Middle Country Public Library Podcast

Happy Valentine's Day...and Happy President's Day! It's that time of year again... Nicole is soooo happy to talk about romance novels and romantic movies. Plus our own in-house history buff Jim Ward is tested on his knowledge of Presidential trivia by Sara. Will he prevail? Listen to find out.

This week we are kicking off this year's Black History Month with some suggestions of movies, books, and music highlighting African-American authors, actors, musicians, and more. Here are links to what we discussed in this episode: Kevin Hart's guide to black history [DVD-videorecording] / directed by Tom Stern I am not your Negro [DVD-videorecording] / Magnolia Pictures presents ; directed by Raoul Peck. And still I rise : black America since MLK : an illustrated chronology / Henry Louis Gates, Jr. and Kevin M. Burke Bartlett's familiar black quotations : [5,000 years of literature, lyrics, poems, passages, phrases and proverbs from voices around the world] / Retha Powers, general editor ; foreword by Henry Louis Gates, Jr. Black Gotham : a family history of African Americans in nineteenth-century New York City / Carla L. Peterson. Black roots in Smithtown : a short history of the Black community / by Bradley Harris The music of black Americans: a history Julian Bond's time to teach : a history of t

After our Little Women movie chat, Sal got to thinking what the original was like so he watched... and loved it. Even moreso than the remake. So this week we talk about movies that should not have been remade. (Plus we will throw a book or two that should not have been made into a movie in there for good measure)

With the inauguration of our new president and vice president, Nicole has some great book selections for kids about the White House, Presidents of the United States, and more. Plus Sara has a sneak peak of next month's new DVDs.

Sara spins the Wheel of Movies and lands on 2019's Little Women. Prepare yourself for a lively discussion on this unique version of the classic story. Little Women stars Saoirse Ronan, Emma Watson, Florence Pugh, Eliza Scanlen, Laura Dern, Timothée Chalamet, Tracy Letts, Bob Odenkirk, Louis Garrel, Meryl Streep and Chris Cooper. Here's the IMDb listing: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3281548/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1 MCPL cardholders can reserve a copy here: http://mcpac.mcpl.lib.ny.us/record=b2013899  

Sara and Nicole have some ideas to support your New Year Resolutions for 2021! Lose weight like crazy even if you have a crazy life! : life lessons and a breakthrough 30-day nutrition and fitness solution! / Autumn Calabrese https://mcpac.mcpl.lib.ny.us/record=b2029682 Stay positive : encouraging quotes and messages to fuel your life with positive energy / Jon Gordon, Daniel Decker https://mcpac.mcpl.lib.ny.us/record=b1976843 How to say no without feeling guilty : and say yes to more time, more joy, and what matters most to you / Patti Breitman and Connie Hatch https://mcpac.mcpl.lib.ny.us/record=b1343865 Don't panic! : how to manage your finances and Financial anxieties during and after Coronavirus : tips, tricks, and guaranteed ways to secure your future / Christine Ibbotson https://mcpac.mcpl.lib.ny.us/record=b2012834 The 30-day money cleanse : take control of your finances, manage your spending, and de-stress your money for good / Ashley Feinstein Gerstley https://mcpac.mcpl.lib.ny.us/record=b18

There's lots to look forward to in 2021 right? Let's see what the podcast team is looking forward to in terms of movies, music and more.

The podcast team picks their "favorite" things of 2020. It's a strange episode. Stick with us. Here are pictures of Sara's "interesting animal facts": Wombats Parrot Fish Sloth Okapi This is not a snake Venezuelan Poodle Moth Tenrec Panda Ants Nicole's Favorite Things: Love Island The Undoing Megan Thee Stallion Sal's Favorite Things: Onward Over the Moon Hamilton Star Trek: Picard The Mandalorian The Magic of the Animal Kingdom Izzy's Koala World Bluey Troubled Blood by Robert Galbraith Dear Happy - Gabrielle Alpin Pacific Blue - Nicholas Gunn Life on the Flipside - Jimmy Buffett Weather - Huey Lewis and the News  

In this very seasonal movie chat, we discuss 1989's holiday classic, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation! MCPL cardholders can reserve their copy here: http://mcpac.mcpl.lib.ny.us/record=b1366526  

Sara and Nicole have some book recommendations to wrap up your 2020. Sara's picks: The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow https://mcpac.mcpl.lib.ny.us/record=b2016627 Little bookshop of murder / Maggie Blackburn https://mcpac.mcpl.lib.ny.us/record=b2005930 The last story of Mina Lee / Nancy Jooyoun Lee https://mcpac.mcpl.lib.ny.us/record=b1998246 Earthlings / Sayaka Murata ; translated from the Japanese by Ginny Tapley Takemori https://mcpac.mcpl.lib.ny.us/record=b2022308 The cold millions / Jess Walter https://mcpac.mcpl.lib.ny.us/record=b1998399 Anxious people / Fredrik Backman ; translated by Neil Smith https://mcpac.mcpl.lib.ny.us/record=b1986156 Nicole's Picks (via BookRiot): Hershel and the Hanukkah goblins / written by Eric A. Kimmel ; illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman https://mcpac.mcpl.lib.ny.us/record=b1344522 Leave me alone / Vera Brosgol https://mcpac.mcpl.lib.ny.us/record=b1762820 Grandma's gift / Eric Velasquez https://mcpac.mcpl.lib.ny.us/record=b1547499 Li'l Rabbit's Kw

It's that time of year when you may feel like watching a holiday or winter-themed flick...this is the episode to hear Sara and Nicole's picks! Holiday DVDs are now available to browse and check out for MCPL cardholders. Ask a librarian for details. Nicole's picks came from Common Sense Media. For those lists, go to https://www.commonsensemedia.org/lists/best-holiday-movies-for-kids or https://www.commonsensemedia.org/lists/best-winter-break-movies-for-kids Sara's picks are: Jack Frost http://mcpac.mcpl.lib.ny.us/record=b1359538 Four Christmases http://mcpac.mcpl.lib.ny.us/record=b1526112 Radio City Christmas Spectacular http://mcpac.mcpl.lib.ny.us/record=b1480622 Disney’s A Christmas Carol http://mcpac.mcpl.lib.ny.us/record=b1541140 The Christmas Bunny http://mcpac.mcpl.lib.ny.us/record=b1706956 Scrooged http://mcpac.mcpl.lib.ny.us/record=b1368579 Plus... Elizabeth is here to talk about this year's Virtual Women's EXPO 2020! If you want to register to attend this virtual event and shop to supp

What's become a bit of a tradition here at the podcast...Sal asking Nicole and Sara silly questions about food and such. Listen to our other Thanksgiving episodes, including the infamous first trivia episode where Sara questions the veracity of our data and the true cost of a Thanksgiving Day meal. Episode 41 (2018) Episode 94 (2019) Happy Thanksgiving!  

Nicole's turn to pick a flick! This week it's our first "documentary," 2001's Winged Migration. It's about birds. And migration. But is this your typical documentary? Listen to find out. Reserve your copy here with your MCPL library card: https://mcpac.mcpl.lib.ny.us/record=b1393767 IMDb listing here : https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0301727/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1 A fantastic article about making the film by Patricia Thomson: https://www.patriciathomson.net/home/winged-migration  

Imagine this. You are stuck on a desert island. Not because you are banished. Being banished is bad... Maybe a plane crash? We don't know. What book, music, movie, thing would you hope to have with you? The podcast team tells us what they would want.  

Want another fun trivia episode? Sure, why not! And this time we are talking cell phones. It's that time of year when Apple introduces a new line of phones...but are they the most popular? Do you know what the average cost is for the alternative, and Android phone? Listen and find out. As usual, Sal's questions come from one of our fabulous resources here at the Miller Business Center, Statista! You can access a plethora of information from this amazing database by visiting one of our branches. Ask a librarian for assistance in logging in!

We wrap up this special series of podcasts highlighting the library's 31 Days of October with a few suggestions from Sara and Nicole to satisfy your Spooky Movie cravings! Sara's Picks are listed here, along with links to reserve for MCPL cardholders: Crazies: The Strangers- 2008 Scream- 1996 Wes Craven Summer of 84- 2018 Pyscho- 1960 Alfred Hitchcock Ghosts: The Shining- Stanley Kubrick 1980 Beetlejuice- 1988 Tim Burton The Ring- Gore Verbinski Poltergeist- 1982 Vampires: Bram Stoker’s Dracula- 1992 Francis Ford Coppola Blade 1998 Lost Boys 1987 Joel Schumacher Interview With a Vampire- 1994 (Anne Rice) Zombies: Dawn of the Dead- 1978 George Romero Re-Animator- 1985 Stuart Gordon Shaun of the Dead- 2004 Edgar Wright Train to Busan- 2016 Yeon Sang Ho   Nicole recommends flicks from Common Sense Media here.

Sara and Nicole read some scary stories to get you into a spooky mood. Part of MCPL's 31 days of October series. Salem's Lot Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark This week's music credits: The Chamber by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4486-the-chamber License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Past The Edge by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4997-past-the-edge License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Wizardtorium by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4639-wizardtorium License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Sara has just the right movie for us to watch on this week's Movie Chat... 1982's The Thing, starring Kurt Russell and directed by horror legend John Carpenter. Be warned! There are spoilers ahead... MCPL card holders can reserve the DVD here Listen to Ennio Morricone's soundtrack via Hoopla Digital instantly here Check out the IMDb listing

Nicole has a list of the top scary TV shows for kids (mostly from the late 90s, early 2000s) that you might be interested in...plus she reveals her top 5 favorite Are You Afraid of the Dark episodes. 10 Kids Shows that Were Actually Pretty Scary Are You Afraid of the Dark? Sara has a bit of a challenge for Nicole and Sal : she has cleverly created fake horror movie plots. Can they tell the difference between Sara's and the the real plot? Listen to find out!  

Welcome to the 31 days of October! All this month we will be highlighting the spooky, scary, and sometimes silly. Nicole has a nice collection of kids spooky books from the NYPL: https://www.nypl.org/blog/2018/10/24/kids-halloween Sara has selected some brand new fiction books that are meant to spook you: Cruel acts / Jane Casey The Poison Garden The boatman's daughter The patient / Jasper DeWitt The hollow ones / Guillermo Del Toro and Chuck Hogan Don't turn around / Jessica Barry Want to SEE something scary? Check out Sal's horror movie list: Carrie Halloween The Ring 2 Lava 2 Latuna Ma Don't Breathe The Shining The Omen Night of the Living Dead A Quiet Place 6 Souls Psycho Dead Silence Texas Chainsaw Massacre The Green Inferno Rosemary's Baby Get Out Deathgasm Silent Hill Saw Alien Listen to our Movie Chat : Alien episode here Bonus: Here is the episode of How Did This Get Made that Nicole mentioned!