Shows
Celebrate CreativityFrom Poe to AI, Part OneSend us a textWelcome to Celebrate Creativity - formerly Celebrate Poe. This is episode 400 - From Poe to AI, Part One - and I am especially excited at the new possibilities that this new direction allows. Let me explain:A few days ago, I wrote a short note to my podcast host, buzz sprout, not really knowing what to expect - I wrote - I do a podcast called Celebrate Poe that has had 398 episodes, in 100 countries and territories. For episode 400, I would like to announce that the name of the podcast is being ch...2025-07-1328 min
Celebrate CreativityThe Controversial CoverSend us a textHello - this is George Bartley - just wanted to let you know that starting with Episode 400, the name of this podcast will be changed from Celebrate Poe to Celebrate Creativity - this way, this podcast can really delve more into 19th century writers, as well as human creativity, and the use of AI in literary and historical research - a lot more fun than it might appear at first! So don’t miss episode 400 of Celebrate Poe - oh, I mean - Celebrate Creativity.But as for now - Wel...2025-07-1130 min
Celebrate CreativityLeaves of Music, Part TwoSend us a textWelcome to Celebrate Poe - This is episode 398 - Leaves of Music, Part TwoWell heIlo, WaltGreetings, George.Now In the previous episode, I began a conversation with Mr. Walter Whitman specifically about opera.Well Mr. - I mean Walt - What would you say was the role of music in general in your works?Music in general was a central metaphor in my life and work, both as a metaphysical mindset and as a practical reality. I was blessed with...2025-07-0924 min
Celebrate CreativityFinding a Home, Part OneSend us a textWelcome to Celebrate Poe - episode 395 - Finding a Home, Part OneWelcome back Walt. That's hard for me to get used to. I'd rather call you Mr. Whitman out of respect, but if you prefer the familiar Walt understand.Thank you George. Remember that even my family even changed my name from Walter to Walt.Then the name Walt it is. First let me ask about your writing - what style do you say you used?Ah George, I would like to think that...2025-06-2730 min
Celebrate CreativitySchoolteaching YearsSend us a textWelcome to Celebrate Whitman. My name is George Bartley. This is episode 393 - Schoolteaching YearsWhen we left Walt in the previous episode, it seemed that his future career seemed set in the newspaper and printing trades - he saw the ability to print text that brought about images and emotions in the minds of other people to be almost magical. This was finally a vocation that he wanted to pursue.Unfortunately, two of New York City’s worst fires destroyed the major printing and business centers of the cit...2025-06-2221 min
Celebrate CreativityI Sing The Body ElectricSend us a textWelcome to Celebrate Whitman. My name is George Bartley, and this episode 392 I Sing The Body ElectricIn the previous episode, Celebrate Whitman dealt with the artist’s three months in New Orleans. I had planned to talk with Mr. Whitman about his perceptions of the slave markets there, but it turned our to be more than enough for an episode all itself. So in this episode, I would like to talk with the ghost of Mr. Whitman about some of the writer’s complex feelings about slavery.But first...2025-06-2022 min
Celebrate CreativitySojourn in the SouthSend us a textWelcome to Celebrate Whitman - My name is George Bartley, and this is episode 391 Sojourn in the South.Greetings, Hello, Mr. Whitman.As a Youth, you worked in the printing industry in New York at the Eagle - a connection that lasted throughout 1847. But, as I understand it, you made an extremely memorable shift. Could you tell us about it in your own words?Certainly, - Now remember - I was the hard-working editor of a publication by the name of the Eagle and “for tw...2025-06-1920 min
Celebrate CreativityThe Quaker PreacherSend us a textWelcome to Celebrate poe - Episode 390 - The Quaker PreacherToday I want to talk about Elias Hicks - a fascinating person who greatly influenced Walt Whitman.Greetings, Mr. Bartley.Hello, Mr. Whitman. Now today I want to talk about Elias Hicks.Ah, Mr. Bartley - you mean the Quaker preacher.r Yes, Mr. Whitman - the one and the same.Yes, I find the subject of Elias Hicks to be a most fascinating one. And you know that I greatly enjo...2025-06-1624 min
Celebrate CreativityWhat Did Whitman Read?Send us a textWelcome to Celebrate Poe - My name is George Bartley, and this is episode 389 - What Did Whitman Read?Ghost sound Hello, Mr. Whitman.Greetings, George.Mr. Whitman - I mean Walt - we have been talking about your youth. And I understand that you were largely self-taught in many respects. It seems that you greatly enjoyed reading Shakespeare and the King James Version of the Bible.I certainly was impressed by Mr. Shakespeare’s works during my youth - as well as later...2025-06-1622 min
Celebrate CreativityCelebrating WhitmanSend us a textWelcome to Celebrate Poe - My name is George Bartley, and this is episode 388 - Celebrating WhitmanEdgar Allan Poe and Walt Whitman are, arguably, the greatest writers of the 19th century. So last year, I decided to start a new podcast about Walt Whitman called celebrate whitman, as well as continuing celebrate Poe. Here is a 30 second promo for that new "Celebrate Whitman" podcast:"From the creator of the acclaimed "Celebrate Poe" podcast comes a new audio journey into the life and revolutionary works of Walt Whitman. "...2025-06-1424 min
Celebrate CreativityDrake the RakeSend us a textWelcome to Celebrate Poe - Episode 384 Drake the Rake.After devoting an episode to Fitz Green Halleck, I thought I would devote an episode to - well, I don’t think lover is exactly the right word - but the person who was an extremely close friend of Fitz Green Halleck.And we have the ghost of Joseph Rodham Drake right here.Ghost soundHello I am Mr. Bartley. And you may call me George. Hello, Mr. Drake - may I call you Joseph?2025-06-0922 min
Celebrate CreativityTo Clasp Thy Hand in Mine RevistedSend us a textNo name in the poetical world is more firmly established than that of Fitz-Green Halleck. (Ghost of Poe voice)Edgar Allan Poe wrote these words about Fitz green Halik for Graham’s Magazine in 1843. This episode will take a look at Halleck as inspiration for some of America’s first homoerotic works. My name is George Bartley, and this is Episode Episode 383 - to clasp thy hand in mine revisited. This is the first of a series of podcast episodes for Pride months dealing with some of the individuals in Po...2025-06-0629 min
Celebrate CreativityPoe's Pit and PendulumSend us a textWelcome to celebrate Poe this is episode 382 - Poe’s Pit and Pendulum.Ghost soundGlad you're there Mr. Poe. You know in the previous episode we discussed the Raven. I would like to take a similar look at what I personally feel is one of your Best stories - the pit and the pendulum - although the black cat, the mask of the red death, the fall of the house of usher, and especially the telltale heart have to be up there with it in terms of popularity tod...2025-06-0230 min
Celebrate CreativityEdgar Poe Explains the RavenSend us a textWelcome to celebrate Poe - episode 381 - Edgar Poe Explains the Raven.Sorry if I gave you the wrong idea in the previous episode, but in this episode I want to delve more into Poe’s most famous work.GHOST SOUNDHello Mr. PoeGreetings Mr. BartleyVery welcome to see you today Mr. Poe. I was just saying that I wanted to deal into your most famous work in today's podcast episode.Oh Mr. Bartley that would have to be the Rav...2025-05-3126 min
Celebrate CreativityMore Supernatural ElementsSend us a textWelcome to Celebrate Poe - This is episode 380 (getting on up there) called More Supernatural Elements.Mr. Bartley: I have the Ghost of Mr. Poe here, and would like to dive right into Mr. Poe’ s basic belief about his character’s struggles.Mr. Poe: Ah, Mr. Bartley - permit to emphasize that it was important to frequently examine the duality of human nature—the conflict between rationality and irrationality or good and evil—through my characters’ subconscious struggles: for example, In William Wilson, the protagonist is tormented by a doppelgäng...2025-05-3123 min
Celebrate CreativitySupernatural ElementsSend us a textWelcome to Celebrate Poe - This is episode 379 - Supernatural ElementsWell How are you, Mr. Poe - and waiting to begin our conversationVery tolerable, Mr. Bartley -and most eager to share our thoughts.Mr Poe - It seems that you often employ eerie and decaying settings to create an atmosphere of dread and suspense. For example, in The Fall of the House of Usher, the crumbling mansion mirrors the psychological decay of its inhabitants. The house itself becomes a character, embodying themes of isolation and i...2025-05-2930 min
Celebrate CreativityChilled Into StoneSend us a textWelcome to Celebrate Poe. Episode 378 - Chilled Into StoneWell, in the previous episode Mr.Poe and I were engaged in a vigorous - don’t know if that is the right word for it - a vigorous discussion about what many consider to the his best story - The Fall of the House of Usher - although to be honest, I prefer The Tell Tale Heart or possibly The Cask of Amontillado - but I better say that before Mr. Poe arrives.Greetings, Mr. BartleyOh...2025-05-2823 min
Celebrate CreativityThe House Is a Vampire!Send us a textWelcome to Celebrate Poe - Episode 377 - The House is a Vampire!My name is George Bartley, and for the rest of this series, I want to really look into a house that might not make it into Better Homes and Gardens - but is often classified as Edgar Allan Poe’s greatest work. The story is definitely Gothic in tone, complicated from a psychological standpoint, and a great example of how Poe dealt with vampiric characters and themes.Madeline and Roderick Usher are both vampiric-like characters that seem to...2025-05-2625 min
Celebrate CreativityA Crawling ShapeSend us a textMr. Bartley - plain fontMr. Poe - italics fontWelcome to Celebrate Poe - Episode 376 - A Crawling ShapeIn this episode, I would like to slightly change the subject to early Gothic novels such as The Castle of Otrano - literature that most scholars believed influenced Edgar Poe’s works.Ah, Mr. Bartley - I know that some scholars have said that I must have been familiar with the The Castle of Otranto from 1764, which many have said was the first Gothic novel,and...2025-05-2223 min
Celebrate CreativityTormentedSend us a textWelcome to Celebrate Poe - Episode 375 - TormentedI have the ghost of Mr. Poe here - and I would like to ask Mr. Poe a very basic question that many readers of your work have - Mr. Poe - why did you use so much gruesome imagery in your works - imagery that would be difficult for many readers in the mid19th century to handle.Ah, Mr. Bartley, my use of gruesome imagery often served as a metaphor for societal or existential concerns. For example...2025-05-2124 min
Celebrate CreativityPushing The BoundariesSend us a textWelcome to Celebrate. Poe. Episode 374 - PUSHING THE BOUNDARIES where the ghost of Edgar Allan Poe and myself continue our discussion of how the writer surpassed the boundaries of Gothic literatureWe begin this episode by continuing our discussion on how the theater might've affected your writings.Mr. Poe: Ah, Mr. Bartley, Now the dramatic storytelling inherent in theater from parents and youth may have also contributed to my affinity for Gothic literature. My works often featured dark, mysterious settings and explored themes such as death...2025-05-1827 min
Celebrate CreativityEdgar Poe Explains the RavenSend us a textWelcome to celebrate Poe - episode 381 - Edgar Poe Explains the Raven.Sorry if I gave you the wrong idea in the previous episode, but in this episode I want to delve more into Poe’s most famous work.GHOST SOUNDHello Mr. PoeGreetings Mr. BartleyVery welcome to see you today Mr. Poe. I was just saying that I wanted to deal into your most famous work in today's podcast episode.Oh Mr. Bartley that would have to be the Rav...2025-05-0426 min
Celebrate CreativityCalling Me By Your NameSend us a textWelcome to Celebrate Poe - my name is George Bartley, and this is episode 358 - Pre Dracula 2 or Calling Me By Your Name.The title of this episode - Calling Me By Your Name - is a variation on a phrase - Call Me By Your Name - taken from the text of a letter written to Walt Whitman by one of Whitman’s admirers - none other than Bram Stoker, the author of Dracula.Now remember that Edgar Poe proceeded Bram Stoker, and never specifically use...2025-04-1124 min
Celebrate CreativityLoathsome Mass of Detestable PutriditySend us a textWelcome to Celebrate Poe - and this is episode 353 - Loathsome Mass of Detestable PutridityHello, my name is George Bartley, and the Ghost of Mr. Poe is here right beside me. I hope you have listened to the previous episode for sections from 5 of Poe’s six hoax stories. But there is one more - a story that is very much a hoax, - not an exploration story or trip to the moon - but a really creepy tale - and today Mr. Poe will read from that story. By...2025-04-0126 min
Celebrate CreativityMeddling with Life and DeathSend us a textWelcome to Celebrate Poe - Episode 335- Meddling With Life and DeathThis episode is a continuation of a discussion between Mr. Bartley and the Ghost of Edgar Allan Poe regarding Mary Shelley and Frankenstein. Thank you for experiencing Celebrate Creativity.2025-02-2126 min
Celebrate CreativityAnswer to ListenerSend us a textWelcome to Celebrate Poe - my name is George Bartley and this is episode 321 - Answer to ListenerThe intro music was Come Rest in This Bosom - said to be Edgar Poe’s favorite song. I’d like to start with a whooper of an apology - last month - yes, last month - I got a kind message with my podcast episode on my iPhone - I was so elated that I did an entire episode in response to the individual’s comments - but I was mov...2025-01-2834 min
Celebrate CreativityLoss of BreathSend us a textWelcome to Celebrate Poe - Episode 292 - Loss of BreathToday, Mr. Poe and I will look at his short story “Loss of Breath.” Certainly, "Loss of Breath" is what one might call a lesser-known Poe short story,first published in 1832 in The Philadelphia Saturday Courier. I doubt that you would consider the story one of my more famous works of horror and mystery, Such as The Tell Tale Heart or The Fall of the House of Usher or The Pit and the Pendulum … 2024-11-2223 min
Celebrate CreativityPoe and the OutsiderSend us a textWelcome to Celebrate Poe - Episode 291. Poe and the OutsiderIn the previous episode the character of the ghost of Mr. Poe and I first discussed the Alien and Sedition Acts. First, I’d like to apologize I have a cold/flu, and just listened to my recorded voice - you will just have to bear with me. Of course, that gives the voice of the ghost of Mr. Poe - a Southern accent tooAnd here's the ghost of Mr. Poe -Hello, Mr. Bartley - I be...2024-11-1829 min
Celebrate CreativityLife, Liberty, and HappinessSend us a textWelcome to Celebrate Poe - My name is George Bartley, and this is episode 270 - Life, Liberty, and Happiness.The United States Declaration of Independence is an extremely important document in the history of the United States of America, and was ratified on July 4, 1776. It says that the Americans were no longer under British rule. Instead, the thirteen British colonies came together to become a union of free and independent states.You see, before 1776, the United States of America was not a country. The individual states were colonies...2024-09-1128 min
Celebrate CreativityGive Me LibertySend us a textWelcome to Celebrate Poe - My name is George Bartley - and this is episode 269 - Give Me Liberty.Presidential elections in the United States only occur once every four years, and it could be argued that 2024 is the most important Presidential election of our lives. So after a great deal of thought and research, I decided to take a break from producing episodes about Poe, and take a deep dive into some of the important political documents that defined this country - now early voting begins in Pennsylvania on S...2024-09-0723 min
Celebrate CreativityPoe's First Story - Part 2Send us a textWelcome to Celebrate Poe - My name is George Bartley, and this is episode 266 - Poe’ First Story - Part TwoAfter all the background of the previous episode, I’d like to devote this episode to the actual story of Metzengerstein. After listening to this episode, you might like to go back and listen to Part One - even if you have already heard it - in fact the episode has some valuable information that should be with the story - I like to try and keep episodes under 30 minut...2024-08-2729 min
Celebrate CreativityPoes' First Story - Part 1Send us a textWelcome to Celebrate Poe - My name is George Bartley, and this is episode 266 - Poe’ First Story - Part OneMost Poe scholars seem to believe that Poe’s first published story was Metzengerstein. Metzengerstein was published by The Philadelphia Saturday Courier on the 14 JANUARY in 1832. So today I would like to look at some background information regarding the story, and read the actual work in Part Two.Thank you for experiencing Celebrate Creativity.2024-08-2226 min
Celebrate CreativityBaltimore, Part TwoSend us a textWelcome to Celebrate Poe - My name is George Bartley, and this is episode 264 - Baltimore, Part Two - and let me emphasize that this and the previous episode are about the time that Poe spent in Baltimore after he left West Point - his final days in Baltimore shortly before his earthly demise.Thank you for experiencing Celebrate Creativity.2024-08-1429 min
Celebrate CreativityBaltimore, Part OneSend us a textWelcome to Celebrate Poe - My name is George Bartley, and this is episode 263 - Baltimore, Part 1 - and let me emphasize that this and the following episode are about the time that Poe spent in Baltimore after he left West Point - not his final days in Baltimore shortly before his earthly demise.Thank you for experiencing Celebrate Creativity.2024-08-1028 min
Celebrate CreativityThe War of 1812 RevisitedSend us a textWelcome to Celebrate Poe - episode 261 - The War of 1812 Revisited. This is a look back at the highest rated - at least audience wise - podcast episode of Celebrate Poe so far - with almost 500 downloads.Now, historian Alan Taylor, the author of The Civil War of 1812: American Citizens, British Subjects, Irish Rebels, and Indian Allies, writes that America and Britain were incompletely separated by the American Revolution. The War of 1812 completed that separation. And Mr. Bartley and Mr. Poe argue about the meaning of "Poecentric."2024-07-2926 min
Celebrate CreativityWaking at 6 AMSend us a textWelcome to Celebrate Poe - my name is George Bartley, and this is episode 257 - Waking at 6 AMThis and the following podcast episodes are an alternate or what if history exercises. The episodes look at what might have happened if Edgar Allan Poe had chosen a different path - if he had decided to become a soldier after his time at West Point, and not one of the greatest of all American writers. And we invariably go off to discuss other subjects as well (including the vigorous schedule at We...2024-07-1924 min
Celebrate CreativitySame Sex Attraction in the 19th CenturySend us a textWelcome to Celebrate Poe - My name is George Bartley, and this is Episode 247 - Same Sex Attraction in the 19th CenturyAs I write the script for this podcast episode, tomorrow is the first day of LGBTQ month - and similar to previous years, I decided to devote the entire month to individuals who are viewed as gay heroes. The month of June is an appropriate time to look at some of the voices and narratives - some hidden and some not so hidden - that challenged societal norms a...2024-06-0120 min
Celebrate CreativityByron's Influence on PoeSend us a textWelcome to Celebrate Poe - My name is George Bartley, and this is Episode 245 - Byron’s Influences on Poe. This episode is the third - and final - for now - episode about Lord Byron, and does not deal as much with Byron’s escapades in Europe, but how he influenced Edgar Poe. The episode delves into the young Edgar Poe as an imitator of Byron, and introduces the important concept of how Poe gradually developed his own voice.Thank you for experiencing Celebrate Creativity.2024-05-2118 min
Celebrate CreativityDangerous to KnowSend us a textWelcome to Celebrate Poe, Episode 243 ˜- Dangerous to Know. This My name is George Bartley, and this is the first of three episodes about Lord George Byron. A few episodes ago, I talked about the love of Lord Byron and his dog - and hoped I got across the point that Lord Byron was a fascinating person. Then it struck me - it might be a good idea to talk a bit more about Lord Byron because he had such a strong influence on the young Poe. John Allan certainly did n...2024-05-1922 min
Celebrate CreativityDreamland, ContinuedSend us a textWelcome to Celebrate Poe - My name is George Bartley, and this is episode 242 - Dreamland, Continued . Hopefully this should be the last episode regarding Edgar Allan Poe’s Dream Poems - at least for now. And, hopefully, by the end of this episode, you will have an firm understanding of what Ultima Thule means.Thank you for experiencing Celebrate Creativity.2024-05-1523 min