Shows / The Free Bin
The Free Bin
Join the staff of the Toledo Public Library as they dive deep into history, culture, and the arts! That's Toledo, Oregon, USA, by the way--not the bigger one in Ohio or the original one in Spain. But a public library serves everyone, so if you are someone, The Free Bin has something for you. Whether it's cult movies, cultural history, classic stories, games, or (of course) books, you never know what you'll find in here, so reach on in! The Free Bin is a production of the Toledo Public Library…
Episodes
- The Free Bin
That's Startling
Cindy and Harrison discuss some new and interesting books and movies. Green liquid disappoints. A cowboy wrestles with Bigfoot. Public Works saves the day…
- The Free Bin
Clothes To Fit Every Werewolf
Cindy expounds on some accidental monsters of popular fiction, and the philosophical ramifications thereof. The Fly (1986) is compared and contrasted with…
- The Free Bin
Maybe That's Sloppycore
The chance rediscovery of a beloved childhood visual style propels Harrison and Cindy into the depths of the Aesthetics Wiki. Pirates flee a collapsing…
- The Free Bin
Where Are We Goin' Today, Boat?
Cindy tells Harrison about the sometimes-secretive practice of ghostwriting, as well as its more visible cousin, franchise-writing. Max Brand's basement…
- The Free Bin
A Ghost Is Punching You In The Face
Cindy and Harrison are joined by their longtime library colleague (and first-time podcast co-host) Nancy, to discuss the life and legacy of country music…
The Free Bin"Of The Thing That Is Neither God Nor Beast"
Harrison reads a short story from Lord Dunsany's 1905 book "The Gods of Pegāna." In this episode: "Of The Thing That Is Neither God Nor Beast" by Lord Dunsany
- The Free Bin
I Buy Patterns From A Certain Person
Harrison takes Cindy on a journey through the wild world of musical interpolation! A folk singer lawyers up. Jazz players reference the Looney Tunes while…
- The Free Bin
Not Pierre
Cindy and Harrison mark the recent passing of three beloved cultural icons, and share some favorite memories. In this episode: "Clue" (film, 1985) dir. by…
- The Free Bin
Amish Snowbirds
Cindy and Harrison take time out of a very busy week to chat about what they're currently reading! In this episode: "Exhumed: Unearthing the History of the…
The Free BinThree Countries, No Juice
Harrison introduces Cindy to a pair of early sound films! Eddie Cantor sings, dances, and tells some extremely 1920s jokes. Harrison talks about vacuum tubes…
The Free Bin"Moxon's Master" by Ambrose Bierce
Harrison reads "Moxon's Master" by Ambrose Bierce. No dubiously-sentient automata were used in the creation of this, or any, episode of The Free Bin.
- The Free Bin
Out Antiquing
Content Warning: This episode is all about death investigation, and contains discussions of violence, decomposition, and death planning. Cindy brings some…
- The Free Bin
Two Lead Pipes
Cindy and Harrison face a barrage of random conversation starters from a website Cindy found. Harrison receives an exemplary poking stick. Cindy multitasks…
- The Free Bin
A Country Song About Cheese
Cindy and Harrison discuss the Luminate 2026 Midyear Report, via Billboard's summary.
- The Free Bin
Love Rhombus
Harrison leads Cindy through the weird and wild journey of a cancelled early-'90s "Hellraiser" video game. We have such sights to show you! In this episode…
- The Free Bin
William Pitt's Appeal
In observance of Independence Day, Harrison reads an appeal delivered to Parliament by William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham, in 1775. Happy Fourth, everybody!
- The Free Bin
Grumpy Sunshine
Cindy leads Harrison on a deep dive into the romance genre and its many, many subgenres! Dukes and Skarsgårds abound. A cowboy demonstrates nominative…
- The Free Bin
Two Tales from the Brothers Grimm
Harrison shares some updates and reads "The Mouse, the Bird, and the Sausage" and "Fundevogel"--two German folktales collected by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm and…
- The Free Bin
Liminality Pt. 2: Feeling All The Feels
Harrison, Cindy and superstar volunteer Olga delve into the concept of "hauntology" and how it applies to culture, society, and music. In this episode: "Etched…
- The Free Bin
Liminality Pt. 1: That Looks Like A Place I Used To Live
Harrison and Cindy begin a two-episode trek into the Backrooms, and the concepts, history, and artistic movements that dwell within their endless corridors. In…
- The Free Bin
Girls, You Know Nothin'
Cindy and Harrison observe Memorial Day. Harrison introduces some new whale science. Vowels merge. Formants emerge from phonic lips. Pinchy abides. In this…
- The Free Bin
Everybody Has Stuff in Their Inbox
Content Warning: This episode discusses sexual assault, violence, death, and war. This week, Cindy and Harrison discuss the rather harrowing books they've…
The Free Bin"May is Building Her House"
Harrison reads Richard Le Gallienne's poem "May is Building Her House," from the "The Lonely Dancer and Other Poems" (1913).
- The Free Bin
Caffeine Makes Me Tired
Cindy and Harrison are joined by youth correspondent Anara to discuss the local weather and her favorite books! In this episode: "Key Lime Pie Murder" (book)…
- The Free Bin
Don't Mess With Me
The gang shares bittersweet news and celebrates Autism Acceptance Month!
- The Free Bin
Heck Yeah There's Gonna Be Another Banger
In light of the recent release of "The Super Mario Galaxy Movie," Sophia and Harrison celebrate and discuss the Super Mario franchise. Speculation, nostalgia…
- The Free Bin
Symplasmic Plastidial Catabolism
The gang shares some random facts! Abe Lincoln makes a Mai Tai. A fish waits in a Slovakian bathtub. Jason waits at the bottom of a lake. The sun explodes. A…
- The Free Bin
Gonna Have to Fill Me In On The Frog
Cindy and Harrison flip the script from last week, with Cindy bringing a history lesson for Women's History Month, and Harrison celebrating World Frog Day. In…
- The Free Bin
They've All Told Each Other That You're Horrible
Cindy and Harrison talk birds and movies! At the behest of her recent online search suggestions, Cindy provides a new batch of Bird Facts concerning our…
- The Free Bin
Love The Stuff You Love
The gang finds joy! Sophia shares some exciting library updates. A leg returns to its owner. Cindy investigates regional foods in the United States. Harrison…
- The Free Bin
Sad Facts Friday
The gang shares some of their favorite birds! Eagles and herons eat well. Pigeons carry urgent news. A giant parrot does its best. In this episode: Bald Eagle…
- The Free Bin
Keep the Vibes High!
The gang introduces a fortuitous confluence of annual religious observances! Library super-volunteer Omar (who also happens to be Sophia's husband) phones in…
The Free BinStrawbociraptor
With Sophia snowed in, the gang assembles via videotelephony to celebrate Black History Month! Harrison tells the tale of legendary lawman Bass Reeves. Sophia…
- The Free Bin
Gotta Do That Pencil Thing
Content warning: This episode contains potential spoilers for "Bridgerton" and "The Pitt," as well as discussions of medical distress and child death. The gang…
- The Free Bin
Cherryheads
Per listener request, the gang talks about the weather! Harrison shares a brief history of almanacs and... something else. Sophia introduces us to the historic…
- The Free Bin
That's a German Pistol
The gang explores the history and variety of dialects in the United States! Cindy brings the research. Harrison abandons the letter G and Sophia adopts it…
- The Free Bin
Yuck Puck
Cindy leads the gang in a discussion of official tie-in media and adaptations, with a lengthy sidequest into the world of fanfiction! ET cripples an industry…
- The Free Bin
Coulda been a disasta!
Sophia and Harrison discuss lost media and the Mandela Effect. An army of penguins gathers. Sammy Hagar craves behavioral enrichment. Hank Williams creates…
- The Free Bin
Try It! It's Awful!
The gang discusses their New Year's resolutions, and Cindy celebrates National Science Fiction Day with a deep dive into Timothy Zahn's influential Star Wars…
- The Free Bin
Makin' It Safe
The gang reflects on some of their favorite holiday films and traditions. Sophia's got a brand new nog. Cindy's got a brand new holiday. Harrison gets earnest…
- The Free Bin
Reality Candy Blast Beat
In preparation for the holiday break, Harrison decides to just do a quick, easy show-and-tell episode about what the gang's been learning this week. It doesn't…
- The Free Bin
All This Sounds Really Super Safe
The gang discusses some lesser-known winter holidays, as well as unique regional traditions from around the world! World Kindness Day fills our hearts with…
- The Free Bin
November 2025 Quick Update!
Harrison shares some exciting announcements while the gang preps new episodes!
- The Free Bin
Not Good, To Put It Mildly
Sophia leads the gang in a discussion of the Salem witch trials, their historical context, and the ways that communities fall into paranoia, persecution, and…
- The Free Bin
He Is Not Sneaky At All
Content Warning: This episode includes detailed discussion of death, historical embalming practices, and historical cannibalism. For Spooky Season 2025, the…
- The Free Bin
I Grew Up As A Monster Kid (with The Magical Mr. B.)
In preparation for National Magic Week, The Magical Mr. B. stops by to discuss the life and work of Harry Houdini, as well as the history of magic in general.
- The Free Bin
My Dog Likes Pineapple
The gang discusses [redacted] for Banned Books Week! This conversation covers the rights provided by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution and…
The Free BinIt's Probably Because She Designed It That Way
The gang continues to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month by sharing stories of some important figures, from history to the present day. Along the way, they…
- The Free Bin
Somebody Help The Duck (with Joel Gaddis)
Joel Gaddis of Movie Madness drops by to discuss the wild world of "Demented Kids." This is the name Movie Madness applies to its collection of bizarre and…
- The Free Bin
History's Big
The Toledo Public Library celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month (Sep. 15 - Oct. 15)! Sophia provides an overview of the celebration, including its history, the…
- The Free Bin
There's Always A Pink Bunny Somewhere
The gang shares some of their favorite (and least favorite) female characters in fiction. Cindy digs up some info on Victorian grave-robbers. Sophia needs…
- The Free Bin
In It To Win It
Harrison rocket-starts a conversation about Mario Kart, designing for contradictory audience expectations, the vastly different ways we approach and appreciate…
- The Free Bin
"The Mirror"
Harrison reads the poem "The Mirror" from "Blooms of the Berry" Madison Cawein
- The Free Bin
We Promise We Won't Murder You
Cindy and Harrison discuss some of their favorite tropes in movies, books, and games! Velociraptors build tension. Ghosts play to an empty house. Cindy…
- The Free Bin
"Poppa Needs Shorts"
Harrison reads "Poppa Needs Shorts" (1964) by Walt and Leigh Richmond.
- The Free Bin
Fabuloso
At Captain Sophia's behest, The Free Bin crew hauls up a net full of maritime tales! Cindy makes a hearty meatloaf from sacred cows, and eats it with black…
- The Free Bin
Smell-O-Vision
Cindy, Sophia, and Harrison discuss the ever-evolving role of the telephone in fiction, and the myriad ways technology affects the stories we tell. Along the…
The Free Bin"A Telephone Call"
In preparation for our upcoming discussion of the ever-changing role of telephones in fiction, Sophia reads Dorothy Parker's 1928 short story, "A Telephone…