Best Toledo Public Library Podcasts (2025)

1
Cindy the Doomslayer 40:17

2h ago40:17

40:17

Cindy steps into Doomguy's armor-plated boots to rip and tear through a discussion of Doom (1993), the evolution of PC game control schemes, and the ways in which cultural knowledge of modern gameplay conventions can affect the retro-gaming experience. Check out our bonus video episode here!

1
Very Polygonal Woman 1:18:13

4d ago1:18:13

1:18:13

In anticipation of this year's game-centric Summer Reading Program, Cindy and Harrison discuss some notable film adaptations of video games. Cindy is a Peach, and Harrison is a Peachette. In this episode: Doom (franchise) Ludonarrative Dissonance Super Mario Bros. (franchise) Tomb Raider (franchise) Pokemon: Detective Pikachu (2019) Polybius (urban…

1
Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes 30:08

15d ago30:08

30:08

On the eve of her retirement, Denyse shares some favorite memories with Cindy, Harrison, and you, the listener. We've laughed, we've cried, we've dressed as dementors.

1
Checking In (Stay Tuned!) 1:56

18d ago1:56

1:56

Harrison briefly explains why we've been quiet for a couple of weeks. Short answer: We have a lot of new stuff on the way!

1
Meeting Charles Conlee 38:07

1M ago38:07

38:07

Cindy shares a personal story from her father, detailing his experiences as an airman toward the end of the Korean War.

1
"I Can't Believe I Read The Whole Thing" 30:21

1M ago30:21

30:21

Content warning: This episode contains weird nightmare stuff. Harrison celebrates National Poetry Month by reading Clark Ashton Smith's 1920 eldritch horror/fantasy poem, "The Hashish Eater -or- The Apocalypse of Evil." Harrison is now tired.

1
This Picture's Horrendous 12:50

2M ago12:50

12:50

Harrison reads a few classic--and rather disturbing--19th-century children's tales from an English translation of "Struwwelpeter" by Heinrich Hoffmann. Music: "Meanwhile in Bavaria" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/…

1
How Can I Better Understand You? 34:46

2M ago34:46

34:46

Cindy and Harrison celebrate Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, and Cindy shares some relevant titles! In this episode: "The Bone Collector" by Jeffery Deaver "The Boy Who Lived" by David Holmes "Drawn to Be You" by Corey and Andrea Landreth with Jefferson Knapp, illustrated by Trent Landreth "Interabled" by Hannah Burcaw and Shane Burcaw …

1
Steppin' On 'Em Like LEGOs 38:54

2M ago38:54

38:54

Cindy, Denyse and Harrison talk about board games, the Library's upcoming teen space, and more! Cindy challenges Denyse and Harrison to a literary trivia game, and they both do OK.

1
"Time Enough At Last" 15:59

3M ago15:59

15:59

Harrison reads "Time Enough At Last" by Lynn Venable.

1
Ten to Twelve Feet of Personal Space 55:47

3M ago55:47

55:47

Cindy and Harrison discuss some successful (and not-so-successful) book-to-movie adaptations. In this episode: "Black Klansman" by Ron Stallworth "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" by Hunter S. Thompson "The Hobbit" by J.R.R. Tolkien "My Friend Dahmer" by Derf Backderf "No Country for Old Men" by Cormac McCarthy "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen "…

1
There's a Lot of Little Guys 33:56

3M ago33:56

33:56

Content Warning: This episode contains discussion of suicide. Don't try to lay no boogie woogie on the king of rabbit holes! In search of the origins of a favorite song, Harrison leads Cindy on a manic trip down memory lane that begins with a blues singer in England and ends with a puppet show in Portland. Along the way, they encounter Dolly Parton…

1
Would That Spin? 28:49

4M ago28:49

28:49

Harrison chats with Donna Carter and Karen Fitzgibbon of the Yaquina Fiber Arts Guild to discuss the many facets of their work, as well as some upcoming events! Along the way, they encounter spinning techniques old and new, various sheep, a wandering 4-year-old, a bag of dog hair, "art yarn," and some interesting rabbit tricks. The Yaquina Fiber Ar…

1
Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2025 5:07

4M ago5:07

5:07

Harrison shares a few titles for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. In this episode: "Hellhound on His Trail" by Hampton Sides "The Kneeling Man" by Leta McCollough Seletzky "March" by John Lewis and Andrew Aydin "MLK/FBI" dir. by Sam Pollard "My Life, My Love, My Legacy" by Coretta Scott King, as told to the Rev. Barbara Reynolds…

1
A Well-Meaning Grandchild 38:27

4M ago38:27

38:27

In preparation for the Toledo Public Library's upcoming digital literacy workshops (made possible by the Public Library Association and AT&T), Cindy and Harrison share their personal stories of how they first encountered the digital world, way back in the 1900s! Along the way, they learn and forget how to write code, play online games while the kid…

1
Public Domain 2025 9:44

4M ago9:44

9:44

Harrison shares some notable works that entered the public domain on January 1, 2025. The art, literature, music, and films of the 1920s are now in the public domain Dancing skeletons, several famous novels, and a sleazy Mickey Mouse are now free to use and re-use! In this episode: "Ain't Misbehavin'" (Razaf, Waller, Brooks) "Blackmail" directed by…

1
"Yes, Virginia, There Is A Santa Claus" 10:00

5M ago10:00

10:00

Santa Claus himself stops by the library to share Francis Pharcellus Church's classic 1897 newspaper editorial "Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus." In this episode: The Public Domain Review's write-up of the editorial “This article was originally published on The Public Domain Review https://publicdomainreview.org/collection/yes-virginia-there-…

1
"We are the SLUGs, and we're proud of it!" 23:07

5M ago23:07

23:07

Richard Fetrow from the Seashore Literacy Ukulele Group (SLUGs) stops by to chat with Cindy and Harrison about the group's origins, activities, and community service efforts. The SLUGs will be performing at the Library December 21, 2024, at 1 p.m. to celebrate the holiday season!

1
"Pumpkin Pie" by Mary Mapes Dodge 3:17

6M ago3:17

3:17

Harrison reads the short, humorous poem "Pumpkin Pie" by Mary Mapes Dodge.

1
Raccoons Have Clean Little Hands 48:14

6M ago48:14

48:14

It's National Model Railroad Month again! Lisa Watson, Executive Director of the Yaquina Pacific Railroad Historical Society (YPRRHS), pulls into the station to teach Cindy and Harrison about the history of the model railroad hobby, and how it relates to the history of railroads in general. Cotton candy vanishes. An ancient temple wonder rotates. N…

1
Some Good-Lookin' Dudes 44:54

6M ago44:54

44:54

Get your 20-sided dice ready! Cindy and Harrison sit down with esteemed local Dungeon Master (DM) Thomas Rogers to discuss all things Dungeons & Dragons (DnD). Topics include gameplay basics, the role of narrative, Thomas's tools of the trade, unexpected celebrity players, and DnD's strange cultural moment as a target of the "Satanic Panic" of the …

1
Readers' Advisory: Veterans' Day 2024 7:39

6M ago7:39

7:39

Harrison shares a selection of titles for Veterans' Day. In this episode: "In the Company of Soldiers" by Rick Atkinson "Jarhead" by Anthony Swofford "No Easy Day" by Mark Owen with Kevin Maurer "Pain is Weakness Leaving the Body" by Lyle Jeremy Rubin "We're Seabees, Not Regular Navy" by Paul Ferrell "What It Is LikeTo Go To War" by Karl Marlantes…

1
The Apple's More in the Smell 43:58

7M ago43:58

43:58

Harrison and Cindy chat with the Lincoln County Library District's hardworking cataloger/integrated library system (ILS) administrator, Christopher Davis, to learn about internet privacy and boldly imbibe a baffling beverage. Below is Christopher's fantastic resource list, with his own annotations: Background information: https://libguides.up.edu/d…

1
Monster Romance with Swords & Starships 57:02

7M ago57:02

57:02

Harrison joins Brittney and Joshua from Swords & Starships, the Coos Bay Public Library's excellent sci-fi and fantasy podcast (listen wherever you get your podcasts)! The intrepid trio discuss monster and paranormal romance literature in all its myriad manifestations. Content warning for younger or sensitive listeners: This episode deals with huma…

1
Meet Cindy! 20:23

7M ago20:23

20:23

For The Free Bin's 100th(ish) episode, Harrison welcomes the Library's newest team member (and podcast co-host), Cindy! Cindy shares her favorite book and a very blue soda. In this episode: Found Magazine "The Keeper of Lost Things" by Ruth Hogan "Broadchurch" (TV Series) "Midsomer Murders" (TV Series) "Shetland" (TV Series)…

1
The Stuffies Will Be The VIPs 19:08

8M ago19:08

19:08

Denyse and Harrison discuss their recent leisure reading endeavors. In this episode: "The Clockwork Sparrow" by Katherine Woodfine "Long Haul: Hunting the Highway Serial Killers" by Frank Figliuzzi

1
Did You Forget It Was Nasty? 30:33

8M ago30:33

30:33

Denyse and Harrison celebrate Banned Books Week with a couple of stories from history, a quiz game, and a strange liquid. Joyce causes trouble. "Obscene" material goes down a Canadian's pants. Puritans attempt to solve problems. Pynchons persist. In this episode: "Ban This Book" by Alan Gratz "From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler" b…

1
May Shamash Bless Your Life 30:57

8M ago30:57

30:57

Denyse and Harrison exercise their right of selecting and discuss the complaint tablet(s) to Ea-Nasir--the much-maligned merchant, miscreant, and modern meme. Nanni is furious. Arbituram is confused. Imgur-Sin is tired. In this episode: "Carly Only Eats Carbs" by Katrina Liu "Complaint Tablet to Ea Nasir" (UET V 81) by Nanni "Foreign Trade in the o…

1
New and Noteworthy: September 2024 6:12

8M ago6:12

6:12

It's readers' advisory time! Harrison briefly shares a few new and newly-acquired items. In this episode: "The Animator's Survival Kit" by Richard WIlliams "The Great Book of Amber" by Roger Zelazny "Homeland: The War on Terror in American Life" by Richard Beck "Legend" by Marie Lu The "Miss Fortune Mystery" series by Jana DeLeon…

1
"The Autumn After Next" by Margaret St. Clair 17:06

8M ago17:06

17:06

Harrison reads Margaret St. Clair's humorous fantasy short story "The Autumn After Next" (1960).

1
Secret Otter Pockets 23:20

9M ago23:20

23:20

Denyse and Harrison wrap up their packed summer schedule by sharing the items they are/will be reading/watching. Inspired by actual events. In this episode: "America Fantastica" by Tim O'Brien "Chain Gang All-Stars" by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah "Fifth Sun" by Camilla Townsend "The Long Game" dir. by Julio Quintana "The Mysteries of Harris Burdick" b…

1
The Good Ice 30:24

9M ago30:24

30:24

Denyse and Harrison share some road trip memories for American Adventures Month. Denyse feeds a notable hippo and visits a "treesort." Harrison eats a notable hot dog and encounters oversized bovine anatomy among the redwoods. In this episode: "Beekle" by Dan Santat "Campground Kids" series by C.R. Fulton "Oregon Ghost Towns" by Lambert Florin "Ore…

1
Minus the Stilts 24:17

10M ago24:17

24:17

Denyse and Harrison celebrate International Clown Week 2024 with some clown, comedy, and circus-related titles. Denyse shares her family connection to clowning. Clown-shaped gaps in the library collection are identified. The Man in the Yellow Hat continues to confound. Denyse describes a mechanical corndog. Music used during topic introduction: "Ci…

1
Self-Publishing in Another Toledo (with Vinnie Grewal) 34:23

10M ago34:23

34:23

Thanks to a fortuitous geographical mix-up, Harrison has a chat with self-published author and medical student Vinnie Grewal from Toledo, Ohio. Vinnie's current project is a series of novels with overlapping events and characters. Here, he shares details of his inspirations, philosophy, and writing process. In this episode: "Bruised and Bemused" by…

1
You Can't Ride on That Yoshi 34:02

11M ago34:02

34:02

Denyse and Harrison share some books about fish, the sea, and related topics. Denyse becomes a puffin. Harrison gets carried away with fish stuff. In this episode: "Eyewitness Handbooks: Aquarium Fish" by Dick Mills "Goldfish: A Complete Introduction" by Robert Mertlich "Life on the Rocks" by Juli Berwald "My Pet Goldfish" by Catherine Rayner "Odde…

1
Readers' Advisory: Historical Fiction 13:55

11M ago13:55

13:55

Harrison shares some historical fiction selections, struggles with his microphone levels, and drinks nothing. In this episode: "The Armor of Light" by Ken Follett "Berlin" by Jason Lutes "Bone Walker" by Kathleen O'Neal Gear and W. Michael Gear "His Majesty's Dragon" by Naomi Novik "The Glutton" by A.K. Blakemore "The Memoirs of Cleopatra" by Marga…

1
Readers' Advisory: Juneteenth 2024 21:14

11M ago21:14

21:14

Denyse brings some titles to celebrate Juneteenth, and Harrison brings a red beverage! In this episode: "An American Story" by Kwame Alexander "Box" by Carole Boston Weatherford "How Do You Spell Unfair?" by Carole Boston Weatherford "Indigo Dreaming" by Dinah Johnson "Moses" by Carole Boston Weatherford "One Crazy Summer" by Rita Williams-Garcia "…

1
Readers' Advisory: 80 Years From D-Day 7:17

11M ago7:17

7:17

Harrison quickly shares some nonfiction recommendations to commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day. In this episode: "The Allies" by Winston Groom "Citizen Soldiers" by Stephen E. Ambrose "D-Day" by Stephen E. Ambrose "Easy Company Soldier" by Sgt. Don Malarkey with Bob Welch "June 6, 1944: The Longest Day" by Cornelius Ryan "Smithsonian World Wa…

1
Genealogy with Muriel King 38:30

12M ago38:30

38:30

Muriel King from the Lincoln County Genealogical Society (LCGS) stops by to talk about her work and share some events and resources! In this episode: Lincoln County Genealogical Society

1
"The Dog and His Girl" by Ricky Dyson 8:31

1y ago8:31

8:31

Local author Ricky Dyson shares an original short story about a very special dog.

1
Enchanted Forest with Susan Vaslev 42:31

1y ago42:31

42:31

Denyse and Harrison are joined by Susan Vaslev from Enchanted Forest theme park in Salem, Oregon. As the eldest daughter of park creator Roger Tofte, Susan has tended the family business from its very first day through the challenges of COVID and beyond. In this casual chat, Susan shares details of the park's early days, her process for creating al…

1
Short Episode: Smokey Bear Quiz 5:33

1y ago5:33

5:33

Harrison shares a five-question true-or-false quiz about Smokey Bear, who turns 80 this year! In this episode: "Decades" Smokey Bear PSA

1
People Like Them Dunes 24:25

1y ago24:25

24:25

April is National Poetry Month! Denyse and Harrison share a few favorite poems and poets. Denyse serves an opaque, brown liquid. In this episode: "Beneath a Blue Umbrella" by Jack Prelutsky "8 Mile" dir. by Curtis Hanson "The Essential Rumi" by Jelaluddin Rumi (translated by Coleman Barks with John Moyne) "Follow the Recipe" by Marilyn Singer "A Ma…

1
The Eyes Have It 11:07

1y ago11:07

11:07

Harrison reads the humorous short story, "The Eyes Have It," by Philip K. Dick.

1
The Bee-Man 9:30

1y ago9:30

9:30

Harrison reads "The Bee-Man," by Alice Dunbar Nelson (née Alice Ruth Moore).

1
Work of the Week: A Swift Kick 29:46

1y ago29:46

29:46

Denyse and Harrison share the cultural works that held their attention this week. Denyse dissects a pop star's corpus. Harrison loses an old game. Swifties affect the bead economy, and also the regular economy. A werewolf falls repeatedly. Bus drivers hit the jackpot. Danny's mysterious condition worsens. In this episode: Killer Instinct (1994) Met…

1
Women's History Month 2024 39:49

1y ago39:49

39:49

Denyse and Harrison celebrate Women's History Month with a selection of books for readers of all ages! In this episode: "Agent Sonya" by Ben MacIntyre "Amerlia Earhart: The Legend of the Lost Aviator" by Shelley Tanaka "Amazons of Black Sparta" by Stanley B. Alpern "Dangerous Jane" by Suzanne Slade "Daniela and History's Women Pirates" Susanna Iser…

1
Chemirocha 21:07

1y ago21:07

21:07

Denyse and Harrison discuss one of the 20th century's most fascinating cases of cultural exchange. No spoilers! In this episode: "Chemirocha (I)" by Cherwo Arap Korogorem and Bekyibei Arap Mosonick "Chemirocha (II)" by Charondet Arap Ng'asura and Kipsigis men "Chemirocha (III)" by Chemutoi Ketienya with Kipsigis girls "In a Kenyan Village, A 65-Yea…

1
This is the Fancy One! 30:15

1+ y ago30:15

30:15

Harrison regales Denyse with the story of the Antiqua-Fraktur dispute. A dog wears a crown. Hitler gets mad. Due consideration is given to Comic Sans, mechanical typewriters and Frumpy Tuba Guys. The Library has one fish. In this episode: Antiqua (Wikipedia) Fraktur (Wikipedia) Gothic Textualis (HMML School)…

1
Black History Month 2024 33:15

1+ y ago33:15

33:15

Denyse and Harrison share some books celebrating Black history and bid Deb a fond farewell. In this episode: "African Samurai" by Thomas Lockley and Geoffrey Girard "Afrofuturism" by Ytasha L. Womack "The Black Count" by Tom Reiss "Black is a Rainbow Color" by Angela Joy "Black Boy" by Richard Wright "Brother Robert" by Annye C. Anderson "Brown Gir…

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Toledo Public Library Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen