The Bloomsbury Academic Podcast is officially one year old! And though we don’t have season two ready for you just yet, we are celebrating our anniversary with a look back at last year’s episodes and a special discount on all our season one books. Check out the episodes below for any you might have missed, use code BAP35 on our website to get 35% off your favorite books, and keep an ear out for our upcoming season two announcement.
Thanks for listening!
D'Angelo's Voodoo with Faith Pennick
4 years agoD’Angelo is an artist with endless emotion and honesty, one who seems to literally put the soul in soul music. In this episode, author Faith Pennick discusses why so many are entranced by his work and how his songs inspired her to write D”Angelo’s Voodoo. We go beyond his music, analyzing his career, the strong messages of mental health in his lyrics, his experience as a Black musician, the release of his “Untitled” music video, and more. For R&B fans looking to explore the meaning behind D’Angelo’s music and discover what has everyone so captivated.
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The Raincoats' The Raincoats with Jenn Pelly
4 years agoBorn out of 1970s Britain, The Raincoats were a band formed from the ashes of experimental punk and rebellion. In this episode, author and journalist Jenn Pelly transports you back to a world of indie record stores, feminist ideals, DIY music, and a fight against capitalism as she discusses four independent, talented women, their work as artists, and their impact as a group. Explore their history, songs, opinions, and culture with someone who traveled to London to speak with The Raincoats themselves.
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Sex and Suits with Alok Vaid-Menon
4 years agoFashion, in many ways, is an extension of the person who wears it and can be used to make a statement, create a persona, or even claim an identity. In this special episode, performance artist, writer, and LGBTQ+ rights activist Alok Vaid-Menon talks about their experience reading Sex and Suits, the history behind gendered fashion, their own choices in style, and the fight against the gender binary.
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Othello with Ayanna Thompson
5 years agoAyanna Thompson is a scholar, activist, and self-proclaimed Othello whisperer. She is the co-author of Teaching Shakespeare with Purpose, the author of Passing Strange and Performing Race and Torture on the Early Modern Stage, and the editor of Weyward Macbeth, Colorblind Shakespeare, and the Arden Third Series’ Othello. In this episode, Ayanna Thompson outlines the complexities of Othello, the history of racism in theater, and the strides the industry still needs to make to reach equality. For any theater buff, aspiring performer, literature professor, or Shakespeare fan, this is a conversation you’ll want to join.
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Fashion Forecasting with Lorynn Divita
5 years agoAn important skill for any designer is the ability to create the future of fashion, or at least be able to predict it. Learn how to do just that with author Lorynn Divita as she shares her secrets to anticipating emerging trends in the fashion industry. Covering a wide range of topics including fashion theory, cultural appropriation, economic status and affordability, style tribes, and more, this episode is perfect for any aspiring fashionista or trend-setting trainee.
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An Ethical Guidebook to the Zombie Apocalypse with Bryan Hall
5 years agoEveryone knows that in the midst of a zombie apocalypse, what is considered normal or rational human behavior goes out the window. How would you react? Author Bryan Hall has some ideas. In this interview, we discuss philosophical theory in the fictional context of an ungoverned, zombie-infested world and in the very real context of COVID-19. An interesting exploration of ethics and society, this episode is for anyone looking to study moral philosophy in a new light.
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Tom Petty's Southern Accents with Michael Washburn
5 years agoHaving grown up in northern Florida, Tom Petty had a distinctly narrow view of America—something that is apparent in his album, Southern Accents. In this interview, author Michael Washburn analyzes these songs and Petty himself, commenting on the prevailing racial prejudices that still exist in the south today. Covering everything from 80’s rock ‘n’ roll to white nationalism, this episode discusses a music legend while also revealing some of the vital southern culture that he was misconstruing.
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The Lion and the Nightingale with Kaya Genc
5 years agoTurkey is home to a vast creative community and a complex political climate—something that author and journalist Kaya Genc is extremely familiar with. During this episode, we explore the tense dynamic that exists between the Turkish government and the people who live there, touching on the country’s rich history and the many interviews Kaya has had with marginalized citizens whose voices often go unheard. If you’re interested in learning more about foreign politics or following the story behind Kaya’s literary journalism, take a listen.
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The Beatles’ "Let it Be" with Steve Matteo
5 years agoMay 8th 2020 marks the 50th anniversary of the Beatles’ Let It Be album—the recording sessions for which might be the most dramatic, creative, and chaotic of their career. In celebration, author Steve Matteo gives a behind-the-scenes look into the Beatles themselves, the story of Let It Be, and the many interviews he had with people close to the band.
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China's Forgotten People with Nick Holdstock
5 years agoXinjiang, China is home to the largest known concentration camp network in the modern world. Author and journalist Nick Holdstock discusses his work investigating the mass imprisonment of Muslims by Chinese officials and the tight government control that makes gathering information and providing aid to the Uyghur people so difficult. This episode covers the history and politics surrounding this human rights crisis.
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Sustainability and Social Change in Fashion with Leslie Davis Burns
5 years agoThe fashion industry is currently responsible for 10% of annual global carbon emissions. In this episode, Dr. Leslie Davis Burns explains how we can change that, breaking down key concepts and ideas covered in her own classroom. Discover what different organizations and retailers are doing to be more sustainable and learn how you can help to reduce the negative impact the fashion industry has on our environment.
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Bonus Episode: Coronavirus and the Anthropocene
5 years agoIn the midst of this international pandemic, there are many new and important discussions taking place. During this special follow-up episode, author Chris Schaberg is back to talk about the impact of coronavirus on the environment around us—including the rapid decrease in air travel, employment, economic stability, and overall human interaction. A quick listen for anyone looking to consider how these extreme conditions are changing the climate conversation.
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Searching for the Anthropocene with Christopher Schaberg
5 years agoDebated, denied, unheard of, encompassing: the Anthropocene is a vexed topic, and requires interdisciplinary imagination. Christopher Schaberg invites listeners on an atmospheric, impressionistic adventure with the environmental humanities. This episode is not about defining or settling the Anthropocene, but rather about articulating what it’s like to live in the Anthropocene, to live with a sense of its nagging presence, even as the stakes grow higher with each passing year.
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Veil with Rafia Zakaria
5 years agoThe veil is a complex and unique object, one that holds personal and cultural significance and often prompts very passionate and even aggressive reactions. Author Rafia Zakaria is here to help us consider the veil from a range of perspectives, including her own. This episode takes a close look at the veil in relation to women, aesthetics, power, and identity, and is for anyone looking to join the conversation.
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The Sexual Politics of Meat with Carol J. Adams
5 years agoVeganism. Animal rights. Feminism. Masculinity. Capitalism. The climate crisis. Racism. Author Carol Adams discusses how each of these issues is connected. If you’re eager to explore the intersectional relationships between them and discover how they relate to the way society thinks about meat consumption and gender politics, then this is the episode for you.
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Becoming Beauvoir with Kate Kirkpatrick
5 years agoSimone de Beauvoir was an existentialist philosopher who laid the foundation for the modern feminist movement. We sat down to talk to author Kate Kirkpatrick about everything Beauvoir, from her childhood, to her personal relationships, to her commitment to social justice movements such as the decolonization of Algeria. This episode is for anyone interested in discussing Beauvoir’s social ideals and discovering how they remain relevant today.
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