We're talking about the Bard today -- the one and only Shakespeare -- and his exciting drama The Tempest -- a story of shipwreck, sorcery, and second chances. We also talk a bit about Shakespeare’s genius overall—his impressive body of work, the characters that still breathe on stage and page, and the words and phrases he invented that we still use today.

Whether you’ve read every play or just met Prospero today, we hope you enjoy it!

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In today's episode we visit a curious little island where words and language are more important to the people than technology and modern conveniences. But strange consequences follow when the revered alphabet starts falling to the ground, one tile at a time.

We follow Ella, her family, and her neighbors on a playful yet poignant word-picture through censorship, creativity, and the power of expression. Expect wit, wordplay, and a surprising amount of heart in this tale where every letter counts. Join us as we celebrate the resilience of language and communication—and the freedom to use it.

In this dive into the epic poem Beowulf, we explore the clash of monsters and men. With the translated combination of prose and poetry, this poem tells of the strongest of warriors - who grapples bare-handed with man-eating monsters - and wins! And follows it up with a fire-breathing dragon!

There's a wonderful history to this poem from the middle ages and we talk through some of the literary tools used (ever heard of a kenning?!) and some key Old English themes; like the impermanence of life and the pursuit of glory.