PODCAST · education
The Free Bin
by Toledo Public Library
Join the staff of the Toledo Public Library as they dive deep into history, culture, and the arts! That's Toledo, Oregon, USA, by the way--not the bigger one in Ohio or the original one in Spain. But a public library serves everyone, so if you are someone, The Free Bin has something for you. Whether it's cult movies, cultural history, classic stories, games, or (of course) books, you never know what you'll find in here, so reach on in! The Free Bin is a production of the Toledo Public Library, which is part of the Lincoln County Library District and the City of Toledo, Oregon. The personal views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers, and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of any organization with which they are associated.https://www.cityoftoledo.org/library
Episodes
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Maybe That's Sloppycore
The chance rediscovery of a beloved childhood visual style propels Harrison and Cindy into the depths of the Aesthetics Wiki. Pirates flee a collapsing iceberg. The dream of the '90s is alive in Harrison. Cindy defines her look. Kudzu fails to live up to its reputation.
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Where Are We Goin' Today, Boat?
Cindy tells Harrison about the sometimes-secretive practice of ghostwriting, as well as its more visible cousin, franchise-writing. Max Brand's basement continues to publish. James Patterson eats a shelf. Kylo Ren falls in love. A werewolf loses a wig. In this episode: Kinsey Millhone "alphabet...
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A Ghost Is Punching You In The Face
Cindy and Harrison are joined by their longtime library colleague (and first-time podcast co-host) Nancy, to discuss the life and legacy of country music legend Hank Williams (and the hereditary line of Hanks thereafter). Jett Williams gets her due. Hank Jr.'s rowdy friends come over (and a few…
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"Of The Thing That Is Neither God Nor Beast"
Harrison reads a short story from Lord Dunsany's 1905 book "The Gods of Pegāna." In this episode: "Of The Thing That Is Neither God Nor Beast" by Lord Dunsany
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I Buy Patterns From A Certain Person
Harrison takes Cindy on a journey through the wild world of musical interpolation! A folk singer lawyers up. Jazz players reference the Looney Tunes while emphasizing the 2 and the 4. Romanian authorities receive news of a crime. Eddie Money feels a hunger. It's a hunger. In this episode:...
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Not Pierre
Cindy and Harrison mark the recent passing of three beloved cultural icons, and share some favorite memories. In this episode: "Clue" (film, 1985) dir. by Jonathan Lynn "It" (TV miniseries, 1990) "Muppet Treasure Island" (film, 1996) dir. by Brian Henson "My Friends Tigger and Pooh" (TV series,...
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Amish Snowbirds
Cindy and Harrison take time out of a very busy week to chat about what they're currently reading! In this episode: "Exhumed: Unearthing the History of the American Vampire" (book, 2026) by Aaron Mahnke "Your Fellow Americans" (book, 2026) by Peter Santenello
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Three Countries, No Juice
Harrison introduces Cindy to a pair of early sound films! Eddie Cantor sings, dances, and tells some extremely 1920s jokes. Harrison talks about vacuum tubes (again). A lion rides a skateboard. A man with aggressively-parted hair manipulates a duck. In this episode: "A Few Moments With Eddie...
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"Moxon's Master" by Ambrose Bierce
Harrison reads "Moxon's Master" by Ambrose Bierce. No dubiously-sentient automata were used in the creation of this, or any, episode of The Free Bin.
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Out Antiquing
Content Warning: This episode is all about death investigation, and contains discussions of violence, decomposition, and death planning. Cindy brings some books (two fiction and one nonfiction) paying homage to forensic science pioneer Frances Glessner Lee. Harrison tells a suprising story about…
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Two Lead Pipes
Cindy and Harrison face a barrage of random conversation starters from a website Cindy found. Harrison receives an exemplary poking stick. Cindy multitasks. Harrison comes to terms with gendered bath wipes.
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A Country Song About Cheese
Cindy and Harrison discuss the Luminate 2026 Midyear Report, via Billboard's summary.
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Love Rhombus
Harrison leads Cindy through the weird and wild journey of a cancelled early-'90s "Hellraiser" video game. We have such sights to show you! In this episode: "Bible Adventures" (video game, 1991) by Wisdom Tree "Doom" (PC game, 1993) by id Software "Golly! Ghost!" (arcade game, 1990) by Namco "The...
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William Pitt's Appeal
In observance of Independence Day, Harrison reads an appeal delivered to Parliament by William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham, in 1775. Happy Fourth, everybody!
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Grumpy Sunshine
Cindy leads Harrison on a deep dive into the romance genre and its many, many subgenres! Dukes and Skarsgårds abound. A cowboy demonstrates nominative determinism. A fortune-telling session takes an uncomfortable turn.
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Two Tales from the Brothers Grimm
Harrison shares some updates and reads "The Mouse, the Bird, and the Sausage" and "Fundevogel"--two German folktales collected by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm and published in 1812.
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Liminality Pt. 2: Feeling All The Feels
Harrison, Cindy and superstar volunteer Olga delve into the concept of "hauntology" and how it applies to culture, society, and music. In this episode: "Etched Headplate" by Burial "Everywhere at the End of Time" by The Caretaker "На Дне" by Molchat Doma "Redline" by Lazerhawk "Хочу перемен" by Kino
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Liminality Pt. 1: That Looks Like A Place I Used To Live
Harrison and Cindy begin a two-episode trek into the Backrooms, and the concepts, history, and artistic movements that dwell within their endless corridors. In this episode: Backrooms (film, 2026) (IMdB) Kane Pixels (YouTube) r/LiminalSpace (subreddit)
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Girls, You Know Nothin'
Cindy and Harrison observe Memorial Day. Harrison introduces some new whale science. Vowels merge. Formants emerge from phonic lips. Pinchy abides. In this episode: Beguš, et al. (2026). The phonology of sperm whale coda vowels. Proc Biol Sci, 293(2069). https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2025.2994...
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Everybody Has Stuff in Their Inbox
Content Warning: This episode discusses sexual assault, violence, death, and war. This week, Cindy and Harrison discuss the rather harrowing books they've recently finished. Yes, you read that correctly: Harrison actually finished a book! In this episode: "Big Old Boats" (YouTube channel) "Brick...
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"May is Building Her House"
Harrison reads Richard Le Gallienne's poem "May is Building Her House," from the "The Lonely Dancer and Other Poems" (1913).
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Caffeine Makes Me Tired
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
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Don't Mess With Me
The gang shares bittersweet news and celebrates Autism Acceptance Month!
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Heck Yeah There's Gonna Be Another Banger
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...
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"The Tale of Peter Rabbit"
Harrison reads "The Tale of Peter Rabbit" by Beatrix Potter.
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Symplasmic Plastidial Catabolism
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:...
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Gonna Have to Fill Me In On The Frog
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"...
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They've All Told Each Other That You're Horrible
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...
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Love The Stuff You Love
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.
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Sad Facts Friday
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)
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Keep the Vibes High!
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...
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Strawbociraptor
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…
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Gotta Do That Pencil Thing
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...
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Cherryheads
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)...
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That's a German Pistol
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.
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Yuck Puck
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).
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Coulda been a disasta!
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...
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Try It! It's Awful!
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…
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Makin' It Safe
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...
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Reality Candy Blast Beat
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...
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All This Sounds Really Super Safe
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…
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November 2025 Quick Update!
Harrison shares some exciting announcements while the gang preps new episodes!
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Not Good, To Put It Mildly
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...
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He Is Not Sneaky At All
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...
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I Grew Up As A Monster Kid (with The Magical Mr. B.)
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.
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My Dog Likes Pineapple
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...
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It's Probably Because She Designed It That Way
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…
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Somebody Help The Duck (with Joel Gaddis)
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...
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History's Big
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…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Join the staff of the Toledo Public Library as they dive deep into history, culture, and the arts! That's Toledo, Oregon, USA, by the way--not the bigger one in Ohio or the original one in Spain. But a public library serves everyone, so if you are someone, The Free Bin has something for you. Whether it's cult movies, cultural history, classic stories, games, or (of course) books, you never know what you'll find in here, so reach on in! The Free Bin is a production of the Toledo Public Library, which is part of the Lincoln County Library District and the City of Toledo, Oregon. The personal views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers, and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of any organization with which they are associated.https://www.cityoftoledo.org/library
HOSTED BY
Toledo Public Library
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does The Free Bin have?
The Free Bin currently has 189 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is The Free Bin about?
Join the staff of the Toledo Public Library as they dive deep into history, culture, and the arts! That's Toledo, Oregon, USA, by the way--not the bigger one in Ohio or the original one in Spain. But a public library serves everyone, so if you are someone, The Free Bin has something for you....
How often does The Free Bin release new episodes?
The Free Bin publishes regularly with 189 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to The Free Bin?
You can listen to The Free Bin on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts The Free Bin?
The Free Bin is created and hosted by Toledo Public Library.
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