Skylight Books Podcast Series

SKYLIT: Pete Crighton, THE VINYL DIARIES

Don't drink? Don't smoke? What do you do? THE VINYL DIARIES follows Pete Crighton's journey from a closeted goody two shoes to a blissfully self-possessed lover of queer community, queer joy, and queer sex, while keeping track of the key pop music that resonated along the way. For this episode, Pete Crighton (The B-52s' Cosmic Thing) discusses releasing a memoir as a first-time writer, processing a lifetime of trauma through art, and the role music has played in the whole process. Writer-bookseller Justin Remer asks about the bands and artists that meant a lot (Adam Ant, Fleetwood Mac, Yoko Ono) and those that... well... didn't (Madonna, HAIM). They also talk about how Pete wrote his forthcoming 33 1/3 book on The B-52s in 90 days. 

Pick up a copy of the book from Skylight Books or order the audiobook version from Libro.fm. 

Hosted and produced by Justin Remer. 
Recorded remotely via Zencastr. 

Opening music: "Optimism (Instrumental)" by Duck the Piano Wire. 
Closing music: "Rule of 3s (Solemnity Child)" by Elastic No-No Band. 

SKYLIT: Veronica Litt, UGH! AS IF! CLUELESS

This is so unexpected, we didn't even have a speech prepared. Author Veronica Litt joins us to talk about her new book in ECW Press's Pop Classics series, Ugh! As If!, on Amy Heckerling's classic film comedy Clueless. This is the 30th Anniversary of Clueless's theatrical release, and the book is both a warm, conversational appreciation and clear-eyed dissection of what the movie gets wonderfully right and what is a bit cringe now.  

Litt talks with bookseller Justin Remer about Clueless and all sorts of tangential topics including Jane Austen, girly art, human potato Channing Tatum, footnotes, audiobooks, and the Fast and Furious franchise.  

Get the book from Skylight and order the audiobook from Libro.FM please!  

Hosted and produced by Justin Remer. 
Recorded remotely via Zencastr.  

Opening music: "Optimism (Instrumental)" by Duck the Piano Wire.  
Closing music: "Rule of 3s (Solemnity Child)" by Elastic No-No Band.  

Better Than the Movie 25: THE DEAD w/ Conor Holt

The Old Man WAS Still Alive! Film writer and physical media enthusiast Conor Holt returns to Better Than the Movie to discuss a pair of classics: John Huston's film The Dead (1987), adapted from the short story by James Joyce, which first appeared in Dubliners (1914).

Spoiler alert: Everyone loved them both. But between the film and the story, which did they think was better?

Hosted by Allan Traylor, Justin Remer, and Tyler Austin. 
Produced by Justin Remer. 
Recorded at the LAPL Octavia Lab. 

Check out the "Better Than the Movie" audiobook playlist on Libro.FM - https://libro.fm/playlists/skylight-better-than-the-movie

Opening music: "Optimism (Instrumental)" by Duck the Piano Wire. 
Closing music: "Rule of 3s (Solemnity Child)" by Elastic No-No Band. 

SKYLIT: Matthew Reed Baker, 1970s JAZZ FUSION (GENRE: A 33 1/3 SERIES)

From BITCHES BREW to "Feels So Good" and beyond, author Matthew Reed Baker delves into the funky, smooth, and transcendent records that resulted from the merging of jazz with R&B, pop, rock, and much much more in the 1970s. Miles Davis, Weather Report, Chuck Mangione, Herbie Hancock, Joni Mitchell, and Steely Dan are just some of the acts that are discussed in 1970s Jazz Fusion, a welcome new installment from 33 1/3's spin-off series on musical genres. Bookseller and writer Justin Remer hosts this discussion of both the book and the music.  

Hosted and produced by Justin Remer.
Recorded remotely via Zencastr. 

Opening music: "Optimism (Instrumental)" by Duck the Piano Wire 
Closing music: "Rule of 3s (Solemnity Child)" by Elastic No-No Band

Better Than the Movie 24: WOMAN IN THE DUNES w/ Emily VanKoughnett

Abe is Bae? The wonderful Emily VanKoughnett (Los Angeles Review of Books; LIT ANGELES) returns to Better Than the Movie with a classy pick: Kobo Abe's existential psychological thriller The Woman in the Dunes. The novel, from 1962, was made a few years later into an Oscar-nominated film adapted by Abe and directed by the inimitable Hiroshi Teshigahara. Both are considered top-tier classics... but which is better? 

Hosted by Justin Remer, Allan Traylor, and Tyler Austin. 
Produced by Justin Remer. 
Recorded at the LAPL Octavia Lab. 

Opening music: "Optimism (Instrumental)" by Duck the Piano Wire. 
Closing music: "Rule of 3s (Solemnity Child)" by Elastic No-No Band.

SKYLIT: Sina Grace, WEST HOLLYWOOD MONSTER SQUAD

Award-winning graphic novelist and illustrator Sina Grace (Superman: The Harvests of Youth) joins host Tyler Austin to discuss his new book, West Hollywood Monster Squad. A ragtag crew must make their way across West Hollywood after some unexpected pink snow begins creating giant monsters in their midst. It's a sweet, funny "turbo gay" story for our time. Sina and Tyler discuss themes of the story, as well as the intricacies of the Pokémon video games, what it's like working at Skylight, and whatever else crosses their minds during this delightful hour-long chat. 

Produced by Tyler Austin & Justin Remer. 
Recorded remotely via Zencastr. 
Hosted by Tyler Austin. 

Opening music: "Optimism (Instrumental)" by Duck the Piano Wire. 
The "Justin's music is great" music: "Don't Depend on Me (Instrumental)" by Duck the Piano Wire. 
Closing music: "Rule of 3s (Solemnity Child)" by Elastic No-No Band. 

Better Than the Movie 23: THE NATURAL w/ Jonah Lipton

Happy Opening Day! Baseball is back, and BTTM is back with another baseball-themed book adaptation. Bookseller and writer Jonah Lipton joins the crew to discuss Bernard Malamud's 1952 novel THE NATURAL, and its 1984 film adaptation starring Robert Redford. Famously the book is downbeat and cynical, reflecting postwar disillusionment, while the movie is upbeat and heroic, reflecting Reagan-era optimism. We know they're different but which one is better??  

Hosted by Tyler Austin, Allan Traylor, and Justin Remer.
Produced by Justin Remer. 
Recorded at the LAPL Octavia Lab. 

Opening music: "Optimism (Instrumental)" by Duck the Piano Wire. 
Closing music: "Rule of 3s (Solemnity Child)" Elastic No-No Band. 

SKYLIT: Marya E. Gates, CINEMA HER WAY

Film journalist and critic Marya E. Gates talks with Justin about her new book, Cinema Her Way: Visionary Female Directors In Their Own Words. The book is a stylishly illustrated collection of interviews with 19 film directors, including Gillian Armstrong, Jane Campion, Mira Nair, Mary Lambert, and Katt Shea. Another great chat for our cinephile listeners!

Hosted and produced by Justin Remer. 
Recorded remotely via Zencastr. 

Opening Music: "Optimism (Instrumental)" by Duck the Piano Wire. 
Closing Music: "Rule of 3s (Solemnity Child)" by Elastic No-No Band.  

Better Than the Movie 22: HELLRAISER (1987) / THE HELLBOUND HEART w/ Garon Cockrell

Come to... Pod-dy? We're straining for puns over here, but we've got a fun remote-recorded episode today, featuring the return of author and podcaster Garon Cockrell (Demonic and Other Tales). It's a follow-up to last year's Nightbreed episode, in which Tyler voiced his dislike for body horror. For being such a good sport, we reward him with more Clive Barker: the 1987 film Hellraiser, directed by Barker and adapted from his own novella, The Hellbound Heart. There are discussions of the story's psychosexual dynamics and hazy mythology, plus a bit about the sequels and remakes.  

Hosted by Allan Traylor, Tyler Austin, and Justin Remer.

Produced by Justin Remer. (sorry about the mixed-bag sound)
Recorded remotely via Zencastr. 

Opening music: "Optimism (Instrumental) by Duck the Piano Wire. 
Closing music: "Rule of 3s (Solemnity Child)" by Elastic No-No Band. 

SKYLIT: Leah Kardos, KATE BUSH'S HOUNDS OF LOVE (33 1/3)

We're podcasting... Yeah yeah yay-yo! Justin speaks with Leah Kardos, the author of the new 33 1/3 book on Kate Bush's Hounds of Love. Together, they discuss the impact of the album and Kate Bush's undersung influence as a record producer. Leah also talks about the process of finding the structure and narrative for her book. There's music nerd stuff in there too, but it's GOOD, smart music nerd stuff. You'll like it.

Produced and hosted by Justin Remer. 
Recorded remotely via Zencastr. 

Opening music: "Optimism (Instrumental)" by Duck the Piano Wire.  
Closing music: "Rule of 3s (Solemnity Child)" by Elastic No-No Band.  

Better Than the Movie 21: TOTAL RECALL (1990) w/ Buzzy Cohen

An episode so good, it'll make you wish you had three ears. Buzzy Cohen (Baby Got Facts: Totally '90s Trivia) returns for another delightful episode, breaking down Philip K. Dick's short story "We Can Remember It For You Wholesale" and the 1990 film adaptation directed by Paul Verhoeven, with a screenplay by Dan O'Bannon & Ronald Shusett and Gary Goldman. Reality, virtual reality, false memories, real (?) memories, mutants, great practical special effects, rods of air, a young Sharon Stone, and enough Arnold Schwarzenegger one-liners to fill a burn book. Get your EARS to Mars. We'll see you at the party, Richter. 

Hosted by Allan Traylor, Justin Remer, and Tyler Austin. 
Produced by Justin Remer. 
Recorded at the LAPL Octavia Lab. 

Opening music: "Optimism (Instrumental)" by Duck the Piano Wire. 
Closing music: "Rule of 3s (Solemnity Child)" by Elastic No-No Band. 

Better Than the Movie 20: THE POLAR EXPRESS w/ Natalie Freeman & Allison Woodnutt

Like the proverbial Christmas miracle, the BTTM crew is back just in the (Saint) nick of time for a holiday-themed final episode of 2024. At the behest of Natalie Freeman and Allison Woodnutt (who you may remember from last year's A HAUNTING IN VENICE episode), Justin, Allan, and Tyler braved the cold to wave down THE POLAR EXPRESS, an illustrated children's book by Chris Van Allsburg (JUMANJI) and a film directed by Robert Zemeckis (BACK TO THE FUTURE). Natalie and Allison were not available for in-studio recording but provided plenty of (possibly not 100% sober) voice notes for the fellas to talk to. This movie is bonkers, and everyone has thoughts.  

Hosted by Justin Remer, Allan Traylor, and Tyler Austin.
Produced by Justin Remer. 
Recorded at the LAPL Octavia Lab.  

Opening music: "Optimism (Instrumental)" by Duck the Piano Wire.  
Closing music: "Rule of 3s (Solemnity Child)" by Elastic No-No Band.  

Better Than the Movie 19: GHOST WORLD w/ Chris Andersen

It's America, dude, learn the rules! Chris Andersen (Your Favorite Bad Movie Podcast) joins the BTTM crew to discuss the 2001 adaptation of the Daniel Clowes graphic novel GHOST WORLD, directed by Terry Zwigoff (Crumb, Bad Santa). They discuss how one can grow up relating to a disaffected teen girl played by Thora Birch and find themselves an alienated physical-media-obsessed adult, played by Steve Buscemi. Also: lots of comics talk.

Hosted by Tyler Austin, Justin Remer, and Allan Traylor. 
Produced by Justin Remer. 
Recorded at the LAPL Octavia Lab. 

Opening music: "Optimism (Instrumental)" by Duck the Piano Wire. 
Closing music: "Rule of 3s (Solemnity Child)" by Elastic No-No Band. 

SKYLIT: Lili Anolik, "DIDION & BABITZ"

Ace interviewer Elodie Saint-Louis sits down with Lili Anolik to discuss Anolik's new book Didion & Babitz. Anolik talks about the complicated relationship between authors Joan Didion and Eve Babitz, their unique perspectives on the Feminist Movement, and how they were each consumed by and motivated each other. Anolik also tells the fascinating story of how she discovered the complexity of this relationship to begin with. If you're a fan of either author, this isn't an episode to miss!

Produced by Elodie Saint-Louis and Mick Kowaleski

Music by Duck! The Piano Wire

Better Than the Movie 18: THE MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH w/ Mark Rennie

What Price Vincent? Writer and improviser Mark Rennie (The Big Gay Movie Spreadsheet, Eat Pray Dunk) returns for a second appearance on BTTM, just in time for Spooky Season. Under discussion is the Edgar Allan Poe classic "The Masque of the Red Death," adapted to film by director Roger Corman and star Vincent Price in 1964. 

Allan and Justin chat with Mark about horror in general, about Vincent Price in particular, and about a bunch of other digressive topics. Let's get Halloween-y!! 

Hosted by Allan Traylor and Justin Remer. (Miss ya, Tyler.)
Produced by Justin Remer. 
Recorded at the LAPL Octavia Lab. 

Opening music: "Optimism (Instrumental)" by Duck the Piano Wire. 
Closing music: "Rule of 3s (Solemnity Child)" by Elastic No-No Band.