It is a truth universally acknowledged that a milestone such as Jane Austen’s 250th birthday must be celebrated in style. For David and Lisa Campbell, that celebration comes in the form of a new podcast: Into The Austenverse.
The Campbells describe their project as the perfect Venn diagram: one circle labelled pop culture, the other classical literature, and in the overlap sits their podcast.
Produced by Luckiest Productions and hosted on Nova Podcasts, Into The Austenverse launches on Monday, September 22, with new episodes weekly.
The series aims to stand apart by exploring not only Austen’s novels but the broader “Austenverse” – the adaptations, reimaginings and cultural references that continue to appear with the persistence of a Mr Collins proposal.
David and Lisa Campbell
Bringing two perspectives to the table
David Campbell, known for Today Extra and Smooth FM, admits that Austen was more an acquaintance than a lifelong friend until recently.
“For Lisa, Austen is a lifelong passion. For me, she’s been a cultural icon whose influence I’ve seen pop up everywhere, though I’d not read her work until recently.
“With Into The Austenverse, we get to bring those perspectives together, dive into the books and the adaptations and have some fun along the way. It’s the perfect mix of pop culture and classic literature, and we can’t wait to share it with listeners,” he said.
Lisa Campbell, a casting director and theatre producer, adds that Austen’s resonance is not confined to Regency drawing rooms.
“Two hundred and fifty years on, Austen still feels completely relevant. Her characters are sharp, funny, and flawed, and her themes of love, family, ambition, and social pressure are as universal today as they were in her time.
“That’s why the Austenverse keeps expanding. People never stop finding new ways into her world, and that’s what makes exploring it so exciting to us,” she said.
For Austen fans, the podcast promises to be no less delightful than a Netherfield ball.