Advertise on podcast: Hallowed Ground StoryCast

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.