You from 2...

The Tale of Despereaux with Jess Woodworth

24 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Jess Woodworth joins me to discuss Newbery Medal winner The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo (one of only 6 authors to win 2 Newberys!)The main pl...

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest with Chelsea Pope

17 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Chelsea Pope joins me to discuss Ken Kesey's One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey! Trigger warnings for discussions of mental health, institut...

Dealer’s Choice: Pride and Prejudice with Hua Chen and Ashley Westover

10 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

It's another dealer's choice episode! Returning guests Hua Chen and Ashley Westover join me to discuss a book I hated in high school (I was wrong! I k...

Dealer’s Choice: Johnny Tremain with Carly O'Brien

03 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

I didn't mean to have the American Revolution episode come out on July 3rd, but! I'll take any serendipity I can get.Another Dealer's Choice episode -...

The Gruffalo with Hayley Hudson

26 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Don't look now, it's the Gruffalo!Book summary: Walk further into the deep dark wood, and discover what happens when a quick-witted mouse comes face t...

Dealer’s Choice: Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist with Jenny Cavallero

19 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

I'm launching a series called DEALER'S CHOICE where I pick the book!! So I picked my middle school backpack staple, my entry into adulthood, the book ...

From the Files of Madison Finn with Lyvie Scott

12 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

ITS EPISODE 30! Don't bring back jelly sandals unless you're cosplaying the Big Lebowski!

Airhead with Georgia Shenk

05 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Original guest Georgia Shenk joins me to discuss Meg Cabot's AIRHEAD - a book about modeling, full body transplants, and a chinchilla named Anna Nicol...

A Series of Unfortunate Events with Justin Crosby

22 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Flop Soup's Justin Crosby joins me to discuss Lemony Snicket's first Unfortunate Event: The Bad Beginning! Why is Erin's audio so bad? We don't know b...

Lock and Key with Cassandra Kyriazis

01 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Sarah Dessen has LANDED. Cassandra Kyriazis of Flop Soup joins me to discuss Sarah Dessen's novel LOCK AND KEY, 2008s jewelry, and the power of having...

The Tail of Emily Windsnap with Zannah Schorer

24 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

MERMAIDS, ARE YOU READY? Zannah Schorer joins me for episode 26 to discuss Liz Kessler's tale of a girl probing the mysteries of her absent father, th...

Holes with Corryn Diemer

17 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

ITS EPISODE 25!!! And one of the best books in American literature in my opinion. Corryn Diemer joins us to read Louis Sachar's 1998 classic - its bot...

Dragonology with Ashley Westover

10 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Grab your gear, we're looking for dragons. Ashley Westover joins me to discuss Dugald Steer's interactive DRAGONOLOGY and his OLOGIES series!Support t...

The Grapes of Wrath with Hua Chen

03 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Its a Required Reading first - childhood friend Hua Chen joins Erin to discuss a book they read together in Mr Swift's 10th grade English class: THE G...

All of a Kind Family with Emily Caulfield

20 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week writer and artist Emily Caulfield joins me to discuss Sydney Taylor's ALL OF A KIND FAMILY! I can't believe we recorded the whole episode an...

The Bell Jar with Zoë Dennis

13 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Trigger warnings abound but its a goodie all the same - Zoë Dennis joins me to discuss Sylvia Plath's 1963 novel The Bell Jar!The Bell Jar is the sto...

The Golden Compass with Sam Walt Jones

28 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

ITS OUR TWENTIETH EPISODE!!!! A classic among classics, book one of the His Dark Materials series, The Golden Compass

The Care and Keeping of You with Amanda Yuan

14 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

ITS THE BODY EPISODE, MOM AND DAD DON"T LISTEN. Dive in to Valorie Lee Schaefer's THE CARE AND KEEPING OF YOU from American Girl Magazine in 1998.

The Boxcar Children with Madeline Douglass

31 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

We're going to the dump and making a swimming pool! Madeline Douglass joins us to talk Gertrude Chandler Warren's 1942 THE BOXCAR CHILDREN! Mystery gr...

Where the Red Fern Grows with Carly O'Brien

17 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Grab the tissues, it's everyone's favorite heartbreaking dog book: Wilson Rawls' WHERE THE RED FERN GROWS

Twilight with April Consalo

21 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

It's 2009 and you are in a Hot Topic. You are wearing glitter and a henley with a cami underneath. Your best friend is no longer speaking to you becau...

Best Books of the Year!

13 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We take a little break to talk about the best books I read this year!

A Streetcar Named Desire with Krista Moy

06 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Its a little bit different this week! Krista Moy joins me to discuss the first spark of her acting career: Tennessee Williams' A STREETCAR NAMED DESIR...

The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe with Max Gross

29 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

NEVER CLOSE THE DOOR BEHIND YOU WHEN YOU GO INTO A WARDROBE!!Support the podcast! Follow Max! Follow Erin!

Catching Fire with Keara Sullivan and Madi Hart

22 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

WE HAD MORE THINGS TO SAY!

The Catcher in the Rye with Katie Wilkerson

15 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

New favorite episode alert??? Poet and production designer Katie Wilkerson joins me to discuss their adolescent favorite, JD Salinger's The Catcher in...

A Mini Episode! Woohoo!

08 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

I went on vacation this week! Enjoy this little episode about what I'm reading (Woman Warrior by Maxine Hong Kingston, Jawbone by Monica Ojeda) and ne...

The Lightning Thief with Brandon Ginchereau

01 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Dearest friend Brandon Ginchereau takes us cross country and back PERCY JACKSON: THE LIGHTNING THIEF!