Best Alex Schroeder Podcasts (2025)

It’s almost Libra season and Stassi is back with C-O-Lo—tired, a little moody, and fully blaming the moon (and TikTok). After a failed attempt at cleaning Hartford’s toy-packed room and battling the usual kid chaos, Stassi just wants to feel better—but instead spirals into end-of-the-world theories: rapture, aliens, zombies, or maybe just AI gone w…

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735 Mrs Dalloway by Virginia Woolf (with Mark Hussey) | My Last Book with Graham Watson 1:23:55

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4d ago1:23:55

1:23:55

Jacke talks to author Mark Hussey (Mrs Dalloway: Biography of a Novel) about Virginia Woolf's beloved novel Mrs Dalloway, which turned 100 earlier this year. PLUS author Graham Watson (The Invention of Charlotte Bronte) stops by to discuss his choice for the last book he will ever read. Join Jacke on a trip through literary England (signup open thr…

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734 The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien (#16 GBOAT) | 1925 - A Literary Encyclopedia (with Tom Lutz) 56:09

8d ago56:09

56:09

Jacke talks to author Tom Lutz about 1925: A Literary Encyclopedia, which provides a fascinating window into a year when literature was arguably at its peak centrality. PLUS a look at J.R.R. Tolkien and his influential Lord of the Rings, #16 on the list of the Greatest Books of All Time. Join Jacke on a trip through literary England (signup open th…

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Nonstop Stassi: Fashion, Birthday Parties & Emmys 59:14

9d ago59:14

59:14

Stassi is back with C-O-Lo, running on fumes after back-to-back weeks with the kids and straight into Lady World prep. She recaps her glam-but-hungover Fashion Week , Ouija board nights in NYC, Messer’s garbage-truck-chic birthday party, and pulling off her incredible re-imagined vintage dress moment at the Emmys party—even if bathroom breaks in gl…

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733 Haruki Murakami (with Mike Palindrome | To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee (#17 GBOAT) | A Letter from Tehran 1:24:11

11d ago1:24:11

1:24:11

Haruki Murakami (b. 1949) is one of the rare writers who combines literary admiration with widespread appeal. Host Jacke Wilson is joined by lifelong Murakami fan Mike Palindrome to discuss what makes his novels so compelling, so mysterious, and so popular. Works discussed include The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle, Norwegian Wood, Kafka on the Shore, and …

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732 The Bible (#18 GBOAT) | The Diaries of Samuel Pepys (with Kate Loveman) | Health Advice 1:13:35

15d ago1:13:35

1:13:35

Jacke starts the episode by looking at the different ways that ten writers have viewed the Bible, #18 on the list of the Greatest Books of All Time. Then he's joined by scholar Kate Loveman, one of the few people in the world who's been able to read the diaries of Samuel Pepys in the original shorthand, for a discussion of her book The Strange Hist…

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The One Where Stassi Is Still Drunk w/ Taylor Strecker 56:22

16d ago56:22

56:22

Stassi is back with bestie Taylor Strecker, fresh from the Downton Abbey premiere in New York (yes, she left on Messer’s 2nd birthday and Taylor calls her out). The premiere was absolutely amazing, and she’s still a little drunk from the after-party of her period-piece dreams—but that doesn’t stop the two from diving into something even juicier: th…

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731 The Brothers Karamazov Reclaimed (#19 Greatest Book of All Time) 1:21:06

18d ago1:21:06

1:21:06

Responding to a special request from a listener, Jacke discusses Fyodor Dostoevsky, his novel The Brothers Karamazov, and the search for meaning in a meaningless world. This episode was originally released as episode #250 on October 7, 2020. For reasons Jacke discusses, it has not been available for several years. One show note: at several points i…

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730 "To Autumn" by John Keats | The Invention of Charlotte Brontë (with Graham Watson) | My Last Book with Sara Charles 1:06:20

22d ago1:06:20

1:06:20

Jacke looks forward to a new season by exploring the language and imagery of John Keats's famous ode to autumn. Then he talks to Graham Watson about his new book The Invention of Charlotte Brontë: A New Life, which tells the story of how how Charlotte reinvented herself as an acclaimed author, a mysterious celebrity, and a passionate lover. PLUS Sa…

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Pop Culture, But Make It Jet-Lagged 56:01

23d ago56:01

56:01

Stassi and C-O-Lo are back—jet lagged, slightly blotchy from a late-night spray tan, and ready to dive into pop culture. Stassi shares what it’s like to parent through airports, survive marathon meetings, and still miss her English naps. The girlies unpack Taylor Swift’s engagement, Sydney Sweeney’s headline-making choices (Glenn Powell, Scooter Br…

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729 Milton the Revolutionary (with Orlando Reade) | My Last Book with Jodi Picoult | More Exciting News 1:07:45

25d ago1:07:45

1:07:45

Since the publication of John Milton's epic poem Paradise Lost in 1667, readers and critics have noted the relationship between the poem and the author's political and personal struggles. What has been less prominent - at least until now - is how the poem came to haunt various political struggles over the next four centuries. In this episode, Jacke…

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Maria Georgas is Stassi’s New Spooky Friend at Vanderpump Villa 41:51

1M ago41:51

41:51

Stassi is at the epic Vanderpump Villa with special guest Maria Georges (yes, the almost-Bachelorette), and the conversation is equal parts spooky and soul-baring. Maria shares why she turned down becoming the Bachelorette—proving the power of saying no. They swap stories on relationships (including a Travis Kelce/ Taylor Swift–style dynamic that j…

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728 The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain (#20 GBOAT) | Lorraine Hansberry - RECLAIMED 1:30:35

1M ago1:30:35

1:30:35

As part of the "25 for '25" series, Jacke starts the episode with a look at #20 on the list of Greatest Books of All Time, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain. Then he reclaims a previous episode devoted to Lorraine Hansberry, author of A Raisin in the Sun, a brilliant playwright who died at the tragically young age of 34. (The Hansbe…

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Monsters: Gargoyles 5:56

1M ago5:56

5:56

Superhumans hanging around in gloomy temples, not knowing what to do with themselves.

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727 Earthly Paradise in Old French Verse (with Jacob Abell) | My Last Book with Victorian Literature Expert Allen MacDuffie | A Dueling Neapolitan Passionate for Poetry 1:04:12

1M ago1:04:12

1:04:12

What happened to Eden? While today we might view the story of Adam and Eve as metaphorical, for many generations of Christians, the Earthly Paradise was a vibrant symbol at the heart of the cosmos. In this episode, Jacke talks to Jacob Abell about his book Spiritual and Material Boundaries in Old French Verse: Contemplating the Walls of the Earthly…

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Taylor Swift, It Ends With Us, Bella Thorne, Sam Asghari & Kevin Federline, Kylie & Timmy, and more! 1:24:39

1M ago1:24:39

1:24:39

Join us this week as we discuss the controversy surrounding Taylor Swiftt's new album announcement, break down Todd & Alexia's relationship, give our take on Bella Thorne proposing to her boyfriend, serve the tea on Sam Asghari's shady remarks on Kevin Federline's autobiography, provide an update on the never-ending It Ends With Us Drama, talk abou…

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#Cottagecore in the Cotswolds 1:04:32

1M ago1:04:32

1:04:32

Stassi is deep in the English countryside, living out her Jane Austen dreams—but with a side of Taco Bell delivery. Joined by Auntie Al and C-O-Lo, she’s juggling parenting, sightseeing, and a few very unexpected roommates (think bats, spiders, and sheep). From winding Cotswold roads and magical villages to pig-in-a-blanket surprises and Amazon pac…

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726 England vs France - A Literary Battle Royale (with Mike Palindrome) - RECLAIMED 1:03:36

1M ago1:03:36

1:03:36

“Our dear enemies,” a French writer once called the English. Englishman John Cleese called the French “our natural enemies” and joked “if we have to fight anyone, I say let’s fight the French.” With the exception of some (very important) twentieth-century alliances, the French and the English have been at each others’ throats for a thousand years. …

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725 The Trial by Franz Kafka (#21 GBOAT) | Edith Wharton and Patrick O'Brian (with Olivia Wolfgang-Smith) | An Uplifting Story 1:18:40

1M ago1:18:40

1:18:40

Jacke starts the episode with an uplifting story, then submerges himself into chaos and absurdity for a look at The Trial by Franz Kafka, which lands at #21 on the list of Greatest Books of All Time. Then he welcomes novelist Olivia Wolfgang-Smith to the show for a discussion of her admiration for Edith Wharton, her passion for the works of Patrick…

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Scheana Shay, Denise Richards & Aaron Phypers, MGK, Love Island, Larsa Pippen, and more! 52:46

1M ago52:46

52:46

Join us this week as we discuss Scheana Shay's new book, break down Denise & Aaron's split, give our take on MGK claiming he could be other worldly, talk Love Island reunion, spill the tea on Larsa's allergic reaction, and more! Scheana Shay- 00:06 Denise & Aaron- 15:21 MGK- 29:45 Love Island- 37:27 Larsa- 43:38…

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Stassi Takes Period Pieces Very Seriously 56:16

1M ago56:16

56:16

Stassi’s in England with C-O-Lo, recording old-school style in a hotel room—no cameras, no plan, just like the early podcast days. But between a work trip, no nanny, and Beau forgetting the stroller, it’s been pure survival mode. “Auntie Al” flew in to help wrangle the kids after the nanny couldn't go, while Messer decided mid-flight that he only w…

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724 The Stranger by Albert Camus (#22 Greatest Book of All Time) | Christopher Isherwood (with Jake Poller) | Postcard from a Listener in Yunnan 1:01:38

2M ago1:01:38

1:01:38

Put on your black turtleneck! Jacke starts the episode with a look at #22 on the list of The Greatest Books of All Time, The Stranger by Albert Camus. Then he talks to Jake Poller about British and American novelist and playwright Christopher Isherwood, whose Goodbye to Berlin was adapted into the stage musical and movie Cabaret. In discussing his …

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723 The Moral Rights of Authors (with Mira T Sundara Rajan) | My Last Book with Radha Vatsal 1:16:28

2M ago1:16:28

1:16:28

As technology advances, the ability of authors and artists to prevent their works from being pirated or misused has become urgent. In this episode, Jacke talks to copyright expert Mira T. Sundara Rajan (The Moral Rights of Authors and Artists: From the Birth of Copyright to the Age of Artificial Intelligence) about the history of copyright law, the…

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Becca Hates Christmas & Birthdays as much as Stassi Hates The Beach 1:05:59

2M ago1:05:59

1:05:59

Becca Tobin from LadyGang joins Stassi as they plan their upcoming dream beach vacay at Ladyworld —despite the fact that Stassi hates sand and Becca thinks holidays are wildly overrated. Christmas? Too much. Birthdays? Too stressful. Hosting parties? Hard pass. The two bond over their shared love of low expectations, laugh about lavish kids’ birthd…

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Lindsay Lohan, RHOM, Sydney Sweeney's Good Genes, Alix Earle & Alex Cooper, Liam & Pamela, and more! 48:22

2M ago48:22

48:22

Join us this week as we discuss Lindsay Lohan's iconic press tour outfits for the Freakier Friday, spill the tea on the latest Real Housewives of Miami drama, dive into Katy Perry & Justin Trudeau's situationship, give our take on Sydney Sweeney's American Eagle "Good Genes" Campaign, touch on the Alix Earle & Alex Cooper drama, gush over Liam Nees…

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722 Kerouac's Road - A Conversation with Ebs Burnough, Director of a New Kerouac Documentary | My Last Book with Beat Generation Expert Steven Belletto 1:03:15

2M ago1:03:15

1:03:15

Since its publication in 1957, Jack Kerouac's iconic novel On the Road has inspired millions to head for the highways and live life to its fullest. In this episode, Jacke talks to filmmaker Ebs Burnough about his new documentary Kerouac's Road: The Beat of a Nation, which interweaves stories of modern-day travelers with those influenced by or conne…

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721 Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert (The #23 Greatest Book of All Time) 1:28:14

2M ago1:28:14

1:28:14

Jacke continues his journey through the list of the 25 Greatest Books of All Time with a look at Flaubert's "perfect novel," Madame Bovary (1856-57). Telling the story of the bored wife of a provincial doctor who enters into a series of infidelities, Flaubert's debut caused an immediate sensation - and changed the way we've come to view both novels…

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New Moon in Leo = Rom-Com Energy with Alex Stafford 1:07:12

2M ago1:07:12

1:07:12

Stassi’s back with Auntie Al (Alex Stafford) and the new moon in Leo has them both in full rom-com mode. They spiral from nostalgic Lisa Frank school-supply runs and Hartford’s Mary-Kate & Ashley obsession to a mystery Halloween song from their childhood. Stassi shares how matcha runs, flower shop magic, and a slow weekend with her kids snapped her…

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720 The 25 Greatest Books of All Time - #24 "The Odyssey" by Homer | The Conclusion to F. Scott Fitzgerald's "The Diamond as Big as the Ritz" (with Mike Palindrome) 1:23:43

2M ago1:23:43

1:23:43

Jacke continues his analysis of "The 25 Greatest Books of All Time" by a special look at Homer's Odyssey. Then Mike Palindrome, the president of the Literature Supporters Club, joins Jacke for a discussion of the second half of F. Scott Fitzgerald's 1922 story, "The Diamond as Big as the Ritz," in which a young midwesterner travels to a secluded Mo…

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719 "The Diamond as Big as the Ritz" by F Scott Fitzgerald (with Mike Palindrome) | 25 for 25 - #25 The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck 1:51:49

2M ago1:51:49

1:51:49

In June of 1922, the twenty-five-year-old wunderkind F. Scott Fitzgerald published "The Diamond as Big as the Ritz," an incredible story of fabulously wealthy people living a secret life in remote Montana. Later that month, he began composing his most famous work, The Great Gatsby. In this episode, Jacke and Mike read and discuss this early Fitzger…

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Billionaire Cheaters at Coldplay, Parenting Panic Attacks, and The Real Life Conjuring w/ Taylor Strecker 57:02

2M ago57:02

57:02

Stassi welcomes her bestie Taylor Strecker for a hilarious catch-up filled with pregnancy constipation woes (shoutout to Teddy), suppository confessions, and an official baby girl announcement—the Taylor's are due on Hartford’s due date! Taylor has a full-blown panic attack mid-show when facing her upcoming parenting reality, but rosé saves the day…

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718 Jim - The Life and Afterlives of Huckleberry Finn's Comrade (with Shelley Fisher Fishkin) | Mark Twain's Dreams 1:36:04

2M ago1:36:04

1:36:04

In this episode, Jacke talks to eminent Twain scholar Shelley Fisher Fishkin (Was Huck Black?: Mark Twain and African-American Voices) about her new book Jim: The Life and Afterlives of Huckleberry Finn's Comrade, which sheds new light on the origins and influence of Mark Twain's beloved yet polarizing figure. PLUS Jacke takes a look at the recent …

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How To Tell Your Authority Story With Kyle Gray 1:07:10

2M ago1:07:10

1:07:10

Storytelling is one of the most impactful and effective ways for founders, entrepreneurs, and visionaries to connect with their audiences and target market. For author and podcaster Kyle Gray, there is no better story to tell the world than your own authority story. Joining Mitch Russo, he shares the process of crafting such a story, which perfectl…

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Love Island Season Finale, Scheana Shay & Brock, Olivia Culpo, Sydney Sweeney, 20s Advice, and more! 1:19:07

2M ago1:19:07

1:19:07

Join us this week as we recap the last episodes of Love Island USA, discuss Vanderpump Rules' alum Scheana admitting Brock cheated, give our hot take on Olivia Culpo's "what's in my bag" to give birth, share our thoughts on Sydney Sweeney potentially being the next Bond girl, offer advice on questions from our audience, and more! Love Island- 00:22…

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717 Einstein and Kafka (with Ken Krimstein) | Dr Johnson Helps a Friend (and Changes the Course of Literary History) | My Last Book with Fernando Pessoa Expert Bartholomew Ryan 53:41

2M ago53:41

53:41

It's an action-packed day at the History of Literature! First, Jacke recounts the story of Dr. Johnson racing to the aid of his friend, the playwright Oliver Goldsmith, whose landlady was threatening him with debtor's prison. Naturally, the great critic and dictionary author Johnson found a very literary way to help. Then Jacke is joined by author …

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Keltie Knight on the Hollywood Hustle, Celebrity Gossip, and Partying at LadyWorld 1:13:25

2M ago1:13:25

1:13:25

Stassi is joined by The Ladygang’s Keltie Knight to serve up the perfect girls' catch up with this laugh-out-loud, no-filter conversation. Stassi and Keltie discuss the latest pop culture headlines - including the celebrity cruise - and gush about how much they admire JLo's work ethic. Between Keltie’s wild career confessions (magician’s assistant?…

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716 Icelandic Folk Legends (with Dagrun Osk Jonsdottir) | John le Carre at the Bodleian 58:28

2M ago58:28

58:28

Since the first permanent settlers landed there more than a thousand years ago, Iceland has been perhaps the most unique and enchanting place in all of Europe. How fitting, then, for its people to have developed unique, enchanting, and captivating stories involving hidden people, trolls, ghosts, sea monsters, and more. In this episode, Jacke talks …

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715 How Did George Eliot and the Victorians Respond to Climate Collapse? (with Nathan Hensley) | People at Museums Are Losing Their Brains! | My Last Book with Stephen Browning and Simon Thomas 1:09:12

3M ago1:09:12

1:09:12

What does it feel like to live helplessly in a world that is coming undone? If you're alive in 2025, you are probably very familiar with this feeling - and if you'd been alive in the age of Victorian literature, you might have felt that way too. In this episode, Jacke talks to author Nathan K. Hensley about his book Action without Hope: Victorian L…

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Finding Your Signature Home Decor Style (& Lo Just Bought Her First!) 1:04:51

3M ago1:04:51

1:04:51

Stassi is back with the ultimate home episode because C-O-Lo just bought her very first place—and not just any home, but her first L.A. home. They’re celebrating with a deep dive into the obsessive art of decorating, design regrets, and figuring out your aesthetic one sideboard mistake at a time. Lo shares how she found a townhouse that just felt r…

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Monsters: Froglings 5:02

3M ago5:02

5:02

Humanoids in swamps with surprise jumping attacks.

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714 The Real Charles Dickens (with Stephen Browning and Simon Thomas) | Dickens and the Theatre 1:22:00

3M ago1:22:00

1:22:00

Charles Dickens (1812-1870) led one of the most colorful and interesting lives of any author. But while many of us are familiar with his unforgettable characters and fantastically successful novels, we often don't know the details of his difficult early life, his success as a reporter, his troubled marriage and suspected relationship with another w…

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Bezos-Sanchez Wedding, Secret Lives of Mormon Wives Reunion, Khloe & Kylie's Plastic Surgery, & RHOM! 53:43

3M ago53:43

53:43

Join us this week as we break down The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives Reunion, spill the tea on the Bezos-Sanchez wedding, discuss our take on Khloe and Kylie disclosing their plastic surgery secrets, unpack the latest episode of The Real Housewives of Miami, and more! The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives Reunion- 00:29 Bezos-Sanchez Wedding- 22:04 Khloe…

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713 The Odyssey (with Daniel Mendelsohn) | The History of Literature Podcast Tour! 1:31:43

3M ago1:31:43

1:31:43

Homer's Odyssey is one of the oldest surviving works of literature - and yet, somehow, it can also feel like one of the newest. The inventive narrative structure, complex hero, and surprisingly modern themes still feel fresh, thousands of years after the poem's genesis. In this episode, Jacke talks to author and translator Daniel Mendelsohn about h…

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President of The Hunching Girlies Community 48:28

3M ago48:28

48:28

It’s Stassi’s birthday episode, and she’s here to unpack her accidental life hack for celebrating yourself all week long—without throwing a single party. Between martinis, New York adventures, and her complicated feelings about birthday Instagram posts, Stassi shares her best birthday moments, including finding out her birthday is the luckiest day …

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712 Shakespeare's Greatest Love (with David Medina) | New Play About Shakespeare's Collaboration with Marlowe 56:46

3M ago56:46

56:46

He might be the greatest writer about love that the world has ever known. But as is so often the case with Shakespeare, the biographical record raises as many questions as it answers. How often did Shakespeare fall in love, and with whom, and what happened? Who was Shakespeare's greatest love? In this episode, Jacke talks to David Medina about his …

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711 How Does Literature Handle Atrocities? (with Bruce Robbins) | My Last Book with Hemingway Expert Alex Vernon | Who Will Come to Jacke and Emma's Party? 1:10:28

3M ago1:10:28

1:10:28

For millennia, literature has represented humanity at its finest. Over the same period of time, human beings have been committing the worst acts of mass violence imaginable. How have authors addressed these atrocities? Have they shown an ability to look at their own nation with the critical eyes of a stranger? And if so, have works of imagination p…

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Starting Fresh: Closet Purge & Birthday Vibes with Alex Stafford 1:14:49

3M ago1:14:49

1:14:49

It’s Stassi’s birthday episode! She’s joined by her childhood bestie Alex Stafford—who’s been around since the original “Dracarys” days, long before Blake Lively ruined it—for their annual closet cleanout tradition. Over martinis and Aperol spritzes, they catch up on Blake’s cringe Game of Thrones text, texting habits that trigger anxiety, and acci…