Critical Readings

This is a wonderful podcast for people open to learning about literature, plays, and poetry beyond what they have already experienced. It is just the right blend of serious scholarship with pop cultural references and humor. A special treat is being able to post comments on the website and to have interchanges amongst the book club members as well as with the professionals. I don’t know of any other podcast that does this.

For a long time I have enjoyed writing self-reflective prose and poetry, but I’ve never felt I’ve had the tools to write well. This podcast has given me some inspiration to continue writing and experimenting both in writing and in music. So few modern musicians still possess such rich poetic power (though Joe Pug and Marcus Mumford may be an exception). But, podcasts like this keep the knowledge of great poetry alive, so that just like Longfellow’s “footprints on the sands of time,” we might be inspired to keep the tradition alive. I have greatly enjoyed listening to the wonderful depth and insight in this podcast, and I hope to continue writing and growing my own knowledge base.

As a practicing poet, I have searched long and hard for podcasts that do in-depth analyses of the great works. Most just do snippets of readings, and many focus on contemporary free-versers with a political agenda who are, in the scheme of things, highly forgettable. Only a handful analyze works of the past, and this is the only one I’ve found that does multi-part episode series on longer works. Great for students, practitioners looking to better understand their craft, and general interest.

One of my favorite podcasts. Please, keep ‘em coming!