In a special Podcast Swap episode, we are sharing with you an episode from the fantastic limited series podcast Story Girl: The Life of Lucy Maud Montgomery. Discover the life and legacy of L.M. Montgomery in this insightful 7-part podcast, in which we explore her childhood, literary journey, and the timeless impact of Anne of Green Gables on gener…

Faith and Una Meredith, Mary Vance, Sara Stanley, Felicity and Cecily King – all of these girls have different relationships with housekeeping and cooking, and PhD candidate Ariel Little is here to tell us all about it! We speculate about how the characters might show up on social media, the way that housekeeping reflects power and authority in Mon…

Whether they are giving their own church sermons or looking at a picture of God, whether trying not to giggle in church or debating the ethics of prayer, the kids of The Story Girl engage with religion and morality constantly. Today we get into why religion figures so prominently in their lives, and also discuss the invention of Sunday schools. Dig…

Adolescent identity and values take center stage in this episode. The themes beautiful, clever, and good reappear in The Story Girl as archetypal girls. We talk about beautiful Felicity, good Cecily, and the brilliant Story Girl in today’s episode, and why these girls feel like they can only be one of those things. Inspired by: Kelly is inspired by…

The Story Girl is one of L.M. Montgomery’s most charming books, full of witty dialogue, playful antics, and wistful nostalgia. We are kicking off our discussion of The Story Girl with a recap of all the characters, hijinks, and stories that make this book shine. We also discuss the LA fires, which had a huge impact on the podcast, and recommend som…

Kelly and Ragon welcome L.M. Montgomery scholar and curator Emily Woster, Phd to the pod! Emily tells us all about L.M. Montgomery’s reading life–what books she loved growing up, what influenced her books, her active reading style and her unique writing process. And in true kindred spirit fashion we nerd out about our influential reads and Emily’s …

What’s this? A messy love quadrangle? You know Kelly and Ragon are all over that! We channel our best Normal Gossip podcast inspiration and dive into our discussion of the self-sabotaging lovers of Rainbow Valley! We ask such questions as “What’s Ellen’s deal anyway?” And “Wait, do we agree with Norman Douglas?” And most importantly “Who should we …

We are continuing our Rainbow Valley discussion and focusing on the Meredith children’s impulsive hijinks and the way the adults around them react, or don’t react, to their shenanigans. We take John Meredith to task, break down how the patriarchy has helped enable this situation and learn a little about what parentification is and why the Meredith …

L.M. Montgomery scholar Maryam Khorasani joins us for a discussion of Rainbow Valley itself as both a physical place and a state of mind, drawing on our own childhood experiences and analyzing the characters' interactions with the natural world. We also discuss themes of childhood, imagination, friendship, and the transition to adulthood and are in…

In preparation for our Rainbow Valley mini-arc, we are recapping this lovely book on today’s episode. We’ll introduce you to the Blythe children’s new friends, the Meredith children and Mary Vance, and tell you all about their adventures and hijinks. We also touch on the historical context of the book, which is set in the years leading up to World …

Today’s episode features an interview with an extraordinary L.M. Montgomery scholar, Dr. Laura Robinson. We discuss Robinson's background, her favorite Montgomery books and characters, and her work with the L.M. Montgomery Institute. Then we dive deep into the untold stories of Anne of Ingleside – why this book feels a little darker, and the storyt…

Surprise! In honor of L.M. Montgomery’s 150 birthday, we are releasing a special bonus mini-episode today to share our tribute to Maud. Be sure to check out the other tributes over at the Journal of L.M. Montgomery Studies! Links: Find all the tributes to L.M. Montgomery here at the Journal of L.M. Montgomery Studies 150 Tributes And Maud's Electro…

Our discussion of Anne of Ingleside continues, focusing on Anne and the Blythe family as they relate to the Glen St. Mary community. We also chat about Anne revisiting old hobbies like writing and matchmaking, and her marriage to Gilbert. This book opens the door to conversations about class, women’s labor, and finding your place in the world. Insp…

Home and family is the topic of this episode! Ingleside is a symbol of a happy and loving home and today we are discussing the ways that Anne is creating that for her own children. We speculate about whether Anne is the original TradWife, chat about unwanted houseguests, and share the ways that we've made our houses our homes. Inspired by: Kelly is…

We are kicking off Season Four with a recap of Anne of Ingleside! We'll walk you through the highlights of the sixth Anne book to set up our conversations in the next episodes. We also chat about Ragon's birthday and our favorite dog items. Inspired by: We are inspired by our dogs this week! Kelly is inspired by a dog water bowl that keeps her floo…

We are back with Season 4! Join us as we talk about where we are going this season, where we’ve been, our favorite episodes so far, and a detour into the rebirth of 90’s fashion! If you want to get a free logo sticker from us, either leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or share your love for the pod on social media! Send us a photo of your share or…

Just dropping in to let you know that we are hard at work on season 4! Today Kelly and Ragon will be previewing the season ahead and revealing the books we will be discussing, so get your library holds ready!By Ragon Duffy and Kelly Gerner

We are excited to share this very special crossover episode with the Maudacst and Kindred Spirits Book Club! The Maudcast, hosted by today's guest Brenton Dickieson, is the official podcast of the L.M. Montgomery Institute at the University of Prince Edward Island. Brenton, Ragon, and Kelly sat down in the church L.M. Montgomery attended for a joyf…

Come along to Prince Edward Island and the 2024 biennial L.M. Montgomery conference with Kelly and Ragon! First we raved about our first conference experience and reflected on the brilliant presentations and new perspectives we heard. Then we shared all about our trip to LM Montgomery historical sites, Green Gables Heritage Place, the musicals insp…

Y’all, this book is wild. Join Ragon and Kelly as they discuss one of LM Montgomery’s lesser-known works, the novella Kilmeny of the Orchard. It’s a sweet, somewhat simplistic summer romance that takes some truly unexpected twists and turns. Although Kilmeny hasn’t stood the test of time like Anne of Green Gables, there are glimmers of L.M. Montgom…

Join Kelly, Ragon, and returning special guest Katie Stewart to discuss summer reads! They discuss books that remind them of summer as well as favorite summer reads for middle grade readers, romance and romantasy readers, the best books to survive a long flight, and of course, our ultimate recommendations for fun, breezy books to occupy your lazy s…

Kindred Spirits Book Club is going on the road! Kelly and Ragon are joined by Brenna Clarke Gray to plan for their upcoming trip to Prince Edward Island. We discuss all things PEI, from the award-winning cheese at COWS Creamery to the cheesy souvenirs aimed at Anne of Green Gables tourists. Side chats include Brenna’s survival guide for an academic…

In today’s episode, Kelly and Ragon wind up their discussion of Anne’s House of Dreams. In a book that encompasses many emotional highs and lows, we discuss friendship and family as the foundation of a happy life. Ragon explains psychological protective factors, which can help determine how well someone weathers a crisis, and we share our favorite …

Rejoin Ragon, Kelly, and guest Dr. Brenna Clarke Gray for their discussion about motherhood in Anne’s House of Dreams. Ragon and Kelly are joined by Dr. Brenna Clarke Gray, Canadian literature expert, to discuss the joys and sorrows of Anne’s journey to motherhood in Anne’s House of Dreams. We discuss everything from baby talk to our favorite books…

Ragon and Kelly are joined by Dr. Brenna Clarke Gray, Canadian literature expert, to discuss the joys and sorrows of Anne’s journey to motherhood in Anne’s House of Dreams. We discuss Victorian attitudes to pregnancy and birth, and we share our own journeys around motherhood. We had so much to say that we are actually making this a two-part episode…

Ragon and Kelly are joined by audiobook narrator and voice actor Kelli Tager to discuss the beautiful romance threaded through Anne’s House of Dreams. From Anne and Gilbert’s wedding day to Leslie and Owen’s happily ever after, join us to celebrate all the delicious romance. Kelli also discusses what it’s like to narrate audiobooks and her favorite…

In this episode, we are setting sail with Captain Jim! Kelly and Ragon talk about the lighthouse keeper’s gentle guidance, how he embodies and subverts the theme of cleverness, and his deep wisdom, earned over many years of seafaring. Sidebars and digressions include whether Captain Jim is a stealth matchmaker, life at sea in the 1800s, and recomme…

The mysterious beauty Leslie Moore is the subject of this Anne’s House of Dreams character study. Ragon and Kelly discuss the myths and metaphors surrounding Leslie, and whether she is properly humanized in the text. Digressions include Favorite Things parties, how to talk to kids about stereotypes in media, and the tragic beauty trope. Inspired By…

Meet Miss Cornelia and her signature phrase “Just like a man!” Miss Cornelia is the great comic relief in Anne’s House of Dreams, an otherwise serious and emotional book. Ragon and Kelly do a deep dive into the contradictions that make up this memorable woman: she’s charitable, loving, and neighborly; and she’s judgmental, prejudiced, dogmatic and …

Anne’s House of Dreams is one of L.M. Montgomery’s most mature and emotional books, and Ragon and Kelly are thrilled to devote season three of Kindred Spirits Book Club to it. In this episode, we recap Anne’s House of Dreams, discuss what we’ve been reading lately, revisit our own weddings, and brainstorm Miss Cornelia-inspired fanfic. We didn’t do…

Welcome back, Kindred Spirits! Ragon and Kelly kick off a third podcast season by re-introducing themselves and the podcast, giving a behind the scenes look at how we make the pod, and discussing some of what’s to come in Season Three. This is a great place to dive in if you’re new to the podcast, and for longtime listeners, enjoy the deep friendsh…

It’s our last episode of Season 2 and the last episode of 2023! Editor Katie Stewart comes back to debate the most important of issues: who is the best romantic hero: Barney Snaith or Gilbert Blythe? We had a blast discussing the way the themes in The Blue Castle compare with Anne’s themes, as well as discussing Hallmark movies and holiday traditio…

We briefly leave the Anne series to discuss one of our very favorite LM Montgomery books, The Blue Castle! Many of the elements we love in the Anne series – romance, selfhood, family, and community – play out differently but just as satisfyingly in this book. Come along as we recap this gorgeous fairy tale of a book. Inspired By: Kelly and Ragon ar…

Canadian literature expert Brenna Clarke Gray joins Ragon and Kelly to recap the bonkers 1987 miniseries: Anne of Green Gables, the Sequel! Are we making the best use of Dr. Gray’s expertise and insight into Anne? Probably not, but we sure had fun. Join us for an irreverent look at Anne of Green Gables: The Sequel – and stick around for a very spec…

Now engaged to be married, romantic Anne can’t help but get involved in other people’s love lives, and her meddling has hilarious results! Join Ragon and Kelly as they discuss matchmaking – and matchbreaking! – gone wrong, Anne’s love letters to Gilbert, epistolary novels, and our favorite advice column. Inspired by: Kelly is inspired by The Jolly …

Anne loves a thrilling tale, and there are a few in Anne of Windy Poplars that are perfect for a very spooky Halloween episode of Kindred Spirits Book Club. Ragon and Kelly examine Anne's years on Spook's Lane through the lens of graveyard stories and haunted mansions. Highlights include Kelly's discussion of Gothic literature, and Ragon's upcoming…

Anne has a special gift for winning over misfits and misanthropes, but in Anne of Windy Poplars, even her skills are put to the test! Ragon and Kelly discuss how Anne won over the Pringles and Katherine Brook, Kelly teaches us about comedies of manners, and they both marvel at the miracle of buttermilk and pumpkin preserves. Inspired by: Kelly is i…

From her unique vantage point as an engaged woman and a high school principal, Anne observes all kinds of interesting parent-child dynamics in and around Summerside. Ragon and Kelly discuss the takeaways from these relationships, and then Ragon gives us all an in depth parenting lesson – but not before we discuss Fourth Wing and all things dragons!…

Ragon and Kelly boldly go where few podcasters have gone before – deep into Anne of Windy Poplars! Join us as we recap the 4th book in the Anne series--you probably missed this book or have forgotten it so let us help you find the humor and tragedy hidden in the pages. Listeners, be sure to count how many grumps Anne has to win over while presiding…

Happy Anniversary to US! To celebrate, Kelly and Ragon are throwing a podcast party, with special guests, games, trivia, and best of all, prizes. You’re invited to the Anne of Green Gables themed party of the year! If you want to get a free logo sticker from us, either leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or share your love for the pod on social med…

After everything Gilbert has been through over the past three books, we knew he needed his own episode! Ragon and Kelly discuss the making of a classic romance hero, from the infamous “carrots” scene to the swoon-worthy final proposal. We round out the conversation with stories from our weddings and an exploration of Victorian courtship rituals. In…

Anne’s childhood wish to become “divinely beautiful” is coming true - at least in the eyes of one particular gentleman. We love the romance in Anne of the Island, not just for Anne but for her friends Diana and Phillippa as well. Ragon and Kelly chat about all of Anne’s would-be beaux, and unpack why she doesn’t seem ready for any of them yet. We a…

It might be summer where you are, but in Anne of the Island, it’s always September, and we are headed back to school with Anne. In this episode, Ragon and Kelly explore Anne’s ambitions as a writer and a scholar – including, of course, her embarrassing first experience as a published author! Kelly and Ragon also share stories from their own college…

Join us at Patty's Place, where Anne and her friends have "all the fun of homemaking and none of the bother of a husband." Kelly and Ragon discuss female-centered communities and spaces that make way for young women to become themselves, from Anne and her Redmond College chums to New York's famous Barbizon Hotel. We also share stories of our own co…

Anne of the Island – or Anne, the College Years – is one of our very favorite books. With its stately collegiate setting, delightful celebration of female friendships, and deliciously slow burn romance, who can blame us? Join us as we recap Anne's four years at Redmond College, complete with baking soda company shenanigans, tomcat tomfoolery, and a…

Whether it’s a fairy picnic or a fairytale prince, Anne sees romance everywhere she looks – except, of course, in her own life! Kelly and Ragon explore the romantic side of Anne of Avonlea, from Hester Grey’s garden to Miss Lavendar’s wedding, and they also discuss those rare coming of age books for girls that don’t include romance. Inspired by: Ke…

School may be out in your neighborhood, but it’s back in session in Avonlea with Anne at the front of the classroom. Anne continues on her path to becoming “dazzlingly clever” by embarking on her career as a teacher, and today’s discussion ranges from our own career aspirations to Avonlea school stories to the ambitious heroines of Little Women. In…

Avonlea itself, full of big personalities and hilarious happenings, is practically a character in the Anne books. In this episode, we explore how Anne grows into becoming an active member of her community and all the different ways "goodness" looks in a small town. Topics include the Avonlea Village Improvement Society, Davy and Dora Keith, and how…

Ragon and Kelly kick off season two of Kindred Spirits Book Club with a breezy recap of Anne of Avonlea. Kelly admits she likes Davy Keith after all, and Ragon wants the ladies from The Home Edit to help Green Gables organize. Come along as we discuss the enchanted picnics, fairytale romances, and childhood mischief that make Anne of Avonlea so muc…

For the Season 1 Finale of Kindred Spirits Book Club, we are excited to introduce you to a new kindred spirit, Katie Stewart, co-founder of Owl’s Next Publishing. Katie, Ragon, and Kelly have the ultimate Anne geek out session, discussing everything from quoting the books in wedding vows to what can you do with an English degree? We rank all the An…