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Artwork for Don't Quill the Messenger: Shakespeare Authorship Explored

Don't Quill the Messenger: Shakespeare Authorship Explored

Dragon Wagon Radio
William Shakespeare
Shakespeare
Shakespeare Authorship Question
The Taming Of the Shrew
Edward Devere
Edward De Vere
Oxfordian Theory
Oresteia
Hamlet
Guthrie Theater
Shakespearean Authorship
Italian Literature
Christopher Marlowe
Freemasonry
Greek Tragedy
The Women Of Will
Elizabeth Winkler
Tina Packer
Philosophy
Matteo Bandello

Was the name signed to the world's most famous plays and poems a pseudonym? Was the man from Stratford that history attributed the work to even capable of writing them? Join Theatrical Actor/Writer/Director and Shakespeare connoisseur Steven Sabel as he welcomes a variety of guests to explore literary history's greatest mystery… Who was the writer behind the pen name "William Shakespeare?" Part of... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes186Founded7 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ArtsHistory

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Artwork for Don't Quill the Messenger: Shakespeare Authorship Explored

Latest Episodes

Steven welcomes Professor Eric Heinze, professor of law & humanities, as well as executive director of the Centre for Law, Democracy, and Society; School of Law | Queen Mary, University of London. Together, they discuss Eric's work on "The Comedy of ... more

Steven welcomes the return of guest, Michael Stepniewski, to discuss research newly posted to Michael's website oxford-seymour.com regarding the recorded encounters between Thomas Seymour and the young Princess Elizabeth that may shed light on the Sh... more

YouTube

Steven welcomes Dr. Scott Shershow, English professor from UC Davis, to discuss a piece he wrote titled, "Shakespeare Beyond Shakespeare," and his book, "Marxist Shakespeares."

Support the show by picking up official Don't Quill the Messenger merch... more

YouTube

Steven welcomes former US Army officer and co-founder of De-Cruit.org, Stephan Wolfert, to this episode to discuss how he uses Shakespeare as an award-winning licensed counselor to help those suffering from post traumatic stress.

Support the show b... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Michael Stepniewski
Retired businessman and researcher advocating the Oxfordian/Seymour theory
Oxford Seymour website and research notebooks
Episode: The Rape of Princess Elizabeth
Scott Cutler Shershow
Retired professor of English at UC Davis; author; expert on Shakespeare and Marxist criticism
UC Davis / author of Marxist Shakespeares
Episode: Marxist Shakespeares
Stephan Wolfert
Former US Army officer, licensed counselor specializing in trauma, creator of the mono-drama 'Cry Havoc'.
Co-founder of DECRUIT
Episode: Cry Havoc : PTSD & Shakespeare
David Kruh
Historian and writer
davidkruh.com
Episode: Shakespeare on Trial
Dr. Earl Showerman
Authored 'Shakespeare's Greater Greek' and is an expert on Shakespearean authorship.
Independent Scholar
Episode: Shakespeare's Greater Greek
Richard Strier
Frank L. Salzberger Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus in the English Department, University of Chicago.
University of Chicago
Episode: Shakespearean Issues
Dr. Erminia Passannanti
A professor specializing in Italian literature, with multiple PhDs and published works.
Episode: The Italian Matrix Part 1
Amanda Eliasch
Filmmaker and Oxfordian focused on the Shakespeare authorship mystery
Episode: The Truth Will Out
Robert Horton
Noted film critic, historian, and film institute educator
Episode: The Inimitable Orson Welles: Part One

Host

Steven Sabel
Theatrical actor, writer, and director with a deep focus on Shakespearean authorship and literary history.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 158 ratings
  • A weird and sometimes uncomfortable mix of enlightened and reactionary thought.

    Why can’t a ‘raving homosexual’ be a champion of tilting? Some of the comments on this podcast diminish enormously the depth of comment. So tedious in this day and age…

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    gsbfjb
    United Kingdom8 months ago
  • Daily Listener

    Love the more deep dive episodes with the experts. It’s important to have this medium to try and spread the word of the movement.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    hollandamerica
    United States10 months ago
  • Fantastic find!

    I am thrilled to have run across this podcast. I have now listened to every episode and have learned something from each one. Steven’s interviews are engaging and informative. One the rare occasion that he doesn’t have a guest, he explores another interesting facet of the authorship mystery.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Shakespeare and Scuba Diving
    United Statesa year ago
  • Host

    Love the subject. Steven please dial back your commentary. Let the guests get on with it. The show s not about you. First episodes your demeanor is nice palatable. Now….too loud and over the top.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Lawles3000
    United States2 years ago
  • Keep asking questions!

    Who was Shakespeare? Certainly not a man whose entire family was illiterate!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    JLW435
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Consistently regarded as a valuable resource for anyone exploring Shakespeare authorship and related topics.
A blend of scholarly rigor and engaging storytelling, though a few listeners note interruptions or host emphasis at times.
Engaging and accessible deep-dives that illuminate scholarly debates without sacrificing clarity for newcomers.
Open-minded discussions that welcome multiple theories, though some listeners wish for more balance in presenting rebuttals.
Thoughtful, well-researched interviews that pull in from many disciplines.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#104
Mexico/Arts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Rape of Princess Elizabeth
Q: What is the core claim of the Oxford Seymour theory as you understand it?
The plays and poems function as a memorial or coded autobiography of Edward de Vere and the Seymours, with double entendre and linguistic coding revealing his life story and political lineage rather than straightforward authorship by Shakespeare.
Cry Havoc : PTSD & Shakespeare
Q: How did this journey into helping others through their trauma, through using Shakespeare, come to fruition?
Stephan describes his journey as a personal exploration of his own trauma, leading him to use Shakespeare's works in therapy to help others.
Advocates & Adversaries: Q&A with Students of the Law
Q: Did the Earl of Oxford know Edmund Spencer?
He and Philip Sidney had a rivalry, and while they were not directly in Oxford's circle, they were contemporaries and there was definitely crossover in their literary circles.
Advocates & Adversaries: Q&A with Students of the Law
Q: What evidence do you have that supports Edward De Vere as the author?
There are many moments in the canon that can be traced to his biography, suggesting he was either chronicling his life or created the works himself.
Advocates & Adversaries: Q&A with Students of the Law
Q: Why do you think in general people don't really go for a collaborative theory of the Shakespeare authorship question?
To me, it seems very likely that these great minds were able to collaborate as equally as likely that some wrote some works of Shakespeare and others wrote others.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A thoughtful, philosophy-of-literature oriented show that interrogates the Shakespeare authorship question through multidisciplinary lenses. Conversations frequently pair rigorous scholarly inquiry with accessible storytelling, featuring guests who specialize in Shakespeare, Italian literature, Greek influences, film, and trauma-informed performance. Across episodes, the host steers lively debates, blends literary theory with historical context, and highlights the human side of scholarly work, from archival discoveries to the practical impact of plays on performance and culture. Listeners can expect deep dives into sources, connections between classical influences and Elizabethan drama, and occasional forays into cinema, law, and theater, a... more

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1. The Prof G Pod with Scott Galloway
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3. In Our Time: Culture
4. VinePair Podcast
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this podcast launched 7 years ago and published 186 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Michael Stepniewski
2. Scott Cutler Shershow
3. Stephan Wolfert
4. David Kruh
5. Dr. Earl Showerman
6. Richard Strier
7. Dr. Erminia Passannanti
8. Amanda Eliasch

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