Austen Chat

About Austen Chat

Welcome to Austen Chat, the podcast of the Jane Austen Society of North America (JASNA). Join us each month as we interview scholars, authors, and subject experts on a wide range of topics related to Austen’s writings, her life and times, and more. There is always more to learn and enjoy about Jane!

Publisher

Jane Austen Society of North America

Category

arts · arts · history

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

5 Jun 2023

Latest episode

8 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

5 of 41 episodes have a transcript.

1. 

   8 Oct 2026

   Reading Between the Lines of Mansfield Park: A Visit with Patricia Matthew

   Dr. Anne Fertig interviews Dr. Patricia Matthew about the complexities of "Mansfield Park" and Austen's subtle social commentary, offering insights into the novel's enduring relevance.

2. 

   10 Sept 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Rereading Jane Austen: A Visit with Elaine Bander

   Rereading Jane Austen’s novels with an understanding of the literary conventions of her time can reveal new layers of meaning that modern audiences may miss. In this episode, we sit down with Austen scholar Elaine Bander, author of Reading with Jane Austen, to explore how Austen used and deliberately played against the conventions of the romance fiction of her day, as well as forms such as the “two-heroine” novel and the “female Quixote.” Along the way, we’ll gain fresh perspectives on Fanny ...

3. 

   6 Aug 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Jane Austen Wrecked My Life: A Visit with Laura Piani

   “The first one, the very first one, is like opening a door to another portal somehow.” —Laura Piani on reading her first Jane Austen novel. Join us for a conversation with Laura Piani, writer and director of the romantic comedy, Jane Austen Wrecked My Life. In this episode with guest host Janet Saidi, she shares how Austen's novels and life choices, Austen fandom, and her own experiences inspired the development of the heroine, Agathe, and her journey. Laura Piani studied film and lit...

Inside a recent episode

Rereading Jane Austen: A Visit with Elaine Bander

Published 10 Sept 2026 · Transcript excerpt

[…] They just read communally because books were expensive. Jane's father had built a fine library worthy of urgemen with literary tastes. But for popular novels, they tended to get them on loan from friends or from lending libraries or book societies where neighbors would club together to buy the books. […]

Who has been a guest on Austen Chat

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Patricia Matthew
• Brett McKay
• Mary Floyd-Wilson

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

25,076

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

4.9 / 5

227 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

70 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 76 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

79

Social presence

0

YouTube

85

Engagement

98

Contact Austen Chat

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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Questions about Austen Chat