Literary Disco

Hosted ByTod Goldberg, Julia Pistell, & Rider Strong

Writers talk about reading. Hosted by Tod Goldberg, Julia Pistell, and Rider Strong.


All Episodes

Episode 24: When My Brother Was an Aztec & Smith Blue (The Poetry Episode)

Tonight we take on a huge subject: how we should read poetry. The discussion centers on Natalie Diaz’s collection “When My Brother Was an Aztec” and Camille Dungy’s “Smith Blue.” What do we make of these wonders? […]

Episode 23: Pulphead

What do Michael Jackson, Christian Rock, and nearly-electrocuted high schoolers have in common? They’ve been written about by John Jeremiah Sullivan, and argued about by Tod, Rider, and Julia in today’s latest episode. Join us as we rhap[…]

Episode 22: The Hardy Boys

On today’s episode, we head to Bayport to take on the brothers Hardy, those teen sleuths you thought you knew…
We discuss Books One and Two of The Hardy Boys: The Tower Treasure, and The House on the Cliff. This episode offers an interes[…]

Episode 21: We The Animals (with guest Elizabeth Crane)

We’ve tackled tigers and rubber ducks on the show before, but have we ever turned our eyes to the animal spirits of three young brothers? Justin Torees’ novel is brought to our attention by the witty and wonderful Elizabeth Crane, who jo[…]

Episode 20: The Best of 2012

Well, OUR best of 2012.
Join us as Tod, Julia, and Rider go through the Top 5 books they read this year. Which of the books from previous episodes did they select? Did Pillars of the Earth make the grade? How about Sweet Valley High?
Classics, new f[…]

Episode 19: Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil

Ho ho ho! For the holiday season, the Literary Disco team reads a book Julia got for Christmas several years ago but hadn’t yet read. “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil” brings us back to discussion nonfiction and the importa[…]

Episode 18: The Paris Review’s “Object Lessons”

The short story: what is it for? Who does it best? What’s a “Paris Review” short story, vs. just a regular short story?
Listen to us duke it out and draw your own conclusions– or, better yet, get the book and read along.

Bonus Episode! Life of Pi: The Movie

You knew we’d have an opinion.
Tod, Rider, and Julia discuss whether or not the film adaptation of “Life of Pi” lives up to the book– and whether or not you should see it. And it might not be the same answer.
THERE ARE A HUND[…]

Episode 17: Life of Pi by Yann Martel

You, a lifeboat, a tiger. Would you make it? Would Tod? Would Julia? Would Rider? (We have our bets.) Join our hosts as they discuss this bestselling novel and their hopes for the upcoming movie. Watch out for spoilers (though we’ll warn you).[…]

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