Subtext: Conversations about Classic Books and Films
Wes Alwan and Erin O'LuanaighSubtext is a book club podcast for readers interested in what the greatest works of the human imagination say about life’s big questions. Each episode, philosopher Wes Alwan and poet Erin O’Luanaigh conduct a close reading of a text or film and co-write an audio essay about it in real time. It’s literary analysis, but in the best sense: we try not overly stuffy and pedantic, but rather focus on un... more
| Publishes | Weekly | Episodes | 217 | Founded | 6 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | TV & FilmBooksArts | |||
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Latest Episodes
Wes & Erin continue their discussion of the cult classic “Withnail and I,” and whether our capacity for sublimation suffers less from the crisis of modernity than from our attempts to transcend it.
Upcoming Episodes: Waiting for Godot, The Mummy
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It’s 1969, and as drug guru Danny tells us, “the greatest decade in the history of mankind is over.” There will, he says, be many refugees, and the film’s implication is that Withnail—who combines self-importance and lofty ambition with substance abu... more
Photography is a technology of contradictions. It is at once mechanical and mysterious, even magical. It furnishes evidence of presence while being a token of absence. It can show us proof but can’t, without accompanying narration or context, make us... more
Photography is a technology of contradictions. It is at once mechanical and mysterious, even magical. It furnishes evidence of presence while being a token of absence. It can show us proof but can’t, without accompanying narration or context, make us... more
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Reviews
- Elegant and Insightful
I love this show. Erin and Wes’ skills in critical thinking, psychoanalysis and poetic language, help them to playfully tease apart even the most slippery and prickly of concepts or scenarios. Each film, book or piece of poetry is prised apart to reveal deeper and richer meaning. Thank you both. What pleasures you reveal!
Apple Podcasts5Ljelly
United Kingdom4 days ago - Happened upon this, fortunately
I found this podcast because I love Elaine May, and I was hoping to find an interview with her somewhere. But I found an episode of this podcast where the hosts were discussing the movie “A New Leaf,” and it was so insightful and well observed that I then listened to a six part conversation they had about The Winter’s Tale by Shakespeare, and now I think I will listen to this podcast for as long as they make it.
Apple Podcasts5Mr Reviewypants
United Statesa month ago - Mostly good
I struggled with this review because of the Jane Austen episode. I was really enjoying each episode I was listening to, but when it came to the Pride and Prejudice one, I found the commentary extremely strange. I believe it’s perfectly normal to dislike a movie adaptation of a book you love, or cast choices, or acting ability, but to go on and on about Keira Knightley’s looks in such a gross way when it’s not relevant to the story or any context of the book (and is in fact, merely a matter of pr... more
Apple Podcasts3Lt_met
Canada5 months ago - Profound Yet Approachable
A celebration of the human experience and the symbols we negotiate in describing it. Wes and Erin are deeply insightful and humorously self-aware at the same time. They have great chemistry, and every episode is edifying and funny, even if you haven’t read or watched the work they’re discussing.
Apple Podcasts5ZumolllaaaaaaaaUnited States5 months ago - Love!
Huge fan of this podcast! Every time they cover something I’ve read or watched I’m so delighted. Fantastic observations
Apple Podcasts5HSpauldsUnited States10 months ago
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Chart Rankings
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Apple Podcasts | #59 |  Brazil/Arts/Books |
Apple Podcasts | #112 | Brazil/Arts |
Apple Podcasts | #163 |  Finland/Arts/Books |
Apple Podcasts | #241 |  Norway/Arts/Books |
Apple Podcasts | #248 |  Poland/Arts/Books |
Audience Metrics
Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.
| Listeners per Episode | Gender Skew | Location | |||
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| Interests | Professions | Age Range | |||
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Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast
What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?
A deeply analytical, yet approachable dialogue between two hosts who unpack literary and cinematic works through close reading and real-time audio essaying. They bring philosophy and poetry to discussions of novels, films, and poems, balancing rigorous interpretation with humor and camaraderie. Across episodes, they explore themes like ambition, morality, identity, and human experience, often weaving cultural context, production lore, and personal insights into thoughtful, longer-form conversations that reward careful listening. A standout is the seamless co-creation of an audio essay in real time, underscoring their collaborative dynamic and breadth of references—from classics to contemporary insights.
Noteworthy among the catalog is the ... more
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1. The Partially Examined Life Philosophy Podcast
2. The History of Literature
3. Why Theory
4. Backlisted
5. Hermitix
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this podcast launched 6 years ago and published 217 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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