

Heavy Bored
Andrew Wittstadt
Heavy Bored is a writing and literature podcast hosted by poet and writer Andrew Wittstadt as he speaks with guests about all things books, poetry, art, and culture. Join Heavy Bored on Patreon or Substack to get full access to book clubs, bonus interviews, Jerkshop, and more.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Apr 9, 2023 • 3h 12min
#36 Emily Dickinson: The Complete Poems (part 3)
In part 3 of The Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson, Andrew moves back in with his parents, while Sophie chooses to live on the streets instead. Both become dependent on substances and self-publish emo poetry for the rest of their lives. Dickinson Poems (1862-1867) Topics include–Dickinson getting sick–Artists losing their touch–What makes Dickinson so good?--Vendler’s essays on Dickinson–and more.*LINKS**Buy the Books*The Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson: https://amzn.to/3JCQp1tMore Books of Emily Dickinson: https://amzn.to/3UxvIGzDickinson by Helen Vendler: https://amzn.to/4lsKHg9More Books by Helen Vendler: https://amzn.to/3HFhPDnJoin Patreon or Substack for FREE!Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/HeavyBored Substack: https://andrewwittstadt.substack.com/Sign up for Andrew’s Newsletter for FREE! https://andrewwittstadt.substack.com/Contact us: heavyboredpodcast@gmail.comLeave a 5-Star Review on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/heavy-bored/id1617156706Follow Us!Twitter: @heavyboredpod https://x.com/HeavyBoredPod@AndrewWittstadt https://x.com/AndrewWittstadtInstagram:@heavybored https://www.instagram.com/heavybored/TikTok:@heavyboredpodcast https://www.tiktok.com/@heavyboredpodcastYouTube:@heavybored https://www.youtube.com/@heavybored@heavyboredclips https://www.youtube.com/@heavyboredclips*when available, we use affiliate links*

Mar 26, 2023 • 21min
#35 Emily Dickinson: The Complete Poems (part 2)
In part 2 of The Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson, Andrew butchers Dickinson’s poems while reading them out loud. Sophie speaks on Death, God, and Jesus and shit. Both become agoraphobic and move to a Massachusetts homestead with an abusive mother. Dickinson poems (1862). Topics include–editors destroying artists' works–Dickinson writing nonstop bangers in 1862–The purpose of meter in poetry–boxer briefs vs boxers–Sophie’s favorite poems–Vendler’s takes on Dickinson–and more. This is a free preview. To get access to the full 3-hour episode and all Heavy Bored content, become a subscriber at https://www.patreon.com/HeavyBored *LINKS**Buy the Books*The Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson: https://amzn.to/3JCQp1tMore Books of Emily Dickinson: https://amzn.to/3UxvIGzDickinson by Helen Vendler: https://amzn.to/4lsKHg9More Books by Helen Vendler: https://amzn.to/3HFhPDnJoin Patreon or Substack for FREE!Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/HeavyBored Substack: https://andrewwittstadt.substack.com/Sign up for Andrew’s Newsletter for FREE! https://andrewwittstadt.substack.com/Contact us: heavyboredpodcast@gmail.comLeave a 5-Star Review on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/heavy-bored/id1617156706Follow Us!Twitter: @heavyboredpod https://x.com/HeavyBoredPod@AndrewWittstadt https://x.com/AndrewWittstadtInstagram:@heavybored https://www.instagram.com/heavybored/TikTok:@heavyboredpodcast https://www.tiktok.com/@heavyboredpodcastYouTube:@heavybored https://www.youtube.com/@heavybored@heavyboredclips https://www.youtube.com/@heavyboredclips*when available, we use affiliate links*

Mar 12, 2023 • 2h 17min
#34 Emily Dickinson: The Complete Poems (part 1)
Andrew rants about the censorship of Dahl’s books for twenty minutes before Sophie is allowed to speak and Emily Dickinson’s first few packets of poetry are discussed. (1858-1862) Topics include–the censorship of art–writers not standing up to censorship–Dickinson’s Legacy–The impact of the em dash–why Dickinson is so beloved–Helen Vendler’s take on Dickinson–the point of lyric poetry–music in meter–and more.*LINKS**Buy the Books*The Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson: https://amzn.to/3JCQp1tMore Books of Emily Dickinson: https://amzn.to/3UxvIGzDickinson by Helen Vendler: https://amzn.to/4lsKHg9More Books by Helen Vendler: https://amzn.to/3HFhPDnJoin Patreon or Substack for FREE!Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/HeavyBored Substack: https://andrewwittstadt.substack.com/Sign up for Andrew’s Newsletter for FREE! https://andrewwittstadt.substack.com/Contact us: heavyboredpodcast@gmail.comLeave a 5-Star Review on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/heavy-bored/id1617156706Follow Us!Twitter: @heavyboredpod https://x.com/HeavyBoredPod@AndrewWittstadt https://x.com/AndrewWittstadtInstagram:@heavybored https://www.instagram.com/heavybored/TikTok:@heavyboredpodcast https://www.tiktok.com/@heavyboredpodcastYouTube:@heavybored https://www.youtube.com/@heavybored@heavyboredclips https://www.youtube.com/@heavyboredclips*when available, we use affiliate links*

Feb 26, 2023 • 2h 15min
#33 F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby
Sophie crashes a car into a pedestrian while Andrew helps bury the body and avoids vehicular manslaughter charges. Both become hermits and avoid large towns for the rest of their lives. Topics include–The Great Gatsby’s reputation–the state of the publishing industry–readers lacking options in terms of current books–did Gatsby love Daisy?--what’s up with Nick Carraway?--why Gatsby was Fitzgerald’s only good book–and more. *LINKS**Buy the Books*The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald: https://amzn.to/3HzXQGdMore Books by F. Scott Fitzgerald: https://amzn.to/4mnztL4Join Patreon or Substack for FREE!Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/HeavyBored Substack: https://andrewwittstadt.substack.com/Sign up for Andrew’s Newsletter for FREE! https://andrewwittstadt.substack.com/Contact us: heavyboredpodcast@gmail.comLeave a 5-Star Review on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/heavy-bored/id1617156706Follow Us!Twitter: @heavyboredpod https://x.com/HeavyBoredPod@AndrewWittstadt https://x.com/AndrewWittstadtInstagram:@heavybored https://www.instagram.com/heavybored/TikTok:@heavyboredpodcast https://www.tiktok.com/@heavyboredpodcastYouTube:@heavybored https://www.youtube.com/@heavybored@heavyboredclips https://www.youtube.com/@heavyboredclips*when available, we use affiliate links*

Feb 12, 2023 • 1h 43min
#32 Olena Kalytiak Davis And Her Soul Out of Nothing
Sophie becomes an animal bone while Andrew goes on tangents about love, loss, and self-help. Both become souls trapped by bodies while knowing nothing. Topics include–The thing about first books–Why you should love OKD–sex in poetry–line breaks–gen x–and more.*LINKS**Buy the Books*And Her Soul Out of Nothing by Olena Kalytiak Davis: https://amzn.to/3JkqbRlShattered Sonnets, Love Cards, and Other Off and Backhanded Importunities by Olena Kalytiak Davis: https://amzn.to/4ozaOEJMore Books by Olena Kalytiak Davis: https://amzn.to/3Jl4Rv2Join Patreon or Substack for FREE!Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/HeavyBored Substack: https://andrewwittstadt.substack.com/Sign up for Andrew’s Newsletter for FREE! https://andrewwittstadt.substack.com/Contact us: heavyboredpodcast@gmail.comLeave a 5-Star Review on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/heavy-bored/id1617156706Follow Us!Twitter: @heavyboredpod https://x.com/HeavyBoredPod@AndrewWittstadt https://x.com/AndrewWittstadtInstagram:@heavybored https://www.instagram.com/heavybored/TikTok:@heavyboredpodcast https://www.tiktok.com/@heavyboredpodcastYouTube:@heavybored https://www.youtube.com/@heavybored@heavyboredclips https://www.youtube.com/@heavyboredclips*when available, we use affiliate links*

Jan 29, 2023 • 13min
#31 William Faulkner's As I Lay Dying (preview)
Andrew and Sophie fix the Hamline University controversy before diving into the deep sweaty realms of strange small-town southern America. Topics include–small-town settings–classic novels–Faulkner’s legacy and reputation–Dewey Dell being the best character–whats up with Vardaman?--class elements in Faulkner–and more. This episode is a free preview. To get access to the full episode, support us on Patreon at www.patreon.com.heavybored*LINKS**Buy the Books*As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner: https://amzn.to/4oCf7z4More Books by William Faulkner: https://amzn.to/45ScNfXJoin Patreon or Substack for FREE!Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/HeavyBored Substack: https://andrewwittstadt.substack.com/Sign up for Andrew’s Newsletter for FREE! https://andrewwittstadt.substack.com/Contact us: heavyboredpodcast@gmail.comLeave a 5-Star Review on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/heavy-bored/id1617156706Follow Us!Twitter: @heavyboredpod https://x.com/HeavyBoredPod@AndrewWittstadt https://x.com/AndrewWittstadtInstagram:@heavybored https://www.instagram.com/heavybored/TikTok:@heavyboredpodcast https://www.tiktok.com/@heavyboredpodcastYouTube:@heavybored https://www.youtube.com/@heavybored@heavyboredclips https://www.youtube.com/@heavyboredclips*when available, we use affiliate links*

Jan 15, 2023 • 2h 15min
#30 Lana Del Rey's Violet Bent Backwards Over the Grass
Sophie gets lost in a big haunted vagina, while Andrew makes himself at home in the pepsi-filled cervix. Absolutely no drugs were consumed in the making of this episode. Topics include–celebrity poetry–collage art–whisper voices–mushroom trips–Instagram poetry–bad photography–aesthetic over art–what gives a poem meaning?–the line between song lyrics and poetry–and more. *LINKS**Buy the Books*Violet Bent Backwards Over the Grass by Lana Del Rey: https://amzn.to/3HDqTsmHowl and Other Poems by Allen Ginsberg: https://amzn.to/4oCHcGADirecting Herbert White by James Franco: https://amzn.to/45TtjfJThe Lords and the New Creatures by Jim Morrison: https://amzn.to/4oDUym3Join Patreon or Substack for FREE!Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/HeavyBored Substack: https://andrewwittstadt.substack.com/Sign up for Andrew’s Newsletter for FREE! https://andrewwittstadt.substack.com/Contact us: heavyboredpodcast@gmail.comLeave a 5-Star Review on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/heavy-bored/id1617156706Follow Us!Twitter: @heavyboredpod https://x.com/HeavyBoredPod@AndrewWittstadt https://x.com/AndrewWittstadtInstagram:@heavybored https://www.instagram.com/heavybored/TikTok:@heavyboredpodcast https://www.tiktok.com/@heavyboredpodcastYouTube:@heavybored https://www.youtube.com/@heavybored@heavyboredclips https://www.youtube.com/@heavyboredclips*when available, we use affiliate links*

Jan 1, 2023 • 2h 37min
#29 Artistic Visions w/ Lee Matalone
Author Lee Matalone joins the pod to discuss her debut novel, Homemaking, in a wide-ranging conversation on everything from reality TV to the current state of the literary scene. Topics include–MFA’s–Corporate side of writing–David Foster Wallace–Book Publishing–The state of the literary scene–Writing routines–why social media sucks–and more.*LINKS**Buy the Books*Homemaking by Lee Matalone: https://amzn.to/4mEXX22Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace: https://amzn.to/4oG3IhEFind More From Lee Matalone: http://www.leematalone.com/Join Patreon or Substack for FREE!Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/HeavyBored Substack: https://andrewwittstadt.substack.com/Sign up for Andrew’s Newsletter for FREE! https://andrewwittstadt.substack.com/Contact us: heavyboredpodcast@gmail.comLeave a 5-Star Review on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/heavy-bored/id1617156706Follow Us!Twitter: @heavyboredpod https://x.com/HeavyBoredPod@AndrewWittstadt https://x.com/AndrewWittstadt@Lee_Matalone https://x.com/Lee_MataloneInstagram:@heavybored https://www.instagram.com/heavybored/@livelaughleelee https://www.instagram.com/livelaughleelee/TikTok:@heavyboredpodcast https://www.tiktok.com/@heavyboredpodcastYouTube:@heavybored https://www.youtube.com/@heavybored@heavyboredclips https://www.youtube.com/@heavyboredclips*when available, we use affiliate links*

Dec 18, 2022 • 2h 10min
#28 Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol
Sophie gets her Hitler’s out after ye went on his Hitler tour while Andrew cries like a little bitch about how much he loves Christmas. Topics include–what’s the meaning of Christmas?–Humor in Dickens works–Redemption archetypes–Male pattern baldness–The Muppets Christmas Carol–Christmas tunes–and more. *LINKS**Buy the Books*A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens: https://amzn.to/3HC1W0wMore Books by Charles Dickens: https://amzn.to/3HskiREJoin Patreon or Substack for FREE!Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/HeavyBored Substack: https://andrewwittstadt.substack.com/Sign up for Andrew’s Newsletter for FREE! https://andrewwittstadt.substack.com/Contact us: heavyboredpodcast@gmail.comLeave a 5-Star Review on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/heavy-bored/id1617156706Follow Us!Twitter: @heavyboredpod https://x.com/HeavyBoredPod@AndrewWittstadt https://x.com/AndrewWittstadtInstagram:@heavybored https://www.instagram.com/heavybored/TikTok:@heavyboredpodcast https://www.tiktok.com/@heavyboredpodcastYouTube:@heavybored https://www.youtube.com/@heavybored@heavyboredclips https://www.youtube.com/@heavyboredclips*when available, we use affiliate links*

Dec 4, 2022 • 1h 42min
#27 Allen Ginsberg's Howl and Other Poems
Allen Ginsberg, a prominent figure in beat literature, discusses his masterpiece 'Howl and Other Poems'. Topics include beat writers, banned books, the absence of counterculture in literature today, masculinity, book reputations, Ginsberg's influence, and more.


