Functionally Literate

Feb 04 2025 57 ep. 64 mins
Functionally Literate Podcast artwork

It's a book club! Join Ryan and his friends every other Tuesday as they chat about books (and also tell you all about things they aren't sponsored by). From Mythology and Swords & Sorcery to Urban Fantasy or History, this book club is all about having a good time while exploring diverse literary genres. Currently, the club is making its way through: The 5th story of Le Morte d'Arthur

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14 | Chapters 0-6

Feb 04 2025 66 mins  
(1/12) Nate moves into an unusually cheap apartment near Hollywood and then...weird stuff happens. This has been one of Ryan's favorite novels since high school. This is Jake's first time joining us on the podcast. Read along with us! We recommend you listen to the audiobook, but you can get a paper copy here. Support us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and get

In Broad Daylight

Jan 28 2025 122 mins  
What pushes someone to the point that they feel they have no choice but to commit murder in broad daylight? Today, Ryan and Natalie discuss Harry N. MacLean's In Broad Daylight: A Murder in Skidmore, Missouri. Support us on ⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠ and get ad-free episodes! Or make a one-time donation on ⁠⁠PayPal⁠⁠. Produced, directed, recorded and edited by: Ryan Carter Hoste

Le Morte d'Arthur V | Chapters 7-12

Jan 21 2025 85 mins  
(2/2) Arthur kills Lucius. Sir Gawaine makes a new friend. Arthur becomes Emperor of Rome.Read along with us! Zach is reading ⁠⁠⁠a version of the text⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠adapted into modern idiom⁠⁠. Ryan is reading and translating a more archaic version of the text that you can ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠download digitally⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free.Support us on⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠�

Delay, Deny, Defend

Jan 14 2025 97 mins  
Etched into the casings of the bullets that killed CEO Brian Thompson were the words "Delay," "Deny," and "Depose." Not long after that was reported, the popular connection on the internet was to the book Delay, Deny, Defend: Why Insurance Companies Don't Pay Claims and What You Can Do About It, by Jay M. Feinman. Not long after, Ryan and Clifton r

Le Morte d'Arthur V | Chapters 1-6

Jan 07 2025 93 mins  
(1/2) Emperor Lucius of the Roman Empire wants King Arthur to pay tribute. King Arthur would rather be Emperor of Rome.Read along with us! Zach is reading ⁠⁠⁠a version of the text⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠adapted into modern idiom⁠⁠. Ryan is reading and translating a more archaic version of the text that you can ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠download digitally⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free.Support us o

Hogfather

Dec 24 2024 62 mins  
It's Christmas Eve and Zach and Ryan are celebrating the holidays by chatting about Terry Pratchett's holiday book. The Hogfather is assassinated, and for one night Death is filling his shoes! You can buy the book here, or watch the mini-series here. Next week, Zach and Ryan will be telling another Le Morte d'Arthur story.

The Princess Bride | Buttercup's Baby

Dec 10 2024 53 mins  
(6/6) We discuss the first (and only) chapter of the sequel to The Princess Bride. It strikes Ryan as more of an epilogue, but hey, he didn't write it... Read along with us! The next book we'll be reading for Christmas Eve is Terry Pratchett's Hogfather! Support us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and get ad-free episodes! Or make a one-time

The Princess Bride | Chapters 7 & 8

Nov 26 2024 93 mins  
(5/6) The Turk and the Spaniard save the Man in Black. Buttercup escapes the clutches of Prince Humperdink...or does she? Read along with us! We're reading the ⁠⁠⁠30th-anniversary edition⁠⁠⁠ of the book. Support us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and get ad-free episodes! Or make a one-time donation on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠PayPal�

The Princess Bride | Chapter 6

Nov 12 2024 51 mins  
(4/6) Two years later (two weeks for you!), we come to the Festivities. Buttercup has to live with her choices. The Man in Black goes through a gamut of torture. Humperdink prepares for the wedding. Read along with us! We're reading the ⁠⁠30th-anniversary edition⁠⁠ of the book. Support us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and get ad-free episodes!

Functionally Electorate

Nov 05 2024 64 mins  
In this bonus election day episode, Ryan chats with Gregg Bush about politics and books and political books. Support us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and get ad-free episodes! Or make a one-time donation on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠PayPal⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Link dump: The Climate Book by Greta Thunberg Silent Spring by Rachel Carson Working b