Write About Now

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,[...]

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[...]

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.[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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,[...]

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.[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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.'[...]

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.[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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,[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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.[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

"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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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,[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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:[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

  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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

“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[...]

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,[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]

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[...]