Sophie's Choice: The 2020 School Year Conundrum

The Taming of the Shrew: 10 Things We Hate Right Now

Today we're taking a page from the Costanza family playbook and celebrating Festivus in September with our Airing of Grievances. From bananas and birds to cable news, vauguebooking, and passive-aggressiveness, we're telling you how we *really* feel and ... we've got some spicy takes, y'all. Plus, at the end of the episode we make an important announcement about the future of The Medium Talk Podcast.      View the full show notes here [http://www.themediumtalkpodcast.com/podcast-episodes/2020/9/8/things-we-hate].   Connect with Colleen: Instagram [http://www.instagram.com/colleenkpowell] | Website [http://www.colleenkpowell.com/] Connect with Anna: Instagram [http://www.instagram.com/annaleighjordan] | Website [http://www.annajordan.net/] Connect with Jenn: Instagram [http://www.instagram.com/jennbatchelor] | Website [http://www.jennbatchelor.com/]

Hoosier Daddy: A Defense of the Romance Novel with Leigh Kramer

Romance novels have long been a source of collective societal derision: the over-the-top covers, the euphemisms, the punny titles. However, they're also a financial boon for publishing houses ... which means there's a *lot* of secretive reading happening out there. But why is it such a secret? Leigh Kramer joins us in the fourth chair for a fun debate about the merits of reading romance and offers recommendations for everyone from the easily embarrassed to the carnal connoisseur. We also play a lightning round of would you rather: two good things and talk about how we do (and don't do) condiments. View this episode's show notes here [http://www.themediumtalkpodcast.com/podcast-episodes/2020/8/25/romance-novel-defense]. Follow The Medium Talk Podcast: Website [http://www.themediumtalkpodcast.com/] | Instagram [http://www.instagram.com/themediumtalkpodcast] Connect with guest Leigh Kramer: Website [https://www.leighkramer.com/] | Twitter [https://twitter.com/hopefulleigh] | Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/writerleighkramer]

Just Mercy: Exploring the Intersection of Grace and Justice with Tori Petersen

With social media, 24-hour news cycles, and #cancelculture on the rise, the clamor for justice feels almost … frenetic. Suddenly grace and mercy feel like quaint notions. Tori Petersen joins us in the fourth chair today as we wrestle with the question, is justice without grace really justice at all? We also talk about summer jobs and pregnancy cravings.   View the full show notes here [http://www.themediumtalkpodcast.com/podcast-episodes/2020/8/11/grace-and-justice].   Connect with guest Tori Petersen: Website [https://www.torihopepetersen.com/] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/torihopepetersen/?hl=en]   Connect with The Medium Talk Podcast: Website [http://www.themediumtalkpodcast.com/] | Instagram [http://www.instagram.com/themediumtalkpodcast]

Sophie's Choice: The 2020 School Year Conundrum

The start of the school year is right around the corner but instead of the usual quest for pre-sharpened Ticonderogas, 2020 is upping the ante. The pandemic has altered everything about school as we know it, and today we’re talking about what our options are, the ones we’re choosing in our own families, and the reasons behind our decision. We also talk about how much Anna loves Zac Efron and how we do (and don’t do) kids’ TV programming. View this episode's show notes here [http://www.themediumtalkpodcast.com/podcast-episodes/2020/7/28/school-year-conundrum]. Follow The Medium Talk Podcast: Website [http://www.themediumtalkpodcast.com/] | Instagram [http://www.instagram.com/themediumtalkpodcast]

Alexander Hamilton: Loving and Wrestling with a Cultural Juggernaut

If you have a pulse (and Disney+), odds are you’ve jumped on the Hamilton train. In today’s episode, we’re talking about our initial encounters with the play, what it was like watching the original cast from our living room, and how much of a family affair we do (or don’t) make the material. We also talk about some of the controversy surrounding the play and the role of art as cultural commentary. Plus, we play a lightning round of COVID-themed “would you rather” and talk about how we do—and don’t do—fashion trends.   View the full show notes here [http://www.themediumtalkpodcast.com/podcast-episodes/2020/7/14/hamilton].   Follow The Medium Talk Podcast: Instagram [http://www.instagram.com/themediumtalkpodcast] | Website [http://www.themediumtalkpodcast.com/]