
Show overview
Method and Madness launched in 2025 and has put out 72 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 21 episodes already out so far this year. The busiest year was 2025, with 51 episodes published. 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 72 episodes[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

Melee - Matt Cardin on WRITING AT THE WELLSPRING
Matt Cardin is the author or editor of 12 books and ranks among the very finest of contemporary writers of Weird fiction and cosmic horror, as well as one of the most consistently interesting contributors to substack. His most recent book, WRITING AT THE WELLSPRING, is a spiritual guide for creative work and a manual for cultivating your relationship with your own daemon muse.

Melee - Frank Kidd on MEDICINE WOMAN
Author and podcaster Frank Kidd joined me to discuss his page-turning Western/frontier novel MEDICINE WOMAN (winner of Ian Barr’s Indie of the Year 2025), what makes a genre, why the Western still matters, and what makes America Weird.Buy MEDICINE WOMAN.Follow Frank on twitter.

[PREVIEW] Ep. 13.2 - The MADNESS of Cormac McCarthy’s THE CROSSING
A preview of the MADNESS presentation on Cormac McCarthy’s THE CROSSING. Here talking about the very, very strange relationship between man, wolf, and the other world. For access to the full thing, subscribe via substack or patreon. latest book: CROWBAR

Melee - Audrey Lee on UTTER GOODNESS
UTTER GOODNESS is UTTERly GOOD. The writer Audrey Lee joined me to talk about her exciting new collection of short stories, out now via Farthest Heaven, comprehending America, STONER, and the state of confessional writing.Buy UTTER GOODNESS

Ep. 13.1 - Cormac McCarthy’s THE CROSSING w/Andrew Edwards
The incredible writer Andrew Edwards joined me to talk about Cormac McCarthy’s oft-overlooked masterpiece THE CROSSING. We get technical on McCarthy’s high style, Crossings of all sorts, the spiritual bond of brothers, and what it means to say that the world is but a tale.Buy Andrew’s latest book: CROWBAR

[PREVIEW] THE EARTHEN DARK by Brad Kelly
The first 3 chapters of my new book THE EARTHEN DARK for your listening pleasure. Get a copy of the book: bradkellyesque.com.SPECIAL DEAL: In 2026, if you sign up for a yearly paid subscription to Method and Madness (via substack or patreon), and provide a US postal address, you’ll get a special signed copy of THE EARTHEN DARK, along with two hand-edited manuscript pages of early drafts, and a one-card tarot reading (with card). You’ll also get all the other benefits: early access to all episodes and exclusive access to one-of-a-kind MADNESS presentations.