I posted a few weeks ago about the podcast Wilder on the Prairie, a fascinating podcast which explains a lot of the terms, items, or references in the Little House books by Laura Ingalls Wilder.
The podcast I am referring to today is simply called Wilder, and it was produced in 2023 as a deep dive into Laura Ingalls Wilder’s life and legacy. It consists of 10 regular episodes, 3 bonus episodes, and a 50th anniversary special published in 2024.
I found this podcast to be incredibly well done and also very balanced. They cover so much ground, discussing Wilder’s life as well as her books and even the TV show. They discuss how the books came about and how they compare to her real life experiences, while also explaining the questions about the series authorship and the difficult relationship between Laura and her daughter Rose.
Throughout the episodes, they are constantly balancing the love people have for the series with the problematic aspects of the books. One of the largest issues is how Native Americans were portrayed, and they do a deep dive into that history. They also spend time on the TV show, and one of the bonus episodes is an interview with Melissa Gilbert, who played Laura in the show.
Highly recommended!
In So Many Words 