Episodes

  • 183 – Standardized Testing Doesn’t Matter

    183 – Standardized Testing Doesn’t Matter
    May 15 2025
    Here’s a cranky mommy rant about how standardized testing can stress out kids for no good reason. I KNOW teachers and schools are under a lot of pressure, but adults should never dump their anxieties onto children. Especially when the cause of so much worry is so unimportant compared to the big picture of life.
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    8 mins
  • 182 – Take Me Out to the Ball Game . . . has verses?

    182 – Take Me Out to the Ball Game . . . has verses?
    May 12 2025
    “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” by Albert von Tilzer and Jack Norworth is America’s second national anthem. Many Americans don’t even remember learning it because it is such a natural part of childhood. But worldwide it’s not known very well, and even the biggest baseball fans may not know that this song has … Continue reading "182 – Take Me Out to the Ball Game . . . has verses?"
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    19 mins
  • 181 – Are You My Mother?

    181 – Are You My Mother?
    May 11 2025
    Are You My Mother? by P.D. Eastman perfectly expresses how little children feel sometimes — I want my mom, and I want to go home. But it also has a sweet and subtle message about how the modern world can exist with nature if only we remember to show a little compassion to the little … Continue reading "181 – Are You My Mother?"
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    6 mins
  • 180 – Winnie the Pooh Blood and Honey Is . . . Lore Accurate?

    180 – Winnie the Pooh Blood and Honey Is . . . Lore Accurate?
    May 7 2025
    I watched both of the Winnie The Pooh: Blood and Honey movies. They are NOT for kids. But they do take ideas from Winnie-the-Pooh and The House at Pooh Corner by A.A. Milne with illustrations by E.H. Shepard and use them in some creative, interesting, and icky ways. Again, don’t show these movies to your … Continue reading "180 – Winnie the Pooh Blood and Honey Is . . . Lore Accurate?"
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    16 mins
  • 179 – The Shoes that Were Danced to Pieces

    179 – The Shoes that Were Danced to Pieces
    Apr 30 2025
    “Die zertanzten Schuhe,” or “The Shoes That Were Danced to Pieces” was first published in 1815 in the second volume of tales collected by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm. It’s usually translated into English as “The Twelve Dancing Princesses.” In this one I DO NOT burn my marshmallow (YAY!) and celebrate by making a Thin Mint … Continue reading "179 – The Shoes that Were Danced to Pieces"
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    23 mins
  • 178 – Let’s Talk Harry Potter Casting

    178 – Let’s Talk Harry Potter Casting
    Apr 26 2025
    Six actors have been confirmed for the new Harry Potter series on HBO. But are all of them good choices? When a book is adapted to the screen, how can casting choices be creative without breaking the story, distorting the characters, or introducing themes that simply don’t belong?
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    17 mins
  • 177 – A Fireside Reading of Cenerentola

    177 – A Fireside Reading of Cenerentola
    Apr 20 2025
    Come join me by the fire while I read “Cenerentola,” which was written in the 17th century by Giambattista Basile. It’s the oldest recorded European version of a Cinderella story, and I think it’s a lot wilder and funnier than the better known one by Charles Perrault. In this reading you’ll get some commentary to … Continue reading "177 – A Fireside Reading of Cenerentola"
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    33 mins
  • 176 – Fireside Fairy Tale: Ye Xian

    176 – Fireside Fairy Tale: Ye Xian
    Apr 5 2025
    Big things have happened to the show in the last week. I have pleased the Algorithm Gods and my YouTube channel is getting a lot of attention. My inbox is overflowing with emails and I have had a few offers from sponsors, but I won’t change anything for now. I want to take some time … Continue reading "176 – Fireside Fairy Tale: Ye Xian"
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    28 mins