Best Gawain Podcasts (2024)

1
Medieval LOLs: 'Sir Gawain and the Carle of Carlisle' 40:48

6d ago40:48

40:48

The character of Gawain, one of King Arthur’s leading knights, recurs throughout medieval literature, but the way he’s presented underwent a curious development during the period, moving closer and closer to an impossible and perhaps comical ideal of chivalric perfection. In 'Sir Gawain and the Greene Knight', his most well-known incarnation, Gawai…

1
Political Poems: 'Goblin Market' by Christina Rossetti, feat. Shirley Henderson and Felicity Jones 57:22

42m ago57:22

57:22

‘Goblin Market’ was the title poem of Christina Rossetti’s first collection, published in 1862, and while she disclaimed any allegorical purpose in it, modern readers have found it hard to resist political interpretations. The poem’s most obvious preoccupation seems to be the Victorian notion of the ‘fallen woman’. When she wrote it Rossetti was wo…

1
Absolute Beginners - Rerun 1:06:49

23m ago1:06:49

1:06:49

Slang lexicographer extraordinaire Jonathon Green joins John and Andy in this episode originally recorded in 2016 to discuss Absolute Beginners, the classic novel of London teenage life set around Soho and Notting Hill. *Tickets are now on sale for our LIVE show in London on Wednesday Sep 25th where we will be discussing The Parable of The Sower by…

1
Among the Ancients II: Lucan 13:17

22m ago13:17

13:17

In his prodigious, prolific and very short career, Lucan was at turns championed, disavowed and finally forced into suicide at 25 by the emperor Nero. His only surviving work is Civil War, an account of the bloody and chaotic power struggle between Julius Caesar and Pompey the Great. In their first episode on Latin literature’s so-called ‘Silver Ag…

1
Ep 333: The life and death of Graham Thorpe and how cricket can respond 21:53

2h ago21:53

21:53

Mick Coyle is joined by Mark Boyns from Opening Up Cricket following the tragic news of the death of England legend Graham Thorpe. Mick and Mark discuss how the family bravely shared the reason for his passing, and how that can be used as a way of opening up a conversation about mental health within the cricketing world and beyond. Podcast art © Al…

1
Better Than the Movie Special: TANK GIRL (Friend of the Fest Preview) 1:12:23

2h ago1:12:23

1:12:23

The Better Than the Movie boys are hosting a screening of TANK GIRL (1995) on August 24, 2024, as part of American Cinematheque's Friend of the Fest 2024 podcast film festival. So here is a free-floating (read: CHAOTIC) chat about this underground comic-turned-quirky Hollywood movie, including another of Allan's absurd trivia competitions. If you'r…

1
Summer Reading 2024 1:12:29

13d ago1:12:29

1:12:29

Despite the team's somewhat complex relationship with the idea of ‘summer’, this episode is full of seasonal recommendations. Andy previews Intermezzo, the new Sally Rooney (out in September) and enjoys A Body Made of Glass: A History of Hypochondria by the guest on our Agatha Christie show, Caroline Crampton. John chooses Ex-Wife by Ursula Parrott…

1
Ep48 A Merry Karate Valentine's to You 21:34

1d ago21:34

21:34

Welcome to the first mini-episode of the gang's "hiatus." Instead of an hour of unhinged rambling, experience 20 minutes of quality nonsense! This week's tale is that of Niulang and Zhinu, a.k.a. the Cowherd and the Weaving Girl. These are two literally star-crossed lovers with enough influence to inspire a Chinese Valentine's festival. Craft a pas…

1
Ep 332: Autism, ADHD, art and me - Sarah's story 33:29

4d ago33:29

33:29

Sarah Gustafson is Mick Coyle's guest on Episode 332 of Mental Health Monday. Sarah is founder of A.ur.tistic and a new project called Dopamine Rooms that she set up following her own experience of poor mental health, as well as late diagnosis on autism and ADHD. Sarah uses her love of art and teaching to help people explore their own thoughts and …

1
The Story of Mrs Jones 38:10

16d ago38:10

38:10

WE'RE BACK! In this episode, Mrs Jones is getting really fed up of being pestered by evil spirits... Inspired by Edmund Jones, A Relation of Apparitions of Spirits in Wales and an anonymous story from The Athenaeum reproduced in Gillian Bennett's 100 Best British Ghost Stories, this re-telling is followed by a discussion of Protestant ghost belief …

1
Human Conditions: ‘Hope against Hope’ by Nadezhda Mandelstam 14:12

10d ago14:12

14:12

After reciting an unflattering poem about Stalin to a small group of friends, Osip Mandelstam was betrayed to the police and endured five years in exile before dying in transit to the gulag. His wife, Nadezhda, spent the rest of her life dodging arrest, advocating for Osip’s work and writing what came to be known as Hope against Hope. Hope against …

1
DDB Summer 2024 Announcement 6:16

8d ago6:16

6:16

Today the gang checks in with an unofficial doctor's note from the universe. Until at least October 2024, Dragons Drink Bourbon will be on a small "break." New episodes will still release periodically on Mondays at 5 AM EST, but they will be a lot shorter than the usual storytelling fiascos. So stay tuned for some quick tales and take a breather wi…

1
On Satire: Jane Austen's 'Emma' 14:51

9d ago14:51

14:51

What kind of satirist was Jane Austen? Her earliest writings follow firmly in the footsteps of Tristram Shandy in their deployment of heightened sentiment as a tool for satirising romantic novelistic conventions. But her mature fiction goes far beyond this, taking the fashion for passionate sensibility and confronting it with moneyed realism to dep…

1
Resistance Queen: The Story of Virginia Hall 2:16:22

14d ago2:16:22

2:16:22

Hall. Virginia Hall. To celebrate disability awareness month, we pay homage to top spy of WW2, hero to the Vichy Resistance, master of linguistics, espionage aficionado, and all around badass, Virginia Hall. She kicked more Nazi ass than any other spy and with only one leg. Learn about the woman who would give James Bond a run for his money. Her st…

1
Endless Night by Agatha Christie 1:03:45

27d ago1:03:45

1:03:45

At long last, it's our Agatha Christie show! We are joined by Caroline Crampton, writer and host of the Shedunnit podcast, and Laura Thompson, author and Christie biographer, for an investigation of Endless Night (1967), a late entry in the Queen of Crime's extensive catalogue and perhaps her last truly great novel of suspense and surprise. NB. Whi…

1
Ep 331: Finding Happiness when it hurts - with Lisa Brett 30:18

15d ago30:18

30:18

Mick Coyle is joined by author Lisa Brett - who's written a book called "Finding Happiness When It Hurts" Lisa uses her own journey, and the stories of others, to give advice on how to reflect on more difficult times, find positivity in the smallest of places and give yourself a chance to rebuild after grief, loss or trauma. Her book is available n…

1
Political Poems: 'When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom'd' by Walt Whitman 33:32

1M ago33:32

33:32

Whitman wrote several poetic responses to the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. He came to detest his most famous, ‘O Captain! My Captain!’, and in ‘When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom'd’ Lincoln is not imagined in presidential terms but contained within a love elegy that attempts to unite his death with the 600,000 deaths of the civil war and r…

1
Among the Ancients II: Plautus and Terence 14:27

20d ago14:27

14:27

In episode seven, we turn to some of the earliest surviving examples of Roman literature: the raucous, bawdy and sometimes bewildering world of Roman comedy. Plautus and Terence, who would go on to set the tone for centuries of playwrights (and school curricula), came from the margins of Roman society, writing primarily for plebeians and upsetting …

1
Ep 330: TV star Matt Johnson and Rugby's Ugo Monye talk Movember 25:03

22d ago25:03

25:03

It might be July - but Movember's fast approaching. The international campaign focussed on men's mental and physical health is nearly upon us once again - and this year there's a big focus on inequality. 2/5 men will die prematurely - but where they live is a key factor to how long they live. Mick has pulled together the main findings of the new Mo…

1
Medieval LOLs: Solomon and Marcolf 49:33

1M ago49:33

49:33

The foul-mouthed, mean-spirited peasant Marcolf was one of the most well-known literary characters in late medieval Europe. He appears in many poetic works from the 9th century onwards, but it’s in this dialogue with Solomon, printed in Antwerp in 1492, that we find him at his irreverent and scatological best as they engage in a battle of proverbia…

1
Marianne Dreams by Catherine Storr 1:08:35

1M ago1:08:35

1:08:35

Children's writer Rachael King and novelist Richard Blandford join John and Andy for a discussion of Marianne Dreams by Catherine Storr, the eerie, disturbing tale of two sick children who meet in a realm of nightmares. First published in 1958, the book is now considered by critics to be a sui genesis classic. Storr was a prolific author, with doze…

1
Ep47 This Just In! Dying Isn't for Everyone 1:06:33

1M ago1:06:33

1:06:33

Introducing Sentaro, a Japanese protagonist no one likes, including gods and other miscellaneous immortal beings! Follow his existential crisis to escape death. Meanwhile, Miles and Cletus continue not to listen, but maybe, just maybe, we'll can all learn what "continuous" actually means by the end of it all. Critics think it's just okay—which mean…

1
Literary Lullabies - 204 - Aesop's Fables 54:30

1M ago54:30

54:30

Welcome to tonight's episode of Literary Lullabies. Tonight, I will bring you the timeless wisdom of Aesop's Fables. Lay back and relax as we journey into the world of talking animals and moral lessons that have captivated hearts for centuries. Let me transport you to a realm where foxes are cunning, tortoises are wise, and every tale leaves you wi…

1
Human Conditions: ‘The Golden Notebook’ by Doris Lessing 12:44

1M ago12:44

12:44

Pankaj Mishra joins Adam Shatz to discuss The Golden Notebook, Doris Lessing’s formally brilliant and startlingly frank 1962 novel. In her portrait of ‘free women’ – unmarried, creatively ambitious, politically engaged – Lessing wrestles with the breakdown of Stalinism, settler colonialism and traditional gender roles. Pankaj and Adam explore the l…

1
Literary Lullabies - Sir Gawain and the Green Knight 33:39

1M ago33:39

33:39

Welcome back to Literary Lullabies. Tonight, we are finishing the epic tale of "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight." In this final installment, Gawain arrives at the Green Chapel to meet his fate. He meets the Green Knight again, who reveals himself as Sir Bertilak, testing Gawain's integrity with his previous challenges. Gawain receives a small nick …

1
On Satire: 'The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman' by Laurence Sterne 14:53

2M ago14:53

14:53

'Tristram Shandy' was such a hit in its day that you could buy tea trays, watch cases and cushions decorated with its most famous characters and scenes. If much of the satire covered in this series so far has featured succinct and damning portrayals of recognisable city types, Sterne’s comic masterpiece seems to offer the opposite: a sprawling and …

1
Ep46 ChangeMe, ChangeYou, Changelings 1:16:11

2M ago1:16:11

1:16:11

This week's episode goes out to parents. Does your baby seem just a little too smart? Have they started demanding whisky more aggressively than usual? Worse yet, do they break out into song with hauntingly beautiful skills on par with Florence Welch? Well you might have a changeling on your hands. The good news is, we've got the solution! For 46 ea…

1
Ep 329: Tackling low self-esteem with Henna Mistry and BACP 50:32

2M ago50:32

50:32

Mick Coyle is talking self esteem as a new BACP survey finds half of women are affected by self esteem issues - with body image the biggest factor, followed by social comparisons, careers, and romantic relationships. Joining him on this week's episode is Henna Mistry - who has tackled her own issues with self esteem, and found a way through using a…

1
It's Not Easy Being Green (Sir Gawain and The Green Knight) 2:20:33

2M ago2:20:33

2:20:33

Camelot! King Arthur! Guinevere! Morgan Le Faye! This episode C and John tackle Arthuriana and take on the tale of Sir Gawain and The Green Knight! What it means, the mystery behind the author, the connections to nature, and, most of all, the queer undercurrents of the classic poem. Yep, it’s a special Pride episode where we also talk about lgbtia+…

1
Literary Lullabies - Gawain and the Green Knight - Fytte the Third 52:26

2M ago52:26

52:26

Welcome back to Literary Lullabies. Join me tonight as we journey with Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. Join me as we embark on a literary voyage, gently navigating through the pages of old books and forgotten tales, where every word and whisper holds the promise of peaceful slumber. In Fytte the Third, we join Sir Gawain as he prepares to confront…

1
Political Poems: 'Strange Meeting' by Wilfred Owen 36:11

2M ago36:11

36:11

Wilfred Owen wrote ‘Strange Meeting’ in the early months of 1918, shortly after being treated for shell shock at Craiglockhart hospital in Edinburgh, where he had met the stridently anti-war Siegfried Sassoon. Sassoon's poetry of caustic realism quickly found its way into Owen’s work, where it merged with the high romantic sublime of his other grea…

1
SKYLIT: Matt Singer, OPPOSABLE THUMBS (Siskel & Ebert) 1:04:50

2M ago1:04:50

1:04:50

Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert are arguably the most influential American film critics of the 20th Century. Clips from their movie review TV show continue to circulate on social media and Youtube to the delight of new viewers and old fans alike. In his book OPPOSABLE THUMBS, film writer Matt Singer looks at the history of these film critics, the TV sh…

1
Gaining Ground by Joan Barfoot 1:05:56

2M ago1:05:56

1:05:56

Author Rose Ruane (This Is Yesterday, Birding) picks Gaining Ground AKA Abra (1978) by Canadian feminist writer Joan Barfoot. One day, seemingly on a whim, a woman walks out of her home and her marriage, forsaking her family for a life of near-solitude and self-sufficiency. Many years later, her daughter, now grown-up, comes to find her and to ask …

1
Among the Ancients II: Lucian 14:03

2M ago14:03

14:03

The broad theme of this series, truth and lies, was a favourite subject of Lucian of Samosata, the last of our Greek-language authors. A cosmopolitan and highly cultured Syrian subject of the Roman Empire in the second century CE, Lucian wrote in the classical Greek of fifth-century Athens. His razor-sharp satire was a model for Erasmus, Voltaire a…

1
Ep 328: Owen from Race Across the World's new mental health journey 29:20

2M ago29:20

29:20

Mick Coyle is joined by Owen Wood from Race Across the World Owen - alongside his race partner Alfie - starred in the latest BBC series travelling through the Far East on a tight budget and even tighter timescale. Now he's back in the UK he's teaming up with The Mix - a charity that supports young people through all aspects of life - to further ope…

1
Better Than the Movie 16: PERFUME: THE STORY OF A MURDERER w/ Elisa Garcia 1:29:48

2M ago1:29:48

1:29:48

We've got a classic on BTTM today that's all killer. DJ and bookseller Elisa Garcia selected PERFUME, the 1985 German novel by Patrick Süskind that was originally deemed unfilmable. But co-screenwriter and director Tom Tykwer (RUN LOLA RUN, BABYLON BERLIN) surely got the job done in 2006. Elisa joins Allan, Tyler, and Justin to discuss the best bit…

1
Medieval LOLs: The Second Shepherds' Pageant 35:19

2M ago35:19

35:19

In their quest for the medieval sense of humour Mary and Irina come to The Second Shepherds’ Pageant, a 15th-century reimagining of the nativity as domestic comedy that’s less about the birth of Jesus and more about sheep rustling, taxes, the weather and the frustrations of daily life. The pageant was part of a mystery cycle, a collection of plays …

1
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight 1:10:54

2M ago1:10:54

1:10:54

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is the subject of this episode of Backlisted. Dr Martin Shaw and Dr Laura Varnam (hwaet Laura!) join Andy and John to discuss this late 14th-century chivalric romance - or subversion thereof - written in Middle English alliterative verse, author unknown. We discuss the poem's chequered history and a variety of transl…

1
Ep45 Godly Treasures for Mischief Victims 1:26:26

2M ago1:26:26

1:26:26

It may surprise you to learn that gods, even Norse ones, aren't born wielding their favorite shiny toys. To obtain real treasure, sometimes you need to let a homeless god-fellow prank your wife. Just take a seat and listen, it will all (mostly) make sense by the end. At least, as much as any tale involving Loki ever does. And don't forget your drin…

1
SKYLIT: Geoff Shackelford, GOLF ARCHITECTURE FOR NORMAL PEOPLE 59:02

2M ago59:02

59:02

It's a golfing extravaganza as Geoff Shackelford joins Skylight's Tyler Austin to discuss his book Golf Architecture for Normal People! Together, they talk golf course design, the economic and ecological impacts of a golf course that people don't often think about, and how golf as a game is becoming more accessible to lower-class players. It's a gr…

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