Black Southern Gothic

Hosted by Elizabeth Rodriguez Fielder, Black Southern Gothic delves into the rich and haunting literary tradition of African American writers from the US South. This podcast emerges from a university course, but the conversations move far beyond the classroom, offering a deep and thoughtful examination of how these authors use the textures of Southern life-its history, its landscapes, its lingering shadows-to craft powerful narratives. Each episode focuses on a specific voice, guiding you through readings and discussions that reveal the complex layers within their work. You’ll encounter the foundational folklore of Zora Neale Hurston, the raw and lyrical contemporary struggles in Jesmyn Ward’s fiction, and the intricate family tapestries woven by Tayari Jones. The podcast also explores the poetic reckonings of Natasha Trethewey, the supernatural-tinged realities in Randall Kenan’s stories, and the tense, atmospheric thrillers of Attica Locke. Listening feels like joining a dedicated reading group, one that patiently unpacks the themes of memory, injustice, resilience, and the uncanny that define this genre. The aim is to appreciate these works not just as great literature, but as vital conversations with the past and present. It’s for anyone who believes stories hold a particular kind of truth, especially those rooted in a place where beauty and tension are inextricably linked. Through this podcast, the Southern Gothic is reframed and reclaimed, heard through the essential perspectives that have always shaped it.