Rephonic
Artwork for The American Vandal
The Gilded Age
Literary Criticism
Capitalism
Insecurity
Economic Insecurity
Criticism
Deconstruction
American History
Existentialism
Activism
Charles Dudley Warner
Mark Twain
The Fall Of the House Of Usher
Environmental Catastrophe
Close Reading
Appletv+
Criticism LTD
Jacques Derrida
Literature
Literary Theory

An ever-growing collection of conversations about literature, humor, and history in America, produced by the premier source for programming and funding scholarship on Mark Twain's life and legacy.

PublishesMonthlyEpisodes108Founded5 years ago
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Artwork for The American Vandal

Latest Episodes

From the Close Reading For The 21st Century Symposium, hosted by Emory University. What are the challenges, strategies, and rewards for teaching close reading? What are the stakes of teaching close reading through the nightmare of the contemporary? C... more

From the Close Reading For The 21st Century Symposium, hosted by Emory University. Why is close reading best understood as a conversation? What are its evaluative standards? How does it extend the conversation beyond literary studies? Cast (in order ... more

The first of three episodes based on the "Close Reading For The 21st Century Symposium" hosted by Emory University. The symposium's opening address is followed by short provocations on "Freedom," "The Best," "Language," and "Difficulty," after which ... more

Hosted by the University of Illinois-Chicago United Faculty, a roundtable discussion about confronting the challenges facing higher education labor organizing. Topics included education technology, faculty autonomy, power mapping, board composition, ... more

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Recent Guests

Omari Weekes
Assistant Professor of English at CUNY Queens College
CUNY Queens College
Episode: Close Reading Is Not A Luxury (Vandal Live at Emory)
Caleb Smith
Professor of English and American Studies and Chair of English at Yale University
Yale University
Episode: The Jameson Tapes, Side B
Brandon Taylor
An author and critic engaged in academic literary criticism.
Episode: Literary Sociology a.k.a. The Institutional Turn a.k.a The Spreadsheet School of Literary Criticism
Rachel Sagner Buurma
Associate Professor of English at Swarthmore College.
Episode: Literary Sociology a.k.a. The Institutional Turn a.k.a The Spreadsheet School of Literary Criticism
Laura Heffernan
Professor of English at University of North Florida.
Episode: Literary Sociology a.k.a. The Institutional Turn a.k.a The Spreadsheet School of Literary Criticism
J.D. Connor
Academic focusing on post-45 literary criticism.
Episode: Literary Sociology a.k.a. The Institutional Turn a.k.a The Spreadsheet School of Literary Criticism
Alexander Manshel
Associate Professor of English at McGill, author of Writing Backwards.
Episode: Literary Sociology a.k.a. The Institutional Turn a.k.a The Spreadsheet School of Literary Criticism
Jacob Silverman
A freelance journalist and author of 'Gilded Rage, Elon Musk, and the Radicalization of Silicon Valley'
Episode: The Mutational Romances of Silicon Valley Speculation
John Kenneth Galbraith
A prominent 20th-century American economist known for his work on post-war capitalism and the documentation of corporate power.
None
Episode: From Technostructure To Technofeudalism

Host

Matt Seybold
Host and executive producer of The American Vandal podcast; oversees production; affiliated with The Center for Mark Twain Studies and related institutions

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 76 ratings
  • Still Excellent

    Truly a hidden gem of podcasting

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    WanderAll
    United States5 months ago
  • Excellent

    I’m excited for the new season

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    WanderAll
    United States3 years ago
  • thoroughly good

    great show, consistently impressive coordination of culture and current events, and equally impressive wrangling of knowledgeable and charismatic guests; it always feels a little sad to say that listening to a good podcast is like listening to your smart friends on their best day, these people don’t know me, but this podcast is like listening to my smart friends on their best day. also: as of S4, extremely good intro music

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    agenbiter
    United States4 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Audience notes the high quality of guests and the insightful, balanced discourse.
Episodes are praised for their tight coordination, accessible delivery of complex ideas, and strong intro music.
Listeners describe the show as a smart, engaging conversation that blends culture with current events.

Top Books Podcasts

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The Book ClubGoalhanger
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Selected Shorts
Selected ShortsSymphony Space
Catholic Bible Study
Catholic Bible StudyAugustine Institute
Fantasy Fangirls
Fantasy FangirlsFantasy Fangirls

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Close Reading Is A Conversation (Vandal Live at Emory University)
Q: How do we think about close reading and peer review?
Farah articulates the importance of states in context of communities in peer review, particularly in African literary studies, suggesting that community divides need consideration when performing close reading.
Everyday Ecofascism with April Anson & Alexander Menrisky (Vandal Live at 2025 Quarry Farm Symposium)
Q: How do you theorize threshold objects in the context of eco-fascism?
Threshold objects refer to items that signify deeper connections to land and identity, often used in eco-fascist narratives to justify entitlement.
Everyday Ecofascism with April Anson & Alexander Menrisky (Vandal Live at 2025 Quarry Farm Symposium)
Q: Why is it important to think about fascism as a politics that has a grassroots origin?
Because historical fascism was not only top-down, it emerged from grassroots movements and resonated across the political spectrum.
Inside Slow Civil War with Jeff Sharlet
Q: What are the techniques of being an insider-outsider?
The insider-outsider perspective involves understanding the necessary complexities of language and experience within marginalized communities.
Inside Slow Civil War with Jeff Sharlet
Q: What do you see as the praxis if we are trying to avoid that continuous acceleration?
Jeff emphasizes the importance of deliberate perception and accuracy in journalism and community engagement.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About The American Vandal

What is The American Vandal about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show centers on critical conversations at the intersection of literature, journalism, and societal power structures. Across episodes, listeners encounter rigorous discussions of literary theory (including Marxist and institutional approaches), the role of data and quantitative methods in literary critique, and the evolving influence of tech, capitalism, and media on culture. Guests range from prominent scholars to investigative journalists, often exploring how institutions shape knowledge, pedagogy, and public discourse, with a steady thread of ethics, pedagogy, and the politics of representation. A standout throughline is the tension between qualitative and quantitative approaches to literature, the democratization of scholarly conver... more

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These podcasts share a similar audience with The American Vandal:

1. The Dig
2. Why Theory
3. Know Your Enemy
4. Jacobin Radio
5. What's Left of Philosophy

How many episodes of The American Vandal are there?

The American Vandal launched 5 years ago and published 108 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 The American Vandal?

Recent guests on The American Vandal include:

1. Omari Weekes
2. Caleb Smith
3. Brandon Taylor
4. Rachel Sagner Buurma
5. Laura Heffernan
6. J.D. Connor
7. Alexander Manshel
8. Jacob Silverman

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