The podcast episodes discuss the concept of Authorial Intent and its role in literary interpretation and adaptation.

In The History of Bad Ideas: The Death of the Author, the episode examines the idea that the reader, not the author, should be the arbiter of textual meaning, and how this notion has impacted literary criticism over time.

Similarly, Bonus Sample #266 AI may destroy society and capitalism will help touches on the tension between preserving an author's original intent and making works more palatable or inclusive for modern audiences.

The episodes also explore how Authorial Intent is challenged or reinterpreted in adaptations, as seen in the discussions of the Netflix live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender series and the upcoming Dune Part Two film.