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

Animorphs

Sep 1st, 2021 1h 35m

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! T

Le Morte de Arthur

Jul 1st, 2021 1h 50m

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

Nanette

Jun 1st, 2021 1h 46m

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 bec

Nice Try! Utopia

May 1st, 2021 1h 4m

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!

Tiny Beautiful Things

Nov 9th, 2020 1h 11m

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 em

Monsoon Wedding

Sep 5th, 2020 1h 1m

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 a

The Mexican

Apr 5th, 2020 1h 49m

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

The Lives of Others

Nov 25th, 2019 1h 5m

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 sto

His Dark Materials Preview

Sep 11th, 2019 7m 38s

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!

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine

Aug 11th, 2019 1h 13m

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.

A Knight's Tale

Jul 23rd, 2019 1h 12m

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.What is Blockbuster Video?Netflix had DV

Bend It Like Beckham

Jun 3rd, 2019 1h 15m

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 bi

Aeon Flux

Mar 3rd, 2019 1h 1m

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 wi

Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon

Feb 4th, 2019 1h 8m

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. Du Lu Wang’s “C

Crazy for God

Jan 11th, 2019 1h 20m

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

Obvious Child

Jan 11th, 2019 53m 24s

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 curre

Making Art is Hard

Jan 11th, 2019 11m 47s

An announcement about the long break that we took on the podcast this year. And good news! Thank you to everyone for your patience.ENTITLEMENT ISSUES... by Neil GaimanOur theme song is Background Blues Guitar by Blowball Music.Please visit our

Pride

Jan 11th, 2019 23m 27s

Anya and Alan welcome Jordan Magill for a special mini-sode about sexuality, identity, and pop-culture crushes. Anya's Crushes:Kate Moennig- Young AmericansMichelle Rodrigez- AvatarLizzy Caplan- Party DownHonorable mention- Christina Hendricks

Brick

Jan 11th, 2019 1h 9m

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

Julie and Julia

Jan 11th, 2019 58m 15s

Anya and Alan welcome Mandi Kaye Ottaway to talk about the book that changed her life, Julie and Julia: 365 days, 524 Recipes, 1 Tiny Apartment Kitchen by Julie Powell. Mandi tells us all about how this book inspired her to become the podcastin

Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood

Jan 11th, 2019 1h 36m

Anya and Alan welcome Sarah (aka Other_Girl) to talk about the book that is required reading to understand her soul, Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood. We discuss race in Southern Literature, cycles of abuse, and swiss cheese vs cheddar st

Paper Bag Princess

Jan 11th, 2019 46m 12s

Jan Moffett visits Anya and Alan to talk about her favorite children's book- The Paper Bag Princess, written by Robert Munsch and illustrated by Michael Martchenko. She reveals the story behind her tattoo, helps us preform a dramatic reading of

Moonlighting

Jan 11th, 2019 1h 28m

Lani Diane Rich visits Anya and Alan to talk about Moonlighting. She tells us all about what this show means to her, drops her latest narrative theory, and admits how much she hates- no loves- urgh, is just a sucker for those Han Solo and David

Wild Seed

Jan 11th, 2019 1h 12m

Anya and Alan talk about Wild Seed by Octavia Butler. This is Alan's favorite book, and he has read it every year for decades. We talk about Prequels, misprinted paperback covers, and getting over trauma. Sad PuppiesHow Story WorksThe #MeToo