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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
Disgust
Macbeth
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 monthlyEpisodes306Founded11 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Arts

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Artwork for Folger Shakespeare Library: Shakespeare Unlimited

Latest Episodes

Near the end of The Tempest, Prospero vows to retire from practicing the “rough magic” he has mastered, to break his magical staff and drown his spellbooks. After 14 seasons as Artistic Director of Canada's Stratford Festival, Antoni Cimolino has cho... more

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Imagine being able to dig through Shakespeare’s manuscripts and ask him about his writing process. Did King Lear survive in the first draft? What if Hamlet originally said, “To live or not to live?” While we can only dream about that opportunity, sch... more

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It’s been more than 400 years since she first appeared on stage, and she’s still controversial. Margaret of Anjou appears in not one, not two, but four of Shakespeare’s plays—Henry VI Parts 1, 2, and 3 as well as Richard III—maturing from a young bri... more

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Shakespeare famously never attended university. But not only has his work inspired generations of scholarship, his plays, too, are filled with scholarly characters. Shakespeare, it seems, took an interest in learning. Perhaps that’s why so many peopl... more

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Recent Guests

Caroline Bicks
Professor of early modern literature, University of Maine; author of Monsters in the Archives, My Year of Fear with Stephen King
University of Maine
Episode: Shakespeare and Stephen King, with Caroline Bicks
Charles O'Malley
Writer and dramaturg; co-author of Shakespeare's Margaret, The Dramatic Life of a Warrior Queen
Author, Shakespeare's Margaret
Episode: Shakespeare's Margaret, with Charles O'Malley and Scott W. Stern
Scott W. Stern
Writer and lawyer; co-author of Shakespeare's Margaret, The Dramatic Life of a Warrior Queen
Author, Shakespeare's Margaret
Episode: Shakespeare's Margaret, with Charles O'Malley and Scott W. Stern
Sean Keilen
Professor of early modern literature; head of dramaturgy at Santa Cruz Shakespeare; founder of Shakespeare Workshop
University of California, Santa Cruz; Santa Cruz Shakespeare; Shakespeare Workshop
Episode: Scholars in Shakespeare, with Sean Keilen
Gareth Russell
Historian and novelist; author of The Six Loves of James I
Author, The Six Loves of James I
Episode: The Six Loves of James I, with Gareth Russell
Marjorie Garber
Author and professor discussed in interview
Yale University Press (authorial context)
Episode: Shakespeare and the Red Scare, with Marjorie Garber
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

Hosts

Farah Karim Cooper
Host and Folger director; Folger Shakespeare Library
Barbara Bogave
Interviewer and host

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 States4 months 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 States4 months ago
  • Excellent

    Fabulous podcast..well researched and delivered. Bravo!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    JCLSWAN12
    United Kingdom8 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 States9 months ago
  • Reading Jane Austen

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

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    ?YouAsked?
    Australia10 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Consistently credible, with deep dives into Shakespeare and related culture.
High production quality and strong interviewing that elevates scholarly content for broad audiences.
Thoughtful, rigorous, and accessible discussions that connect archives, performance, and scholarship.
A wide range of guests and topics keeps episodes fresh and deeply informative.
Occasional critique about host style from some listeners, but overall positive reception.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#233
Canada/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#65
United Arab Emirates/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#95
Hong Kong/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#204
Argentina/Arts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Shakespeare's Margaret, with Charles O'Malley and Scott W. Stern
Q: Why don't we start with the real Margaret of Anjou? What were her origins and what was her childhood like?
She was a French princess, born in the early 1400s, promised in marriage to Henry VI of England, and her life in exile and political maneuvering became a rich source for Shakespeare and later dramatists. Her early alliances and the dowry of peace set the stage for a dramatic life that Shakespeare expanded in his plays.
The Six Loves of James I, with Gareth Russell
Q: Well Gareth, let's start with some Shakespeare-centric questions, if we could. Was James a true Shakespeare fan after he assumed the throne?
Gareth notes that James wasn't a devoted theatre-goer, but emphasizes that his patronage and political calculus made Shakespeare essential to royal propaganda and public mood, more a strategic ally than a personal theatre lover.
Shakespeare and the Red Scare, with Marjorie Garber
Q: How do Shakespearean texts function as propaganda or counter-propaganda in this history?
Shakespeare is shown as a source of cultural capital that can be invoked to justify or critique political positions, and the hearings reveal how his lines can be reinterpreted to argue for or against censorship and power.
Shakespeare and the Red Scare, with Marjorie Garber
Q: What does 'poetic revenge' mean in the context of these hearings?
Poetic revenge refers to how poets and writers use language to undermine official narratives, reveal hypocrisy, and empower audiences to see through censorship and propaganda.
Shakespeare and the Red Scare, with Marjorie Garber
Q: Why did you begin with a prologue called Poetic Revenge?
The prologue frames the central idea that poetry enables resistance and speaks truth to power, a through line for examining how literature challenges political narratives during the Red Scare.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

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

Listeners can expect in-depth conversations at the intersection of Shakespeare, literature, history, and performance. Episodes frequently explore how Shakespeare's works illuminate modern topics—from archives and biographical dramas to modern adaptations, gender and race in classical theatre, and the translator's craft—often featuring scholars, actors, historians, and dramaturgs who bring rich historical context and behind-the-scenes storytelling to the discussion. The show is notable for its wide range of guests, from university professors and literary historians to theatre practitioners, who illuminate both the Bard's enduring relevance and the practicalities of staging and interpreting his work. The format tends to balance rigorous analy... more

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1. In Our Time
2. In Our Time: Culture
3. The History of Literature
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this podcast launched 11 years ago and published 306 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. Caroline Bicks
2. Charles O'Malley
3. Scott W. Stern
4. Sean Keilen
5. Gareth Russell
6. Marjorie Garber
7. Jacob Ming-Trent
8. Christine Hainsworth

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