The Newest Olympian
An adult man reads the Percy Jackson series for the first time, breaking it down chapter-by-chapter with longtime fans to see if it holds up.
This is a chapter-by-chapter book club podcast where a first-time adult reader (the host) and a seasoned fan (the guest) dissect the Percy Jackson universe. The format blends a detailed, sequential plot recap with humorous tangents, personal anecdotes, and analysis of everything from character motivations to the physics of fictional events. It's a journey of discovery for the host and a nostalgic celebration for the guest and audience.
“Unlike broad literary discussion shows, its rigid chapter-by-chapter structure creates a highly focused, sequential experience. The host's position as a knowledgeable novice asking questions to expert fans creates a unique dynamic of guided discovery rather than pure academic analysis.”
Who hosts this show
Mike Schubert is a full-time podcaster on a quest to discover if the Percy Jackson book series is as good as everyone says. Having missed the books as a kid, he now reads them for the first time as an adult, bringing on a guest for each episode—typically a longtime fan—to discuss the plot, characters, and mythology in a chapter-by-chapter breakdown. The podcast, which launched in September 2021, serves as a digital book club for new readers and a nostalgic deep-dive for established fans, following the successful format of his previous show, "Potterless".
Credentials & credits
- Full-time podcaster
- Creator of 'Potterless' podcast
- Studied Mechanical Engineering at Rice University
- Former mechanical engineer
Other ventures
- Potterless
- Meddling Adults
- HORSE
- Modern Muckraker
- The Last and the Curious
- Professional Talkers
When new episodes drop
- 01230 | The House of Hades Ch. 49–51A w/ Michael HollisJun 29, 2026 · 1h 03m
- 02229 | The House of Hades Ch. 46–48 w/ Sherry GuoJun 22, 2026 · 1h 12m
- 03228 | The House of Hades Ch. 43–45 w/ Paul CaiolaJun 15, 2026 · 1h 22m
- 04227 | The House of Hades Ch. 40–42 w/ Kevin McKain (LIVE in Raleigh!)Jun 8, 2026 · 1h 51m
- 05
- 06226 | The House of Hades Ch. 37–39 w/ Kelly Schubert (LIVE in Charlotte!)May 25, 2026 · 1h 46m
- 07225 | The House of Hades Ch. 35–36 w/ Ashlee Latimer (LIVE in Atlanta!)May 18, 2026 · 1h 34m
- 08224 | The House of Hades Ch. 33–34 w/ Morgan Danielle (LIVE in Denver!)May 11, 2026 · 1h 28m
Notable episodes
- 01225 | The House of Hades Ch. 35–36 w/ Ashlee Latimer (LIVE in Atlanta!)
Features the host's live first-time reading of a major, long-awaited character reveal, showcasing the show's blend of community excitement and narrative analysis.
- 02229 | The House of Hades Ch. 46–48 w/ Sherry Guo
A good example of the show's dynamic, where the host and guest (the show's editor) mix deep book analysis with personal anecdotes, including a story about being mistaken for someone in a national scandal.
- 032022 Tour Vlog: First Ever The Newest Olympian Live Show (NYC)...
A behind-the-scenes look at the podcast's first live show, demonstrating the community that has built up around the podcast.
What you'll be asked on this show
The show is not a traditional interview format. Instead of probing a guest's life or career, Mike Schubert facilitates a collaborative textual analysis. He opens with light personal banter, often including a fan-submitted icebreaker called a "Guestion," before moving into a structured, chapter-by-chapter recap of the book. His "questions" are prompts for discussion about the text, asking for the guest's opinion on specific plot points, character actions, or their history with the series. The dynamic is that of a curious student (the host) learning from an experienced peer (the guest).
The show is structured as a two-person book club discussion, not a formal interview. Host Mike Schubert guides the conversation through a sequential recap of a few chapters, pausing to get the guest's reactions and interjecting with his own analysis, humor, and frequent tangents. Episodes often begin with personal banter before diving into the book content.
Questions the host keeps coming back to
7 cataloguedIf you're going on this show as a guest, expect some version of each of these. Each note explains when the host reaches for it.
origin
1- Q.01
“When did you first get into the Percy Jackson series?”
Usually asked early to establish the guest's history and credentials as a fan.
personal
2- Q.01
“Which godly parent would you have, or what cabin would you be in?”
A recurring icebreaker that connects the guest directly to the world of the books.
- Q.02
“I have a 'Guestion' from a listener for you...”
Integrates the audience by posing a fan-submitted question as an icebreaker.
craft
4- Q.01
“What were your thoughts on [a specific plot point, like the Nico reveal]?”
Used to get the guest's take on major narrative moments the host has just experienced.
- Q.02
“What did you think of how [character] was handled in this section?”
Prompts specific character analysis within the chapters being discussed.
- Q.03
“Do you have any thoughts on [a specific object or magical element]?”
Focuses the discussion on a particular plot device or piece of world-building.
- Q.04
“What did you think of the way this scene was written?”
Moves beyond plot to focus on Rick Riordan's writing style and narrative choices.
Signature segments
- · Host's opening spiel about being an adult reading PJO for the first time
- · Asking guests about their godly parent/cabin
- · Answering fan-submitted "Guestions"
- · Retitling the chapters covered in the episode
- · Live shows in front of an audience
Topics covered repeatedly
Who gets booked here
Guests are longtime fans of the Percy Jackson series. They include other podcasters, friends of the host, the show's own editor (Sherry Guo), and even the host's wife (Kelly Schubert), all of whom bring a deep knowledge and passion for the source material.
- Michael Hollison 230 | The House of Hades Ch. 49–51A w/ Michael Hollis
- Sherry Guoon 229 | The House of Hades Ch. 46–48 w/ Sherry Guo
- Paul Caiolaon 228 | The House of Hades Ch. 43–45 w/ Paul Caiola
- Kevin McKainon 227 | The House of Hades Ch. 40–42 w/ Kevin McKain (LIVE in Raleigh!)
- Kelly Schuberton 226 | The House of Hades Ch. 37–39 w/ Kelly Schubert (LIVE in Charlotte!)
Where to find this show
Audience & reach
The podcast features standard host-read ads for direct-to-consumer brands like Quince. Given the engaged, niche audience, sponsors likely target fans of fantasy literature and pop culture podcasts.
Subscriber and view counts are pulled live from YouTube and re-verified on a 30-day cycle. Listener estimates for the RSS feed aren't published here unless they're host-verified.
Pitch this show
t•••@•••.comFree: limited reveals · Pro: unlimited reveals + CSV export
You’re only charged when we return a verified hit.
People also ask
- What is the host's real name?
- The host is Mike Schubert.
- What is the podcast's format?
- It's a book club where host Mike Schubert, a first-time reader, discusses the Percy Jackson series chapter-by-chapter with a guest who is a longtime fan.
- Is the podcast still running?
- Yes, new episodes are released weekly on Mondays.
- Is this show just for kids?
- No, the show is hosted by an adult for an audience of all ages, analyzing the books from an adult perspective.
- Where can I listen?
- The podcast is available on major podcast platforms like Apple Podcasts and Spotify, and on The Newest Olympian YouTube channel.
- Does the host have other podcasts?
- Yes, Mike Schubert created "Potterless," a similar podcast for the Harry Potter series, and hosts several others including "Meddling Adults" and "HORSE".
Built from the show's public RSS feed, YouTube, the host's own websites, and the cited sources below. Computed and AI-extracted fields are labelled. Facts only — no private info, no fabrication, no transcripts republished.
Sources & how this page was built
This page is AI-assisted, grounded in the public sources cited below, and host-verifiable. We publish facts only; we do not republish transcripts. If anything here is wrong, the host can claim and correct the page above.Model: gemini-2.5-pro · high confidence
- [01]About | The Newest Olympianthenewestolympian.com
- [02]who? | Mike Schubert, creator of Potterless and moreschub.es
- [03]Podcasts | Mike Schubert, creator of Potterless and moreschub.es
- [04]About | Potterless Podcastpotterlesspodcast.com
- [05]Potterless - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
- [06]The Newest Olympian - Apple Podcastspodcasts.apple.com
Podcasts like The Newest Olympian
DIVE Studios / 다이브 스튜디오
A media company and podcast network where K-pop idols and Korean-American artists discuss culture, careers, and personal identity.
PARANORMAL EXPERIENCE
PARANORMAL EXPERIENCE
Um podcast brasileiro de longa duração onde dois apresentadores entrevistam médiuns, mentores e especialistas sobre suas experiências paranormais e estruturas espirituais.
Saad Rashid - YouTube Automation
Saad Rashid
A Pakistani host interviews creators of 'faceless' YouTube channels, breaking down their niche strategies, AI workflows, and revenue generation.
The History Guy: History Deserves to Be Remembered
A history storyteller who narrates short, engaging videos about forgotten events and figures, typically in 15 minutes or less.
Silicon Valley Girl
Silicon Valley Girl
An entrepreneur interviews the founders and scientists building the next wave of AI to uncover practical strategies for career and business growth.
The Arena
The Arena
A daily sports debate show where 3-time NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas and a panel of former pros give unfiltered takes on basketball news.
Shallu Nisha Podcast
Shallu Nisha
A long-form interview podcast exploring the careers and business of North Indian digital creators, artists, and entrepreneurs.
Backstage with Millionaires
Pankaj Chauhan
A weekly news show and documentary-style channel breaking down the biggest stories and trends in the Indian startup and venture capital ecosystem.