logo
episode-header-image
Jul 2021
1 h

Ep 481 - Impostor Syndrome, by Kathy Wan...

HeadGum
About this episode

It's beach season! And that means it's time for beach reads (whatever that means). We discuss the loose meaning of this genre-slash-marketing-term-slash-state-of-mind, plus a very recent book about a Russian spy who has made it to the top of a fictional (but all-too-recognizable) American tech company.

Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Up next
Yesterday
The Sillymarillion Episode 0 - J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Silmarillion, an Introduction
For this new show-within-a-show, Craig and Andrew will be learning about the world of Middle-Earth! We're going to read J.R.R. Tolkien's posthumously published legendarium THE SILMARILLION.In this episode, you'll hear us discuss the creation of this epic fantasy, including the wo ... Show More
56m 34s
Jul 7
Ep 710 - A Boy's Own Story, by Edmund White
The late Edmund White’s breakthrough 1982 novel is the first in a trilogy of autobiographical novels that depict key eras in his life as a gay man. A Boy’s Own Story is, as you might expect, about a boy - a boy whose longing for the men in his life leads to powerful (though perha ... Show More
1h 11m
Jun 30
Ep 709 - The Complete Peanuts, by Charles Schulz
Good grief! It's time to talk about Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Linus, Lucy - the whole gang. To give ourselves a solid cross-section of Charles Schulz's work on Peanuts, we read Volume 1 (1950-52) and Volume 10 (1969-70) of the Complete Peanuts collection. So we're able to track the ... Show More
1h 24m
Recommended Episodes
Oct 2016
The Princess and the Pea
The classic story of the Princess and the Pea, retold with a fun song at the end! Support the show at patreon.com/stories :) 
18m 33s
Dec 2015
190: Best of 2015
In this episode we revisit our favorite bits, answers, and theme songs from the last year. This episode is brought to you by Headspace, Skurt, and NatureBox! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my- ... Show More
45m 43s
Feb 2022
“Eddie Vedder”
A song comprised of quotes from this episode: Midnight shifts, foiling 3 feet off the waterThe waves are X amount of feet highThis is breakfastYou’re a beast, Irish earthlingA cape that said SecurityI don’t think you know how much I like you 
1h 2m
Oct 2018
Episode 21: The Toy Box Killer Part 2
In the conclusion of our tale covering David Parker Ray and his reprehensible crimes against humanity, we brought some audio clips. I never said this one was going to be easy to digest, guys. But it gets....kind of better at the end? Come on in, you got this far and we are in thi ... Show More
1h 4m
Jul 2023
"Steven Soderbergh"
A shot, a line, a transition, an idea, a font, anything. It’s Bolivian spirit dealer and ‘the Taylor Swift of Cinema,’ a.k.a. Steven Soderbergh… on an all-new SmartLess. This episode was recorded on May 30th, 2023. Please support us by supporting our sponsors. 
56m 20s
Dec 2016
The Raven Steals the Light
Our telling of the classic Haida (from the Pacific Northwest) story, Raven Steals the Light. As far as fairy tales go, this is a strange one, but very interesting too! Support the show at patreon.com/stories or leave us a review on itunes. 
18m 35s
Sep 2016
5 Silly Poems
A bonus episode! In honor of Shel Silverstein's birthday, we've written and recorded five short and silly poems for you. Support the show at Patreon.com/stories 
9m 36s
Jun 2017
The Leaky Pot
The classic tale of the leaky pot, performed with some fun added songs. Sometimes what feels like a terrible flaw is actually a blessing in disguise! Support the show at Patreon.com/stories for our ad-free feed. 
10m 52s
Jan 2016
Margaret, Henry and the Room of Hay
It's another new twist on an old fairy tale classic. We can't tell you which, it will ruin the surprise! Support the show at patreon.com/stories. 
36m 24s