Ben and Nora Schultz

Trying to Adapt

Society EN ↓ 19 episodes

A podcast about the process of adapting books into movies and other mediums. Don't worry, it's fun.

Author

Ben and Nora Schultz

Episodes

Trying to Adapt 019: A Christmas Carol 50 at the Milwaukee Rep (2025) 24.12.2025

After three more years off the podcast grid, Ben and Nora return with a review of a local theatrical adaptation of the Dickens tale.

Trying to Adapt 018: Scrooge: A Christmas Carol (2022) 25.12.2022

Ben and Nora’s triumphant holiday return to a podcast they basically gave up on about four years ago sees them experiencing Netflix’s new take on the Dickens Christmas tale, as well as two other adaptations they’ve seen in the interim.

Trying to Adapt 017: Esmeralda, or the Deformed of Notre-Dame (1834) 13.03.2019

Ben and Nora discover that they (okay, he) fucked up the premise of the podcast and have to start from the beginning. Fortunately, this weird little play is waiting for them when they do. https://ia601507.us.archive.org/23/items/TryingtoAdapt/tta-20190313-002-017.mp3

Trying to Adapt 016: Notre Dame of Paris, A Lyrical Drama in Four Acts (1864) 28.02.2019

As we go through the first American adaptation of Victor Hugo’s famous novel, Ben’s computer makes a weird noise and Nora breaks out the discussion questions. https://ia601507.us.archive.org/23/items/TryingtoAdapt/tta-20190228-002-016.mp3

Trying to Adapt 015: Esmeralda, or, the “Sensation” Goat! (1862) 21.02.2019

Ben and Nora read through an English parody play, based on the opera based on the book, where the goat actually gets second billing. https://ia801507.us.archive.org/23/items/TryingtoAdapt/tta-20190221-002-015.mp3

Trying to Adapt 014: La Esmeralda (1836) by Victor Hugo and Louise Bertin 14.02.2019

Victor Hugo just couldn’t leave his first classic novel alone! Ben and Nora explore his very own opera version of “The Hunchback of Notre-Dame”, which is really not very good. https://ia601507.us.archive.org/23/items/TryingtoAdapt/tta-20190213-002-014.mp3

Trying to Adapt 013: Notre-Dame de Paris (1830) by Victor Hugo, pt. 3 07.02.2019

Ben and Nora finally get to the end of Victor Hugo’s first novel and, folks, it’s kind of a downer. Fortunately, we also learn what the book is really about. https://ia801507.us.archive.org/23/items/TryingtoAdapt/tta-20190207-002-013.mp3

Trying to Adapt 012: Notre-Dame de Paris (1830) by Victor Hugo, pt. 2 04.02.2019

Ben and Nora get into the meat of the matter in the second part of a two-hour exploration of Victor Hugo’s classic novel. https://ia601507.us.archive.org/23/items/TryingtoAdapt/tta-20190203-002-012.mp3

Trying to Adapt 011: Notre-Dame de Paris (1830) by Victor Hugo, pt. 1 25.01.2019

Nora is sick, but nevertheless we plow into Victor Hugo’s first novel, about a hunchback who rings bells. It’s a 500-page book, so be on the lookout for parts 2 and 3 of our journey through it. https://ia801507.us.archive.org/23/items/TryingtoAdapt/tta-20190125-002-011.mp3

Trying to Adapt 010: A Christmas Carol (1971) with Alistair Sim 24.12.2018

To cap off the holiday season, Ben and Nora watch Alistair Sim’s other portrayal of Scrooge in an animated adaptation that never stops moving. https://ia601507.us.archive.org/23/items/TryingtoAdapt/tta-20181224-001-010.mp3

Trying to Adapt 009: Scrooge (1951) with Alistair Sim, part 2 20.12.2018

In the second part of this very long episode, Ben and Nora continue to explore Alistair Sim’s classic portrayal. https://ia601507.us.archive.org/23/items/TryingtoAdapt/tta-20181220-001-009.mp3

Trying to Adapt 008: Scrooge (1951) with Alistair Sim, part 1 20.12.2018

In the first half of this very long episode, Ben and Nora explore Alistair Sim’s classic and possibly definitive portrayal of Scrooge in a cleverly-padded feature-length film. https://ia601507.us.archive.org/23/items/TryingtoAdapt/tta-20181219-001-008.mp3

Trying to Adapt 007: A Christmas Carol (1969, animated) 16.12.2018

Ben and Nora explore an animated Dutch adaptation of the classic Dickens story which peaks early. https://ia801507.us.archive.org/23/items/TryingtoAdapt/tta-20181213-001-007.mp3

Trying to Adapt 006: “The Story of Compassion,” Adventures from the Book of Virtues (2000) 13.12.2018

Ben and Nora explore a poorly thought-out cartoon version of Dickens’ classic “A Christmas Carol,” leading them to the conclusion that Republicans are bad. https://ia601507.us.archive.org/23/items/TryingtoAdapt/tta-20181212-001-006.mp3

Trying to Adapt 005: A Christmas Carol, A New Opera (2016) 11.12.2018

Despite not really being able to see or hear what’s going on, Ben and Nora talk about Mike Leavitt’s 2016 opera adaptation of the classic story. https://ia801507.us.archive.org/23/items/TryingtoAdapt/tta-20181211-001-005.mp3

Trying to Adapt 004: Gorgo’s A Christmas Carol (2017) 10.12.2018

In this episode, Ben and Nora explore a puppet show very loosely based on the Vincent Price-narrated TV adaptation from episode 2. https://ia601507.us.archive.org/23/items/TryingtoAdapt/tta-20181206-001-004.mp3

Trying to Adapt 003: A Christmas Carol (1938) with Reginald Owen 08.12.2018

In this episode, we watch a classic early film version of the story, and Nora opens a big can of worms. https://ia801507.us.archive.org/23/items/TryingtoAdapt/tta-20181205-001-003.mp3

Trying to Adapt 002: The Christmas Carol (1949) with Vincent Price 06.12.2018

Ben and Nora explore a “technically primitive” adaptation of Dickens’ classic story from the very, very early days of television, featuring a young Vincent Price as the narrator. https://archive.org/download/TryingtoAdapt/tta-20181130-001-002.mp3

Trying to Adapt 001: Introduction to “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens 02.12.2018

In this very special episode, Ben and Nora explore the classic novella that’s been adapted several hundred times, making it the perfect starting point for a podcast about the way books get adapted into other mediums. Also, merry Christmas or something. https://ia601507.us.archive.org/23/items/TryingtoAdapt/tta-20181123-001-001.mp3