Explore every episode of the podcast The Getting Lit Podcast
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sleep, Scroll, Repeat feat. Matthew Gasda | 25 May 2025 | 01:09:46 | |
This week, we're talking to New York playwright and novelist Matthew Gasda about his new novel, The Sleepers, one of the best treatments of millennial generational malaise. We talk about the Dimes Square New York scene, the internet and culture, ideology vs art, masculinity and femininity, defiantly staging theatre during the lockdowns, and much more. Buy The Sleepers here: https://www.amazon.com/Sleepers-Novel-Matthew-Gasda/dp/1648211259 And check out Gasda's substack: https://matthewgasda.substack.com/ | |||
| Poetic License feat. Jasper Ceylon | 18 May 2025 | 01:53:45 | |
This week we're joined by the "Ern Malley of the 21st Century," Jasper Ceylon, who has pranked multiple poetry journals by posing as vogueish identities while submitting terrible poems. Jasper successfully published poems that were intentionally bad to woke journals more interested in an author's pronouns, sexuality and racial characteristics than talent. This satirical "performance art" piece has been documented in his new book, Echolalia Review. We discussed the quality control issues in the publishing industry, and the challenges faced by indie writers, the prevalence of dishonesty in the literary world, particularly in the representation of indigenous cultures, and the challenges of navigating the literary world. Buy Jasper's book here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Echolalia-Review-Anti-Poetry-Jasper-Ceylon/dp/1738633926/ | |||
| Pure Skid Row feat. Jared Klickstein | 12 May 2025 | 02:01:08 | |
This episode, we talk to Jared Klickstein about his amazing memoir of drug addiction and homelessness, Crooked Smile. We also chat about the underground classic Australian film, Pure Shit (Bert Deling, 1978). Buy Crooked Smile here: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0CWZ1GHLW?ref_=mr_referred_us_au_au | |||
| How To Read | 05 May 2025 | 01:17:49 | |
Reading isn't dead - our attention spans have just been hijacked by phones and social media. Inspired by an essay Fresta wrote on how to read last year, we discuss practical strategies to reclaim your reading habit and rediscover the joy of getting lost in a good book. | |||
| Gods Fare No Better feat. J David Osborne | 28 Apr 2025 | 02:27:42 | |
J David Osborne joins us once more, this time to talk about his new psychedelic cyberpunk epic novel, Gods Fare No Better. We talked about spirituality, cyberpunk, science fiction, and the impact of various media on JDO's work, as well as book marketing strategies, industry challenges, and the importance of creativity and playfulness in literature and art. Buy Gods Fare No Better here: https://ronintrash.bigcartel.com/product/gods-fare-no-better or here:
And the discussion continues over on Patreon where we talk about one of the novel's main influences, Cyberpunk 2077. To listen, go to https://www.patreon.com/GettingLit | |||
| Medea, The First Girl Boss | 10 Apr 2025 | 01:19:23 | |
This week, we chat about an ancient classic, Medea by the Athenian tragedian Euripides. We also discuss Lars Von Trier's 1988 TV movie adaptation of the play, written by Carl Theodor Dreyer. Sini also published a well-received essay on men reading books on podcasts at Unherd, which you can read here: https://unherd.com/2025/04/the-literary-man-isnt-dead/ | |||
| Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver feat. Agitator and Bistro Californium | 07 Apr 2025 | 01:43:13 | |
This week, a triple crosspost collaboration with Agitator and Bistro Californium, where we discuss the remasters of the Legacy of Kain videogame series. We talk about the game's mechanics, story progression, incredible voice acting and sound design, character development, themes of free will, spiritualism, and the liminal space between analog and digital technology and much more. Subscribe to Agitator here: https://www.patreon.com/c/agitator/ Subscribe to Bistro Californium here: https://www.patreon.com/c/BistroCalifornium/ | |||
| PREVIEW: There Are Two Gene Wolfes Inside You (Omnibus Edition) | 03 Apr 2025 | 02:14:42 | |
For full episode, go to https://www.patreon.com/c/GettingLit This week, we have compiled all four episodes of our Book of the New Sun series we did in 2023 into one massive 8.5 hour journey. Join Sini, J David Osborne and Kelby Losack as they unpack Gene Wolfe's masterwork of science fiction. | |||
| Keepin' It One Hundred | 19 Mar 2025 | 01:24:54 | |
We're celebrating 100 episodes of the Getting Lit Podcast by talking about a few Jorge Luis Borges stories: The Library of Babel, Three Versions of Judas, The House of Asterion, and Borges And I. We talk about infinity, intellectualism, mythology. We also touched on the challenges of creating a public persona as a writer, a few movie opinions, and the podcast's 100 episode milestone. | |||
| The Magick of Ugly Portmanteaus | 04 Mar 2025 | 01:26:59 | |
This week, it's a bit of a buffet! We chat about two Aleister Crowley short stories: The Drug, and The Stratagem. Before he was a famous occultist, Crowley wrote some fiction, so we thought we'd try it out. To get a much more extensive dive into Crowley, check out Art of Darkness' episode on his life: https://artofdarkpod.com/aleister-crowley-the-sewer-of-creation/ We also chat about "brodernism", the latest literary world concept to cause a fuss in "online lit." The article featuring this hideous portmanteau can be found here: https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/against-high-brodernism/ Fresta also lets us know what he thought about the Deadwood movie (2019). | |||
| Roadside Picnic and Russian N-words feat. Masha | 22 Feb 2025 | 01:25:33 | |
On this episode, we chat with Masha about the Soviet science fiction novel Roadside Picnic, by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky. Russian nihilism and existentialism, Soviet censorship, the unique flavour of Soviet-era science fiction, how to say slurs in Russian and more! Follow Masha on X: https://x.com/3l3ktr4k0mpl3ks And Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/t3lk4/ | |||
| The Southern Thruway | 16 Feb 2025 | 01:09:55 | |
This episode we talk about Julio Cortazar's short story, The Southern Thruway, about a traffic jam that turns into a community. We chat about the concept of the "fantastic" in literature, our experiences driving in Italy and Vietnam, and gave our expert opinion on the complexities of Russian politics and the portrayal of Putin. | |||
| Vocoders Are Gay (PAYWALLED) | 02 Feb 2025 | 00:07:22 | |
Fresta and Sini talk about what they've been reading, watching, playing lately. Also talk about how some internet "personalities" get on podcasts with voice disguisers because "The Feds" are after them. This episode is paywalled. Go to https://www.patreon.com/c/GettingLit to get the full version. | |||
| Back Matter 13: Mind Webs (FREE) | 27 Jan 2025 | 01:04:52 | |
Our discussion with the Rare Candy about Michael Hanson's Mind Webs continues. We talk radio, podcasting, audio dramas vs audiobooks vs what Mind Webs is doing. | |||
| Disching It Out feat. Rare Candy | 27 Jan 2025 | 01:37:56 | |
Glen and Psi from Rare Candy podcast join us to talk about three stories from the science fiction writer, Thomas M Disch. | |||
| Wicked feat. Josh Feye | 12 Jan 2025 | 01:36:58 | |
Josh from The Dionysian Dream substack talks all things Wicked. | |||
| Civilization And Its Hitchcock Films | 07 Jan 2025 | 01:22:26 | |
This week, we read Sigmund Freud's 1930 essay Civilization And Its Discontents and paired it with Alfred Hitchcock's 1972 film, Frenzy. | |||
| A Very Terrifier Christmas feat. Jack Mason & Ryan Simón (PREVIEW) | 21 Dec 2024 | 00:21:27 | |
For the full two hour episode, subscribe to the Getting Lit Podcast's Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/c/GettingLit | |||
| Moorcock Jerkin feat. Yeerk.P | 06 Dec 2024 | 01:42:25 | |
Yeerk joins the show once again to talk about the first book in Michael Moorcock's Corum series, The Knight of the Swords. | |||
| Coetzee? I Don't Even Know Her! | 24 Nov 2024 | 01:07:28 | |
We talk about J.M. Coetzee's brilliantly brutal novel of post-Apartheid South Africa, Disgrace. | |||
| Let's F*ckin Grove! | 26 Oct 2024 | 01:14:12 | |
This episode we chat about Ryunosuke Akutagawa's 'In A Grove' (1922) and Akira Kurosawa's adaptation, Rashomon (1950). | |||
| The Place of Dead Roads | 14 Oct 2024 | 01:00:19 | |
The New Era begins with new co-host Matt Fresta. Fresta is the editor of Rango Tango Magazine and is now the "second mic." | |||
| 100 Pages A Day | 10 Aug 2024 | 00:49:26 | |
A return after a long hiatus! There was a family tragedy so I took some time off. But we are back to regular programming. | |||
| The Big Bukowski feat. Leah Lane and Dean Adams from Rosegarden Funeral Party | 03 Jul 2024 | 01:11:21 | |
This episode, I go out in Deep Ellum, Texas with post-punk/goth icons Rosegarden Funeral Party and we talk about Bukowski with lead singer Leah Lane and drummer Dean Adams. | |||
| God's Eye View | 22 Jun 2024 | 00:37:39 | |
A short episode on the use (or lack thereof) of the third person omniscient point of view in modern novels after recently revisiting Dickens. | |||
| Big Little, Big Series III: Old Law Farm feat. John | 27 May 2024 | 01:15:47 | |
Part 3 in our series on John Crowley's Little, Big, covering book 3: Old Law Farm. | |||
| Grunts in Space II: The Forever War feat. GldPny | 25 Apr 2024 | 01:35:33 | |
Gldpny aka Erik joins me for part two of the two-part series on classic military science fiction. This episode is on Joe Haldeman's The Forever War, which is a "novel in response" to Heinlein's Starship Troopers, but also very much its own thing. | |||
| Big Little, Big Series II: Brother North-Wind's Secret feat. John and Yeerk.P | 21 Apr 2024 | 02:10:54 | |
Part 2 of our read-along of John Crowley's Little, Big. John joins me once again, and we have special guest star Yeerk (from the recent Mr Palomar episode) on the episode as well. | |||
| *PREVIEW* Dhalgren (Rare Candy Gain of Fiction 30 feat. Matt Sini and E Rathke) | 11 Apr 2024 | 00:44:41 | |
This is a cross post from Rare Candy's Gain of Fiction series featuring yours truly as well as former guest Eddy Rathke, hosted by Glen and Psi from RC. We look at Samuel R. Delany's classic and very wild science fiction experimental novel, Dhalgren. Enjoy! Follow Rare Candy: https://rarecandy.substack.com/ And Eddy: https://radicaledward.substack.com/ | |||
| Grunts in Space I: Starship Troopers feat. GldPny (aka Erik Harris) | 08 Apr 2024 | 01:29:27 | |
Gldpny aka Erik joins me once more for a two-part series on classic military science fiction. First up is Robert Heinlein's Starship Troopers. The next episode, released in a couple of weeks, will be on Joe Haldeman's The Forever War. | |||
| Don't Look Back in Kenneth Anger feat. Ryan Simón | 25 Mar 2024 | 01:31:00 | |
Ryan Simón, editor-in-chief of American Vulgaria magazine, joins me once more to talk about three films by the occultist homosexual filmmaker, Kenneth Anger. | |||
| Afterlife of the Death of the Author | 18 Mar 2024 | 00:57:37 | |
Talking about a recent online discussion about the Starship Troopers film and how people who are into the death of the author concept tend to invoke the author when expedient, as well as how the death of the author concept is used and abused these days. | |||
| Big Little, Big Series I: Edgewood feat. John | 03 Mar 2024 | 01:14:15 | |
Former guest John joins me for the first of a six-part, monthly slow read of John Crowley's Little, Big. | |||
| Mr Palomar feat. Yeerk.P | 25 Feb 2024 | 01:59:49 | |
This episode, I'm joined by the wonderful Yeerk to chat about Italo Calvino's final novel, Mr Palomar. | |||
| Gold Coast Confidential feat. Iain Ryan (PREVIEW) | 19 Feb 2024 | 01:18:49 | |
Australian crime writer Iain Ryan joins me live from a bar in Brunswick East to talk about his new book of Gold Coast noir, The Strip, as well as his major inspiration, James Ellroy's L.A. Confidential. | |||
| Grandma Ursula Tells Great Stories feat. J David Osborne | 12 Feb 2024 | 02:24:05 | |
On this episode, writer and podcaster J David Osborne returns to talk about several short stories by the late science fiction grandmaster, Ursula K Le Guin. Follow JDO on | |||
| Eating In, Talking Out feat. Paul Dalla Rosa | 05 Feb 2024 | 01:34:05 | |
Three-time guest of the pod and "Australia's Ottessa Moshfegh" Paul Dalla Rosa joins me at my house for bento takeout while we discuss Natsuo Kirino's crime novel, Out. | |||
| Cigarettes and Jünger feat. Nicolas Hausdorf | 29 Jan 2024 | 01:34:04 | |
Recording on location from the smoke-wreathed vista at Siglo in Melbourne, I am joined by writer and researcher Nicolas Hausdorf to discuss German writer Ernst Jünger's post-apocalyptic novel, Eumeswil. | |||
| God is Wearing Black feat. Kelby Losack | 21 Jan 2024 | 01:32:40 | |
Hoodrat noir/cyberpunk writer, Agitator podcast host, and former guest on the show, Kelby Losack, joins me to talk about his collection God is Wearing Black. | |||
| The Kinks Live at Matthew Fresta's House | 06 Jan 2024 | 01:31:58 | |
Surrounded by vinyl records and cassette tapes, I joined editor of the Rango Tango zine, and former GLP guest Matthew Fresta (in his lounge room!) to talk about the very literary songwriting of British band, The Kinks. | |||
| Greco-Romoeroticism feat. Stephen Zerance | 01 Jan 2024 | 01:37:09 | |
Poet Stephen Zerance joins me to talk about Greek poet C.P. Cavafy and four greco-roman films (Sebastiane, Caligula, Alexander, and 300). | |||
| Cloud Atlas feat. Jayson Young | 17 Dec 2023 | 01:26:47 | |
Jayson Young, writer and co-host of the Mangaroos podcast, joins me to talk about David Mitchell's novel about stories, life, death, perception, rebirth, and reincarnation: Cloud Atlas. | |||
| YA-face feat. Steff | 11 Dec 2023 | 01:32:01 | |
On this episode, Steff joins me to talk about R.F. Kuang's Yellowface, which we've decided is YA posing as literary fiction (probably the marketers fault). | |||
| Sally Rooney Trilogy III: Beautiful Worlds feat. Sheila Ngoc Pham | 03 Dec 2023 | 01:30:37 | |
To round out the Sally Rooney trilogy, I am joined by Sydney-based writer, editor, producer Sheila Ngoc Pham to discuss Sal pal's latest novel, Beautiful World Where Are You? | |||
| Sally Rooney Trilogy II: People of Normie Experience feat. E Rathke | 26 Nov 2023 | 02:02:51 | |
Writer E Rathke joins me for the second part of the Sally Rooney series, where we look at Sal's second novel, Normal People. | |||
| Sally Rooney Trilogy I: Conversations with Chi Chi feat. Zach Langley Chi Chi | 18 Nov 2023 | 01:16:45 | |
Zach returns to kick off the Sally Rooney trilogy over the next few weeks. We will be looking at her books in chronological order with a different guest each week, starting with Conversations with Friends. | |||
| The Woman in Memes feat. Jacques Peterson | 12 Nov 2023 | 01:19:02 | |
This episode, one of my faves and host of the Unpopular podcast, Jacques Peterson, returns to mansplain the Britney Spears memoir "The Woman in Me" (because I'm not going to read it). How did Spears go from a pop sensation to an online meme, dancing scarily in her house with knives and such? | |||
| Not the Full Quid feat. Ryan Simón | 04 Nov 2023 | 02:02:11 | |
Ryan Simón, editor-in-chief of American Vulgaria magazine returns to the show and I made him read some Aussie literature: Colleen McCullough's Tim, a sexy and heartwarming 1974 novel about a middle-aged spinster falling for her mentally challenged (yet incredibly physically beautiful) gardener. | |||
| Halloween Special: The Turn of the Screw feat. Cody LaDuke | 30 Oct 2023 | 01:00:28 | |
Cody LaDuke from the Cents of Life podcast joins me for a Halloween special. We're talking ghost stories, specifically Henry James' classic, The Turn of the Screw, the 1961 film version The Innocents, and the 2001 film The Others starring Nicole Kidman. | |||
| Valley of the Dolls feat. Jack Mason | 28 Oct 2023 | 01:48:31 | |
Jack Mason, host of The Perfume Nationalist podcast joins me to talk about Jacqueline Susann's 1966 novel of showbiz, sex, and substance abuse, Valley of the Dolls, as well as the 1967 film adaptation directed by Mark Robson and starring Sharon Tate, Patty Duke, and Susan Hayward, and also the 1970 film Beyond the Valley of the Dolls, directed by Russ Meyer and written by film critic Roger Ebert! | |||