
The Literary Life Podcast
Not just book chat! The Literary Life Podcast is an ongoing conversation about the skill and art of reading well and the lost intellectual tradition needed to fully enter into the great works of literature.
Experienced teachers Angelina Stanford and Thomas Banks (of www.HouseOfHumaneLetters.com) join lifelong reader Cindy Rollins (of www.MorningtimeForMoms.com) for slow reads of classic literature, conversations with book lovers, and an ever-unfolding discussion of how Stories Will Save the World.
And check out our sister podcast The Well Read Poem with poet Thomas Banks.
Latest episodes

Jul 8, 2025 • 1h 17min
Episode 284: Best of – “The Garden Party” by Katherine Mansfield
This week on The Literary Life, we bring you an episode from deep in the archives in which Cindy and Angelina discussed Katherine Mansfield’s short story “The Garden Party.” After a great chat over their commonplace quotes, Angelina and Cindy dig into this week’s story. They start with how Cindy found this story and the connections she was making to Little Women. Angelina gives a brief biographical sketch of Katherine Mansfield and highlights how Mansfield’s own illness and death give us insight into how she deals with death in this story. Angelina walks us through how she looks at the use of figurative language and images, such as the Garden of Eden. They also touch on “The Garden Party” having the same structure of moving toward a moment of epiphany that we saw in “Araby.” Cindy brings up the disconnect between the world of the women at home and the working people outside the home, as well as between the classes in this story. They talk about the importance of Laura’s new hat as a symbol of one type of person she can become. Another image that Angelina and Cindy take a look at is the descent from the garden into darkness. They discuss the parallels from the beginning of the story and the end of the story, as well as Laura’s movement from innocence to experience, from blindness to sight. To view the full show notes for this episode, complete with commonplace quotes, book links, and this week's poem, please visit https://theliterary.life/284.

Jul 1, 2025 • 1h 32min
Episode 283: Catching Up with Jason Baxter – Dante, Teacher as Translator, Learning to Read Poetry, and Hot Takes
Join Jason Baxter, an author and Dante specialist, as he dives into the complexities of teaching literature and translating timeless texts. He shares his insights on the beauty of poetry, the emotional connections in language, and the teaching journey, balancing depth and accessibility. The conversation features humorous takes on literary hot takes, the evolution of poetic forms, and the exciting landscape of literature education today. Baxter also reflects on his new translation of Dante’s Purgatorio, revealing the artistic challenges and joys of making classics engaging for modern readers.

Jun 24, 2025 • 2h 2min
Episode 282: Best of - “Harry Potter” Book 1, Ch. 13-End
This week on The Literary Life, Angelina and Thomas wrap up our encore series on J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter: Book 1. Angelina and Thomas begin the episode with some thoughts on their Aristotelian approach to literature as seen in this series of episodes. After sharing their commonplace quotes, they dive into their discussion of the last few chapters of the book. Some of the ideas they consider are how the entire plot is a series of symbols, alchemy and the allegory of the soul, and the figure of the “wildman” in the literary tradition. They also go over the characters of the centaurs, the significance of the unicorn, more references to Greek mythology, how Harry exemplifies the “chest” of the well-ordered man, and the great importance of the philosopher’s stone as a Christ symbol. Visit HouseofHumaneLetters.com for classes with Angelina, Thomas, and other members of their teaching team. To view the full show notes for this episode, including commonplace quotes, book links, and today's poem, please visit https://theliterary.life/282.

Jun 17, 2025 • 1h 51min
Episode 281: “Best of” – “Harry Potter” Book 1, Ch. 8-12
Welcome back to The Literary Life podcast and our series on J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter: Book 1. After sharing some thoughts on detective fiction as it relates to Rowling, our hosts Angelina Stanford and Thomas Banks discuss chapters 8-12. Some of the ideas they share are the following: Homeric echos and classical allusions in this book, the identity quest, the significance of characters’ names, the four houses and the bestiary, the three parts of the soul, the Christian influence on Rowling’s stories. Angelina also seeks to teach something about symbolism and structure of literature and art as seen through the Harry Potter books. Visit HouseofHumaneLetters.com for updates on classes with Angelina, Thomas, and other members of their teaching team. To view the full show notes for this episode including book links, quotes and today's poem, please visit https://theliterary.life/281.

Jun 10, 2025 • 1h 36min
Episode 280: “Best of” – “Harry Potter” Book Ch. 3-7
This week we are back with the second part of our remix of Angelina and Thomas’ podcast series on Harry Potter: Book 1 by J. K. Rowling. This week we are covering chapters 3-7. Angelina opens the book discussion with an overview of the literary motifs used by Rowling in the Harry Potter books to help modern readers better understand these kinds of stories. One of the motifs she highlights is the identity quest and how we see Harry on a journey of the soul. She also shares some thoughts on the fairy tale “magic” of these stories in contrast to actual witchcraft as well as the symbolism used to show us that this is a fairy world. Thomas and Angelina talk about the characters we meet in these chapters, including the symbolism of some of their names. Other ideas discussed in this episode include the importance of alchemy, the Gothic literary tradition, the layers of the quest, the rise of the fantasy genre, and so much more! Visit HouseofHumaneLetters.com for updates on classes with Angelina, Thomas, and other members of their teaching team. To view the full show notes for this episode, please visit https://theliterary.life/280.

Jun 3, 2025 • 1h 32min
Episode 279: “Best of” – “Harry Potter” Book 1, Intro and Ch. 1-2
On today’s episode on The Literary Life podcast, we bring you a special re-mix of our popular series on Harry Potter: Book 1 by J. K. Rowling, with hosts Angelina Stanford and Thomas Banks. After sharing a little on their own backgrounds as teachers and their commonplace quotations for the week, Angelina and Thomas open the book discussion with some introductory information on this book and series. They address the controversy surrounding these books in Christian circles. For our previous episode on magic, listen to our Best of Series Episode 168: Wizards, Witches and Magic, Oh My! Angelina sets up this series with some background on children’s publishing in the 1990s, the why there are differences in the British and American editions, the basis for this book in the classic literary tradition, the form and structure of stories. They also share some thoughts on these first couple of chapters. Join us again next week for chapters 3-7! Visit HouseofHumaneLetters.com for updates on classes with Angelina, Thomas, and other members of their teaching team. To view the full show notes for this episode, including links to books mentioned, today's commonplace quotes, and poem, please visit https://theliterary.life/279.

May 27, 2025 • 1h 29min
Episode 278: The Literary Life of Natalia Testa
Natalia Testa, a rising homeschool junior passionate about classical languages and detective novels, shares her fascinating literary journey. She recounts her childhood reading experiences that ignited her love for ancient history and literature. Natalia's encounter with Dorothy Sayers propelled her into the world of detective fiction. The conversation touches on overcoming reading slumps and the joys of exploring obscure manuscripts. With insights from her studies at the House of Humane Letters, she exemplifies how engaging with complex texts can shape one’s literary identity.

May 20, 2025 • 1h 35min
Episode 277: “A Good Man is Hard to Find” by Flannery O’Connor
The hosts dive deep into Flannery O’Connor's 'A Good Man is Hard to Find,' discussing the story's themes of morality, redemption, and the complexity of human nature. They explore character dynamics, particularly the grandmother's manipulative nature, and the societal critiques embedded in the narrative. The conversation touches on nostalgia versus reality in O’Connor's portrayal of the Old South, and examines the philosophical dance between faith and nihilism. Listeners are invited to reflect on violence as a means of grace and the profound questions about identity and existence raised in the story.

May 13, 2025 • 1h 30min
Episode 276: An Introduction to Flannery O’Connor
Delve into the world of Flannery O’Connor, the enigmatic Southern Gothic author. Discover her early influences and how her Catholic faith shaped her storytelling. The hosts discuss common misconceptions about her work and the cultural dynamics between her and other literary figures. They explore themes of violence and grace in her narratives, revealing the profound depth behind her characters. With a touch of humor, the conversation emphasizes the importance of understanding O’Connor’s legacy in today’s literary landscape.

4 snips
May 6, 2025 • 2h 14min
Episode 275: The Literary Life of Angelina Stanford
The conversation delves into Angelina Stanford's literary journey, starting with her childhood love of books and a pivotal moment with 'A Wrinkle in Time.' She recalls her disdain for literary analysis in high school and the influence of mentors like Flannery O'Connor and Burton Raffel. The discussion also covers her decision to leave academia for homeschooling, fostering a passion for learning in her own children. Throughout, there's an exploration of the joys of teaching literature and the significance of community in literary education.