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
Mental Health
Sigmund Freud
Addiction
David Foster Wallace
Ursula K. Le Guin
Nina Simone
Hunter S. Thompson

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 weeklyEpisodes203Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ArtsHistoryBooks

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Art of Darkness

Latest Episodes

Author and cultural critic Sean Murphy joins us in the Dark Room to talk Bukowski and how he speaks to our current technocratic situation.

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

Psychotherapist, writer, and podcaster Mark Vernon joins us in the Dark Room to talk about Clive Staples Lewis, Owen Barfield, the Inklings, and his own work.

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

Kelby Losack joins us to talk Clive Staples Lewis and more. He's the author of Texas Tea, Letting Out the Devils, Mercy, God Is Wearing Black, and more (and the co-host of Agitator).

Get ad-free Core Episodes, the After Dark episode, and more at pat... more

Ad-free for patrons. Matt takes us through the life and work of the author of the Chronicles of Narnia, the Great Divorce, the Screwtape Letters, and more: C.S. (Jack) Lewis.

Get the After Dark episodes, Bookends Book Club, and more at patreon.com/a... 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

Kelby Losack
Author of Texas Tea and co-host of Agitator
Agitator; Broken River Books
Episode: The Dark Room: Kelby Losack Talks C.S. Lewis
Abbie Lucas
Filmmaker and core contributor to Art of Darkness
Art of Darkness
Episode: 200th Episode Special
Brad Kelly
Co-founder of the show and author
Art of Darkness
Episode: 200th Episode Special
Peniel Colada
Show contributor (noted in intro)
Art of Darkness
Episode: 200th Episode Special
Matt Saks
Actor linked to Gourvedal project; guest on related episodes
Art of Darkness
Episode: 200th Episode Special
Stephen Pimentel
Researcher and writer in the San Francisco Bay Area
Contributing writer for Palladium magazine; researcher
Episode: The Dark Room: Stephen Pimentel Talks Jung, the Magus, Hesse, and More
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
Aldous Asterion
Host of the Forest of Symbols podcast
Forest of Symbols
Episode: The Dark Room: Forever Jung with Aldous Asterion
Dexter De La Paz
Podcaster and commentator on American occultism and esoterica.
Timeline Earth
Episode: The Dark Room: American Macabre with Dexter De La Paz

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 409 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’
    Canada4 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 Kingdom4 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
#142
United Kingdom/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#109
Chile/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#148
Finland/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#186
Poland/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#195
New Zealand/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#197
Chile/Arts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Dark Room: Kelby Losack Talks C.S. Lewis
Q: What is Kelby's relationship with CS. Lewis and which works drew him most into Lewis's world?
Kelby explains his coming to Lewis through The Great Divorce and the broader Lewis canon, highlighting how Lewis's integration of pagan tradition with Christian theology and his candid, vulnerable writings, like A Grief Observed, shaped his own reading path and appreciation for Lewis as a serious philosopher and writer.
The Dark Room: Stephen Pimentel Talks Jung, the Magus, Hesse, and More
Q: What would Jung say about the current state of AI and artificial intelligence?
He would likely analyze AI through archetypes and the collective unconscious, suggesting that frontier models reveal archetypal patterns embedded in training data, and would bracket questions of literal reality in favor of how we perceive and relate to such technologies.
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.

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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Which podcasts are similar to Art of Darkness?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Art of Darkness:

1. Hermitix
2. Weird Studies
3. Why Theory
4. Entitled Opinions (about Life and Literature)
5. Desert Oracle Radio

How many episodes of Art of Darkness are there?

Art of Darkness launched 5 years ago and published 203 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. Kelby Losack
2. Abbie Lucas
3. Brad Kelly
4. Peniel Colada
5. Matt Saks
6. Stephen Pimentel
7. Michael Bakkensen
8. Aldous Asterion

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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