Everyday Shakespeare

In this episode, New York Times-bestselling author and Shakespeare scholar James Shapiro joins us to talk about his book Shakespeare in a Divided America and his work with the New York Public Theater. Dr. Shapiro explains how and why Shakespeare has been a lightning rod for the American culture wars—from the 1849 Astor Place Riot to a recent state ban on A Midsummer Night's Dream.

Beliefs about labor, delivery, and postpartum care differ widely between cultures and eras. In this episode, we talk about how these stages were experienced and imagined in Shakespeare's day. We start with an example of a woman writing to her unborn child and then talk about the first English-language "What to Expect When You're Expecting" book. Finally, we dive into Shakespeare's many references to problematic births—including the tragedies that unfold when the rituals and support-systems surrounding childbirth are violated.

Shakespeare loved to give people a good laugh and had an arsenal of methods to do so. And his humor isn't confined to the plays labeled "comedies"; even the great tragedies deliver moments of hilarity. Actor and comedian Rachel Dratch joins us here to talk about the business of being funny and to help us see how Shakespeare's witty comebacks and jig-dancing clowns connect to the comedy world today.

When it comes to the stages leading up to marriage, in Shakespeare's day and in ours, there's a recurring theme: the importance of having your commitment witnessed by other people every step of the way. In this episode, we take a look at the often tricky rituals of courtship, engagement, saying "I do," and celebrating the couple by flinging them around the dance floor and stalking them on their wedding night—and talk about what has and hasn't changed.

According to a recent study, American men are in a "friend recession." In this episode we explore ideals of male-male friendship back in Shakespeare's day. Why did they falter, and when did they blossom? We'll look at some compelling examples of true male bonding from Shakespeare's plays, and also consider some epic friendship fails (hint: if your name is Antonio, you might think twice about lending your younger, hotter 'bestie' all your money).

In this episode, we talk to Dr. John "Ray" Proctor, Assistant Professor of Theatre at Tulane University. Dr. Proctor is an expert on the intersection of race, casting, and the peculiarities and specifics of Identity-Conscious casting practices, especially in Shakespeare. He shares his experiences with us as a director, actor, teacher and researcher to help us take a deep dive into representations of blackness and whiteness on stage—then and now.

To learn more about Dr. Proctor and his work, go to www.drjohnrayproctor.com.

It's June, and the official public health emergency is over. That means it's time to turn up the dial on entertaining! In this episode, we comb Shakespeare's plays in search of advice on how to deal with some timeless party-throwing dilemmas. We'll take a close look at his most unsung beleaguered hostesses and talk about everything from disastrous dinner parties to guests who can't control their booze or their uninvited plus-ones. We wrote the book on this topic. Literally: Shakespeare, Not Stirred: Cocktails For Your Everyday Dramas.

Sex can be fun and exciting, but it also raises all kinds of issues about power, control, and freedom. In this episode, we'll be looking at how people in Shakespeare's day were understanding sexual anatomy, pleasure, and reproduction, and discuss how the debates and anxieties that surfaced back then connect to some of our present-day divisions. We'll be using doctor-approved language—from multiple centuries—but we'll also be talking about sexual pleasure and consent, and referencing scenarios that some may find difficult to hear. Listener discretion advised.

What does Andie MacDowell's dewy skin have in common with Cleopatra's unwithered agelessness? In this episode we tackle the everyday challenges of getting old and explore how people in Shakespeare's day were thinking about – and fighting – the signs of aging. If you couldn't just Google it, how did you know when a woman was "past her prime"— especially if she was plastering her face with makeup? And what about all of those older men in Shakespeare's works who lose their hair, their memories, and their grips on solid retirement plans? We'll take a look at his sonnets and plays, along with a popular health guide and an anti-cosmetics treatise, as we uncover a few fabulous age-defying tricks and discuss some enduring double standards.

What does an $8,600 GOOP wholeness medallion have in common with a popular plague amulet from 1603? Find out in this episode as we discover the uncanny connections between our COVID-19 experiences and the plague lives of people in Shakespeare's world. We'll talk about how Shakespeare's plays and a best-selling plague guidebook shed light on our own pandemic behaviors — from hoarding toilet paper to virus-shaming.