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PODCAST

The Free Bin

Toledo Public Library

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, 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, which is

education

All Episodes

44:47

Keep the Vibes High!

The Free Bin ·

2026/02/20

The gang introduces a fortuitous confluence of annual religious observances! Library super-volunteer Omar (who also happens to be Sophia's husband) phones in to discuss Ramadan. Sophia shares some Lunar New Year traditions, and goes for a world-record any% speedrun of Catholicism. Harrison discusses the Vatican Observatory, and Cindy explores the Chinese Zodiac. Blessed Lent! Ramadan Mubarak! Happy Lunar New Year! Be excellent to each other!

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01:15:08

Strawbociraptor

The Free Bin ·

2026/02/18

With Sophia snowed in, the gang assembles via videotelephony to celebrate Black History Month! Harrison tells the tale of legendary lawman Bass Reeves. Sophia shares the story of groundbreaking librarian Dorothy Porter Wesley, who built Howard University's world-renowned Moorland-Spingarn Research Center into the institution it is today. Cindy discusses the lives and careers of the Nicholas Brothers, from their contributions to the world of dance to their personal struggles and the difficult legacy

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01:04:58

Gotta Do That Pencil Thing

The Free Bin ·

2026/02/06

Content warning: This episode contains potential spoilers for "Bridgerton" and "The Pitt," as well as discussions of medical distress and child death. The gang shares updates on their recent pop-culture fixations! Cindy's workin' on a mystery (goin' wherever it leads). Harrison forgives the Las Vegas Hilton and celebrates a music legend's milestone of self-discovery. Sophia catches up on Regency romance and modern medicine with a streaming drama update! In this episode: "Bridgerton" (Netflix series,

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36:31

Cherryheads

The Free Bin ·

2026/01/31

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 lighthouses of Oregon. Cindy shares some movies for a catastrophically rainy day. In this episode: "The Day After Tomorrow" (film, 2004) dir. Roland Emmerich Oregon Lighthouses "See Lantern Return to Historic Yaquina Bay Lighthouse On Oregon Coast" by Rose Shimberg (Statesman Journal, Aug. 10, 2025) Storm Glass Tempest Prognosticator

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01:00:14

That's a German Pistol

The Free Bin ·

2026/01/23

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. Dingbatters descend upon Ocracoke.

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50:55

Yuck Puck

The Free Bin ·

2026/01/16

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 (allegedly). Sauron and Gandalf become romantically entagled in space (unofficially). A grape soda affects digestion (prebiotically).

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47:13

Coulda been a disasta!

The Free Bin ·

2026/01/10

Sophia and Harrison discuss lost media and the Mandela Effect. An army of penguins gathers. Sammy Hagar craves behavioral enrichment. Hank Williams creates further Hank Williamses. Flying monkeys receive no compliments, while an earthbound monkey receives no tail. Also, Harrison experiences the Mandela Effect in real time! In this episode: "The Babadook" (film, 2014) dir. by Jennifer Kent "The Berenstain Bears" (book series) by Stan and Jan Berenstain "Investigating the Paranormal" (book, 2006) by

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01:05

Welcome to the Free Bin!

The Free Bin ·

2026/01/03

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48:10

Try It! It's Awful!

The Free Bin ·

2026/01/02

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 novels. In this episode: "Heir To The Empire" (book, 1991) by Timothy Zahn "Dark Force Rising" (book, 1992) by Timothy Zahn "Dragonriders of Pern" (book series) by Anne McCaffrey "The Last Command" (book, 1993) by Timothy Zahn "The Martian" (book, 2011) by Andy Weir "The Martian" (film, 2015) dir. by Ridley Scott "A Song of Ice and Fire"

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39:27

Makin' It Safe

The Free Bin ·

2025/12/12

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 about Ernest. In this episode: "Ernest Saves Christmas" (film, 1988) Jim Varney playing dulcimer on "The Chevy Chase Show" (TV, 1993) Judy Garland singing "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" (From "Meet Me In St. Louis") "Meet Me In St. Louis" (film, 1944) "While You Were Sleeping" (film, 1995)

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01:38:27

Reality Candy Blast Beat

The Free Bin ·

2025/11/26

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 quite work out that way, and the result is a sprawling discussion of traditional candy, music genres and subgenres, and the wonders and horrors of reality TV.

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48:35

All This Sounds Really Super Safe

The Free Bin ·

2025/11/14

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 compassion. Two dudes from Albany, Oregon fill our mouths with pirate jargon. El Caganer drops some humanity. A goat burns in Sweden. A barrel burns in Scotland. A log is beaten in Catalonia. A cat receives an answer during an awkward conversation in an elevator. Bakhtin's "carnivalesque" Caganer.com Gävlebocken Talk Like a Pirate Day World

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05:17

November 2025 Quick Update!

The Free Bin ·

2025/11/08

Harrison shares some exciting announcements while the gang preps new episodes!

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54:40

Not Good, To Put It Mildly

The Free Bin ·

2025/10/31

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 cat noises. Sophia shares an overview and chronology of the events, and presents a questionable warrant. Cindy discusses Puritans' role in the colonization of North America, and several historical examples of mass psychogenic illness. Harrison discusses self-appointed "Witchfinder General" Matthew Hopkins, and the speed of phantom clowns. In

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01:27:15

He Is Not Sneaky At All

The Free Bin ·

2025/10/24

Content Warning: This episode includes detailed discussion of death, historical embalming practices, and historical cannibalism. For Spooky Season 2025, the gang ventures deep into the topic of mummies, and how they relate to Western horror fiction, cultural anxieties, history, heritage, and dubious medical practices. In their travels through time, they encounter Chinchorro grief, Germanic mysteries, and Floridian brains. Sophia unwraps rare British foods. Cindy dispels curses. Harrison unloads his

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56:38

I Grew Up As A Monster Kid (with The Magical Mr. B.)

The Free Bin ·

2025/10/16

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.

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35:44

My Dog Likes Pineapple

The Free Bin ·

2025/10/10

The gang discusses [redacted] for Banned Books Week! This conversation covers the rights provided by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution and Article I of the Oregon Constitution, the role of public libraries in upholding these rights, why access matters, filter bubbles, the importance of parent/guardian involvement, the ending of Michael Crichton's "Congo" (spoiler alert!), and also something about aphids.

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40:53

It's Probably Because She Designed It That Way

The Free Bin ·

2025/10/03

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 encounter mobile puppets, ubiquitous '90s musical collaborations, unfed bears, baseball emergencies, powerful paintings, space flutes, and much more!

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01:07:00

Somebody Help The Duck (with Joel Gaddis)

The Free Bin ·

2025/09/26

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 unintentionally unsettling family films. In this episode: "Body Troopers" (1996) "Mac and Me" (1988) "The Peanut Butter Solution" (1985) "The Rare Blue Apes of Cannibal Isle" (1975) "Super Xuxa vs. Satan" (1988) "A Talking Cat!?!" (2013) "Treasure Train" (1982)

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21:13

History's Big

The Free Bin ·

2025/09/19

The Toledo Public Library celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month (Sep. 15 - Oct. 15)! Sophia provides an overview of the celebration, including its history, the distinction between the terms "Hispanic" and "Latino," and the many contributions of Hispanic and Latino communities to the United States and the world. Harrison gets lost in the interwoven threads of North American history, and introduces a very, very large book. More to come! In this episode: The Digital Florentine Codex The National Museum

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159 results

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