… that relies on schedules? You may hate these guys. However, if you are a "ghost story nerd" then, you’re probably not that kind of person anyway, 😆 so this was never meant for you! I’m just so pleased that they keep putting them out at all. I’m not bothered by the rickety schedule, and I can’t imagine other true fans are either .😍 If you want a podcast with no ads, that’s entertaining, well produced, and extremely smart – then this is the one for you

A wonderfully curious, thoughtful, good-natured podcast.

No ads, great content!

Will and Mike have a great rapport, love their banter and it’s great to see M.R. James getting some love. Only wish they posted more often - but completely understand that this isn’t a full time job and must take a lot of effort to produce. Subscribe and keep it in your feed - its well worth it for when they do post a new show!

I thought the stories would be read out loud, and maybe they are but there’s so much commentary that I have no idea when the story starts. But I guess this podcast is about commentary? If it is, I guess it’s good if that’s what you want, but it wasn’t what I expected at all.

Outstanding and very much to be recommended, indeed I have just recently recommended it to new readers of M.R. James. There are always more people discovering his stories.

Update: continues to be fantastic, and I will listen as long as you are doing them. My sisters are sold on them, I don’t think there’s a day in which I don’t listen to a new or old episode. What I really love is the clear friendship, the genuine niceness of it all despite it being about ghosts and things like that. a There is a new episode! Thank you. I listen to the old episodes again and again, I am working my way through all the google maps and other link suggestions, have bought the BBC DVD compilation, also bought A Pleasing Terror, have the golf article, and even listen to the stories while solo backpacking. That actually got spooky. Adore the occasional references to Blackadder and Dad’s Army, and Allo Allo, Wodehouse etc. it is as if you have all the cultural references of my youth. 42 anybody? Saving the new episode for my birthday (tomorrow). Just wish I could buy a T-shirt. Keep up the good work!

This is what a podcast should be: beautifully produced, with witty, intelligent and clever hosts, and fascinating subject matter. I have been a huge fan of M.R. James’ ghost stories for more than 50 years, and this podcast has reignited my delight with the stories. Having listened to all of the significant episodes on this show, I am now watching a recently acquired DVD of Ghost Stories for Christmas and I’m listening to all the episodes again. Wonderful fun!

I love how these two gentlemen breakdown the story, I have heard some stories previously but upon listening to this podcast, became enlightened with their analyses. Very well made, keep up the great works gentlemen.

I started listening to this podcast with basically no knowledge of M.R. James. (I’d seen the 1957 film Night of the Demon but had never read any of James’s stories or seen any of the television adaptations.) I’ve now listened to more than a dozen episodes and read the associated stories. Mike and Will are knowledgeable and passionate hosts. Looking forward to more “Jamesian wallops” in the new year!

I get so much more enjoyment out of the stories thanks to Mike and Will’s insight, research, and commentary. I’ve read almost all of the stories now! The podcast is especially helpful because I’m an American and there are a few things in terms of name pronunciation, geography, and how academia is different in the UK that they did a good job clearing up. They’re also funny and seem to have a good friendship with each other.

This is one of my favorite podcasts! The narrators are friendly brilliant researchers, so they blend smoothly within each episode!

One of my favorite podcasts of all time. Lovely readings and sound design combined with smart and funny discussion just academic enough to make Monty proud. They sometimes have guests and I really love the sense you get of the wider community of MR James fans out there writing Ghosts and Scholars articles and traveling to Jamesian locations and all the creative people inspired by him. I’m so glad they’ve continued doing new episodes after they finished all of MR James’ stories.

I'm embarrassed that it's taken me so long to leave a review for this remarkable podcast. I've listened since the first episode and this one easily ranks as my favorite podcast -- and since I have two of my own, that's saying something. The hosts have just the right mixture of knowledge and wit. They discover elements in James's stories that I'd never noticed, although I've read the entire canon several times. It's fun and enlightening and more. I can't think of any way to improve "A Podcast to the Curious" unless if it became a weekly. Yeah, I know, unlikely.

👍🏽👍🏽

I’m new to the podcast and even though they’ve gone through all the M R James stories they can cover, the podcast is still going strong! loved the ‘Signalman’ and Moor Road’ episodes. keep up the good work. More Flaxman Low!!

Cannot say enough good things about this podcast. The hosts do a great job playing off of one another. Perfect blend of informative and entertaining. Love the dry humor. As a fan of M.R. James and someone with a long daily commute, this podcast hits the sweet spot for me.

Highly enjoyable. A thrilling and chilling pleasure filled with great stories and the wit, information and insight provided by Mike and Will.

I can't imagine a better show devoted to M.R. James - really well done and makes me re-think a few things about each story. I'm only not happy that I just discovered it and want to catch up...! And the hosts are funny in all good ways. Cheers, guys!

I was delighted to discover this podcast, and then supremely happy to find it so very well worth a listen! The lads are clever and funny, providing both thoughtful analysis and opinions, and a good laugh. I also very much enjoy the bonus content, so to speak, such as the accounts of various Jamesian excursions, and interviews with other James fans. In short, a wonderful podcast that treats the works of a wonderful author with the respect and affection they deserve. Well done!

I don't know of any other shows that cover M.R. James great ghost stories, this podcast is really a unique pleasure. I feel lucky to have discovered it.

i'm just now discovering M.R. James and this podcast is perfect! this 1st show i listened to was The Ash Tree after that i was hooked!

Increasingly impressed with every episode. I've enjoyed the HP Lovecraft Literary Podcast since it began, but only recently discovered this survey of MR James's ghost stories which was inspired by HPLLP. I had never read one (Victorian era ghost stories? Dickens? Yawn), but gave it a try. James's humor and eye and ear for detail are wonderful, as is also the case with his two commentators here. Chad and Chris at HPLLP will always have a place in my heart (even on a paid subscription...), but Mike & Will are fullly as good. The more or lesss one hour format for what are usually very short stories gives them time not only to move through the entire story (with the help of some very good readers) but also to share a broad range of history, analysis and references to articles, movies and tv and radio shows based on the stories. Their interview at the end of the Martin's Close episode with the owner/chef of a pertinent tavern who shared some stories of ghosts he'd known was perfectly light yet creepy. There are only two problems: I have to wait too long between new episodes (but, ok, worth the wait), and James's corpus is too short ("Already half way?!?") When the stories run out, I hope they can find another topic and keep going.

Brings alive the stories very well done.

Great podcast guys. Very clever and well informed. Love the hour long format. Please keep em coming!!!!

One of my favorite listens. As an H.P. Lovecraft junkie trying to branch out into the world of weird reading, it's been great to have this podcast to make M.R. James a little more accessible and clear up some confusing points -- especially for an American who doesn't know much about the British history and geography that are so essential to M.R. James. Recommended for fans of the H.P. Lovecraft Literary Podcast.

Plenty of content, awesome subject matter. One of my very favorite podcasts.

The most fun you'll have learning something.

An excellent Podcast on, to my mind, the best ghost story writer ever. Informative and fun to listen to without being too reverent. Keep up the good work lads. P.S. I found this Podcast before the Lovecraft one. So thats one up for the Brits ;)

Just started listening to this one, and having a great time so far. I'm a big fan of the H.P. Lovecraft Literary Podcast, and the podcasters have adopted a similar format to delve into the work of an author who remains somewhat obscure these days, despite casting an enormous shadow on subsequent horror fiction, and counting Lovecraft himself as a disciple.

I was very pleased to find another podcast so well done on the subject of a weird fiction author. I am a huge Lovecraft fan and to hear the great stories you are covering that inspired him is amazing. I look forward to hearing more of your podcasts. Thank you!