Parallel Fiction

We're back friends! In this episode, Heather is really in her element covering dance & gymnastics, two sports she has spent years devoted to. We'll be talking about the 2000's coming of age teen comedy Stick It as well as the recent entry novel in a series about dancers in NYC called Tiny Pretty Things - now a Netflix show. Theres a lot of current events discussed, including the state of gymnastics in America as well as the recent Olympic games in Tokyo. As always we bring some laughs and an analysis segment where we discuss our own opinions and beliefs. Enjoy!

Welcome back friends! In this episode we honor the importance of Labor Day in America, recapping two stories that really tell the full spectrum of what it means to "put in the work". Whether it be the honest day's work of the Ingalis family, or the toxic over-scheduled life of Peter Parker, everyone has known some degree of pride or burnout. We explore what it means on both sides of the scale and give our honest thoughts on which way is better for us. Join us and enjoy!

Music is in the air! In this episode we present Crossing The Streams Vol III. and we'll be talking about two of our favorite shows, the iconic "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" and the cult favorite Adult Swim original "Metalocalypse". Both of these shows have one thing in common, great original music! Whether or not you're into heavy metal or show tunes, the record sales and live show attendance of both shows speak for itself. We have a really fun conversation about both shows in our analysis portion and go over some of our favorite made-for-tv bands of all time (Robin Sparkles, The Beets, Spinal Tap, etc) Let us know what your favorite "fake" band is, or favorite musical TV episode and don't forget to follow us on social media!

Hey friends, welcome to another thought provoking episode of Parallel Fiction. This week we recognize Book Lover's Day with a pair of very different stories about fans of literature. This is a little bit of a heavier episode based on the subject matter, but we end up having a very lively conversation in our analysis portion of what a true fan looks like, how fans interact, and how each person loves literature differently. Join us as we recap the 90's classic thriller Misery staring Kathy Bates and James Caan, and also the celebrated 2005 novel turned 2013 film The Book Thief. Enjoy!

Our secret is out! We're expecting our first child come January 2022 and we are over the moon! At the suggestion of one of our close friends & listeners, we're talking about Parenting this week with two stories that have grown up with us since the 90's. Adam Sandler's 1999 hit Big Daddy shows us a lot about growing up in a short period of time, and Sarah Dessen's 1998 novel Someone Like you teaches us what a new baby will bring, and how to (try) and prepare. We had a lot of fun in this episode, and are candid about our hopes and dreams for our little one to come. Take a listen with us and feel free to shower us in any pro-tips you've come across if you're a parent already! Enjoy

This week we finally get to show off our brand new Parallel Fiction cover art! Created with the help of the amazingly talented Greyson Art (@graysonart), we're proud update our look moving forward. In honor of the occasion, we decided to shine the spotlight on artists everywhere and to cover two stories that take us through the life and times of big creators. Showing the trials and tribulations of a struggling artist, Walk The Line takes us through the life of American music icon Johnny Cash. On the other end, Oscar Wilde's novel A Picture of Dorian Gray shows us the dark side art, influencers, and the deeper meanings of beauty and aesthetics. Join us for one of our most fun analysis breakdowns of these two works and talk about our past lives as artists (music and dance). Enjoy, and let us know what you think of the new look!

Welcome to Vol III of Crossing The Streams! This week we're looking at shows that aren't quite reboots/remakes, but a story that continues on years after the original has ended. Taking place long after the dust has settled, these shows give a shot in the arm to two franchises that have so much more story to tell. Join us as we dissect the YouTube Premium turned Neftlix powerhouse Cobra Kai - the continuation of the iconic 80's film Karate Kid - and a teen drama stylishly strutting into the modern era as we look at Gossip Girl 2021. Also, check back next week where we will be officially debuting our new and improved show artwork! Enjoy!

Hey friends! Hope everyone is having a great summer so far. We were lucky enough to spend some time with our friends over at The Inner Nerds podcast and record a bunch of content for our listeners. We stepped into the Nerd Cave for some Movie trivia, and played a raucous game of BlockBuster The Party Game with nerds Stephen and John. Take a listen to the hilarity that ensues between 4 people who love movies, and when you're done hop over to the Inner Nerds and give them follow/subscription. Enjoy!

Its brutal out here! We're talking about the summer heat of course. What a better time to get away and enjoy the sun, sit by the beach, and crank your favorite podcast duo? This week we're taking you on a trip metaphorically through the scope of 2 of our favorite stories. We're breaking down the hilarious 2008 comedy Forgetting Sarah Marshall and the wonderful coming of age novel "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" Both stories are sure to get your gears turning for a summer getaway, plus we break down all of the fun and exciting ways that vacations stick with us forever...even if you run into someone unexpected. Enjoy!

Aliens! In this episode we talk about 2 landmark stories that defined how extra terrestrial stories are presented. The original War of the Worlds is a trip back to the late 1800's and laid the template that Independence Day would follow almost 100 years later. Besides, everyone loves a good alien story! We also dive into our own fun theories about visitors from another planet and whether we think Earth has already been visited in the past. Lots of fun in this episode, come join us!

Hey friends and gamers, join us this week in celebration of National Video Game Day on July 8th as we cover two stories that jump from the screen an into our imagination. Both set in a dystopian future, Fallout 4 and Ready Player One encapsulate the role playing aspect of video games, as well as earning gear, solving difficult problems, and being entertained by a compelling story. This episode, we discuss some serious topics in the world of gaming such as Gamergate, time blindness, and healthy gaming habits while mixing in all the fun of sportsmanship, creativity, and world building. Enjoy!

Hey friends! Everyone loves a good mystery, and this episode we're serving up two. Back in the old days, Red Herring's were used to train & condition dogs to use their sense of smell better, by throwing them off trail with the pungent fish. In literature and film, Red Herrings are a plot device to purposely throw the viewer off the correct track in order to shock them later on in the story. The 1996 slasher cult classic Scream is the absolute definition of Red Herring, with its constant misleading clues and "Who Dunnit" mentality and a perfect pick for this episode. For our novel this week, Heather picked Ruth Ware's thriller "The Woman In Cabin 10" which has some shocking twists and turns itself, choosing to narrate the story from the future using news paper articles in between chapters, making you wonder if you ever truly know whats what. Enjoy and share with anyone who loves a good mystery!

Hello all! Welcome back to Parallel Fiction. This week we will be covering controversial pieces of work, and with that we'd like to extend a trigger warning to all on numerous topics - if you feel that this episode may not be for you, we completely understand and hope to see you back in the next one. Otherwise, lets take a dive into some more thought provoking works - The 1999 comedy film Dogma (which was picketed at movie theaters when it came out) and Jodi Picoult's 2018 novel A Spark of Light. We dive into these two and discuss how people can try to better understand one another, and that our differences of opinion are sometimes what brings us together in the end. Enjoy!

Welcome back friends! We're now in the heat of summer and what better way to celebrate than with some good ol' fashion (TM) stories about FUN! In this episode, we take a look at the 90's classic Wayne's World and the novel The Princess Diaries - which would go on to be an iconic 2000's movie. We've been packing a lot of adventures and fun times into our summer already and hopefully our listeners are too. We'd love to hear that you all are looking forward to in the up coming hot months, and hope you pop your ear buds in, take a nap on the beach, and listen to some Parallel Fiction to unwind. Thanks for listening!

It's Jeff's birth month! Keeping with the tradition set in episode 10, this episode is all about some of Jeff's Favorites. This episode is packed with two great adventure stories - The cultural phenomenon Star Wars A New Hope, and the PS3/4 landmark exclusive Uncharted: Drake's Fortune (soon to be a live motion picture). We're working on a fun summer for our listeners and want to thank everyone for their continued support. Enjoy!

We're back with the much requested Vol 2 of our Crossing The Streams Series! This week we're looking at first episodes of beloved shows - Gossip Girl and Stranger Things. Both garner an intense and devoted fanbase, and both have seen many actors move on to very successful careers, but where did they all get their start? Join us as we compare the two, their impact on culture, and how they stand the test of time. Enjoy!

Welcome back friends! This week is National Waitstaff Day, so we're honoring these awesome people who make our life easier. Especially with the world the way it is now, the service industry definitely needs our support and business. Our two stories today take place in different parts of the industry, but we can all agree that the folks in the service industry are over worked and underpaid. As former Waitstaff ourselves, we have a different outlook on the struggles these workers face today and this episode hits home for us. Join us this week & help support waitstaff/service industry when you can!

Welcome back! This week we're diving into two short stories that pack a big punch. When a creator is great, they can pack in a lot of context within a limited amount of space, and that's what we're celebrating in episode 33. Join us as we take a look at master story teller Stephen King's short work "The Man In The Black Suit" and also another story about a man in black, "Batman: Dying Is Easy" available on YouTube. Enjoy!

Welcome to our first episode in May 2021 - It's Gonna Be Me! For obvious reasons, we got our idea from the meme/song that goes around every May and decided to take a personality test to figure out if we're 100% this ish. Oddly enough we scored for 2 characters we did not believe we had anything in common with, but pulled stories that bridge the gap a little. Find out if we ultimately accept our test results and follow the link below to see who you match up with! https://openpsychometrics.org/tests/characters/

Welcome to the first episode in our "Crossing the Streams" specials. In these episodes, we'll BOTH be covering stories you can stream anywhere. For this week, we'll be covering TV Weddings, featuring two of our favorite shows of all time, Scrubs & Parks and Rec. With Wedding season upon us, and the weather getting a little bit nicer, what better time to spread the love? Join us for this special episode and let the love flow!