Middle Country Public Library Podcast

Happy Holidays from the MCPL Podcast!

From a new baby and rice cooker to binge-worthy shows like Stranger Things Season 5, Welcome to Derry, and Only Murders in the Building, plus standout books such as Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir, I See You've Called in Dead by John Kenney, and Michael J. Fox's Future Boy – the team reflects on concerts, podcasts, and personal wins that made the year memorable.

Stay tuned next week for what they're looking forward to in 2026!

Join the team for a festive episode filled with holiday cheer! First, dive into a playful guessing game as Sara challenges Sal and Nicole to spot real Hallmark Christmas movie titles from fakes.

Then, Nicole explores family-friendly ideas for the school holiday break, highlighting upcoming winter programs at the library.

This week discover practical, parent-friendly ways to help your child learn to read (or read better) with library resources, guided oral reading tips, and why reading aloud for just 15 minutes a night makes a huge difference. Then we flip to the surprising value of small talk: why it matters, how it boosts happiness and connection, and simple tricks to make it less painful (or even enjoyable). Great for anyone who’s ever dreaded small talk and attending a holiday party!

Join us for a discussion of Satoshi Kon’s 2003 animated film Tokyo Godfathers, an unconventional holiday story that’s equal parts heartwarming, chaotic, and surprisingly realistic.

On Christmas Eve in Tokyo, three homeless individuals — a middle-aged alcoholic, a former drag queen, and a teenage runaway — discover an abandoned baby in the trash and embark on a wild, coincidence-filled quest to return her to her parents.

Take out the DVD or watch on Hoopla Digital with your MCPL card this holiday season!

Happy Thanksgiving from the MCPL Podcast crew!

Keeping our annual ritual alive, we're gearing up to launch the holiday festivities with a fresh batch of captivating trivia—drawn straight from a fascinating Reader's Digest feature you can check out here:

https://www.rd.com/article/thanksgiving-trivia/ and a little help from our A.I. friends...

Join us for a holiday-ready episode of the podcast, where we're dishing out smart, budget-friendly ways to spark joy and creativity for the little ones—think endless playtime possibilities without the price tag...

Plus, get ready to debate (and crave) the ultimate lineup of seasonal pies. Which one will end up on your table this Thanksgiving?

Join Jim and Sal for another This Week in History!

Relive the chaos of the 1965 Great Blackout that darkened the Northeast, the founding of the US Marine Corps in 1775, and Sesame Street's groundbreaking premiere in 1969. Explore the eerie sinking of the SS Edmund Fitzgerald, the solemn dedication of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the chilling Amityville murders behind a horror franchise, Apollo 12's dramatic lightning-hit launch, and the Xbox's revolutionary debut!

Want to learn more about the 1965 Blackout? Check out the History Bites episode: https://youtu.be/5W50ORGna0w?si=gkn4LIBO4yXDo-GS

As the year races to a close, Nicole dives into the standout books of 2025—from a lush, illustrated teen romance set against Rome's timeless streets to whimsical tales of undead adventures, animal classroom chaos, and joyful transformations that blur the line between reader and story.

View the list here: https://best-books.publishersweekly.com/children/2025/

Then join Sara as she whets your appetite for Thanksgiving food with takes on side dishes, regional riffs, and the unexpected origin of a comfort food icon. Be prepared to get hungry listening to this week's episode and don't forget to subscribe!

Ever woken up frozen in the dark, sensing a shadowy figure lurking just out of reach? Nicole dives into the eerie reality of sleep paralysis—its science, cultural myths, and quick escapes—before we pivot to the silver screen's most relentless slashers.

From Ghostface's meta mind games and Jason's lakeside rampages to found-footage chills, demonic deals, and Xenomorph hunts across the stars, Sara tallies the terrors of horror's almost endless empires.

Plus, a last-minute Halloween candy confession: Why snack-sized bars beat mini bites (of course!), and how Sal's leftovers fuel the ultimate holiday cookie treat. Happy Halloween!

As we approach the end of spooky season, Sara shares picks for horror movies available at the library: the 2021 Candyman remake, The Collector, Wes Craven's The Serpent and the Rainbow, Sinister, and the Silent Hill films. Then, dive into horoscopes with Nicole—what makes them appealing, the psychology behind them like the Barnum effect, and tips for using them as prompts for journaling or meditation. As always, check out library resources for more on folklore and astrology!