Hunger Games Fireside Chat Podcast

In Episode 23 of Fireside Chat, we weigh in on the three director commentary videos that were posted online this week, thanks to a Skype interview that MTV had with Gary Ross. We also analyze the Mockingjay Call with the help of musician Patrick Wells (Sound Called Music) and compare it to three other well-known movie themes. We also briefly chat about TheCapitol.PN and Steven Soderbergh (who recently explained why exactly he served as second unit director for The Hunger Games). We spend the rest of the episode speaking with educator Tracee Orman about her Hunger Games lessons and also discussing Panem's education system (of which we obviously know very little).

What better way to mark the day after the MTV Video Music Awards than with a SECOND-BY-SECOND analysis of the FIRST Hunger Games teaser trailer and a full discussion of the Gary Ross video? Get your magnifying glasses and pause buttons ready and join us as we dissect every frame of footage... We'll also chat with Amie Marie, who attended the VMAs, and Jenn, who will give us a Hunger Games Collab update and share some of the week's top Hunger Games Confessions.

In Episode 21 of Fireside Chat, Sara Gundell (The Hunger Games Examiner) joins us to share some incredibly exciting news that no Hunger Games fan will want to miss! We also chat with the creator of The Hunger Games Collab on YouTube, discuss the latest filming-related news, get overly excited about Jennifer Lawrence's recording of "Rue's Lullaby" ("coming out soon," according to T. Bone Burnett!), and comment on the Peacekeeper uniforms (as seen in the still of Gale at the Reaping). Lastly -- but perhaps most importantly -- we celebrate the one-year anniversary of the release of Mockingjay by revealing some of our pre-Mockingjay theories, sharing our favorite Mockingjay moments, and more (a special round of CMK might be involved).

To celebrate our 20th episode of Fireside Chat (and Jennifer Lawrence's birthday), we bring you Round 2 in our Ultimate "Team Peeta vs. Team Gale vs. Team Katniss" Showdown. This time, we take a close look at the concept of "teams" and why it's okay to acknowledge the presence of a love triangle in The Hunger Games. Supporters of Peeta and Gale go head to head and explain why their preferred District 12 boy is the best fit for Katniss. We also ask a question that not many people dare to ask: Is Katniss what's best for Peeta? Additionally, proponents of Team Katniss join the fray and argue that this is one heroine who doesn't need a hero. (Before the debate, we discuss Tyra Banks' new novel, Modelland, which seems to share a lot of similarities with The Hunger Games...)

In Episode 19 of Fireside Chat, we discuss the latest Hunger Games movie-related news from the past week: the announcement that Steven Soderbergh will be second unit director on the film, Billboard's news about the score and soundtrack albums, our first glimpse of Capitol extras in costume, and the latest stills of Jennifer and Josh as Katniss and Peeta! We also obsess over the color of Katniss's backpack, FINALLY address the "Prim's name was plated in the Reaping by rebels" Crackpot Theory and give away one more mini-poster!

In Episode 18 of Fireside Chat, hosts Adam and Savanna are joined by fan site representatives and other Hunger Games experts to analyze the "men of The Hunger Games" edition of Entertainment Weekly. The 8/5/11 issue, which hit newstands this Friday, features the first official in-character photos of Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth. We also discuss the rest of the latest book- and movie-related news, including Slate's article naming Suzanne Collins one of the "Most Innovative and Practical Thinkers of 2011." We end by exploring the Crackpot Theories that we didn't get to last week and embarrassing ourselves yet again with another round of Cave, Marry, Kill. Oh yeah, and three more lucky listeners have a chance to win mini-posters!

In Episode 17 of Fireside Chat, we discuss the latest Hunger Games-related news, including what went on at Comic-Con, the upcoming Unauthorized Guide to the Series by Lois Gresh, and more. In light of the UN's recent declaration of famine in Somalia, we talk with The Hob about their partnership with WhyHunger, and Shylah of Down with the Captiol fills us in on her Hunger is Not a Game initiative. We then discuss the Battle Royale "controversy" and those that claim Suzanne Collins borrowed material from the novel and/or movie (we think this is absurd and explain why). We also give YOU an opportunity to win an official Hunger Games mini-poster!

In Episode 16 of Fireside Chat, in addition to our regular panel of fan site representatives and other Hunger Games experts, we are joined by Kit Bowen of TheMovieKit.com as we take a look at the opening weekend box office stats for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2. How does the success of the Harry Potter franchise compare to other young adult-oriented film franchises (Twilight, etc.), and what does it mean for The Hunger Games? We also revisit the Battle of the Epilogues (Harry Potter vs. The Hunger Games), as it was cut short last week, and bring you another round of Cave, Marry, Kill. And, as always, we discuss the latest Hunger Games-related news, focusing this week on the first official movie poster, Comic-Con, and Montgomery High School's goal to have all incoming 9th graders read The Hunger Games.

Down with...the Ministry? With the premiere of Deathly Hallows: Part 2 only days away, and unable to ignore our hardcore love for Harry Potter, we devote Episode 15 of Fireside Chat to a celebration of both the Boy Who Lived and the Girl Who Was on Fire. If the Hunger Games characters were students at Hogwarts, which Houses would they be in? Which series would win in a Battle of the Epilogues? We explore these topics and more!

Happy Panem Independence Day! Episode 14 of Fireside Chat is dedicated to a celebration of the new, free Panem! In addition to revealing the top three anthems in our Panem Anthem contest, we talk about how Panem might celebrate their independence, wonder if the world of The Hunger Games could ever really exist, and ask ourselves: WHAT IF everyone had sided with Coin and agreed to more Hunger Games with the Capitol's children? We also delve into some of our craziest Crackpot Theories yet and introduce a new segment that will leave you rolling in the aisles...

In Episode 12 of Fireside Chat, we are joined by our regular panel of Hunger Games experts and fan site representatives, as well as guest panelist Jennifer Canzoneri, Marketing Manager for Smart Pop Books (publisher of The Girl Who Was on Fire). Discussion topics include the promotional poster for the film that was revealed at the Licensing International Expo, the Scholastic gift edition and movie tie-ins, the truth behind the John C. Reilly rumor, T. Bone Burnett and Danny Elfman's [possible] involvement in the film's music, and the sudden disappearance of Panem October. We may even throw in a round of Crackpot Theories to cap things off...

In Episode 11 of Fireside Chat, we bring you Round 1 in our Ultimate "Team Peeta vs. Team Gale vs. Team Katniss" Showdown. Supporters of Peeta and Gale go head to head and explain why their preferred District 12 boy is the best fit for Katniss. Additionally, proponents of Team Katniss and fans opposed to the very idea of "teams" (THIS ISN'T TWILIGHT!) join the fray and argue that this is one heroine who doesn't need a hero.

In this special Friday night edition of Fireside Chat, we discuss all the latest film-related news, including the casting of Donald Sutherland as President Snow and the controversial decision to split the trilogy into four movies rather than three.

To celebrate Episode 10, we host a special Music Night featuring Hunger Games-inspired music from a diverse array of incredibly talented singers and musicians: Sam Cushion, Rachel Macwhirter, District 13, Steph Anderson (of Tonks and the Aurors), Kaysy Ostrom, Alex Boyd, and Alex Carpenter (of The Remus Lupins)! In addition, we chat with several Wizard Rockers about the evolution of Wrock and the future of Tribute Rock (Trock?). Along with representatives from The Hob and Down with the Capitol, our panel of experts includes Sara Gundell of the Hunger Games Examiner, Lisa Marie of HungerGamesMovie.org, and Ariel Birdoff of Madam Pince and the Librarians.

Due to the Memorial Day holiday, we host a special 9pm Friday night episode of Fireside Chat featuring Hunger Games fans and Hunger Games fan site administrators from all around the world. We get to the heart of why this story is so universally adored and find out what the Hunger Games craze is like in the Philippines, France, Germany, Canada, Australia, England, and other countries!

In Episode 8 of Fireside Chat, in addition to representatives from some of the top fan sites on the web, our expert panel includes Natalie Zutter, Associate Editor at Crushable.com, Kat Rosenfield of MTV's Hollywood Crush blog, and Ariel Birdoff, children's publishing expert and lead singer of Madam Pince and the Librarians. We kick off the show with a discussion of the latest movie news, dissecting the now-famous Entertainment Weekly cover and weighing in on all the recent casting decisions. We are then joined by sports writer and Hunger Games enthusiast Susan Shan and It's Kind of a Funny Story author Ned Vizzini, whose essay "Reality Hunger" appears in The Girl Who Was on Fire. We conclude with a discussion about Lenny Kravitz as Cinna after reacting in real-time ("Oh my god!" "Are you joking!?" "WHAT!!!???") to the surprising announcement.

In Episode 7 of Fireside Chat, in addition to our regular panel of experts, we are joined by Phil Wallace, founder of Picktainment.com, and Xavier Austrone, Executive Director of Wizarding Life Networks. Our special guests include Crystal Watanabe, author of FictionalFood.net, Hunger Games superfan Lucas Strong (and some of his friends), and Delly Cartwright herself, straight from District 12. We conclude with our Crackpot Theories segment, in which we discuss, among other things, the possibility that Foxface knowingly killed herself.

In Episode 6 of Fireside Chat, we chat about the possibility of prequels and video games before being joined by Kate Wheeler, an incredible fan artist whose Hunger Games-inspired art has been featured on MTV's Hollywood Crush blog. We cap off the episode with our postponed discussion of the genre of The Hunger Games.

In Episode 5 of Fireside Chat, we interview Leah Wilson, editor of The Girl Who Was on Fire, Kim Shelby, the creative mind behind two brilliant Hunger Games trailers, and Betsy Bird, children's librarian at the New York Public library. We also discuss: Is celebrating Osama bin Laden's death equivalent to Coin's desire to institute another Hunger Games? In addition to our regular panel, we are joined by Natalie Zutter of Crushable, children's publishing expert Ariel Birdoff, and literary blogger Kimberly Denny-Ryder.

In Episode 4 of Fireside Chat, we are joined by Lenzi Hart and Kelly Croy, two middle school teachers who have incorporated The Hunger Games into their classrooms in unique, inspirational ways. We also talk with Sarah Darer Littman, an award-winning young adult author, about her contribution to The Girl Who Was on Fire: "The Politics of Mockingjay."