Hope is Kindled
A podcast devoted to the way stories shape us, sharpen us, and sometimes… save us.
Hope is Kindled is a literary podcast that explores classic and powerful works of literature through the lens of self-discovery, moral reflection, and enduring hope. Each episode delves into a single book, essay, or story, examining its themes, characters, and psychological depth, and connects it to timeless questions about the human condition.
What makes the podcast unique is its blend of literary criticism and warmth. It uses biographical, psychological, and historical criticism, along with personal reflection and cultural commentary—including references to Doctor Who, The Muppets, and classic film.
Please let us know what you think of our episodes, if you have any ideas for future episodes or to share your experiences looking searching for hope in the literary world.
Hope is Kindled
Moby Dick
This episode of Hope is Kindled has been one of the most personal journeys I’ve ever taken. I never liked Moby-Dick when I first read it—honestly, I hated it. But over time, I began to realize that the very reasons I resisted the book were the reasons I needed it most. Melville’s story of Captain Ahab’s relentless pursuit of the white whale became a mirror I could no longer look away from. It forced me to confront my own seasons of fixation, perfectionism, and the ways rumination can quietly take over a life.
Through that reflection, I found not only meaning but healing. This episode explores Moby-Dick as a story about obsession, self-destruction, and the courage it takes to let go. I also look closely at Wuthering Heights, where Heathcliff’s haunting devotion mirrors Ahab’s—the same storm of desire and fury, the same warning about what happens when pain becomes identity.
Out of these readings and my own hard-won lessons came something practical and deeply hopeful: a Field Guide for Young Readers and Families, created with the wisdom of all the books we’ve explored together before—Don Quixote, The Count of Monte Cristo, The Four Agreements, Osho, and many others. It’s a set of tools for recognizing fixation before it consumes us, and for turning endurance into grace.
This is not just an episode about literature—it’s about learning to release the harpoon, to steer by wiser stars, and to find peace after the storm.
For anyone who’s ever been caught in the loop of obsession or regret, may this episode be a reminder that even when the ship goes down, the raft still floats—and hope still waits to be kindled.
