Read the Room: A Culture Club

What can a 54 year old woman and a 27 year old man possibly have in common? In this first episode of a two-part deep dive, hosts Alexys, Kaylin, and Larsen take the startling, scary, and oftentimes perverse trope of age gap relationships out of the taboo closet that society likes to bury it in. From Lolita to Sense & Sensibilty, or Mrs. Robinson to MILF Manor, we explore the history, or better yet lineage, of age gap literature and media that has seemingly seeped into every romance sub-genre. Our discussion goes as ancient as Roman Law and as modern as Half His Age (2026) by Jennette McCurdy. As we begin to unravel just how vast the age gap catalog of books, movies, and shows is, we find that age gap media is pervasive in the worst way- you don't always see it, but once you start looking for it, it's everywhere. With the texts on the table and Pandora's box opened wide, we set the scene for Part 2 of this topic, where we'll get into our analysis of the tropes, themes, and sociological implications of this never-ending trend. Ultimately, it's not enough to just take the scary topic out of the closet- if you want to unpack it with us you'll have to come back and listen to Part 2 next week.    Sources: Lolita, Vladimir Nabokov (2025, 70th Anniversary Edition Version by Vintage Books)  Half His Age, Jennette McCurdy (2026) "Call Her Daddy (Or Mommy): The 7 Kinkiest Age-Gap Romances On Streaming", Decider "Age Gap Relationship Movies / Younger Women and Older Men", IMDb "50 Age Gaps Between Actors Playing Couples That Are Honestly Really Weird", Buzzfeed “I Really Hope The Book Starts Conversations”: Jennette McCurdy Opens Up About Writing “Half His Age” And Exploring Female Rage", Buzzfeed

How do Lolita, sassy slogan tees, and ice box cakes connect? They've all been on hosts Alexys, Kaylin, and Larsen's minds. Listen to us explain why in this Weekly READ episode, where we break down what we've read, endured, ate, and did recently. Our chat includes wondering why there was so many SMEG appliances in You, Me, and Tuscany, the plight of breakouts caused by face shaving razers, and the hilarity of Hannah Beck's "Daddy God..." comedy skits. The topics this week are eclectic, but the life improvements are massive, like Larsen finally getting an aux cord back in her beloved car, Bertha, or Alexys buying the world's cutest Y2K digi-cam at the Brooklyn Flea Market. If you love listening to pretty girls gab, this one is for you. We'll make you laugh or your money back.

What's with all the hype? In this deep dive hosts Alexys, Kaylin, and Larsen dissect the modern hype machine that powers the phenomonen of overrated books. We break down the social media frenzy and recency bias that propel big reader expectations and can lead to dissatisfaction and disappointment. Critical discourse includes our definition of overhyped- this is not a conversation about bad books, so much as it is a conversation about books who are built up too big, becoming cultural behemonths at the front of every book store. Digressions include a look at both the Readers' and Critics' Choice New York Times "Best Books of the 21st Century" Lists, as well as an exploration of what books we think are actually underhyped. Ultimately, we plead with the hype machine- let a book be just good, not everything has to be sold as the best book of the century.   Sources: "Best Books of the 21st Century: Reader's Response", New York Times "Review: Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow Feels So Yesterday", The Spinoff "The Thing About Popular and Overhyped Books", The Daily Star

Did you know the last Saturday of every April marks Independent Bookstore Day? In this mini-sode hosts Alexys, Kaylin, and Larsen celebrate the upcoming occasion by breaking down the history of the holiday, as well as why it matters and why our local independent book sellers deserve more love. Our conversation includes the ongoing battle with Big Book that sellers and publishers are facing, the amazing work of public libraries, and the necessity of keeping mid-size players, like Barnes & Noble, alive. We urge you to celebrate with us this weekend by utilizing whatever purchasing power you have and shopping local or by simply spreading the word and shouting out your favorite local seller. 

Whats with the data-fication of our habits and hobbies? For this deep dive hosts Alexys, Kaylin, and Larsen pulled a random research topic written on a piece of paper out of a fishbowl of possibilties (re: a little glass bowl). The fishbowl decided it was time to explore the trend of tracking apps, focusing especially on apps we use to track our media consumption- such as Goodreads, Storygraph, and Letterboxd- but including mentions of more general applications as well, such as Strava and Streaks. We break down what particular aspects of tracking draws people in, the boom of applications brought on by the digital age, and the extended oppurtunties for community provided tracking or review platforms, as amplified by social media. Digressions include review culture and the drive to gamify and commdify everyday aspects of our lives. Ultimately, we know that whatever tools or tricks gets us reading, watching, thinking, and discussing deeply are probably worth a download. To particpate in the craze you'll need to keep up your streak and listen now- then rate us 5 stars!   Sources: "Tracking Your Life", University of Washington "The Science Behind Habit Tracking", Psychology Today

What do Taylor Frankie Paul, springtime allergies, dating apps, and a California heat wave all have in common? They've all been harbingers of spring that hosts Alexys, Kaylin, and Larsen have endured lately. Welcome back to another Weekly READ, where we break down what we've read, endured, ate, and did recently. Our answers are ripe for interpretation and run the gamut from farmer's market scones to Women's March Madness basketball games. Special highlights include our reads and want-to-reads this week: Book of Longings by Sue Monk Kidd, Half His Age by Jennette McCurdy, Fawning by Ingrid Clayton, The Girl in The Tower by Katherin Arden, Trespasses by Louise Kennedy and Sword of Destiny by Andrzej Sapkowski. Listen to find out our thoughts on this wide array of topics. Please reach out to us at [email protected] for feedback and topics suggestions. Follow us on instagram and tiktok at readtheroom_cultureclub for the most up to date podcast information

In a world of endless remakes and retellings, can a movie adaptation ever truly be better than the book? And why are we so obessed with the comparison between the two? In this episode, hosts Alexys, Kaylin, and Larsen break down examples of movie and TV show adaptations that give their source material a run for their money and dive deep into all the nuance that surrounds conversation about what types of media are "better" to consume than others. We touch on works such as Stardust, Killers of the Flower Moon, Heated Rivalry, Project Hail Mary, Emma, and more. Our analysis examines the elitism behind priortizing always reading the book first, the accessibilty films can provide to general audiences, and the boom in book sales that screen adaptations spur. Our chat circles around the desire for originality, against the broader pull of familarity and beloved tropes. Ultimately, whether you're reading or watching, you're still in the room.    Previous Episodes Mentioned:  05: Deep Dive - Are Space Movies Ever Just About Space? 03: Series - Feminist Rage & Frankenstein  01: Deep Dive - Wuthering Heights & Gothic Romanticization    Sources: Killers of the Flower Moon, David Grann (2017) Stardust, Neil Gaimann (2007) "From Heated Rivalry to Wuthering Heights, Book-to-Screen Adaptations Cause a Boom in Book Sales", CBC Books "Do Movie Adaptations Impact Book Sales?", Ooligan Press "Books vs. Movies: The Age-Old Debate", Indianna University Bloomington Media Beat "On Falling Out of Love with Neil Gaiman", Medium

What were *our* greatest hits of 2025? It may be a new year but that doesn't mean you can't revisit some of the books, movies, and music that were previously popular. In this mini episode hosts Alexys, Kaylin, and Larsen break down the media they consumed in the last year that made an impression- from intergenerational epics to smutty alien trysts. Our list includes both works that were new in 2025 and works that were simply new to us, and our conversation expands into the activities that brought us joy beyond the page and screen. We prove its never too late to discover your next hyperfixation or find out what you're really craving in your year- from river rafting to comforting creators. Read, watch, or listen to any of our recommendations from this episode and you'll be right on time! Please reach out to us at [email protected] for feedback and topics suggestions. Follow us on instagram and tiktok at readtheroom_cultureclub for the most up to date podcast information.

How can one setting inspire hope, fear, whimsy, and scienitific discovery all at once? In this deep dive hosts Alexys, Kaylin, and Larsen explore the representation and trendification of space in literature, movies, and the general cultural landscape. We summarize the development of space as a science fiction symbol, break down the various works that have become interstellar classics, and float into the far reaches of space sub genres.The conversation orbits past the ecological, political, and social implications of space media. Our discourse proves that themes associated with space are as vast and infinite as the universe itself.  Please reach out to us at [email protected] for feedback and topics suggestions. Follow us on instagram and tiktok @readtheroom_cultureclub for the most up to date podcast information. Sources:  "Science Fiction", Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum  "The Pyschology of Space Films", Psychology Today "From 1900 to 2013: The Evolution of Outer Space on the Big Screen", The Journal "The Legacy of ‘The Jetsons’ Is about a Lot More than Dreams of Flying Cars", AEI "John Milton the Space Poet: Early Traces of Science Fiction in Paradise Lost", Reactor "The History of Science Fiction: Beginnings", Medium "We Come in Pieces: The Alien as Metaphor", Clarkesworld "Genre Breakdown: The Different Types of Sci-Fi Films", The Beat "Sci-Fi Genre Movies", WeVideo "Don't Get Lost in Space: A Guide to Science Fiction Subgenres", Pan MacMillan "Science Fiction: Hard Versus Soft", Enclave The War of the Worlds, H.G. Wells (1898) The Martian Chronicles, Ray Bradbury (1950)

Welcome to our bi-monthly READs! In these mini episodes hosts Alexys, Kaylin, and Larsen will unpack what they recently read, endured, ate, and did. The defintion of each of these elements is up for some interpetation - whether we're eating a lot of tinned fish snack plates or eating up the most recent season of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives. We might read a piece of dense classical literature or read the vibe of a recent pop culture debacle. Either way, we stay reading the room. How did we define our READs this week? You'll have to listen to find out. Please reach out to us at [email protected] for feedback and topics suggestions. Follow us on instagram and tiktok at readtheroom_cultureclub for the most up to date podcast information.

Why is god a man, when life is always created by a woman? In this episode, hosts Alexys, Kaylin, and Larsen introduce our first series topic: Feminist Rage. In this series we’ll look at reoccurring themes, across various pieces of media, related to both the feminine experience and the pervasiveness of patriarchy. For the first episode in the series we dive into Frankenstein, the genre-defining work of Mary Shelley, as well as the 2025 Guillermo Del Toro Frankenstein adaptation, and Maggie Gyllenhaal’s The Bride, a 2026 take on the 1935 Bride of Frankenstein. Our discussions touch on the unwarranted backlash to The Bride, male loneliness, and the feminist works of Shelley’s mother, Mary Wollstonecraft.  Please reach out to us at [email protected] for feedback and topics suggestions. Follow us on instagram and tiktok at readtheroom_cultureclub for the most up to date podcast information. Sources: Frankenstein, Mary Shelly (1818) & Maria: Or, The Wrongs of Woman, Mary Wollstonecraft (1798)    

Whats worth the watch, what nominations are out of left field, and what films scored a homerun? In this mini episode hosts Alexys, Kaylin, and Larsen dissect a wide array of 2026 Academy Award catagories, discussing both nominees and winners. Digressions include what constitutes costume design, what movies we wish we saw, and the critcal lens, or lack there of, of One Battle After Another. Our name pronunciation may miss from time to time, but our films critiques are spot on. Please reach out to us at [email protected] for feedback and topics suggestions. Follow us on instagram and tiktok at readtheroom_cultureclub for the most up to date podcast information.

Is Emily Bronte rolling in her grave? In this episode hosts Alexys, Kaylin, and Larsen dive into a piece of gothic literature hailed as one of the greatest romances ever told, all while asking "How romantic is Wuthering Heights, really?". In addition to analyzing the plot of the OG 1847 novel, we also discuss modern adaptations including the 2011 version, and Emerald Fennell's currently infamous 2026 remake. From the dangers of a life lived for revenge, to the damage done by inter-generational abuse, we explore the magnitude of Bronte's work and grapple with whether or not such a literary powerhouse is capable of being adequately adapted for the big screen. Please reach out to us at [email protected] for feedback and topics suggestions. Follow us on instagram and tiktok at readtheroom_cultureclub for the most up to date podcast information.