Michael & Ethan in a Room with Scotch

Michael & Ethan in a Room with Scotch
  • 4.6 (14)
  • Books
  • Weekly

With their expertise in a grand total of 3 advanced degrees in English literature, as well as a lifetime of reading, Michael & Ethan get together every other week to drink Scotch and talk about books, but not about Scotch. You don’t need to listen in order, but just search for a book (story, play, poem, etc.) that interests you and follow along!

  1. Oct 27

    Children's October Poems 2026

    We are pleased to present a series of autumnal short stories and poems for your listening pleasure! Michael’s kids each read a handful of poems with an autumnal and October theme. Wyatt (7) reads “Autumn,” by Alexander Posey, and “An October Garden,” by Christina Rossetti. Samuel (7 1/2) reads “The Goblin Man,” by Anonymous, and “Theme in Yellow” by Carl Sandburg. Isabell (11) reads “Fall, Leaves, Fall,” by Emily Brontë, “October,” by Paul Laurence Dunbar, and “O Autumn, Autumn!” by Effie Lee Newsome.

  2. Oct 20

    Autumn 2026 - "The Ghosts," by Lord Dunsany, read by Michael Lilienthal

    “But you have all read ghost stories before….” We are pleased to present a series of autumnal short stories and poems for your listening pleasure! Michael reads Lord Dunsany’s story, “The Ghosts.” Find a copy of some Dunsany stories here. Read for free here! MUSIC & SFX: Sound Effect by Bomb Sound from Pixabay  Sound Effect by Gavin Mogensen from Pixabay  Sound Effect by Nicholas Judy from Pixabay (Links to books & products are affiliate links.)

  3. Oct 13

    Bonus Episode Release: "The Coronation of Mr. Thomas Shap," by Lord Dunsany

    More bonus episodes are available to paid subscribers! Upgrade your subscription to get full access. Subscribe now It’s another bonus episode! Ethan & Michael are joined by friend and previous guest on the podcast Jacob Kempfert to discuss the short story “The Coronation of Mr. Thomas Shap,” by Lord Dunsany. Read the story free! Or buy the Penguin edition! In this episode: Ethan tries to be Tom Sawyer. Michael insults the French language (but he really does like the language - it’s an insult in love) Colonialism! Where does Swamp Thing fit on the Great Chain of Being? Dunsany’s Chess: God gave Ethan’s dad all books. Don’t read Wizardry and Wild Romance by Michael Moorcock. Ethan recommends Obsession. Michael recommends Sheep Detectives. What about the He-Man movie? We do eventually talk about the story, and then at length and in depth. Hedging words are kinda, sorta, in a way, a Midwestern trait. To an extent. The Divided Soul, by Heidi White “What We Have Come To,” by Lord Dunsany Everything is still Star Trek. Or everything is Star Trek. This story reminds us of Babbitt, by Sinclair Lewis, which all 3 of us discussed on the podcast before. Man doesn’t exist (in pragmatic, utilitarianism philosophy). MUSIC & SFX: “Kessy Swings Endless - (ID 349)” by Lobo Loco. Used by permission. “The Grim Reaper - II Presto” by Aitua. Used under an Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike License. “Thinking It Over” by Lee Rosevere. Used under an Attribution License. (Links to books & products are affiliate links.)

  4. Sep 28

    Eric, by Terry Pratchett, and Bowmore 12yo - Part 2

    Michael, Ethan, and special guest Karen continue to discuss Eric, by Terry Pratchett, while drinking Bowmore 12yo Islay Single Malt.. In this episode: Ethan is always the villain This podcast is made up of 100% “recovering” teachers’ pets Pratchett builds layers into a silly pun K is TWO letters before M, a fact that 100% of this podcast fully understands This is not the “Madame Blavatsky and her insanely racist occultism” podcast Pratchett satirizes the Faust/Mephisto relationship by making the Rincewind/Eric relationship… wholesome? Sorry Karen’s punishment was actually everyone’s punishment (poem text if you for some reason want to know the rest) Just like, a LOT of ratings at the end. Like, a massive number of ratings by volume. Next time Michael and Ethan will discuss Melmoth the Wanderer by Charles Maturin! Join the discussion! Go to the Contact page and put "Scotch Talk" in the Subject line. We'd love to hear from you! And submit your homework at the Michael & Ethan in a Room with Scotch page. Join us on GoodReads! Get on our Substack! Donate to our Patreon! MUSIC & SFX: "Kessy Swings Endless - (ID 349)" by Lobo Loco. Used by permission. "The Grim Reaper - II Presto" by Aitua. Used under an Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike License. "Thinking It Over" by Lee Rosevere. Used under an Attribution License. (Links to books & products are affiliate links.)

    Eric, by Terry Pratchett, and Bowmore 12yo - Part 2

  5. Sep 14

    Eric, by Terry Pratchett, and Bowmore 12yo - Part 1

    Michael, Ethan, and special guest Karen discuss Eric, by Terry Pratchett, while drinking Bowmore 12yo Islay Single Malt.. In this episode: Michael opens with a reference to a pre-show joke the editor doesn’t remember, AND doesn’t have Michael’s audio for, so Michael is extra bad this time Karen has the pallet of a sugar glider/hummingbird (also she’s here) Scoptions Ethan says he’s going to do a thing/did a thing and it’s a lie but editor Ethan knows it’s a lie so that’s okay If you listen closely around 9:30 you can hear the foreshadowing of Sarah’s indignation Eventually we do discuss the book Using the Book of the New Sun to explain Discworld Discworld fits all the reading colors #smh/Karen as reverse bobblehead Eric is just acts 3 and 4 of Marlowe’s Faust Rincewind’s version of the hero’s journey: “The hero refuses the call —> The hero refuses the call —> The hero refuses the call —> etc.” Karen is a good sport FaustEric as end-of-history concept Impressive of Pratchett to predict how Christopher Nolan would retell the Odyssey 36 years beforehand Next time Michael, Ethan, and Karen will continue to discuss Eric, by Terry Pratchett! Join the discussion! Go to the Contact page and put "Scotch Talk" in the Subject line. We'd love to hear from you! And submit your homework at the Michael & Ethan in a Room with Scotch page. Join us on GoodReads! Get on our Substack! Donate to our Patreon! MUSIC & SFX: "Kessy Swings Endless - (ID 349)" by Lobo Loco. Used by permission. "The Grim Reaper - II Presto" by Aitua. Used under an Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike License. "Thinking It Over" by Lee Rosevere. Used under an Attribution License. (Links to books & products are affiliate links.)

    Eric, by Terry Pratchett, and Bowmore 12yo - Part 1

  6. Aug 24

    JLA #10, by Gardner Fox, and Captain America #107, by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, and Craigellachie 13

    Michael, Ethan, and special guest Josh discuss Justice Leage of America #10, by Gardner Fox, and Captain America #107, by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, while drinking Craigellachie 13yo Speyside Single Malt.. In this episode: Bet you didn’t know we had a full-time Silver Age Comic Books Expert! Bet you didn’t know it was possible to read a palimpsest! Bet you didn't know DC comics were also Lovecraftian! Bet I can’t keep this format up any longer without going a little wacky! The Discovery of Phosphorus, by Joseph Wright Ths podcast brought to you by Lucky Strikes! No one can win the podcast. Gaslightinig Captain America??? We GOTTA talk about Faustus The movie Nightmare Alley may be closely related to Captain America 107, or it may be completely unrelated Is Dr. Faustus Freud? If so, is he compensating for something? Captain America should have at least checked the website first Three is a magic storytelling number Captain America=one-punch man???? Cap may not be Othello, but Dr Faustus may be Iago That said, this Dr Faustus is not Faust This Faust is just chasing clout Josh’s Faustian comic recs: Mephisto (Marvel) Aunts before pants? (No) Underworld Unleashed (DC) Text for the Faust Race Next time Michael and Ethan will discuss Eric, by Terry Pratchett! Join the discussion! Go to the Contact page and put "Scotch Talk" in the Subject line. We'd love to hear from you! And submit your homework at the Michael & Ethan in a Room with Scotch page. Join us on GoodReads! Get on our Substack! Donate to our Patreon! MUSIC & SFX: "Kessy Swings Endless - (ID 349)" by Lobo Loco. Used by permission. "The Grim Reaper - II Presto" by Aitua. Used under an Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike License. "Thinking It Over" by Lee Rosevere. Used under an Attribution License. (Links to books & products are affiliate links.)

    JLA #10, by Gardner Fox, and Captain America #107, by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, and Craigellachie 13

  7. Aug 10

    The Seven Strings of the Lyre, by George Sand, and Craigellachie 13yo - Part 2

    Michael and Ethan discuss The Seven Strings of the Lyre, by George Sand (also known as A Woman’s Version of the Faust Legend), while drinking Craigellachie 13yo Speyside Single Malt.. In this episode: Strong start claiming to do a chiasmus but APPARENTLY, ACTUALLY doing an Antimetabole. A lot of sports talk from two guys who know nothing about sports Inappropriately asserted man mid-life crises; unenthusiastic Masters theses We gotta talk about the lyre, and the seven strings thereof Alastor; or, the Spirit of Solitude, by Percy Bysshe Shelley (in case you also couldn’t/can’t help yourself) The Divided Soul, by Heidi White (it’s literary criticism, but also life criticism) Worry about what the Capital T “Truth“ is We do finally talk about the Lyre and its strings Man has to bottom out somewhere Shakespeare references Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade and Sand references Shakespeare Rockstar gnosticism Next time Michael and Ethan will discuss two comics: Justice Leage of America #10, by Gardner Fox, and Captain America #107, by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby! Join the discussion! Go to the Contact page and put "Scotch Talk" in the Subject line. We'd love to hear from you! And submit your homework at the Michael & Ethan in a Room with Scotch page. Join us on GoodReads! Get on our Substack! Donate to our Patreon! MUSIC & SFX: "Kessy Swings Endless - (ID 349)" by Lobo Loco. Used by permission. "The Grim Reaper - II Presto" by Aitua. Used under an Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike License. "Thinking It Over" by Lee Rosevere. Used under an Attribution License. (Links to books & products are affiliate links.)

    The Seven Strings of the Lyre, by George Sand, and Craigellachie 13yo - Part 2

  8. Jul 20

    The Seven Strings of the Lyre, by George Sand, and Craigellachie 13yo, Part 1

    Michael and Ethan discuss The Seven Strings of the Lyre, by George Sand (also known as A Woman’s Version of the Faust Legend), while drinking Craigellachie 13yo Speyside Single Malt.. In this episode: The title of this play is annoying, not George Sand’s fault A lot about fan fiction GK Chesteron’s “A Defense of Penny Dreadfuls” Madame de Stael, by Maria Fairweather The point is not to win the argument, the point is to have the argument What’s a polite way of saying “knocked around like a hockey puck”? Narrowcasting: when we engage specifically with the “Half-Blood Prince” who marked up Michael’s copy That said, the notes are potentially extremely bad (or at least highly debateable) The ur-text Ethan is thinking of is the Nag Hammadi Library, whose original English translation was published in 1978 (so Ethan was at least 12 years wrong) Magnetism Next time Michael and Ethan will continue to discuss The Seven Strings of the Lyre, by George Sand! Join the discussion! Go to the Contact page and put "Scotch Talk" in the Subject line. We'd love to hear from you! And submit your homework at the Michael & Ethan in a Room with Scotch page. Join us on GoodReads! Get on our Substack! Donate to our Patreon! MUSIC & SFX: "Kessy Swings Endless - (ID 349)" by Lobo Loco. Used by permission. "The Grim Reaper - II Presto" by Aitua. Used under an Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike License. "Thinking It Over" by Lee Rosevere. Used under an Attribution License. (Links to books & products are affiliate links.)

    The Seven Strings of the Lyre, by George Sand, and Craigellachie 13yo, Part 1
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4.6
out of 5
14 Ratings

About

With their expertise in a grand total of 3 advanced degrees in English literature, as well as a lifetime of reading, Michael & Ethan get together every other week to drink Scotch and talk about books, but not about Scotch. You don’t need to listen in order, but just search for a book (story, play, poem, etc.) that interests you and follow along!

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