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Episode 104: Beverly Cleary

Beverly Cleary invited readers and 'non-readers' into her delightful, relatable worlds for generations. This week, we celebrate the meaningful, remarkable impact that she had on children's literature and on the people who enjoyed her work! Thank you so much, Mrs. Cleary. Listen HERE.

March 30th, 2021

Episode 103: Mary Wollstonecraft

This week, we bring you: Mary Wollstonecraft. A feminist icon from England, and the mother of Mary Shelley, Wollstonecraft brought a new meaning to 'Independent Woman', throwing out society's rule book and writing her own (among many other novels, essays, translations, and stories!)  Listen HERE.

March 24th, 2021

Episode 102: Colette

We continue Women's History Month! Meet the original Beyoncé! Except French and a writer. And also a journalist, performer, defier of gendered stereotypes, and Nobel Prize nominee: Colette! Listen HERE.

March 16th, 2021

Episode 101: Edith Wharton 

We're kicking off our celebration of Women's History Month with Edith Wharton - an extraordinary, genre crossing author who was not only the first woman to win a Pulitzer Prize, but also wrote translations, poetry, war reports, novels, short stories, plays and a book on interior design in addition to philanthropic work and world travels! Edith, we salute you!  Listen HERE.

March 9th, 2021

Episode 100 Celebration! 

This episode has it all: Guest Host Katie Sall joins us to swap some of our favorite author stories, play two new literary themed games, AND introduce our new website, author archives, and MERCH line to celebrate our 100th episode! Listen HERE.

March 2nd, 2021

Episode 99: Octavia E. Butler

This week, we head back in time to meet an author ahead of hers: Octavia Butler - an extraordinary trailblazer for Women of Color in the Science Fiction world, MacArthur Genius, and profound lover of books and libraries! Listen HERE.

February 23rd, 2021

Episode 98: Claude McKay

We continue our celebration of Black authors with Claude McKay: Extraordinary Harlem Renaissance Poet, World Traveler, Novelist, Communist, Converted-Catholic, Teacher, and Almost-Carpenter! Listen HERE.

February 16th, 2021

Episode 97: A Literary Love Anthologie

In this special Valentine's Day episode, we feature author love stories and letters, both wildly romantic and deeply tragical! Author highlights include Oscar Wilde, Edna St. Vincent Millay, Emily Dickinson, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Sylvia Plath, and more! Listen HERE.

February 9th, 2021

Episode 96: Paul Laurence Dunbar

We're kicking off our celebration of Black authors with Paul Laurence Dunbar, who, in his extraordinary but short 33 years, shaped the voice of Black poets in post-Civil War America.   Listen HERE.

February 2nd, 2021

Episode 95: Emma Lazarus

Behind the iconic poem associated with Lady Liberty stands another formidable lady: Emma Lazarus! The subject of this week's episode, we dive into the history of the Jewish poet who changed the meaning of the Statue of Liberty and what it means to be 'American'.  Listen HERE.

January 26th, 2021

Episode 94: Anne Bradstreet

"To our Dear and Loving Listeners..." - that's right! We're doing Anne Bradstreet, America's very first English-American poet! Need ideas for Valentine's Day poems? Anne's got you covered!  Listen HERE.

January 19th, 2021

Episode 93: John Donne

It's 2021, time for John Donne. This metaphysical poet sits second to none. Off to England, we hope that you can come - we got rakes and jail time - this episode will be fun! Listen HERE.

January 12th, 2021

Episode 92: Djuna Barnes

This week, we celebrate the wild, bohemian queen, Djuna Barnes, who lived and wrote in an extraordinary way. Never heard of her? Give this a listen - her stories are well worth it! Listen HERE.

January 5th, 2021

Episode 91: O. Henry

Ever wondered what it was like to be a cowboy, pharmacist, and short story author? O. Henry could absolutely tell you, and this week, Jon will tell all of us about this prolific, down-to-the-wire author!  Listen HERE.

December 30th, 2020

Episode 90: A Christmas Anthology (Live!)

In this special Christmas-themed live episode, we take a closer look at some classic songs & stories including 'White Christmas', 'T'was the Night Before Christmas', and 'The Gift of the Magi' among others! Join us for these histories, interactive games, and a new LIT version of Jingle Bells!  Listen HERE.

December 23rd, 2020

Episode 89: George Eliot

The truly legendary George Eliot AKA Mary Anne Evans is our focus this week - including her wild successes, intense relationships, and a strange incident involving the Grand Canal in Venice! Listen HERE.

December 15th, 2020

Episode 88: The Brothers Grimm

Prepare to be spooked, delighted, and amazed as we engage in the shockingly nerdy history of the Brothers Grimm! This episode also features anthropomorphic sausages, so there's that... Listen HERE.

December 8th, 2020

Episode 87: Dorothy Parker

This week we cover the queen of quips, the virtuoso of verse, the woman who puts the 'whore' in horticulture: Dorothy Parker. If you don't know her yet, you must! If you do know her, celebrate her extraordinary legacy with us! Listen HERE.

December 1st, 2020

Episode 86: Hans Christian Andersen

This week, we explore fairy tale legend and Danish National Treasure (no really, he was actually called that), Hans Christian Andersen whose life was not exactly a fairy tale but did inspire them! Listen HERE.

November 24th, 2020

Episode 85: Christopher Marlowe

Need a myth, a man, a LEGEND in your life? Look no further than Christopher Marlowe, Shakespeare's peer but superior playwright, spy, and general ruffian - this week's episode has got stories for you! Listen HERE.

November 17th, 2020

Episode 84: Bram Stoker

What do winning power walking medals and Dracula have in common? They were both important parts of Bram Stoker's life! Learn about the creator of the iconic vampire this week as we head off to Ireland!   Listen HERE.

November 10th, 2020

Episode 83: Christina Rossetti

This week, we're jumping over to England to explore the life of Christina Rossetti, poetess of some extraordinary feminist sonnets, The Goblin Market, and a rather tragic autobiographical short story, among other things! We've also included some bonus 'spooky' readings at the end for your Halloween enjoyment!  Listen HERE.

November 3rd, 2020

Episode 82: Shirley Jackson

Shirley Jackson: author of some of our most iconic horror tales of all time, master of green mashed potatoes, and an advocate and trailblazer for women's autonomy and place in the world. Grab your broomsticks, folks - it's nearly Halloween - the perfect time to honor this extraordinary writer!  Listen HERE.

October 27th, 2020

Episode 81: Charlotte Perkins Gilman

This week, we cover the wildly underrated Charlotte Perkins Gilman, author of 'The Yellow Wall-Paper' among thousands of other works. Unpack her controversial legacy and learn more about the woman who wrote her own magazine, sewed her own 'species of brassière', and lived by her own rules. Listen HERE.

October 20th, 2020

Episode 80: Douglas Adams

Hitch a ride with Jon as he explores the colorful, passionate legacy of Sci-Fi author Douglas Adams! Don't forget your towel!  Listen HERE.

October 13th, 2020

Episode 79: Pablo Neruda

We're diving into the backstory of Pablo Neruda, whose visceral love poetry invokes passion and the most deeply felt desires of the human spirit - join us for the journey!  Listen HERE.

October 6th, 2020

Episode 78: Rachel Carson

Take a moment to breathe and invigorate with Rachel Carson - author and environmental advocate, who shattered barriers for women in science and the workforce. Carson is indeed a figure we could all take inspiration from right now! Listen HERE.

September 29th, 2020

Episode 77: Harriet Beecher Stowe

In conversation with Frederick Douglass, we invite Harriet Beecher Stowe, author of Uncle Tom's Cabin, among other works, to the table to interrogate portrayals of Africans who were enslaved, abolition, and feminism.  Listen HERE.

September 17th, 2020

Episode 76: Frederick Douglass

Speeches are a deeply under appreciated literary form and this week, we turn to the true expert: Frederick Douglass - orator, autobiographer, journalist, abolitionist, and change maker! Listen HERE.

September 16th, 2020

Episode 75: Harper Lee

"Remember it's a sin to --- not listen to Harper Lee's Get Lit episode," - Atticus Finch, probably... Join us in Monroeville to take a look at the life of Harper Lee (the Jane Austen of South Alabama), author, philanthropist, Met's fan, and shaper of American literature! Listen HERE.

September 8th, 2020

Episode 74: John Keats

This episode is indeed an Ode to Autumn and to poet and Romantic with a capital 'R', John Keats! Come along with us as we explore the brief, bright life of this extraordinary talent! Listen HERE.

September 1st, 2020

Episode 73: Ralph Ellison

Jon takes over this week, bringing us his research on the oft overlooked and reputationally controversial author of essays, short stories, and novel (Invisible Man), Ralph Ellison! Listen HERE.

August 25th, 2020

Episode 72: Aphra Behn

Have you ever dreamed of being a playwright-poet-spy-theatre artist? Good news - you can learn about opportunities in this career field from this week's featured author, Aphra Behn! It's quite a journey, so join us for the ride! Listen HERE.

August 18th, 2020

Episode 71 1/2: Back to School Special: Teacher Conversation

In the second part of our Back to School Special, we speak with two other educators - guest host Katie Sall and Dillin Randolph to get their takes on teaching: what we teach, how we teach it, and why! We're not claiming to have all the answers, but there are definitely some wonderful ones on this episode. Listen HERE.

August 14th, 2020

Episode 71: Tolkien & Lewis (Live!)

Another pair of heavy hitters in the fantasy world: C.S. Lewis & J.R.R. Tolkien! Join us an our LIVE audience as we journey into Middle Earth and through the wardrobe in our quest to explore these extraordinary authors!! Listen HERE.

August 11th, 2020

Episode 70 1/2: Back to School Special: Student Conversation

Join us for Part I of our 'Back to School Special' episode! We have a conversation with three recent high school graduates about their experiences in English classes, why we read what we read, and how literature shapes our culture and our lives. Listen HERE.

August 7th, 2020

Episode 70: Sarah Orne Jewett

We're taking the vacation you never got to this summer: We're off to South Berwick, Maine to enjoy the flowers, front yards, and local color brought to us by Sarah Orne Jewett's life & writing! Listen HERE.

August 5th, 2020

Episode 69: Margaret Mitchell

A true rebel, woman of gumption: Margaret Mitchell, author of Gone with the Wind. This week, we learn about and from Mitchell's life of change. Both making it and being a part of it!  Listen HERE. 

July 29th, 2020

Episode 68: William Faulkner

Join us on our trip to Oxford, MS and other Southern spots as we trace the odd, interesting life of William Faulkner - documenter of Southern heritage and lover of pipes!   Listen HERE. 

July 21st, 2020

Episode 67: Gabriel García Márquez

It's truly "Love in the Time of Corona" - sorry - "Cholera" this week as we discuss the life of Columbian/World Traveling Author, Gabriel García Márquez! There's plenty of sites, supernatural references, and guest appearances by Bill Clinton &  Fidel Castro!  Listen HERE. 

July 14th, 2020

Episode 66: Washington Irving

It's your favorite historian, short story writing, war secretary, inventor of Christmas and creator of modern comic lore: Washington Irving! Join us this week for the colorful, trivia-peppered life of one of America's (as the United States) earliest authors! Listen HERE. 

July 8th, 2020

Episode 65: Virginia Woolf

Who's afraid? Certainly not us! In continuing our Pride celebration, we discuss the gender-bending, genre-defying life and career of Virginia Woolf! Listen HERE. 

June 30th, 2020

Episode 64: Tennessee Williams

Maybe you guessed it: we're featuring Tennessee Williams this week! Hop aboard our tour that takes us to the South, Midwest, and East Coast, exploring the lore that makes up the life of this legend! Listen HERE. 

June 23rd, 2020

Episode 63: Lorraine Hansberry

Lorraine Hansberry simultaneously spoke to the Black American experience, while shattering all conventions of that experience in her own work. She used her voice to make change, inspire others and, "create my life, not just accept it." We celebrate her remarkable life and legacy in this episode. Listen HERE. 

June 16th, 2020

Episode 62: Truman Capote

Truman Capote embodies the beauty & exuberance that is Pride month, but also the intense struggle of being gay in America. This week, we cover the author of 'In Cold Blood' and 'Breakfast at Tiffany's' with a side trip to the Party of the Century! Listen HERE. 

June 9th, 2020

Episode 61: Audre Lorde

Audre Lorde: black, feminist, lesbian, poet - among so many other things. We explore the wildly intersectional work and remarkable legacy of a voice we needed then and certainly now. Listen HERE. 

June 2nd, 2020

Episode 60: Jack Kerouac

Join us On the Road with Beat poet & author, Jack Kerouac! Famed and fabled, we take a look at the complex relationship this author had with his publicity and work, with pit stops in Queens, Haikus, and Football! Listen HERE. 

May 27th, 2020

Episode 59: Willa Cather

Feeling a bit spiritually tired? Like you need a literary hug? This week's author is a beautiful blend of bold stances, love, and the essence of American Writing and is just the ticket: Willa Cather, everyone! Listen HERE. 

May 20th, 2020

Episode 58: Victor Hugo

Alors! We're back in France to discuss Victor Hugo, author of Les Miserables and The Hunchback of Notre Dame, among many other lengthy works! With side trips to exile, the occult, and revolution, how could you not want to learn more? Listen HERE. 

May 13th, 2020

Episode 57: Alexandre Dumas

"All for one, one for all, that is our device!" That's right! We're doing the author of The Three Musketeers and The Count of Monte Cristo (along with 1,326 other volumes of material!) Alexandre Dumas - but don't worry - we're only doing the highlights! Listen HERE. 

May 6th, 2020

Episode 56: J.M. Barrie

Come to Neverland with us! We're off to explore the life of Scottish author, creator of a true modern myth, and captivator of imaginations: J.M. Barrie! Listen HERE. 

April 29th, 2020

Episode 55: Hildegard of Bingen

Ever dreamed of being a mystic, author, botanist, musician, playwright/composer, preacher, healer, historian, and music therapist? If you said, yes, then take a few tips from this week's featured author: Hildegard of Bingen. If you said no, then enjoy this episode! Listen HERE. 

April 22nd, 2020

Episode 54: Elizabeth  Barrett Browning

She's the OG Poetry Superstar! This week, meet Elizabeth Barrett Browning, poetess extraordinaire, translator, language learner, eloper, and social justice warrior! Celebrate National Poetry Month with this remarkable woman poet! Listen HERE. 

April 15th, 2020

Episode 53: Get Lit Live IV: William Shakespeare

We did it! THE William Shakespeare - for our one year anniversary episode! Join us and the Bard for a celebration complete with our very own author themed Tinder game! Listen HERE. 

April 8th, 2020

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