An eldest daughter and a couple of berries nearly took down an entire empire. Let's talk about that.

Lyndsey sits down with Jake Rupp — 20-year teacher, young adult literature obsessive, and the guy who has watched The Hunger Games an uncomfortable number of times — to break down why this story keeps getting more relevant, not less.

They get into why Katniss succeeds not because she's charming but because she's incapable of being anything else, how Peeta and Katniss represent two completely different ways of cutting through a system designed to consume you, what Effie Trinket and Cato actually have in common (hint: it's not what you think), why the Capitol's pageantry is doing exactly what pageantry is supposed to do, and what it says about us that we can be completely gripped by a story about children killing each other and still miss the point.

Also: a pregnant wife at a Rue death scene, softball dads as career tribute energy, and the rock. You know the one.

This is the episode for people who loved the books at 13 and are only now realizing what they were actually about.

Jake Rupp teaches English, rhetoric, and young adult literature and makes videos about rhetoric online. Find him on tiktok at @hashtagjrupp

What looks like a silly 90s Disney movie turns out to be a surprisingly honest story about growing up, wanting independence, and wanting to stay connected at the same time.

In this episode, Lyndsey and Ben revisit A Goofy Movie and talk about authenticity, parent–child tension, and why the parts of ourselves we try to hide are often the parts people love most.

Come for the nostalgia. Stay for the unexpected emotional clarity.

In this episode, Lyndsey McPherson and PJ dive into a deep discussion about the movie 'Wicked Part 2: For Good.' They explore themes of friendship, personal growth, and societal change, reflecting on how the characters navigate their complex relationships and the broader implications of their actions. The conversation touches on the emotional impact of the film, the portrayal of strong female protagonists, and the significance of standing up for what is right, even when it is challenging.