Rephonic
Artwork for Art of Darkness
Nina Simone
William S. Burroughs
Mary Shelley
Civil Rights Movement
Yukio Mishima
Joan Vollmer
John Lennon
Robert E. Howard
Aleister Crowley
Tarot
The Beatles
Esotericism
Occultism
Jazz
Sea Of Fertility
Jack Kerouac
Allen Ginsberg
Beatlemania
John Milton
Thelema

Hosted by very online writers Kevin Kautzman and Matt Taylor, Art of Darkness is a podcast about the dark side of (dead) artists, creatives, intellectuals, and the people who made history and continue to move culture. AoD features well-researched Core Episodes, Dark Room discussions with guests, plus special After Dark, Book Club, Post-Mortem, and Watch Party episodes for our beloved Patreon and S... more

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes199Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
HistoryBooksArts

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Art of Darkness

Latest Episodes

We get the band back together. Abbie, Brad, Kevin, Kirsten, and Matt talk all things Art of Darkness, ghosts of podcasts past, present, and future. Enjoy.

Get this episode ad-free by subscription to patreon.com/artofdarkpod or substack.com/@artofdar... more

Author Stephen Pimentel joins the pod to talk Jung, the Magus, Hesse, Hobbes, and more.

Get ad-free Core Episodes, the After Dark episode, and more at patreon.com/artofdarkpod or substack.com/@artofdarkpod.

x.com/StephenPiment

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We go there and back again, covering the life and work of John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, noted Oxford philologist and author of the singularly influential novels: The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.

And get the After Dark episode and more at patreon.c... more

Actor Michael Bakkensen returns to the podcast to talk about the craft of acting, William Shakespeare and the Oxford / Stratford situation, Shakespeare as stoner and more.

Get ad-free Core Episodes, the After Dark episode, and more at patreon.com/ar... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Michael Bakkensen
Actor, guest discussed by name and introduced as a guest
New Jersey Repertory Theatre / actor
Episode: The Dark Room: Michael Bakkensen Taps in to Talk Willy Shakes
Brad Kelly
Author and tarot reader; guest on Dark Room
The Earthen Dark (novel) and Method and Madness podcast
Episode: The Dark Room: Brad Kelly Returns to Talk Jung and the Tarot
Aldous Asterion
Host of the Forest of Symbols podcast
Forest of Symbols
Episode: The Dark Room: Forever Jung with Aldous Asterion
Amanda Forstrom
Actor, director, and theatrical performer with extensive experience in Shakespeare
Episode: The Dark Room: A Court of Thorns and Shakespeares w/ Amanda Forstrom
Samuel Buntz
Author and Substack Writer
Sam Buntz Substack
Episode: The Dark Room: Samuel Buntz Talks Supernatural Kipling
Rudyard Kipling
Famous author known for works like The Jungle Book and Kim
Episode: The Dark Room: Samuel Buntz Talks Supernatural Kipling
Josh David Jordan
Filmmaker and director of El Tonto Por Cristo
Independent filmmaker
Episode: The Dark Room: Josh David Jordan Talks Tarkovsky and El Tonto Por Cristo
Matt Taylor
Co-host of There Will Be Books and author of a children's book
There Will Be Books
Episode: The Dark Room: All of Them Witches w/ Matt Taylor
Jan Willem van Kaathoven
A teacher and philosophy enthusiast from the Netherlands with a passion for literature and language.
Episode: The Dark Room: All Dahl’d Up w/ J.W. van Kaathoven

Hosts

Kevin Kautzman
Host of Art of Darkness; long-running co-host with a focus on art history, psychology, and culture.
Matt Taylor
Host of Art of Darkness; co-host with a focus on literature, film, and creative culture.
Abbie Lucas
Co-host with a theatre and literature background; contributes perspectives on women in theatre and performance.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 402 ratings
  • Excellent

    Just discovered this podcast and I'm listening to the Hermanne Hesse episode. I used to live in Montagnola in the Ticiino which is where Hesse lived for many many years. when I was a teenager. I went to boarding school there for three years. It wasn't until I left that beautiful region that I became aware of his writing and deeply resonated with it and still do as a 67-year-old. It is a truly magical part of the world and although I haven't been there since 1980, it still is always in my mind's... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Queens Chambers’
    Canada2 months ago
  • Egads! Podcast app deleted my review mid-typing!

    Dear Potential New Viewers (and too hopefully The Hosts!), I wrote a long and winding appreciation of your innate likability as hosts, how i’ve spent 8h listening to your podcast over the last 2 days since being recommended it! You have one a new fan,l and potential future viewers, become present moment viewers this instant if you want a great podcast. It’s funny, passionate in a beautiful way and contains this beautiful open-minder yet academic & thorough approach compared to my personally less... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    iamnotted
    United Kingdom2 months ago
  • Awesome show

    This pod is very smart and entertaining. The hosts always have very informative shows about past creators and their works. You won’t be disappointed.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Charles Martel III
    United Statesa year ago
  • The Future

    Twin Peaks

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    TheFallopians
    United States2 years ago
  • Ice-nine (or Ice Ice Baby)

    Anna Kavan lured me into this place and then decided to stay for lunch—naked or otherwise. I invited Thomas Ligotti to join us if the hosts don’t mind.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    conaninspace
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners praise deep, well-researched dives into artists and their works.
Some reviews note political jabs or strong opinions; overall sentiment is mixed but often positive.
Fans highlight host camaraderie, wit, and intelligence as key strengths.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#166
United Kingdom/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#99
South Africa/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#118
Singapore/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#156
Singapore/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#216
South Africa/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#233
Ireland/Arts/Books

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Dark Room: Brad Kelly Returns to Talk Jung and the Tarot
Q: Can Tarot readings influence real-life decisions, such as Brad's publishing decisions?
Yes, Brad describes using Tarot to navigate practical choices, like deciding whether to continue pursuing publication, and treating the reading as a tool to align actions with inner motivations.
The Dark Room: Brad Kelly Returns to Talk Jung and the Tarot
Q: How does Brad approach reading for others versus himself?
Brad adapts his method depending on the context: readings for others involve more storytelling and symbol pointing, while self-readings tend to be quicker and more introspective, with a focus on personal archetypal phases.
The Dark Room: Brad Kelly Returns to Talk Jung and the Tarot
Q: What is the primary link between Jung and Tarot readings?
Jung provided a framework—archetypes, symbols, and the collective unconscious—that readers use to interpret Tarot cards more psychologically and personally, rather than as mere divination.
Carl Jung and the Shadow
Q: What do you know about Carl Jung?
Carl Jung was a Swiss psychiatrist known for his theories about the unconscious, including concepts like the shadow and individuation, and for his break with Freud over differing views on psychology.
The Dark Room: American Macabre with Dexter De La Paz
Q: What do you think is actually going on?
There are definitely principle actors within all of this that were doing it intentionally because they thought it worked.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Art of Darkness

What is Art of Darkness about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Art of Darkness delivers long-form, well-researched explorations of influential dead artists and intellectuals, blending biographical storytelling with deep dives into their work and cultural impact. Episodes frequently pair scholarly analysis with personal anecdotes from guests and hosts, weaving in theatre, literature, psychology, film, and occult topics. The show stands out for comprehensive, three-hour-ish deep dives, thoughtful guest selection, and a lively, dialog-driven dynamic between two seasoned writers who balance rigorous research with accessible storytelling. For potential listeners, the mix of historical context, primary works, and contemporary reflections makes it appealing to academics, creatives, and curious fans of arts an... more

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How many listeners does Art of Darkness get?

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Which podcasts are similar to Art of Darkness?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Art of Darkness:

1. Weird Studies
2. Very Bad Wizards
3. Why Theory
4. Know Your Enemy
5. Doomscroll with Joshua Citarella

How many episodes of Art of Darkness are there?

Art of Darkness launched 5 years ago and published 199 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Art of Darkness?

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What guests have appeared on Art of Darkness?

Recent guests on Art of Darkness include:

1. Michael Bakkensen
2. Brad Kelly
3. Aldous Asterion
4. Amanda Forstrom
5. Samuel Buntz
6. Rudyard Kipling
7. Josh David Jordan
8. Matt Taylor

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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