This Podcast Will Change Your Life.: Recent Episodes
Ben Tanzer
This Podcast Will Change Your Life is hosted by Ben Tanzer and housed at This Zine Book T-Shirt Podcast Handbook Will Change Your Life (changeyourlifethiswill.com). The shows focuses on authors and changemakers from around the country.
This episode of This Podcast Will Change Your Life stars Liz Scott, Ph.D (You're Going To Die But Not Me!, Love Life: Confessions of a Psychologist, This Never Happened). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Scott's PDX home office in July 2026.
This episode of This Podcast Will Change Your Life stars Vincent Chu (Nice Places & Like A Champion). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Chu's O-Town home office in July 2026.
This episode of This Podcast Will Change Your Life stars Sara Lippmann (Hidden River, Lech, Jerks & many, many other fine works). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Lippmann's home office in the Borough of Kings in June 2026.
This episode of This Podcast Will Change Your Life stars David Masciotra (Exurbia Now, I Am Somebody: Why Jesse Jackson Matters, Barack Obama: Invisible Man & many, many other fine works). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Masciotra's home office in The Hoosier State in June 2026.
This episode of This Podcast Will Change Your Life stars Bobby Miller (Situation Nowhere, The Cleanse, Critters Attack!). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Miller's home office in The City of Dreams in May 2026.
This episode of This Podcast Will Change Your Life stars Blake Kimzey (Writing Workshops). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Kimzey's home office in the Big D in May 2026.
This episode of This Podcast Will Change Your Life stars Liz Mason and Keidra Chaney (Rough Draft with Keidra and Liz Podcast & so much more). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Mason and Chaney's home offices in greater Chicagoland in April 2026.
This episode of This Podcast Will Change Your Life stars G. Riley Mills (Synergy And Sparks, The Bullseye Principle, The Pin Drop Principle). It was recorded in-person at Pinnacle Performance Company's podcast studio in Chicago, IL in April 2026.
This episode of This Podcast Will Change Your Life stars Steve Lafler (Crazy for You, Death Plays a Mean Harmonica, 1956 Book One: Sweet Sweet Little Ramona, Bughouse & many, many other fine works). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Lafler's family compound in Northern California in March 2026.
This episode of This Podcast Will Change Your Life stars Jotham Austin, II PhD, Nick Elizalde, and Georgia Geis (Rabbit Hole of Research The Podcast & lots of other cool stuff). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Rabbit Hole of Research The Podcast's home studio, which can be found somewhere in the Hoosier state in January 2026.
This episode of This Podcast Will Change Your Life stars Patrick Wensink (The Great Black Swamp, Fake Fruit Factory, Broken Piano for President & many, many more). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Wensink's home, which can be found in the general vicinity of the Cumberland Gap in January 2026.
This episode of This Podcast Will Change Your Life stars Deborah Shapiro (Watching the Detective, Consolation, B-Side Editions). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Shapiro's Chicagoland home in January 2026.
This episode of This Podcast Will Change Your Life stars Lucie Frost (How The Hell Did I Not Know That?). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Frost's Lone Star State home in December 2025.
This episode of This Podcast Will Change Your Life stars Tracey Gee (The Magic of Knowing What You Want: A Practical Guide to Unearthing the Wisdom of Your Desires). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Gee's City of Angels home in December 2025.
This episode of This Podcast Will Change Your Life* stars Josh Dale (Thirty West Publishing House, The Light To Never Be Snuffed, Duality Lies Beneath). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Dale's Thirty West Publishing House office in greater Philadelphialand in November 2025.
*Do note, that this is a rare three-episode month. After I noticed I somehow inexplicably posted only one episode in August, I couldn't unsee it, became obsessive, and had to recitfy this oversight. This is said rectification. This is also the last episode of 2025. Enjoy! And Happy New Year.
This episode of This Podcast Will Change Your Life stars Peter Mountford (Detonator, The Dismal Science, A Young Man's Guide to Late Capitalism). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Mountford's home office in the City of Goodwill in October 2025.
This episode of This Podcast Will Change Your Life stars Shayne Terry (Leave: A Postpartum Account). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Terry's home in New York City's most populous borough in October 2025.
This episode of This Podcast Will Change Your Life stars Denton Loving (Feller, Tamp, Crimes Against Birds). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Loving's farm near the historic Cumberland Gap in September 2025.
This episode stars Joseph G. Peterson (The Perturbation of O, Memorandum from the Iowa Cloud Appreciation Society, Wanted: Elevator Man, Beautiful Piece & so many more). It was recorded in-person at the iconic Winter Garden at Harold Washington Library Center in Chicago, IL in September 2025.
This episode stars Maureen Aitken (The Patron Saint of Lost Girls). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and what was Aitken's home in Michigan or possibly Canada, our neighbors to the North, in September 2025.
This episode stars Katharine Coldiron (Out There in the Dark, Wire Mothers, Junk Film & many more). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and what I believe is Coldiron's home, which just may be somewhere in The Golden State, in September 2025.
This episode stars M. M. De Voe (A Flash of Darkness, Book & Baby, Pen Parentis). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and De Voe's awesomely bookshelf'd Gotham City home in September 2025.
This episode stars Lee Matthew Goldberg (Miles in Time, The Great Gimmelmans, The Ancestor & many others). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Goldberg's Gotham City home in August 2025.
This episode stars Curtis Smith (Deaf Heaven, Communion, Bad Monkey & many others). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Smith's Keystone State home in July 2025.
This episode stars Hosho McCreesh (Psalms from the Badlands, Chinese Gucci, A Deep & Gorgeous Thirst & many others). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and McCreesh's New Mexico compound in July 2025.
This episode stars former (and forever) guest Giano Cromley (American Mythology, The Prince of Infinite Space, What We Build Upon the Ruins, The Last Good Halloween). It was recorded live and on a walk along Division Street in Chicago, IL that started and concluded at Rite Liquors in July 2025.
This episode stars Hannah Pittard (If You Love It, Let You Kill You, We Are Too Many & many others). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Pittard's home in Kentucky in June 2025.
This episode stars Seth Rogoff (The Castle: A Novel, Smashing the Tablets: Radical Retellings of the Hebrew Bible, The Kirschbaum Lectures). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Kafka's (and Rogoff's now) home city of Prague in April 2025.
This episode stars Dr. Stacey Diane Arañez Litam (Patterns That Remain: A Guide to Healing for Asian Children for Immigrants). It was recorded in-person at the Fairfield Inn & Suites Chicago Downtown* in April 2025.
*Please do ignore the occasional outside noise, unlike the host and guest, there were people actually working the day of the recording.
This episode stars Judy and Adam Tanzer, the host's mother and brother respectively. It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and their homes which are located in greater Philadelphia-land in April 2025.
This episode stars Wendy C. Ortiz (Excavation: A Memoir; Hollywood Notebook, and Bruja: A Dreamoir) just as all three of her groundbreaking books have been simultaneously re-released. It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Ortiz' home in the City of Angels in March 2025.
This episode stars David Scott Hay ([NSFW], The Fountain). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Hay's home in the City of Angels in February 2025.
This episode stars Ruben Quesada (Brutal Companion, Jane /La Segua, and more). It was recorded in-person and in the host's South Loop office in February 2025.
This episode stars Kurt Baumeister (Twilight Of The Gods, Pax Americana). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Baumeister's home in greater Philadelphialand in February 2025.
This episode stars Ignatius Valentine Aloysius & David Allen Sullivan (Salt Pruning, Fishhead: Republic of Want, Strong-Armed Angels). It was recorded in-person and in the host's South Loop office in January 2025.
This episode stars Christine Marie Eberle (Finding God Along the Way, Finding God Abiding, Finding God In Ordinary Time). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Eberle's home in greater Philadelphialand in January 2025.
This episode stars Cynthia Weiner (A Gorgeous Excitement). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Weiner's home town of New York City in January 2025.
This episode stars Jeremy T. Wilson (The Quail Who Wears The Shirt, Adult Teeth). It was recorded in person at The Coffee Studio in Chicago, IL in October 2024.
This Podcast Will Change Your Life is a most glorious year-end episode, as well as a quite glorious Three Hundred and Fiftieth episode, which stars the equally, and endlessly glorious Rachel Robbins (Sound of a Thousand Stars, In Lieu of Flowers). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Robbins' mother's Northern California home in November 2024.
This episode stars Mathieu Cailler (Forest for the Trees, May I Have This Dance?, Loss Angeles & many, many more). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Cailler's Loss Angeles home office in September 2024.
This episode stars William Walsh (The Poets, Pathologies, Questionstruck & many, many more). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Walsh's Massachusetts' workplace in August 2024.
This episode stars Ross McMeekin (Below the Falls, The Hummingbirds). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and McMeekin's Northwest home in August 2024.
This episode stars Anne Poirier (Not a Fat Annie, The Body Joyful). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Poirier's Sunshine State home in September 2024.
We want to note that the episode is dropping today in honor of Body Acceptance Week (October 21-25, 2024) an exciting initiative promoting body acceptance—including body positivity, body neutrality, and body liberation—for all.
This episode stars Ben Lindner (Beyond The Zero podcast). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Lindner's down under home studio in July 2024.
This episode stars Michael Tager (Pop Culture Poetry: The Definitive Edition, Mason Jar Press). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Tager's Charm City office in June 2024.
This episode stars Lee Matthew Goldberg (The Great Gimmelmans, Stalker Stalked, Immoral Origins & many more). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Goldberg's Central Park office in the city so nice they named it twice in April 2024.
This episode stars Maddie Norris (The Wet Wound). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Norris' home office in the Tar Heel State in June 2024.
This episode stars Caleb Curtiss (Age of Forgiveness, A Taxonomy of the Space Between Us). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Curtiss' home office in the home state of our 46th President in June 2024.
This episode stars Steven Miletto (Teaching Learning Leading K12 podcast). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and the Teaching Learning Leading K12 podcast studio in the great state of Georgia in May 2024.
This episode stars Cyn Vargas (On the Way, Nothing's Ever The Same). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Vargas' Chicagoland home in July 2024.
This episode stars Dmitry Samarov (To Whom It May Concern, Old Style, All Hack & many more). It was recorded in-person and in the host's borrowed South Loop classroom in May 2024.
This episode stars Ken Volante (Something (rather than nothing) Podcast). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Volante's home in the greater Northwest in April 2024.
This episode stars Spencer Fleury on the release day of his new book I Blame Myself But Also You. It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Fleury's freshy fresh San Diego hotel room in June 2024.
This episode stars Danielle Ariano (The Requirement of Grief, Getting Over the Rainbow). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Ariano's Pennsylvania office in May 2024.
This episode stars Tyler Bingham (Salt Lake Dirt). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Bingham's, yes, Salt Lake City home studio in April 2024.
This episode stars Emily Schultz (Sleeping With Friends, Little Threats, The Blondes). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Schultz's Brooklyn home in April 2024.
This episode stars Syed Ali (The Peer Effect, Migration, Incorporation, and Change in an Interconnected World, Dubai: Gilded Cage). It was recorded in-person at This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL in March 2024.
This episode stars Judith Krummeck (Old New Worlds, The Deceived Ones). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Krummeck's Charm City home in April 2024.
This episode stars Jeff Margolis (We're Live in 5: My Extraordinary Life in Television). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Margolis' office in the City of Angels in March 2024.
This episode stars Tobias Carroll (In The Sight, Transitory, Vol. 1 Brooklyn). It was recorded in-person and in the host's wildly under utilized South Loop office in February 2024.
This episode stars Mallory Smart (I Keep My Visions to Myself, The Only Living Girl in Chicago, Maudlin House). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Smart's greater Chicagoland home in March 2024.
This episode stars Ben Tanzer, me (The Missing, UPSTATE, Orphans), in conversation with the awfully splendiferous Giano Cromley. It was recorded in-person walking along Division Street in Chicago, IL in March 2024.
This special AWP 2024 episode stars John Reed (The Never End, Snowball's Chance, Tales of Woe, and many more). It was recorded in-person at AWP 2024 in Kansas City, MO in February, wait for it...2024.
This episode stars Lisa Niver (Brave-ish, One Breakup, Six Continents and Feeling Fearless After Fifty). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Niver's City of Angels home in January 2024.
This episode stars Diego Báez (Yaguareté White). It was recorded in-person at Báez's City Colleges of Chicago office on the north side of The Jewel of the Midwest in January 2024.
This episode stars Dana Kaye (Kaye Publicity). It was recorded in-person at Kaye's home office on the north side of Chicago, IL in January 2024.
This episode stars Eugenio Volpe (I, Caravaggio). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Volpe's El Lay home in January 2024.
This episode stars John Noltner (Lessons on the Road to Peace, A Peace of My Mind). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and wherever Noltner is hanging his hat these days in December 2023.
This episode stars Jacob Budenz (Tea Leaves). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Budenz's Charm City home in December 2023.
This episode stars Christina Olson (The Anxiety Workbook, The Last Mastodon) & Ben Drevlow (The Book of Rusty, Ina-Baby: a love story in reverse). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Olson and Drevlow's home in the Peach State, otherwise known as Georgia, in November 2023.
This episode stars JJ Starr (The Mother I Knew: Race to Thunder Bay And The Battle For The Commons). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Starr's home in the Commonwealth of Virginia in November 2023.
This episode stars Elizabeth Strauss Friedman (The Lost Positive, The Eggshell Skull Rule, Gathered Bones are Known to Wander). It was recorded in-person at Strauss Friedman's home on the north side of Chicago, IL in October 2023.
This episode stars SpiderMeka (SpiderMeka Portraits). It was recorded in-person at the SpiderMeka Portraits studio on the north side of Chicago, IL in October 2023.
This episode stars Jennifer Banash (The Rise and Fall of Ava Arcana, Silent Alarm, White Lines). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Banash's home in the city that never sleeps in September 2023.
This episode stars Shawn Samuelson Henry (Made in Maine). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Henry's home in the Tar Heel state, also known as North Carolina, and not Maine, in September 2023.
This episode stars Matt Micheli (Two Minutes With The Devil, Scratched, The White). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Micheli's home in the Republic of Texas in August 2023.
This episode stars Daniel Cooney, Andrew Fredericks, Gabriel Joffe, Karla Murthy & Jamie Diaz (Love, Jamie, Daniel Cooney Fine Art). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and a variety of locations across the country in July 2023.
Things Start was published as part of the short story collection After the Flood, which was released by CCLaP in 2014. The collection represents Part Three of the linked short story collection UPSTATE re-released in 2020 by Tortoise Books (and originally released under the title The New York Stories by CCLaP in 2015).
Things Start is the final chapter of UPSTATE: The Podcast.
Things Start is read by Sara Lippmann (BIO below).
INTRO/OUTRO music is Drinking of Me and was generously provided by Monkey Wrench.
READER BIOSara Lippmann is the author of the novel Lech (Tortoise Books) and the story collections Doll Palace (re-released by 7.13 Books) and Jerks (Mason Jar Press.) Her fiction has been honored by the New York Foundation for the Arts, and her essays have appeared in The Millions, The Washington Post, Catapult, The Lit Hub and elsewhere. With Seth Rogoff, she is co-editing the anthology Smashing the Tablets: Radical Retellings of the Hebrew Bible for SUNY Press. She is a founding member of the Writing Co-Lab and lives with her family in Brooklyn. For more, visit https://www.saralippmann.com/.
https://www.tanzerben.com/blog/upstate-the-podcast
This episode stars Laura Carney (My Father's List). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Carney's home in the great state of New Jersey in June 2023.
Something Like This was published as part of the short story collection After the Flood, which was released by CCLaP in 2014. The collection represents Part Three of the linked short story collection UPSTATE re-released in 2020 by Tortoise Books (and originally released under the title The New York Stories by CCLaP in 2015).
Something Like This is read by Clayton Smith (BIO below).
INTRO/OUTRO music is Drinking of Me and was generously provided by Monkey Wrench.
READER BIOClayton Smith is an award-winning author, a professor, and a podcaster whose work includes the novels Apocalypticon, Na Akua, and Anomaly Flats, and the comedy podcast Is This a Ghost? He is head of the Marketing program at Columbia College Chicago, where he teaches courses in digital media strategy and emerging platforms. He currently lives with his wife and two daughters just outside of Chicago, and he is very good at whiskey. You can find his work at StateOfClayton.com.
https://www.tanzerben.com/blog/upstate-the-podcast
Night Swimming was published as part of the short story collection After the Flood, which was released by CCLaP in 2014. The collection represents Part Three of the linked short story collection UPSTATE re-released in 2020 by Tortoise Books (and originally released under the title The New York Stories by CCLaP in 2015).
Night Swimming is read by Mike Smolarek (BIO below).
INTRO/OUTRO music is Drinking of Me and was generously provided by Monkey Wrench.
READER BIOMike Smolarek writes from Riverside, Illinois, just outside of Chicago. He has been published in Train River Short Stories, Two With Water, and Daddy Cool, an anthology of writing by and for dads edited by Ben Tanzer. He has been part of several reading series, including Two With Water/Curbside Splendor and Essay Fiesta. His favorite color is green and he can be found at http://msmolarek.blogspot.com//.
https://www.tanzerben.com/blog/upstate-the-podcast
Longing was published as part of the short story collection After the Flood, which was released by CCLaP in 2014. The collection represents Part Three of the linked short story collection UPSTATE re-released in 2020 by Tortoise Books (and originally released under the title The New York Stories by CCLaP in 2015).
Longing is read by Paula Bomer (BIO below).
INTRO/OUTRO music is Drinking of Me and was generously provided by Monkey Wrench.
READER BIOPaula Bomer is the author of the novels Tante Eva and Nine Months, the story collections Inside Madeleine and Baby and other Stories, and the essay collection, Mystery and Mortality. She grew up in South Bend, Indiana and has lived for over 30 years in Brooklyn. Her work has appeared in The Cut, Bomb Magazine, The Mississippi Review, Los Angeles Review of Books, TalkSpace and elsewhere. https://www.tanzerben.com/blog/upstate-the-podcast
This episode stars Suzanne Clores (The Extraordinary Project Podcast, Memoirs of a Spiritual Outsider). It was recorded in-person, and outdoors, yes, in-person and outdoors, at Berger Park on the north side of Chicago, IL in May 2023, not 2024.
A Different Story was published as part of the short story collection After the Flood, which was released by CCLaP in 2014. The collection represents Part Three of the linked short story collection UPSTATE re-released in 2020 by Tortoise Books (and originally released under the title The New York Stories by CCLaP in 2015).
A Different Story is read by Dr. Mike McClelland (BIO below).
INTRO/OUTRO music is Drinking of Me and was generously provided by Monkey Wrench.
READER BIOLike Sharon Stone and the zipper, Dr. Mike McClelland is originally from Meadville, Pennsylvania. He has lived on five different continents but now resides in Illinois with his husband, two sons, and a menagerie of rescue dogs. He is the author of the short fiction collection Gay Zoo Day and teaches creative writing at Eastern Illinois University. His fiction, essays, and poetry have appeared or are forthcoming in Rolling Stone, The New York Times, WIRED, Boston Review, Vox, The Baffler, Fairy Tale Review, and a number of literary magazines and anthologies. He is a graduate of Allegheny College, The London School of Economics, the MFA Program at Georgia College, and the University of Georgia's Creative Writing PhD program. Find him online at magicmikewrites.com. https://www.tanzerben.com/blog/upstate-the-podcast
We Were All Here was published as part of the short story collection After the Flood, which was released by CCLaP in 2014. The collection represents Part Three of the linked short story collection UPSTATE re-released in 2020 by Tortoise Books (and originally released under the title The New York Stories by CCLaP in 2015).
We Were All Here is read by Mallory Smart (BIO below).
INTRO/OUTRO music is Drinking of Me and was generously provided by Monkey Wrench.
READER BIOMallory Smart is a Chicago-based writer and the Editor-in-Chief of the publishing house, Maudlin House. She also talks about music and literature on the podcast, Textual Healing. Her first novel, The Only Living Girl in Chicago, was released from Trident Press. https://www.tanzerben.com/blog/upstate-the-podcast
This episode stars Gogo Germaine, a.k.a. Erin K. Barnes (Glory Guitars). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Germaine's home in the wilds of Colorado in April 2023.
What We Talk About When We Talk About The Flood was published as part of the short story collection After the Flood, which was released by CCLaP in 2014. The collection represents Part Three of the linked short story collection UPSTATE re-released in 2020 by Tortoise Books (and originally released under the title The New York Stories by CCLaP in 2015).
What We Talk About When We Talk About The Flood is read by Christian Winn (BIO below).
INTRO/OUTRO music is Drinking of Me and was generously provided by Monkey Wrench.
READER BIOChristian Winn is a fiction writer, poet, teacher of creative writing, and literary event producer living and working in Boise, Idaho. He is the author of the story collections NAKED ME and What's Wrong With You is What's Wrong With Me, and has two novel manuscripts and a collection ready to roll out into the world in 2023. He is the cofounder and Director of Storyfort and Story Forward and served as the State of Idaho's Writer in Residence from 2016 - 2019. His work has appeared in McSweeney's, Ploughshares, The Chicago Tribune's Printers Row Journal, Glimmer Train, Joyland, and elsewhere. Find out more about things Christian Winn at christainwinn.com. https://www.tanzerben.com/blog/upstate-the-podcast
Vision was published as part of the short story collection After the Flood, which was released by CCLaP in 2014. The collection represents Part Three of the linked short story collection UPSTATE re-released in 2020 by Tortoise Books (and originally released under the title The New York Stories by CCLaP in 2015).
Vision is read by Adam Lawrence (BIO below).
INTRO/OUTRO music is Drinking of Me and was generously provided by Monkey Wrench.
READER BIOResiding in New York City’s Lower East Side, Adam Lawrence works for brands, documentary filmmakers, and anyone else who stumbles across his Music Supervision, Footage Research, and related Licensing/Clearance services. Classically Gen-X. Informal post-formalist. Recent enthusiastic convert to planking. Husband, Father. Doer of photos and assorted multidisciplinary art stuffs. Adam can be found on Twitter (@madaecnerwal) & Flickr (flickr.com/photos/adamlawrence/).
https://www.tanzerben.com/blog/upstate-the-podcast
Freddie's Dead was published as part of the short story collection After the Flood, which was released by CCLaP in 2014. The collection represents Part Three of the linked short story collection UPSTATE re-released in 2020 by Tortoise Books (and originally released under the title The New York Stories by CCLaP in 2015).
Watching And Waiting is read by Robert James Russell (BIO below).
INTRO/OUTRO music is Drinking of Me and was generously provided by Monkey Wrench.
READER BIORobert James Russell is the author of the forthcoming graphic memoir Hard Body: A Personal History of My Form on Display (Simon & Schuster, 2024). He is the founding editor of the literary journal CHEAP POP. His illustrations and writing have appeared in print and online at NPR, The Rumpus, The Offing, Shenandoah, Gulf Coast, New South, and Passages North, among others. A native of Michigan, Robert lives and works in Lincoln, Nebraska. You can find his art and writing at robertjamesrussell.com, or on Twitter/Instagram at @robhollywood.
https://www.tanzerben.com/blog/upstate-the-podcast
This episode stars Noah Michelson (HuffPost Personal). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Michelson's home in the borough of Brooklyn in March 2023.
This episode stars Timothy Gager (Best of Timothy Gager: Poems, Essays, and Stories, The Thursday Appointments of Bill Sloan, Short Street, and as you will learn, much, much more). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Gager's home in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (the second episode in a row originating from the Commonwealth might I add) in March 2023.
Watching And Waiting was published as part of the short story collection After the Flood, which was released by CCLaP in 2014. The collection represents Part Three of the linked short story collection UPSTATE re-released in 2020 by Tortoise Books (and originally released under the title The New York Stories by CCLaP in 2015).
Watching And Waiting is read by Pete Anderson (BIO below).
INTRO/OUTRO music is Drinking of Me and was generously provided by Monkey Wrench.
READER BIOPete Anderson is the author of the novel Wheatyard and the short story collection Where the Marshland Came to Flower. He has lunched and drank with Ben Tanzer for fifteen great years. He once drove through Binghamton on a long road trip, but, unable to find a diner for breakfast, kept going without stopping, and finally settled for Hardee’s along the interstate.
https://www.tanzerben.com/blog/upstate-the-podcast
The Runner was published as part of the short story collection After the Flood, which was released by CCLaP in 2014. The collection represents Part Three of the linked short story collection UPSTATE re-released in 2020 by Tortoise Books (and originally released under the title The New York Stories by CCLaP in 2015).
The Runner is read by Ray Charbonneau (BIO below).
INTRO/OUTRO music is Drinking of Me and was generously provided by Monkey Wrench.
READER BIORay Charbonneau is the author of a number of books on running. That number is currently five. His work has appeared in the Boston Globe, the Christian Science Monitor, Marathon & Beyond, and other publications. He's also the host of Tardis Jukebox on WMFO-FM, a show that's been called "the best hour of radio in the Boston area." Ray has run more than thirty marathons and ultramarathons, including one and a half 100 mile races, without winning a single one. But there's always tomorrow. Find out more at y42k.com.
https://www.tanzerben.com/blog/upstate-the-podcast
Untrammeled was published as part of the short story collection After the Flood, which was released by CCLaP in 2014. The collection represents Part Three of the linked short story collection UPSTATE re-released in 2020 by Tortoise Books (and originally released under the title The New York Stories by CCLaP in 2015).
Untrammeled is read by Gerald Brennan (BIO below).
INTRO/OUTRO music is Drinking of Me and was generously provided by Monkey Wrench.
READER BIO Gerald Brennan earned a B.S. in European History from West Point and an M.S. in Journalism from Columbia University. He's the author of Resistance, which Kirkus called “an extremely impressive debut,” and four space books including the forthcoming Alone on the Moon, which prompted one blurbist to dub him "the poet laureate of the desolation of space." His writing has appeared in the Chicago Tribune and Newcity, and he was on the latter's 2019 Lit 50 list of notable literary Chicagoans; he's also the founder of Tortoise Books, a Chicago-based independent press that WGN Radio's Rick Kogan recently called “…one of the best, most provocative, and rewarding publishing houses in the entire country.” https://www.tanzerben.com/blog/upstate-the-podcast
This episode stars Shannon Downey (Badass Cross Stitch). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Downey's current home in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in February 2023.
God's Work was published as part of the short story collection After the Flood, which was released by CCLaP in 2014. The collection represents Part Three of the linked short story collection UPSTATE re-released in 2020 by Tortoise Books (and originally released under the title The New York Stories by CCLaP in 2015).
God's Work is read by Barry Graham (BIO below).
INTRO/OUTRO music is Drinking of Me and was generously provided by Monkey Wrench.
READER BIO Barry Graham is a writer and a gambler from Pennsylvania Dutch Country. https://www.tanzerben.com/blog/upstate-the-podcast
Barely Breathing was published as part of the short story collection After the Flood, which was released by CCLaP in 2014. The collection represents Part Three of the linked short story collection UPSTATE re-released in 2020 by Tortoise Books (and originally released under the title The New York Stories by CCLaP in 2015).
Barely Breathing is read by Tim Walikis (BIO below).
INTRO/OUTRO music is Drinking of Me and was generously provided by Monkey Wrench.
READER BIO Tim Walikis aka [OMIT], Timo, Slick Wilson, etc…is an artist, sculptor, musician, and Art Dept. Scenic artist for films. Member of local 829. He has exhibited his art in New York and California. Tim has played guitar bass and sang in multiple bands in New York and California. He has been in the Buffalo band Monkey Wrench since 1989. Tim is From Upstate NY, but has lived in San Diego, Los Angeles, Lake Tahoe and Buffalo. https://www.tanzerben.com/blog/upstate-the-podcast
Stabbed In The Back was published as part of the short story collection After the Flood, which was released by CCLaP in 2014. The collection represents Part Three of the linked short story collection UPSTATE re-released in 2020 by Tortoise Books (and originally released under the title The New York Stories by CCLaP in 2015).
Stabbed In The Back is read by Leesa Cross-Smith (BIO below).
INTRO/OUTRO music is Drinking of Me and was generously provided by Monkey Wrench.
READER BIO Leesa Cross-Smith is a homemaker and the author of half a dozen books: Every Kiss A War, Whiskey & Ribbons, So We Can Glow, This Close To Okay, Half-Blown Rose, and the forthcoming Goodbye Earl. She lives in Kentucky with her high school sweetheart husband and their two teenagers. https://www.tanzerben.com/blog/upstate-the-podcast
This episode stars Paul Lamb (One-Match Fire). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Lamb's home (albeit, and sadly, not his cabin) somewhere in the greater Kansas City area (which is yes, home to the recent Super Bowl winning Chiefs) in December 2022.
How It Works was published as part of the short story collection After the Flood, which was released by CCLaP in 2014. The collection represents Part Three of the linked short story collection UPSTATE re-released in 2020 by Tortoise Books (and originally released under the title The New York Stories by CCLaP in 2015).
How It Works is read by Leland Cheuk (BIO below).
INTRO/OUTRO music is Drinking of Me and was generously provided by Monkey Wrench.
READER BIO Leland Cheuk is an award-winning author of three books of fiction, most recently NO GOOD VERY BAD ASIAN. Cheuk’s work has appeared in publications such as NPR, Washington Post, San Francisco Chronicle, Salon, among other outlets. He’s been awarded fellowships at MacDowell, Hawthornden Castle, Djerassi, and elsewhere. He is the founder of the indie press 7.13 Books and lives in Los Angeles. You can follow him on Twitter @lcheuk and at lelandcheuk.com. https://www.tanzerben.com/blog/upstate-the-podcast
This episode stars Daniel Nester (Harsh Realm: My 1990s, Shader, The Incredible Sestina Anthology). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Nester's home in New York state's greater Capital Region in December 2022.
No Nothing was published as part of the short story collection So Different Now, which was released by CCLaP in 2011. The collection represents Part Two of the linked short story collection UPSTATE re-released in 2020 by Tortoise Books (and originally released under the title The New York Stories by CCLaP in 2015).
No Nothing is read by Ryan W. Bradley (BIO below).
INTRO/OUTRO music is Drinking of Me and was generously provided by Monkey Wrench.
READER BIO Ryan W. Bradley is a sometimes writer/artist and a full-time Marketing Manager for a 15-branch library system. He has written too many books and abandoned just the right amount. https://www.tanzerben.com/blog/upstate-the-podcast
Goddess was published as part of the short story collection So Different Now, which was released by CCLaP in 2011. The collection represents Part Two of the linked short story collection UPSTATE re-released in 2020 by Tortoise Books (and originally released under the title The New York Stories by CCLaP in 2015).
Goddess is read by Glen Binger (BIO below).
INTRO/OUTRO music is Drinking of Me and was generously provided by Monkey Wrench.
READER BIO Glen Binger is an author, teacher, and coach from by-the-beach, New Jersey. He hosts the podcast Betterism and his most recent books are Head Games: The Novel and Darren's Journal. https://www.tanzerben.com/blog/upstate-the-podcast
Never Said was published as part of the short story collection So Different Now, which was released by CCLaP in 2011. The collection represents Part Two of the linked short story collection UPSTATE re-released in 2020 by Tortoise Books (and originally released under the title The New York Stories by CCLaP in 2015).
Never Said is read by Joseph G. Peterson (BIO below).
INTRO/OUTRO music is Drinking of Me and was generously provided by Monkey Wrench.
READER BIO Joseph G. Peterson is the author of the novel Memorandum from the Iowa Cloud Appreciation Society. https://www.tanzerben.com/blog/upstate-the-podcast
This episode stars Sari Botton (And You May Find Yourself..., Oldster Magazine, Memoir Monday, Adventures in Journalism). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Botton's home somewhere outside of New York City in November 2022.
Just Like That was published as part of the short story collection So Different Now, which was released by CCLaP in 2011. The collection represents Part Two of the linked short story collection UPSTATE re-released in 2020 by Tortoise Books (and originally released under the title The New York Stories by CCLaP in 2015).
Just Like That is read by Giano Cromley (BIO below).
INTRO/OUTRO music is Drinking of Me and was generously provided by Monkey Wrench.
READER BIO Giano Cromley's latest novel is The Prince of Infinite Space. He's twice been a finalist for the High Plains Book Award. He is the recipient of an Artists Fellowship from the Illinois Arts Council, and recently completed a BookEnds Fellowship with Stony Brook University. He's an English professor at Kennedy-King College in Chicago, where he is chair of the Communications Department, and sits on the committee for the Center of Equity for Creative Arts. https://www.tanzerben.com/blog/upstate-the-podcast
This episode stars Mike DeCapite (Jacket Weather, Creamsicle Blue, Through the Windshield). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and DeCapite's home in... where else, the New York City in November 2022.
This episode stars Erika T. Wurth (White Horse, Crazy Horse's Girlfriend, Buckskin Cocaine). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Wurth's home in greater Denverland in December 2022.
Panties was published as part of the short story collection So Different Now, which was released by CCLaP in 2011. The collection represents Part Two of the linked short story collection UPSTATE re-released in 2020 by Tortoise Books (and originally released under the title The New York Stories by CCLaP in 2015).
Panties is read by Debra Pritzker Tanzer (BIO below).
INTRO/OUTRO music is Drinking of Me and was generously provided by Monkey Wrench.
READER BIO Debra Pritzker Tanzer worked in advertising for 20+ years in New York and Chicago and has been married to the author for much longer than that. She somewhat grudgingly agreed to read this story, and is bemused by the author's claims that it was inspired by a date they went on to the long demolished Airport Drive-In in Johnson City, NY way back in the 1980s. https://www.tanzerben.com/blog/upstate-the-podcast
Cool, Not Removed was published as part of the short story collection So Different Now, which was released by CCLaP in 2011. The collection represents Part Two of the linked short story collection UPSTATE re-released in 2020 by Tortoise Books (and originally released under the title The New York Stories by CCLaP in 2015).
Cool, Not Removed is read by Patrick Wensink (BIO below).
INTRO/OUTRO music is Drinking of Me and was generously provided by Monkey Wrench.
READER BIO Patrick Wensink is the bestselling author of several books, including his last novel, "Fake Fruit Factory" which was named one of the best books of 2015 by NPR. His nonfiction appears in Esquire, New York Times, Oxford American and others. He has also penned two acclaimed children's books. He currently teaches creative writing in the Appalachian Mountains of Tennessee. https://www.tanzerben.com/blog/upstate-the-podcast
This most excellent 300th episode stars the most excellent Sara Lippmann (LECH, JERKS, Doll Palace). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Lippmann's home office in the New York City borough known as Brooklyn in December 2022.
Stevey was published as part of the short story collection So Different Now, which was released by CCLaP in 2011. The collection represents Part Two of the linked short story collection UPSTATE re-released in 2020 by Tortoise Books (and originally released under the title The New York Stories by CCLaP in 2015).
Stevey is read by David Masciotra (BIO below).
INTRO/OUTRO music is Drinking of Me and was generously provided by Monkey Wrench.
READER BIO David Masciotra is the author of several books, including I Am Somebody: Why Jesse Jackson Matters (Bloomsbury, 2020), Mellencamp: American Troubadour (University Press of Kentucky, 2015), and a forthcoming examination of the politics of exurbia and suburbia for Melville House Publishing. He has written for the New Republic, the Progressive, the Los Angeles Review of Books, and many other publications on politics, music, and literature. He lives in Indiana, and teaches at Indiana University Northwest. https://www.tanzerben.com/blog/upstate-the-podcast
In A Single Bound was published as part of the short story collection So Different Now, which was released by CCLaP in 2011. The collection represents Part Two of the linked short story collection UPSTATE re-released in 2020 by Tortoise Books (and originally released under the title The New York Stories by CCLaP in 2015).
In A Single Bound is read by Seth Berg (BIO below).
INTRO/OUTRO music is Drinking of Me and was generously provided by Monkey Wrench.
READER BIO Seth Berg is a hatchet-wielding forest-dweller who digs tasty hallucinatory literature. A hot-sauce-addicted pyromaniac with an MFA from Bowling Green State University, Berg fantasizes about flight without mechanisms, alien glyph systems, and snowshoeing through your nocturnal dreamscapes. He is a professor, poet, artifact-maker, and amateur astrophysicist whose mathematically coded collections of poetry will haunt, invigorate, provoke, and inspire you. Berg's first book, Muted Lines From Someone Else’s Memory won the Dark Sky Books 2009 book contest. His second book, Aviary, co-authored with Bradford K. Wolfenden II, won the 2015 Artistically Declined Twin Antlers Contest, and was released by Civil Coping Mechanisms in January of 2017. Other poems and short fiction can be found in Connecticut Review, 13th Warrior Review, Spittoon Literary Review, BlazeVOX, Heavy Feather Literary Review, The Montucky Review, Masque & Spectacle, and Lake Effect, among others. Recently, poems were anthologized in GTCPR Volume III and Daddy Cool. He lives in Minnesota with his two supernatural children, Oak and Sage, and his magical better half, Kori. He loves your face. YEE-HAW, Cletus!!! https://www.tanzerben.com/blog/upstate-the-podcast
This episode stars Coco Picard (The Healing Circling, The Chronicles of Fortune, Green Lantern Press). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Picard's former home somewhere off on the East coast of the United States in September 2022.
So Different Now was published as part of the short story collection So Different Now, which was released by CCLaP in 2011. The collection represents Part Two of the linked short story collection UPSTATE re-released in 2020 by Tortoise Books (and originally released under the title The New York Stories by CCLaP in 2015).
So Different Now is read by Donald Quist (BIO below).
INTRO/OUTRO music is Drinking of Me and was generously provided by Monkey Wrench.
READER BIO
Donald Quist is author of two essay collections, Harbors, a Foreword INDIES Bronze Winner and International Book Awards Finalist, and TO THOSE BOUNDED. He has a linked story collection, For Other Ghosts. His writing has appeared in AGNI, North American Review, Michigan Quarterly Review, Poets & Writers, The Rumpus, and was Notable in Best American Essays 2018. He is creator of the online nonfiction series PAST TEN. Donald has received fellowships from Sundress Academy for the Arts and Kimbilio Fiction. He has served as a Gus T. Ridgel fellow for the English PhD program at University of Missouri and Director of the MFA in Writing at Vermont College of Fine Arts.
https://www.tanzerben.com/blog/upstate-the-podcast
Shooting Stick was published as part of the short story collection Repetition Patterns, which was released by CCLaP in 2008. The collection represents Part One of the linked short story collection UPSTATE re-released in 2020 by Tortoise Books (and originally released under the title The New York Stories by CCLaP in 2015).
Shooting Stick is read by Hosho McCreesh (BIO below).
INTRO/OUTRO music is Drinking of Me and was generously provided by Monkey Wrench.
READER BIO
Hosho McCreesh is currently writing, painting, & making stuff in the gypsum & caliche badlands of the American Southwest. His work has appeared widely in print, audio, & online.
https://www.tanzerben.com/blog/upstate-the-podcast
Life As He Had Known It was published as part of the short story collection Repetition Patterns, which was released by CCLaP in 2008. The collection represents Part One of the linked short story collection UPSTATE re-released in 2020 by Tortoise Books (and originally released under the title The New York Stories by CCLaP in 2015).
Life As He Had Known It is read by Alice Kaltman (BIO below).
INTRO/OUTRO music is Drinking of Me and was generously provided by Monkey Wrench.
READER BIO
Alice Kaltman is the author of the story collection STAGGERWING, the novels WAVEHOUSE, THE TANTALIZING TALE OF GRACE MINNAUGH, and DAWG TOWNE. Her newest book ALMOST DEADLY, ALMOST GOOD, a linked collection based on the Seven Deadly Sins and the Seven Heavenly Virtues, is out November 22, 2022. Alice's words appear in journals like Lost Balloon, The Pinch, Joyland, Hobart and BULL, and in numerous anthologies. She's not thrilled by the sound of her own voice, but you might like it. If so, you can hear her read her work at Micro Podcasts, Elevator Stories, and No Contact. Alice splits her time between Brooklyn and Montauk, NY where she lives, surfs, and swims with her husband the sculptor Daniel Wiener and Ollie the Wonder Dog.
https://www.tanzerben.com/blog/upstate-the-podcast
This episode stars Jackson Bliss (Dream Pop Origami, Counterfactual Love Stories, Amnesia of June Bugs). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Bliss' home in the City of Angels in September 2022.
Pac-Man Fever was published as part of the short story collection Repetition Patterns, which was released by CCLaP in 2008. The collection represents Part One of the linked short story collection UPSTATE re-released in 2020 by Tortoise Books (and originally released under the title The New York Stories by CCLaP in 2015).
Pac-Man Fever is read by Mark R. Brand (BIO below).
INTRO/OUTRO music is Drinking of Me and was generously provided by Monkey Wrench.
READER BIO
Mark R. Brand is a Chicago-based fiction writer and English professor. His work includes both creative and critical writing and his courses have won awards for their focus on digital literacies as well as incorporating video games as texts and tackling subjects like virtual reality, augmented reality, and atmospheric media. His previous novels and fiction collections include Life After Sleep, The Damnation of Memory, and Long Live Us, and he is currently working on a nonfiction book examining narratives of parenting in the Great Recession.
https://www.tanzerben.com/blog/upstate-the-podcast
Change Of Plans was published as part of the short story collection Repetition Patterns, which was released by CCLaP in 2008. The collection represents Part One of the linked short story collection UPSTATE re-released in 2020 by Tortoise Books (and originally released under the title The New York Stories released by CCLaP in 2015).
Change Of Plans is read by Christopher Bowen (BIO below).
INTRO/OUTRO music is Drinking of Me and was generously provided by Monkey Wrench.
READER BIO
Christopher Bowen is the author of the chapbook We Were Giants, the novella When I Return to You, I Will Be Unfed, and the non-fiction Debt. He was a semi-finalist in the 2017 Faulkner-Wisdom Novella Competition and honorable mention in the 45th New Millennium Writing Awards in the non-fiction category.
https://www.tanzerben.com/blog/upstate-the-podcast
This episode stars former (and forever) guest Giano Cromley (The Prince of Infinite Space, What We Build Upon the Ruins, The Last Good Halloween). It was recorded live and on a walk along Division Street in Chicago, IL that started and concluded at Rite Liquors in September 2022.
What We Thought We Knew was published as part of the short story collection Repetition Patterns, which was released by CCLaP in 2008. The collection represents Part One of the linked short story collection UPSTATE re-released in 2020 by Tortoise Books (and originally released under the title The New York Stories released by CCLaP in 2015).
What We Thought We Knew is read by Tom Williams (BIO below).
INTRO/OUTRO music is Drinking of Me and was generously provided by Monkey Wrench.
READER BIO
Tom Williams has published three books of fiction: The Mimic’s Own Voice, Don’t Start Me Talkin’, and Among the Wild Mulattos and Other Tales. Tom is the Dean of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences at the University of Central Arkansas. He lives in Conway, Arkansas with his wife and two children, but wishes he lived a little bit closer to Mr. Tanzer, as every time they’ve been together the fun did not stop.
https://www.tanzerben.com/blog/upstate-the-podcast
What We Thought We Knew was published as part of the short story collection Repetition Patterns, which was released by CCLaP in 2008. The collection represents Part One of the linked short story collection UPSTATE re-released in 2020 by Tortoise Books (and originally released under the title The New York Stories released by CCLaP in 2015).
What We Thought We Knew is read by Tom Williams (BIO below).
INTRO/OUTRO music is Drinking of Me and was generously provided by Monkey Wrench.
READER BIO
Tom Williams has published three books of fiction: The Mimic’s Own Voice, Don’t Start Me Talkin’, and Among the Wild Mulattos and Other Tales. Tom is the Dean of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences at the University of Central Arkansas. He lives in Conway, Arkansas with his wife and two children, but wishes he lived a little bit closer to Mr. Tanzer, as every time they’ve been together the fun did not stop.
https://www.tanzerben.com/blog/upstate-the-podcast
The Gift was published as part of the short story collection Repetition Patterns, which was released by CCLaP in 2008. The collection represents Part One of the linked short story collection UPSTATE re-released in 2020 by Tortoise Books (and originally released under the title The New York Stories released by CCLaP in 2015).
The Gift is read by Serena Makofsky (BIO below).
INTRO/OUTRO music is Drinking of Me and was generously provided by Monkey Wrench.
READER BIO
Serena spends her time writing 10-minute plays, constructing pop culture altars, and translating street rhymes into Spanish.
https://www.tanzerben.com/blog/upstate-the-podcast
This episode stars Ashley Marie Farmer (Dear Damage, Beside Myself, The Women). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Farmer's home in the Salt Lake City in August 2022.
The Babysitter was published as part of the short story collection Repetition Patterns, which was released by CCLaP in 2008. The collection represents Part One of the linked short story collection UPSTATE re-released in 2020 by Tortoise Books (and originally released under the title The New York Stories released by CCLaP in 2015).
The Babysitter is read by Cyn Vargas (BIO below).
INTRO/OUTRO music is Drinking of Me and was generously provided by Monkey Wrench.
READER BIO
Cyn Vargas is the author of the short story collection On the Way, which made Newcity Lit’s Top 5 Fiction Books by Chicago Authors, Chicago Book Review’s Favorite Books of 2015, Bustle’s 11 Short Story Collections Your Book Club Will Love, and Chicago Writers Association 2015 Book of the Year, Honorable Mention. Her prose and essays have been published in the Chicago Reader, Word Riot, Split Lip Magazine, Hypertext Magazine, Midnight Breakfast, Bird’s Thumb, among others. She received a Top 25 Finalist and Honorable Mention in two of Glimmer Train's Short Story Award for New Writers Contests, is the recipient of the Guild Literary Complex Prose Award in Fiction, is a Core Faculty Member in Short Fiction and voted 2022 Instructor of the Year at StoryStudio Chicago, Curatorial Board Member for the Ragdale Foundation, on the Board of Directors for Hypertext Studio, and earned an MFA in Creative Writing from Columbia College Chicago. Recently, her story, Myrna's Dad, was selected by Symphony Space Selected Shorts to be performed on stage. www.cynvargas.com
https://www.tanzerben.com/blog/upstate-the-podcast
Repetition Patterns was published as part of the short story collection Repetition Patterns, which was released by CCLaP in 2008. The collection represents Part One of the linked short story collection UPSTATE re-released in 2020 by Tortoise Books (and originally released under the title The New York Stories released by CCLaP in 2015).
Repetition Patterns is read by Judy Tanzer (BIO below).
INTRO/OUTRO music is Drinking of Me and was generously provided by Monkey Wrench.
READER BIO
Being the mother of the author of UPSTATE, Judy Tanzer was around for most of the time period Ben was writing about. However, it has been illuminating to her how people of different ages, that is Ben and herself, and different perspectives remember so differently, or at least somewhat differently, events that occurred. Judy had a psychotherapy practice when Ben was growing up, so the influence of wanting to understand why and how things happen, runs in the family.
https://www.tanzerben.com/blog/upstate-the-podcast
This episode stars Jerry Stahl, yes that Jerry Stahl (Permanent Midnight, I, Fatty, Nein, Nein, Nein!). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Stahl's home in the City of Angels in September 2022.
This episode stars Andrew Farkas (The Great Indoorsman, The Big Red Herring, Sunsphere and Self-Titled Debut). It was recorded in-person, yes, you read that correctly, at Longman & Eagle in Chicago, IL in July 2022.
This episode stars Eileen Joyce Donovan (Promises) on the occasion of the release of her new book A Lady Newspaperman's Dilemma. It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Donovan's home on the island of Manhattan in September 2022.
This episode stars Jonathan Papernick (There is No Other, The Book of Stone, I Am My Beloveds). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Papernick's now former Massachusetts home in June 2022.
This episode stars Kacy Tellessen (Freaks of a Feather). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Tellessen's office somewhere off in the great Northwest in July 2022.
This episode stars Elizabeth Coffey and Mark Wish (Coolest American Stories). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Coffey and Wish's home in the City of New York in June 2022.
This episode stars Brad Listi (Be Brief and Tell Them Everything, Board, Attention.Deficit.Disorder., Otherppl with Brad Listi). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Listi's home studio in the City of Angels in June 2022. BONUS MUSIC (for the Listi): Short Metal Blast by Alexander Nakarada | https://www.serpentsoundstudios.com
Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com
Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
This episode stars Jason Fisk (Sub Urbane, Sadly Beautiful, Salt Creek Anthology) on the occasion of the release of his debut novel The Craigslist Incident. It was recorded in-person, yes, you read that correctly, at Moody's Pub in Chicago, IL in June 2022.
This episode stars Christine Marie Eberle (Finding God in Ordinary Time) on the occasion of the release of her new book Finding God Abiding: Daily Meditations. It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Eberle's home in Pennsylvania in May 2022 (where she encourages you to read only one meditation per day).
This episode stars Angelique Pesce on the occasion of the release of her debut novel American Pastime. It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Pesce's home in Connecticut, also the home of ESPN, which seems appropriate in May 2022.
This episode stars Jared Yates Sexton (The Hook and The Haymaker, The Man They Wanted Me to Be, American Rule: How a Nation Conquered the World but Failed Its People and many more). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Sexton's home in the increasingly purple state of Georgia in April 2022.
This episode stars Anita K. Newman on the occasion of the release of her debut children's book Clark the Colorblind Chameleon. It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Newman's home in Carver, Massachusetts, named for John Carver, the first governor of the Plymouth Colony, so there's that, in May 2022.
This episode stars Keith Lesmeister (We Could've Been Happy Here, EastOver Press). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Lesmeister's home, which just may be proximal to the Driftless Area (which is pretty cool if you don't know and which you'll learn more about on this episode of the podcast) in April 2022.
This episode stars Adam Robinson (Publishing Genius, Studio Friend, Good Book Developers). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Robinson's office in greater Atlantaland in April 2022.
This episode stars Deborah S. Greenhut (The Hoarder's Wife). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Greenhut's home in The Garden State in March 2022.
This episode stars Andrew DeYoung (The Temps, The Exo Project). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and DeYoung's home office in the great state of Minnesota in February 2022.
This episode stars Amy Long (Taylor Swift as Books, Codependence: Essays). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and what I believe must have been Florida in February 2022.
This episode stars Luke Jerod Kummer (The Blue Period, Takers Mad). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and an underground location outside New York City in January 2022.
This episode stars Beth Gilstrap (Deadheading & Other Stories, I Am Barbarella: Stories). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Gilstrap's home in Kentucky, not North Carolina, in December 2021.
This episode stars Matthew Specktor (Always Crashing in the Same Car, That Summertime Sound, Los Angeles Review of Books). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Specktor's home in the City of Angels in December 2021.
This episode stars Lee Matthew Goldberg (Stalker Stalked, Grenade Bouquets, Runaway Train and so many more). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Goldberg's home on the island known as Manhattan in October 2021.
This episode stars Diane Grimard Wilson (Brain Dance: My Journey with Invisible Illness, Second Chances, and the Wonders of Applied Neuroscience). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Wilson's home in the greater Chicagoland suburbs in August 2021.
This episode stars Frank Zafiro (Wrong Place, Write Crime podcast and so many gritty, crime novels). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Zafiro's home in the Pacific Northwest in August 2021.
This episode stars James Tate Hill (Blind Man's Bluff). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Hill's home in North Carolina (which just may be our very first discussion originated from there) in October 2021.
This episode stars Joanna C. Valente (A Love Story, Yes, Poetry, Luna Luna Magazine). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Valente's home in New York (not Yonkers sadly) in September 2021.
This episode stars Avner Landes (Meiselman: The Lean Years). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL (and Landes' former hometown, sort of), and Landes' current home in Tel Aviv (yes, that Tel Aviv) in August 2021.
This episode stars Robert Tomaino (New Madrid). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Tomaino's home, which is not out west, but east (east of the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio anyway) in Connecticut in October 2021.
This episode stars Maria Price (Love You Still). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Price's home in the Hawkeye State otherwise known as Iowa in October 2021.
This episode stars Christina Beauchemin (Let My Legacy Be Love: A Shortcut to Self-Loving). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Beauchemin's home in the glory that is upstate New York in September 2021.
This episode stars Trish McDonald (Paper Bags). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and McDonald's home in South Florida (which is not so terribly far really from where Hemingway wrote) in September 2021.
This episode stars D.W. Hogan (Unbroken Bonds). It was recorded, wait for it...live on the streets of Chicago in June 2021 and marks both the first live episode since before the pandemic began, but the first walk and talk posting since the way back.*
*Please enjoy the return of street noise and random ambient scuzz.
This episode stars Elizabeth B. Splaine (Swan Song Devil's Grace, Blind Order). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Splaine's home in the state of mind also known as Rhode Island in September 2021.
This episode stars Alisha Bashaw (Four Eyes: A Memoir of a Millenial Caregiver). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Bashaw's home in the glorious state (and state of being) that is Colorado in August 2021.
This episode stars Mike Keren (Four Funerals, No Marriage). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Keren's home in the great state of New Jersey in August 2021.
This episode stars Anne Poirier (The Body Joyful - My Journey from Self-Loathing to Self-Acceptance, Shaping Perspectives). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Poirier's home (and the center of The Body Joyful movement) in Maine in August 2021.
This episode stars Emory Easton (Mother, Can You Hear Me Now?). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Easton's home in Central Illinois in July 2021.
This episode stars Grace Agnew (Sanctuary). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Agnew's office in New Jersey in July 2021.
This episode stars Gregory L. Norris (Ex Marks the Spot and so much more). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Xanadu (for real) in August 2021.
This episode stars Spencer Fleury (How I'm Spending My Afterlife). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Fleury's home just minutes away from The Gold Cane in August 2021.
This episode stars Matt Fitzpatrick (Demon Tide, Matriarch Game, Crosshairs). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Fitzpatrick's home on Cape Cod in July 2021.
This episode stars Barbara Newman (The Dreamcatcher Codes). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Newman's home in Western Massachusetts in April 2021.
This episode stars Jason Fisk (Sub Urbane, Hank and Jules, Salt Creek Anthology, Sadly Beautiful). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Fisk's home in the Chicago suburbs in April 2021.
This episode stars Mallory Smart (Maudlin House, Textual Healing, The Only Living Girl in Chicago). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Smart's home in the Chicago suburbs in April 2021.
This episode stars Wayne Goodman (Queer Words Podcast, numerous books). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Goodman's home in Northern California in April 2021.
This episode stars B.B. Russell (Kindreds). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Russell's upstate New York home in April 2021.
This very special 250th episode stars Chicago artist and author Dmitry Samarov (Old Style, All Hack, Soviet Stamps, Music to My Eyes). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Samarov's Chicago home in March 2021.
This episode stars Nancie Laird Young (Tea with Dad - Finding Myself in My Father's Life). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Young's father's Maryland home in April 2021.
This episode stars Amanda Headlee (Till We Become Monsters). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Headlee's home somewhere off in the snowy woods of Pennsylvania in April 2021.
This episode stars Joshua Chaplinsky (The Paradox Twins, Whispers in the Ear of a Dreaming Ape, Kanye West-Reanimator). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life (temporary) home studio in Chicago, IL and Chaplinsky's home in the city so nice they named it twice (yes, it's New York City) in March 2021.
This episode stars Amanda Headlee (Till We Become Monsters), B.B. Russell (Kindreds) and Gregory Norris (Ex Marks The Spot). It was recorded during SMOL Fair 2021 and over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life (temporary) home studio in Chicago, IL and the authors various home studios in March 2021.
This episode stars NM Senator Bill O'Neill (Panoramic Diaries, Short Session, The Definition of Empty). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life (temporary) home studio in Chicago, IL and Senator O'Neill's office at the New Mexico Legislature in March 2021.
This episode stars Nancie Laird Young (Tea with Dad), Barbara Newman (The Dreamcatcher Codes), Marc Sheinbaum (Memories Live Here) & Sarina Prabasi (The Coffeehouse Resistance). It was recorded during SMOL Fair 2021 and over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life (temporary) home studio in Chicago, IL and the authors various home studios in March 2021.
This episode stars Dr. Gina Barreca (Fast Funny Women, "If You Lean In, Will Men Just Look Down Your Blouse?": Questions and Thoughts for Loud, Smart Women in Turbulent Times, They Used to Call Me Snow White . . . But I Drifted: Women's Strategic Use of Humor). It was recorded over the Zoom between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life (temporary) home studio in Chicago, IL and Dr. Barreca's home office in the great state of Connecticut in February 2021.
This episode stars Kelly Kreglow (Kelly Kay Books, Crushing, Over A Barrel). It was recorded over the Zoom (I know) between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life (temporary) home studio in Chicago, IL and Kreglow's husband (and previous guest) Eric Spitznagel's home office in the actual second city itself in February 2021.
This episode stars Marc Sheinbaum (Memories Live Here). It was recorded over the Zoom (because you know) between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life (temporary) home studio in Chicago, IL and Sheinbaum's home office in my home state of New York in January 2021.
This episode stars Joe Walters (Independent Book Review). It was recorded over the Zoom (and we all know why that is) between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life (temporary) home studio in Chicago, IL and Walter's home office out east in the great state of Pennsylvania in December 2020.
This episode stars David Masciotra (I Am Somebody: Why Jesse Jackson Matters, Barack Obama: Invisible Man, Working On a Dream: The Progressive Political Vision of Bruce Springsteen). It was recorded over the Zoom (I know you know why) between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life (temporary) home studio in Chicago, IL and Masciotra's home office out in the glorious midwest plains of Indiana in December 2020.
This Year-End BONUS episode stars Kailah "KP" Peters and Meg Harris of They Call Us Feminist Literary Magazine. It was recorded over the Zoom (yes, still, apologies)* between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Peters and Harris' home offices across the very same great city of Chicago in December 2020.
*And please do disregard my moments of oddly robotic voice and other seemingly weird weather-induced Zoom glitchery.
This episode stars Emily Schultz (The Blondes, little threats). It was recorded over the Zoom (because look, you know)* between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life (temporary) home studio in Chicago, IL and Schultz's borrowed office in the artistic haven also known as Brooklyn in December 2020.
*And please do disregard the early moments of fanboying, it is corrected in short order, but could not be avoided.
This episode stars Jenny Bhatt (Each Of Us Killers, Desi Books). It was recorded over the Zoom (because that's still the thing, obviously) between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Bhatt's home in Houston (our second Houston-based guest in 2020, yo) in November 2020.
This episode stars Elizabeth B. Splaine (Devil's Grace, Blind Order). It was recorded over the Zoom (because that's still the thing, obviously) between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL (because you know) and Splaine's home in the state of mind also known as Rhode Island in November 2020.
This episode stars Randall Gavin Horton ({#289-128}, Hook: A Memoir). It was recorded over the Zoom (because that's the thing for now, and maybe forever if we all don't start wearing masks) between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL (as everything must be now) and the wilds of the great state of Connecticut in October 2020.
This episode stars Kathryn Haueisen (Mayflower Chronicles: A Tale of Two Cultures). It was recorded over the Zoom (because that's the thing for now, and maybe forever if we all don't start wearing masks) between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL (as everything will be now, because again, the mask thing, and because that's the thing for the foreseeable future anyway) and (the home of the cheating Astros) Houston, TX in October 2020.
This episode stars Matthew Salesses (The Hundred Year Flood, Disappear Doppelgänger Disappear). It was recorded over the Zoom (because that's the thing for now, and maybe forever if we all don't start wearing masks) between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL (as everything will be now, because again, the mask thing, and because that's the thing for the foreseeable future anyway) and the wilds of Iowa in September 2020.
This episode stars Satish Prabasi (Fragments of Memory: A Nepali National's Reminiscences). It was recorded over the Zoom (because that's the thing for now, maybe forever) between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL (as everything will be now, because again, that's the thing for the foreseeable future, and possibly forever) and the Green Mountains of Vermont in August 2020.
This episode stars Matt Fitzpatrick (Crosshairs, Matriarch Game). It was recorded over the Zoom (because that's the thing now, yo) between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL (as everything will be now, for the foreseeable future, and possibly forever) and a parked car somewhere on Cape Cod in August 2020.
This episode stars Lee Matthew Goldberg (The Ancestor, Slow Down, The Mentor). It was recorded over the Zoom (and is my first endeavor at doing so, yo) between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL (as everything will be now, for the foreseeable future, and possibly forever) and Goldberg's home in the city that never sleeps in July 2020.
This episode stars the Jennifer Pastiloff (On Being Human-A Memoir of Waking Up, Living Real, And Listening Hard). It was recorded over the Skype between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL (as everything will be now, for the foreseeable future, and possibly forever) and Pastiloff's home in the City of Angels in July 2020.
This episode stars the Benjamin Drevlow (Ina-Baby, BULL). It was recorded over the Skype between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL (as everything will be now, for the foreseeable future, and possibly forever) and Drevlow's home in the great state of Georgia in July 2020.
This episode stars Jonathan Evison (West of Here, The Revised Fundamentals of Caregiving, Lawn Boy). It was recorded over the Skype between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL (as everything will be now, for the foreseeable future, and possibly forever) and Evison's compound off in the wilds of Western Washington in June 2020.
This episode stars the Chris Green (American Gun: A Poem by 100 Chicagoans). It was recorded over the Skype between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL (as everything will be now, for the foreseeable future, and possibly forever) and Green's Chicago home in June 2020.
This episode stars the Donald Quist (Harbors, For Other Ghosts, Past Ten, Black & White & Read All Over). It was recorded over the Skype between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL (as everything will be now, for the foreseeable future, and possibly forever) and Quist's Missouri home in June 2020.
This episode stars the glorious Alice Kaltman (The Tantalizing Tale of Grace Minnaugh, Wavehouse, Staggerwing). It was recorded over the Skype between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL (as everything will be now, for the foreseeable future, and possibly forever) and Kaltman's Brooklyn home (though I do like to imagaine it was Kaltman's Montauk surf compound) in April 2020.
This episode stars Hosho McCreesh and Brian McGettrick (A Deep & Gorgeous Thirst - Unabridged Audio & Everything Else We Must Endure respectively). It was recorded over the Skype between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL (as everything will be now, for the foreseeable future, and possibly forever), McCreesh's hidden New Mexico bunker and McGettrick's home in the north of Ireland.
This episode stars Kurt Baumeister (PAX AMERICANA). It was recorded over the Skype between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL (as everything will be now, for the foreseeable future, and possibly forever) and Baumeister's home office somewhere off in the great state of Virginia.
This episode stars Shifra Malka (Dare to Matter: Lessons in Living a Large Life). It was recorded over the Skype between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL (as everything will be for the foreseeable future, and possibly forever) and Malka's home office in Baltimore, MD.
This episode stars Stuart Ross (Jenny in Corona). It was recorded over the Skype between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL (as everything will be for the foreseeable future) and Ross' home office, which is in Chicago, IL as well (and where there are no immediate plans to record any further episodes, though you never know).
This episode stars Judith Krummeck (Old New Worlds). It was recorded at the 3rd Coast Cafe in Chicago, IL in February 2020.
This episode stars Sharyn Skeeter (Dancing with Langston). It was recorded at the JW Marriott in Chicago, IL in February 2020.
This episode stars Jeremy T. Wilson (Adult Teeth). It was recorded at the 3rd Coast Cafe in Chicago, IL in January 2020.
This episode stars Tony Brunelli (Anthony Brunelli Fine Arts, Louis K. Meisel Gallery). It was recorded over the Skype between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Brunelli's studio somewhere off in sunny Florida in December 2019.
This episode stars Dave Newman (Raymond Carver Will Not Raise Our Children, Two Small Birds, East Pittsburgh Downlow). It was recorded over the Skype between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Newman's home office on the outskirts of Pittsburgh in November 2019.
This episode stars Leland Cheuk (No Good Very Bad Asian, The Misadventures of Sulliver Pong, 7.13 Books). It was recorded at the 3rd Coast Cafe in Chicago, IL in November 2019.
This episode stars Gint Aras (Relief by Execution, The Fugue). It was recorded at the Billy Goat Tavern in Chicago, IL, not Portland, in November 2019.
This episode stars Liz Scott (This Never Happened). It was recorded over the Skype between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Scott's office in Portland, OR, yes, Portland, again, and again, sweet, right, yes, again, in October 2019.
This episode stars Melissa Duclos (Besotted, Magnify, Amplify). It was recorded over the Skype between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Duclos' office in Portland, OR, yes, Portland, again, sweet, right, in September 2019.
This episode stars Greg Gerding (University of Hell Press). It was recorded over the Skype between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and the University of Hell Press offices in greater PDX in August 2019.
This episode stars Josh Denslow (Not Everyone Is Special). It was recorded over the Skype between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Denslow's home, which is not in Los Angeles, but somewhere in the great state of Texas in August 2019.
This episode stars Greg Santos (Blackbirds, The Emperor's Sofa, Rabbit Punch). It was recorded over the Skype between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Santo's home country of wait for it...Canada, yes, that Canada, again, in July 2019.
This episode stars Neile Parisi (Today My Name Is Billie). It was recorded over the Skype between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Parisi's home in the quaint, literary environ otherwise known as Connecticut, in June 2019.
This episode stars Mica Lemiski (Fainting Couch Feminists, VICE). It was recorded over the Skype between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Lemiski's home country of Canada, yes, that Canada, in May 2019.
This episode stars Brian Adams (Offline, Love in the Time of Climate Change). It was recorded over the Skype between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Adam's home in the wilds of Western Massachusetts in May 2019.
This episode stars Sarina Prabasi (The Coffeehouse Resistance). It was recorded over the Skype between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Prabasi's office in New York City in May 2019.
This episode stars Annie Rodriguez (Lifeforce). It was recorded over the Skype between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Rodriguez's home in the wild environs of Pennsylvania in April 2019.
This episode stars Kris Hull (Nia Impact Capital, Money Doula Blog). It was recorded over the Skype between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and the most glorious East Bay, home of Nia Impact Capital, in April 2019.
This milestone episode (he says only semi- tongue-in-cheek) stars Brad Listi (OTHERPPL with Brad Listi). It was recorded over the Skype between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Listi's state of the art recording studio hidden deep within the endlessly sun-dappled and bleached streets of Los Angeles, CA in March 2019.
This episode stars Duke Haney (Death Valley Superstars, Subversia). It was recorded* over the Skype between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life home studio in Chicago, IL and Haney's home in Los Angeles, CA in March 2019.
*Please do ignore the brief spots of Skype glitchiness around the mid-point and end of the show, they are brief and they will pass, and they may even add character.
This episode stars Barbra J. Dillon (Fanbase Press). It was recorded over the Skype between the This Blog Will Change Your Life corporate offices in Chicago, IL and the Fanbase Press media compound in Los Angeles in February 2019.
This episode stars Pete Anderson (Wheatyard, Where The Marshland Came To Flower). It was recorded at an undisclosed location high above Lincoln Park in Chicago, IL in February 2019.
This episode stars Leza Cantoral (Trash Panda, CLASH Books). It was recorded over the Facetime, yes, that Facetime, a first, yo, between the This Blog Will Change Your Life corporate offices in Chicago, IL and Live Free or Die New Hampshire where the Cantoral makes magic in January 2019.
This episode stars Donald G. Evans (An Off-White Christmas). It was recorded walking through the Gold Coast neighborhood in Chicago, IL in November 2018.
This episode stars Jenn Stroud Rossmann (The Place You're Supposed To Laugh). It was recorded at Osmium Coffee Bar in Chicago, IL in December 2018.
This episode stars Simon A. Smith (Son of Soothsayer). It was recorded walking through Boys Town and any number of points North (East, West and South) in Chicago, IL in November 2018.
This episode stars Hosho McCreesh (Chinese Gucci*, A DEEP AND GORGEOUS THIRST, and turns still the sun at dusk blood-red). It was recorded over the Skype between the This Blog Will Change Your Life corporate offices in Chicago, IL and the vast plains of New Mexico where McCreesh plies his trade in October 2018.
(*one may still Pre-Order Chinese Gucci through 11/5 and one may very well want to do so post-haste - hoshomccreesh.com/chinesegucci)
This episode stars Terry H. Watkins/Hiner (Darling Girl). It was recorded over the Skype between the This Blog Will Change Your Life corporate offices in Chicago, IL and Hiner's abode in Austin, TX in September 2018.
This episode stars Matt Fitzpatrick (Crosshairs). It was recorded over the Skype between the This Blog Will Change Your Life corporate offices in Chicago, IL and Fitzpatrick's compound in Chatham, MA in October 2018.
This episode stars Christine Marie Eberle (Finding God in Ordinary Time). It was recorded over the Skype between the This Blog Will Change Your Life corporate offices in Chicago, IL and Eberle's office at Gwynedd Mercy University near Philadelphia in September 2018.
This episode stars Harry Marks (Covered). It was recorded over the Skype between the This Blog Will Change Your Life corporate offices in Chicago, IL and a town outside of Rutgers University in September 2018.
This episode stars Vanessa Blakeslee (Train Shots, Juventad, Perfect Conditions). It was recorded over the Skype between the This Blog Will Change Your Life corporate offices in Chicago, IL and The Treasure Coast of Florida in August 2018.
This episode stars Sarah Ward (Aesop Lake). It was recorded over the Skype between the This Blog Will Change Your Life corporate offices in Chicago, IL and Ward's office on the campus of the University of Vermont in July 2018.
This episode stars Greg Olear (Dirty Rubles, Fathermucker). It was recorded* over the Skype between the This Blog Will Change Your Life corporate offices in Chicago, IL and Olear's car in an undisclosed location somewhere in the Hudson Valley region of New York in July 2018.
*Please do allow for some glitchy, and sporadic, Bluetooth adjustments during the first 8 minutes of the show.
This episode stars Charita Cole Brown (Defying The Verdict). It was recorded over the Skype between the This Blog Will Change Your Life corporate offices in Chicago, IL and Brown's home in Baltimore, MD in July 2018.
This episode stars Dwayne Hayes (STAND). It was recorded over the Skype between the This Blog Will Change Your Life corporate offices in Chicago, IL and the STAND inner sanctum, which is located in a top secret location in Michigan in June 2018.
This episode stars Daniel Ford and Sean Touhy (Writer's Bone). It was recorded over the Skype between the This Blog Will Change Your Life corporate offices in Chicago, IL and the Writer's Bone top secret compound, which is located in and around Boston, MA in May 2018.
This episode stars Joseph Peterson (Gunmetal Blue, Beautiful Piece, Gideon's Confession). It was recorded at 3rd Coast Cafe* in Chicago, IL in December 2017.
*Please do ignore some of the early crowd banter, it dissipates, for real.
This episode stars Tabitha Blankenbiller (Eats of Eden). It was recorded over the Skype between the This Blog Will Change Your Life corporate offices in Chicago, IL and Blankenbiller's home, which is not quite in Portland, OR in February 2018.
This episode stars Vincent Chu (Like a Champion). It was recorded over the Skype between the This Blog Will Change Your Life corporate offices in Chicago, IL and Chu's home in San Francisco, CA in February 2018.
This episode stars Giano Cromley (The Last Good Halloween, What We Build Upon the Ruins*). It was recorded walking through West Town on Chicago Avenue in Chicago, IL in January 2018.
*Or What We Build Upon the Something, Something as some know it.
This episode stars Paul Cohen (The Glamshack). It was recorded at 3rd Coast Cafe* in Chicago, IL in November 2017.
*Please do ignore some of the early crowd banter, it dissipates, for real.
This episode stars Bill Mares (The Full Vermonty: Vermont in the Age of Trump, Real Vermonters Don't Milk Goats, Making Beer: From Homebrew to the House of Fermentology). It was recorded over the Skype between the This Blog Will Change Your Life corporate offices in Chicago, IL and Mare's home in Burlington, VT in February 2018.
This very special 175th episode stars Lori Hettler (TNBBC's The Next Best Book Blog). It was recorded over the Skype between the This Blog Will Change Your Life corporate offices in Chicago, IL and Hettler's home in Tobyhanna, PA in February 2018.
This episode stars Bob Hartley (North and Central, Following Tommy). It was recorded walking through the Loop towards Millenium Park and sitting in the park itself in Chicago, IL in November 2017.
This episode stars David Masciotra (Working on a Dream: The Progressive Political Vision of Bruce Springsteen, Barack Obama: Invisible Man). It was recorded at Dollop Coffee Co.* in Chicago, IL in January 2018.
*Please do ignore some of the early crowd banter, again, it dissipates, for real.
This episode stars Nicholas Barron (Two Of One Mind, Scary Beautiful). It was recorded at Metropolis Coffee* in Chicago, IL in November 2017.
*Please do ignore some of the early crowd banter, it dissipates, for real.
This episode stars Jennifer Steele (YOUMedia, Revolving Door Arts Foundation, ChiTeen Lit Fest). It was recorded at Harold Washington Library Center in Chicago, IL in October 2017.
This episode stars Glen Binger (Stories By The Sea, Only Human, Bing Bang Co.). It was recorded over the Skype between the This Blog Will Change Your Life corporate offices in Chicago, IL and the backyard of Binger's home in Belmar, NJ (which as it happens is really close to the beach and absolutely killing us) in August 2017.
This episode stars Elaine Soloway (The Division Street Princess, She's Not The Type, Green Nails and Other Acts of Rebellion). It was recorded in Chicago, IL at Soloway's home in November 2017.
This episode stars Christopher Bowen (We Were Giants; When I Return To You, I will Be Unfed; This Handbook Will Change Your Life 002 - DEBT). It was recorded over the Skype between the This Blog Will Change Your Life corporate offices in Chicago, IL and an undisclosed location in Western Pennsylvania where Bowen was furiously making his final edits to DEBT in October 2017.
To learn more about This Handbook Will Change Your Life 002 - DEBT by the Christopher Bowen, or even better, Pre-Order it, please go here.
This episode stars previous guest Patricia Ann McNair (Temple of Air, And These Are The Good Times). It was recorded in Chicago, IL at McNair's office at Columbia College in October 2017.
This episode stars Lee L. Krecklow (The Expanse Between). It was recorded in Milwaukee, WI at Cafe Hollander in August 2017.
This episode stars Mike McClelland (Gay Zoo Day). It was recorded over the Skype between the This Blog Will Change Your Life corporate offices in Chicago, IL and McClelland's home in Athens, GA in August 2017.
This episode stars Garret Schuelke (ANAMAKEE, Whup Jamboree). It was recorded while walking north on LaSalle Street in Chicago, IL in June 2017.
This episode stars Michael Wayne Hampton (Bad Kids from Good Schools, Roller Girls Love Bobby Knight). It was recorded over the Skype between the This Blog Will Change Your Life corporate offices in Chicago, IL and Hampton's home in Cincinnati, OH in June 2017.
This episode stars Lori Jakiela (Portrait of the Artist as a Bingo Worker: On Work and the Writing Life, Belief Is Its Own Kind of Truth, Maybe). It was recorded over the Skype between the This Blog Will Change Your Life Hampton Inn satellite office in West Bloomfield, MI and Jakiela's home in Trafford, PA in August 2017.
This episode stars Bill Yarrow (The Vig of Love, We All Saw it Coming). It was recorded in Chicago, IL at Revival Food Hall in May 2017.
This episode stars Sam Slaughter (God in Neon, When You Cross That Line, The Manual). It was recorded in Washington, DC at AWP in February 2017.
This episode stars Sequoia Nagamatsu (Where We Go When All We Were Is Gone). It was recorded in Washington, DC at AWP in February 2017.
This episode stars Shaindel Beers (A Brief History of Time, The Children's War). It was recorded in Washington, DC at AWP in February 2017.
This episode stars Seth Berg (Muted Lines from Someone Else's Memory, Aviary). It was recorded over the Skype between the This Blog Will Change Your Life corporate offices in Chicago, IL and Berg's home in Minneapolis, MN in April 2017.
This episode stars Joshua Mohr (Some Things That Meant the World to Me, Fight Song, Sirens). It was recorded over the Skype between the This Blog Will Change Your Life corporate offices in Chicago, IL and some random Airbnb in Boston, MA in March 2017.
This episode stars Kara Vernor (Because I Wanted to Write You a Pop Song). It was recorded over the Skype between the This Blog Will Change Your Life corporate offices in Chicago, IL and Vernor's home in Napa, CA in March 2017.
This episode stars W. Todd Kaneko (The Dead Wrestler Elegies). It was recorded in Washington, DC at AWP in February 2017.
This episode stars Melissa Faliveno (Ampersand: The Poets & Writers Podcast). It was recorded in Washington, DC at AWP in February 2017.
This episode stars Rick Kogan (Chicago Tribune, After Hours with Rick Kogan, A Chicago Tavern: A Goat, a curse and the American Dream). It was recorded in Chicago, IL at the Billy Goat Tavern in March 2016.
This episode stars Wendy C. Ortiz (Excavation: A Memoir, Hollywood Notebook, Bruja). It was recorded in Washington, DC at AWP in February 2017.
This episode stars Donald Quist (Harbors). It was recorded in Washington, DC at AWP in February 2017.
This episode stars Steve Lafler (Mean Cat, Dog Boy, Bughouse). It was recorded over the Skype between the This Blog Will Change Your Life corporate offices in Chicago, IL and Lafler's home in Santa Rosa, CA in December 2016.
This episode stars Dane Bahr (Dock Street Press, The Story Project podcasts). It was recorded driving somewhere along 84 East from Portland, OR to Boise, ID in August 2016.
This episode stars Cory Martin (Love Sick, Write Out Publishing). It was recorded over the Skype between the This Blog Will Change Your Life corporate offices in Chicago, IL and Martin's home in Venice Beach, CA* in December 2016.
*Unquestionably the greatest place in the world, despite our 14 year-old's protestations to the contrary.
This Commercial for This Handbook Will Change Your Life 001 - TACOS* by the Cyn Vargas Will Change Your Life was recorded in The Chase Tower Food Court in Chicago, IL in December 2016.
- This Handbook Will Change Your Life 001 - TACOS is coming soon though you should not hesitate to pre-order now thank you (www.changeyourlifethiswill.com/001-tacos).
This episode stars Gint Aras (The Fugue, Finding the Moon in Sugar). It was recorded in Chicago, IL in the Winter Garden at the Harold Washington Library in November 2016.
This episode stars Alice Kaltman (Staggerwing) and includes an unplanned guest appearance from the quite fab visual artist Rob Funderburk. It was recorded in Chicago, IL at the Chicago Book Expo, which was being held at Columbia College, in November 2016.
This episode stars Len Kuntz (I'm Not Supposed To Be Here and Neither Are You). It was recorded in Seattle, WA at the home of Dane Bahr and Dock Street Press in August 2016.
This episode stars Masande Ntshanga (The Reactive). It was recorded in Chicago, IL at Revival Food Hall in September 2016.
This episode stars Chris Tarry (How To Carry Bigfoot Home). Not Chris L. Terry. It was recorded in Los Angeles, CA at AWP in March 2016 and wraps-up our series of AWP 2016 podcasts.
This episode stars Leland Cheuk (The Misadventures of Sulliver Pong, Letters from Dinosaurs). It was recorded in Chicago, IL in the lobby of the Allegro Hotel in July 2016.
This episode stars Susan Messing (Messing With a Friend, The Real Live Brady Bunch). It was recorded in Chicago, IL on the back porch and in the kitchen of Susan Messing's house* in July 2016.
*Please note, that it is quite possible that you will encounter a leaf blower around the sixteen minute mark and that said leaf blower may factor into the conversation for approximately two minutes.
This episode stars Alex Kudera (Auggie's Revenge, Fight for Your Long Day). It was recorded in Los Angeles, CA at AWP in March 2016.
This episode stars Zoe Zolbrod (Currency, The Telling). It was recorded at the 2016 Printers Row Lit Fest in Chicago, IL in June 2016.
This episode stars Eric Spitznagel (Fast Forward, Old Records Never Die). It was recorded at the 2016 Printers Row Lit Fest in Chicago, IL in June 2016.
This episode stars Christine Maul Rice (Swarm Theory, Hypertext Magazine). It was recorded at the Bourgeois Pig Cafe in Chicago, IL in May 2016.
This episode stars Gabino Iglesias (Zero Saints, Gutmouth). It was recorded in Los Angeles, CA at AWP in March 2016.
This episode stars Kali VanBaale, Mathieu Cailler and Vanessa Blakeslee (The Good Divide, Loss Angeles and Juventud respectively). It was recorded in Los Angeles, CA at AWP (and Riordan's Tavern) in March 2016.
This episode stars Alan Heathcock (Volt). It was recorded at the Saint Lawrence Gridiron in Boise, ID in March 2016.
This episode stars Anthony Michael Morena (The Voyager Record A Transmission). It was recorded in Los Angeles, CA at AWP in March 2016.
This episode stars David Olimpio (This Is Not A Confession). It was recorded in Los Angeles, CA at AWP in March 2016.
This episode stars Aubrie Cox and Jim Warner (Citizen Lit). It was recorded at the East Quad at the Voices of the Middle West 2016 conference in Ann Arbor, MI in March 2016.
This episode stars Robert Vaughan (Microtones, Addicts & Basements, Rift). It was recorded in the hotel bar at the Millennium Knickerbocker Hotel Chicago in Chicago, IL in March 2015.
This episode stars Brian Alan Ellis and Bud Smith (King Shit, Tables Without Chairs #1, F250, House of Vlad, Unknown Press). It was recorded* over the Skype between the This Podcast Will Change Your Life corporate offices in Chicago, IL and Ellis' home in Tallahassee, FL Smith's home in Washington Height, NY in February 2016.
*With apologies for the glitchy volume during the first several minutes. It gets addressed. Promise.
This episode stars Keidra Chaney (The Learned Fangirl). It was recorded at GePaDe Caffe in Chicago, IL in December 2015.
This episode stars Steve Karas (Kind Sorta America Dream). It was recorded walking around the Loop in a quite chilly Chicago, IL in December 2015.
This episode stars Duncan MacKenzie (Bad at Sports, Citizen Brick). It was recorded at Columbia College in Chicago, IL in December 2015.
This episode stars Mel Bosworth and Ryan Ridge (Camouflage Country, Freight, American Homes, Small Press Book Review, Juked). It was recorded over the Skype between the TBWCYL, Inc. corporate offices in Chicago, IL and Bosworth's home in Northhampton, MA and Ridge's home in Louisville, KY in December 2015.
This episode stars Amy Guth (Three Fallen Women, WGN Radio, Strangewaze, The Op-Ed Project Public Voices Fellowship and much, much more). It was recorded at GePaDe Caffe in Chicago, IL in November 2015.
This episode stars John "Johnny Misfit" Wawrzaszek (CHIPRC, Chicago Zine Fest, Two Cookie Minimum). It was recorded in Chicago, IL in the Winter Garden at the Harold Washington Library in December 2015.
This episode stars Jerry Brennan (Tortoise Books, Resistance, Project Genesis). It was recorded at Oasis Cafe in Chicago, IL in November 2015.
This episode stars Wendy C. Ortiz (Excavation, Hollywood Notebook). It was recorded over the Skype between the TBWCYL, Inc. corporate offices in Chicago, IL and Ortiz's home in Los Angeles, CA in September 2015.
This episode stars Christian Picciolini (Romantic Violence - Memoirs of an American Skinhead). It was recorded at Soho House Chicago in Chicago, IL in August 2015.
This episode stars Rachel Slotnick (In Lieu of Flowers). It was recorded at Trader Vic's in Chicago, IL in August 2015.
This episode stars RA Washington (Guide To Kulchur, Citi). It was recorded at Guide To Kulchure in Cleveland, OH in July 2015.
This episode stars Jennifer Pastiloff (The Manifest-Station). It was recorded at GePaDe Caffe in Chicago, IL in August 2015.
This episode stars Daniel Nester (How to Be Inappropriate, God Save My Queen, The Incredible Sestina Anthology). It was recorded at Uncommon Grounds in Albany, NY in July 2015.
This special live episode stars Michael Czyzniejewski reading from, and discussing, his new short story collection I Will Love You For The Rest of My Life: Breakup Stories at The Book Cellar in Chicago, IL in August 2015.
This episode stars Sean H Doyle (This Must be The Place). It was recorded over the Skype between the TBWCYL, Inc. corporate offices in Chicago, IL and Compton's home in Brooklyn, NY in July 2015.
This episode stars Jonathan Travelstead (How We Bury Our Dead). It was recorded at Lillie's Q iin Chicago, IL in July 2015.
This episode stars Matt Rowan (Big Venerable, Why God Why) and Joseph G. Peterson (Twilight of the Idiots, Beautiful Piece). It was recorded at Sheffield's in Chicago, IL in July 2015.
This episode stars Liz Mason (Quimby's, Caboose #9, Britney Spears 101). It was recorded at McCormick Place during C2E2 in Chicago, IL in April 2015.
This episode stars Yogi Roth (Life in a Walk). It was recorded while walking, of course, and sitting, in the Old Town and Gold Coast neighborhoods in Chicago, IL in May 2015.
This episode stars Robert James Russell (Don't Ask Me to Spell It Out, Midwestern Gothic, Cheap Pop). It was recorded in Minneapolis, MN at AWP in April 2015.
This episode stars Jim Ruland (Big Lonesome, Forest of Fortune, Vermin on the Mount). It was recorded in Minneapolis, MN at AWP in April 2015.
This episode stars Sara Lippmann (Doll Palace). It was recorded in Minneapolis, MN at AWP in April 2015.
This episode stars Hosho McCreesh (A Deep and Gorgeous Thirst, Sunlight at Midnight, Darkness at Noon). It was recorded over the Skype between the TBWCYL, Inc. corporate offices in Chicago, IL and McCreesh's home in Albuquerque, NM March 2015.
This episode stars Sheldon Lee Compton (Where Alligators Sleep, Revolution John). It was recorded over the Skype between the TBWCYL, Inc. corporate offices in Chicago, IL and Compton's home in Pikeville, KY in March 2015.
This episode stars Darrin Doyle (The Dark Will End The Dark). It was recorded outside Powell's at UIC in Chicago, IL in March 2015.
This episode stars Jill Howe (Story Sessions). It was recorded at a table in the DePaul University Loop Campus atrium in Chicago, IL in February 2015.
This episode stars Steph Post (A Tree Born Crooked). It was recorded over speaker phone between the TBWCYL, Inc. corporate offices in Chicago, IL and Post's home in St. Petersburg, Florida in January 2015. There are dogs involved.
This episode stars Brad Listi (Other People with Brad Listi). It was recorded over speaker phone between the TBWCYL, Inc. corporate offices in Chicago, IL and Listi's garage in Los Angeles, CA in January 2015.
This episode stars James Tadd Adcox (Does Not Love, The Map of the System of Human Knowledge). It was recorded at The Bar Below in Chicago, IL in December 2014.
This episode stars Susan Hope Lanier (The Game We Play). It was recorded at a table in the DePaul University Loop Campus atrium in Chicago, IL in December 2014.
This episode stars Brad King (The Geeky Press, Dungeons & Dreamers). It was recorded way high up in the super fucking swanky Holiday Inn Mart Plaza in Chicago, IL in November 2014.
This episode stars Bill Hillmann (The Old Neighborhood). It was recorded driving along I-94 E from Madison, WI to Chicago, IL in November 2014.
This episode stars Clayton Smith (Apocalypticon, Dapper Press). It was recorded at a Panera Bread on State Street in Chicago, IL in October 2014.
This episode stars Ryan Kenealy (Animals in Peril). It was recorded in Millenium Park in Chicago, IL in October 2014.
This episode stars Keir Graff (Booklist, The Other Felix, The Price of Liberty). It was recorded at Booklist's office in Chicago, IL in September 2014.
This episode stars Mike Joyce (Literary Orphans). It was recorded at Miller's Pub in Chicago, IL in August 2014.
This episode stars Mare Swallow (Chicago Writers Conference). It was recorded at Writers WorkSpace in Chicago, IL in August 2014.
This episode stars Paul Luikart (Impress These Apes, Blewt!). It was recorded at Clarke's Diner in Chicago, IL in August 2014.
This episode stars Leesa Cross-Smith (Every Kiss A War, Whiskey Paper). It was recorded at The Rocking Horse and walking down Milwaukee Avenue in Chicago, IL in July 2014.
This episode stars Joanna MacKenzie (Browne & Miller Literary Associates). It was recorded at Artists Cafe in Chicago, IL in July 2014.
This episode stars Cyn Vargas (2nd Story). It was recorded at Cafecito in Chicago, IL in June 2014.
This episode stars Jeffrey Barken (MONOLOGGING, This Year in Jerusalem). It was recorded in the 3rd Coast Cafe & Wine Bar in Chicago, IL in June 2014.
This episode stars Jared Rypkema (Left on Mallory, Bridge Eight Literary Magazine). It was recorded walking the streets of Jacksonville, FL in May 2014.
This episode stars Todd Summar and Corey Klinzing (Goreyesque). It was recorded in Chicago, IL in the Winter Garden at the Harold Washington Library in May 2014.
This episode stars Brian Gresko (When I First Held You). It was recorded at La Maison du Croque Monsieur in New York City in April 2014.
This episode stars D. Foy (Made to Break). It was recorded driving along I95 North from Washington, D.C. to New York City in April 2014.
This episode stars Justin Daugherty (Sundog Lit). It was recorded in Seattle, WA at AWP in February 2014.
This episode stars Art Edwards (Badge, The Refreshments). It was recorded in Seattle, WA at AWP in February 2014.
This episode stars Tom Williams (The Mimic's Own Voice, Don't Start Me Talkin'). It was recorded at the former Hotel Cass in Chicago, IL in February 2014.
This episode stars Willy Nast and Karen Shimmin (Essay Fiesta, All Write Already!). It was recorded in Nast's home in the North Center neighborhood of Chicago, IL in February 2014.
This episode stars Joseph Bates (Tomorrowland). It was recorded driving along 94 East somewhere between Milwaukee, WI and Chicago, IL in January 2014.
This episode stars Megan Stielstra (Once I Was Cool, 2nd Story). It was recorded at Columbia College in Chicago, IL in January 2014.
This episode stars Patricia Ann McNair (Temple of Air). It was recorded at Columbia College in Chicago, IL in December 2013.
This episode stars Giano Cromley (The Last Good Halloween). It was recorded at The Berghoff in Chicago, IL in November 2013.
This episode stars Shawn Syms (Friend.Follow.Text.). It was recorded at the Whistler in Chicago, IL in November 2013.
This episode stars Pamela Erens (Understory, The Virgins: A Novel). It was recorded the Connors Park Argo Tea in Chicago, IL in October 2013.
This episode stars Davis Schneiderman ([SIC], Multifesto: A Henri d’Mescan Remix ). It was recorded at Lake Forest College's Chicago office in October 2013.
This episode stars David S. Atkinson (Bones Buried in the Dirt). It was recorded sitting on sidewalk along California Street in Denver, CO in October 2013.
This episode stars Jeff Phillips (Votary Nerves, Turban Tan, Wood Sugars). It was recorded at Black Rock Pub & Kitchen in Chicago, IL in September, 2013.
This episode stars Chris L. Terry and special guest Ezra Claytan Daniels (Zero Fade). It was recorded live at the Chicago Publishers Resource Center in Chicago, IL as part of the Zero Fade Blog Tour in August, 2013.
This episode stars Mason Johnson (Sad Robot Stories). It was recorded at the Chicago Cultural Center in Chicago, IL in August 2013.
This episode stars Michael Czyzniejewski (Chicago Stories: 40 Dramatic Fictions). It was (mostly) recorded driving east on Division in Chicago, IL in July 2013.
This episode stars Rachel Hyman (Banango Street, Anthology of Chicago). It was possibly recorded somewhere near Grant Park in Chicago, IL in May 2013.
This episode stars Rob Roberge (The Cost of Living). It was recorded outside of The Art Institute of Chicago in Chicago, IL in May 2013.
This episode stars Peter Schwartz (Old Men, Girls, And Monsters). It was recorded at Old Man Skivork's in Chicago, IL in April 2013.
This episode stars Pete Anderson (Wheatyard). It was recorded at the Pittsfield Cafe in Chicago, IL in April 2013.
This episode stars Kathryn Born (The Blue Kind). It was recorded at an Argo Tea in Chicago, IL in March 2013.
This episode stars Ray Charbonneau (Chasing the Runner's High, Overthinking the Marathon). It was recorded in Boston, MA while running along the Charles River in March 2013.
This episode stars John Reed (Snowball's Chance, Tales of Woe). It was recorded in Boston, MA at AWP in March 2013.
This episode stars Neal Kitterlin (DECISIONS). It was recorded in Chicago, IL at Cafecito in Februrary 2013.
This episode stars Nick Ostdick (Hair Lit Vol. One). It was recorded in Chicago, IL at The Berghoff in January 2013.
This episode stars Dmitry Samarov (Hack). It was recorded in Chicago, IL in the Winter Garden at the Harold Washington Library in January 2013.
This episode stars Andrew Keating (Participants). It was recorded in Chicago, IL (and Baltimore, MD) at the kitchen table in November 2012 while possibly wearing plaid.
This episode stars Sarah Terez Rosenblum (Herself When She's Missing). It was recorded at the DePaul University Campus Bookstore (not the Harold Washington Library) in Chicago, IL in November 2012.
This episode stars Mike Bushnell (I Am A Party). It was recorded walking along Kedzie Boulevard and Armitage Avenue in Chicago, IL in October 2012.
This episode stars Melinda McIntire and Carly Oishi (Solo in the 2nd City). It was recorded at Cole's in Chicago, IL in August 2012.
This episode stars Russ Woods and Meghan Lamb (Red Lightbulbs). It was recorded at Cole's in Chicago, IL in July 2012.
Our most Wentastic Fiftieth Episode stars Patrick Wensink, yes that Patrick Wensink (Broken Piano for President, Sex Dungeon for Sale!), and special guest Megan. It was recorded at Cheesie's Pub & Grub in Chicago, IL in August 2012.
This episode stars Jesse Jordan (Gospel Hollow, RUI) and surprise guests Robert Duffer and Eric May. It was recorded at Sheffield's in Chicago, IL in June 2012.
This episode stars Katherine Scott Nelson (Have You Seen Me). It was recorded at Cafecito as part of the Have You Seen Me Blog Tour in Chicago, IL in May 2012.
This episode stars Amber Sparks (Shut Up/Look Pretty). It was recorded at Open City in Washington, DC in April 2012.
This episode stars Ryan W. Bradley (Code for Failure, Prize Winners). It was recorded at Beauty Bar as part of the Ryan W. Bradley Fails The Internet - the Code for Failure blog tour 2012 in Chicago, IL in March 2012.
This episode stars Casey Bye, Jon Fullmer and Steve Tartaglione (Knee-Jerk Magazine). It was recorded at Beauty Bar in Chicago, IL in March 2012.
This episode stars old friend Jason Fisk (Salt Creek Anthology, The Sagging: Spirits & Skin). It was recorded at Spyners Pub as part of the Salt Creek Blog Tour in Chicago, IL in February 2012.
This episode stars Matt Rowan (Untoward Magazine). It was recorded at El Presidente Restaurante in Chicago, IL in December 2011.
This episode stars Geoff Hyatt (Birch Hills @ World's End). It was recorded at Cafecito in Chicago, IL in November 2011.
This episode stars Brandon Tietz (Out of Touch, We Are Vespertine). It was recorded at Beauty Bar in Chicago, IL in September 2011.
This episode stars Byron Hatfield (The Pub Theater, Bye Bye Liver). It was recorded at Rocks in Chicago, IL in August 2011.
This episode stars Lauryn Allison Lewis (The Beauties). It was recorded at Eva's Cafe in Chicago, IL in June 2011.
Nerves of Steel West Virginia was recorded at The Empty Glass in Charleston, West Virginia in June 2011. It stars Harold Ray, Barry Graham, Scott McClanahan and Angel Babies, Ben Tanzer, Jay Hill and a cast of thousands.
This episode stars Joseph G. Peterson (Beautiful Piece). It was recorded at Manny's Cafeteria & Delicatessen in Chicago, IL in May 2011.
This episode stars Caleb J. Ross (Charactered Pieces, Stranger Will). It was recorded via Skype as part of the Stranger Will Tour for Strange from the home office in Chicago, IL in April 2011.
This episode stars Jesse Bradley (Dodging Traffic, The Serial Rapist Sitting Behind You Is a Robot). It was recorded outside The Flat Iron in Chicago, IL in May 2011.
This episode stars BL Pawelek (Monkeybicycle, Pank). It was recorded at the Roman Candle in Middelton, WI in April 2011.
This episode stars Kathleen Rooney (For You, For You I Am Trilling These Songs, Rose Metal Press). It was recorded at Argo Tea in Chicago, IL in December 2010.
This episode stars Victor David Giron (Sophomoric Philosophy, Curbside Splendor). It was recorded at Beauty Bar Chicago in Chicago, IL in November 2010.
This episode stars Kate Duva (So You Think You Have Nerves of Steel?). It was recorded at Celtic Crossings Irish Pub in Chicago, IL in October 2010.
This episode stars Harold Ray (THE2NDHAND). It was recorded at The Hungry Brain in Chicago, IL in October 2010.
This episode stars Mark Brand (Red Ivy Afternoon, Silverthought). It was recorded at The Whistler in Chicago, IL in September 2010.
This episode stars Brandon Will (The Book Cellar). It was recorded at Brando's in Chicago, IL in August 2010.
This episode stars Jason Pettus (CCLaP). It was recorded at McGinny's Tap in Chicago, IL in August 2010.
This episode stars Jacob Knabb (Another Chicago Magazine, Nerves of Steel) and friends. It was recorded at Innertown Pub in Chicago, IL in July 2010.
This episode stars Jason Fisk (The Sagging: Spirits & Skin). It was recorded walking along Dearborn Street in Chicago, IL in June 2010.
I had the opportunity to talk literature on WGN Radio 720 with Orange Alert's Jason Behrends and our hosts Alex Quigley and the always lovely La Guth. Fun was had . Lives were changed. And rain was dodged. Please enjoy.
This episode stars Sally Weigel (Too Young to Fall Asleep). It was recorded at Argo Tea in Chicago, IL in March 2010.
This episode stars David Masciotra (Working on a Dream - The Progressive Political Vision of Bruce Springsteen). It was recorded at Old Town Ale House in Chicago, IL in April 2010.
This episode stars Gina Frangello (Slut Lullabies, The Nervous Breakdown and OV Books among many other things). It was recorded at Frasca in Chicago, IL in March 2010.
This episode stars Mel Bosworth (When the Cats Razzed the Chickens & Other Stories). It was recorded at the Three Penny Tap Room in Montpelier, VT in March 2010.
This episode stars Collin Kelley (Conquering Venus). It was recorded at The Flying Biscuit Cafe in Atlanta, GA in November 2009.
This episode stars Shannon Burke (Safelight, Black Flies). It was recorded at Old Town Ale House in Chicago, IL in August 2009.
This episode stars Greg Gerke (There's Something Wrong With Sven). It was recorded walking along Michigan Avenue in Chicago, IL in August 2009.
This episode stars Tim Frederick (Baby Got Books). It was recorded at Manuel's Tavern in Atlanta, GA in August 2009.
This episode stars Scott McClanahan (Stories, Stories II). It was recorded on the Brown Line and walking down Diversery Parkway in Chicago, IL in July 2009.
This episode stars Barry Graham (The National Virginity Pledge, Dogzplot). It was recorded at Innertown Pub in Chicago, IL in May 2009.
This episode stars Amy Guth (Pilcrow Lit Fest, Three Fallen Women). It was recorded at Intelligentsia Coffee in Chicago, IL in May 2009.
This episode stars John Domini (Talking Heads: 77). It was recorded at Domini Manor in Des Moines, IA in April 2009.
This episode stars Jamie Iredell (Prose.Poems.A Novel). It was recorded at Vickery's Bar and Grill in Atlanta, GA in April 2009.
This episode stars Spencer Dew (Songs of Insurgency). It was recorded at The Oasis Cafe in Chicago, IL in February 2009.
This episode stars S. Craig Renfroe (You Should Get That Looked At). It was recorded at Huettenbar in Chicago, IL in February 2009.
This episode stars Jac Jemc (The Rejection Collection). It was recorded at Intelligentsia Coffee in Chicago, IL in February 2009.
This episode stars Robert Duffer (RUI: Reading Under the Influence). It was recorded at The Oasis Cafe in Chicago, IL in January 2009.
This episode stars J.A. Tyler (ML Press). It was recorded at The Alley Cat Cafe in Fort Collins, CO in September 2008.
This episode stars Jill Summers (Calling All Monkeys). It was recorded at The Oasis Cafe in Chicago, IL in June 2008.
This episode stars Mary Hamilton and Lindsay Hunter (QUICKIES! Chicago). It was recorded at Innertown Pub in Chicago, IL in June 2008.
This episode stars Laural Winter, Jennifer Banash (The Elite), Timothy Schaffert (downtown Omaha Lit Fest) and Gail Konop Baker (Cancer is a Bitch). It was recorded at The Fixx Coffee Bar in Chicago, IL in May 2008.
This episode stars Jason Behrends (Orange Alert), Nick Ostdick (Sunbeams and Cigarettes), Jason Jordan (decomP, Powering the Devil's Circus), Tim Hall (Half-Empty, Full of It and more), Jason Pettus (CCLaP) and Amy Guth (Three Fallen Women). It was recorded at The Book Cellar in Chicago, IL in April 2008.
This episode stars Joanna Topor MacKenzie and Terry Griffith (The Parlor) and Caroline Picard (Green Lantern Gallery and Press). It was recorded at the Beachwood Inn in Chicago, IL in March 2008.
This episode stars Keidra Chaney (Enjoy and Exciting!). It was recorded at Intelligentsia Coffee in Chicago, IL in February 2008.
This episode stars Pete Anderson (Pete Lit). It was recorded at Mary's Cafe in Chicago, IL in February 2008.
This episode stars Jason Behrends (Orange Alert), Nick Ostdick (Sunbeams and Cigarettes) and Jason Pettus (CCLaP). It was recorded at The Book Cellar in Chicago, IL in January 2008.