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The Thing About Austen

The Thing About Austen
Jane Austen
Pride and Prejudice
Northanger Abbey
Persuasion
Emma
Sense and Sensibility
Mansfield Park
Captain Wentworth's Letter
Lake District
Shoe Roses
Gender Roles
Bell Systems
Estate Stewardship
Romantic Relationships
Regency Era
Netherfield Ball
Harriet
Watercolor Painting
Annuities
Social Class

The Thing About Austen is a podcast about Jane Austen's world — the people, objects, and culture that shape Austen's fiction. Come for the historical context and stay for the literary shenanigans. Think of us as your somewhat cheeky tour guides to the life and times of Jane Austen.

PublishesMonthlyEpisodes118Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
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Latest Episodes

The Dashwood ladies have moved to Devon, and everyone seems to have an opinion on their new digs. This episode we discuss cottages, in all their many permutations.

If you have ever had to listen to someone brag about the house party they organized... more

YouTube

Mrs. Bates may be sitting quietly in the corner, but her hands are always busy. This episode we are joined by knitting and crochet historian Eleanor Gilchrist to discuss the details of Mrs. Bates's knitting. We also take a look at Mrs. Smith's relati... more

YouTube

Emma has big plans for Harriet, and these plans require a backstory, which Emma is more than happy to concoct. This episode we unpack the meaning of the expression "natural daughter" and discuss the social context of illegitimacy in Austen's time. more

YouTube

This episode we welcome back guest Damianne Scott to discuss Miss Lambe from Austen's unfinished work, Sanditon. Dami covers exactly why Miss Lambe is such an important character in Austen's canon, as well as delving into the portrayal of Miss Lambe ... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Eleanor Gilchrist
Postgraduate researcher at Newcastle University; PhD on The Development of Crochet in Britain's Industrial Century
Newcastle University
Episode: Episode 116: The Thing About Mrs. Bates's Knitting with guest Eleanor Gilchrist
Damianne Scott
Writer, teacher, and advocate for diversity in literature.
Black Girl Loves Jane
Episode: Episode 114: The Thing About Miss Lambe with guest Damianne Scott
Kate Emery
Registered psychologist and lifelong Jane Austen fan.
Austen Therapy
Episode: Episode 111: The Thing About Catherine and the Mysterious Apartments with guest Kate Emery
Dr. Emily Davis-Hale
A linguistic anthropologist with a PhD from Tulane University
Reclaiming Jane
Episode: Episode 110: The Thing About Lady Catherine's Windows with guest Dr. Emily Davis-Hale
Sarah Rose Kearns
Playwright, performer, and lifelong Austen enthusiast who adapted "Persuasion" off-Broadway and is working on a screen adaptation of "Manydown".
Episode: Episode 107: The Thing About Manydown Park with guests Prerna Ramachandra and Sarah Rose Kearns
Prerna Ramachandra
Award-winning writer and filmmaker based in New York City, exploring mental health and identity in her films, currently adapting "Manydown" for the screen.
Episode: Episode 107: The Thing About Manydown Park with guests Prerna Ramachandra and Sarah Rose Kearns
Dr. Elizabeth Elly Weybright
Lecturer in the English department at Barnard College
Barnard College
Episode: Episode 105: The Thing About Marianne's Music with guest Dr. Elizabeth Weybright
Laboni Islam
Poet and arts educator, member of the League of Canadian Poets
Bengal Muslin Project
Episode: Episode 102: The Thing About Lady Bertram's Shawl with guest Laboni Islam
Lizzie Dunford
Guest discussing Jane Austen's house in Choughton
Episode: Episode 99: The Thing About White Soup

Hosts

Zan
Host with Diane, co-leading deep dives into Austen's world with a focus on material culture and social history.
Diane
Co-host alongside Zan, steering episodes through historical context, cultural analysis, and accessible scholarship.

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 1.6k ratings
  • Hands down the best Austen podcast

    I’m in Jane Austen bookclub going through all of Austen’s work (for the 2nd time…years after first reading her novels). Looking for extra insights, I’ve listened to quite a few Austen podcasts, and there are many to choose from, and this one is hands down the best.

    Zan and Dianne have great chemistry and are an absolute pleasure to listen to. They are clearly smart academics, but they balance their insights with plenty of fun and laughter. My partner and I often listen together in the car, and w... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    438W
    United Statesa month ago
  • Hi

    Great topics and insights, but the frequent, heavy laughter makes it hard to stay engaged with the educational content. It’s a bit distracting and breaks the flow of the information. I’d appreciate a bit more balance so the message doesn't get lost in the jokes

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    ЕваМарсо
    Russiaa month ago
  • Austen Nerds

    Essential for all Austen Nerds. They don’t come out often enough for me so I just recycle them again and again!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    SandylovesAusten
    United Kingdom2 months ago
  • Janeite Essential!

    This podcast is quintessential for any Janeite, not born in the 18th century, and thus unaware of the significance of a MAN holding an umbrella or the blast of a bother you face when a familymember in a temper pulls the bell pull too vigorously.

    The -rabbithole- topic of each episode is held narrow enough to be explored thoroughly within the given time, and what wonderfull -rabbitholes- topics they are! Always presented with humour, enthusiasm and a healthy dose of nerdism.

    The hosts Xan and Di... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Anne NotElliot
    Denmark2 months ago
  • Jane Austen facts are fun for everyone

    It’s been said before but this is the Austen podcast I didn’t know I needed. Thank you for the delightful listening.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    GrecoAusJaneite
    Australia3 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Chemistry between hosts is consistently praised, pairing smart analysis with engaging banter.
Guests are well-chosen and knowledgeable, adding depth to topics.
Quality research and engaging delivery make episodes a reliable source for Austen fans and scholars.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#157
United States/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#77
United Kingdom/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#225
United Kingdom/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#91
Australia/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#47
Chile/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#84
New Zealand/Arts/Books

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Episode 114: The Thing About Miss Lambe with guest Damianne Scott
Q: Dami, can you help us unpack this a bit more? What's going on with Miss Lambe here?
Miss Lambe is from the West Indies, and while not mentioned in detail, her character represents a complex intertwining of race, wealth, and society.
Episode 105: The Thing About Marianne's Music with guest Dr. Elizabeth Weybright
Q: So why do you think Austen sets up these different interactions between Colonel Brandon and Willoughby regarding Marianne's music?
Colonel Brandon's quiet listening suggests emotional depth, while Willoughby's engaging with Marianne through music demonstrates a potentially manipulative romantic interest.
Episode 105: The Thing About Marianne's Music with guest Dr. Elizabeth Weybright
Q: So can you tell us a bit more about this trope of young women essentially performing romanticism and how it does or perhaps does not apply to Marianne?
Marianne embodies the debates around women's education, showcasing the dangers of being overly emotional and unguarded in her musical practice; she uses music as a tool for self-knowledge rather than merely a social accomplishment.
Episode 102: The Thing About Lady Bertram's Shawl with guest Laboni Islam
Q: What does Lady Bertram's desire for a shawl tell us about her character?
Lady Bertram's focus on the shawl reflects her interest in fashion as a status symbol and her vague understanding of its origins and the context, highlighting her transactional nature.
Episode 102: The Thing About Lady Bertram's Shawl with guest Laboni Islam
Q: Can you walk us through a little bit of the process of making a muslin shawl?
Laboni describes the intricate process starting from cotton cultivation, cleaning, ginning, spinning, to weaving and finishing, requiring skilled labor across various steps.

Audience Metrics

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Thing About Austen

What is The Thing About Austen about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A deep-dive audio series exploring Jane Austen's world through people, objects, and social contexts. It blends historical research with literary analysis to illuminate topics like knitting as status symbol, architectural details, marriage norms, and race and colonialism in Regency England. Guests range from historians and linguists to psychologists and playwrights, bringing scholarly rigor balanced with engaging, accessible storytelling. The show often uncovers how everyday items and settings reveal class, gender, and cultural tensions of Austen's era, making it a strong pick for listeners who enjoy well-researched context paired with lively discussion and humor.

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Which podcasts are similar to The Thing About Austen?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Thing About Austen:

1. Austen Chat
2. Reclaiming Jane
3. Hot and Bothered
4. A Jane Austen Year
5. What the Austen? Podcast

How many episodes of The Thing About Austen are there?

The Thing About Austen launched 5 years ago and published 118 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 Thing About Austen?

Recent guests on The Thing About Austen include:

1. Eleanor Gilchrist
2. Damianne Scott
3. Kate Emery
4. Dr. Emily Davis-Hale
5. Sarah Rose Kearns
6. Prerna Ramachandra
7. Dr. Elizabeth Elly Weybright
8. Laboni Islam

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