EPISODE 22: Sisterhood of the Traveling Goldfinch

PROMPTS: Fowl, 27, Coral

In this wild New Year and milestone birthday episode of Curated by Chance, Neal and Lauren ring in 2025 with a blend of art, absurdity, and a little fowl play.

Lauren dives into the storied history of Carl Fabritius’ The Goldfinch, a Dutch Golden Age masterpiece that’s survived explosions, shrapnel, and centuries of mystery. From its delicate depiction of a chained goldfinch to its surprising symbolic significance, Lauren takes listeners through its fascinating journey from obscurity to the center of Donna Tartt’s Pulitzer-winning novel and even Hollywood. A bird that survived the Delft Thunderclap? Now that’s art with a bang.

Neal follows with a hilarious detour into one of cinema’s most infamous cult classics: Howard the Duck (1986). With duck nudity, awkward animatronics, and a star-studded cast (Lea Thompson and Tim Robbins, anyone?), Neal explores why this Marvel misfire is as bizarre as it is beloved.

Lauren's Topic:

The Goldfinch

Carel Fabritius

1654

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Neal's Topic

Howard The Duck (1986)

Stream the movie

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