The Casual Academic: A Literary Podcast

By As I Lay Reading

Society & Culture Arts Education Literature History Philosophy Higher Education

What's The Casual Academic: A Literary Podcast about?

In-depth literary discussion without the pretence. Just good books. Based out of Madrid, Spain, we compress big ideas and in-depth discussion of literature into a digestible, entertaining format.

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The Casual Academic: A Literary Podcast episodes:

09.17.2019
Episode 36 - Structural Tricks, Disintegration & Ghosts in Valeria Luiselli's "Faces in the Crowd"
Episode 36 features Valeria Luiselli's "Faces in the Crowd," a novella we loved and can't recommend enough. Our discussion includes a bit of her non-fiction, especially her essay "Relingos," as well as various interviews in which she shares her...
09.06.2019
Episode 35 - Memory, Self & La Revolución in Carlos Fuentes' "The Death of Artemio Cruz"
Rising out of the depths of a busy summer and unreliable internet, we're back to finally put out a miniseries on Mexican literature that's been long in the making. We hope you all have had a wonderful past couple months,...
03.26.2019
Traveler, Writer, Soldier, Spy: Lit & Context in Patrick L. Fermor's "The Violins of Saint-Jacques"
After several editing and technical hiccups, we're happy to present episode 34 on beloved travel writer Patrick Leigh Fermor and his only novel. A soldier who led the resistance in Crete during WWII, a spy posing as a shepherd...
02.19.2019
Episode 33 - Disembodiment, Structure & Millennial Existentialism in Sylvia Plath's "The Bell Jar"
Good evening from Spain! Allow us to present the 2nd episode of our "Books Casually Left on the Shelf" series on Sylvia Plath's only and much-celebrated novel. Take a listen for some talk on the relevance of existential...
02.19.2019
Episode 33 - Disembodiment, Structure & Millennial Existentialism in Sylvia Plath's "The Bell Jar"
Good evening from Spain! Allow us to present the 2nd episode of our "Books Casually Left on the Shelf" series on Sylvia Plath's only and much-celebrated novel. Take a listen for some talk on the relevance of existential...
02.05.2019
The Arabesque, Orientalism & Unholy Trinities in Jan Potocki's "The Manuscript Found in Saragossa"
Episode 32 inaugurates our new episode series "Books Casually Left on the Shelf" (working title). This book was a hidden gem for us, and we hope you enjoy as much as we did diving into the arabesque and unholy...
02.05.2019
The Arabesque, Orientalism & Unholy Trinities in Jan Potocki's "The Manuscript Found in Saragossa"
Episode 32 inaugurates our new episode series "Books Casually Left on the Shelf" (working title). This book was a hidden gem for us, and we hope you enjoy as much as we did diving into the arabesque and unholy...
11.13.2018
Aside #24 - Patreon Launch & Our Next Episode Series
We are VERY excited to announce that our Patreon page has launched about....24 minutes ago! On this quick Aside we talk about Patreon membership, why we're starting on the website and what you'll get when you become a Casual Academic!...
11.13.2018
Aside #24 - Patreon Launch & Our Next Episode Series
We are VERY excited to announce that our Patreon page has launched about....24 minutes ago! On this quick Aside we talk about Patreon membership, why we're starting on the website and what you'll get when you become a Casual Academic!...
11.06.2018
Episode 31 - Gender Binaries, Identity & Interiority in Qiu Miaojin's "Notes of a Crocodile"
In the final episode of our Overlooked Authors Series, we discuss Qiu Miaojin's cult classic, "Notes of a Crocodile." We talk about Miaojin's rejection of gender binaries as well as just about any choice between two things. There...
11.06.2018
Episode 31 - Gender Binaries, Identity & Interiority in Qiu Miaojin's "Notes of a Crocodile"
In the final episode of our Overlooked Authors Series, we discuss Qiu Miaojin's cult classic, "Notes of a Crocodile." We talk about Miaojin's rejection of gender binaries as well as just about any choice between two things. There...
10.23.2018
Episode 30 - Imposters, Doppelgängers & Duplicates in Silvina Ocampo's "Thus Were Their Faces"
We're back! On this episode, we discuss the Argentine author Silvina Ocampo. Although she spent her life in the shadow of J.L. Borges, Adolfo Bioy Casares (her husband)and her sister Victoria, Ms. Ocampo deserves her own spotlight. We...
10.23.2018
Episode 30 - Imposters, Doppelgängers & Duplicates in Silvina Ocampo's "Thus Were Their Faces"
We're back! On this episode, we discuss the Argentine author Silvina Ocampo. Although she spent her life in the shadow of J.L. Borges, Adolfo Bioy Casares (her husband)and her sister Victoria, Ms. Ocampo deserves her own spotlight. We...
04.10.2018
Episode 29 - Memory, Perception & Fairytales in Tatyana Tolstaya's "White Walls"
In this episode, we marvel at Tatyana Tolstaya's collection of stories, "White Walls," and focus our discussion on topics such as memory, time, perception, art and fairytales (just to name a few). We also, shamelessly, heap relentless praise...
04.10.2018
Episode 29 - Memory, Perception & Fairytales in Tatyana Tolstaya's "White Walls"
In this episode, we marvel at Tatyana Tolstaya's collection of stories, "White Walls," and focus our discussion on topics such as memory, time, perception, art and fairytales (just to name a few). We also, shamelessly, heap relentless praise...
03.20.2018
Episode 28 - Untouchability, Inaction and "The Seventh Seal" in U.R. Ananthamurthy's "Samskara"
Overlooked Authors on The Casual Academic has begun! We discuss our first featured book, U.R. Ananthamurthy's classic "Samskara: A Rite for a Dead Man," translated by A.K. Ramanujan. Our conversation centers on the binary Ananthamurthy sets between the arcane...
03.20.2018
Episode 28 - Untouchability, Inaction and "The Seventh Seal" in U.R. Ananthamurthy's "Samskara"
Overlooked Authors on The Casual Academic has begun! We discuss our first featured book, U.R. Ananthamurthy's classic "Samskara: A Rite for a Dead Man," translated by A.K. Ramanujan. Our conversation centers on the binary Ananthamurthy sets between the arcane...
03.06.2018
Aside #23 - Overlooked Authors Series with NYRB Classics
On Aside #23, we discuss our upcoming series on overlooked authors! The next four episodes will feature: Samskara: A Rite for a Dead Man - U.R. Ananthamurthy White Walls - Tatyana Tolstaya Thus Were Their Faces - Silvina Ocampo Notes of a Crocodile -...
03.06.2018
Aside #23 - Overlooked Authors Series with NYRB Classics
On Aside #23, we discuss our upcoming series on overlooked authors! The next four episodes will feature: Samskara: A Rite for a Dead Man - U.R. Ananthamurthy White Walls - Tatyana Tolstaya Thus Were Their Faces - Silvina Ocampo Notes of a Crocodile -...
02.27.2018
Episode 27 (Pt. 2) - Gender, Sexuality & Race in Carson McCullers' "The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter"
On Part II of our 27th episode, Alex and guest Zak Breckenridge continue their discussion on Carson McCullers' 1940 novel "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter," focusing on how gender, sexuality and race are presented in the book and through...
02.27.2018
Episode 27 (Pt. 2) - Gender, Sexuality & Race in Carson McCullers' "The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter"
On Part II of our 27th episode, Alex and guest Zak Breckenridge continue their discussion on Carson McCullers' 1940 novel "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter," focusing on how gender, sexuality and race are presented in the book and through...
02.14.2018
Episode 27(Pt.1)- Southern Gothic Limits, Low Modernism & Politics in "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter"
On our 27th episode, Alex talks with returning guest Zak Breckenridge about Carson McCullers' 1940 novel "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter". We had to divide the episode into two parts because, well, we got so into the conversation...
02.14.2018
Episode 27(Pt.1)- Southern Gothic Limits, Low Modernism & Politics in "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter"
On our 27th episode, Alex talks with returning guest Zak Breckenridge about Carson McCullers' 1940 novel "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter". We had to divide the episode into two parts because, well, we got so into the conversation...
02.01.2018
Aside #22 - Environmental Humanities & an intro to Carson McCullers' "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter"
On this Aside, returning guest Zak Breckenridge joins Alex in a conversation on the emerging academic field of Environmental Humanities, and their first reactions to our new featured book "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter" by Carson McCullers. Many...
02.01.2018
Aside #22 - Environmental Humanities & an intro to Carson McCullers' "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter"
On this Aside, returning guest Zak Breckenridge joins Alex in a conversation on the emerging academic field of Environmental Humanities, and their first reactions to our new featured book "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter" by Carson McCullers. Many...
01.23.2018
Episode 26 (Pt. 2) - Postcolonial Problems, Decay & Flux in V.S. Naipaul's "The Enigma of Arrival"
On this episode, we focus on the last three sections of Naipaul's novel, "Ivy," "Rooks," and "A Ceremony of Farewell." Within these three sections, we explore the controversy surrounding Naipaul's status as a postcolonial writer, and how such elements...
01.23.2018
Episode 26 (Pt. 2) - Postcolonial Problems, Decay & Flux in V.S. Naipaul's "The Enigma of Arrival"
On this episode, we focus on the last three sections of Naipaul's novel, "Ivy," "Rooks," and "A Ceremony of Farewell." Within these three sections, we explore the controversy surrounding Naipaul's status as a postcolonial writer, and how such elements...
12.30.2017
Aside #21 - Xmas Holidays and Our Favorite Reads of 2017
Merry Christmas from The Casual Academic! Well...more like Happy New Year! We're just in time with our top reads from 2017 - eight books (four from each of us) that come highly recommended, six of which come with...
12.30.2017
Aside #21 - Xmas Holidays and Our Favorite Reads of 2017
Merry Christmas from The Casual Academic! Well...more like Happy New Year! We're just in time with our top reads from 2017 - eight books (four from each of us) that come highly recommended, six of which come with...
12.12.2017
Episode 26 (Pt. 1) - 'Jack's Garden' & 'The Journey' in V.S. Naipaul's "The Enigma of Arrival"
In Part 1 of the two part extravaganza on V.S. Naipaul's "The Enigma of Arrival," Jacob and Alex compare Naipaul and W.G. Sebald in their style, substance and techniques. They then give their first impressions of parts one and...
12.12.2017
Episode 26 (Pt. 1) - 'Jack's Garden' & 'The Journey' in V.S. Naipaul's "The Enigma of Arrival"
In Part 1 of the two part extravaganza on V.S. Naipaul's "The Enigma of Arrival," Jacob and Alex compare Naipaul and W.G. Sebald in their style, substance and techniques. They then give their first impressions of parts one and...
11.28.2017
Aside #20 - Separating Art from Artist and looking ahead to V.S. Naipaul & "The Enigma of Arrival"
In light of current events, on this Aside we talk about if we are capable of separating art from the artist, and which mediums allow for an easier (or more difficult) disassociation of a work of art from its creator....
11.28.2017
Aside #20 - Separating Art from Artist and looking ahead to V.S. Naipaul & "The Enigma of Arrival"
In light of current events, on this Aside we talk about if we are capable of separating art from the artist, and which mediums allow for an easier (or more difficult) disassociation of a work of art from its creator....
11.15.2017
Episode 25 (Pt.2) - Critical Interpretations of Henry James' "The Turn of the Screw"
We are back for Part II of our episode on Henry James' "The Turn of the Screw," and as promised we discuss the good, the bad and the ugly of the literary criticism on James' novella. Listen for the...
11.15.2017
Episode 25 (Pt.2) - Critical Interpretations of Henry James' "The Turn of the Screw"
We are back for Part II of our episode on Henry James' "The Turn of the Screw," and as promised we discuss the good, the bad and the ugly of the literary criticism on James' novella. Listen for the...
11.07.2017
Episode 25 (Pt.1) - Some Changes, Narrative Games & Our First Impressions of "The Turn of the Screw"
On our 25th episode, we are inaugurating a structural change to The Casual Academic. Think of it as an experiment with the goal of making your listening experience the best it can be. We've decided to divide our...
11.07.2017
Episode 25 (Pt.1) - Some Changes, Narrative Games & Our First Impressions of "The Turn of the Screw"
On our 25th episode, we are inaugurating a structural change to The Casual Academic. Think of it as an experiment with the goal of making your listening experience the best it can be. We've decided to divide our...
11.01.2017
Aside #19 - An Intro to Henry James & Our Top Creepy Tales
On our newest Aside, we introduce our new featured author Henry James, whose infamous novella "The Turn of the Screw" we'll be reading for our next episode. After that, we have a bit of a guessing game as to...
11.01.2017
Aside #19 - An Intro to Henry James & Our Top Creepy Tales
On our newest Aside, we introduce our new featured author Henry James, whose infamous novella "The Turn of the Screw" we'll be reading for our next episode. After that, we have a bit of a guessing game as to...
10.24.2017
Episode 24 - R.L. Stevenson, Plotting & Immortality in Adolfo Bioy Casares' "The Invention of Morel"
Hello! We are very excited to present our full-length episode on Adolfo Bioy Casares' beloved novella "The Invention of Morel." Apart from our blatant enthusiasm over his writing, we talk about the influence of Robert Louis Stevenson on Casares...
10.24.2017
Episode 24 - R.L. Stevenson, Plotting & Immortality in Adolfo Bioy Casares' "The Invention of Morel"
Hello! We are very excited to present our full-length episode on Adolfo Bioy Casares' beloved novella "The Invention of Morel." Apart from our blatant enthusiasm over his writing, we talk about the influence of Robert Louis Stevenson on Casares...
10.09.2017
Aside #18 - Argentine Literature, Borges & an Intro to Adolfo Bioy Casares' "The Invention of Morel"
TCA is back in full gear! On this Aside, we introduce one of our favorite recent reads, Adolfo Bioy Casares' "The Invention of Morel." Listen for a discussion on Argentine literary history and its relationship to politics & identity;...
10.09.2017
Aside #18 - Argentine Literature, Borges & an Intro to Adolfo Bioy Casares' "The Invention of Morel"
TCA is back in full gear! On this Aside, we introduce one of our favorite recent reads, Adolfo Bioy Casares' "The Invention of Morel." Listen for a discussion on Argentine literary history and its relationship to politics & identity;...
09.25.2017
Aside #17 - Summer Reads, The Return of the Serial & Electric Lit's "Star Witness"
And we're back! The light in august has faded, and that means a return to work and, better news, the return of The Causal Academic. We catch up on our summers, what we read, and warn fellow travelers...
09.25.2017
Aside #17 - Summer Reads, The Return of the Serial & Electric Lit's "Star Witness"
And we're back! The light in august has faded, and that means a return to work and, better news, the return of The Causal Academic. We catch up on our summers, what we read, and warn fellow travelers...
07.31.2017
Episode 23 - Belief, Con Artists & The American Soul in Neil Gaiman's "American Gods"
We're back with a brand new episode, after some delay caused by the ever-dreaded summer camp schedule - just kidding, we love escaping the big city, but it's good to be back and talking about Neil Gaiman's "American Gods," a...
07.31.2017
Episode 23 - Belief, Con Artists & The American Soul in Neil Gaiman's "American Gods"
We're back with a brand new episode, after some delay caused by the ever-dreaded summer camp schedule - just kidding, we love escaping the big city, but it's good to be back and talking about Neil Gaiman's "American Gods," a...
07.12.2017
Aside #16 - Weddings, Summer Reads & an intro to Neil Gaiman's "American Gods"
We're getting the band back together! After a few guest-filled episodes we're back to talk summer reads, weddings and of course Neil Gaiman and his mammoth tome "American Gods." In our introduction to our new featured writer, we outline...
07.12.2017
Aside #16 - Weddings, Summer Reads & an intro to Neil Gaiman's "American Gods"
We're getting the band back together! After a few guest-filled episodes we're back to talk summer reads, weddings and of course Neil Gaiman and his mammoth tome "American Gods." In our introduction to our new featured writer, we outline...
06.22.2017
Episode 22 - Science in Sci-Fi, Aliens, and a Critique of Democracy in "The Black Cloud"
Special guest Shawn Moksvold joins me to discuss Sir Fred Hoyle's "The Black Cloud." We talk about real science in Science Fiction and our conceptualization of aliens. We also think about Fred Hoyle's unique criticism of democracy. ...

What's The Casual Academic: A Literary Podcast about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

The Casual Academic: A Literary Podcast episodes:

Episode 36 - Structural Tricks, Disintegration & Ghosts in Valeria Luiselli's "Faces in the Crowd"

Episode 35 - Memory, Self & La Revolución in Carlos Fuentes' "The Death of Artemio Cruz"

Traveler, Writer, Soldier, Spy: Lit & Context in Patrick L. Fermor's "The Violins of Saint-Jacques"

Episode 33 - Disembodiment, Structure & Millennial Existentialism in Sylvia Plath's "The Bell Jar"

Episode 33 - Disembodiment, Structure & Millennial Existentialism in Sylvia Plath's "The Bell Jar"

The Arabesque, Orientalism & Unholy Trinities in Jan Potocki's "The Manuscript Found in Saragossa"

The Arabesque, Orientalism & Unholy Trinities in Jan Potocki's "The Manuscript Found in Saragossa"

Aside #24 - Patreon Launch & Our Next Episode Series

Aside #24 - Patreon Launch & Our Next Episode Series

Episode 31 - Gender Binaries, Identity & Interiority in Qiu Miaojin's "Notes of a Crocodile"

Episode 31 - Gender Binaries, Identity & Interiority in Qiu Miaojin's "Notes of a Crocodile"

Episode 30 - Imposters, Doppelgängers & Duplicates in Silvina Ocampo's "Thus Were Their Faces"

Episode 30 - Imposters, Doppelgängers & Duplicates in Silvina Ocampo's "Thus Were Their Faces"

Episode 29 - Memory, Perception & Fairytales in Tatyana Tolstaya's "White Walls"

Episode 29 - Memory, Perception & Fairytales in Tatyana Tolstaya's "White Walls"

Episode 28 - Untouchability, Inaction and "The Seventh Seal" in U.R. Ananthamurthy's "Samskara"

Episode 28 - Untouchability, Inaction and "The Seventh Seal" in U.R. Ananthamurthy's "Samskara"

Aside #23 - Overlooked Authors Series with NYRB Classics

Aside #23 - Overlooked Authors Series with NYRB Classics

Episode 27 (Pt. 2) - Gender, Sexuality & Race in Carson McCullers' "The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter"

Episode 27 (Pt. 2) - Gender, Sexuality & Race in Carson McCullers' "The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter"

Episode 27(Pt.1)- Southern Gothic Limits, Low Modernism & Politics in "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter"

Episode 27(Pt.1)- Southern Gothic Limits, Low Modernism & Politics in "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter"

Aside #22 - Environmental Humanities & an intro to Carson McCullers' "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter"

Aside #22 - Environmental Humanities & an intro to Carson McCullers' "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter"

Episode 26 (Pt. 2) - Postcolonial Problems, Decay & Flux in V.S. Naipaul's "The Enigma of Arrival"

Episode 26 (Pt. 2) - Postcolonial Problems, Decay & Flux in V.S. Naipaul's "The Enigma of Arrival"

Aside #21 - Xmas Holidays and Our Favorite Reads of 2017

Aside #21 - Xmas Holidays and Our Favorite Reads of 2017

Episode 26 (Pt. 1) - 'Jack's Garden' & 'The Journey' in V.S. Naipaul's "The Enigma of Arrival"

Episode 26 (Pt. 1) - 'Jack's Garden' & 'The Journey' in V.S. Naipaul's "The Enigma of Arrival"

Aside #20 - Separating Art from Artist and looking ahead to V.S. Naipaul & "The Enigma of Arrival"

Aside #20 - Separating Art from Artist and looking ahead to V.S. Naipaul & "The Enigma of Arrival"

Episode 25 (Pt.2) - Critical Interpretations of Henry James' "The Turn of the Screw"

Episode 25 (Pt.2) - Critical Interpretations of Henry James' "The Turn of the Screw"

Episode 25 (Pt.1) - Some Changes, Narrative Games & Our First Impressions of "The Turn of the Screw"

Episode 25 (Pt.1) - Some Changes, Narrative Games & Our First Impressions of "The Turn of the Screw"

Aside #19 - An Intro to Henry James & Our Top Creepy Tales

Aside #19 - An Intro to Henry James & Our Top Creepy Tales

Episode 24 - R.L. Stevenson, Plotting & Immortality in Adolfo Bioy Casares' "The Invention of Morel"

Episode 24 - R.L. Stevenson, Plotting & Immortality in Adolfo Bioy Casares' "The Invention of Morel"

Aside #18 - Argentine Literature, Borges & an Intro to Adolfo Bioy Casares' "The Invention of Morel"

Aside #18 - Argentine Literature, Borges & an Intro to Adolfo Bioy Casares' "The Invention of Morel"

Aside #17 - Summer Reads, The Return of the Serial & Electric Lit's "Star Witness"

Aside #17 - Summer Reads, The Return of the Serial & Electric Lit's "Star Witness"

Episode 23 - Belief, Con Artists & The American Soul in Neil Gaiman's "American Gods"

Episode 23 - Belief, Con Artists & The American Soul in Neil Gaiman's "American Gods"

Aside #16 - Weddings, Summer Reads & an intro to Neil Gaiman's "American Gods"

Aside #16 - Weddings, Summer Reads & an intro to Neil Gaiman's "American Gods"

Episode 22 - Science in Sci-Fi, Aliens, and a Critique of Democracy in "The Black Cloud"