S2 - EP 1 - Exploitation's Going Down

A “good morning” turns into a deadline from hell when Oli Olegark drops by our bookstore studio with a contract renewal and a not-so-friendly reminder: keep podcasting or lose the bookstore. We argue, we panic, and we do the math on what happens when your creative work is tied to someone else’s terms. If you’ve ever felt trapped by a platform, a contract, or a job that wants more of you than you want to give, you’ll recognize the tension under the jokes.

Once the paperwork fog sets in, we pivot the only way we know how: books. We build a themed reading list around London Bridge, from children’s classics to adult mystery, and the theme accidentally fits our mood a little too well. Along the way we riff on rebuilding after a collapse, what “celebration” looks like when you’re stressed, and why a niche book topic can be the best reset button when everything feels out of control.

Then we take the mess one step further and turn it into a song, because apparently that’s in the contract too. It’s a fast, comedic mix of creator life, bookstore dreams, contract negotiation pressure, and book recommendations that still manage to be useful if you’re hunting for London Bridge titles.

Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs a laugh, and leave a review so we can keep the bookstore lights on and the podcast rolling.

Transcript

Cold Open And Sleepy Bickering

SPEAKER_01 0:00

It's time for Baby Baby and Evil Glaxy's Book Point Book Review Podcast. Book Reviews Incarnate. Baby, wake up. They're working on their store.

SPEAKER_03 0:16

I haven't even had my coffee yet.

SPEAKER_01 0:18

You actually are sleeping through a jackhammer then.

SPEAKER_03 0:20

It was a long night. What do you want? Well, if your stories are incredibly boring. So sorry, Sumi.

SPEAKER_01 0:27

Whoops, here comes someone. Uh, who is this guy?

SPEAKER_03 0:30

He's one of our evil overlords. How nice. The day just went from bad to worse, Gloxy. Congratulations to both of us.

SPEAKER_01 0:37

I don't know what to tell you.

SPEAKER_03 0:38

There's not much you can really tell me, Gloxy. It's whatever.

The Oligarch Arrives With Paperwork

SPEAKER_01 0:42

Good morning to you guys. I hope I'm not interrupting. Oh no, sir. You're not interrupting anything. It's good to see you. I am Oli.

SPEAKER_00 0:49

Hi.

SPEAKER_01 0:49

Ollie Olegark. Nice to meet you. I wanted to congratulate you on a fine, fine season. Thank you, really? You did very well.

SPEAKER_02 1:00

Well, thank you. I'm starting.

SPEAKER_01 1:03

And? Yeah. I am here to renew your contract assistant.

SPEAKER_03 1:08

Contract assessment? I don't want a renewed contract assessment.

SPEAKER_01 1:12

Well, baby, just really glossy.

SPEAKER_03 1:13

Thanks a lot.

SPEAKER_01 1:14

Yeah, we're very interested. Go ahead. Tell us all about it.

SPEAKER_03 1:17

Tell you what. Mr. Ollie, I presume?

No Podcast Means No Bookstore

SPEAKER_03 1:20

Yeah.

unknown 1:21

Um.

SPEAKER_03 1:22

Mr. Ollie, is there any chance I could just work at the bookstore and not do any more podcasts at all? I really don't like doing the podcasts. I in fact I despise them more than. Really?

SPEAKER_01 1:39

Let me put it in a way that clarifies my position.

SPEAKER_03 1:43

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 1:44

Unfortunately for you, if you do not renew contract assistance, you have no more bookstores.

unknown 1:51

Really?

SPEAKER_01 1:53

Bookstorasai relies on your podcast assistance.

SPEAKER_03 1:57

What's a podcast assistance?

SPEAKER_01 1:59

Uh, baby, that's a podcast. It's actually mini podcast assistance.

SPEAKER_03 2:03

I don't want to do any podcast assistance anymore. Whatever.

SPEAKER_01 2:07

It's actually mini podcast assistance.

SPEAKER_03 2:08

Sorry, I didn't major in oligarch in school. Well, I did take the language classes, but I don't kidding Louis. I dropped out. Sorry. I was a kitten at the time. What do you want?

SPEAKER_01 2:19

Oh, baby, we all dropped out. It'd stop some classes. Let me put it in way you all will understand. No podcast is then no bookstore as I. Okay. You will not have bookstore at Sai anymore. Huh. In fact, when we cancel contract, you will not be able to work in any movie studios. Okay. Ever again, as long as you are on the planet Earth.

SPEAKER_03 2:41

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 2:42

We have very, very good lawyers.

SPEAKER_03 2:44

Yeah? Okay.

SPEAKER_01 2:45

And they will tie you up for life. Now you do have an option to buy out the lessons. Really? You could get movie contract to pay though. Really? Really? Uh good luck with that.

SPEAKER_03 2:59

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 3:00

However, you are star, babe.

SPEAKER_03 3:02

I'm a star. Thank you.

SPEAKER_01 3:04

You could make it work.

SPEAKER_03 3:06

I'm sure.

SPEAKER_01 3:06

But I don't know. Okay. It is totally up to us to use.

SPEAKER_03 3:12

Thank you.

SPEAKER_01 3:12

Anyway, I will need your signatures by midnight today. Huh? Or you will have to vacate everything. Okay. And you will be obligated as in contract only. Okay. And never get to work for other studios ever again. Sure? Other than that, welcome aboard. We are very happy to have you here.

SPEAKER_03 3:35

Sure.

SPEAKER_01 3:36

Sign in real quick. And we will be over with this stuff, sis. Glaxi. Oh no, I'm gonna sign.

SPEAKER_03 3:40

Why, Gloxy? We haven't even looked at the contract yet.

SPEAKER_01 3:43

Uh, we don't have a choice, baby. We don't have anywhere to go.

SPEAKER_03 3:46

What are we doing? An officer and a gentleman remake? I will reluctantly sign it.

SPEAKER_01 3:52

Thank you, sir. It's good to meet you, Mr. Ollie. I have listened to all your podcasts. Great. And I look forward to seeing long, long, long lines of money. I mean, of fans coming into see you into the studio. Oh, so yes, sir. Have a wonderful day. They should be done pretty quick here. Yes, they work very fast.

SPEAKER_03 4:14

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 4:15

Especially when I am around.

SPEAKER_03 4:16

I'm sure. Okay. There we go.

SPEAKER_01 4:18

Have fun, kid little sis. It's got tomato, all is it?

SPEAKER_03 4:23

You too. Bye-bye. Bye now. Take care. Ploxy, stop waving. Bye now. Really?

SPEAKER_01 4:30

Sorry.

SPEAKER_03 4:30

This has to be the worst day of my life, Ploxy. You sure caved on that, Ploxy.

SPEAKER_01 4:35

Baby, it was our only chance to stay around.

SPEAKER_03 4:37

Signed right away.

SPEAKER_01 4:38

You knew it was our only chance.

SPEAKER_03 4:40

Baby, I really hate it when you're right.

SPEAKER_01 4:43

Sorry, baby.

SPEAKER_03 4:44

This is not a good moment for

London Bridge Book Picks

SPEAKER_03 4:45

me.

SPEAKER_01 4:45

I say let's get our mind off of things by finding some wonderful books to help celebrate our new store.

SPEAKER_03 4:52

Out of absolute morbid curiosity, I'm curious to find out what books you could possibly think of to celebrate this momentous occasion.

SPEAKER_01 5:02

Uh, how about some wonderful books about London Bridge, baby?

SPEAKER_03 5:06

London Bridge?

SPEAKER_01 5:06

They're all about rebuilding a bridge after it fell down.

SPEAKER_03 5:09

Rail Lake Loxy?

SPEAKER_01 5:10

Don't you think that's wonderful? Huh?

SPEAKER_03 5:12

Railway Glocky?

SPEAKER_01 5:13

Very close to what we have.

SPEAKER_03 5:15

Are you serious, Gloxy?

SPEAKER_01 5:16

Anyway, the first book is London Bridge by Sam Lowman.

SPEAKER_03 5:20

Where'd you find the time to find these things, Gloxy?

SPEAKER_01 5:22

Another book is London Bridge by Donna Herwick Rice and illustrated by Janelle Bell Martin. I cannot believe it. You found these. Here's another one: How London Bridge Came to Arizona by Paul L. Bailey.

SPEAKER_03 5:37

I'm impressed.

SPEAKER_01 5:38

Also, London Bridge is Falling Down by Michael Ellen Austin.

SPEAKER_03 5:44

I can't believe us.

SPEAKER_01 5:45

There's also some adult books. Really? London Bridge is Falling Down, A Peculiar Crimes Unit Mystery by Christopher Fowler.

SPEAKER_03 5:53

Wonderful!

SPEAKER_01 5:53

It hasn't had the song or anything, but it's for adults.

SPEAKER_03 5:56

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 5:56

Also, London Bridge and Plague and Fire by David Madden.

SPEAKER_03 6:01

That has a nice ring. London Bridge and Plague and Fire, Plague and Fire, Plague and Fire.

Singing Through Contract Regret

SPEAKER_01 6:06

Sounds like you're ready to sing, baby.

SPEAKER_03 6:08

No songs, Glocky, please. Not today.

SPEAKER_01 6:10

It's in the contract, baby. We gotta both sing. Sorry.

SPEAKER_03 6:15

On second thought, maybe we should. Then I can express myself in their silly song.

SPEAKER_00 6:21

Okay.

SPEAKER_03 6:22

Why not? Go ahead, Gloxy. Let's do it.

SPEAKER_01 6:25

Okay, baby.

SPEAKER_03 6:26

Let me tell them how I really feel.

SPEAKER_01 6:27

And it makes a great song, too. Whatever. One more time with you. Two. One, two, three, four. Baby's bookstores going up. Tidying up. Fixing up.

SPEAKER_03 6:41

This contract really sucks. This contract. Uh can't we buy our contract out? Uh purchase out? Yeah. Bride it out. Uh can't we find another way, Gloxy?

SPEAKER_01 6:51

Um, have no money. You know this is the bestest way. Have our store, get our pay.

SPEAKER_03 6:59

We really need the perfect cartoon action movie.

SPEAKER_01 7:03

Uh you're right.

SPEAKER_03 7:04

Then I buy our contract out. Let's push it out.

SPEAKER_01 7:07

Right out. Uh that could happen someday, cuz you're so amazing. You just need the perfect role. Something big, nothing droll. Baby, baby, you're my star. In the meantime, let's get through. We now know what to do. Fix our store back up again and do this podcast.

SPEAKER_02 7:33

I know you're right. You're my hero day and night. Your own deal, because I'm not open. Uh, I don't like the thing.

SPEAKER_00 7:44

Tom Drake says that anything they ask of us, we've got to do it. But baby.

SPEAKER_03 7:52

Okay.

Ice, Cartoons, And A Fast Finish

SPEAKER_03 7:55

On the way home, stop at the smart and stupid and pick up some ice.

SPEAKER_01 7:58

Baby, what are you doing with all this ice?

SPEAKER_03 8:01

Throw it over the fence of the neighbors while they're around there. So dumb they take a taillight. Okay. One of the few pleasures I get after days like that.

SPEAKER_01 8:08

But baby, they're not done with the store.

SPEAKER_03 8:10

Turn around, Gloxy. It's all done. It's finished.

SPEAKER_01 8:13

How did they get it done so fast?

SPEAKER_03 8:15

Glocky is a cartoon. Of course they're done fast. One of the few pleasures we get is cartoons. Okay, baby.

Wrap Up And Subscribe Ask

SPEAKER_03 8:23

Bye.

SPEAKER_01 8:23

Well, I guess we can wrap it up now. Uh thanks for tuning in. Like and subscribe to our new season. Thanks for everything. We love you. Bye.