Middle Country Public Library Podcast

We're delighted to have a special guest on today's show...the one and only Abraham Lincoln! Not really...it's just our History Buff in Residence, Jim Ward. We discuss some of the things that happened this week in history...from Stalin to Ellis Island to the Channel Tunnel, and of course Jim's favorite: the Gettysburg Address. Our podcast is now a Video Podcast! You can watch along and see all the things we spoke about on this episode...plus take a gander at Jim dressed as Honest Abe! Visit http://www.mcpl.tv to watch every week!

We've made it to 300 episodes of the podcast! Thanks to everyone who's listened every week. We are thrilled to introduce video to our weekly podcast. You can listen as you usually do on your favorite podcast app, listen via our web page (www.mcplpodcast.com) or watch here on YouTube! This week Nicole has your November horoscopes and book recommendations. Plus Sara wants to remind everyone that Thanksgiving is just a couple of weeks away and perhaps you'd like to read some books themed around the holiday.

Now that spooky season is over, we can concentrate on the wonderful autumn season that is upon us. Nicole has a list of 13 great kids books that are all about the fall. You can view the list here: https://www.pbs.org/parents/thrive/13-childrens-books-for-celebrating-fall Sara has a list of the upcoming DVD releases for the month...there are some big films here! You can view and reserve your copies with your MCPL card here: https://tinyurl.com/mcpl-newdvd  

We wrap up our "Spooktober" series this week with a spooky song playlist for the kids plus a creepy short story for the grownups. Happy Halloween!

This time of year is great for some scary and not-so-scary stories. Nicole and Sara have a thoughtful list of books that are age appropriate and appropriately spooky! PLUS we are once again recording from our beautiful Media Studio inside the Innovation Space in Centereach. Want to learn more about it? Visit https://www.mcplibrary.org/innovation-space/.  

We're lucky to live in such a great place where we can experience so many wonderful things this "Spooky Season." From haunted houses, pumpkin picking, and enjoying seasonal flavors to our very own Trunk or Treat here at the library, there's a lot to chat about on this week's episode. We are thrilled to have a new voice on the pod this week, our very own Kelley Gould is here to let us in on some of these great things to experience this autumn on Long Island.

Welcome to..."Spooktober!" It's that time of year when we dedicate a series of episodes to all the great things happening in October that are spooky, a little scary, and tasty as well! Stay tuned in the upcoming weeks for episodes about great books to read during "Scary Season," as well as the great things to do on Long Island this autumn. We start out with a bit of trivia...can Nicole and Sara answer these spooky questions about books, music, and places? Listen and play along with us!

We have a packed show for you this week. Nicole chats about our great Story Times to Go kits for the kids; Sara has a list of the newest DVDs coming to our collection; and Elizabeth stops by for a visit to talk about this year's Women's EXPO. We recorded this week's episode in our beautiful, new Media Recording Studio inside the Innovation Space in Centereach. If you are interested in starting your own podcast, you might want to check it out! For more information, visit https://www.mcplibrary.org/innovation-space for details on all the amazing things happening in the Innovation Space!

It’s time for another Movie Chat! This week, Nicole spins the wheel and comes up with 1964's comedy, "Dr. Strangelove, or, How I learned to stop worrying and love the bomb" starring Peter Sellers and George C. Scott. Get your copy here : http://mcpac.mcpl.lib.ny.us/record=b1516626 and watch before listening to this week’s episode as there will be spoilers. Then comment and let us know what you thought!

September is National Self Care Month, and we have some great books that you can use to help you meet your self improvement goals. Sara has a list of 8 aspects of self-improvement that everyone should focus on, plus the books you can use to do it, and Nicole has another fantastic podcast that you should be listening to help you succeed.

It's a new month and Nicole has your September Book Horoscopes! What should you look out for...how should you handle things...what should you READ? It's all here: https://bookriot.com/september-2023-horoscopes-and-book-recommendations/ With the US Open happening this week, Sara is here to try her very best to explain the game of Tennis. Hold on to your rackets, it's a wild ride.

This week, Sara discusses an article downloaded from our vast array of science databases regarding hurricanes: how and where they form, and what we can expect this year. It's also the first day of school for many next week, and if you know someone who is a little anxious about their first day, Nicole has a list of books that you can check out to help ease students into the new school year. We are also very happy to have Greater Middle Country Chamber of Commerce president Lenore Paprocky join us to talk about a new campaign honoring local veterans. For more information on Middle Country Hometown Heroes, visit http://www.mchometownheroes.com  

Our resident history buff Jim is back to chat about the amazing things that happened This Week in History! From the introduction of the motion picture machine, to the Lincoln - Douglas Debate, and then on to the 19th Amendment and the release of Dirty Dancing, so much happened this week throughout history. And if you are really interested in history and want more, check out our YouTube series History Bites here.

This week we do a little trivia with Sara and Marlene that spans 50 years of movies! Can you guess the movie from 10, 25, or 50 years ago just by the description? And do you agree or disagree that movies were so much better "back then...?" Listen and find out...then visit our vast collection of films on DVD at Centereach and Selden to take out some of the flicks we discussed.

Suffolk County is a hotbed for Alpha-gal Syndrome, an allergic reaction to meat caused by a bite from a Lone Star Tick. Sara is here to chat about the latest updates on the allergy. It's also that time of the month when Nicole regales us with stories of horoscopes and books. What should you be reading while Mercury is in retrograde? Listen and find out. 

We have a supersized episode filled with knowledge, tips, and trivia about seeing a Broadway show with our very own Broadway enthusiast Elizabeth! Learn about how to get the best prices for tickets, the best way to get into the city, what to expect at a show, and much, much more. For a list of links and resources on Broadway shows, along with a list of our cast recordings available at the library, visit the blog at http://blog.mcplpodcast.com  

We are joined this week by special guests Officer Casey Berry and Officer John Efstathiou of the Suffolk County Police Department 6th precinct COPE Division, Brookhaven Town Councilman Neil Manzella, and Brookhaven Town Clerk Kevin LaValle. They are here to talk about this year's National Night Out, taking place on Tuesday, August 1st from 5:30pm to 8:30pm at the Centereach Pool Complex. It's going to be packed with fun including food, a DJ, Touch-a-Truck, Swimming and more! Plus Deborah is here to let us know what great things the library will be offering at the event.

The team chats about how they handle social situations after Nicole's been listening to a podcast from the Atlantic. To check out that article, head over here : https://www.theatlantic.com/podcasts/archive/2023/05/how-to-make-small-talk/674049/ Plus Sara is in the market for a dishwasher and she's looking for reviews...and the best place to get those are Consumer's Reports...which is available for free with a MCPL library card. Want to know which one they say is the best? Listen to find out.

Tom Cruise could very well have the biggest movie of this summer premiering this week with the newest Mission: Impossible film...the team takes a look at the second in the series on this Movie Chat. The film stars Mr. Cruise plus returning cast member Ving Rhames, Dougray Scott, Richard Roxburgh, Brenden Glesson, John Polson, and "she-looks-way-too-young-and-pretty" Thandie Newton. You can check out the details of this 2000 film here: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120755/?ref_=fn_al_tt_2 and if you'd like to watch along and have an MCPL card, reserve your copy here: https://tinyurl.com/pod71323 Did you know we've have over 35 movie chats? You can browse our list of episodes here: https://www.mcplpodcast.com/?s=movie%20chat  

Nicole's talking hot wings and one of her favorite interview shows. Are you interested in making your own wings? Check out Tailgreat : How to Crush it at Tailgating by John Currence, which has a number of hot wing recipes for your next movie night. And speaking of movies...Sara discusses some great books that serve as guides for the movie lover...from horror movies, war movies, and even movies from the 90s. Listen as we randomly pick our next movie chat from Movies of the 90s, edited by Jürgen Müller, another great resource we have here at MCPL!