

Sophomore Lit
John McCoy
John McCoy and a guest host read books you might have been assigned in high school, or college, or other stuff you might have read when you were a kid. The theming is loose!
Episodes
Mentioned books

May 1, 2026 • 35min
189: Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry
Jelani Sims returns to talk about Mildred D. Taylor’s heartbreaking Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry (1977).
John McCoy with Jelani Sims
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Apr 15, 2026 • 46min
188: Archy and Mehitabel
boss these podcasts are getting
out of hand the other day
i heard dan mccoy and his much older brother
discussing archy and mehitabel
by which i mean the column by don marquis that started in 1916
and then was collected into a book
if you could call it that
in 1927
John McCoy with Dan McCoy
Show Notes & Links
Shinbone Alley
The 1970 animated musical based on Archy and Mehitabel
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Mar 26, 2026 • 50min
187: The Apology
Love of wisdom means never having to say you’re sorry. Professor Marina McCoy joins her husband to discuss Plato’s The Apology (c. 399-90 BCE).
John McCoy with Marina McCoy
Show Notes & Links
Greece is the word
Companion post on my blog detailing Marina’s and John’s trip to Athens and to its Plato-related sites.
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Feb 26, 2026 • 43min
186: "Repent, Harlequin!" Said the Ticktockman
First-time co-host Daniel Heddendorf joins in to discuss clocks and jellybeans in Harlan Ellison’s short story, “‘Repent, Harlequin!’ Said the Ticktockman” (1965).
John McCoy with Daniel Heddendorf
Show Notes & Links
2000X: "Repent Harlequin!" Said the Ticktockman | By the Waters of Babylon
The radio adaptation of the story directed by Yuri Rasovky and starring Robin Williams and Harlan Ellison.
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Feb 13, 2026 • 57min
185: The Third Policeman
I want to ride my bicycle, I want to ride it where I like. Shaenon K. Garrity returns to discuss Flan O’Brien’s enigmatic The Third Policeman (written 1940, published 1967).
John McCoy
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Jan 8, 2026 • 46min
184: I am the Cheese
Hope you’re not lactose intolerant! Matt Skuta returns to discuss John Cormier’s I am the Cheese (1977).
John McCoy with Matt Skuta
Show Notes & Links
I am the Cheese
The 1983 film adaptation.
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Dec 24, 2025 • 24min
183: Christmas Special: "A Christmas Turkey"
What, the one as big as me? Marina McCoy makes her holiday return to discuss Mário de Andrade’s sweet-and-salty “A Christmas Turkey” (1956).
John McCoy with Marina McCoy
Show Notes & Links
Mario de Andrade - Brazil School
A dubbed introduction to the life and work of Brazilian poet and author Mário de Andrade
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Dec 9, 2025 • 49min
182: The Watch House
Who watches the Watch House? Not us, the book is better. Ross Cleaver returns to discuss Robert Westall’s The Watch House (1977).
John McCoy with Ross Cleaver
Show Notes & Links
*Pathetic Fallacy* post to accompany this episode
The 1988 BBC adaptation (if you must)
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Nov 26, 2025 • 35min
181: Thanksgiving Special: Protest Songs
The answer, my friend…is not a lyric in the any of the songs the McCoy Brothers discuss. For this annual drunk Thanksgiving Special, Rob, Dan, and John talk about Where Have All the Flowers Gone?, One Tin Soldier, and Alice’s Restaurant.
John McCoy with Rob McCoy and Dan McCoy
Show Notes & Links
Pathetic Fallacy: Hurrah for the Pumpkin Pie
A companion essay for this episode on my blog about Thanksgiving specials and protest songs.
The Kingston Trio: Where Have All the Flowers Gone? (1961)
One of the most successful covers of this song, originally by Pete Seeger.
The Original Caste: One Tin Soldier (1969)
In the episode I don’t remember who wrote this song, but it was Dennis Lambert and Brian Potter.
Arlo Guthrie: Alice's Restaurant Massacree (1967)
Here it is in all its 18 1/2 minute glory.
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Nov 10, 2025 • 49min
180: Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead
Podcasts could happen to anyone. David Loehr discusses exits and entrances in Tom Stoppard’s Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead (first performed 1966, published 1967).
John McCoy with David J. Loehr
Show Notes & Links
Rosencrantz & Guildenstern are Dead
Trailer for 1990 movie.
Björk: Bachelorette
That Björk video John references, if anyone cares.
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