Writing Remix Podcast: Recent Episodes
Katie Robison
On this episode, Daniel Dissinger speaks with Italian-American Bay Area poet and artist Jennifer Barone. Jennifer’s newest book of poems, Sirenland, is the result of a ten year period of traveling to Italy, researching and visiting the sacred and familial sites of Naples, Vesuvius, and Pompeii, and re-positioning the Sirens themselves to present them inContinue reading "128. Excavating Our Ancestral Sites w/ Poet Jennifer Barone"
On this episode, Daniel Dissinger talks with Glendale’s first Poet Laureate and UCLA Writing Program professor Raffi Wartanian. This Writing Remix starts out with Raffi reading and sharing (check out the video episode on Substack) three poems as his bio. In the six years of Writing Remix, this is a first, and it’s always goodContinue reading "127. Holding Histories in Poetry w/ Glendale Poet Laureate & Educator Raffi Wartanian"
On this episode of Writing Remix, Dan talks with Oakland-based Poet, Playwright, & Educator Aimee Suzara. The beauty of this episodes wildness is raw and poetic, because their conversation goes into the power of multi-hyphenate creative being, how Aimee is fueled by her Filipino-American identity to learn, create, and archive in her work, the impactContinue reading "126. Birthing Language w/ Aimee Suzara"
Content WarningThis episode deals with discussions of Domestic Violence, PTSD, Depression, Schizophrenia & Suicide Ideation. If you or someone you know is struggling: On this special Mental Health Awareness episode of Inspired Belonging on Writing Remix, Daniel & Stephanie Renee Payne talk to the LA-based poet, essayist, visual artist, and documentarian Angela Franklin. Their openContinue reading "125. Inspired Belonging: Being Unashamed During Mental Health Awareness Month w/ Angela Franklin"
Daniel Dissinger recorded live from Typewriters Anonymous to give the keynote talk at the LA Kerouac Festival on April 18th, 2026. His talk, “The Kerouac We Ignore,” opens a much-needed conversation into Kerouac’s pre-On the Road work and introduces a nuanced analysis of father-son relationships, masculinity, vocational identity, and Kerouac’s lifelong search for love, bothContinue reading "124. LIVE! From The LA Kerouac Festival at Typewriters Anonymous: The Kerouac We Ignore w/ Daniel Dissinger"
Writing Remix is kicking off National Poetry Month with poet & educator from Orange County Alexis Jaimes. This episode explores the connection and close affection Alexis has for Santa Ana. He discusses the misrepresentation of Santa Ana and sets the record straight by celebrating and highlighting the depth of its culture, from food to artContinue reading "123. A Joyful Poetry Resistance w/ Alexis Jaimes"
On this episode of Writing Remix, Dan talks to John Gaspard, the author of Held Over: Harold and Maude at the Westgate Theater. During a time when large movie theaters are trying to figure out how to bring in the crowds and rival streaming services, John and Dan discuss how the movie Harold and MaudeContinue reading "122. The Harold & Maude Phenomenon at The Westgate Theater w/ Author John Gaspard"
As higher education continues to navigate attacks from the Trump administration, it are also trying to figure out how to negotiate the increased use of AI in the classroom, by teachers and students. On this special episode of Writing Re:mix, Daniel Dissinger invites his USC Writing Program colleague Ryan Leack, host of the Live TheoryContinue reading "121. Navigating AI & Surveillance in the Classroom w/ Ryan Leack"
Daniel Dissinger dives deep into a conversation on finding the light with poetry in all of the darkness in the world, in ourselves, and from traumas in our pasts with Reiki Master, Librarian, and Poet Caroline Reddy. This is an episode that celebrates the power of poetry and language and how people can be broughtContinue reading "120. Finding the Light w/ Caroline Reddy"
Daniel Dissinger welcomes the Poet Laureate of Anaheim, Camille Hernandez, to talk about her new book Motherlands, what it means to be Poet Laureate in Anaheim, the impact of poetry and poets, her mission to make poetry accessible to as many people as possible, and how poetry informs, reports, and dismantles. Camille also reads theContinue reading "119. The Poet’s Role w/ Anaheim Poet Laureate Camille Hernandez"
Daniel Dissinger welcomes renowned cowboy boot maker and artisan Lisa Sorrell to talk all about the history of boot making in America, her personal journey from apprentice to having her own boot making business, and her goal to preserve the history of boot making. There’s also a really great conversation on gender, mental health, andContinue reading "118. Crafting Cowboy Boots w/ Lisa Sorrell"
On this episode of “Inspired Belonging” on Writing Re:mix, hosts Dan Dissinger and Stephanie Renée Payne talk with Dr. M. Shadee Malaklou, the Founder and Director of the bell hooks Center at Berea College. Back in the summer of 2023, Dan & Stephanie had the honor of bringing their “Inspired Belonging” workshop to the first-everContinue reading "117. Inspired Belonging w/ Dr. M. Shadee Malaklou"
In this solo episode of Writing Remix, Dan brings the audience along for a reflective stream-of-consciousness evening walk. This is a raw and unedited episode to capture the essence of the environment, his thoughts, and humanity of conversation. Dan reflects on the changing landscape of podcasting and how it’s gone from being an accessible PunkContinue reading "116. Walking with Dan: Podcasting, Creativity, & AI"
The second episode of “Inspired Belonging” on Writing Remix, hosts Dan Dissinger and Stephanie Renée Payne reflect on their personal and pedagogical relationships with the work of the late scholar, poet, speaker, & teacher bell hooks. This is a deeply vulnerable conversation on hooks’ impactful work on engaged pedagogy, love, community, and self-actualization, specifically fromContinue reading "115. Inspired Belonging: Diving into the Work of bell hooks"
In this solo episode of Writing Remix, Dan Dissinger reflects on the end of the 2025 Spring semester at USC. He shares what he changed and what worked in his classroom, the impact of creating meaningful and accessible assignments, student reactions to and experiences reading Exile & Pride by Eli Clare and All About LoveContinue reading "114. Spring 2025 Semester Reflection: Meaningful Teaching, Student Engagement, & Well-being"
Dan Dissinger celebrates National Poetry Month with the West Hollywood Poet Laureate, Jen Cheng. They talk about Jen’s multi-hyphenate creative journey, her dedication to blending East-West influences in her writing and workshops, her role as the creator of the Palabras Literary Salon, and the importance of “artist dates.” Dan asks Jen to explain why sheContinue reading "113. Creating Joy and Community Through Poetry w/ West Hollywood Poet Laureate Jen Cheng"
Dan Dissinger welcomes back his former professor Dr. Steve Mentz, chair of the Saint John’s University English Department, to discuss his latest book of poems Sailing Without Ahab and the Blue Humanities. They dive into (no pun intended) Dr. Mentz’s writing journey in and out of the poems in Sailing Without Ahab, the interconnected writing process and relationship between the creative space of poetry and academic scholarship when it came to creating Sailing Without Ahab, his personal and scholastic history with water, teaching Moby-Dick, and the challenges of writing in the voice of Ishmael. Steve also reads several poems from Sailing Without Ahab and discusses some of the more intricate details about these pieces.This is such a rich episode both for writers and scholars alike, and being on the precipice of National Poetry Month, this is a great way to start it off.
Dan Dissinger welcomes Tony Stubblebine, CEO of Medium.com, to talk about the power of authenticity in writing online and how Medium’s platform helps to create a space where authors of all levels can find and cultivate an audience. Tony dives into how he went from software engineer to the CEO of Medium.com. He shares his goals for Medium to create an online community where people create and share meaningful content and how Medium is a place where all people get to be teachers and students. The conversation touches on the transformative power of writing, the challenges posed by AI-generated content, and the importance of human connection in the digital age. This is the type of episode Writing Remix is all about, so sit back, take notes, and get inspired to put pen to paper (so to say). Share this episode with someone in your life that is an aspiring writer.
Dan & Stephanie Renée Payne start a series of podcast episodes called “Inspired Belonging” on Writing Remix. On this inaugural episode, Dan & Stephanie explore their thoughts and understandings of belonging, it’s connection to writing, and how the late great bell hooks plays such a deep role in Inspired Belonging workshops, presentations, and pedagogy. TheyContinue reading "110. Introducing Inspired Belonging"
Dan welcomed his colleagues in the USC Writing Program Dr. Leah Pate, Dr. Tamara Black, & Dr. Rory Lukins to do a deep dive into their project “Reimagining Assessments: Contract Grading’s Untapped Benefits for Learning, Teaching, and Well-Being.” This conversation covers the results of their research and the impact contract grading has on student writingContinue reading "109. Reimagining Assessments: Exploring the Untapped Benefits of Contract Grading w/ Dr. Leah Pate, Dr. Tamara Black, & Dr. Rory Lukins"
Dan welcomed back Dr. Danielle Lee to Writing Remix last year for the fifth annual Big Rhetorical Podcast Carnival, which was focused on ‘Politics and Rhetorics, Navigating Civility, Culture, and Crisis.’ Their conversation went deep into the need for a civility in the current political landscape, how the lack of civility is escalating dehumanization fromContinue reading "108. Exploring Civility, Discourse, & Hope w/ Dr. Danielle Lee"
Dan welcomes Dr. Meghan P. Nolan back to Writing Remix to discuss preparing for the Spring 2025 semester and some of the ways she’s looking to expand, shift, and reimagine approaches to writing instruction. Meghan also talks about the balance between her duties as a writing professor and the Chair of the Sam Draper HonorsContinue reading "107. Preparing for Spring 2025 w/ Dr. Meghan P. Nolan"
In this solo episode of Writing Remix, Dan discusses how to effectively convert academic conference presentations into engaging podcast episodes. He shares personal experiences and lessons learned from shifting his traditional conference approach to a more interactive and participatory format using his multiple podcasts. Dan emphasizes the importance of recording and archiving presentations, networking, andContinue reading "106. How I Leverage My Podcast at Academic Conferences"
Dan invites Dr. Bailey McAlister, sommelier, Rhetoric & Communications professor, & pop-culture critic to talk all about how she merges her love of wine and the wine community with her PhD research, the impact that 2020 had on the wine & beverage industry, how sommeliers are using personal narratives to introduce people to wine, community building in the world of wine, how she teaches process-oriented writing to her students, and so much more. So, grab a glass, your favorite beverage, and settle in for another Writing Remix!
Dan recorded LIVE from the Southwest Popular/American Culture Association Conference in Albuquerque, NM w/ USC colleagues Jen Sopchockchai Bankard & P.T. McNiff of the Long Take Review podcast. Shoutout to SWPACA, the tech guy who helped make this happen, and everyone that came out to support! Their presentation, “Between Two Scholastic Worlds: Teaching, Blogging, andContinue reading "104. LIVE! from The Southwest Popular/American Culture Association Conference w/ The Long Take Review Podcast"
Content Warning: This episode has discussions about mental health issues, body dysmorphia, eating disorders, & suicidal ideation. Dan invites artist Dr. Ally Zlatar to talk about the imperative role artists & art play in the world to communicate empathy, create community, & as a tool for empowerment. This is such a deep episode with aContinue reading "103. Being an Artist w/ Dr. Ally Zlatar"
Dan invites Saint John’s University alum and the Founder & CEO of Your Instructional Designer Dr. Nicole Papaioannou Lugara. On this episode, Nicole reflects on her journey from PhD to CEO. She talks about creating and launching an instructional design company, what she believes the role of instructional design is in today’s world, some ofContinue reading "102. Digital Social Learning Solutions w/ Dr. Nicole Papaioannou Lugara"
Dan invites Nancy Stohlman back on Writing Remix to discuss recording the audiobook for her award-winning book Going Short: An Invitation to Flash Fiction, the growing genre of Flash Fiction, the importance of building a creative community to recover from burnout, doing promotion for her book during COVID-19 quarantine in 2022, and so much more.Continue reading "101. Growing Flash Fiction w/ Nancy Stohlman"
On this special episode of Writing Remix, Dan celebrates the 100th episode talking about some of the lessons he’s learned about himself as a writer, teacher, and podcaster. He reflects on the decision to pivot the focus of Writing Remix during the COVID-19 pandemic, how major news events impacted the podcast, how his understanding ofContinue reading "100. What I Learned After 100 Episodes w/ Daniel Dissinger"
Dan welcomes Leah Rubinsky, PhD candidate at the University of Washington and podcaster, to dive deeply into the grad student experience, confronting academic writing genres and styles, writing workshops and feedback, and the challenges of subverting the dissertation style to fit one’s research. Leah also talks about her research on “bad” mothering in Colombian andContinue reading "99. Bringing the Grad Student Persepctive w/ Leah Rubinsky"
On this special episode, Dan speaks to participants at the 2023 SWPACA (Southwest Popular/American Culture Association Conference) in Albuquerque, NM. In just twenty-three and a half minutes you’ll hear about the Roswell event, making art on scratchboard, the interesting cultural history of the pink flamingo lawn ornament, decolonizing flavors, coffee, and so much more. SpecialContinue reading "98. Writing Remix at SWPACA 2023 in Albuquerque, NM"
Dan welcomes Julia Reade from Nova High School in Seattle, WA to discuss the need for collaboration and communication between college professors and K-12 instructors, her experience teaching at Nova and applying an inquiry model of education, her amazing project “What Would the Mushrooms Say?” her experience as a doctoral student in Kentucky at MurrayContinue reading "97. What the High School Teachers Teach w/ Julia Reade"
On this special episode, Dan talks with participants at the 2023 CCCC (Conference on College Composition and Communication) in Chicago, IL. Special thanks to everyone that took the time to talk, and thank you to the conference organizers. You’re going to hear about Awe Walks from Professor Jessica Shreyer, student podcast projects from Professor MichaelContinue reading "96. Writing Remix at CCCC 2023 in Chicago, IL"
Dan welcomes Dr. Lavar Pope from Arrupe College of Loyola University Chicago to discuss the communicative power of Hip Hop music, the multilayered lineage of Hip Hop music, the role of migration and diaspora, regional Hip Hop artists and their influences, and so much more. With longtime friend of the show Dr. Danielle Lee co-hosting,Continue reading "95. Digging into Hip-Hop Scholarship w/ Professor Lavar Pope"
Dan welcomes USC Writing Program instructor Professor Lilit Keshishyan to discuss the power of oral histories, her work with My Armenian Story as the Director of The Institute of Armenian Studies, she speaks about the impact of The Armenian Genocide & Diaspora, sheds light on what happened to Armenians during WWII, and so much more. ThisContinue reading "94. Preserving Oral Histories w/ Professor Lilit Keshishyan"
Dan welcomes Roseann Corey from Rosemont College to discuss how rhetoric can bring communities closer, navigating the competitive academic market, breaking the unwritten rules of academic writing with creativity, communicating across multiple generational gaps peacefully, multimodality, and so much more. Read and download the full transcript of this episode at the bottom of this post.Continue reading "93. Unpacking the Power of Rhetoric w/ Roseann Corey"
Dan welcomes Riti Sharma on the podcast to discuss the many facets of the English language. Riti unpacks the complex linguistic landscape of India (where she lives & teaches), how examining the history of English exposes its complicated past, present, & future, essay writing as a genre, and the role orality plays in passing alongContinue reading "92. Remixing & Meshing English(es) w/ Riti Sharma"
Dan reflects on his journey from photography to English Professor using Gary Snyder’s essay “Etiquette of Freedom” to understand the empowering forces of wildness, wilderness, and being wild. He talks about his relationship with photography, how flash photography is like open class discussions, academia being a constant cycle of proving yourself, what it means toContinue reading "91. Solo Remix: Becoming an English Professor w/ Dan Dissinger"
CONTENT WARNING: Please be advised that this episode does contain conversations on abortion, sexual violence, assault and rape, mental health issues, racial violence, and torture. Listener discretion is advised Dan invites Stephanie Renée Payne, Danielle Lee, Leah Rubinsky, & Julia Reade to unpack & respond to the horrifying overturn of Roe v Wade, stripping child-bearingContinue reading "90. Reacting to Roe v Wade Overturn w/ Stephanie Renée Payne, Danielle Lee, Leah Rubinsky, & Julia Reade"
Dan invites Dr. Natalie Byfield, Dr. Raj Chetty, & Dr. LaToya Sawyer to talk about the creation of The Institute for Critical Race & Ethnic Studies (CRES) at Saint John’s University in Queens, NY. To best set the tone for this episode, here’s a quote from Dr. Natalie Byfield, the Founding Director of CRES: “IContinue reading "89. Building The Institute for Critical Race & Ethnic Studies w/ Dr. Natalie Byfield, Dr. Raj Chetty, & Dr. LaToya Sawyer"
This is a celebratory episode to close out PRIDE Month 2022. Dr. Ashley King is an inspiration. Her work empowers students, invites them to thrive and cultivate not just meaningful projects, they cultivate meaningful experiences that show them what they can accomplish. I want to acknowledge all the awe-inspiring work that Dr. Ashely King isContinue reading "88. Crossing the Bridge Between Social Justice & Sci-Fi w/ Dr. Ashely King"
Content warning for discussion of guns, genocide, violence, and mass shootings. Dan is joined by guest host Stephanie Renée Payne to talk to the author of Loaded: A Disarming History of the Second Amendment Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz about the constitutional history of the Second Amendment, the rise of white nationalism in the NRA, the role ofContinue reading "87. Disarming the 2nd Amendment w/ Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz"
Dan invites Nat Garcia-Hammon (pronouns: they/them), a faculty member at Nova Southeastern University to discuss the challenges of teaching in Florida, practicing & embodying vulnerability in the classroom and beyond, the relationship between learning/knowledge creation and full-embodiment, Nat’s journey from Law School to Rhetorician, their Freirean classroom pedagogy, how Doctoral programs can better prepare students forContinue reading "86. Embodying Vulnerability w/ Nat Garcia"
Dan invites fellow Saint John’s University alum, Dr. Cristina Migliaccio, from CUNY Medgar Evers College in Brooklyn, NY to discuss culturally & linguistically inclusive digital pedagogy, the professional depth & dedication of the Medgar Evers College Adjunct Faculty, loving the craft of teaching, their graduate school experiences, the coded messaging of the phrase, “Oh, you’reContinue reading "85. Being Drawn to Teaching w/ Cristina Migliaccio"
Dan invites fellow Saint John’s University alum Dr. Regina Duthely from the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, WA to talk about the possibilities of digital teaching & digital rhetorics away from current Zoom-emergency pedagogy, the digital space being a place to fully embody the self, the burden of extra labor/service that scholars of color,Continue reading "84. Embodying Your Digital Self w/ Dr. Regina Duthely"
To celebrate National Poetry Month, Dan invites Elz on to discuss the release of their debut book did I tell You What Happened? a fragmented memoir, living & writing in Oxford, MS, the role writing plays to communicate and navigate Bipolar Disorder and Major Depressive Disorder, why we still have the need for genres, andContinue reading "83. Writing From the Velvet Ditch w/ Up and Coming Writer Elz"
In the final special episode celebrating American author Jack Kerouac’s centennial birthday, Dan invites Advanced PhD scholar of American Literature Saloni Srivastava & Poet David O’Connor to talk about the all-consuming meditative power of driving on the road, living at The Kerouac house in Orlando, FL, the spiritual depth of Kerouac’s writing, seeking one’s lineage,Continue reading "82. Scratching Beyond Kerouac’s Surface w/ Saloni Srivastava & David O’Connor"
In the second of three special episodes celebrating Kerouac’s 100th birthday, Dan invited S.A. Griffin & Richard Modiano to talk about Kerouac’s contribution to American poetry, his haiku mastery, spiritual questing, the challenge of adapting Kerouac’s novels on film, and so much more. Listen to the first Kerouac episode: 80. Celebrating Jack Kerouac’s 100th BirthdayContinue reading "81. Honoring Jack Kerouac’s Impact on American Poetry w/ S.A. Griffin & Richard Modiano"
In honor of Jack Kerouac’s 100th birthday, Dan invited writers and fellow Naropa alumni Tim Hernandez & Nate Jordan to talk about how Kerouac influenced their writing & personal journeys. They discuss Tim’s 2013 novel about Bea Franco (Terry/”The Mexican Girl” from On the Road) Mañana Means Heaven, understanding the influence of the published JoanContinue reading "80. Celebrating Jack Kerouac’s 100th Birthday w/ Tim Hernandez & Nate Jordan"
In Episode 79, Dan Dissinger is joined by guest host Danielle Lee to talk to Saint John's University alum Tara Bradway about life after the PhD, the complex issues facing contingent faculty, the challenges of being the artistic director of the Adirondack Shakespeare Company during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the role of isolation and mental health.
In Episode 78, we talk to Brandon Martin about writing movie trailers, creating a comic strip, and finding inspiration in life experiences and other artistic pursuits.
In Episode 77, we talk with writer & Tulane professor Merissa Nathan Gerson about her book Forget Prayers, Bring Cake: A Single Woman’s Guide to Grieving, the many ways people experience grief in their daily lives, and the interconnected impact grief has on the mind, body, & spirit. Also, Dan & Merissa do some reminiscingContinue reading "77. Processing Grief w/ Merissa Nathan Gerson"
In Episode 76, we talk to Dr. Cara Marta Messina about the academic job market, open-access research and critical fan studies, the parallels between fanfiction and fantasy football, and teaching writing for podcasting.
In Episode 75, Dan & Katie answer questions from the audience about the Metaverse, the cost of higher education, teacher training and experiences, identity, and much more. If you have questions for us to talk about and answer on another Office Hours episode, you can email them to writingremixpodcast@gmail.com. This episode was recorded on NovemberContinue reading "75. Office Hours w/ Dan & Katie"
In Episode 74, Dan interviews Katie about her science fiction and fantasy novels, her background in medieval literature, her journey getting into podcasting, and her new role as a book writing coach.
Content Warning: Discussion of sexual and domestic violence, please listen with care. If you or someone you know has experienced sexual and/or domestic violence/abuse, you can find support through: RAINN & RSVP (for USC community). More resources available here. In Episode 73, Dan is joined by Writing Program faculty Chris Belcher & Stephanie Renee Payne, USC alum Jordan Broberg, andContinue reading "73. Confronting Campus Rape Culture w/ Chris Belcher, Stephanie Renée Payne, & Jordan Broberg"
In Episode 72, Dr. Steven Mentz of the Saint John's University English Department interviews three SJU Alums about what academic, writing, and teaching life is like after the Ph.D. This was a special episode for Dr. Mentz's graduate theory course, and some of these questions come straight form his students
In Episode 71, Dan talks to comedian Christian Cintron about creating uplifting comedy, processing trauma through stand-up, and punching up instead of down.
In Episode 70, we talk to Danielle Mastrogiovanni about the intersectional issues misinformation creates for students, teachers, and administrators.
In Episode 69, Dan Dissinger talks to the founder of Progress Playbook, Lloyd Cambridge about practicing mindfulness to be a better entrepreneur and person, community building, and supplementing the gaps in higher education with experiential project-based learning. Lloyd J. Cambridge is the founder & CEO of Progress Playbook, a small business training and economic developmentContinue reading "69. Practicing Mindful Entrepreneurship w/ Lloyd Cambridge"
In Episode 68, Dan Dissinger talks to the founder of StoryBilder, Tanya Gough, about breaking the rules for the sake of creativity, curating the first-ever Shakespeare on film catalog, and teaching English in Japan pre-internet. Tanya Gough has been an ESL teacher, a retail store owner, a corporate digital marketer, and a freelance content strategist,Continue reading "68. Building Your Story w/ Tanya Gough"
In Episode 67, Dan Dissinger talks with to Actor, Director, and Board Certified Music Therapist Spencer Frankeberger about adaptability in Music Therapy, how being scared of improv is the best reason to do improv, we discuss systemic ableism in standardized testing from the bar exam to the GREs, and this all somehow ends up inContinue reading "67. Learning to Adapt w/ Spencer Frankeberger"
In Episode 66, Dan Dissinger talks with recent graduate of USC’s Film and Television Production program Sydney Laws about how Black stories are represented in media, cultural anthropology, and Storytelling versus Story-breaking. Sydney Laws is a very proud ATLien and recent graduate of USC’s Film and Television Production program. She defines herself as a creative, particularlyContinue reading "66. Unpacking Cultural Anthropology w/ Sydney Laws"
In Episode 65, Dan Dissinger talks with filmmaker Scott Barber about storytelling through documentary, why Nickelodeon was such a positive creative force in the early 90s, and the role of writing when making a documentary. And who can forget GWAR. Scott made his directorial debut with his film, The Orange Years: The Nickelodeon Story, featuring KenanContinue reading "65: Documenting the Nickelodeon Story w/ Scott Barber"
In Episode 64, Dan Dissinger talks with Vocalist/Educator/Actor/Writer Viva Vinson about the positive impact of performing arts education, overcoming Dyslexia and ADHD, and harnessing the power of the performing arts to have deeper DEI discussions with students and teachers. Born of an Italian American mother, and African American father, Viva has always had multiple artisticContinue reading "64: Performing Arts Advocacy w/ Viva Vinson"
In Episode 63, Dan Dissinger and special guest host Dr. Meghan Nolan talk with friend, colleague, and fellow Saint John’s University Alum Dr. Melissa Rampelli from Holy Family University about the impact of the Victorian Age, Medical Humanities, and what sea monsters have to do with the 2008 Great Recession. On top of all ofContinue reading "63. Expanding the Victorian Conversation w/ Dr. Melissa Rampelli"
In Episode 62, Dan Dissinger and special guest host Stephanie Renée Payne talk with Chris Muniz of the USC Writing Program about reconnecting creative writing back to academic writing, developing meaningful and authentic student-centered projects, and how the personal journey leads the way towards student agency. Chris Muniz is a faculty member in the University of SouthernContinue reading "62. Seeing Each Other’s Humanity w/ Chris Muniz"
Content Warning: Discussion of sexual and domestic violence, please listen with care. In Episode 61, Dan Dissinger & special guest host Danielle Lee talk to USC alum Emma Collins about being an advocate for survivors of relationship and sexual violence, working for RSVP (Relationship & Sexual Violence Prevention Services) at USC, and rape culture on and off the college campus.
In Episode 60, we talk to USC alum Andre Luna about what it means to be a First Generation college student, his commitment to a life of service and advocacy, and how a film about surfing is helping him meet his goals.
In Episode 59, we talk to USC alum Jordan Broberg about staying creative during the pandemic, finding a voice in poetry, and coming into her own as an artist and a person.
In Episode 58, we talk to Cody Lake about the collaborative power of poetry, web development, and videography, the pressure of commodification, and the surprising inventiveness of Pinterest.
In Episode 57, we talk to Megan Tebbenhoff about the U.S.'s response to the pandemic, the role and responsibility of the government when it comes to public health messaging, and the work that needs to be done regarding climate change and population displacement.
In Episode 56, we talk to USC student Jordyn Jones about the expectations placed on marginalized creators, the real meaning of diversity, and making movies that challenge the status quo.
In Episode 55, we talk to Jephtha Prempeh about creating new spaces for marginalized voices, working in community, and forging paths outside of mainstream media outlets.
In Episode 54, we talk to writer Nancy Stohlman about her award-winning book Going Short, the power of flash fiction as a fully realized genre, and how to write and teach flash fiction.
In Episode 53, we talk to Tim Hernandez about teaching at the University of Texas El Paso in the only bilingual creative writing program in the United States. We also chat about investigative poetics, finding the right shape for a story, and the importance of crossing genres, borders, and other boundaries.
In Episode 52, we talk to Atia Sattar about the power of meditation groups and affinity spaces for people of color, how storytelling and the acknowledgement of our embodied experiences empowers both students and faculty, and the importance of community for creating a humanized academic experience.
In Episode 51, we discuss the recent shootings in Atlanta and Boulder and the rise of anti-Asian racism in the U.S. with Yan Sham-Shackleton, Tanya (Hyonhye) Ko Hong, Atia Sattar, and Jen Sopchockchai Bankard.
In Episode 50, we talk to Daniel Anderson about remixing the classroom experience, teaching composition with audio and visual media, and creating alternative forms of scholarship.
In Episode 49, we reflect on some of the many impactful moments from our first year of doing the podcast, how our pedagogy and personal lives have changed as a result of this project, and how podcasting can help positively shift university culture.
In Episode 48, we talk to Christine Martorana about practicing student-centered pedagogy, teaching zines as rhetorical texts, and utilizing multiple modes and languages in the writing classroom.
In Episode 47, we talk to Ulrich Baer about free speech, podcasts as opportunities for sustained conversations, and the role of poetry and fiction as witnesses to human suffering and resilience.
In Episode 46, we talk to Malavika Shetty about using Wikipedia in the writing classroom in order to teach media literacy and research skills, create meaningful, public-facing work, and empower students to contribute to the world's body of knowledge.
In Episode 45, we talk to Tanya (Hyonhye) Ko Hong about translating English texts into Korean, writing bilingual poetry, finding her name and place as an immigrant, and giving a voice to the Korean comfort women of World War II.
In Episode 44, we talk to Carmen Kynard about about practicing radical pedagogy; centering Black language, rhetoric, and affect in the classroom; and holding universities accountable for upholding white supremacy.
In Episode 43, we talk to poet and teller-healer Audrey Dimola about radical mental health, ecological wellness, and working with archetypal stories and myths to foster healing, personal growth, and community.
In Episode 42, we talk to Samir Abady about creating photo narratives, being authentic in your art, and how the current moment provides new context to old work.
In Episode 41, Katie and Dan discuss their goals for their teaching and the podcast in 2021.
In Episode 40, Dan and guest host Aimee Herman talk to Jane Ormerod and David Lawton of Great Weather for Media about running a small press during a pandemic, the power of poetry, and tips for submitting creative work.
In Episode 39, we talk to beauty editors Kamala Kirk and Lizzy Sherman about freelance writing and content creation, writing about your passions, and carving out your own space.
In Episode 38, we chat with Rebecca George about the nuts and bolts of owning and running an independent bookstore, particularly during 2020.
In Episode 37, we reflect on the fall semester--and this tumultuous year--with Stephanie Renée Payne, P.T. McNiff, and Sarah Orem. We discuss the unveiling nature of 2020, the new approaches we'll carry forward in our teaching, and the importance of self-care and rest.
In Episode 36, we talk to Anwar Uhuru about using literature to start conversations about racial justice, reprioritizing the mental health of faculty and students, and grappling with the construction of gender roles and categories.
In Episode 35, we talk to Nate Jordon about masculinity, fatherhood, vulnerability, and coming into your own as a writer.
In Episode 34, we interview the host! Listen as Dan takes us through his journey as a photographer, poet, and professor.
In Episode 33, we talk to award-winning author Kat Howard about doing research for fantasy fiction, retelling familiar stories from new perspectives, collaborating on a comic series, learning from different genres, digging into the revision process, finding inspiration in poetry and nonfiction, and much more! Kat Howard is a writer of fantasy, science fiction, andContinue reading "33. Thinking in Different Dimensions of Story (or Choosing Fencing over Law School) w/ Kat Howard"
In Episode 32, we talk to Marissa Lingen about science fiction and how to decide which shape a story should take.
In Episode 31, we talk to Ellen Wayland-Smith about her new book. We also talk about teaching students genre and how to incorporate voice and personal experience into academic writing.
For our 30th episode, we reflect on what podcasting as a genre offers academia in terms of embodied scholarship and archived, accessible knowledge production.
In Episode 29, we talk to Amy Meyerson and Natalie Hallak about Amy's newest novel, The Imperfects. Along the way, we chat about writing research-based fiction, the collaborative nature of publishing, balancing writing and reading with other responsibilities, and using the F-word.
In Episode 28, Dan and Katie talk about self-care and how important it is to prioritize our mental and emotional well-being, especially in the current moment.
In Episode 27 we talk to Taiyaba Husain about recent incidents of racism at USC and how to empower students to challenge racism in the classroom, the university, and everywhere they find it.
In our first "Office Hours" episode, Katie and Dan discuss listener-submitted questions, comments, and concerns about teaching and learning online this semester.
In Episode 25 we talk to Michelle Meyers and Ryan Leack about the issues facing part-time/ contingent faculty--especially during a global pandemic and a time of economic uncertainty.
In Episode 24, we talk to Rochelle Gold and Liz Blomstedt about the democratizing potential of multimodal and online writing assignments, embracing new citation practices, navigating inequities on online platforms, and letting students lead the way in digital spaces.
In Episode 23, we talk to Kristiana Willsey about folklore (the field of study and the new Taylor Swift album), the social function of fairy tales and urban legends, and the meaning-making that happens in the stories we tell about our lives.
In Episode 22, we talk to Shenishe Kelly about the importance of teaching non-canonical and oral stories and encouraging students to bring their textual lineages into the classroom with them.
In Episode 21, we talk to Michelle Brittan Rosado and Corinna McClanahan Schroeder about bringing a sense of play to the composition classroom and repurposing genre in our writing.
In Episode 20, we talk to Yan Sham-Shackleton about Hong Kong's National Security Law, government censorship, and the importance of free speech to the work of a writer.
In Episode 19, we talk to Meghan P. Nolan about identity fragmentation and embracing our fullest, messiest selves--and empowering our students to do the same.
In Episode 18, we talk to Professors Kate Levin and Nicholas De Dominic of the USC Writing Program about their work with the Prison Education Project and the obligation an institution like USC has to the incarcerated population.
In Episode 17, we talk with Meagan Dissinger about using culturally responsive teaching in music education, deconstructing power structures in the music classroom, and teaching music virtually during the current moment.
In Episode 16, we talk to Stephanie Bower and John Murray about incorporating multimodal and experience-based assignments into their courses, building relationships with local communities, reframing service learning as a form of activism, and turning to abolitionist pedagogy as a model for dismantling and rebuilding the University.
In Episode 15 we talk to Daunté Fyall and Tanee Osborne about the healing power of traditional West African drumming and dance.
In Episode 14 we talk to Professors Alisa Sánchez, Carlos Delgado, and Jessi Johnson of the USC Writing Program about anti-racist pedagogy and ways we can uphold inclusive values and practices in the writing classroom.
Stephanie Renée Payne, Danielle Lee, and O Tomas Bell return for a sobering and powerful discussion about racism in America and the demonstrations taking place around the world protesting the murder of George Floyd and other Black Americans.
In Episode 12 we talk to Brent Chappelow about writing about writing, reevaluating how we assess student work, and bringing it back to the Greeks.
In Episode 11, we follow up with Mark Marino about the challenges and opportunities presented by the move to online teaching.
In Episode 10 we talk to Mark Marino about innovative writing activities that prioritize creativity, improvisation, and play.
In our ninth episode, we talk to Dr. Laura Lisabeth about developing critical pedagogy in a digital space, using social media for academic writing, and empowering our students to utilize different discourses.
In Episode 8 we talk to Alejandro Escudé about taking risks in your work and giving yourself permission to write badly.
In our seventh episode we talk to Erik Fuhrer about erasure and collage, the embodied nature of writing, and incorporating other authors and texts into our work.
In Episode 6, we talk to O Tomas Bell about redefining productivity, reframing our creative process, and finding inspiration in our current circumstances.
In our fifth episode, we talk to Mandy Hobmeier about engaging in research that inspires us, changing the conversation around multilingual writing, and finding fulfillment in mentoring and volunteer work.
In Episode 4 we talk to Aimee Herman about coping with anxiety, caring for our students and ourselves, and finding solace in language.
In our third episode, we talk to Dr. Danielle Lee about teaching online, processing trauma through art, and documenting the narratives that emerge during a crisis.
In our second episode, we talk to Professors Emily Artiano and Ben Pack about working with community partners, deconstructing hierarchies in the classroom, and experiencing things alongside their students.
In our first episode, we talk with Professor Stephanie Renée Payne about transgressing boundaries, modeling vulnerability, and helping students find their voice.
In our preliminary episode, we (Katie and Dan) introduce ourselves and share our vision for the podcast. Our theme song is “4 am” by Makaih Beats. You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Stitcher and follow us on Twitter @writingremixpod. See you for Episode 1! “Welcome on the journey!” — Dan