20 Best Shakespeare Podcasts
Shakespeare Podcasts
Here are 20 Best Shakespeare Podcasts worth listening to in 2026.
Export Contact List1. Folger Shakespeare Library: Shakespeare Unlimited
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Home to the world's largest collection of Shakespeare materials. Advancing knowledge and the arts. Discover it all at www.folger.edu. Shakespeare turns up in the most interesting places—not just literature and the stage, but science and social history as well. Our 'Shakespeare Unlimited' podcast explores the fascinating and varied connections between Shakespeare, his works, and the world around us.MORE Host Barbara Bogaev
Producer/Network Folger Shakespeare Library
Email ****@folger.edu
Estimated listeners
Apple Rating 4.8/5Apple Reviews 947Facebook 128.5KTwitter 29.2KInstagram 55.7K Avg Length 36 min Format Medium form Get Email Contact Get access to full database of 2.7M podcastsCreate podcast lists, export in spreadsheet or CSV file with email contacts and start your podcast outreach in minutes.Sign Up for Free with Email Continue with Google
2. The Play's the Thing
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The Play's the Thing is the ultimate podcast resource for lovers of Shakespeare. Dedicating six episodes to each play (one per act, plus a Q&A episode), this podcast explores the themes, scenes, characters, and lines that make Shakespeare so memorable. In the end, we will cover every play The Bard wrote, thus permitting an ongoing contemplation and celebration of the most important writer of all time. Join us.The Play's the Thing is presented by The CiRCE Podcast Network. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.MORE Hosts Tim McIntosh, Heidi White
Producer/Network CiRCE Podcast Network
Email ****@circeinstitute.com
Estimated listeners
Apple Rating 4.8/5Apple Reviews 301Facebook 18.7KTwitter 4.3KInstagram 12.7K Avg Length 66 min Format Long form Get Email Contact
3. Play On Podcasts
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Play On Podcasts are epic audio adventures reimagining timeless tales, featuring original music composition and the voices of extraordinarily gifted artists. This is where Theatre meets Podcast, combining the modern-day audio phenomenon with the power of live performance.MORE Producer/Network Next Chapter Podcasts
Email ****@ncpodcasts.com
Estimated listeners
Apple Rating 4.7/5Apple Reviews 96Facebook 2.8KTwitter 250Instagram 16.9K Avg Length 60 min Format Long form Get Email Contact
4. The Bardcast: 'It's Shakespeare, You Dick!'
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A cheeky, irreverent yet informative deep-dive into all things Shakespeare, hosted by two longtime Shakespeare performers, directors, and teachers. Want to support us? Thanks!! Go to: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=8KTK7CATJSRYJMORE Hosts Lisa Ann Goldsmith, Owen Thompson
Producer/Network Lisa Ann Goldsmith and Owen Thompson
Email ****@gmail.com
Estimated listeners
Apple Rating 4.7/5Apple Reviews 34Facebook 750Twitter 38Instagram 178 Avg Length 38 min Format Medium form Get Email Contact
5. Shakespeare Anyone?
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Shakespeare Anyone? is co-hosted by Elyse Sharp and Kourtney Smith, two professional actors and hobbyist Shakespeare scholars. Join us as we explore Shakepeare's plays through as many lenses as we can by looking at the text and how the text is viewed through modern lenses of feminism, racism, classism, colonialism, nationalism… all the-isms. We will discuss how his plays shaped both the past and present, and look at how his work was performed throughout various periods of time all while trying our best to approach his works without giving in to bardolatry...MORE Hosts Kourtney Smith, Elyse Sharp
Producer/Network Kourtney Smith & Elyse Sharp
Email ****@gmail.com
Estimated listeners
Apple Rating 4.6/5Apple Reviews 40Twitter 64Instagram 1.4K Avg Length 47 min Format Long form Video Podcast YouTube
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6. That Shakespeare Life
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Hosted by Cassidy Cash, That Shakespeare Life takes you behind the curtain and into the real life of William Shakespeare. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Host Cassidy Cash
Producer/Network Cassidy Cash
Email ****@cassidycash.com
Estimated listeners
Apple Rating 4.8/5Apple Reviews 66Twitter 443 Avg Length 36 min Format Medium form Since Apr 2018 Get Email Contact
7. Women and Shakespeare
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'Women and Shakespeare' features conversations with diverse creatives and academics who are involved in making and interpreting Shakespeare. In the conversations, we find out both how Shakespeare is used to amplify the voices of women today and how women are redefining the world's most famous writer. Series 1 is sponsored by NYU Global Faculty Fund Award.MORE Producer/Network Dr Varsha Panjwani
Email ****@gmail.com
Estimated listeners
Apple Rating 5/5Apple Reviews 11Twitter 2.2KInstagram 642 Avg Length 38 min Format Medium form Since Mar 2020 Get Email Contact
8. What You Will
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Brush up your Shakespeare with co-hosts Charlotte Ahlin and Danielle Cohn as we read and review every single play the Bard ever wrote.
Hosts Charlotte Ahlin, Danielle Cohn
Producer/Network Charlotte Ahlin and Danielle Cohn
Email ****@gmail.com
Estimated listeners
Apple Rating 4.9/5Apple Reviews 53Facebook 51Twitter 259Instagram 495 Since Nov 2018 Get Email Contact
9. Shakespeare's Shadows
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Featuring interviews with both actors and academics, Shakespeare's Shadows delves into a single Shakespeare character in each episode. Perspectives from the worlds of academia, theater, and film together shape explorations of the Bard's shadows, his imitations of life — pretty good imitations, ones that reveal enough of ourselves that we're still talking about them four centuries later.MORE Host Emily Rome
Producer/Network Emily Rome
Email ****@gmail.com
Estimated listeners
Apple Rating 5/5Apple Reviews 18Facebook 100Twitter 72Instagram 995 Avg Length 60 min Format Long form Get Email Contact
10. The State of Shakespeare
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The State of Shakespeare is a virtual masterclass featuring in-depth interviews with contemporary Shakespearean actors, directors and teachers. We focus on the complex relationship of words and performance, and how individual artists develop unique and often contrasting approaches to the text. We aim to inspire and educate theatre makers, students and educators to discover new ways of bringing Shakespeare to life. Hosted by Gerritt VanderMeer and Jim Elliott.MORE Hosts James Elliott, Gerritt VanderMeer
Producer/Network The State of Shakespeare
Email ****@gmail.com
Estimated listeners
Apple Rating 5/5Apple Reviews 19Facebook 1.4KTwitter 3K Avg Length 30 min Format Medium form Get Email Contact
11. Such Stuff: The Shakespeare's Globe Podcast
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Such Stuff goes behind the scenes at Shakespeare's Globe, sharing the incredible stories and experiences that come through our doors every day. We'll be exploring the big themes behind all of the work that we do here and asking: what is Shakespeare's transformative impact on the world?MORE Producer/Network Such Stuff: The Shakespeare's Globe Podcast
Email ****@shakespearesglobe.com
Estimated listeners
Apple Rating 4.9/5Apple Reviews 51Facebook 331.9KTwitter 243.7KInstagram 314.7K Avg Length 35 min Format Medium form Get Email Contact
12. Twice Blest: Exploring Shakespeare and the Hebrew Bible
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Welcome to Twice Blest, a podcast exploring Shakespeare and the Hebrew Bible from the Yeshiva University Straus Center for Torah and Western Thought. Hosted by Dr. Shaina Trapedo, Twice Blest brings you conversations with faith leaders, scholars, and writers that bridge the wisdom of Judaic and classical texts so we can live more informed and fulfilling intellectual and spiritual lives on an individual and communal level.MORE Producer/Network Yeshiva University Straus Center for Torah and Western Thought
Email ****@yu.edu
Estimated listeners
Apple Rating 5/5Apple Reviews 20Facebook 939Twitter 612Instagram 516 Avg Length 40 min Format Long form Get Email Contact
13. No Holds Bard
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Website Apple Episodes
The Shakespeare podcast Shakespeare would have listened to!* This weekly podcast comes in several flavors. Every other week, you'll get our regular episode features a lightning round on several intersections of Shakespeare and the present day, an underused Shakespearian phrase that you can roll into your everyday conversation to impress/annoy your friends, and a homework assignment currently being blown off by a lazy high school student from the internet...MORE Producer/Network Seven Stages Shakespeare Company
Email ****@gmail.com
Estimated listeners
Apple Rating 4.9/5Apple Reviews 280Facebook 521Twitter 547 Avg Length 41 min Format Long form Get Email Contact
14. Appreciating Shakespeare with Doctor Rap
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UPDATE: Appreciating Shakespeare by Gideon Rappaport is now available as a BOOK (in hardcover and paperback) wherever books are sold. Offering knowledge and tools for appreciating Shakespeare's deep and universal meanings. Published by One Mind Good Press. Check it out.Questions?: Email ****@zohomail.comMORE Producer/Network Doctor Rap
Email ****@zohomail.com
Estimated listeners
Apple Rating 4.8/5Apple Reviews 18 Avg Length 28 min Format Medium form Get Email Contact
15. The Pendant Shakespeare audio drama anthology
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Website Apple Episodes
'The Pendant Shakespeare aka The Wild Bill Variety Show' is an ongoing presentation of the works of William Shakespeare.
Host Pendant Audio
Producer/Network Pendant Productions
Email ****@yahoo.com
Estimated listeners
Apple Rating 4.7/5Apple Reviews 42Facebook 972Twitter 2.5K Get Email Contact
16. The Hurly Burly Shakespeare Show!
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What happens when two bawdy, Early Modern word-nerds sit down to talk about all things Shakespeare? You get 'The Hurly Burly Shakespeare Show!': an irreverent mix of entertainment and scholarly content suitable for novices and hard-core 'Bardolaters' alike. Jess (The Scholar) and Aubrey (The Teaching Artist) discuss the plays of William Shakespeare and his contemporaries, as well as other fascinating aspects of the Early Modern period's lively theatre and print culture...MORE Producer/Network Whamlet
Email ****@hurlyburlyshakespeareshow.com
Estimated listeners
Apple Rating 4.8/5Apple Reviews 50Twitter 1.7KInstagram 180 Avg Length 65 min Format Long form Get Email Contact
17. The Bard with Bill
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Join actor and storyteller Bill Ross-Fawcett every other week as he unravels the mysteries and histories of the complete works of William Shakespeare one play at a time. If you've never seen Shakespeare before, there's no better introduction. If you're a Bard buff, Bill will teach you something you never knew. This podcast is suitable for adults, teens and everyone in between. Share your thoughts with us using the hastag #bardwithbill www.handlebards.com@handlebardsMORE Producer/Network The HandleBards
Email ****@gmail.com
Estimated listeners
Apple Rating 5/5Apple Reviews 21Facebook 42Twitter 144Instagram 162 Avg Length 33 min Format Medium form Get Email Contact
18. Shakespeare Sundays with Chop Bard
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Website Apple Episodes
Shakespeare Sundays with Chop Bard, is a practical, and enthusiastic exploration of William Shakespeare's work. Each episode will take on a single subject taken from his words, lines, poetry, themes, or resources, in order to better understand them, and find out what use can be made of them.MORE Producer/Network Ehren Ziegler: Actor, Artist, Shakespeare enthusiast
Email ****@gmail.com
Estimated listeners
Apple Rating 5/5Apple Reviews 51Facebook 514Twitter 351Instagram 123 Avg Length 14 min Format Short form Since Jul 2017 Get Email Contact
19. 21st Folio Podcast
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A podcast about modern Shakespeare productions of stage and screen. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Producer/Network Discussing modern Shakespeare productions of stage and screen
Email ****@seventh-row.com
Estimated listeners
Apple Rating 5/5Apple Reviews 8Facebook 572Twitter 167Instagram 879 Since Mar 2018 Get Email Contact
Shakespeare shows hosts and producers
| Podcaster Name | Role | Podcast Link | Total Episodes | Gender | Twitter Handle | Twitter Followers | Location | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barbara Bogaev | Host | folger.edu/podcasts/shakespeare-unlimited | 18 | Female | ||||
| Tim McIntosh | Co Host | shows.acast.com/the-plays-the-thing | 13 | Male | ||||
| Heidi White | Co Host | shows.acast.com/the-plays-the-thing | 13 | Female | ||||
| Lisa Ann Goldsmith | Co Host | feeds.buzzsprout.com/1136141 | 2 | Female | Pittsburgh, PA, United States | |||
| Owen Thompson | Co Host | feeds.buzzsprout.com/1136141 | 2 | Male | @owenthompsonnyc | 78 | Manhattan, NY, United States | |
| Kourtney Smith | Co Host | sites.libsyn.com/314081/site | 171 | CA, United States | ||||
| Elyse Sharp | Co Host | sites.libsyn.com/314081/site | 171 | @elysesharp | 404 | Sacramento, CA, United States | ||
| Cassidy Cash | Host | cassidycash.com | 29 | Female | @cassidycash | AL, United States | ||
| Charlotte Ahlin | Co Host | charlotteahlin.com/what-you-will | Female | @charlotteahlin | New York City, NY, United States | |||
| Danielle Cohn | Co Host | charlotteahlin.com/what-you-will | Female | |||||
| Emily Rome | Host | shakespearesshadows.com/episodes | 21 | Female | @emilynrome | 596 | MA, United States | |
| James Elliott | Co Host | stateofshakespeare.com | 7 | Male | ||||
| Gerritt VanderMeer | Co Host | stateofshakespeare.com | 7 | Male | NY, United States | |||
| Pendant Audio | Host | pendantaudio.com/shows/wildbill | 6 | @pendantweb | Los Angeles, CA, United States | |||
| Seven Stages Shakespeare Company | sites.libsyn.com/98310/nhb-195-shakespeare-basketball-association | 46 | @NoHoldsBardCast | |||||
| Aubrey Whitlock | hurlyburlyshakespeareshow.com/podcast/2021/10/25/midsummer301 | 26 | @jesshamlet | 1.7K | ||||
| Whamlet | hurlyburlyshakespeareshow.com/podcast/2021/10/25/midsummer301 | 26 | @jesshamlet | 1.7K | ||||
| Ripegoodscholar | ripegoodscholar.podbean.com/e/city-comedies | 22 | @ripegoodscholar | 144 | ||||
| Dr Varsha Panjwani | womenandshakespeare.com | 19 | Female | @EarlyModernDoc | ||||
| Juliet Wolfe And Olivia Rose Nathan | buzzsprout.com/698398/2223563-balthazar-ruins-everything.mp3 | 19 | ||||||
| Doctor Rap | buzzsprout.com/1484137/6902996-the-merchant-of-venice-series-ii-podcast-c.mp3 | 17 | ||||||
| Sammy | podcastshakespeare.libsyn.com/brief-update-a-journal-of-the-plague-year | 17 | @podshakespeare | 156 | ||||
| G Rap | buzzsprout.com/1484137/6677072-shakespeare-s-language-metaphor-and-simile-series-i-chapter-4-session-1.mp3 | 5 | ||||||
| Pod Shakespeare | podcastshakespeare.libsyn.com/episode-012 | 3 | @podshakespeare | 156 | ||||
| Varsha Panjwani/chloe Gong | womenandshakespeare.com | 2 | @EarlyModernDoc | |||||
| Varsha Panjwani/emma Whipday | womenandshakespeare.com | 2 | @EarlyModernDoc | |||||
| Varsha Panjwani/lyn Gardner | womenandshakespeare.com | 2 | @EarlyModernDoc | |||||
| Varsha Panjwani/ Emily Ingram | womenandshakespeare.com | 2 | @EarlyModernDoc | |||||
| Varsha Panjwani/yarit Dor | womenandshakespeare.com | 2 | @EarlyModernDoc | |||||
| Varsha Panjwani/adjoa Andoh | womenandshakespeare.com | 1 | @EarlyModernDoc | |||||
| Varsha Panjwani , Apurva Kothari, Davis Stephens | buzzsprout.com/891835/2942407-introduction-bonus-episode.mp3 | 1 | @EarlyModernDoc | |||||
| Varsha Panjwani | buzzsprout.com/891835/4273628-s1-e3-chris-bush-on-adapting-a-midsummer-night-s-dream-pericles.mp3 | 1 | @EarlyModernDoc | |||||
| Sad Crab Studios | buzzsprout.com/698398/2514136-flippidty-flopidy.mp3 | 1 |
