Write About Now: Recent Episodes
Jonathan Small
Write About Now features in-depth interviews with successful writers of all types and stripes—journalists, screenwriters, novelists, ghostwriters, and more. Host, Jonathan Small, takes a deep dive into how writers master their craft, offering tips, inspiration, and laughs for both aspiring and professional scribes.
Jon sits down with Andrew Postman (Glamour's "Jake: A Man's Opinion," 1990–94) and Ky Henderson ("The Guy Guru" at Cosmo 2006) to talk about life as male advice columnists for women's magazines in the '90s and 2000s. They swap origin stories — how each landed the gig almost by accident — and dig into the mechanics of the job: where the column ideas actually came from, the freedom, how they came up with topics and answers, and how their own dating lives bled into the columns in real time. They also reflect on the twilight years of print magazines and the lessons learned navigating freelance careers as the industry shrank.
Courtney Kocak grew up a small-town girl in Jackson, Minnesota, dreaming of becoming an actress. But her path to Hollywood led through some unexpected territory: seven weeks on the Girls Gone Wild tour, abusive relationships, an abortion, and eventually OnlyFans. During that time, she also became a celebrated writer, podcaster, and teacher. It's all laid bare in her new memoir, Girl Gone Wild, which chronicles how she transformed experiences she thought defined her shame into a writing career built on radical honesty. In our juicy conversation we talk about:
- Witnessing the exploitation tactics on the Girls Gone Wild bus
- Raising over $32,000 for Black Lives Matter by offering topless photos to donors
- How you can be an exhibitionist but not an extrovert
- Writing dick reviews on OnlyFans as a creative writing exercise
- The difference between sexploitation and empowerment when it comes to monetizing your looks
Jeff Chang, author of Can't Stop Won't Stop, joins the pod to reminisce about when hip hop moved from park jams to mainstream America in the 1980s. From "Rapper's Delight" to Run-DMC's crossover moment to Rakim changing the flow entirely and Public Enemy making it political, Jeff breaks down the turning points. We revisit the so-called golden era debate, why the 80s deserve more respect, and our nomintations for the best rappers of this time.
For more content like this, subscribe to Small Talk
Wanna go to Gen X Con? Sign up
Joyce Maynard has been writing for 53 years. At 18, she landed on the cover of the New York Times Magazine, caught the eye of J.D. Salinger, and disappeared into a relationship that would define her for decades—until she finally told her story and was called a "predator" by Maureen Dowd. In this conversation, Joyce talks about being canceled before canceling was a thing, surviving as a Me Too survivor before Me Too became a movement, and why she returned to Yale at 65 only to discover she reads in the 17th percentile.
TIMELINE:
00:35 Being canceled before it was a thing
01:47 The New York Times Magazine cover story at 18
03:29 JD Salinger's letter and the beginning of their relationship
04:30 Moving in with Salinger and giving up Yale
05:39 Keeping the secret for 25 years
06:22 Writing "At Home in the World" and the backlash
08:26 When 18-year-olds dating 53-year-olds was "romantic"
09:41 The Charlie Rose interview (and what happened after)
10:27 Why the culture turned against her in 1998
11:23 Can you separate the artist from the art?
13:25 Teaching memoir to women in Guatemala
15:45 Writing family sagas and "How the Light Gets In"
16:31 Growing up in a problematic family
17:00 Mother's writing bootcamp from age 3
22:23 Including real-world events (Trump, January 6th) in fiction
24:09 Writing is not therapy or catharsis
29:43 Throwing away manuscripts that aren't good enough
30:08 Discovering ADHD at Yale at age 65
32:08 The D-minus French exam that changed everything
34:22 Reading in the 17th percentile
36:39 The gift of ADHD
40:39 "You cannot be a writer if you're not a reader" - and why that's wrong
41:48 Character-first vs. plot-first writing
43:33 Never knowing where the story will end (vs. John Irving)
44:18 No outlines - "outline is for a term paper"
46:22 Finding inspiration in news headlines
47:49 Why some stories are memoir and others are fiction
50:48 On sensitivity readers and the transgender character
51:44 When characters display "politically incorrect" attitudes
52:57 Fear of cancellation from the left
53:29 Trigger warnings at Yale and the softening of everything
Since its debut on Apple TV Plus, Pluribus has sparked an unusually intense response. Viewers not only watch it, they debate it and project onto it. Executive Producer Alison Tatlock talks about why the series has connected so deeply with audiences. We dig into the emotional problem at the center of the show, how skepticism shapes its characters, and why discomfort is doing more of the storytelling than plot twists or spectacle. We also talk about writing restraint, trusting viewers, and building a world that feels strange but uncomfortably familiar.
Subscribe to my newsletter @jonsmalltalk.substack.com
People in their 50s are confronting a financial reality nobody prepared us for. We grew up assuming steady careers, pensions, and a clear path to retirement. Instead, we're juggling layoffs, credit card debt, college tuition, aging parents, and rising healthcare costs, all while wondering what "retirement" even means anymore. Kerry Hannon and Janna, co-authors of Retirement Bites: A Gen X Guide to Securing Your Financial Future, break down how our generation ended up here and offer practical steps we can take now to build a future that feels possible, not panicked. Even if you're not Gen X, there is practical and useful advice for you here.
Subscribe to my Small Talk substack for more conversation like this
Former Hollywood TV writer Amy Suto walked away from Hollywood to build a seven-figure freelance writing business. She talks about the 3 pillars that got her there, the Substack tweaks that added $100,000 in value, and why self-publishing can earn more than traditional book deals. Amy's new book is Write for Money and Power: The Anti-Starving Artist's Guide to Becoming a Seven-Figure Writer.
Follow us on Substack:
Amy Suto
Jonathan Small
Lili Zarghami spent decades working in women's magazines before realizing none of them were speaking to women like her anymore. After turning 40 and getting laid off, she decided to create Jenny Mag—a digital magazine for Gen X women who don't fit the cookie-cutter mold of traditional women's media. In this conversation, we discuss why dating stories outperform health content, the complicated relationships Gen X women have with their Boomer mothers, what it's like running a magazine on nights and weekends with zero budget, and why owning your platform matters when you've been disposable to corporate publishers one too many times. Lili also opens up about empty nesting with twins, being back in the dating world after 25 years of marriage, and creating content that makes readers say "I thought it was just me."
This episode originally aired on my new podcast Small Talk.
Subscribe to Small Talk Podcast
Small Talk Substack
Jenny Mag
The legendary crime writer talks about how she builds characters, steals voices, mines real communities for detail, and turns dark human behavior into bestselling fiction. We also get into real police sources in London, writing about Nigerian communities and FGM in a way that doesn't get you canceled, and the piece of advice PD James gave her that changed her life forever.
Follow me @ jonsmalltalk@substack.com
Try AG1 and get a FREE bottle of Vitamin D3K2 AND 5 free AG1 Travel Packs with your first purchase @ drinkAG1.com/writeaboutnow
Smartphones and social media have changed childhood in ways few of us could have predicted. For starters, many children are now getting their first phone at just 10 or 11 — far younger than the technology was ever designed for. Once that phone is in their hand, it can interfere with sleep, friendships, independence, and even mental health. So what can parents do? Guest Jean Twenge, Ph.D, is a professor of psychology at San Diego State University, the author 10 Rules for Raising Kids in a High-Tech World. In this books she gives parents some really useful suggestions roadmap for helping their children deal with this epidemic. Jean talks about how the culture around childhood has shifted since the rise of smartphones, and what concrete steps parents can take right now to raise healthier, happier, more independent kids.
Order AG1 @ drinkag1.com/writeaboutnow
Subscribe to my Substack@ jonsmalltalk.substack.com
My guest this week is Kaila Yu. Her new memoir, Fetishized: A Reckoning with Yellow Fever, Feminism, and Beauty takes on a provacative question: what happens when you’ve built a large part of your career in a culture that objectifies you? And how complicit are you in keeping that culture alive? Kaila looks back at her years as a model and musician, and then forward to the harder work of reclaiming her story and challenging the stereotypes that still harm Asian women today.
Subscribe to my Substack: jonsmalltalk@substack.com
Captain William Kidd is one of the most famous names in pirate lore. But what if he wasn’t actually a pirate at all? In this episode, bestselling author and scientist Samuel Marquis joins me to talk about his new book Captain Kidd: A Story of Treasure and Betrayal. Marquis has a personal stake in the story — he's Captain Kidd's ninth great grandson. We talk about Kidd’s rise from colonial sea captain to pirate-hunter, the murky politics of the time, his dramatic trial in London, and the love story that’s rarely told. Marquis argues Kidd was less Blackbeard and more fall guy — a man caught in a scandalous power struggle between the English crown, shady investors, and the East India Company.
Subscribe to Jon's Substack Small Talk
This episode is sponsored by AG1.
When I helped launch Twist magazine in the late '90s, we basically huddled around old issues of Sassy like sacred texts, trying to decode what made them so special. The answer? Jane Pratt. So it was with excitement and a little nervousness that I jumped on a Substack Live Interview with her. We chatted about:
- Her miserable boarding school experience and how it inspired Sassy
- Getting pulled off 70% of newsstands after a boycott by the religious right
- The secret behind Sassy’s success and why it changed so many lives
- Her evolution from Sassy to Jane
- Working with Michael Stipe, who she dated for years and now calls her best friend and daughter’s godfather
- Her decision to launch Another Jane Pratt Thing on Substack rather than a standalone website
- How she finds new writers and spots a good story
- What makes her such a good editor
- Gen X resilience
- Why she hates the word “influencer,” even though she was one of the first
- Her optimism about the current state of the media
- Name dropping
- The shift to multi-hyphenate careers, and what she puts as her profession on doctor’s forms.
Subscribe to Small Talk to hear more Substack Live interviews with interesting folk.
Historian Hampton Sides joins the show to talk about The Wide Wide Sea, his riveting new book about Captain James Cook’s final—and fatal—expedition in 1776. We get into:
- Why Cook lost his cool on his last voyage
- What really happened in Hawaii
- The crew’s wild sexual escapades in the South Pacific
- What this story reveals about power, empire, and the price of discovery
Subscribe to my Substack @ JonSmallTalk
Guest Kim Dower has spent the last 40 years helping authors get noticed — as one of the top literary publicists in the business. She's also a celebrated poet, with a brand-new collection out now called What She Wants. In this episode, Kim pulls back the curtain on what publicists actually do, who really needs one, and the biggest mistakes authors make when trying to promote their work. If you're publishing a book — or even thinking about it — this conversation will help you understand the industry, the stakes, and what it takes to break through.
Subscribe to my Substack: JonSmallTalk.substack.com
Order AG1: DrinkAG1.com/writeaboutnow
A lot of Gen Xers are facing an existential crisis, feeling stuck, burned out, unemployed, and just unsure about the future. This was supposed to be the time when we start to wind down so why does it feel like we're on a highway to hell? This doesn't mean we're doomed; it just means we need a reset on how we think about retirement. In my first-ever Substack Live over on my newsletter Small Talk, I had a live conversation with Brian Clark—entrepreneur, writer, and founder of Further—about what this next chapter actually looks like for Gen X. And how we can stop chasing old myths and start building something more sustainable and sane.
For more content like this, follow me over @ jonsmalltalk.subtack.com
Get a discount on AG1 @ drinkag1/writeaboutnow.com
Gretchen Rubin joins the show to talk about her new book, Secrets of Adulthood, in which she boils down a lifetime of wisdom into powerful aphorisms that resonate. Gretchen is a bestselling author, podcast host, and one of today’s most trusted voices on happiness, habits, and human nature. In this conversation, we talk about the lessons we learn too late, the advice she wants to pass on to her daughters, and why small, well-phrased truths often carry the biggest impact.
Other topics: – Why she made the leap from clerking at the Supreme Court to writing about happiness – The Four Tendencies framework and why so many of us are "Obligers" – Her process for crafting sticky, memorable aphorisms – Why motivation doesn't work as a motivation tool
Subscribe to my Substack @ https://jonsmalltalk.substack.com/
This show is sponsored by AG1. Sign up for a $76 discount @ DrinkAG1.com/writeaboutnow
When the New York Times declared it was “the end of work as we knew it” for Gen X, it did not feel fine. The story called the generation obsolete, irrelevant, and even likened them to candlestick makers in the age of electricity. Seriously? The article sparked a firestorm, prompting host Jonathan Small to write a viral Substack response that only raised the temperature. Now, Dana DuBois—fellow Gen X-er, writer, alt-rock aficionado—joins the show to talk about why the article sparked so much rage, what it got dead wrong, and how Gen X is not just surviving but reinventing midlife on their own terms.
Read Jon's response on Substack here.
Read the original NYT story here.
All things Dana DuBois can be found here.
Has anyone ever told you, "Your life is so interesting—you should write a memoir!" It's flattering, no doubt. But then comes the doubts and the fears and the paralysis. How do you transform decades of memories and anecdotes into a narrative people would actually want to read? You can start by reading guest Wendy Dale's new book, The Memoir Engineering System. In it, she gives you the structure for constructing your memoir from the ground up. On this episode, we talk about useless writing advice such as just write a first draft, why the journey is more important than the memories themselves, and the things to prep yourself for capturing your life on the page in the best way possible.
Write About Now is sponsored by AG1, order using my code and get some freebies.DrinkAG1.com/writeaboutnow
Subscribe to the Small Talk substack @ https://jonsmalltalk.substack.com/
Back in Hollywood's Golden Age, two men with vastly different backgrounds came together to shape the future of film. Louis B. Mayer, a shrewd businessman and Irving Thalberg, a visionary producer, formed a partnership that defined MGM and set the standard for the modern studio system. In this episode, famed film critic Kenneth Turan explores their unlikely partnership, their imperial rise, and their eventual fall.
The 97th Academy Awards will grace Hollywood this Sunday, bringing its signature blend of glamour and controversy to the red carpet. To unpack all the drama, we're joined by Katey Rich, Awards Editor at The Ankler and host of the acclaimed podcast "Prestige Junkie." Katey reveals her journey to securing her coveted position, the state of awards shows in today's world, and why they continue to be popular despite yearly reports of their demise. Katey also delves into the scandals clouding this year's Oscar race and shares her expert predictions for best picture, best actress, best actor, and more.
Was a bestselling romantasy novel stolen from someone else's unpublished book? New Yorker staff writer Katy Waldman investigates a fascinating case of alleged plagiarism rocking the publishing world—the first novel copyright infringement to reach trial in a century. The case raises profound questions about creative ownership in publishing, while exposing the way books in this red-hot genre are written. You'll never look at enemies-to-lovers werewolf sexcapades the same way again.
Read Katy's story @ https://bit.ly/4hyxLUP
Subscribe to Small Talk @ jonsmalltalk.substack.com
Stuck in a creative rut? Need some fresh ideas? The solution isn't staring harder at your screen – it's getting up from your desk and walking. This simple activity has been the secret weapon of history's most brilliant minds, from Charles Dickens to Virginia Woolf, Aristotle to Steve Jobs. Science backs this up: walking increases creative output by 60% compared to doom scrolling. But not all walks are created equal. Award-winning author Abbs Streets shares insights from her book "52 Ways to Walk," breaking down exactly when, where, and how to walk for maximum creative benefit.
The devastating wildfires in Los Angeles have destroyed 12,000 structures and taken at least 25 lives. In an intimate conversation, guest Lee Ann Daly shares her harrowing experience of evacuating her Pacific Palisades home with just minutes to spare, managing to save three cats and only a few documents. Lee Ann is a creative executive and former head of marketing at ESPN, Reuters, and the Game Show Network. In our conversation, she brings her unique perspective to processing tragedy. We discuss the true character of the Pacific Palisades that you won't hear in the news, details of her traumatic escape, the challenges of navigating California's complex fire insurance system, and how she's coping with the uncertainty of this unprecedented tragedy.
To donate to families affected by the fire: Mutual Aid Los Angeles Network
To help animals in need: Pasadena Humane Society
Two years ago, most people had never heard of generative AI tools like ChatGPT or Claude. Now, they're an integral part of our workflow. But what astonishes and impresses us about the technology also scares the living bejesus out of us. Will AI eventually replace us as writers? Will our profession become obsolete? How do we make this rapidly evolving technology our assistant, not our adversary? Tech expert Christoper S. Penn joins the show to demystify the technology and offer tips on making AI a productive collaborative partner. Topics include understanding how generative AI works, writing effective prompts using his RAPPEL framework, comparing top AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini, tackling thorny ethical questions, and practical strategies for using AI in your work. Whether you're excited or anxious about AI's impact on your profession, this episode gives you a roadmap to embracing the technology's awesome power.
Follow us at:
Small Talk substack: https://jonsmalltalk.substack.com/
Christoper S Penn's Almost Timely Newsletter: https://almosttimely.substack.com/
In this year-end episode, we look back at some of the most memorable moments from the show, featuring intimate discussions with some of the literary world's most fascinating voices. You'll hear the writing origin stories of JA Jance, Joyce Maynard, and Richard Osman, how Kristin Hannah overcomes her fear of failure, writing through writer's block with Steve Almond, the best writing advice linguist Valerie Fridland ever received, Todd Boyd on the global appeal of hip hop, and how Molly Roden Winter endured 50 rejections of her manuscript before getting a yes. To listen to the interviews in full, click the links below.
- JA Jance
- Joyce Maynard
- Kristin Hannah
- Richard Osman
- Steve Almond
- Valerie Fridland
- Todd Boyd
- Molly Roden Winter
Support the show by subscribing to the Small Talk substack @ https://jonsmalltalk.substack.com/
Douglas Vigliotti is the author of the new book "Aristotle for Novelists: 14 Timeless Principles on the Art of Story." He says everything you need to know about storytelling can be found in the Ancient Greek philosopher's great treatise "Poetics," written over 2300 years ago. In this episode, Vigliotti breaks down Aristotle's tried-and-true principles that have been used since antiquity to tell great stories, including the real difference between tragedies vs. comedies, the importance of the three-act structure, why every character needs both external and internal obstacles, how a character's fatal flaw drives the story, why plot solutions must arise from within the story itself, how consistency in style and point of view shapes the narrative, the critical difference between plot-driven versus character-driven stories. Vigliotti also hosts the terrific podcast Books for Men and recommends his must-reads for 2025.
Guest Taylor Lorenz is one of journalism's most notable and controversial voices. She covers tech and online culture as a reporter, podcaster, and internet personality. After leaving prime jobs writing for The New York Times and The Washington Post, she has launched her own media company called User Mag that covers "tech from the user side." In this spirited conversation, Lorenz explains why she's done with traditional media, how legacy companies fail miserably to understand internet culture, and why Democrats are losing the battle for online influence. She also discusses the challenges she's faced from right-wing nutjobs like Tucker Carlson, and why she believes the future of journalism lies outside traditional media.
Looking for the perfect gift for an aspiring writer? Check out my new book Write About Now @ https://amzn.to/41ARP3R
Liz Mugavero is a bestselling cozy mystery writer of the Cat Cafe series, which she writes under the pen name Cate Conte. She's also a writing coach and the host of the podcast Get Writing with Liz Mugavero. In this episode, we explore the fundamentals of mystery writing and Liz's journey to becoming a published author. She shares insights passed down from her grandfather, a small town detective, and reveals how she discovered her passion for crime writing. Other topics include creating compelling characters, building story settings, the cozy mystery genre, the brilliance of The Artists' Way, writing productivity tips, and creative mindfulness practices.
.
In August 2020, during the depths of the pandemic, an unlikely TV show about a clueless American football coach taking over an English soccer team became a cultural phenomenon. In this episode, we're joined by New York Times television editor Jeremy Egner, whose new book "Believe" takes us behind the scenes of Ted Lasso's journey from a commercial to an Emmy award-winning, hit series. Through extensive interviews with the cast, creators, and crew, Jeremy uncovers how a show filled with mostly unknown actors and led by a mustachioed nice guy became exactly what the world needed then and now - a story about decency, friendship, and the power of believing. As someone who covered the show from its inception and survived his own harrowing battle with early COVID, Jeremy brings both journalistic insight and personal connection to this definitive account.
It's hard enough writing a novel, try writing one on your cell phone. Nifemi Aluko wrote his new book Musta's Mixtape with his thumbs. He says the process was liberating, allowing him to write whenever and wherever he wanted, including at the Parisian cafes Ernest Hemingway frequented. Nifemi joins the podcast to talk about his unique approach to writing, marketing, and funding his book, including using blockchain technology and NFTs to raise money and AI as a collaborative partner.
Take my Writing with AI masterclass
Subscribe to my Substack
My first interview with Nifemi is here
Andrew Bridgeman has sold everything from carpets to insurance, but like so many of us, his lifelong dream was to publish a novel. And now he’s done it. At the age of 59, he just released his debut, Fortunate Son, a political thriller with memorable characters and plot twists that will keep you reading through the night. On the pod, Andrew talks to me about the challenges of learning to write at a later age, the importance of persistence, and the unexpected twists in his publishing journey. Andrew also offers insights into his unique approach to character development and plot construction. This convo is a must-listen for aspiring writers and book lovers alike.
Sign up for my masterclass on working with Generative AI: https://pandemicuniversity.com/product/generative-ai/
This week is Banned Books Week, which draws attention to the number of book ban attempts in U.S. schools and libraries. So far, in 2024, the American Library Association's Office for Intellectual Freedom tracked 414 attempts to censor books, with 1,128 unique titles challenged. American Library Association President Cindy Hohl joins the show to talk about who is trying to rid people of reading these books and why. She also discusses what the ALA and other groups are doing to fight back.
Order the new Write About Now book @ bit.ly/BackStories
“Writing is my happy place,” says this week’s guest, bestselling mystery writer J.A. Jance. With 70 books under her belt, she’s spent a lot of time typing with a smile on her face. (That makes one of us) Her latest novel, Den of Iniquity, features the return of beloved private investigator J.P. Beaumont. How did this former high school teacher, who was told by her teachers, her ex-husband, and publishers that she couldn’t be a writer have such a prolific and successful career? That, my friends, is the mystery that we solve in this interview.
Order my new book, Write About Now @ bit.ly/BackStories
William Cope Moyers, son of famed journalist Bill Moyers, thought he conquered his addiction demons after hitting rock bottom. But 20 years into recovery, prescribed painkillers triggered a relapse that challenged everything he knew about the path to sobriety. In this revealing conversation, Moyers opens up about his new book, Broken Open, sharing this experience with substance abuse and how it threatened to derail his life for a second time. His journey offers hope to those struggling with addiction and pushes for a more inclusive approach to treatment, even in the face of resistance from recovery traditionalists.
Sign up for my new masterclass on Writing Articles that Sell @ bit.ly/smallmasterclass
Send a clever headline for this podcast and enter a chance to win a free copy of my new book, Write About Now. Submit titles to jonathan@writeaboutnowmedia.com
Conspiracy theories such as QAnon have had devastating political consequences as they’ve exploded in popularity. But what’s often overlooked is their heartbreaking effect on families. In her new book The Quiet Damage, investigative journalist Jesselyn Cook tells the stories of five American families shredded by true believers whose journey down the rabbit hole caused them to be alienated, suicidal, and often completely different people. Jesselyn shares fascinating insights from her three-year deep dive into the world of conspiracy theories, revealing:
- The surprising economic and educational diversity of QAnon believers
- The psychological needs that conspiracy theories fulfill
- Social media's role in spreading misinformation
- Why fact-checking and ridicule are ineffective in combating beliefs
- Effective strategies for reaching loved ones, including setting boundaries
Love it or hate it, AI is here to stay. Writers ignore it at their own peril, especially when it comes to marketing their work. Guest Gini Dietrich, a marketing and PR expert, has been proactive in her embrace of artificial intelligence, using it to enhance her work and its reach. Gini's media company and blog 'Spin Sucks' is a go-to source for staying up-to-date on the ever-changing PR landscape. In this interview, she breaks down effective tips for content marketing in the age of AI, including the importance of E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authority, and Trust), the use of LinkedIn as a powerful platform for content distribution, and the evolution of SEO strategies in the era of AI and Google's changing algorithms.
Order my new book, Write About Now: bit.ly/BackStories
Hot off the presses, my new book, Write About Now: Successful Authors on Overcoming Obstacles, Finding Inspiration and the Birth of Their Careers, just dropped. The book features the inspirational origin stories of some of the most successful writers who have ever appeared on the podcast. In this episode, I share my recent appearance on The Bleeders podcast talking out the origin story of my book on origin stories. Host Courtney Kocak grills me on my journey from podcast host to author, common threads I discovered in surveying successful writers' beginning, my experience with indie publishing, the promotional strategies I'm using for my book launch, and how I hope these collected stories can inspire creatives.
Order the book: bit.ly/BackStories
Courtney's Pitch Party: bit.ly/septemberpitchparty
Jon's September Writing Webinar: bit.ly/smallmasterclass
Will Selber is a former Middle East Foreign Area Officer with 20 years of experience in the intelligence community. He served for nearly 1500 days in Iraq and Afghanistan during heavy combat operations. How retired, his life's mission is to shed light on the current situation in Afghanistan and help many of the U.S.'s allies escape the country and the Taliban. It’s grueling and heart-breaking work that requires him to make Sophie's Choice-like decisions about who lives and dies. He now writes about his experiences for such publications as The Bulwark. In our interview, we touch on why he joined the Air Force, the horrors he saw in Iraq and then Afghanistan, the mental heath challenges he’s had to face, how writing has become therapy, his upcoming trip to Israel, what we don’t understand about groups such as the Taliban and Hamas, and his hope for the future of Afghanistan.
Sign up for Jonathan Small's Six-Week Non-Fiction Writing Course @ https://bit.ly/46fnKae
Subscribe to Will Selber's substack @ https://substack.com/@willselber
Boys are in a crisis. They're "isolated, emotionally repressed, and adrift," says guest Ruth Whippman. The research bears her out. Boys are four times more likely than girls to commit suicide, three times more likely to be addicts, and they're dropping out of high school and not going to college at record rates. Whippman, a journalist, cultural critic, and mother of 3 boys, has written a must-read new book on this essential topic called BoyMom: Reimagining Boyhood in the Age of Impossible Masculinity. In our interview, we talk about:
- Boys' difficulty forming deep emotional connections
- The role of nature vs nurture in this crisis
- The educational disparities between men and women.
- The lack of role models for boys.
- The surprising things Ruth learned about incels
- How sexisms cuts both ways
- Ruth's suggestions for working toward solving many of these issues.
Subscribe to my newsletter SmallTalk @ substack.com/jonsmalltalk
Our sponsor is AG1. Order and get freebies @ drinkag1.com/writeaboutnow
Culture writer Anne Helen Petersen has spent years researching and writing about burnout —that feeling of chronic stress and exhaustion that plagues so many in our always-working culture. On this special replay edition of the show, Anne explains how burnout differs from regular stress, why millennials seem particularly susceptible to it, and how we can start to overcome it both individually and systemically.
Subscribe to Anne's substack Culture Study @ annehelen.substack.com
Subscribe to Jonathan Small's substack @ jonsmalltalk.substack.com
Fifty years ago, The New York Times Magazine featured Joyce Maynard on its cover for an essay she wrote entitled “An 18-Year-Old Looks Back on Life.” That story would catapult her to national prominence but also mark a traumatic beginning to a celebrated career as a prolific novelist and memoir writer. Unwittingly, Maynard became part of a MeToo scandal with iconic novelist J.D. Salinger long before male predatory behavior was in the news. She survived that affair to become an acclaimed, prolific author— penning 13 novels and 5 works of non-fiction, two of which were adapted for film. On the pod, she talks about her newest masterpiece, How the Light Gets In, getting canceled in the 90s, returning to Yale as a middle age mom to get a degree, reading and writing with ADHD, and the best writing advice she was ever given.
Follow Joyce on Facebook: joycemaynardauthor
Sign up for my online Writing Masterclass on June 27 @ https://bit.ly/smallmasterclass
Guest Steven Almond has written a terrific new book called Truth is the Arrow, Mercy is the Bow: A DIY Manual for the Construction of Stories. In it, he shares the insights he’s gleaned over three decades as a teacher, mentor, and author of 12 books of fiction and non-fiction. He also talks about his strategy for confronting the all-too-commom fear of failure. Some topics we dive into:
- Steve's transition from journalism to creative writing.
- Mastering plot, chronology, and creating a chain of consequences
- How he draws characters from real-life observations, personal experiences, and sometimes characters that emerge from his artistic unconscious.
- Co-hosting the podcast Dear Sugar with writer Cheryl Strayed
Listen in as we try to demystify the writing process.
Sign up for my online Writing Masterclass on June 27. https://bit.ly/smallmasterclass
Subscribe to my substack newsletter to get all the latest writing news. substack.com/jonsmalltalk
Order AG1 using this special address and get five free travel packs with your first purchase. www.drinkAG1.com/writeaboutnow
How much do you know about the history of the day you were born? Could you tell me any significant event, aside from your birth, that happened on your birthday? If you are born on July 4th or January 6th, that’s cheating. We're taking about less infamous days. Guest Dan Bova has written a fun new book for the History Channel called: This Day in History For Kids: 1001 Remarkable Moments & Fascinating Facts, which is chock full of interesting moments from early civilization up to the 21st century all around the world for every day of the year. We don't talk about all 1001, but you'll learn quite a bit. Dan also discusses his research process, the challenges of writing for kids in a polarized world, and why April 15 is a cool day to be born.
Sign up for my online writing masterclass on June 27. https://bit.ly/smallmasterclass
Subscribe to my substack newsletter to get all the latest writing news. substack.com/jonsmalltalk
Order AG1 using this special address and get five free travel packs with your first purchase. www.drinkAG1.com/writeaboutnow
When Ithaca College's president asked Jason DeLand to give this commencement address at his alma mater, he didn't hesitate for one second. DeLand, the co-founder of a big-time advertising firm called Anomaly, has quite the inspiring, rags-to-riches story. He grew up penniless on a street called Swamp Road. But he put himself through college and established an agency known for its viral Super Bowl ads. In the episode, DeLand talks about the process of writing his commencement speech, the profound role of teachers in his life, what makes advertisements stick, how that industry is changing, and what he's learned about life and writing over the years.
Sign up for Jon Small's online writing masterclass, The Secret Formula to Writing Nonfiction Stories. https://bit.ly/smallmasterclass
Get all the latest tips and tricks about writing on the substack newsletter Small Talk. https://bit.ly/smalltalksubstack
There has been a worrisome escalation of anti-Semitism over the past few months around the world. But what's behind it? Israel's war with Hamas in Gaza or something deeper, more complex? Jonathan Small sits down with Gavriel Rosenfeld, President of the Center for Jewish History and author of "Fascism in America, Past and Present," to delve into the historical roots and modern manifestations of this enduring prejudice. Rosenfeld offers insights into the nuanced interplay between anti-Semitism, anti-Zionism, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, shedding light on a complex but important topic.
Does it make your skin crawl when people use words like "like," "um," and "dude," like literally every hella second? You're not alone. But guest Valerie Fridland argues that these linguistic ticks are actually useful and important ways of communicating. Fridland is a sociolinguist at University of Nevada Reno, and the author of Like, Literally, Dude: Arguing for the Good in Bad English. On the pod, she talks about the history and psychology behind these filler words and why they are far from the end of the world as we know it.
Sign up for my online course, The Secret Formula to Writing Nonfiction Stories that Sell @ https://bit.ly/smallmasterclass
On this episode, we go behind the scenes with author Trish Lundy to find out what it takes get a YA novel written, sold, and published by a major house. Trish just released her eminently readable debut YA Thriller novel, “The One That Got Away with Murder.” She talks about the process of writing multiple manuscripts before getting it right, her journey in finding an agent, tips and tricks for finding a story and characters that jump off the page, and what she's learned about the craft by going through the process.
Speaking of debut books, I have one coming out next month. If you'd like to receive an early copy for review, sign up @ https://bit.ly/3vD4s0B
I'm teaching an online masterclass on writing magazine articles that sell. Sign up @ https://bit.ly/smallmasterclass
Write About Now is sponsored by AG1. Order with my special code:drinkAG1.com/writeaboutnow
Molly Roden Winter wouldn't seem like the poster child for polyamory. But the married, middle-aged mom's new book, More: A Memoir of Open Marriage, has caught fire, moving the controversial topic from the margins to the mainstream. Winter joins the show to talk about her unexpected open marriage and, with it, a life-changing journey of self-discovery. She also talks about the process of writing her first book, from a vision that came to her during meditation to the arduous trial-and-error journey of getting the story right—and then getting it sold.
I have a new book coming out! If you would like to be part of my Launch Squad—a group of people who are willing to read my book and review it online a few days before the official release date—sign up @ https://bit.ly/3vD4s0B
Catherine Coldstream shares the extraordinary tale of joining an ancient and secretive Carmelite monastery in the UK, surrendering completely to a life of poverty, chastity, and obedience. But years into leading this sheltered and isolated life of a silent nun, she started to realize the complexities and dangers of the life she vowed to live. Her experience is captured beautifully in a new memoir called Cloistered: My Years as a Nun. She joins host Jonathan Small to talk about why she gave up her carefree, bohemian life to become a cloistered nun, what life was like inside the monastery, her views on celibacy and isolation from the outside world, and the similarities between her experience and those of cult members.
I have a new book coming out and would love for you to be part of my Book Launch Squad. Sign up @ https://bit.ly/3vD4s0B
Hip hop recently celebrated its 50th anniversary. What started off as an underground movement in the 1970s has blossomed into a global phenomenon with no end in sight. How has hip hop managed to not stop after all these years? Why were those who kept calling it a fad so completely wrong? Guest Todd Boyd has curated a comprehensive book called Rappers Deluxe: How Hip Hop Made the World that chronicles hip hop's defining moments each decade. Using photographs, movie posters, fine art, album covers, film and sports stills, he paints an often misunderstood portrait of hip hop's influences. Even the word hip hop is often thought to denote the music, but as Boyd describes it, the culture encapsulates much more. Listen to this sonic journey into hip hop's origins.
Veteran journalist Abby Ellin almost married a pathological liar and convicted criminal, but luckily, her reporter's instincts for the truth kicked in, and she averted disaster. Her crazy story is chronicled in her book Duped and podcast Imposters: The Commander. On the show, she talks about falling for the con, discovering the truth, and what the experience taught her about those who deceive.
Subscribe to my newsletter Small Talk @ https://jonathan856.substack.com
Only a few months in, and it's already a bleak year for the media. Journalists lost 500 jobs in January alone, with mass layoffs at the LA Times, Business Insider, Sports Illustrated, and others. I lost my own job at Entrepreneur after working there for five years. But according to my guest Chandra Turner, where one door may be closing, others are swinging wide open. Chandra founded The Talent Fairy, a recruiting agency that places journalists in editorial, brand publishing, and content marketing positions. She sees a bright and lucrative future in content marketing and rejects the belief that these jobs are sellouts. On the pod, she talks about her own career trajectory from magazines editor to job fairy, who's hiring in 2024, and what skills they desire.
Subscribe to my newsletter @ https://jonathan856.substack.com/
Watch the interview @ https://bit.ly/WriteAboutNowYouTube
In the fall of 2020, a Canadian farmer named Helen Naslund was sentenced to 18 years in prison for killing her violently abusive husband. That case and the lengthy sentence she received sparked tremendous outrage around Canada, exposing serious issues with how the justice system in that country treats abused women. Guest true crime journalist Jana Pruden spoke to Naslund through multiple interviews and letters from prison. It was the first time Helen opened up publicly about what happened that fateful night and everything that came after. Pruden shares this story of unspeakable violence and a woman's fight for her freedom in the critically-acclaimed podcast, In Her Defence.
Read her Globe & Mail story here.
Subscribe to the Small Talk substack
Kristin Hannah is among the most successful American novelists working today. Her books focus on unsung heroines throughout history. Her new novel, The Women, focuses on Army Nurses during the Vietnam War. The pageturner is at once an intimate portrait of a young woman coming of age in a hellish war zone and an epic tale of an American divided during an unpopular war. Hannah talks about the process of writing the book, what she's learned about storytelling as the author of over 20 novels, and how she deals with the fear of failure.
Write About Now listeners are invited to take an online masterclass with host Jonathan Small called Proven Formulas for Writing Stories that Sell on Feb 18 at 1 pm ET. Experienced and first-time writers can sign up @ https://pandemicuniversity.com/product/articles-that-sell/
Jana Monroe was the first female agent to join the agency's famed Behavioral Science Unit (BSU) to help understand who criminals are, how they think, why they do what they do. She even trained Jodie Foster for her role as Clarice Starling in Silence of the Lambs. Monroe has a new book out called Hearts of Darkness that chronicles her extraordinary career profiling such abhorrent serial killers as Jeffrey Dahmer and Edmund Kemper. On the show, Monroe talks about why she became a serial killer profiler, how she managed to be in such close contact with pure evil, and what she learned about herself and humanity on the job.
Sign up for my article writing masterclass @ https://pandemicuniversity.com/product/articles-that-sell/
Sign up for my substack newsletter @ https://jonathan856.substack.com.
Denise Hutchins and Aaron Quinn are the subject of the current top-rated show on Netflix called 'American Nightmare.' The couple's harrowing kidnapping experience and the police’s baffling response calls into question how the authorities, the press, and local government handled what became known as the real-life “Gone Girl” case. On this episode, Jon revisits his conversation with the couple, who also have a book on their story called 'Victim F. '
Breaking news: Jonathan is teaching an online masterclass on how to write an article that sells. For more information visit: https://pandemicuniversity.com/product/articles-that-sell/
What if I told you that we spend most of our day on auto-pilot? Our brains are using half their potential and generally just respond to crisis after crisis. As a result we are not actively protecting and regulating our brain’s energy to be happier and more productive. That is the thesis behind the work of guest Deb Smolensky who is a “brain trainer” and author of the book Brain On! Mental Fitness Strategies for Sharpening Focus, Boosting Emerging, and Winning the Workday. Deb combines science and anecdotal evidence from her coaching business to help people upgrade their brain power. We discuss various techniques for getting out of the caveman-ish fight-or-flight mode and allowing your "thinking brain" to rule the day.
Watch the interview on YouTube @writeaboutnowpodcast111
Subscribe to my Substack @Small Talk
Time is the great equalizer. Everyone of us only has 24 hours each day to get things done. How we use that time constructively separates the productive from the procratinators. Guest Laura Vanderkam is a time management expert and the author of six books on the topic, including her latest, Tranquility by Tuesday: 9 Ways to Calm the Chaos and Make Time for What Matters. In this episode, she offers smart strategies for getting stuff done more efficiently while also enjoying your life.
Subscribe to my substack @ https://jonathan856.substack.com
Watch the interview @ https://bit.ly/WriteAboutNowYouTube
Order AG1 @ drinkAG1.com/writeaboutnow
Jennifer McAdam is a Scottish coal miner's daughter who lost her life's savings to a multimillion-dollar cryptocurrency scam called OneCoin. She even convinced many of her friends to invest before she realized it was all a big lie. But rather than wither away in shame, McAdam fought back, creating an online Victims’ Support Group and taking legal action. Her incredible story is captured in her new book Devil’s Coin: My Battle to Take Down the Notorious OneCoin Cryptoqueen. I interviewed Jennifer on my other podcast "Dirty Money" with my fearless co-host Dan Bova. If you like what you hear, please follow the show for more juicy tales of financial true crime.
Follow Dirty Money @ https://bit.ly/3v1S2yt
Order Devil's Coin @ https://amzn.to/3toaUY9
Connell Barrett is a modern-day 'Hitch,' a dating coach who helps lovelorn men approach women, be more confident, and attract a great partner. In his new book Dating Sucks, but You Don't, he offers tips and insights that have "helped thousands of single men date amazing women." We talk about navigating dating in the #Metoo, Tinder world, the best ways to flirt and pay someone a compliment, getting over approach anxiety, and so much more.
Subscribe to my substack @ https://jonathan856.substack.com/
Check out Connell's new book @ https://jonathan856.substack.com/
Guest Lisa Cron is a story coach and author of Wired for Story, Story Genius, and Story or Die. Cron combines her wisdom of working with writers in the publishing and TV business with her fascination in the latest breakthroughs in neuroscience. She says that all humans are hardwired for story; we think in story. When writers tap into this, it triggers a dopamine rush that tells us to pay attention. The problem is too many writers don't know what makes a good story. They're stuck more in "writing well" than in writing in a way that triggers the brain to want more. In this interview, she untaps the the hidden source of great storytelling, with practical tips on how to apply it to your own work.
Guest Kristal Brent Cook is a journalism professor at Hofstra and author of a new memoir called The Girl in the Yellow Poncho. Growing up in the 80s as a bi-racial child, Zook was raised by Black women after she was abandoned by her white father when she was a baby. The memoir explores Kristal’s journey to find her true identity and ultimately track down her alcoholic father, whom she’d never met. It’s a moving story, beautifully told, about forgiveness, healing, and finding your authentic identity. There’s even a surprise cameo by Slash of Guns and Roses.
The Talking Heads are talking again. Forty years after the release of their classic concert film “Stop Making Sense,” the movie and the band are back on the big stage—same as it ever was, or maybe even better. A remastered, 4k version of the movie was released in September, and the band is back on tour burning down the house. On this episode, host Jon Small revisits his interview with the band’s co-founder and drummer, Chris Frantz, who wrote a memoir about his once-in-a lifetime experience with the band in 2020. Frantz didn’t have the nicest things to say about the band’s lead singer David Byrne, but apparently they’re back on talking terms — and that’s great news because they’re one of the best bands of the 1980s.
Devon Daniels joins the show to talk about her new book, The Rom Con. Inspired by a 1958 McCall's Magazine article entitled "129 Ways to Get a Husband," the novel gives a modern spin to antiquated and, weirdly, timeless dating advice. Daniels also discusses her unorthodox approach to writing, how her 'unicorn' first book got her multiple publishing offers, the odd appeal of the enemies to lovers genre, and what advice she would like to give her younger self.
Subscribe to Small Talk @ https://jonathan856.substack.com/
Follow the show on Instagram @WriteAboutNowPod
Watch the interview on YouTube @ https://bit.ly/WriteAboutNowYouTube
Martin Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon” opened this weekend, raking in an estimated $23 million at the box office. The gut-wrenching movie is based on the excellent book of the same name by my guest David Grann, who resurfaced the mostly forgotten story of a monstrous American crime in the 1920s. Known for his page-turning narratives and in-depth research, Grann has become one of the most successful and revered writers working today. He shares his tumultuous writer's origin story, his decision to give up his dream of writing editorials and focusing on long-read narratives, how he discovered the story of the Osage murders, and his process of researching and writing his books. The interview was recorded in 2018.
To find out more about Jonathan Small, visit: https://writeaboutnowmedia.com/
Subscribe to my substack, Small Talk: https://bit.ly/smalltalksubstack
Follow me on Instagram: @writeaboutnowpod
Guest Lori Majewski is a radio host, journalist, and co-author of Mad World: An Oral History of New Wave Artists and Songs That Defined the 1980s. She also holds the distinction of being my editor at YM magazine long ago when I wrote stories with titles like 'How to Tell If He's Crushing On You.' Lori is the biggest Duran Duran fan you will ever meet and parlayed her passion for that band into a career as a entertainment writer, 80s music expert, and on-air host of Fierce: Women In Music & Lust For Lists/First Wave on Sirius XM Radio. In our conversation, we talk about her writing origin story, why we just can't get enough of 80s music, and her advice to aspiring writers.
It’s been 20 years since Ron Burgundy first appeared on the screen urging viewers to "stay classy." Film comedy historian Saul Austerlitz joins the show to talk about his new book Kind of a Big Deal: How Anchorman Stayed Classy and Became the Most Iconic Comedy of the Twenty-First Century, which celebrates this classic movie. Austerlitz shares the inside story of how Anchorman came to be, how it was written and cast, and how it ultimately launched the careers of future superstars like Will Ferrell, Steve Carell, and Paul Rudd. More than just a hilarious comedy, the film was actually a decade ahead of its time taking digs at toxic masculinity and MeToo sexism. You will be surprised at some of the tidbits Austerlitz uncovered in his research on the film.
Alexander Stille talks about his fascinating new book, The Sullivanians: Sex, Psychotherapy, and the Wild Life of an American Commune. Led by a charismatic psychoanalyst, the Sullivanians flourished in Manhattan's tony neighborhood in the 1970s and 80s, attracting many brilliant, creative people as patients, including Jackson Pollack and Judy Collins. But what started as a utopian experiment in psychoanalysis devolved into a paranoid sex cult in which therapists controlled their patients' lives, instructing them who to sleep with and where they could work. The real tragedy is the story of the children, who were shipped off to boarding schools so that their parents could be free to sleep around and jettison the constraints of the nuclear family. Stille is an accomplished journalists and a professor at Columbia Journalism School.
In this episode, we're talkin' bout the generations. Guest Dr. Jean Twenge is the author of the endlessly fascinating new book Generations: The Real Differences Between Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X, Boomers, and Silents—and What They Mean for America's Future. Twenge dives into government surveys, databases, and scientific studies to give a revelatory report on why generations change, what makes each generation unique, and how we can learn from each other. I understand my kids and my parents so much better now!
Subscribe to my substack Small Talk @ https://jonathan856.substack.com/
Check out my new TikTok video @ https://www.tiktok.com/@writeaboutnowpod
Watch the interview on YouTube @https://bit.ly/WriteAboutNowYouTube
When you think of your 'future self,' who do you see? The image is probably pretty blurry, but it doesn't have to be. My guest Hal Hershfield believes that by strengthening the connections between your present and future selves, you gain a new perspective on what's important—and create the future you want. Hershfield is the author of Your Future Self: How to Make Tomorrow Better Today and a Professor of Marketing, Behavioral Decision Making at UCLA’s Anderson School of Management. He spent over a decade researching how understanding our future selves can help us achieve our goals and hopes for the future. Topics discussed include:
- How similar our future selves are to our present selves
- Why living in the now is not in opposition to planning for the future.
- How thinking of our future self motivates us.
- Techniques for connecting with your future self.
Subscribe to the Write About Now newsletter @ bit.ly/SmallTalkSubstack
Watch interview @ bit.ly/WriteAboutNowYouTube
Guest Courtney Kocak is a writer, podcaster, and comedian based in LA. She reports frequently on taboo topics such as porn, sexuality, and sex work. On her podcast Private Parts Unknown, Courtney takes a Bourdain-like sexual tour around the world, revealing secret seductive subcultures. On this episode, she talks about why she enjoys writing about sex, her fascinating experience getting a happy ending massage in Tokyo, and what she's learned having an OnlyFans page. After you've finished listening head on over to her other podcast, The Bleeders, in which she grills me about writing the "Jake" column for Glamour magazine.
Listen to our interview on The Bleeders: https://bit.ly/3YnMmJW
Watch the video on YouTube: bit.ly/3Qv5fZn
Subscribe to my Substack: https://jonathan856.substack.com/
UFOs are back in the news. Last month, three U.S. military veterans testified to the congress that the government had possession of "non-human" biologics. And my guest Harvard astrophysicist Avi Loeb recently led an exhibition to the bottom of the Pacific to retrieve what he believes could be materials from an extraterrestrial spacecraft. In this episode, we revisit my conversation with Dr. Loeb about his book, Extraterrestrial: The First Sign of Intelligent Life Beyond Earth and his controversial belief that we have been visited by ETs.
For more information on Write About Now, visit: writeaboutnowmedia.com
Subscribe to my newsletter @ jonathan856.substack.com
Ian Fleming introduced James Bond 007 in 1953, writing 14 Bond books before he died. Since then, a few well-regarded novelists have carried the torch for the world's most famous spy. But guest Kim Sherwood is the first woman to pen a James Bond book. Sherwood is an award-winning author and creative writing teacher at the University of Edinburgh. On the podcast, she talks about how she got the gig, her lifelong obsession with Bond, her secret mission in writing the novel, and how she updated the characters and universe for the 21st Century.
Fiona Davis is one of the most successful historical fiction writers working today. Her seven novels all take place in famous historic New York landmarks. Last month, she released The Spectacular, set in Radio City Music Hall in its mid-century heyday. On the pod, she talks about her circuitous route to becoming a novelist, how she accidentally became a New York City real estate scribe, who she turns to for her ideas, and how she researches her projects. She also offers tips on imposter syndrome and getting over writer's block.
To learn more about Write About Now, visit: writeaboutnowmedia.com
Subscribe to the Small Stack substack @ https://jonathan856.substack.com/
Watch interviews on youtube.com/@writeaboutnowpodcast111
Recently, I surveyed listeners about the biggest challenge they face in achieving their goals The number one answer: Procrastination. So this episode is all about the dreaded P-word. What procrastination is, why we do it, and how to overcome it. Guest Petr Ludwig is a procrastination slayer. His book The End of Procrastination is a well-researched action plan for inaction. Petr's main argument is that procrastination is not a time-management problem—it's an emotions-management problem. He offers tips to stop beating yourself up and start psyching yourself up to get the stuff done you know you should.
The biggest obstacle standing between you and your goals could be yourself. Even more insidious—you might not even know you're doing this. Self-sabotage is the act of unconsciously undermining our own success, often through negative thoughts and behaviors. In this episode, Dr. Judy Ho talks about the hidden reasons why we self-sabotage, the signs to look for, and how to break free from this destructive pattern. Dr. Judy is a triple-certified psychologist and author of Self Sabotage: Six Ways to Unlock Your True Motivation, Harness Your Willpower and Get Out Of Your Own Way!
Subscribe to my newsletter: https://jonathan856.substack.com/
Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/writeaboutnowpodcast
Special discount on AG1 by Atheletic Greens: http://athleticgreen.com/writeaboutnow
Guest David Grann is one of the most popular authors working today. He has a new book out called The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny, and Murder,which tells the fascinating true story of an 18th-century British warship that wrecked on a desolate island off the coast of Patagonia. The survivors sailed thousands of miles to safety, and later faced mutiny charges. Grann spent five years researching and writing this book, a task that required him to pour over hundreds of log books kept by the seaman and traverse the same treacherous seas they did. To learn more about Grann and how he rose to such prominence, listen to my first interview with @ https://bit.ly/3Mpik2J
Subscribe to my Small Talk substack @ https://jonathan856.substack.com/
Support the show @ https://www.patreon.com/writeaboutnowpodcast
Hollywood writers went on strike last week, with thousands of WGA writers joining picket lines in LA and New York. But what are the writers striking for exactly—and how will it affect us as consumers and writers? Guest Miranda Banks joins the show to make sense of it all. Miranda is the author of The Writers: A History of American Screenwriters and Their Guildand associate professor and Department Chair of Film, Television, and Media Studies at Loyola Marymount. In the interview, she talks about why the writers are storming Hollywood studios from coast to coast, the threat of streaming services and AI to their livelihood, and how this strike fits into a historical context.
We all understand the importance of choosing the right words, but few realize that minor tweaks to how we speak and write can change people’s minds, engage our audiences, and persuade them to do things we want them to do.
Podcast guest Jonah Berger has a new book out called Magic Words: What to Say to Get Your Way. Berger is a marketing professor at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and a language detective. He shares what his research and science can tell us about language and how to use it more effectively.
Want to watch the full video on youtube? Click here.
To find out more about Write About Now, go here.
More information on Jonah Berger.
Are you looking to start a hustle that helps you earn some extra money on the side? This episode is for you. Guest Nick Loper is the host of the podcast The Side Hustle Show and the author of nine books. At any given time, he's engaged in 10 to 15 side hustles that earn him hundreds to thousands of dollars monthly. On the show, we talk about identifying opportunities in your own life, the steps and barriers to success, writing side hustles in 2023, and much more.
The pandemic and economic turmoil have sparked many to ask: What’s next for me in my career and life — and how do I get there? But most of us hesitate to make big changes for reasons such as financial insecurity, fear of the unknown, and fear of failure. Enter my guest Joanne Lipman, a seasoned journalist, and author of the new book, Next! The Power of Reinvention in Life and Work. Joanne interviewed hundreds of people and poured over research to come up with a roadmap for people to make successful career changes. On this episode, she lays out the 4 s's: search, struggle, stop, and solution. These will help guide you on your exciting new path to change.
Dave Asprey joins the show to talk about his new book Smarter Not Harder: The Biohacker's Guide to Getting the Body and Mind You Want. Dave is an entrepreneur, author, and biohacker best known for founding Bulletproof Coffee. Using his body as a guinea pig, he experiments with different diets and fitness routines to optimize for health and wellness. He once said he aims to live to be 180 years old. Some of his views are controversial, but many swear by their effectiveness — and his made him a millionaire many times over. We cover such topics as how to tap into your body's natural operating system, the myth that willpower (or lack of it) is the problem, foods to eat and avoid, the best 10 minute workout you can do, and why he believes embracing your inherent laziness will increase your energy and optimizing your biology. Whether or not you agree with Dave, there is a ton of useful info to chew on here.
Subscribe to my substack, Small Talk @ https://jonathan856.substack.com/
Join the WAN Patreon community for bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/writeaboutnowpodcast
For more about Dave Asprey: https://daveasprey.com/
Love em or despise em, the number-one pop songs at any given time reflect the zeitgeist of popular culture and say a ton about how young people consume music. Guest Tom Briehan is a senior editor at Stereogum, where he writes “The Number Ones” column, cataloging the story behind every No. 1 single on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart since 1965. His new book, The Number Ones: Twenty Chart-Topping Hits That Reveal the History of Pop Music, singles out the singles that made an indelible mark. He tells the fascinating story of some of those songs, from "The Twist" to "Black Beatles."
Subscribe to my substack Small Talk
Support the show on Patreon
We're taught that anxiety is damaging and painful, and we must eradicate it like a disease, preventing it, medicating it, and overcoming its hold on us. But what if anxiety is actually an evolved advantage that protects us and strengthens our creative powers? That's the radical argument of this week's guest Tracy Dennis-Tiwary, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist and author of Future Tense: Why Anxiety is Good for You (Even If It Feels Bad). Tracy talks about why humans have anxiety, the difference between anxiety and fear, why anxiety feels so awful, the relationship between anxiety and hope, and how to start embracing and appreciating anxiety — rather than worrying about it.
Please subscribe to my substack Small Talk @ https://jonathan856.substack.com/
Support the show @ https://www.patreon.com/writeaboutnowpodcast
Generative Artificial Intelligence is no longer something that is coming — it is here and it's exploding. Over the last few months, we’ve been introduced to technologies such as ChatGPT, a chatbot already helping to write articles for publications such as CNET and BuzzFeed. How can writers survive this? Guest Nina Schick is an author, advisor, and speaker specializing in Generative AI. Nina's 2020 book, Deepfakes, uncovered the dangerous political consequences of AI. Nina also writes a must-read substack called The Era of Generative AI. On the show, we talk about what Chat GPT can do, how it works, the benefits and the dangers, and whether powerful new AI will help augment our writing or automate it.
Most of us know very little about our home's history. But for some, finding out who lived there before you and what went on between those walls can be a bone-chilling experience. UK-based writer Matt Blake wrote about such a discovery in a recent story for The Guardian Newly divorced, Blake bought a pretty Victorian house to share with his daughter. But as strange details begin to reveal themselves, he realizes that the home has a dark past.
We are amidst a pop music revolution largely dictated by an algorithm. Should we be afraid? John Seabrook joins the show to discuss his latest article in The New Yorker, "So You Want to Be a TikTok Star?" TikTok now has over 1 billion users and the app is transforming how artists create and market their music and how we listen to songs — for better and worse. Seabrook has written for the venerable New Yorker for over 30 years, specializing in stories about music, culture, and technology. His book "The Song Machine" detailed how hits were manufactured in the early 2000s, and this article picks up where that story left off.
Guest @davidhochman is a veteran journalist and founder of Upod Academy, an online writing school for freelancers. On this replay of one of WAN's most popular episodes, David dives into the hacks that writers can incorporate into their daily routines to increase their creativity and skills.
More information on Write About Now @writeaboutnowmedia.com
Subscribe to my newsletter @Small Talk on substack
Support the show @ patreon.com/writeaboutnowpodcast
Mindful meditation has been shown to reduce stress, anxiety, and pain, but many of us don't have the time or patience to make it a regular practice. Guest Jake Eagle says he has the solution - micro-dosing mindfulness. In his new book The Power of AWE, he and co-author Michael Amster, MD, share a simple mindfulness practice that can help you achieve the benefits of meditation in a matter of 20 seconds.
For more information: linktr.ee/jonathansmall
Only 8 percent of us will stick to our New Year's resolutions before the end of the year. Guest Amy Morin says that's because our goals are often too lofty or not specific enough. She offers some smart strategies for making and not breaking resolutions this year that will make you feel better about yourself. Amy is the editor-in-chief of VeryWellMind.com and the author of a series of bestselling books on strategies mentally strong people use. Her TedTalk is one of the most listened to of all time.
Live from The Bourbon Room in Hollywood, an interview with pop music songwriter Sam Hollander. His new book 21-Hit Wonder: Flopping My Way to the Top of the Charts details the many spectacular failures he endured until he finally hit it big in his early 40s. Sam has written chart toppers for such artists as Panic! At the Disco, Fitz and the Tantrums, Katy Perry, Weezer, Jewel, and Train. We spoke in front of a packed crowd about his many mishaps, his music industry rollercoaster ride, and how he writes hit songs despite not being able to play an instrument or read music. With special guest performances by Chris Pierce, Jordan Topf, and Terese Curatolo.
Write About Now @
www.writeaboutnowmedia.com
Sign up for my newsletter Small Talk @ https://jonathan856.substack.com/
Support the show on Patreon @ https://www.patreon.com/writeaboutnowpodcast
Award-winning journalist Sam Quinones tells the terrifying story of how the deadly new synthetic drugs plaguing the country have lead to mental illness and a surge in homelessness across the United States. Quinones has a fascinating book out on the subject called The Least of Us, which chronicles how designer drugs such as methamphetamine and fentanyl took the place of opiates such as OxyContin and heroin. The powerful drugs are more addictive and lethal than anything we've seen before. Quinones also offers stories of hope as communities come together to combat addiction.
College professor and author Thomas C. Foster joins the show to give a masterclass on the five steps needed to structure an awesome article. Foster's latest book is How to Write Like a Writer, part of a series of smart and useful guides he has written on understanding the fine arts of writing, reading, and researching. From the lead to the kicker, these are the key elements to making any story soar.
Scientist Leah Elson joins the show to give fascinating and insightful answers to my dumb questions, including:
- Why do men have nipples?
- What's the deal with pubic hair?
- Why is the sky blue?
- Is teleportation possible?
- ..and many more
Elson is an infinitely patient teacher. She has an upcoming book called There Are (No) Stupid Questions in... Science, in which she addresses a wide range of perplexing topics from the ridiculous to the sublime.
"Friluftsliv" is what Swedish people do outside all day before they cuddle up in front of the fireplace with their wool socks on and a cup of hot chocolate. It's also the subject of the terrific new book The Open-Air Life written by Write About Now guest Linda Akeson Mcgurk. From walking barefoot around the neighborhood to foraging for mushrooms, Mcgurk talks about why and how we should spend more time outside and how friluftsliv can combat stress, anxiety disorders, depression, and burnout. Even if you're not the outdoorsy type, you'll find this interview a nice anecdote to our frantic, plugged-in society.
In a world of misinformation and con artists gone wild, we need to be even more vigilant about who's lying to us and who's telling the truth. Guest David J. Lieberman, Ph.D., is a psychotherapist and the author of eleven books, including his latest Mindreader, which offers ways to decipher what people really think and want. Lieberman is a lie-detection expert who trains the FBI, CIA, and other security agencies on how to read minds. On this episode, he shares telltale signs of deceit in people's words and actions. He also offers his verdict on why lying has become an epidemic in today's society and what we can do about it.
We all struggle with our self-confidence from time to time. But there are adjustments you can make mentally and physically to help boost your confidence and make a powerful impression. Guest Karen Donaldson is a communication, body language, and confidence coach. She works with politicians, celebrities, and artists to help improve their confidence when they’re speaking or not speaking. Karen is also the author of several books, including Speak Like You Breathe: 30 Lessons to Become a Naturally Confident Speaker. She talks about the steps you can take today to act more confidently. She also shares insight into how other people use their body language to manipulate you.
Guest Benjamin Dreyer joins the podcast to talk about grammar do's and don'ts. Dreyer is the head copy chief at Random House and the author of the bestselling book, Dreyer's English. On the show, he talks about words and phrases you can go a week without using, the adjective he overuses, his controversial view on adverbs, and the most common mistakes writers make. This is a replay of an episode I recorded in 2019. Enjoy!
In our polarized and highly sensitive culture, it isn't easy being in the comedy business. But guest Ian Abramson has weathered the storm with his rare brand of eclectic and experimental humor. Ian was the creator and star of 7 Minutes in Purgatory on Comedy Central. He also appeared numerous times on Conan. He talks about why he got into comedy, how he crafts his jokes, and what it's like being a comic at a time when comedians such as Chris Rock and Dave Chappelle are attacked on stage, and an off-color joke might get you canceled.
Guest Laura Vanderkam is a time-management and productivity expert, and author of the new book, Tranquility by Tuesday. A working mother of 5 children, she's had to learn a few things about how to get organized and make the most of your day. On the show, we talk about:
- What successful people do before breakfast
- Managing your day by tasks rather than time
- What's wrong with to-do lists
- The best time to set appointments
- How to cope with your email inbox
- The importance of accountability groups
And much more. There is a ton of good advice you can use to get more done with less effort.
Have you ever heard of the Enneagram? It's a tool that breaks down personalities into nine types. Guest Dani Abernathy believes it can help reveal your motivations and your fears—and explain why you do the things you do. Dani is a fantasy fiction author and book coach. She swears by the Enneagram, believing it has assisted her with her writing and her personal development. On the show, she talks about how she uses the Enneagram with her clients to help them develop their writing skills and their characters. We also compare notes on our own personality types and how they help and hurt us.
Subscribe to my newsletter @ https://jonathan856.substack.com/
Support the show on Patreon @ https://www.patreon.com/writeaboutnowpodcast
Dani Abernathy's Kickass Protagonist Builder: https://bit.ly/3T7YxGX
He's the most notorious murderer you've probably never heard of. Edward Rulloff terrified the nation in the mid-19th century for his wickedness and his brilliance. His oversized brain was so fascinating that it still sits in a dusty jar at Cornell University. Crime historian Kate Winkler Dawson has written a new book about Rulloff called All That is Wicked. She shares his story and its implications for the then-emerging field of criminal psychology. The Rulloff case still raises the essential question: Are psychopathic killers born or made?
Richard Osman is the author of the wildly popular Thursday Murder Club book series. He is also the host/presenter of a weekly quiz show in the UK called Pointless. On the podcast, he talks about transitioning from TV host to bestselling novelist and why he thinks his very English books are popular worldwide. He also dives into his writing process, offering tips and tricks on how to make the most of your writing time. Other topics Richard cover include:
- The story of his childhood and the big event that happened to him at age 9 that changed his life.
- His struggles with addiction
- How he got the idea to write a book based on a bunch of seniors in a retirement home.
- Some of the rules of writing a successful murder mystery
- His favorite books and novelists.
Visit Write About Now @ writeaboutnowmedia.com
Subscribe to the newsletter @ https://jonathan856.substack.com/
Support the show @ https://www.patreon.com/writeaboutnowpodcast
In 2016, Dani Shapiro uncovered a stunning secret about her family. She has captured this story brilliantly in her memoir Inheritance. On this episode, she shares the revelation that forever altered her life and caused her to rethink who she really is. Dani is a bestselling novelist, memoirist (she's written five), and host of the popular podcast fittingly titled "Family Secrets." This is a replay of an interview we did in 2020.
Subscribe to my newsletter @ https://jonathan856.substack.com/
Support the show @ https://www.patreon.com/writeaboutnowpodcast
Family Secrets: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/family-secrets/id1441824608
Millions of people around the world are obsessed with actor Benedict Cumberbatch. The most hardcore fans refer to themselves as 'Cumberbitches.' Author Tabatha Carvan, a wife and mother, counts herself among the Cumberbatch groupies. But in her new book, This Is Not a Book about Benedict Cumberbatch: On Finding Your Thing & Loving It Like Your Life Depends on It, she argues there's nothing wrong with her fixation. In fact, she says her passion for the man helped her find her sense of self and regain joy in her life.
Do you find yourself forgetting things more and more? You're not alone. Information overload, stress, lack of exercise, and age contribute to memory loss. But your brain can fight back. Dr. Gary Small (no relation, we think) is an expert on memory and brain aging. His book The Memory Bible offers techniques and brain exercises that will improve your memory immediately. On the pod, we talk about what memory is exactly, why we forget things, and how writers can reach deep down into their memory reserves to retrieve forgotten moments for their personal essays and memoirs.
For more information on Write About Now, visit writeaboutnowmedia.com.
Subscribe to the Small Talk Newsletter: https://jonathan856.substack.com/
Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/writeaboutnowpodcast
Boy Meets World star Maitland Ward talks about her provocative new memoir, Rated X, which chronicles her transformation from a successful Hollywood actress to an adult movie star. Ward talks candidly about the cruelty and sexism she encountered in mainstream entertainment and how porn saved her by allowing her to express her sexuality. Cast aside any preconceptions you might have about the shadowy adult industry. Ward shines a surprising new light on the skin trade.
Sign up for the Small Talk newsletter @ https://jonathan856.substack.com
Boy Meets World star Maitland Ward talks about her provocative new memoir, Rated X, which chronicles her transformation from a successful Hollywood actress to an adult movie star. Ward talks candidly about the cruelty and sexism she encountered in mainstream entertainment and how porn saved her by allowing her to express her sexuality. Cast aside any preconceptions you might have about the shadowy adult industry. Ward shines a surprising new light on the skin trade.
Sign up for the Small Talk newsletter @ https://jonathan856.substack.com
Whether you're thinking about writing a novel, in the process of writing a novel, or you just wonder what makes the novels you love so readable, you will really enjoy this episode. Guest Heather Davis is a book coach who works one-on-one with writers worldwide on their novels. Heather talks about how a book coach helps writers make their books binge-worthy. She also sheds light on the biggest mistakes new novelists make when pitching an agent.
What time is the best for drinking coffee? Are naps actually good for you? Do I need to drink 8 glasses of water a day? These are just some of the daily habits and routines I talk about with Dr. Stuart Farrimond on this week’s episode. Dr. Farrimond is a trained medical doctor, teacher, and author of The Science of Living (also called Live Your Best Life in North America). In his book, Farrimond consults research and science experts to provide more than 200 ways of rethinking the habits that create our daily routines. On the pod, he addresses some of them, including important matters of our work space, sleep schedule, and water intake. You’ll probably with a different daily routine after listening, and find yourself a better writer—and human—for it.
Ewandro Magalhães is the former chief interpreter for the United Nations. He has interpreted for world leaders, pop singers, and the Dalai Lama. On this episode, he shares a collection of stories from the field and talks about this book The Language Game, which offers insights on the power of communication. Ewandro recalls the chance encounter with a certain member of the royal family that brought him to this high-pressure profession, and the work involved in interpreting for high-profile dignitaries. He also talks about what interpreters do in tricky situations, and the underrated traits that help someone succeed in the field.
Caitlin Doughty has devoted her life to death. She is a mortician, funeral home owner, and writer of three bestselling books. Her work has spawned the death-positive movement, which believes that open conversations about death and dying are the cornerstone of a healthy society. In this playback of our conversation a few years ago, Caitlin talks about why she became so interested in death and her desire to reform how Western society thinks about it. She also talks about her Anthony Bourdain-like journeys across the world to witness how other cultures practice more life-affirming funerals, unburdened by fear and morbidity.
To support Write About Now and get bonus material, become a Patreon @ https://www.patreon.com/writeaboutnowpodcast
When was the last time you tried to change someone’s mind? How did it go? In our hyper-polarized world, persuading someone to see issues differently can seem maddeningly impossible. But David McRaney believes he has discovered a way. He is author of a fascinating new book called How Minds Change: The Surprising Science of Belief, Opinion, and Persuasion , in which he lays out a psychological and scientific approach to getting people to change their minds. David culls from cutting-edge research and techniques used by groups such as political canvassers to detail a step-by-step process of getting someone to change their opinion, no matter how dug in they may seem.
When was the last time you tried to change someone’s mind? How did it go? In our hyper-polarized world, persuading someone to see issues differently can seem maddeningly impossible. But David McRaney believes he has discovered a way. He is author of a fascinating new book called How Minds Change: The Surprising Science of Belief, Opinion, and Persuasion , in which he lays out a psychological and scientific approach to getting people to change their minds. David culls from cutting-edge research and techniques used by groups such as political canvassers to detail a step-by-step process of getting someone to change their opinion, no matter how dug in they may seem.
Have you ever wondered how audiobooks are created? This week, audio book narrator and voice over artist Sheri Saginor gives some behind-the-scenes insights into the process of creating an audiobook. Sheri breaks down the complicated process from the perspective of a voice over artist and shares the type of technology needed to become a part of the industry. She also shares considerations authors should make when turning their story into an audiobook, and what red flags to look out for when seeking a narrator. Plus, Sheri reveals why authors themselves are oftentimes the best voice over option for their audiobooks.
Writers Kelly and Zach Weinersmith take an illuminating and humorous look at emerging technological innovations, and how they can potentially help and harm us. Their graphic book on this topic is called Soonish. Some of the new science we discuss includes augmented reality, space elevators, asteroid mining, and more. The Weinersmiths are an unlikely couple and that’s what makes them so darn interesting. She’s a professor at Rice University specializing in parasites; he’s a cartoonist. They’re both self-professed science nerds fascinated with future technology. This is a replay of an interview Jonathan did with them in 2019.
Being from Wuhan, China, Kay Zhang is intimately aware of the ways COVID-19 tore apart families and affected Chinese society. One story from this crisis that particularly struck a chord with her was of a woman who attempted to journey from China’s countryside to Wuhan in order to reach her newborn child. Kay portrays this harrowing story in her short film Mother in the Mist, which has appeared in numerous film festivals including the Cannes Film Festival and San Diego International Film Festival. On the pod, she details how she brought the story to the screen, and the ideas of American individualism and Chinese collectivism that are behind the film. She also talks about the way globalization has changed because of COVID and how artists in the U.S. and China are affected by politics.
Editors can teach us a lot of valuable lessons about good writing. They are the gatekeepers, generating story ideas, fielding pitches, and making out stories read better. In this episode, Shannon Palus gives us insight into what makes a successful editor and what they look for when finding writers. Shannon is a senior editor at Slate magazine and has spent much of her career focused on writing and editing health and science stories. In this episode, she talks about how she molded her career from her science background and how specializing has helped propel her career. She also details the makings of a good pitch, how to come up with winning story ideas, and the secrets to writing compelling personal essays. Plus, Shannon gives her opinion on journalists in the influencer age and how social media affects the industry.
What do David Bowie, Paul McCartney, and Salvador Dali have in common? They all admit to stealing from other artists in their creative endeavors. They have not only been caught stealing, but they've also admitted to doing it red-handed. As Pablo Picasso once said, “Good artists borrow; great artists steal,” and there is some question as to whether he stole that phrase. So, what the hell is going on here? Are all great artists plagiarists? Guest Austin Kleon joins this show in a replay of an episode I recorded with him in 2019 to talk about the joy and art of stealing from those you admire. He also shares his wisdom on creative ways to get the creative juices flowing and come up with all sorts of killer ideas. Austin is a writer, illustrator, and font of wisdom. The Atlantic once called him “the most interesting man on the Internet,” and you will see why.
Disagreement can feel uncomfortable, especially as conversations about insurrection, gun control, and abortion capture public attention. But instead of descending into a full-blown argument whenever you disagree with someone, Bo Seo has some advice for turning these conversations into learning opportunities. Bo is a writer, two-time world champion debater, and author of Good Arguments: How Debate Teaches Us to Listen and Be Heard. In this episode, Bo offers tips for those seeking a productive debate—even when you’re dealing with ignorant people or alternative facts. He also talks about the importance of disagreement, especially at a time when viewpoints seem so polarized, and offers some real life examples we can turn to for debate inspiration.
In his bestselling book Unwinding Anxiety, Dr. Judson Brewer offers a 3-step plan clinically proven to break the cycle of worry and fear that drives anxiety and addictive habits. Dr. Jud believes we get stuck in "anxiety habit loops" that we can’t think our way out of or use willpower to overcome. The result is trying to run from anxiety and worry through actions like doom scrolling or binge eating rather than getting close and curious about what's actually happening in our bodies and our minds. This is a replay of a conversation I had with him in 2021.
Avoiding adverbs, steering clear of the passive voice, never ending a sentence with a preposition—these are some of the writing rules that have been instilled in us since elementary school. But Carol Saller says they’re wrong ( as is never beginning a sentence with but or and). Carol is a contributing editor for the esteemed Chicago Manual of Style and the author of The Subversive Copy Editor. In this episode, she dispels the most common mistakes and assumptions writers believe. She also talks about the resources you can use to check your work and the role of AI in the future of writing.
In 2011, an oil tanker named Brillante Virtuoso was hijacked in the Gulf of Aden. At first, this seemed like a fairly common pirate attack. But when investigators looked deeper, they realized everything about this event was far from typical. This is the story of a murder mystery, a shady shipping magnate, insurance fraud, and two dogged cockney private investigators, as told by Bloomberg journalists Matthew Campbell and Kit Chellel.
The blank page is only one of many hurdles writers have to overcome. But how can we ensure that we have the proper mindsets and techniques to tackle these inevitable roadblocks? This week, Jenn T. Grace joins the podcast to talk about getting over the biggest roadblocks—both in our personal lives and as writers—that get in the way of our writing hopes and dreams. Jenn is the CEO of Publish Your Purpose, which combines both the benefits of traditional publishing and self publishing to help thought leaders get their books published. On the pod, Jenn details the biggest obstacles she sees when working with aspiring writers, and ties them to her own process of writing her memoir House on Fire. She also discusses the importance of a support system and reveals the three people writers need to have throughout their journey.
If you’re like me you probably have a lot of great ideas for books and articles that you get really excited about but kind of just go nowhere. But what about if you acted on some of these ideas, no matter what happened? That’s what guest Sascha Rothchild does. Sascha has written for TV shows like GLOW and The Carrie Diaries. She wrote a memoir How to Get Divorced by 30: My Misguided Attempt at a Starter Marriage. And this month, she released her first novel, a fun thriller called Blood Sugar. On the pod, Sascha talks about how she manages to make the time for her passion projects even when she’s not on the clock.
This week, Matt Richtel joins the pod to explain the concept of creativity: what it is, why we have it, and how we use it. Matt knows a thing or two about this topic. He is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist for The New York Times, a novelist, and a songwriter. His latest book is Inspired: Understanding Creativity: A Journey Through Art, Science, and the Soul Creativity.
In this episode, Matt details what science and research tell us about the mysterious creative spark—and why creativity may not always be a good thing. He shares what several studies have taught us about creativity, and talks about the way our creativity is stifled by our environment. Matt also shares his personal journey to unlocking creativity, and how a new mindset towards thinking has allowed him to fully explore any and all ideas that pop into his head.
As the son of a truck driver, John Searles remembers developing a love of literature at stops he’d frequent with his dad. Since then, his unconventional writing path has taken him everywhere from the esteemed offices of Cosmopolitan magazine to abandoned drive-in movie theaters for book inspiration. On the pod, John takes us through the triumphs and obstacles he went through to get his foot in the door of the journalism industry, and how he became a successful author on top of his 9 to 5. John also talks about writing his latest book Her Last Affair, and the different strategies he’s used to get his thoughts on paper
In 1947, during India’s troubling time period of Partition, six young nuns set out from Kentucky and established a hospital in the small Indian town of Mokama. Their fascinating story may have never been told if it wasn’t for Jyoti Thottam, whose mother was a part of the legacy these nuns left behind. Jyoti draws upon 20 years of research to tell their story in Sisters of Mokama: The Pioneering Women Who Brought Hope and Healing to India. Thottam joins the pod to talk about the story and what the book tells us about history, community and legacy. She also talks about what it’s like interacting with the community on a daily basis as the leader of the editorial board at the New York Times, and advice she has for journalists hoping to make their way into the industry.
Mary Roach has written several books that dive into the weirdness of science topics like dead bodies, sex, and digestion. But how does she use her curiosity to write a full-fledged book, especially when she doesn’t have a background on the subject? This week, Mary joins the pod and talks about the firsthand experiences and research that goes into her books, especially in her book Packing for Mars and its adaptation Packing for Mars for Kids. She touches on how she comes up with book-worthy ideas to explore and why she approaches nonfiction with a distinctive, humor-filled voice. Plus, she discusses some of the questions you may have about space exploration, like puking in your spacesuit, whether people bathe in space, and what it feels like to be in zero gravity.
Laurie Segall’s journalism career has landed her in the unlikeliest places, from purity balls, sex parties, and awkward interviews with some of Silicon Valley’s biggest leaders. She recounts these larger-than-life stories and more in her memoir Special Characters: My Adventures with Tech's Titans and Misfits. This week, Laurie joins the pod to talk about her journey into journalism, and how she managed to create a position for herself at CNN. She talks about being one of the first reporters covering the tech industry during Web 2.0, and how she’s managed to hold powerful figures like Travis Kalanick accountable. Plus, Laurie talks about what led her to eventually leave CNN, and why she decided to strike it out on her own.
This week, acclaimed author Karen Joy Fowler joins the podcast to share the processes and methods that have brought her success throughout her writing career. Ever since getting a late start to the writing world in her 30s, Karen has defied expectations by achieving awards for novels spanning science fiction, short stories, and historical fiction genres. Her newest book, Booth, tells the somewhat true story of the famous family of best Lincoln's assassin John Wilkes Booth. On the pod, Karen discusses how critiquing other writers helped launch her career by developing her style. She also talks about the experience of writing in different genres, and how emotional resilience is an underrated skill for authors attempting to make it.
In the male-dominated scene of hip hop, most people neglect the game-changing impact women have made over the years. This week, journalist Clover Hope joins the podcast to talk about this fascinating side to hip hop many people don’t know about. Clover is the author of The Motherlode, which highlights more than 100 women who have shaped the power, scope and reach of rap music. On the pod, Jon and Clover chronicle the history of women in hip hop, and cover artists ranging from Roxanne Shanté, Lauryn Hill, MC Lyte and Doja Cat. She talks about the process of creating the book after having a career writing for music publications and how she went about researching and writing such a big project. Clover also talks about the state of women in hip hop today, and what she’s seeing for the future of hip hop based on current trends.
There’s an endless amount of advice out there that claims becoming more productive means fully buying into hustle culture. But this week, clinical psychologist turned writer Alice Boyes joins the podcast to tear down many of the acknowledged notions we have about productivity, efficiency, and mental health. Alice is the author of Stress-Free Productivity: A Personalized Toolkit to Become Your Most Efficient and Creative Self, which helps readers identify their productivity profile and gives them the framework to create their most effective and efficient self. On the pod, Alice talks about the value of productivity highs and what habits to cultivate for a more stress-free sense of productivity. Conversely, Alice talks about what mindsets weigh us down and can reduce productivity, including the long-held ideals of peak efficiency.
Democracy is integral to America’s story, but recent book banning efforts from across the country may be a red flag. Author and English literature professor Azar Nafisi joins the podcast to talk about the power of fiction to challenge tyranny and preserve democracy. As a witness to the Iranian Revolution firsthand, Azar has explored the subversive power of literature in her bestselling book Reading Lolita in Tehran. On the pod, Azar talks about her new book Read Dangerously, which draws from her experiences as a woman and voracious reader living in the Islamic Republic of Iran, her life as an immigrant in the United States, and her role as literature professor.
After retiring from a military career that thrust him into the intelligence community, Kenneth Earl knew he had to put his story into writing. Written under a pseudonym, Kenneth’s memoir Illegitimate Sun chronicles his life journey from a difficult upbringing to becoming a high-ranking member of the US Navy. On the pod, Kenneth talks to Jon about his secret work as a cryptologist for the US intelligence community, why he decided to self-publish his memoir, and helpful tips for others who are curious about the process.
Bad habits can be the biggest obstacles preventing us from reaching our writing goals. This week, Anne Rochell Konigsmark joins the podcast to shine light on those habits so that you can replace them with better ones. Anne is a former journalist turned teacher who is also the host of Cocktail Party Takeaways, a podcast that gives listeners a whirlwind tour of classic novels they may not have understood the first time around. On the pod, she and Jon discuss how different habits negatively affect writers. Anne also touches on letting go of her unhealthy mindsets, and how reframing her identity as a writer has helped her adapt a healthier perspective to her work.
We are obsessed with the idea that we need to be more productive at all times, and that we’ll be happier people if we just figure out the best way to optimize our productivity. This week, Madeleine Dore joins the podcast to blow up this toxic mindset towards productivity. Madeleine is the author of the book I Didn't Do the Thing Today: Letting Go of Productivity Guilt, which dismantles aspirational routines in favor of the joyful messiness and unpredictability of life. On the pod, she talks to Jon about our complicated relationship with productivity, as well as other self-doubting habits we need to break. She also discusses what we should focus on instead, and how to form a healthier mindset towards creating a meaningful life.
Whether your work is in person or remote, dealing with a jerk in the workplace sucks. Social psychologist Tessa Went has dedicated time researching the difficult coworkers we encounter in the office and actually found seven common archetypes that exist among them. Her book, Jerks at Work: Toxic Coworkers and What to Do About Them is a guide to dealing with the overbearing bosses, irritating coworkers, and all-around difficult people who make work and life miserable. On the pod, Tessa talks about the types of jerks we find at the workplace, as well as some ways to address their irritating behavior. She also touches on some habits we can develop to make work more enjoyable for everyone.
In the age of the internet, writers have to get creative if they want to make a living. For journalist Dorothy Pomerantz, witnessing the rise and fall of print publications over her 15-year career as a staff writer for Forbes got her to see where the future of journalism was headed — and she knew she needed to adapt. In 2015, she became the managing editor of Fitch Ink, a company that helps businesses and innovative leaders write content. On the pod, Dorothy and Jon reminisce about the good ol’ days of journalism and how the shift from print to online has changed the way journalists operate. Dorothy talks about what it’s like using her journalistic skills to aid her business clients, and whether she thinks she’s “selling out” or not. She also touches on the truths young journalists need to realize when entering the industry, and what subject areas journalists should consider.
Writing a good whodunit can be a bit of a mystery, but master crime novelist Elizabeth George has figured it out. Elizabeth has spent more than three decades delighting audiences with her Inspector Lynley crime novel series. This week the author joins Jon to talk about the captivating genre and her brand new book, Something to Hide. On the pod, she talks about becoming a mystery author after a career as a public school teacher and how she drummed up her BBC-adapted crime series. Elizabeth shares how she came up with the people in her books, as well as her useful strategy for coming up with complex characters. As a U.S.-based author, she also discusses why she decided to write novels based in the U.K., and how to write about cultures different from your own.
“Write what you know” is a piece of advice you’ve probably heard many times throughout your writing journey. For author Lan Samantha Chang, that meant drawing from her experience growing up in one of the only Chinese families in a small Midwestern town. Chang drew from these experiences to write The Family Chao, a modern-day Brothers Karamazov that centers on the story of an immigrant family in the rural Midwest. Chang is also the director of the renowned Iowa Writers’ Workshop. In this episode, she talks about her heritage and how her upbringing impacted her journey as an author. She also talks about pivoting to writing as an adult, and dealing with struggles such as financial difficulties and pigeonholing from the industry.
Chances are, you probably haven’t thought much about poetry since your school days. But poetry isn’t just for puberty. Mark McGuinness offers a new perspective. He is the host of A Mouthful of Air, a podcast that features contemporary poets reading their poems and talking about what went into their making. As a poet himself, Mark talks about the barriers preventing people from understanding poetry and how to go about exploring the genre. He explains that one doesn't have to be a full-time poet to write poetry, and details the two main ways poets come up with their ideas. He also explains why speaking poetry out loud is essential to understanding it, and why the seemingly old-fashioned art is still relevant today.
Welcome to 2022. Despite the year of uncertainty ahead, you probably have a goal or two you want to accomplish. If your resolutions haven’t had the best track record over the years —you’re not alone! You may just need to reframe your goal-setting process. This week, author Amy Morin returns to the pod to guide you on crushing your 2022 goals. As the editor in chief of Verywell Mind, Amy is here to talk all about your New Year’s resolutions and how to reach them after you hit your inevitable slump. She discusses how to plan your goals, what type of goals you should be making, and some specific tips for accomplishing your writing goals. Amy also discusses the power of the negative approach, and how time limits have actually gotten her to reach her goals faster.
In his brilliantly researched book Breathe: The New Science of a Lost Art, journalist James Nestor sets out to explain how we've forgotten to breathe correctly in modern times. He travels the world to rediscover the long-forgotten truth about breathing, subjecting himself to a number of ancient and modern breathing techniques. The result is a masterclass in how breathing can help you feel both calmer and more energized. I interviewed James in 2020, shortly after his book was released. It would go on to become an international bestseller.
Writing a book is on many people’s bucket lists, but the complicated process of getting published usually deters people from ever achieving that dream. For people seeking a more streamlined alternative, self-publishing offers a promising way to get your words out there. In this episode, self-published author Julie Broad talks about what it’s like publishing a book without the help of an agent. As the founder of self-publishing consultants Book Launchers, Julie leans on the experiences of her clients and details exactly what it takes to find success without an agent. Julie also gives six reasons why book writing is a lucrative idea, and discusses how the self-publishing route can be an even better idea than going with legacy publishers.
For all of the interest in freelance writing, it’s surprising how little good information is available on the topic. Tim Herrera is the anecdote to that. The former New York Times journalist now runs Freelancing with Tim, a newsletter and consulting service that offers advice, insight, and guidance into freelancing. On the pod, Tim offers invaluable advice on starting a freelance hustle, from building your digital presence to crafting the perfect pitch. He gives an overview of the freelancing landscape today, and what strategies you can implement to put your best foot forward. Tim and Jon also talk about drawing the line between your work and your identity (which can be really hard as a writer), and how helping others uplifts everyone in the industry.
Few genres are as imaginative and boundless as fantasy fiction. But writing a story with limitless potential can be daunting. In this episode, fantasy writer Rebecca Ross talks all about the ins and outs of world-building. Rebecca is the author of several popular fantasy books, including The Queen's Rising, The Queen's Resistance, and the upcoming A River Enchanted. On the pod, she talks about the unlikely ways she's found ideas for her fantasy stories. She goes into the process of building fantastical worlds and captivating audiences with the small details. She also talks about overcoming struggles like audience criticism and writer's block. If you're thinking of getting a head start on your creative journey, be sure to stay tuned for Rebecca’s recommendations on fantasy books you should be reading for inspiration.
There’s a lot the songwriting process can teach you about writing, even if you aren’t interested in music. This week, author, professor and journalist Mike Errico joins the podcast to talk about stepping outside of your genre and unleashing your creativity. He details some of the useful tips all writers can glean from his book Music, Lyrics, and Life: A Field Guide for the Advancing Songwriter. Mike also draws from his experience as a university professor, and discusses what he does to unlock the creativity within his students. He says you don’t need to reinvent the wheel to make a creative impact. Sometimes, all it takes is daring to suck.
The 1920s was a time of glitz, glamour, and… celebrity murder scandals? Joining Jon as this week’s guest for the podcast is Michael Schulman, a staff writer at The New Yorker. Michael recounts the fascinating story behind his piece “Fatty Arbuckle and the Birth of the Celebrity Scandal”, which covers the murder of Virginia Rappe. Now a century later, Jon and Michael discuss the 1921 event, and the eerie parallels we see in today’s media landscape. For those who have ever dreamed of writing about fascinating stories like this for a living, be sure to stay tuned, because Michael also shares how he became a writer for The New Yorker and the most interesting celebrity interview he’s ever done.
What do Soulcycle, QAnon and Charles Manson all have in common? Well, they're all related to cults. For this exciting episode, listen in as author and linguist Amanda Montell takes a deep dive into the cult-ish language we see in our day-to-day lives. She should know: She's the author of the critically-acclaimed book Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism and hosts a podcast about modern-day cults called Sounds like a Cult. On the pod, Amanda and Jon talk about their experiences with cults and the mechanisms that make them powerful. They tackle concepts like thought-terminating cliches, algorithms, and the Protestant ethic — all of which play a part in forming a cult-like mentality. Listen to this episode, but be warned: You may not see your fitness instructor the same way again.
From the outside, it may seem like the memoir genre is reserved for writers with the most storied lives. But memoir author Sue William Silverman thinks everyone has a story worth telling. In this week’s episode, Jon and Sue talk about the process of writing a memoir, and how unlocking the senses is key to writing an engaging story. Sue details the development of some of her most well-known memoirs, including Because I Remember Terror, Father, I Remember You, Love Sick, and How to Survive Death and Other Inconveniences and gives some prompts you can try to get your creative juices flowing. Plus, Sue addresses some of the biggest challenges that come with memoir writing and how to overcome them.
Author Mason Currey knows that for most writers, the biggest obstacle to writing is making the time to write. After getting interested in the routines of famous artists who do manage to find the time to create consistently, he began cataloguing their daily habits and routines. His books Daily Rituals: How Artists Work and Daily Rituals: Women at Work delve into the helpful (and sometimes odd) rituals that well-known artists use in their creative process. On the pod, Jon and Mason talk about the importance of forming a ritual as a creative and some of the helpful advice he’s gained after his research. Mason also talks about the wackiest rituals he’s read about, and how you don’t necessarily need to embody the stereotypical habits of the struggling artist to produce great work.
When an early-morning house fire killed Monica, Sandi, Gordon Klaus, and their chocolate lab Keela, police wrote it off as a tragic accident. But after finding bullet casings and gas cans, they suspected foul play. Detectives were brought in, and they soon began to uncover a bizarre murder plot you have to hear to believe. Guest Jana G. Pruden is an acclaimed crime writer who wrote about the Klaus murders in chilling detail for The Globe and Mail. This is a replay of our 2018 interview.
Nate Patrin is a music journalist and author of the fascinating book Bring That Beat Back: How Sampling Built Hip-Hop. On the pod, he talks about the history of music sampling from the early days of block parties in the Bronx to the dominant role it plays in all of popular music today. We look at the controversy and legal battles surrounding sampling, and how this technique once branded as “stealing” has completely transformed music as we know it, particularly hip hop. Join us as we dig deep into the crates.
It’s no easy task to follow in the footsteps of George Washington. But author Nathaniel Philbrick did just that — albeit 229 years later. For his latest book Travels with George: In Search of Washington and His Legacy, Nathaniel followed George Washington’s 1789 tour of the country and pieces together the story of how one man traveled to 13 colonies in an effort to understand — and ultimately unite — them. On the pod, Nathaniel talks about how retracing George Washington’s travels helped him understand the U.S. president as an individual far more complex than the figure he presents on the dollar bill. He also parallels the current state of the United States to the country as it was in 1789, and what he thinks George Washington would say if he saw the state of our union today.
Most people would know Chris Matthews as the TV personality behind the show Hardball with Chris Matthews, but few may realize that before Chris graced the screen, he was a big-time writer. In this episode, I talk to the political commentator and journalist about his life and the stories he’s detailed in his recent memoir This Country: My Life in Politics and History. Chris opens up about his personal political upbringing, and how the intersections of his political and writing interests have gotten him to where he is today. Of course, we talk about modern-day politics, too. Chris comments on the evolution of the American political scene and gives his perspective on what the future holds for U.S. politics. I also take a turn at playing hardball, as Chris addresses his abrupt departure from television and what’s next for his career. Grab a drink and get comfy, because you are in for one jam-packed episode full of political anecdotes and writing nuggets from none other than Mr. Hardball himself.
A.J. Jacobs is a self-described human guinea pig. The New York Times-bestselling author’s curiosity has led him to write about some his wacky adventures, like reading the entire Encyclopedia Britannica for his memoir The Know-It-All: One Man’s Humble Quest to Become the Smartest Person in the World and to thank everyone involved in making his cup of coffee for his newest book Thanks a Thousand. Despite the creativity in his ideas, he says about 98% of them are terrible — so how does he find a good one? This week, A.J. and I talk about the work that goes into a creative idea, how to write when you hate writing, and the importance of gratitude throughout your journey.
Albert Einstein once said, “A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new.” Purportedly, he said this after his lesser-known E = mc4 debacle. I made the last part up but the point is: We all make mistakes, and that’s not such a bad thing. But knowing what blunders to avoid can give you a head start in improving your writing. Author and writing coach Melissa Clark joins host Jon Small to detail the most common errors writers make. They speak from decades of experience writing, editing, and screwing up. Topics include such classics as telling not showing, overly creative dialogue tags, waiting for inspiration to hit, writer’s imposter syndrome, and gingerly using really annoying adverbs.
Dan Barry is a National Treasure. In his long, celebrated career, the New York Times journalist has traveled the 50 states, bringing us stories of both historic and seemingly everyday events from unlikely perspectives (see this week's coverage of 9/11, for a shining example). He is a master at giving voice to the voiceless, people who don't usually get the headlines but should. On the pod, Dan shares tips on how to write about subjects who don’t share your perspective. He also gives his advice for wannabe journalists and explains his secret sauce in making his stories so meaningful.
What if you could control what happens in your dreams? Turns out you can by doing something called lucid dreaming. Science journalist Alice Robb digs into the phenomenon in her book Why We Dream. The book discusses the ways ancient Greeks and modern research alike have tried to explain the purpose behind dreams, as well as why we should even pay attention to them. On the pod, Alice talks about her journey to becoming an experienced lucid dreamer and gives tips on how you can also control your dreamstate. We get into what modern research and academics are doing to understand dreams and lucid dreaming, and how the existence of new practices like dream retreats and dream groups are helping people form meaning from their unconscious. Plus, we talk about why we all seem to have those weird dreams about losing our teeth and failing an exam, and what they even mean in the first place.
Heather Cox Richardson is a professor of 19th Century American History at Boston College and author of the immensely popular and lucrative Substack newsletter, "Letters from An American." On the pod, she talks about how she built up over 1.5 million followers on Facebook, why she chose Substack as her medium, how she chooses her topics. She also shares what history can teach us about the present, and how understanding what happened in 1850s can help us navigate today's news. Heather also gives us permission to take a break from social media and the news to connect with literature and the arts, suggesting that our society may be better off for it. Finally, she talks about how she works with her six closest friends to decide what she will print.
One of my favorite non-fiction books of all time is S.C. Gwynne's Empire of the Summer Moon, which tells the dramatic story of Quanah Parker and the Comanches. Quanah was the son of Cynthia Ann Parker, a frontier girl who was kidnapped by the Comanches when she was 9 years old and recaptured by the Texas Rangers when she was about 33. Her son Quanah went on to become a great warrior for the Comanches. In this episode, I revisit a fascinating 2019 conversation with Gwynne.
From funk to punk, pop to power ballads, Boy George to breakdancing, the year 1984 is largely regarded as the golden era of music. This week, I welcome Michaelangelo Matos, author of Can't Slow Down, to talk about what made 1984 such an important year in the industry. We discuss artists such as Michael Jackson, Madonna, Prince Springsteen, Run DMC, Husker Du, and the most important 1984 song. We also discuss the lull in music leading up to its renaissance in 1984, and what happened in the late 80's that we wish we could forget. We also discuss both the business and cultural movements forward that 1984 gave us, from MTV to Boy George and breakdancing.
Do you try hard to be a “good” person? This week’s guest Dolly Chugh says that striving to be “good-ish” may be good enough. Dolly is a social psychologist and Associate Professor at NYU’s Stern School. She is also the author of The Person You Mean To Be, where she mixes science and evidence-based research with mindset tips to help the reader better understand themselves and learn what it means to be more inclusive. On the pod, Dolly shares why it’s so hard to spot our biases and acknowledge mistakes, and how to let go of the attachment to being a “good person” and step into real growth. Dolly and I discuss how our moral identity in society plays a role in how we show up and hope to be seen by others, and some obstacles that stand in the way of us being a truly “good” person. She gives concrete tips on being more inclusive in a virtual world, and how she found her community as a writer.
In 2001, when writer Jill McCabe Johnson heard the details about a newly caught "Green River Killer" named Gary, she thought a few of the details matched a man she met and took home from a country-western bar in Seattle as a young and eager 18 year old girl. However familiar the description was, she shrugged it off first as a coincidence. Then, the more evidence mounted, the more it became undeniable that it was the same Gary she remembered sitting outside her own apartment a decade before. This June, Jill used her writing and investigative skills to pen an essay about her chilling discovery for Slate. As a prolific poet, Jill was used to an audience, but this story attracted attention and interest from thousands worldwide. Many wrote in to share their own close calls with serial killers, including Ted Bundy.
Jill joins me this week to talk about her chance meeting with a serial killer who later was convicted of killing 49 women and girls (probably more), one of those victims also living in her same apartment complex. She shares how most serial killers come across not only normal, but charming and charismatic, and her conflicting emotions around this story even to this day. Jill opens up about why she decided to write Gary Leon Ridgway as he lived out his sentence at a Washington State penitentiary. Lastly, Jill gives great memoir writing advice for owning your pain without being a victim, and transcending your self pity.
Espree Devora is a serial entrepreneur and founder of the Women in Tech and WeAreLATech podcast. Many know Espree and rely on her for great advice surrounding the present and future of tech and podcasting, but as we learn this week, we’ve still got a lot to learn about this dynamic community builder and creative woman. Espree talks about her passion for writing including time studying poetry in Paris, and how she blocks off time in her busy schedule to make time to write. Espree also talks about how she got involved in tech, and shares all too relatable emotions around not finishing her project. Espree talks about networking in a way that doesn’t play off people’s pain, writing for the audience you want, and a few of her proudest moments unifying a global community of women in tech, helping them hack their way into play. She also shares some wonderful and practical tools for finding your community and developing your personal brand.
My guest this week is Dr. Jud Brewer, New York Times best selling author, Addiction Psychiatrist, and pioneer in the world of getting people to change their habits and enjoy life a little more. Dr. Jud is the author of the much needed book, Unwinding Anxiety,which uses proven and science based techniques to help the reader break the cycle of worry and find new more productive habits. In this episode, Dr. Jud first defines what anxiety is and how we can observe it in ourselves, he shares how he got into the creation of the mindfulness based app also called Unwinding Anxiety, and tells us the three gears to break the anxious loop and become more curious about the world around us.
Rima Fujita is my guest this week. She is the extraordinary artist behind the stunning new picture book called The Extraordinary Life of His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama: An Illuminated Journey.Rima talks about the high honor of being asked by one of the Dalai Lama's confidants to create this book which both captivates readers and shares the details behind His Holiness that have never been shared before. Rima shares her journey into art, coming to the United States from Japan at the age of 15, and her journey to find meaning and heart in her community after quickly becoming a celebrated creator in the New York art scene. Rima talks about the voice that spoke clearly to her, telling her she needed to help Tibet, and now her Books for Children organization has donated over 15,000 books to Tibetan children in exile. Rima tells us what it was like to sit down and interview the Dalai Lama for an hour, and how he is a shining example of creating happiness within despite going through the hard times that life presents.
It's been six years since Denise Huskins and Aaron Quinn were awakened in the middle of the night, told they were being robbed, and then were zip-tied and blinded with swim goggles covered in duct tape. Huskins was taken from the home and kidnapped, while Quinn was sedated. The story that follows has been called a real life "Gone Girl" case, and sounds so unbelievable that if it were a novel, readers would have a hard time believing it was true. Huskins and Quinn have had to be silent for years on their experience due to legal reasons, but the couple is now ready and able to open up and share all the details. Jonathan talks with the couple from their Bay Area home as they open up about the night of the abduction, the brutal and at times soul crushing nature of their interrogation, and how they still found one of the perpetrators, Matthew Muller, despite most of the media and their police calling the case a hoax. Denise and Aaron talk about the writing process behind their new book Victim F: From Crime Victims to Suspects to Survivors, co-written with investigative journalist Nicole Weisensee Egan, and how it's helping them heal and move forward to focus on family and helping protect others from revictimization.
My guest is Danielle Henderson, TV writer and author of the moving and thoughtful new memoir THE UGLY CRY. She talks about using humor as a way to process some of the strange and disturbing events throughout her childhood, and chronicles what it was like to find solace and protection from abuse as her one of a kind and tough as nails grandmother. Danielle speaks about creating her very popular site Feminist Ryan Gosling, and gives advice to writers who feel as though they are starting without any connections to the publishing industry. Danielle's writing credits also include NY Times, Buzzfeed, and the Netflix project Maniac.
Please subscribe and check out past episodes at writeaboutnowmedia.com
Instagram: WriteAboutNowPod
Facebook: WriteAboutNowPodcast
Twitter: @kidfinesse
Christina Sweeney-Baird wrote her new speculative fiction novel The End of Men before Covid-19 struck, but the similarities are striking. Baird writes about a 2025 pandemic that kills only men and what that means for the women left behind. She tells the story of the Male Plague through first-person accounts of survivors. It's fascinating and terrifying. We talk about how she came up with the idea, the research she did, and how the absence of men would change society.
Please subscribe and check out past episodes at writeaboutnowmedia.com
Instagram: WriteAboutNowPod
Facebook: WriteAboutNowPodcast
Twitter: @kidfinesse
Writing is never easy, but there are certain tricks, shortcuts, and techniques you can use to increase your productivity and efficiency. David Hochman joins the show to suggest some very useful writing “hacks.” He is a long-time freelance writer whose byline has appeared in The New York Times, GQ, AARP, and more. He also runs UPOD Academy, a semi-secret school for freelancers. Over the years, he's developed and acquired some handy tools to make the painful experience of writing just a little more tolerable
For more about the podcast, head on over to: WriteAboutNowMedia.com
“It all started with a mixtape,” says guest Nifemi Aluko, who used that inspiration to write his fascinating new book: Press Play: Music as A Catalyst For Change. Originally from Nigeria, Nifemi is a graduate of Stanford Business School, a musician, beatmaker, and business owner. We talk about his journey from a first-time writer to a published author, the tools he used to complete his book, the challenges he faces marketing it, and how music can truly change the world.
My guest is Kristin van Ogtrop. In her new memoir, Did I Say That Out Loud?: Midlife Indignities and How to Survive Them, she shares a funny and insightful take on being middle age.
Kristin is an old colleague and friend. We first met as young-ish editors at Glamour magazine back in its heyday.
On the pod, we reminisce about her successful career in magazines, which began working under Anna Wintour and Vogue and culminated as editor in chief of Real Simple, where she reigned for 13 years.
Then we discuss the radical shift she had to make in her career after getting let go at Real Simple.
Other topics include:
- How she got the idea to write a book on middle age indignities.
- Shifting careers in your 50s
- Her writing process, which includes the sage advice to: "write with no attachment to outcome."
Join the Write About Now Community:
Newsletter: https://jonathan856.substack.com/
www.writeaboutnowmedia.com
https://www.instagram.com/writeaboutnowpod/
https://www.facebook.com/WriteAboutNowPodcast
https://twitter.com/kidfinesse
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanjsmall/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/
Join the Write About Now Community:
Newsletter: https://jonathan856.substack.com/
www.writeaboutnowmedia.com
https://www.instagram.com/writeaboutnowpod/
https://www.facebook.com/WriteAboutNowPodcast
https://twitter.com/kidfinesse
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanjsmall/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/
In her debut novel GOLD DIGGERS, Sanjena Sathan tells a funny and moving story about growing up Indian American in the suburbs of Atlanta and the costs of the American dream. The book is so good that Mindy Kaling recently announced her production company will adapt it for a TV series. Like her main character, Sanjena is a second-generation South Asian who bucked a traditional path to become a writer. On the podcast, Sanjena talks about telling the story from a guy’s point of view, her daring decision to use magic realism as a plot device, and how the strange idea for her book was actually inspired by real-life events. We also dive into her process, which includes being a vomit drafter and learning to read books for craft not just pleasure.
Join the Write About Now Community:
Newsletter: https://jonathan856.substack.com/
www.writeaboutnowmedia.com
https://www.instagram.com/writeaboutnowpod/
https://www.facebook.com/WriteAboutNowPodcast
https://twitter.com/kidfinesse
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanjsmall/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/
Before the Big Lie of 2021, there was the Big Lie of 1847. Missionary Marcus Whitman and 11 others were killed by members of the Cayuse tribe, which led Congress to make Oregon a U.S territory and justified countless crimes against Native Americans for decades to come. But as guest Blaine Harden explains in his stirring new book Murder at the Mission, the "heroic" story of Marcus Whitman's life and death is a fable invented by other missionaries, opportunists, and expansionists. This is what really happened.
How does a writer find their voice? If you're bestselling novelist Emma Straub, you let it find you. Emma is the author of four novels, including her latest All Adults Here, a funny and keenly perceptive novel about a dysfunctional family in a small town in upstate New York. She talks about her upbringing in Manhattan with a famous writer dad, her early struggles getting published, and her decision to open an independent books store in Brooklyn.
Join the Write About Now Community:
Free Newsletter
www.writeaboutnowmedia.com
https://www.instagram.com/writeaboutnowpod/
https://www.facebook.com/WriteAboutNowPodcast
https://twitter.com/kidfinesse
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanjsmall/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/
We all need help navigating our relationships with our loved ones. Marc and Angel Chernoff are experts on this topic. The married couple and life coaches have written a few bestselling books, including their latest 1000 Little Habits of Happy, Successful Relationships. On the pod, we talk about the most common pain points for couples, questions you should ask each other to save your relationship, toxic behavior that destroys your bond, and the best relationship advice they ever received. We also talk about they transitioned from their unfulfilling day jobs to being superstar writers, and what they've learned about how to make stories go viral.
Join the Write About Now Community:
Free Newsletter
www.writeaboutnowmedia.com
https://www.instagram.com/writeaboutnowpod/
https://www.facebook.com/WriteAboutNowPodcast
https://twitter.com/kidfinesse
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanjsmall/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/
Who was the first DJ? Where did the term disc jockey come from? Who are the superstar DJs that changed the game? How have DJs survived and thrived all these years? These are just some of the questions our guest Bill Brewster takes for a spin. Bill is the co-author of Last Night a DJ Saved My Life, which chronicles the definitive history of the DJ from the 1930s to the present day, from radio to the clubs to your streaming services. Here's how DJs have revolutionized the way music is created and consumed.
Editing by Kaylon Rushing
Join the Write About Now Community
www.writeaboutnowmedia.com
https://www.instagram.com/writeaboutnowpod/
https://www.facebook.com/WriteAboutNowPodcast
https://twitter.com/kidfinesse
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanjsmall/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/
Subscribe to my free newsletter for writing tips and tricks: https://writeaboutnowmedia.com/subscribe
Writing and rejection go hand and hand, but many of us are not equipped for it. Guest Barbara DeMarco Barrett has some suggestions about handling criticism, along with some other great advice. Barbara has been writing and teaching for over three decades. Her first book Pen On Fire: A Busy Woman's Guide to Igniting the Writer Within made the LA Times bestseller list. Recently, she edited an upcoming anthology called Palm Springs Noir, which includes her own creepy short story. Barbara also teaches writing classes and was recognized with a Distinguished Instructor Award at UC-Irvine. Barbara co-hosts the Writers on Writing podcast KUCI-FM. She is also the founder of the Pen on Fire Speakers Writers Salon in Corona del Mar, California.
Our sponsor News Break is hiring writers all across the US to cover local happenings in their city. To apply, go to newsbreak.com/podcasts.
Join the Write About Now Community
Links:
www.writeaboutnowmedia.com
https://writeaboutnowmedia.com/subscribe
https://www.instagram.com/writeaboutnowpod/
https://www.facebook.com/WriteAboutNowPodcast
https://twitter.com/kidfinesse
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanjsmall/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCExqs0i3A8CPCBJyv7NBDjg
Max Brooks knows all about using mental agility to solve big problems. He is the bestselling author of three zombie survival books, including World War Z and Devolution about a Sasquatch Massacre. Recently, he released Minecraft: The Mountain, his second book set in the Minecraft universe. On the podcast, we talk about a wide variety of topics, including the surprising lessons he’s taken away from the pandemic, the PSA he made with his dad Mel Brooks, and why he thinks Minecraft is the most important educational tool in a generation.
Our sponsor News Break is hiring writers all across the US to cover local happenings in their city. To apply, go to newsbreak.com/podcasts.
Join the Write About Now Community
Links:
www.writeaboutnowmedia.com
https://writeaboutnowmedia.com/subscribe
https://www.instagram.com/writeaboutnowpod/
https://www.facebook.com/WriteAboutNowPodcast
https://twitter.com/kidfinesse
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanjsmall/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCExqs0i3A8CPCBJyv7NBDjg
In the late 19th century, women reporters went undercover in places like insane asylums, textile factories, abortion clinics, and even the circus to expose the corruption and poor conditions in which people lived and worked. They were called "Girl Stunt Reporters" and many have been forgotten despite their groundbreaking journalism. But in her new book Sensational, Kim Todd brings back to life the exciting stories of these pioneering women whose influence is still felt today. On the pod, she talks about who these women were, how they got so popular, and why they ultimately fell out of the public's favor.
"Happiness is not a passive state of being but an active state of doing," says guest Meaghan B Murphy. She should know. In her new book, Your Fully-Charged Life, Meaghan (who is also editor in chief of Woman's Day) interviewed countless experts, poured over research, and roadtested techniques to reveals the habits and mindsets of happier people. She shares some of her secrets for "finding more yay every day" and speaks candidly about her own journey, overcoming anorexia and personal tragedy to live life to the fullest.
Many of us have encountered a narcissist—at work, in life, or in our own families. But many of us are not prepared to deal with the traumatic psychological and destructive toll narcissists can cause. Guest Dan Shaw is a social worker, psychoanalyst, and the author of an illuminating new book called Traumatic Narcissism: Relational Systems of Subjugation. He talks about how his own experience in a cult with a charismatic leader led him to pursue a psychology career. Then he sheds light on narcissistic personality disorder, sharing suggestions on how to reprogram those who have been adversely affected.
Are we alone in the universe? No way, says guest Avi Loeb, a Harvard University astrophysicist and author of a persuasive new book called Extraterrestrial: The First Sign of Intelligent Life Beyond Earth, which focuses on the discovery of Oumuamua in 2017. Loeb argues that the unidentified interstellar object is the first to visit our solar system. On the pod, we talk about the evidence that led him to stake his reputation on his theory, the reason it's so controversial, and why more scientists aren't interested in discovering life beyond our planet.
For more information on Write About Now, visit www.writeaboutnowmedia.com
Music and editing by Jesse McInturff
British writer Katherine May has written both fiction and non-fiction books about dealing with stress. In her new memoir Wintering, she writes beautifully about how to cope with life when it throws you unexpected challenges. After weathering the storms of a critically sick husband, Katherine became ill with Crohn's disease. Then her 6-year-old refused to go to school and she quit her job. Rather than wallowing in self-pity, Katherine mined her own experience and other cultures to learn how to deal with hard times by retreating, hibernating, healing, and re-grouping.
Kristin Hannah is one of the most successful novelists working today. She has written over 20 novels, including the international blockbusters, The Nightingale (soon to be a film starring Dakota Fanning and Elle Fanning), and Firefly Lane (now on Netflix with Katherine Heigl). Her powerful new novel is called The Four Winds and takes place during the dust bowl. A former lawyer turned writer, Kristin shares her unlikely origin story, how she chooses the characters and setting of her epic tales, and what it's like to see her words come to life on the screen.
This podcast was produced by Jonathan Small and Strike Fire Productions, edited by Jeremy Grater.
Elizabeth LaBan is the bestselling author of five novels and one nonfiction book, including Beside Herself, Not Perfect, The Restaurant Critic's Wife, and The Tragedy Paper, which has been translated into eleven languages. She's also a former high school classmate. We learned to write under the watchful eye of an erudite English teacher. On the pod, she talks about her journey from NBC Page to novelist, the importance of raising the stakes in storytelling, and her advice for every writer she meets.
Dr. Jack Goldstone is a sociologist, political scientist, and historian recognized as one of the leading authorities on revolutions and social change. His latest book, Revolutions: A Very Short Introduction, shows how revolutions have shaped our world. On the podcast, he talks about the current state of political instability in the U.S.: How we got here, where we're going, and what history can teach us about how to fix this seemingly intractable divide. This is a masterclass in understanding the current political and social climate.
While most of us are familiar with the stories of Black historical figures, like Frederick Douglass and Harriet Tubman, many unheralded people in Black history are lesser-known. In her new book, Unsung, Michelle D. Commander (with co-editor Kevin Young) collects life stories and overlooked American Slavery and Abolitionists' accounts that have mostly been excised from today's historical accounts. An associate director and curator of the Lapidus Center and a professor of Africana Studies, Commander shares some amazing stories you probably don't know but should.
Can meditation help you become a kinder, calmer, and happier person? Does regular practice help you become a better writer? These are some of the questions posed to master meditator Sharon Salzberg. Sharon is the co-founder of the Insight Meditation Society and author of several bestselling books on meditation, including Real Happiness and Real Change. Her accessible, down-to-earth approach to meditating has made her a much sought-after teacher. On the podcast, she shares tips for overcoming writer's block, the inner critic, and other obstacles that stand in our way.
One in three people in the U.S. suffers from a sleep disorder, impacting their health, happiness, and overall sanity. But it doesn't have to be this way, says this week's guest Dr. Michael Breus, a Clinical Psychologist, renowned sleep expert, and author of the book, The Power of When. Known as The Sleep Doctor, Dr. Breus has appeared numerous times on Oprah, Dr. Oz, and over 250 TV shows. On the pod, he offers practical tips for getting a better night's sleep based on your sleep chronotype: Are you a bear, wolf, lion, or dolphin? Dr. Breus also offers advice for stopping snoring, drinking coffee, napping, and using CBD, Melatonin, and other sleep medicine.
Guest Mark Bittman is one of the most successful food writers of all time. Over the past 30 years, he has penned over 17,000 recipes and countless books, including the How to Cook Everything series. He was also the lead food writer for the New York Times Magazine. Recently, he shifted gears to become a food academic and activist. His latest book is Animal Vegetable Junk, which gives a comprehensive tour of the history of food, and how it has impacted humanity and the environment. On the pod, Bittman shares how he broke into the food writing business, how he comes up with recipe ideas, and his concerns about and solutions for our not-so-nutritious national diet.
If you find yourself entertaining too many negative and self-critical thoughts, this episode might really help you. Rick Hanson, Ph.D. is a psychologist and author who has written several bestselling books, including his latest Neurodarma, on the inner skills of personal well-being, psychological growth, and meditation. A practicing Buddhist, Hanson integrates the ancient teachings of the Buddha with modern science to explain not only what's happening in your mind, but how to rewire your brain to experience more happiness and positivity.
Michael Ian Black is a comedian, actor, and writer. His new book, A BETTER MAN: A (Mostly Serious) Letter to My Son, offers a thoughtful and personal look at the complicated meaning of masculinity in an era of the Angry White Male, lawless insurrections, school shootings, and #MeToo. For a comedian, this is a pretty heavy topic. We talk about his own unusual upbringing, the shortcomings of traditional masculinity, dating and relationships in today’s world, and ultimately what it takes to be a better man.
On January 6, 2021, thousands of Trump supporters stormed the Capitol as Congress was meeting to confirm Joe Biden as the 46th U.S. President. Five people died and the nation plunged into chaos. Our brave guests--both writers--were on the ground to bear witness: Andrew Denny is a journalist who reported on the riot for Business Insider. Terry Bouton is an author and professor of history at UMBC. His Twitter thread on the event has over 100 thousand views. This is what they saw and heard, and what they believe it means for the future of our country.
On January 6, 2021, thousands of Trump supporters stormed the Capitol as Congress was meeting to confirm Joe Biden as the 46th U.S. President. Five people died and the nation plunged into chaos. Our brave guests--both writers--were on the ground to bear witness: Andrew Denny is a journalist who reported on the riot for Business Insider. Terry Bouton is an author and professor of history at UMBC. His Twitter thread on the event has over 100 thousand views. This is what they saw and heard, and what they believe it means for the future of our country.
Ever feel like you could organize your days better? This is the episode for you. Guest Laura Vanderkam is a time-management and productivity guru. She's the author of several bestselling books on the topic, including What the Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast and The New Corner Office: How The Most Successful People Work From Home. Her Ted Talk has over 11 million views. On the pod, we talk about the best morning routines, how to organize your days by task not time, dealing with email overload, and the future of working from home.
In 1864, two newspapers published a call, allegedly from President Lincoln, for the conscription of 400,000 more Union soldiers to the Civil War. But it was a hoax. The fake news and what happened next is the subject of guest Elizabeth “Biz” Mitchell’s new book Lincoln’s Lie. We talk about journalism during this time, the complicated relationship between the President and the press, and Mitchells’ own rise from the executive editor at John F. Kennedy Jr's George magazine to the author of historical books.
Meowy Christmas! On this special holiday episode of Write About Now, we take a deep dive into the fuzzy world of felines. Guest Dr. Meghan Herron, DVM is a veterinary behavior specialist and author of the new book Decoding Your Cat. She explains common cat behaviors, such as purring, meowing, and even loving, to help demystify kitties. She also offers fascinating insights into understanding different cat personalities and techniques to train your cat.
Meowy Christmas! On this special holiday episode of Write About Now, we take a deep dive into the fuzzy world of felines. Guest Dr. Meghan Herron, DVM is a veterinary behavior specialist and author of the new book Decoding Your Cat. She explains common cat behaviors, such as purring, meowing, and even loving, to help demystify kitties. She also offers fascinating insights into understanding different cat personalities and techniques to train your cat.
Pulitzer Prize finalist Sarah Maslin Nir talks about her new coming-of-age memoir, Horse Crazy, which explores why she and so many others are completely obsessed with horses. We learn about her life growing up as an outsider in the insular world of New York City's elite. From riding to writing, Nir also takes us behind-the-scenes of her impressive career, including a yearlong investigation into New York City’s exploitive and dangerous nail salon industry.
2020 is the year of the cult. TV shows, documentaries, bestsellers, and podcasts flood popular culture with stories of charismatic leaders and their brainwashed followers. The word is even being used to describe Donald Trump and his conspiracy-loving acolytes. But what is a cult? How do they work and why do otherwise normal people become involved in them? Our guest is therapist Rachel Bernstein, an expert in cultic groups who counts over 80 former cult members as clients. Rachel is also the host of the terrific podcast Indoctrination, which features interviews with former cultists.
Stanley Kubrick was one of the greatest filmmakers of all time. With classics such as Dr. Strangelove, Spartacus, The Shining, Full Metal Jacket, and 2001: A Space Odyssey, the director changed the way we viewed the world. Guest David Mikics has written an engrossing new book called "Stanley Kubrick: American Filmmaker," which explores the personal side of Kubrick's films. We talk about what made his movies so powerful, his controversial approach to working with people, and the lessons we can take from his genius.
Looking for a way to earn some extra money as a writer? There are plenty of side hustle opportunities if you know where to look. In Part 1 of our side hustle series, we talk to married couple Alexander and Sarabeth Lewis of Lewis Commercial Writing, who have found great success in business copywriting. What is that exactly? It's creating copy for businesses hungry for content in all sorts of forms: blogs, white papers, conversion copy, emails, UX, to name a few. In this episode, the Lewis's lay out what's selling, who's hiring, and how to get a piece of the action.
In this age of social media distraction and "doom scrolling," the ability to be present is often lost. My guest Rob Walker offers a solution to this predicament. In his book and newsletter "The Art of Noticing," he gives suggestions on becoming a clearer thinker, a better listener, and a more creative person. We discuss the power of being able to turn away from your devices and become a "first-class noticer," seeing what others overlook and paying attention to what seemed invisible to everyone else.
How will Donald Trump's narcissism play out over the next few months? Guest Dr. Bandy Lee offers a sobering analysis. She is a forensic psychiatrist, president of the World Mental Health Coalition, and author of bestsellers The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump and Trump’s Mind and America’s Soul. On the pod, she explains Trump's mental disorder and his uncanny ability to amass so many followers. Dr. Lee also offers some suggestions on how to manage the anxiety so many of us are feeling right now.
Misinformation and disinformation fill the news, our social feeds, and our minds in a time when the truth is more important than ever. How do we as readers and writers separate facts from fiction? Thomas C. Foster has some answers. He is the author of How To Read Nonfiction Like a Professor and professor emeritus of English at the University of Michigan, Flint. In this episode of Write About Now, we talk about the election, the pandemic, and other hot-button topics and cover essential strategies for becoming better readers, thinkers, and consumers of media.
When Rebecca Deng was just six years old, rebels soldiers ransacked her village in South Sudan, killing her parents and loved ones. Rebecca escaped into the forest and wandered 1,000 miles to a refugee camp in Kenya. She ultimately found asylum in Michigan. Her riveting tale is captured in a new memoir called What They Meant for Evil.On the podcast, Rebecca shares her amazing journey both in war-torn Africa and in her strange new land of Grand Rapids. She also talks of survivor guilt and managing to stay sane in incredibly stressful situations.
Is there life beyond Earth? The question has fascinated famed astrophysicist Sara Seager her entire life. In her new memoir, she chronicles the trials and tribulations of researching exoplanets, while enduring heartache closer to home. Seager was widowed at the age of 40, leaving her a single mom with two young children. Around this time, she also discovered she was on the autism spectrum. This is her moving story of looking within while gazing at the stars.
'Games of Thrones' ended in 2019, but the fascination with the epic TV series will live on for ages. A new book by Entertainment Weekly editor at large James Hibberd called Fire Cannot Kill A Dragonchronicles the making of the epic series, which ran on HBO for eight seasons. Hibberd had access to hundreds of cast members, producers, executives, and crew and managed to get some behind-the-scenes gems, including the time Bruce Willis might have disrupted a shoot, Peter Dinklage's odd request before accepting the role, and the North Korean-like security on the set. Plus, he offers tips on how to get people to open up in interviews.
J. Todd Scott has been a federal agent with the DEA for more than 20 years, investigating domestic meth labs and going undercover to bring down drug cartels. Scott is also a bestselling crime novelist. His latest book is Lost River, a murder mystery set in rural Kentucky. Scott shares his exciting real-life exploits as a DEA agent. Why and how he got into writing. How much of his real-life experiences inform his stories. And what it's like to be in law enforcement in a time of Black Lives Matter and mass protests against the police.
What is the process behind writing great poetry? Guest Dr. Joshua Bennett takes us into the world of a working poet. He's a professor of English and Creative Writing at Dartmouth College and the author of three books of poetry, including Owed, which was released earlier this year. A recipient of the NAACP Image Award, Dr. Bennett has also recited his original works at the Sundance Film Festival and the White House. On the pod, we talk about his background growing up in a black working-class family while attending mostly white elite institutions, how he has mastered his craft, and his advice to aspiring writers.
Ken Follett has sold more than 170 million copies of his books worldwide, making him one of the most successful novelists working today. But his books aren't just bestsellers; they're masterful works of historical fiction. I count Pillars of the Earth as one of my favorite books of all time—and I'm not alone. Now Follett's written a prequel to that book called The Evening and the Morning. In this episode, he talks about the three-year process researching, writing, and rewriting the book, offering his sage advice to all aspiring novelists.
Legendary drummer Chris Frantz talks about his fascinating new memoir called Remain In Love , which chronicles his once-in-a-lifetime experiences with the Talking Heads and Tom Tom Club. He shares stories from his college days as RISD, where he meets the love of his life, bassist Tina Weymouth, and quirky frontman David Byrne, their years opening for the Ramones and Blondie at CBGBs, and how he became the Genius of Love, co-writing one of the most iconic dance records of all time.
On the morning of December 30, 1999, a trailer home in rural Oklahoma went up in flames. Of the four people inside, two were shot dead, and the other two—16-year-old best friends—vanished. Writer Jax Miller, a former junkie, spent four years embedded in the tiny town investigating the case. Her experience is captured in a gripping and dark new true crime book called Hell in the Heartland. We talk about why she learned about the mystery and about herself.
In 2018, Katie Hill shocked the nation when she flipped the historically red 25th district of California, becoming its first Democratic congresswoman in decades. Katie, now 32, was also the first woman to hold the seat, and the first openly LGBTQ woman to be elected to Congress from California. But when her abusive ex-husband released comprising photos of Katie to a right-wing website, she was forced to resign just six months into her term. Katie joins the show to talk about the new memoir and political manifesto, She Will Rise. She opens up about what she's had to endure and learn over this trying period, and the inspiring message she wants to pass on to women everywhere about how to achieve change and equal rights for women.
In her latest book, Make your Mess Your Memoir, writer Anna David tells her compelling story of addiction and coming out on the other side. She also gives excellent advice on turning your own personal difficulties into great copy. I've known Anna for a while but it wasn't until this interview that I really learned her fascinating story. Anna talks about how she dated Matt Damon, her addiction to cocaine, the time Tom Berenger threw a book at her head, and the secret to writing a book people want to read.
Debra Jo Immergut talks about her captivating new novel, You Again, in which the protagonist keeps seeing a younger version of herself on the New York City streets. Immergut is a former magazine editor and a writing teacher. She shares her backstory, the valuable lessons she learned in the famed Iowa University writer's program and the sometimes brutal NYC publishing world, and her tactics for becoming a successful writer.
A recent poll found that a quarter of Americans think COVID-19 might have been planned. Twenty-one percent think Big Foot is real. President Trump tweets conspiracy theories daily. Have we all lost our minds? Guest Colin Dickey helps us understand where conspiracy theories come from and why people often believe them. He is the author of the new book: The Unidentified: Mythical Monsters, Alien Encounters, and Our Obsession with the Unexplained.
Does talking about your personal accomplishments make you uncomfortable? Do peers who shamelessly promote themselves om social media annoy you? This week's guest, Meredith Fineman, thinks you need a new mindset. In her new book Brag Better: Master the Art of Fearless Self-Promotion, Fineman argues that sometimes we need to unapologetically advocate more for ourselves to be heard. She offers tips and tricks for how to get there without being a total blowhard.
Medium.com has become a go-to alternative platform for writers looking to gain a following and get paid for their work. My guest Anthony Moore is one of their most popular writers, with over 45K subscribers, a six-figure income, a massive mailing list, and a book entitled What Extraordinary People Know. Anthony talks about why he turned to Medium, how it turned his lackluster writing career around, and how it might help you get your work discovered, too.
For those of us fortunate to have grown up in the Tri-State Area in the 80s and 90s, we have fun, albeit terrifying, memories of visiting Action Park in New Jersey. Now closed permanently, the amusement park nicknamed "Traction Park" is where kids went to get bruised up or to break a bone. Guest Andy Mullvihill had a front-row seat. His father Gene founded the park, and Andy worked there as a lifeguard and ride tester. We talk about his new off-the-rails memoir: ACTION PARK: Fast Times, Wild Rides, and the Untold Story of America’s Most Dangerous Amusement Park.
While humans are busy tweeting, birds are busy talking, courting, building, playing, even parenting. Seriously, new scientific research is dramatically changing what we know about birds. Turns out the little critters are pretty brilliant. My guest Jennifer Ackerman write about these new findings in her brilliant new book The Bird Way. Drawing on her personal observations, the latest science, and her bird-related travel around the world, she uncovers all sort of interesting facts about birds including:
- How bird song is a very advanced language
- The interesting way birds experience emotions
- Their incredible sense of smell
- Why birds may be the most advanced species on the planet,
- The secret Ringo Starr of the bird world.
Bruce Fretts died last week at 54, leaving behind a long and storied career as an entertainment writer and critic. He was also a good friend and one of my all-time favorite editors. Bruce began his career at Entertainment Weekly in the 90s. Later he moved to TV Guide where he penned the iconic "Cheer and Jeers" column. He was a frequent contributor to The New York Times, New York Magazine, and Emmy.We spoke in 2017 about following his childhood dream to write about TV, and what he did to rise to the top of the field. He will be missed.
This week, The Golden State Killer, pleaded guilty to 13 murders and 13 charges of kidnapping in a crime spree that terrorized California from 1973 to 1986. His capture was aided by the help of a team of investigative writers including my guest Billy Jensen, who is co-author of a book about the case that is also now an HBO series called I'll Be Gone In The Dark. I revisit my 2018 conversation with Jensen, in which he talks to me about this horrifying story, the process of writing the book, and his path to becoming a true-crime journalist and author.
What is Gangsta Rap? Is it a media creation or a legit hip hop genre. How did it get started, who are its pioneers, and which artists are now carrying the torch? There are the topics my guest Soren Baker tackles in his expansive book The History of Gangster Rap. Soren is a journalist who has spent his entire career covering hip hop. He was a lead editor at The Source and his articles can be found in such publications at The New York Times, The LA Times, The Chicago Tribune, XXL, Hip Hop DX, and many others. He is well respected in the rap community and has penned liner notes for 2Pac, Ice Cube, N.W.A, and Gang Starr.
John Kenney is author of the new book Love Poems for Anxious People John is a frequent contributor to The New Yorker, where he has been writing for the "Shouts & Murmurs" column since 1999. His new book is part 3 of a series of funny poetry collections including Love Poems for Married People and Love Poems for People with Children. John has also written the novels Talk to Me and Truth in Advertising, which won the Thurber Prize for American Humor. John shares his origin story, the secret to humor, how he's found a new appreciation for poetry, and how he silences that ever-present inner critic.
As the world continues to mourn the death of George Floyd, another case of police violence against black Americans is attracting far less media attention. On March 13, Breonna Taylor, a 26-year-old EMT, was killed by Louisville. Kentucky police officers after they allegedly executed a search warrant of the wrong home. Writer Cate Young was so outraged by the case that she created the #BirthdayForBriana campaign, which has raised over $6 million for the family. At press time, the police have still not be charged. This is the story of a writer turned activist, and how she hopes her actions will bring justice to Breonna.
Now, more than ever, we need to have a conversation about race in America. But what does that conversation really sound like? What are the issues we should be discussing to effect real change? Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum is the author of Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together In The Cafeteria? and President Emeritus of Spellman College. As a psychologist and educator, she has spent a lifetime helping to make sense of the so-called third rail of American discourse. We talk about the difference between racism and prejudice, white privilege and identity, and the importance of not being color silent.
In 1695, a notorious but now-forgotten pirate named Henry Every ransacked a treasure ship, setting off an international manhunt that altered the course of history. The incredible story is captured in Steven Johnson's captivating new book, The Enemy of Mankind. Johnson joins the show to talk about why Every became public enemy number one, and how his crime spearheaded the beginning of international trade, celebrity journalism, and the trial of the century.
Chris Molanphy is a music journalist for Slate, a pop-chart expert, and host of the fabulous podcast "Hit Parade", which dissects how the songs you love (or hate) rule the airwaves and make their way to the top 40. We geek out majorly on music talking about his obsession with charts and interesting trivia about artists such as Janet Jackson, Madonna, Phil Collins, and more. If you're a music fan, you'll love this episode.
A.B. Stoddard is a celebrated political writer and TV personality. Three months ago, she made unexpected headlines when President Trump lashed out at her for saying he had some disastrous debate performances. She talks about that drama as well as: what being a political columnist looks like behind the scenes, how she gets her scoops, the betrayal of veterans and active military personnel during the COVID-19 pandemic, and her surprising predictions for the 2020 Presidential race.
Sue Monk Kidd didn’t start writing fiction until she was 53 years old, and what a run it’s been since. She’s written three bestsellers, including The Secret Life of Bees and The Invention of Wings. Now she has a new novel, The Book of Longings, which imagines what Jesus’s life would have been like had he been married. Sue talks about: * The pressure she felt after the crazy success of her first novel; The two questions she asks when starting a novel * Creating collages and mood boards for each of her narratives * Her need to write about women striving for independence and freedom * How she tackled writing dialogue for Jesus.
Betsey Johnson went from a “cornball Connecticut” childhood to hanging out with Andy Warhol and selling clothes to Prince. She joined me on the podcast to chat about her new memoir, which includes stories on:
- How she got her start in fashion sewing clothes at night to sell to her co-workers
- Hiring sex workers and strippers to model her clothes at her early shows
- Getting married in a top that barely covered her crotch because the marriage official didn’t approve of her bell-bottom pants
- How she worked with Mark Vitulano, her former receptionist, to write the book
- Why pedaling her own bicycle is her secret to success
- Why you’re only as good as your last sale
Liz Tigelaar is the showrunner and co-executive producer of Little Fires Everywhere, starring Reese Witherspoon and Kerry Washington. The show just concluded its hit run on Hulu. Liz talks about adapting the bestselling book, on which it's based, for TV and the inside story behind making some major changes to the original version—including adding African-American characters and changing the ending. We also talk about the future of Hollywood in a COVID-19 world.
With most of us working from home under quarantine, it's become more of a challenge to stay on schedule and be productive. Fay Wolf is a professional organizer and author of the book New Order: A Decluttering Handbook For Creative Folks (And Everyone Else). Celebrities hire her to help organize their lives. On the podcast, she suggests super useful tips and tools to help get you on a schedule that works, manage your email, and make you feel productive. Because contrary to popular belief, being a bit anal and organized allows for more freedom.
In 2014, the son of famed Alaskan adventurer and writer Roman Dial vanished in the Costa Rican jungle. Dial has written a page-turning account of his two-year search for 26-year-old Cody Dial in a new book called The Adventurer's Son.He joins the podcast to share his stirring story. Dial talks about why he wrote the book and what he hopes readers will take away from this extraordinary tales of a father and son's deep bond.