Best The Mark Twain House Podcasts (2024)

1
The Disappearance of Maya Millete 32:13

2h ago32:13

32:13

In January 2021, Maya Millete disappeared from her Chula Vista home. Her body has yet to be found, and her husband, Larry Millete, has been arrested on murder charges.

1
New Amsterdam Theatre 18:53

11d ago18:53

18:53

The New Amsterdam Theatre frequently buzzes with stories of Olive Thomas, the former actress whose spirit is said to still haunt the stage.

1
The Gill House 7:32

4d ago7:32

7:32

The iconic Gill House is located in Ohio and was once owned by automobile entrepreneur Bloomer Gill. It's reported that a Native American spirit resides in the basement and that a grumpy old man has been spotted in the attic.

1
Elisa Lam 24:06

12d ago24:06

24:06

People continue to wonder about the strange mystery behind Elisa Lam's death. Nobody knows how exactly how she died or ended up in the water tank at the notorious Cecil Hotel. *Featuring special guest: Ashley Salewski

1
Snow City Cafe 14:16

11d ago14:16

14:16

In 1976, a young woman tragically lost her life due to a car bomb. Nighttime employees at this cafe claim that her spirit remains particularly active, often meddling with the water and occasionally disrupting the food preparation process.

1
Mark Twain Museum 7:47

2M ago7:47

7:47

This historic mansion is renowned not only for the literary significance of its former resident, famed author Mark Twain, but also for its haunting tales and mysterious happenings.

1
Spirits of the Mountain 25:32

4M ago25:32

25:32

According to some sources, over 600 individuals have died while searching for the lost Arizona treasure. To this day, no one knows the location of the mine, or if it is even real. *Featuring special guest: Mackenzie Clark

1
Haunted Walmart 26:56

4M ago26:56

26:56

Reports are surfacing of unusual activity at a Walmart built on the former site of St. Mary's Orphan Asylum. Witnesses claim to hear the sounds of children running and see toys light up on their own.

1
The Truck Stop Killer 35:12

4M ago35:12

35:12

Robert Ben Rhoades, an American serial killer and rapist, tortured and murdered at least two couples between 1989 and 1990. He also confessed to engaging in similar criminal activities for many years prior to his arrest.

1
Criticism LTD: Continuing The Dialogue (A Project Narrative Event) 1:26:42

6M ago1:26:42

1:26:42

Recorded at The Ohio State University, as part of the Project Narrative series, Matt Seybold reflects on the making of "Criticism LTD" [3:15], as well as ongoing Ponzi austerity, reassessment of close reading, and AI speculative euphoria since its conclusion [14:30]. James Phelan (Director of Project Narrative) argues for narrative theory's contrib…

1
Close Reading Feudalism(s) in Adventures of Huckleberry Finn with James Phelan (A Project Narrative Crossover Episode) 1:16:01

6M ago1:16:01

1:16:01

From the production studios of Ohio State University, American Vandal host, Matt Seybold, and James Phelan, the Director of Project Narrative, read aloud Chapter 18 of "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" by Mark Twain [3:40], then discuss it [30:00] with emphases on the opportunities the chapter presents for types of close reading. This episode is a c…

1
2024 with Anna Kornbluh & J.D. Connor 1:23:21

7M ago1:23:21

1:23:21

The finale episode of our miniseries on corporate allegory was recorded the day after the publication of Anna Kornbluh's "Immediacy, or The Style of Too Late Capitalism" by Verso. With numerous allusions to the book, Matt Seybold asks Kornbluh and "City of Industry" blogger J. D. Connor to consider the potential "perfect storm" of media disruption …

1
iLiberalism, The Morning Show, & The Sheeny Blandness of AppleTV+ with Anna Shechtman & Michael Szalay 1:12:02

7M ago1:12:02

1:12:02

Our series on corporate allegory continues with an extended discussion of Apple TV+, both its film and television offerings, as well as the relationship between such "content" and the corporation's primary business: selling iPhones and other hardware. Among the specific works discussed are "Severance," "Killers Of The Flower Moon," "Lessons In Chem…

1
Episode 132: The Mark Twain House 32:13

7M ago32:13

32:13

Head to Connecticut to visit this historic home and now a museum. You might get to even see the famous writer himself on a late-night tour!

1
Episode 131: The Zozo Demon 42:21

8M ago42:21

42:21

We have a terrifying update regarding our own encounter with the infamous Ouija board demon, Zozo. Hear about who this entity is, as well as the origin of our original encounter. Warning - Do not play with Ouija boards!

1
Close Reading, Conglomerate Authorship, & Qween Danielle Steel with Dan Sinykin & Johanna Winant 1:33:16

8M ago1:33:16

1:33:16

In an episode which operates as both coda to "Criticism LTD" and herald of 2024, Matt Seybold is joined by two scholars working on the complex history and sometimes conflicting methods of close reading. They also discuss the reception of Big Fiction: How Conglomeration Changed The Publishing Industry (Columbia UP, 2023) [31:00] and a bevy of novels…

1
Episode 130: Hotel Bethlehem 38:59

8M ago38:59

38:59

This Christmas Eve we are taking you to the "Christmas City" of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. This was once rated the number one historic hotel in the country, and they embrace their many spirits. A stay in room 932 may take you to another realm.

1
Netflix Necrocapitalism & The House of Usher with Jane Hu & Phillip Maciak 1:20:42

8M ago1:20:42

1:20:42

A new season on corporate allegory, business melodrama, and new releases from academic presses kicks off with a discussion of the recent Mike Flanagan adaptation of Edgar Allen Poe's "The Fall Of The House of Usher" for Netflix. For more about this episode, please visit MarkTwainStudies.com/Usher or TheAmericanVandal.Substack.com…

1
Episode 129: The Golden Fleece Pub 43:37

9M ago43:37

43:37

Learn all about the many ghosts that haunt the Golden Fleece in York, England. You might have a run in with some pub regulars while you are there.

1
Episode 128: The Haunted Museum 52:29

9M ago52:29

52:29

Join us on our tour of Zak Bagans Haunted Museum in Las Vegas, Nevada! In this extra-long episode we give you all the terrifying details, including our own ghostely encounter.

1
The Empire of Criticism (Finale) 1:23:39

9M ago1:23:39

1:23:39

"Criticism LTD" concludes its lengthy examination of the unanswerable questions about the state of literary studies with a lengthy consideration of "The Future of Decline" [8:00], the delusion of progress [16:00], the British model of declinist politics [22:00] and literary criticism [29:00], an insider's account of the long tail of "The Chicago Fi…

1
The Empire of Criticism (Part Two) 1:24:13

9M ago1:24:13

1:24:13

In the second part of the finale of "Criticism LTD," we hear about the origins of Jacque Derrida's "Limited Inc." from its editor, the fraught alliance between criticism and history [17:00], the Center For The Literary Arts at Washington University in St. Louis [33.00], the transition from creative writer to working critic [62:00], and critical voc…

1
The Empire of Criticism (Part One) 1:30:49

9M ago1:30:49

1:30:49

The tripartite finale of "Criticism LTD" begins with a the feud between Matthew Arnold and Mark Twain, followed by "Bed Glee" [14:00], "Outing Criticism" [40:00], and "The Fate of Professional Reading" [59:00] Cast (in order of appearance): Beci Carver, Kim Adams, Ryan Ruby, Ainehi Edoro, Jed Esty, Matt Seybold, Gerald Graff, Harry Stecopoulos Soun…

1
Episode 127: The Great Wall of China 36:17

10M ago36:17

36:17

One of the seven wonders of the world has thousands of years of history and ghostly activity.

1
Ed Tech, AI, & The Unbundling of Research & Teaching 2:04:22

10M ago2:04:22

2:04:22

A sometimes uncanny Halloween week exploration of the EdTech griftopia. Who's monetizing our data? How is EdTech being used to bust unions [8:00]? How does EdTech reveal the interdependence of teaching and research, and the horror of their unbundling [36:00]? How does being a union member effect literary studies research [61:00]? Is AI the end of l…

1
Episode 126: The Bunny Man Bridge 34:46

10M ago34:46

34:46

Clifton, Virginia has a spooky legend that might have some truth to it. Whatever you do don't say his name three times under this bridge because you might regret it. Happy Halloween everyone!

1
Podcasting Criticism 2:04:58

10M ago2:04:58

2:04:58

An appropriately rangy discussion of the podcast medium and its debts to existing print and audio forms. The origin story of The American Vandal Podcast is followed by comparison with several other podcasts, including Revisionist History [11:30], Remarkable Receptions [30:00], and High Theory [68:00], interspersed with analysis of podcast editing a…

1
Criticism in The Conglomerate Era 1:21:13

11M ago1:21:13

1:21:13

As mass-market literature has been consolidated into a small handful of publishing conglomerates, the critical work once done by publicity and editorial departments has been offloaded. In this episode we discuss the rise of literary agents and their function as critics [8:00] and the role of literary awards in canon formation and other processes of…

1
Episode 125: The Clown Motel 36:00

11M ago36:00

36:00

Tonopah, Nevada is home to the infamous Clown Motel. A clown themed hotel and museum, sitting next to an old western cemetery, is bound to have something creepy lurking around.

1
State Dock Poker Run 2023 33:06

10M ago33:06

33:06

Episode 32: Molley and Chad close out Season 3 with their friend Chad Hopper. As the weather changes and the Fall colors burst, State Dock on Lake Cumberland hosts a Poker Run. It’s the last blow out event of the season. Lake Life with Molley and Chad is a sponsor of the 2023 Poker Run. Welcome to the Poker Run Chad explains that the Lake Cumberlan…

1
BookTube, BookTok, Wattpad, & The Audible Creation Exchange 1:41:47

11M ago1:41:47

1:41:47

What is literary knowledge? And, for that matter, what is literature? A survey of new literary media takes on audiobooks [5:00], BookTube and BookTok [26:00], and Wattpad [75:00]. Cast (in order of appearance): Christopher Newfield, Matt Seybold, Laura McGrath, Mark McGurl, Sarah Brouillette Soundtrack: Joe Locke's "Makram" For episode bibliography…

1
Brittle Paper & The Blogossance 1:33:52

11M ago1:33:52

1:33:52

What is the relationship between literary criticism and media studies? How has criticism adapted to the digital revolution? These questions are considered by examining the origins of the blogosphere [5:00], its recent reemergence [17:00], the specific case of "Brittle Paper" [29:00], and strategies of adaptation within the profession [46:00]. The e…

1
Episode 124: Waverly Hills Sanatorium 41:02

11M ago41:02

41:02

We're back! Kicking off our new season with a bang, we are covering an epic haunted location for October. Thanks for all of our listeners for continuing to listen!

1
Dock Crawl 2023 35:53

11M ago35:53

35:53

Episode 31: Molley and Chad return to the Dock Crawl at State Dock Marina on Lake Cumberland, for the second year in a row. This episode will feature interviews and comments from friends and new friends who came out to enjoy a wonderful tradition. In a previous episode, you met Donzi Dale and Sandy. They have a houseboat on the lake and invited Mol…

1
Politics & The Paracademy 1:56:41

11M ago1:56:41

1:56:41

An attempt to triangulate politicization, professionalization, and publication by examining several periods in the history of criticism. The episode begins with Joe Locke describing an overt turn towards social justice in his music following police murder of George Floyd, followed by a discussion of the misperception of "Professing Criticism" as a …

1
Interview with the Owner of Lake Girl Apparel 30:03

11M ago30:03

30:03

Episode 30: Molley and Chad interview Missy Johnson, owner of Lake Girl Apparel. We’re going to talk about her brand and how it was a perfect fit, given Missy’s love for the water. Hey, if you’re going to enjoy the Lake Life, you should look good while you’re doing it, right? Be sure to listen to the end of the episode for a special offer! How Did …

1
The Chicago Fight & Economics Imperialism 1:17:35

12M ago1:17:35

1:17:35

The Chicago Critics won the Chicago Fight of the 1930s, but they lost the Chicago Cold War. Chicago Economics got its start dismantling the Chicago Plan. This episode covers the brief victory of the Neo-Aristotelians, the long tail of Economics Imperialism [18:30], the rivalry between economics and literary criticism [39:00], the Chicago Economists…

1
The Chicago Fight & "Criticism Inc." 1:13:10

12M ago1:13:10

1:13:10

A deep dive into the Chicago Critics who inspired John Crowe Ransom's 1937 essay, "Criticism Inc.," as well as their working conditions at the University of Chicago under Robert Maynard Hutchins. His implementation of "The Chicago Plan" and the resulting "Chicago Fight" [9:00], the afterlives of the Chicago Critics in contemporary literary studies …

1
Interview with the Owners of Aqua Supply Company 30:24

12M ago30:24

30:24

Episode 29: Molley and Chad interview Aqua Supply Co. owners Courtney and Andrew in today’s episode. Aqua sells marine products and apparel for everyone who loves boating, beaches and the outdoors. The four of them originally met at the Dock Crawl in 2022. We’ll catch up on the new business and have a few laughs along the way. So, How’s Business? A…

1
The Racist Interpretation Complex 1:21:21

1y ago1:21:21

1:21:21

What is the political economy of New Criticism? Are the racist and reactionary Cold War politics of the New Critics immanent to their trademark method: close reading? The episode begins with the story of Langston Hughes testifying before the the House Un-American Activities Committee on what goes into the interpretation of a poem. What constitutes …

1
Ponzi Austerity & The Monolingual University 1:39:15

1y ago1:39:15

1:39:15

Last week, West Virginia University announced that it would abolish its World Languages, Literatures, & Linguistics Department, proposing to replace it with automated digital instruction. This is the apotheosis of trends going back decades. In this episode we talk about the effects of monolingual education, the case study in Ponzi Austerity at WVU …

1
Ponzi Austerity in The Age of Cultural Abundance 1:24:45

1y ago1:24:45

1:24:45

How has the systemic defunding and deprofessionalizing of humanities academia impacted literary criticism? Why is there such a flourishing culture industry if demand for cultural education is supposedly declining? We look to megatrends like U.S. hegemony, organizations like the MLA (6:30), analogues like the Eurozone Debt Crisis (19:30), mechanisms…

1
Welcome to Lake Cumberland 48:20

12M ago48:20

48:20

Episode 28: It’s time for another episode of Lake Life with Molley and Chad! In today’s episode, we’re joined by our friends Fran, Rob and Adam to talk about Lake Cumberland, in Kentucky. This is a continuation of our tour of lakes across Kentucky and Tennessee. It's time for a deep dive into what makes this lake so special. Please note: This conve…

1
Hungover From The Bad Old Days of High Theory 1:27:35

1y ago1:27:35

1:27:35

What is criticism? Why should it matter? Can it be saved from the gun-toting businessman? A crossover episode with the High Theory podcast connects internal and external crises (6:00), imagines confrontations with gun-toting businessmen (22:00) and sociopathic administrators (33:00), salutes the vanguard of academic labor (45:00), eulogizes the sta…

1
The Golden Age of The Working Critic 1:20:25

1y ago1:20:25

1:20:25

The premiere of a new series, "Criticism LTD," on the contemporary state of criticism. This episode covers proclamations of crisis from legacy media earlier this year, demands for a cosmopolitan turn in literary studies (11:15), an alleged golden age of popular criticism (28:00), and the role of para-academic publications like the Los Angeles Revie…

1
Welcome to Rough River Lake 57:52

1y ago57:52

57:52

Episode 27: Welcome to Lake Life with Molley and Chad! In today’s episode, we’re joined by a group of friends to talk about Rough River Lake in Kentucky. Our friends are Chuck, Dawn, Spence and Lisa. This is a continuation of our tour of lakes across Kentucky and Tennessee. Let’s jump in, so to speak. Rough River Lake Offers Diverse Activities Roug…

1
Dybbuk Box 25:52

1y ago25:52

25:52

The famed Dybbuk Box is an antique wine cabinet claimed to harbor a demonic entity from Jewish legend. Ghost Adventures star Zak Bagans now owns the box and has it on display in Las Vegas.

1
Criticism LTD. Trailer 6:22

1y ago6:22

6:22

A first look at the eighth season of The American Vandal Podcast, an assessment of the contemporary state of literary criticism and literary studies through conversations with more than two dozen scholars, students, editors, working critics, and other creators.

1
Skinwalkers 24:44

1y ago24:44

24:44

Skinwalkers, also referred to as malevolent shapeshifters, are a foundation of Navajo mythology. According to Navajo folklore, Skinwalkers are medicine men who have chosen to use their magic for evil.

1
Welcome to Norris Lake 42:17

1y ago42:17

42:17

Episode 26: In this episode, Molley and Chad continue their focus on highlighting several different lakes in Kentucky and Tennessee, Trasee and Fess are here to provide insights and recommendations about Norris Lake. Norris Lake, located in Tennessee, is a popular destination for lake enthusiasts and vacationers alike. With its vast size, muddy wat…

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