We're Not Helpful

CONTENT WARNING: Discussion of adult themes including abuse and gun violence. In this spine-tingling episode of We’re Not Helpful, we dive deep into the terrifying world of Stephen King! From iconic works like It and The Shining to underrated gems, we explore the stories, characters, and nightmares that have haunted readers for decades. We’ll discuss what makes King’s writing so terrifying, his unique storytelling style, and the best and worst of the film and TV adaptations.Of course, true to form, we’ll go off-track and likely give you zero useful info. Whether you're a hardcore Stephen King fan or just here for the chaos, tune in for an episode that’s equal parts spooky and silly.Spoilers ahead for many Stephen King stories. Comments, questions, feedback? Get in touch at nothelpfulpod@gmail.com or on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and now Bluesky!

We have officially entered spooky season, and to celebrate we start off asking an ethical quandary which breaks Eloise's brain, before moving onto a discussion all about horror. We cover a lot of different topics from the works of H.P. Lovecraft to Stephen King and the films that have shaped horror discourse over the last 50 years, as we attempt to answer the question, "What is horror and why do people like to be scared?"Turn off the lights, lock the doors, and ignore that strange sound coming from the attic...Comments, questions, feedback? Get in touch at nothelpfulpod@gmail.com or on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.

In this hilarious episode join our hosts as they dive into the wild world of one-star reviews for some of literature's most beloved books! From baffling critiques to outrageous complaints, our hosts read, react, and try to guess the titles of these infamous reads. Will they recognize the classics, or will the reviews leave them scratching their heads? Tune in for a fun-filled journey through literary misinterpretations, unexpected hilarity, and a celebration of why reading can be so delightfully subjective. Grab your favorite book (or not!) and settle in for an episode that proves sometimes, even the greatest stories can have the worst reviews.Comments, questions, feedback? Get in touch at nothelpfulpod@gmail.com or on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.

In this episode we tackle the highbrow literary theory known as "The Death of an Author"—and by "tackle," we mean we kind of bump into it, spill our coffee, and then pretend we know what we're talking about. Join us as we try to explain why the author's intentions may or may not matter. Is it deep? Sure. Is it helpful? Absolutely not.Links to things discussed this episode: Roland Barthes' original essay "Death of the Author" - https://writing.upenn.edu/~taransky/Barthes.pdf Lindsey Ellis video essay "Death of the Author" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGn9x4-Y_7AEloise's Tumblr Comic - https://www.instagram.com/p/C_fVayvPehA/ Comments, questions, feedback? Get in touch at nothelpfulpod@gmail.com or on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.

Should you able to enjoy things produced by horrible people without fear of judgement from others?Do public figures need to be held to a higher standard than others?Can you truly sperate the art from the artist?CONTENT WARNING: Discussions of sexual assault and transphobiaLinks to videos mentioned in the show: https://youtu.be/P60gfp4VBQQ?si=Kcj4hltxItdGMwV8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xmeEXDFM8IComments, questions, feedback? Get in touch at nothelpfulpod@gmail.com or on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.

Julian wasn't feeling well so we recruited our good friend Adrian to talk about his area of expertise. If you've ever taken a flight then you might've had one of these with you. That's right, on this episode we are talking about Airport Fiction! From James Patterson, Lee Child and Matthew Reilly (actually a lot about Matthew Reilly) we talk about the tropes and themes in these fast pace thrillers that can make the longest plane trip fly by. Buy Julian's book "Shadows Embrace" here: https://amzn.asia/d/5BiSEJuComments, questions, feedback? Get in touch at nothelpfulpod@gmail.com or on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.

Joining us this week is Annie, the host of The Quiet Corner Bedtime Stories podcast. We touch on a lot of topics from narrating audiobooks to Stephen King to The Wheel of Time. It really has a bit of something for everyone.EXTRA NOTE: Brayton had some audio issues, caused by him forgetting to check which microphone was actually recording, so apologies for some of the audio not being to the usual level. Check out The Quiet Corner Bedtime Stories wherever you find your podcasts, or on her website: https://thequietcornerbedt.wixsite.com/my-site-1 or on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thequietcornerbedtimestories/Buy Julian's book "Shadows Embrace" here: https://amzn.asia/d/5BiSEJuComments, questions, feedback? Get in touch at nothelpfulpod@gmail.com or on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.

Are you a horror fan? In this episode we venture into the unexpected and eerie world of the Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 1 & 2. Join us as we dissect this dark reimagining of the beloved children's classic. Are they worthy of your time or should they be relegated to the bargain bin?WARNING: This episode contains discussions of violence and adult themes, as well as full spoilers for both films.If you enjoyed this episode and would like to hear more content like it please drop us an email and let us know at nothelpfulpod@gmail.com or on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.Buy Julian's book "Shadows Embrace" here: https://amzn.asia/d/5BiSEJu