Rephonic
Artwork for Art of Darkness
Denis Johnson
William Shakespeare
Literature
Carl Jung
Creativity
World War II
David Bowie
Roald Dahl
Existentialism
Edgar Allan Poe
Yukio Mishima
Marquis De Sade
Alfred Hitchcock
Hunter S. Thompson
Mental Health
Sigmund Freud
Marshall Mcluhan
Theater
John Lennon
Addiction

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 weeklyEpisodes220Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
BooksArtsHistory

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Artwork for Art of Darkness

Latest Episodes

Internet culture commentator Katherine Dee joins the Dark Room to talk about PKD, Electric Sheep, and more.

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

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Writer, lecturer, philosopher, biographer, and rock and roller Gary Lachman joins the show to talk about Jung, Blavatsky, and his latest tome: Touched by the Presence.

Get ad-free episodes, the After Dark episode, and more at patreon.com/artofdarkpo... more

Isaac Simpson of MAMA and the WILL agency returns to the show to talk about the singular Hunter S. Thompson, departed hero of the weird and free.

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

America's greatest newsman, Birdo from Timeline Earth, joins the Dark Room to talk Blavatsky.

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

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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

Isaac Simpson
Disgraced propagandist, OG on the pod
MAMA Magazine / Will Agency
Episode: The Dark Room: Isaac Simpson Buys the Ticket and Talks Hunter S. Thompson
Andrew McLuhan
Son of Marshall McLuhan; founder of the McLuhan Institute
McLuhan Institute
Episode: The Dark Room: Andrew McLuhan Talks Hot & Cold Media, the AI Turn, and More
Rob Dowling
Professor of English at Central Connecticut State University, biographer of Sam Shepard and Eugene O'Neill
Central Connecticut State University; Scribner
Episode: The Dark Room: Robert M. Dowling Talks O'Neill, Shepard, and the Art of Biography
Michael Ward
Professor of Theology, Oxford University
University of Oxford, Faculty of Theology and Religion
Episode: The Dark Room: Dr. Michael Ward Talks Narnia, Lewis, and the Planets
Mark Booth
Author of The Secret History of the World / The Secret History of the Universe
Author
Episode: The Dark Room: Mark Booth Talks Alice in Wonderland, Jung & More
Brad Kelly
Original founder and host returning to discuss Max Ernst
Method in Madness
Episode: Max Ernst Gets Dada With It feat. Brad Kelly
Dan Baltic
Poster, author, publisher; founder of New Ritual Press
New Ritual Press
Episode: The Dark Room: Dan Baltic Talks Norm Macdonald
Rachel Haywire
Futurist, author, runs a gallery
Fiume Gallery, New York City
Episode: The Dark Room: Rachel Haywire Talks McLuhan and the State of New Media
Will Ballard
Publisher, editor-in-chief and founder of Farthest Heaven
Farthest Heaven
Episode: The Dark Room: A Max Ernst Apéritif with Will Ballard

Hosts

Kevin Kautzman
Host of Art of Darkness; long‑time co‑host and primary host engaging with art and cultural history.
Matt Taylor
Co‑host and partner in deep‑dive conversations across Core Episodes and related formats.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 430 ratings
  • Art of Dark Pod

    Love this podcast!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    EricLouis5
    United Statesa month ago
  • Pass

    Very heavy on biography and often quite low on concepts and themes. Lots of fluff, dismal memespeak and low-effort jokes from the host make this podcast an often tough listen

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    father slime
    United States4 months ago
  • 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’
    Canada8 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 Kingdom9 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 States2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners praise the show's depth and scholarly rigor.
Some reviews note long run times but value the comprehensive exploration.
A few critics call out jabs or bias, yet many fans cite engaging host dynamics and strong guests.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#137
Germany/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#211
Ireland/Arts/Books

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Dark Room: Robert M. Dowling Talks O'Neill, Shepard, and the Art of Biography
Q: Why did you decide to write a biography of Eugene O'Neill?
Dowling argues that American playwriting faded from public literary prominence, and telling O'Neill's story was a way to restore interest in American drama and its history, especially given O'Neill's Nobel Prize and Pulitzer wins. He also notes a personal family and New York/Connecticut connection to O'Neill that drew him to the project.
The Dark Room: Mark Booth Talks Alice in Wonderland, Jung & More
Q: Why is Alice in Wonderland your favorite novel?
Booth explains that the book's absurdity and its portrayal of a young girl navigating a world run by adult authority resonates with a way of thinking that challenges rigid logic and opens space for imagination, symbolic reasoning, and alternate dimensions.
The Dark Room: Blavatsky Goes Birding with Birdo from Timeline Earth
Q: Why Blavatsky for you? Why are you interested in her?
Birdo explains that Blavatsky raises challenging questions about the nature of God, consciousness, and the relation between the created and the divine, which makes her a fertile source for exploring metaphysical ideas even if one does not accept her conclusions.
The Dark Room: Andrew McLuhan Talks Hot & Cold Media, the AI Turn, and More
Q: What is a hot medium and a cold medium, and is podcasting hot or cold?
Hot media are high-definition, low-participation formats (like HD TV), while cold media are low-definition, high-participation formats (like comics). Podcasting sits somewhere in between and is discussed as a medium whose classification depends on definitional context and user involvement.
The Dark Room: Kenan Meral Talks John Lennon
Q: What is your take on John Lennon's solo work compared to his Beatles era?
The guests discuss Lennon's evolving artistry, noting the shift from pop icon to provocative, philosophically engaged artist, while acknowledging the baggage and evolving public perception that comes with his later work.

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?

A rigorously researched show that probes the dark corners of artists, writers, and intellectuals, with deep dives into biographical context, creative processes, and historical/cultural networks. Core episodes blend biography with analysis of works, while guests bring specialized expertise from publishing, film, literature, and art. Expect lengthy, intellectually charged conversations that weave together literary theory, art history, and personal storytelling, often complemented by later‑stage discussions and subscriber‑exclusive content. The program stands out for its thorough archival approach, the chemistry between co‑hosts, and a willingness to explore controversial or boundary‑pushing subjects through a scholarly yet accessible lens, ma... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Art of Darkness?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Art of Darkness:

1. Hermitix
2. Weird Studies
3. Very Bad Wizards
4. Acid Horizon
5. Subliminal Jihad

How many episodes of Art of Darkness are there?

Art of Darkness launched 6 years ago and published 220 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. Isaac Simpson
2. Andrew McLuhan
3. Rob Dowling
4. Michael Ward
5. Mark Booth
6. Brad Kelly
7. Dan Baltic
8. Rachel Haywire

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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