Best toddsullivan Podcasts (2025)

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Episode 85 - 1984 (Live) 1:20:42

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25d ago1:20:42

1:20:42

We've made it to the end of 1984, experiencing life in Oceania, and learning what Room 101 contains, and now it's time to finish things up with our final thoughts on whether this book was a decent predictor of what the today's United States of America might start drifting towards (short answer, yes; longer answer, just listen to the podcast, okay?)…

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Episode 84 - 1984 (Part Three) 59:23

1M ago59:23

59:23

In this look at Part Three of George Orwell's 1984 we finally see the inside of the Ministry of Love, and eventually even get a look at room 101. But will the Ministry of Love live up to its name? Will there be a heart-felt reunion between Winston and Julia? Will Goldstein overthrow Big Brother? There's only one way to find out! Well, there are mor…

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Episode 83 - 1984 (Part Two) 1:04:33

2M ago1:04:33

1:04:33

In the second part of our look at George Orwell's 1984, love, or something like it, blooms in the grey-dusted despair of Oceania as Winston meets and gets to know, yes in the biblical sense, Julia, and our pair dabbles in revolution. Surely nothing terrible could happen in this dystopia. Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://faceboo…

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Episode 82 - 1984 (Part One) 1:06:09

2M ago1:06:09

1:06:09

It's time to get a little dystopian up in here as Todd and Peter begin their look at George Orwell's 1949 novel 1984. As we gaze at the news south of the Canadian border, it's kind of hard to believe how prescient this book is until you remember it was written following a previous attempt at fascism when the dangers were fresh in the mind of the au…

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Episode 81 - Current Events (Daddy's Little Toy & Heil Hitler) 59:42

3M ago59:42

59:42

Todd and Pete dig into some media controversies ripped from the headlines, including the the arrest of Daddy's Little Toy author, Lauren Tesolin-Mastrosa, and Kanye West's release of the song Heil Hitler. How much is too much, and do either of these works cross a line? Join us for the conversation. Email: [email protected] Facebook: http…

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Episode 80 - Banned Together (with Allyson Rice) 50:43

5M ago50:43

50:43

We're doing something a little different this week as we invite producer Allyson Rice to join us as we discuss her new documentary Banned Together. The film is a look at the in book bans and challenges in the United States in recent years, particularly under the hand of the Republican Party. We talk about the film, the weaponization of language, an…

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Episode 79 - The Great Dictator 1:12:42

6M ago1:12:42

1:12:42

It's movie night at 'Banned Things' headquarters so Todd and Peter decided to check out what is almost certainly the funniest movie about fascism that's ever graced the silver screen, Charlie Chaplin's The Great Dictator. This film, which was released before the United States had joined World War II, satirized Adolph Hitler's rule over Germany at a…

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Episode 78 - The Chocolate War (Live) 1:31:37

6M ago1:31:37

1:31:37

Todd and Pete wrap up their look at 'The Chocolate War', the controversial 1974 young adult novel by Robert Cormier, in which a catholic school's annual chocolate sale becomes a battleground for freedom. Do we dare disturb the universe? Well, we do, but you may have to make up your own mind. Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://fac…

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Episode 77 - The Chocolate War (Part Two) 1:23:01

8M ago1:23:01

1:23:01

Todd and Pete glide through the second half of Robert Cormer's The Chocolate War to reach the controversial ending, as well as the true answer to the question "Do I dare disturb the universe?" And no, you probably don't want to know what the answer is. Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://facebook.com/bannedthingshappen Web: https:…

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Episode 76 - The Chocolate War (Part One) 1:11:00

8M ago1:11:00

1:11:00

After some delays, we're BACK (we hope) to a more regular release schedule starting with this episode, part one of our look at Robert Cormier's The Chocolate War. This 1974 young adult novel sees what should have been a standard high school fundraising chocolate sale turned on its head when one student asks the question, "Do I dare disturb the univ…

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Episode 75 - Postal 2 23:45

9M ago23:45

23:45

Holy crap it's our 75th episode and we're celebrating by covering a video game! Actually, we already did that when we livestreamed us playing Postal 2 while we talked about it! You can find that on YouTube if you want to watch (and honestly, it's probably the optimum way to experience this episode). But if for some reason you don't want to do that,…

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Episode 74 - The Devils 1:43:11

11M ago1:43:11

1:43:11

Todd and Pete head back to the 17th century courtesy of Ken Russel's The Devils, a notoriously controversial film that is next to impossible to see. But somehow we got our hands on it! And we're here to talk about it! Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://facebook.com/bannedthingshappen Web: https://blahblahblahmedia.com Patreon: ht…

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Episode 73 - Cocksucker Blues 54:30

11M ago54:30

54:30

It might be autumn, but it's time to finish up our summer of Sex, Drugs, and Rock and Roll with the Rolling Stones controversial concert film Cocksucker Blues, a movie with plenty of rock and roll. And also some sex. And some drugs. Honestly, this movie could have been dedicated to all three things. It's a hard movie to find, but Pete and Todd trac…

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Episode 72 - Naked Lunch (Live) 1:37:06

12M ago1:37:06

1:37:06

It might have felt like the longest short book they ever read, but Todd and Pete made it through the end of William S. Burroughs' 'Naked Lunch'. It was a meal consisting of sex, drugs, the black meat, homosexuality, jism, protoplasm, and, of course, ectoplasm, and so clearly not for everyone's tastes. But you'll have to listen in to this live episo…

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Episode 71 - Naked Lunch (Part Two) 1:06:47

1y ago1:06:47

1:06:47

Todd and Pete finish up their final bites of William S. Burroughs' Naked Lunch, and though they enjoyed the meal overall, they probably couldn't tell you what it tasted like. Maybe the black meat? It's a strange journey that feels impossible to talk about, but they try. Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://facebook.com/bannedthings…

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Episode 70 - Naked Lunch (Part One) 1:34:39

1y ago1:34:39

1:34:39

We're back! After some unscheduled away time from the podcast, Todd and Pete return just in time to strip down and enjoy a tasty Naked Lunch, courtesy of author William S. Burroughs. It's beautiful! It's weird! We can't tell what's going on! It's all part of the ride. (NOTE: Due to technical difficulties, Pete's audio quality drops substantially ab…

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Episode 69 - Sex (Live) 2:01:49

1+ y ago2:01:49

2:01:49

We celebrate our 69th episode with a look at SEX! No, not the act, but the coffee table book by Madonna from 1992. Also, yes, it was entirely an accident that this turned out to be the 69th episode, but we're gonna lean into it like it was intentional. Heck yeah. Let's talk about sex! Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://facebook.c…

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Episode 68 - Beloved (Live) 1:00:31

1+ y ago1:00:31

1:00:31

This LIVE episode features Todd and Pete wrapping up their look at Beloved by Toni Morrison, the Pulitzer Prize winning novel on the horrors of slavery, and how far a mother might go to save her children from those horrors. Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://facebook.com/bannedthingshappen Web: https://blahblahblahmedia.com Patre…

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Episode 67 - Beloved (Part Three) 1:20:15

1+ y ago1:20:15

1:20:15

Todd and Pete push through the sometimes confusing, sometimes confounding, and always engaging final section of Toni Morrison's Pulitzer Prize winning Beloved to get to the final moments of this book about slavery, suffering, and sacrifice. Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://facebook.com/bannedthingshappen Web: https://blahblahbl…

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Episode 66 - Beloved (Part Two) 1:14:03

1+ y ago1:14:03

1:14:03

Todd and Pete continue their journey through Toni Morrison's Pulitzer Prize winning Beloved, which leads them to such questions as what the age of consent is for a spiritual manifestation. Don't ask, just listen to the episode, it'll all make sense in context. We promise. Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://facebook.com/bannedthin…

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Episode 65 - Beloved (Part One) 1:30:28

1+ y ago1:30:28

1:30:28

Peter and Todd step through the doors of 124 to begin their examination of the Pulitzer Prize winning Beloved by Toni Morrison. It's a beautiful, confusing, painful journey, and we're only about a third of the the way through. Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://facebook.com/bannedthingshappen Web: https://blahblahblahmedia.com Pa…

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Episode 64 - Slaughter-House Five (Live) 1:10:18

1+ y ago1:10:18

1:10:18

Well it had happen eventually -- not just because every book ends up with a wrap-up episode, but also because it's all already happened, every moment ever, and we're all just sliding through moments that could only ever be, like a beautiful Tralfamadorian night sky. Or something. Yes, this episode Pete and Todd wrap up their look at Slaughter-House…

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Episode 63 - Slaughter-House Five (Part Two) 1:23:13

1+ y ago1:23:13

1:23:13

It took until the end of January to finish up the book we were supposed to read in November, but Todd and Pete finally made it through Kurt Vonnegut Jr's Slaughterhouse-Five. So it goes. Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://facebook.com/bannedthingshappen Web: https://blahblahblahmedia.com Patreon: https://patreon.com/blahblahblahm…

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Episode 62 - Slaughterhouse-Five (Part One) 1:23:52

2y ago1:23:52

1:23:52

Peter and Todd begin their look at Kurt Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse-Five with an episode covering roughly half the short novel, featuring the first few weeks of Billy's experiences in World War 2, his trip to Tralfamadore, his wedding, his daughter's wedding, that time he almost cheated on his wife, and his birth and death, which seems like a lot for…

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Episode 61 - The Exorcist 1:27:31

2y ago1:27:31

1:27:31

One of the best horror films of all time has also occasionally felt the pressures of rating boards who have prevented the film from being released in varying formats in varying countries, and that film is William Peter Blatty's The Exorcist directed by William Friedkin. The film turns 50 this year and Todd and Peter had the opportunity to watch The…

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Episode 60 - Heartstopper (Live) 1:26:34

2y ago1:26:34

1:26:34

Our crew gathered around their microphones for a LIVE episode to wrap up their thoughts on Heartstopper by Alice Oseman. Though technical difficulties prevented any callers from engaging in the conversation with Todd, Peter, and Ayla, our hosts shared their predictions for the future of this series, discussed the roots of transphobia, and just gene…

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Episode 59 - Heartstopper (Part Three) 1:29:06

2y ago1:29:06

1:29:06

And we're off to FRANCE! Well, not us, unfortunately, but the cast of Heartstoppers are, in Volume Three of Heartstopper by Alice Oseman. Todd, Pete and Ayla gather once again to break down the growth of both the central love story as well as well as the supporting cast, who feature far more frequently this time. Email: [email protected]…

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Episode 58 - Heartstopper (Part Two) 1:14:16

2y ago1:14:16

1:14:16

Summer break has taken its toll on the podcast, as vacations and long weekends have made it hard to get Todd and Pete in the same room together, but we've finally put together Part Two of our look at Heartstopper, covering Volume Two of the graphic novel by Alice Oseman. We're also joined once again by guest Ayla Aman, who is quick to reference the…

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Episode 57 - Heartstopper (Part One) 1:46:21

2y ago1:46:21

1:46:21

Todd and Pete tone things down this episode with the first look at a slightly different high-school set story in Alice Oseman's Heartstopper. This queer-friendly young adult romance tells the story of Charlie and Nick, two fast friends who may have to confront slightly more complicated feelings for each other. This episode also features a perspecti…

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Episode 56 - Rage (Live) 55:14

2+ y ago55:14

55:14

Todd and Peter take the podcast live to share their final thoughts on the Stephen King / Richard Bachman novel Rage -- a book so controversial that King pulled it from publication himself. Tune in to find out what they thought, and also where you might be able to find a copy if you want to read it (it might be hard to find, but not impossible). Ema…

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Episode 55 - Rage (Part Two) 1:56:58

2+ y ago1:56:58

1:56:58

Todd and Peter make it through the second of half of the early Stephen King novel Rage, a book that is definitely short, and maybe a little bit sweet? Is it possible that a story that opens with two homicides could have a heart-warming ending? You'll have to listen to find out! Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://facebook.com/bann…

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Episode 54 - Rage (Part One) 1:39:19

2+ y ago1:39:19

1:39:19

This week Todd and Peter get it on with the short novel Rage by Richard Bachman, an author better known as Stephen King. Rage is a unique case of self-censorship, as King removed the book from publication in the 90s following its connection to a number of school shootings. Is it as controversial as all that might lead one to think? Come along for t…

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Brave New World (Live) 54:44

2+ y ago54:44

54:44

Todd and Peter reflect back on their time with Aldous Huxley's Brave New World and consider whether it was as good as a grams of SOMA or instead something to inspire a return to the wilderness. And, perhaps most importantly, exactly whom, if anyone, should read this thing (hint, you probably should, it's pretty good). Email: bannedthingshappen@gmai…

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Episode 52 - Brand New World (Part Two) 1:29:33

2+ y ago1:29:33

1:29:33

Todd Sullivan and Peter Aman finish up their visit to futuristic London, shake the soma out of their system, get their libidos back in check, and chat about the experience. Did the second half of Brave New World live up to the expectations from the first half? (Hint: Not entirely). Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://facebook.com/…

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Episode 51 - Brave New World (Part One) 1:29:33

2+ y ago1:29:33

1:29:33

The podcast that just won't die has finally returned to the land of the living -- When Banned Things Happen To Good People is BACK after a hiatus of more than six months, with a new book, a new co-host, and...well, pretty much everything else is still the same. This week Todd is joined by new face and voice Peter Aman to cover Aldous Huxley's Brave…

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Episode 50 - An Anniversary Celebration! 1:13:24

3+ y ago1:13:24

1:13:24

They say it's better late than never, and in that spirit, here is the recorded version of our 50th episode live celebration, finally posted two months after the original stream. Hosts Todd Sullivan and Oren Barter look back on the first 50 episodes of When Banned Things Happen to Good People, discussing the highs and the lows, and also, what's up w…

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Episode 49 - Maus: My Father Bleeds History (Live) 54:05

3+ y ago54:05

54:05

Todd Sullivan and Dave Coalmine wrap up their look at the first volume of Art Spiegelman's Maus: My Father Bleeds History. We share our thoughts on the graphic novel, what age groups we think it's appropriate for, and whether the banning was reasonable. Also, we talk about butt aliens for some reason. Email: [email protected] Facebook: h…

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Episode 48 - Maus (Part Two) 56:31

3+ y ago56:31

56:31

Todd Sullivan is once again joined by Dave Coalmine to finish up their look at the first volume of Art Spiegelman's Maus, subtitled My Father Bleeds History. The story of Spiegelman's father Vladek get substantially darker as Germans begin to intensify their assaults against the Jews of Poland. Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://…

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Episode 47 - Maus (Part One) 47:21

3+ y ago47:21

47:21

Well, it took us a bit longer than usual to get out our first proper episode of 2022 after first losing our permanent recording of a live episode, and then losing half of the audio recorded for this episode, requiring us to start from scratch again, but here we are at last with our first part of our look at Maus by Art Spiegelman. Todd Sullivan is …

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Episode 46 - Silent Night, Deadly Night 1:02:41

4y ago1:02:41

1:02:41

It's late, but we hope you enjoy this Boxing Day edition of When Banned Things Happen to Good People, where we look at the controversial Christmas film Silent Night, Deadly Night. This episode, Todd is joined by guest host Jason Hewlett of the Paranormal Network, and they break down this very weird 1984 film.…

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Episode 45 - Of Mice and Men (Part Two) 1:07:31

4y ago1:07:31

1:07:31

Todd is once again joined by guest Dave Coalmine to wrap-up their discussion of John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men, a book that does indeed contain both mice and men, as well as copious amounts of bleakness, despair, desperation, and frustration. But does it contain a mention of pornographic magazines? That -- and more! -- is all discussed in this ep…

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Episode 44 - Of Mice and Men (Part One) 49:37

4y ago49:37

49:37

Todd is joined on this episode by Dave Coalmine to begin their look at John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men, a book filled with dread almost from page one. This novella has been frequently banned or challenged over the years and was the 28th most banned or challenged book from 2010 to 2019. Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://facebook…

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Episode 43 - This Book is Anti-Racist (Live) 51:44

4y ago51:44

51:44

Todd Sullivan and guest host Carlo Sia (Half-Cut Conspiracies) wrap up their look at This Book is Anti-Racist in this recording of their live episode. They discuss the important differences between being not racist and being anti-racist, why one is probably better than the other, and tackle the question of why the heck two very white dudes are even…

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Episode 42 - This Book is Anti-Racist (Part Two) 56:02

4y ago56:02

56:02

This episode Todd and guest host Carlo Sia (Half-Cut Conspiracies) explore the second half of the controversial This Book is Anti-Racist which was led to a crackdown on certain books in the Southlake Texas school curriculum. This portion of the book is primarily focused on what you can do to be anti-racist. And that's something we should all want t…

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Episode 41 - This Book is Anti Racist (Part One) 1:12:10

4y ago1:12:10

1:12:10

This Book is Anti Racist has inspired a touch of controversy in Southlake, Texas recently as a complaint from a mother about the title led the school district to stamp down on similar books, asking teachers to ensure that any controversial topics be treated neutrally, which makes one wonder, what is the neutral take on racism? That's what we talk a…

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Episode 40 - The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) 40:46

4y ago40:46

40:46

Todd takes a crack at hosting the podcast solo with a look at the 1974 "video nasty" The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. This might be one of the most popular horror films of all time, but it's also, surprisingly, probably tamer than you realize or remember. Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://facebook.com/bannedthingshappen Web: https:…

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Episode 39 - The Little Prince 51:42

4y ago51:42

51:42

It's a week late, but we're all relaxing for the summer anyway, right? This episode it's The Little Prince that Oren and Todd are discussing as they finish up their summer reading program of children's books. It's actually a novella rather than a children's book, so maybe the extra reading caused the delay? We'll never know. Email: bannedthingshapp…

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Episode 38 - The Paper Bag Princess 41:18

4y ago41:18

41:18

Things get silly this week when Todd invites his 10-year-old daughter to join the podcast to talk about The Paper Bag Princess, a book that was challenged in the 80s for promoting anti-family messages. So how do we feel about this Robert Munsch story about a boy, a girl, and a dragon? All we'll tell you is that at the end of the day, one of them is…

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Episode 37 - Prince & Knight 35:43

4y ago35:43

35:43

Our hosts continue to kick back with some easy-to-read children's books, including the LGBTQ+ friendly Prince & Knight, an apparently simple fairy tale that features a prince and a knight falling in love and living happily ever after, which is apparently considered pornography now. Sure, it's a shorter episode than many, but Oren and Todd still get…

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Episode 36 - The Adventures of Captain Underpants 40:13

4y ago40:13

40:13

Todd and Oren take a bit of a break from big, serious novels to spend a few weeks look at books intended for a younger audience -- that still somehow manage to get themselves banned. This week we look at the adventures of a man who runs around fighting crime in his tighty whities -- Captain Underpants. Email: [email protected] Facebook: …

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