Best BardCast Podcasts (2026)

1
Gifting Shakespeare 31:50

Play Pause

7d ago31:50

31:50

Sent us a text, you dicks!! Merry Christmas!!! Happy Boxing Day!!! ( And also, Happy Belated Hanukkah!!! And Happy Kwanzah!!!) In this episode, we talk about all the gifts that are given from one character to another in the Shakespeare canon. We also talk about traditional Elizabethan gifts... 'cuz, you know, it's presents time of year!!! Did we mi…

1
Jive Turkey Shakespeare 34:27

22d ago34:27

34:27

Sent us a text, you dicks!! This its our belated Thanksgiving episode, dicks and dickesses!!! We are talking about those characters in the canon who are truly jive turkeys. Oxford Dictionary says "a dishonest, insincere, or foolish person." But it's not that simple - people are complicated!!! We only thought of a few definitive jive turkeys, albeit…

1
Taking a Break Shakespeare 2:19

1M ago2:19

2:19

Sent us a text, you dicks!! Hello dicks and dickesses!! We are taking this week off due to personal reasons, but we leave you here with LA and a few Shakespeare quotes about thankfulness. Hope your Thanksgivings (if you celebrate it, that is!!) were warm and wonderful!! LA & Owen To send us an email - please do, we truly want to hear from you!!! - …

1
Ass Reaming Shakespeare 21:35

2M ago21:35

21:35

Sent us a text, you dicks!! To be completely honest, this episode came directly out of the fact that Owen had a colonoscopy the day we recorded. However, we stand by it - there are TONS of ass reams in the Shakespeare canon. People are always yelling at each other. That's what we're discussing today. Short and sweet. Can you think of any we missed?…

1
Trick or Treat Shakespeare 50:07

2M ago50:07

50:07

Sent us a text, you dicks!! Happy Halloween!!! Blessed Samhain!!! Oíche Shamhna shona daoibh!!! (Which basically means "Happy Samhain to you all") It is the evening where the veil between this world and the spirit world is the thinnest. It is the day of costumes and black cats and candy corn and trick or treating. It's a day filled with a lot of dr…

1
No Regrets Shakespeare 41:03

3M ago41:03

41:03

Sent us a text, you dicks!! Today's topic comes from our dear friend, costumer extraordinaire and friend of the pod, Nancy Nichols!!! Thank you, Nancy!!! Regret and remorse are BIG themes in a lot of the Shakespeare canon. In this episode we discuss who regrets the actions of their past, who doesn't regret the actions of their past, and who thinks …

1
Weaponized Shakespeare 52:44

3M ago52:44

52:44

Sent us a text, you dicks!! Today we welcome renowned Fight Choreographer and Gentlemen of All Things Weaponish, Dan O'Driscoll, to discuss what weapons and things people used to fight and slay and otherwise hurt each other in the Shakespeare canon. Rapiers? Halberds?? Poleaxes and pikes??? Hooray!!! Such pointy and sharp fun!!! We love this!!! To …

1
Children and Babies Shakespeare 27:24

3M ago27:24

27:24

Sent us a text, you dicks!! We realized that we have never talked about the children and babes that appear in the Shakespeare canon. And we're shocked!! In this episode, we do just that - who are the younger generation characters? And what is their purpose and what do they add to the stories?? Get your binkies ready and jump right in to the baby po…

1
To Die For Shakespeare 35:04

4M ago35:04

35:04

Sent us a text, you dicks!! Is there someone you would die for? Or something? A cause, perhaps? In this episode (which is, of course, inspired by the play Les Liaisons Dangereuses that we are rehearsing), we discuss the characters in the canon that die for something - a person, a cause, a King. Would you die for something?? Write and tell us!! Come…

1
French Me Shakespeare! 31:53

4M ago31:53

31:53

Sent us a text, you dicks!! Soooooo.... for once, we are currently in the same city, in the same building, in the same rehearsal room every day, rehearsing an English play based on a French novel, Les Liaisons Dangereuses. (See below for link for tickets!!!) And French stuff is on our minds, for sure!! Obviously, that led us to thinking about all t…

1
Foodie Shakespeare 37:09

5M ago37:09

37:09

Sent us a text, you dicks!! There are SOOO many times that characters break bread (sometimes humans in the form of a pie, but I digress...) together in the Shakespeare canon. So we were thinking... which of these famous banquets and dinners would we want to attend? Which ones would we not touch with a ten foot halberd?? In this episode, we dive int…

1
Coldplay (Cheaters!) Shakespeare 37:26

5M ago37:26

37:26

Sent us a text, you dicks!! You know... you just can't avoid a lot of stuff that happens over social media these days, and one of those things THIS week was that hilarious outing of the CEO and his bitch at the Coldplay concert. I MEAN, HOW DUMB CAN YOU BE????? It got us thinking though... what are the instances of infidelity and adultery (real and…

1
Ages of Shakespeare 43:01

6M ago43:01

43:01

Sent us a text, you dicks!! How old ARE Romeo and Juliet? And Antony and Cleopatra?? And Rosalind and Orlando??? And King Lear???? In this episode, we discuss not only how old the characters in the canon are (or in many cases, appear to be), but also, whether or not it makes a difference to the story. And on top of THAT, we also talk about how well…

1
Hot Shakespeare!! 39:09

6M ago39:09

39:09

Sent us a text, you dicks!! It's oppressively hot in the Northeast US right now... and that got us thinking about the definition of hot... hot - /hät/ adjective adjective: hot; comparative adjective: hotter; superlative adjective: hottest having a high degree of heat or a high temperature. (of food) containing or consisting of pungent spices or pep…

1
Fuck You Hoes Shakespeare 28:14

7M ago28:14

28:14

Sent us a text, you dicks!! Soooo... After we're dead, if any of our dear friends want to listen to one episode of our podcast because they knew us well and miss us terribly this is the one. If they do listen, they'll go - yeah. That's them. We're talking about hoes and whores in the canon. Draw your own conclusions. Happy National Fuck You Hoes Da…

1
Season 6 Opener - Subjectively Annoyingly Shakespeare 46:29

7M ago46:29

46:29

Sent us a text, you dicks!! Welcome to Season 6!!!! We know, right??? We can't believe it ourselves!!!! That being said, we decided to get a little selfish and okay, self-serving, so in this episode, we talk about the characters in the canon that we - personally, for whatever reason!! - find annoying. It's our pod, after all!!! To send us an email …

1
The State of the Art Shakespeare - Season 5 Closer 24:01

8M ago24:01

24:01

Sent us a text, you dicks!! As we head into our sixth season of The Bardcast, we firstly want to say - thank you, thank you, thank you to all our incredible listeners!!!! We are SO grateful for your love and your listening and your patronage, especially in this current climate. Which leads us to today's topic - The State of the Art in the United St…

1
Juliet and Romeo Shakespeare!! - with Timothy Scott Bogart 49:46

8M ago49:46

49:46

Sent us a text, you dicks!! We are SO EXCITED, listeners!!!!!!!! Today's guest is Timothy Scott Bogart, writer/director of the gorgeous new movie musical Juliet and Romeo, dropping Friday May 9 at a theatre near you!!! Incredible cast - Derek Jacobi (drool!!), Jason Isaacs (double drool!!), Rebel Wilson, Rupert Everett... and a whole new bunch of f…

1
Surprising Shakespeare 42:42

9M ago42:42

42:42

Sent us a text, you dicks!! SURPRISE!!!!! Everyone needs a good surprise now and again, right??? Well, today's episode is about lots of things in the Shakespeare canon - as well as the man and his life!!! - that are unexpected and surprising!!!! Even things one of US didn't realize or know!!! Can you believe it??? We can't!!! To send us an email - …

1
Deluded Shakespeare 40:10

9M ago40:10

40:10

Sent us a text, you dicks!! Deluded - /dəˈlo͞odəd/ adjective: deluded believing something that is not real or true. Wow. Topical, huh??? In this episode, we discuss the MANY and varied characters in the canon that are, in one way or another, deluded. Who can you think of that fits this particular bill? Email and tell us!!! To send us an email - ple…

1
Hopeful Shakespeare 58:52

10M ago58:52

58:52

Sent us a text, you dicks!! Hello, dear listeners!! We've recently been abroad!! And one of the things we learned is that the world is sad for us in the US. Sigh. So we decided to look at the brighter side of life!! In this episode, we talk about our travels, but we also look at those moments or characters or relationships in the Shakespeare canon …

1
Noble Shakespeare 45:41

10M ago45:41

45:41

Sent us a text, you dicks!! Soooo... we were having a discussion about nobility. And not just the class rank kind, but what exactly is it that makes a person noble? And for that matter, what exactly delineates the difference between royalty and nobility? In this episode, we discuss the characters in the canon - which characters are noble? Which are…

1
Poke the Bear Shakespeare 45:51

10M ago45:51

45:51

Sent us a text, you dicks!! LA knows how fussy Owen gets when she gives him an online Shakespeare quiz that is TERRIBLE. And it kind of absolutely delights her. Because it pokes the bear (Owen). In this episode, LA gives Owen a 44 question Shakespeare quiz from the website Quizlet. And it is FUCKING HORRIBLE. Not only are the so-called "answers" to…

1
MAGA Shakespeare 53:51

11M ago53:51

53:51

Sent us a text, you dicks!! Living in the United States currently means that as much as we might try to not get obsessed over the shit show that is our country right now, it seeps in like a noxious gas. So we figured - might as well make use of it!! In this episode, we discuss how all the characters in the canon might have voted in this last round …

1
Cymbeline Shakespeare 34:52

11M ago34:52

34:52

Sent us a text, you dicks!! Have YOU ever seen a production of Cymbeline??? Owen hasn't, and Lisa Ann has only seen it once. HOWEVER!!!! We ARE seeing it at The Globe in London in March, and we decided to delve a little further into the play that really is quite seldom done. NOTE: LA is sounding rough from the shittiest flu EVER. Apologies. (Sneeze…

1
Resolution Shakespeare 36:12

12M ago36:12

36:12

Sent us a text, you dicks!! Happy 2025, listeners!!! What are YOUR resolutions for this new year?? We have some... but more importantly, what resolutions do the characters in the canon have?? In this episode we discuss those and play some resolution=quotes from plays=what character and play games. Whoooo Hooooo!!! Happy New Year, you dicks!! (And d…

1
Best Roles in Shakespeare 43:55

1y ago43:55

43:55

Sent us a text, you dicks!! As a follow up to our last episode, today we discuss the best roles in the Shakespeare canon. SPOILER: There are A LOT more good ones than bad ones. Check out Season 2 Episode 41 for our "A Visit From Saint Falstaff!!!" Merry and Warm Everything and Happy New Year - you dicks and dickesses!!! (I - LA - want to note here …

1
Worst Roles in Shakespeare 52:37

1y ago52:37

52:37

Sent us a text, you dicks!! Whoever said there are no small roles, only small actors... is full of shit. YES THERE ARE!!!! There are hundreds of small roles in the Shakespeare canon, and a lot of them SUCK. (As do some not so small roles.) In this episode, we slap that stupid phrase right out of the proverbial mouth and discuss all the roles we can…

1
Globe Trotting Shakespeare 43:39

1y ago43:39

43:39

Sent us a text, you dicks!! "Travelers ne'er did lie, Though fools at home condemn 'em." - Antonio, The Tempest, Act III Scene 3 Oh, the traveling life!!! We LOVE to travel, and we think Shakespeare felt the same way, because he uses SOOOOO many different countries and places in the canon! In today's episode, we discuss the myriad of locations in S…

1
Trumped Up Shakespeare 30:05

1y ago30:05

30:05

Sent us a text, you dicks!! Well.......................... It happened. And we're none too pleased about it. But we have to move forward. Kind of. So this episode is - ostensibly - about where we see parallels in the Shakespeare canon. Enjoy. If you are able. To send us an email - please do, we truly want to hear from you!!! - write us at: thebardc…

1
Who's Afraid of Shakespeare? 31:02

1y ago31:02

31:02

Sent us a text, you dicks!! During her daily perusal of The New York Times, LA came upon an article entitled "Who's Afraid of William Shakespeare?" written by Drew Lichtenberg, the artistic producer at the Shakespeare Theatre Company in Washington. Texting it to Owen, immediately upon finishing said article, we decided that this was serious fodder …

1
Pathetic Shakespeare 42:59

1y ago42:59

42:59

Sent us a text, you dicks!! pathetic /pəˈθet̬.ɪk/ arousing pity, especially through vulnerability or sadness. miserably inadequate; of very low standard. ARCHAIC - relating to the emotions. This episode, dear listeners, is our conversation about which characters in the Shakespeare canon can be considered pathetic. As you can see, there's a range - …

1
Maggie Smith Shakespeare 28:36

1y ago28:36

28:36

Sent us a text, you dicks!! Oh dear listeners..... We are truly bummed. The world has lost a major light, a star, a talent without compare, a "National Treasure," as King Charles said. Dame Margaret Natalie Smith passed away on September 27, 2024 at the ripe old age of 89. This is our heartfelt tribute. We love you, Maggie - rest well. And make som…

1
Tolkien Shakespeare 46:57

1+ y ago46:57

46:57

Sent us a text, you dicks!! Riddle: What do you get when you cross Tolkien with Shakespeare??? Answer: Tune in to find out!!! This is a bit of a Black Swan episode, but we tie it all together. Enjoy!! To send us an email - please do, we truly want to hear from you!!! - write us at: [email protected] To support us (by giving us money - we…

1
Sonnet Shakespeare Goes to the Stars!! 48:44

1+ y ago48:44

48:44

Sent us a text, you dicks!! Stars as in astrology... but also, as in our guest!!! We are FORTUNATE to have the SUPREMELY talented (see what we did there??) Will DeVary joining us on this episode to discuss his choice of sonnet, Sonnet 14. Is he reaching for the heavens? Can we predict what he'll say?? WHAT DOES THIS EPISODE PORTEND??? Join us and f…

1
Emma Thompson Shakespeare!! 27:00

1+ y ago27:00

27:00

Sent us a text, you dicks!! Sooooooo..... not only is Emma Thompson a brilliant actor and wonderful human being, but she is the one who told Leda (Owen's wife) and Lisa Ann, in a bathroom in London after having seen that stunning As You Like It that we've talked so much about... "Theatre is supposed to reduce you to rubble!" Heaven knows this fabul…

1
Judi Dench Shakespeare!! 36:27

1+ y ago36:27

36:27

Sent us a text, you dicks!! In the last couple of months, we've delved into some of the most well-known Shakespearean actors. All of them male. It's time to shift the focus!!!!! In this episode, we rush headlong into the female side of this category - and who better to start with than herself, Dame Judi Dench??? (Sounds of Owen and Lisa Ann bowing …

1
Owen Goes to England (without LA!!!) 36:42

1+ y ago36:42

36:42

Sent us a text, you dicks!! Owen went to England!!! WITHOUT LA!!!! (Fuss, fuss, fuss. Ah well.) In this episode, we discuss all the cool and not so cool things that Owen saw in the UK this time around (including several Shakespeares of differing appeal, to be sure). And also... we drop some excellent pod news!!!! To send us an email - please do, we…

1
Jacobi Shakespeare!! 38:27

1+ y ago38:27

38:27

Sent us a text, you dicks!! Okay, so.... third time's a charm!! Isn't that what they say?? And for our third act, we have chosen none other than a podcast (Owen) favorite... Derek Jacobi!!! (LA loves him too, just not quite as much as Owen.) To send us an email - please do, we truly want to hear from you!!! - write us at: [email protected]…

1
McKellen Shakespeare!! 44:23

1+ y ago44:23

44:23

Sent us a text, you dicks!! We had so much fun discussing Sir Kenneth Branagh last time that we thought we'd dig into even more ridiculously talented Shakespearean actors!! So this time... we're going with Sir Ian McKellen! (Another knight... are you sensing a theme here?? We certainly are!!) To send us an email - please do, we truly want to hear f…

1
Branagh Shakespeare!! 37:46

1+ y ago37:46

37:46

Sent us a text, you dicks!! Now, you knew we'd get into this sooner or later. There are those actors who are known for their work with The Bard. Kenneth is one of those. In this episode, we discuss all the work he has done in the canon - SO FAR. We've got YEARS (hopefully!!) of more work coming from this incredible artist!!! To send us an email - p…

1
Shakespeare - The Plays - Henry V - Season 5 Opener!! 41:03

1+ y ago41:03

41:03

Sent us a text, you dicks!! Can you believe it??? We can't. The beginning of our fifth season!! And what better way to celebrate than to talk about Henry V??? Many thanks to you, our loyal listeners, for keeping us on the airwaves AND on the straight and narrow. Kind of, anyway ;) To send us an email - please do, we truly want to hear from you!!! -…

1
Sibling Shakespeare 38:50

1+ y ago38:50

38:50

Sent us a text, you dicks!! You know, dear listeners... we are such dear, dear friends (and have been for so many years!) that we truly feel as close to siblings as two people can get - who aren't actually biologically related. (Is blood actually thicker than water?) Plus, National Siblings Day was just a few weeks ago! It started us thinking... (a…

1
Birthday Shakespeare! 🎂 30:35

1+ y ago30:35

30:35

Sent us a text, you dicks!! April 23 is Shakespeare's Birthday!!! (And also his Death Day, but that's not important right now.) To honor the natal day of the Bard, in this episode we discuss all things birthday!! Where birthdays are mentioned in the canon, cakes, presents, traditions and history - and other celebratory topics! Grab some cake and a …

1
Shakespeare - The Plays - A Midsummer Night's Dream 45:58

1+ y ago45:58

45:58

Sent us a text, you dicks!! You know, dear listeners - we have a lot to say. Certainly about Shakespeare!! And we are going to continue to say it!! In this episode we dive to the very Bottom (Ha! get it??) of A Midsummer Night's Dream. Lovers, Fairies, Mechanicals - what else could a person want??? Give us your hands, if we be friends... To send us…

1
Shakespeare - The Plays - Twelfth Night 44:19

1+ y ago44:19

44:19

Sent us a text, you dicks!! We had so much fun delving deeply into Julius Caesar last episode that we decided to tackle one of the comedies!! Twelfth Night is quite special to us, because we played Viola and Malvolio together a bunch of years back at Tulsa Shakespeare in the Park. That being said, we have A LOT to say about the play, that productio…

1
Stabby Shakespeare 39:17

2y ago39:17

39:17

Sent us a text, you dicks!! Beware the Ides of March!!! So, last week we were just shooting the proverbial shite, and it was - of course - March 15, the Ides of March. Which led us to a conversation about Julius Caesar. Which led us to a conversation about the state of politics in the good ol' US of A. Ugh. So we thought... let's talk some more abo…

1
Revenge of Sonnet Shakespeare! 1:12:23

2y ago1:12:23

1:12:23

Sent us a text, you dicks!! Listeners!!! We are bound and determined to get through all of Shakespeare's sonnets!!! In this episode we are joined by two dear friends and amazing actors, Amy Landis and Mark Edward Lang. What a joy to hear them do beautiful justice to the Bard's words and then discuss so fully that it satisfies our little nerdy heart…

1
Dinner with Shakespeare 50:26

2y ago50:26

50:26

Sent us a text, you dicks!! One of our lovely listeners, Susan, asked us "Which characters would you most enjoy (or not) to have a meal with?" When we read it, we thought: What a fantastic idea for a podcast episode!!! So this is it!!! We discuss who in the canon we'd love - or not love!! - to break bread with. Thanks, Susan!! We love you!! Enjoy!!…

1
Bride of Sonnet Shakespeare 47:10

2y ago47:10

47:10

Sent us a text, you dicks!! We warned you!! We did!! We said there are 154 sonnets and we are bound and determined to get to ALL of them!! In this episode, the lovely and supremely talent Bruce Cromer joins us to discuss Sonnet 126 - the WEIRD sonnet. The sonnet that marches to its own drum. The sonnet that is not like any others. What, you say?? T…