Book Talk: 'The Pearl'

Ambition + Assessments

In this episode, host Talia goes over her thoughts and personal struggle with ambition, as well as her life updates that are accumulating to a constant feeling of busyness. She covers ambition as a positive factor of who she is and its effect on her approach to life thus far, mentioning how she is currently reflecting on her ambition due to her reviewing her college applications. Talia goes on to address the correlation between her ambition and the opportunities she has pursued as a result of it, and how that may have tampered other feelings or focuses in her life (namely recent assessments and schoolwork). In an honest and relatable episode, Talia explores emotions, experiences, and revelations that high school seniors - or anyone, for that matter - can understand.

Greek Food + Gym Classes

In this episode, Talia recaps her weekend, which consisted of working out in gym classes, schoolwork, and a friend's birthday. Talia also goes over updates regarding senior-related stuff and what's happening at school, as well as her enjoyment of her shows.

Charlie Kirk Caught in a School Shooting

In this episode, Talia covers Charlie Kirk's shocking death via targeted shooting. She details Kirk's background, political division, and reactions to the political figure's death in one of her most politically polarizing episodes to date.

Book Talk: 'The Pearl'

In this episode, Talia reviews one of her last summer reads, and her shortest book in this mini series so far, 'The Pearl'. She goes over the novella, its backgrounds, her thoughts, and largely the themes associated with the short story. She also speaks to literature and her enjoyment of John Steinbeck's writing, which she has experienced through a couple of his more well-known projects. Sparknotes:⁠ [https://www.sparknotes.com/lit/the-hunger-games/context/#:~:text=Collins%20was%2041%20when%20the,turn%20into%20The%20Hunger%20Games]https://www.sparknotes.com/lit/pearl/ [https://www.sparknotes.com/lit/pearl/]

...Hello Class of 2026...

In this episode, host Talia rehashes feelings about the graduating class of 2025, then segues into her feelings on her graduating class, the class of 2026. The episode begins with Talia recapping her weekend, largely consumed by her school's Senior Retreat, then covers her feelings and approach to this school year. She also tries to advise herself and other seniors on how to look at this year and all that comes with it.