The Free Bin

Harrison reads Richard Le Gallienne's poem "May is Building Her House," from the "The Lonely Dancer and Other Poems" (1913).

Cindy and Harrison are joined by youth correspondent Anara to discuss the local weather and her favorite books!   In this episode: "Key Lime Pie Murder" (book) by Joanne Fluke "Lemon Meringue Pie Murder" by Joanne Fluke "The School For Whatnots" (book) by Margaret Peterson Haddix  

The gang shares bittersweet news and celebrates Autism Acceptance Month! 

In light of the recent release of "The Super Mario Galaxy Movie," Sophia and Harrison celebrate and discuss the Super Mario franchise. Speculation, nostalgia, and digressions abound! Jumpman learns to jump and changes his name. Universes collide. A bandicoot gathers fruit. Cranky Kong loses his wife. Gorbachev makes a pizza.

Harrison reads "The Tale of Peter Rabbit" by Beatrix Potter.

The gang shares some random facts! Abe Lincoln makes a Mai Tai. A fish waits in a Slovakian bathtub. Jason waits at the bottom of a lake. The sun explodes. A bloody text message arrives in Sweden. A banana glows. Napoleon is routed. A switch on an amplifier ignites controversy. In this episode: Tiessen A. (2018). The fluorescent blue glow of banana fruits is not due to symplasmic plastidial catabolism but arises from insoluble phenols estherified to the cell wall. Plant science : an international journal of experimental plant biology, 275, 75–83. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plantsci.2018.07.006 "The Great Standby Switch Myth" (from Sweetwater Sound)

Cindy and Harrison flip the script from last week, with Cindy bringing a history lesson for Women's History Month, and Harrison celebrating World Frog Day.   In this episode: "City of Lies" (book, 2017) by Victoria Thompson "Frogatto & Friends" (computer game, 2010-) by Frogatto dev team "Frogger" (video game, 1981) by Konami Froglord (band, 2013-) "Frogman" (film, 2023) dir. by Anthony Cousins "Frogs" (film, 1970) dir. by George McCowan "Jurassic Park" (book, 1990) by Micheal Crichton 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution (U.S. National Archives) "We the Women (book, 2026) by Norah O'Donnell

Cindy and Harrison talk birds and movies! At the behest of her recent online search suggestions, Cindy provides a new batch of Bird Facts concerning our friend, the common crow. Harrison celebrates Women's History Month by discussing the life and work of pioneering filmmaker Alice Guy. Somebody pick up the baby! In this episode: La Fée aux Choux (1896) A Fool and His Money (1912) Les Résultats du féminisme (1906) La vie du Christ (1906)

The gang finds joy! Sophia shares some exciting library updates. A leg returns to its owner. Cindy investigates regional foods in the United States. Harrison gets funked up, Cindy gets down, and Sophia gives a nod to a legendary performance. 

The gang shares some of their favorite birds! Eagles and herons eat well. Pigeons carry urgent news. A giant parrot does its best. In this episode: Bald Eagle Scream (Alaska Raptor Center, YouTube) Lionel the kākāpō booming and chinging (Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand)

The gang introduces a fortuitous confluence of annual religious observances! Library super-volunteer Omar (who also happens to be Sophia's husband) phones in to discuss Ramadan. Sophia shares some Lunar New Year traditions, and goes for a world-record any% speedrun of Catholicism. Harrison discusses the Vatican Observatory, and Cindy explores the Chinese Zodiac.  Blessed Lent! Ramadan Mubarak! Happy Lunar New Year! Be excellent to each other!

With Sophia snowed in, the gang assembles via videotelephony to celebrate Black History Month! Harrison tells the tale of legendary lawman Bass Reeves. Sophia shares the story of groundbreaking librarian Dorothy Porter Wesley, who built Howard University's world-renowned Moorland-Spingarn Research Center into the institution it is today. Cindy discusses the lives and careers of the Nicholas Brothers, from their contributions to the world of dance to their personal struggles and the difficult legacy of the Cotton Club.   In this episode: "Bass Reeves" by Art T. Burton for Fort Smith National Historic Site (National Park Service) "Ed Wynn Presents the Nicholas Brothers 1964" (YouTube)

Content warning: This episode contains potential spoilers for "Bridgerton" and "The Pitt," as well as discussions of medical distress and child death. The gang shares updates on their recent pop-culture fixations! Cindy's workin' on a mystery (goin' wherever it leads). Harrison forgives the Las Vegas Hilton and celebrates a music legend's milestone of self-discovery. Sophia catches up on Regency romance and modern medicine with a streaming drama update! In this episode: "Bridgerton" (Netflix series, 2020-) "The Extinct Immersive Las Vegas Star Trek Experience" from Expedition Theme Park (YouTube) "Father Brown" (BBC One series, 2013-) "Pete Sandoval (I Am Morbid, Ex-Morbid Angel) Opens Up About Autism Diagnosis at 61" by Greg Kennelty (Metal Injection) "The Pitt" (HBO Max series, 2025-) "Sister Boniface Mysteries" (BBC Studios/BritBox series, 2022-)

Per listener request, the gang talks about the weather! Harrison shares a brief history of almanacs and... something else. Sophia introduces us to the historic lighthouses of Oregon. Cindy shares some movies for a catastrophically rainy day. In this episode: "The Day After Tomorrow" (film, 2004) dir. Roland Emmerich Oregon Lighthouses "See Lantern Return to Historic Yaquina Bay Lighthouse On Oregon Coast" by Rose Shimberg (Statesman Journal, Aug. 10, 2025) Storm Glass Tempest Prognosticator "Twister" (film, 1996) dir. Jan de Bont "Twisters" (film, 2024) dir. Lee Isaac Chung Yaquina Bay State Recreation Site Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area

The gang explores the history and variety of dialects in the United States! Cindy brings the research. Harrison abandons the letter G and Sophia adopts it. Dingbatters descend upon Ocracoke.

Cindy leads the gang in a discussion of official tie-in media and adaptations, with a lengthy sidequest into the world of fanfiction! ET cripples an industry (allegedly). Sauron and Gandalf become romantically entagled in space (unofficially). A grape soda affects digestion (prebiotically).  

Sophia and Harrison discuss lost media and the Mandela Effect. An army of penguins gathers. Sammy Hagar craves behavioral enrichment. Hank Williams creates further Hank Williamses. Flying monkeys receive no compliments, while an earthbound monkey receives no tail. Also, Harrison experiences the Mandela Effect in real time! In this episode: "The Babadook" (film, 2014) dir. by Jennifer Kent "The Berenstain Bears" (book series) by Stan and Jan Berenstain "Investigating the Paranormal" (book, 2006) by Tony Cornell "Pokemon: Indigo League" (TV series, 1997-1999) "Filipino Lost Media Being Clickbaited as 'Creepy'" (YouTube video) from Undusthings Freddie Freaker "London After Midnight" (film. 1927) dir. by Tod Browning "The Wizard of Oz" (film, 1939) dir. by Victor Fleming  

The gang discusses their New Year's resolutions, and Cindy celebrates National Science Fiction Day with a deep dive into Timothy Zahn's influential Star Wars novels.  In this episode: "Heir To The Empire" (book, 1991) by Timothy Zahn  "Dark Force Rising" (book, 1992) by Timothy Zahn "Dragonriders of Pern" (book series) by Anne McCaffrey "The Last Command" (book, 1993) by Timothy Zahn "The Martian" (book, 2011) by Andy Weir "The Martian" (film, 2015) dir. by Ridley Scott "A Song of Ice and Fire" (book series) by George R. R. Martin  

The gang reflects on some of their favorite holiday films and traditions. Sophia's got a brand new nog. Cindy's got a brand new holiday. Harrison gets earnest about Ernest.   In this episode: "Ernest Saves Christmas" (film, 1988) Jim Varney playing dulcimer on "The Chevy Chase Show" (TV, 1993) Judy Garland singing "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" (From "Meet Me In St. Louis") "Meet Me In St. Louis" (film, 1944) "While You Were Sleeping" (film, 1995)

In preparation for the holiday break, Harrison decides to just do a quick, easy show-and-tell episode about what the gang's been learning this week. It doesn't quite work out that way, and the result is a sprawling discussion of traditional candy, music genres and subgenres, and the wonders and horrors of reality TV.

The gang discusses some lesser-known winter holidays, as well as unique regional traditions from around the world! World Kindness Day fills our hearts with compassion. Two dudes from Albany, Oregon fill our mouths with pirate jargon. El Caganer drops some humanity. A goat burns in Sweden. A barrel burns in Scotland. A log is beaten in Catalonia. A cat receives an answer during an awkward conversation in an elevator. Bakhtin's "carnivalesque" Caganer.com Gävlebocken Talk Like a Pirate Day World Kindness Day

Harrison shares some exciting announcements while the gang preps new episodes!

Sophia leads the gang in a discussion of the Salem witch trials, their historical context, and the ways that communities fall into paranoia, persecution, and cat noises. Sophia shares an overview and chronology of the events, and presents a questionable warrant. Cindy discusses Puritans' role in the colonization of North America, and several historical examples of mass psychogenic illness. Harrison discusses self-appointed "Witchfinder General" Matthew Hopkins, and the speed of phantom clowns.   In this episode: "A Brief History of the Salem Witch Trials" (Smithsonian Magazine) "Overview of the Salem Witch Trials" (University of Virginia) "Salem Witch Trials" (Britannica.com) "Salem Witch Trials Chronology" (Salem Witch Museum) "Spectral evidence" (Wikipedia) "TAMUC History Professor Busts Myths About The Salem Witch Trials" (East Texas A&M)   Music used in the episode: "Mourning Song" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Content Warning: This episode includes detailed discussion of death, historical embalming practices, and historical cannibalism.  For Spooky Season 2025, the gang ventures deep into the topic of mummies, and how they relate to Western horror fiction, cultural anxieties, history, heritage, and dubious medical practices. In their travels through time, they encounter Chinchorro grief, Germanic mysteries, and Floridian brains. Sophia unwraps rare British foods. Cindy dispels curses. Harrison unloads his headcanon. In this episode: "Bubba Ho-Tep" (2002) "Encino Man" (1992) "The Famous Mummies of the Inca and the Chinchorro" (from The Collector) "From the Dark" (2014) "The Gruesome History of Eating Corpses as Medicine" (From Smithsonian Magazine) "Lot No. 249" by Arthur Conan Doyle "Memorials of Edward Burne-Jones" by Georgiana Burne-Jones "The Mummy" (Universal Pictures franchise) "The Mummy's Foot" by Theophile Gautier Natural History Museum of Utah "Purity and Danger: An Analysis of Concepts of Pollution and Taboo" by Mary Douglas "7 Surprising Uses For Mummies" (from Britannica.com) "To Live Forever: Egyptian Treasures from the Brooklyn Museum" by Edward Bleiberg "Under Wraps" (1997)  

In preparation for National Magic Week, The Magical Mr. B. stops by to discuss the life and work of Harry Houdini, as well as the history of magic in general. 

The gang discusses [redacted] for Banned Books Week! This conversation covers the rights provided by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution and Article I of the Oregon Constitution, the role of public libraries in upholding these rights, why access matters, filter bubbles, the importance of parent/guardian involvement, the ending of Michael Crichton's "Congo" (spoiler alert!), and also something about aphids.

The gang continues to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month by sharing stories of some important figures, from history to the present day. Along the way, they encounter mobile puppets, ubiquitous '90s musical collaborations, unfed bears, baseball emergencies, powerful paintings, space flutes, and much more!

Joel Gaddis of Movie Madness drops by to discuss the wild world of "Demented Kids." This is the name Movie Madness applies to its collection of bizarre and unintentionally unsettling family films. In this episode: "Body Troopers" (1996) "Mac and Me" (1988) "The Peanut Butter Solution" (1985) "The Rare Blue Apes of Cannibal Isle" (1975) "Super Xuxa vs. Satan" (1988) "A Talking Cat!?!" (2013) "Treasure Train" (1982)

The Toledo Public Library celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month (Sep. 15 - Oct. 15)! Sophia provides an overview of the celebration, including its history, the distinction between the terms "Hispanic" and "Latino," and the many contributions of Hispanic and Latino communities to the United States and the world. Harrison gets lost in the interwoven threads of North American history, and introduces a very, very large book. More to come!   In this episode: The Digital Florentine Codex The National Museum of the American Latino    

The gang shares some of their favorite (and least favorite) female characters in fiction. Cindy digs up some info on Victorian grave-robbers. Sophia needs Samantha to move on. Harrison addresses the semiotics of hugging. In this episode: "Alien" (1979) dir. by Ridley Scott "The Anatomist's Wife" by Anna Lee Huber "Aunt Dimity's Death" by Nancy Atherton "Death Comes to Marlow" by Robert Thorogood "The Devil Wears Prada" by Lauren Weisberger "Downton Abbey" (TV series, 2010-2015) "Harry Potter" (franchise) by J.K. Rowling "A Game of Thrones" by George R.R. Martin "Kills Well With Others" bu Deanna Raybourn "Metroid" (franchise) by Nintendo "Murder at Haven's Rock" by Kelley Armstrong "Say You'll Remember Me" by Abby Jimenez "Twilight" by Stephenie Meyer "The Wedding People" by Alison Espach    

Harrison rocket-starts a conversation about Mario Kart, designing for contradictory audience expectations, the vastly different ways we approach and appreciate popular works, and a bit of philosophy. Sophia brings the tea. Harrison loses badly at chess. Cindy gets overwhelmed by impenetrable online Mario Kart World discourse, especially regarding the applicability of the current meta build to Boo Cinema in Mirror Mode Knockout Tour.  In this episode: "Mario Kart" (franchise) "Mario Kart: The Moral Implications of the Racing Series" by Andrew Blair (from Den of Geek) "The Prestige" (2006) dir. by Christopher Nolan

Harrison reads the poem "The Mirror" from "Blooms of the Berry" Madison Cawein

Cindy and Harrison discuss some of their favorite tropes in movies, books, and games! Velociraptors build tension. Ghosts play to an empty house. Cindy discusses some common library and librarian tropes. Eldritch tomes awaken ancient horrors. Sam Fisher is conspicuously sneaky. Harrison invites listeners to go space truckin'. In this episode: "The Anatomist's Wife" by Anna Lee Huber "Any Trope But You" by Victoria Lavine "Clueless" (1995) "Endless Sky" "Firefly" (2002-2002) (RIP) "Jurassic Park" (1993) "Love, Lies, and Cherry Pie" by Jackie Lau "The Mummy" (1999) "The Pagemaster" (1994) "Space Truckers" (1996) "Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell" (2002) TVTropes.org

Harrison reads "Poppa Needs Shorts" (1964) by Walt and Leigh Richmond.

At Captain Sophia's behest, The Free Bin crew hauls up a net full of maritime tales! Cindy makes a hearty meatloaf from sacred cows, and eats it with black raspberries. Harrison gets shanty pedant-y. Sophia and Harrison tag-team the soundboard. The crowd goes wild. In this episode: "The Boys in the Boat" by Daniel James Brown "The Brilliant Abyss" by Helen Scales "Death on the Nile" by Agatha Christie "Death on the Nile" (2022) dir. by Kenneth Branagh "The Jungle" by Clive Cussler (with Jack Du Brul) "Kon-Tiki" by Thor Heyerdahl "Lost Empire" by Clive Cussler (with Grant Blackwood) "The Man in the Brown Suit" by Agatha Christie "The Missing Sapphire of Zangrabar" by Steve Higgs "The Old Man and the Sea" by Ernest Hemingway "The Sea and Civilization" by Lincoln Paine "The Sea Rover's Practice" by Benerson Little "Titanic: The Definitive Documentary Collection" (2012)    

Cindy, Sophia, and Harrison discuss the ever-evolving role of the telephone in fiction, and the myriad ways technology affects the stories we tell. Along the way, they enjoy a refreshing beverage, eat a two-dimensional snack, endure aggressive theater seats, and imagine a more tactile, odoriferous, and traversable future.     In this episode: "84, Charing Cross Road" by Helene Hanff "Black Christmas" (1974) "Bless Me, Ultima" by Rudolfo Anaya "Find a Book by Plot" tool (from "Capitalize My Title") "Harry Potter" (series) by J.K. Rowling "The Wedding People" by Alison Espach "Scream" (1996) "We're All Going to the World's Fair" (2021) "When a Stranger Calls" (1979)

In preparation for our upcoming discussion of the ever-changing role of telephones in fiction, Sophia reads Dorothy Parker's 1928 short story, "A Telephone Call."   Music: "Night on the Docks - Sax" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Sophia invites Cindy and Harrison to share some books from their favorite genres, as well as some unexpected picks. Thrilling adventures, dubious ghosts, and historical tears abound!  In this episode: "The Apparitionists" by Peter Manseau "City of Lies" by Victoria Thompson "The Joy Luck Club" by Amy Tan "Lessons in Chemistry" by Bonnie Garmus "The Martian" by Andy Weird "A Murder on Astor Place" by Victoria Thompson "The Nightingale" by Kristin Hannah "Sahara" by Clive Cussler "Sandstorm" by James Rollins  "Shattered" by Dick Francis "Timeline" by Michael Crichton "The Unidentified" by Colin Dickey "The Women" by Kristin Hannah

Cindy, Harrison, and new Library Programs Specialist Sophia discuss the Declaration of Independence, drink some more red juice, and recite the immortal words of Bill Pullman! In this episode: United States Declaration of Independence

See the video episode here! As the library's Joust tournament approacheth, Harrison introduces Cindy to this classic arcade game, and seeks to answer one all-important question: Could we do this in real life? In this episode: Joust "Animals In Motion" (1902) by Edward Muybridge

Cindy teaches Harrison about the history of Father's Day, acknowledges the complicated feelings that the holiday can bring, and caps it all off with a relevant tale from Aesop about a father and his quarrelsome sons. Harrison puts out an RFP for cryptids. President Nixon gets some flowers for your dad. Cindy also announces our upcoming Community Conversations series! Funded by Oregon Humanities, this three-event series will focus on Toledo's past, present, and future, through educational presentations and discussion.

Cindy and Harrison explore the public domain and beyond in this discussion of copyright, its implications for software preservation, and how to support the wild Pac-Man population! Cindy reads Shakespeare's Sonnet 29. Harrison finds a disturbing Edwardian comic strip. In this episode: Betsy Bouncer and Her Doll Digital Millennium Copyright Act United States Copyright Act Section 108 Internet Arcade (Internet Archive) Project Gutenberg Public Domain Super Heroes Wiki Standard Ebooks

Harrison and Cindy discuss the interesting case of "Unknown Man E," the Harem Conspiracy, and what this case can teach us about official records, historical erasure, compassion, and what we each leave behind. 2020 BBC Science Focus piece about the reconstruction of the priest Nesyamun's larynx 2018 article from The Verge about the sarcophagus "bone juice" Oxford online course material on crime and punishment in ancient Egypt

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!

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 legend) Prince of Persia (1989)

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.

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!

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

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.