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.

This episode is on Rudyard Kipling’s Captains Courageous. When spoiled rich boy Harvey Cheyne falls overboard from a luxury liner, he's saved by chance and hauled onto a fishing schooner. He is then plunged into a world that doesn't care about his wealth—only his willingness to work and learn.

As we follow Harvey’s journey, we talk about what it takes to grow from a boy into a man—not through lectures or privileges, but through hard physical work, learning from those around you, and the quiet, steady leadership of hard working men. Sometimes the most valuable life lessons aren't spoken but learned by experience.

This one is for Vanessa and Heidi!!

In this episode, we journey through the cosmic pages of A Wrinkle in Time, where a brilliant but awkward teen named Meg Murry teams up with her younger brother Charles Wallace and new friend Calvin O'Keefe to search for their missing father across space and time. With the help of some eccentric celestial beings—Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Which, and Mrs. Who—they discover the wonders of the tesseract, a wrinkle in time that lets them leap across the universe. As they travel to strange planets, including a chilling world of forced conformity and the peaceful cave of the Happy Medium, they face the deep battle between good and evil. Along the way, they’re given gifts -- not just of magic or power, but of wisdom, courage, and love. It's a tale of warm family bonds, unlikely friendships, and learning that sometimes the greatest strength comes from being exactly who you are.

Step into the medieval imagination with us as we explore C.S. Lewis’s final academic work, The Discarded Image. In this episode, we gently guide you through the layered, harmonious worldview of the Middle Ages—not as a dark, primitive time, but as a rich and ordered vision of the universe.

Lewis doesn’t ask us to agree with the medieval model of the cosmos—he invites us to understand it. And in doing so, he offers a beautiful shift in perspective: that the past, with all its differences, can still speak with dignity and intelligence. We’ll walk with him through spheres, angelic hierarchies, and the music of the heavens, discovering a world filled with meaning, order, and beauty.

Whether you’re new to medieval thought or revisiting an old love, this episode opens a window into a forgotten way of seeing—a worldview more enchanted and interconnected than we often imagine.

Step into the intriguing plot of The Scarlet Pimpernel. Set during the Reign of Terror of the French Revolution, it's an exciting tale of daring disguises, secret identities, and quiet heroism. But beyond the adventure and suspense lies a deeper story—of a marriage strained by silence, of love tested by secrets, and an ache of not knowing how to speak the truth. In this episode, we explore not just the disguised rescuer at the heart of the tale, but also the quiet tensions between husband and wife, and what it takes to rebuild trust when words have failed. It’s a story of courage and cleverness.

This story – At the Back of the North Wind -- is full of strange beauty and wonder. It’s both a novel and fairytale by the great storyteller, George MacDonald. We get to learn from a little boy named Diamond and a kind but mysterious lady named North Wind. Through their experiences as they get to know one another, we too can find new layers of meaning about our world and how goodness and grief blend together. This is a quiet book but deep with layers of meaning that go beyond mere words.