Art of Darkness
A podcast exploring the lives, works, and dark impulses of influential dead artists, writers, and thinkers.
A literary and historical podcast that dissects the biographies and psychological underpinnings of major cultural figures, from Jung to Poe. It alternates between long-form, two-host narrative episodes and conversational interviews that connect its historical subjects to contemporary culture, esoterica, and even conspiracy theories. The hosts frame their analysis around the "dark side" of creativity, exploring the often-messy lives behind celebrated works.
“The show uniquely blends rigorous biographical research on historical figures with a 'very-online' sensibility, connecting giants like C.S. Lewis and Edgar Allan Poe to modern phenomena like the Jeffrey Epstein case and 'grimdark' fiction.”
Who hosts this show
Hosted by writers Kevin Kautzman and Matt Taylor, Art of Darkness is a podcast about the complicated lives and legacies of major cultural figures. The show alternates between multi-hour, deeply researched "Core Episodes" on subjects like C.S. Lewis, Carl Jung, and J.R.R. Tolkien, and conversational "Dark Room" interviews with contemporary authors, experts, and podcasters who expand on those topics. The show is listener-supported through Patreon and Substack, offering bonus "After Dark" episodes and a book club.
Credentials & credits
- Kevin Kautzman: Award-winning playwright and screenwriter.
- Kevin Kautzman: MFA in Creative Writing, University of Texas at Austin (Michener Fellow).
- Kevin Kautzman: BA in History & Philosophy, University of Minnesota.
- Matt Taylor: Author of the children's book "Professor Bear's Adventure".
- Matt Taylor: BA in History and Political Science, Kansas State University.
Other ventures
- Kevin Kautzman: Co-host of 'Mouthing Off' podcast.
- Kevin Kautzman: Co-founder of Bad Mouth Theatre Company.
- Kevin Kautzman: Published playwright (Broadway Play Publishing, Oberon, etc.).
- Matt Taylor: Co-host of 'There Will Be Books' podcast.
What kind of podcast
- Country
- United States
- Region
- usa
When new episodes drop
- 01The Dark Room: Mark Vernon Talk Lewis, Barfield, The Inklings and MoreJun 16, 2026 · 1h 01m
- 02Kelby Losack Talks C.S. LewisJun 9, 2026 · 1h 00m
- 03American Macabre with Dexter de la PazMay 15, 2026 · 1h 00m
- 04Forever Jung with Aldous AsterionApr 28, 2026 · 1h 01m
- 05J.R.R. Tolkien Puts a Ring on It.Mar 28, 2026 · 3h 41m
- 06Carl Jung and the ShadowMar 27, 2026 · 3h 05m
- 07The Dark Room: Samuel Buntz Talks Supernatural KiplingJan 22, 2026 · 58 min
- 08Sigmund Freud & the Cigars You Need to Worry AboutJan 22, 2026 · 4h 18m
Notable episodes
- 01J.R.R. Tolkien Puts a Ring on It.
A 3.5+ hour 'Core Episode' that showcases the show's signature deep-dive format on a major cultural figure.
- 02American Macabre with Dexter de la Paz
Demonstrates how the show connects historical figures (Poe) to contemporary conspiracies and news (the Epstein case).
- 03The Dark Room: Mark Vernon Talk Lewis, Barfield, The Inklings and More
A typical 'Dark Room' interview with a subject matter expert, expanding on a previous core topic (C.S. Lewis).
- 04Sigmund Freud & the Cigars You Need to Worry About
A nearly 4.5-hour deep dive into the founder of psychoanalysis, exemplifying the show's commitment to exhaustive biographical research.
What you'll be asked on this show
Interviews, called "Dark Room" episodes, are relaxed, three-way conversations rather than formal Q&As. The hosts typically open with casual, personal questions to build rapport before guiding the guest to introduce their work and expertise. The conversation is then steered to connect the guest's specialty to a figure or theme from one of the podcast's recent deep-dive 'Core Episodes.' Questions are broad and open-ended, designed to let the expert guest deliver detailed explanations and explore tangents.
The show has two main formats: heavily-researched, multi-hour narrative "Core Episodes" on a single figure, and "Dark Room" guest interviews. Hosts Kevin Kautzman and Matt Taylor have a relaxed, conversational style, often using a recent core episode as a jumping-off point for guest discussions. Their Patreon and Substack offer several bonus formats, including "After Dark" episodes, a "Bookends" book club, and movie watch parties.
Questions the host keeps coming back to
10 cataloguedIf you're going on this show as a guest, expect some version of each of these. Each note explains when the host reaches for it.
origin
1- Q.01
“For those who don't know you, could you introduce yourself and your work?”
This is often the first 'formal' question after initial pleasantries, used to establish the guest's authority and context for the audience.
craft
1- Q.01
“Where can people find you online or see your latest work?”
Asked early in the conversation to ensure the guest's projects are highlighted for listeners.
backstory
1- Q.01
“What's your personal relationship with [figure from a recent core episode]?”
Creates a personal bridge between the guest and the show's ongoing subject matter, such as C.S. Lewis.
advice
1- Q.01
“Where would you recommend someone start with [author/thinker]'s work?”
A practical question that provides a direct takeaway and entry point for the audience.
controversy
2- Q.01
“How do you see [current event] connecting to a larger theme like the 'American Macabre'?”
Connects contemporary news, like the Epstein case, to the show's historical and philosophical themes.
- Q.02
“Is this phenomenon more of a metaphysical battle or a straightforward intelligence operation?”
Pushes guests to speculate on the deeper, often conspiratorial, nature of controversial topics.
process
1- Q.01
“Can you give us a brief overview of [complex concept]?”
Used to ground the audience in a core idea, like the 'evolution of consciousness,' before a deeper dive with an expert.
mindset
1- Q.01
“In a nutshell, what makes the [historical era] mindset different from our own?”
A way to distill a complex historical or psychological idea for the listeners.
personal
2- Q.01
“Where in the world are you right now?”
A common, casual opening question to establish a personal connection and build rapport.
- Q.02
“When you use the term [guest's specific phrase], what does that mean to you?”
Probes a guest's unique branding or terminology to uncover personal backstory and meaning.
Signature segments
- · "Core Episodes" (long-form narrative deep dives)
- · "The Dark Room" (guest interviews)
- · "After Dark" (Patreon/Substack bonus episodes)
- · "Don't worry, they're all safely dead." (tagline)
- · "Bookends" (patron-exclusive book club)
Topics covered repeatedly
Who gets booked here
The show books fellow writers, podcasters, and niche experts (e.g., psychotherapists, conspiracy researchers) who can offer a specific lens on the show's current subject of focus, be it C.S. Lewis or the 'American Macabre.'
- Mark Vernonon The Dark Room: Mark Vernon Talk Lewis, Barfield, The Inklings and More
- Kelby Losackon Kelby Losack Talks C.S. Lewis
- Dexter De La Pazon American Macabre with Dexter de la Paz
- Aldous Asterionon Forever Jung with Aldous Asterion
- Samuel Buntzon The Dark Room: Samuel Buntz Talks Supernatural Kipling
Where to find this show
Audience & reach
The show is primarily listener-supported via Patreon and Substack, offering ad-free shows and bonus content. It also features occasional host-read ads for products like Larry's Coffee, which are delivered with personal anecdotes.
Subscriber and view counts are pulled live from YouTube and re-verified on a 30-day cycle. Listener estimates for the RSS feed aren't published here unless they're host-verified.
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People also ask
- What are the hosts' real names?
- The hosts are Kevin Kautzman and Matt Taylor.
- Is the podcast still running?
- Yes, the podcast is active and appears to release episodes on a weekly basis.
- What are the different episode formats?
- The main free formats are long-form narrative "Core Episodes" on a single person and "Dark Room" guest interviews. Patrons can access bonus "After Dark" episodes, a book club, and more.
- How can I support the show?
- You can support the show via Patreon or Substack, which provides access to ad-free core episodes and exclusive bonus content.
- Where can I listen to the podcast?
- Art of Darkness is available on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and its official website, artofdarkpod.com.
- How can I pitch a guest or sponsor an episode?
- The show's website lists an email for contact and provides options for sponsoring or requesting a future Core Episode topic for a fee.
Built from the show's public RSS feed, YouTube, the host's own websites, and the cited sources below. Computed and AI-extracted fields are labelled. Facts only — no private info, no fabrication, no transcripts republished.
Sources & how this page was built
This page is AI-assisted, grounded in the public sources cited below, and host-verifiable. We publish facts only; we do not republish transcripts. If anything here is wrong, the host can claim and correct the page above.Model: gemini-2.5-pro · high confidence
- [01]Official Websiteartofdarkpod.com
- [02]The Hosts - Art of Darknessartofdarkpod.com
- [03]Art of Darkness - Substackartofdarkpod.substack.com
- [04]Kevin Kautzman - Broadway Play Publishing Incbroadwayplaypub.com
- [05]Kevin Kautzman | New Play Exchangenewplayexchange.org
- [06]Art of Darkness - Apple Podcastspodcasts.apple.com
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