No Holds Bard


No Holds Bard is an American podcast hosted by Dan Beaulieu and Kevin Condardo, the co-founder/artistic director and managing director of Seven Stages Shakespeare Company in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

Format

Word of the Week

Before each regular episode, Dan chooses a Word of the Week. This is a Shakespearean word that may be confusing to an average listener. Dan defines the word, gives an example of it in a sentence and then uses it during the episode without Kevin realizing. At the end of the episode, Kevin attempts to guess what the Word of the Week was.

Duel

The regular episodes include a segment where Dan and Kevin answer three quick questions at the intersection of Shakespeare and the present day. These are usually listener-submitted questions, though they are occasionally submitted by Dan or Kevin. Episodes #34, #60, and #126 are best of compilations of previous Duel questions.
Previous Duel questions have been:
For certain questions, a lightning round is triggered wherein Dan and Kevin give as many answers to the question as possible within a single minute.

Homework

During the regular episodes, Dan and Kevin answer a Shakespearean homework question usually found on Yahoo! Answers or Reddit, or submitted directly to them.
Previous homework questions have been:
The final segment of regular episodes is Everyday Shakes. Dan and Kevin select a Shakespearean quote, or a portion of a quote, and after reading it in context, examine how it can be used in contemporary conversations. The quote they choose is used for the episode's title.

So You're Going to See Shakespeare

Once a month, in place of a regular episode, they release a "So You're Going to See Shakespeare" feature. During the episode Dan and Kevin give a plot summary of the play, discussing where it falls in Shakespeare's personal timeline and what was happening in the world at that time. The breakdown includes identifying a prominent theme in the play, picking which non-title character they would most like to portray in a production, analyzing a quote from the play, and highlighting the biggest practical challenge for a director.
The current list of already-discussed plays are:
On the last week of every month they release a "Wildcard" episode. Originally, the episode just had to "be better than nothing," which was then changed to be "but so so". A common theme among Wildcard episodes is drafting Shakespeare's characters into different fantasy sports within a fictional high school, Shakespeare High. Expanding on that idea, they also cast a fantasy production of 1776.

Episodes

Episode #TitleOrigin of
Everyday Shakes
Word of the WeekEpisode Intro
Original Release Date
1No longer available----
2No longer available----
3Country MattersHamletQuothFriendsApril 8, 2015
4And Thus the Whirligig of Time Brings In His RevengesTwelfth NightTimeSubscribersApril 22, 2015
5I Am Angling NowThe Winter's TaleKnave-May 5, 2015
6Sell while you Can, You are Not for All MarketsAs You Like ItSansWhirligigsMay 20, 2015
7I Leave my Duty a little unthought of and Speak out of my InjuryTwelfth NightWhereforeLurkersJune 5, 2015
8Sad Hours Seem LongRomeo and JulietBaseIllyriacsJune 17, 2015
9I Am In A Holiday HumorAs You Like ItBandyFuneral Baked MeatsJuly 1, 2015
10Live Loathed and LongTimon of Athens'TwasBrave ConquerorsJuly 14, 2015
11Too Full o' th' Milk of Human KindnessMacbeth'TisCo-mates and Brothers in ExileJuly 29, 2015
12I Am Not What I AmOthelloCuckold-August 11, 2015
13The Quality of Mercy Is Not Strain'dThe Merchant of VeniceYarelyHeartsAugust 25, 2015
14Our Doubts Are TraitorsMeasure for MeasureButFragmentsSeptember 9, 2015
15--Ministers of FateSeptember 15, 2015
16Now Step I Forth To Whip HypocrisyLove's Labour's LostDo'tRomansSeptember 22, 2015
17--Boys of IceSeptember 29, 2015
18I Would Eat His Heart In The MarketplaceMuch Ado About NothingSirrahFishmongersOctober 7, 2015
19--Rump-fed RonyonsOctober 13, 2015
20I Like Your Silence, It The More Shows Off Your WonderThe Winter's TaleCoxcombWrinkled EldersOctober 20, 2015
21--Rare Parrot-TeachersOctober 28, 2015
22We Few, We Happy FewHenry V'ZoundsWinter CricketsNovember 3, 2015
23---November 10, 2015
24I Will Stand The Hazard Of The DieRichard IIISansSkeins of ThreadNovember 24, 2015
25--Walking ShadowsNovember 24, 2015
26Nothing Will Come Of NothingKing LearAforeTurlygodsDecember 1, 2015
27--BawcocksDecember 8, 2015
28I Wasted Time, And Now Doth Time Waste MeRichard IIAvouchDull ShadowsDecember 15, 2015
29--Birds of DawningDecember 22, 2015
30--Young SquarersDecember 31, 2015
31If You Have Tears, Prepare To Shed Them NowJulius CaesarYeRotten OrangesJanuary 5, 2016
32--Mute ContemplativesJanuary 12, 2016
33A Plague On Both Your HousesRomeo and JulietCurMidwives to my WoeJanuary 19, 2016
34--Hazards of the DieJanuary 26, 2016
35That You Were Once Unkind Befriends Me NowSonnet 120RampallianMoon-CalvesFebruary 2, 2016
36--Dumb InnocentsFebruary 9, 2016
37What A Piece Of Work Is A ManHamletPritheeBed PressersFebruary 17, 2016
38--Heartless HindsFebruary 24, 2016
39We Have Scorched The Snake, Not Killed ItMacbethKicky-WickyWhoreson Mad Compounds of MagestyMarch 1, 2016
40--Lob of SpiritsMarch 8, 2016
41Rare Words! Brave World!Henry IV, Part 1WillWagsMarch 15, 2016
42--PlayersMarch 22, 2016
43--Imperfect MenMarch 29, 2016
44Few Love To Hear The Sins They Love To ActPericlesAbyPatch BrainsApril 7, 2016
45--Cunning CooksApril 19, 2016
46To Thine Own Self Be TrueHamletIn'tThorny HedgehogsApril 19, 2016
47--Princely PeersApril 28, 2016
48Speak What We Feel, Not What We Ought To SayKing LearSmall aleWhoreson LoggerheadsMay 3, 2016
49--Thou Rags, Thou Quantities, Thou RemnantsMay 10, 2016
50Home-Keeping Youth Have Ever Homely WitsThe Two Gentlemen of VeronaButFat FriarsMay 17, 2016
51--LoggerheadsMay 24, 2016
52It Is But So SoAs You Like ItSaucyMistress MinionsMay 31, 2016
53--Brave ConquerorsJune 7, 2016
54The Ills We Do, Their Ills Instruct Us SoOthelloNonceShelled PeascodsJune 21, 2016
55--Barefoot BrothersJune 21, 2016
56--Country MenJune 28, 2016
57Wisely And SlowRomeo and JulietTangTassle-GentlesJuly 5, 2016
58--Galled Geese of WinchesterJuly 12, 2016
59Dissemble All Your Griefs And DiscontentsTitus AndronicusAyChanging PiecesJuly 19, 2016
60--Pampered Jades of AsiaJuly 26, 2016
61There Is A World ElsewhereCoriolanusThouJackanapesAugust 2, 216
62--Country CopulativesAugust 9, 2016
63So Foul And Fair A Day I Have Not SeenMacbethDunWeird SistersAugust 16, 2016
64--1936 Draft Pick of the Pittsburgh SteelersAugust 23, 2016
65--Widowed WombsSeptember 1, 2016
66I Have Drunk And Seen The SpiderThe Winter's TaleOftSourest-Nature DogsSeptember 7, 2016
67--Barbary HorsesSeptember 14, 2016
68I See You What You AreTwelfth NightQuaGeneral OffencesSeptember 20, 2016
69--Wretched, Rash, Intruding FoolsSeptember 28, 2016
70Each Substance Of A Grief Hath Twenty ShadowsRichard IIDissembleUncropped FlowersOctober 5, 2016
71--Lily-Livered, Action-Taking, Whoreson, Glass-Gazing, Super-Serviceable Finical RoguesOctober 13, 2016
72Pray You Now, Forget and ForgiveKing LearWawlPatrons of My RightOctober 25, 2016
73--Whining SchoolboysOctober 25, 2016
74When They Seldom Come, They Wish'd For ComeHenry IV, Part 1UnyokedBear HerdsNovember 9, 2016
75--Wise and Upright JudgesNovember 22, 2016
76Sweet Are The Uses If AdversityAs You Like ItNayScrubbed BoysNovember 23, 2016
77--Noble HeartsNovember 30, 2016
78The Readiness Is AllHamletHitherBrinded CatsDecember 6, 2016
79--Dutchman's BeardsDecember 13, 2016
80Silence Is The Perfectest Herald Of JoyTwelfth NightVarlettoCursed CowsDecember 21, 2016
81--Bolting-Hutch of BeastlinessesDecember 23, 2016
82--Poor GhostsDecember 28, 2016
83We Must Not Make A Scarecrow Of The LawMeasure for MeasureHeartServant MonstersJanuary 5, 2017
84--Stewed PrunesJanuary 10, 2017
85Let The World Slip, We Will Ne'er Be YoungerThe Taming of the ShrewPheeze/FeezeRogues and Peasant SlavesJanuary 17, 2017
86--Pint PotsJanuary 31, 2017
87He Is A Lion That I Am Proud To HuntCoriolanusYareInsolent NoisemakersJanuary 31, 2017
88--Grizzled HeadsFebruary 7, 2017
89Take Time To PauseA Midsummer Night's DreamGod Ye Good E'enThree-Inch FoolsFebruary 14, 2017
90--Scurvy CompanionsFebruary 22, 2017
91Men's Eyes Were Made To Look, And Let Them GazeRomeo and JulietLoggerheadLoggerheadsMarch 1, 2017
92--Idle CreaturesMarch 7, 2017
93Misery Acquaints A Man With Strange BedfellowsThe TempestNonceWinter CricketsMarch 14, 2017
94--Painted MaypolesMarch 22, 2017
95--Envious EmulatorsMarch 29, 2017
96They Fool Me To The Top Of My BentHamletRogueGiving VeinsApril 5, 2017
97--Valiant SonsApril 12, 2017
98What A Sweep Of Vanity Comes This WayTimon of AthensIf-April 19, 2017
99-I'Rotten OrangesApril 26, 2017
100I Banish YouCoriolanusMarkWorms of NileMay 3, 2017
101--FragmentsMay 10, 2017
102I Am Not Yet Well BreathedAs You Like ItHollaMidnight HagsMay 17, 2017
103-- Magic Kingdoms For A HorseMay 24, 2017
104Now He'll Outstare The LightningAntony and CleopatraAmbuscadoValiant SonsMay 31, 2017
105--Rough Rug-Headed KernsJune 7, 2017
106Expose Thyself To Feel What Wretches FeelKing LearAbaseDappled FoolsJune 14, 2017
107--Unperfect ActorsJune 21, 2017
108--Great Eaters of BeefJune 28, 2017
109Things Sweet To Taste Prove In Digestion SourRichard IISaltpeterDappled FoolsJuly 5, 2017
110--Leathern Jerkin, Crystal-Button, Not-Pated, Agate-Ring, Puke-Stocking, Caddis-Garter, Smooth-Tongue, Spanish-PouchesJuly 12, 2017
111Where Is The Life That Late I led?The Taming of the ShrewQuatchLewdstersJuly 19, 2017
112--Most Gallant, Illustrate, and Learned Gentlemen and PrincessesJuly 26, 2017
113Why Should Excuse Be Born Or E'er BegotCymbelineTh'Prettiest Low-Born LassAugust 3, 2017
114--Bunch-Backed ToadsAugust 9, 2017
115These Violent Delights Have Violent EndsRomeo and JulietWaspish-headedWafer-CakesAugust 15, 2017
116--Heavy PlowmenAugust 22, 2017
117--Fair BeseechersAugust 30, 2017
118My Old Brain Is TroubledThe TempestRoynishRabbit-SuckersSeptember 5, 2017
119--Yoke-Fellows In ArmsSeptember 13, 2017
120How Like A Winter Hath My Absence Been From TheeSonnet 97IrkIsland CarrionsSeptember 19, 2017
121--Watery StarsSeptember 26, 2017
122How All Occasions Do Inform Against MeHamletCollierWhoreson Upright RabbitOctober 4, 2017
123--RoadsOctober 11, 2017
124--Spirits of Health or Goblins DamnedOctober 18, 2017
125How Easy Is A Bush Supposed A BearA Midsummer Night's DreamKnackExcellent Pieces of WitchcraftOctober 24, 2017
126--Hobby HorsesNovember 1, 2017
127Man Is A Giddy ThingMuch Ado About NothingUnaptOverweening RoguesNovember 8, 2017
128--AssNovember 15, 2017
129--Huge Hills of FleshNovember 23, 2017
130My False O'erweighs Your TrueMeasure for MeasureO'erGray-Coated GnatsNovember 29, 2017
131Rage Must Be WithstoodRichard IITapsterPrimcoxesDecember 6, 2017
132--Puffed and Reckless LibertinesDecember 13, 2017
133Folly And IgnoranceTroilus and CressidaPeg-a-ramseyBare BodkinsDecember 20, 2017
134--Dead CoarseDecember 27, 2017
135--Scraps o' the CourtJanuary 3, 2018
136Is't Real That I SeeAll's Well That Ends WellGalliassGalloway NagsJanuary 10, 2018
137There's Small Choice In Rotten ApplesThe Taming of the ShrewParadoxMusk-Rose BudsJanuary 17, 2018
138--Licorice DraftsJanuary 24, 2018
139--Honey NursesJanuary 31, 2018
140From Thine Eyes My Knowledge I DeriveSonnet 14ZirMingled YarnsFebruary 7, 2018
141--Homely WitsFebruary 14, 2018
142Hoyday, A Riddle!Richard IIIHoydayBloat KingsFebruary 21, 2018
144--Dull DebatersFebruary 28, 2018
146Much Virtue In IfAs You Like ItQuaffBunch-Backed ToadsMarch 7, 2018
144--DolphinsMarch 14, 2018
146The Cause Is In My WillJulius CaesarSibilCaterpillars of the CommonwealthMarch 21, 2018

Reception

featured The Shakespearean Hockey League episode on their podcast aggregator, earbud.fm. "Dan Beaulieu and Kevin Condardo, two smart-aleck Bostonian theater guys now living in NYC, love Shakespeare. They also love sports. In this episode, they draft a fantasy hockey league based on Shakespeare — and it's the perfect amount of absurd."
CBC Radio featured the Shakespeare League Baseball episode on their recommended podcast playlist.