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The Secret World of Roald Dahl

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Roald Dahl
Walt Disney
Alfred Hitchcock
Hollywood
James Bond
MI6
Harry Truman
Roosevelt
The Gremlins
You Only Live Twice
Patricia Neal
Charlie Chaplin
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
World War II
Gary Cooper
Eleanor Roosevelt
Childhood Trauma
Censorship
Biography
Antisemitism

You know Roald Dahl as the writer who thought up Willy Wonka, Matilda, and the BFG. But did you know he was also a spy? "The Secret World of Roald Dahl" is a wild journey through the hidden chapters of his extraordinary, controversial life. How did this secret agent and struggling screenwriter wind up as the most successful children’s author ever? And what darkness from his covert past seeped into... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes12Founded4 months ago
Number of ListenersCategories
DocumentaryHistorySociety & Culture

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Artwork for The Secret World of Roald Dahl

Latest Episodes

Mark Rosenblatt had never written a play before Giant, his portrait of Roald Dahl. Now it's the most talked about, best reviewed show on Broadway. Aaron sits down with Mark for a wide ranging conversation. Two writers who've spent a lot of time wrest... more

YouTube

After all the adventures, all the struggles, all the discarded masks, Dahl finally discovers exactly who he's meant to be. Locked away in a small hut in an apple orchard, Dahl creates a ritual so precise and sacred that it borders on obsession. And d... more

YouTube

Alfred Hitchcock, Steven Spielberg, Tim Burton, Wes Anderson, Robert Zemeckis, Quentin Tarantino. No other author’s work has attracted as many legendary filmmakers as Roald Dahl. Some adaptations become instant classics. Others crash and burn. And th... more

YouTube

Dahl’s work faces a reckoning. Plus, decades after his death, a shocking decision is made about Dahl's books that ignites a worldwide controversy. Featuring conversations with cultural critics, including bestselling author Claire Dederer.

Follow "T... more

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Recent Guests

Mark West
English professor and expert on children's literature
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Episode: The Writing Life
Peter Wallace
Interviewer featured in archival material about Dahl
Episode: The Writing Life
Jesse Stern
TV writer and Dahl admirer, author of My Uncle Oswald discussions
Independent writer/producer
Episode: The Writing Life
David Bianculli
TV critic and expert on Dahl adaptations
NPR / Fresh Air / Rowan University
Episode: Adaptation
Manuel Betancourt
Cultural critic and author
Columbia / Hello, Stranger and The Male Gazed
Episode: Adaptation
Claire Dederer
Author of Monsters, a fan's dilemma
Writer, Paris Review contributor (as mentioned)
Episode: The Fan's Dilemma
Eric Atal Mathis
Chair of the philosophy department at Wellesley College
Wellesley College
Episode: The Fan's Dilemma
Roxane Gay
Best-selling writer and critic
Independent author and commentator
Episode: The Interview
Yair Rosenberg
Writer focusing on antisemitism and Jewish affairs
The Atlantic (writer)
Episode: The Interview

Host

Aaron Tracy
Creator and host, writer with a focus on storytelling and historical narrative exploration.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 1.4k ratings
  • AI? Really?

    The podcast is brilliantly researched and extraordinarily produced; it was so disheartening to hear Eleven Labs credited at the end of the first episode. Especially given this is a literature based podcast, the host is a Yale professor, and the budget behind the show is obviously healthy, why not hire an actor? Why use AI? Really disappointed I won’t be able to continue to enjoy the show.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    CodyJP96
    United States20 days ago
  • Fantastic and insightful

    Really enjoyed it. Thank you.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Chris D’Amico
    United States21 days ago
  • Clumsy speech

    The content is intriguing and well written. I wish Tracy (and other writer/podcasters) would take a speech class. It’s not his gliding l’s, it’s that he doesn’t know how to finish a sentence without dropping off at the end. He doesn’t know which words to emphasize for clarity and pauses habitually instead of for effect. Plus, the upspeak. “But what Dahl doesn’t realize? Is that someone is watching his every move.”

    Why do people not realize that speaking is a craft? Not everybody can do it. An... more

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    tingolo
    United States22 days ago
  • Interesting but

    I was really excited to learn about his life. But wayyyy too many ads that are all the same. Plus I’d have liked to learn about the anti semitism ( which is bad) without having to listen to an off topic episode about other people’s opinions about movie stars, tv programs and hate.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Redsuzukiswifty
    New Zealand22 days ago
  • Compelling and Highly Entertaining.

    I listened on a long drive to Texas. Your work is so well done. I have talked with many about it and am still thinking about it. Thanks for the learning and pure fun. I’ll look for your work in the future. My best to you and yours.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Preburn
    United States22 days ago

Chart Rankings

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Writing Life
Q: How did Dahl's experiences shape the way his books treat agency in young characters?
Experts suggest Dahl deliberately gave child protagonists more power and wit, allowing them to outsmart adults and drive plots, which helped redefine what children's literature could accomplish.
Adaptation
Q: What did Manuel Betancourt say about Dahl's relationship with the Gene Wilder film and its lasting impact?
Betancourt suggests that Dahl disliked the Gene Wilder version because its focus on Wonka altered the narrative that Dahl envisioned, yet paradoxically this disowned adaptation contributed to the film's iconic status and highlighted the tension between authorial intent and cinematic interpretation.
Adaptation
Q: What did David Bianculli think about the most famous Dahl adaptation and how it compared across directors?
Bianculli argues that Hitchcock's and Wes Anderson's collaborations with Dahl retained the essential tone and precision of Dahl's writing, whereas Tarantino's version missed the balance between suspense and Dahl's voice, leading to a less faithful adaptation.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Secret World of Roald Dahl

What is The Secret World of Roald Dahl about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Exploring the often-overlooked aspects of a literary icon, the content traverses the fascinating duality of Roald Dahl's life—his tenure as a successful children's author coupled with his secretive role as a spy during World War II. Topics frequently include his tumultuous personal relationships, particularly with notable figures, and the impact of his espionage experiences on his storytelling. The narrative weaves through his career ups and downs, with a focus on how his hidden past influenced some of the darker themes in his beloved children's literature, making for a complex portrait of a man whose life was as captivating as his stories. This unique approach not only sheds light on Dahl's legacy but also invites listeners to rethink the ... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Secret World of Roald Dahl?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Secret World of Roald Dahl:

1. The Idiot
2. Focus: Adults in the Room
3. This American Life
4. Mind Games
5. Criminal

How many episodes of The Secret World of Roald Dahl are there?

The Secret World of Roald Dahl launched 4 months ago and published 12 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 Secret World of Roald Dahl?

Recent guests on The Secret World of Roald Dahl include:

1. Mark West
2. Peter Wallace
3. Jesse Stern
4. David Bianculli
5. Manuel Betancourt
6. Claire Dederer
7. Eric Atal Mathis
8. Roxane Gay

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