Co-host
Kourtney Smith is an independent researcher and scholar, informal educator and actor-on-hiatus based in Los Angeles. She first became interested in Shakespeare in an acting class, but life took a turn and steered her into scholarship. In 2025 she completed dual masters programs in Shakespeare Studies and Ed Tech and LXD and is now continuing her masters dissertation as independent research focusing on where pedagogy, policy and culture meet with Shakespeare. When she’s not thinking about Shakespeare or producing a podcast, Kourtney is a community organizer and community scientist who is actively reminding herself to rest. She’s not that online, but you can find her at @crustophermarlowe on Instagram & iNaturalist.

Co-host
Elyse Sharp is a professional actor (AEA), director, playwright, teaching artist, and producer based in Northern California. At the age of 9, and inspired by an episode of the PBS series Wishbone, she rewrote Romeo and Juliet for a fourth grade class project, and she’s been passionate about Shakespeare (and helping others understand his work) ever since. She has served as a dramaturg, private Shakespeare instructor and acting coach, and has been a guest lecturer on Shakespeare at several high schools and college groups in California. She has a lifelong goal to perform in all plays of Shakespeare's canon at least once. So far, she's done 17 out of 39. Keep up with her at @elysesharp on all social media or at elysesharp.com