Moby Dick Energy: A Moby Dick Podcast Talia Lavin

After a long hiatus, we're back! Talia talks with Byrd Pinkerton, amazing podcast producer and multimedia artist, about three chapters in which Melville rambles about how people depict whales. We dissect monstrous pictures rendered in florid language.

A link to the slideshow Byrd made so lovingly is here, posted to Medium! https://mobydickenergy.medium.com/moby-dick-pics-b58f6b9a25bf

Produced by Ty Wood (@bobo_the_second on Twitter). Theme song by Noam Hassenfeld.

Talia talks with Beth Skwarecki, senior health editor at Lifehacker, about three fascinating chapters. That's right -- we're BACK! After 33 episodes last year, we're off on the second year of Moby Dick Energy, and with hellish strength we are taking another stab at this great book. This week, we examine Melville's glowing and romantic depictions of the Erie Canal and the Great Lakes; gam a lot; and go with Ishmael to Peru. 

ALSO: A BIG AUDIENCE REQUEST --
We would *LOVE* to see some sea shanties by our listeners!!! If you are so moved, and want to write a sea shanty (to the tune of "Wellerman" or any other one you like, or an original tune) inspired by chapter 54, "The Town-Ho's Story," we want to feature it on the show!!!! Email your song creations to mobydickenergy@gmail.com, or @ us on Twitter at @mobydickenergy.

With excellent production by Ilana Weinstein. Theme song, as always, by Noam Hassenfeld.

Talia talks to author and producer Jay Bushman, author the new book "Novel Advice," about two marvellous chapters of this book. We're back, babey!!!! With an Agony Aunt letter from Ishmael, an exploration of Melville's orientalism, and the haunting beauty of the spirit-spout.

Prefacing this episode is Talia's prank call to the Trump Voter Fraud hotline.

This episode Talia talks to the lovely, gentle-voiced and brilliant Lili Loofbourow, a staff writer at Slate, about THE FIRST TIME WE ENCOUNTER SOME REAL LIFE WHALES in the book and the racially fraught introduction of Ahab's mysterious, hitherto hidden companions,  Fedallah and his crew. The word "swart" recurs, as does our habit of reading monologues aloud.

Theme song by Noam Hassenfeld.
Production by Ilana Weinstein.

Talia talks with Sarah Marshall, of the "You're Wrong About" and "Why Are Dads" podcasts, about 2 odd marooned mid-40s chapters of the book. It's Sarah's first experience with the book and we debunk some myths about Ahab -- as well as conveying that he's the ultimate Bad Dad of the Sea. "Man and whale must go down together, like Sherlock Holmes and Moriarty." -Sarah Marshall

merch: mobydickenergy.threadless.com 

Talia talks with New York Times bestselling author Morgan Jerkins about the bizarre and wonderful chapter "The Affidavit." With clips from "Matilda," asides about dairy, and as always, contemplation of the majesty and terror of The Sea.