Episode 121: Tocqueville’s American Travel Vlog (Democracy in America)

This week Amanda and Victoria discuss the possible series finale of the US by talking about Alexis de Tocqueville's Democracy in America and his accurate, and not so accurate, talking points. To listen along: https://open.spotify.com/episode/39LpbWxIUh2DVMWhKLcufq?si=96273019740342ae To drink along: So much wine. You'll need it. Resources: Democracy in America - Wikipedia https://www.history.com/topics/european-history/alexis-de-tocqueville I'm leaving out all... Continue Reading →

Episode 119: Inconceivable! Anybody want a Peanut? (The Princess Bride)

Somehow in this economy we get Baron Von Cheeseplate back on the show to discuss William Goldman's The Princess Bride, as well as how much we all hate that weird Evangelical puppet, Douglas. To Listen Along: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/unfortunately-required/episodes/Inconceivable--Anybody-want-a-Peanut--The-Princess-Bride-e2retm9 To Drink Along: Port (Iocane powder optional) Resources: The Princess Bride (novel) - Wikipedia https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYhIViuWIJI&themeRefresh=1 William Goldman -... Continue Reading →

Happy Birthday Month to Amanda! This month, we discuss Anne Lamott's Bird by Bird (and Victoria actually does the shortest short story long.) To listen along: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/unfortunately-required/episodes/Episode-115-Word-by-Word-Bird-by-Bird-e2m9rn7 To drink along: Water or your choice Resources: Bird by Bird: Themes | SparkNotes Anne Lamott - Wikipedia Anne Lamott | Biography, Novels, Books, Husband, Parents, & Son... Continue Reading →

Baron Von Cheeseplate joins Amanda and Victoria to discuss Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Lewis Carroll, and the impact of this work on pop culture. To Listen Along: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/unfortunately-required/episodes/Following-the-White-Rabbit-Alice-in-Wonderland-e2k3saf To Drink Along: https://theimaginarymixologist.wordpress.com/2015/10/03/alice-in-wonderland-drink-me/ Resources: Confirm you're registered to vote: https://www.usa.gov/confirm-voter-registration Alice's Adventures in Wonderland: Sparklet Chapter Summaries | SparkNotes The Annotated Alice https://youtu.be/H7mrIJCjTdc?si=PvUorTzTd5iFtCR2 Lewis Carroll -... Continue Reading →

This week Amanda and Victoria discuss Manifest Destiny, the Minnesota Massacre, the lie of Westward expansion and why neither host can spell prairie. To Listen Along: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/unfortunately-required/episodes/Little-Scam-on-the-Prairie-Little-House-on-the-Prairie-e2ic6fb To Drink Along: Ginger KombuchaOR Old Timey Not At All Racist LemonadeOR A fun optional mixture of the two: Switchel-ade Resources: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/interactive-map-shows-you-what-indigenous-land-you-live-on-180980920 Killer of the Flower Moon by... Continue Reading →

This week Amanda and Victoria discuss Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. To Listen Along: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/unfortunately-required/episodes/Basically--Just-Real-Life-in-Late-Stage-Capitalism-Fahrenheit-451-e2h5ut4 To Drink Along: Drink what you want, but if you want to hurt yourself this website has a Fahrenheit 451 cocktail that will probably kill someone like the Panera Charged Lemonade. Resources: Fahrenheit 451: Full Book Summary | SparkNotes Ray... Continue Reading →

This month Amanda and Victoria discuss Franz Kafka's Metamorphosis, traumatic childhood abuse, and the utterly depressing life of Franz Kafka. To Listen Along: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/unfortunately-required/episodes/A-Bugs-Life-Metamorphosis-e2dbe8l To Drink Along: A Czech Mule https://feastandwest.com/2022/01/05/czech-mule/ Resources: What makes something "Kafkaesque"? - Noah Tavlin What Is Kafkaesque? - The 'Philosophy' of Franz Kafka The Dark World of Franz Kafka LITERATURE: Franz... Continue Reading →

This week Amanda and Victoria discuss the drag that is Doctor Zhivago and why it was so scary to the USSR. To Listen Along: (Updated 02/26/2023) https://anchor.fm/unfortunately-required/episodes/The-Ultimate-KGB-Cck-Block-Doctor-Zhivago-e1vi81b To Drink Along: Vodka, or honestly whatever schnapps you can steal from a rich person's house while caring for their wife who has typhus. Resources: Lara, the true... Continue Reading →

Happy Pride! This week Amanda and Victoria discuss The Iliad and go in depth on Gods and fanfiction. To Listen Along: https://anchor.fm/unfortunately-required/episodes/Getting-Dragged-by-Gods-the-Iliad-e1k4pu7 To drink along: Grab the Ouzo or your favorite drink supporting the Pride Season. Resources: https://youtu.be/RxEX3OE824k https://youtu.be/ZNeWYMvWYwk Achilles and Patroclus - Wikipedia https://youtu.be/fiY2UHAgTJo https://youtu.be/8THdRT_RbPw Was Achilles Gay? | An Interview with Madeline Miller... Continue Reading →