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
Outsider Art pt. 1: Outsider Writers
Deb and Harrison introduce a new series on outsider art with a discussion of outsider literature. Along the way, they touch on psychobilly pioneers The Cramps…
- The Free Bin
Remembering John Nichols
Deb and Harrison discuss the work of recently-departed author John Nichols, focusing on his novels "The Sterile Cuckoo" and "The Milagro Beanfield War," as…
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Poetaster Area
Deb and Harrison discuss and debate The awkward poetry most do hate And other flawful arts in turn That public ridicule did earn Deb holds the line for formal…
- The Free Bin
Contiguously Frosted
Denyse and Harrison share some useful and informative books about cooking and culinary heritage. In this episode: "The Cooking Gene" by Michael W. Twitty "Fry…
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They Were Often on a Log
Deb and Harrison talk about Robin Hood ballads, from the traditional to Bryan Adams. Along the way, they encounter talking animals, a fraudulent decapitation…
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Review and Discuss: "Tress of the Emerald Sea"
Deb gives her review of Brandon Sanderson's wonderful stand-alone novel "Tress of the Emerald Sea," and Harrison shares a bit about the renowned author. In…
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Rhoticity Chicken
Denyse and Harrison have a "gdreat" time discussing the "Crispy R." Sources: "The 'Crispy R' and Why R is the Weirdest Letter" by Dan Nosowitz (from Atlas…
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Werewolfery
Content warning: This episode contains descriptions of violence. In this Halloween episode, Harrison and Deb discuss the history and meaning of werewolves. In…
The Free BinYuki-Onna
Harrison reads "Yuki-Onna," from Lafcadio Hearn's 1904 collection "Kwaidan: Stories and Studies of Strange Things." Mentioned in this episode: "The Book of…
The Free BinThe Phantom Hag
Harrison reads "The Phantom Hag," from 1904's "25 Ghost Stories," collected and edited by W. Bob Holland.
- The Free Bin
Doctoberfest
Horror-fan Harrison and horror-averse Deb share some documentaries about scary (and not-so-scary) movies to kick off your film studies this October spooky…
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National Hispanic Heritage Month 2023
Harrison shares a few Spanish-language recommendations as the Free Bin Squad prepares for a larger episode. In this episode: "Atlas de Imperios" by Miguel del…
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An Autumn Encounter
Harrison reads "An Autumn Encounter," from Kenneth Grahame's 1894 collection "Pagan Papers."
The Free BinIs The E Silent?
Denyse and Harrison talk briefly about the Yaquina Bay Bridge. Errata and clarifications: When Harrison says the channel under the bridge is 133 feet high…
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Do You Have Your Implement?
Deb and Harrison share some new and newly-arrived titles! In this episode: "Behold the Monster" by Jillian Lauren "Last Action Heroes" by Nick de Semlyen…
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We've Still Got the Records
Content warning: This episode deals with Khmer Rouge war crimes. We don't go into too much graphic detail, but it gets ugly. Be forewarned. Harrison tells Deb…
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When My Ship Comes In
Harrison shares his favorite story from Edmund Lester Pearson's 1912 collection, "The Believing Years."
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Knee-Bolters and Pond Monkeys (with Ted W. Cox)
Local historian Ted Cox stops by to discuss Toledo's past, including its important historic connection to the dairy industry. Here is a picture of an item…
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The Gentle Brontosaurus
Deb, Denyse and Harrison share and discuss some of their favorite songs over a nice, chewy beverage. Denyse finds a spider and Harrison forgets how many people…
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"Let's Get Butts in Seats" (with Joel Gaddis)
Content warning: This episode contains discussion of violence, sexual assault and animal cruelty. "Problematic" is the word of the week! Joel Gaddis of Movie…
- The Free Bin
Old Dogs, Children, and Watermelon Soda (with Ricky Dyson)
Content warning: this episode contains descriptions of war and violence against children. Local writer and renaissance man Ricky Dyson shares some of his…
- The Free Bin
Hear Us Watch: Cat-Women of the Moon (1953)
We're trying something new this week! Watch along with Deb and Harrison as they experience the 1953 science fiction trashterpiece "Cat-Women of the Moon." This…
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"It All Gallops" (with Marc Maislen)
Content warning: This episode contains frank discussion of near-fatal injuries. Deb and Harrison sit down with local author/actor/producer Marc Maislen to…
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Juneteenth 2023
Deb (flying solo due to Harrison getting sick this week) provides a brief history of the holiday, which commemorates the emancipation of the last enslaved…
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Horace
To celebrate the start of Summer Reading and the approach of summer vacation, Harrison reads a chapter from Edmund L. Pearson's "The Believing Years." In this…
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Writing With Sue Fagalde Lick
Deb has a chat with prolific local author and blogger Sue Fagalde Lick. Discussed in this episode: Childless By Marriage (blog) "Love or Children: When You…
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Attack of the Pod People (OLA 2023 conference session) w/ Swords & Starships
Harrison joins Brittney and Joshua of Coos Bay Public Library's Swords & Starships podcast at the 2023 Oregon Library Association conference in Bend to break…
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A Longer Tailbone
Deb, Denyse and Harrison play a few rounds of "Guess the Definition" with a few choice words.
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Walking the Labyrinth with Catherine Rickbone
Deb and Harrison are joined by local poet, writer, arts advocate, and radio personality Catherine Rickbone. Catherine shares a few of her poems over a…
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"Go For Broke"
In honor of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, Harrison shares the story of the 442nd Infantry Regiment, and Daniel Inouye's famous assault on the Gothic…
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I Brought My Perkins
Deb, Harrison and (briefly) Denyse close out National Poetry Month with a few classic readings. Denyse shares some of this month's book spine poetry, created…
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Comes From Beets
The gang explores the world of self-sufficiency, and books thereabout. Deb breaks down the basics of off-grid living, and introduces our upcoming (as of this…
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A Good-Sounding Board
Content warning: This episode includes a brief discussion of suicide. Deb, Denyse and Harrison discuss a few of April's many monthlong observances. Topics…
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Woods Medicine
Harrison reads "Woods Medicine," from Dallas Lore Sharp's "The Spring of the Year" (1909).
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The Llama is Weather-Dependent
Denyse and Harrison introduce a week of Spring Break activities! They also discuss Tom Hanks, Mr. Rogers, Tom Hanks as Mr. Rogers, ideal llama conditions, the…
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Connecting the Coast with Lori and Chan
Harrison has a chat with Lori Tobias and Chan Christiansen. Lori is a longtime Oregon coast reporter, while her husband Chan is a recently-retired traveling…
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Women's History Month 2023
Deb shares some facts for Women's History Month, and initiates a game of "Stump Harrison." Harrison shares some books for the occasion. Topics include the…
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A Weird Relationship With Earthworms
We celebrate the approach of springtime with a discussion of gardening books--from guerrilla gardening guides to Beverley Nichols' improbably entertaining…
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The Snow Man
Harrison reads a translation of Hans Christian Andersen's 1861 story "The Snow Man," as it appears in "The Pink Fairy Book" by Andrew Lang (1897). Disney's…
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Laminated Goat
Deb, Denyse and Harrison share a few interesting things they learned this week. Denyse leads a Peeps-flavored Pepsi tasting and shares a story about Ronald…
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Dog Looks Great
Deb, Denyse and Harrison discuss author photos, and engage in some gentle roasting of authors they love. Husband-and-wife Egyptologists commit to their bit…
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It's Science Fiction (and also Fantasy)!
Deb and Harrison talk science fiction, fantasy and sci-fi fantasy, from antiquity to our many possible futures. Harrison dreams of being a grimy early-'90s…
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It's Science!
Science nerds Denyse and Harrison exchange fun and informative science titles, with feedback from literature nerd Deb. Also, Deb and Harrison misidentify a…
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The Solitary Organ
Content warning: This episode contains references to violence, crime scene science and intimate anatomy (not at the same time, fortunately). Harrison shows Deb…
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Publication Consternation
Deb and Harrison explore the weird and messy symbiotic relationship between libraries and the world of publishing. Expect takes of varying temperature on such…
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Harry Yes, Harry No
Deb and Harrison discuss some books they read in 2022, and some they are looking forward to in 2023. Deb challenges the Crown while Harrison shaves Sasquatch…
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Bathypelagic Juggalo
Deb listens to some of Harrison's favorite strange and/or historically significant sounds. In this episode: Ötzi Nesyamun Phonautograph Frank Lambert's Talking…
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A Goblin-Mode Holiday Tale
Harrison shares a short Christmas story from 1908 about Santa Claus battling an army of goblins. In this episode: The Goblins' Christmas by Elizabeth Anderson…
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A Conversation with Lee Lynch
Author Lee Lynch joins Denyse and Harrison to discuss her career in lesbian fiction, from the time of Stonewall to her most recent work. Discussed in this…
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Books That Raised Us
Deb, Denyse and Harrison discuss junior fiction and young-adult reading, with a focus on the books that made them who they are today (oops!). Deb reveals the…
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Turkey Day Grown-Up Story Time
Deb and Harrison share a couple of their favorite stories for you to enjoy while you slightly overcook the turkey and realize you forgot to get butter when you…
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Writing with the "Jew Girls"
November is National Novel Writing Month, and this week Deb is joined by the "Jew Girls" (the Newport-based writing team of Jess Bondy, Sara Heimlich and Carla…
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National Model Railroad Month with YPRHS
November is National Model Railroad Month! Harrison is joined by Lisa Watson, Alan Holzapfel and Ray Cauduro of the Yaquina Pacific Railroad Historical Society…
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Community Shakespeare Vol. 1: A Posset is a Small Possum
Library staff and friends perform some dramatic scenes from Shakespeare. Rehearsals? Never! Theater experience? No! Familiarity with the source material?…
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Great Moments in Vampire History
Content warning: this episode includes discussions of violence, war, trauma and sex. It's for grown-ups! Deb and Harrison talk about the relationship between…
- The Free Bin
Freesource List
Deb and Harrison share some of their favorite online resources for eBooks, audiobooks and more! Discussed in this episode: Internet Archive, and Books to…
- The Free Bin
Audiobooks with Jesse Bickford
Blackstone Audio's Jesse Bickford joins Deb and Harrison for a behind-the-scenes look (or, rather, listen) at audiobook production! Discussion topics include…
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Badfilm with Joel Gaddis
Deb, Denyse and Harrison discuss the very best of the very worst movies with Joel Gaddis from Portland's renowned video rental institution, Movie Madness…