(Sort of) The Story
Two best friends tell each other stories they heard and read that week (and also, you are here!)
Episodes
Hello and happy spoooOOOOookyy March! This week, we're bringing out our scariest Irish tales to impress Andi and Feliz, the hosts of the "You Two Scare Me" podcast! First, Max is going to break the glass ceiling of headless horsePEOPLE, and then Janey's going to remind us all of the most important rule of horror: children. are. scary.
We hope you enjoy!
Sources:
- Check out the You Two Scare Me ...
Hello and welcome to another episode! This week Janey is going to tell us about a man who will go to great lengths to get his boss laid, and Max is going to tell us about an old man's fears! Enjoy!
Janey’s Sources - The Tibetan Envoy
- LOCATION: Tibet
- “The Spring of Butterflies and Other Chinese Folk Tales”, translated by He Liyi, edited by Neil Philp
- “Story of Songtsan Gambo and Princess WengCheng” by Yangkyi, ...
Hello and welcome to yet another week of life! This week, Max is going to tell us the dangers of letting a good story languish on the shelf, and Janey is going to tell us about some real sillies. We hope you enjoy this shorty-baby-cutie episode!
Janey’s Sources - The Three Sillies
- LOCATION: England
- “Favorite Folktales from Around the World” edited by Jane Yolen
Max’s Sources - The Story Bag
- LOCATION: Korea
- Ful...
Hello and happy Thursday! This week, Max is going to tell us a story about a salty sea-scrub whose wife deserves better, and Janey is going to tell us about a Rasputin-baby who can never die! (No one said these episode descriptions had to be helpful. Janey just gets to write whatever she wants in here! Watch this-- Pie 'a la mode' is stupid thing to call it, since "a la mode" doesn't mean "a...
Hello everyone! This week we're catching ya'll up on some life stuff and saying goodbye to an old friend. Then Max is going to tell us a horror story about an eye-catching beauty in the woods, and Janey is going to teach us all the proper comeback to someone telling you you're "too much".
We hope you enjoy!
Janey’s Sources - The Little Girl with a Big Voice
- LOCATION: South Africa
- “Tales of ...
HELLO! Today we have an amazing guest, the Cosbrarian herself-- LIZ GOTAUCO! Liz is the creator behind the series "F*cked Up Fairytales with Liz", and the author of the hilarious book inspired by the series!
This week Max and Janey tell stories from her book, and she tells us a story about vengeful fairies and the danger of telling bad jokes (yes, we take this personally.)
We hope you enjoy!
BUY THE BOOK: &q...
Hello and welcome to our LAST episode of 2025! On this episode, Max is going to tell us a story about a girl who can see the important things (like what kind of belt you're wearing), and Janey is going to tell us why Rapunzel should have been a man.
We hope you've had a wonderful year, and that 2026 only goes up!
Janey’s Sources - The Three Fates
- LOCATION: Egypt
- “Fairy Tales of the Orient” by Pearl S. Buck <...
Hello, you dirty birds! On this very special "69" episode, we're doing a deep dive into historical love letters from two very specific historical men. First, Napoleon Bonaparte is going to teach us the meaning of "anxious attachment style", and then Max is going to read us James Joyce's love letters that are not for the faint of fart (ehem...heart...)
A million kisses!
J and M
Janey'...
Hello and welcome back! This week Max is going to tell us about how wicked smart people from New Hampshire are, and Janey is going to tell us a very cathartic story that comes with the disclaimer "I swear I like my job". Sorry about our terrible accents! Enjoy!
Janey's Sources - Mmadipetsane
- LOCATION: Lesotho, South Africa
- “Nelson Mandela’s Favorite African Folktales”
- Full story (page 3)
This week, Janey is going to bring us the final story in The Arabian Nights, about a man who just hates this baby... and Max is going to tell us that classic story of a nameless child finding God wandering around in the woods. Wonder what'll happen!
For those of you who are in the half of the world that's moving into winter, we hope you stay warm and cozy!
Janey's Sources - The Story of Codadad and His...
Hello and happy Halloween (eve)! Today Janey is going to scare you with a tale about the oldest, wrinkliest woman in the world, and Max is going to tell us why romance books are going to get us all killed. Enjoy!
Janey's Sources - Treasure
- LOCATION: Chatsworth, Georgia, USA
- “Spooky Georgia: Tales of Hauntings, Strange Happenings, and Other Local Lore”, retold by S.E. Schlosser, illustrated by Paul G. Hoffman. ...
Hello and welcome to another episode! This week, Janey is going to teach us a valuable lesson about the importance of writing complex characters, and Max is going to re-tell a cozy little comic! May your October be spooky and bright!
Janey's Sources - “W.S.” by L.P. Hartley
- LOCATION: England
- “Roald Dahl’s Book of Ghost Stories”
- L.P. Hartley’s wiki
Max's Sources - A Small Wild Magic
- LOCATION...
Hello and welcome to the shocking conclusion of this the 2025 Off Topic Season. This week, Max is closing us out with the truly baffling list of all the reasons why Nicholas Cage had to make those insane movies between 2009-2015. (Also Janey is REAL mouthy, so if you disagree, be sure to write in!)
Buckle up, babes! Janey's going to tell us about the most insane assassination you may have never heard of! Let us know if you followed this story when it happened, because Janey's never stopped thinking about it.
Sources:
- “Kim Jong-nam Says N. Korean Regime Won’t Last Long”, by The Chosun Daily in 2012.
- “Kim Jong-il’s son reappears in Singapore one year after feeling Macau” from The Shanghaiist.
- “Was...
Hello and happy first episode of October!!!! This week, Max is going to tell us a wonder tale about a sexy bear and the weirdo prince who loves her, and Janey is going to give us all the CREEPS and make us want to do our laundry. Enjoy!!!
Janey's Sources - Oh Whistle, and I’ll Come to You, My Lad
- LOCATION: England
- “Classic Ghost Stories” edited by John Grafton
- M.R. James Wiki
- “The Pilgrim’s Progress” by John Buny...
It's alive! IT'S ALIVE! ("It" being another Off Topic episode!) Welcome back, gals and ghouls! This week, Max is telling us all about the teenaged mother of science fiction herself, and the lengths she went to to avoid hanging out with Lord Byron. Enjoy!
Check out our books (and support local bookstores!) on our Bookshop.org affiliate account!
Starting your own podcas...
Hello and welcome! This week, Janey is going waayyyyy off topic to talk about something that freaked her out so bad, she felt the need to make a legal disclaimer at the top!
DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for entertainment purposes only. Please check out the sources below for more information.
SOURCES:
- “Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief”, directed by Alex Gibney
- Jenna Miscavige, former Scientologis...
On today's episode, Janey is going to tell us about a girl who CHOOSES to look that way (it's not an accident, so stop trying to fix her hair), and Max is going to guide us into spooOOOooky season with a story about a man with control issues. Enjoy!
Janey's Sources - Tatterhood
- LOCATION: Norway
- “Tatterhood and other tales” edited by Ethel Johnston Phelps
Max's Sources - The Wolf Bride
...Happy 2nd Off Topic! This week, Max is going to tell us about an organization in search of people who could predict disasters. (We have a feeling you're going to like this one.)
Sources:
It's open season on topics, and Janey's starting us off with a bunch of facts about the Medieval Times dinner theater that nobody asked for! (Very seriously, if any knights listen to our podcast, please call us.)
Enjoy!
Sources:
- “The Untold Truth of Medieval Times" by Adam Swierk for Mashed.
- “How Medieval Times Survives in the Digital Age” by Christopher Reynolds for Toronto Star.
- “A 30-Year Career Wr...
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