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Hazel & Katniss & Harry & Starr
Inkheart
Thanks to listener requests, Brenna and Joe dig into the fantasy world of Cornelia Funke's Inkheart and its 2008 film adaptation starring Brendan Fraser.
It's...not what we expected. In addition to less driving, Joe wanted more fantasy, while Brenna wanted more famous characters.
Possible reasons this didn't connect for us: translation issues and the revelation that it may have been meant to be read aloud at bedtime!
Plus: Helen Mirren doing Judy Dench, obvious sequel set-up, our interest in Fenoglio (but not Elinor) and the surprising longevity of the film's FX!
Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Instagram and BlueSky @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:
> Brenna: @brennacgray
> Joe: @bstolemyremote (Instagram) or @joelipsett (BlueSky)
Have a mail bag question? Email us at hkhspod@gmail.com
Theme music: Letra “Like A Bird”
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9. Book: Girls Like Girls (2023)
23:20||Season 8, Ep. 9Brenna and Joe check out singer/writer Hayley Kiyoko's queer romance novel Girls Like Girls (2023) in advance of the feature adaptation. C/W: Discussions of suicideIt's a great approximation of the fiery heat of young love, though we can't fully invest in the main couple (ugh Sonya!)Plus: father/daughter relationships; "wrong" partners; and our hopes for the film.Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Instagram and BlueSky @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:> Brenna: @brennacgray> Joe: @bstolemyremote (Instagram) or @joelipsett (BlueSky)Have a mail bag question? Email us at hkhspod@gmail.com Theme music: Rewind Kid "Rhythm Revolution"
8. Film: Out Of My Mind (2024)
32:32||Season 8, Ep. 8Joe and Brenna return to discuss director Amber Sealey (the voice of The Princess Diaries audiobook?!) and writer Daniel Stiepleman's adaptation of Out Of My Mind (2024).Starring real life disabled actor Phoebe-Rae Taylor, this Peabody-winning film will definitely get the waterworks going, especially Luke Kirby (who gives Stanley Tucci a run for his money for Best Dad in YA).Plus: the visualization of Melody's frustration; the power of silence; a kooky Judith Light; and a small but intriguing change to the climax.Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Instagram and BlueSky @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:> Brenna: @brennacgray> Joe: @bstolemyremote (Instagram) or @joelipsett (BlueSky)Have a mail bag question? Email us at hkhspod@gmail.com Theme music: Rewind Kid "Rhythm Revolution"
50. Mailbag 50: Lord of the Flies Pig and Comic
06:49||Ep. 50Brenna and Joe catch up on emails from Tea, Books, and Chocolate and Charlotte about Lord of the Flies, including a disturbing read on Simon and the pig and the comic adaptation by Aimee de Jongh. Plus: Joe recommends the Amazon show The Wilds.Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Instagram and BlueSky @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:> Brenna: @brennacgray> Joe: @bstolemyremote (Instagram) or @joelipsett (BlueSky)Have a mail bag question? Email us at hkhspod@gmail.com Theme music: Rewind Kid "Rhythm Revolution"
7. Book: Out of My Mind (2010)
22:21||Season 8, Ep. 7Brenna and Joe check out Sharon Draper's Out Of My Mind (2010) about Melody, a non-verbal girl with Cerebral Palsy who wants to be able to communicate more than anything.Unlike so many other books about disability, however, this isn't a book about how Melody changes the world...and it's better for it!Plus: exceptional Middle Grade fiction; resisting the temptation of a fantasy ending; and garbage children and systemic barriers.Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Instagram and BlueSky @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:> Brenna: @brennacgray> Joe: @bstolemyremote (Instagram) or @joelipsett (BlueSky)Have a mail bag question? Email us at hkhspod@gmail.com Theme music: Rewind Kid "Rhythm Revolution"
6. Summer of 69 (2025)
27:33||Season 8, Ep. 6Joe and Brenna boldly explore a YA topic they've never discussed before: the sex comedy! We're getting filthy and profane with Jillian Bell's directorial debut, Summer of 69 (2025) in which a teenager hires a stripper to teach her about sex.This is a ton of fun, which great performances, a sex (and sex worker) positive perspective, and a group of women doing it for themselves.Plus: a schwoopy haired teen love interest; a dildo nightmare sequence; and why does counting (or the lack thereof) amuse Brenna so much?!Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Instagram and BlueSky @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:> Brenna: @brennacgray> Joe: @bstolemyremote (Instagram) or @joelipsett (BlueSky)Have a mail bag question? Email us at hkhspod@gmail.com Theme music: Rewind Kid "Rhythm Revolution"
5. TV Show: Finding Her Edge (2026)
35:39||Season 8, Ep. 5Brenna and Joe return to discuss the eight episode S01 adaptation of Finding Her Edge, co-created by Jeff Norton and Shelley Scarrow (disappointingly - she worked on Canadian faves like Wynona Earp and Being Erica).This is BAD on multiple levels (try to count Joe's innumerable rants), most egregiously in how little anyone seems to care. Plus: digging into that Rotten Tomatoes score; the show's mishandling of queer characters; Brenna's disdain for Persuasion comparisons; and lots of snorts/laughs! Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Instagram and BlueSky @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:> Brenna: @brennacgray> Joe: @bstolemyremote (Instagram) or @joelipsett (BlueSky)Have a mail bag question? Email us at hkhspod@gmail.com Theme music: Rewind Kid "Rhythm Revolution"
4. Book: Finding Her Edge (2022)
20:37||Season 8, Ep. 4Brenna and Joe hit the ice with Jennifer Iacopelli's 2022 novel Finding Her Edge.It's the story of an ambitious 16 year old with Olympic dreams, and her gaslighting trash father and dismissive older sister. Oh...and a love triangle.It's fine! The novel is a bit too long & tropey and the romance is the least interesting part, but it's readable and the sports stuff is engaging. Spoiler alert: it's also way better than the show!Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Instagram and BlueSky @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:> Brenna: @brennacgray> Joe: @bstolemyremote (Instagram) or @joelipsett (BlueSky)Have a mail bag question? Email us at hkhspod@gmail.com Theme music: Rewind Kid "Rhythm Revolution"
3. TV Show: Lord of the Flies (2026)
37:46||Season 8, Ep. 3Lord of the Flies is back thanks to the new four episode limited series from Adolescence creators Mark Munden and Jack Thorne.After revisiting William Golding's original text, Brenna has a list of adaptation changes and how they affect the colonial, queer, and race readings.Plus: non-professional child actors; fish eyed lenses; the impact of B/W vs colour; and why this series isn't exactly entertainmentWanna connect with the show? Follow us on Instagram and BlueSky @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:> Brenna: @brennacgray> Joe: @bstolemyremote (Instagram) or @joelipsett (BlueSky)Have a mail bag question? Email us at hkhspod@gmail.com Theme music: Rewind Kid "Rhythm Revolution"
2. Film: I Am Number Four (2011)
26:33||Season 8, Ep. 2Brenna and Joe return to discuss D.J. Caruso's film adaptation, I Am Number Four (2011).Screenwriters Alfred Gough and Miles Millar (Smallville) and Marti Noxon (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) make some smart decisions, though they also jettison a few key book ideas. Meanwhile star Alex Pettyfer makes for a petulant John Doe and he lacks romantic chemistry with co-star Diana Agron.Plus: decent CGI, male body image issues, and a plethora of berets!Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Instagram and BlueSky @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:> Brenna: @brennacgray> Joe: @bstolemyremote (Instagram) or @joelipsett (BlueSky)Have a mail bag question? Email us at hkhspod@gmail.com Theme music: Rewind Kid "Rhythm Revolution"