The Broski Report with Brittany Broski
Episode 116: I’m Sorry Jacob Elordi
Released: November 5, 2025
Host: Brittany Broski
Produced by Audioboom Studios
Episode Overview
In this episode, Brittany Broski, self-proclaimed Supreme Leader of Broski Nation, delivers a passionate, hilarious, and deeply personal exploration of her new obsession: Frankenstein. After seeing Guillermo del Toro's new adaptation starring Jacob Elordi and Oscar Isaac, Brittany dives head-first into literary history, movie critique, philosophical dilemmas, and ethical debates—all through her signature chaotic, raw lens. Expect reflections on the accessibility of classic literature, the morality of scientific innovation, generational trauma, art and creativity, and why the new Frankenstein film moved her to tears.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
Brittany’s State of Mind & “Beluga Brain”
[00:38 - 03:30]
- Brittany laments saying goodbye to her beloved Victorian set decorations, confessing they made her feel whole—“I need my little eyeballs. I need my teeth. I need my Edgar Allan Poe creepy skeleton painting. I need it.”
- Two Red Bulls and a coffee deep, Brittany describes her “beluga whale mode”—feeling physically and mentally swollen, tired, and echoing the mood of autumn. This sets a vulnerable tone, immediately blending comedy and real talk.
- Candid “girl talk” about health struggles, PCOS, pandemic period issues, and body hair, emphasizing the human, approachable theme of the show.
Obsession Unlocked: The Frankenstein Deep-Dive
[03:31 - 06:35]
- Brittany’s “new obsession” is Frankenstein, specifically Guillermo del Toro's recent adaptation: “That movie shifted something in my spirit. Laugh all you want. Okay? Laugh at the fool, but the fool is content and you are miserable… Frankenstein is the best movie that's ever been made, in my opinion. Well, maybe.”
- Promises a full exploration: Mary Shelley’s life, the myth of Prometheus, the novel, the movie, and Frankenstein’s impact on culture and morality.
The Myth of Prometheus & Science vs. Morality
[06:36 - 11:44]
- Connects the “Modern Prometheus” subtitle of Frankenstein back to Greek mythology and its themes—humans acquiring forbidden knowledge, and being punished by the gods.
- Brittany draws parallels between the anxieties of 19th-century Romanticism and contemporary moral anxieties around AI, space travel, and scientific advances:
Quote, 08:59:
“There is no moral guidepost that teaches you what to do with these scientific discoveries… All of these stories or examples tie back into to each other. I think they're all related where humanity has to look itself in the mirror and say, what monster have I created?” - Cites her ongoing fascination with the morality of science, referencing past Broski Report episodes (like Oppenheimer/atomic bomb) and teen reading of Dan Brown's Angels and Demons.
Mary Shelley, the OG Literary Mess and the Birth of “Frankenstein”
[11:45 - 15:44]
- Breaks down the history and wild friend group at the heart of Frankenstein’s creation: Mary Shelley (daughter of feminist icon Mary Wollstonecraft), Percy Shelley, Lord Byron, and friends, all exiled and messy in Switzerland.
- Recaps the iconic “ghost story contest” at Lord Byron’s mansion, which births Frankenstein: “She starts with a short story, turns it into a full blown novel by hand… continues to be one of the most important, well written human stories.”
Literary Accessibility & Humanizing the Canon
[15:44 - 18:50]
- Brittany addresses listeners who feel intimidated by classic literature:
Quote, 17:02:
“There is a barrier sometimes between, like reaching across the table and saying, I understand this... Because what's important to understand is that every story that's ever been written... They've all come from a human. And there is always going to be a touch of humanity to every story.” - Affirms, with self-deprecating humor, that anyone can connect with these “human stories”:
- “I remember being in school and feeling like, this isn't for me...This is for academics. And that couldn't be farther from the truth.”
- Reflects on the tragic, relatable lives of Byron, Percy & Mary Shelley, underscoring that “they were humans… they just lived 200 years ago.”
Plot and Thematic Breakdown of del Toro’s Frankensten
[18:51 - 29:30]
- Compares the film adaptation closely to the framing of the original text: “a series of letters that this ship captain is writing to his sister…within the letters lies Victor Frankenstein’s story and the creature’s story.”
- Praises Oscar Isaac as Victor Frankenstein and Jacob Elordi as the Creature and details their performances:
- Oscar Isaac’s “madness” portrayed convincingly, with a “beautiful homecoming to humanity.”
- Elordi’s Creature: “He was such a good monster. He made me cry. Why are they mean to him?”
- Del Toro’s lens focuses on generational trauma, father-son relationships, and the corruption of innocence:
Quote, 21:56:
“The creature is innocence personified… when you have created innocence, it is only a matter of time before that innocence is corrupted. Because I don't think in this world that we have, innocence can be untouched.”
The Mad Genius Trope & Literary Archetypes
[22:10 - 24:05]
- Brittany's love for “mad genius” characters, connecting Victor Frankenstein to Sherlock Holmes (Downey Jr.), Captain Jack Sparrow, and fantasy rogues like Kaz from “Six of Crows.”
- Humorously derails into a tangent on YA fiction vs. adult novels.
Themes of Humanity, Oppression & Empathy
[25:40 - 29:28]
- The Creature is “more human than Victor himself”—a literary theme Brittany links to broader narratives on oppression, trauma, and the human condition:
Quote, 26:00:
“Anyone who has experienced oppression, you learn your oppressor. You are hyper aware of not only the cruelty around you, but the beauty… watching Frankenstein’s creature learn the world and the small things to find beauty where usually we don’t pick up on it. It made me cry.” - Brittany gets teary over Jacob Elordi’s performance.
Focused Film Analysis: Color Symbolism, Performance, & Drag
[29:29 - 38:40]
- Brittany, proudly not a “film bro,” delivers an impassioned critique of del Toro’s color palette:
- The color red as a symbol (e.g., Victor’s mother’s death, gloves, scarf = “a piece of his mother”).
- Costume choices and how femininity, loss, and trauma are woven into the visuals.
- Creature’s innocent white-to-black costume progression mirrors loss of innocence.
- Mia Goth as Elizabeth: “She blew me away... She played softness so well, so well. But also very articulate, very sure of herself, very real.”
- On del Toro’s approach: “It’s a creatively curated, personal view of the story...The costuming, the set design, the fucking ship... it’s the best movie ever.”
The Mirror of Fiction: Self Reflection
[38:41 - 41:45]
- Brittany praises works like Dorian Gray and Babel for how “at the end of it, you are left with the question of, what am I? Who am I? Is this what I want to be?...Any story that holds a mirror to humanity and the cruelty and kindness of humanity.”
- Reflects on how storytelling reveals human hypocrisy and complexity.
Science Catching Up: Real-Life Reanimation & Ethics
[41:46 - 48:51]
- Brittany investigates if reanimation is possible, referencing a real Yale University experiment reviving cellular function in dead pig brains (“Brain X”).
- Grapples with the ethics of animal testing, medical research, and evolving definitions of death.
Quote, 44:29:
“A central theme of Frankenstein is morality... the reanimation of brain cells raises ethical questions on the Definition of death and the extent to which brain X could be used.”
Brain Tissue Art, Creativity Outside the Human Body, & Philosophical Tangents
[48:52 - 54:09]
- Amused and disturbed by an Australian art installation using the late composer Alvin Lucier’s lab-grown brain organoids to generate music.
- Spirited debate: Can creativity exist outside the human body?
- “No, creativity doesn't exist outside of the human body in the sense that we're talking about it as in a creation... This is science. Because there wasn't a person behind it who's. Who translated their idea into this. However, someone had the idea to do this. So I guess it's creative in that sense. But is it art? I guess everything's art. Damn. What the fuck?” (51:00)
- Rage against internet “exceptions to the rule” debate: (Red Bull kicking in).
Who is the Villain? The Monster or the Creator?
[55:00 - 57:30]
- Philosophical exploration of villainy in Frankenstein—victim, oppressor, generational trauma, and the darkness within us all:
Quote, 56:17:
“The real monster wasn't the creation, it was the creator... I think it's a bit more intricate than that. Are y'all rocking with me?” - Playfully likens her “beluga whale brain” to Cerberus, the three-headed dog—“sometimes it comes out. I cannot control my own...”
End-of-Episode Bits: Music, Playlists, and Broski Nation Updates
[57:31 - 60:00]
- Song of the week: “Space Age Vintage Cocktail Bossa Mambo, Muzak and Jazz” playlist by Hunter John Tree on Spotify.
- Expresses new love for classical music (“As I wait for Rosalía’s album…”).
- Broski Report available ad free on Patreon, merch drops, and official playlist shoutouts.
- Signs off with: “Thank you for letting me yap about the things that I deeply care about and for exploring these ethical non questions. I really appreciate it. I'll catch you guys next week. Be good and bye bye.”
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- “Laugh all you want. Okay? Laugh at the fool, but the fool is content and you are miserable… Frankenstein is the best movie that's ever been made, in my opinion.” (05:07)
- “There is no moral guidepost that teaches you what to do with these scientific discoveries.” (09:36)
- “These were just normal people who had an idea and thought to write it down, and look at the lasting impact that it had. And it's honestly really inspiring as a creative...” (17:35)
- “He made me cry. Why are they mean to him? Why are they mean to Frankenstein Monster? Oh. Oh. Anyway.” (26:45)
- “Any story that holds a mirror to humanity and the cruelty and kindness of humanity… Like, how can all of that so perfectly fit within the eight pounds that the human head is?” (39:52)
- On ethics of reanimation:
“As with any groundbreaking research, the reanimation of the brain cells does raise ethical questions on the Definition of death and the extent to which brain X could be used to restore brain activity, as well as the use of animals in their research...” (44:20) - On art and creativity:
“No, creativity doesn't exist outside of the human body in the sense that we're talking about it as in a creation, not as in nature…This is science. Because there wasn't a person behind it who's. Who translated their idea into this. However, someone had the idea to do this. So I guess it's creative in that sense. But is it art? I guess everything's art. Damn. What the fuck?” (51:00) - On the monster within:
“Humans are monsters. We are capable of such unbelievable cruelty. Right?...The villain is...us warring with our own emotions.” (56:37)
Timestamps for Important Segments
| Timestamp | Segment/Topic | |-----------|-----------------------------------------------------| | 00:38 | Opening: “Beluga brain”/Mood & vibe check | | 03:31 | Brittany’s Frankenstein obsession/unlocked | | 06:36 | Prometheus myth & science-morality debate | | 11:45 | Shelley, Byron & the origin of Frankenstein | | 15:44 | Literary accessibility/human level classics | | 18:51 | Plot/Themes of del Toro’s Frankenstein | | 25:40 | Humanity, empathy, and oppression in narrative | | 29:29 | Film analysis: color, performance, costumes | | 38:41 | Self-reflection, art as a mirror | | 41:46 | Modern science & the real limits of reanimation | | 48:52 | Brain tissue music, creativity outside the body | | 55:00 | Monster/creator, villainy, generational trauma | | 57:31 | Songs of the week, Broski Nation housekeeping |
Final Thoughts & Tone
Brittany delivers a heartfelt, irreverent, and thoughtful blend of literary criticism, pop culture analysis, and stand-up comedy. She welcomes listeners into her chaotic thought process (“off the monk fruit Red Bull, I am philosophical”) while making intimidating subjects—classics, philosophy, ethics, science—engaging and approachable for everyone. A must-listen for fans of smart, funny, and highly personal long-form podcasting.
[End.]