Heavy topics: A loner young man who becomes radicalized, you know, for a change “We are doomed to repeat the mistakes of previous generations” is maybe what Stephen was going for, but.... This is a 1 to 1 metaphor about addiction The lighter side: This book is what’s the phrase *checks notes* EXTREMELY GAY Christine did nothing wrong A lil smooch An exciting new flavor of overbearing mother and bumbling dad Lillie makes the Best Freud Joke Recommendations: Songs about evil and/or dangerous trans...
Feb 18, 2020•2 hr 2 min•Ep. 16
Heavy topics: We really, really, REALLY hate Ben Richards Whoooo boy there is so much racism and misogyny here Sex work is just a part of this world and is totally unremarkable unless my wife does it A man’s sense of self and ego are more important than anything else in his life The YMCA basement scene! No thanks! The lighter side: Stephen King's Beard From When He Was Going Through It The explosives thing is real dumb We had to read the word pudenda with our very own eyeballs Recommendations: D...
Jan 21, 2020•1 hr 35 min•Ep. 15
Heavy topics: Get in loser, we’re getting existentially traumatized Displacement of grief THE. LEECHES! Teddy’s anger and his relationship with his dad Stud City has some… troubling implications The lighter side: Real 1960s childhood sad boi hours Gordie, you and Chris are absolutely in love and you’re so fucking valid. Hemingway and Faulkner… you wish my dude What do we have to do to get invited to this damn secret society? “If this woman giving birth in my taxi had been screaming hysterically ...
Jan 07, 2020•1 hr 54 min•Ep. 14
Heavy topics: Red is not a sympathetic narrator, he is a barely remorseful murderer The horror and failure of the American prison system Nazis, the Holocaust, and the deaths of millions Todd and Dussander’s toxic relationship ruined them both The lighter side: In which we learn why Margot hates Adam Sandler EVERYONE is doing crime in this prison, can you believe Fellas, is it gay to break your parole and run away to Mexico to run a hotel with your friend whose companionship helped you cope with ...
Dec 01, 2019•1 hr 58 min•Ep. 13
In which we discuss the most overdone costumes and offer alternatives, give you some ideas for pair costumes that AREN'T the Grady twins, and tell you the funniest, sexiest, and of course the scariest costumes of all. Follow us on twitter: @Listen_Stephen Email us: listenstephenpod@gmail.com Support the show at: patreon.com/listenstephen Follow Margot on Twitter: @whattehfoxtrot Our intro song is by Lena Orsa...
Oct 28, 2019•28 min•Ep. 12
Heavy topics: Eating disorders, addiction, control, and inertia EVERYONE in this book is anxious about something Donna's maternal transgression is punished by losing her son Hot take: addiction is bad The lighter side: Tad is a sexy lamp Dog actors are bad at being bad Keep your sneeze kink off our podcast, Lillian 38 YEARS OLD??? HELLO??? Recommendations: Russian Doll tv series, Sawbones episode 160: "Frankenberry Stool," "Stay Sexy and Don't Get Murdered" by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardsta...
Oct 17, 2019•1 hr 53 min•Ep. 11
Heavy topics: Four and a half years in a coma…. No Thanks Stephen’s writing about women, based on the intersection of religious fanaticism and motherhood The argument that serial killers are often abuse victims is one put forth by the serial killers Nazis, Hitler, Trump, and how to actually create political change The lighter side: A fatal hotdog mistake The Dead Zone could’ve been more of a Fun Zone “Hell yeah I’d kill Hitler!” Everyone is SUPER down with psychics for some gd reason Skepticism ...
Oct 03, 2019•2 hr 6 min•Ep. 10
Heavy topics: There are SO MANY horrible deaths McVries is a problematic fave to put it lightly Stephen brings race into this AGAIN when will he stop. The lighter side: Lillie's Hot Beach Reads™ Raw hamburger?? Hello??? That watermelon sounds so good Jahoobies Don't be a coward, let's be gay. Recommendations: 1984 by George Orwell, Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, The Giver by Lois Lowry, and The Maze Runner films. Follow us on twitter: @Listen_Stephen Email us: listenstephenpod@gmail.com Suppo...
Sep 10, 2019•1 hr 52 min•Ep. 9
Heavy topics: Stephen does not have a nuanced grasp of how to do Native American representation and we REALLY wish he would stop trying. Charlie's mom gets very murdered. Thanks, we hate it. The monstrous feminine, spooky little girls, and the destruction of the family The lighter side: In the battle between the dangers of harboring a psychic fugitive vs the civil liberties of a pontificating man, who will win? (It's the dude of course it's the dude you shouldn't be surprised at this point) Orcs...
Aug 13, 2019•1 hr 44 min•Ep. 8
Heavy topics: Measles is fucked up, get vaccinated. Nadine’s rape and the wasted potential of her character Tom Cullen is effectively a new character and it is bad Stephen’s addiction issues are really showing The lighter side: Knife fighting in a Denny’s parking lot - The Scientist Way Margot's wife, Dayna Jurgens, is still amazing Levitation = virility??? or something???? Ghost slaps vs corporeal slaps - which has the moral high ground? A family can be four ride-or-die people who aren't relate...
Jul 31, 2019•2 hr 21 min•Ep. 7
Heavy topics: Writing disability, ableism, and the euphemism treadmill The Kid is awful and completely superfluous Harold is an incel and it is terrible Stephen King spends a lot of time in school shooter’s mindset and should REALLY stop doing it (and thankfully he finally has) The lighter side: Joe/Leo and his emotional support knife You know how to make this wasteland livable? Mountains of bureaucracy! Larry follows the philosophy of What Would Harold Do and it is very funny Frankie’s diary is...
Jul 16, 2019•2 hr•Ep. 6
Heavy topics: We really hate Larry Underwood Stephen has... issues with mothers and family dynamics This book appropriates the Kent State massacre This book has . some egregious racism in it The Military Is Both Malicious And Incompetent: The Novel Stephen could you please write more than one type of parent-child relationship The lighter side: We love and recommend Station Eleven AKA it is a day ending in y Frankie is hardcore and we love her Why do people always look right at the crotch of dead...
Jul 02, 2019•1 hr 53 min•Ep. 5
We apologize for the audio quality, we had some recording issues this week. Heavy topics: Will we ever be done talking about addiction on this show? Maybe next week. HP Lovecraft was a terrible person - what do we do with that? The lighter side: The corn-based religion! is! valid! Margot gives us a Bible lesson Is Stephen #woke? It takes us a while to figure out who is who in Jerusalem’s Lot Cal and Charles are in love with each other, and we love them Lillie isn't afraid of worms Transgression,...
Jun 17, 2019•1 hr 47 min•Ep. 4
Heavy topics: Jack sucks for a million reasons and we're gonna talk about as many as we can Alcoholism and the mindset of the alcoholic Emotional and physical abuse Abusive men and patterns of abusive behavior What the fuck is in that playground tunnel The lighter side: Mean Girls and The Shining: two great tastes that taste VERY BAD together Wendy Torrance is a goddamned hero Stuart Ullman is GREAT at his job Jack is TERRIBLE at his job Horace Derwent is Howard Hughes, we dunno if you got that,...
Jun 07, 2019•1 hr 38 min•Ep. 3
Heavy topics: The acknowledgment of serial killers and the realization that we are not safe Ruthie Crockett and the virgin/whore dichotomy Everyone in this town is monstrous and transgression begets transgression The lighter side: Ann Norton is right exactly one (1) time Everyone in this book is not like other girls good clean capitalism vs dirty modern capitalism Susan gets mansplained by a literal child Lillie got a bingo! Recommendations: Dracula by Bram Stoker, Let The Right One In, What We ...
May 21, 2019•1 hr 38 min•Ep. 2
This week’s heavy topics: Trauma and repression Julia Kristeva’s theory of abjection How this book resonates today in regard to school shootings Kids are assholes This week’s silly topics: Margot is petty on three (3) occasions Stephen doesn’t understand periods or teenage girls We solve the mystery of Flash Bobby Pickett Freud is right and Lillie is mad about it Billy and Margaret are canceled Recommendations: Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons by Lorna Landvik, Bloodchild and Other Stories by Oc...
May 07, 2019•1 hr 23 min•Ep. 1
