What began as a social experiment involving people’s most closely guarded secrets has developed into a study of secrets and scandal throughout history and how they impacted lives. From stone tablets to TikTok, secrets have fascinated others since the beginning of time, so let’s dive in. Topics include: history, literature, sociology, gossip, and psychology
Hi everyone, this is Ri’s husband Trey. Unfortunately, she’s come down with what we’re hoping is bronchitis, but she’s recently developed a fever so she’s waiting for her COVID results just in case. Thanks for your understanding.
29 Mar 2021
The First Dracula: Vlad the Impaler
We all know of Count Dracula, the infamous title character of Bram Stoker's novel, but have you heard of his namesake? Vlad the Impaler had a vicious reign as a ruler of Wallachia in the 15th century. Due to a volatile political landscape and a penchant for violence, the original Dracula is a renowned Romanian folk hero to this day. Was he an authoritarian tyrant or a sadistic psychopath? Are the two mutually exclusive?
27 Mar 2021
The Original Little Mermaid: A Study in Underwater Stalking? (Full Story by Hans Christian Anderson)
To apologize for our unexpected mid-season break, today Ri is narrating the original story of The Little Mermaid as published by Hans Christian Anderson in 1836. Unlike the Disney-fied version, this tale is sordid and disturbing, featuring an unrequited obsession that escalated to stalking. By today's standards, this fairytale is not fit at all for your child's bedtime. There are countless ways to interpret the story, but Ri's personal favorite is as a warning to the young ladies of the 19th century to guard their hearts from the whims of men, when one rash decision could lead to the "ruin" of both them and their family. She also enjoys occasionally reading it as a psychological thriller, but, again, there are many different ways to analyze it.
Our regularly scheduled content will resume March 29, 2021 at 10 AM CST, featuring the original Dracula, Picasso, and, of course, more literary greats. If you have any feedback or thoughts on the show, feel free to contact us at halfglasspodcast@gmail.com!
19 Mar 2021
The Ballad of Reading Gaol--Oscar Wilde's Prison Experience
After Oscar Wilde was released from prison in 1897, he wrote of his profound experience in The Ballad of Reading Gaol. Published under a pseudonym, it was a stunning success in its time and a huge scandal when he revealed he was behind it.
17 Mar 2021
Oscar Wilde: An Untamed Story
Happy St. Patrick’s Day! In honor of the holiday, today we’re focusing on Irish poet, playwright, and novelist, Oscar Wilde, whose life was as fantastical as his fiction. He was nurtured by intellectuals, educated by the Greats, and trapped in an era without remorse.
15 Mar 2021
The Crown Mentality—Nerissa and Katherine Bowes-Lyon
The British royal family may have asked Harry and Meghan to hide their bouts of mental illness, but it’s far from the first time they’ve tried to keep mental illness in the closet. This episode of Half Glass focuses on the hidden cousins of Queen Elizabeth II, herself.
12 Mar 2021
Zelda Sayre: The Girl Before Fitzgerald
In this companion episode to our Zelda Fitzgerald segment, Ri reads a rare short story from Zelda’s time in high school.
10 Mar 2021
Zelda Fitzgerald: Dancing in the Shadows
Scholars have split opinions on Zelda Fitzgerald, but no one can deny she led an interesting life. Almost a century later, her story still shines. The original flapper, a writer in her own right, and the muse for her husband, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Zelda’s life was a charmed one—just not the one she wanted.
8 Mar 2021
How the Murder of Kitty Genovese Changed the World
Murder is one of the most heinous crimes someone can commit, and in a world obsessed with true crime stories it’s easy to be overwhelmed. The murder of Kitty Genovese shook the world, not only for the shocking details of the attack, but also the response of those around. From 911 to the bystander effect, Kitty’s legacy lives on in ways we now take for granted.
6 Mar 2021
Edgar Allen Poe Part 2 (William Wilson full story)
In this companion segment to our Edgar Allen Poe episode, Ri reads Poe’s semi-autobiographical work, William Wilson. While normally it’s important to separate the author from the narrator, in this case Poe included so many details from his own life that it provides interesting insights into his mind. He even gave the character his own birthday!
3 Mar 2021
Edgar Allan Poe
The famed author manages to maintain an air of mystery even in death. Also, if you ARE interested in literary analysis, please feel free to reach out (halfglasspodcast@gmail.com). I love discussing literature, and if I haven’t read it, I’m willing to.
1 Mar 2021
The Milgram Experiment
The Milgram Experiment, perhaps one of the most infamous psychological experiments, was inspired by the villains of World War Two. But did it leave us with answers or just more questions? I’d love to hear your thoughts, so please email the podcast at halfglasspodcast@gmail.com. Psychologist Gina Perry’s critique on Milgram’s experiment can be found in her article, Deception and Illusion in Milgram’s Accounts of the Obedience Experiment.
25 Feb 2021
Charlotte Perkins Gilman Pt. 2 (The Yellow Wallpaper full story)
In the companion segment to our previous episode, Ri narrates The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman in full.
23 Feb 2021
Charlotte Perkins Gilman
Poet, novelist, and extreme advocate for human rights from the 19th century, Charlotte Perkins Gilman lived a full life. She fought for what she believed was right, especially for better approaches to mental health illnesses and women’s rights to financial independence.
22 Feb 2021
THAT TikTok Experiment
In the premiere episode of the Half Glass Podcast, Ri explores her social experiment on the popular social media platform TikTok.
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