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.
Episodes
27 episodes
37. A Time to Kill
In this harrowing and essential episode of Hope is Kindled, we confront the brutal legacy of racism and injustice in America through John Grisham’s incendiary debut novel, A Time to Kill. Set in the deep South, this courtroom ...
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Episode 37
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10:54
26. Catch-22
In this episode, we dive into Joseph Heller’s Catch-22—a novel that laughs in the face of logic and cries behind its grin. Set amid the absurdities of war, Heller’s masterpiece confronts the impossible paradoxes of bureaucracy, mortali...
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Episode 26
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14:42
38. OSHO
In this powerful and contemplative episode, we explore the provocative teachings of Osho—one of the most controversial and transformative spiritual voices of the twentieth century. With clarity and fire, Osho invites us to dismantle the illusio...
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Episode 38
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9:39
36. The Four Agreements
In this soul-stirring episode of Hope is Kindled, we explore Don Miguel Ruiz’s timeless spiritual guide The Four Agreements—a small book rooted in ancient Toltec wisdom that carries the potential to rewrite the way we live, lo...
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Episode 36
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9:59
12. The Picture of Dorian Gray
In this introspective and cautionary episode of Hope is Kindled, we examine Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray, a haunting tale of beauty, corruption, and the soul’s decay. With sharp literary analysis and personal...
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Episode 12
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15:06
23. The Story of My Experiments with Truth
In this foundational episode of Hope is Kindled, we turn to one of the most quietly transformative voices of the 20th century: Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. Through his autobiography, The Story of My Experiments with Truth, Gand...
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Episode 23
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7:33
3. The Philosophy of Composition
In Episode 3 of Hope is Kindled, we delve into the shadowy brilliance of Edgar Allan Poe through his essay The Philosophy of Composition and his iconic poem The Raven. This episode examines Poe’s claim that great writ...
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Episode 3
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9:53
31. 1984
In this gripping and timely episode of Hope is Kindled, we explore George Orwell’s 1984, a haunting portrayal of surveillance, propaganda, and the battle for truth and identity. With biographical and psychological analys...
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Episode 31
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14:37
14. Don Quixote
The Mad Knight and the Impossible DreamGrab your lance (or broomstick), strap on that dented colander, and saddle up your trusty steed—even if he’s more broom than stallion. In this episode of Hope is Kindled, we ride alo...
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Episode 14
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20:47
19. The Count of Monte Cristo
What if the deepest betrayal could become the foundation for your greatest transformation?In this soul-stirring episode of Hope is Kindled, we journey into the heart of The Count of Monte Cristo—a towering masterpiece o...
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Episode 19
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17:44
22. Girl, Interrupted
In this deeply introspective episode of Hope is Kindled, we explore Susanna Kaysen’s Girl, Interrupted, a memoir that confronts the complexities of mental health, identity, and the thin line between sanity and society’s expect...
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Episode 22
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7:32
30. The Alchemist
In this luminous episode of Hope is Kindled, we follow the journey of Santiago, a humble shepherd with a dream in his heart and the desert wind at his back. Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist is a modern fable about purpose, destiny...
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Episode 30
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13:34
20. The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test
In this swirling, psychedelic episode of Hope is Kindled, we dive into Tom Wolfe’s The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test, chronicling Ken Kesey and the Merry Pranksters as they rocket across 1960s America in a day-glo bus with music...
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Episode 20
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8:44
13. Frankenstein
In this emotionally rich and thought-provoking episode of Hope is Kindled, we explore Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein — a foundational tale of creation, responsibility, and isolation. With biographical insight into Shelley’s life ...
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Episode 13
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8:59
18. Great Expectations
In this heartfelt and lively episode of Hope is Kindled, we explore the trials and transformations of Pip in Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations. With humor, warmth, and reflection, we examine themes of betrayal, social class,...
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Episode 18
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7:50
9. Heart of Darkness
In this haunting and reflective episode of Hope is Kindled, we navigate the shadowed waters of Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness, exploring the darkness within imperialism, the psyche, and the human soul. Through a close...
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Episode 9
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14:03
17. The Once & Future King
Welcome, dear friends, to another chapter of Hope is Kindled. Today, we step into a realm where magic hums beneath the surface, where owls tutor kings, and where the weight of power is balanced against the dream of peace. We journey to...
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Episode 17
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23:10
21. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
In this deeply emotional and unforgettable episode of Hope is Kindled, we explore my favorite book, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, a masterful novel of rebellion, conformity, and the cost of freedom. Through the eyes of...
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Episode 21
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13:47
11. The Brothers Karamazov
In this powerful episode of Hope is Kindled, we turn to Dostoevsky’s masterwork, The Brothers Karamazov, a philosophical epic of faith, doubt, suffering, and redemption. We explore the moral and emotional complexity of t...
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Episode 11
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13:40
10. The Demons
In this intense and prophetic episode of Hope is Kindled, we confront the ideological chaos of Fyodor Dostoevsky’s The Demons (also known as The Possessed). Through a blend of political, psychological, and spiritual a...
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Episode 10
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10:52
8. Faust
In this episode of Hope is Kindled, we dive into Goethe’s monumental Faust, a timeless tale of ambition, temptation, and the cost of one’s soul. Through literary, philosophical, and psychological analysis, we explore Faust’s b...
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Episode 8
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12:32
7. On the Road
In this vibrant episode of Hope is Kindled, we hit the highway with Jack Kerouac’s On the Road, exploring the restless spirit of the Beat Generation. We reflect on themes of friendship, disillusionment, counterculture, a...
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Episode 7
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29:28
6. Walden
In Episode 5 of Hope is Kindled, we step into the quiet woods of Concord, Massachusetts, alongside Henry David Thoreau, and explore his profound experiment in intentional living as captured in Walden. This episode reflects on ...
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Episode 6
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7:42
