Extra Literary Affairs Podcast

Blood Child - Octavia E. Butler

Welcome back to another episode of the Extra Literary Affairs podcast.
This week, we’re delving into Octavia E. Butler’s haunting and thought-provoking story, Blood Child. Join us as we unpack the intricate dynamics at play in this gripping tale, focusing on one central question: Can a romantic relationship truly exist when the power balance is so profoundly unequal?
We’ll also examine the nuanced theme of consent within the story, asking whether it’s possible for genuine consent to be given in a world where autonomy is constantly under threat. Is consent even meaningful when the stakes are life-or-death, and the scales of power are so heavily tilted?

Friday Black - Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah

Welcome back to another episode of the Extra Literary Affairs podcast! This week we are discussing "Friday Black" by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah. This is the titular story from his debut short story collection published in 2018. Adeji-Brenyah gives us a seemingly hyperbolic version of Black Friday filled with zombie like customers, brutality, and plenty of important social commentary. Listen along as we discuss topics such as consumerism, the destruction of language, and obligatory gift giving.
 
*Sorry for Joey's poor audio!  

Thank you, Ma'am - Langston Hughes

Welcome back to another episode of the Extra Literary Affairs podcast. This week Jennifer and Joey discuss two works by Langston Hughes; a poem titled, "Mother to Son" and a short story titled, "Thank You Ma'am". Follow along as we trace parallels between the two works and dive a little deeper into the history of the Harlem Renaissance. 

The Lottery - Shirley Jackson

Welcome back to another episode of the Extra Literary Affairs podcast. This week Joey and Jennifer are discussing one of the most iconic American short stories, "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson. We explore the idea of fate, how Jackson utilizes dread, and establish an all too convincing status quo. 
 

The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas - Ursula K. LeGuin

Welcome back to another episode of Extra Literary Affairs!
This week Jennifer and Joey discuss "The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas" by Ursula K. LeGuin. Follow along as we delve into utilitarian philosophy, question the morality of utopian societies, and provide some historical background to help us understand why LeGuin may have included ideas like freedom of sexual expression.

The Ones Who Stay and Fight - N.K. Jemisin

Welcome to Extra Literary Affairs! We have officially rebranded and are excited to delve deeper into a multitude of new topics.
This week, Joey and Jennifer discuss "The Ones Who Stay and Fight" by beloved fantasy / sci-fi author, N.K. Jemisin. In this episode, we discuss why this story is effective from a technical writing perspective and why this utopic society has been able to achieve equity.  We cover difficult topics like capital punishment and recall current events that may have inspired the author. 
 
To read and listen to this story, please use this link:
The Ones Who Stay and Fight - Lightspeed Magazine

The Machine Stops - E.M. Forster

Check out this week's episode where we discuss one of the greatest sci-fi short stories of all time.  Follow along as we discuss what happens to society when free thinking is oppressed, and the only currency is an elusive new idea.  

Extra Literary Affairs - Should we still read Flannery O'Connor?

Welcome back to another episode of Extra Literary Affairs, a LitFiction podcast.  This week Jennifer and Joey discuss if Flannery O'Connor's work still merits scholarship. Should we continue to read problematic authors? Can we separate the author from the text? Do we still have anything to gain from stories with harmful rhetoric? 
*Please excuse Joey's poor audio!