The Poe Show

Text the show TRIGGER WARNING: This episode contains the topic of DEATH, SUBSTANCE ABUSE and SUICIDE. An all too mysterious topic that every fan of Edgar Allan Poe has pondered, with much too many possible answers for most to contemplate, the strange death of the Master of Horror has been a subject of 19th century research since it first occurred. Today, not only will we discuss all the gritty det...

Text the show TRIGGER WARNINGS : Talk of DEATH of a loved one and REINCARNATION Today we examine a usually overlooked masterpiece by Edgar Allan Poe, a Victorian Gothic ghost story that explores the depths of love and the horrors of obsession. Ligeia was published in 1838 and ever since then it has perturbed readers and scholars alike, leading it to become known as one of Poe’s greatest literary a...

Text the show Today's episode is a shorty. We will hear a simple yet layered poem from Edgar Allan Poe which details the bitter-sweetness of "the hero's journey." Eldorado details the final steps of a noble knight as he seeks the mystical land for which he has longed for, for so long. This audiobook podcast is perfect for educators, teachers, students and schools/colleges looki...

Text the show Today I’m introducing a new series to the podcast! Welcome to Unscripted , episodes of The Poe Show audio horror story podcast where I talk in greater detail about Edgar Allan Poe, 19th century literature and all manner of horror! This series will be much more laid back and won’t feature audio stories. It will have a much more regular podcast format, allowing for you to learn all the...

Text the show Today's horror audio story is the intriguing tale of a lost lover dealing with a personal illness. Eleonora is one of Edgar Allan Poe’s most well criticized Victorian ghost stories, and as you’ll see in this episode, for good reason. Not only does it show the extent of Poe’s masterful use of powerful prose and ravishing rhetoric to create an unforgettable narrative, it also demo...

Text the show TRIGGER WARNING: this episode will discuss themes of DEATH OF A LOVED ONE and MOURNING. Today’s episode helped me in very personal ways that I can’t express enough gratitude to Edgar Allan Poe for. Although he wrote this poem all the way back in 1831, it resonates with this fellow creative artist nearly two centuries in the future. It is yet another testament that while writing Ameri...

Text the show TRIGGER WARNING : this episode contains DROWNING, MENTION OF SUICIDE, DISCUSSION OF DEATH AND LOSS OF FAMILY The Oblong Box is one of Edgar Allan Poe’s horror stories that offer both a slice of Victorian life and an intriguing fictional mystery. Published in 1844 and inspired by true events which occurred during the time, as well as events in Edgar Allan Poe’s life, this creepy tale...

Text the show Today’s poem by Edgar Allan Poe is a testament to his ability to craft not only meaningful text but an ethereal aura within it. This poem is also one of his earliest, published in his first collection of poems Tamerlane and Other Poems . What it lacks in his later literary skill, it makes up for in both its youthful wonder and in establishing a new poet stepping onto the scene! Nothi...

Text the show Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone this season! Today, in honor of the spirit of Christmas, the compassion for and connection to our fellow human beings, let’s dive into a circular letter by Robert Frost. This letter expresses Frost’s disdain for the overt commercialization of the world, buying up any and all beautiful things to sell them off for a profit. The antagonist...

Text the show TRIGGER WARNING: This episode contains DOLLS and PARENT LOSING TRACK OF A CHILD. This Victorian ghost story is the first ever to feature the haunted doll. Although it may be a modern horror trope present in many movies, TV shows and stories nowadays, this tale shows just how new the idea of creepy dolls was. Dolls gaining the innovation of sound was a completely new feature at the ti...

Text the show In this episode, we dive into a poem that speaks to Edgar Allan Poe’s wit with hidden meanings and symbolism, simply writhing with rich metaphor and a deeper message. The poetry of Edgar Allan Poe is celebrated as some of the greatest quality in the world. Let's see if this poem measures up to the expectation... Variations & History of The Valley of Unrest: https://www.eapoe...

Text the show TRIGGER WARNING: This episode contains MENTION OF SUICIDE, MENTION OF SUICIDE BY DROWNING and GHOSTS A gesture of love? A reflection of tragedy? A reminder of sin? An unbreakable chain of guilt? The Cold Embrace will ask you to give meaning to the cold fingers that reach out for their disloyal companion. Published in 1860, yet resonant with betrayed lovers everywhere and through all...

Text the show TRIGGER WARNING: this episode includes FIREARM SFX, DEMONS, and SWEARING. Eric Miller is a very well accomplished and awarded writer, having credits for a number of Hollywood movies, short stories, anthologies and the novel we will hear an excerpt from today: Whatever Happened to Uncle Ed? Featured on this epsiode will be an action scene from the beginning of Whatever Happened... as...

Text the show TRIGGER WARNING: this episode contains SUGGESTION OF GORE and TEETH BODY HORROR. Today we immerse ourselves in the unsettling short story by Edgar Allan Poe that will have your teeth chattering. A tale of insanity, monomania and obsession that leads one to their own torturous realization of their evil deeds. The melancholy narrative of Berenice. This story is one of Edgar Allan Poe&a...

Text the show In this episode we examine the gripping subject of the irreversible effects of war on the world, the political divide and and our identities intertwined with it, presented in Rebirth: 1914–1918 by Rudyard Kipling. If you’ve never heard of the word “disillusionment,” then be prepared to learn about it, for there are fewer ideas more disheartening to the matured mind than the desire to...

Text the show Today we experience a terrifying descent into the madness of H.P. Lovecraft’s cosmic horror. In this immersive horror podcast episode, I bring to life Lovecraft’s most sinister of the Eldritch gods, a harbinger of chaos, the great and mysterious Nyarlathotep. Perfect for fans of gothic horror, eldritch terror, and weird fiction, this episode captures the essence of the Crawling Chaos...

Text the show Although I expected a haunting contemplation of death and its eerie silence, and despite my supposed I would read here a meditation on the Gothic horror of decay, I had all such suppositions overturned. Initially it seemed this poem was a question of whether life would be beautiful if there were to be no eternal sleep. Now I see it more in its true light: as a celebration of devoted...

Text the show Is this tale one of the most haunting stories Edgar Allan Poe has ever written? In this episode, we will step into the chilling catacombs of The Cask of Amontillado , a pinnacle of Gothic horror crafted by the master of literary suspense: Edgar Allan Poe. Whether you're a literature lover, horror enthusiast, or Poe fanatic like myself, this episode offers a compelling analysis o...

Text the show In celebration of Mother's Day, I wanted to share a poem that Edgar Allan Poe wrote about his own mother, or rather the mother of his wife, Maria Poe. This day, I hope we can all appreciate the mothers in our lives, and the people who honorarily take on the role of mothers for those who need them. Support The Poe Show! https://ko-fi.com/thepoeshow Website: https://www.thepoeshow...

Text the show A short episode today, examining another poem by the immortal Robert Frost. This poem left an impact on me and I wanted to share it you listeners this month. It felt so ominous, which perfectly fits the podcast, and inspired me to create an apocalyptic soundscape to go along with it. Don't worry, I'll be getting back to Edgar Allan Poe for the next episode! Support The Poe...

Text the show CAUTION: story contains themes of being buried alive. Obviously. Today I'm presenting a story from Edgar Allan Poe that channels a fear that is present within all of us, one which, while it might not be as common as it once was, really did happen to many an unfortunate soul during Edgar Allan Poe's time in history. The Premature Burial is a collection of stories, telling th...

Text the show CAUTION: story contains GORE and themes of TORTURE. For the first time in the history of The Poe Show, I am featuring a story of my own! This is a story which I have been working on for about 12 years. And it's more than a scary story about an old fisherman; the themes that lay underneath speak to many problems as well. I felt like it was also entertaining - and gothic - enough...

Text the show Today we listen to a demon. This demon, with its many Legion-like voices, explores the often maddening nature of something which most people now may have trouble suffering through...silence. This story was written by Edgar Allan Poe in 1837, detailing the intensely terrifying idea of being tormented by a demon. Support The Poe Show! https://ko-fi.com/thepoeshow Website: https://www.t...

Text the show This is a very important poem to me, and I hope it can be so to you too. Edgar Allan Poe knew better than most just how alone one can truly be, as he was ridiculed and mocked for his storytelling by those who didn't grasp it for the treasure it was. Throughout his life, he knew what it was to be misunderstood, neglected, and betrayed. We can very easily feel alone in this world...

Text the show This Black History Month, I am joined by guest narrator Ella Bussie to read a powerful poem by France Ellen Watkins Harper, written in 1858. This poem was written before the emancipation of the slaves and speaks to the heartbreaking bravery that was shown to speak against evil. I also ask Ella a few questions about what it means to be black in America, her personal struggles, the lea...