New weekly series dives into the passion, scandal, and secrets behind literature's most erotic characters

Podomedy today announced the launch of Austen After Dark, an exciting new podcast series that peels back the prim and proper facade of Jane Austen's classic novels to reveal the steamy subtext, social scandals, and surprising edginess that made her work revolutionary for its time.

Hosted by creator Alice Nagle, the weekly series takes listeners on a journey through Austen's most famous works – from Pride and Prejudice to Persuasion – uncovering the author's sharp wit, biting social commentary, and the surprisingly risqué elements that Victorian society tried to overlook.

Each episode combines literary analysis with entertaining storytelling, making Austen's world accessible to both devoted fans and newcomers who thought classic literature was all tea parties and proper manners. The podcast explores themes of desire, power, money, and rebellion that drove Austen's characters and continue to captivate readers more than 200 years later.

The series features conversations with leading voices in the Austen community, including historians like Dr. Anthony Delaney, author of the forthcoming "Queer Georgians," and Dr. Robyn Atcheson, as well as popular content creators like Jake Phillips (The Cultured Bumpkin), Edinburgh comedian Eleanor Morton, and the hosts of top-ranked Jane Austen podcasts Pod & Prejudice and Reclaiming Jane. These diverse perspectives bring fresh insights to familiar stories while connecting Austen's work to contemporary conversations about literature, history, and culture.

The series launches with fresh perspectives on familiar stories, revealing how Austen used humour and romance to critique everything from class inequality to women's limited choices in Regency England. This knowledge draws on the experience of producing the award-nominated film and TV podcast, Fetch the Smelling Salts, which launches its fourth season at the same time - the first episode is a review of Ms Austen.

"Jane Austen’s gift was an ability to capture the world around her with detailed wit and insight", said Alice Nagle. "She understood human nature and that’s why we still connect deeply to her characters today. For me that meant wanting to know what happened behind closed doors, after the declarations of love. Sexuality has always been part of Austen’s work and I wanted to bring that into the spotlight.

"Spin-off podcasts like Austen After Dark allow us to explore niche topics with the depth and passion they deserve," said Ant McGinley, Chief Development Officer at Podomedy. "When creators can focus on their specific expertise and interests, they deliver content that's both educational and genuinely entertaining. It's about giving audiences exactly what they didn't know they were craving."

Austen After Dark is available now on all major podcast platforms including Apple Podcasts and Spotify. New episodes release weekly.

About Podomedy

Podomedy is the award-winning independent podcast comedy network that makes and promotes funny podcasts. The team works with creators to connect their content and audiences with the stories and topics they love. Learn more at podomedy.com

Austen After Dark

The literary sex history comedy podcast that asks the question: What were Jane Austen characters like in bed? From Pride And Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility to Northanger Abbey, we go between the sheets with Dr. Alice Nagle and a host of celebrity guests to uncover more. Get up close with Austen after Dark! Follow us on Instagram www.instagram.com/austenafterdark

---

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Subscribe to Podcast

Follow Us:

Reviews: