Three podcasts to help you brush up your Shakespeare
get ready to read Measure for Measure by listening to these three podcast episodes
In two weeks, you’ll hear our in depth discussion of Measure for Measure by William Shakespeare, featuring special guest
— host of The Stacks Podcast. Traci’s enthusiasm for Shakespeare is contagious, and while you don’t need to read the play before listening to the episode, we know many of you will want to! That’s why we’re sharing three podcast episodes to help you read, view, or listen to Shakespeare before diving into Measure for Measure.Ask a Shakespeare Professor
Last year, Chelsey sat down with her former Shakespeare professor Doug Green to gather tips on reading The Bard for our community. Doug proved to be a knowledgeable resource and brought his Big English Teacher Energy to the podcast with excellent advice and interpretations to consider as we read Macbeth. This episode is a great primer before launching yourself into any of Shakespeare’s plays, and we think you’ll especially enjoy Doug’s dramatic reading at the very end.
Gatekeeping around Shakespeare with Farah Karim-Cooper & Romeo and Juliet
Traci recently brought scholar Farah Karim-Cooper on to talk about her book: The Great White Bard. They cover everything from Karim-Cooper’s academic journey to Shakespeare’s legacy to favorite plays. This episode offers a few lenses to consider as you read Shakespeare’s work, as well as inspiration for appreciating his fame and reputation in new ways. Be sure to return to The Stacks Podcast to hear Traci and Farah discuss Romeo and Juliet, a classic high school staple with so much to offer readers of all ages.
Lend Me Your Ears: Measure for Measure
This podcast miniseries from Slate provides contemporary analysis on how Shakespeare’s works have shaped our politics and ethics. Some readers may prefer reading the play before diving into this episode, as it articulates interpretations of the text—while others will appreciate having clear themes and connections to look for while reading.
Join us for more discussion on Patreon!
On Friday, we’re sharing an introductory episode for The Importance of Being Earnest, our book club selection for April. Patrons have been loving these intro episodes to help them frame their reading experiences. We’ve also edited our April calendar a bit. Check it out:
On Wednesday, April 10th at 7 pm ET, we will teach a class on The History of Comedy from Commedia Dell'arte to Sit Coms.
On Tuesday, April 30th at 7 pm ET, we will discuss The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde with our Patreon book club.
Both of these events, along with those listed in the calendar below, are available to patrons at the $10 Literature Scholar level.
Join Patreon to participate in group discussion, public scholarship, and literary learning. We can’t wait to see you there!
No matter your theater experience or expertise level, we encourage you to give these plays a try this month! We’ve got On Beauty coming up in May. Satirical spring holds so many fun reading opportunities to expand your literary collection and education.
Happy Reading and Happy Spring,