Have you ever fallen down a rabbit hole into an obscure topic and suddenly need to know all the details and consume all the media related to it? You've found yo...
In this episode, we are bewitched by Dolly Parton. Dolly Parton came from very humble beginnings but turned herself into a star. In this first part of a two-part series, we cover Dolly's childhood, spent in the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee. Though Dolly's family lived in poverty, they never lacked love, and her early life remains a source of inspiration for her music. After teaching herself how to play guitar and compose music, Dolly earned a spot singing on a local radio show and was featured on the Grand Ole Opry. After becoming the first person in her family to finish high school, Dolly moved to Nashville to launch her career. While Dolly found work as a songwriter, she struggled to make a name for herself as a recording artist. That all changed when she was offered a job on the biggest country music stage of all: The Porter Wagoner Show. All books shared in this episode can be purchased at our Bookshop!Staff picks:Horror Movie by Paul TremblayThe Bellwoods Game by Celia KrampienUncultured: A Memoir by Danielle Mestyanek YoungSources:Songteller: My Life in Lyrics by Dolly Parton with Robert K. OermannBehind the Seams: My Life in Rhinestones by Dolly Parton with Holly George-Warren, curated by Rebecca SeaverDolly's Parton's America [podcast] from WNYC Studios, Jad Abumrad, and Shima Oliaee Support the show
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1:19:29
Mental Health Vacation
Sometimes, we all need a vacation! For us, that meant being together in person for the first time in two years and chatting about our favorite weird topics. In this episode, Katie and Hailee are bewitched by the legend that is Reesa Teesa, the absurdity of medieval animals on trial, and the Dave Matthews Band tour bus incident. Plus, we share some of our favorite feel-good books and media for self-care when our mental health is on the rocks. Staff picks (available in our bookshop!)Fangirl by Rainbow RowellThe City Baker's Guide to Country Living by Louise MillerThe Late Bloomers' Club by Louise MillerAct Your Age, Eve Brown by Talia HibbertThe Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu MandannaMy Roommate is a Vampire by Jenna LevineRemarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van PeltRed, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuistonThe Comfort Book by Matt HaigAnything by Jenny ColganHeartstopper (graphic novel by Alice Oseman and TV series on Netflix)Ted Lasso on Apple TV + Derry Girls on NetflixSources:Who TF Did I Marry Summary'Who TF Did I Marry': How Reesa Teesa's viral story on ex-husband turned into online fameTikTok Villain Legion Speaks"Who TF Did I Marry?" Husband Jerome McCoy’s Ex-Wife SpeaksBMW Blasted for Seemingly Going Back on Their Promise to Gift ‘Who TF Did I Marry’ TikToker Reesa Teesa Her Dream CarWho TF Is Reesa Teesa Now?Reesa Teesa on TikTok Fame and What's Next19 years ago today, a Dave Matthews Band tour bus dumped human waste on a tour boat in the Chicago River. 15 years after the Dave Matthews Band let loose over the Chicago River, we survey the damages and uncover a new victimBrilliant bridge sign is an important reminder of Dave Matthews Band’s infamous poop dump.A Plaque Appeared On The Kinzie Street Bridge This Week Dedicated To The Infamous Dave Matthews Band IncidentPrince's Former Tour Bus Driver Explains Why That DNC Bus Dumped Sewage Support the show
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1:25:35
The Price is Right: The Perfect Bid Scandal
Come on down! You’ve been accused of cheating on The Price is Right!In this episode, Katie is bewitched by Terry Kneiss’ perfect showcase bid. In 2008, a man named Terry Kneiss had a perfect bid on his showcase. But he was robbed of his celebratory moment when new host Drew Carey and tPIR producers assumed the historical bid was the result of cheating. While Kneiss maintained that his perfect bid was a combination of careful studying and a bit of sheer luck, producers thought he’d been given the winning number from audience member Ted Slauson, a lifelong PIR superfan. The scandal that ensued changed the way the beloved TV game show was played forever. Recommended Reading:The Running Man by Stephen KingThe Book of Essie by Meghan MacLean WeirA Head Full of Ghosts by Paul TremblayChain Gang All Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-BrenyahPriceless Memories by Bob BarkerBackstage at The Price is Right: Memoirs of a Barker Beauty by Kathleen BradleyGame Show Confidential: The Story of an American Obsession by Boze HadleighDocumentary film: Perfect Bid: The Contestant Who Knew Too Much by CJ Wallis. Sources:How one San Antonio man’s obsession with ‘The Price is Right’ almost destroyed the showThis Guy's Victory On "The Price Is Right" Made Them Change Their Entire System - Urbo15 Showcased Facts About The Price is Right | Mental FlossThe Price Is Right Secrets That Will Leave You Jumping For Joy15 Showcased Facts About The Price is Right | Mental Floss Support the show
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53:01
Behind the Scenes of The Price Is Right
In this episode, Katie is bewitched by the favorite game show of sick children everywhere, The Price is Right. For over 50 years, The Price is Right has ruled the early-afternoon TV lineup, with millions of viewers tuning in each day to see who will be the next to COME ON DOWN! What is it that makes the Price is Right so endearing? Maybe it’s the long, skinny microphone that looks so fun to hold. Or the games that reward you for remembering the price of Capzasin arthritis cream. Or the endlessly enthusiastic shouting from the audience about the price of said arthritis cream. From Barker’s Beauties to the drama of changing hosts after 35 years, we’re digging into all the behind-the-scenes and on-screen dynamics that have turned the Price is Right into a cultural touchstone. All books shared in this episode can be purchased at our Bookshop!Staff picks:Over the Top by Jonathan Van Ness (especially the audiobook!)Love and Other Conspiracies by Mallory Marlowe (available 8/20/24)Living for the Dead on HuluSources:What Made Bob Barker the Perfect Host for 'The Price Is Right' | Arts & Culture| Smithsonian Magazine Bob Barker: Biography, Game Show Host, The Price Is RightThe Price is Right (1956 – 1965, U.S. Version)PlinkoPunch a BunchCliff Hangers This Is Where The Prizes For The Price Is Right Are Actually StoredSexual harassment, serial killers & cheaters: The dark side of game showsWinning The Price Is Right: Strategies for Contestants’ Row, Plinko, and the Showcase Showdown.Barker's Larry King Interview Interview with Roger Dobkowitz, Part 4: “Everything You Wanted to Know About Price: The ’90s” Support the show
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1:06:38
Punxsutawney Phil and other Strange American Traditions
In this episode, Hailee explains the quirky and beloved tradition of Groundhog Day in America, from origins in ancient beliefs to a quaint local observance to a nationally recognized phenomenon. We will also explore a few other quirky American traditions, including the Presidential turkey pardon and a unique form of communication in the rural south. All books shared in this episode can be purchased at our Bookshop! Staff picks:Big by Vashti HarrisonThere Was a Party for Langston by Jason Reynolds, illustrated by Jerome and Jeremy PumphriesRecommended readingNon-Fiction Weird U.S.: Your Travel Guide to America's Local Legends and Best Kept Secrets by Mark Moran and Mark SceurmanFictionOpposite of Always by Justin A. ReynoldsThe 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart TurtonNeverworld Wake by Marisha PesslSources:Groundhog Was Once on Punxsutawney’s MenuThe Curious (and Possibly Murderous) Origins of Punxsutawney Phil's NameThe bizarre history of Groundhog DayThe Surprising History Behind Groundhog DayPardoning the Thanksgiving TurkeyHollerin’ History“The Lost Art of Hollerin’”The Rise and Fall of North Carolina’s National Hollerin’ Contest Support the show
Have you ever fallen down a rabbit hole into an obscure topic and suddenly need to know all the details and consume all the media related to it? You've found your people. Every other Wednesday, librarians Hailee and Katie take turns sharing the topic that has them bewitched. After a deep-dive into the subject-du-jour, fill your "to read" list with their related book recommendations.
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