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What to listen to this Pride Month
1 year agoPride Month is here! And we’re celebrating by showcasing our favorite discussions on gender, sexuality, and identity + 35% off the books from these episodes when you use code Pride21 at checkout. Featuring conversations with Jenn Pelly, Carol J. Adams, and special guest Alok Vaid-Menon.
Don’t forget to explore the rest of our Pride Month Reading List with free digital resources and discounted books through June.
Season 2 Trailer
1 year agoThe Bloomsbury Academic Podcast is more than just a book talk. Each episode is its own unique forum, bringing Bloomsbury authors and experts to the front of the conversation and tackling key issues in today’s culture, both in academia and beyond. Season one is now available here on our website, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever it is you get your podcasts. Season 2 starts June 10 and is the same exciting format, with a whole host of new authors.
Conversations on the Environment
1 year agoCritical debates around the climate crisis continue to dominate social and political discourse, requiring us to consider the consequences that our actions, both individually and as a society, have on our planet. This Earth Day, take a listen to these four important conversations exploring sustainability in the fashion industry, the environmental impact of the pandemic, the state of the Anthropocene, and the politics behind meat consumption. With each episode, our authors outline today’s key issues and highlight how all of us can help to improve the world we live in.
Our anniversary gift to you
1 year agoThe Bloomsbury Academic Podcast is officially one year old! And though we don’t have season two ready for you just yet, we are celebrating our anniversary with a look back at last year’s episodes and a special discount on all our season one books. Check out the episodes below for any you might have missed, use code BAP35 on our website to get 35% off your favorite books, and keep an ear out for our upcoming season two announcement.
Celebrating Women’s History Month
2 years agoWe’ve put together some of our favourite episodes highlighting the struggles and achievements of women throughout contemporary history. Listen in as authors Carol J. Adams, Ayanna Dozier, Jenn Pelly, Rafia Zakaria and Kate Kirkpatrick discuss everything from feminism, sexuality, misogyny, anti-Blackness, Islamophobia, veganism, and more. These are five conversations you don’t want to miss.
More Episodes
The Empire Strikes Back, part two
Listen nowThe Empire Strikes Back, part one
Listen nowYour Boss is an Algorithm, part two
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4 weeks agoYour Boss Is an Algorithm, Part One
In part one of this episode, we discuss what algorithms have to do with labor, how COVID has impacted certain platforms and algorithms, how digital spaces and technology can replicate power structures, and much much more. Take a listen.
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2 months agoThinking Through Loneliness, Part Two
Listen now2 months agoThinking Through Loneliness, Part One
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10 months agoThe Methuen Drama Book of Trans Plays, Part One
This is the first play anthology to offer eight new plays by trans playwrights featuring trans characters. It establishes a canon of contemporary American trans theatre which represents a variety of performance modes and genres. We talked to anthology editors Lindsey Mantoan, Angela Farr Schiller and Leanna Keyes, about the plays selected, and how they explicitly call for trans characters as central protagonists in order to promote opportunities for trans performers.
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11 months agoBlackface with Ayanna Thompson
After a breathtaking episode on Othello last season, Ayanna Thompson is back to talk about her book, Blackface, which is part of our Object Lessons series. In this episode, we discuss the events that drove Ayanna to write this book, the history of Blackface up to the 21st century, how media weaponizes the notion of white innocence in contemporary examples of Blackface, and much more.
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11 months agoYasodhara and the Buddha with Vanessa R. Sasson, Part Two
We are continuing our conversation with Vanessa R. Sasson, Professor of Religious Studies in the Liberal and Creative Arts Department of Marianopolis College, Canada and author of Yasodhara and the Buddha. In part two this episode, we delve into a narrative about Yasodhara’s expansive life, and why her story feels deeply human and relatable today.
Listen now12 months agoYasodhara and the Buddha with Vanessa R. Sasson, Part One
Vanessa R. Sasson is Professor of Religious Studies in the Liberal and Creative Arts Department of Marianopolis College, Canada and the author of Yasodhara and the Buddha, which we discuss in this episode. For those who do not know Yasodhara, this largely forgotten woman was once married to the Buddha. In part one of this episode, we discuss Yasodhara’s rich, intricate story, as well as the research process behind the book. We also delve into why Vanessa felt compelled to write this book as a “western woman” and how that position affects the context of her modern storytelling.
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12 months agoThe War On Disabled People with Ellen Clifford, Part Two
This is part two of our episode on The War on Disabled People. We are continuing our conversation with Ellen Clifford, a disabled activist who has worked within the disability sector for over twenty years and is a current member of the National Steering Group for Disabled People Against Cuts. In this episode, Ellen unpacks the ways in which people with disabilities are made to feel invisible, how austerity reversed progress for disability rights, the future of disability rights and how to break the cycle of inaccessibility, and much more. Take a listen.
Listen now12 months agoThe War on Disabled People with Ellen Clifford, Part One
In 2016, a United Nations report found the UK government responsible for ‘grave and systematic violations’ of disabled people’s rights. Ellen Clifford, a disabled activist, has been at the heart of the resistance against the war on disabled people for over twenty years.
In part one of this episode, we’ll unpack the history surrounding the war on disabled people; the relationship between disability and capitalism, and how covid-19 has exacerbated the violent conditions of the austerity state.
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1 year agoHip Hop Architecture with Sekou Cooke, Part Two
As architecture grapples with its own racist legacy, Hip-Hop Architecture outlines a powerful new manifesto-the voice of the underrepresented, marginalized, and voiceless within the discipline. In part two of this episode, we discuss Sekou’s now finished exhibit at the MoMA, how the transformation of public spaces has been used to displace marginalized communities, architecture’s response to social justice movements like Black Lives Matter, Sekou’s ultimate “desert island” hip-hop track, and much more.
Listen now1 year agoHip-Hop Architecture with Sekou Cooke, Part One
As architecture grapples with its own racist legacy, Hip-Hop Architecture outlines a powerful new manifesto-the voice of the underrepresented, marginalized, and voiceless within the discipline. In part one of this episode, we discuss the production of spaces, buildings, and urban environments that embody the creative energies in hip-hop, as well as the expanding design philosophy which which uses hip-hop as a lens through which to provoke new architectural ideas.
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1 year agoA History of Private Policing in the United States with Bill Miller, Part Two
In part two of this episode, Bill Miller, author of A History of Private Policing in the United States, discusses the history of privatization in the police force, and how, in tandem with the US military and prison system, it has served as a major component of authority in America as an auxiliary of the state. Our conversation covers everything from gun violence, the role of police in suppressing the American labor movement in the 60s, and the current campaign to defund the police.
Listen now1 year agoA History of Private Policing in the United States with Bill Miller, Part One
In part one of this episode, Bill Miller, author of A History of Private Policing in the United States, discusses the history of privatization in the police force, and how, in tandem with the US military and prison system, it has served as a major component of authority in America as an auxiliary of the state. Our conversation covers everything from gun violence, the role of police in suppressing the American labor movement in the 60s, and the current campaign to defund the police.
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1 year agoBack to Black with Kehinde Andrews, Part Two
Back to Black seeks to show us the long, powerful and painful history of Black radical politics. Born out of resistance to slavery and colonialism, its rich past encompasses figures such as Marcus Garvey, Angela Davis, the Black Panthers and the Black Lives Matter activists of today. In part two of this episode, we discuss systemic racism in academia, the future of the Black Lives Matter movement, and much more.
Listen now1 year agoBack to Black with Kehinde Andrews, Part One
Back to Black seeks to show us the long, powerful and painful history of Black radical politics. Born out of resistance to slavery and colonialism, its rich past encompasses figures such as Marcus Garvey, Angela Davis, the Black Panthers and the Black Lives Matter activists of today. In part one of this episode, we discuss Kehinde’s work as a Black activist and educator, the history of Black intellectual thought, and what a renewed politics of Black radicalism might look like in the 21st century.
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1 year agoHole's Live Through This with Anwen Crawford, Part Two
Live Through This is an album about girlhood and motherhood; desire and disgust; self-destruction and survival. There have been few rock albums before or since so intimately concerned with female experience. It is an album that changed lives – so why is Courtney Love’s achievement as a songwriter and musician still not taken seriously, two decades on? In part two of this episode, we continue our discussion of how Courtney Love both challenged and parodied ideals of womanhood, the gendered connotations of fandom, Hole’s influence on the music of today, and more.
Listen now1 year agoHole's Live Through This with Anwen Crawford, Part One
Live Through This is an album about girlhood and motherhood; desire and disgust; self-destruction and survival. There have been few rock albums before or since so intimately concerned with female experience. It is an album that changed lives – so why is Courtney Love’s achievement as a songwriter and musician still not taken seriously, two decades on? In part one of this episode, we explore Hole’s origin and influences, their glam 90s LA image, and the 3rd wave feminist backlash against Courtney Love as she challenged every preconceived notion of “good” womanhood.
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1 year agoOctavia E. Butler with Kendra R. Parker
Octavia E. Butler is widely recognized today as one of the most important figures in contemporary science fiction. In this episode, Kendra R. Parker discusses what attracted her to Butler’s work, before jumping into discussions about Afrofuturism, the environment, representation in literature, and much more. Connecting current social movements to those of Butler’s time, this episode ultimately reflects on the timeless nature of Butler’s work and her uncanny ability to predict the future.
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1 year agoPaulo Freire with Walter Omar Kohan, Part Two
Paulo Freire (1921-1997) is one of the most widely read and studied educational thinkers of our time. His seminal works, including Pedagogy of the Oppressed, sparked the global social and philosophical movement of critical pedagogy, and his ideas about the close ties between education and social justice and politics are as relevant today as they ever were. In part two of this episode, Walter Omar Kohan discusses his book, Paulo Freire: A Philosophical Biography, as well as the relationship between education and politics more broadly. He contextualizes Freire’s work within the past and current political terrain in Brazil and encourages educators to put themselves and their educational work into question by highlighting some of Freire’s lesser known thoughts on time.
Listen now1 year agoPaulo Freire with Walter Omar Kohan, Part One
Paulo Freire (1921-1997) is one of the most widely read and studied educational thinkers of our time. His seminal works, including Pedagogy of the Oppressed, sparked the global social and philosophical movement of critical pedagogy, and his ideas about the close ties between education and social justice and politics are as relevant today as they ever were. In part one of this episode, Walter Omar Kohan discusses his book, Paulo Freire: A Philosophical Biography, as well as the relationship between education and politics more broadly. He contextualizes Freire’s work within the past and current political terrain in Brazil and encourages educators to put themselves and their educational work into question by highlighting some of Freire’s lesser known thoughts on time.
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1 year agoPrison Theatre and the Global Crisis of Incarceration with Ashley E. Lucas - Part Two
Obscured behind concrete and razor wire, the lives of the incarcerated remain hidden from public view. Inside the walls, imprisoned people all over the world stage theatrical productions that enable them to assert their humanity and capabilities. In part two of this episode, Ashley E. Lucas discusses her most recent book, Prison Theatre and the Global Crisis of Incarceration, as well as her very personal experience with the carceral system growing up. We cover her in-depth research into prison institutions around the world, the role that theatre plays in creating community, and how it can transform the lives of the people forced into the prison system.
Listen now1 year agoPrison Theatre and the Global Crisis of Incarceration with Ashley E. Lucas - Part One
Obscured behind concrete and razor wire, the lives of the incarcerated remain hidden from public view. Inside the walls, imprisoned people all over the world stage theatrical productions that enable them to assert their humanity and capabilities. In part one of this episode, Ashley E. Lucas discusses her most recent book, Prison Theatre and the Global Crisis of Incarceration, as well as her very personal experience with the carceral system growing up. We cover her in-depth research into prison institutions around the world, the role that theatre plays in creating community, and how it can transform the lives of the people forced into the prison system.
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2 years agoJanet Jackson's The Velvet Rope with Ayanna Dozier
A Black female artist fighting to control her career, her body, and her life, Janet Jackson was a 20th century icon. As a part of our minicast on politics, Ayanna Dozier – author, filmmaker, and performance artist – shares her experience writing about The Velvet Rope for our 33 1/3 series, while tackling Black women’s sexuality and bodily autonomy, technophilia, online structures of oppression, and much more. This episode is for anyone wondering about Janet Jackson’s life and legacy and the influence she still has on artists today.
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2 years agoSlavery in the Age of Memory with Ana Lucia Araujo
Slavery is a horrifying yet fundamental part of history that still shapes modern racism and culture. As a part of our minicast on politics, author and historian Ana Lucia Araujo draws on archival research, interviews, slave narratives, and other resources to explain how slavery is discussed and taught in modern society and the role that memory plays in how we understand race. This episode addresses issues such as the collective and public memory of enslaved people, the willful forgetting of past trauma, and modern attempts at reparations. It also addresses current movements such as the Black Lives Matter protests, the dismantling of pro-slavery monuments and symbols, and the construction of memorials around the world. For anyone looking to discuss collective memory and learn how we can create systemic change to heal from the past.
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2 years agoThe Art of Political Storytelling with Philip Seargeant
In order for any politician to be successful, they need to tell a good story—one they can weave into their platform and policies, and one that grabs the voter’s attention. As a part of our minicast on politics, author Philip Seargeant discusses how narratives are used by conservatives and progressives, activist movements and conspiracy theorists, to create a political identity. Covering everything from the US presidential election to domestic terrorism to the climate strikes and Black Lives Matter protests, this episode is for anyone wondering how our leaders, our media, and the people around us are manipulating facts in the era of social media.
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2 years agoHow to Lose the Information War with Nina Jankowicz
The spread of false information, whether purposeful or unintentional, poses one of the biggest threats to democracy today. As a part of our minicast on politics, author and analyst Nina Jankowicz draws from her experience working in Russia, Ukraine, and Washington DC to answer questions on combating Russian interference, regulating tech and media companies, fighting foreign and domestic terrorism, and confronting disinformation in the digital age. This episode is for anyone wondering how we can protect our democratic process while still maintaining our basic rights and freedoms.
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2 years agoD'Angelo's Voodoo with Faith Pennick
D’Angelo is an artist with endless emotion and honesty, one who seems to literally put the soul in soul music. In this episode, author Faith Pennick discusses why so many are entranced by his work and how his songs inspired her to write D”Angelo’s Voodoo. We go beyond his music, analyzing his career, the strong messages of mental health in his lyrics, his experience as a Black musician, the release of his “Untitled” music video, and more. For R&B fans looking to explore the meaning behind D’Angelo’s music and discover what has everyone so captivated.
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2 years agoThe Raincoats' The Raincoats with Jenn Pelly
Born out of 1970s Britain, The Raincoats were a band formed from the ashes of experimental punk and rebellion. In this episode, author and journalist Jenn Pelly transports you back to a world of indie record stores, feminist ideals, DIY music, and a fight against capitalism as she discusses four independent, talented women, their work as artists, and their impact as a group. Explore their history, songs, opinions, and culture with someone who traveled to London to speak with The Raincoats themselves.
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2 years agoSex and Suits with Alok Vaid-Menon
Fashion, in many ways, is an extension of the person who wears it and can be used to make a statement, create a persona, or even claim an identity. In this special episode, performance artist, writer, and LGBTQ+ rights activist Alok Vaid-Menon talks about their experience reading Sex and Suits, the history behind gendered fashion, their own choices in style, and the fight against the gender binary.
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2 years agoOthello with Ayanna Thompson
Ayanna Thompson is a scholar, activist, and self-proclaimed Othello whisperer. She is the co-author of Teaching Shakespeare with Purpose, the author of Passing Strange and Performing Race and Torture on the Early Modern Stage, and the editor of Weyward Macbeth, Colorblind Shakespeare, and the Arden Third Series’ Othello. In this episode, Ayanna Thompson outlines the complexities of Othello, the history of racism in theater, and the strides the industry still needs to make to reach equality. For any theater buff, aspiring performer, literature professor, or Shakespeare fan, this is a conversation you’ll want to join.
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2 years agoFashion Forecasting with Lorynn Divita
An important skill for any designer is the ability to create the future of fashion, or at least be able to predict it. Learn how to do just that with author Lorynn Divita as she shares her secrets to anticipating emerging trends in the fashion industry. Covering a wide range of topics including fashion theory, cultural appropriation, economic status and affordability, style tribes, and more, this episode is perfect for any aspiring fashionista or trend-setting trainee.
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2 years agoAn Ethical Guidebook to the Zombie Apocalypse with Bryan Hall
Everyone knows that in the midst of a zombie apocalypse, what is considered normal or rational human behavior goes out the window. How would you react? Author Bryan Hall has some ideas. In this interview, we discuss philosophical theory in the fictional context of an ungoverned, zombie-infested world and in the very real context of COVID-19. An interesting exploration of ethics and society, this episode is for anyone looking to study moral philosophy in a new light.
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2 years agoTom Petty's Southern Accents with Michael Washburn
Having grown up in northern Florida, Tom Petty had a distinctly narrow view of America—something that is apparent in his album, Southern Accents. In this interview, author Michael Washburn analyzes these songs and Petty himself, commenting on the prevailing racial prejudices that still exist in the south today. Covering everything from 80’s rock ‘n’ roll to white nationalism, this episode discusses a music legend while also revealing some of the vital southern culture that he was misconstruing.
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2 years agoThe Lion and the Nightingale with Kaya Genc
Turkey is home to a vast creative community and a complex political climate—something that author and journalist Kaya Genc is extremely familiar with. During this episode, we explore the tense dynamic that exists between the Turkish government and the people who live there, touching on the country’s rich history and the many interviews Kaya has had with marginalized citizens whose voices often go unheard. If you’re interested in learning more about foreign politics or following the story behind Kaya’s literary journalism, take a listen.
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2 years agoThe Beatles’ "Let it Be" with Steve Matteo
May 8th 2020 marks the 50th anniversary of the Beatles’ Let It Be album—the recording sessions for which might be the most dramatic, creative, and chaotic of their career. In celebration, author Steve Matteo gives a behind-the-scenes look into the Beatles themselves, the story of Let It Be, and the many interviews he had with people close to the band.
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2 years agoChina's Forgotten People with Nick Holdstock
Xinjiang, China is home to the largest known concentration camp network in the modern world. Author and journalist Nick Holdstock discusses his work investigating the mass imprisonment of Muslims by Chinese officials and the tight government control that makes gathering information and providing aid to the Uyghur people so difficult. This episode covers the history and politics surrounding this human rights crisis.
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2 years agoSustainability and Social Change in Fashion with Leslie Davis Burns
The fashion industry is currently responsible for 10% of annual global carbon emissions. In this episode, Dr. Leslie Davis Burns explains how we can change that, breaking down key concepts and ideas covered in her own classroom. Discover what different organizations and retailers are doing to be more sustainable and learn how you can help to reduce the negative impact the fashion industry has on our environment.
Listen now2 years agoBonus Episode: Coronavirus and the Anthropocene
In the midst of this international pandemic, there are many new and important discussions taking place. During this special follow-up episode, author Chris Schaberg is back to talk about the impact of coronavirus on the environment around us—including the rapid decrease in air travel, employment, economic stability, and overall human interaction. A quick listen for anyone looking to consider how these extreme conditions are changing the climate conversation.
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2 years agoSearching for the Anthropocene with Christopher Schaberg
Debated, denied, unheard of, encompassing: the Anthropocene is a vexed topic, and requires interdisciplinary imagination. Christopher Schaberg invites listeners on an atmospheric, impressionistic adventure with the environmental humanities. This episode is not about defining or settling the Anthropocene, but rather about articulating what it’s like to live in the Anthropocene, to live with a sense of its nagging presence, even as the stakes grow higher with each passing year.
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2 years agoVeil with Rafia Zakaria
The veil is a complex and unique object, one that holds personal and cultural significance and often prompts very passionate and even aggressive reactions. Author Rafia Zakaria is here to help us consider the veil from a range of perspectives, including her own. This episode takes a close look at the veil in relation to women, aesthetics, power, and identity, and is for anyone looking to join the conversation.
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2 years agoThe Sexual Politics of Meat with Carol J. Adams
Veganism. Animal rights. Feminism. Masculinity. Capitalism. The climate crisis. Racism. Author Carol Adams discusses how each of these issues is connected. If you’re eager to explore the intersectional relationships between them and discover how they relate to the way society thinks about meat consumption and gender politics, then this is the episode for you.
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2 years agoBecoming Beauvoir with Kate Kirkpatrick
Simone de Beauvoir was an existentialist philosopher who laid the foundation for the modern feminist movement. We sat down to talk to author Kate Kirkpatrick about everything Beauvoir, from her childhood, to her personal relationships, to her commitment to social justice movements such as the decolonization of Algeria. This episode is for anyone interested in discussing Beauvoir’s social ideals and discovering how they remain relevant today.
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