Encyclopedia Bartannica: A Simpsons Pop Culture Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

It’s the first episode! I’m joined by comedian Andrew Tisher as we discuss The Simpsons Season Six, Episode 24 The Lemon of Troy. Andrew shares his family’s love of the Simpsons, we talk about phrases you hear in comedies that you never hear in real life, and I present my theory that Bart=Achilles. We wrap up with a great conversation about Ned Flanders and how his character has changed over the years.

Follow Andrew Tisher on Instagram and Letterboxd @tishertisher. 

Follow us on Instagram @bartannicapodcast, or email us at bartannica@gmail.com.

Research: 

Musical Sounds of Medieval French Cities: Gretchen Peters

Rerun Nation: Derek Kompare

Citrus: A World History: David Mabberley

Homer: Barbara Graziosi

Homer: Essays: Robert Fagles

Pandora’s Jar: Natalie Haynes

Turnip Juice Recipe

Ahoy-hoy! This is the trailer for the new podcast, Encyclopedia Bartannica, a podcast about Simpsons references hosted by Harrison George. It's part Simpsons review show, part pop culture discussion with a different guest every episode. Every two weeks we review a classic Simpsons episode and break down its references and what they really mean. From the many homages to The Godfather, to Homer's surprising knowledge of Supreme Court Justices, we cover it all! 

Happy Labor Day (week)! God bless the unions and power to workers around the world. To celebrate, we’re discussing The Simpsons Season 4 Episode 17, Last Exit to Springfield- Homer fights for a worker dental plan, Burns shuts off the city’s power, and Lenny listens to Classical Gas. It’s one of the few pro-union stories you could find on tv in the 90’s, and it still holds up!

My guest today is my sister, Danielle George. Not only has she been a huge help to the podcast, but she volunteered to be my first guest ever. That’s right, you’re looking at the 1st episode we ever recorded! We talk about the history of unions, how 90’s satire is just today’s reality, and how you either die a hero or live long enough to see yourself become Abe Simpson: teller of long stories that don’t go anywhere. 

Follow this show @bartannicapodcast on Instagram, or email the show at bartannica@gmail.com.

Harrison Recommends: The books below, and the movies The Pajama Game, 9 to 5, and Norma Rae. 

Also, check out The Working Families Party; they're doing good work. I’ve signed up to attend a virtual rally on Labor Day- this Monday, Sep 1. The event is actually taking place in my old college town, Emporia, KS, which is pretty awesome. If you want to join me, check out workingfamilies.org or this link: https://mobilize.us/s/ydS3d0

Research for this episode came from: Fight Like Hell Kim Kelly- #1 rec. Lots of historical examples of activists who are not just straight white guys. Our Numbers Be Unlimited Sam Wallman- Graphic novel about working for Amazon. A History of America in 10 Strikes Erik Loomis- A good primer. Why Unions Matter Michael Yates- Almost like a text book, in a good way.

Ever see a podcast say goodbye to summer? You have now! 

To commemorate the end of summer, we’re reviewing The Simpsons “Summer of 4ft 2” from Season 7 with guest Alison Lynch (@alisonlunch, @bloomdropla). We discuss her new flower business, Bloomdrop, the power of reinventing yourself, and sibling rivalries. We also dive into the MANY amazing jokes in this episode; "It's a bird thing", Milhouse as The Dud, and more than 1 classic 90’s tv show reference. Sit back and enjoy as we say goodbye to summer 2025! 

Follow Alison @alisonlunch and her business @bloomdropla on Instagram.

Follow this show @bartannicapodcast on Instagram, or email the show at bartannica@gmail.com.

Alison Recommends: “Good Girl Gone Bad” movies: Grease, Easy A, The Craft, etc. 

Harrison Recommends: “Myra Breckenridge” by Gore Vidal The movie “Mermaids” with Cher, Winona Ryder and Christina Ricci!

Snakes, why’d it have to be snakes? Because we’re talking about  The Simpsons “Whacking Day”, that’s why! We’re joined by LA writer, actor and comedian Sophie Delaney to review this Season 4, Episode 20 classic. We talk about playing “Mission Impossible” as kids, if the bass guitar is the funniest instrument of all time, and a REALLY weird Josh Groban song about farts. 

Follow Sophie @sophiewalterd on Instagram and @chompinpod on TikTok.

Follow this show @bartannicapodcast on Instagram, or email the show at bartannica@gmail.com.

Sophie Recommends: The Dustbowl documentary by Ken Burns and JFK by Oliver Stone 

Harrison Recommends: Ishmael by Daniel Quinn and The Fruit, The Tree and The Serpent by Lynne Isbell. 

Show notes

Josh Groban Song About Beans

This week we take a little trip to the Sodom and Gomorrah of the Missisipp, New Orleans for Season 4 Episode 2 of The Simpsons, “A Streetcar Named Marge” with guest Clayton Margeson. Clayton and I talk about his connection to this episode, why Steve McQueen was, to quote Bart, “such a bitch”, and the joy of having grown-up hobbies.

Follow Clayton at @king.claz on Instagram.

Follow this show at bartannicapodcast on Instagram, or email the show at bartannica@gmail.com.

Clayton Recommends: The Great Escape, BioShock. Harrison Recommends: “Who Am I This Time?” by Kurt Vonnegut (book and movie) and this article: The Quiet Radicalism of Being a Weird Little Guy with Weird Little Hobbies

Hot Stuff, Coming Through! Episode 2 with guest Becca Slack. We are reviewing The classic Simpson's episode Homer's Phobia, featuring the amazing John Waters. We discuss Becca's love for John Waters and Hairspray, how TV was a 3rd parent growing up, and the history of gay representation on television, including The Ellen Show and Will and Grace. 

Follow Becca Slack at @ohboybeccaslack on Instagram. 

Follow us on Instagram @bartannicapodcast, or email us at bartannica@gmail.com.

Research References: 

Notes on Camp Susan Sontag

Tacky- Love Letters to the Worst Culture We Have to Offer Rax King

Honey I’m Homo Matt Baume 

Gay New York George Chauncey 

Mr. Know It All John Waters Audiobook

Interviews with John Waters James Egan

And buy your own Cactus Candy here!

Love is in the air this week as we discuss The Simpsons Season 4 Episode 15, I Love Lisa- after receiving a Valentine from Lisa (out of pity), Ralph Wiggum starts courting her, much to her dismay. 

My guest today is Nicole Vespa (Redacted, Voila), an actor and improvisor in Chicago. We talk about parents giving bad advice, unrequited school crushes, and the bizarre death of President Zachary Taylor.

Follow Nicole at @nvespa on Instagram.

Follow this show @bartannicapodcast on Instagram, or email the show at bartannica@gmail.com.

Nicole Recommends:  Drunk History The Demon of Unrest by Erik Larson Bob's Burgers

Harrison Recommends:  To All The Boys I've Loved Before

Research for this episode came from: 

Accidental Presidents : Eight Men Who Changed America by Jared Cohen

Are You Prepared for the Storm of Lovemaking? : Letters of Love and Lust From the White House by Dorothy and Thomas Hoobler

By One Vote: The Disputed Election of 1876 by Michael Holt

Combing Through the White House by Theodore Pappas

Dangerous Crooked Scoundrels Edwin Battistella

Never Caught: The Washingtons' Relentless Pursuit of Their Runaway Slave, Ona Judge by Erica Armstrong Dunbar

The Carnival Campaign by Ronald Shafer

The President is Dead by Louis Picone

What Ails the White House: Medical History of the American Presidency by Dr. Jay Murphy 

Who’s Buried in Grants Tomb by Brian Lamb

Zachary Taylor : Soldier, Planter, Statesman of the Old Southwest by K. Jack Bauer

For more information about the presidents, check your local library!

We've got a very special episode with a special guest- Eli's fiancée, Devin Leary (THIRST TRAP, The Quiz Show with Julia and Devin).  We are discussing Season 8 Episode 7 of the Simpsons "Lisa's Date with Density", where Lisa gets a crush on Nelson Muntz! We talk about the good girl/bad boy trope, our own experiences dating the wrong person, and Harrison watches Rebel Without a Clue. 

You can follow Devin at devin_hunter_leary on socials and her substack at: lightdisorder.substack.com. Listen to The Quiz Show with Julia and Devin wherever you get your podcasts.

Devin Recommends:  Gilmore Girls

Eli Recommends:  Getting Engaged

Harrison Recommends:  10 Things I Hate About You

Today we're reviewing a very sweet Simpsons episode, and we have a very sweet guest to boot. We're discussing Season 9 Episode 24 "Lost our Lisa" with guest Megan Nolan (Acts of Desperation, Ordinary Human Failings). 

We discuss her 2 novels and how she created such a compelling characters. We also talk about the father-daughter relationship at the heart of the episode, and what traits we'd want to instill in Lisa if we were Homer. 

We also talk A LOT about Egyptian museum exhibits and buses. And Eli talks about his recent trip to Italy! 

You can follow Megan at mmegannolan on Instagram. You can follow this show at bartannicapod. 

Megan Recommends:  Cider House Rules Harrison and Eli Recommend:  Going to museums Reading Megan's books!