Best William Hubert Podcasts (2025)

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notes of a crocodile by qiu miaojin 43:24

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6h ago43:24

43:24

we’re talking about notes of a crocodile by qiu miaojin. first, though: 1994 facts and talk of the car that shreds will never buy. we discuss qiu miaojin’s tragic end (and how it pops up a lot among our authors) and the equally dark inspiration for this novel (which still winds up being not a total downer). shreds compares notes of a crocodile‘s to…

1
Robert Falcon Scott - Part 1 37:02

9d ago37:02

37:02

In part 1 of our series, we look at the early life of Robert Falcon Scott - including his naval career. We also discuss the state of exploration regarding Antarctica - the last unexplored continent in the world. We then go through Scott's appointment - through the influence of Sir Clements Markham - to head the upcoming British National Antarctic E…

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trainspotting by irvine welsh 59:40

16d ago59:40

59:40

we enter into 1993 with trainspotting by irvine welsh, which released on january 1. (whew, we just snuck in there!) after shreds fails to surface any 1993 facts, joey saves the day. we talk about a 90s novel set in the 90s, explore the irvine welsh shared universe, and discuss the dialectal writing in the text as well as the line that welsh straddl…

1
The Polynesians 1:01:41

23d ago1:01:41

1:01:41

Around 1,000 AD, the Polynesians spread across the South Pacific like the tentacles of an octopus. Without metal or modern navigational tools, they sailed across thousands of miles of open ocean to find and colonize hundreds of islands, including Tahiti, New Zealand, Hawaii, Samoa, Easter Island and many others. They are some of the most extraordin…

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all the pretty horses by cormac mccarthy 45:18

29d ago45:18

45:18

our 1990s module continues with all the pretty horses by cormac mccarthy, marking a rapid return to his writing after covering blood meridian earlier this year. after discussing whether we could have approached “the border trilogy” in another way, we discuss 1992 facts (wherein shreds makes a generous offer) and talk about mccarthy’s assumption tha…

1
mao ii by don delillo 52:34

2M ago52:34

52:34

we’ve progressed into 1991 to talk about mao ii by don delillo, and joey has finally done his due diligence and brought some 90s facts. we start things off by talking about whether or not it’s important to have historical context for the events covered in the text, how dull (complimentary) and realistic delillo’s writing is, and the death of the no…

1
Nero's Nile Expedition 28:06

2M ago28:06

28:06

In 61 AD, Roman Emperor Nero ordered an expedition up the Nile River - to explore the unknown lands to the south - and attempt to find the source of the mysterious river. This is the story of that expedition. Sponsors: Quince. Get free shipping with your order by using code EXPLORERS at quince.com/explorers The Explorers Podcast is part of the Airw…

1
vineland by thomas pynchon 53:54

2M ago53:54

53:54

our 1990s module kicks off with vineland by thomas pynchon and an existential dilemma: are we starting off this module with a lie? after talking about getting our hands on media before its release date, we detour to discuss radiohead’s live “hail to the thief” album, which shreds expertly weaves right into the novel description via paul thomas ande…

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The Vivaldi Brothers and the first attempt to sail from Europe to India via the Cape Route 25:02

2M ago25:02

25:02

In 1291, two Genoese brothers, Vandino and Ugolino Vivaldi, led the first known attempt to sail from Europe to India by going around the southern tip of Africa. The attempt - which failed - would generate rumors and speculation for hundreds of years. Sponsors: Quince. Get free shipping with your order by using code EXPLORERS at quince.com/explorers…

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HMS Investigator and the Northwest Passage – Part 5 – A conversation with Hubert Sagnières 50:30

2M ago50:30

50:30

As a follow up to the Investigator series, we interviewed Hubert Sagnières - the author of "For Glory, Not Gold." We talk about a wide range of topics, including the Investigator, exploration in general, his inspirations, and plans for the future. It is a nice way to wrap up our series. Sponsors: Quince. Get free shipping with your order by using c…

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season seventeen theme and reading list 12:59

2M ago12:59

12:59

it’s time to unveil our next full-length module, which comes as a surprise to joey, too: we’re heading back to the 1990s. after shreds reveils the ungodly length of the original form of this module, we discuss how the form of this module is yet another one that we could cycle through. shreds announces the titles while confirming what we all know: w…

1
the demon by hubert selby, jr. 52:27

2M ago52:27

52:27

the second book in our second great american novel module is the demon by hubert selby, jr. does it pair well with the sound and the fury? that’s what we’re discussing. first, though, we check in with shreds to see if this is the novel that he remembered reading, what his history with it is, and what it inspired him to want to do. we talk about the…

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HMS Investigator and the Northwest Passage – Part 4 – The Passage Conquered 33:36

3M ago33:36

33:36

By Matt Breen

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the sound and the fury by william faulkner 36:38

3M ago36:38

36:38

our second great american novel module kicks off with the sound and the fury by william faulkner. joey explains his difficulties with parsing the text and how he approached it, while shreds talks about the character he identifies with. we explore a time when authors were less afraid to reckon with big ideas — as well as the authors still doing it n…

1
HMS Investigator and the Northwest Passage – Part 3 – Across the Passage 37:51

3M ago37:51

37:51

The HMS Investigator fights to survive two winters at Mercy Bay as the physical and mental health of the crew slowly starts to deteriorate. A desperate journey over the ice is planned - but the crew are saved by the arrival of men from the east - from the HMS Resolute. Enter to win a copy of "For Glory, Not Gold: Expeditions Through Arctic Lands 18…

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season sixteen theme and reading list 13:49

3M ago13:49

13:49

we’re back to find out what will be in store in our next great american novel module. also, we wonder: could we run out? does shreds enjoy reading? after a refresher on how this works (and teasing future great american novel modules), we discuss whether or not this is what the podcast “should” be, and if these mini-modules are the purest version of…

1
HMS Investigator and the Northwest Passage – Part 2 – The Parry Channel and Mercy Bay 34:46

3M ago34:46

34:46

In part 2 of our series, the HMS Investigator explores the areas around Banks Island and Victoria Island, before sailing into the Parry Channel - the eastern entrance to the Northwest Passage. They will end the year at Mercy Bay - a place the ship will never leave. Enter to win a copy of "For Glory, Not Gold: Expeditions Through Arctic Lands 1818-1…

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danielle chelosky interview (author of cheat, show me your face, pregaming grief, baby bruise, female loneliness epidemic) 49:50

3M ago49:50

49:50

after covering her work for the past several episodes, we talked to danielle chelosky. we asked about fiction vs. nonfiction (specifically with regard to the right way to read her work), nonfiction being treated by reviewers as gossip, and how danielle attempts to capture the feeling of specific moments without seeming cringe. she talks about how s…

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HMS Investigator and the Northwest Passage – Part 1 – Into the Arctic 35:03

4M ago35:03

35:03

In part 1 of our series, we look at the history of the search for the Northwest Passage, and the Lost Franklin Expedition. We then follow Captain Robert McClure as he leads the Investigator into the Canadian Arctic Archipelago in 1850. Enter to win a copy of "For Glory, Not Gold: Expeditions Through Arctic Lands 1818-1876" by Hubert Sagnières. Go t…

1
baby bruise and female loneliness epidemic by danielle chelosky 52:09

4M ago52:09

52:09

it’s another double dip of danielle chelosky’s writing this episode, as we cover baby bruise and female loneliness epidemic. after lamenting what twitter has become (and what we lost), we talk about the title of chelosky’s short story collection, how frank o’hara’s meditations in an emergency relates to the work, and how we continue to approach her…

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Jim Bridger - Part 6 - Powder River Expedition, Red Cloud's War, and final years 29:56

4M ago29:56

29:56

In the final episode in our series on Bridger, we take the mountain man on his final western adventures - the Powder River Expedition, and Red Cloud's War. We then wrap up by talking about the final years of Bridger's life, and his legacy. Sponsors: Get an exclusive 15% discount on your first Saily data plans! Use code EXPLORERS at checkout. Downlo…

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pregaming grief by danielle chelosky 29:58

4M ago29:58

29:58

our danielle chelosky module continues with pregaming grief, her first published piece of long-form writing. we talk about its ties to cheat, whether it could (canonically) be in the gossip girl universe, and how auto-fiction relates to this novel, her work as a whole, and the wider literature. we explore pregaming grief as a covid-era novel, albei…

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Jim Bridger - Part 5 - The Utah War, Raynolds Expedition, Bridger Trail and the Telegraph 32:07

4M ago32:07

32:07

This episode covers some of the most dramatic changes of the west in Jim Bridger's life. This includes the Utah War, the coming of the telegraph, and several expeditions of exploration, including the establishment of the Bridger Trail to the goldfields of Montana. Sponsors: Get an exclusive 15% discount on your first Saily data plans! Use code EXPL…

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Jim Bridger - Part 4 - Brigham Young, the Mormons, and various expeditions 33:05

4M ago33:05

33:05

In this episode, we detail the growing conflict between Brigham Young and the United States government - and the effect it had on Bridger. We will also talk about Bridger's time as a guide for several expeditions - including his work with an American survey team heading into the mountains around the Yellowstone River. Sponsors: Get an exclusive 15%…

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cheat and show me your face by danielle chelosky 37:50

5M ago37:50

37:50

our danielle chelosky module kicks off with a pair of chapbooks that she self-published: cheat and show me your face. (it’s our first-ever “two books in one podcast” episode, and we do our best to keep ’em separated.) we talk about how both titles are very sexual and sexualized, but almost devoid of joy and not at all sexy, by design. we explore th…

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Jim Bridger - Part 3 - Go West! 35:58

5M ago35:58

35:58

In part 3 of our series, the 1840s will feature waves of people coming west - including settlers, miners and Mormons. Bridger will build that will later become a part of the Oregon Trail, and become a guide for those looking to forge new routes through the mountains. Sponsors: Get an exclusive 15% discount on your first Saily data plans! Use code E…

1
season fifteen theme and reading list 6:11

5M ago6:11

6:11

we’ve done it. we’ve closed the big account, ghostbusters-style, and landed another author focus module. this time, we’re talking about the work of danielle chelosky. we discuss other authors whom we’ve spoken with who have praised her work and what we believe we can expect from her work. shreds describes how we will put together questions for her …

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Jim Bridger - Part 2 - King of the Mountain Men 31:07

5M ago31:07

31:07

In part 2 of our series, we talk about the adventures Bridger had in his years as a trapper (1825-1840). We will also look at some of the people he encountered, and the places he visited. We will also discuss the changing fur industry, and how the west evolved during these years. Sponsors: Get an exclusive 15% discount on your first Saily data plan…

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ohio by stephen markley 57:41

5M ago57:41

57:41

we’re closing out our ohio module with ohio by stephen markley, who honored us by naming this book after our module. we talk about the impact of the title and writing about where you’re from, how the deluge serves as somewhat of a retroactive pre-read for this book, and how markley is one of the best social realist authors of our time. we talk abou…

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Jim Bridger - Part 1 - Early Years and the Great Salt Lake 34:54

5M ago34:54

34:54

We talk about the early years of Bridger's life, including his path on becoming a veteran trapper and mountain man. This episode also includes Bridger's reaching of the Great Salt Lake - him being the first white man to ever reach the lake. The Explorers Podcast is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com Interested in advertising on…

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outside in by doug cooper 52:29

5M ago52:29

52:29

our ohio module continues with outside in by doug cooper and some “ohio facts” (island facts?) about the town of put-in-bay. after learning about island culture in ohio — we want to go so bad — we talk about an inciting incident that the novel does not reflect on at all, how shep shows no signs of darkness at all (and no flaws), and our issues with…

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Francisco Pizarro and the Conquest of the Inca Empire - Part 8 44:46

6M ago44:46

44:46

In the final chapter of our saga we focus on another civil war in Peru - this between Gonzalo Pizarro and the Spanish Crown. We then detail the end of the Inca Empire. The Explorers Podcast is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com Interested in advertising on the Explorers Podcast? Email us at [email protected] Learn mo…

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omensetter's luck by william gass 40:10

6M ago40:10

40:10

our ohio module keeps on truckin’ with both a pop quiz about the state and a discussion of omensetter’s luck by william gass. we talk about the difficulty in reading the novel (and how the first two sections sort of fake you out a bit), what william gass is “doing” in this text, and why regional writing tends to be set back in time. shreds explains…

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Francisco Pizarro and the Conquest of the Inca Empire - Part 7 32:00

6M ago32:00

32:00

The Spanish continue to explore Peru and the lands beyond, while unhappy supporters of the late Diego de Almagro plot their revenge. It will mark a bloody end for many of our drama's characters. The Explorers Podcast is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com Interested in advertising on the Explorers Podcast? Email us at advertisin…

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Francisco Pizarro and the Conquest of the Inca Empire - Part 6 36:55

6M ago36:55

36:55

The rivalry comes to a head between Francisco Pizarro and Diego de Almagro at the Battle of Las Salinas. Meanwhile, the ever pesky Inca under Manco continue to be a thorn in the side of the Spanish, resulting in multiple campaigns to Vitcos and Vilcabamba. The Explorers Podcast is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com Interested i…

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the bluest eye by toni morrison 48:05

6M ago48:05

48:05

our ohio module kicks off with a known quantity: the undeniably great debut novel from toni morrison, the bluest eye. after briefly reflecting on the states so far, we talk about famous people from ohio as well as whether the bluest eye feels specific to ohio. we talk about its thematic ties to ryan coogler’s sinners, as well as the text’s generati…

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season fourteen theme and reading list 11:05

7M ago11:05

11:05

it’s time for another card drawing on lottery pod, and even though we don’t say it in this episode: suck shit, sufjan stevens. after we struggle to remember which states we’ve already covered, we make picks and predictions for both the states that we’re most excited about and the states we think will come up in the drawing. (spoiler: shreds is almo…

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Francisco Pizarro and the Conquest of the Inca Empire - Part 5 32:54

7M ago32:54

32:54

The siege of Cusco continues while an army of 50,000 bears down on Francisco Pizarro in Lima. Meanwhile, Manco Inca is forced to make a major decision when Diego de Almagro makes his long awaited return from his failed campaign in Chile. The Explorers Podcast is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com Interested in advertising on th…

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open water by caleb azumah nelson 34:51

7M ago34:51

34:51

we’re closing out our second-person module with one of our strongest books yet: open water by caleb azumah nelson. after talking about the pitt (and the mount rushmore of tv), we talk about the lack of irony in open water and the way its naturalistic style makes you forget it’s written in second-person. we talk about the way nelson writes about med…

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Francisco Pizarro and the Conquest of the Inca Empire - Part 4 34:17

7M ago34:17

34:17

In part 4 of our series, Diego de Almagro heads south on his own expedition of conquest. Meanwhile, the treatment of the Inca people at the hands of the Spanish drives the young emperor, Manco, to plot rebellion - which leads to the Siege of Cusco. The Explorers Podcast is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com Interested in advert…

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a man asleep by georges perec 30:49

7M ago30:49

30:49

our penultimate book in the “you” module is a man asleep by georges perec, which is a return to form as it’s once again french as hell. we talk about how it compares to suicide by édouard levé and the malady of death by marguerite duras, as well as the refreshing nature of variation in the module. shreds talks about the other short story in the col…

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Francisco Pizarro and the Conquest of the Inca Empire - Part 3 36:09

7M ago36:09

36:09

In this episode, the Inca Emperor, Atahualpa, offers Pizarro massive roomful of gold in exchange for his freedom. After that, it is on to Cusco - the empire's capital and its wealthiest city. The Explorers Podcast is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com Interested in advertising on the Explorers Podcast? Email us at advertising@a…

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the night circus by erin morgenstern 41:59

8M ago41:59

41:59

our “you” module is winding down, so it feels like the perfect time to cover a book that shouldn’t be in the module at all: the night circus by erin morgenstern. first, though, we talk about the film magazine dreams (with heavy spoilers): what makes it a mess, what went wrong, and how shreds would have ended the movie. then, we pivot to the night c…

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Francisco Pizarro and the Conquest of the Inca Empire - Part 2 37:03

8M ago37:03

37:03

Francisco Pizarro sets out to Peru with less than 200 men - looking to conquer the Inca Empire, which was embroiled in a civil war. We will detail his journey - as well as elements of the Inca Empire - and conclude with the meeting of Pizarro and the Inca Emperor - Atahualpa. The Explorers Podcast is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwaveme…

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Francisco Pizarro and the Conquest of the Inca Empire - Part 1 35:05

8M ago35:05

35:05

In the first episode in this series, we cover the early life of Pizarro, as well as his first two exploratory expeditions to South America and Peru - where he gets a glimpse of the wealth of the Inca. We wrap up with Pizarro going to Spain to get a license to conquer Peru and its people. The Explorers Podcast is part of the Airwave Media Network: w…

1
the diver's clothes lie empty by vendela vida 46:46

8M ago46:46

46:46

shreds continues to physically fall apart on our latest episode as we talk about the diver’s clothes lie empty by vendela vida. joey rejoices as we finally hit a book this module that he loves, and we wonder if there’s a module we can built around the central element in this novel that he loves. we talk about how young and modern this novel feels, …

1
Faxian and his travels through the Buddhist Kingdoms 24:18

8M ago24:18

24:18

In 399 AD, Faxian, a 62-year old Chinese monk set out for India. His goal was to find and copy sacred Buddhist scripts that were missing or falling apart in his homeland. The result would be an epic 13-year journey through 30 kingdoms. Faxian's account of his journey is one of the earliest and most complete of India in this time period. Check out H…

1
Sidi Mubarak Bombay - From History Dispatches 18:42

9M ago18:42

18:42

This is an ad-free, bonus episode from History Dispatches. Sidi Mubarak Bombay grew up a slave - taken from his home in Africa to India. But that didn't stop him from being one of the most accomplished explorers and travelers of Central Africa. Over a period of 20 years, Bombay traveled with some of the most famous African explorers, including Rich…

1
how like a god by rex stout 41:34

9M ago41:34

41:34

our episode about how like a god by rex stout starts with joey immediately killing one of shreds’ bits, setting a vibe. after talking about dave “storyteller” grohl, we talk a lot about shakespeare (including whether hamlet is required reading) before shreds gives this podcast our “ian mckellen on wtf” moment. we talk about how this feels like a ph…

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Samurai William Adams - Part 4 42:39

9M ago42:39

42:39

In the final chapter in our series on William Adams, we details the opening of Japan to the Dutch and English, as well as the final years of the man's remarkable life. Check out History Dispatches at HistoryDispatches.com Sponsor: Go to www.amazfit.com/EXPLORERS to save 10%. The Explorers Podcast is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemed…