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The Literary Life Podcast

Angelina Stanford Thomas Banks
Literature
Victorian Literature
C.S. Lewis
Harry Potter
Shakespeare
Howards End
Education
Literary Tradition
A Midsummer Night's Dream
The Age Of Innocence
Agnes Grey
Much Ado About Nothing
Poetry
Brave New World
Charlotte Mason
E. M. Forster
Literary Criticism
Dracula
Edith Wharton
Tolkien

Not just book chat! The Literary Life Podcast is an ongoing conversation about the skill and art of reading well and the lost intellectual tradition needed to fully enter into the great works of literature. Experienced teachers Angelina Stanford and Thomas Banks (of www.HouseOfHumaneLetters.com) join lifelong reader Cindy Rollins (of www.MorningtimeForMoms.com) for slow reads of classic literature... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes348Founded8 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
BooksArtsEducation

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Artwork for The Literary Life Podcast

Latest Episodes

On today's episode of The Literary Life podcast, Angelina and Addison are back to continue their book series on Lilith by George MacDonald. Before diving into chapters 17-32, they talk about the great influence that George MacDonald was on so many ot... more

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This week Angelina and Addison are back on The Literary Life podcast to continue their discussion series on George MacDonald's Lilith. Today's episode will cover chapters 6-16. They open the conversation with some thoughts on the disorientation we ex... more

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On The Literary Life Podcast this week, Angelina and Thomas are joined by Addison Hornstra as they open a new book discussion series covering George MacDonald's Lilith: A Romance. This introductory conversation on the book opens with some thoughts on... more

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This week on The Literary Life podcast, Angelina and Thomas sit down for another chat with Addison and Ella Hornstra to bring us an update on their literary lives and educational journeys. They open the conversation with some thoughts on how and why ... more

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Recent Guests

Addison Hornstra
Guest discussing Lilith chapters 6-16
House of Humane Letters
Episode: Episode 348: "Lilith" by George MacDonald, Ch. 6-16
Ella Hornstra
Twin sister, language learner and educator
House of Humane Letters
Episode: Episode 346: Finding the Education for Your Vocation with the Hornstra Sisters
Thomas Banks
Poet; founder/participant in The Literary Life's discussions on essays
House of Humane Letters
Episode: Episode 334: "The Adventures of a Shilling" by Joseph Addison – Short Story Summer Remix
Anne Phillips
Classicist
House of Humane Letters
Episode: Episode 330: Where to Start with Ancient Literature with Dr. Anne Phillips
Jenn Rogers
Tolkien expert; resident Tolkien scholar invited for background on On Fairy Stories
House of Humane Letters
Episode: Episode 329: "On Fairy Stories" Revisited with Jenn Rogers
Malcolm Guite
Poet, priest, scholar, and author of Galahad and the Grail
Christian poet and author
Episode: Episode 327: The Power of Story and "Galahad and the Grail" with Malcolm Guite
Donna-Jean Breckenridge
Ambleside Advisory member and performer of Charlotte Mason
Ambleside Online
Episode: Episode 317: "Best of" – The Literary Life of Charlotte Mason
Karen Glass
Ambleside Advisory member and author of many books about Charlotte Mason
Ambleside Online
Episode: Episode 317: "Best of" – The Literary Life of Charlotte Mason
Dr. Michael Drout
Professor at Wheaton College specializing in Anglo-Saxon literature, Chaucer, and Tolkien.
Wheaton College
Episode: Episode 313: The Tower and the Ruin with Dr. Michael Drout

Hosts

Angelina Stanford
Host guiding discussions on classic literature and teaching approaches; associated with House of Humane Letters.
Thomas Banks
Co-host, educator, and poet; provides literary analysis and teaching perspective.
Cindy Rollins
Co-host with Morningtime for Moms; contributes practical educational and homeschooling perspectives.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 1.8k ratings
  • An Author’s Crash Course in Writing Well??

    I know this >is< a podcast on learning to read well, but it’s also (accidentally) an author’s crash course in writing well.

    I’m very new to reading and understanding literature this way, but Angelina, Cindy, and Mr. Banks are giving words to patterns I knew existed in my literary taste, what I was observing about books, but couldn’t explain (and rather thought was all in my head). I’ve inhaled so many new books, and binged so many of their podcasts on the literary tradition, fairy-stories, fai... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    TheWriterlyDragonSlayer
    United States22 days ago
  • Fun Conversations

    Chats and conversations about books that feel like having good friends over cups of tea in the room, perfect for relaxing in the evenings and lingering in a world where stories matter. I enjoyed the podcast so much that I have gone on to explore classes, which are focused and extremely rich and highly recommended, but I still enjoy the podcasts for a fun conversation to listen to at the end of the day.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Ayftan
    United Statesa month ago
  • Highly recommended!!!

    I had a professor in college that showed me this deeper way to read but unfortunately he left after a short time. I didn’t think anyone read the way he did until I found this program. It is so exciting to understand books without all the modern interpretations forced on them. This podcast and various classes from House of Humane Letters are overwhelmingly rich in content and insight and deeply rooted in traditional ways of understanding literature. I can’t recommend this podcast or the classes ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    pasochick
    United States2 months ago
  • Thank you

    The show is a blessing to me. I have a college degree in English but have learned more from this podcast (and their webinars) than I ever did in English classes. I recommend you buy one of their online courses to go even deeper!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    hhhhllllkkkk
    United States2 months ago
  • Love this podcast!

    The Literary Life podcast is so informative and engaging! I love learning more about some of my favourite books through this podcast.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    PoisonDartFrog_1
    Canada3 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Faith-informed and education-focused angle resonates with homeschooling and educator audiences.
Some listeners admire the depth and teaching approach, though a few critique delivery or dynamic balance.
Thoughtful and disciplined literary discussions that reward careful readers.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#27
United States/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#69
United States/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#110
Canada/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#242
Canada/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#57
Finland/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#77
Spain/Arts/Books

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Episode 347: "Lilith" by George MacDonald, Intro and Ch. 1-5
Q: What is the central aim of Lilith according to the hosts?
To train readers to move beyond surface interpretation and engage with the book's deeper symbolic meanings through imagination, thereby understanding identity, home, and the nature of reality.
Episode 327: The Power of Story and "Galahad and the Grail" with Malcolm Guite
Q: What is the role of imagination in interpreting these old stories for today?
Imagination is the bridge that baptizes ancient stories into contemporary life, enabling readers to see gospel echoes and moral lessons within myth.
Episode 327: The Power of Story and "Galahad and the Grail" with Malcolm Guite
Q: How do you balance high modernist allusion with accessibility for a mass readership?
Guite argues for lucid, musical poetry that remains meaningful without requiring exhaustive knowledge of allusions, while still offering Easter eggs for those who recognize them.
Episode 327: The Power of Story and "Galahad and the Grail" with Malcolm Guite
Q: Why did you choose to start with the Grail itself rather than the backstory of Arthur and the Grail's origin?
Starting with the Grail creates a direct entry into the central image of healing and redemption, while the backstory provides necessary context later; it also allowed Guite to frame the larger conversation about how myth meets Christian narrative.
Episode 313: The Tower and the Ruin with Dr. Michael Drout
Q: If somebody's listening right now, how do I read Lord of the Rings to my six-year-old?
Don't worry about the details; let the story wash over them. Take your time, and enjoy reading it aloud, because it's written for oral delivery.

Audience Metrics

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Literary Life Podcast

What is The Literary Life Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A thoughtful, dialogue-driven show centered on developing reading skill and deep literary understanding through slow, close reads of classic works. The trio of hosts (two educators and a homeschooling parent) guide conversations that blend literary analysis with teaching philosophy, personal anecdotes, and practical notes for readers and teachers. Episodes often connect ancient and medieval storytelling to modern life, include insights on annotation, commonplace books, and education, and occasionally promote related webinars or courses. Noteworthy is the emphasis on the intellectual tradition behind reading well and the collaborative, mentor-like dynamic among hosts, which can be especially appealing to teachers, homeschoolers, and serious ... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Literary Life Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Literary Life Podcast:

1. The New Mason Jar with Cindy Rollins
2. Scholé Sisters: Camaraderie for Classical Homeschooling Mamas
3. Close Reads Podcast
4. A Delectable Education Charlotte Mason Podcast
5. Read-Aloud Revival ®

How many episodes of The Literary Life Podcast are there?

The Literary Life Podcast launched 8 years ago and published 348 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 Literary Life Podcast?

Recent guests on The Literary Life Podcast include:

1. Addison Hornstra
2. Ella Hornstra
3. Thomas Banks
4. Anne Phillips
5. Jenn Rogers
6. Malcolm Guite
7. Donna-Jean Breckenridge
8. Karen Glass

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.

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