Rephonic
Artwork for Austen Chat
Jane Austen
Pride and Prejudice
Mansfield Park
Emma
Northanger Abbey
Sense and Sensibility
Literature
Cassandra Austen
Jane Austen July
Letter Writing
Character Development
Linguistics
Sanditon
Literary Techniques
Free Indirect Discourse
Regency-Era Music
Musicology
Pianist
Historical Research
Juvenilia

Welcome to Austen Chat, the podcast of the Jane Austen Society of North America (JASNA). Join us each month as we interview scholars, authors, and subject experts on a wide range of topics related to Austen’s writings, her life and times, and more. There is always more to learn and enjoy about Jane!

PublishesMonthlyEpisodes37Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ArtsHistoryBooks

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Austen Chat

Latest Episodes

It's Austen Chat's third anniversary! To mark the milestone, we're delighted to share "Jane Austen: Material Girl"—a conversation between authors Paula Byrne and Hilary Davidson recorded at JASNA’s 2025 Annual General Meeting. 

Both have written ext... more

YouTube

"Here I am once more in this scene of dissipation & vice, and I begin already to find my morals corrupted." —Jane Austen, 1796, letter to Cassandra on arriving in London

Jane Austen was very aware of life’s darker side, and beneath the genteel polis... more

YouTube

Jane Austen's novels feature a number of characters we might describe as "hypochondriacs" today: Mr. Woodhouse, Mary Musgrove, and Mrs. Churchill, to name a few. Although she never used the word herself, Austen was adept at exploring how the worries ... more

YouTube

"Elizabeth took up some needlework, and was sufficiently amused in attending to what passed between Darcy and his companion." —Pride and Prejudice

Jane Austen often wove needlework and other domestic crafts into her novels in thoughtful and meaningf... more

YouTube

Key Facts

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

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

The Thing About Austen
The Thing About AustenThe Thing About Austen
A Jane Austen Year
A Jane Austen YearJane Austen's House
Jane Austen Bedtime Stories
Jane Austen Bedtime StoriesJane Austen Bedtime Pod

Recent Guests

Paula Byrne
Biographer, literary critic, and novelist; Austen scholar
Paula Byrne (author of The Real Jane Austen: A Life in Small Things)
Episode: Jane Austen: Material Girl — Paula Byrne and Hilary Davidson in Conversation
Hilary Davidson
Dress, textile, and fashion historian; curator and professor
Fashion Institute of Technology, New York
Episode: Jane Austen: Material Girl — Paula Byrne and Hilary Davidson in Conversation
Susannah Fullerton
President of the Jane Austen Society of Australia; author and scholar
Jane Austen Society of Australia
Episode: Jane Austen & Crime: A Visit with Susannah Fullerton
Sarah Marsh
Associate Professor of English at Seton Hill University; director of the Jane Austen Summer Program
Seton Hill University
Episode: Jane Austen & Hypochondriacs: A Visit with Sarah Marsh
Jennie Batchelor
Professor of 18th century and Romantic Studies; head of English and Related Literature at the University of York; expert on women writers, dress and craft
University of York; Chawton House Library
Episode: Jane Austen & Needlework: A Visit with Jennie Batchelor
Ingrid Tieken-Boon van Ostade
Professor Emeritus of English Sociohistorical Linguistics at Leiden University Centre for Linguistics
Leiden University
Episode: Jane Austen & Her Letters: A Visit with Ingrid Tieken-Boon van Ostade
Vanessa Riley
Historical fiction author and speaker at the Jane Austen Society event.
Episode: Miss Lambe and Beyond: A Visit with Vanessa Riley
Susannah Harker
Actress known for playing Jane Bennet in the 1995 BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice.
Episode: Jane Austen & Jane Bennet: A Visit with Susannah Harker
Kathryn Sutherland
Professor Emerita and Senior Research Fellow at St Anne's College, Oxford
St Anne's College, Oxford
Episode: Jane Austen & Her Manuscripts: A Visit with Kathryn Sutherland

Host

Breckin Wood
Host of Austen Chat

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 344 ratings
  • Intelligent and insightful discussions

    No matter how many times I read Austen or view the movie and television adaptations, there is so much more to see in her works. This podcast brings out more facets of Austen and her characters.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Herosch
    United Statesa month ago
  • Great podcast

    I am a longtime Janite, since middle school. I am enjoying all the JASNA media, including this podcast. Recommend!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Cheveaux rouge
    United States2 months ago
  • My favorite Jane Austen pod!

    I am a true fan of Austin Chat and its host, Breckyn Wood.

    The interviews are engaging, thoughtful, and filled with fun and cordiality. The guests are top notch scholars who are articulate and accessible. Breckyn sets a wonderful tone and has always done her research. I look forward to each episode And recently re-listened to all them, from the beginning. They were just as good the second time around!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Rico-ess
    United States2 months ago
  • exemplary

    I’ve only just discovered this podcast. Each episode is a trove of passion and information for JA. highly recommend

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    LucyLindaSue
    United Kingdom2 months ago
  • A Must for Janeites!

    As a life member, I was thrilled to listen to such a quality podcast! I don’t regularly listen to podcasts, but this is one that I don’t miss! All of the top Austen scholars and even some of the up-and-coming scholars can be found on this fantastic podcast!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ragiiiusma
    United States3 months ago

Listeners Say

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

The host guides conversations with thoughtful questions that enhance understanding and resource discovery.
Guests are consistently top-notch scholars who illuminate Austen from fresh angles.
Listeners praise the show for scholarly depth delivered with accessibility and warmth.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#183
United Kingdom/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#208
Australia/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#9
Chile/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#16
Chile/Arts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Jane Austen & Hypochondriacs: A Visit with Sarah Marsh
Q: Okay. So to start, can you tell me a bit about your Austen origin story? When did you first encounter her works?
Sarah describes a two-part path to Austen: a college-era engagement that led to a fascination with her writings, followed by immersion through films and later scholarly work, culminating in a focus on how literature can function as medicine and illuminate social and political themes.
Jane Austen & Her Letters: A Visit with Ingrid Tieken-Boon van Ostade
Q: Can you tell us about your background with Austen?
Ingrid recounts first hearing of Jane Austen at age 18 and her journey to writing on Austen's language.
Jane Austen & Jane Bennet: A Visit with Susannah Harker
Q: What made the 1995 Pride and Prejudice adaptation resonate so strongly?
Harker attributes its success to its dynamic portrayal of nature and deeper character exploration, which contrasts greatly with earlier adaptations.
Jane Austen & Jane Bennet: A Visit with Susannah Harker
Q: Can you tell us a bit about your Austen origin story?
Susannah Harker shares that her first encounter with Austen was a dry reading of 'Northanger Abbey' at her convent boarding school, which didn't ignite her passion for Austen until she was reintroduced to her works later in life.
Jane Austen & Her Manuscripts: A Visit with Kathryn Sutherland
Q: If you have a pick, what are a few of your favorite objects from the book?
Sutherland names a fragment of wallpaper found in Jane Austen's house, illustrating the connection between domestic life and her writing, among other significant objects.

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 Austen Chat

What is Austen Chat about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A thoughtful, scholarship-forward series that interviews scholars, authors, and subject experts on Jane Austen's life, works, and wider Regency-era culture. Conversations routinely blend literary analysis with historical context, linguistics, fashion, manuscript studies, and adaptations, offering deep dives into themes like crime, health, domestic craft, letters, and the social codes of Austen's world. The show consistently features prominent Austen scholars and rising voices, with a strong emphasis on rigorous research presented in an accessible, engaging manner. Its unique strengths include the breadth of interdisciplinary guests, clear connections between historical detail and literary interpretation, and a welcoming, curious host who in... more

Where can I find podcast stats for Austen Chat?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Austen Chat. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Austen Chat and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Austen Chat get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Austen Chat, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Austen Chat?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Austen Chat, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Austen Chat have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Austen Chat has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Austen Chat?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Austen Chat:

1. The Thing About Austen
2. A Jane Austen Year
3. What the Austen? Podcast
4. Jane Austen Bedtime Stories
5. Folger Shakespeare Library: Shakespeare Unlimited

How many episodes of Austen Chat are there?

Austen Chat launched 3 years ago and published 37 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 Austen Chat?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Austen Chat?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Austen Chat from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Austen Chat?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Austen Chat. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Austen Chat?

Recent guests on Austen Chat include:

1. Paula Byrne
2. Hilary Davidson
3. Susannah Fullerton
4. Sarah Marsh
5. Jennie Batchelor
6. Ingrid Tieken-Boon van Ostade
7. Vanessa Riley
8. Susannah Harker

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.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days