Advertise on podcast: In the Stacks with Barry & LaToya

LaToya and Barry caught up on various personal updates, including LaToya's recent purchase of new AirPods 3 and Barry's relationship status with Eris, who is now Facebook official. They discussed the new Take That documentary series, their shared interest in Arsenal football, and the challenges of following the team due to U.S. broadcasting restrictions. LaToya shared her excitement about upcoming cruises, including a family cruise in February and three other cruises planned throughout the year. They also discussed their financial situations, with LaToya acknowledging her ongoing debt challenges and Barry mentioning his bankruptcy. The conversation concluded with LaToya requesting that Barry avoid discussing the library with her, as it’s triggering.

LaToya shared her positive experience on a recent Western Caribbean cruise with Princess Cruises, highlighting the itinerary and food quality, and expressed interest in future cruises. She further discussed her trip to Trinidad, including the purchase of a special wedding band and managing internet connectivity during the cruise. Barry discussed looking forward to the great beyond as he plans to retire at age 62. Both hosts concluded by sharing their music-listening habits and streaming-service preferences, along with discussions of Arsenal FC's performance and LaToya's goal-planning for 2026.

LaToya and Barry discuss various personal and professional matters, including their recording schedule, sports interests, and technical issues. They share updates on their respective work commitments, including teaching schedules and educational standards, and discuss the impact of AI tools in their lives. The conversation covers personal challenges, including LaToya's family’s experiences with Hurricane Melissa. They discuss their shared interests in reading and sports before concluding with topics such as upcoming events and traditions.

LaToya and Barry discuss their schedules and TV viewing habits, including various shows and actors they enjoy or have opinions about. They share personal updates about health issues, work challenges, and financial concerns, while also discussing music preferences and recent album releases. The conversation concludes with discussions about sports preferences.

LaToya practically takes over this episode. Having had only 3 hours of sleep and just getting back from running errands with Gwen, LaToya manages to hijack almost the first twenty minutes of the show. She’s talking on fumes despite also having to work on payroll. Barry graciously allows it. Talk turns to television, LaToya’s news/pop culture blackout, and Barry’s thriving venture in book publishing. He’s happily writing and could even stop writing for a year and still be publishing new material. However, we know that will never happen. The episodes also include a brief chat about our world with AI.

It’s back-to-school time, and Barry’s classes are overcrowded. There are not enough desks for every student. And there are already classes that he could do without. LaToya has been up for more than 24 hours since having her first boba tea, and so she deliriously rambles and hijacks the first part of the show. She suggests implementing specific runtimes for the show, as they can vary widely. Guess we’ll have to see if that happens.

Conversation flows casually enough. Barry’s barbaric dentist is ruining his mouth, and instead of seeing another dentist, he doubles down on the one he is in literal debt to. Also, for all you Blackpink fans, a new single is out, and an album release is just around the corner. Robbie Williams may (and should) be knighted. And LaToya is now a Costco regular. But the show takes an unexpected veer off the highway when Barry discusses the Book of Mormon and his interest in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. LaToya reacts with no filter, being deliriously tired from the excessive Georgia heat and general long-term lack of sleep.

This episode is a mix of this and that. T’Challa hangs out with the hosts for a bit. He’s all grown up after having attended his college orientation. Father’s Day is this weekend, but with sixty-six cents in his bank account, Barry and T’Challa will be celebrating at home. Barry teaches summer school and discusses what it’s like, as well as the preparations for the new school year. LaToya is emerging from under her “no news” rock just in time for talk about immigration, deportation, and the Gold Cup with a flavor of no more kings.

Barry has rushed home from his duties at this year’s high school graduation. Mind you, the show is two weeks past due. Talk soon turns to holiday plans and dental work. Barry introduces LaToya to #blackfatigue, you know, since she lives under a rock. He also reminds listeners that LaToya is a crappy BFF, and she’s only interested in reality television, so she doesn’t have to think.

Barry and LaToya have both recently gone down the reality TV rabbit hole, but one is more consumed by it than the other. This is LaToya’s first episode since her cancer surgery. She also outs her husband’s weird new birthday tradition. Barry provides more detail about having complete control over his intellectual property. T’Challa will graduate from high school in one month (student loans are the devil). Lastly, both gentlemen are excited about an upcoming Ghost ritual.

Guess who finally read To Kill a Mockingbird? It’s not who you think. Casey Anthony is back in the zeitgeist. Barry talks about his inner black self and the transgender community. LaToya admits that she isn’t black enough and that her Panama Canal cruise was a bit of a bust. What is this country coming to? Is no news good news? And, is Love Blind? Find out this and more on this episode.

Barry is rip-roaringly ready to dive into the show. He has the Super Bowl on his mind and is prepared to make predictions. Before that, LaToya blathers about her trip to the Lego Store, reading, and upcoming cruises. She also buries the lead when it comes to her recent cancer diagnosis. Inevitably, all roads lead to talking about Trump. He’s been in office for less than a month, and we’re all unnerved.

Welcome to 2025. Barry is ready and prepped for the show. LaToya, not so much. She’s already running late in the New Year. Discussion on the first episode of the season varies from horror flicks to Robbie Williams, to Star Trek’s lost episode, and AP versus IB. The discussion takes a very sharp turn when they discuss a special anniversary that happened this week. More than a decade later, the hosts deep dive into why they left Georgia public libraries for good.

This extra-long episode concludes season 14 of the show. It’s a cornucopia episode that meanders through various topics. Barry and LaToya talk about, among other things,  their financial debt, plans for Christmas, and resolutions for the New Year. T’Challa makes a cameo. LaToya teases that the start of season 15 may bring a new way to enjoy the show.

Barry and LaToya decide to do a “quick” show before the Tyson v. Paul fight. At least, that was the plan. Talk turns to the fight, the disappointing US presidential election, and the new Robbie Williams upcoming biopic, “Better Man.” After completing his 7th book in the unpublished series, Dark Society, Barry considers what it would be like to have AI write a novel in his writing style. Also, LaToya’s brother and his best friend have a brand new podcast on YouTube called “Doors Open Podcast.” Did we inspire them? Most definitely.