In honor of American and French Independence Day, Jackie, Amelia, and new guest Emily Raine discuss the lasting relevance of Les Misérables by Victor Hugo, its various adaptations, and its themes of national identity, moral crisis, and sacrificial love.

Content Warning: This episode includes discussion of mature subjects, including exploitation, prostitution, and suicide.

This episode was recorded at BevCam in Beverly, Massachusetts, on land originally inhabited by the Naumkeag people.

“So long as there shall exist, by reason of law and custom, a social condemnation, which, in the face of civilization, artificially creates hells on earth, and complicates a destiny that is divine with human fatality; so long as the three problems of the age—the degradation of man by poverty, the ruin of women by starvation, and the dwarfing of childhood by physical and spiritual night—are not solved; so long as, in certain regions, social asphyxia shall be possible; in other words, and from a yet more extended point of view, so long as ignorance and misery remain on earth, books like this cannot be useless.” ~ Victor Hugo, preface of Les Misérables

References and Recommendations:

The Beauty and Anguish of Les Misérables! (feat. Lindsay Ellis) | It's Lit! | PBS Digital Studios

Eponine as a Christ Figure, fifth installment of The Princess Passion Project by Amelia Smith

Les Miserables and France's many revolutions | Enlightenment and Revolution | Khan Academy

The Paris of Les Miserables

Music: “Adventurous Souls” by Zane Dickinson

Jackie, Kenny, and new guest Matt Spellman discuss the renowned manga One Piece by Eiichiro Oda and its anime and live-action adaptations. Diving deep into the East Blue story arc, they reflect on the story’s themes of freedom, inherited will, found family, and pursuing dreams.

Content Warning: This episode contains mentions of bodily gore, murder, and slavery.

References and Recommendations:

Eiichiro Oda Meets Iñaki Godoy

“Faith Through Fiction: Storybooks, Manga, Movies, and Vampires,” an episode of Dare to Dwell: A Podcast with the Daughters of St. Paul, featuring Sr. Allison Regina Gliot’s reflections on One Piece

Grand Line Review videos about the lore of One Piece

Library of Ohara, The Library of One Piece Knowledge

“A Litany of Saints … for Anime” by Sr. Orianne Petra René Dyck, FSP

“One Piece — Realizing Belonging” by Sr. Orianne Pietra René Dyck, FSP

“Why Gen Z protesters worldwide are flying an anime pirate flag” by Kate Bartlett, heard on NPR’s Weekend Edition Sunday

Cover Art:

~ Model: Matthew Spellman

~ Photographer: Jacqueline Tetrault

Music: “Adventurous Souls” by Zane Dickinson

As Thanksgiving approaches, Jackie and Amelia revisit the world of Arendelle for a discussion of the Frozen short films and sequel Frozen 2, whose themes include vocation, ancestral sin, atonement, and adapting to change. How is Elsa a Christ figure, and how is Anna like St. Peter?

This episode was recorded at BevCam in Beverly, Massachusetts, on land originally inhabited by the Naumkeag people.

Resources and Recommendations:

Behind the scenes of Frozen II: How Sami representatives cooperated with Disney

Elsa as a Christ figure, second installment of The Princess Passion Project by Amelia Smith

Psychology of a Hero: Anna by Cinema Therapy

Music: “Adventurous Souls” by Zane Dickinson

Cover Art:

~ Model: Amelia Smith

~ Photographer: Jacqueline Tetrault