Let Genius Burn

The author of Little Women as you’ve never seen her before.

Let Genius Burn is a history podcast I wrote, developed, and host with my writing partner Jamie Burgess that debuted in summer 2021. Through 27 episodes, we explore American author Louisa May Alcott’s story from many angles, including her familial, professional, and gendered identities. In August 2024, we hit 10,000 downloads!

We focus on the person behind the best-selling novel, through careful research and insightful discussions with Alcott scholars, writers, and others contributing to the field of Alcott studies, including Orchard House director Jan Turnquist, Alcott biographer John Matteson, artist Leslie Schomp, writer Peyton Thomas, and more. These conversations shed new light on Alcott’s inspiration and enduring influence into the 21st century.