Husband and wife Katie and Chris Marquette take some time after the kids are asleep to grab a beer, glass of wine, or cup of tea. They discuss arts, culture, theology, film, books, and everything in between. Grab a nightcap and join us!
11: Elizabeth Taylor: Condemned by the Vatican, Worshipped by the Masses
Actress and activist and cultural icon: Elizabeth Taylor. She is one of the more polarizing figures of our times, pursued relentlessly by the paparazzi and adoring fans, even as she was receiving a condemnation from the The Vatican in 1962 for "erotic vagrancy" following her high-profile, extramarital affair with co-star Richard Burton. Married 8 times (twice to Burton) Taylor was a hopeless romantic, always looking for 'the one.'
She was paid a million dollars (11 million today) for one film - unheard of at the time. She was a woman who knew her worth and demanded it, from friends, lovers, and studio executives! Later in life she devoted herself to raising money for AIDS research, and at a time when those with the disease were treated like lepers she would go around and give (unpublicized) hugs. She was a mother of three before she was twenty-five, and had already been married twice. She was abused so badly by her first husband she was hospitalized and suffered a miscarriage. Her second husband died in a plane crash. She overcame addiction, multiple times. When looking back on all she survived she would say: "I’ve been through it all, baby, I’m mother courage."
A lover of animals, diamonds, 'the high life,' and the origin in many ways of modern celebrity, Taylor continues to fascinate us. But who was she, really? And what was behind all the dazzle? This is an episode that introduces listeners to Elizabeth Taylor's bold, wild life, filled with love, extraordinary tragedy, and endless Hope. You'll even hear Taylor's favorite poem - and it may surprise you (it's Gerard Manley Hopkins - and all about Christian hope/resurrection). An insightful, inspiring look into a complicated legend.
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Elizabeth Taylor: The Grit & Glamour of an Icon by Kate Andersen Brower
The Plot Thickens: Season 6: Cleopatra
Richard Burton reads Gerard Manley Hopkins' poem 'The Leaden Echo & The Golden Echo'.
Taylor Swift: Elizabeth Taylor
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Culturenightcap@gmail.com
please remember to leave a star rating and review wherever you're listening!
28 Oct 2026
10: Helen Bain on The Daffodil Days: Sylvia Plath and the Power of Perspective
Today on the podcast, Katie interviews Helen Bain, author of the the widely acclaimed debut novel, The Daffodil Days, a fictionalized account of Sylvia Plath's time in Devon. Even for those not as familiar with Plath, this book is a powerful examination of perspective. Reading the novel is an experience in empathy. Bain questions standard narratives and gives us shockingly relatable and human glimpses of a woman that has become literary legend. In the beginning of the episode, Katie and Chris also have a chance to discuss their summer research project on the confessional poets (an actually well funded research stint in the arts! what a time!) and say a toast to Sylvia on her birthday (day of our recording, 10/27)! Cheers!
Helen Bain received her PhD in creative writing from King’s College London and has master’s degrees in modern and contemporary literature and creative writing from Birkbeck, University of London. She was selected for The London Library Emerging Writers’ Program 2020–21 and The Genesis Foundation Emerging Writers’ Program 2022–23. In 2024, she won The People’s Friend Comedy Fiction Prize. Currently at the Financial Times, she has worked for British Vogue and The Guardian, and she also teaches creative writing at the university level. Helen lives in Sussex. The Daffodil Days is her first novel. She also just won The Cheltenham Festival InWords Literary Award for a Debut 2026.
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21 Oct 2026
09: Passion, Poetry, and the Art of Destruction: Sylvia Plath and Ted Hughes
Well, this is absolutely Katie's favorite episode so far! A dive into Sylvia Plath: who was she? why does she continue to fascinate, horrify, and inspire us? And what about her destructive/creative partnership with Ted Hughes? How did they differ as artists? Why did their relationship fall apart?
Sylvia Plath was a woman of deep desires and contradictions, longing for freedom and romance, "bookies, babies, and beef stew," but primarily, for the support and opportunity to pursue her true artistic vocation. Did her marriage allow for all these things - or destroy the hope of them?
We explore all these topics, as well as the 'culture phenomenon' of Sylvia Plath, challenging the narrative of 'sad poet girl' and emphasizing Plath's appetite for life and her zest for experience. For fans of Plath/Hughes, this episode will be a treat - for those new to the couple, this is a great introduction. (we also have some fun knocking on England a bit! but really, we're anglophiles, sincerely!!) Cheers! And let us know your thoughts!
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Culturenightcap@gmail.com
please remember to leave a star rating and review wherever you're listening!
14 Oct 2026
08: Dana Gioia: On Art, Translation, Adaptation, Faith, and Why Poetry Will Always Matter
Special interview episode! Honored to host and interview acclaimed poet, critic, and arts advocate Dana Gioia.
In this discussion, Gioia argues for the importance of adaptation as a natural (and necessary) cultural engagement with art. Chris and Gioia also focus on how audiences (and their reactions) transform the experience of art and how originality may be overrated. A refreshing take from a public intellectual - art must communicate without condescension! Gioia discusses music, writing libretti, adapting for the stage, and sharing personal poetry. Powerful concluding thoughts on how Catholicism emboldens artists: Art is an embodied, true path for knowing God.
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Culturenightcap@gmail.com
Learn more about Dana Gioia and his work -
https://danagioia.com/
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7 Oct 2026
Madeline Miller's Circe: Brilliant Fan Fiction? Why it Works!
In this episode, Katie and Chris discuss Madeline Miller's Circe. They unpack how Miller retells the Odyssey witch's story in first person, weaving Circe’s origins as Helios’ daughter into a wider web of Greek myths (Scylla, Medea, the Minotaur, and more) while building creatively from small cues in the original sources.
Along the way they talk big themes, immortality vs. mortality, the gods’ cruelty and stasis, Circe’s exile, her discovery of pharmakeia (witchcraft), and her complex encounter with Odysseus, plus a striking closing quote about the gods being “unchanging.” The episode widens into a conversation about what makes adaptations work, praising Greta Gerwig’s Little Women, critiquing the recent Wuthering Heights film, and comparing great retellings to fan fiction that deepens and reopens the original.
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Culturenightcap@gmail.com
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Cheers!
30 Sept 2026
Be Weird! Where'd You Go Bernadette, Motherhood, and an Adaptation That Made It All Boring
Where'd You Go Bernadette? by Maria Semple is a delightfully unique novel told in a modern epistolary format. But behind the clever wit and dry humor there is a deep, moving story about owning who we are and about the depths of a mother's love. Katie and Chris discuss the novel in detail - its quirk, humor, oddness, and the strange charm of Bernadette herself. They also discuss the book's critiques of technology and modern life. We then take a break to watch the movie and *drum roll* it did not live up to expectations! Why didn't this adaptation work? They tried to make it too normal, too predictable! Why change the weirdness of this weird story? Let's talk about it!
Tell us what you think!
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Culturenightcap@gmail.com
please remember to leave a star rating and review wherever you're listening!
Cheers!
23 Sept 2026
05: The Eyes of God are Watching Us: Woody Allen's Confrontation with Nihilism
In this episode, Katie and Chris discuss one of Woody Allen's best films, the 1989 Crimes and Misdemeanors. A chilling tale of love, lust, murder, and justice (or lack thereof) the plot gives a great launching point for some of the biggest questions: Is there a God? Do we have to choose between "Useful Fiction" and "The Truth?" Are the eyes of God really watching us?
We also ask - is it ethical to even watch Woody Allen movies? Do we need to have a moral litmus test for authors or artists whose work we enjoy? Katie remembers the intellectual appeal of Allen movies when she first encountered them and the power of his aesthetic and Chris shares his first experience seeing an Allen film - at the theatre with his Mom! A wide ranging discussion that is sure to provoke introspection and debate.
Confronting nihilism, can we still believe in a Just Universe?
Tell us what you think!
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Culturenightcap@gmail.com
please remember to leave a star rating and review wherever you're listening!
Cheers!
16 Sept 2026
04: The Unsayable Things: The Art and Ethics of Memoir
Join Katie and Chris for a wide-ranging discussion about one of our favorite genres: Memoir. Why does grief often spawn memoir and written confession? And what about the ethics of memoir? Who has a "right" to the story? Is there a difference between emotional and factual truth when it comes to memoir?
We'll highlight memoir’s artistic possibilities through examples like Helen Macdonald’s H is for Hawk and T.H. White, as well as Christopher Buckley’s Losing Mum and Pup. Katie discusses her powerful response to Clover Stroud’s memoirs, including My Wild and Sleepless Nights, The Wild Other, and The Red of My Blood. Discussions include references to Robert Lowell and Karl Ove Knausgård.
Ultimately a celebration of memoirs: the honesty, catharsis, and universality.
Feedback and ideas! Get in touch with us!
Culturenightcap@gmail.com
please remember to leave a star rating and review wherever you're listening!
Cheers!
9 Sept 2026
03: 2% of Cabot Cove is Dead: Murder She Wrote, Cozy Mysteries, and Seeking Resolution
Katie and Chris discuss the hit TV series, Murder She Wrote, and why a show about an older woman solving crime is so endlessly comforting. We talk about how the series is simultaneously unbelievable and ridiculous yet also heartwarming and incredibly charming. We then broaden the discussion to murder mysteries generally, our favorite Agatha Christie novels, what we seek from a 'cozy' mystery, and how True Crime may be morally questionable. Ultimately, a discussion about seeking truth and justice in a chaotic world. Grab a drink and join us!
Feedback and ideas! Get in touch with us!
Culturenightcap@gmail.com
Cheers!
2 Sept 2026
02: When Adaptation Works: Nolan's Odyssey, Dreams and Nightmares
Katie and Chris attend a 930 AM showing on opening day of Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey. From dream and nightmare-like images, an artistic and authentic score, to haunting allusions to art and story throughout history, the film proved to be a deep and moving exploration of the human condition. They discuss how Nolan brilliantly brought an ancient text to a modern audience and how this version of Odysseus as morally fraught will resonate in our age. Whether you've seen the film or hope to, this is a deep dive into eternally relevant questions that define our humanity. Three cheers for good art.
Feedback and ideas! Get in touch with us!
Culturenightcap@gmail.com
Cheers!
2 Sept 2026
01: "I Don't Cuss, I Don't Make Fun of Jesus:" How Dolly Parton Reclaimed Class and Kindness
Dolly Parton, a true American icon, died on August 26, 2026. She received near universal acclamation, with eulogies pouring out across all political and cultural divides. How did she do it? What made her so beloved?
In this episode, Katie and Chris discuss Dolly's musical artistry (from English ballads to gospel), her eminent business savvy and philanthropic efforts, but most of all they celebrate her unpretentious and genuine encounter with others. Dolly's life is a powerful reminder that music can be a true source of community and human empathy. They also explore her unique, even "simplistic" understanding of Christianity which gave her the singular ability to encounter people as individuals in a truly nonjudgemental way. Shoutouts to musical artists Bob Dylan, Miley Cyrus, and many others also come up in this episode (incapsulating Dolly's ability to celebrate all genres/styles of music).
You'll leave this episode feeling buoyed up by the human spirit, and especially by Dolly's unique and lasting contribution to the culture.
RIP Dolly!!!
Dolly's "He's Alive" performance - a must watch!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1DQfthEHVc4
Feedback and ideas! Get in touch with us!
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Cheers!
2 Sept 2026
00: Welcome to Culture Nightcap!
Katie and Chris take 10 minutes to reflect on what they are hoping to do with the podcast, why they decided to do it at all, and what listeners can expect!
Feedback and ideas! Get in touch with us!
Culturenightcap@gmail.com
Cheers!
25 Aug 2026
TRAILER: Coming Soon!
We're Katie and Chris Marquette - 16 years ago, we met in our freshman seminar and we've been talking books, theology, and the arts ever since, but that got a little harder with kids, a farm, work, and so many responsibilities. So we decided to make it a point to discuss books, film, religion, and art, after the kids are asleep. Grab a beer, glass of wine, or cup of tea, and join us!
We're going to talk about what we're reading and watching, what's inspiring us and challenging us, and occasionally inviting friends and guests to discuss these things as well.
We're so excited to launch this new series! Coming soon, wherever you download your podcasts! Subscribe now so you don't miss the first episode next week, and start to spread the word.
Feedback and ideas! Get in touch with us!
Culturenightcap@gmail.com
Cheers!
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Spotify
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4 ratings
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