Melting Into Air: A History of the Victorian Empire

Brian Reinken

Melting Into Air is a scripted podcast that explores the history and culture of the Victorian era. Was the nineteenth century a dismal period whose greed and violence poisoned hearts and minds? Was it an optimistic, forward-facing age defined by progress and reform? To what extent was it both? The series will guide you through the evidence by making every part of this strange historical world feel like a crucial element of a cohesive whole. For more information, please visit our website at meltingintoair.net. meltingintoairpodcast.substack.com

Episodes

  1. 5 - Land Grabbing on a Great Scale: Enclosure and the Industrial Revolution

    JAN 11

    5 - Land Grabbing on a Great Scale: Enclosure and the Industrial Revolution

    Enclosure and industrialization, which both began in England, laid the groundwork for a new kind of global capitalism. Because these economic processes impacted absolutely every aspect of Victorian life, they’re as fundamental to the study of the nineteenth century as chemistry or physics are to the interpretation of the natural world. In this episode, we’ll approach broad, complex economic concepts from a humanist perspective that prioritizes ordinary people’s lived experiences. For additional credits, images, and a movie list, please visit our website. SUPPORT US ON PATREON! $2/month: Donation tier. $5/month: Open submission for Q&A episodes, access to interview episodes, and a logo sticker. $10/month: All of the above, plus a "special thanks" in the show notes, plus early access to exclusive episodes from "Beyond the British Empire." CREDITS Written and narrated by Brian Reinken Produced and edited by Marcie LaCerte Artwork by Marcie LaCerte Elizabeth Bentley voiced by Marcie LaCerte Theme song: Waltz (Tschaikovsky Op. 40) by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR PATRONS Rachel Halsey Jordan LaCerte Yves LaCerte LINKS Letterboxd / Apple / Spotify / YouTube CONTACT info@meltingintoair.net MUSIC Chopin, Frederic. Trois Nouvelles Études, no. 2. Chopin, Frederic. Mazurka No. 35 in C minor, Op. 56 No. 3. Chopin, Frederic. Mazurka No. 49 in F minor, Op. 68 No. 4. Satie, Erik. Gnossienne 3. Gymnopedie No. 3 (Erik Satie) by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons By Attribution 3.0 License. Chopin, Frederic. Mazurka No. 13 in A minor, Op. 17 No. 4. Haydn, Joseph. String Quartet, Op. 64 No. 5 in D major 'The Lark' - I. Allegro moderato. Chopin, Frederic. Nocturne No. 21 in C minor, B. 108. Bach, J. S. Goldberg Variations, BWV988. Satie, Erik. Gnossienne 4. Mendelssohn, Felix. A Midsummer Night's Dream, Op. 61 Scherzo. Mendelssohn, Felix. Symphony No. 4 in A Major, Op. 90 'Italian' - I. Allegro vivace. Satie, Erik. Gnossienne 6. Gaveaux, Pierre. Polacca from the opera Le Trompeur Trompé. Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license. Beethoven, Ludwig von. Symphony No. 3 in E flat major, Op. 55 'Eroica' - I. Allegro con brio. Chopin, Frederic. Nocturne No. 15 in F minor, Op. 55 No. 1. SOUND EFFECTS Mill MIX.wav by ccundell -- freesound.org/s/702460/ -- Licensed under NonCommercial 4.0 natural water puddle summer 2.06 pm 220618_0409 by klankbeeld -- freesound.org/s/693746/ -- Licensed under Attribution 4.0 CHURCH BELLS.m4a by CousinAwd -- freesound.org/s/528827/ -- Attribution 4.0 small stream ambient 1213PM 240129_0645 by klankbeeld -- freesound.org/s/721088/ -- Licensed under Attribution 4.0 Forest in Scotland May 1999.wav by inchadney -- freesound.org/s/336696/ -- Licensed under Attribution NonCommercial 4.0 Cambridge_pub_beergarden_rowdy_short_atmos.wav by alexkandrell -- freesound.org/s/294425/ -- Licensed under Attribution 3.0 Door Knock 1 by blou27 -- freesound.org/s/841281/ -- Licensed under Attribution 4.0 crate_break_2.wav by dxeyes -- freesound.org/s/432670/ -- Licensed under Attribution 4.0 Queen Street Mill, line shafts and belts running.wav by phonoflora -- freesound.org/s/201175/ -- Licensed under Attribution 4.0 Canadian Horse Carriage.wav by vero.marengere -- freesound.org/s/450325/ -- Licensed under Attribution NonCommercial 4.0 Distant Steam Train Whistle No Background Noise by WeenyBeany -- freesound.org/s/800935/ -- Licensed under Attribution 4.0 00947 building railway hard work arrangement.wav by Robinhood76 -- freesound.org/s/69009/ -- Licensed under Attribution NonCommercial 4.0 Steam whistle 090518.wav by LG -- freesound.org/s/72805/ -- Licensed under Attribution 4.0 boat Arvor 215 engine propellers low rpm splashes stereo ORTF 8040.wav by Soundholder -- freesound.org/s/425514/ -- Licensed under Attribution 3.0 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit meltingintoairpodcast.substack.com

    2h 31m
  2. 4 - A Side of Streaky Bacon: Early Victorian Culture

    11/30/2025

    4 - A Side of Streaky Bacon: Early Victorian Culture

    The imaginary border between “high” and “low” culture became more heavily guarded at precisely the moment when it grew much easier to cross. In this episode, we’ll explore how mass entertainment and elite institutions intersected with each other in surprising ways throughout the 1830s and 40s. From execution grounds to ivory towers, culture wars became a proxy for class struggle, but they also gave rise to alliances between unlikely partners. For additional credits, images, and a movie list, please visit our website. SUPPORT US ON PATREON! $2/month: Donation tier. $5/month: Open submission for Q&A episodes, access to interview episodes, and a logo sticker. $10/month: All of the above, plus a "special thanks" in the show notes, plus early access to exclusive episodes from "Beyond the British Empire." CREDITS Written and narrated by Brian Reinken Produced and edited by Marcie LaCerte Artwork by Marcie LaCerte Theme song: Waltz (Tschikovsky Op. 40) by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR PATRONS Jordan LaCerte Yves LaCerte LINKS Letterboxd / Apple / Spotify / YouTube CONTACT info@meltingintoair.net MUSIC Parisian. Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported license. Batty McFaddin. Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. Oroitz Maiz - Praeludium XIV. Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license. Toccata and Fugue in D Minor. Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. Chromatic Fuge (BBWV 930). Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license. Danse Macabre. Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License. Gnossienne 3. Erik Satie. Performed by La Pianista. Supernatural Radio A. Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. Look Busy. Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported license. Fun in a Bottle. Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported license. Villainous Treachery. Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. Romeo and Juliet. Tchaikovsky. Conducted by Charles Munch. A Midsummer Night's Dream Op. 61. Mendelssohn. String Quartet, Op. 64 No. 5 in D major 'The Lark' - I. Allegro moderato. Haydn. Gnossienne 6. Erik Satie. Performed by La Pianista. Goldberg Variations, BWV988 - 12. Variation 11. Bach, J S. Performed by Shelley Katz. Mazurka No. 49 in F minor, Op. 68 No. 4. Chopin. Performed by Edward Neeman. Aquarium. Saint-Saens. Performed by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License. Organ Sonata No. 6 in D minor, Op. 65. Felix Mendelssohn. Matthias Privler. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license. SOUND EFFECTS Wooden Door 01 by aglinder -- freesound.org/s/265583/ -- Licensed under Creative Commons 0 Old Fashioned Accordion by kevp888 -- freesound.org/s/688091/ -- Licensed under Attribution 4.0 Water lapping at domestic Venice pier, fast boat passes and backwash by ermine -- freesound.org/s/798383/ -- Licensed under Attribution NonCommercial 4.0 People Ambience In The Old Town by WhiteNoiseSleeper -- freesound.org/s/725605/ -- Licensed under Creative Commons 0 Horses Pavement Then Cobblestone.m4a by guynoland -- freesound.org/s/549882/ -- Licensed under Creative Commons 0 police whistle old London.wav by klankbeeld -- freesound.org/s/242537/ -- Licensed under Attribution 4.0 Crowded Venue by unfa -- freesound.org/s/211145/ -- Licensed under Creative Commons 0 Iron chain.wav by cabled_mess -- freesound.org/s/571375/ -- Licensed under Creative Commons 0 hanging3.wav by jameswrowles -- freesound.org/s/274799/ -- Licensed under Creative Commons 0 Crowd Cheer 4 by Krizin -- freesound.org/s/651640/ -- Licensed under Creative Commons 0.wav Hang Man's Rope by jergonda -- freesound.org/s/254735/ -- Licensed under Creative Commons 0 Sports Crowd Various Sounds by FlatHill -- freesound.org/s/324756/ -- Licensed under Creative Commons 0 cobblestone-square people 140124_03.flac by klankbeeld -- freesound.org/s/215631/ -- Licensed under Attribution 4.0 OxfordMarket.mp3 by AlbertinaVonStade -- freesound.org/s/514623/ -- Licensed under Creative Commons 0.mp3 Cambridge_pub_beergarden_rowdy_short_atmos.wav by alexkandrell -- freesound.org/s/294425/ -- Licensed under Attribution 3.0 2012-04-05 rainy night by a bank.flac by tim.kahn -- freesound.org/s/150840/ -- Licensed under Attribution 4.0 Thunderstorm in Urban Backyard by WakinyAntifa -- freesound.org/s/398805/ -- Licensed under Attribution 3.0 Thunder Claps, Single Clap 10 by PNMCarrieRailfan -- freesound.org/s/682355/ -- Licensed under Attribution NonCommercial 4.0 Leaves rustling .wav by thepitomized -- freesound.org/s/656199/ -- Licensed under Attribution NonCommercial 4.0 Running Horse with a Rider by sonically_sound -- freesound.org/s/645465/ -- Licensed by Attribution NonCommercial 4.0 Small Caribbean Ocean Waves by fran_marenco -- freesound.org/s/796618/ -- Licensed under Creative Commons 0 Angry Riot in Street.wav by craigsmith -- freesound.org/s/486197/ -- Licensed by Creative Commons 0 Loud Gunshot by DataJuggler -- freesound.org/s/750268/ -- Licensed by Creative Commons 0 Train on Railway Loop by MeijstroAudio -- freesound.org/s/402074/ -- Licensed under Creative Commons 0 Countryside atmosphere with horse grazing, far voices, birds, road hum and horn by felix.blume -- freesound.org/s/689059/ -- Licensed under Creative Commons 0 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit meltingintoairpodcast.substack.com

    2h 15m
  3. 3 - Let it Blaze Away: Life Among London's Poor

    10/13/2025

    3 - Let it Blaze Away: Life Among London's Poor

    Victorian London was the vibrant capital of Britain’s global empire. Despite its wealth and power, many Londoners eked out precarious lives defined by the ever-present possibility of bankruptcy, illness, or death. In this episode, we take a walking tour of the nineteenth-century world’s most populous city to examine how its poorest inhabitants survived, and even thrived, despite innumerable hardships. For additional credits, images, and a movie list, please visit our website. SUPPORT US ON PATREON! $2/month: Donation tier. $5/month: Open submission for Q&A episodes, access to interview episodes, and a logo sticker. $10/month: All of the above, plus a "special thanks" in the show notes, plus early access to exclusive episodes from "Beyond the British Empire." CREDITS Written and narrated by Brian Reinken Produced and edited by Marcie LaCerte Artwork by Marcie LaCerte Theme song: Waltz (Tschikovsky Op. 40) by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR PATRONS Jordan LaCerte Yves LaCerte LINKS Letterboxd / Apple / Spotify / YouTube CONTACT info@meltingintoair.net MUSIC Coming soon SOUND EFFECTS Coming soon This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit meltingintoairpodcast.substack.com

    2h 16m
  4. 2 - I Want Some More: The Crisis of Reform

    09/07/2025

    2 - I Want Some More: The Crisis of Reform

    From 1829 to 1834, Britain’s upper and upper-middle classes joined forces in a united front against the nation’s ordinary citizens. Faced with a rising tide of populist resentment, wealthy lawmakers enacted a far-reaching program of reforms designed to shore up the position of aristocrats, landlords, and merchants. The propertied classes in government weren’t humanitarians or democratic theorists. Rather than declaring war on poverty, they launched a preemptive strike against the nation’s poor. For additional credits, images, and a movie list, please visit our website. SUPPORT US ON PATREON! $2/month: Donation tier. $5/month: Open submission for Q&A episodes, access to interview episodes, and a logo sticker. $10/month: All of the above, plus a "special thanks" in the show notes, plus early access to exclusive episodes from "Beyond the British Empire." CREDITS Written and narrated by Brian Reinken Produced and edited by Marcie LaCerte Artwork by Marcie LaCerte Oliver Twist played by Marcie LaCerte Theme song: Waltz (Tschikovsky Op. 40) by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR PATRONS Jordan LaCerte Yves LaCerte LINKS Letterboxd / Apple / Spotify / YouTube CONTACT info@meltingintoair.net MUSIC Chopin - Nocturne No. 21 in C minor, B. 108 (Diana Hughes) Claude Debussy - Préludes (Livre II) - VIII. Ondine (Marcelle Meyer, 1956) George Frideric Handel - Fantasias 8,12 and Carillon. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license. Chopin - Mazurka No. 49 in F minor, Op. 68 No. 4 (Edward Neeman) Stainer's Crucifixion - God So Loved the World Chopin - Mazurka No. 18 in C minor, Op. 30 No. 1 (Edward Neeman) Kevin MacLeod - Erik Satie Gymnopedie No 3. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported license. Satie - Gnossienne 1 La Marseillaise Gnossienne 4 (Satie) The Lark in the Morning (c. 1926) Bach, J S - Goldberg Variations, BWV988 - 26. Variation 25 (Shelley Katz) United States Navy Band - God Save the Queen Frederic Chopin - Etude, F minor no opus. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license. Gnossienne 3 (Satie) Chopin - Nocturne No. 15 in F minor, Op. 55 No. 1 (Luke Faulkner) "Food, Glorious Food" by Lionel Bart for Oliver! The Wind that Shakes the Barley. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported license. Attribution: YouTube user 'peakfiddler' Music from 1913 Chopin - Mazurka No. 49 in F minor, Op. 68 No. 4 (Edward Neeman) SOUND EFFECTS Coming soon! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit meltingintoairpodcast.substack.com

    2h 27m
  5. 1 - Signs of the Times: Defining the Victorian Era

    08/04/2025

    1 - Signs of the Times: Defining the Victorian Era

    In this episode, I survey the decades leading up to the beginning of the podcast’s narrative in 1829. Even before Victoria assumed the throne in 1837, people were debating what the nineteenth century would represent. Would it go down in history as a dismal era whose inhabitants had sold their hearts and minds to profit-hungry businessmen? Or would it be remembered as a golden age defined by progress and reform? As we seek out an answer, I’ll argue that Victorian culture was uniquely post-industrial, post-revolutionary, and post-Romantic. For additional credits, images, and a movie list, please visit our website. SUPPORT US ON PATREON! $2/month: Donation tier. $5/month: Open submission for Q&A episodes, access to interview episodes, and a logo sticker. $10/month: All of the above, plus a "special thanks" in the show notes, plus early access to exclusive episodes from "Beyond the British Empire." CREDITS Written and narrated by Brian Reinken Produced and edited by Marcie LaCerte Artwork by Marcie LaCerte Theme song: Waltz (Tschikovsky Op. 40) by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License LINKS Letterboxd / Apple / Spotify / YouTube CONTACT info@meltingintoair.net MUSIC Chopin - Mazurka No. 21 in C-sharp minor, Op. 30 No. 4 (Edward Neeman) Blue Feather by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License Erik Satie: Gymnopedie No 1 by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License Mendelssohn String Quartet 2, 3rd movement (Intermezzo) Chopin - 12 Études, Op. 25 - No. 1 in A-Flat major 'Harp Study' (Edward Neeman) 1920's 78 recordings Christ Is Made The Sure Foundation (Westminster Abbey, Organ, 4 Verses) Mendelssohn - String Quartet No. 6 in F minor, Op. 80 - I. Allegro vivace assai (Musopen String Quartet) Weber - Grand Duo Concertant for clarinet and piano - 2. Andante con moto. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic La Marseillaise United States Navy Band - God Save the Queen Stainer's Crucifixion - God So Loved the World Chopin - Waltz in E Op-Posth (Piano Performance by eldüendesüarez). Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International Beethoven - Symphony No. 3 in E flat major, Op. 55 'Eroica' - I. Allegro con brio (Musopen Symphony) Haydn-concerto in D dur.2016. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported Chopin - Nocturne No. 21 in C minor, B. 108 (Diana Hughes) Debussy - Doctor Gradys ad Parnassum (Children's Corner) (Piano Performance by eldüendesüarez). This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license. Claude Debussy - Préludes (Livre II) - VIII. Ondine (Marcelle Meyer, 1956) SOUND EFFECTS Mill MIX.wav by ccundell -- https://freesound.org/s/702460/ -- License: Attribution NonCommercial 4.0 Queen Street Mill, loom running then stops.wav by phonoflora -- https://freesound.org/s/201181/ -- License: Attribution 4.0 LotsDistantCracksCoutryside.mp3 by HerbertBoland -- https://freesound.org/s/142025/ -- License: Attribution 4.0 Running Horse with a Rider by sonically_sound -- https://freesound.org/s/645465/ -- License: Attribution NonCommercial 4.0 Broken Tiles SFX.wav by DCSFX -- https://freesound.org/s/366117/ -- License: Attribution NonCommercial 3.0 Street Battle: Lviv Ukraine - WW1 Reconstruction.wav by Lubini -- https://freesound.org/s/337773/ -- License: Attribution 4.0 PROTESTS by XHALE303 -- https://freesound.org/s/536936/ -- License: Attribution 4.0 Farmland village spring 716 AM 230430_0592 by klankbeeld -- https://freesound.org/s/735125/ -- License: Attribution 4.0 WATRLap water lapping at domestic Venice pier, fast boat passes and backwash by ermine -- https://freesound.org/s/798383/ -- License: Attribution NonCommercial 4.0 Leaves rustling .wav by thepitomized -- https://freesound.org/s/656199/ -- License: Attribution NonCommercial 4.0 Tui - New Zealand bird by tdes -- https://freesound.org/s/155767/ -- License: Attribution 3.0 At the edge of Europe.mp3 by soundsofeurope -- https://freesound.org/s/148863/ -- License: Attribution NonCommercial 3.0 CHURCH BELLS.m4a by CousinAwd -- https://freesound.org/s/528827/ -- License: Attribution 4.0 Markt Den Bosch NL 161211_1060.flac by klankbeeld -- https://freesound.org/s/370752/ -- License: Attribution 4.0 Thunderstorm in Urban Backyard by WakinyAntifa -- https://freesound.org/s/398805/ -- License: Attribution 3.0 Wind Chime.wav by CharleneZ -- https://freesound.org/s/326342/ -- License: Attribution NonCommercial 3.0 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit meltingintoairpodcast.substack.com

    1h 30m
  6. 0 - Prologue: Melting Into Air

    SEASON 1 TRAILER

    0 - Prologue: Melting Into Air

    In this short prologue to the series, I introduce the podcast’s goals and say a bit about myself. Melting Into Air is a scripted podcast that explores the history and culture of the Victorian era (c. 1829–1901). Join me on a thrilling journey through the nineteenth century. As our story takes us from the heart of London to the distant reaches of the British Empire, we’ll encounter big events and well-known characters alongside hidden histories and half-forgotten people who lived fascinating lives. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit meltingintoairpodcast.substack.com

    3 min

Trailer

5
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

Melting Into Air is a scripted podcast that explores the history and culture of the Victorian era. Was the nineteenth century a dismal period whose greed and violence poisoned hearts and minds? Was it an optimistic, forward-facing age defined by progress and reform? To what extent was it both? The series will guide you through the evidence by making every part of this strange historical world feel like a crucial element of a cohesive whole. For more information, please visit our website at meltingintoair.net. meltingintoairpodcast.substack.com

Information