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The Thing About Austen

The Thing About Austen
Jane Austen
Pride and Prejudice
Northanger Abbey
Persuasion
Emma
Mansfield Park
Captain Wentworth's Letter
Sense and Sensibility
Lake District
Shoe Roses
Bell Systems
Gender Roles
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.

PublishesMonthlyEpisodes117Founded5 years ago
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Latest Episodes

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

The Netherfield crew have all decamped for London, and Caroline wants to make sure that Jane knows all about it. This episode we're checking out Grosvenor Street and its surrounding environs before paying a visit to the Bingley sisters.

We hope to... more

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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

Zann
Host of The Thing About Austen
Diane
Co-host / Host of The Thing About Austen; frequent collaborator across episodes
Zan
Co-host / Host of The Thing About Austen
Xan
Co-host of The Thing About Austen

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 1.6k ratings
  • The Perfect Deep Dives

    The Thing About Austen takes you on a journey to answer questions you didn’t know you had about Jane Austen, her world, and her books!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    L1081
    United States2 months ago
  • Smart Fun & Funny

    This podcast is like reading the annotated Austen with your best friend! So great!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    TravelinGLF
    United States2 months ago
  • This podcast is THE BEST

    It’s the only podcast I’ve methodically listened to. So well researched, but also the hosts are wonderful and entertaining and true naturals at this. Unlike podcasts that feel painfully scripted this feels like you are just in the room. Wonderful work ladies!!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    tv_static
    Canada3 months ago
  • The best of the best (universally acknowledged)

    My favorite podcast about Jane Austen! Every episode brings new life to the stories we know and love. All the references and connections that were clear to Austen’s contemporaries, but are often lost to us today, are shared and expanded upon by Diane & Zan. Just the perfect cozy podcast to listen to with a cup of tea. I recommend it to all of my friends!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Laura.Ash
    United States3 months ago
  • Always interesting

    I look forward to every episode!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    elmcel
    United States5 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Guests provide fresh, nuanced perspectives that deepen Austen's world.
Listeners praise the chemistry and accessible, chatty yet rigorous style.
The hosts are clearly well-researched and bring delightful energy to each topic.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#181
United States/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#95
United Kingdom/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#249
United Kingdom/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#115
Australia/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#115
Argentina/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#161
Belgium/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 witty, well-researched deep dive into Jane Austen's world, focusing on material culture, social norms, architecture, and the social underpinnings of her novels. Listeners get historical context, close readings, and thoughtful analyses of objects, spaces, and practices that influenced characters and plots. Hosts bring on scholars and writers to illuminate topics from illegitimacy to architectural design, often pairing rigorous research with engaging banter. A standout niche is the emphasis on material culture and historical details that broaden understanding of Austen's narratives, making the episodes both educational and highly entertaining for devoted fans and curious newcomers alike.

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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. Hot and Bothered
3. Reclaiming Jane
4. What the Austen? Podcast
5. Jane Austen Bedtime Stories

How many episodes of The Thing About Austen are there?

The Thing About Austen launched 5 years ago and published 117 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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