Celebrate Poe

A Star is Born

April 28, 2024 05:00 - 26 minutes - 18.4 MB

Episode 236 - A Star is Born is the first of two episodes that deal with the influence of William Shakespeare (the anniversary of his birthday was earlier this week.). The first episode deals with the influence of Shakespeare's plays (and acting in general) on the marriage of David and Eliza Poe. Using some original information that I doubt you will find anywhere else, I would like to point out how Eliza Poe was the "star" of the family using the Shakespearean roles she played (compared to ...

Was Poe Baroque?

April 22, 2024 04:00 - 25 minutes - 17.6 MB

This episode continues a series that compare’s elements of Christopher Nolan’s Inception with Poe’s dream works. The episode ends with Poe’s poem Dreams - a classic work that weaves a narrative transitioning from a sense of hope in dreams to a realization of their illusory nature. The speaker reminisces about reveling in dreams of light and loveliness, escaping into imagined realms apart from his own reality. However, as the poem progresses, the tone shifts to acknowledge the fleeting natur...

Spinning Top, Part Two

April 14, 2024 06:00 - 23 minutes - 16 MB

Welcome to Celebrate Poe - episode 234 - Spinning Tops, Part Two In this episode, Celebrate Poe continues its examination of some of Poe’s works against the background of Christopher Nolan’s movie - Inception. First, it is important to remember that many of Poe's tales are narrated by characters with questionable sanity or motives. Stories like "The Tell-Tale Heart" leave readers unsure of what truly happened or if the narrator's perception can be trusted. The majority of this episode d...

Spinning Top, Part One

April 10, 2024 22:00 - 22 minutes - 15.3 MB

Spinning Top, Part One is a the first of five episodes devoted to an examination of Poe's "Dream Works" and Christopher Nolan's movie "Inception." This episode emphasizes that Poe's characters are often haunted by memories and past traumas, while Inception reflects this with Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio) grappling with his deceased wife Mal, who manifests within his dreams. The film explores how unresolved issues and memories can shape our perception of reality, a theme also central to many of...

Despair!

April 02, 2024 23:00 - 21 minutes - 14.4 MB

This episode takes a deep dive into the three dreams of Richard III - from a dream about falling off a ship to the admonitions of "Despair and Die" before the Battle of Bosworth in The Tragedy of Richard III.

We Are Such Stuff

April 02, 2024 23:00 - 13 minutes - 9.31 MB

This episode delves into (for the most part) some of the some shorter passages from Shakespeare dealing with dreams passages that are also among the most well known. Sections vary from Julius Caesar to Henry IV, Part 1 to Romeo and Juliet to Hamlet to The Tempest, among others.

To Be or Not

April 01, 2024 03:00 - 26 minutes - 18 MB

Episode 230. To Be or Not Episode 230 continues an examination of Chronos time and Kairos times through an examination of Hamlet’s “to be or not to be” soliloquy from Shakespearae’s Hamlet. Special attention is paid to Hamlet’s decision NOT to act - that waiting for Kairos - or the right moment to make a decision - is a decision in itself - and Hamlet ends up being the story of a man who cannot make up his mind.

The Right Time

March 25, 2024 02:00 - 29 minutes - 20.5 MB

Episode 229 of Celebrate Poe is a continuation of an examination of the concepts or Chronos and Kairos - this time centered around the story of Easter - for example - how concept of kairos time is intricately related to the narrative of Jesus on the Road to Emmaus. The use of kairos time in the Easter Story emphasizes that Jesus' death and resurrection were not just historical events (Chronos) but pivotal moments orchestrated by God for the redemption of humanity (Kairos.) 00:00 Musical Int...

What Is a Day?

March 18, 2024 02:00 - 28 minutes - 19.7 MB

Episode 228 of Celebrate Poe is entitled “What Is a Day?” The podcast (and several episodes after it) were influenced by a sermon given by the Rev. Julia Wentworth at Trinity Episcopal Church in Indianapolis earlier this year. This episode deals with Chronos and Kairos time, and delves into the role of time in the Creation story, Mark’s gospel, and the famous “to everything there is a season” verses from Ecclesiastes. 00:00 Intro 01:51 Chronos and Kairos introduced 06:04 Future episodes...

Oppenheimer and Poe

March 11, 2024 04:00 - 24 minutes - 17 MB

This episode deals with J. Robert Oppenheimer - the complex figure who is the subject of this year’s Best Picture. This episode compares the figures of J. Robert Oppenheimer and Edgar Allan Poe. Obviously, from different centuries, the two figures share many common complexities because of their backgrounds, talents, accomplishments, and complicated personalities.

Poe Review, 2

March 06, 2024 02:00 - 20 minutes - 14 MB

Episode 226 is the second part of a look at some of the high points of Celebrate Poe so far - from the Allans in England to Poe’s days at the University of Virginia, and at West Point. The episode takes a look at some secondary accounts of incidents of the time in the context of Poe’s life and career.

Poe Review, 1

March 04, 2024 02:00 - 25 minutes - 17.5 MB

Episode 225 - Poe Review, 1 is a brief look (through a conversation with the ghost of Mr. Poe and George) regarding the 1st half of Mr. Poe’s life - his earliest years up to Stoke Newington. Originally, I called this episode Catchup!, but I later decided that a better title might be Poe Review, 1. The idea is for this podcast to relate events in Poe’s existence up to the half-way point in the story of his illustrious life. Sources include: Edgar Allan Poe: A Critical Biography by Arthur ...

Best Episode Yet?

February 29, 2024 23:00 - 22 minutes - 15.6 MB

In this episode, I talk about how I met the co-host of this podcast - the imaginary ghost of Edgar Allan Poe. Ok - I know it sounds strange - I still scarcely believe it myself - that this is the episode where Mr. Poe made his podcasting debut. You could say this "sets the stage" for the rest of "Celebrate Poe" and the detailed look at Poe's life and works to follow. So this episode is a look at the very beginning of Celebrate Poe, and a brief look into future episodes. Currently I am wo...

Dangerous Missions

February 29, 2024 21:00 - 20 minutes - 14.3 MB

This is the final episode of a three part series dealing with Harriet Tubman. This episode begins with Tubman working for the Union forces, tending to newly liberated people, scouting into Confederate territory, and nursing wounded soldiers in Virginia. This episode ends with a comparison of the achievements of Tubman and Frederick Douglass, as well as a comparison of (surprise, surprise!) Tubman and Edgar Allan Poe.

A Real Railway?

February 29, 2024 20:00 - 21 minutes - 14.6 MB

Episode 222 is the second of a three part series dealing with Harriet Tubman, and her work with the Underground Railway. The episode deals with some of the brave efforts towards liberation that Tubman led, and ends with this description of the assault on Fort Wagner: And then we saw the lightning, and that was the guns; and then we heard the thunder, and that was the big guns; and then we heard the rain falling, and that was the drops of blood falling; and when we came to get the crops, it...

Rescue Missions

February 19, 2024 03:00 - 21 minutes - 14.8 MB

Episode 221 is the first of a three part series for Black History Month dealing with Harriett Tubman - some of her ideas, philosophy, and earlier years.

Oration for Lincoln

February 17, 2024 00:00 - 17 minutes - 12 MB

Episode 220 deals with sections of an especially eloquent oration given by Frederick Douglas in honor of Abraham Lincoln.

Escape

February 13, 2024 00:00 - 17 minutes - 11.8 MB

Episode 219 deals with Frederick Douglas after his escape to the North, and his colorful and influential life as an abolitionist speaker and advocate. While he gave thousands of speeches supporting freedom for all races, perhaps one of his most famous is What to the Slave is the Fourth of July: "My subject, then, fellow-citizens, is American slavery. I shall see, this day, and its popular characteristics, from the slave’s point of view. Standing, there, identified with the American bondman...

Bondage

February 09, 2024 03:00 - 22 minutes - 15.8 MB

This episode is the first of a three part series about the great Frederick Douglass. This episode deals with the early life of Douglass - how he was kept from his mother, the moments he first realized the importance of education, and some examples of his eloquence.

Racial Issues in Poe's Works

February 03, 2024 22:00 - 15 minutes - 10.5 MB

Episode 217 takes a brief look at 4 of Poe’s works where many critics believe his complex perceptions of racial issues are explored - The Murders in the Rue Morgue, The Adventures of Arthur Gordon Pym, The Goldbug, and Eureka.

Manumission

February 02, 2024 05:00 - 25 minutes - 17.6 MB

This episode deals with some of the complexities of manumission in 19th century United States. The main thrust of this episode is the time that Edgar Allan Poe actually sold a slave, Edwin, for his Aunt Maria Clemm using the process of manumission - not as beneficial as it might have seemed at first.

Poe 215, Part Three

January 30, 2024 03:00 - 27 minutes - 19 MB

This episode is the third and final episode of an "interview" between George and AI Poe (via Google Bard) regarding his first published work,, his life with and love for Virginia Clemm, some of his other loves, and Edgar Poe as a macabre maestro. An aside here - this certainly wasn’t planned - but the third episode dealing with Poe’s 215th birthday is episode 215 of this podcast.

Poe 215, Part Two

January 24, 2024 02:00 - 24 minutes - 17.1 MB

This podcast is the second part of three episodes - AI Poe talks in detail about his family, John and Francis Allan, Rosalie, and some of his works in a very moving account.

Poe 215, Part One

January 19, 2024 23:00 - 26 minutes - 17.9 MB

This podcast episode is the first part of an interview with the imaginary ghost of Edgar Allan Poe based on historical records - who is a running character throughout the podcast - using examples from his life and creative observations on the ghost’s part about what life and literature was like in the 19th century. Today I would like to start the first of several (if necessary) episodes regarding the birthday of Edgar Allan Poe. I would ask questions of the ghost of Poe and it would answer u...

You Are Not Alone

January 15, 2024 06:00 - 19 minutes - 13.3 MB

Resources for Practicing Drinkers: Self-Assessment and Support: • National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA): https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/ ◦ Provides information on alcohol use disorders, interactive tools to assess drinking patterns, and links to treatment resources. • Alcoholics Anonymous (AA): https://www.aa.org/ ◦ Worldwide support group network for individuals struggling with alcohol problems. Offers meetings, sponsors, and resources for recovery. • SMART Recovery: h...

Becoming Poe Again

January 07, 2024 05:00 - 31 minutes - 21.6 MB

Becoming Poe Again is basically a recap of most of Episode One of this podcast series - my background regarding Poe and how I became interested in the writer. One dynamic that seems to run through my interest is the factor of just "dumb luck," and a fascination with Poe that has resulted in over 200 podcast episodes regarding Poe - with that many more (at least) scheduled to come.

Athletics, Shakespeare, and Dualism

January 04, 2024 08:00 - 23 minutes - 15.9 MB

Episode 209 is a wide-ranging conversation with "AI Poe" regarding athletics, dualism, Poe's role in the Allan family, and Shakespeare.

Pronounced Dead

January 04, 2024 07:00 - 23 minutes - 16.4 MB

Episode 207 (Pronounced Dead) is the first half of the story Each Man Kills by Victoria Glad. This is the first time in the story where well-meaning several characters find themselves involved in situations completely beyond their control.

Instrument of Death

January 04, 2024 07:00 - 27 minutes - 18.8 MB

Episode 208 (Instrument of Death) is the second part of the story Each Man Kills by Victoria Glad - the story develops until the characters are unquestionably involved in the “world of the undead”

Crossing the Threshold

January 02, 2024 05:00 - 30 minutes - 21 MB

Episode 206 of Celebrate. Poe is part two of Silent Snow, Secret Snow by Conrad Aiken. The story is an engaging story of a boy who lives in a world of his own - somewhat similar to many of Poe’s characters. I must admit that at first I thought the story might be Christmas (or at least winter) themed, but the story gradually builds up to show the hidden world of a very troubled youth. The episode ends with a brief discussion of anaphora in Aiken's works, as well as the use of anaphora by ...

A Sense of Protection

January 02, 2024 04:00 - 30 minutes - 20.7 MB

Episode 205 of Celebrate. Poe is part one of Silent Snow, Secret Snow by Conrad Aiken. The story is an engaging story of a boy who lives in a world of his own - somewhat similar to many of Poe’s characters. I must admit that at first I thought the story might be Christmas (or at least winter) themed, but the story gradually builds up to show the hidden world of a very troubled youth.

Another Set of Poe

December 26, 2023 02:00 - 21 minutes - 15.1 MB

After too long an absence, George returns to Celebrate Poe with probably the only CHRISTMAS short story about Edgar Allan Poe (or his works.). - The Pit and the Pendulum doesn't count! A Set of Poe was written by Indiana native, George Ade, and resembles in tone (and plot) O'Henry's classic The Gift of the Magi.

The Tell-Tale Verdict

December 04, 2023 03:00 - 27 minutes - 18.6 MB

Episode 203 (The-Tell-Tale Verdict) continues an examination of The Tell-Tale Heart by first looking at an article that Poe wrote concerning a judicial trial he covered as a reporter. In his coverage of this trial (with information used by kind permission of the American Antiquarian Society) Poe writes about the verdict of “not guilty by reason of insanity.” And in the second part of this episode, AI Poe uses that verdict to produce an appropriate “sequel” to that work.

A Tell-Tale Confession?

December 02, 2023 23:00 - 26 minutes - 18.2 MB

Welcome to Celebrate Poe - Episode 202 - A Tell-Tale Confession? The previous episode of Celebrate Poe dealth with A Madman’s Manuscript as a possible influence on The Tell Tale Heart. The episode deals with another short story by Dickens also as a possible influence on Poe’s story. Thank you for listening to Celebrate Poe.

A Madman’s Manuscript

November 30, 2023 01:00 - 30 minutes - 20.9 MB

Episode 201 deals with a story by Charles Dickens from The Pickwick Papers by the title of “A Madman’s Manuscript” that is often offered as an influence on Edgar Allan Poe’s The Tell Tale Heart. See if you can find some of the many similarities! (If you need to hear the contents of The Tell-Tale Heart, check out Episode 200.)

The Tell-Tale Sequel

November 26, 2023 21:00 - 33 minutes - 23.3 MB

This is episode 200 of Celebrate Poe - kind of a milestone! This episode deals with the 1843 original version of George’s favorite Poe story - “The Tell Tale Heart,” as well as an AI version of a possible sequel that takes a fascinating twist on the original. So, join Celebrate Poe for "The Tell-Tale Sequel!"

The AI Raven

November 19, 2023 04:00 - 20 minutes - 14.1 MB

This episode delves into 3 AI versions of “The Raven" with the AI versions using a dove instead of a raven, and the concept of "forevermore" or "evermore" instead of "nevermore" - probably not what Poe intended, but an interesting perspective regarding the structure of the work and how the poem stands up to a complete change in emphasis/meaning.

Poe and Nyad

November 12, 2023 03:00 - 27 minutes - 18.9 MB

This episode deals with two long-distance swimmers - Diana Niad and her 121+ mile swim from Cuba to Key West, and a far lesser known (but also impressive) swim by Edgar Allan Poe across the James River for approximately 6 miles (when he was a teenager.) The episode ends with a conjecture on what Poe might have been from an athletic perspective.

Poe and Halloween

October 30, 2023 04:00 - 25 minutes - 17.3 MB

This episode deals with three poems that are especially assocated with Poe and Halloween - including what has been called "the greatest Halloween poem ever written" (and it is NOT "The Raven"

Very Superstitious

October 29, 2023 21:00 - 29 minutes - 19.9 MB

Did you know that at one time, cats were considered divine symbols? And like women accused of witchcraft, cats were often seen as threats because they were viewed as independent. This episode deals with some of the many superstitions and customs surrounding Halloween.

More Usher References

October 26, 2023 21:00 - 26 minutes - 18.1 MB

This episode is a continuation of episode 194 - Usher Reimaged. In this episode, Mr. Poe and I plan to take each episode from Mike Flannagan’s version The Fall of the House of Usher and list some of the Poe references - some may be quite familiar and others rather obscure to all but a diehard Poe scholar.

Usher Reimagined, Part One

October 26, 2023 05:00 - 31 minutes - 21.6 MB

This episode deals largely with the connections between the references to Poe characters in Mike Flannagan’s "The Fall of the House of Usher" on Netflix.

Most Evil Family in America

October 17, 2023 02:00 - 28 minutes - 19.6 MB

This episode deals with the Netflix series - Painkiller. The Sackler family has been called “the most evil family in America"- and this episode attempts to explain why. Painkiller on Netflix is a 6-part series of a real-life Usher family (Usher as in Mike Flannagan’s take on the story.)

Roger Corman’s House of Usher

October 11, 2023 04:00 - 28 minutes - 19.3 MB

In advance of Mike Flannagan's reimagining of The Fall of the House of User on Oct. 12, 2023, this episode examines the first film in Roger Corman's Poe Cycle - House of Usher starring Vincent Price - often considered the best Poe film ever made.

Usher, Part One

October 05, 2023 01:00 - 27 minutes - 18.9 MB

This episode marks the first part of Poe's original version of The Fall of the House of Usher in preparation for Mike Flannagan's greatly anticipated version of The Fall of the House of Usher on Netflix to be released on October 12, 2023.

Usher, Part Two

October 05, 2023 01:00 - 41 minutes - 28.2 MB

This episode marks the second (and final) part of the original Poe version of The Fall of the House of Usher in preparation for Mike Flannagan's greatly anticipated version of The Fall of the House of Usher on Netflix - to be released on October 12, 2023.

Poe As a Stoned Teenager Reprise

August 21, 2023 03:00 - 36 minutes - 25.1 MB

This episode is a reprise of what has been the most downloaded podcast of season 3 - Poe, The Stoned Teenager - a hopefully humorous, but admittedly historically inaccurate part of Celebrate Poe. Personally, my favorite part of the episode is when the “stoned teenager” persona of Edgar Allan Poe refers to “The Raven” as “The Stairway to Heaven” of poetry! Enjoy the rebroadcast of this podcast - not as historically accurate - but in the light-hearted spirit in which it was intended.

Reimaging Poe, Part 2

August 04, 2023 20:00 - 26 minutes - 18.3 MB

This episode continues an examination of possible “reimagings” of some of Poe’s works. The nature of the murders in the first real detective story is examined, as well as the comparison of the effects of Covid-19 to the unamed disease in The Masque of the Red Death. Religious intolerance in The Pit and the Pendulum is examaned, as well as revisiting Annabel Lee. And be sure and join Celebrate Poe for the next two episodes - Poe, the Stoned Teenager. 00:00 Intro 01:16 Nature of the Murde...

Reimaging Poe, Part 1

August 04, 2023 19:00 - 20 minutes - 14.3 MB

In Episode 187, Celebrate Poe uses ChatGPT to examine what it might be like to reimagine Poe - in this case, looking at the dynamics of “The Fall of the House of Usher.” One possible reimaging might involve an interior designer as Roderick Usher’s sidekick! How might you open a re-imaging of a film of the House of Usher? What elements might an “interior designer” add to the story? What sound might you use for The Fall of the House of Usher? How would you handle Lady Madeline? What do y...

Poe's Day Off

August 04, 2023 06:00 - 29 minutes - 20.2 MB

In “Poe’s Day Off,” the writer discusses what he enjoys when he is NOT writing - the stuff that “clears his head.” Through ChatGPT, the character of Edgar Allan Poe comments on his wife Virginia, the benefits of a good stroll, and authors of his era, as well as such future writers as Stephen King. 00:00 Intro 00:49 Poe on his “day off” 03:35 Joys of reading 04:43 Chess, cryptography, cosmology, and cats 09:07 American writers 10:40 Walt Whitman 12:20 Recent writers 17:48 Walking 21:26 Life...

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