Sleuth Studies: The Hardy Boys Podcast

About Sleuth Studies: The Hardy Boys Podcast

In 2027, the Hardy Boys celebrates its centennial anniversary: one hundred years of mysteries solved, crooks caught, and justice returned. But not without some adventures, of course! Pull up a chair. Grab a drink. Join your host, Kyra Droog, and her special guests as they uncover just how deeply these boys from Bayport are entrenched in society nearly one hundred years after they were born. With laughter, wit, and boundless curiousity, learn about the impacts that Frank and Joe had on children's literature, Canadiana, book banning, and more through Sleuth Studies: The Hardy Boys Podcast.

Publisher

Sleuth Studies: The Hardy Boys Podcast

Category

education

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

28 Jan 2026

Latest episode

9 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

15 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   9 Oct 2026

   Episode 14: The Hardy Boys and Series Fiction with Dr. Michael Cornelius (Part 2 of 2)

   Did you know that Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys books were significantly revised starting in the late 1950s? If you didn’t, you’re about to learn. If you did, you’re about to learn more. Sleuth Studies: The Hardy Boys Podcast is proud to welcomeback Dr. Michael Cornelius for even more energizing, invigorating, and truly joyful discussion around all things juvenile detective fiction. In part two of this two-part episode, we’ll bring Nancy Drew into the conversation, talking about the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew through the ages, looking at some of the bigger changes made throughout the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew revisions, and discussing the major adjustments made to the characters and stories when they were reimagined for television. Listen now! ____ Dr. Michael Cornelius is the Dean of the School of Arts andSciences at Wilson College, and is a recognized authority on Nancy Drew and juvenile detective fiction. His extensive publication list spans scholarly journals and books, including The Boy Detectives: Essays on the Hardy Boys and Others and Nancy Drew and her Sister Sleuths: Essays on the Fiction of Girl Detectives. Dr. Cornelius’s interests include early Britishliterature, horror, and, of course, anything to do with juvenile detective fiction. _____ The original theme music for Sleuth Studies: The Hardy BoysPodcast was composed by Geoff Li (https://www.geoffli.com/). Sleuth Studies is grateful for the support of Volunteer Alberta, the GLOCAL Foundation of Canada, the Canadian Red Cross, and the Government of Canada.

2. 

   8 Oct 2026

   Episode 13: The Hardy Boys and Series Fiction with Dr. Michael Cornelius (Part 1 of 2)

   But why are they called the *Hardy* Boys? Does their name really matter? Friends, we’re about to find out. Sleuth Studies: The Hardy Boys Podcast is honoured to welcome Dr. Michael Cornelius to discuss all things juvenile detective fiction. In fact, we’ll talk so much that this will be part one of a two-part episode! Can you tell that some great discussion is coming? Tom *Swift.* The *Hardy* Boys. Dave *Fearless.* These names might seem fairly sensible, but in fact, they do a lot of work to bring these characters to life—work that you might not notice until it’s pointed out. Together, we’ll consider why it’s important to study juvenile detective fiction at an academic level, establish what it means to be an expert in Stratemeyer Syndicate publications, and learn more about the nomenclature (that is—naming conventions) of various Stratemeyer Syndicate characters. You don’t want to miss this! ____ Dr. Michael Cornelius is the Dean of the School of Arts andSciences at Wilson College, and is a recognized authority on Nancy Drew and juvenile detective fiction. His extensive publication list spans scholarly journals and books, including The Boy Detectives: Essays on the Hardy Boys and Others and Nancy Drew and her Sister Sleuths: Essays on the Fiction of Girl Detectives. Dr. Cornelius’s interests include early British literature, horror, and, of course, anything to do with juvenile detective fiction. _____ The original theme music for Sleuth Studies: The Hardy Boys Podcast was composed by Geoff Li (https://www.geoffli.com/). Sleuth Studies is grateful for the support of Volunteer Alberta, the GLOCAL Foundation of Canada, the Canadian Red Cross, and the Government of Canada.

3. 

   29 Aug 2026

   Episode 12: The Hardy Boys and Knowledge Mobilization with Darryl de Dios

   Knowledge mobilization. What is it? Why does it matter? And how exactly does it relate to the Hardy Boys? Let’s find out together, my friends. In this episode, Sleuth Studies: The Hardy Boys Podcast welcomes the wonderful Darryl de Dios for a—very meta conversation about knowledge mobilization. Together, we’ll use knowledge mobilization as a concept to explore what knowledge mobilization really is—breaking it down so we can use it to explore the Hardy Boys, children’s literature, and the world overall. Are stories the most impactful form of knowledge mobilization? Why is knowledge mobilization so important outside of academia and politics? And is it true that Chet Morton’s different hobbies function as a way to share knowledge of those hobbies with readers? We may never know—but that doesn’t mean we can’t talk about it! In an episode full of thoughtful fun, engagement, and yes, knowledge mobilization, you’re destined to learn something new. Who would have thought? 😉 ____ Darryl de Dios is a researcher, facilitator, and communityleader with a background in community-based research and knowledge mobilization. He currently dedicates his talents to the Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute, or AMII. Darryl’s interests lie in making ideas more accessible, meaningful, and grounded in everyday life. Outside of work, Darryl enjoys basketball, history, and following his curiosity wherever it leads. _____ The original theme music for Sleuth Studies: The Hardy Boys Podcast was composed by Geoff Li (https://www.geoffli.com/). Sleuth Studies is grateful for the support of Volunteer Alberta, the GLOCAL Foundation of Canada, the Canadian Red Cross, and the Government of Canada.

4. 

   31 Jul 2026

   Episode 11: The Hardy Boys and the Boy Detective with Mimi Okabe

   Is it important that the Hardy Boys are boy detectives? It matters, my friends. I promise. But don’t just take it from me! Sleuth Studies: The Hardy Boys podcast is excited to welcome the incredible Mimi Okabe, professor, academic, and detective fiction researcher. In this episode, Mimi joins us for a fascinating discussion on all things boy detective—her specialty. Join us as together, we establish why the distinction between adult and youth detectives is important, why the boy detective as a concept is so fascinating, and what connects the Hardy Boys, Sherlock Holmes, and the wonderful world of anime. In an episode full of excitement, energy, and connection, you’re certain to leave thinking about the boy detective differently—and with it, the whole detective genre goes under the microscope Listen now! ____ Mimi Okabe is an academic, author, professor, and lover of all things detective fiction. She is an assistant professor of Japanese Language, Literature, and Culture in the Department of Modern Languages and Comparative Literature at the City University of New York. Her first book, Manga, Murder, and Mystery, was the recipient of the Sixth Annual International Crime Fiction Association Book Prize for non-fiction books. In addition to her research on detective fiction and manga, Mimi also studies—and plays—Japanese video games, looking at themes and tripes of classic detective stories being deployed in Japanese game content, as well as gender inequality within video game cultures and industries. _____ The original theme music for Sleuth Studies: The Hardy Boys Podcast was composed by Geoff Li (https://www.geoffli.com/). Sleuth Studies is grateful for the support of Volunteer Alberta, the GLOCAL Foundation of Canada, the Canadian Red Cross, and the Government of Canada.

5. 

   12 Jun 2026

   Episode 10: The Hardy Boys and Publishing with Alexis Marie Chute

   How does publishing actually work? It feels like one of life’s great mysteries. Not for much longer! Sleuth Studies: The Hardy Boys Podcast is honoured to welcome the wonderfully talented Alexis Marie Chute—co founder of the independent hybrid Canadian publishing house Wild Skies Press. Alexis joins us for a fascinating discussion into publishing, which lives at the heart of all things Hardy Boys. Learn about the different types of publishers and why the differences matter to prospective authors, what process a book goes through to take it from draft manuscript to ready-to-publish book, and what sorts of considerations go into marketing a book for a specific readership. In this episode, you’re guaranteed to find inspiration, energy, and encouragement as Alexis places publishing squarely under the Sleuth Studies magnifying glass. This is an episode you don’t want to miss! ____ Alexis Marie Chute is an artist, writer, curator, filmmaker,public speaker, mother, publisher, and so much more. She has 20 years of experience as a professional internationally exhibiting artist, with her art represented by the Art Gallery of Alberta. Alexis is a bestselling author of everything from art books to memoirs, and is the current Writer in Residence at the Edmonton Public Library. Powered by her business, Alexis Marie Productions Inc., she is the founder of Wild Skies Art Gallery and Wild Skies Press, a hybrid publisher operating out of Edmonton, Alberta. _____ The original theme music for Sleuth Studies: The Hardy BoysPodcast was composed by Geoff Li (https://www.geoffli.com/). Sleuth Studies is grateful for the support of VolunteerAlberta, the GLOCAL Foundation of Canada, the Canadian Red Cross, and the Government of Canada.

6. 

   22 May 2026

   Episode 9: The Hardy Boys and Copyright with Michael McNally

   What do the Hardy Boys have to do with copyright law? As it turns out, quite a lot. Sleuth Studies: The Hardy Boys Podcast is excited to welcome professor Michael McNally for a fun, accessible, and digestible conversation about all things copyright and the Hardy Boys. Michael joins us to break down copyright law—from what is protected under copyright to whether fanfiction counts as a breach of copyright. The answer might surprise you. Find out how the Hardy Boys got tied up in a significant copyright battle between publishers, how a lawsuit over putting Santa hats on geese in an art exhibit set a major precedent within copyright law, and more as Michael McNally helps us better understand all things Hardy Boys and copyright. Listen now, wherever you get your podcasts! ____ Michael B. McNally is a professor in the Faculty of Education at the University of Alberta. His work sits at the intersection of policy, research and advocacy related to two issues: open education and telecommunications. He helped develop the Opening Up Copyright (https://sites.library.ualberta.ca/copyright/) instructional module series, in partnership with the University of Alberta Copyright Office, that aims to make copyright information more accessible. _____ The original theme music for Sleuth Studies: The Hardy Boys Podcast was composed by Geoff Li (https://www.geoffli.com/). Sleuth Studies is grateful for the support of Volunteer Alberta, the GLOCAL Foundation of Canada, the Canadian Red Cross, and the Government of Canada.

7. 

   24 Apr 2026

   Episode 8: The Hardy Boys and the Stratemeyer Syndicate with Marilyn Greenwald

   Let’s take some time to explore one of the most prominent syndicates of the early 1900s. Which syndicate, you ask? The Stratemeyer Syndicate. In this episode, Sleuth Studies: The Hardy Boys Podcast is excited to welcome award-winning author and educator Marilyn Greenwald. Marilyn joins us to share her insight on the Stratemeyer Syndicate, Leslie McFarlane, and the Hardy Boys, setting us up with some essential context in understanding just how the Hardy Boys books came to be. Find out how Edward Stratemeyer felt about Leslie McFarlane’s tendency to write a bit less than the expected page count, why McFarlane took on a job writing for a syndicate he knew very little about, and even more as Marilyn Greenwald takes us on a fascinating exploration of all things Stratemeyer Syndicate and Leslie McFarlane. Join us today, wherever you get your podcasts! ____ Marilyn Greenwald is an award-winning author and educator with a PhD in communication from Ohio State University. Her work has appeared in the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal, the Cleveland Plain Dealer, and other national publications. She is the author of multiple books, including The Secret of the Hardy Boys: Leslie McFarlane and the Stratemeyer Syndicate. Marilyn is a professor emerita in the University of Ohio’s E.E. Scripps School of Journalism. _____ The original theme music for Sleuth Studies: The Hardy Boys Podcast was composed by Geoff Li (https://www.geoffli.com/). Sleuth Studies is grateful for the support of Volunteer Alberta, the GLOCAL Foundation of Canada, the Canadian Red Cross, and the Government of Canada.

8. 

   10 Apr 2026

   Episode 7: The Hardy Boys and Television with Atticus Mitchell

   You mean to tell me that the delightful master spy J.B. Cox was only supposed to be in a few episodes of the Hardy Boys? Friends, you’d better believe it. In this episode, we’re joined by Atticus Mitchell: actor, composer, musician, and the man who brought J.B. Cox to life on-screen. Atticus joins us to share behind-the-scenes stories from the Hardy Boys set, talk about his own history with the books and characters, and give us some insight into the world of acting. From discussions about the process of memorizing lines to finding out what happens when real-life injuries make their way on-screen, Atticus weaves a tale of adventure, entertainment, and genuine fun on this week’s episode of Sleuth Studies: The Hardy Boys Podcast. Listen today! ____ Atticus Mitchell is an award-winning Canadian actor, musician, composer, and all-around wonderful human being. For the 2020 Hardy Boys TV series on Hulu, Atticus played master spy J.B. Cox. Atticus has also featured in Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent, Transplant, Star Trek, Fargo, My Babysitter’s a Vampire, and many more. For his work on the short film Iris, Atticus won the 2015 Canadian Film Festival Award for Best Actor in a Short Film. Atticus’s music can be found under his artist name, Atticus Dean, wherever you find your music. _____ The original theme music for Sleuth Studies: The Hardy Boys Podcast was composed by Geoff Li (https://www.geoffli.com/). Sleuth Studies is grateful for the support of Volunteer Alberta, the GLOCAL Foundation of Canada, the Canadian Red Cross, and the Government of Canada.

9. 

   27 Mar 2026

   Episode 6: The Hardy Boys and Cataloguing with Tony Carpentieri (Part 2)

   You mean someone can tell us everything about a Hardy Boys book down to the number of commas, prepositions, and the month and year it was printed? In part two of this two-part episode, statistician and Hardy Boys cataloguer Tony Carpentieri rejoins Sleuth Studies: The Hardy Boys Podcast to continue chatting about the Hardy Boys and his over forty-year-long process of carefully cataloguing each individual printing of Hardy Boys books. From sharing his thoughts on the Hardy Boys & Nancy Drew Super Mysteries to talking about the most valuable editions of the Hardy Boys—and whether or not they really should be that valuable at all—Tony brings energy, enthusiasm, and a strong belief in the fundamental value of Hardy Boys books as historical artifacts to this episode of Sleuth Studies: The Hardy Boys Podcast. You don’t want to miss this, friends. ____ Tony Carpentieri is a statistician, author, publisher, and likely the most knowledgeable person about the Hardy Boys printed editions in the world. Tony can often be found holding one printing of a Hardy Boys book in one hand, another printing in the other hand, and carefully pouring through them to find the differences. Over the last forty years, Tony has carefully catalogued every book in the Hardy Boys series and published his findings in Hardy & Hardy Investigations—now in its ninth edition—through his publishing house, SynSine Press. _____ The original theme music for Sleuth Studies: The Hardy BoysPodcast was composed by Geoff Li (https://www.geoffli.com/). Sleuth Studies is grateful for the support of Volunteer Alberta, the GLOCAL Foundation of Canada, the Canadian Red Cross, and the Government of Canada.

10. 

    27 Mar 2026

    Episode 5: The Hardy Boys and Cataloguing with Tony Carpentieri (Part 1)

    You mean someone can tell us everything about a Hardy Boys book down to the number of commas, prepositions, and the month and year it was printed? In this episode, statistician and Hardy Boys cataloguer Tony Carpentieri joins Sleuth Studies: The Hardy Boys Podcast to talk about his interest in different editions of Hardy Boys books and how that love led to an over forty-year project that became the comprehensive, over one-thousand-page book set, Hardy & Hardy Investigations. From what it means to consider Hardy Boys books as collectibles and historical artifacts to how on earth it was possible to create such a comprehensive catalogue of different printings of Hardy Boys books, Tony takes us into his process and interest with wit, humour, and a huge amount of respect for the books that he’s spent his evenings, weekends, and retirement hours exploring. Make sure to tune in to part one of this two-part episode! ____ Tony Carpentieri is a statistician, author, publisher, and likely the most knowledgeable person about the Hardy Boys printed editions in the world. Tony can often be found holding one printing of a Hardy Boys book in one hand, another printing in the other hand, and carefully pouring through them to find the differences. Over the last forty years, Tony has carefully catalogued every book in the Hardy Boys series and published his findings in Hardy & Hardy Investigations—now in its ninth edition—through his publishing house, SynSine Press. _____ The original theme music for Sleuth Studies: The Hardy Boys Podcast was composed by Geoff Li (https://www.geoffli.com/). Sleuth Studies is grateful for the support of Volunteer Alberta, the GLOCAL Foundation of Canada, the Canadian Red Cross, and the Government of Canada.

11. 

    13 Mar 2026

    Episode 4: The Hardy Boys and Franklin W. Dixon with Brian McFarlane

    What do you mean, Franklin W. Dixon isn’t a real person? In this episode, Sleuth Studies: The Hardy Boys Podcast welcomes Brian McFarlane—award-winning hockey commentator, author, artist, and son of Leslie McFarlane, the first author of the Hardy Boys—to talk all things Hardy Boys, sports, and family. From discussing his first encounter with the Hardy Boys and the moment he realized his Dad was Franklin W. Dixon to exploring how, despite his father’s seeming dismissal of the series, Leslie McFarlane really was deeply proud of the impact his words had on generations of readers, Brian shares stories rarely—if ever—heard by Hardy Boys fans. This is one episode you’re not going to want to miss. ____ Brian McFarlane is best known as a sportscaster on Hockey Night in Canada, broadcasting for the Toronto Maple Leaves, Montreal Canadians, and Winnipeg Jets between 1960 and 1995. For his decades of service to Canadian hockey, Brian was admitted into the media section of the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1995 and received the Order of Canada in 2020. Brian has published over 75 books on hockey that have sold well over a million copies. He and his wife Joan have been married for over 60 years. Now, at 94 years old, Brian spends his time writing, painting, and visiting with his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. _____ The original theme music for Sleuth Studies: The Hardy Boys Podcast was composed by Geoff Li (https://www.geoffli.com/). Sleuth Studies is grateful for the support of Volunteer Alberta, the GLOCAL Foundation of Canada, the Canadian Red Cross, and the Government of Canada.

12. 

    13 Feb 2026

    Episode 3: The Hardy Boys and Canadiana with Dr. Reginald Wiebe

    Canadians, this one’s for you. In this episode, Sleuth Studies: The Hardy Boys Podcast welcomes Dr. Reginald Wiebe, Chair of Literature and Language at Concordia University of Edmonton (CUE) for a fascinating exploration into what ties the two kids from Bayport, U.S.A. to Canada. Spoiler alert: it’s more than you would think. What is defined as Canadian content? What does it mean for a book to be classified as Canadian? Why does it matter if a story or author is Canadian? And—possibly most interestingly and not at all off topic—were comic books depicting crime actually illegal in Canada until 2018? Tune into this week’s episode to find out! ____ Dr. Reginald Wiebe is Chair of Literature and Language at Concordia University of Edmonton. He specializes in Canadian, postcolonial, and graphic literature, and enjoys exploring the intersections between history and fiction in Canadian literature. His book, The Cancer Plot: Terminal Immortality in Marvel’s Moral Universe, co-written with Dr. Dorothy Woodman, explores the use of cancer in the construction in moral narratives in Marvel’s comics. _____ The original theme music for Sleuth Studies: The Hardy Boys Podcast was composed by Geoff Li (https://www.geoffli.com/). Sleuth Studies is grateful for the support of Volunteer Alberta, the GLOCAL Foundation of Canada, the Canadian Red Cross, and the Government of Canada.

13. 

    30 Jan 2026

    Episode 1: The Hardy Boys and Libraries with Ariel Kleber (Part 1)

    Libraries are truly radical places, friends. In this episode, Sleuth Studies: The Hardy Boys Podcast welcomes librarian Ariel Kleber for an energizing and inspiring discussion centering around all things libraries. Together, we'll explore what the spines of Hardy Boys books offer potential readers, talk about "books for boys," establish what it means to be a librarian, and learn about just how many factors go into making a book recommendation (spoiler alert: there are a lot). And, since Kyra and Ariel can talk about the Hardy Boys and libraries *forever,* there’s a part two of this episode featuring even more radical librarian-ism to look forward to. _____ Ariel Kleber is a librarian, writer, and passionate advocate for literacy, diversity & representation, and fun in literature. She can be found on Instagram at @misskleber. _____ The original theme music for Sleuth Studies: The Hardy Boys Podcast was composed by Geoff Li (https://www.geoffli.com/). Sleuth Studies is grateful for the support of Volunteer Alberta, the GLOCAL Foundation of Canada, the Canadian Red Cross, and the Government of Canada.

14. 

    30 Jan 2026

    Episode 2: The Hardy Boys and Libraries with Ariel Kleber (Part 2)

    Librarians are radical human beings. In the second part of this two-part episode, special guest Ariel Kleber shares just how important the role of libraries and librarians are in supporting our society’s freedom to read. From a discussion about the Hardy Boys and how they were banned in the 1950s to looking at how members of the public can challenge library content, Kyra and Ariel dive deep into  the impact of book bans in the modern day. Do you want to know what you can do to support freedom to read? Do you have questions about the process of book challenges in school and public libraries—and how those are drastically different? Do you want to hear the most entertaining stories about Ariel using her librarian powers for good? If you do, this is the episode for you. ____ Ariel Kleber is a librarian, writer, and passionate advocate for literacy, diversity & representation, and fun in literature. She can be found on Instagram at @misskleber. _____ The original theme music for Sleuth Studies: The Hardy Boys Podcast was composed by Geoff Li (https://www.geoffli.com/). Sleuth Studies is grateful for the support of Volunteer Alberta, the GLOCAL Foundation of Canada, the Canadian Red Cross, and the Government of Canada.

15. 

    28 Jan 2026

    Episode 0: Introducing Sleuth Studies: The Hardy Boys Podcast

    Welcome to Sleuth Studies: The Hardy Boys Podcast! Join your host, Kyra Droog, in this introductory episode to learn more about all the fascinating mysteries heading your way. With Frank and Joe Hardy (and their friends, of course!) as your guides, Sleuth Studies: The Hardy Boys Podcast will explore everything from the publishing industry and television to book banning and Canadiana. Did you know that the Hardy Boys were banned in the 1950s,decreed as dangerous to children as alcohol and narcotics? Did you know that the original Franklin W. Dixon (spoiler alert: there's more than one) was Canadian—which directly impacted every aspect of Frank and Joe's existence? Didyou know that two publishing companies own separate rights to the Hardy Boys? With the support of special guests, we will explore these and so much more. Friends, grab your handy magnifying glasses. It's time for Sleuth Studies: The Hardy Boys Podcast.

Reach and audience

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

Spotify

5.0 / 5

7 ratings

Contact Sleuth Studies: The Hardy Boys Podcast

Guest appearances

Books guests

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