Writers' Block

Writers’ Block (Sort Of Live)! Melinda Sherrill, Calliope Art and Literary Magazine‘s Editor-in-Chief   Last spring, Mike sat down with Melinda Sherrill, who was the Editor-in-Chief of Chapman University’s Lit Journal, Calliope Art and Literary Magazine, at the time. The two discuss the process of putting together an issue of the Magazine, how Calliope changed over… The post WRITERS’ BLOCK 33: CALLIOPE EDITOR MELINDA SHERRILL appeared first on PopFilter.

Writers’ Block Live! DANIEL MCGINN, ALEXIS RHONE FANCHER, AND PEGGY DOBREER A very special ALL Moon Tide Press edition of  Writers’ Block Live! Friend of YourPopFilter and two-time Writers’ Block guest Eric Morago is the publisher at Moon Tide Press, and in the spring of 2018 the press published three amazing books of poetry: Daniel… The post WRITERS’ BLOCK 32: DANIEL MCGINN, ALEXIS RHONE FANCHER, AND PEGGY DOBREER LIVE! appeared first on PopFilter.

Writers’ Block Live! MATHIEU CAILLIER, MICHELLE BRITTAN ROSADO,  STEVEN SANCHEZ To celebrate the launch of Steven Sanchez’s first full-length poetry book, Phantom Tongue, Mike sits down with Steven, Michelle Brittan Rosado, and Mathieu Cailler to talk about the process of putting a book together, how one manages to keep making love poems interesting, the power of… The post WRITERS’ BLOCK 31: MATHIEU CAILLIER, MICHELLE BRITTAN ROSADO, AND STEVEN SANCHEZ LIVE! appeared first on PopFilter.

Writers’ Block Live! Trevor K Allred, Liz Harmer, Shauna Barbosa Mike sits down with novelist Liz Harmer, poet and community organizer Trevor K Allred, and poet Shauna Barbosa to hear the work from their individual projects and discuss the power of audience, politics, the meaning of portals, the meaning of water, the magic of astrology… The post WRITERS’ BLOCK 30: TREVOR K ALLRED, LIZ HARMER, AND SHAUNA BARBOSA LIVE! appeared first on PopFilter.

Writers’ Block Live! PEN America Emerging Voices We have a very special Writers’ Block Live for you! Mike sat down with two of PEN America’s Emerging Voices Fellows, Natalie Misling Man and Ron L. Dowell, and the Emerging Voices Fellowship Manager, Amanda Fletcher, to talk about their experience with the program and the upcoming application deadline!… The post WRITERS’ BLOCK 29: PEN AMERICA EMERGING VOICES LIVE! appeared first on PopFilter.

Writers’ Block Live! Eric Morago, Nan Cohen, Victoria Chang Back in February, Mike sat down with poets Eric Morago, Nan Cohen, and Victoria Chang to discuss how becoming a publisher can affect one’s writing, the influence of history and religion, and intense poetry projects, plus a whole lot more! Eric Morago is a two-time Pushcart… The post WRITERS’ BLOCK 28: ERIC MORAGO, NAN COHEN, AND VICTORIA CHANG LIVE! appeared first on PopFilter.

Another edition of Writers’ Block Live! Back in May, Mike sat down with nonfiction writer Doug Dechow and poet Jason Morphew to talk about research into one’s own family, separating fact from fantasy, the allure of isolation, lyric poetry and much more! Doug Dechow is researching and writing a book about his grand-uncle Harry Dale Park, who… The post WRITERS’ BLOCK 27: DOUG DECHOW AND JASON MORPHEW LIVE! appeared first on PopFilter.

Another edition of Writers’ Block Live! Back in March, Cristin O’Keefe Aptowicz and Derrick C. Brown came by to read from their newest books (How to Love the Empty Air and Hello. It Doesn’t Matter. respectively). They also share about their writing processes, how a poem becomes a poem, about what it’s like being friends for twenty years!… The post WRITERS’ BLOCK EPISODE 26: CRISTIN O’KEEFE APTOWICZ AND DERRICK C. BROWN LIVE! appeared first on PopFilter.

It’s another Catalyst crossover episode! Taryn from Catalyst and your intrepid WB host Mike sit down at Chapman Crafted with Science Mike with questions about introversion and extroversion, his writing process, his podcasting history, and why it’s smart to stay away from mind-altering substances until you’re 26 Mike McHargue AKA Science Mike is an author,… The post WRITERS’ BLOCK EPISODE 25: SCIENCE MIKE appeared first on PopFilter.

So aside from hosting Writers’ Block and panelist-ing on the Super Hero Hour Hour, Mike produces non-Pop Filter podcasts as well. One of which is Catalyst: A Creative Industries podcast from Chapman University. In this special crossover episode, Taryn and Shannon from Catalyst ask Mike about his podcasting past and Mike fires right back about… The post WRITERS’ BLOCK EPISODE 24: CATALYST CROSSOVER! appeared first on PopFilter.

Rebecca Skloot is the author of the #1 New York Times Bestseller, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. Her award- winning science writing has appeared in The New York Times Magazine; O,; Discover; and many other publications.The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks took more than a decade to research and write, and instantly hit the New… The post WRITERS’ BLOCK EPISODE 23: REBECCA SKLOOT appeared first on PopFilter.

Megan Praz and Moll Green have been collaborating as an artist/writer duo for years–first on the ultimate frisbee webcomic, Contested Strip, and followed by the sci-fi space opera pseudo-parody, Space Heroines of El-Andoo. They continue to work on both series, and took time out of working together (and on their individual projects) to sit down with… The post WRITERS’ BLOCK EPISODE 22: MEGAN PRAZ AND MOLL GREEN appeared first on PopFilter.

This episode of Writers’ Block Live! was recorded October 21, 2017 in celebration of the book release of Cradles by Fisayo Adeyeye. He and Andrew Wessels read to a packed house at the 1888 Center, and were interview by Julianne Berokoff. Fisayo Adeyeye is an MFA candidate at San Francisco State University. He is the former Poetry Editor… The post Writers’ Block Live! with Andrew Wessels and Fisayo Adeyeye appeared first on PopFilter.

Writers’ Block Live! is here for your ears! We’ve been recording a live version Writers’ Block about once a month at the 1888 Center in Orange, California. This means get ready for a whole slew of live interviews, dropping in-between the in-depth conversations you’re used to! And some of your favorite guest show up again! We… The post WRITERS’ BLOCK LIVE! with GRANT HIER, JULIA WALTON, AND JONATHAN ALEXANDER appeared first on PopFilter.

Today’s guest is Victoria Chang! Awhile back, Victoria stopped by Mike’s house and the two sat on the living room floor for some reason and chatted about why Victoria doesn’t like doing readings, the benefits of a writer keeping a day job, and why she’s drawn to poetry “projects.” If you’re in the Southern California… The post WRITERS’ BLOCK EPISODE 19: VICTORIA CHANG appeared first on PopFilter.

Anna Leahy is a poet, nonfiction writer, and professor. She is the author of the nonfiction book Tumor, and co-author of Conversing with Cancer, Generation Space, and What We Talk about When We Talk about Creative Writing. Her poetry collections are Aperture and Constituents of Matter. Her essays won the top prizes from Ninth Letter… The post WRITERS’ BLOCK EPISODE 18: ANNA LEAHY appeared first on PopFilter.

Emily Beaver is a triple threat: writing poetry, fiction, and nonfiction. Emily is obsessed with people. She handles this by writing about them, and has done so ever since the age of eight. Since then she’s gone on to be published in various magazines and collections, including Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Cancer Book, and… The post WRITERS’ BLOCK EPISODE 17: EMILY BEAVER appeared first on PopFilter.

Writers’ Block returns from winter hiatus with a master storyteller–Richard Bausch. Richard is a novelist and short story writer with twelve novels, eight short story collections and a volume of poetry and prose under his belt. He has won two National Magazine Awards, a Guggenheim Fellowship, and a Lila-Wallace Reader’s Digest Fund Writer’s Award, the… The post WRITERS’ BLOCK EPISODE 16: RICHARD BAUSCH appeared first on PopFilter.

Mike got to sit down with Chapman Presidential Fellow and living legend  Carolyn Forche! Carolyn Forche is a poet, editor, translator, human rights activist, professor, and all around badass. Her poetry collections include Blue Hour, The Angel of History, The Country Between Us, Gathering the Tribes, and the forthcoming, In the Lateness of the World.… The post WRITERS’ BLOCK EPISODE 15: CAROLYN FORCHE appeared first on PopFilter.

The final poet in the Fall 2017 Tabula Poetica visiting poet series (and TAB contributor), Genevieve Kaplan dropped by the studio at Chapman University to talk about her journey from undergrad to PhD in Poetry. She discusses her continued exploration of poetry in unexpected forms and places, and why she drives to write outside her… The post WRITERS’ BLOCK EPISODE 14: GENEVIEVE KAPLAN appeared first on PopFilter.

Grant Hier sits down with Mike to talk the intricacies and difficulties of writing a poem a day for seven straight months, the way his editing process has changed over the years, and why he believes in “show don’t preach.” After a great time at Writers Block Live! Presented by Anastamos, the two decided they needed… The post WRITERS’ BLOCK EPISODE 13: GRANT HIER appeared first on PopFilter.

Continuing guests from Chapman University’s Tabula Poetica reading series, Ada Limón stops by Writers’ Block to read from her collection Bright Dead Things, as well as sneak peeks of her upcoming book. She and Mike talk about reoccurring themes in her work, what it means for a poem to know that it’s a poem, and the… The post WRITERS’ BLOCK EPISODE 12: Ada Limón appeared first on PopFilter.

Poet Katie Manning dropped by Chapman University for the Tabula Poetica reading series, and Mike got to speak with her before her poetry talk! She reads from her full-length collection Tasty Other as well as from her four chapbooks! The two talk about research in poetry, what happens when your identity changes in your adult… The post WRITERS’ BLOCK EPISODE 11: KATIE MANNING appeared first on PopFilter.

In the final Chapman Radio* flashback episode, Mike talks to local Orange County musician (and provider of Writers’ Block music) Stevie Talks. Stevie has toured the country with various bands, and now focuses on his solo career, while going back to schools to get his degree in Economics. The two talk about the ups and… The post WRITERS’ BLOCK EPISODE 10: STEVIE TALKS appeared first on PopFilter.

In another Chapman Radio flashback episode, Mike talks to LA-based poet Eric Morago about performance, persona, and why superheroes often show up in his work (Eric also gives an inspiration shoutout ti previous guest Nancy Woo!). Eric reads work from What We Ache For and from his most recent collection Feasting on Sky. Since recording… The post WRITERS’ BLOCK EPISODE 9: ERIC MORAGO appeared first on PopFilter.

This week Mike talks to author Julia Walton about her debut young adult novel, “Words on Bathroom Walls.” The novel follows Adam, a high schooler with schizophrenia as he navigates the pitfalls of high school. Julia shares her journey as a writer with a depressing detour into the cubicle-filled word of insurance, and how becoming… The post WRITERS’ BLOCK EPISODE 8: JULIA WALTON appeared first on PopFilter.

In today’s episode, Mike interviews Å tÄ›pánka Jislová, a Czech illustrator and comic book artist who served as Chapman’s Artist-in-Residence and contributed to the Fear issue of Anastamos Literary Journal! Check out Å tÄ›pánka’s work at her sites: www.facebook.com/stepanka.jislova.illustrations/ www.jislova.com/ ldcpraha.weebly.com/ Like the music? Check out Stevie Talks! ( stevietalks.com/ ) In the mean time you can: Like Us:… The post WRITERS’ BLOCK EPISODE 2: Å TÄšPÁNKA JISLOVÁ appeared first on PopFilter.

This week Mike talks to the writer/activist/editor/professor/radio host Andrew Tonkovich! The two talk about the difference between the “traditional” writing roots versus coming to it later in life, fabulist fiction, how the real world influences Andrew’s writing, and his role as an editor and radio host! Find more about Andrew below: The Santa Monica Review:… The post WRITERS’ BLOCK EPISODE 6: ANDREW TONKOVICH appeared first on PopFilter.

In the latest episode of Writers’ Block, Mike interviews Molly Schiot, a director living in Los Angeles with her wife and dog. The two talk about the inception and growth of Molly’s tangible visual aesthetic, commercial directing vs other kinds, and the story behind her coffee table book, Game Changers: The Unsung Heroines of Sports… The post WRITERS’ BLOCK EPISODE 4: MOLLY SCHIOT appeared first on PopFilter.

In the latest episode of Writers’ Block, Mike interviews Keegan Lester, a poet who shares his time between Manhattan and West Virginia. The two talk about the importance of community, personas, and how they’ve known each other for over twenty years! Keegan reads a smattering of poems, including pieces from his new book, “this shouldn’t… The post WRITERS’ BLOCK EPISODE 3: KEEGAN LESTER appeared first on PopFilter.

This week Mike talks to the poet (and old friend) Nancy Woo. Nancy reads a variety of pieces and the two talk about her writing process, performance rituals, persona, and the care a writer needs to take when taking on the role of another. This interview was conducted in October 2016 in Chapman Radio’s recording… The post Writers’ Block Episode 5: Nancy Woo appeared first on PopFilter.

Anastamos Editor-in-Chief Alison Williams and Managing Editor Matt Wheatley return to Writers’ Block to talk with Mike about the first issue of the journal now that it’s been out in the wild for awhile. They cover their fears and hopes and what came to fruition with Fear, and even tease what the next two issues’… The post Writers’ Block Episode 7: Anastamos Staff Returns! appeared first on PopFilter.

Welcome to Writers’ Block, the joint podcast of Anastamos and YourPopFilter.com. Every other week your intrepid host Mike Gravagno (of the Super Hero Hour Hour) interviews comedians, poets, historians, scientists, and all around artists and digs into to find the story behind their work. This inaugural episode finds Mike in the room with some of… The post Writers’ Block Episode 1: Anastamos Editorial Board appeared first on PopFilter.