Best Alex Schroeder Podcasts (2025)

In June of 1922, the twenty-five-year-old wunderkind F. Scott Fitzgerald published "The Diamond as Big as the Ritz," an incredible story of fabulously wealthy people living a secret life in remote Montana. Later that month, he began composing his most famous work, The Great Gatsby. In this episode, Jacke and Mike read and discuss this early Fitzger…

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Billionaire Cheaters at Coldplay, Parenting Panic Attacks, and The Real Life Conjuring w/ Taylor Strecker 57:02

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2d ago57:02

57:02

Stassi welcomes her bestie Taylor Strecker for a hilarious catch-up filled with pregnancy constipation woes (shoutout to Teddy), suppository confessions, and an official baby girl announcement—the Taylor's are due on Hartford’s due date! Taylor has a full-blown panic attack mid-show when facing her upcoming parenting reality, but rosé saves the day…

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718 Jim - The Life and Afterlives of Huckleberry Finn's Comrade (with Shelley Fisher Fishkin) | Mark Twain's Dreams 1:39:04

4d ago1:39:04

1:39:04

In this episode, Jacke talks to eminent Twain scholar Shelley Fisher Fishkin (Was Huck Black?: Mark Twain and African-American Voices) about her new book Jim: The Life and Afterlives of Huckleberry Finn's Comrade, which sheds new light on the origins and influence of Mark Twain's beloved yet polarizing figure. PLUS Jacke takes a look at the recent …

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How To Tell Your Authority Story With Kyle Gray 1:07:10

7d ago1:07:10

1:07:10

Storytelling is one of the most impactful and effective ways for founders, entrepreneurs, and visionaries to connect with their audiences and target market. For author and podcaster Kyle Gray, there is no better story to tell the world than your own authority story. Joining Mitch Russo, he shares the process of crafting such a story, which perfectl…

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717 Einstein and Kafka (with Ken Krimstein) | Dr Johnson Helps a Friend (and Changes the Course of Literary History) | My Last Book with Fernando Pessoa Expert Bartholomew Ryan 56:41

7d ago56:41

56:41

It's an action-packed day at the History of Literature! First, Jacke recounts the story of Dr. Johnson racing to the aid of his friend, the playwright Oliver Goldsmith, whose landlady was threatening him with debtor's prison. Naturally, the great critic and dictionary author Johnson found a very literary way to help. Then Jacke is joined by author …

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Keltie Knight on the Hollywood Hustle, Celebrity Gossip, and Partying at LadyWorld 1:13:25

9d ago1:13:25

1:13:25

Stassi is joined by The Ladygang’s Keltie Knight to serve up the perfect girls' catch up with this laugh-out-loud, no-filter conversation. Stassi and Keltie discuss the latest pop culture headlines - including the celebrity cruise - and gush about how much they admire JLo's work ethic. Between Keltie’s wild career confessions (magician’s assistant?…

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Spud Allison 13:51

11d ago13:51

13:51

In this episode, Spud Allison shares stories from a career that’s taken him from his forge in Warwickshire to horse shows and competitions around the world. He reflects on the changes he’s seen in shoemaking, what it takes to keep standards high, and how he’s passing those lessons on. I hope you enjoy the conversation as much as I did.…

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716 Icelandic Folk Legends (with Dagrun Osk Jonsdottir) | John le Carre at the Bodleian 1:01:28

10d ago1:01:28

1:01:28

Since the first permanent settlers landed there more than a thousand years ago, Iceland has been perhaps the most unique and enchanting place in all of Europe. How fitting, then, for its people to have developed unique, enchanting, and captivating stories involving hidden people, trolls, ghosts, sea monsters, and more. In this episode, Jacke talks …

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715 How Did George Eliot and the Victorians Respond to Climate Collapse? (with Nathan Hensley) | People at Museums Are Losing Their Brains! | My Last Book with Stephen Browning and Simon Thomas 1:12:12

14d ago1:12:12

1:12:12

What does it feel like to live helplessly in a world that is coming undone? If you're alive in 2025, you are probably very familiar with this feeling - and if you'd been alive in the age of Victorian literature, you might have felt that way too. In this episode, Jacke talks to author Nathan K. Hensley about his book Action without Hope: Victorian L…

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Finding Your Signature Home Decor Style (& Lo Just Bought Her First!) 1:04:51

16d ago1:04:51

1:04:51

Stassi is back with the ultimate home episode because C-O-Lo just bought her very first place—and not just any home, but her first L.A. home. They’re celebrating with a deep dive into the obsessive art of decorating, design regrets, and figuring out your aesthetic one sideboard mistake at a time. Lo shares how she found a townhouse that just felt r…

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714 The Real Charles Dickens (with Stephen Browning and Simon Thomas) | Dickens and the Theatre 1:25:00

18d ago1:25:00

1:25:00

Charles Dickens (1812-1870) led one of the most colorful and interesting lives of any author. But while many of us are familiar with his unforgettable characters and fantastically successful novels, we often don't know the details of his difficult early life, his success as a reporter, his troubled marriage and suspected relationship with another w…

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713 The Odyssey (with Daniel Mendelsohn) | The History of Literature Podcast Tour! 1:34:43

22d ago1:34:43

1:34:43

Homer's Odyssey is one of the oldest surviving works of literature - and yet, somehow, it can also feel like one of the newest. The inventive narrative structure, complex hero, and surprisingly modern themes still feel fresh, thousands of years after the poem's genesis. In this episode, Jacke talks to author and translator Daniel Mendelsohn about h…

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President of The Hunching Girlies Community 55:16

23d ago55:16

55:16

It’s Stassi’s birthday episode, and she’s here to unpack her accidental life hack for celebrating yourself all week long—without throwing a single party. Between martinis, New York adventures, and her complicated feelings about birthday Instagram posts, Stassi shares her best birthday moments, including finding out her birthday is the luckiest day …

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Ben Schroeder CJF 14:35

25d ago14:35

14:35

This week, we’re joined by Ben Schroeder, CJF, who shares how his interest in horseshoeing started as a kid on his aunt’s dairy farm and eventually turned into a full-blown career. From early mentors like Lee Olsen and Aaron Lohmann to working across Wisconsin, Colorado, and Texas, Ben talks about the ups, downs, and everything in between. He also …

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712 Shakespeare's Greatest Love (with David Medina) | New Play About Shakespeare's Collaboration with Marlowe 59:46

25d ago59:46

59:46

He might be the greatest writer about love that the world has ever known. But as is so often the case with Shakespeare, the biographical record raises as many questions as it answers. How often did Shakespeare fall in love, and with whom, and what happened? Who was Shakespeare's greatest love? In this episode, Jacke talks to David Medina about his …

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711 How Does Literature Handle Atrocities? (with Bruce Robbins) | My Last Book with Hemingway Expert Alex Vernon | Who Will Come to Jacke and Emma's Party? 1:13:28

29d ago1:13:28

1:13:28

For millennia, literature has represented humanity at its finest. Over the same period of time, human beings have been committing the worst acts of mass violence imaginable. How have authors addressed these atrocities? Have they shown an ability to look at their own nation with the critical eyes of a stranger? And if so, have works of imagination p…

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Starting Fresh: Closet Purge & Birthday Vibes with Alex Stafford 1:17:53

1M ago1:17:53

1:17:53

It’s Stassi’s birthday episode! She’s joined by her childhood bestie Alex Stafford—who’s been around since the original “Dracarys” days, long before Blake Lively ruined it—for their annual closet cleanout tradition. Over martinis and Aperol spritzes, they catch up on Blake’s cringe Game of Thrones text, texting habits that trigger anxiety, and acci…

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710 Weird and Wonderful Stories from Ancient Greece and Rome (with Paul Chrystal) | A BIG ANNOUNCEMENT | Two Listeners Follow Their Dream (And Create Something Amazing) 1:00:09

1M ago1:00:09

1:00:09

It's another action-packed episode! First, Jacke relays the story of a long-time listener who worked some mundane jobs before becoming an artistic bookmaker. Then Jacke talks to author Paul Chrystal about his work diving into lesser-known ancient texts for his book Miracula: Weird and Wonderful Stories of Ancient Greece and Rome. And in between, Ja…

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Stassi & Jac Vanek on Ladyworld, Day Drinking, and “B*tch Eating Crackers” 1:04:53

1M ago1:04:53

1:04:53

Stassi is joined by LadyGang’s Jac Vanek to talk all things LadyWorld—the first-ever podcast festival happening this September 26-28, 2025 in Miramar Beach, Florida. Jac shares how it all started with a glamping idea and turned into a full-blown interactive weekend with all the famous podcast girlies. They also bond over preferring day-drinking to …

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Gavin Moody AWCF 14:30

1M ago14:30

14:30

Farriers from the pleasure horse and race horse worlds rarely find themselves in the same place to have a chat. In this episode, I speak with Gavin Moody AWCF of the legendary Racehorse community of Newmarket in England. Gavin explains his philosophies of shoeing thoroughbred race horses and dispels many of the myths and misconceptions that exist a…

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709 Black American Humor (with Damon Young) | The Greatest American Joke Ever Told? 1:31:52

1M ago1:31:52

1:31:52

DAMON YOUNG (⁠What Doesn't Kill You Makes You Blacker: A Memoir in Essays⁠) is a Pittsburgh writer and humorist. In this episode, Jacke talks to Damon about his work editing and writing an introduction for That's How They Get You: An Unruly Anthology of Black American Humor, which emphasizes how and why Black American humor is uniquely transfixing.…

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Giant Fish 7:53

1M ago7:53

7:53

Underwater adventures.

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708 Science Fact and Science Fiction (with Keith Cooper) | AI Discovers a Work of Ancient Philosophy and Dreams Up a Reading List 1:11:01

1M ago1:11:01

1:11:01

For decades, writers and filmmakers have imagined worlds where characters can do things like watch a double sunset (on Tatooine, of course), or stand among the sand dunes of Arrakis, or gaze at the gas-giant planet Polyphemus from the moon Pandora. But even as works like Star Wars, Dune, and Avatar have enticed us with their fictional renditions of…

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A Simple Favor with Taylor Strecker 1:17:55

1M ago1:17:55

1:17:55

Stassi opens up about how much it meant to have Bestie Taylor Strecker at her SI Miami moment—but the convo quickly turns into a hilarious (and painfully relatable) rant about being “favor allergic.” From DM disasters to one-time-only friendship asks, they break down the unspoken rules of adult boundaries. Taylor watched the new season of And Just …

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707 Emile Zola (with Robert Lethbridge) | Graham Greene's Only Ghost Story | My Last Book with Irina Mashinski 1:00:42

2M ago1:00:42

1:00:42

For years, listeners have been requesting an episode devoted to the French novelist, journalist, playwright, and public intellectual Émile Zola (1840-1902). In this episode, Jacke talks to author Robert Lethbridge, whose new book Émile Zola: A Determined Life presents a comprehensive exploration of the life, work, and times of the celebrated French…

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Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Model Say What?! 1:00:06

2M ago1:00:06

1:00:06

Stassi just checked off a major bucket-list moment—walking the Sports Illustrated runway in a bikini—and she’s never been prouder. Joined by her co-host and confidante Lo, she shares every behind-the-scenes detail of what became one of the best experiences (and trips) of her life. From battling body dysmorphia and last-minute bikini chaos to realiz…

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Running A Multi-Farrier Practice 11:43

2M ago11:43

11:43

Tune in to our latest episode featuring a panel discussion from last year’s AFA Convention with multi-farrier practice owners sharing what it takes to run a thriving, sustainable business. From training apprentices and setting high standards, to pay structures, legal logistics, and how to handle mistakes - nothing was off the table. Hear from: - Ka…

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706 Living with Jane Austen (with Janet Todd) | A Listener Changes His Life | Bored Parents 1:12:23

2M ago1:12:23

1:12:23

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that Jane Austen's novels make us wish she was our friend. She wouldn't be just any old friend: she'd be the sharpest and wisest, the one we turn to in a crisis, the one who understands our flaws and helps us see our blind spots. As we navigate the perils of love and life, she'd be the friend who gently point…

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Heartland Horseshoeing School 30th Anniversary 41:31

2M ago41:31

41:31

Special Bonus Episode! For over 30 years now Heartland Horseshoeing School has been producing high calibre farriers and educating seasoned ones. I managed to get Kelly, Chris, and Cody to sit still for a brief period during the weekend anniversary celebration to discuss the past, present and future of their incredible school. From its humble beginn…

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705 Runaway Poets - How the Brownings Fell in Love (And Why It Matters) 59:34

2M ago59:34

59:34

Elizabeth Barrett (1806-1861) was one of the most prolific and accomplished poets of the Victorian age, an inspiration to Emily Dickinson, Oscar Wilde, Edgar Allan Poe, and countless others. And yet, her life was full of cloistered misery, as her father insisted that she should never marry. And then, the clouds lifted, and a letter arrived. It was …

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Boss B*tch, Empath Mom in Delulu Land: Astrology & Soul Talk with Aliza Kelly 1:08:24

2M ago1:08:24

1:08:24

This week, Stassi goes full witchy with celebrity astrologer and bestselling author Aliza Kelly. The two bond instantly over their nearly identical Capricorn rising signs (only two degrees apart!), and explore what that means for destiny, timing, and survival mode.Aliza breaks down Stassi’s birth chart—Cancer Sun, Scorpio Moon, and born during Venu…

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704 Butterflies Regained 1:26:31

2M ago1:26:31

1:26:31

Poetry, butterflies, and original music oh my! With some help from poets Emily Dickinson, Robert Frost, William Wordsworth, and John Keats, along with original music by composer Gabriel Ruiz-Bernal, Jacke tackles the topic of butterflies. Yes, yes, we all know that butterflies are symbols of beauty and transformation - but can great poets get beyon…

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Airport Fashion, Haunted Dolls & Travel Hot Takes with Kristina Kelly 1:10:14

2M ago1:10:14

1:10:14

Stassi’s under the weather but still has the energy to come for Kristina Kelly’s favorite mom bag (the one she’d save in a fire). They debate airport fashion (it’s a runway!), upcoming Italy and Miami trips with the kids, and Stassi’s unforgettable airport paparazzi moment in a onesie. Plus: Stassi’s obsessed with the Annabelle dolls haunted tour a…

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Lee Olsen CJF 21:32

2M ago21:32

21:32

From a South Dakota ranch to a successful haul-in practice in Texas, Lee Olsen shares the journey that shaped him into the farrier he is today. In this episode, we dive into his roots, work ethic, mentorship, business evolution, and the importance of balance in life and work. Lee also opens up about the farriers who’ve inspired him, his unique four…

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703 D.H. Lawrence (with David Ellis) | My Last Book with Dorian Lynskey 1:09:35

2M ago1:09:35

1:09:35

D.H. Lawrence (1885-1930) is one of the most famous novelists of his era - and one of the most difficult to pin down. Was he a tasteless, avant-garde pornographer? Or the greatest imaginative novelist of his generation (as E.M. Forster once said)? What should we know about his hard-luck childhood and turbulent adult life? In this episode, Jacke tal…

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702 Writing in the World of Jane Austen (with D.G. Rampton) | Disaster at the Book Festival! 52:01

2M ago52:01

52:01

Jacke talks to D.G. Rampton, Australia's Queen of the Regency Romance, about her love for the novels of Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer - and what it's like for a twenty-first-century novelist to set her novels in the early-nineteenth-century world of intelligent heroines, dashing men, and sparkling banter. Find PLUS Jacke dives into the story of a…

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My Rental Kelly Rebuttal 56:20

2M ago56:20

56:20

Stassi is overdue for a solo ep, and this one’s delightfully unhinged—in a post-great Mother’s Day kind of way. She kicks things off with the Taylor Swift subpoena drama, Blake Lively’s messy role, and why Taylor is clearly the real victim. She also reflects on her first actually relaxing Mother’s Day: sleeping in, family breakfast, and sweet, swee…

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701 Emerson's Struggle with Slavery (with Kenneth Sacks) | My Last Book with Victoria Namkung | We Had Sex Inside Moby-Dick! 1:11:31

2M ago1:11:31

1:11:31

For several decades, Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) was perhaps the most prominent writer and intellectual in America. As an advocate of personal freedom living in Massachusetts, surrounded by passionate abolitionists, one might expect that his positions regarding slavery would be obvious and uncomplicated. And yet, Emerson struggled with the issu…

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Struggle Bus Chronicles: Miami Trip and Met Gala Thoughts 1:15:41

3M ago1:15:41

1:15:41

Stassi and Lo are back from Miami! Is it age, is it kids, or is it just the content creator grind? Stassi's hitting her breaking point explaining why those 'vacation' photos are actually WORK trips involving press tours, insane scheduling, and just trying to keep her eyes open. Plus, Stassi actually enjoyed Miami this time?! She's spilling all the …

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Jason Critton CJF TE AWCF 15:47

3M ago15:47

15:47

In this episode I sit down with Jason Critton CJF TE AWCF at the 2024 AFA Convention and we discuss all things horseshoeing. Many know Jason because of his very successful multi-farrier practice in Colorado but that is just the tip of the iceberg. His challenge oriented personality lead him to successfully pursue his AWCF and we discuss the intense…

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700 - Butterflies at Rest 28:08

3M ago28:08

28:08

Returning to some devastating news after a trip to Paris, Jacke searches for lost time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy Jacke Wilson / The Podglomerate

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Uh Oh, Travis Unfollowed Ryan… w/ Taylor Strecker 53:25

3M ago53:25

53:25

Stassi and bestie Taylor Strecker are spiraling (in the best way). Stassi vents about how every day feels like something, whether it’s health stress or life admin. But then—breaking news: Travis Kelce unfollowed Ryan Reynolds. The girls dive into full conspiracy mode. Is Taylor Swift distancing from Blake? Is Ryan actually the problem? The energy i…

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699 Gatsby's Daisy (with Rachel Feder) | My Last Book with Francesca Peacock 1:12:12

3M ago1:12:12

1:12:12

F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel The Great Gatsby might be one hundred years old, but it's still incredibly relevant: one list-of-lists site ranks it as the number-one book of all time. In this episode, Jacke talks to author Rachel Feder about this classic tale of reinvention - and the reinventing she did for her book Daisy, which retells the Gatsby sto…

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698 Dante in Love (with Ellen Nerenberg and Anthony Valerio) [Ad-Free Archive Edition] 1:05:26

3M ago1:05:26

1:05:26

It's springtime! A great time to be in love - and if you're a poetic genius like Dante Alighieri, a great time to catch a glimpse of a girl named Beatrice on the streets of Florence, fall madly in love with her, and spend the rest of your life beatifying her in verse. In this episode, we present a conversation that first aired in February 2018, in …

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Introducing Hagen Bach: Stories from Vanderpump Villa, Reality TV Toxic Traits, and Gen Z vs Millennials 47:37

3M ago47:37

47:37

Stassi sits down with one of Vanderpump Villa Season 2’s breakout personalities, Hagen Bach, for a no-filter convo that takes you behind the scenes. Hagen shares how he landed the role—from getting scouted via email to leaning into his past housekeeping experience (yes, he actually scrubbed toilets in an Italian castle—24/7 cameras and all). Stassi…

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The British Army Farriers 11:00

3M ago11:00

11:00

Ever wondered what it takes to become a military farrier? In this episode, we’re joined by instructors from the Defense Animal Training Regiment at Melton Mowbray - Sergeant Stuart Wyss, W2 Adam Cooper, and Mark Neal - who share their unique paths into the trade. From firefighting dreams to ceremonial roles, their stories highlight the grit, skill,…

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697 Race in European Fairy Tales (with Kimberly Lau) | My Last Book with Rolf Hellebust 1:21:03

3M ago1:21:03

1:21:03

Anyone digging into fairy tales soon discovers that there's more to these stories of magic and wonder than meets the eye. Often thought of as stories for children, the narratives can be shockingly violent, and they sometimes deliver messages or "morals" at odds with modern sensibilities. In this episode, Jacke talks to Kimberly Lau about her book S…