Once Upon a Podcast banner

Once Upon a Podcast

Episode 10: The Emperor's New Clothes

Once Upon a Podcastcover

Episode 10: The Emperor's New Clothes

Air date: 7/22/2025 Runtime: 54:10
The Emperor has no clothes… but boy, does he have confidence. In this episode, Joe, Matthew, and (introducing!) Emma break down Hans Christian Andersen’s The Emperor’s New Clothes, from its literary origins to its place in everyday language and pop culture. Along the way for this fairy tale, we unpack pride, status, and why sometimes the biggest swindle is the one we play along with ourselves.

The Emperor has no clothes… but boy, does he have confidence. In this episode, Joe, Matthew, and (introducing!) Emma break down Hans Christian Andersen’s The Emperor’s New Clothes, from its literary origins to its place in everyday language and pop culture. Along the way for this fairy tale, we unpack pride, status, and why sometimes the biggest swindle is the one we play along with ourselves.