Best Transgressive Literature Podcasts (2025)

1
Words of Radiance Part 9 - Brandon Sanderson 1:11:35

Play Pause

12h ago1:11:35

1:11:35

Hey, Adventurers, in this episode of the Side Quest Podcast, Slava and Jonathan explore themes of betrayal, redemption, and the complexities of character relationships. They discuss key moments from Words of Radiance, including Kaladin's return to power, Shalan's identity crisis, and Zeth's resurrection. The conversation highlights the emotional we…

1
Back Matter 17: Sith Happens feat. Psi from Rare Candy & Cody LaDuke (PREVIEW) 33:34

2d ago33:34

33:34

Send us a text On this special episode of Back Matter, Psi from Rare Candy podcast and Cody LaDuke join Sini and Fresta to discuss George Lucas' Revenge of the Sith, and nerd out on all things Star Wars. This is a preview. To get the full episode, and more details about Sini's visit to the set of Attack of the Clones, subscribe to our Patreon: http…

1
Revenge of the Glittering Images feat. Lucas 1:37:38

2d ago1:37:38

1:37:38

Send us a text This week, Sini is joined by his friend Lucas out at a bar one Saturday night to discuss Camille Paglia's book on art history and visual culture, Glittering Images. Follow Lucas on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifetothose.shadows/ And over on paid feed, we have a special episode of Back Matter featuring Cody LaDuke and Psi fr…

1
Words of Radiance Part 8 - Brandon Sanderson 1:10:48

8d ago1:10:48

1:10:48

Hey, Adventurers, in this episode of the Side Quest Podcast, Slava and Jonathan delve into the complex narratives of the characters in the Stormlight Archives, exploring themes of rebellion, identity, and the moral dilemmas faced by the protagonists. The discussion highlights the evolving perspectives of the Parshendi and the intricate nature of Ta…

1
Real Strivers of Salt Lake City feat. Alex 1:51:44

9d ago1:51:44

1:51:44

Send us a text Returning guest Alex speaks with us about The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City: what makes it so narratively compelling and different to other shows in this franchise, as well as the character dynamics, novelistic elements, soap influences, and much more. We also talk about the unique charm of the strivers on this show. Meanwhile, o…

1
Words of Radiance Part 7 - Brandon Sanderson 1:25:10

15d ago1:25:10

1:25:10

Hey, Adventurers, in this episode of the Side Quest Podcast, Slava and Jonathan delve into the complexities of Shalon's family dynamics, the perspectives of the guards in the narrative, Kaladin's struggles with imprisonment and relationships, and Dalinar's political maneuvering. The enigmatic character of Wit is also discussed, raising questions ab…

1
E16 - Caught Circling the Jerkle on Reddit (Pt. 2) 51:33

15d ago51:33

51:33

We discuss, answer, and bemoan questions people may or may not be deadass in asking over on r/Writing. Does it matter if a book is "good"? Will anyone notice if you copy Brandy Sandy's Son and change the proper nouns? Race?!By jocktrappodcast2

1
The Barrow feat. Tobe Ellen 1:35:59

16d ago1:35:59

1:35:59

Send us a text Melbourne writer Tobe Ellen joins us to talk about his upcoming podcast, The Barrow, where he documents his process of co-writing a memoir with his mother. We talk about podcasting as a writer, memoir writing, the importance of implication in narrative, political correctness, sensitivity readers and much more. Follow The Barrow on In…

1
Words of Radiance Part 6 - Brandon Sanderson 1:15:26

22d ago1:15:26

1:15:26

Hey, Adventures, we are still on Roshar, discussing Words of Radiance. In this episode of the Side Quest Podcast, Slava and Jonathan delve into chapters 58 through 64 of Brandon Sanderson's 'Words of Radiance,' exploring character development, moral complexities, and the significance of interludes. They discuss Kaladin's impulsiveness, Lyft's uniqu…

1
Words of Radiance Part 5 - Brandon Sanderson 2:21:48

29d ago2:21:48

2:21:48

Hey, Adventures, we are still on Roshar, discussing Words of Radiance. In this episode of the Side Quest Podcast, Slava and Jonathan are joined by the one and only Spenser. This conversation delves into the complexities of trauma, the transition from childhood to adulthood, and the various ways individuals cope with their experiences. The guys expl…

1
E15 - Caught Circling the Jerkle on Reddit (Pt. 1) 38:43

29d ago38:43

38:43

We discuss, answer, and bemoan questions people may or may not be deadass in asking over on r/Writing. Does it matter if a book is "good"? Will anyone notice if you copy Brandy Sandy's Son and change the proper nouns? Race?!By jocktrappodcast2

1
Sleep, Scroll, Repeat feat. Matthew Gasda 1:09:21

1M ago1:09:21

1:09:21

Send us a text This week, we're talking to New York playwright and novelist Matthew Gasda about his new novel, The Sleepers, one of the best treatments of millennial generational malaise. We talk about the Dimes Square New York scene, the internet and culture, ideology vs art, masculinity and femininity, defiantly staging theatre during the lockdow…

1
Words of Radiance Part 4 - Brandon Sanderson 1:28:38

1M ago1:28:38

1:28:38

Hey, Adventures, we are still on Roshar, discussing Words of Radiance. In this episode of the Side Quest Podcast, Slava and Jonathan continue to explore the world of The Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson. This is part 4 of 10 of our coverage of the second book in the Stormlight Archives. This week's discussion highlights Sanderson's effective…

1
Poetic License feat. Jasper Ceylon 1:53:45

1M ago1:53:45

1:53:45

Send us a text This week we're joined by the "Ern Malley of the 21st Century," Jasper Ceylon, who has pranked multiple poetry journals by posing as vogueish identities while submitting terrible poems. Jasper successfully published poems that were intentionally bad to woke journals more interested in an author's pronouns, sexuality and racial charac…

1
Words of Radiance Part 3 - Brandon Sanderson 1:17:26

1M ago1:17:26

1:17:26

Hey, Adventures, we are still on Roshar, discussing Words of Radiance. In this episode of the Side Quest Podcast, Slava and Jonathan continue to explore the world of The Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson. This is part 3 of 10 of our coverage of the second book in the Stormlight Archives. The discussion highlights the importance of character m…

1
E14 - We look pretty good for dead b*tches 47:15

1M ago47:15

47:15

All about dating apps, Chobits, day care, and motorcycle dads.By jocktrappodcast2

1
Pure Skid Row feat. Jared Klickstein 2:01:08

1M ago2:01:08

2:01:08

Send us a text This episode, we talk to Jared Klickstein about his amazing memoir of drug addiction and homelessness, Crooked Smile. We also chat about the underground classic Australian film, Pure Shit (Bert Deling, 1978). Buy Crooked Smile here: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0CWZ1GHLW?ref_=mr_referred_us_au_au Support the show…

1
E13 - Worsties for Trash Pt. 2: Folie à Trois 44:17

1M ago44:17

44:17

The Trappers' friendships begin to strain as their sick and twisted edition of the newlyweds' game continues.By jocktrappodcast2

1
E12 - Worsties for Trash Pt. 1: Cambreed and Coheedia 50:20

1M ago50:20

50:20

Will a bout of the newlyweds game spell divorce for the podcast?By jocktrappodcast2

1
E11 - RIP to the fallen queens and many more to come 1:05:30

1M ago1:05:30

1:05:30

We take a quiz to see who knows the most about classique werks of literature and the writers thereof. We learn the shocking truth about the pronunciation of the name "Fyodor." We didn't already done had enough of ourses, so Frey administers a sickening quiz all about RuPaul's Drag Race. Clock THAT tea. Bex learns that Furbies aren't feline in appea…

1
E10 - We Need to Get Ronny Downey Juber Back on the Pipe 1:06:49

1M ago1:06:49

1:06:49

We do NOT fall for all-over-body deodorant! We GO IN on Throb Zombie and drag kings everywhere! Bex SLAMS recent horror film Annabelle (2024)! Frey STANDS UP for the inclusion of minors in the yaoi otaku box! We CLAP BACK at therapists! Bex THROWS SHADE at the critics of Hilarious Baldwin! Bri and Frey CALL OUT broke writers!…

1
E9 - The Woods at the End of the World Knock at the Cabin Door 46:36

1M ago46:36

46:36

We resume our discussion from last episode by noting how Paul G. Tremblay's The Cabin at the End of the World differs from its film adaptation. We also discuss the Southern Reach trilogy, problematique age gaps, our relationships with Scooby-Doo, and erotic My Hero Academia fanart.By jocktrappodcast2

1
E8 - Knock at the Cabin Door at the End of the World in the Woods 1:07:03

1M ago1:07:03

1:07:03

We discuss the 2023 film Knock at the cabin, directed by M. Night Shyamalan. Is it a messy attempt at pro-gay sentiment or a stunningly blatant homophobic screed?By jocktrappodcast2

1
E7 - You think you fell out of a macademia nut tree?! 1:02:24

1M ago1:02:24

1:02:24

[Intro: Dido] My tea’s gone cold, I’m wondering why I Got out of bed at all The morning rain clouds up my window And I can’t see at all And even if I could it’d all be gray But your picture on my wall It reminds me that it’s not so bad, it’s not so bad [Chorus: Dido] My tea’s gone cold, I’m wondering why I Got out of bed at all The morning rain clo…

1
E6 - Ms. Marvel, Mr. Mathers, and Midoriya Shonen 1:11:29

1M ago1:11:29

1:11:29

In which we discuss Webtoon, the MCU, and a specific Eminem stan account.By jocktrappodcast2

1
E5 - Fujo no shi better don't 2:18:38

1M ago2:18:38

2:18:38

Bex recounts a formative TikTok fiasco and we lament a future in which everybody's queer and nobody's gay.By jocktrappodcast2

1
E4 - Big Mac McCarthy and the Left Hand Arm Man 1:48:53

1M ago1:48:53

1:48:53

It's time to get literary. This week we discuss all the books we've read together as part of our book club: The Secret History by Donna Tartt, The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin, The Hellbound Heart by Clive Barker, Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin, Nine Stories by J.D. Salinger, Flowers in the Attic by V.C. Andrews, Blood Meridian by C…

1
E3 - Big Pharma, Big Inc*st, and Big Dipper 1:07:40

1M ago1:07:40

1:07:40

This week we discuss our disturbing experiences in chat rooms.By jocktrappodcast2

1
E2 - Autism speaks softly and carries a big stick 1:30:09

1M ago1:30:09

1:30:09

We break our deafening silence on autism and self-diagnosis.By jocktrappodcast2

1
E1 - Pilot 1:02:57

1M ago1:02:57

1:02:57

We don't have a soundboard but we do discuss sounding.By jocktrappodcast2

1
Words of Radiance Part 2 - Brandon Sanderson 1:42:01

2M ago1:42:01

1:42:01

Hey, Adventures, we are still on Roshar, discussing Words of Radiance. In this episode of the Side Quest Podcast, Slava and Jonathan continue to explore the world of The Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson. Our website: www.thesidequestpodcast.com Discover Side Quest: https://linktr.ee/asidequest Powered by Descript Our IG Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ |…

1
How To Read 1:17:49

2M ago1:17:49

1:17:49

Send us a text Reading isn't dead - our attention spans have just been hijacked by phones and social media. Inspired by an essay Fresta wrote on how to read last year, we discuss practical strategies to reclaim your reading habit and rediscover the joy of getting lost in a good book. Check out Fresta's essay on Rare Candy's substack with more detai…

1
Words of Radiance Part 1 - Brandon Sanderson 1:11:28

2M ago1:11:28

1:11:28

In this episode of the Side Quest Podcast, we delve back into the world of Roshar after almost a year. We discuss Brandon Sanderson's writing journey, the complexity of the magic system, and the character development of Kaladin and Shallan. We also discuss Shalon's character, her traumatic past, and the impact of her experiences on her identity. Ou…

1
Gods Fare No Better feat. J David Osborne 2:27:42

2M ago2:27:42

2:27:42

Send us a text J David Osborne joins us once more, this time to talk about his new psychedelic cyberpunk epic novel, Gods Fare No Better. We talked about spirituality, cyberpunk, science fiction, and the impact of various media on JDO's work, as well as book marketing strategies, industry challenges, and the importance of creativity and playfulness…

1
Apocalypse Z: The Beginning of the End Part 2 - Manel Loureiro 1:03:00

2M ago1:03:00

1:03:00

Sorry, Adventurers, this episode is dropping late. Work schedules were overwhelming this week. In this episode of the Side Quest, Slava and Jonathan delve into the second part of their discussion on 'Apocalypse Z' by Manuel Luriero. They explore the narrative style, character development, and the emotional responses elicited by the protagonist's ex…

1
Apocalypse Z: The Beginning of the End Part 1 - Manel Loureiro 53:31

2M ago53:31

53:31

In this episode of the Side Quest podcast, Slava and Jonathan delve into the survival horror novel 'Apocalypse Z: The Beginning of the End' by Manel Llorriero. They discuss the author's background and the book's journey from blog to bestseller. The conversation includes character goals and a critical reflection on the protagonist's development thro…

1
Medea, The First Girl Boss 1:19:23

3M ago1:19:23

1:19:23

Send us a text This week, we chat about an ancient classic, Medea by the Athenian tragedian Euripides. We also discuss Lars Von Trier's 1988 TV movie adaptation of the play, written by Carl Theodor Dreyer. Sini also published a well-received essay on men reading books on podcasts at Unherd, which you can read here: https://unherd.com/2025/04/the-li…

1
The Girl With All The Gifts Part 3 - M.R. Carey 1:02:02

3M ago1:02:02

1:02:02

In this episode of The Side Quest Podcast, Slava and Jonathan are joined by guest Abby from BooksAndCrannies2023 to explore the chilling and thought-provoking novel The Girl With All The Gifts. The trio dives deep into the book’s core themes, including the unique perspective offered by Melanie, the ethical and moral dilemmas surrounding scientific …

1
Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver feat. Agitator and Bistro Californium 1:43:13

3M ago1:43:13

1:43:13

Send us a text This week, a triple crosspost collaboration with Agitator and Bistro Californium, where we discuss the remasters of the Legacy of Kain videogame series. We talk about the game's mechanics, story progression, incredible voice acting and sound design, character development, themes of free will, spiritualism, and the liminal space betwe…

1
PREVIEW: There Are Two Gene Wolfes Inside You (Omnibus Edition) 2:14:42

3M ago2:14:42

2:14:42

Send us a text For full episode, go to https://www.patreon.com/c/GettingLit This week, we have compiled all four episodes of our Book of the New Sun series we did in 2023 into one massive 8.5 hour journey. Join Sini, J David Osborne and Kelby Losack as they unpack Gene Wolfe's masterwork of science fiction. Support the show…

1
The Girl With All The Gifts Part 2 - M.R. Carey 1:14:47

3M ago1:14:47

1:14:47

In this episode of the Side Quest podcast, Slava and Jonathan delve into the themes of character development, world-building, and ethical dilemmas in M.R. Carey's 'The Girl With All The Gifts'. They discuss the vivid imagery of the post-apocalyptic setting, the pacing of the narrative, and the effective use of foreshadowing to enhance character arc…

1
The Girl With All The Gifts Part 1 - M.R. Carey 1:04:51

3M ago1:04:51

1:04:51

In this episode of the Side Quest podcast, Slava and Jonathan discuss M.R. Carey's novel The Girl with All the Gifts. They explore the story's unique perspective, which combines horror and science fiction elements. The discussion covers the author's background, the creative process behind the book, character development, pacing, and reader engageme…

1
Keepin' It One Hundred 1:24:54

3M ago1:24:54

1:24:54

Send us a text We're celebrating 100 episodes of the Getting Lit Podcast by talking about a few Jorge Luis Borges stories: The Library of Babel, Three Versions of Judas, The House of Asterion, and Borges And I. We talk about infinity, intellectualism, mythology. We also touched on the challenges of creating a public persona as a writer, a few movie…

1
Uncrowned Part 3 - Will Wight 1:25:29

3M ago1:25:29

1:25:29

In this episode, Slava and Jonathan, joined by guests Casey and JT, explore Uncrowned Part 3. They discuss character dynamics, the emotional stakes of the tournament, and the role of monarchs. The conversation highlights Will Wight’s evolving writing style, the tension between Lyndon and Yaren, and the cultivation genre. Our website: www.thesideque…

1
Uncrowned Part 2 - Will Wight 1:02:18

4M ago1:02:18

1:02:18

Hey Adventurers! In this episode of the SideQuest Podcast, Slava and Jonathan continue their discussion of Uncrowned, unraveling the tournament battles, character growth, and world-shaking power struggles of the Cradle series. Whether you're a longtime Cradle fan or new to the series, this episode is packed with insights, analysis, and discussions …

1
The Magick of Ugly Portmanteaus 1:26:59

4M ago1:26:59

1:26:59

Send us a text This week, it's a bit of a buffet! We chat about two Aleister Crowley short stories: The Drug, and The Stratagem. Before he was a famous occultist, Crowley wrote some fiction, so we thought we'd try it out. To get a much more extensive dive into Crowley, check out Art of Darkness' episode on his life: https://artofdarkpod.com/aleiste…

1
Uncrowned Part 1 - Will Wight 52:01

4M ago52:01

52:01

Hey Adventurers! Back to the Cradle we go. Slava and Jonathan explore Uncrowned, book seven of Will White's Cradle series. They discuss the Uncrowned King tournament, power dynamics, and character growth. Lyndon, Yaren, and Mercy face personal trials that test friendship, ambition, and resilience. Yaren's battle with her blood shadow sparks a debat…

1
Fight Club Part 3 - Chuck Palahniuk 1:11:27

4M ago1:11:27

1:11:27

Hey Adventurers! Today, we continue our dive into Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk. For this final episode, Jess, our favorite "Chuck P" scholar, joins us for our usual guest episode overview. Over three episodes, we've delved into this groundbreaking novel. We hope you've enjoyed it. Our website: www.thesidequestpodcast.com Discover Side Quest: https…

1
Roadside Picnic and Russian N-words feat. Masha 1:25:33

4M ago1:25:33

1:25:33

Send us a text On this episode, we chat with Masha about the Soviet science fiction novel Roadside Picnic, by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky. Russian nihilism and existentialism, Soviet censorship, the unique flavour of Soviet-era science fiction, how to say slurs in Russian and more! Follow Masha on X: https://x.com/3l3ktr4k0mpl3ks And Instagram: htt…

1
Fight Club Part 2 - Chuck Palahniuk 1:15:33

4M ago1:15:33

1:15:33

Hey Adventurers! Today, we continue our dive into Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk. Over three episodes, we delve into this groundbreaking novel. From its gritty exploration of masculinity and rebellion to the dark allure of anarchy, we unpack the story’s themes and iconic characters. Our website: www.thesidequestpodcast.com Discover Side Quest: https…