Recording from The Pile Bookstore in Berwyn, IL, we're delighted to bring you some fabulous adventures across time and London! Featuring the experiences of six different female authors, we examine this literary pilgrimage through the lens of these extraordinary ladies. Jon brings us some tea time trivialities and there's plenty of fun to be had! Join us, LIVE! Listen HERE.

It's our 5th birthday and we couldn't think of a better way to celebrate than with the legacy of Sinclair Lewis! And to have Dan Esquivel on as our guest host! Lewis was the first American author to win the Nobel Prize for literature, along with 1.5 (ish - we'll explain...) Pulitzer Prizes. He held up a mirror to American society, writing novels and stories that helped us consider our values with his signature unflinching prose. Join us to celebrate this extraordinary author and our momentous occasion! Listen HERE.

Since we recorded on April Fool's Day, it seems only natural to pull a bit of a prank to get in the spirit of the thing! Steph and Jack whip up an episode about an entirely fake author who just happens to have lived a very similar life to host, Jon. He catches on... eventually... We share a list of literary pranksters and the theorized literary origins behind April Fool's Day! Join us for a bit of fun as we pull on over on Jon! Listen HERE.

This week, Jack takes over hosting to tell Jon about Elizabeth von Arnim! This British author led a very storied life that took her across the world. She wrote 22 novels, mostly anonymous during the course of her life and pulled from various creative concepts and personal sources to develop her original voice. Did we mention she's also a countess? Multiple times? Listen HERE.

Women's History Month continues with Margaret Fuller! This extraordinary woman is considered by many to be the model of early feminist scholarship, writing about issues including independence, suffrage, and autonomy. Her work laid the foundation in many ways for other later thinkers during her time and today. She lived a powerful, passionate but tragically brief life. Celebrate her legacy with us this week! Listen HERE.

Our celebration of Women's History Month continues with Modernist poet Marianne Moore! Her life was varied and storied as she made her way from the the Midwest to the East Coast and through poetry, prose, and criticism. She surrounded herself with colorful characters as she explored the new landscape of American poetry, mentoring and inspiring the likes of William Carlos Williams, Elizabeth Bishop, and H.D! Also featuring tricorn hats, bathtub dinners, and children's books come to life! Listen HERE.

Eva Ibbotson kicks off our celebration of Women's History Month! Ibbotson escaped the Nazi occupation, worked as a translator, and published her first novel at the age of 50! She shakes the conventions of the 'traditional' author path and forged her own way forward in the world of literature. She was known for her cheeky, witty humor, and delightfully whimsical characters, but has a legacy that extends far beyond this! Join us overseas this week and learn more about her life and work! Listen HERE.

Meet the extraordinary author behind the Black detective novel genre, Chester Himes! Himes lived a very colorful life that informed his work and his perspectives. He worked actively to combat racism and lived courageously, never afraid to start over or change course. His legacy transcends genres, continents, and time. Listen HERE.

This week, join us to reflect on the legacy of Dr. Anna J. Cooper!  Cooper was an extraordinary activist, educator, author, speaker, and philosopher who made a significant difference in the lives of every community she was part of. Her legacy extends beyond her written work, but lives on in all of those she taught and those who got to know her work! She advocated for the rights of Black Americans, her students, women, and was an early advocate of the intersectional identities. Did we mention she got her PhD at 67? Listen and learn from the best! Listen HERE.

It's a Valentine's Day Special! We're exploring the literary ties to Valentine's Day dating all the way back to the 1300's! We cover Geoffrey Chaucer's contributions to the holiday, the origins of the Valentine's Day card, some strange Victorian love poetry, vinegar valentines, the language of flowers, and more! Regardless of the nature of your celebrations, we hope you enjoy a new look through a literary lens at this holiday! Listen HERE.

This week, Jon reports on Pauline Hopkins, a essential Black author whose legacy has gone largely neglected. She was a prolific activist, advocate, and author. She wrote in multiple genres including novels, short stories, plays and musicals, articles, and more to help bring an empathetic light to the lives of the communities around her. Join us for a look at her life and works, along with a rather unconventional celebration of President's Day! Listen HERE.

On this week's episode, to honor the 5th anniversary of Mary Oliver's death, we revisit her remarkable life. Oliver's poetry reflected an exquisite relationship with the natural world and the spiritual one, simultaneously challenging and celebratory. Her words have inspired generations of readers to spend time examining their lives, urgently, in appreciation for all that lies within them. We reflect on her work, her life, and her impact and invite you to do the same with joy and curiosity!  Listen HERE.

This week, we're coming to you LIVE from Sandmeyer's Bookstore in downtown Chicago! We're bringing you the biography of Upton Sinclair who used his pen to join and inspire the revolutions that echoed around the world during his lifetime. We round out this episode with a delightful trivia game that will help open up all kinds of future conversations! Join us in the Jungle, from wherever you are! Listen HERE.

In celebration of the very snowy Midwestern day, we're honoring the pioneering legacy of Ezra Jack Keats! Keats was a renowned author and illustrator of dozens of children's books, perhaps most notably, The Snowy Day. He worked to ensure his books featured children from all backgrounds, as they deserved to see themselves: as the heroes! Join us for this very charming celebration of children's literature! Listen HERE.

This week, we're featuring Katherine Mansfield, a globe-trotting writer from New Zealand with an incredible legacy. Her work was as vibrant as her writing, and her authentic sense of self inspired those around her and future generations. Jon is also here to provide some gentle parenting advice!  Listen HERE.

Happy 2024! We're kicking off this new year with Chicago poet and the Defender of the American poet and the art form: Harriet Monroe! Monroe used her power and position to secure the value of poetry in American culture, while also supporting the careers of dozens of iconic poets. Establishing what we now know as Poetry Magazine, Monroe's efforts have changed the way we understand and experience poetry! We also celebrate Public Domain Day and the new works that entered the Public Domain on Jan 1st!  Listen HERE.

Just in time for the New Year, we're featuring an author who might inspire us to chase new dreams and adventures: Antoine de Saint-Exupéry! de Saint-Exupéry wrote, most famously, The Little Prince! His other novels and journalistic work covers aviation and adventure from all angles. His work shaped generations of old and young readers alike, inspiring questions and curiosity, along with his rather mysterious death. Join us, but don't forget your flight jacket and helmet! Listen HERE.

We're delighted to present our first audiobook recording! Join Steph, Jon, Jack, and other special guests as we read Charles Dickens classic novel, 'A Christmas Carol'. We'll be releasing a new stave each Friday in December. Listen along, or save it all for a big listen on Christmas! No humbug about it! Listen HERE.

We're delighted to present our first audiobook recording! Join Steph, Jon, Jack, and other special guests as we read Charles Dickens classic novel, 'A Christmas Carol'. We'll be releasing a new stave each Friday in December. Listen along, or save it all for a big listen on Christmas! No humbug about it! Listen HERE.

We don't have to go out on a limb to say that you're in for a real tree-t this week! We're featuring Betty Smith, author of 'A Tree Grows in Brooklyn,' among many other plays, novels, and articles! You won't be-leaf some of the stories we're going to share, but they all stem from her extraordinary life! So, branch out and learn something new about this wonderful author! Listen HERE.

We're delighted to present our first audiobook recording! Join Steph, Jon, Jack, and other special guests as we read Charles Dickens classic novel, 'A Christmas Carol'. We'll be releasing a new stave each Friday in December. Listen along, or save it all for a big listen on Christmas! No humbug about it! Listen HERE.

Inspired by the release of our audiobook, we're taking a deep dive into Charles Dickens' process writing A Christmas Carol this week! Learn more about the context of the time in which the book was written, why it was written, and the legacy it leaves 180 years later! If you love this classic, you'll love this episode! If not, Bah! Humbug! We'll be back to our regularly scheduled author content next week! Listen HERE.

We're delighted to present our first audiobook recording! Join Steph, Jon, Jack, and other special guests as we read Charles Dickens classic novel, 'A Christmas Carol'. We'll be releasing a new stave each Friday in December. Listen along, or save it all for a big listen on Christmas! No humbug about it! Listen HERE.

This week, we're covering the miraculous Nellie Bly! An exceptional journalist who traveled the world (in less than 80 days!), Bly used her skills to help change the lives of women, working class people, children, and other marginalized folks. She was a tireless advocate and the definition of 'courageous'.  Join us in exploring her legacy and get the information for our next LIVE show in January!  Listen HERE.

We're delighted to present our first audiobook recording! Join Steph, Jon, Jack, and other special guests as we read Charles Dickens classic novel, 'A Christmas Carol'. We'll be releasing a new stave each Friday in December. Listen along, or save it all for a big listen on Christmas! No humbug about it! Listen HERE.

This month, learn about the extraordinary women who revolutionized journalism and women's roles in print: The Stunt Girls. These journalists went undercover to uncover the corruption in government agencies, schools, hospitals and more, putting their lives at risk to effect change. This is a little episode that covers women who made a big difference - don't miss it! Listen HERE.

This week, we're profiling James Welch - an extraordinary Indigenous poet and author who grounded his works in a sense of place. Welch used his experiences to examine the tensions in identity, explore the meaning of space, and create thoughtful reexaminations of history. Join us to learn more about this Montana author, and get a few recommendations for the perfect holiday gifts for the book lover in your life! Listen HERE.

This week, we're back to our regularly scheduled programming - Steph and Jon discuss the life of Indigenous poet, activist, performer, model, and mother, Diane Burns. Burns was an integral part of the Lower East Side Poetry scene (and beyond!) and created work that helped her explore her identity and her challenges with it. We also share a complex, compelling news update AND announce our latest special, just for the holiday season! Listen HERE.

In a Get Lit first, Jon hosts and is joined by Dan to tell us all about columnist, poet, performer, and activist Jim Northrup! They explore his legacy and the work he did to create change for his community and advocate across the US. Special guest appearance by Sondheim also! Listen HERE.

Up this week: E. Pauline Johnson! This extraordinary Canadian poetess used her writing to explore her own identity and was vulnerable and courageous enough to share it with the wider public. Her heritage and talents shaped Canadian literature as we know it and provided a glimpse into perspectives that many people might have never been able to understand. Listen HERE.

Happy Halloween, Listeners! This week, we take on the legacy of Alfred Hitchcock, creator and vision behind so much of the suspense, horror, and fear of things that go 'bump' in the night that haunt our minds and chill our hearts! Hitchcock's controversial legacy is worth examining, alongside his art. So join us, but perhaps leave the lights on, just in case! Listen HERE.

This month's Get a Little Lit features books poisoned by arsenic, books meant to debunk ghost rumors, AND a new way to 'read' with spirits! Join us for a lightly spooky episode to celebrate Halloween! Listen HERE.

This week, we continue our foray into psychological horror and ghost story writers with Vernon Lee. This queer icon wrote a number of works, spanning multiple genres including travel fiction, and non, essays, articles, and of course, ghost stories. Arriving on the literary scene with a flash, her work and aesthetic theories had everyone talking - including the spirits in the walls at times! Listen HERE.

We're all back! This week, we examine another master of horror fiction: Daphne du Maurier! du Maurier is known for  the iconic, haunting novel Rebecca. BUT she also wrote the author of the short story, 'The Birds' which would later serve as the inspiration for  Alfred Hitchcock's film of the same name! Join the flock with us as we fly forward through our spooky features! Listen HERE.

The oft requested Henry James is our subject this episode, with guest host, Dan Esquivel! James is widely considered a deeply important American author, despite living most of his adult life abroad. His novels and stories explore the psychological states of his characters, and he considered himself a writer of ghost stories (notably in The Turn of the Screw). Join us as we kick off a month of haunts, horror, and happenings at Get Lit! Listen HERE.

This week, Jack takes over hosting to present the story of Elizabeth Parson Ware Packard! This incredible activist used her writing and meticulous notes to document abuses against women and people admitted to asylums. Join us as we explore her life and legacy while Jon galavants around France. Listen HERE.

This week, we're featuring Anita Loos, screenwriter, novelist, playwright, and F. Scott Fitzgerald's replacement! That's right. Loos is most well known for her novel Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and the film that followed! But did you also know she was responsible for completing multiple screenplays that Fitzgerald was unable to make work? Join us as we explore the remarkable life of this Hollywood/Broadway/Showbiz legend!  Listen HERE.

Ever wonder when American schools started using textbooks? Curious as to why and how they shaped our education system? Have a burning desire to learn more about early textbook company monopolies? Then do we have a Little Lit episode for you! Join us to explore the answers to all these questions and more in this month's Get a Little Lit episode!  Listen HERE.

Can’t repeat the past? Why of course you can! This week on Get Lit, we’re revisiting our favorite Old Sport, and author of The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald! Join us for a deep(er) dive into this iconic author as we unpack the myths and legends that surrounded his life, searching for the proverbial green light amidst the chaos of the 1920's and beyond. Listen HERE.

This week, instead of Steph and Jon discussing just one author, we heard from our lovely listeners about hundreds more! Printers Row Lit Fest 2023 was an absolute delight — we asked you to tell us about your favorite books, authors you would take to dinner, and some literary hot takes. Some were even brave enough to answer some literary trivia! Hear the voices of Printers Row Lit Fest in this eclectic two part series!

Looking for your response? This episode covers all responses from Sunday! Listen HERE.

This week, instead of Steph and Jon discussing just one author, we heard from our lovely listeners about hundreds more! Printers Row Lit Fest 2023 was an absolute delight — we asked you to tell us about your favorite books, authors you would take to dinner, and some literary hot takes. Some were even brave enough to answer some literary trivia! Hear the voices of Printers Row Lit Fest in this eclectic two part series!

Looking for your response? This episode covers all responses from Saturday! Listen HERE.

We're gearing up for lit fest this week! Join us for a beautiful biography of American poet May Swenson, a literary philosophy update, and some classic literary trivia selected and read by our co-co-host, Jack! Learn about all sorts of new ideas in this episode from Swenson on writing, poetry, and living, along with exploring the 'sacred' nature of the recurring text! Listen HERE.

Looking for a bit more chaos this week? Add Émile Zola's life to your list then! This French author created political stirs with his writing throughout his life, particularly regarding the Dreyfus Affair. His novels, essays, plays, and other writings span decades along with the lore, speculation, and conspiracy theories around his death. Join us for an adventure across Europe with this twice Nobel-prize nominated and lost author! Listen HERE.

This week, we're featuring playwright/actor Harold Pinter and joined by Pinter enthusiast and literature teacher, Brian Hardie! Stories abound as we cover this prolific playwright, his theatre career, political endeavors, and more. Head across the Atlantic with us for this .... .... .... .... riveting... episode! Listen HERE.

Just in time for the school year, we're profiling Lord of the Flies author William Golding! Join us and learn more about this curious author and the even more curious inspirations for his works! We're also going to crash land in an exploration of processing war through literature and the wild circumstances around the 1960's film version of his first novel! Listen HERE.

We've got a back-to-school special episode for you this week: A Brief History of Pencils! We're investigating the origins of this very humble utensil and answering all the questions you never asked! Why are they called 'Number 2' pencils? What's that metal thing at the end called? How is Henry David Thoreau connected to all this? Find out in this month's Get a Little Lit episode! Listen HERE.

We're kicking off our series celebrating authors who were also teachers with Ida B. Wells! Known for her extraordinary activism in the face of hatred and racism, Wells used her powerful voice as a journalist, lecturer, and teacher to advocate for anti-lynching reform, rights for women, and for Black Americans. This week, we celebrate her life and honor her legacy as a critical voice in American history! Listen HERE.

This week, we're back with an episode on the remarkable Mary Chase. Known for her Pulitzer Prize winning play, Harvey, Chase wrote so much more than she gets credit for. She was a groundbreaking journalist, labor activist, children's book author, playwright, and more. Her perspectives are as refreshing as her work - we promise you'll get just as excited about her as we did!  Listen HERE.

We're headed way back to the 10th century this week to discuss the incomparable Hrotsvitha! Her plays help us reconsider the ways women were represented in her time (and beyond) and her robust histories and other work provide us an entirely unique perspective on these topics! Also ft. a not so new, newly discovered clue about medieval comedy.  Listen HERE.

Jon takes over hosting this week to bring us a biography of acclaimed playwright Noël Coward. Coward wrote some of the most well-known and frequently produced plays in the Western theatre canon. He helped modernize comedy while acting and directing in the West End, Broadway, and Hollywood! Join us for this star-studded, witty episode we hope does him proud! Listen HERE.

This week, we discuss Emily Barrett Browning's husband, Robert Browning! Also a poet and writer, Browning experimented with the dramatic monologue and wrote a variety of compelling work as he traveled and lived around Europe. His progressive beliefs and willingness to live his life in a way that wasn't entirely conventional make him a figure interesting enough to have his own society of fans even before his death! 

Research and editing by Get Lit Intern Jack Repak! Listen HERE.

We're back for our 3rd Get a Little Lit Episode, just after the 4th of July: The American Revolution in Print! We take a closer look at the role of the printing press, ink, and paper and their roles in the early American colonies! Plus, there's a National Treasure reference... 

Research and editing by Get Lit Intern Jack Repak! Listen HERE.

This 4th of July, we salute the incredible Catharine Maria Sedgwick. Sedgwick chronicled the voices of those not often represented or heard in America in the 19th century. Her work was wide-ranging in subject and style, and she was among the most prolific women writers of her time! She also prolifically turned down marriage proposals... Like we said, incredible! Listen HERE.

We're celebrating the end of Pride Month with a special episode about the Queer intersections of Zines! Zines (short for magazines) have a rich history in helping amplify the voices of marginalized groups in a physical, immediate, and responsive way. We're featuring the early queer zines of the 1940's (including the watchama-column!), famous zine creators like Ray Bradbury on the intersection of Queer, Punk, and Feminism! 

Research by Jack Repak, our new Get Lit intern! Listen HERE.

This week, Dan Esquivel guest stars during Pride month to feature Howard Ashman, the iconic lyricist, playwright, director, and more behind many of our favorite Disney classics. We have Ashman to thank for things like The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, and even Little Shop of Horrors. We honor his legacy and celebrate the joy he brought and continues to bring to so many children and adults today. Listen HERE.

We continue our celebration of Pride Month with Anne Lister - diarist, mountaineer, business woman, travel writer, and of course, lesbian! Lister was the first woman to do many things, including, by many accounts, the first 'same sex' marriage in England. Her preserved and beautifully detailed diaries give us a glimpse into so many facets of life that we may not have otherwise had access to. Listen HERE.

We're kicking off Pride Month with a celebration of Frog & Toad creator Arnold Lobel! Lobel wrote simple, significant works that validated the feelings of children (and adults too!) with his whimsical drawings and wit! We honor his legacy, tragically marred by the AIDS crisis in the 1980's, and celebrate the things he loved most, including his friends - both animal and human! Listen HERE.

We're ending our exploration of Jewish American Heritage Month with Elie Wiesel. Wiesel's iconic memoir 'Night' is for many, an introduction to the Holocaust. His work as an author, activist, and teacher helped advocate for those whose stories had been ignored. We respect and honor his story and reflect on the role that storytelling plays in keeping us distinctly human. Listen HERE.

Jon takes us all on a JOURNEY through Norman Mailer's life. Mailer was as much of a character as those he wrote. We discuss his colorful life, his Pulitzer Prizes (plural), his wives (also plural), and more! Join us to learn more about this novelist, co-founder of The Village Voice, and boxer(?). Listen HERE.

Need a respite this week? Join us for Nora Ephron whose masterful screenplays capture so much of what we love about love and love about each other. Her career spanned decades as she captured audience's hearts and minds in her essays, articles, movies, plays, and more. Celebrate Nora Ephron's legacy with us, and maybe bring a slice of pie too. Listen HERE.

 IT'S. EMMA. GOLDMAN. This incendiary Jewish icon used her voice to fight for worker's rights, women's independence, access to birth control, prison reform, anarchy, and so much more in a time when the world might not have been ready to hear it. Join us this week to unpack her rather complex legacy and learn about the global impact of her work! Listen HERE.

May is Jewish History Month and we're heading out of Poetry Month with Nelly Sachs, a Jewish poet whose writings serve as a deep and abiding record of the experiences of Holocaust survivors. She won a Nobel Prize for this work, crafting haunting and hopeful messages that have helped generations of communities heal. Join us this week to learn more about her incredible legacy! Listen HERE.

Jon takes over for our last week of Poetry Month with Allen Ginsberg! Ginsberg revolutionized the poetry scene and helped define the beat generation for artists and activists. Ginsberg's life is storied and strange so come along for this wild ride across the globe and between the lines! Listen HERE.

This week, another very-important-poet-with-three-names-the-first-of-which-is-Edgar... That's right! It's Edgar Lee Masters. Masters was known for his innovative poetry, specifically, Spoon River Anthology. He challenged the understanding of small town America with his more scandalous writing and put the Midwest on the map as a home for serious Poets. Listen HERE.

We're kicking off our 5th season with an episode on Sara Teasdale - master of lyric poetry, Pulitzer Prize winner, and archeologist of emotions. Teasdale wrote many beautiful works of poetry that were popular during her lifetime, but not always appreciated by critics. We celebrate her life, National Poetry Month, and the inspiration her work provided, long past her death. Listen HERE.