The Thing About Austen

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Books #137

The Thing About Austen is a podcast about Jane Austen's world — the people, objects, and culture that shape Austen's fiction. Come for the historical context and stay for the literary shenanigans. Think of us as your somewhat cheeky tour guides to the life and times of Jane Austen.

Recent Episodes
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Recent Reviews
  • koralinejones
    Austen 💜💜
    Just finishing a seminar course at University on solely Austen. This is exactly like a discourse in class and I love these succinct deep dives!
  • LitNerd4eva
    Bell-pulls, umbrellas, and gigs, oh my!
    I can't get enough of this material culture context on Austen's novels. Every episode gives great historical detail, literary context, and niche nerdery. I demand more!! *please*
  • SoCalNutshell
    Tapping into Austen’s humor
    Fans of Austen live for her clever, cheeky ways. This podcast emboldens us with a vast amount of research to paint the picture of what an every day person in Austen Land really cares about: finding true love, securing a fortune, and finding laughter through it all. I’m hooked.
  • Gefremede
    Austen experts provide illuminating details
    I absolutely love this podcast. I can’t believe I only just found it because I have a lifelong obsession with Austen. It’s so nice to hear from experts and know you’re getting an accurate glimpse into the lives of Austen’s characters. I also love how much the hosts love the books as readers, not just as scholars.
  • bnr_143
    Enjoyable context
    Helps give context to my favorite novels, and makes the reading experience even more enjoyable.
  • Newmy102
    A fav listen
    I get giddy when I see a new episode! I love people who love Austen!
  • M. Gardiner 💛
    Fun & Informativr
    Just like re-reading Austen books, re-listening to these episodes brings new life and appreciations. 🤩
  • Swinerushisawesome
    Always a great listen
    Knowledgeable and very entertaining. You can tell how much research and time goes into making a great show. Their passion for Austen and keeping it fun and relevant is awesome.
  • ashyeetley
    I want to love it
    The information is wonderful, the banter much less so.
  • Mendomama9
    Could not love this podcast more!
    I found this podcast when I was looking for fun yet well-researched materials for a university class I was teaching on Austen. It was perfect for my class and I have become an ardent fan myself. Zan and Diane do an amazing job of highlighting moments that showcase Austen’s genius with serious research into her context and era, all while keeping the show interesting, engaging, and relevant to contemporary readers and listeners. Thank you to Zan and Diane for this important work, which is really helping today’s students access Austen’s works!
  • Mcher611
    Love their perspective!!
    Fun discussions about the Regency era and always gives me a deeper understanding of the books!!
  • Don't Wait... Just buy it!
    Hyper-focusing on Austen
    This makes my adhd, Jane Austen loving heart happy. Such delightful deep dives on random details from the books that I love so much. 💯💯💯
  • carolinemet
    Exactly what I was looking for!
    I absolutely love this show! I just completed my life goal of reading all of Austen’s books and this show has carried me through. I was specifically looking for a show that gave me some insight into some of the historical context of her era. This is just perfect! It’s also very well researched and the hosts are charming as well. Thank you, ladies! Keep up the good work.
  • Sarah_TK
    Feels like sitting in on a geeky ladies brunch
    This podcast feels like a weekly nerding -out session with my (very well-informed) girlfriends. People sometimes forget that professors and phds can appreciate a soaked Mr. Darcy while simultaneously being scholars about the time period, and this podcast delivers. I’m here for the Captain Wentworth fangirling and also the fascinating context regarding which gents would legitimately use flannel waistcoats (despite Marianne’s derision). Its hilarious, informative, and gives the sort of context that makes me appreciate Austen’s works even more.
  • music=love2
    The Podcast My Heart and Austen-loving Mind Needed!!
    I love this podcast! What a delightful and interesting place to land in these crazy times! These thoughtful and funny women take me back into some of my favorite literary works with brilliance and humor. It feels like a safe little oasis for my soul! I’m so glad to have found this great podcast!!
  • pointilissma
    Rich little bits!
    Shines light on all those little bits in Jane Austen that would just be common knowledge in Austen’s time that either leave the modern reason puzzled or that the reader just has to skip over. But when you learn more, it makes the books so much richer and understandable!
  • suezachnc
    A Treat for Janeites
    I love these bite-sized podcasts that are full of interesting information about some aspect of Jane Austen‘s novels. I have now listened to all of them, and eagerly await the next.
  • Gram2006
    Fun for anyone who likes Jane Austin
    This is just a really fun podcast if you like Jane Austin. If you started reading Austen as a teen, you would have wanted to have these two friends to share her with. They do a lot of laughing and isn’t Austen incredible but they also look up everything you’ve ever wished to have explained and then some. They even tell you what was behind the black curtain in Northanger Abbey that Catherine was reading about. They bring in fellow Austen enthusiasts and even some scholars. If you like the topic, you’ll enjoy this.
  • IC Momof2
    So much fun!
    I recently discovered this podcast, and I’m so glad I did! When I listen, I am magically transported to the company of Austen nerds like me. Each episode is interesting, quirky, and often laugh-out-loud funny. I listen whenever I want to feel joyful and refreshed.
  • cjanski11
    Exactly What I Was Looking For!
    This show is everything I hoped it would be when I read the description! In-depth information in bite-sized pieces that enrich the reading of Jane Austen’s novels. I love the hosts - they are smart, fun, and easy to listen to. They site their sources (and expand my TBR pile considerably) and they bring on really interesting guests (which has also expanded my TBR list, as well as my Instagram feed). I cannot recommend this podcast enough to fans of Jane Austen and her works. Every episode is interesting - how they did that with an episode about entails and inheritance laws is pure magic. My only complaint is that I’m almost caught up on the backlog of episodes and I’ll have to wait for new ones to drop. Thank you for creating this podcast for JA nerds like me!!
  • LLuvCoolJane
    YES!
    Of course, the Knightly brothers conspired to bring Harriet Smith and Robert Martin together! I love this idea, and it had occurred to me before. Especially, when you consider that Mr. Knightley had previously queried Harriet Smith about her relationship status. At that point, he was asking on behalf of Robert Martin, and of course Harriet misunderstood thinking he was asking for himself. Love you ladies!
  • Enchantmentfel
    Excellent Austen Podcast
    There are so many podcasts about Jane Austen, and I have sampled quite a few of them. This one stands above the rest, at least for me. It’s a fun tutorial about the Regency period in relation to Austen’s novels and listening to this podcast helps me understand more when I’m reading her novels. The hosts are engaging and fun. I highly recommend it!
  • Lou Breton
    Obsessed
    I love reading (and watching) all things Austen, so this pod is perfection! These deep dives are so much like the discussions my sister and I have gotten into over the years! I love the facts and history to back it all up. Love love love. Thank you for making this and just absolutely crushing it.
  • LOLeggshell
    Good context
    Useful deep dives into topics like how the entail worked, or what their dresses were made out of or what sheet music was available.
  • anybody1
    I love all the episodes…
    It’s so hard to choose a favorite! But the one about General Tilney’s pamphlets, or Lizzy Bennet’s embroidery are definite contenders. I love all of Jane Austen’s novels, and this podcast is such a fascinating exploration of that world. I listen especially when I want to relax, but anytime will do. ☺️ I even recommend it to my book club when we read Northanger Abbey! I also love that you finally did an episode on the Longbourn entail! I have been wondering about this since I first read Pride and Prejudice at 14. I’d be really interested to hear a full episode about letters and letter-writing in the novels as well!
  • MsLCVa
    One of my favorite podcasts!
    I get so excited when a new episode comes out. This podcast teaches me so many things I never knew I wanted to know, and gives such great cultural and historical context to Austen’s novels. Perfect episode length, lots of details. Love love love.
  • Desiree930
    Perfect for a self-proclaimed book and history nerd!
    I just started this podcast a little over a week ago, and I’ve already binged the entire thing. I need a few hundred more of these, please and thank you. I really appreciate how the exploration of the ‘things’ in Jane Austen’s world really put her books into context in a way I’d never really thought about before. The deep dive the hosts take the listener on in every episode really gives me a new appreciation for the genius of Jane Austen’s writing and her knowledge of the world around her. I also think this podcast has a high re-listenability factor. Not only is the content interesting, each episode is fairly short, usually between 20 and 30 minutes long. So later if I’m trying to remember something that was said in a podcast, it’s simple enough to go back and listen to it again. I feel like this podcast is an absolute MUST for anyone who loves Jane Austen.
  • katiej720
    Perfect for an Austen Girl Summer
    I thankfully discovered this podcast around the same time I decided to read/reread all of Austen’s novels this summer. It has been such a joy to listen to all the episodes as I finish each book (2 more to go!). Zan and Diane have added so much depth to my enjoyment of the novels, and now I can’t wait to read them all again! Thank you both for this podcast and your dedication to it - I appreciate y’all so much!
  • GLORY MOMOH
    So good!
    I’m really enjoying this podcast! Would love an episode regarding Gretna Green with reference to Lydia’s elopement in Pride and Prejudice.
  • ChelseaJanzen
    Love this podcast!
    Fascinating topics, excellent guest experts - so lovely for understanding Austen through a funny and educational historical lens!!
  • AKAJessica
    Fantastic podcast
    I typically listen though Spotify, but wherever one listens, this is such a wonderful podcast for seasoned Austen lovers and those just getting into her work. There’s so much helpful information about various aspects of the worlds and characters Austen created to help everyone better understand the context of her novels and Regency history in general. The hosts are friendly and engaging, in addition to being well-researched and informative. It’s like having a conversation with your (very smart) best friends.
  • _.Daniel._
    So happy I found this!
    I’ve really been enjoying listening to this podcast! The level of familiarity with the novels and the dives into the culture of the time make it so compelling. It’s so much fun and always fascinating. It made me go back to the Austen shelf for more rewarding re-reading! So much more to think about and discover.
  • emmy5230
    Really Lovely!
    This is a great podcast. I can listen to each episode repeatedly, because each is very well researched and packed full of new-to-me Jane Austen content. The subject matter is lightly handled (easy, friendly banter) but not light. I cannot believe that it doesn’t have 5,000 five star reviews. Thank you so much for such an engaging show!
  • Dg the skier
    Thanks For The Context!
    I just love a deep dive into the context of the novels I read, and the way this podcast presents the minutiae of the Regency period is a joy. My only complaint is that the two bright, thoughtful , and funny hosts can’t produce more episodes!
  • peytonolivia100
    Audio quality belies content quality
    I love the content but the audio quality is not great. Episode 69 has a guest who is absolutely indecipherable due to her audio quality, and even the audio from hosts is not cleaned up to eliminate the whine from their S’s hissing into the microphone. I have to play it on 2x speed to get through it the hisses as fast as possible or they give me a headache. I really love the deep dives they do on the content, it’s one of the most informative and thoughtful podcast in Janeite land!
  • Pedantic upstate
    Charming, entertaining, educational
    I love this podcast. It’s what I listen to when I’m cooking or gardening, or just want to relax. It’s incredibly charming and fun, but also really impressive in terms of the scholarship, and what you learn. Check it out!
  • great_at_maths
    Most Relaxing Education Content
    These two hosts show such respect and knowledge for their topic of Jane Austen and her works, I cannot help but fall in love with it. I have been reading Austen since I was 10 years old, mostly because of my mother. My mom is the smartest person I know and she has always had the answer to all my Austen questions as I read them growing up. These hosts are knowledgeable enough to give me a new educational viewpoint for these masterpieces but not arrogant enough to make me feel stupid. Now that I don’t live with my mom, this podcast gives me the comfort I am lacking without her continual presence and the drive to reread these novels from a different appreciation.
  • Meghanbennett15
    Informative, witty, and entertaining.
    Zan and Diane are such a joy to listen to. They are well informed to make the podcast interesting, but their friendship makes this podcast spectacular. If you love Austen, you will love this podcast, and all the little bunny trails they fall down. I’m here for it.
  • Hillbilly Scholar
    So Much Fun
    I had the pleasure of teaching Jane Austen in a college-level film and literature course for several years. I am retired now, but this podcast makes me wish that I still had the pleasure of introducing my students to such a wonderful additional source of analysis. Your enticing podcast has me rereading my favorite novels and watching my favorites of the extensive Austen adaptations. Thank you!
  • Strick52
    Pod-perfect
    Loving this pod. It’s even better than one of my favorite books when I was first reading English novels, “What Jane Austen Ate & Charles Dickens Knew.” One thing I’ve always wondered and hope to be a future topic: how did Wickham just leave the militia? Was he AWOL & Darcy got that taken care of, too? Once in the north, did he have to stay in his regiment forever? And in Persuasion - how long did Wentworth have off? Seems like a long vacation! And William in Mansfield Park was forever on leave or leaving from leave… Cheers and thanks for this wonderful font of entertaining information. Also, why did Bingley “let” Netherfield? Is he renting it? If so, from whom?
  • maegwenz.datter
    Endlessly Fascinating!!
    ❤️ My new favorite podcast! Diane and Zan exist in my virtual world as 2 smart, witty, friends who introduce me to other interesting people. Just now listened to E 29. So interesting! Check out miniature of possible inspiration for P&P Lydia. She is darling! (Instagram Link in show notes)
  • Karinlauria
    Can’t get enough!
    Someone on Instagram pointed me to this podcast when they saw my Austen/Regency-inspired artwork, and now I’m completely hooked! It’s so fun and informative and has inspired me to go back and reread and listen to all of Austen’s novels. I just wish the episodes were longer because I enjoy them so much.
  • Pollyjenkins
    Yes, An Unequivocal Yes.
    I shall admit to being a bit of a snob. I hang my head in shame here, but it's just that I have been a devotee of Austen lo these many years, and spent my childhood in places that Austen knew. (One of the villages used in an Austen adaptation, was, for a while, my childhood home. So I approach Austen fan podcasts /programmes and even adaptations with a mix of hope and dread. I spotted this podcast, and thought "I'll give it a go!!" I am SO glad that I did! Lighthearted without being too giggly and silly. Covering the sometimes odd topics we all ask ourselves . Intelligent, knowledgeable and fun. Thank you, Thank you and bless!
  • Snerrski
    The podcast you didn't know you needed
    This podcast was recommended by a friend so I took a listen. I'm hooked. It's the kind of podcast that when a new one drops you'll interrupt the other podcast you're listening to to hear it. I love Austen and this insight into her world gives a whole new reality and dimension to the books. The ladies are knowledgeable and do interesting research and interviews to share Austen's environment.
  • Hurneybadger
    Diane and Zan make details fun
    Listening to Diane and Zan talk about Jane Austen is like sitting in on a coffee date with two really smart friends who love to nerd out on literature, plus they are inviting you along. They are warm, accessible, and knowledgeable. The perfect combo.
  • 10,000 pound cakes a yr
    Delightful
    I told my mom that I was exclusively listening to Jane Austen audiobooks until the world gets less terrible. She told me to listen to this podcast. It’s been a joy. Thanks mom, Zan, and Diane.
  • Dynomite 360
    Wow!
    This podcast really gives insight to Jane Austen and the context surrounding her books. It is so interesting! I love listening while I'm in the car or doing stuff around the house. I highly recommend this to anyone who is a Jane Austen fan like me!!
  • Roux5582
    Love it!
    Man oh man, so I love this podcast!
  • JayMonique9
    You’re awesome!
    ❤️❤️❤️
  • WendieWard2
    For Any Austen Lover
    I’ve been obsessed with Jane Austen’s novels for as long as I can remember. This podcast feels like a cup of tea by a fire with your best book club friends (where you only read Austen, of course). I love learning new things about the intricacies of Austen & the time she lived & wrote. Bravo!
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