Rephonic
Artwork for What the Austen? Podcast

What the Austen? Podcast

Izzy Meakin
Jane Austen
Pride and Prejudice
Emma
Sense and Sensibility
Friendship
19th Century Literature
Bingley
Darcy
Katie Lumsden's Book
Marianne Dashwood
Elinor Dashwood
Colonel Brandon
Book Recommendations
The Trouble With Mrs. Montgomery Hurst
Lucy Steele
Gossip
Austen Festival
Regency England
Queer History
Social Class Dynamics

Welcome, Janeites, to the What the Austen? podcast! I’m your host, Izzy Meakin, a lifelong Janeite with a deep love for Austen. Each month, I team up with fellow enthusiasts to explore the wit, charm, and quirks of Jane’s novels. This podcast is for those who enjoy thought-provoking discussions and a good laugh, covering everything from romantic moments to quirky aspects and unpopular opinions. We... more

PublishesMonthlyEpisodes90Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ArtsBooks

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for What the Austen? Podcast

Latest Episodes

*Warning: some spoilers in this ep*

In this episode, I’m joined by screenwriter Sarah Quintrell to dive into the world of Mary Bennet and the brilliance of The Other Bennet Sister 💛

We talk about why Mary’s story feels so important, from comparis... more

YouTube

In this episode, we’re joined by pianist Jeneba Kanneh-Mason to explore Jane Austen’s creativity beyond the written word and through music. We talk about Jeneba’s recent project Jane Austen’s Piano EP (Available on Spotify and Apple Music now) and he... more

250th Birthday Edition: What Matters in Jane Austen? by John Mullan: ⁠https://amzn.to/4sA9fbG⁠

In this episode, I’m joined by John Mullan to explore the remarkable range of Jane Austen’s novels and the beauty of her unique literary style. We talk a... more

YouTube

I thought a fun Christmas episode would be to discuss Regency Christmas traditions. From mistletoe to ghost stories, we get into the festive Regency spirit on the podcast.

Author Jessica Bull is joining me to share her insights and to talk about he... more

YouTube

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

The Thing About Austen
The Thing About AustenThe Thing About Austen
Austen Chat
Austen ChatJane Austen Society of North America
Pod and Prejudice
Pod and PrejudiceMolly Burdick
Reclaiming Jane
Reclaiming JaneEmily Davis-Hale & Lauren Wethers

Recent Guests

Sarah Quintrell
BAFTA-nominated writer, producer and actress; screenwriter for The Other Bennet Sister
BBC, The Other Bennet Sister
Episode: Episode 88: The Other Bennet Sister with Screenwriter Sarah Quintrell | Adapting Janice Hadlow's book for BBC 📖
Jeneba Kanneh-Mason
Pianist and creator of an EP focused on Jane Austen and music
Episode: Episode 87: Jane Austen the pianist: How music shaped her life and writing with Jeneba Kanneh-Mason
John Mullan
Professor and author, expert on Jane Austen
Episode: Episode 86: John Mullan on Jane Austen's Alchemy: Style, Structure, and Story 📖
Helena Kelly
Author of Jane Austen, The Secret Radical and The Worlds of Jane Austen
Episode: Episode 82: The Worlds of Jane Austen: Chaos, Revolution, Empire & War with Helena Kelly
Susannah Harker
Actress and writer, famously known for portraying Jane Bennet in the 1995 adaptation of Pride and Prejudice.
Episode: Episode 80: Susannah Harker on becoming Jane Bennet: Midlife, New Projects & 1995 Pride & Prejudice.
Hilary Davidson
Dress historian, curator, and author of Jane Austen's Wardrobe and Dress in the Age of Jane Austen
Episode: Episode 75: Wearing the Story: Fashion in the Age of Jane Austen with Fashion Historian Hilary Davidson
Jill Hornby
Author known for exploring the life of Cassandra Austen and the impact of Jane Austen's work
Episode: Episode 73: Gill Hornby on Miss Austen, Writing Novels, and the BBC Mini Series
Jessica Bull
Author of the Miss Austen Investigates Series
None
Episode: Episode 72: A Fortune Most Fatal with Author Jessica Bull (The Miss Austen Investigates Series)
Katie Lumsden
Author and booktuber, discussing her latest book 'The Trouble with Mrs. Montgomery Hurst'
Episode: Episode 65: The Trouble With Mrs Montgomery Hurst with Author Katie Lumsden

Host

Izzy Meakin
Host with a focus on Jane Austen and Regency-era culture, guiding discussions with guests and fellow enthusiasts.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 145 ratings
  • Fun and Insightful!

    Izzy is so fun and her personality makes the show light hearted and easy to listen to. Her insights are thoughtful and interesting. I love listening to her character studies!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    cowcrazed
    United States10 months ago
  • My favorite podcast

    Dear Izzy,

    Words cannot descrbe how your podcast hast enriched my life. Your guests and you Teach me so much about Jane Austen I hope you will continue with this podcast. But no matter what you will always have this tight-knit Jane Austen community.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    wat nu dan
    Netherlandsa year ago
  • Miss the old vibe

    There are so many episodes of this podcast that I love and I’m so grateful for the discussion and character analysis in previous episodes. It has all been so interesting and insightful. Lately, however, I have felt like the tone of the podcast has changed—there is more criticism for the characters and often times they have very little positive to say about them. A more modern lens has been brought in to look at the characters and I think that does Jane Austen a disservice. I think some emotions ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Leebabe81
    United States2 years ago
  • Austen Lovers Unite!

    Izzy’s podcast is full of educational deep dives and close readings, as well as fun and creative modern connections. It has made me look at Austen’s work in new ways and appreciate how universal and timeless her characters and themes are. A must listen for long-time Austen fans, as well as people just discovering her work. There is something for everyone.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Joss O’Connell
    United States2 years ago
  • I love this podcast!

    I have been listening to What the Austen for the past year and I’m excited for each new episode every time they drop. Such insightful thoughts. I love listening as I work on my lesson planning. Very inspiring! Love feeling like I’m apart of the community.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Steph Reese
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Fans appreciate top-tier guests and deep dives into Austen's world.
Some longtime listeners miss a lighter, more 'classic Jane Austen' tone in recent episodes.
Community feedback highlights strong educational value and engaging discussion with guests.
Listeners praise the show for thoughtful analysis and warm, conversational style.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#90
Australia/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#246
Australia/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#83
Switzerland/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#165
Singapore/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#185
Argentina/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#200
Finland/Arts/Books

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Episode 86: John Mullan on Jane Austen's Alchemy: Style, Structure, and Story 📖
Q: Is it even possible to become an expert in Austen?
Mullan states that while there are many expert devotees of Austen, it's quite easy to become knowledgeable about her fiction, as there are only six completed novels and a manageable number of letters. However, he suggests that true expertise might always be elusive as Austen's work is complex and continually revealing new insights.
Episode 86: John Mullan on Jane Austen's Alchemy: Style, Structure, and Story 📖
Q: What got you into Jane Austen originally?
John Mullan mentions that he read Jane Austen at school with a good teacher and initially didn't think much of the novels as they seemed to revolve around women finding husbands. However, later he became intrigued when he started teaching Austen, realizing her depth and the new insights students would provide.
Episode 85: What did Jane Austen's Xmas celebrations look like? with Jessica Bull
Q: Were there elements from 'Emma' that inspired your writing?
Yes, there are parallels in how Christmases were celebrated and the social dynamics surrounding them.
Episode 85: What did Jane Austen's Xmas celebrations look like? with Jessica Bull
Q: What is 'The Austen Christmas Murders' about?
It's about Jane Austen investigating a concealed skeleton that connects to a local ghost story while she worries about having a dull Christmas.
Episode 82: The Worlds of Jane Austen: Chaos, Revolution, Empire & War with Helena Kelly
Q: What got you into Jane Austen originally?
Helena talks about her late introduction to Jane Austen, influenced by the 1995 BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, which sparked her interest in the novels.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About What the Austen? Podcast

What is What the Austen? Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show dives into Jane Austen's world with lively, thoughtful conversations that blend close readings, historical context, and modern connections. Across episodes, topics span Austen's novels, Regency society, adaptations, fashion, music, and festive traditions, often featuring guests from academia, publishing, fashion history, and the arts. Listeners can expect a warm, community-driven atmosphere, deep literary analysis, and accessible takes on complex themes, with a notable emphasis on character study, narrative structure, and the social mores of Regency England.

Where can I find podcast stats for What the Austen? Podcast?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for What the Austen? Podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to What the Austen? Podcast and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does What the Austen? Podcast get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for What the Austen? Podcast, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for What the Austen? Podcast?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for What the Austen? Podcast, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does What the Austen? Podcast have?

To see how many followers or subscribers What the Austen? Podcast has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to What the Austen? Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with What the Austen? Podcast:

1. The Thing About Austen
2. Austen Chat
3. Pod and Prejudice
4. Reclaiming Jane
5. Not Just the Tudors

How many episodes of What the Austen? Podcast are there?

What the Austen? Podcast launched 5 years ago and published 90 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact What the Austen? Podcast?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for What the Austen? Podcast?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for What the Austen? Podcast from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for What the Austen? Podcast?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of What the Austen? Podcast. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on What the Austen? Podcast?

Recent guests on What the Austen? Podcast include:

1. Sarah Quintrell
2. Jeneba Kanneh-Mason
3. John Mullan
4. Helena Kelly
5. Susannah Harker
6. Hilary Davidson
7. Jill Hornby
8. Jessica Bull

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.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days