SmartLess Presents ClueLess

Episode 173: International Literacy Day Observed (Mini Episode)

Host: Elliott Kalan
Producer/Co-host: Devin Tory Bryant
Air Date: September 15, 2025
Length: ~10 minutes

Brief Overview

In this International Literacy Day-themed mini-episode, host Elliott Kalan and producer Devin Tory Bryant celebrate literacy and books through playful word puzzles. As the show awaits new full episodes (season 2 is "under construction"), they offer listeners a pair of literary games: a “word cloud” puzzle about a famous novel, and an “Odd One Out” challenge centered on classic books and pen names. Expect puns, quick wit, and trivia infused with the show’s signature irreverent charm.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Intro & Setting the Scene

• Elliott opens with a classic one-liner, setting up the episode’s playful tone:
  “They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder. They don’t say where ugliness is—probably up the beholder’s nose.” (00:31)
• The team addresses technical delays, with season 2 “still under construction,” leading to another bite-sized episode.
  (01:09)

2. International Literacy Day: Purpose & Banter

• Elliott shares background on International Literacy Day (ILD):
  • Established in 1967 by UNESCO
  • Recently, the US left UNESCO:
    “It’s an organization the United States was a member of until July of this year, when we decided we are no longer interested in education, science, or culture.” (02:04)
  • ILD is about promoting peace through literacy:
    “You don’t have time to start a war when you’re trying to finish a book.” (02:21)
• Elliott’s irreverent advice:
  “Instead of listening to this show, you should be reading a book right now.” (02:29)

3. Puzzle #1: Literary Word Cloud (Guess the Book)

• Elliott presents a list of evocative words; listeners are to guess the book:
  “Country. Home. Sea. Ship. Shore. Island. Footprint. Friday. Boat.” (01:18)
• After a pause, the answer is revealed:
  “The Life and Adventures of Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe. The classic story of a guy shipwrecked on a deserted island. He finds a footprint. It’s his new friend Friday.” (02:40)
• Elliott jokes about how people might get the answer by real island experience:
  “If so, then I can only assume you’ve spent time shipwrecked on a deserted island.” (03:04)

4. Puzzle #2: Odd One Out (Pen Names)

• Elliott lists five classic books/authors:
  1. 1984 by George Orwell
  2. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
  3. The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
  4. Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
  5. The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss
     (03:32)
• Elliott delivers a comic, spiraling clarification on the title “The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss”:
  “I mean, that’s the last title. The name of the book is not. And the Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss. It’s just the Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss. I don’t mean the title is just the Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss. You know what I mean…” (03:33)
• After some time (and sponsor breaks), Elliott reveals the answer:
  • The odd one out is “The Grapes of Wrath” because it is the only book not written under a pen name.
  • “George Orwell was really Eric Blair, Mark Twain was Samuel Clemens, Lewis Carroll was Charles Dodgson, and Dr. Seuss was Theodor Geisel. But John Steinbeck, just plain old John Steinbeck, did not care who knew his real name. You can look him up in the phone book.” (06:43)
• Elliott’s suggested rewards:
  • Got it right? “Reward yourself by reading a book you love.”
  • Got it wrong? “Punish yourself by reading a book you hate. All I care about with this is that you read a book.” (07:24)

5. Humorous Literary Side-Bits

• Elliott’s faux book review:
  “And that was Why War Was Not as Good as Peace. The end. Wow, that Tolstoy really knows how to write them. Gripping.” (06:34)
• On the “blank page” in hardcovers:
  “All that’s left is the index and that one blank page every hardcover book has at the back. I never know why it’s there. It seems like a waste of paper.” (07:38)

6. Tease and Close

• Devin reminds listeners: Season 2 of ClueLess is “coming soon.” (07:50)
• Elliott rounds off:
  “Until next week, this has been a Smartless Presents Clueless mini. I’ve been your host, Elliot Kaelin, and I’m about to get down to some more reading. It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. Wow. This book has everything.” (07:55)

Memorable Quotes

• Elliott Kalan:
  • “You don’t have time to start a war when you’re trying to finish a book.” (02:21)
  • “If so, then I can only assume you’ve also spent time shipwrecked on a deserted island. Maybe you just got back yesterday. Congratulations. Welcome home.” (03:04)
  • “...he’s just plain old John Steinbeck, did not care who knew his real name. You can look him up in the phone book.” (06:49)
  • “Punish yourself by reading a book you hate. All I care about with this is that you read a book.” (07:25)
• Devin Tory Bryant:
  • “While Elliott’s losing his train of thought, why don’t I remind everybody that Clueless Season 2 will be coming soon.” (07:50)

Notable Timestamps

• 00:31 – Elliott’s opening quip and introduction to ClueLess.
• 01:18 – Presentation of the International Literacy Day “word cloud” puzzle.
• 02:04 – ILD history and satirical asides about UNESCO.
• 02:40 – Solution to the word cloud puzzle: Robinson Crusoe.
• 03:32 – Introduction to the "Odd One Out" game.
• 06:43 – Reveal: “Grapes of Wrath” is the odd one out (not a pen name).
• 07:38 – Elliott’s musing about the blank page in hardcovers.
• 07:50–07:55 – Announcement about Season 2 and closing remarks.
• 09:15 – IKEA “Department of Rejected dreams” bit.

Tone & Style

The episode is light-hearted, zippy, and sprinkled with playful literary banter. Elliott’s self-aware wit and comic tangents keep the pace lively, while Devin provides grounding and the occasional gentle push to keep things moving.

For Listeners Who Haven’t Tuned In

This concise mini-episode, perfectly timed to honor literacy, tosses fun, accessible puzzles your way and wraps them in winking humor. Expect cheeky asides about pen names and classic books, a dose of literary trivia, and the warm, irreverent dynamic between Elliott and Devin. If you love wordplay, odd facts, and the joy of books, this one’s for you.