Show overview
Method and Madness launched in 2025 and has put out 78 episodes in the time since. Releases follow a weekly cadence.
None of the episodes are flagged explicit by the publisher. It is catalogued as a EN-US-language Arts show.
The show is actively publishing — the most recent episode landed 1 weeks ago, with 27 episodes already out so far this year. Published by Brad.
From the publisher
A podcast hosted by writer Brad Kelly (formerly of Art of Darkness). Main book episodes feature 2 parts: a fun, in-depth conversation with one of my most insightful friends, and a sprawling exploration of the book's many rabbit-holes (usually behind the paywall). Melee episodes are general conversations with authors and others about books, writing, and culture.
Latest Episodes
View all 78 episodesEp. 18.1 - TREE OF SMOKE by Denis Johnson w/Kevin Kautzman
MELEE - Kenan Meral on STIGMA OF THE LIVING FLESH
Ep. 17.2 - The MADNESS of William H. Gass' THE TUNNEL [free version]
Melee - Laeth on SKETCHES OF ALICE
“The Man Who Would Not Die” by Harold Ward [audio recording]
You can’t outsmart the Devil | 5/2026 Tarot Reading
[PREVIEW] Ep. 16.2 - The MADNESS of BUTCHER’S CROSSING by John Williams
“The Nameless Offspring” by Clark Ashton Smith [audio recording]
Melee - Getting Lit
Melee - Paul Heron on The End of History
Ep. 16.1 - BUTCHER’S CROSSING by John Williams w/Lake Markham
Melee - David Simmons on ERADICATOR
David Simmons is a genre unto himself. We talk about his unsettling novel ERADICATOR--a white-knuckle book that is part AMERICAN PSYCHO, part THE FLY, and all Simmons. We also get into his upcoming short story collection FETTY ON THE SWITCHES, his creative process, why Baltimore is such rich terrain for fiction, and much, much more.This will be on the free feed next week.David’s linktreePre-order FETTY ON THE SWITCHES
Melee - Tom Will on RHYMES
The dynamic poet Tom Will has yet another modern classic. His new collection, RHYMES out now on Farthest Heaven , a unique exploration of poetic form is the new poetry you need. We talk about the history of the roundel and other poetic forms, the potency of poetry in the age of the algorithm, and much more.Pre-order RHYMES from Farthest HeavenTom on twitter
Melee - Grant Wamack on THE SCARECROWS WILL WATCH OVER US
Grant Wamack is the author and tarot reader. His most recent book is THE SCARECROWS WILL WATCH OVER US, a folk horror thriller about cat people lust-demons stalking a farm in Wisconsin...and the occult practices that have warded them off for years. We also talked about tarot, bigfoot and other cryptids, and Grant’s time working for a psychic hotline.Grant’s twitterBuy SCARECROWS and Grant’s other booksGet a tarot reading from Grant
Ep. 15.2 - The MADNESS of Ishmael Reed’s MUMBO JUMBO
Explorations of the labyrinths hidden below the cult classic hoodoo novel MUMBO JUMBO by Ishmael Reed. Talking the real Book of Thoth and the secrets smuggled into the modern day through the Corpus Hermeticum, the identity of Moses, the real deal about Voodoo, and much, much more.
“The Open Boat” by Stephen Crane [audio recording]
"The Open Boat" is a short story by American author Stephen Crane (1871–1900). First published in 1898, it was based on Crane's experience of surviving a shipwreck off the coast of Florida earlier that year while traveling to Cuba to work as a newspaper correspondent. Crane was stranded at sea for thirty hours when his ship, the SS Commodore, sank after hitting a sandbar. He and three other men were forced to navigate their way to shore in a small boat;
Ep. 14.2 - The MADNESS of Dino Buzzati’s THE STRONGHOLD
[PREVIEW} Down into the labyrinth of THE STRONGHOLD: the curious history of NYRB Classics, theories of literary time, the significance of the barbarian, the dream of Great Tartaria, and much more. Subscribe for full access to this episode, the growing Madness archive, and early access to all guest episodes..
Melee - Ken Layne on DESERT ORACLE RADIO
The legendary Ken Layne joins me to talk about how he found the desert, what’s going on with UFOs, our Eldritch Republic, the role of the folklorist, and much, much more.Follow Ken.
Ep. 14.1 - Dino Buzzati’s THE STRONGHOLD w/Jack BC
The ever-insightful Jack BC joined me to discuss a paradoxical little masterpiece: THE STRONGHOLD by Dino Buzzati. To some, better known as THE TARTARIAN STEPPE. It’s a homage to Kafka, a beautiful bit of existentialism, and a torturous confrontation with the nature of time in the lives we live.Check out Jack on his great podcast BOOKCLUB FROM HELL.
Melee - Iain Ryan on THE CASINO
Iain Ryan is the author of 8 books. His latest, THE CASINO, is a pulse-pounding crime story about police corruption in Queensland in the 1980s. He joined me to talk about the writing of this book, his overall Gold Coast Quartet--of which this book is just one part, the uneasy appeal of the 1980s, and much, much more.Buy THE CASINOFollow Iain