Episode 19: Shakespeare's Ghosts

Emma, Felix, and Calder gather by the ghostlight this Halloween to give you an extra spooky episode, delving into Shakespeare's Ghosts. We talk about the 5 plays that ghosts appear in: Hamlet, Macbeth, Richard III, Julius Caesar, and Cymbeline, and dig into how ghosts propel the action of the play in each instance. Featuring: Great Caesar's Ghost, a deep dive on tables, the scary and the funny, staging Banquo's ghost, Jupiter descending on an Eagle, and the Vampires of Henry V.This episode is dedicated to the late, great Sir Patrick Stewart. May your ghost haunt us, always.The Pod’s the Thing was created by Emma Sherr-Ziarko and Felix Trench, and is produced by Emma Sherr-Ziarko.This episode features Emma Sherr-Ziarko, Felix Trench, and Calder Shilling. It was edited by Emma Sherr-Ziarko.Original Artwork by Felix Trench and Original Music by Amber Devereux.If you like the show, tell your friends! If you don’t like the show, tell your foes! And if you can leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you’re listening that really helps us grow the show and find our audience.You can support the show by pledging on Patreon, where you’ll get access to all sorts of preview and bonus content. You can also follow us on there for free! Patreon.com/podsthethingFind out more about the show on our website podsthething.com and follow us on most social media @podsthething.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Bardcore Four return once more for an episode of Firsts: our First History Play, our First Henry Play, and our First scene in French! In this delightful- and unusual- scene in Henry V, Katherine of France's Handmaiden Alice teaches her English, and hilarity ensues. Featuring: a scene that passes the Bechdel Test, translating 16th-century French, how to produce a Pro-War play for a contemporary audience, naughty language, Felix's conspiracy theory about the Bishop of Canterbury, and De Bilbow.This episode contains suggestive and lewd language, listener discretion is advised.The Pod’s the Thing was created by Emma Sherr-Ziarko and Felix Trench, and is produced by Emma Sherr-Ziarko.This episode features Emma Sherr-Ziarko, Felix Trench, Beth Eyre, and Calder Shilling. It was edited by Emma Sherr-Ziarko.Original Artwork by Felix Trench and Original Music by Amber Devereux.If you like the show, tell your friends! If you don’t like the show, tell your foes! And if you can leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you’re listening that really helps us grow the show and find our audience.You can support the show by pledging on Patreon, where you’ll get access to all sorts of preview and bonus content. You can also follow us on there for free! Patreon.com/podsthethingFind out more about the show on our website podsthething.com and follow us on most social media @podsthething.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We're here to discuss Shakespeare's most romantic play, Henry IV Part 1. Just kidding! Emma and Beth are joined by the brilliant Lauren Grace Thompson to look at the one and only Romeo & Juliet, in this scene that came to be known as "The Balcony Scene." Featuring: the most romantic line in the English language, Survivor Dudes, bawdy jokes, blocking within the dialogue, a rom-com gone wrong, and the world's most eventful Monday.The Pod’s the Thing was created by Emma Sherr-Ziarko and Felix Trench, and is produced by Emma Sherr-Ziarko.This episode features Emma Sherr-Ziarko, Beth Eyre, and Lauren Grace Thompson. It was edited by Amber Devereux.Original Artwork by Felix Trench and Original Music by Amber Devereux.If you like the show, tell your friends! If you don’t like the show, tell your foes! And if you can leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you’re listening that really helps us grow the show and find our audience.You can support the show by pledging on Patreon, where you’ll get access to all sorts of preview and bonus content. You can also follow us on there for free! Patreon.com/podsthethingFind out more about the show on our website podsthething.com and follow us on most social media @podsthething.Part of the Fable & Folly NetworkSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Emma, Felix, and Calder are joined by the wonderful, wonderful Ian Geers to take a look at the delightful and somewhat perplexing comedy, As You Like It. We tackle the infamous Seven Ages of Man speech and ask the question: why is Jaques in this play? Featuring: glamping, carafes of gin and whiskey, poetry trauma, a proto-Armin Fool, Deadhead Duke Senior, and the Seven Ages of Man Soda Machine.The Pod’s the Thing was created by Emma Sherr-Ziarko and Felix Trench, and is produced by Emma Sherr-Ziarko.This episode features Emma Sherr-Ziarko, Felix Trench, Calder Shilling, and Ian Geers. It was edited by Emma Sherr-Ziarko.Original Artwork by Felix Trench and Original Music by Amber Devereux.If you like the show, tell your friends! If you don’t like the show, tell your foes! And if you can leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you’re listening that really helps us grow the show and find our audience.You can support the show by pledging on Patreon, where you’ll get access to all sorts of preview and bonus content. You can also follow us on there for free! Patreon.com/podsthethingFind out more about the show on our website podsthething.com and follow us on most social media @podsthething.Part of the Fable & Folly NetworkSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Hardcore Four return to discuss our winner in our Episode Pitch Competition! Congrats to Mia for this excellent suggestion, and hopefully we do it justice, as we discuss this absolutely delicious scene between Prospero and Ariel, and Prospero's magnificent speech. We discuss how this play reckons with themes like art, relinquishing power, colonialism, and virtue. Featuring: wizard iconography, Ovid & Medea, plummets, Jumanji, and casual necromancy.The Pod’s the Thing was created by Emma Sherr-Ziarko and Felix Trench, and is produced by Emma Sherr-Ziarko.This episode features Emma Sherr-Ziarko, Felix Trench, Beth Eyre, and Calder Shilling. It was edited by Emma Sherr-Ziarko.Original Artwork by Felix Trench and Original Music by Amber Devereux.If you like the show, tell your friends! If you don’t like the show, tell your foes! And if you can leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you’re listening that really helps us grow the show and find our audience.You can support the show by pledging on Patreon, where you’ll get access to all sorts of preview and bonus content. You can also follow us on there for free! Patreon.com/podsthethingFind out more about the show on our website podsthething.com and follow us on most social media @podsthething.Part of the Fable & Folly NetworkSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

You may think this is one of Shakespeare's most light-hearted comedies, but A Midsummer Night's Dream contains many unexplored darker themes. We welcome author, scholar, podcast creator and Shakespeare teacher Jen Sugden to the show to take a look at this scene between Titania and Oberon, and delve into some of the play's complexities. Featuring: Oberon's extraordinary parentage, visual conflicts, a cheeky little anapest, The Compositor's Vulgarization, and female friendship threatening the patriarchy. The Pod’s the Thing was created by Emma Sherr-Ziarko and Felix Trench, and is produced by Emma Sherr-Ziarko.This episode features Emma Sherr-Ziarko, Felix Trench, Beth Eyre, and Jen Sugden. It was edited by Amber Devereux.Original Artwork by Felix Trench and Original Music by Amber Devereux.If you like the show, tell your friends! If you don’t like the show, tell your foes! And if you can leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you’re listening that really helps us grow the show and find our audience.You can support the show by pledging on Patreon, where you’ll get access to all sorts of preview and bonus content. You can also follow us on there for free! Patreon.com/podsthethingFind out more about the show on our website podsthething.com and follow us on most social media @podsthething.Part of the Fable & Folly NetworkSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

While we take a small hiatus from Shakespeare, this month we're excited to share an episode from Two Thousand and Late, a new Audio Drama from Lauren Shippen (guest of the show) and Atypical Artists!THIS IS HOW TO PROCRASTINATE THE END OF THE WORLD (otherwise known as the nine circles of hell on earth)! What do you do when you're thirty-six years old and you've been possessed by a demon and been fired from your job? You don't let the demon possessing you bring about the apocalypse like it wants to.CONTENT WARNING: This show contains all kinds of bad things: it's set in our modern day, which means it involves discussion of inept government, unfair business practices, labor abuse, small-mindedness, substance abuse, grief and loss, COVID, chronic illness, sexual harassment, and death. There's also quite a bit of swearing, drinking, smoking, violence, arson, and all manner of demonic behavior. This episode in particular involves a car crash.Two Thousand and Late is a production of Atypical Artists and executive produced by Patrick Ellis and Lauren Shippen. The show was created, written, and directed by Lauren Shippen, with the brilliant Octavia Bray as our script consultant. Our spectacular sound design is by the fabulous Jeffrey Nils Gardner, our dazzling original art was created by the first-rate Ellis Carson Jones, and our rollicking theme music is by the ever-wonderful Brandon Grugle. We have many incredible actors lending their voices, so I'll let them speak for themselves, in order of appearance: Margaret Burrus as Maddie, Elena Victora Feliz as Gemma, Vikki Kelleher as Carol, Candace McAfee as Rory, and Tyler Moody as Sid. Oh, and of course, Lauren Shippen plays both Harper and Havoc, she really is so self-obsessed. For more information about the show, please visit harperandhavoc.com. Our advertising is arranged by Multitude, so please get in touch with them if you'd like to participate in the glory that is capitalism at [email protected]. Alright, that's all for now. Until next time, go out and wreak some havoc.Music in this episode provided by Epidemic Sound: Swept in Black - Off CutsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Surprise! Happy Birthday Shakespeare! We wanted to take a moment to talk about the man himself, his legacy, and why we're all still obsessed with him today. Featuring: The Shakespeare Ladies' Club, the definitive Gattaca, the Divine Right of Kings, and Constable Felix: Shakespeare Investigator.Got an idea for what scene we should tackle in our next episode? Fill out this Form and state your case to Constable Shakespeare! We'll be choosing our favorite response by Midsummer's Day (June 24, 2026)The Pod’s the Thing was created by Emma Sherr-Ziarko and Felix Trench, and is produced by Emma Sherr-Ziarko.This episode features Emma Sherr-Ziarko, Felix Trench, Beth Eyre, and Calder Shilling. It was edited by Emma Sherr-Ziarko.Original Artwork by Felix Trench and Original Music by Amber Devereux.If you like the show, tell your friends! If you don’t like the show, tell your foes! And if you can leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you’re listening that really helps us grow the show and find our audience.You can support the show by pledging on Patreon, where you’ll get access to all sorts of preview and bonus content. You can also follow us on there for free! Patreon.com/podsthethingFind out more about the show on our website podsthething.com and follow us on most social media @podsthething.Part of the Fable & Folly NetworkSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We welcome audio fiction legend Lauren Shippen to the show as we dive into arguably one of the most perfect of Shakespeare's Tragedies, The Scottish Play (or, if you're feeling bold, Macbeth!) We look at two of the greatest characters and most coveted roles in all of Shakespeare's canon, Macbeth and Lady M. Featuring: the Tragedy of MacElizabeth, Sleep No More, drugged possets, cue scripts & sushi, and Chekhov's Chekhov's Gun. The Pod’s the Thing was created by Emma Sherr-Ziarko and Felix Trench, and is produced by Emma Sherr-Ziarko.This episode features Emma Sherr-Ziarko, Felix Trench, Beth Eyre, and Lauren Shippen. It was edited by Amber Devereux.Original Artwork by Felix Trench and Original Music by Amber Devereux.If you like the show, tell your friends! If you don’t like the show, tell your foes! And if you can leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you’re listening that really helps us grow the show and find our audience.You can support the show by pledging on Patreon, where you’ll get access to all sorts of preview and bonus content. You can also follow us on there for free! Patreon.com/podsthethingFind out more about the show on our website podsthething.com and follow us on most social media @podsthething.Part of the Fable & Folly NetworkSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

April Fools! The Hardcore Four (Felix, Beth, Calder, and Emma) reunite for a Shakespearean Fools Episode, looking at two of the most iconic Fools in Shakespeare: Feste in Twelfth Night and The Fool from King Lear. We discuss the different types of Shakespeare's Fools, and how the Elizabethan actors William Kemp and Robert Armin influenced the writing of these roles. Featuring: a fleet of Lears, speaking truth to power, Felix's two haircuts, zanies, and lots and lots of coxcombs.The Pod’s the Thing was created by Emma Sherr-Ziarko and Felix Trench, and is produced by Emma Sherr-Ziarko.This episode features Emma Sherr-Ziarko, Felix Trench, Beth Eyre, and Calder Shilling. It was edited by Emma Sherr-Ziarko.Original Artwork by Felix Trench and Original Music by Amber Devereux.If you like the show, tell your friends! If you don’t like the show, tell your foes! And if you can leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you’re listening that really helps us grow the show and find our audience.You can support the show by pledging on Patreon, where you’ll get access to all sorts of preview and bonus content. You can also follow us on there for free! Patreon.com/podsthethingFind out more about the show on our website podsthething.com and follow us on most social media @podsthething.Part of the Fable & Folly Network=See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.