Another episode, another week of questioning what was going through Sally Jackson’s mind. Nenah and Lidia discuss chapter 5 of The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan, the casting of Annabeth Chase, Percy’s childhood trauma, the origins of the Gree

S3, Episode 4: Questiona-Bull Choices

Oct 21st, 2022 46m 22s

Nenah and Lidia discuss chapter 4 of Rick Riordan's The Lightning Thief, the various antics of Greek gods, messed up family structures, our man Daedalus truly doing anything for a paycheck, and Percy Jackson’s entry into the magical world.Fol

S3 Episode 3: Mother's Intuition Doesn't Mean Lie To Your Kids

Oct 9th, 2022 45m 26s

Nenah and Lidia discuss chapter 3 of Percy Jackson: The Lightning Thief, in which they consider the implications of an author using a city as a setting that they've never been in, how children really do get the short end of the stick in certain

S3 Episode 2: Why Will No One Help This Kid??

Sep 25th, 2022 50m 34s

We're back, and we're mad that Percy Jackson isn't getting the help he needs to succeed in school and, apparently, surviving life in general. In this episode we talk about chapter 2 of The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan, discuss private and pu

S3, Episode 1: Zeus Has Youngest-Sibling Energy

Sep 10th, 2022 59m 35s

Nenah and Lidia invite you to join them in their return to podcasting with Season 3 of Let’s Unpack That - Percy Jackson: The Lightning Thief. In which, they discuss the draws that Rick Riordan’s masterful storytelling had for young readers in

S3 Episode 0: Welcome Back!

Sep 2nd, 2022 13m 6s

Welcome back for Season 3! After the longest hiatus on record, we're back to reading books we read in middle school and analyzing them. This season: Percy Jackson and the Olympians Book 1: The Lightning Thief!Chapter 1 will be out in a week an

S2, Episode 14: We Hate Peeta Mellark (For Good Reason)

Dec 2nd, 2020 1h 2m

The final episode of this season, where we analyze the last chapter of The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins and give our final thoughts on the book. Who is Caesar Flickerman, really? Why was this book made into a movie? What happened to the Inte

S2, Episode 13: Welcome to the Revolution

Nov 16th, 2020 1h 15m

The hiatus is over, at last. This week we analyze chapters 25 and 26 of The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins and talk about racial justice initiatives resulting from George Floyd’s murder. The fight isn’t over; it’s just starting. All peacekeepe

S2, Episode 12: When in Rome

May 29th, 2020 50m 43s

The entire nation of Panem is severely traumatized, even if they don't realize it. Why is Haymitch the way he is? Why did Foxface have to die like that? What is the significance of Cato's name? All this and more as we analyze chapters 23 and 24

S2, Episode 11: Does The Hunger Games Need a Love Triangle?

May 17th, 2020 1h 4m

What does the love triangle contribute to the story? Why did Katniss really risk her life to get medicine for Peeta? Why does Thresh spare Katniss when he has the chance to kill her? We discuss all of this and more in chapters 21 and 22 of The

S2, Episode 10: The Hunger Games as Memento Mori

May 2nd, 2020 1h 1m

(Remember that you will die.) How the heck is Peeta still alive? This week we analyze chapters 19 and 20 of The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. Nenah teaches us her Horse Girl ways, we debate how Katniss can be squeamish about wounds but not k

S2, Episode 9: Rue's Death and COVID-19

Apr 18th, 2020 1h 10m

Like every other podcast, we're talking about it. This week we discuss chapters 17 and 18 of The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins in the context of a global pandemic. These chapters hit a bit differently than they used to. Content warnings: de

S2, Episode 8: Out of Slavery and Into District 11

Mar 15th, 2020 51m 35s

How does fear work? What is it like to enjoy killing someone in combat? Is Rue gullible or smart? Why is District 11 like that? Could Rue be a Christian? We discuss all of this and more in chapters 15 and 16 of The Hunger Games by Suzanne Colli

S2, Episode 7: When and How Will the United States Fall?

Feb 29th, 2020 54m 42s

You are not immune to propaganda. And we’re definitely on some watchlists because of this episode’s research. How does the Capitol manipulate Panem’s people? Why should you vote? How is media being manipulated today? Are there limits to the Cap

S2, Episode 6: Teens Are People Too!

Feb 18th, 2020 1h 4m

Why would Suzanne Collins choose President Snow as a main character for the prequel novel? Why do people look down on the YA genre and teens who read it? Why has Katniss started playing the game all of a sudden? We talk about all this in chapte

S2, Episode 5: Katniss the Post-Apocalyptic Politician

Feb 1st, 2020 1h 2m

What’s it like to have dinner with someone you’ll later have to kill? What is it like to curate a public image for your life? Why is everyone manipulating and gaslighting Katniss? Is their manipulation justifiable? This week we discuss chapters

S2, Episode 4: Thank You For Your Consideration *mic drop*

Jan 18th, 2020 1h 12m

What makes Katniss a Young Adult heroine? Why is she relatable? Is she right to be suspicious of Peeta and avoid being friends with him? Will Katniss ever get to just be a dramatic teenager without the adults chastising her? Who is Peeta and wh

S2, Episode 3: To Rebel or Not To Rebel?

Dec 7th, 2019 59m 16s

Every episode is a Master’s thesis these days. Give us the degrees. This week we read chapters 5 and 6 of The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins and delved into the mechanics of control and the consequences of rebellion.Content/trigger warnings

S2, Episode 2: Madge the Unsung Mockingjay

Nov 1st, 2019 1h 1m

We solemnly swear to talk less about the movies in the future. What do the mockingjays mean? Why does Katniss come across so cold? Why do people kill other people? All these questions and more, answered in this episode of our analysis of The Hu

Season 2, Episode 1: Let's Get This BREAD

Oct 17th, 2019 50m 45s

This week we read chapters 1 and 2 of The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. What and why is Panem? How could the US government collapse? Does Katniss have PTSD? How do revolutions start?Audio production by Dylan Forehand.Many, Many Sources:

Season 2, Episode 0: Welcome to the Hunger Games!

Oct 16th, 2019 11m 49s

Welcome to Season 2! We're reading The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. Stay tuned for Season 2, Episode 1 where we'll be discussing chapters 1 and 2 of the actual book. Audio production by Dylan Forehand.Music: https://www.purple-planet.co

Episode 14: Last Thoughts on Twilight / That's Not How C-Sections Work!

Jun 18th, 2019 51m 42s

Lidia watched all the movies. Nenah read Life and Death. All in the last 4 days cramming for this one last hurrah for Twilight. This is likely not the last time we talk about it, though we’ve tried to fit in all our thoughts and feelings.Foll

Episode 13: Is Bella Swan Secretly a Feminist?

Jun 6th, 2019 48m 7s

Would the real Bella Swan please stand up? This week we read the last 2 chapters of Twilight by Stephenie Meyer. Why does Bella think of Edward as an angel? Why does everyone believe the lie that she fell down stairs and out a window? Why does

Episode 12: Dark Alice (TM)

May 20th, 2019 42m 52s

This week we read chapters 21-22 of Twilight by Stephenie Meyer. Bella gives the Cullens the slip, confronts her stalker James, and is promptly unconscious.Sources:Righetti, Francesca, et al. “Low Self-Control Promotes the Willingness to Sac

Episode 11: Team Charlie! *flips table*

May 6th, 2019 45m 31s

Lidia is mad at everything and Nenah needs some sleep. This week, we discuss chapters 19 and 20 of Twilight by Stephenie Meyer. How do vampires relate to capitalism? What would Charlie do if he were allowed to be an actual character? What is po