Steven welcomes prominent romance novelist and fellow Shakespeare mystery sleuth Leigh Michaels to this episode to discuss her incredible volume of work, her process as a prolific writer, and how that led her to question the Stratfordian narrative, ultimately writing a book on the subject called Much Ado About Shakespeare.

Support the show by picking up official Don't Quill the Messenger merchandise at www.dontquillthepodcast.com and becoming a Patron at http://www.patreon.com/dontquillthemessenger

Made possible by Patrons: Brent Evans & Patty Henson, Bryan Wildenthal, Clare Jaget, Daniel Cowan, David Neufer, David R Klausmeyer, Dean Bradley, Edward Henke, Ellen Swanson, Frank Lawler, James Gutierrez, James Warren, Jaymie, Jeanine Clark, Jen Swan, John Creider, John Eddings, John Guarnaccia, Jon Foss, Kara Elizabeth Martin, Luís S, Sandi Boney, Sandi Paulus, Sara Gerard, Sheila Kethley, Stephen Hopkins, Tim Norman, Tim Price, Troy Stelzer, Vanessa Lops, Yvonne

Don't Quill the Messenger is a part of the Dragon Wagon Radio independent podcast network. For more great podcasts visit www.dragonwagonradio.com

Steven reviews the legal aspects of "Measure For Measure," calling upon a thesis published in 2004 by Virginia R. Stephens as a profound examination into the play's depiction of the qualities of justice in Elizabethan society and beyond.

Support the show by picking up official Don't Quill the Messenger merchandise at www.dontquillthepodcast.com and becoming a Patron at http://www.patreon.com/dontquillthemessenger

Made possible by Patrons: Brent Evans & Patty Henson, Bryan Wildenthal, Clare Jaget, Daniel Cowan, David Neufer, David R Klausmeyer, Dean Bradley, Edward Henke, Ellen Swanson, Frank Lawler, James Gutierrez, James Warren, Jaymie, Jeanine Clark, Jen Swan, John Creider, John Eddings, John Guarnaccia, Jon Foss, Kara Elizabeth Martin, Luís S, Sandi Boney, Sandi Paulus, Sara Gerard, Sheila Kethley, Stephen Hopkins, Tim Norman, Tim Price, Troy Stelzer, Vanessa Lops, Yvonne

Don't Quill the Messenger is a part of the Dragon Wagon Radio independent podcast network. For more great podcasts visit www.dragonwagonradio.com

Steven welcomes Dr. Chris Summers to this episode to discuss Summers' works dedicated to the theory that the works of Shakespeare were actually written by Anne Hathaway, wife to William Shaksper of Stratford. Summers' published books specifically examine the Sonnets as written by Anne to William.

Support the show by picking up official Don't Quill the Messenger merchandise at www.dontquillthepodcast.com and becoming a Patron at http://www.patreon.com/dontquillthemessenger

Made possible by Patrons: Brent Evans & Patty Henson, Bryan Wildenthal, Clare Jaget, Daniel Cowan, David Neufer, David R Klausmeyer, Dean Bradley, Edward Henke, Ellen Swanson, Frank Lawler, James Gutierrez, James Warren, Jaymie, Jeanine Clark, Jen Swan, John Creider, John Eddings, John Guarnaccia, Jon Foss, Kara Elizabeth Martin, Luís S, Sandi Boney, Sandi Paulus, Sara Gerard, Sheila Kethley, Stephen Hopkins, Tim Norman, Tim Price, Troy Stelzer, Vanessa Lops, Yvonne

Don't Quill the Messenger is a part of the Dragon Wagon Radio independent podcast network. For more great podcasts visit www.dragonwagonradio.com

Steven explores Tolkien's professed hatred for the works of Shakespeare while pointing to how much Tolkien's works were actually influenced by the Bard he appeared to be so jealous of, and whether Tolkien's vitriol may have been rooted in his skepticism over Shakespeare authorship.

Support the show by picking up official Don't Quill the Messenger merchandise at www.dontquillthepodcast.com and becoming a Patron at http://www.patreon.com/dontquillthemessenger

Made possible by Patrons: Brent Evans & Patty Henson, Bryan Wildenthal, Clare Jaget, Daniel Cowan, David Neufer, David R Klausmeyer, Dean Bradley, Edward Henke, Ellen Swanson, Frank Lawler, James Gutierrez, James Warren, Jaymie, Jeanine Clark, Jen Swan, John Creider, John Eddings, John Guarnaccia, Jon Foss, Kara Elizabeth Martin, Luís S, Sandi Boney, Sandi Paulus, Sara Gerard, Sheila Kethley, Stephen Hopkins, Tim Norman, Tim Price, Troy Stelzer, Vanessa Lops, Yvonne

Don't Quill the Messenger is a part of the Dragon Wagon Radio independent podcast network. For more great podcasts visit www.dragonwagonradio.com

Steven and his wife, Annie, discuss the recent Shakespeare Marathon event held at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis. They also explore the unique aspects of Shakespearean theatrical companies rooted in the traditions of Elizabethan theatre, and what it is like to consistently "run" the Shakespeare marathon of their lives as regular producers and performers of Shakespearean works.

Support the show by picking up official Don't Quill the Messenger merchandise at www.dontquillthepodcast.com and becoming a Patron at http://www.patreon.com/dontquillthemessenger

Made possible by Patrons: Brent Evans & Patty Henson, Bryan Wildenthal, Clare Jaget, Daniel Cowan, David Neufer, David R Klausmeyer, Dean Bradley, Edward Henke, Ellen Swanson, Frank Lawler, James Gutierrez, James Warren, Jaymie, Jeanine Clark, Jen Swan, John Creider, John Eddings, John Guarnaccia, Jon Foss, Kara Elizabeth Martin, Luís S, Sandi Boney, Sandi Paulus, Sara Gerard, Sheila Kethley, Stephen Hopkins, Tim Norman, Tim Price, Troy Stelzer, Vanessa Lops, Yvonne

Don't Quill the Messenger is a part of the Dragon Wagon Radio independent podcast network. For more great podcasts visit www.dragonwagonradio.com

Steven welcomes Dr. Earl Showerman back to the series to discuss the ancient Greek sources and topical allusions of Elizabethan politics found within English literature's greatest work of drama.

Support the show by picking up official Don't Quill the Messenger merchandise at www.dontquillthepodcast.com and becoming a Patron at http://www.patreon.com/dontquillthemessenger

Made possible by Patrons: Brent Evans & Patty Henson, Bryan Wildenthal, Clare Jaget, Daniel Cowan, David Neufer, David R Klausmeyer, Dean Bradley, Edward Henke, Ellen Swanson, Frank Lawler, James Gutierrez, James Warren, Jaymie, Jeanine Clark, Jen Swan, John Creider, John Eddings, John Guarnaccia, Jon Foss, Kara Elizabeth Martin, Luís S, Sandi Boney, Sandi Paulus, Sara Gerard, Sheila Kethley, Stephen Hopkins, Tim Norman, Tim Price, Troy Stelzer, Vanessa Lops, Yvonne

Don't Quill the Messenger is a part of the Dragon Wagon Radio independent podcast network. For more great podcasts visit www.dragonwagonradio.com

Steven takes a deep dive into the work and research of Alfred Dodd (1933) and others who have studied and written about Shakespeare's connection to the rites and rituals of Freemasonry. Dodd's book, "Shakespeare: Creator of Free Masonry," laid the foundation for Masons to fully claim Shakespeare as one of their own.

Support the show by picking up official Don't Quill the Messenger merchandise at www.dontquillthepodcast.com and becoming a Patron at http://www.patreon.com/dontquillthemessenger

Made possible by Patrons: Brent Evans & Patty Henson, Bryan Wildenthal, Clare Jaget, Daniel Cowan, David Neufer, David R Klausmeyer, Dean Bradley, Edward Henke, Ellen Swanson, Frank Lawler, James Gutierrez, James Warren, Jaymie, Jeanine Clark, Jen Swan, John Creider, John Eddings, John Guarnaccia, Jon Foss, Kara Elizabeth Martin, Luís S, Sandi Boney, Sandi Paulus, Sara Gerard, Sheila Kethley, Stephen Hopkins, Tim Norman, Tim Price, Troy Stelzer, Vanessa Lops, Yvonne

Don't Quill the Messenger is a part of the Dragon Wagon Radio independent podcast network. For more great podcasts visit www.dragonwagonradio.com

Journalist and author, Elizabeth Winkler, returns to the series to look back at the global reactions to her book, "Shakespeare Was A Woman and Other Heresies: How Doubting the Bard Became the Biggest Taboo in Literature." She and Steven discuss critiques and praise for the book, additions to the coming paperback edition, and hints about what Elizabeth is working on next.

Support the show by picking up official Don't Quill the Messenger merchandise at www.dontquillthepodcast.com and becoming a Patron at http://www.patreon.com/dontquillthemessenger

Made possible by Patrons: Brent Evans & Patty Henson, Bryan Wildenthal, Clare Jaget, Daniel Cowan, David Neufer, David R Klausmeyer, Dean Bradley, Edward Henke, Ellen Swanson, Frank Lawler, James Gutierrez, James Warren, Jaymie, Jeanine Clark, Jen Swan, John Creider, John Eddings, John Guarnaccia, Jon Foss, Kara Elizabeth Martin, Luís S, Sandi Boney, Sandi Paulus, Sara Gerard, Sheila Kethley, Stephen Hopkins, Tim Norman, Tim Price, Troy Stelzer, Vanessa Lops, Yvonne

Don't Quill the Messenger is a part of the Dragon Wagon Radio independent podcast network. For more great podcasts visit www.dragonwagonradio.com