Not just book chat! The Literary Life Podcast is an ongoing conversation about the skill and art of reading well and the lost intellectual tradition needed to fully enter into the great works of literature.
Experienced teachers Angelina Stanford and Thomas Banks (of www.HouseOfHumaneLetters.com) join lifelong reader Cindy Rollins (of www.MorningtimeForMoms.com) for slow reads of classic literature, conversations with book lovers, and an ever-unfolding discussion of how Stories Will Save the World.
And check out our sister podcast The Well Read Poem with poet Thomas Banks.
Latest episodes
Showing 20 · updated from the feed
Episode 351: Best of Series – Northanger Abbey, Intro and Ch. 1-2
This week on The Literary Life podcast we bring you an episode from our vault, the opening of a series from Season 1 all about Jane Austen's Northanger Abbey. For this in
Nov 3 1 h 11 min
Episode 350: "Lilith" by George MacDonald, Ch. 33-End
On The Literary Life podcast today, Angelina and Addison will wrap up the final installment of our series covering George MacDonald's Lilith. Throughout this conversation
Oct 27 1 h 35 min
Episode 349: "Lilith" by George MacDonald, Ch. 17-32
On today's episode of The Literary Life podcast, Angelina and Addison are back to continue their book series on Lilith by George MacDonald. Before diving into chapters 17
Oct 20 1 h 28 min
Episode 348: "Lilith" by George MacDonald, Ch. 6-16
This week Angelina and Addison are back on The Literary Life podcast to continue their discussion series on George MacDonald's Lilith. Today's episode will cover chapters
Oct 6 1 h 30 min
Episode 347: "Lilith" by George MacDonald, Intro and Ch. 1-5
On The Literary Life Podcast this week, Angelina and Thomas are joined by Addison Hornstra as they open a new book discussion series covering George MacDonald's Lilith: A
Sep 22 1 h 16 min
Episode 346: Finding the Education for Your Vocation with the Hornstra Sisters
This week on The Literary Life podcast, Angelina and Thomas sit down for another chat with Addison and Ella Hornstra to bring us an update on their literary lives and edu
Sep 15 1 h 31 min
Episode 345: "Best of" Series – The Literary Life of Addison and Ella Hornstra (Ep. 182)
On The Literary Life podcast today, we bring you a replay of a chat that Angelina, Cindy, and Thomas had with twin sisters Addison and Ella Hornstra. Together they have b
Sep 8 1 h 52 min
Episode 344: Watership Down by Richard Adams, Ch. 41-50
On The Literary Life Podcast this week, Angelina and Thomas cover the final chapters in our series on Richard Adams' Watership Down. They begin by taking a look at the ep
Sep 1 59 min
Episode 343: Watership Down by Richard Adams, Ch. 31-40
Today's episode of The Literary Life is part 4 of our series on Richard Adams' Watership Down. Angelina and Thomas discuss chapters 31-40 this week, starting with some th
Aug 25 56 min
Episode 342: Watership Down by Richard Adams, Ch. 21-30
On The Literary Life Podcast this week, Angelina and Thomas continue their series on Richard Adams' Watership Down, covering chapters 21-30 in this episode. Angelina open
Aug 18 1 h 00 min
Episode 341: Watership Down by Richard Adams, Ch. 11-20
Welcome to The Literary Life Podcast and the second episode in our series on Richard Adams' Watership Down.This week Angelina and Thomas will be discussing chapters 11-20
Aug 11 1 h 06 min
Episode 340: Watership Down by Richard Adams, Introduction, Ch. 1-10
Welcome back to The Literary Life Podcast and a new book discussion series! This month, Angelina and Thomas will be covering Richard Adams' Watership Down. Beginning of t
Aug 4 1 h 25 min
Episode 339: Ask Us (Almost) Anything
This week on The Literary Life Podcast, our hosts Angelina Stanford and Thomas Banks return from their summer break with a fun "Ask Us (Almost) Anything" episode. The que
Jul 28 1 h 48 min
Episode 338: "The Vulture" by Samuel Johnson – Short Story Summer Remix
Welcome to the final episode of our summer series on short stories and essays! Today your hosts Angelina Stanford and Cindy Rollins are joined once again by Thomas Banks
Jul 21 1 h 15 min
Episode 337: "The Celestial Omnibus" by E. M. Forster – Short Story Summer Remix
On this week's episode of The Literary Life, we continue our series of replays from our Summer of the Short Story with a discussion of "The Celestial Omnibus" by E. M. Fo
Jul 14 1 h 37 min
Episode 336: "Why I Write" by George Orwell - Short Story Summer Remix
For this week's installment of our Short Story Summer Remix, we revisit a conversation Angelina and Cindy had covering George Orwell's essay "Why I Write." Our hosts kick
Jul 7 1 h 22 min
Episode 335: "The Necklace" by Guy de Maupassant – Short Story Summer Remix
In this week's Short Story Summer Remix from Season 1, Angelina Stanford and Cindy Rollins discuss Guy de Maupassant's short story "The Necklace." Before getting into the
Jun 30 1 h 21 min
Episode 334: "The Adventures of a Shilling" by Joseph Addison – Short Story Summer Remix
Today on The Literary Life, we continue our summer short story series of episodes from the archives. In this episode, Cindy Rollins and Angelina Stanford are joined by An
Jun 23 1 h 20 min
Episode 333: "The Garden Party" by Katherine Mansfield - Short Story Summer Remix
This week on The Literary Life, we continue our Summer of the Short Story replay series. On today's episode, Cindy and Angelina discussed Katherine Mansfield's short stor
Jun 16 1 h 20 min
Episode 332: "A Defence of Penny Dreadfuls" by G. K. Chesterton, Short Story Summer Series Remix
On The Literary Life today we continue our re-airing of a series from our "Summer of the Short Story" that originally aired way back in Season 1 of the podcast! This week
Jun 9 1 h 19 min
Chart trend
Position in the Books chart (US), last 90 days.
#1#19#36AugSepOctNov
#3
all-time peak
8
days in the top 3 since Nov 2024
Chart positions
Where The Literary Life Podcast ranks today in each Apple Podcasts chart (US, Nov 6, 2026).
A curated, balanced selection of Apple Podcasts reviews.
I know this >is< a podcast on learning to read well, but it’s also (accidentally) an author’s crash course in writing well.
I’m very new to reading and understanding literature this way, but Angelina, Cindy, and Mr. Banks are giving words to patterns I knew existed in my literary taste, what I was observing about books, but couldn’t explain (and rather thought was all in my head). I’ve inhaled so many new books, and binged so many of their podcasts on the literary tradition, fairy-stories, fairy tales, I’m simply bursting with jubilation :’) My inner Hermione/Ravenclaw is a bit exhausted because I’ve binged so much (but in a good way).
I’ve always wanted to talk about stories this way, but I didn’t think there were other people who cared about stories like this. I thought I was the only one and a bit of a freak for thinking stories ought to go as deep as this. What a relief to realise there’s an entire tradition revolving around this (hullo, new autistic hyperfixation! <3).
I’ve realised if this is what it means to read well, then this is what it means to write well. What I’m learning from this lovely trio translates so well to the fantasy series I’ve been developing for so long. I’m chuffed. I’m grateful.
Angelina, I know you read all your reviews, and I sincerely want you to know what a delight it’s been to get this up close look at my favourite authors, discover new ones, to see how they’re all conversing with each other, to better understand what they were saying; I’m applying it to my writing in beautiful ways.
Thank you. Thank you! Thank you!! There aren’t words for what joy and delight and beauty this podcast has brought to my literary world as well as my own, fantasy drafting world too <3
TheWriterlyDragonSlayer · Sep 2026
Chats and conversations about books that feel like having good friends over cups of tea in the room, perfect for relaxing in the evenings and lingering in a world where stories matter. I enjoyed the podcast so much that I have gone on to explore classes, which are focused and extremely rich and highly recommended, but I still enjoy the podcasts for a fun conversation to listen to at the end of the day.
Ayftan · Sep 2026
I had a professor in college that showed me this deeper way to read but unfortunately he left after a short time. I didn’t think anyone read the way he did until I found this program. It is so exciting to understand books without all the modern interpretations forced on them. This podcast and various classes from House of Humane Letters are overwhelmingly rich in content and insight and deeply rooted in traditional ways of understanding literature. I can’t recommend this podcast or the classes and webinars enough!
pasochick · Aug 2026
The show is a blessing to me. I have a college degree in English but have learned more from this podcast (and their webinars) than I ever did in English classes. I recommend you buy one of their online courses to go even deeper!
hhhhllllkkkk · Aug 2026
I wanted to like this podcast so much. It’s exactly the kind of content I gravitate towards, the hosts have nuanced perspectives, and it came highly recommended. However, after three episodes it’s just not listenable. The main female host CONSTANTLY cuts off the male host. I don’t think he got a full sentence out during the entire book/episodes on Mansfield Park. He can start a thought, but then she just talks over him (notably she doesn’t do this to the other female host). Honestly, why have him on the podcast if you don’t want to listen to his thoughts? It’s just nails on a chalkboard to hear someone be interrupted a hundred times in an hour and half.
Kate1984314 · Jul 2026
I can’t begin to say what an asset this podcast is. I have always wanted to read the great books, but had no idea where to start. This is so helpful! I love the three different views and strengths the three podcasters bring. I love that nobody seems to be straining to show how much they know over another. Everyone seems to be in it together to look for whatever the truth may be. When are we going to do Dante??
@11then1cknamesaretaken · Sep 2025
We strive to present a balanced view by showing a diverse range of reviews from Apple Podcasts.
Here you find the Apple Podcasts chart positions of The Literary Life Podcast, its latest episodes to listen to directly, and reviews from listeners. Rankings are updated daily for the United States.
