A daily love poem for February — with gentle commentary after each reading.

February Love Poem Series – Day 1: “Dover Beach” by Matthew Arnold

Welcome to The Porcupine Presents and our month-long celebration of love in all its forms.
Each day of February, we bring you a new poem — romantic, bittersweet, playful, or aching — followed by a brief reflection to deepen your listening experience.

Today’s poem is “Dover Beach” by Matthew Arnold, a work that explores love as an anchor in a world of uncertainty — the tension between beauty and despair, and the deep human longing for connection in a landscape where old certainties have slipped away.

After the poem, stay tuned for a short commentary discussing Arnold’s use of the sea as emotional metaphor, why the poem is often called a “honeymoon elegy,” and how its final plea for steadfast love still speaks powerfully to modern listeners — offering context, nuance, and a bit of literary delight.

Originally published: 1867
Approx. runtime: 6 minutes

Music in episode: “A Very Brady Special” by Kevin MacLeod

When everything collides, nothing stays the same.

WARNING: MATURE LANGUAGE AND SITUATIONS

🎧 Sherlock Holmes: The Last Analysis – Episode 6: “Convergence”

In Episode 6 of Sherlock Holmes: The Last Analysis, chaos and clarity arrive in the same breath. Molly Hooper’s unexpected return to Baker Street sends Sherlock spiraling into a frantic attempt at normalcy — a dinner, a clean flat, a sense of stability he’s never mastered. What begins as hospitality quickly unravels into confession, vulnerability, and a fragile reconnection years in the making.

But emotional turmoil is only half the storm. A misstep at the airport unleashes a diplomatic headache, a surprise appearance from Sherlock’s mother reveals more than he intended, and Molly’s presence stirs truths he can no longer outrun. As the evening unfolds, the case jolts forward: a new American lead surfaces, reshaping everything Holmes thought he understood about the threat closing in on them.

Tonight’s chapters mark a moment where relationships, revelations, and danger intersect — the point at which every thread in Sherlock’s life begins to converge.

Originally aired: January 2026
Approx. runtime: 31 minutes

A classic radio horror from the golden age of radio — plus bonus commentary and trivia after the show.

The Hermit’s Cave – “The House on Lost Man’s Bluff” (1947)

Step back into the golden age of radio with The Hermit’s Cave, the long-running anthology known for its eerie atmosphere, pulpy thrills, and the unforgettable cackle of its mysterious narrator. In this 1947 classic, “The House on Lost Man’s Bluff,” a lone traveler seeks shelter on a stormy night — only to discover that the isolated hilltop house he enters holds secrets no living person should witness.

After the broadcast, stay tuned for bonus commentary and behind-the-scenes trivia — including how The Hermit’s Cave was produced across multiple local stations, why its sound effects became such a memorable part of its identity, and what gives this particular episode its enduring spooky charm.

Originally aired: 1947

Approx. runtime: 28 minutes

Bonus Episode

As a heavy snowstorm moves in where the Porcupine is, there’s one story that always comes to mind: “To Build a Fire.”

This bonus episode of The Porcupine Presents is shared not because it was on the schedule, but because the weather demanded it.

Jack London’s classic short story is one of the starkest expressions of literary naturalism — a reminder that nature does not negotiate, confidence is not the same as wisdom, and small decisions can carry irreversible consequences.

After the story, stay with me for a brief discussion of:

• literary naturalism

• how each choice the man makes narrows his chances

• and why this story remains so unsettling more than a century later

For now, settle in somewhere warm, let the snow stay outside, and listen.

Stay warm — and enjoy.

Originally aired: January 2026

Approx. runtime: 48 minutes

A classic radio comedy from the golden age of radio — plus bonus commentary and trivia after the show.

The Great Gildersleeve – “The Jolly Boys’ Election” (1942)

Step back into the golden age of radio with The Great Gildersleeve, one of the earliest and most beloved sitcoms in broadcast history. In this 1942 classic, “The Jolly Boys’ Election,” Gildersleeve gets swept into the political drama of Summerfield’s least organized men’s club — the Jolly Boys — as the group attempts to elect a new president with all the grace and competence of a barbershop quartet falling down a flight of stairs.

After the broadcast, stay tuned for bonus commentary and behind-the-scenes trivia — including how the Jolly Boys became a fan-favorite recurring cast, why their off-key harmonizing became a running joke, and how this early sitcom spinoff helped shape radio comedy for years to come.

Originally aired: May 10, 1942

Approx. runtime: 32 minutes

Some corpses stay quiet. This one has other plans.

The Saint - “The Corpse Said Ouch” (1949)

In this classic episode of The Saint, Vincent Price returns as the ever-suave Simon Templar — gentleman adventurer, crime-solver, and the so-called Robin Hood of Modern Crime.

“The Corpse Said Ouch” begins with a murder that refuses to behave, drawing Templar into a case full of odd clues, sharp turns, and the kind of urbane danger only Price can deliver. With his trademark wit and velvet-smooth delivery, Price guides listeners through a mystery that’s equal parts clever, stylish, and mischievous.

First broadcast in the late 1940s, this episode showcases Price at the height of his radio career, embodying a character who is as charming as he is cunning. Whether you're a longtime fan or new to old-time detective drama, this is one of the Saint’s most entertaining adventures.

Stay after the episode for bonus commentary and behind-the-scenes trivia on Vincent Price’s tenure as Simon Templar — and why so many listeners still consider his portrayal the definitive one.

Originally aired: 1949

Approx. runtime: 33 minutes

How a fragile old man, a serene matron, and a chaos engine in hound form taught me who I really am

“The Three Dogs of the Self”

In this audio essay, I reflect on how three very different dogs became mirrors of my inner life.

Steve, the fragile old sentinel, shows me what it means to age, to slow down, and to live gently inside a body that no longer obeys without question.

Izzy, white and serene, teaches presence — the kind of grace that isn’t earned, just lived.

And Henry, loud, chaotic, and impossible to ignore, reminds me that some parts of the self refuse to go quietly — and maybe shouldn’t.

This is an essay about love, identity, and the strange way the soul can scatter itself into the creatures we care for. It’s also about time — and what happens when life continues after the words are already written.

🎙️ Includes an addendum recorded after the essay was completed.

If this resonates, you’re welcome here.

Music: “Cylinder Five” by Chris Zabriskie | Creative Commons license

Release date: January 2026; originally published May 2025

Approx. Length: 9 minutes

A classic radio thriller with Vincent Price — plus bonus commentary after the show.

Suspense – “Fugue in C Minor” (1944)

Step back into the golden age of radio with Suspense, the long-running “theater of thrills.”In this 1944 classic, “Fugue in C Minor,” a young woman arrives at the isolated mansion of a widower—played by Vincent Price—only to discover that the echoing pipe organ in the great hall may be hiding a far darker secret than sorrow.

After the broadcast, stay tuned for bonus commentary and behind-the-scenes trivia — including the origins of Lucille Fletcher’s eerie script, Vincent Price’s early radio career, and how sound designers used music motifs to build psychological tension.

Originally aired: 1944

Approx. runtime: 31 minutes