Together we discuss Gatsby’s unforgettable characters, the illusion of the American Dream, wealth and class, symbolism, loneliness, and why this Jazz Age classic continues to resonate with modern readers. Along the way, we share some of our favorite passages and ask the question at the heart of every episode:

Is The Great Gatsby truly Top-Shelf worthy?

Whether you’re reading it for the first time or revisiting a favorite classic, pull up a chair and join the conversation.

In this episode, we’re talking about Project Hail Mary — the story, the characters, the big questions, and the moments that stayed with us after reading.

Ryland Grace wakes up alone on a spaceship, millions of miles from Earth, with no memory of his mission. As he pieces together the terrifying crisis facing humanity, he discovers he’s not entirely alone. Grace forms an unlikely alliance with Rocky — a brilliant, alien engineer from another world — and the two must work together across cultures, languages, and species to solve an impossible problem and prevent the extinction of both their civilizations.

A thrilling, heartfelt sci-fi adventure full of ingenuity, friendship, and high-stakes problem-solving.

We’re still new at this, still learning, and still laughing our way through the process, but we’re excited to share this next step with you.

Listen in, subscribe, and let us know what you think.

Paid subscribers will also receive extra Top-Shelf content, behind-the-scenes notes, contributor spotlights, interviews, and more as we continue building the magazine and podcast.

Welcome to Top-Shelf. Join A.K. and Jules as they introduce the podcast dedicated to those unforgettable books, films, and adaptations that stay with you long after the final page is turned or the credits roll. In this intro episode, we will share what inspired the podcast and what listeners can expect from future episodes.