Best Readalong Podcasts (2025)

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Extremity Volume 2: Warrior 1:16:34

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8h ago1:16:34

1:16:34

Send us a text "There will be times in the future, my daughter, when you will question everything you are. Hearing your name spoken over will help when everything falls away." Mike and Alex are here to finish up their look at Daniel Warren Johnson's Extremity from Image Comics with Volume 2 Warrior (issues #7-12). They kick things off with a deep l…

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The Story That Blew Everything Open | Akira (1982 Manga, Vol. 2 & 3) 1:10:45

6d ago1:10:45

1:10:45

Katsuhiro Otomo's series is a landmark work in the history of Japanese manga and animation that shaped the industry as we know it today. In episode 366, join Luke Elliott & James Bailey as they continue their journey through Neo Tokyo by reacting to volumes 2 and 3, debate just how evil (or not) Tetsuo actually is, weigh the pros/cons of color, lea…

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Dark Wizard Disneyland - "Dreadful" Chapter 15 16:09

6d ago16:09

16:09

Episode 424 "Dreadful" by Caitlin Rozakis, Chapter 15 Gav comes up with a cunning plan to solve one of his many dilemmas. Anita hopes the endgame is our protagonist running a dark wizard tourist trap, while Scott remembers a clue from the first chapter. You can follow The Read-Along on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook @thereadalong, and join our Goo…

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Extremity Volume 1: Artist 1:13:44

7d ago1:13:44

1:13:44

Send us a text "But no matter what the fight... no matter who lives or dies... I won't kill my own brother." This week on the Storied Arcs podcast, Mike and Alex kick off their deep dive of Daniel Warren Johnson's Extremity from Image Comics with Volume 1 Artist (issues #1-6). The guys start by discussing the world building (or lack there of) that …

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Continental Breakfast - "Dreadful" Chapter 14 17:11

13d ago17:11

17:11

Episode 423 "Dreadful" by Caitlin Rozakis, Chapter 14 Gav's problems worsen as the day of the ritual dawns. Anita and Scott discuss the problem of trying to blow up a whale. You can follow The Read-Along on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook @thereadalong, and join our Goodreads Group to get your discussion on! You can also follow Scott @scottybomb an…

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The Dawn of Cyberpunk | Akira (1982 Manga, Vol. 1) 1:11:34

14d ago1:11:34

1:11:34

Nobody seems to know for certain who created the first cyberpunk story, but Katsuhiro Otomo has as strong a claim as anyone. In episode 365, join Luke Elliott & James Bailey as they start their journey into Neo-Tokyo for possibly the most legendary manga of all time, learn the history of manga making into western markets, find a surprising link to …

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Intro to Extremity & Creator Spotlight: Daniel Warren Johnson, Mike Spicer, and Rus Wooton 58:59

14d ago58:59

58:59

Send us a text In this new season of Storied Arcs, Mike and Alex taking a look at Daniel Warren Johnson's sci-fi-ish/fantasy-ish revenge epic Extremity, from Image Comics. The guys start with a spoiler-free preview of the book, talking a bit about how the book was initially sold in solicitations ("the beauty and imagination of Studio Ghibli meet th…

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Taskmaster Level Lateral Thinking - "Dreadful" Chapter 13 18:45

20d ago18:45

18:45

Episode 422 "Dreadful" by Caitlin Rozakis, Chapter 13 Gav finally learns most of Zarconar's evil scheme, but it may be too late to foil it. Anita and Scott discuss the temptation for Gav to get his memories back, and how that might impact his arc. You can follow The Read-Along on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook @thereadalong, and join our Goodreads…

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Just Expected More | The Running Man (2025 Film) 1:30:36

20d ago1:30:36

1:30:36

Edgar Wright's adaptation of a Stephen King book and 80s Arnold Action flick seemed like a perfect match, so why didn't this movie rise to the level of his very best? In episode 364, join Luke Elliott & James Bailey as they unpack what went right and what went wrong in the jump from page to screen. Topics include a rigid plot skeleton, a surprise c…

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November Volume 04: The Mess We're In 1:10:52

21d ago1:10:52

1:10:52

Send us a text "This isn't a nightmare. This is the night. And I'm in a playground for monsters filled with monstrous things. I don't belong here." This week, Mike and Alex are here to wrap up November by Matt Fraction and Elsa Charretier with Volume 4 The Mess We're In. The guys dive right into things, breaking down the ending and discussing how t…

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Keeping Up Appearances - "Dreadful" Chapter 12 16:48

27d ago16:48

16:48

Episode 421 "Dreadful" by Caitlin Rozakis, Chapter 12 Gav enlists some help in hatching a sneaky plan. Scott is actually impressed with Gav's idea to slip by some wars, while Anita settles on her favourite character. You can follow The Read-Along on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook @thereadalong, and join our Goodreads Group to get your discussion o…

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That Time King Wrote Class Warfare | The Running Man (1982 Novel) 1:20:28

28d ago1:20:28

1:20:28

From his doublewide trailer in the 1970s, Stephen King was able to authentically tackle class struggle in this early novel originally published under the pen name "Richard Bachman." In episode 363, join Luke Elliott & James Bailey as they try to understand Ben Richards, get dystopian and borderline cyberpunk in this flashy vision of the future, rea…

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November Volume 03: The Voice on the End of the Phone 1:04:19

28d ago1:04:19

1:04:19

Send us a text "Who knew I had a line? Who knew I could cross it? Well... almost." Mike and Alex are back with the penultimate volume of November by Matt Fraction and Elsa Charretier, breaking down Volume 3 The Voice on the End of the Phone. The guys discuss what is (and isn't) happening in the actual story of the comic, and how that story continue…

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Hope Lives On - Alan Weisman: National Book Festival 25th Anniversary Series - Season 4 Finale 10:50

29d ago10:50

10:50

Send us a text Season 4 wraps up in style! Join Ishara at the 2025 National Book Festival as she sits down with bestselling author Alan Weisman to talk about his new book, Hope Dies Last: Keeping the Future Alive. From tackling global environmental challenges to spotlighting individuals and communities from the book making a real difference, this c…

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His Logic Is Askew - "Dreadful" Chapter 11 25:51

1M ago25:51

25:51

Episode 420 "Dreadful" by Caitlin Rozakis, Chapter 11 The evil wizards gather, the garlic festival is in full swing, and heroes keep storming the keep. Scott and Anita engage in some wild speculatation over what's up with Eliasha. You can follow The Read-Along on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook @thereadalong, and join our Goodreads Group to get you…

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November Volume 02: The Gun in the Puddle 1:06:54

1M ago1:06:54

1:06:54

Send us a text "It's not every time the world ends you're look at a click when it happens. Some girls... we're just lucky." This week, Mike and Alex continue their exploration of November by Matt Fraction and Elsa Charretier with Volume 2 The Gun in The Puddle. The guys talk about how the various story threads begin to intersect in this volume, gen…

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Strong on Theme (It's a Lot) - "Dreadful" Chapter 10 19:52

1M ago19:52

19:52

Episode 419 "Dreadful" by Caitlin Rozakis, Chapter 10 Gav's first guest shows up early, and surprises abound. Anita is delighted by the latest plot twist, while Scott is impressed at how smart Gav is in dealing with Valevna. You can follow The Read-Along on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook @thereadalong, and join our Goodreads Group to get your disc…

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Chatting Up Past Guests at WorldCon 2025 | From the Vault 43:36

1M ago43:36

43:36

Join Luke & James on the convention floor as they catch up with former guests Remy Nakamura, Curtis Chen, Kate Ristau, Erik Grove, Jessie Kwak, Fonda Lee, Daryl Gregory, Patrick Swenson, and Rachael K. Jones! Each author shares their experiences at the convention and what they've been up to in the years since their last appearance on the podcast. F…

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November Volume 01: The Girl on the Roof 1:11:32

1M ago1:11:32

1:11:32

Send us a text "I'm just a working man, trying to make a living, Dee. We're all parts of a machine we cannot see. A system. All of us have our function." Mike and Alex are back with another season of Storied Arcs, this time diving deep into the tangled web of November Volume 1 The Girl on the Roof by Matt Fraction and Elsa Charretier from Image Com…

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Garlic and Garlic Accessories - "Dreadful" Chapter 9 19:41

2M ago19:41

19:41

Episode 418 "Dreadful" by Caitlin Rozakis, Chapter 9 The Garlic Festival begins while Gav experiences an existential crisis. Scott is rooting for Gav's face turn to rub off on other characters, while Anita puts on her armchair psychologist hat. You can follow The Read-Along on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook @thereadalong, and join our Goodreads Gr…

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From the Vault: Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017 Film) 31:54

2M ago31:54

31:54

Jake Kasden reimagines Jumanji for a modern audience while making clever connections to the original that manages to keep this latest entry in line with the classic Robin Williams-led version. He delivers star-power with The Rock, Jack Black, Karen Gillan, and Kevin Hart, who all give memorable comedic performances. Join Luke & James for this video…

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Intro to November & Creator Spotlight: Matt Fraction, Elsa Charretier, Matt Hollingsworth, and Kurt Ankeny 1:11:48

2M ago1:11:48

1:11:48

Send us a text On this season of Storied Arcs, Mike and Alex will be diving into November, the graphic novella series by Matt Fraction and Elsa Charretier from Image Comics. Originally planned as a series of three OGNs, it ultimately expanded to four, which were released across the span of about 15 months. The guys start with a spoiler-free preview…

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Really Incredibly Very Awful Bad - "Dreadful" Chapter 8 17:58

2M ago17:58

17:58

Episode 417 "Dreadful" by Caitlin Rozakis, Chapter 8 Gav fails to call off a garlic festival and learns someone else is the architect of his woes. Anita loves the positive attitude of the mayor, while Scott wonders if anything will ever start to go right for Gav. You can follow The Read-Along on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook @thereadalong, and jo…

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Meet Dr. Eleanor Spicer Rice, creator of "The Deadliest" book series: National Book Festival 25th Anniversary Series 13:50

2M ago13:50

13:50

Send us a text This conversation was BUGGING me out (in the best way)! I got to interview Dr. Eleanor Spicer Rice, an entomologist and creator of "The Deadliest" book series, where animals compete game-show style to see who's the most lethal! Dr. Rice broke down the fascinating world of pheromones, the secret chemical messages bugs use to communica…

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From the Vault: Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (1994 Film) 40:48

2M ago40:48

40:48

In the 90s, Director Kenneth Branagh made a wild heavy metal adaptation of the seminal SciFi novel starring himself, Robert De Niro, and Helena Bonham Carter. Join Luke & James in this former Patreon-exclusive Halloween episode as they debate the value of such an over-the-top take on a literary classic. Pickup any of the novels they've covered at t…

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Creator Interview: Joshua Hale Fialkov 1:24:45

2M ago1:24:45

1:24:45

Send us a text This week, Mike and Alex are thrilled to be joined by writer and co-creator of The Bunker, Joshua Hale Fialkov! They start with the origin of The Bunker and how the idea came to be, from the initial germ of a story idea to how Joshua linked up with Joe Infurnari. Joshua then takes up deep into the business and commerce side of comics…

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Chapter One: Romance Gets Out Of Bed 39:49

2M ago39:49

39:49

On this, the inaugural episode, we talk about how Luffy would talk if he was real and we have some pretty cool ideas. Get weekly bonus episodes where we cover HUNTER X HUNTER and MORE at gracegfreud.substack.com. Thanks for listening!By Grace Freud

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Evil Quartet of Dark Wizards - "Dreadful" Chapter 7 17:04

2M ago17:04

17:04

Episode 416 "Dreadful" by Caitlin Rozakis, Chapter 7 Eliasha figures things out, and Gav realizes he's got a week to sort things out. Anita is pleased at how much she likes Gav's minions, while Scott is amused by Xaxus' mad science schtick. You can follow The Read-Along on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook @thereadalong, and join our Goodreads Group …

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From the Vault: Room 237 (2012 Film) 39:24

2M ago39:24

39:24

Director Rodney Ascher presents some of the wild interpretations of The Shining (1980) that persist to this day, each more fantastical than the next. Some theories seem grounded in reality, but others take massive leaps and arrive at outlandish ideas, none more ridiculous than the "moon landing footage was faked by Stanley Kubrick" theory. But is i…

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The Bunker Volume 04 1:13:02

2M ago1:13:02

1:13:02

Send us a text "Your job, your purpose is to tell people why they matter. To tell them the truth. Always. If you spend your life lying to the people you love, hiding who you are, and what you want... then we lose. Mike and Alex wrap up their deep dive into The Bunker by Joshua Hale Fialkov and Joe Infurnari this week with Volume 4 (issues #15-19). …

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The One Piece Readalong Podcast Trailer 1:47

2M ago1:47

1:47

The One Piece Readalong Podcast is a show hosted by Grace Freud where she reads all of One Piece page-by-page with listeners as they follow along in their own books. Weird voices, weirder commentary, musings about both sea and land, all of that is bundled together into one big beautiful podcast.By Grace Freud

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Tragedy Becomes Art | The Long Walk (2025 Film) 1:17:15

2M ago1:17:15

1:17:15

Director Francis Lawrence takes time off from directing the Hunger Games franchise to tackle one of the original battle royale stories with THE LONG WALK by Richard Bachman. In episode 362, join Luke Elliott & James Bailey as they discuss changing this Bachman story back into a King story, the changing metaphor behind the grueling contest, how adap…

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Foppiest Stealth Gear - "Dreadful" Chapter 6 23:03

2M ago23:03

23:03

Episode 415 "Dreadful" by Caitlin Rozakis, Chapter 6 Gav decides to put his trust in someone. Scott wonders if Gav has hit rock bottom yet, while Anita speculates over his deal with the knowledge demon. You can follow The Read-Along on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook @thereadalong, and join our Goodreads Group to get your discussion on! You can als…

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The Bunker Volume 03 1:05:58

2M ago1:05:58

1:05:58

Send us a text "This is about TRYING to make things better. Listen, the best part about all of this is that if we're wrong, we just start over again." In this episode, Mike and Alex break down the penultimate volume of Oni Press' The Bunker by Joshua Hale Fialkov and Joe Infurnari with Volume 3 (issues #10-14). The guys jump right into things, expl…

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Dr. Jorge Cham PHD Comics Creator Talks About Oliver's Universe, Volcanoes, Earthquakes & Science for Kids: National Book Festival 25th Anniversary Series 8:16

3M ago8:16

8:16

Send us a text Ishara had an amazing time at the National Book Festival interviewing the brilliant Dr. Jorge Cham! Dr. Cham is a cartoonist, author, and the creator of the popular webcomic "PHD Comics" (Piled Higher and Deeper), which hilariously captures life in academia and graduate school. In this exciting interview, Ishara and Dr. Cham dive int…

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Goblin Flair - "Dreadful" Chapter 5 17:35

3M ago17:35

17:35

Episode 414 "Dreadful" by Caitlin Rozakis, Chapter 5 Gav discovers you need to dress for success. Anita keeps falling more in love with the goblins, while Scott wonders if the "good" kingdom maybe isn't. You can follow The Read-Along on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook @thereadalong, and join our Goodreads Group to get your discussion on! You can al…

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Stephen King On a Rainy Day | The Long Walk (1979 Novel) 1:20:27

3M ago1:20:27

1:20:27

Enigmatic author Richard Bachman drew comparisons to another famous author from the jump, but it would be years before the truth about him was finally exposed. In episode 361, join Luke Elliott & James Bailey as they strap on their best shoes and take a long walk into the past as they explore the noteworthy history behind this novel, consider toxic…

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The Bunker Volume 02 1:12:12

3M ago1:12:12

1:12:12

Send us a text "-How do we know that we aren't the ones who killed these people, and started this whole thing? How do we know that we didn't do this all already? -We don't. And we never will." This week, Mike and Alex continue their exploration of Oni Press' The Bunker by Joshua Hale Fialkov and Joe Infurnari with Volume 2 (issues #5-9). With some …

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Steady, Relentless Pursuit - "Dreadful" Chapter 4 17:58

3M ago17:58

17:58

Episode 413 "Dreadful" by Caitlin Rozakis, Chapter 4 Eliasha outsmarts a demon, and Gav decides to try this "good" thing. Anita gushes to Scott about how much she loves the idea of a garlic festival. You can follow The Read-Along on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook @thereadalong, and join our Goodreads Group to get your discussion on! You can also f…

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The Blueprint for Helldivers | Starship Troopers (1997 Film) 1:20:12

3M ago1:20:12

1:20:12

Paul Verhoeven's adaptation of Heinlein's classic novel divided critics at the time as many found the satire to be indistinguishable from endorsement, but its antifascist subtext plays a bit different in 2025. In episode 360, join Luke Elliott and James Bailey as they compare the film to Helldivers II, try to find the line between satire and approv…