Rephonic
Artwork for Folger Shakespeare Library: Shakespeare Unlimited

Folger Shakespeare Library: Shakespeare Unlimited

Folger Shakespeare Library
Shakespeare
Hamlet
William Shakespeare
Romeo and Juliet
King Lear
Folger Shakespeare Library
Othello
Julius Caesar
Theatre
Titus Andronicus
Folger Theatre
Mary, Queen Of Scots
London
Macbeth
Disgust
Malcolm X
Henry VIII
Tragedy
Antony and Cleopatra
Will Somer

Home to the world's largest collection of Shakespeare materials. Advancing knowledge and the arts. Discover it all at www.folger.edu. Shakespeare turns up in the most interesting places—not just literature and the stage, but science and social history as well. Our "Shakespeare Unlimited" podcast explores the fascinating and varied connections between Shakespeare, his works, and the world around us... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes301Founded10 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Arts

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Folger Shakespeare Library: Shakespeare Unlimited

Latest Episodes

“Is he a Communist?” During a House Un-American Activities Committee hearing in 1938, Congressman Joe Starnes probed into the politics of a writer produced by the Federal Theatre Project. The playwright in question? Christopher Marlowe. While Starnes... more

One small step into the wrong classroom becomes a giant leap into a new life as a Shakespearean actor. That’s how Jacob Ming-Trent tells it in his remarkable one-man tour-de-force, How Shakespeare Saved My Life. As the Folger prepares to welcome How ... more

YouTube

A century after Shakespeare’s death, his words were in danger of being forgotten. While plays like King Lear and Othello still played to packed houses across England, audiences saw only the bowdlerized versions—censored, rewritten, and stripped of an... more

YouTube

Is Shakespeare still Shakespeare even if every word is changed? While Shakespeare’s work is often hailed for its universality, its meter, metaphor, and wordplay pose special challenges for translators. How do you convey the rhythm and spirit of Shake... 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 History of Literature
The History of LiteratureJacke Wilson / The Podglomerate
In Our Time
In Our TimeBBC Radio 4
Backlisted
BacklistedBacklisted
The New Yorker Radio Hour
The New Yorker Radio HourWNYC Studios and The New Yorker

Recent Guests

Jacob Ming-Trent
Actor, writer, and creator of How Shakespeare Saved My Life
One-man show (Folger Theatre)
Episode: Jacob Ming-Trent on How Shakespeare Saved My Life
Christine Hainsworth
Co-author of The Shakespeare Ladies Club, The Forgotten Women Who Rescued the Bawdy Bard
Author
Episode: The Shakespeare Ladies Club
Jonathan Hainsworth
Co-author of The Shakespeare Ladies Club, The Forgotten Women Who Rescued the Bawdy Bard
Author
Episode: The Shakespeare Ladies Club
Daniel Hahn
Author of If This Be Magic, The Unlikely Art of Shakespeare in Translation
Knauf (publisher)
Episode: The Translator's Art and Shakespeare, with Daniel Hahn
Blaine Swen
Founder, The Improvised Shakespeare Company
The Improvised Shakespeare Company
Episode: The Improvised Shakespeare Company
Ross Bryant
Actor, The Improvised Shakespeare Company
The Improvised Shakespeare Company
Episode: The Improvised Shakespeare Company
Adjoa Andoh
A-list actress and director with a Shakespeare focus; discussed Richard II and Richard III at the Folger
Actress and director; Folger residency participant
Episode: Adjoa Andoh on Shakespeare
David Womersley
Professor of English at University of Oxford, author of Thinking Through Shakespeare
University of Oxford; Princeton University Press
Episode: Thinking Through Shakespeare, with David Womersley
Michael Dobson
Director of the Shakespeare Institute at the University of Birmingham
University of Birmingham
Episode: The Boydell Shakespeare Gallery

Hosts

Farah Karim Cooper
Director/Presiding figure at the Folger Shakespeare Library; frequent host, Shakespeare-focused interviewer.
Barbara Bogaev
Interviewer and host; long-running conversation facilitator with a focus on Shakespeare and performance.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 1.2k ratings
  • A fan

    So many good shows. They brought me to Shakespeare like no other medium. Plus, I’ve been motivated to visit the Folger in DC. Luv the cafe!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    aeim2
    United Statesa month ago
  • Best podcast!

    Have so loved this journey. A passionate honest exploration of Shakespeare, his works, and shared times. So many podcasts are commercially driven with pay walls etc. This podcast opens up this world for everyone! Thank you

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Tree House Life
    United Statesa month ago
  • Excellent

    Fabulous podcast..well researched and delivered. Bravo!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    JCLSWAN12
    United Kingdom5 months ago
  • Yes!

    Shakespeare in Africa, Shakespeare in China, Shakespeare in prisons, sonnets based on pop songs — this amazing podcast covers a wide range and is always interesting, always accessible. Fascinating guests, great questions, rewarding discussions — I’m so glad I stumbled upon it. I’m hooked!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Shakespeare-to-Sondheim
    United States6 months ago
  • Reading Jane Austen

    The author/editor/‘scholar’ seemed contemptuous of Jane Austen’s ongoing popularity

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    ?YouAsked?
    Australia7 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners praise the breadth and accessibility, noting expert guests and engaging questions.
Many applaud the depth of Shakespeare scholarship presented in an approachable way.
Some critics mention uneven interview dynamics or host interview style in a few episodes.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#53
Italy/Arts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Jacob Ming-Trent on How Shakespeare Saved My Life
Q: What has the experience of performing this one-man show done for your relationship with Shakespeare?
It validated that Shakespeare can be a universal, living language when infused with personal voice and contemporary context, allowing the audience to see themselves in the words and feel invited into the house of Shakespeare.
Jacob Ming-Trent on How Shakespeare Saved My Life
Q: How did you transition from writing many unconnected stories to a cohesive one-man show?
The stories were rooted in experience—my family, Shakespeare, and the street—so the challenge was weaving those strands into a single arc that could travel the audience from doubt to revelation while staying honest and theatrical.
Jacob Ming-Trent on How Shakespeare Saved My Life
Q: What kind of atmosphere did you want to create in the theater with this revival meeting opening?
I wanted warmth, generosity, and hope, so the audience feels cared for from the moment they arrive, and they know they're in for a powerful, personal journey.
The Shakespeare Ladies Club
Q: Let's talk about the goals. What did these women aim to do with this club?
They sought to elevate British culture back to a level associated with Elizabeth I, oppose Walpole's corrupt administration, restore the original plays, and ensure Shakespeare's prominence through productions and the eventual statue in Westminster Abbey.
The Shakespeare Ladies Club
Q: So, why don't we just start here with some context. Why did Shakespeare need rescuing in the early to mid 1700s?
The plays had been rewritten and sanitized to suit middle-class tastes, with endings altered, and language cut; the Ladies Club aimed to restore the original texts and reestablish Shakespeare as a national pillar of culture.

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 This Podcast

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

Listeners likely tune in to explore Shakespeare beyond the plays, with topics ranging from historical context and performance to translation, adaptation, and the arts as a cultural force. Episodes frequently feature scholars, actors, directors, and curators who illuminate how Shakespeare intersects with history, politics, language, and modern society, often linking the Bard to contemporary issues such as inclusivity, education, and global perspectives. The show stands out for its deep dives with high-caliber guests and its ability to translate academic topics into accessible, story-driven conversations that appeal to teachers, students, theatre professionals, and general lovers of literature. Expect thoughtful interviews, historical scholar... more

Where can I find podcast stats for this podcast?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for this podcast. 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 this podcast and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does this podcast get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for this podcast, 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 this podcast?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for this podcast, 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 this podcast have?

To see how many followers or subscribers this podcast 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 this podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with this podcast:

1. The History of Literature
2. In Our Time
3. In Our Time: Culture
4. Backlisted
5. The New Yorker Radio Hour

How many episodes of this podcast are there?

this podcast launched 10 years ago and published 301 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 this podcast?

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 this podcast?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for this podcast 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 this podcast?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of this podcast. 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 this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Jacob Ming-Trent
2. Christine Hainsworth
3. Jonathan Hainsworth
4. Daniel Hahn
5. Blaine Swen
6. Ross Bryant
7. Adjoa Andoh
8. David Womersley

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