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The MaudCast is the podcast of the L.M. Montgomery Institute. In the MaudCast’s quest to discover cutting edge scholarship about the life and works of Lucy Maud Montgomery, we welcome to the microphone leading academics, emerging scholars, local researchers, and imaginative readers and writers from around the world. Hosted by Dr. Brenton Dickieson, we broadcast from the beautiful campus of the University of Prince Edward Island.
Episodes
Friday Jun 05, 2026
Friday Jun 05, 2026
Allison Hudson and Caroline Jones are two of the organizers of the next biennial L.M. Montgomery Institute conference (that’s every two years, not “biannual” as twice a year, like host Brenton Dickieson says in the episode). LMMI26 is here in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, June 24-28, 2026. The Montgomery conference is a highlight for so many artists, scholars, librarians, Montgomery community members, and avid readers of her work. In this episode, three friends and scholars catch up on the news, share some fond memories of past conferences, and give some hints about what’s to come.
Dr. Allison McBain Hudson is the current Visiting Scholar at the L.M. Montgomery Institute—or the LMMI, as we call it. Her Ph.D. from Dublin City University is on the significance of material culture in Montgomery’s novels, and in the episode, we talk about what “material culture studies” really means (you can hear Brenton's stumbling definition and Allison’s elegant correction). Originally from Alberta, Allison has lived in Ireland for nearly three decades, where she quilts, sews, walks dogs, and has two daughters with her husband, an Irish artist. Allison is one of the keynote speakers at the conference.
Dr. Caroline E. Jones is a past LMMI Visiting Scholar and has published a host of essay anthologies and scholarly papers. Every time I hear Caroline give a talk, I am amazed by her creative mind. In this episode, we’ll find out more about her research, which, like Allison’s, looks more closely at Montgomery’s Emily of New Moon trilogy. Formerly a bookseller and full-time academic, Caroline currently works as an editor in Austin, Texas, USA.
This episode brings together three countries—Dublin, Ireland, Prince Edward Island, Canada, and Texas, USA—Montgomery friends in conversation, even when there is an ocean and a continent in between. We hope you enjoy the episode—including the news that the most powerful Anne of my childhood, Megan Follows, will give a keynote talk. To find out more about the June conference and our guests, check out the details below.
Tagline: Bringing listeners warm, thoughtful conversations inspired by the life and works of Lucy Maud Montgomery.
Description: In this episode, we discuss fond memories of past L.M. Montgomery Institute conferences, and happy hopes for the next one in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, June 24-28, 2026.
Conference Link: https://lmmontgomery.ca/upcoming-conference/2026-l-m-montgomery-and-change/
What is the MaudCast?
The MaudCast is the podcast of the L.M. Montgomery Institute. In the our quest to discover cutting-edge scholarship about the life and works of Lucy Maud Montgomery, we welcome to the microphone leading academics, emerging scholars, local researchers, and imaginative readers and writers from around the world. Hosted by Dr. Brenton Dickieson, we broadcast from the beautiful campus of the University of Prince Edward Island.
The MaudCast Team
Host and Founding Producer: Brenton Dickieson
Founding Co-Producer: Kate Scarth
Technical Director: Kristy McKinney
MaudCast Intern: Fleur Rodrigues (with writing and design credits)
Music: Nicolas Riel, with an editing credit on this episode
Logo Design: Heidi Haering
Find the MaudCast Team Online
Find the MaudCast on Instagram: www.instagram.com/lmmimaudcast
L.M. Montgomery Institute’s website: https://www.lmmontgomery.ca/
The Journal of L.M. Montgomery Studies: https://journaloflmmontgomerystudies.ca/
Find the MaudCast’s other socials on linktree: https://linktr.ee/TheMaudcast?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=0c4e460c-2b28-4322-a8b6-95f4451b92aa
Find Brenton Dickieson on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bdickieson
Check out Brenton Dickieson’s website: www.aPilgrimInNarnia.com
Find Nicolas Riel on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/24tFIIiCjulHu0pbxeQVdA?si=RwSzlCJkQ9604TR-qxNinQ
Special Guest Bio
Dr. Allison McBain Hudson is the current Visiting Scholar at the L.M. Montgomery Institute. She recently completed her Ph.D. at Dublin City University on the significance of material culture in the novels of L.M. Montgomery, particularly the Emily trilogy. Originally from Alberta, she obtained a BA in English from the University of Calgary in 1995 and moved to Ireland in 1997. She earned an MA in Children’s and Young Adult Literature from Dublin City University in 2019 with a focus on Montgomery’s unique Romanticism and “everyday magic.” When she’s not studying or teaching, she is quilting and sewing, walking the dogs in the woods, and looking for old houses and kindred spirits. She is married to an Irish artist, and they live on the outskirts of Dublin with their two daughters.
2026 Keynote Title: “Maud, Pat, and Me: The Materiality of Change”
Allison's Socials:
Instagram: @allisonmcbainhudson
Bluesky: @drmcbainhudson.bsky.social
Threads: @allisonmcbainhudson
Dr. Caroline E. Jones is a past Visiting Scholar at the L.M. Montgomery Institute. Her work on Montgomery goes back to her M.A. thesis, which explores the “happy ending” of the Emily trilogy. She has since presented and published on class, motherhood, the young artist, and more in Montgomery. She has essays in Children’s Play in Literature (2019), L.M. Montgomery and War (2017), L.M. Montgomery’s Rainbow Valleys (2015), and Anne Around the World (2013). Her most recent publication is “Read What You Know: Nostalgia and the Discovery of Self through L.M. Montgomery’s Emily of New Moon,” which appears in the L.M. Montgomery and Re-Vision collection in the Journal of L.M. Montgomery Studies. Formerly a bookseller and full-time academic, she currently works as an editor in Austin, Texas, USA.
Caroline's Socials:
Instagram: @byrdstarr
Facebook: Caroline Emily Byrdstarr
Threads: @byrdstarr
Special thanks to the Robertson Library at UPEI and all of our community partners.
The MaudCast is supported in part by funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council.
Tuesday Mar 10, 2026
Tuesday Mar 10, 2026
Bringing listeners warm, thoughtful conversations inspired by the life and works of Lucy Maud Montgomery.
Description: In this episode, we discuss the editorial and archival adventures of Carolyn Strom Collins, as she talks about the manuscript edition of L.M. Montgomery’s hilarious and unusual romance, The Blue Castle.
What is the MaudCast?
The MaudCast is the podcast of the L.M. Montgomery Institute. In the MaudCast’s quest to discover cutting-edge scholarship about the life and works of Lucy Maud Montgomery, we welcome to the microphone leading academics, emerging scholars, local researchers, and imaginative readers and writers from around the world. Hosted by Dr. Brenton Dickieson, we broadcast from the beautiful campus of the University of Prince Edward Island.
Special Guest Bio
Carolyn Strom Collins is the author of The Anne of Green Gables Treasury and other “Anne” companion books. She has also published companion books on Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House books, Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women, and Frances Hodgson Burnett’s The Secret Garden. Carolyn founded The L. M. Montgomery Literary Society as well as the Friends of the L. M. Montgomery Institute.
In season one of the MaudCast, Carolyn joined us to discuss a couple of her editorial projects: After Many Years: Twenty-one “Long-Lost” Stories by L. M. Montgomery and Anne of Green Gables: The Original Manuscript. We are sitting down with Carolyn on the release of another brilliant Montgomery archival resource, The Blue Castle: The Original Manuscript.
The MaudCast Team
Host and Founding Producer: Brenton Dickieson
Founding Co-Producer: Kate Scarth
Technical Director: Kristy McKinney
MaudCast Intern: Fleur Rodrigues
Visual Design: Heidi Haering
Music: Nicolas Riel
Find the MaudCast on Instagram at www.instagram.com/lmmimaudcast
L.M. Montgomery Institute website: https://www.lmmontgomery.ca/
L.M. Montgomery Institute X: @LMMI_PEI
The Journal of L.M. Montgomery Studies: https://journaloflmmontgomerystudies.ca/
Find Brenton Dickieson on Instagram and X: https://www.instagram.com/bdickieson
Brenton Dickieson on Instagram and X: https://linktr.ee/brentondickieson
Brenton Dickieson’s website: www.aPilgrimInNarnia.com
Find Nicolas Riel on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/24tFIIiCjulHu0pbxeQVdA?si=RwSzlCJkQ9604TR-qxNinQ
Contact Information for the L.M. Montgomery Literary Society:
Website: https://lmmontgomeryliterarysociety.weebly.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lmmlitsociety/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LMmontgomeryLS
Special thanks to the Robertson Library at UPEI and all of our community partners.
The MaudCast is supported in part by funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council.
Wednesday Dec 17, 2025
Wednesday Dec 17, 2025
MaudCast S03E00 The MaudSwap with the Kindred Spirits Podcast
A live on-location podcast swap from the imaginative birthplace of L.M. Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables. How did Montgomery keep her love and writing life secret from the curious eyes of her Cavendish neighbours?
Description
In this season three launch of the MaudCast, we chat with Ragon Duffy and Kelly Gerner, the hosts of the Kindred Spirits Podcast. On a very hot summer day, MaudCast host Brenton Dickieson met Kelly and Ragon at the Green Gables Heritage Site in Cavendish. They headed up the hill to the church, which was built when Montgomery was caring for her grandmother at the homestead at the back of the same property. This episode offers a local perspective on Montgomery’s life and works, including the great secrets of her private life as a public figure. We hope you enjoy this special crossover episode between the MaudCast and Kindred Spirits Book Club! A podcast swap … a podswap—a MaudSwap! When you enjoy, please like and share.
Show Notes
The MaudCast is the podcast of the L.M. Montgomery Institute. In the MaudCast’s quest to discover cutting-edge scholarship about the life and works of Lucy Maud Montgomery, we welcome leading academics, emerging scholars, local researchers, and imaginative readers and writers from around the world to the microphone. Hosted by Dr. Brenton Dickieson, we broadcast from the beautiful campus of the University of Prince Edward Island.
Guest Host Bios
Ragon Duffy and Kelly Gerner are fans of Lucy Maud Montgomery’s work and have been sharing their love for Anne through their podcast: The Kindred Spirit Book Club. They bring beloved characters from the page into our homes through witty and insightful conversations, so we’re very pleased to join with them in on this podswap episode!
Follow Kelly and Ragon on Instagram: @kindredspirits.bookclub
Website: https://www.kindredspiritsbookclub.com/
The MaudCast Team
Host and Founding Producer: Brenton Dickieson
Founding Co-Producer: Kate Scarth
Technical Director: Kristy McKinney
MaudCast Intern: Fleur Rodrigues
Logo Design: Heidi Haering
The MaudCast on Social Media
Find the MaudCast on Instagram: @LMMIMaudCast
L.M. Montgomery Institute website: https://www.lmmontgomery.ca/
Kindred Spaces Research Collection Online: https://kindredspaces.ca/
The Journal of L.M. Montgomery Studies: https://journaloflmmontgomerystudies.ca/
Brenton Dickieson Twitter: @BrentonDana
Brenton Dickieson Instagram: @bdickieson
Brenton Dickieson website: www.aPilgrimInNarnia.com
Credits
Susato’s “Selection from The Danserye: III. Les Quatre Branle” performed by the UPEI Wind Symphony, directed by Dr. Karem J Simon, available for purchase here: https://upeiwindsymphony.bandcamp.com/album/the-danserye
Thanks to Rev. Eric and the volunteers at the Cavendish United Church for hosting our discussion.
Special thanks to the Robertson Library at UPEI, the L.M. Montgomery Institute, and all of our community partners. The MaudCast is supported in part by funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council.
Wednesday Mar 30, 2022
Wednesday Mar 30, 2022
MaudCast S02E05 Alan MacEachern, L.M. Montgomery Institute Visiting Scholar
Show Notes:
In this episode, historian Alan MacEachern joins Brenton Dickieson to talk about Alan’s work as a historian of place and as the 2022-23 L.M. Montgomery Institute Visiting Scholar. Dr. Alan MacEachern is a Canadian history professor at the University of Western Ontario. He has recently published a book on the Miramichi fire, and an upcoming book with UPEI’s Dr. Ed MacDonald, The Summer Trade: A History of Tourism on Prince Edward Island, will be out any day now. As they are both “Island boys,” Brenton and Alan discuss this unique place to visit and call home, Prince Edward Island, and how Montgomery’s life and works help people from around the world become intrigued with PEI. They talk about the upcoming Montgomery Institute Conference in June 2022, with the theme of “L.M. Montgomery and Re-Vision.” Alan also shares about his current research project on the diary of Myrtle Webb, bringing to life the family that lived at the home that inspired the “Green Gables” in Montgomery’s iconic Anne books.
Podcast Description:
The MaudCast is the podcast of the L.M. Montgomery Institute. In the MaudCast’s quest to discover cutting-edge scholarship about the life and works of Lucy Maud Montgomery, we welcome to the microphone leading academics, emerging scholars, local researchers, and imaginative readers and writers from around the world. Hosted by Dr. Brenton Dickieson, we broadcast from the beautiful campus of the University of Prince Edward Island.
The MaudCast Team
Host and Founding Producer: Brenton Dickieson
Founding Co-Producer: Kate Scarth
Technical Director: Kristy McKinney
Researcher: Keziah Stoltz
Researcher: Abbey McRoberts
Researcher: Alyssa Gillespie
Visual Design: Heidi Haering
Web Coordinator: Melanie J. Fishbane
MaudCast Media Contacts:
Find the MaudCast on Twitter and Instagram @LMMIMaudCast
L.M. Montgomery Institute Website: https://www.lmmontgomery.ca/
L.M. Montgomery Institute Twitter: @LMMI_PEI
Kindred Spaces Research Collection Online: https://kindredspaces.ca/
The Journal of L.M. Montgomery Studies: https://journaloflmmontgomerystudies.ca/
Brenton Dickieson Twitter: @BrentonDana
Brenton Dickieson website: www.aPilgrimInNarnia.com
Brenton Dickieson Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bdickieson/
Guest Social Media Links:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/alanmaceachern
University Website: https://history.uwo.ca/people/faculty/maceachern.html
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1623333.Alan_MacEachern?from_search=true&from_srp=true
Closing Quotation:
The extract from Myrtle Webb’s diary will be part of Dr. MacEachern’s future book, tentatively titled Myrtle Webb of Green Gables. You can see his upcoming keynote talk at the L.M. Montgomery and Re-vision conference this summer, information here: https://lmmontgomery.ca//lm-montgomery-and-re-vision
Research and Book References from the Show:
MacEachern, Alan and MacDonald, Edward. The Summer Trade: A History of Tourism on Prince Edward Island. Montreal and Kingston: McGill-Queen’s University Press. Publication Date: April 15th, 2022
MacEachern, Alan. The Miramichi Fire: A history. Montreal and Kingston: McGill-Queen’s University Press, 2020
MacEachern, Alan. Natural Selections: National Parks in Atlantic Canada, 1935–1970. Montreal and Kingston: McGill-Queen’s University Press, 2001.
Acknowledgements:
The MaudCast is a global podcast in a digital age but operates in a particular time and place. Thus, we would like to respectfully acknowledge that the land upon which we broadcast is the traditional and ongoing unceded territory of the Abegweit Mi’kmaq First Nation.
Special thanks to the Robertson Library at UPEI and all of our community partners.
Susato’s “Selection from The Danserye: III. Les Quatre Branle” performed by the UPEI Wind Symphony, directed by Dr. Karem J Simon, available for purchase here: https://upeiwindsymphony.bandcamp.com/album/the-danserye.
The MaudCast is supported in part by funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council.