Return of the King: Epic Battles, Healing Hands, and Returning to the Shire

Second Foundation: Asimov’s Trilogy Comes Full Circle

In this episode of Galaxies and Goddesses, Andrea and Elizabeth dive into Isaac Asimov's Second Foundation, the conclusion of the original Foundation trilogy. They discuss how the novel brings the series full circle while exploring its biggest ideas, including psychohistory, the rise and fall of civilizations, free will versus manipulation, and whether history can truly be predicted. Along the way, they examine the contrast between the First Foundation's physical sciences and the Second Foundation's mental sciences, debate the ethics of influencing society "for the greater good," and share why this classic science fiction trilogy continues to feel relevant more than 70 years after it was written. ⚠️ Spoiler warning: This episode contains discussion of major plot points from Second Foundation and the original Foundation trilogy. We avoid revealing the novel's biggest final twist. 03:28 Big Ideas That Stuck With Us 11:02 The Mystery of Second Foundation 14:03 Power, Control, and the Seldon Plan 22:59 Who Would You Recommend This Book 27:29 Final Thoughts and Ratings Additional References: The NPR Top 100 Science Fiction & Fantasy Books https://www.npr.org/2011/08/11/139085843/your-picks-top-100-science-fiction-fantasy-books Let’s Connect Podcast Instagram: @galaxiesandgoddesses [https://www.instagram.com/galaxiesandgoddesses] If you loved the episode, be sure to subscribe and give a review!

Reading Goals Revisited: Our Mid-Year 2026 Book Check-In

In this episode of Galaxies and Goddesses, Andrea and Elizabeth revisit reading goals and New Year's resolutions set back in January. They check in on their 26 in 2026 reading lists, compare mid-year reading stats, and share the books that have stood out most so far this year. They also talk about the challenge of choosing what to read next, the freedom to put down books that aren't working, and how their Summer Book Bingo is going. Whether you're crushing your reading goals or completely off track, join the bookish banter and perhaps discover your next great read. 00:50 Revisiting Our Reading Resolutions 07:55 Mid Year Reading Stats 10:15 Progress on Our 26 in 2026 Lists 11:41 Our Favorite Books of the Year So Far 16:24 Deciding What to Read Next 21:41 Book Bingo Updates 23:31 Books We Couldn't Finish 24:36 How to Join Our Summer Book Bingo 25:30 Reading Goals for the Rest of 2026 27:52 Closing Thoughts & Next Episode Books Discussed in This Episode : The Lord of the Rings — J. R. R. Tolkien The Hobbit — J. R. R. Tolkien Her Body and Other Parties — Carmen Maria Machado Katabasis — R. F. Kuang Klara and the Sun — Kazuo Ishiguro The Traveling Cat Chronicles — Hiro Arikawa Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil — V. E. Schwab Atmosphere — Taylor Jenkins Reid There There  — Tommy Orange The Serviceberry — Robin Wall Kimmerer Good People — Patmeena Sabit Project Hail Mary — Andy Weir The Mythmakers — John Hendrix The Housemaid — Freida McFadden I'm Glad My Mom Died — Jennette McCurdy Let’s Connect Podcast Instagram: @galaxiesandgoddesses [https://www.instagram.com/galaxiesandgoddesses] If you loved the episode, be sure to subscribe and give a review!

Foundation and Empire by Isaac Asimov: The Power of a Single Word or Character

In this episode of Galaxies and Goddesses, Andrea and Elizabeth discuss Foundation and Empire, the second book in Isaac Asimov's Foundation trilogy. They explore the novel's central question: can one person change the course of history? Along the way, they examine psychohistory, Bayta's role as a standout female character, Asimov's concise writing style, and why Foundation and Empire felt like a stronger, more cohesive read than the first book. 05:39 The Group versus the Individual 08:27 Bayta as a Standout Character 12:25 Concise Words for Big Concepts 17:25 Unprintable Words 21:34 Needing a Break 25:14 Does History Repeat Itself? 30:18 Ratings & Final Thoughts Additional References: Bechdel Test https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bechdel_test [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bechdel_test] Why is Genre Fiction Obsessed with Belisarius? https://reactormag.com/why-is-genre-fiction-obsessed-with-belisarius/ [https://reactormag.com/why-is-genre-fiction-obsessed-with-belisarius/]

Put a Bird on It: Judging Books by Their Covers & Summer Book Bingo

In this episode of Galaxies and Goddesses, Andrea and Elizabeth discuss the complicated world of book covers and how first impressions shape our reading expectations. From romantasy trends and movie tie-in editions to mass market paperbacks, special editions, and social media influence, they explore whether anyone can truly avoid judging a book by its cover. Along the way, they share stories about their current reads, misleading covers, and the books they almost didn’t want to be seen reading in public. Plus, they officially kick off the Galaxies and Goddesses Summer Book Bingo. 00:48 Currently Reading 04:01 Book Covers as Marketing 05:19 Blind Date with a Book 07:50 Special Editions and Movie Poster Covers 13:57 Social Media Influence 18:39 Misleading Covers 22:10 Embarrassing Covers 24:27 E-readers vs Physical Books 26:30 Summer Book Bingo Kickoff Books mentioned in the episode: Foundation and Empire by Isaac Asimov The Antidote by Karen Russell Dream Count by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie The Crazies: The Cattleman, the Wind Prospector, and the War Out West by Amy Gamerman Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid The Emperor of Gladness by Ocean Vuong On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan The Moonday Letters by Emmi Itäranta The Strawberry Thief by Joanne Harris Chocolat by Joanne Harris The Memory of Forgotten Things by Kat Zhang Come As You Are by Emily Nagoski Ice Planet Barbarians by Ruby Dixon Portlandia – “Put a Bird on It” sketch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNpIOlDhigw [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNpIOlDhigw]

Reading Foundation in 2026: What Holds Up and What Feels Dated

In this episode of Galaxies and Goddesses, Andrea and Elizabeth dive into Foundation by Isaac Asimov, one of the most influential works in classic science fiction. Together they explore the concept of psychohistory, and how the novel’s ideas about power, technology, religion, and knowledge preservation still resonate today. They also discuss what feels dated in a mid-century sci-fi classic, from communication technology to the near absence of women in positions of power, and reflect on how modern readers engage with older speculative fiction. Along the way, the conversation branches into AI, technological dependence, and why some books remain classics even when they challenge or frustrate us as readers.  01:01 Expectations for a Classic 03:04 Serialized Structure and Star Wars Vibes 05:48 Psychohistory and Power Politics 09:41 What Aged Poorly and Who Gets Included 14:13 Who Decides What is a Classic 17:43 Why is it a Classic 18:54 Tech Dependence And AI 29:30 Ratings And Wrap Up Freakonomics Radio episode “New Technologies Always Scare Us. Is AI Any Different?” https://freakonomics.com/podcast/new-technologies-always-scare-us-is-a-i-any-different [https://freakonomics.com/podcast/new-technologies-always-scare-us-is-a-i-any-different/] The AI Doc: Or How I Became an Apocaloptimist. 2026. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt39150120/ [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt39150120/]