Left Shelf
75 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 2 years ago - ★★★★★ - 17 ratingsProving politics is downstream of culture. Tune in to hear leftist takes on books and short stories on topics like gender, humanism and the alt right.
Homepage Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed
Episodes
Episode 12: What You Pawn I Will Redeem by Sherman Alexie
March 22, 2021 05:00 - 51 minutes - 35.3 MBJackson Jackson, from this week’s story What You Pawn I Will Redeem by Sherman Alexie, is a homeless Native American living in Seattle on a quest to win back an ancestral regalia. The simultaneously lighthearted and tragic tone of the story led us to discussing topics around loss and identity, about creating values outside of the commodity chain and the warmth and kindness in the story that exists in spite of the bleak realities. You can read What You Pawn I Will Redeem (free) here. Follow...
Episode 11: Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
March 08, 2021 06:00 - 1 hour - 46.2 MBEven though the Nobel Prize winning author Kazuo Ishiguro just came out with a new book, we’re returning to one of his older works Never Let Me Go. In this episode, we’re incredibly excited to talk about our favorite author and book - what Ishiguro’s writing symbolizes, why he’s so freaking good at what he does and what we can learn from the characters of Never Let Me Go. You can read “Never Let Me Go” (free) here. You can also watch the movie for free here. Follow the show on: Twitter F...
Episode 11: Never Let Me Go
March 08, 2021 06:00 - 1 hour - 46.2 MBEven though the Nobel Prize winning author Kazuo Ishiguro just came out with a new book, we’re returning to one of his older works Never Let Me Go. In this episode, we’re incredibly excited to talk about our favorite author and book - what Ishiguro’s writing symbolizes, why he’s so freaking good at what he does and what we can learn from the characters of Never Let Me Go. You can read “Never Let Me Go” (free) here. You can also watch the movie for free here. Follow the show on: Twitter F...
Episode 10: At the Mountains of Madness and The Shadow over Innsmouth by H.P. Lovecraft
February 22, 2021 06:00 - 59 minutes - 41.2 MBTune in for a spooky Left Shelf episode this week where we go over two harrowing short stories by H.P. Lovecraft. We talk about the troubled life of H.P. Lovecraft and his even more troubling works - both in terms of blatant racism and xenophobia but also in terms of themes pertaining to existential fear. You can read “At the Mountains of Mountains” here and “The Shadow over Innsmouth” here. Follow the show on: Twitter Facebook Website Instagram Youtube Email: leftshelfpodcast@gma...
Episode 10: At the Mountains of Madness and The Shadow over Innsmouth
February 22, 2021 06:00 - 59 minutes - 41.2 MBTune in for a spooky Left Shelf episode this week where we go over two harrowing short stories by H.P. Lovecraft. We talk about the troubled life of H.P. Lovecraft and his even more troubling works - both in terms of blatant racism and xenophobia but also in terms of themes pertaining to existential fear. You can read “At the Mountains of Mountains” here and “The Shadow over Innsmouth” here. Follow the show on: Twitter Facebook Website Instagram Youtube Email: leftshelfpodcast@gma...
BONUS: The Factory Witches of Lowell
February 15, 2021 06:00 - 1 hour - 42 MBIf you’ve ever wondered how to curse capitalists and empower the working class, then you have come to the right book. The Factory Witches of Lowell has all of those components and more! Listen as we talk to the author about magic, feminism, and unionizing. The Factory Witches of Lowell is available in print, eBook, or audiobook. Through Folx, you can find a local independent bookstore at https://www.indiebound.org/indie-store-finder if you prefer to buy that way. Or a title search on https...
BONUS: The Factory Witches of Lowell by C.S. Malerich
February 15, 2021 06:00 - 1 hour - 42 MBIf you’ve ever wondered how to curse capitalists and empower the working class, then you have come to the right book. The Factory Witches of Lowell has all of those components and more! Listen as we talk to the author about magic, feminism, and unionizing. The Factory Witches of Lowell is available in print, eBook, or audiobook. Through Folx, you can find a local independent bookstore at https://www.indiebound.org/indie-store-finder if you prefer to buy that way. Or a title search on https...
Episode 9: When Mr. Pirzada Came To Dine by Jhumpa Lahiri
February 08, 2021 06:00 - 1 hour - 42.6 MBThe Indian subcontinent has a complicated history of colonialism and political conflict. In this week’s episode, we explore the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 and Bangladeshi independence as experienced by an Indian immigrant living in the United States. Tune in as we talk about the history of that region and explore what it means to be an immigrant in America when crises are going on in your home country. You can read the short story here. Follow the show on: Twitter Facebook Website In...
Episode 9: When Mr. Pirzada Came To Dine
February 08, 2021 06:00 - 1 hour - 42.6 MBThe Indian subcontinent has a complicated history of colonialism and political conflict. In this week’s episode, we explore the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 and Bangladeshi independence as experienced by an Indian immigrant living in the United States. Tune in as we talk about the history of that region and explore what it means to be an immigrant in America when crises are going on in your home country. You can read the short story here. Follow the show on: Twitter Facebook Website In...
Episode 8: Ward No.6 by Anton Chekhov
January 25, 2021 06:00 - 52 minutes - 36 MBWhat is the nature of suffering and is it good? Why is how mental illness was treated in Russia in the late 1800s similar to how it is viewed today? These and many more questions will be answered with our big brains in this week’s episodes of Left Shelf, where we go over Chekhov’s Ward No. 6. It revolutionized Lenin, and maybe it will revolutionize you too. You can read the short story here. Follow the show on: Twitter Facebook Website Instagram Youtube Email: leftshelfpodcast@gma...
Episode 8: Ward No.6
January 25, 2021 06:00 - 52 minutes - 36 MBWhat is the nature of suffering and is it good? Why is how mental illness was treated in Russia in the late 1800s similar to how it is viewed today? These and many more questions will be answered with our big brains in this week’s episodes of Left Shelf, where we go over Chekhov’s Ward No. 6. It revolutionized Lenin, and maybe it will revolutionize you too. You can read the short story here. Follow the show on: Twitter Facebook Website Instagram Youtube Email: leftshelfpodcast@gma...
Episode 7: Dance in America
January 11, 2021 06:00 - 1 hour - 41.9 MBDear Lorrie Moore, If you are listening (which we know you are), we were really trying to be nice. But we will not apologize for the violence. Tune in to this week’s episodes to hear about how a political piece seems to be devoid of all politics and to hear us vent about boomers. You can read the short story here. The one where she goes off on millennials is here. The deranged lib story you can find here. Follow the show on: Twitter Facebook Email: [email protected] Web...
Episode 7: Dance in America by Lorrie Moore
January 11, 2021 06:00 - 1 hour - 41.9 MBDear Lorrie Moore, If you are listening (which we know you are), we were really trying to be nice. But we will not apologize for the violence. Tune in to this week’s episodes to hear about how a political piece seems to be devoid of all politics and to hear us vent about boomers. You can read the short story here. The one where she goes off on millennials is here. The deranged lib story you can find here. Follow the show on: Twitter Facebook Email: [email protected] Web...
Episode 6: The Motorcycle Diaries
December 28, 2020 05:00 - 1 hour - 44 MBChe Guevara - the man, the symbol, the legend. Join us as we discuss who Che Guevara was before he became the revolutionary he is known for today. We read “The Motorcycle Diaries”, a journal of Che’s travels throughout South America, and explore the Pan Latin Americanism and Humanism presented in his writings. You can read the whole book here. Follow the show on: Twitter Facebook Website Instagram Youtube Email: [email protected] Become a monthly contributor on Patreon...
Episode 6: The Motorcycle Diaries by Che Guevara
December 28, 2020 05:00 - 1 hour - 44 MBChe Guevara - the man, the symbol, the legend. Join us as we discuss who Che Guevara was before he became the revolutionary he is known for today. We read “The Motorcycle Diaries”, a journal of Che’s travels throughout South America, and explore the Pan Latin Americanism and Humanism presented in his writings. You can read the whole book here. Follow the show on: Twitter Facebook Website Instagram Youtube Email: [email protected] Become a monthly contributor on Patreon...
Episode 5: Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin
December 14, 2020 05:00 - 55 minutes - 37.8 MBPrepare for an emotional rollercoaster of shame, guilt, hope, and finally, inevitable tragedy. In this week’s episode, we read our first longer piece, “Giovanni’s Room” by James Baldwin, and talk about all things sexuality, gender and how all the characters hate women. You can read or listen to the whole book here. Follow the show on: Twitter Facebook Website Youtube Instagram Email: [email protected] Become a monthly contributor on Patreon: www.patreon.com/leftshelf. ...
Episode 5: Giovanni's Room
December 14, 2020 05:00 - 55 minutes - 37.8 MBPrepare for an emotional rollercoaster of shame, guilt, hope, and finally, inevitable tragedy. In this week’s episode, we read our first longer piece, “Giovanni’s Room” by James Baldwin, and talk about all things sexuality, gender and how all the characters hate women. You can read or listen to the whole book here. Follow the show on: Twitter Facebook Website Youtube Instagram Email: [email protected] Become a monthly contributor on Patreon: www.patreon.com/leftshelf.
Episode 4: Faith In A Tree
November 30, 2020 05:00 - 54 minutes - 37.4 MBI dare you to find an author as witty and quick as Grace Paley. In this week’s episode, we cover her short story “Faith In A Tree” and talk about all the ways Grace Paley subverts the norms of gender/class expectations with her unusual characters and postmodern writing. We couldn’t find a free source of this story, but you can get Grace Paley’s short story collection here. Follow the show on Twitter Facebook Website Youtube Instagram Email: [email protected] Become a mon...
Episode 4: Faith In A Tree by Grace Paley
November 30, 2020 05:00 - 54 minutes - 37.4 MBI dare you to find an author as witty and quick as Grace Paley. In this week’s episode, we cover her short story “Faith In A Tree” and talk about all the ways Grace Paley subverts the norms of gender/class expectations with her unusual characters and postmodern writing. We couldn’t find a free source of this story, but you can get Grace Paley’s short story collection here. Follow the show on Twitter Facebook Website Youtube Instagram Email: [email protected] Become a mon...
Episode 3: Pop Art by Joe Hill
November 16, 2020 05:00 - 42 minutes - 29 MB“I want to see if it’s true. If the sky opens up at the top.” -- find out in this episode, where we explore the short story “Pop Art” by Joe Hill, talk about subtle yet underrated young male friendships and have some (small) asides of a particular cult experience. You can read Pop Art for free here. Follow the show on Twitter Facebook Website Youtube Instagram Email: [email protected] Become a monthly contributor on Patreon: www.patreon.com/leftshelf. Support the show
Episode 3: Pop Art
November 16, 2020 05:00 - 42 minutes - 29 MB“I want to see if it’s true. If the sky opens up at the top.” -- find out in this episode, where we explore the short story “Pop Art” by Joe Hill, talk about subtle yet underrated young male friendships and have some (small) asides of a particular cult experience. You can read Pop Art for free here. Follow the show on Twitter Facebook Website Youtube Instagram Email: [email protected] Become a monthly contributor on Patreon: www.patreon.com/leftshelf.
Episode 2: Space Raptor Butt Invasion by Chuck Tingle
November 02, 2020 05:00 - 49 minutes - 34.1 MBSad puppies, rabid puppies, dino dick and extraterrestrial love making. Ladies and gentleman, this piece by Chuck Tingle has got it all. Join us through this tale of woe and intrigue as we discuss how the alt-right, in their endless crusades against diversity, inadvertently made an alleged doctor of massage and his erotic stories more popular. You can listen to this man read the story for free on YouTube or purchase the piece here for the special price of $2.99. Follow the show on Twitte...
Episode 2: Space Raptor Butt Invasion
November 02, 2020 05:00 - 49 minutes - 34.1 MBSad puppies, rabid puppies, dino dick and extraterrestrial love making. Ladies and gentleman, this piece by Chuck Tingle has got it all. Join us through this tale of woe and intrigue as we discuss how the alt-right, in their endless crusades against diversity, inadvertently made an alleged doctor of massage and his erotic stories more popular. You can listen to this man read the story for free on YouTube or purchase the piece here for the special price of $2.99. Follow the show on Twitte...
Episode 1: The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas
October 18, 2020 14:00 - 43 minutes - 29.9 MBIt’s not about where you go, but that you walk away. This podcast examines Ursula K. LeGuin’s thought experiment about what it means to have the happiness of a society depend on the suffering of a child. You can read the piece (for free) here: https://www.utilitarianism.com/nu/omelas.pdf Follow the show on Twitter Facebook Website Youtube Instagram Email: [email protected] Become a monthly contributor on Patreon!
Episode 1: The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas by Ursula K. LeGuin
October 18, 2020 14:00 - 43 minutes - 29.9 MBIt’s not about where you go, but that you walk away. This podcast examines Ursula K. LeGuin’s thought experiment about what it means to have the happiness of a society depend on the suffering of a child. You can read the piece (for free) here. Follow the show on Twitter Facebook Website Youtube Instagram Email: [email protected] Become a monthly contributor on Patreon! Support the show