Anya and Alan welcome Stitchomancery to talk about Tokyo Pet Shop of Horrors by Matsuri Akino. What happens when adults believe every comic and animation is ok for kids? 90s Manga and Anime is what! This story explores the creepy space of pets that can grant wishes. Sometimes those wishes aren’t what is best for us. Whether we wish for it or not, though- Count D knows what we need!

Anya and Alan welcome Poetry to talk about the influential Animorphs series by Katherine Applegate. We discuss the whole series but focus on “The Departure” Book 19. When is a kids series not just a kids series? When the real monster is war! There are monsters on both sides, and heroes on both sides. Radical empathy might be the only path- or maybe just another weapon.

Dr. Paul Moffett joins Anya and Alan to discuss Sir Thomas Mallory’s “Le Morte d’Arthur.” We compare the Roundtable Knights to Super Heroes, discuss 500 year-old dirty jokes, and learn how this story has shaped Paul’s life. If you haven’t taken a class at Clockwork’s Academy then you are missing out! Be sure to check the links in our Show Notes!

Anya and Alan talk about the Hanna Gatsby comedy special “Nanette”! We rant a lot in this episode about the nature of Art. Society. And Joss Wedon. It’s the nice ranting though. Unless you like systemic oppression, then you shouldn’t listen because you will get your feelings hurt.

Anya and Alan talk about the 2019 podcast ‘Nice Try! Utopia’ hosted by Avery Trufelman and produced by Curbed. We talk about eating crickets, lesbian enclaves, and the sexual revolution…. of the 1840’s in New England. Come visit Utopia with us! Which is a place that doesn’t exist….

Anya and Alan talk about a mutual favorite book, “Tiny Beautiful Things” by Cheryl Strayed. CONTENT WARNING We talk about physical, sexual, and emotional abuse in this episode. We discuss heartbreak, homelessness, and the religion of radical empathy. This book makes us want to be better people- and we want to share it with everyone.

Anya and Alan talk about the movie that taught Anya that movies could be Art instead of just entertainment- Monsoon Wedding! We talk about the surprising storyline of abuse, and how it resonates so many years later. The pull between Old India and New India. And how Dubey is NOT ready for a relationship.

Anya and Alan talk about the 2001 Gore Verbinsky movie “The Mexican”. This is a story about stories which are themselves about stories. It helped Alan learn about stories and how a story should tell a story within itself so that the story makes sense. Story.

Anya and Alan talk about the award-winning German-language thriller “The Lives of Others”. We loved this tightly plotted story about Art and Fascism in the 1980s. It resonated with the politics of our time, the fights over the importance of storytelling in culture, and why the truth is worth standing up for.

We have a new podcast! Come listen to us talk about “His Dark Materials” with our friend Caitlin. For all the details visit the Measures of Truth homepage, then subscribe to the podcast in your favorite player!

Anya and Alan discuss the hilarious, but very dark, best-selling novel “Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine” by Gail Honeyman. We discuss suicide, loneliness, and depression- so please take care to listen only if you are ready for those themes. Also we ask ourselves- “What would a ferret do in this situation?” and realize the correct way to live.

Alan tries to explain why he owes $400 to Blockbuster video, what William and Jocelyn are fighting about, and what Nietzsche would have thought about “A Knight’s Tale”. Yeah. Buckle in for some weirdness.

Just in time for the Women’s World Cup 2019, Anya and Alan discuss “Bend It Like Beckaham”. Anya’s favorite sleepover movie from high-school is all about third-culture kids, choice feminism, and wearing comfortable clothes. We talk about the big ship of this movie and how we need more sports movies about women.

Anya and Alan talk about the 1990’s animated MTV show Aeon Flux created by Peter Chung. This is one of Alan’s favorite cult 90’s shows. We talk about four episodes, including one about a wall that divides two nations- which has nothing to do with American politics. At all…

Anya and Alan talk about the Oscar Award winning Kung Fu film by Ang Lee, “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”. Alan’s favorite Kung Fu movie is actually a musical and Jen Yu is actually a Disney Princess. That’s right. We said it.

Anya and Alan talk about “Crazy for God: How I Grew Up as One of the Elect, Helped Found the Religious Right, and Lived to Take All (or Almost All) of It Back” by Frank Schaeffer. Anya read this memoir in College and is now sharing it with the world. We talk about Abortion, our personal spiritual backgrounds, and Masturbation. So much masturbation.

Anya and Alan tackle the very serious issues of Abortion, White Beauty Standards, and farting in your messy panties. We talk about the best Abortion Rom-Com ever made- Obvious Child. Anya made this movie the first date with the man she is currently engaged to- and we explore all the great characters, writing, and performances they saw that night.

An announcement about the long break that we took on the podcast this year. And good news! Thank you to everyone for your patience.

Anya and Alan welcome Jordan Magill for a special mini-sode about sexuality, identity, and pop-culture crushes.

Anya and Alan welcome Joshua Unruh to talk about one his favorite Hard Boiled Detective movies- Brick from Writer and Director Rian Johnson. We talk about the difference between Noir vs Hard Boiled, low-budget camera tricks, and A Prairie Home Companion.