In the Stacks with Barry & LaToya

After a week off for a much needed mental health break, the hosts are refreshed and ready to continue with the season. Barry believes a new theory around the death of Kurt Cobain and is still watching the dreadful 9-1-1: Lone Star. LaToya has a sex tracker app despite no sex on Valentine’s Day, and she’s hunkered down this week grandma-sitting while her immediate family is away on another cruise without her. Plus, you’ve got to hear what a study says one in thirty people do.

The hosts record together in the same room for the first time in six years. When they both decided to leave the library, neither host thought that it would be years before they’d see each other again. While life and circumstances may have previously kept them apart, LaToya made the trek to Milledgeville to visit with Barry. They both go a little off-script, and LaToya goes old school, completely winging it while, as usual, Barry’s the one holding the show together.

If you like a drinking game, this is the episode that best suits one. LaToya reminds everyone that she’s a moody snob. Barry is excited about Gatsby but is disappointed with Star Trek’s dystopian attempts at utopia. The hosts argue over what’s more important, Kobe Bryant or Mr. Peanut. Yes, seriously, this is a real conversation. Plus, there’s the surprising end of the episode that you won’t want to miss.

This week’s episode brings the return of podcast guest, T’Challa. You would think that it would also mean that the show’s content would be a bit tamer. Think not because it is not. Barry talks about his trans guinea pig and LaToya doubles down on her snobbish tendencies. Both hosts are excited about the Netflix hit, Cheer while T’Challa wants to know what’s up with infomercials and medical commercials. LaToya reminds Barry that she’s the queen of crazy and he shocks everyone with his raunchiest close yet.

After a 3-week hiatus, Barry and LaToya are back. The New Year brought with it LaToya’s hypochondriac sickness issues, which aren’t so because they’re real. Barry is living his best life. After his lost week, he’s now in a relationship and not getting much sleep. Yeh, they still have the magic, although someone really should remove LaToya’s access to television and retail therapy.

It’s the day after Christmas, and the hosts are so dedicated that they recorded the 9th season’s finale. Barry has his first Christmas as a divorcee, and LaToya wished on Christmas Eve that she too was divorced. From High Tea to Popeye’s, Penny Dreadful to Bill Cosby and, Kardashians to Cats, their post-Christmas show is a gift.

Barry’s on Christmas break and LaToya’s counting down the days until her own. Barry talks about his new roommates, and LaToya shows how much of a hermit she is when she’s a day late in learning of Trump’s impeachment. Reality shows and Frozen 2 make the headlines as does LaToya’s recent home improvements. Plus, learn more than you know about The Simpsons and their 30 years on television.

It’s yet another day where neither host wants to do the show. However, since it’s therapy for them both, they put on a brave face and bring their B-game. Barry’s reading a book that LaToya’s interested in and LaToya commits a cardinal sin when her Christmas movie list doesn’t include what Barry feels is a required Christmas classic. They both plan on seeing the same movie next week. Separately, of course. As usual, Barry proves that he’s blacker than LaToya.

Barry describes, “It was brilliant, moving and full of the joy and pathos of humanity. You’ll never hear it, but trust us, it was beautiful.” This show was almost dubbed “The Lost Episode.” The hosts start the show early with the hopes of finishing early. However, 90 minutes into the show, LaToya’s iMac crashes, and both are worried that the perfection of those 90 minutes would be lost forever. Breathing a sigh of relief, “That’s why I love my Mac,” says LaToya, “All is not lost.”

It's Thanksgiving, y'all, and what is there that's better than a brand new In the Stacks episode! It's all about entertainment and the gobble. Barry plans on having a low-key celebration while LaToya will be continuing her 15+ year tradition of celebrating Thanksgiving with some of her favorite family members. If you've somehow not yet seen Frozen II, you're in the minority, and Barry suggests a few other podcasts for your listening pleasure.