Best The Singing Wells project Podcasts (2024)

1
Will Tosh on the Hidden Queer Lives of William Shakespeare 35:10

11d ago35:10

35:10

How did Shakespeare engage with the complexities of gender and sexuality in his time? Was his portrayal of cross-dressing and same-sex attraction simply for comedic effect, or did it reflect a deeper understanding of queer desire? In this episode, host Barbara Bogaev speaks with scholar Will Tosh, who delves into these questions through his new boo…

1
Throughlines, with Ayanna Thompson and Ruben Espinosa 32:52

25d ago32:52

32:52

How can educators effectively incorporate discussions about race into the study of Shakespeare and other premodern texts in the college classroom? Barbara Bogaev speaks with scholars Ayanna Thompson and Ruben Espinosa about Throughlines, a pedagogical resource developed by the Arizona Center for Medieval and Renaissance Studies at Arizona State Uni…

1
Ep. 24: Epilogue 12:26

1M ago12:26

12:26

In the final episode of Finding Forgiveness - A Family Fairytale, Susan Gibson brings her journey full circle by writing a heartfelt letter to her mother, just as she did when the podcast began. This closing letter reflects on her and her mother's transformation as they worked to mend their relationship. Although their bond was never perfect—like m…

1
Juliet, Then and Now, with Sophie Duncan 37:23

1M ago37:23

37:23

Was Romeo and Juliet your first brush with Shakespeare? Whether it was on stage, on screen in films by Franco Zeffirelli or Baz Luhrmann or Shonda Rhimes' Still Star-Crossed, or in the pages of the Folger Shakespeare edition, your early experience probably shaped how you see Juliet. Over 400 years, our thinking about Shakespeare's first tragic hero…

1
Ep. 23 - Integrating My Whole Self in 2024 26:51

2M ago26:51

26:51

Welcome to Finding Forgiveness: A Family Fairytale, hosted by Susan Gibson. In this heartfelt episode, Susan invites listeners to embark on a journey of self-discovery, healing, and the transformative power of forgiveness. She begins by discussing the importance of setting a themed goal for each year. This year's focus is "Integrating My Whole Self…

1
Completing the Canon: Barry Edelstein on The Old Globe's Henry 6 37:34

2M ago37:34

37:34

This summer San Diego’s Old Globe became one of only 10 theaters in America who have produced all of Shakespeare’s plays (or 11, depending on how you count it) with their production of Henry VI, parts 1, 2, and 3. Artistic Director Barry Edelstein shares the details of how they tackled staging three rarely seen works with more than 150 characters, …

1
Ep. 22 - Finding My Masculine Heart 22:17

2M ago22:17

22:17

Welcome to "Finding Forgiveness: A Family Fairytale," hosted by Susan Gibson. In this episode, Susan invites listeners to explore the depths of their masculine hearts, beginning with a poignant reflection on a dream she had following her mother's death. She candidly discusses her evolving feelings towards the patriarchy, acknowledging past resentme…

1
Colman Domingo on Sing Sing and the Power of Theater 30:10

2M ago30:10

30:10

Can a musical comedy featuring Hamlet and Nightmare on Elm Street’s Freddy Krueger change lives? Actor, playwright, and director Colman Domingo thinks so. In Sing Sing, a new film from A24, Domingo stars in a true story about the power of theater. Inspired by the real-life Rehabilitation through the Arts program at Sing Sing Maximum Security Prison…

1
Ep. 21: Healing the Mother / Daughter Split 31:15

3M ago31:15

31:15

Welcome to "Finding Forgiveness - a Family Fairy Tale" where host Susan Gibson dives into the profound journey of healing and reconciliation. Today Susan invites us to explore a deeply rooted question: how do we mend wounds inflicted by others? As we navigate her insights Susan challenges us to embrace vulnerability and the importance of not facing…

1
The Brief Life and Big Impact of the Federal Theatre Project, with James Shapiro 36:36

3M ago36:36

36:36

Imagine: a fiercely idealistic, politically progressive artist takes the stand at a hearing of the House Un-American Activities Committee. The chair of the committee is a hard-right demagogue with a gift for sound bites and a fixation with Communism. If you’re picturing Joseph McCarthy’s anti-Communist crusade in the 1950s… think two decades earlie…

1
Ep. 20: My Homage to the Feminine 25:30

3M ago25:30

25:30

Welcome to the Finding Forgiveness podcast, hosted by Susan Gibson. In today's episode, Susan delves into her family tree, uncovering the stories of her female ancestors. She shares how the feminine strength and courage woven through her lineage empowers her. Additionally, Susan discusses the importance of slowing down, embracing moments of relaxat…

1
A Tour of the Newly-Reopened Folger | Part 2: Research at the Folger 31:13

3M ago31:13

31:13

After a four-year renovation, the Folger Shakespeare Library is now open with 12,000 square feet of new public spaces. But behind the scenes, in our original building, we’ve also revamped the way we serve researchers working with the world’s largest Shakespeare collection. On this episode, host Barbara Bogaev talks with Director of Collections Greg…

1
Ep. 19: Plunging Into The Depths 32:04

4M ago32:04

32:04

In this episode of Finding Forgiveness with Susan Gibson, Susan explores the profound journey of descent and reemergence, examining how far one must fall before beginning to rise again. She outlines three pivotal moments where she recognized her descent and saw the potential for transformation during this process. Reflecting on how the COVID pandem…

1
A Tour of the Newly-Reopened Folger | Part 1 34:04

4M ago34:04

34:04

On June 21, the Folger reopens after a four-year renovation. The reimagined Folger has brand-new public exhibition spaces where we can introduce visitors to Shakespeare and his plays, as well as showcase some of the treasures of the Folger’s collection. Behind the scenes in the original building, we’ve also completely revamped the way we serve rese…

1
Ep. 18: My Betrayal of Self 29:39

4M ago29:39

29:39

Today, we delve into the painful yet transformative topic of betrayal. Betrayal wounds deeply, but it can also be the spark that ignites healing and forgiveness. I will share my most profound betrayal: being ousted from the inner circle at work, which ultimately led to the loss of my long-term job. We've all experienced betrayal at some point, and …

1
Fred Wilson on his New, Othello-Inspired Work for the Folger 33:45

4M ago33:45

33:45

Fred Wilson’s artistic output includes painting, sculpture, photography, and collage, among other media. But his 1992 work “Mining the Museum” at the Maryland Historical Society used the museum’s own collection as its material, radically reframing how American institutions present their art. Wilson went on to represent the United States at the 2003…

1
Ep 17: The Boon of My Success 25:28

5M ago25:28

25:28

Today, we dive into the complexities of long-term professional success and the internal conflicts it can create. Join me as I share my journey of navigating 47 years of apparent triumphs while battling self-doubt and emotional turmoil. We'll explore themes of patriarchy, female masculinity, and the struggle to maintain authenticity in a demanding w…

1
Second Chances, Shakespeare, and Freud, with Adam Phillips and Stephen Greenblatt 35:45

5M ago35:45

35:45

The desire for a second chance provides the engine for many of Shakespeare’s plays. In their new book, Second Chances: Shakespeare and Freud, Shakespeare scholar Stephen Greenblatt and psychologist Adam Phillips argue that this fascination with the second chance links Shakespeare with one of his biggest 20th century fans: Sigmund Freud. Shakespeare…

1
Mary Zimmerman on Adapting Ovid and Directing Shakespeare 32:21

5M ago32:21

32:21

When Mary Zimmerman's adaptation of Ovid's Metamorphoses was on Broadway in 2002, it won a host of awards, including the Drama Desk, Drama League, and Lucille Lortel awards for best play. Zimmerman took home the Tony award for best director. This spring, director Psalmayene 24 and an all-Black cast stage a new production of the play interpreted thr…

1
Judi Dench On Seven Decades of Shakespeare, with Brendan O’Hea 40:56

6M ago40:56

40:56

In her new book, Shakespeare: The Man Who Pays the Rent, Dame Judi Dench and actor/director Brendan O'Hea chat about her long history with the Bard. On this episode, Dench and O'Hea join host Barbara Bogaev to talk about Dench's experiences playing Ophelia, Gertrude, Lady Macbeth and Titania. Plus, parrots, Polonius, dirty words, Ian McKellen, why …

1
Ep. 16 - Forgiving Myself 25:13

6M ago25:13

25:13

Have you ever felt like you took the blame for someone else's actions? Maybe you've been in a situation with a difficult person, an "ogre," as we'll call them here, who caused turmoil in your life. It's natural to wonder if you could have done something differently, but the truth is, you can't change other people. The good news? You can change how …

1
Shakespeare and the Environment, with Todd Andrew Borlik 33:47

6M ago33:47

33:47

Land enclosure. Wildlife management. Erosion. Pollution. Mining practices. Today, we’d call these environmental issues. But, hundreds of years before the modern environmental movement coalesced, these issues also appeared in Shakespeare’s plays. We talk to Todd Andrew Borlik, a professor at the University of Huddersfield and author of Shakespeare B…

1
Ep. 15 - Meet My Ogres 28:48

6M ago28:48

28:48

This episode contains reflection of child abuse and domestic violence. Listen with care. Join me as I open up about three pivotal moments throughout my life where I faced daunting challenges in the form of ogres. These encounters left me fearful and scarred, but through therapy and self-discovery, I found the strength to confront and overcome them.…

1
Ramie Targoff on Women Writers of the English Renaissance 37:32

6M ago37:32

37:32

In A Room of One’s Own, Virginia Woolf famously imagined what might have happened if Shakespeare had a sister who was as gifted a writer as he was. She invents “Judith” Shakespeare, and concludes that this female genius would have been doomed.But that’s not the end of the story. If Woolf had read Mary Sidney, Aemelia Lanyer (nee Bassano), Anne Clif…

1
Ep. 14 - Gathering of Allies 30:40

7M ago30:40

30:40

Do you ever feel alone? Conventional wisdom says you should be able to make it independently. What it doesn’t tell you is that you need allies along the path of life. Reflecting on my journey since grade school, I vividly recall the invaluable allies who have shaped my path. An ally listens, supports, and uplifts you, unwaveringly standing by your …

1
Green World: Michelle Ephraim on Discovering Shakespeare and Reevaluating The Merchant of Venice 33:22

7M ago33:22

33:22

In her new memoir, "Green World," Shakespeare scholar Michelle Ephraim tells the story of how she came to Shakespeare relatively late in her education. Although she didn’t grow up with Shakespeare, Ephraim became transfixed by "The Merchant of Venice" as a grad student. In particular, she found herself drawn to Jessica, Shylock’s daughter, and the …

1
Ep. 13 - Reclaiming My Feminine Self 22:22

7M ago22:22

22:22

For 25 years, my marriage demanded a strong, capable presence. I was the provider, the organizer, the one who shouldered responsibility. This strength, this "masculine energy," permeated everything – my choices, style, and even my haircut. I wasn't aware of it, but masculinity became my identity. Then came the divorce. My new partner surprised me w…

1
Eddie Izzard on Performing Hamlet Solo 32:11

7M ago32:11

32:11

Eddie Izzard has a long record of dramatic roles. But it’s her decades of experience as a stand-up comedian that prepared Izzard for her recent solo shows—first Great Expectations, and now Hamlet at New York’s Greenwich House Theatre.From the Shakespeare Unlimited podcast series. Published February 27, 2024. © Folger Shakespeare Library. All rights…

1
Ep. 12 - Our Life in Parallel 25:52

8M ago25:52

25:52

Susan embarks on a powerful exploration of forgiveness, revealing the four key characteristics that bridged the gap between her and her mother: fear, courage, strength and love. Today’s focus delves into emotional inheritance, where Susan discovers these shared traits woven into the fabric of their relationship. Through compelling personal anecdote…

1
Shakespeare and Disgust, with Bradley J. Irish 34:30

8M ago34:30

34:30

Maybe there really was something rotten in Denmark. On this episode, we talk with Bradley J. Irish about disgust in Shakespeare. In his new book, Irish identifies the emotion, which combines physical revulsion and moral outrage, as one of the central thematic emotions in Shakespeare’s plays. In his close readings across the canon, Irish finds disgu…

1
Ep. 11 - Family Secrets 23:17

8M ago23:17

23:17

Today, Susan explores the challenge of maintaining family secrets. This episode may be unsettling to some listeners accustomed to abiding by their family's unwritten rule of silence. What happens when you feel obligated to keep a secret or choose to do so independently due to various factors like fear, embarrassment, or a desire for privacy? The we…

1
Rita Dove on Shakespeare and Her Poem of Welcome for the Folger 37:06

8M ago37:06

37:06

When the Folger reopens on June 21 and you come to take a walk in our new west garden, look down at the garden bed. There, you'll see a new poem, written for the Folger by US Poet Laureate emerita Rita Dove. This week, she joins us on the podcast to read that poem aloud for the first time. Plus, Dove reflects on how writing for marble is different …

1
Ep. 10 - My Mother's Beginnings 21:30

8M ago21:30

21:30

Today, Susan recounts her mother's journey from birth to high school. Raised in a rural part of Maine, her mother was familiar with the challenges of hard work during her upbringing, yet she cherished moments of taking the train to the next town to watch movies with her sister. However, an undisclosed event occurred during high school, remaining a …

1
John Guy And Julia Fox on Their New Biography of Anne Boleyn 33:44

9M ago33:44

33:44

Even after appearing in a Shakespeare play, historical romance novels, a Broadway musical, and prestige TV dramas, there's still more to learn about Anne Boleyn.A new biography by the team of husband-and-wife historians John Guy and Julia Fox takes a scholarly look at the evidence surrounding Anne’s rise and fall. They freshly examine well-known ac…

1
Ep. 9 - Finding Forgiveness 25:55

9M ago25:55

25:55

Today, Susan reveals the three personal things she shared with her mother in 2012, and delves deeply into the profound act of forgiveness. She recounts her mother's response upon learning she was forgiven and shares the emotions she underwent, illustrating how those three simple words transformed the dynamics of their relationship. Forgiveness can …

1
David and Ben Crystal Share Shakespeare Quotations for Your Everyday Life 35:13

9M ago35:13

35:13

Shakespeare has the perfect lines for riding into battle or stumbling around a stormy heath. But does he have the right stuff to take us on a daily commute or a trip to the grocery store? On this episode, David and Ben Crystal join us to talk about their new book, "Everyday Shakespeare: Lines for Life," which offers daily Shakespeare quotes you can…

1
Ep 8 - Embarking on a New Adventure 27:04

9M ago27:04

27:04

Today, Susan reflects on the twenty-six years she spent with her mother after they reconnected. After six years of estrangement, Susan decided to reconnect with her mother. Susan shares that at first, she hoped to restore their relationship from before their estrangement, but over time, she realized that she needed to redefine their relationship. M…

1
What Happened to the Princes in the Tower, with Philippa Langley 33:25

10M ago33:25

33:25

The most unforgivable crime in Richard III has to be when the king orders the murder of his two young nephews, Edward and Richard. But what if Richard III was framed?Philippa Langley is the amateur historian whose commitment to righting a historical wrong led to the discovery of Richard III’s remains a decade ago. Langley wasn’t a scholar—she was a…

1
Ep. 7 - Crossing the Bridge 21:47

10M ago21:47

21:47

Today, I will share how my mother and I reconnected after our six year long estrangement. I don’t call it reconciliation because, as you will hear, we didn’t reconcile anything. My story still leaves questions in my mind as to what happened between us. Through therapy and diving deep into my thoughts and feelings, perhaps the answer is accepting th…

1
Trailer: Introducing Baby Carl's Happy Apocalypse Podcast 1:33

10M ago1:33

1:33

Meet Baby Carl and his friend, Bill! They'll tell you about their road trip to Vermont to interview Bill's friends about their happy apocalypses, and the fun they had along the way. It's 90 seconds. Give it a listen! Visit https://www.newperennials.org/ for more information.By Doyle Dean and Bill Vitek

1
Will Somer: Peter K. Andersson on Henry VIII's Court Fool 31:20

10M ago31:20

31:20

What comes to mind when you think about a "court jester?" What if we told you that fools in the Tudor court didn’t look or sound anything like the zany clowns you have in mind?Historians don’t know much about Will Somer. We know he was Henry VIII’s court fool, but the details of his biography—and, crucially, his comedy—were never recorded.By Shakes…

1
Ep. 6 - The Letter From My Mother 22:01

10M ago22:01

22:01

Today, I will share how I bounced from home to home in high school and one of my biggest disappointments when my mother didn’t come to my graduation. I understand it is not uncommon for a high-school student to live with a friend while completing their senior year. I know it happens for a good reason. What is not common is for your mother to disown…

1
Isabelle Schuler on Lady Macbeth and Queen Hereafter 30:58

11M ago30:58

30:58

Isabelle Schuler’s debut novel Queen Hereafter attempts to fill in a backstory for Lady Macbeth. The book takes place in 11th century Scotland, where a king’s reign tended to be short and brutal. For her version of Lady M, Schuler didn’t rely on Shakespeare or his source material, Holinshed’s Chronicles. Instead, she looked to the annals and sagas …

1
Ep. 5 - The Divorce 22:23

11M ago22:23

22:23

Today, I will recount the events that unfolded when my parents decided to separate. At the age of 13, I had to choose which parent I wished to reside with when I learned my parents were separating. Opting for my father led to a growing divide between my mother and me. Reflecting on my mother's choice, I consider it a courageous move. Going against …

1
400 Years of Shakespeare's First Folio, with Emma Smith 29:22

11M ago29:22

29:22

The First Folio—the first collected edition of Shakespeare’s plays—hit bookstores 400 years ago this November. Emma Smith of Oxford University tells us just what this famous book has been up to for the past four centuries. We explore notable collectors like Sir Edward Dering and our founders, Emily and Henry Folger; how the 18th-century slave trade…

1
Ep 4 - Our Beginning 20:22

11M ago20:22

20:22

In this episode of Finding Forgiveness, I will recount my early years, focusing on the passing of my infant brother and its impact on my connection with my mother. The intricate dynamics of a family often reveal themselves gradually, and I've discovered this to be accurate in comprehending my bond with my mother. Today, I will share what I learned …

1
#5 Education, Rumination, Meditation 42:56

12M ago42:56

42:56

Baby Carl and Bill visit Green Mountain Monastery in Greensboro, VT to speak with Sr. Gail Worcelo. Baby Carl learns the difference between sisters and brothers and Sisters and Brothers, and hears about Sr. Gail's happy revelation that led to her religious vocation. In 1999 she co-founded Green Mountain Monastery with the late Passionist priest and…

1
The Bloomsbury Group and Shakespeare, with Marjorie Garber 31:05

12M ago31:05

31:05

We talk with Harvard Professor Marjorie Garber about how modernist writers of London’s Bloomsbury Group made Shakespeare their own. Garber’s most recent book—her twentieth—is Shakespeare in Bloomsbury. In it, she traces the influence of Shakespeare on the members of the Bloomsbury Group, that circle of early 20th-century intellectuals included nove…

1
Patrick Stewart on a Life Shaped by Shakespeare 31:34

12M ago31:34

31:34

Sir Patrick Stewart joins us on the podcast to talk about how Shakespeare has shaped his life. Stewart tells host Barbara Bogaev about his Yorkshire youth, his audition for the Royal Shakespeare Company, playing Starfleet Captain Jen-Luc Picard, and more.Stewart's memoir, "Making It So," is available now from Gallery Books, an imprint of Simon & Sc…

1
Michael Patrick Thornton on Learning to Breathe Again with Shakespeare 29:58

1y ago29:58

29:58

Sometimes, the beauty of Shakespeare’s poetry takes your breath away. In the case of today’s guest, Shakespeare gave him his breath back.You may recognize actor Michael Patrick Thornton from his roles on TV series like Private Practice and The Good Doctor. Twenty years ago, Thornton had just started out in his acting career when he suffered two spi…

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