Read the Room: A Culture Club

readtheroomacultureclub

Follow along with our podcast week after week as we ensure you can read any room you're in, by dissecting literature, media, and pop culture until we're blue in the face.  Episodes include - Deep Dives: In-depth looks at books, movies, and culturally relevant research topics READs: Our bi-monthly reports on what we read, endured, ate, and did Minis: Informal chats about hyper-fixations and latest in pop culture Series: Ongoing conversations about reoccurring themes in our analysis Hosted by: Alexys, Kaylin, and Larsen

  1. 3d ago

    30: Mini - Campfire Stories

    The warm summer air is buzzing, the moon is shining, and the fire is roaring - could there be a more perfect time for a spooky story? In this special seasonal mini episode hosts Alexys, Kaylin, and Larsen entertain each other, and our dear Roomies, with perfectly mysterious, murderous, and mystical stories (campfire sold seperately). First, we investigate the ancient origins of the "campfire story" and reflect on the sociological reasons why early humans might've been drawn to telling tall tales, specifically at night and around the fire, and why we might still lean into those oral storytelling traditions today. We then summarize the traits of campfire classics, like the inclusion of supernatural elements or lack of moral messaging, and where this specific sub-genre intersects with larger bodies of work, like urban legends or scary stories in general. Finally, we do our best camp counselor impersonations, regaling you with some of our favorite iterations of this timeless trend. For the most ambient experience possible induce a sugar high with marshmallows, go outside (ignore the tickle of bug bites), turn off the lights, and listen like a little kid again.  Stories Told: The Green Ribbon The Girl & The Ghoul The Killing China Doll Carnival Fortune Telling Miracle Mile Lights Sources: "Campfire Stories May Have Sparked Early Societal Learning", LA Times "Biphasic / Polyphasic Sleep", Mystery of Experience "Campfire Stories: The Art Of The Tale", Westside Toast Masters "The Best Campfire Stories from Around the World", Outside Magazine

    35 min

  2. 6d ago

    29: Deep Dive - June Book Club Edition: The Count of Monte Cristo

    Can a classic really stay consistently entertaining for 1200 pages? For our June Book Club deep dive episode hosts Alexys, Kaylin, and Larsen explore the hidden treasures at the heart of Alexandre Dumas’ behemoth of a book, The Count of Monte Cristo. We begin by providing historical context for the French classic, from Dumas’ own colorful past, to the serialized nature of The Count’s publication, and the real life history that inspires Dumas' characters. We sail steadfast between summary and analysis of major sections of the book, investigating the evolution of Edmond Dantes' character as we go. Insightful digressions include discussing the multigenerational framing of the story and the importance of breaking cycles of violence, as well as the role of karma as an active instrument in fate’s fight for good over evil. Whether you read along this month- or known anything about French history and politics- dawn your best disguise and listen along. This book might be long Roomies, but it twists and turns more than a prison escape route, making it enjoyable in any era.

    1h 35m

  3. Jun 25

    28: READ - Paper Girl, Potstickers & Passport Trauma

    What do almond milk matcha, passport nightmare fuel, and anime head pats all have in common? Welcome back Roomies to another Weekly READ, the mini episodes where hosts Alexys, Kaylin, and Larsen divulge all that they’ve read, endured, ate, and done recently. From classics like All Quiet on the Western Front and Sand County Almanac, to more modern fare such as Paper Girl, us girls stay up on our reading. From potstickers, to cabbage rolls, to a whole week of “bar” themed food we also don’t miss a meal. Highlights include a shoutout for Kacey Musgrave’s new album and an exciting update on Larsen’s previously mentioned make-up hunt. Think you could survive all that we endured? You’ll have to go listen to find out.

    36 min

  4. Jun 22

    27: Deep Dive - That's Like Totally Shakespeare: Teen Movie Adaptations

    What is it about The Bard’s works that captures the inner world of 2000’s teenagers so well? In this deep dive episode hosts Alexys, Kaylin, and Larsen explore the big boom in teen-centered Shakespeare movie adaptations that started at the end of the 20th century and thrived throughout the Y2K era. While we acknowledge that borrowing from the Bard of Avon is no new phenomenon, we zero in on works from 10 Things I Hate About You to My Own Private Idaho, which anchor their tone and themes in the emotions of teens. We find there’s equal parts comedy, à la She’s the Man, and tragedy, as seen in O, to be found in this high school-set trend. We count the ways that William Shakespeare’s plays might appeal to those whose hormones make their feelings runneth over. Ultimately, we find that one of the most enduring features of his body of work is that it can be stripped back to basic shared human emotions or modernized with creative, clever flair, and still entertain just as well. Not convinced we should keep teenifying classic literary works? You’ll need to listen to this episode Roomies before you decide to watch or not to watch- that is the question.     Sources: “Why Shakespeare Adaptations Resonate with Modern Audiences”, The Arcadia Quill  “How 10 Things I Hate About You Made Shakespeare Hot Property”, Little White Lies

    1h 1m

  5. Jun 18

    26: Mini - The Resurgence of Physical Media

    Can we finally resurrect Blockbuster? In this chatty mini-sode hosts Alexys, Kaylin, and Larsen have a lot to say as they unpack the quickly growing trend that has evolved around embracing physical media. From the revival of record collectors to avid readers with their library cards, we discuss the (particularly youthful) consumers driving the switch from an almost entirely digital existence, to one that's tangible. As we sort through the shelves of physical media, we discuss a wide array of popular media types from movies and journaling to music and photo albums. We spin like a broken record as we, once again, caution about capitalism. Is this rise in physical media consumption just another trend fueled by our capitalist society or is it nostalgia for the days of yore? Make sure you listen to this one Roomies, right after you make sure to return your rentals!

    39 min

  6. Jun 16

    25: Deep Dive - Fan Fiction & The Digital Third Space

    Are Romeo and Juliet the original OTP? Can a SHIP be strong enough to win a Pulitzer? In this deep dive, hosts Alexys, Kaylin, and Larsen investigate the vast, digital, and community-drive world of Fan Fiction. Our exploration unveils that the most powerful question a reader can ask is: what if?  What if Jay Gatsby fell in love with Nick Carraway? What if East of Eden was a space epic instead? The "what ifs" that empower Fan Fiction writers and readers are large enough to create new worlds, endless spirals of internet discussion, connections across continents and languages, and award-winning novels, a la Demon Copperhead. Our research includes a look at the important websites the host, house, and protect a wealth of fan-made work, including of course the infamous Archive of Our Own (AO3), as well as the crowd-sourced editing, feedback, and instruction that actually makes Fan Fiction forums a fairly safe place for blossoming young writers. Listen and then look around Roomies! You may just find you've been interacting with more Fan Fiction than you thought- after all, as author Naomi Novik says, "all art, if it’s any good, is in dialogue with other art".   Sources: "History of Fan Fiction", Book Riot "From Star Trek to Fifty Shades: How Fanfiction Went Mainstream", The Guardian "Young Women and Fan Fiction: Motives, Reading Practices, and Reader Types" HSE University Moscow "A Look At How Fan Fiction is Changing Publishing and Reading", NPR "Fanfiction Today: An Analysis of Publishing Trends on Archive of Our Own", SLIS Connecting "Innovating To Help Writers Understand and Grow Their Audience", Wattpad

    1h 1m

  7. Jun 11

    24: READs - Cowboys, Cravings & Comment Sections

    What does Donna Tartt have to do with chicken salad? Welcome back for another Weekly READ, where hosts Alexys, Kaylin, and Larsen divulge what they've read, endured, ate, and done recently. From cravings and food kicks, to Pulitzer Prize nominated fiction, we've been consuming a diverse array of tasty treats recently. We mention some fresh TV fixations, like Beef and The Pitt, and recall our grand Independent Book Store Day adventure, complete with a book crawl, of course. Dramatic digressions include Alexys getting herself in hot water in an influencer's comment section and Kaylin's cameo at her hometown's rodeo. Better saddle up Roomies, this one is quite the ride!

    42 min

  8. Jun 8

    23: Deep Dive - Bodice Rippers & Historical Romance Novels

    Why on earth are there so many hot Scots in historical romance novels? Is there no place and time more arousing than 18th century Scotland? In this deep dive, randomly selected from our fishbowl of eclectic research topics, hosts Alexys, Kaylin, and Larsen explore the equal parts erotic and enchanting world of Bodice Rippers. We define this oft trivialized genre and chart its storied past, from the Harlequin paperbacks of the 40's, to the Sexual Revolution aligned boom of bawdy books in the 70's. We look (longingly and with a steely gaze) at the modern powerhouses that have carried the Bodice Ripper into the 21st century, as well as at the evolution we can see across these works. Some things have changed, like the prevalance of dubious or sometimes altogether lacking consent as a genre staple, while some things have stayed the same, such as the classic "clinch" cover- after all who doesn't love a heroine being swept away. Through these steamy studies we find that historical romance novels, with their raw portrayals of sex, marriage, and class, are inherently feminist and shockingly recession proof. Take a listen and let us gently unlace your thoughts on this genre.   Sources: "From Harlequin to ‘Heated Rivalry’: How Romance Novels are Propelling Today’s Publishing Industry", Temple University "The Original Bodice-Ripper and the Emergence of the Romance Novel", C.H. Armstrong Books "Is It Time to Retire the Romance Term 'Bodice Ripper'?", Book Riot "Bodice Rippers – 10 Spicy Historicals to Warm You Up This Winter", Romance By The Book "Harlequin’s Trailblazing History", Harlequin Ever After "Marketing, Technology, and the Changing Form of the Romance Novel", Duke University  When a Scot Ties The Knot, Tessa Dare (2015)

    1h 5m
See All (30)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
8 Ratings

About

Follow along with our podcast week after week as we ensure you can read any room you're in, by dissecting literature, media, and pop culture until we're blue in the face.  Episodes include - Deep Dives: In-depth looks at books, movies, and culturally relevant research topics READs: Our bi-monthly reports on what we read, endured, ate, and did Minis: Informal chats about hyper-fixations and latest in pop culture Series: Ongoing conversations about reoccurring themes in our analysis Hosted by: Alexys, Kaylin, and Larsen

Information

  • Creator
    readtheroomacultureclub
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    30
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Read the Room: A Culture Club

You Might Also Like