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31 Best Literary Theory Podcasts (2026)

Curated by PodSEO

The literary theory space keeps producing fresh voices and long-running favorites. This list rounds up 31 of the best, including Critics at Large | The New Yorker, History of Philosophy Without Any Gaps, and The Partially Examined Life Philosophy Podcast.

  1. Critics at Large | The New Yorker
    Critics at Large | The New Yorker
    Critics at Large is a weekly culture podcast from The New Yorker. Every Thursday, the staff writers Vinson Cunningham, Naomi Fry, and Alexandra Sch...
    Content:
    Book ClubCultureEntertainmentNewsLiterary Theory
    Audience:
    Book Lovers
  2. History of Philosophy Without Any Gaps
    History of Philosophy Without Any Gaps
    Peter Adamson, Professor of Philosophy at the LMU in Munich and at King's College London, takes listeners through the history of philosophy, "witho...
    Content:
    Ancient TextsAncient WisdomEducationThought ReflectionsLiterary Theory
    Goal:
    Discovering New IdeasLearning New SkillsTo Fall Asleep To
    Style:
    Educational
    When:
    Focused Learning
  3. The Partially Examined Life Philosophy Podcast
    The Partially Examined Life Philosophy Podcast
    The Partially Examined Life is a podcast by some guys who were at one point set on doing philosophy for a living but then thought better of it. Eac...
    Content:
    Existential QuestioningHumanity PodcastsIntrospectionMature ThemesMedia PhilosophyLiterary Theory
    +3
    Goal:
    Discovering New IdeasGetting Expert Insights
  4. New Books in Critical Theory
    New Books in Critical Theory
    This podcast is a channel on the New Books Network. The New Books Network is an academic audio library dedicated to public education. In each episo...
    Content:
    Literary Theory
  5. Literature and History
    Literature and History
    With millions of downloads, hundreds of hours of soundtracked content, and an overall emphasis on the cultural history behind famous works of liter...
    Content:
    Ancient TextsKissing HistoryLiterary Theory
    Audience:
    Book LoversHistory Buffs
    Style:
    Solo Commentary
  6. Why Theory
    Why Theory
    Why Theory brings continental philosophy and psychoanalytic theory together to examine cultural phenomena.
    Content:
    Government ConspiraciesMedia PhilosophyPhilosophical PsychologyLiterary Theory
  7. Hermitix
    Hermitix
    Hermitix is a podcast focusing on one-on-one interviews relating to fringe philosophy, obscure theory, weird lit, underappreciated thinkers and mov...
    Content:
    Esoteric ResearchMedia PhilosophyLiterary Theory
  8. The Literary Life Podcast
    The Literary Life Podcast
    Not just book chat! The Literary Life Podcast is an ongoing conversation about the skill and art of reading well and the lost intellectual traditio...
    Content:
    Book ClubHomeschoolingStory AnalysisLiterary Theory
    Audience:
    Book Lovers
    Goal:
    Learning New Skills
  9. Weird Studies
    Weird Studies
    Professor Phil Ford and writer J. F. Martel host a series of conversations on art and philosophy, dwelling on ideas that are hard to think and art ...
    Content:
    Esoteric ResearchExistential QuestioningFilm AnalysisMedia PhilosophyWeird and UnusualLiterary Theory
  10. Entitled Opinions (about Life and Literature)
    Entitled Opinions (about Life and Literature)
    The narcotic of intelligent conversation
    Content:
    Thought ReflectionsLiterary Theory
    Goal:
    Discovering New Ideas
  11. PlasticPills Critical Theory & Philosophy
    PlasticPills Critical Theory & Philosophy
    The Pill Pod is hosted by a group of PhDs offering their irreverent (and unsolicited) takes on critical theory, philosophy, culture, and politics.
    Content:
    Literary Theory
  12. Hardcore Literature
    Hardcore Literature
    Welcome to your new favourite book club. If you enjoy deep dives into the greatest books ever written, you will love Hardcore Literature. Provocati...
    Content:
    Literary Theory
  13. Literary Theory - Audio
    Literary Theory - Audio
    Content:
    Literary Theory
  14. Politics Theory Other
    Politics Theory Other
    A podcast on radical politics, critical theory, and history. Hosted by Alex Doherty. Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/poltheoryother Contact: polit...
    Content:
    Literary Theory
  15. New Books in Literary Studies
    New Books in Literary Studies
    This podcast is a channel on the New Books Network. The New Books Network is an academic audio library dedicated to public education. In each episo...
    Content:
    Literary Theory
  16. High Theory
    High Theory
    High Theory is a produced and edited by Kim Adams and Saronik Bosu, two tired academics trying to save critique from itself, along with two amazing...
    Content:
    Academic PodcastingLiterary Theory
  17. Project Narrative
    Project Narrative
    Content:
    Literary Theory
  18. Critical Readings
    Critical Readings
    Critical Readings examines key literary texts using close reading and critical analysis, and explains these approaches in discussion. Listeners wil...
    Content:
    Poetry AnalysisLiterary Theory
  19. PoemTalk at the Writers House
    PoemTalk at the Writers House
    PoemTalk at the Writers House, hosted by Al Filreis and based at Kelly Writers House in Philadelphia. PoemTalk is a collaboration with the Universi...
    Content:
    Poetry for Emotional ExpressionLiterary Theory
  20. Literary Rides
    Literary Rides
    Literary Rides, hosted by Dr. Vishwanath Bite — Professor of English, Editor, Author & Rider — explores how language, literature, and thought i...
    Content:
    EducationWriting CraftLiterary Theory
    Audience:
    Book LoversEducatorsStudentsTeachersWriters
    Goal:
    Learning New Skills
  21. Literary Friction
    Literary Friction
    A monthly conversation about books and ideas on NTS Radio hosted by friends Carrie Plitt, a literary agent, and Octavia Bright, a writer and academ...
    Content:
    Author InterviewsBook ClubTranslated Literary FictionWriting CraftLiterary Theory
    Audience:
    Book LoversWriters
    Goal:
    Writing a Book
  22. Between the Covers
    Between the Covers
    Between the Covers
    Content:
    Author InterviewsBook ClubPoetry InterviewsPublishing IndustryStory AnalysisLiterary Theory
    +1
    Audience:
    Book LoversWriters
    Goal:
    Writing a Book
    Style:
    In-Depth Interviews
  23. Better Read than Dead: Literature from a Left Perspective
    Better Read than Dead: Literature from a Left Perspective
    Three jerky socialists talk about books you've probably heard of. With Megan Tusler, Tristan Schweiger, and Katie K.
    Content:
    Leftist LiteratureLiterary Theory
  24. Critical Theory: The Podcast
    Critical Theory: The Podcast
    From Bernard E. Harcourt at the Columbia Center for Contemporary Critical Thought, Critical Theory: The Podcast explores the front lines of critica...
    Content:
    Literary Theory
  25. A History of Literary Criticism
    A History of Literary Criticism
    Podcast by A History of Literary Criticism
    Content:
    Literary Theory
  26. The Nerve: An English and Arts Podcast
    The Nerve: An English and Arts Podcast
    The Nerve is a podcast produced by the English department at South East Technological University (Waterford, Ireland). Each episode brings together...
    Content:
    Literary Theory
  27. Literary Theory And Criticism Podcast
    Literary Theory And Criticism Podcast
    Are you a student struggling with English lit theory? Then jump right aboard! Here we breakdown theory and analyse them piece by piece, making it e...
    Content:
    Literary Theory
  28. SUBTEXT
    SUBTEXT
    Der Podcast bespricht Themen rund um die Benutzung von Bibliotheken, insbesondere in Bezug auf die Niedersächsische Staats- und Universitätsbibliot...
    Content:
    Book ClubFilm AnalysisHumanity PodcastsStory AnalysisLiterary Theory
  29. No Title
    No Title
    «Среда Ренаты» - подкаст двух студенток, которые в перерывах между парами и работой откровенно говорят о своих проблемах, учебе, парнях, дружбе, и,...
    Content:
    Celebrity GossipExpat StoriesQueer CinemaSerial KillersTrue CrimeLiterary Theory
    Audience:
    CEOs
  30. Literary Theory - Video
    Literary Theory - Video
    Content:
    Literary Theory
  31. Le Salon Literary Discussions
    Le Salon Literary Discussions
    This is not another book club. I’m Marisa, founder and host of Le Salon Literary Discussions where I put my master’s degree in English literature t...
    Content:
    Literary Theory