Exploring literature with ‘An Infinitive Deal of Nothing’ podcast
Podcasts have a unique way of bringing conversations to life, allowing audiences to engage with topics they love in an informal yet insightful manner. At York St John University, two passionate literature students, Eryca and Oliver, have embraced this medium with their podcast, An Infinitive Deal of Nothing. Their show blends literature, creative writing, and casual conversations, offering listeners a chance to delve into books, opinions, and the art of storytelling.
The inspiration behind the podcast
For Eryca and Oliver, the podcast began as a spontaneous idea over lunch. As Eryca recalls, “We normally grab lunch together and get stuck talking about some random topic, and one day we just sort of looked at each other and decided ‘why not?’” This natural approach to discussion is what gives their podcast its relaxed and engaging charm.
The name of the podcast itself reflects their literary background and love for Shakespeare. Eryca explains, “I ended up thinking about quotes and found ‘Gratiano speaks an infinite deal of nothing, more than any man in all Venice’ from Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice, and, well, it summed us up I suppose.” Oliver adds, “We both love Shakespeare, seemed pretty fitting.”
Themes and discussions
At its core, An Infinitive Deal of Nothing is a literature-based podcast, but as Eryca puts it, “We could be pedantic and say ‘nothing’ and ‘everything’. For the most part though, it’s opinions, debates on books, or explorations of writing experiences.” Oliver agrees, noting that their discussions cover a vast range of ideas: “‘Nothing’ and ‘everything’ sums up the contents of any conversation one may have with someone they value.“
Among their favourite episodes is one on subjectivity in literature. “Writing and literature can be so difficult to discuss without offending sometimes, especially if the discussion is opinion-based,” Eryca explains. “We did that episode hoping to show how it can be fruitful if done respectfully.” Oliver echoes this sentiment but also expresses his love for poetry discussions: “Of late though, we’ve spent some time discussing poetry, what it means and the forms in which/through which it exists, so of course I’m biased to anything that even remotely involves poetry.”
The process behind the podcast
Despite its thoughtful discussions, the podcast’s production process remains refreshingly simple. “We don’t do much planning,” Eryca admits. “We typically stand in front of Oliver’s bookshelf and think about some books that support that subject. Then we just waffle and see where the discussion takes us.” Oliver agrees, humorously adding, “I should really sort my shelves out though, off-camera there are precarious stacks of novels and such that are bound to collapse in a dramatic fashion at some point soon.”
Editing and social media management primarily fall under Eryca’s responsibilities, while Oliver takes on the role of “rambling”. Balancing podcasting with university life has been a challenge, especially in recent weeks. “The process itself is really fun and quite rewarding, but the editing can be quite long and painful,” Eryca shares. “Balancing it with university work, jobs, and our general lives has become a little more difficult lately.” Despite this, they remain dedicated to keeping the podcast alive.
Future plans and how to support
While An Infinitive Deal of Nothing is still growing, Eryca and Oliver look forward to increased engagement with their audience. “We haven’t had much engagement, simply because we are still very much growing. I can’t wait for that one day though,” Eryca says. Oliver, however, is more cautious about social media, noting that while necessary, he finds it draining: “Really, I only have an Instagram account for practicality, eg. promoting events. You can’t get anywhere nowadays otherwise.”
For those interested in supporting the podcast, listening and interacting is the best way to do so. “Come listen! Watch us on YouTube! Whatever it is, we want it to be a place where people feel like they can join in and speak their own opinions on the topics we discuss,” Eryca encourages. Looking ahead, they hope to bring in more guests and expand into book-related video content.
Advice for aspiring podcasters
For YSJ students considering launching their own podcast, Eryca offers simple but valuable advice: “Honestly, don’t be afraid to give it a try, and do it with someone you could talk to for a long time.” Oliver adds, “Just have a laugh, talk about something you love, and it’ll turn out half-decent I reckon.”
You can listen to An Infinitive Deal of Nothing on YouTube and Spotify, and follow them on Instagram and TikTok for updates. If you love literature, lively debates, and casual but insightful conversations, this is definitely a podcast worth checking out!
To explore more of our YSJ’s student-led podcasts, read our blog on our YSJ student podcast hub.