Good Story 149: A Christmas Carol

Julie takes Bob Cratchit's coal. Scott throws snowballs at carolers. Neither can figure out why the clock keeps ringing 1:00 all night long. Episode 149: a discussion of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.


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The Man Who Invented Christmas: How Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol Rescued His Career and Revived Our Holiday Spirits by Les Standiford

Charles Dickens and the Great Theatre of the World by Simon Callow

Good Story 148: Kubo and the Two Strings

Scott searches for strings. Julie searches for a good story. They find a paper samurai, a snow monkey, and a beetle in Kubo and the Two Strings (2016).


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Good Story 147: Concourse by S. J. Rozan

Julie's gang name is Brigid. Scott's is Patrick. Together they lead The Leprechauns to drive the snakes out of the Bronx. Episode 147: Concourse by S. J. Rozan.


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"The Simple Art of Murder" (1950) by Raymond Chandler

Good Story 146: The Intouchables

Julie grooves to Earth, Wind, and Fire and Scott likes Vivaldi. Yet they've been able to do this podcast together for 6 years. The Intouchables (2011) is the subject of Episode 146.


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Good Story 145: The Halloween Tree

Julie never knows what to cook for the mummies in her closet. Scott soars on the tail of a kite which is harder than you'd think since he's dressed as a gargoyle. Together they go to unexpected places on the trail of The Halloween Tree by Ray Bradbury.


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Good Story 144: The Witch

Julie and Scott head out to live in the woods because, frankly, everyone else is just doing it wrong. Sure, they'll miss butter and glass windows and apples, but they'll have more pointy sticks than anyone has ever had. And a witch. Or two. The Witch (2015) is the subject of Episode 144.


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Some links:

Beware the Online Culture of Wrath by Steven D. Greydanus

Young Goodman Brown by Nathaniel Hawthorne, read by Julie!

And Rappaccini's Daughter, also by Nathaniel Hawthorne, also read by Julie! Part 1, Part 2

Good Story 143: Rumpole of the Bailey

Julie plans to use the flu to her utmost advantage, as it is a disease with endless possibilities. Scott, his wig and gown a complete disgrace, heads down to Pomeroy's for some plonk. Episode 143. Rumpole. Of the Bailey.


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Good Story 142: Lilies of the Field

Scott gives away lollipops. Julie wants to sing both parts of Amen with no help. Lilies of the Field (1963) starring Sidney Poitier is the subject of Episode 142.


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Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, San Antonio, taken by Jason Merlo Photography

The Painted Churches of Texas

Good Story 141: Dune

Julie eats spice cake and can see the future, which, paradoxically, complicates her decision making. Scott just says, "Mmmm, spice cake" and has another piece.  Arrakis. Dune. Desert planet. Episode 141.


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Good Story 140: The Great Escape

Scott leads music practice but gathers too large an audience. Julie sprinkles dirt on the commandant's shoes. Both of them wind up in the cooler, without a single baseball. The Great Escape is discussed in Episode 140.




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Good Story 139: Paradiso

St. Peter asks Scott and Julie to define faith. Julie puts on her sunglasses and takes a HUGE step backward. Scott, left on his own, tries to ask Siri but can you believe there's no signal in Paradise? Beatrice wonders how she got stuck with this pair. Episode 139, the last part of Dante's Divine Comedy: Paradiso.


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Good Story 138: High Noon - Rio Bravo

Julie kept her cool during this episode, walking bravely into the fight. As instructed, Scott threw a flower pot through a window at just the right moment. They both sang a song with Dean Martin, but that scene was cut due to the fact that it was unintentionally hilarious. Episode 138 is a podcast safe for women and children, despite (or maybe because of) discussing two westerns at once: High Noon and Rio Bravo.


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Good Story 137: Purgatorio

Julie is stuck with the Wrathful. Can't see a thing. Which is unfortunate because Scott is no help at all, as he is prostrate with the Ava- the Avarish- er, the greedy. Virgil is still around here somewhere. Episode 137: Purgatorio by Dante.


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Good Story 136: Hot Fuzz

Scott flies through the air with both guns blazing — in slow motion — while Julie fires into the air screaming, "Noooooo!" Neither can calm down until they eat their Cornettos. Simon Pegg, Edgar Wright, Hot Fuzz, Episode 136.




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Good Story 135: Inferno

Julie wants to look at Medusa. Scott wants a second ride on the scorpion monster. Virgil reminds them this isn't an amusement park. There's serious work to be done when you go straight to Hell. The first volume of Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy is the subject of Episode 135.


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Good Story 134: Aliens

Julie wishes Hicks would pass her the cornbread. Scott spent hours creating elevator buttons that even aliens can read. Non-synthetic guests Hannah and Rose think that might have been a mistake. They all survived Episode 134, so expect a sequel...



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Good Story 133: Doomsday Book

Julie wonders what color her gobstopper will turn next. Scott wishes someone would invent a cell phone. They both need some more practice with the bells and... oh no, here comes Mrs. Gaddson! Doomsday Book by Connie Willis is the subject of Episode 133.


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Good Story 132: Spotlight

Scott attends a Catholic Charities soiree and Julie scrounges for money to make Xeroxes at the courthouse. Both of them look for a good Catholic back at the office. Episode 132.



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Good Story 131: Slow Horses

Julie left a top secret recipe on the bus and Scott spectacularly screwed up a training exercise, which is why their new office is in Slough House next to the other slow horses. They have to whisper to talk about Slow Horses by Mick Herron because they don't want Lamb to hear. Episode 131.


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Mick Herron's website

Good Story 130: Guys and Dolls

Julie and Scott have been running this podcast since they were juvenile delinquents. On behalf of the former sinners of the future, they'll keep right on running it, even though they are tired from weariness! Brando. Sinatra. Guys and Dolls.



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Good Story 129: The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes

Julie is bored. Scott hides the cocaine and hands her the violin. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle is afoot in Episode 129.

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       I had called upon my friend, Julie Davis, one day in the autumn of last year and found her in deep conversation with a very fit gentleman with wild, sandy hair. With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when Davis pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door behind me.
       "You could not possible have come at a better time, my dear Scott," she said cordially.
       "I was afraid that you were engaged."
       "So I am. Very much so."
       "Then I can wait in the next room."
       "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. McConaughey, has been my podcast partner and helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no doubt he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also."
       The fit gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his dark eyes.
       "Try the settee," said Davis, relapsing into her armchair and putting her fingertips together, as was her custom when in judicial moods. "I know, my dear Scott, that you share my love of film and of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum routine of everyday life. Mr. McConaughey was about to tell me why he must remove his shirt in every film he makes."

Good Story 128: Ostrov (The Island) (2006)

Julie shot her iPod. Scott burned his socks. Neither was able to get Father Job to like them. Stoke the fire before watching Ostrov (The Island) (2006)!



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Good Story 127: Tuf Voyaging

Julie and Scott call Haviland Tuf to solve the world's problems. The solution will include sea monsters, manna from heaven, and at least one Tyrannosaurus Rex. George R.R. Martin's Tuf Voyaging is the subject of Episode 127.

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Good Story 126: Gone Baby Gone

Julie and Scott have never been asked to solve a crime of this magnitude. They usually solve crimes of the "who ate the last donut" variety. Ben Affleck's Gone Baby Gone is the subject of Episode 126.



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Challenging Opinions Interview: Sticking Up for the Faith

And now for something completely different, from Julie ...

Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope.

I Peter 3:15

William Campbell invited me to chat with him at his podcast, Challenging Opinions. The podcast exists to "test all ideas, left and right, liberal and conservative, progressive and libertarian."

That idea in itself is pretty challenging but when I listened to sample episodes William was a fair and impartial interviewer, which is a rare quality these days.

I thought we were going to discuss my post Obedience: The Dirtiest Word in America so I was prepared to talk about being an American Catholic during the political season. I think that post was only what drew me to William's attention. We never actually discussed that topic, but wound up covering everything from faith in God to Catholic misdeeds to the future of the Church.

I was going completely off the cuff, which I think shows sometimes, but that in itself was fair. Shouldn't we be able to shed some light on faith and the Church when we're asked about it? It was a like a particularly invigorating workout and I really enjoyed talking with William.

LISTEN at Challenging Opinions or iTunes.

===========

For why I'm a happy Catholic and for a further response now that I've looked into the documents William asked me about ... see my post at Happy Catholic.

Good Story 125: Frankenstein

Julie rented some lab space, Scott went to find some brains. They saw this in a movie once and are pretty sure it will work. Episode 125, Frankenstein by Mary Shelley.

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Good Story 124: Star Wars

Julie and Scott open their sixth year* with special guest John C. Wright, who joins them to talk about story, myth, and Star Wars.


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*I counted on my fingers. -- sd