Podcast appearances and mentions of Andy Weir

Jess, Sarina, Jennie and Jess are all here to talk about taking a break from various angles: the mechanics angle, the guilt angle, the fear angle, the identity angle and inspiration angle. Mechanics. * Leave yourself notes about the project when you leave off, for example, “The next thing that needs to happen is this…” so when you come back, you know how to get back into the project. This is Sarina's daily practice, but it really helps when she has to leave a project behind. This can be especially helpful when you have to go away for an unexpected emergency. * Jennie adds that the only way you can do this is if you have a place to keep and find those notes to yourself. In one of your 47 notebooks or in the document itself? Or, as Jess adds, on the side of the cardboard box you use for trash in your basement workshop that you almost recycle by accident. * Jennie also notes that you have to have intentionality, to know what you are writing so you can know what comes next, whether that's in your outline, inside outline, or whatever. * Jennie has a little notebook she brings on vacation with her and she downloads those ideas into that just before going to sleep at night when she's away. * These vacation inspiration moments are much like shower thoughts, part of the magic of our brain unhooking, getting into deep default mode network, and becoming its most creative. * Sarina mentioned an article about how walking makes you more creative, also a study in why tapping into the default mode network is so effective as a practice. Fear * The only way to get over this is to sit down and do it. Open the document. Just start. * Jennie points out that getting back into a manuscript when it's disappeared feels horrifying but it's much easier than it sounds and has happened to one of our frequent guests, Sarah Stewart Taylor, when her then-toddler created a password for the document that was not recoverable. She had to give in to the fact that her book was gone, and recreate it out of her memory. Guilt and Identity* It only took Jess until her fiftieth year to figure out that her process - of walking, gardening, beekeeping, musing - is a part of writing, and that's cool. * Can you be a writer if you are not actively writing? Yes, if research, planning, thinking and otherwise cogitating is a part of your writing process. Get over it. The words have to land on the page eventually, of course, but if you are doing both, have grace for the not-actively-writing part of the writing process. #AmReadingTess Gerritsen's series set in Maine (The Spy Coast and The Summer Guests) and, once she finished those two books, Jess went back to The Surgeon, where it all started for Tess Gerritsen. Stay tuned for our interview with her! Andy Weir's Project Hail Mary (Don't watch the movie trailer if you plan to read the book!)Sarah Harman's All the Other Mothers Hate MeAmy Tintera's Listen for the LieRosemerry Wahtola Trommer The UnfoldingRichard Osman's The Thursday Murder Club (coming to Netflix in August!)Janelle Brown's What Kind of Paradise Want to submit a first page to Booklab? Fill out the form HERE.Writers and readers, KJ here, if you love #AmWriting and I know you do, and I know you do, and especially if you love the regular segment at the end of most episodes where we talk about what we've been reading, you will also love my weekly #AmReading email. Is it about what I've been reading and loving? It is. And if you like what I write, you'll like what I read. But it is also about everything else. I've been #AmDoing: sleeping, buying clothes and returning them, launching a spelling bee habit, reading other people's weekly emails. Let's just say it's kind of the email about not getting the work done, which I mean that's important too, right? We can't work all the time. It's also free, and I think you'll really like it. So you can find it at kjdellantonia.com or kjda.substack.com or by clicking on my name on Substack, if you do that kind of thing.Come hang out with me. You won't be sorry.Transcript below!EPISODE 458 - TRANSCRIPTKJ Dell'AntoniaWriters and readers, KJ here. If you love Hashtag AmWriting, and I know you do, and especially if you love the regular segment at the end of most episodes where we talk about what we've been reading, you will also love my weekly Hashtag AmReading email. Is it about what I've been reading and loving? It is. And if you like what I write, you'll like what I read. But it is also about everything else. I've been ‘hashtag am-doing', sleeping, buying clothes and returning them, launching a spelling bee habit, reading other people's weekly emails. Let's just say it's kind of the email about not getting the work done—which, I mean, that's important too, right? We can't work all the time. It's also free, and I think you'll really like it. So you can find it at KJdellantonia.com or kjda.substack.com or by clicking on my name on Substack, if you do that kind of thing or of course in the show notes for this podcast. Come hang out with me. You won't be sorry.Multiple SpeakersIs it recording? Now it's recording. Yay! Go ahead. This is the part where I stare blankly at the microphone. Try to remember what I'm supposed to be doing. All right, let's start over. Awkward pause. I'm going to rustle some papers. Okay. Now, one, two, three.KJ Dell'AntoniaHey, I'm KJ Dell'Antonia, and this is the Hashtag AmWriting Podcast, the weekly podcast, while writing all the things—short things, long things, pitches, proposals, fiction, nonfiction. And somebody told me they thought this was a recorded intro. And I just want you to know I do this live every time, which is why there's this, come on, there's more variety here, people, and you should know that. Anyway, here we are, all four of us, for we got a topic today. But before we do that, we should introduce ourselves in order of seniority, please.Jess LaheyI'm Jess Lahey. I am the author of The Gift of Failure and The Addiction Inoculation. And I laugh, because when you said seniority, all I could do was think of us in our little eave space in my old house, down the street from you, not knowing what the heck we were doing. But yeah, we've been doing this for a long time now. You can find my... you can find my journalism at The New York Times, at The Washington Post, at The Atlantic, and everything else at Jessicalahey.com.Sarina BowenI'm Sarina Bowen. I'm the author of many novels. My new one this fall is called Thrown for a Loop, and it will be everywhere that books are sold, which is very exciting to me, and all about me at Sarinabowen.com.Jennie NashI am the newest of the co-hosts, and so happy to be among this group of incredibly smart and prolific and awesome women, and I'm the founder and CEO of Author Accelerator, which is a company on a mission to lead the emerging book coaching industry. And you can find us at bookcoaches.com or authoraccelerator.com.KJ Dell'AntoniaI'm KJ Dell'Antonia. I'm the author of three novels, the latest of which is Playing the Witch Card, and the most televised of which is The Chicken Sisters—Season Two coming soon to a Hallmark network near you. And I'm also the former editor and lead writer of The Motherlode, making me our... well, and Jennie too, like the crossover. I've done too many different kinds of writing—probably should have stayed in my lane. Oh well. And our plan today—as we're recording, it is summer. And a pretty frequent thing that happens in the summer is that you need to put your project down for a little while, because you have house guests, because you're going on the kind of vacation that does not involve working, because you just need a break or you're sick. That's not really a summer thing, but it definitely happens. Anyway, we wanted to talk about how, you know, what—what do you do to make that work better?Jess LaheyI think a lot about being a parent and needing to take a break too. And you know, this is something I talk a lot about with, you know, other writers who are sort of struggling, especially since I read a lot about parenting—who are struggling to—with that guilt of, you know, like, I feel like I owe my time to the words, and I feel like I owe my time to the children. And finding a way to take a break from the words and not feel guilty about not being with the words can be really, really hard, especially when you're going gung-ho on something. So I want to make sure that we figure out a way to have a break without guilt. That's like the big question I get a lot—is, how do you, you know, either from the parenting or the writing side?KJ Dell'AntoniaAnd I was thinking about it more from a mechanics side.Jess LaheyYeah.KJ Dell'AntoniaHow do you put this thing aside for a week or two weeks or even a month? And know where you were?Jess LaheyRight.KJ Dell'AntoniaAnd come back and feel like it does not take you forever to dig in.Sarina BowenYeah. Um, so we've got the guilt question. We've got the mechanics of how to do it. And I would just like to add a layer, which is the fear factor.Jess LaheyYeah.Sarina BowenI have this thing where, when I walk away from a manuscript, I become afraid of it. So it seems scarier when I take a break. Like, even if it's not true—that I don't know where I am or that I become unmoored from the channel of that book and it seems intimidating to go back to.Jess LaheyCan I add one more layer as well? And that's the identity factor. You know, if I identify as a writer, what am I if I'm not actively writing something? And that messes my head up a lot. So I would love to add that added layer in as well and make sure we discuss that.Jennie NashWell, and I have something totally different from all of those, which is that I often find when I go on vacation, I am more inspired and motivated to work on my project than I was in my real life. It tends to light a fire under me. So then I'm faced with that choice of, you know, wanting to really lean into it. And, you know, just like a really small piece of that story is, I love to write on airplanes. I just love it. Give me a very long flight, and it's—I just want to work and not talk to anybody. And, you know, it's awesome. So I feel some guilt around that. When I'm with my family, it's like, don't talk to me, don't watch movies. You know, I'm—I'm enjoying my plane time, doing my work. So I have that reality.KJ Dell'AntoniaWell, that's the choice that you have to start with, is, am I just, you know, can I not? Am I—do I need to accept the reality, which is that this is a beach trip with extended family and some, you know, my—to multiple generations, and I inevitably am going to be the person who is cooking and figuring out where the garbage has to go in the Airbnb? I should, you know, I—I will feel better if I just accept the reality that I'm not going to wake and work. Or, you know, is it a—is it a trip where you can schedule some work time and want to? Or is it a trip where you affirmatively want to give yourself a break? Or is it also, I mean, I sort of think that the last possibility—well, there are probably multiples—is I just want to touch this every day. So I feel like you can kind of—you're like, you're either like, just—no, not going to happen, not going to pretend it's going to happen, not going to feel the guilt. That's the—that's where we are. And there's sort of a, I just want to open the file every day and keep it warm and friendly. And on, you know these three—three days I have an hour.Jess LaheySo let's do this. Let's—let's do mechanics first, since that's the real nuts-and-bolts stuff, and then we'll talk about all the touchy-feely stuff after that. So let's do mechanics first. It sounds like you have thoughts, KJ…?KJ Dell'AntoniaWell, I was actually thinking that Sarina did this pretty recently.Jess LaheyYeah, that's true.Sarina BowenYeah. Like, you know, I, um, I have found mechanically that leaving yourself notes every time you walk away from your manuscript is a good thing. So this is sort of like a best practices in your life idea, where I will have a writing day, and it's done now, and I'm going to get up and go do other things in my life. If I pick up my notebook, and I write down where I am—like, okay, and the next thing that has to happen is this—like, it could be really short or not. But taking better notes about the structure of the thing I'm working on is serving me on so many levels that it just slots right in here. Like, I took a big trip in April, and I thought I might work, but then I didn't, and I really seamlessly came right back in, because I knew where I was, and I avoided a lot of my own fear. So, if the practices that help you become a good day-to-day writer also can be practices that help you in this very instance, the mechanics of picking up your book again are that you left yourself a note right in your document, um, or in your notebook, that says, and here's what I think is supposed to happen next. And, yeah.KJ Dell'AntoniaThat's going to be gold for an unexpected break too, because that happens, you know, right? You get one of those phone calls, and it's a week before you're back or more.Sarina BowenYeah.KJ Dell'AntoniaYeah. I love this practice. This is one of those things I forget to do.Jennie NashI feel like I—I feel like I have to add to that a couple things. That the only reason you can do that is, A, if you have a place to take notes, which—which could be your, the document itself that you're working on. But Sarina talked about a notebook, right? You have a place that you know, that you can find that, which is not an insignificant thing to have, or...Sarina BowenCorrect!Jennie NashRight?! Or, in the case of me, it's like, I have 47 notebooks. Well, which one did I put the note in?Sarina BowenRight.Jennie NashBut then the second thing is, I mean, this is something that I find so inspiring about the way you work, Sarina, and it—and it's a thing that I teach—is you have to know what you're writing, you know, in order to know where you are, what the structure is, and what you're doing, and to ask those—like, you have to have done the thought work of what, what it is you're trying to do and what your intention is. Otherwise, you sort of don't ever know where you are or where you're going. So...Sarina BowenRight, but that's on two levels. Like, you could—let's just say you have successfully written yourself an Inside Outline, you know, the way that you do it—you still might need that granular thing.Jennie NashOh yeah!Sarina BowenLike, you might know where you are in the arc of the book, but you might actually need the note that's like, "And now we're going to wash the dishes." I mean, let's please not put that in the novel, but you know what I mean.Jennie NashYeah, yeah. But that intentionality of, on the big picture, what am I doing, and on the small picture—in this chapter, in this scene, in this moment, and with this character—what was I... how'd that fit into the whole? What was I thinking? And those things are not—they're not easy. Like, we're talking about them like, "Oh, you just..." You know, like I was saying, what if you have 47 notebooks? That literally is a problem I have. It's like, I know I wrote this note down, and I don't know where I put it—digitally or analog.Sarina BowenRight. I confess I actually do still have this problem. Like, even with all of my best practices, like, put into—sometimes it's like, well, is that in the document, or is it in my notebook? And then—or I thought about it at four in the morning and actually didn't write it down anywhere. And I'm looking anyway...Jennie NashOh, I do that too. I absolutely do that too. I'm convinced that I left a note while I was driving—that's a thing I often do. I'll leave—I'll have Siri write me a note, and then somehow it doesn't appear, or it's like, I know I did this, I know I asked her to do this... you know.Jess LaheyI actually have—I was doing the recycling, and I realized that I was in big trouble because three sides of a box I'd had down in the basement with me while I was working on a project—I was doing something with my, getting some beehives ready—and I was listening to an audiobook that is research for a project I'm working on, and I had scribbled some really important notes to myself about how I was supposed to start a chapter on. And it was a great start. It was like a whole paragraph on the three sides of the box, with an old Sharpie I found down in the basement. And then I realized I almost recycled, like, some really useful outline stuff.Multiple Speakers[all laughing]Jess LaheySo normally—no, so I actually have them. While you guys are talking about something else, since we do see each other while we're recording this, I'll show you later. But the thing that I normally do is either in the document, like right where I left off, or in my main notebook, because I am so bad at finding those notes that I have strewn all over my office or on the side of a cardboard box.KJ Dell'AntoniaI have had the problem lately of I'm not in a manuscript, and that it's much easier when you're in a manuscript to come back to a manuscript, but I'm in a notebook full of assorted random Blueprint challenge, you know, like trying to—I'm, I'm in figuring out where this is going mode, which means I do a lot of thinking while I'm not working that then hopefully I go and write down. But it also means that I frequently sit down and I'm like, well, am I going to think about who these people are? Am I going to think about what the plot is? What am I going to do? So I've been trying to leave myself like a task, something that will, that will just get me, get me back in, because sometimes that's the problem. I, you know, I open the notebook, and there's no obvious thing to do, and the next thing I know, I'm buying running shoes.Jennie NashWell, since we're talking about nuts and bolts, when I said that I often get inspired when I go away or go on vacation and I want to work, I'm not talking about I'm going to go sit in a library or coffee shop for three hours. What, what I mean by that is I often have ideas that I want to capture, and so I have a little notebook that I bring on vacation, and what I like to do is go to bed early enough that I can download all the things I thought that day. I need that space and time to—if it's, if I'm working on something, it's in my head. It's not going to not be in my head. And so the one sort of new mechanical thing that I, that I do, is have that "vacation notes notebook" with me.KJ Dell'AntoniaI always carry one, and I never use it. So there's that.Jess LaheyI get—I am at my most inspired to write when I specifically can't write, which is usually behind the wheel of my car. So I use, in my car, I have been known to, you know, either scribble on things—which, totally don't do that—or to record myself on my phone. But then, audio things, I'm particularly bad at going back and listening to; that seems like it's just too much work. So those tend to get lost a lot. I need to come up with a better system for that. But it is predictable that if I am in a place where I cannot physically write, I will be at my most inspired to write.Jennie NashJess, that's kind of what I'm talking about. That's what happens to me, is I might say I'm leaving all work behind. I'm going off the grid. I'm not doing the thing. And that's when I most want to do the thing. And I, like, my brain seems to really get inspired. What? What do you think that's about? Is that...Jess LaheyI, you know, I, I was very worried that it was my sort of, um—sorry, what's the word I'm looking for? It was—it's my, my brain's way of saying, "Oh, you couldn't possibly work now, so let's have some of the best ideas so that you seem like a good little doobie writer, but it's physically impossible for you to write now." It's just a really weird thing, and maybe one of the other things I thought about is that I'm often listening to a book that I'm really into, which also inspires me to write. I've been listening to a lot of really great books lately, and you can't listen to a book—even one that inspires you deeply—and actually write at the same time, which is another quandary.Sarina BowenYou know what, though? This is not uniquely your brain messing with you—like, this is shower thoughts.Multiple Speakers[Overlapping: “Mm-hmm.” “Sorry.” “Ohhh...”]Sarina BowenBut everybody—everybody has those great ideas in the shower, and it's because you have unhooked yourself. You are just in there with the shampoo and the conditioner and that razor that you probably should change the blade with, and like, you know, there is nowhere to write and nothing to do. So your brain is like, I am free right now to unclench and actually solve this problem of chapter 17, and that's what—that's what happens.Jess LaheyIt is my duty, whenever we mention this, to bring up that—years ago, Ron Lieber, the write... uh... the "Your Money" columnist at The New York Times, told me that he has a waterproof little whiteboard situation that's— that lives in the shower. He and his wife, Jodi Kantor—amazing writer as well, Pulitzer Prize–winning writer, even— that these would be people who might just need a waterproof whiteboard in the shower with them.Sarina BowenBut would that ruin the magic…?KJ Dell'AntoniaIt might just...Multiple Speakers[all laughing]Jess LaheyIf you had a place to write it down, your brain would—like—be... your brain would say, "Sorry, I'm not coming up with good ideas."Sarina BowenBecause I don't think I am willing to take this risk. I take a lot of risks in my life, but this one—like; we do not mess with the shower thoughts. I think, I think...KJ Dell'AntoniaSo, so what do we do if you didn't do any of this? If what—you know—what are—you're listening to this podcast, coming back from your trip, and you're like, I... was writing... something...Sarina BowenYou know what, though? I almost feel that we should point out the fact that, like, that is kind of unlikely. Like, somebody should feel welcome to take this trip and to have all those thoughts, and even if you didn't write them down on your whiteboard in the shower or on your handy notebook, like, I would argue that unhitching yourself in the first place possibly leads to a lot of creative development that, even if you don't capture it in the moment, is still with you. Like, I had this fantastic trip in April. I thought I was going to work, and then I did not, and it was, like, the best two weeks of my life. So then, the other day, my husband said, “Hey, there's a new article you need to read in The Athletic,” which is a New York Times sports blog, and I have just pulled it up so that we can recommend it, about how walking makes you a better problem solver. And the framing story of this article is about a retired baseball coach, but, um, but then, when they got around to studying it, um, they said this question planted the seed for the first set of studies to measure if walking produces more creativity. In the series of experiments, Oppezzo and Schwartz [Marily Oppezzo & Daniel L. Schwartz] asked 176 college students to complete different creative thinking tasks while sitting, walking on a treadmill, walking outside through campus, or being pushed in a wheelchair. In one example, the students had to come up with atypical uses for random objects, and anyway, on average, the students' creative output increased by 60% when they were walking.Jennie NashThat's so cool!Sarina BowenAnd the article is—it's so cool—it's called An MLB manager found value in long walks. Research suggests it's a ‘brain-changing power'.Jess LaheyI have put a spot for it in the show notes. And I should mention that this is all part of what we call the default mode network. This is the—the part of our brain that is the wandering, most creative part of our brain. And we can get there lots of ways. Walking is a fantastic way to do it.KJ Dell'AntoniaSarina, if you do have the fear of the manuscript when you're coming back to it, like, take—you know, travel back in time to maybe when you were a little less confident in your abilities. What do you do to get past the fear and sit down?Sarina BowenThere is only one solution, and that is sitting down. And I'm not so great at this—like, when, when the fear creeps up on me, in spite of my best intentions, man, I will do anything to avoid that sucker. And then when I finally do, and I wade back in, almost every time my response is, Oh, this isn't so bad. I know where—I kind of remember now. It's going to be fine, you know. But it's so easy to put off work out of fear. It's—it's the—it's the one big obstacle. Like, I don't put work off for other reasons, you know, because I'm tired or whatever. It's because I'm afraid that there's something fundamentally wrong with the project, or fundamentally wrong with me, and that is almost always what's keeping me from doing good work.Jennie NashThere was, back in the day before computers became what they are now, people would frequently lose manuscript drafts. It was just much harder to save your work. And I can't—I can't explain exactly what changed, but it was. People frequently lost huge chunks of their work if they didn't actively back up. And when I was a new coach and working with writers who would lose their manuscripts, they would be—understandably—beyond devastated. And this often was full manuscripts, just unrecoverable, full manuscripts. And it was true that if they sat down to recreate what they'd written, it would really flow from them, for that same reason—it was still in their brain. They—they had—they'd written it, so there was a sense that they had, they owned it, and they could sit down, and it was kind of quite remarkable. And I would confidently say to them, just sit down, start writing. I think it will come to you, and it always did. It's very interesting.Jess LaheyThere's an example—we've interviewed Sarah Stewart Taylor many times now, and she tells the story of, a long time ago, her youngest managed to crawl across the computer in such a way as to create a password for the document itself, and there's nothing that can be done. She was on the phone with Word—with Microsoft—for a long time, and they're like, look, this is a password you created. We can't—that's not recoverable. So she had to go and recreate—I believe she was about a third of the way into a book—but she said that it actually flowed really well, and that, you know, she'd had it, it had been cooking and stuff like that. So that massive fear of, oh my gosh, how am I going to get back into this project when it has just disappeared? It turned out to be not a thing—that it actually came really easily to her.Jennie NashJess, you're bringing all the very weird stories today, and I'm so here for it—notes on boxes, babies making passwords.Jess LaheyYeah, well, and the hard part—the funny part about that—is like, you cannot recreate a toddler, essentially, like bashing away at your keyboard and creating a password that's never coming back. Sorry.Sarina BowenThere is a writer—she once gave a talk that I heard—a very successful young adult author, Cynthia Leitich Smith, and she apparently wrote a discovery draft of the novel to, like, figure out what it was about and then deleted it and started over on purpose.Jennie NashOn purpose?!Sarina BowenYes, and everyone in the room gasped because, of course, you know that I just rather, like, been in a lot of pain. I'd rather have oral surgery than delete my first draft of a novel. But, um... but yeah, if she was unafraid to get back there after that kind of break, then I think we can all handle it.KJ Dell'AntoniaThis is true. I've never deleted a draft, but I have just gone—poofft—"Let's, let's, let's start again." In fact, almost every time. Kind of sad. I'm doing it now, actually, but it's not a full draft. Anyway. So take the breaks, right? That's what we're saying here.Sarina BowenYeah, take the break.KJ Dell'AntoniaYou can break however you do it, you know, whichever thing you pick, and if you don't do what you thought you were going to do, that's cool, too. It's going to—it's going to be fine.Jess LaheyCan I mention something that has—so that now that we've sort of done mechanics, we've done a little bit about the fear thing, the—the identity thing—has been really hard for me, in that I have these two books that I've written, and I've written a bunch and researched a bunch of things over the past couple of years, and people keep asking me, what are you writing? What are you writing? And the reality is, like, I'm not. I'm working on something, I'm researching something, and I've written a lot of things. In fact, now I'm holding up my cardboard box pieces—I found them. But the day—I'm not, like, meeting a 1200-words-a-day goal. And sometimes I feel really... I feel like a fraud. I feel like a massive fraud. Like, what kind of writer is not actually sitting down and writing 2,000 words a day? And that's incredibly difficult for me. Like, I don't deserve to call myself a writer, even though I have a couple of books out there and I wrote—you know—did all this other stuff. But the thing that I have—there are a couple of things that have really helped—and one of those is to understand that and have some grace for myself around what I happen to know full well what my process is. Yes, I wrote a couple of book proposals that didn't turn into books, but it was only through writing the book proposals that I discovered that those books weren't something that I wanted to write, and only through doing all of this research on audiobooks and writing on the side of cardboard boxes. That's the way I've written every one of my books. And it's not—it's just what works for me. And so having a little bit of this, you know, this feeling of insecurity as a writer, I don't think is—I don't think is unique to me. I think a lot of writers feel this, and it's...KJ Dell'AntoniaNo, all the rest of them are...Jess LaheyAll of them are really...KJ Dell'AntoniaYeah, no, everyone else is just like, well, of course. No, I'm not an imposter.Jess LaheyBut what's great is when I sit down with other writers and I say, what is an integral part of your process that isn't actually about putting the words on the page? That's not some bogus, like, excuse for not writing. You know, the gardening is part of it, the—the research is part of it, the listening to audiobooks is part of it. The writing—or the walking—is part of it. And it's not just a part of it. It is an incredibly important part of it for me, and—and understanding that and owning that about myself has been really a good thing for allowing myself to not—I'm not productive when I just feel guilty or like an imposter every day. It—that's not good for my process. But none of you ever feel that, right?KJ Dell'AntoniaOr apparently the people around you…Jess LaheyThe other thing that has been—well, the other thing that's been really, really helpful is the—and especially from the parenting perspective—is, or the marriage perspective, or the dog perspective, or the bees perspective, is I need to be fully committed to the thing right in front of me when I'm doing that thing. And if I'm feeling guilty about not being with the words when I'm with my children, or not being with my children when I'm with the words, that is awful, too. And so I have found that when I have to let go of all the other stuff and be fully, 100% in, I'm highly distractible. And so if I'm not fully in the thing, and that—all that guilt of not being over there doing that other thing—that's just taking away from the actual process of writing or researching or whatever it is, or taking care of my bees. I have to be fully in the thing I'm in and not feel guilty about not doing something else. And that's been a growth moment for me, too. It only took me—how old am I? I'm 55 now, and I got there somewhere around 50, I think.Jennie NashThere is also—I mean, I—I love what you're saying, and that is a thing to strive for, for sure—to be, to be present in whatever you're doing. But there is also this idea—I always think of it as mental real estate—that you leave for your project, for your idea, for your writing, for your book. That you, that you have a space in your brain devoted to that, and that you visit, whether or not you're producing words. And I think that that, too, is writing. I think, in some ways, that's more writing than sitting at the keyboard. I mean, I always object to the process of just putting words down. And a lot of the things that challenge writers to do that, because they skip that part—the thinking part and the having-the-part—you know, the real estate-in-your-brain part. And I think this connects to the shower—shower thoughts, right? You're gardening or beekeeping, you're walking, you're thinking, you're writing proposals and throwing them out. You're doing all that, that, that's writing. That's the—that's writing in my mind.KJ Dell'AntoniaAnd it's not... I mean the other thing we do say a lot is, you know, "Good writing comes last."Jennie NashYeah.KJ Dell'AntoniaYou've got to do the other stuff. So you can do it on vacation, or you could not do it on vacation. This—I don't think—we just—maybe I—this was my idea, and I think maybe I just needed the reassurance. I have a couple weeks coming up where I'm probably not going to do anything, and I just needed a reminder that that's cool. That's cool. It's all right. It's going to be okay. That's what I—if y'all could just pat me on the head and say "it's going to be okay."Multiple Speakers[Overlapping voices: “Mm-hmm,” “Sorry,” “Ohhh...”]KJ Dell'AntoniaSix or ten times an hour, that might be about what I need.Jess LaheyWell and one of the other things that has been really cool this summer is I've been on a streak of really good books. And every one of those really good books that I've been reading has made me like, Oh, I could do this. Oh my gosh, I could do that. I could write like her. I could I could write this other thing. And it's, it's all that energy is good and it's all a good thing to sit on a beach and read a book, or sit in the woods and read a book. It's all great.KJ Dell'AntoniaAll right, everybody, go collect some energy. Hey, on that note, who's read something good lately?Jennie NashI want to hear all these great books, Jess.Jess LaheySo I really have been on this roll. I've already talked about Atmosphere in an earlier podcast, the Taylor Jenkins Reid thing. But then I've been on this Tess Gerritsen jag, because we're—I'm interviewing Tess Gerritsen later this week. You guys will get to hear her later this summer. I am... Sarina and KJ, I believe, read the first of her new series that she has set in Maine and with a couple of retired CIA agents and spies in Maine. And then I enjoyed those so much that I went all the way back to the beginning—to her first book, The Surgeon, which I didn't even know was turned into this whole series called Rizzoli and Isles. It's a television show—I had no idea. And now I'm deep into Tess Gerritsen land. I'm still—I found out that there's going to be a movie of the book by the guy who wrote The Martian, Andy...Sarina BowenAndy WeirJess LaheyAndy Weir, thank you. And I was warned very specifically on social media not to watch the preview—the trailer—for the new movie that is going to be coming out with Ryan Gosling later on this summer, because it ruins the book. The book is called Hail Mary… Project Hail Mary. So I very quickly turned away from social media and said, Ooh, I better read the book really quickly before anyone ruins it for me, and I am enjoying the heck out of Project Hail Mary. So it's been really fun. Yeah.Sarina BowenI am reading a book that KJ put into my hands. And the fun part is that I don't remember why she put it into my hands, you know. Like, why did I pick up this book? Like, it happens all the time. It's called All the Other Mothers Hate Me by Sarah Harman.Jennie NashWhat a great title.Sarina BowenYeah, like, I picked up this book, and my husband said, oh my God, what a great title. And so, yes, that's super cool. And it's very voice-y. And the—the flap copy has the—a premise that smacks of a thriller, but the voice isn't like all deep, dark thriller. And so I think maybe the contrast of those two things might be why KJ put it into my hands. But I am enjoying the fabulous writing, and I'm—I'm still at the beginning, but the way she introduces characters is really sharp. So even that alone is like a little master class on introducing characters.KJ Dell'AntoniaYeah, that was why I gave it to you, was that we'd been talking about, you know, the voice, and also because we'd been talking about, like, funny thrillers versus thriller-y thrillers. And this isn't funny, but it's super voice-y. It reminds me of the one you pressed into my hands, which maybe is a little funnier—Listen for the Lie.Sarina BowenYeah, yeah.Jennie NashWell, I'm reading something very different, which is not—not very beachy. I go to a yoga class that is taught by a middle grade English teacher, and she runs her yoga class sort of like English class, where she always starts with a poem and throughout the class, she refers back to the poem in a very embodied way that you're doing the yoga around. And then she reads the poem again at the end. It's—its spectacular. She's—she's so popular at our yoga studio that you have to, you know, fight your way in. But she read a poem by a woman named Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer—and that's Rosemerry like Christmas Merry, so: Rosemerry. And the book is called The Unfolding. And I say it's very different from what you are all mentioning because this woman experienced the death of her young son and father in very close proximity, and her poems are ostensibly about grief, but they're just filled with joy and hope and delight. And, you know, it's kind of that thing you're talking about, Sarina—that it's—here's a book about tragedy and grief, but it's—there's something about the voice that just is—is fresh. And they're just—they're just stunning, just absolutely stunning. And I have gone and ordered all her books, of which there are—are many. So she's a new voice to me, and I just—I can't get enough of them. They're incredible.KJ Dell'AntoniaWell, here I am going to go back to the fiction summary read-y thing. I am very late to The Thursday Murder Club party, but it is joy. It is so much fun—really your sort of classic Agatha Christie stuff, but way, way funnier and more entertaining, with a dash of elderly spies. So we're on that theme. And then I also want to mention, just because I liked it so much—and I'm not sure I want everyone to read it—What Kind of Paradise by Janelle Brown. This could be your lit fic read of the summer. It's somewhere—but—but it's still a page turner. And I thought the premise was extremely great. Basically, it's: what if the Unabomber had also raised a young daughter with him in the woods on all of his theories, back when the Unabomber was living in the woods, and inadvertently involved her in his first kill before she got away? And now she's an adult looking back at what happened. And Janelle Brown is a Silicon Valley person. She's really steeped in this culture. She really knows this world. It's a really good book—plus super entertaining.Jennie NashI love it.KJ Dell'AntoniaThat's it!Jess LaheyI love it when we have a lot of good stuff, because there have been a couple weeks this year where we were like, I was just let down this time around. But yay, I'm loving this.KJ Dell'AntoniaAll right, I think that's it for us this week, kids. Remember, if you support the podcast, you get bonus content every week right now, because we are killing it. You might get Jess's Soup to Nuts series, where she is coaching a fellow writer on creating a nonfiction proposal that also will work with her speaking career. You can join me and Jennie on a weekly basis as we flail our way through the beginnings of writing a couple of books. And of course, on a monthly basis, we've got the Booklab, where we look at the First Pages of novels submitted by listeners. And if you'd like to submit to the Booklab, that'd be great. Jess will put the link in the show notes.Jess LaheyIndeed, Jess will. And until next week, everyone, keep your butt in the chair and your head in the game.The Hashtag AmWriting Podcast is produced by Andrew Perella. Our intro music, aptly titled Unemployed Monday, was written and played by Max Cohen. Andrew and Max were paid for their time and their creative output, because everyone deserves to be paid for their work. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit amwriting.substack.com/subscribe

Send us a textKathy and Burk react to the trailer for Project Hail Mary, an upcoming American science fiction adventure film produced and directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller from a screenplay by Drew Goddard, based on the 2021 novel of the same name by Andy Weir. The film stars Ryan Gosling (who is also a producer on the film), Sandra Hüller, and Milana Vayntrub.Support the show

Author Andy Weir was as shocked as anyone when The Martian became a top bestseller novel in the US. He repeated that achievement with his equally mind-blowing science fiction masterpiece Project Hail Mary. Former Planetary Radio host Mat Kaplan welcomed Andy in April of 2023 for the first livestreamed author conversation in The Planetary Society's member book club. Now, with the film version of Project Hail Mary approaching, we’re proud to begin making these insider interviews available to Planetary Radio listeners. We’ll post them on the third Friday of each month. Join us as we talk with Andy about his obsession with getting the science right while his reluctant and unlikely hero attempts to save humanity from a deep space scourge. Discover more at: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/book-club-andy-weirSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jared and Joe welcome friend of the Network Seth Skorkowsky to discuss Andy Weir's Project Hail Mary, the birth of RPGs, and our philosophical stances on spoilers. Watch the video here: ⁠⁠⁠https://youtu.be/y99hHUx6P6c Access exclusive podcasts, ad-free episodes, and livestreams with a 30-day free trial with code "GCN30" at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠jointhenaish.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Join Troy Lavallee, Joe O'Brien, Skid Maher, Matthew Capodicasa, Sydney Amanuel, and Kate Stamas as they tour the country. Get your tickets today at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://hubs.li/Q03cn8wr0⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. For more podcasts and livestreams, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://hubs.li/Q03cmY380⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on news, Rosie and Jason ponder what caused Megan to flop at the box office. Is this a Blum House misstep or a change in the culture? Then, we're looking at the film adaptation of Andy Weir's best-selling novel Project Hail Mary starring Ryan Gosling. We gently judge the ranking of the New York Times' top 100 Films of the 21st Century List and share our top 10 movies of the past twenty-five years. Plus, Jason and Rosie remember actor Michael Madsen. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to Multiverse News, Your source for Information about all your favorite fictional universesIt's been debated and anticipated…but Matt Reeves finally confirmed via Instagram on June 27 that he and co-writer Mattson Tomlin have completed their script for The Batman Part II. Variety reports that the film is scheduled to release on October 1, 2027, which - if true - will mean this sequel comes out more than five years after the first film. Both James Gunn and Reeves have been repeatedly asked about the state of the film, with Gunn recently rebuking online pressure for Reeves and remarking that a script is expected in June and - ta da, the Dark Knight arrived on time!One half of the big decisions needed to move the James Bond franchise forward has been made. Dune director Denis Villneuve will usher in the next 007 for Amazon MGM as the mega corp looks to refresh and restart the classic spy film franchise. David Heyman and Amy Pascal, who have already been announced as producers, will be joined by Tonya Lapointe who will serve as an executive producer alongside the director. Villneuve referred to Bond as “sacred territory” for him as a filmmaker.This week audiences said “YES” to original films, with the Brad Pitt-led F1 speeding to number one at the box office with a $144 million global takeover. Apple, who released the film, integrated it into their retail stores - with surprise appearances by Pitt and CEO Tim Cook - offered reduced tickets using ApplePay, and offered a deeper dive on Apple Maps of the Grand Prix race tracks, as well as other unique marketing opportunities. M3GAN 2.0 got a road rash, opening to just $10.2 million, and How to Train Your Dragon stayed strong at number two bringing in a three week domestic total of $200 million.Amazon MGM Studios has released the full trailer for Project Hail Mary, the upcoming film adaptation of the 2021 science fiction novel from The Martian author, Andy Weir. Directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, the movie stars Ryan Gosling as a sixth-grade science teacher sent into space to save Earth. It is scheduled to hit theaters on March 20, 2026.Disney has announced a sequel to its live action Lilo and Stitch film. The news comes as the film approaches the $1 billion dollar mark at the global box office.Edgar Wright's latest film The Running Man released a trailer today. The movie is adapted from a Stephen King novel and stars Glen Powell, Colman Domingo, Josh Brolin, William H. Macey, and others in a dystopian game show style action flick.Curtis Jackson aka 50 Cent has joined the cast of Legendary Entertainment's feature adaptation of the video game Street Fighter. Jackson will play Balrog, a disgraced boxer who is also the bodyguard of the villain. Sources tell The Hollywood Reporter that he is deep into training for the part and will be doing his own stunts. David Dastmalchian has also been cast to play baddie M. Bison.Sources tell Deadline that The Social Network director Aaron Sorkin has been set to direct The Social Network Part II for Sony Pictures. Insiders say that while it's being called part two, it's not a straight sequel but rather a follow-up to the original movie.WandaVision and Agatha All Along creator Jac Schaeffer is replacing Moira Walley-Beckett as showrunner for the Fourth Wing series adaptation at Amazon MGM Studios. Schaeffer signed an overall deal with the studio. The series is produced by Michael B. Jordan's company, Outlier Society.Over the weekend at car festival Fuel Fest, Vin Diesel spoke to a crowd of fans and confirmed a tentative release window for the next installment of the Fast and the Furious franchise for April of 2027. He also mentioned that he wants to reunite his character with Paul Walker's character Brian O'Conner. Since Walker passed away in 2013, he would have to be digitally inserted into the film.FX announced today that The Bear has been renewed for a fifth season.

Xbox is always finding rakes to step on, which is ridiculous. After the success for NCAA College football, EA is brining NCAA College Basketball, and no one is shocked. Vin Diesel announces the plan for Fast X part 2, and there's major concerns. Matt Reeves finally finishes the Script for The Batman sequel, and James Gunn gives us who is playing Jor El. Plus a full review for F1 The Movie, which is hands down the best movie of the year so far. That and more on tonight's episode.

On today's show, we'll discuss some headlines that might've slipped under the radar this week. First, most staff at the U.S. Agency for International Deveopment officially marked their final day with the agency. What might the dismantling of USAID mean for U.S. influence abroad? Plus, school districts are scrambling as federal education dollars are on hold. Then, we'll smile about Andy Weir's latest sci-fi novel being adapted for the big screen and the WNBA expanding into more cities! Here's everything we talked about today: “Bush, Obama and Bono Commend USAID Staff Members on Their Last Day” from The New York Times“The US says 'little to show‘ for six-decade aid agency. Supporters point to millions of lives saved” from The Associated Press“USAID cuts could lead to 14 million deaths over the next five years, researchers say” from NBC News“Education Department freezes cash for school districts, teacher training, migrant students” from POLITICO“Watch the first trailer for ‘Project Hail Mary'” from Popular Science“WNBA adds three more franchises as league's popularity continues to grow” from The Washington Post“‘Friendship' Review: Tim Robinson and Paul Rudd Hit Maximum Cringe” from The New York TimesIf you have a question, give us a call: 508-U-B-SMART or email makemesmart@marketplace.org

• Let's Encrypt drops its long-running email notifications. • Microsoft's new "Unexpected Restart Experience". • Microsoft's response to last year's massive CrowdStrike outage. • Windows 10's extended service updates will sort of be free. • Russia-sold iPhones MUST include the RuStore app. • Lyon, in France, says bye-bye to Windows. Hello to Linux. • The US Gov gets more serious about memory-safe languages. • A new unbelievable AI malware scanner evaSion technique. • A new pair of Cisco 9.8 and 10.0 vulnerabilities. • The current state of post-Elon government cybersecurity. • PNGv3, Swift on Android, and the Samsung email purge. • Andy Weir's "Hail Mary" movie trailer. • And a close look at the pervasiveness of web browser tracking fingerprinting. Show Notes - https://www.grc.com/sn/sn-1032-notes.pdf Hosts: Steve Gibson and Leo Laporte Download or subscribe to Security Now at https://twit.tv/shows/security-now. You can submit a question to Security Now at the GRC Feedback Page. For 16kbps versions, transcripts, and notes (including fixes), visit Steve's site: grc.com, also the home of the best disk maintenance and recovery utility ever written Spinrite 6. Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free shows, a members-only Discord, and behind-the-scenes access. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: go.acronis.com/twit bitwarden.com/twit threatlocker.com/twit joindeleteme.com/twit promo code TWIT

On today's show, we'll discuss some headlines that might've slipped under the radar this week. First, most staff at the U.S. Agency for International Deveopment officially marked their final day with the agency. What might the dismantling of USAID mean for U.S. influence abroad? Plus, school districts are scrambling as federal education dollars are on hold. Then, we'll smile about Andy Weir's latest sci-fi novel being adapted for the big screen and the WNBA expanding into more cities! Here's everything we talked about today: “Bush, Obama and Bono Commend USAID Staff Members on Their Last Day” from The New York Times“The US says 'little to show‘ for six-decade aid agency. Supporters point to millions of lives saved” from The Associated Press“USAID cuts could lead to 14 million deaths over the next five years, researchers say” from NBC News“Education Department freezes cash for school districts, teacher training, migrant students” from POLITICO“Watch the first trailer for ‘Project Hail Mary'” from Popular Science“WNBA adds three more franchises as league's popularity continues to grow” from The Washington Post“‘Friendship' Review: Tim Robinson and Paul Rudd Hit Maximum Cringe” from The New York TimesIf you have a question, give us a call: 508-U-B-SMART or email makemesmart@marketplace.org

• Let's Encrypt drops its long-running email notifications. • Microsoft's new "Unexpected Restart Experience". • Microsoft's response to last year's massive CrowdStrike outage. • Windows 10's extended service updates will sort of be free. • Russia-sold iPhones MUST include the RuStore app. • Lyon, in France, says bye-bye to Windows. Hello to Linux. • The US Gov gets more serious about memory-safe languages. • A new unbelievable AI malware scanner evaSion technique. • A new pair of Cisco 9.8 and 10.0 vulnerabilities. • The current state of post-Elon government cybersecurity. • PNGv3, Swift on Android, and the Samsung email purge. • Andy Weir's "Hail Mary" movie trailer. • And a close look at the pervasiveness of web browser tracking fingerprinting. Show Notes - https://www.grc.com/sn/sn-1032-notes.pdf Hosts: Steve Gibson and Leo Laporte Download or subscribe to Security Now at https://twit.tv/shows/security-now. You can submit a question to Security Now at the GRC Feedback Page. For 16kbps versions, transcripts, and notes (including fixes), visit Steve's site: grc.com, also the home of the best disk maintenance and recovery utility ever written Spinrite 6. Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free shows, a members-only Discord, and behind-the-scenes access. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: go.acronis.com/twit bitwarden.com/twit threatlocker.com/twit joindeleteme.com/twit promo code TWIT

• Let's Encrypt drops its long-running email notifications. • Microsoft's new "Unexpected Restart Experience". • Microsoft's response to last year's massive CrowdStrike outage. • Windows 10's extended service updates will sort of be free. • Russia-sold iPhones MUST include the RuStore app. • Lyon, in France, says bye-bye to Windows. Hello to Linux. • The US Gov gets more serious about memory-safe languages. • A new unbelievable AI malware scanner evaSion technique. • A new pair of Cisco 9.8 and 10.0 vulnerabilities. • The current state of post-Elon government cybersecurity. • PNGv3, Swift on Android, and the Samsung email purge. • Andy Weir's "Hail Mary" movie trailer. • And a close look at the pervasiveness of web browser tracking fingerprinting. Show Notes - https://www.grc.com/sn/sn-1032-notes.pdf Hosts: Steve Gibson and Leo Laporte Download or subscribe to Security Now at https://twit.tv/shows/security-now. You can submit a question to Security Now at the GRC Feedback Page. For 16kbps versions, transcripts, and notes (including fixes), visit Steve's site: grc.com, also the home of the best disk maintenance and recovery utility ever written Spinrite 6. Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free shows, a members-only Discord, and behind-the-scenes access. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: go.acronis.com/twit bitwarden.com/twit threatlocker.com/twit joindeleteme.com/twit promo code TWIT

• Let's Encrypt drops its long-running email notifications. • Microsoft's new "Unexpected Restart Experience". • Microsoft's response to last year's massive CrowdStrike outage. • Windows 10's extended service updates will sort of be free. • Russia-sold iPhones MUST include the RuStore app. • Lyon, in France, says bye-bye to Windows. Hello to Linux. • The US Gov gets more serious about memory-safe languages. • A new unbelievable AI malware scanner evaSion technique. • A new pair of Cisco 9.8 and 10.0 vulnerabilities. • The current state of post-Elon government cybersecurity. • PNGv3, Swift on Android, and the Samsung email purge. • Andy Weir's "Hail Mary" movie trailer. • And a close look at the pervasiveness of web browser tracking fingerprinting. Show Notes - https://www.grc.com/sn/sn-1032-notes.pdf Hosts: Steve Gibson and Leo Laporte Download or subscribe to Security Now at https://twit.tv/shows/security-now. You can submit a question to Security Now at the GRC Feedback Page. For 16kbps versions, transcripts, and notes (including fixes), visit Steve's site: grc.com, also the home of the best disk maintenance and recovery utility ever written Spinrite 6. Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free shows, a members-only Discord, and behind-the-scenes access. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: go.acronis.com/twit bitwarden.com/twit threatlocker.com/twit joindeleteme.com/twit promo code TWIT

• Let's Encrypt drops its long-running email notifications. • Microsoft's new "Unexpected Restart Experience". • Microsoft's response to last year's massive CrowdStrike outage. • Windows 10's extended service updates will sort of be free. • Russia-sold iPhones MUST include the RuStore app. • Lyon, in France, says bye-bye to Windows. Hello to Linux. • The US Gov gets more serious about memory-safe languages. • A new unbelievable AI malware scanner evaSion technique. • A new pair of Cisco 9.8 and 10.0 vulnerabilities. • The current state of post-Elon government cybersecurity. • PNGv3, Swift on Android, and the Samsung email purge. • Andy Weir's "Hail Mary" movie trailer. • And a close look at the pervasiveness of web browser tracking fingerprinting. Show Notes - https://www.grc.com/sn/sn-1032-notes.pdf Hosts: Steve Gibson and Leo Laporte Download or subscribe to Security Now at https://twit.tv/shows/security-now. You can submit a question to Security Now at the GRC Feedback Page. For 16kbps versions, transcripts, and notes (including fixes), visit Steve's site: grc.com, also the home of the best disk maintenance and recovery utility ever written Spinrite 6. Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free shows, a members-only Discord, and behind-the-scenes access. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: go.acronis.com/twit bitwarden.com/twit threatlocker.com/twit joindeleteme.com/twit promo code TWIT

• Let's Encrypt drops its long-running email notifications. • Microsoft's new "Unexpected Restart Experience". • Microsoft's response to last year's massive CrowdStrike outage. • Windows 10's extended service updates will sort of be free. • Russia-sold iPhones MUST include the RuStore app. • Lyon, in France, says bye-bye to Windows. Hello to Linux. • The US Gov gets more serious about memory-safe languages. • A new unbelievable AI malware scanner evaSion technique. • A new pair of Cisco 9.8 and 10.0 vulnerabilities. • The current state of post-Elon government cybersecurity. • PNGv3, Swift on Android, and the Samsung email purge. • Andy Weir's "Hail Mary" movie trailer. • And a close look at the pervasiveness of web browser tracking fingerprinting. Show Notes - https://www.grc.com/sn/sn-1032-notes.pdf Hosts: Steve Gibson and Leo Laporte Download or subscribe to Security Now at https://twit.tv/shows/security-now. You can submit a question to Security Now at the GRC Feedback Page. For 16kbps versions, transcripts, and notes (including fixes), visit Steve's site: grc.com, also the home of the best disk maintenance and recovery utility ever written Spinrite 6. Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free shows, a members-only Discord, and behind-the-scenes access. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: go.acronis.com/twit bitwarden.com/twit threatlocker.com/twit joindeleteme.com/twit promo code TWIT

• Let's Encrypt drops its long-running email notifications. • Microsoft's new "Unexpected Restart Experience". • Microsoft's response to last year's massive CrowdStrike outage. • Windows 10's extended service updates will sort of be free. • Russia-sold iPhones MUST include the RuStore app. • Lyon, in France, says bye-bye to Windows. Hello to Linux. • The US Gov gets more serious about memory-safe languages. • A new unbelievable AI malware scanner evaSion technique. • A new pair of Cisco 9.8 and 10.0 vulnerabilities. • The current state of post-Elon government cybersecurity. • PNGv3, Swift on Android, and the Samsung email purge. • Andy Weir's "Hail Mary" movie trailer. • And a close look at the pervasiveness of web browser tracking fingerprinting. Show Notes - https://www.grc.com/sn/sn-1032-notes.pdf Hosts: Steve Gibson and Leo Laporte Download or subscribe to Security Now at https://twit.tv/shows/security-now. You can submit a question to Security Now at the GRC Feedback Page. For 16kbps versions, transcripts, and notes (including fixes), visit Steve's site: grc.com, also the home of the best disk maintenance and recovery utility ever written Spinrite 6. Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free shows, a members-only Discord, and behind-the-scenes access. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: go.acronis.com/twit bitwarden.com/twit threatlocker.com/twit joindeleteme.com/twit promo code TWIT

• Let's Encrypt drops its long-running email notifications. • Microsoft's new "Unexpected Restart Experience". • Microsoft's response to last year's massive CrowdStrike outage. • Windows 10's extended service updates will sort of be free. • Russia-sold iPhones MUST include the RuStore app. • Lyon, in France, says bye-bye to Windows. Hello to Linux. • The US Gov gets more serious about memory-safe languages. • A new unbelievable AI malware scanner evaSion technique. • A new pair of Cisco 9.8 and 10.0 vulnerabilities. • The current state of post-Elon government cybersecurity. • PNGv3, Swift on Android, and the Samsung email purge. • Andy Weir's "Hail Mary" movie trailer. • And a close look at the pervasiveness of web browser tracking fingerprinting. Show Notes - https://www.grc.com/sn/sn-1032-notes.pdf Hosts: Steve Gibson and Leo Laporte Download or subscribe to Security Now at https://twit.tv/shows/security-now. You can submit a question to Security Now at the GRC Feedback Page. For 16kbps versions, transcripts, and notes (including fixes), visit Steve's site: grc.com, also the home of the best disk maintenance and recovery utility ever written Spinrite 6. Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free shows, a members-only Discord, and behind-the-scenes access. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: go.acronis.com/twit bitwarden.com/twit threatlocker.com/twit joindeleteme.com/twit promo code TWIT

Get ready to explore new worlds and discover hidden gems! In this episode, we're counting down the top science fiction and fantasy books so far for the 2020s that you absolutely must read. From epic space operas to magical quests, we've got you covered. Whether you're a fan of authors like Andy Weir, Martha Wells, or Sarah J. Maas, or you're looking for new voices in the genre, this list has something for everyone. So sit back, relax, and let's dive into the best science fiction and fantasy books of the decade!#FantasyForTheAges #ReadingRecommendations #NebulaAwards #LocusAwards #HugoAwards #SciFi #ScienceFiction #Fantasy #FantasyFiction #SSF #BestBooks #Top3 #Top10 #booktube #booktuberWant to purchase books/media mentioned in this episode?Annie Bot: https://t.ly/V5zZHBabel: https://t.ly/6xveMBook of NIght: https://t.ly/3BIA9A Court of Silver Flames: https://t.ly/b6r-GCytonic: https://t.ly/qF7ehA Desolation Called Peace: https://t.ly/juV2zDon't Fear the Reaper: https://t.ly/r4DnVThe Familiar: https://t.ly/8LLU7The Family Experiment: https://t.ly/tucgpFourth Wing: https://t.ly/fYmJzFugitive Telemetry: https://t.ly/LCwHtGallant: https://t.ly/66jK8Hell Bent: https://t.ly/cdXbnHouse of Earth and Blood: https://t.ly/Pc9IIHouse of Flame and Shadow: https://t.ly/umku-House of Sky and Breath: https://t.ly/Q44GvIn the Lives of Puppets: https://t.ly/y8J2bThe Invisible Life of Addie LaRue: https://t.ly/iow9jKlara and the Sun: https://t.ly/79LaRLegends and Lattes: https://t.ly/KWM_3Light Bringer: https://t.ly/f3PA6The Lost Metal: https://t.ly/-bD1CA Master of Djinn: https://t.ly/AZdNgThe Ministry of Time: https://t.ly/uiKukMy Heart is a Chainsaw: https://t.ly/UcfEiNetwork Effect: https://t.ly/ZtKprNona the Ninth: https://t.ly/Hh7hvThe Only Good Indians: https://t.ly/WA3J-Project Hail Mary: https://t.ly/WWjb-Rhythm of War: https://t.ly/v0HfsSea of Tranquility: https://t.ly/_dR15To Sleep in a Sea of Stars: https://t.ly/4P2fnSomewhere Beyond the Sea: https://t.ly/XY42mStarter Villain: https://t.ly/CGxLmSystem Collapse: https://t.ly/HyR-qUnder the Whispering Door: https://t.ly/niAFPWays to connect with us:Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/FantasyForTheAges Follow Jim/Father on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/13848336-jim-scriven Join us on Discord: https://discord.gg/jMWyVJ6qKk Follow us on "X": @Fantasy4theAges Follow us on Blue Sky: @fantasy4theages.bsky.socialFollow us on Instagram: fantasy_for_the_ages Follow us on Mastodon: @FantasyForTheAges@nerdculture.de Email us: FantasyForTheAges@gmail.com Check out our merch: https://www.newcreationsbyjen.com/collections/fantasyfortheagesJim's Microphone: Blue Yeti https://tinyurl.com/3shpvhb4 ————————————————————————————Music and video elements licensed under Envato Elements:https://elements.envato.com/

¡Sean ustedes bienvenidas a este episodio adicional previo a la onceava temporada! Muchas gracias por ser parte de esta comunidad que avanza y que quiere evolucionar. El día de hoy hablaremos de la película “Marte”, o “The Martian”. Esta historia inició en un blog de Andy Weir y terminó en Hollywood como una de las películas más taquilleras y premiadas en el 2015.¡Muchas gracias por ser parte de esta comunidad! No lo olvides. ¡Estamos juntas en esto!Todos los derechos reservados. Copyright 2025 © Estíbaliz Delgado AmayaScott, R. (Director). (2015). The Martian [Película]. 20th Century Fox.

En nuestro episodio 352 Vanesthy y El Watcher conversan sobre su experiencia viendo el "Trailer" nuevo de "Superman" (2025), leyendo "Project Hail Mary" (2021) escrito por Andy Weir y su experiencia en el "Midnight Release Event" de el "Nintendo Switch 2" y el "Pre-Release Event" de la colaboración entre "Magic: The Gathering" (1993) y "Final Fantasy" (1987) en el segmento "Wachin' con Wacho!" y hablan sobre todo lo relacionado a la película "From the World of John Wick: Ballerina" (2025).¡Se la diferencia en la vida de los niños de la Fundación de Niños de Puerto Rico! Aporta con tu donativo aquí: https://www.extra-life.org/participant/Cultura-Secuencial-2025¡Subscríbete a nuestro canal de YouTube! Visita: https://www.youtube.com/culturasecuencial¡Síguenos y Suscríbete a nuestro canal de Twitch! Visita: https://www.twitch.tv/culturasecuencial¡Síguenos en Instagram! Visita: https://www.instagram.com/culturasecuencial¡Síguenos en Facebook! Visita: https://www.facebook.com/CulturaSecuencial

Bestselling science fiction author Andy Weir joins Exploring Humanity Through Sci-Fi  for an insightful, funny, and wide-ranging conversation about space exploration, writing hard science fiction, and the real-world Artemis mission. Tune in as Andy and host Tony Tellado dive into the intersection of science, capitalism, and imagination—along with plenty of behind-the-scenes peeks at Andy's research habits and what he did during the pandemic. The Realities of Space Exploration: Andy discusses how commercialization and competition can drive the next giant leap for humanity, especially when it comes to sustainable lunar colonies and affordable space travel. Artemis – From Page to Production: The story and science behind Andy's novel Artemis, Fox acquiring the film rights, and updates on possible screen adaptations. Andy's Writing Process: Andy reveals his disciplined approach to daily writing, why research is his favorite rabbit hole, and how he leverages both Google and passionate experts for world-building. Start Your Free Trial At Sci-Fi Talk Plus Today  

Are you looking for a good audiobook to listen to as you start logging more miles this summer? We have a whole list of audiobook recommendations for your long runs, plus our current favorite running books. Our recommendations include:Up to Speed by Christine YuPeak Performance by Steve Magness and Brad StulburgRun to the Finish by Amanda BrooksOut of Thin Air by Michael CrawleyGood for a Girl by Lauren FleshmanEverything Fat Loss by Ben CarpenterThe Athlete's Gut by Patrick WilsonRun Like a Pro by Matt FitzgeraldThe Explorer's Gene by Alex HutchinsonHow Bad Do You Want It? by Matt FitzgeraldBrazen by Julia Haart (audiobook)Project Hail Mary; The Martian; Artemis by Andy Weir (audiobook)The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb (audiobook)Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins (audiobook)I'm Glad by Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy (audiobook)Norse Mythology by Neil GaimanLost Gods by Brom This episode is sponsored by:Skratch: Use code TREADLIGHTLY for 20% off first purchase at https://www.skratchlabs.com/discount/ABROOKS?redirect=/products/skratch-labs-sample-pack?utm_source=ABrooks&utm_medium=ABrooks&utm_campaign=Podcast531BodyBio: Research-backed, practitioner-trusted supplements. Use code AMANDA25 for 25% off at https://runtothefinish.com/bodybio/The show notes contain affiliate links, which cost you nothing and support the show creators. Let's stay connected:Join our community at patreon.com/treadlightlyrunningTread Lightly Running Podcast on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/treadlightlyrunning/Laura Norris Running on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauranorrisrunning/Hundreds of evidence-based training tips on Laura's website: https://lauranorrisrunning.com/Run to the Finish on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/runtothefinish/?hl=enThousands of running gear reviews and training guides: https://runtothefinish.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Please rate, review, and subscribe on Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or follow and comment on Spotify. If you enjoyed this episode, please share with a friend!

On this episode of Currently Reading, Kaytee and Meredith are discussing: Bookish Moments: reading slumps and how to replant your reading life Current Reads: all the great, interesting, and/or terrible stuff we've been reading lately Deep Dive: how to talk about books “in the wild” The Fountain: we visit our perfect fountain to make wishes about our reading lives Show notes are time-stamped below for your convenience. Read the transcript of the episode (this link only works on the main site) .  .  .  .  1:21 - Our Bookish Moments Of The Week 7:18 - Our Current Reads 7:37 - Murder in the Dollhouse: The Jennifer Dulos Story by Rich Cohen (Meredith) 14:11 - My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows (Kaytee) 14:22 - CR Season 3: Episode 1 18:34 - My Plain Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows 19:49 - The Dragon Reborn by Robert Jordan (Meredith) 24:49 - She Memes Well by Quinta Brunson (Kaytee) 28:02 - Lexicon by Max Barry (Meredith) 31:26 - The Rook by Daniel O'Malley 31:35 - Babel by R.F. Kuang 33:52 - The Comfort of Crows by Margaret Renkl (Kaytee) 35:01 - The Backyard Bird Chronicles by Amy Tan 35:03 - World of Wonders by Aimee Nezhukumatathil 35:08 - Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer 35:09 - The Serviceberry by Robin Wall Kimmerer 35:12 - An Immense World by Ed Yong 37:14 - How To Talk About Books In The Wild 39:27 - Shawnathemom on Instagram 43:56 - Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir 45:56 - Lexicon by Max Barry 47:24 - Babel by R.F. Kuang 52:10 - Meet Us At The Fountain 52:19 - I wish the next book I talked about was a book I liked, rather than a book that I did not. (Meredith) 52:36 - A Small Porch by Wendell Berry 54:47 - I wish to always have the right book for the person in front of me. (Kaytee) Support Us: Become a Bookish Friend | Grab Some Merch Shop Bookshop dot org | Shop Amazon Bookish Friends Receive: The Indie Press List with a curated list of five books hand sold by the indie of the month. May's IPL is a new indie to the rotation - Dog Eared Books in Ames, Iowa. Love and Chili Peppers with Kaytee and Rebekah - romance lovers get their due with this special episode focused entirely on the best selling genre fiction in the business.  All Things Murderful with Meredith and Elizabeth - special content for the scary-lovers, brought to you with the behind-the-scenes insights of an independent bookseller From the Editor's Desk with Kaytee and Bunmi Ishola - a quarterly peek behind the curtain at the publishing industry The Bookish Friends Facebook Group - where you can build community with bookish friends from around the globe as well as our hosts Connect With Us: The Show: Instagram | Website | Email | Threads The Hosts and Regulars: Meredith | Kaytee | Mary | Roxanna Production and Editing: Megan Phouthavong Evans Affiliate Disclosure: All affiliate links go to Bookshop unless otherwise noted. Shopping here helps keep the lights on and benefits indie bookstores. Thanks for your support!

In this episode of the Fully-Booked literary podcast, we're back in the room with Meaghan, Shirin, and Arthur, though Arthur gets plenty of playful shade right out of the gate. The energy is chaotic in the best way, and we all seem to embrace it.This time around, we're not doing a structured game or typical author discussion. Instead, we've decided to have a casual roundtable where we toss out book recommendations based on popular titles.Think of it as a “if you liked this, try this” style chat, the kind of stuff you might scroll through on BookTok, but with more tangents, more laughs, and a whole lot more coffee shop banter.So, yes, it's a podcast version of one of those aesthetic recommendation reels, but longer and full of personality. We're hoping it helps listeners find their next favorite read, whether they're winding down for bed or commuting with earbuds in. Along the way, we make plenty of jokes, toss in personal stories, and keep things as relatable as ever.Cozy Fantasy And Twisty YA PicksMeaghan kicks things off with Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree. It's a standout in cozy fantasy, a genre that's all about lower stakes and high charm. This one's about a retired assassin who just wants to run a coffee shop. We love it because it's charming without the constant doom that high fantasy sometimes leans into. If you're tired of watching your favorite characters die dramatically, this is your safe space.From there, we get three recommendations to follow that cozy vibe:This Will Be Fun by E.B. Asher offers more of an epic twist, following four heroes who reunite years after saving the world to stop another evil. It's got humor, sarcasm, and a nostalgic team-up energy.Forged by Magic by Jenna Wolfhart includes orcs, elves, and romance, much like Legends and Lattes, but kicks the fantasy world-building up a notch.Dreadful by Caitlin Rosakus is quirky and a bit chaotic. A man wakes up in an evil wizard's lair and slowly realizes… he's the wizard. It's got dark magic with a comedic undertone that keeps things from getting too heavy.Next, Shirin brings up We Were Liars by E. Lockhart, a twisty, emotional YA mystery that clearly divides readers. Some of us saw the ending a mile away. Others (hi, Shirin) were shocked. Either way, it sparks strong reactions. From there, the recommended reads are:One of Us is Lying by Karen McManus, a classic high school murder mystery.A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson, which begins as a school project but morphs into a full-on whodunit.Both offer those unreliable narrators and layers of secrets that make for great binge reads (and binge-worthy shows, too).Sci-Fi Sarcasm and Robots with FeelingsArthur (yes, we're letting him talk now) shifts us into sci-fi territory. He spotlights The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells, which is being adapted into a TV show. The series centers around a sarcastic AI bot who's pretending not to be sentient while dealing with messy human feelings. It's funny, sharp, and dives into questions about identity and autonomy.The companion picks for Murderbot are:Neuromancer by William Gibson, the cyberpunk classic full of noir and hacking vibes.Autonomous by Annalee Newitz, a gritty, emotional dive into freedom and biotech ethics.Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie features a starship AI stuck in a single human body, trying to cope and also seek revenge.This whole section sparks a thoughtful conversation about how sci-fi is evolving to focus more on questions of self, ethics, and AI rights, especially as real-world conversations about artificial intelligence ramp up.From Gothic to Gruesome: Creepy Houses and Haunting PastsMeaghan circles back with another strong pick: Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier. This gothic classic inspires a group of haunting and eerie recommendations:The September House by Carissa Orlando, where every September, the house goes full horror mode with blood on the walls and something lurking in the basement.The Only One Left by Riley Sager, another gothic mystery involving a secluded cliffside mansion and a historical murder case.We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson delivers that same psychological tension and sense of dread found in Rebecca.We also detour briefly into House of Leaves territory, a book so bizarre in structure it's basically unreadable in audiobook form. Everyone agrees it's an experience, not just a novel.Court of Thorns, Shadow Daddies, and Fae RomanceThen we dive into a big one: A Court of Thorns and Roses (or ACOTAR, because who has time for long titles) by Sarah J. Maas. This fantasy romance gets a lot of love and some side-eye, depending on who you ask. It starts like Beauty and the Beast but quickly turns into something much more plot-heavy and twisty.Meaghan recommends:Quicksilver by Callie Hart, where the heroine gets dragged into the fae realm after trying to save her family. It's rich in world-building and dramatic romantic tension.Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco, a witchy, demon-summoning fantasy with Italian vibes, mouthwatering food descriptions, and yes—another shadowy love interest.We joke a lot about the term shadow daddy, which is hilarious and weirdly accurate for some of these characters. The group shares a good laugh about imagining their dads lurking in shadows. Totally normal podcast behavior...One-Person Sci-Fi Adventures (and Existential Crisis Fuel)Back in sci-fi land, Arthur brings us to Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir, which is getting a film adaptation with Ryan Gosling. The book features a lone scientist in space trying to save Earth, accompanied only by an alien rock creature named Rocky. The humor and heart between the human and the alien make it surprisingly emotional.The suggested read-alikes:The Martian, also by Weir. Obviously.Beacon 23 by Hugh Howey has that isolated, losing-your-sanity-in-space vibe.Rendezvous with Rama by Arthur C. Clarke, a classic of alien exploration and big questions.We get into the emotional toll of reading too much sci-fi. Some of us find it uplifting and full of imagination. Others (Shirin) find it deeply depressing. Fair enough.Vampires, Book Clubs, and Dark HumorShirin wraps things up with The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix. It's part horror, part comedy, and all about strong women who take matters into their own hands. Think housewives turned vampire hunters. The book doesn't shy away from gruesome details, especially involving rats and face tentacles. But it's also heartfelt and hilarious.Similar reads include:The Honeys by Ryan La Sala, a genre-bending YA horror story about identity, loss, and hive-mind weirdness.So Thirsty by Rachel Harrison, another vampire tale that's more about the women fighting their way through chaos than the monsters themselves.We end with another surprise: Arthur picks something non-sci-fi for once. Catabasis by R.F. Kuang gets mentioned as a dark academia fantasy with two rival scholars traveling to hell. Yep. Hell. To save a professor. Talk about dedication.Recommendations here include:The Atlas Six by Olivie BlakeThe Secret History by Donna TarttIf We Were Villains by M.L. RioThey all explore dark magic, academic rivalries, and blurred lines between performance and reality. By the end, our TBR piles are towering, and we're all a little overwhelmed in the best way.Wrapping UpWe went through a ton of books in this episode: cozy fantasies, murder mysteries, sci-fi sagas, dark academia, and good old-fashioned horror. Some are funny. Some are terrifying. Some make you question your life choices. And some just make you feel seen as a reader who wants something a little different.We hope at least one of these picks piqued your interest or gave you something new to add to your list. And if your TBR just grew five feet taller, well… same. Until next time, keep on reading. We'll be here, figuring out how to read all of these before next week.

This week we dive into the beloved Movie and Book, the Martian by Andy Weir. The Betches discuss the book to movie, what they liked and didn't, and you might be surprised who liked what more. Tune in to find out what the Betches think, along with tons of laughs from this episode! Follow us on Instagram for previews of next week's episode! @Books_N_BetchesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

I read to spend time with people—fictional or not—that make me think, make me laugh, or just feel like good company. In this episode, I talk about why Less by Andrew Sean Greer worked for me, why Artemis by Andy Weir didn't, and why I give every novel exactly 50 pages to win me over. This isn't about snobbery—it's about using your time wisely.Send Me a Text Message with Your QuestionsIMPORTANT LINKS:

In Part 2 of Tom's wide-ranging conversation with Andy Weir, Andy explores how AI will transform material science, medicine, biotechnology, and possibly even human evolution itself. From AI-designed drugs and custom gene editing to the ethical dilemmas of “designer babies” and the future of cosmetic self-alteration, Andy contemplates what these advances could mean for human identity, equality, and society's deepest values. The episode then hurtles into the far future, weighing the prospects of artificial superintelligence, AI alignment, and the ultimate “tool or agent” debate. Tom and Andy touch on open versus closed source AI, existential risk, and what humanity's historical track record tells us about technology. SHOWNOTES 22:08 AI's leap in material science, biotech, and AlphaFold's revolution28:49 Hardware bottlenecks and the coming “AI card” revolution32:09 Efficiency breakthroughs, compression, and training paradigm shifts36:10 How new materials could propel us to low Earth orbit38:39 AI-designed proteins: The promise and danger within biology39:47 The ethics of designer babies: Health, intelligence, and consent46:38 The coming age of “cosmetic ethnicity” and identity fluidity47:29 Body hacking: Social and economic consequences, from eating to politics48:32 Why society will push—and resist—genetic modifications49:34 The looming “intelligence arms race” between humans and AI50:15 Why Andy doubts the need to compete with AI; the “bulldozer analogy”57:15 Caution and optimism: Why Andy expects a post-scarcity AI future58:10 Why “control” is likely to stay with humans—unless we hand it over1:01:04 Open source debate, narrative control, and algorithmic bias1:28:00 What excites Andy: Self-driving cars and societal revolution1:33:57 Andy on writing, his approach to AI, and what's next for his books1:35:29 Where to follow Andy Weir FOLLOW ANDY WEIR:Twitter/X: @andyweirauthorFacebook: Andy Weir CHECK OUT OUR SPONSORS ButcherBox: Ready to level up your meals? Go to ⁠https://ButcherBox.com/impact⁠ to get $20 off your first box and FREE bacon for life with the Bilyeu Box! Vital Proteins: Get 20% off by going to ⁠https://www.vitalproteins.com⁠ and entering promo code IMPACT at check out Netsuite: Download the CFO's Guide to AI and Machine Learning at ⁠https://NetSuite.com/THEORY⁠ iTrust Capital: Use code IMPACTGO when you sign up and fund your account to get a $100 bonus at ⁠https://www.itrustcapital.com/tombilyeu⁠  Mint Mobile: If you like your money, Mint Mobile is for you. Shop plans at ⁠https://mintmobile.com/impact.⁠  DISCLAIMER: Upfront payment of $45 for 3-month 5 gigabyte plan required (equivalent to $15/mo.). New customer offer for first 3 months only, then full-price plan options available. Taxes & fees extra. See MINT MOBILE for details. What's up, everybody? It's Tom Bilyeu here: If you want my help... STARTING a business:⁠ join me here at ZERO TO FOUNDER⁠ SCALING a business:⁠ see if you qualify here.⁠ Get my battle-tested strategies and insights delivered weekly to your inbox:⁠ sign up here.⁠ ********************************************************************** If you're serious about leveling up your life, I urge you to check out my new podcast,⁠ Tom Bilyeu's Mindset Playbook⁠ —a goldmine of my most impactful episodes on mindset, business, and health. Trust me, your future self will thank you. ********************************************************************** LISTEN TO IMPACT THEORY AD FREE + BONUS EPISODES on APPLE PODCASTS:⁠ apple.co/impacttheory⁠ ********************************************************************** FOLLOW TOM: Instagram:⁠ https://www.instagram.com/tombilyeu/⁠ Tik Tok:⁠ https://www.tiktok.com/@tombilyeu?lang=en⁠ Twitter:⁠ https://twitter.com/tombilyeu⁠ YouTube:⁠ https://www.youtube.com/@TomBilyeu⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tom Bilyeu is joined by Andy Weir, celebrated science fiction author best known for his bestsellers “The Martian” and “Project Hail Mary.” Andy brings his trademark grounded, analytical perspective as he and Tom grapple with one of the most pressing and fascinating subjects of our time: the future of artificial intelligence. In Part 1, Andy breaks down the near- and mid-term landscape of AI's impact—from industry disruptions and the transformation of art to the coming upheaval in entertainment and personal storytelling. The conversation dives into economic inevitabilities, how AI art upends creative professions, and the paradigm shift awaiting writers, artists, and audiences alike. Andy also unpacks the deeper consequences: Are we heading toward a world without shared cultural narratives? What do ultra-personalized stories mean for society, politics, and how we connect? SHOWNOTES 00:00 Introduction: Andy Weir on grounded sci-fi and AI's future04:34 How AI will revolutionize storytelling and end “event entertainment”06:06 Personalized narrative: When every film is custom-made for you12:07 What shared values mean in a fractured, AI-personalized world13:50 Roots of national cohesion before mass media, and the role of religion15:53 Core documents, slow narrative, and the dangers of centralized change17:35 Social change, the “woke era,” and decentralized storytelling18:57 Summing up: Will control of narrative actually break down meaningfully?21:15 How personal entertainment will always sidestep challenges to belief22:08 Setting up what's next: The technological future, material science, and medicine FOLLOW ANDY WEIR:Twitter/X: @andyweirauthorFacebook: Andy Weir CHECK OUT OUR SPONSORS ButcherBox: Ready to level up your meals? Go to https://ButcherBox.com/impact to get $20 off your first box and FREE bacon for life with the Bilyeu Box! Vital Proteins: Get 20% off by going to https://www.vitalproteins.com and entering promo code IMPACT at check out Netsuite: Download the CFO's Guide to AI and Machine Learning at https://NetSuite.com/THEORY iTrust Capital: Use code IMPACTGO when you sign up and fund your account to get a $100 bonus at https://www.itrustcapital.com/tombilyeu  Mint Mobile: If you like your money, Mint Mobile is for you. Shop plans at https://mintmobile.com/impact.  DISCLAIMER: Upfront payment of $45 for 3-month 5 gigabyte plan required (equivalent to $15/mo.). New customer offer for first 3 months only, then full-price plan options available. Taxes & fees extra. See MINT MOBILE for details. What's up, everybody? It's Tom Bilyeu here: If you want my help... STARTING a business: join me here at ZERO TO FOUNDER SCALING a business: see if you qualify here. Get my battle-tested strategies and insights delivered weekly to your inbox: sign up here. ********************************************************************** If you're serious about leveling up your life, I urge you to check out my new podcast, Tom Bilyeu's Mindset Playbook —a goldmine of my most impactful episodes on mindset, business, and health. Trust me, your future self will thank you. ********************************************************************** LISTEN TO IMPACT THEORY AD FREE + BONUS EPISODES on APPLE PODCASTS: apple.co/impacttheory ********************************************************************** FOLLOW TOM: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tombilyeu/ Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tombilyeu?lang=en Twitter: https://twitter.com/tombilyeu YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TomBilyeu Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 3581: Greg Audino redefines what it means to be responsible by blending real-life growth stages with mind-bending concepts from Robert Scheinfeld's Busting Loose From the Money Game. By challenging conventional thinking and viewing life as a personal video game of cause and effect, Audino makes the case for radical responsibility as a path to freedom, empowerment, and deeper self-awareness. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://medium.com/invisible-illness/life-invaders-3-return-of-responsibility-fbb9d06baa9e Quotes to ponder: "Responsibility is one of those concepts whose meaning changes drastically as life goes on." "You see, we like responsibility within reason. It feels nice to tell ourselves we're responsible. But transcending that is not what most people sign up for." "Taking deliberate responsibility for things that aren't a part of your plan gets you comfortable with the uncomfortable." Episode references: The Egg - A Short Story (YouTube): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6fcK_fRYaI The Martian by Andy Weir: https://www.amazon.com/Martian-Andy-Weir/dp/0553418025 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 3581: Greg Audino redefines what it means to be responsible by blending real-life growth stages with mind-bending concepts from Robert Scheinfeld's Busting Loose From the Money Game. By challenging conventional thinking and viewing life as a personal video game of cause and effect, Audino makes the case for radical responsibility as a path to freedom, empowerment, and deeper self-awareness. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://medium.com/invisible-illness/life-invaders-3-return-of-responsibility-fbb9d06baa9e Quotes to ponder: "Responsibility is one of those concepts whose meaning changes drastically as life goes on." "You see, we like responsibility within reason. It feels nice to tell ourselves we're responsible. But transcending that is not what most people sign up for." "Taking deliberate responsibility for things that aren't a part of your plan gets you comfortable with the uncomfortable." Episode references: The Egg - A Short Story (YouTube): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6fcK_fRYaI The Martian by Andy Weir: https://www.amazon.com/Martian-Andy-Weir/dp/0553418025 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 3581: Greg Audino redefines what it means to be responsible by blending real-life growth stages with mind-bending concepts from Robert Scheinfeld's Busting Loose From the Money Game. By challenging conventional thinking and viewing life as a personal video game of cause and effect, Audino makes the case for radical responsibility as a path to freedom, empowerment, and deeper self-awareness. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://medium.com/invisible-illness/life-invaders-3-return-of-responsibility-fbb9d06baa9e Quotes to ponder: "Responsibility is one of those concepts whose meaning changes drastically as life goes on." "You see, we like responsibility within reason. It feels nice to tell ourselves we're responsible. But transcending that is not what most people sign up for." "Taking deliberate responsibility for things that aren't a part of your plan gets you comfortable with the uncomfortable." Episode references: The Egg - A Short Story (YouTube): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6fcK_fRYaI The Martian by Andy Weir: https://www.amazon.com/Martian-Andy-Weir/dp/0553418025 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Guitarist Carlos Santana suffered a medical emergency just before going on stage. A new young billionaire, Lucy Guo of Scale AI, bumps Taylor Swift from the top spot — but what about Kylie Jenner? Plus, we're hyped for Ryan Gosling in the film adaptation of Andy Weir's ‘Project Hail Mary'. Over protein bars? Consider switching to chunks of parmesan cheese. Sarah and Vinnie square off over Bob's love, but first — 1980s trivia!

Où l'on parle de snobisme, mais aussi d'astrophysique.

Episode 263 - "Book Review: The Egg"In this mind-expanding episode, Michelle and Scott dive into Andy Weir's short story The Egg—a powerful parable that challenges our understanding of identity, connection, and consciousness. What if every person you've ever met . . . was you? What if life is just one long journey toward unity, empathy, and self-realization? They explore the emotional, philosophical, and spiritual implications of this story, from radical empathy to the illusion of separation. Whether you're drawn to metaphysics, storytelling, or just curious about what it means to be truly connected to everyone and everything, this episode invites you to reimagine your place in the universe.Keeping Your Sh*t Together in a Stressed World is a podcast hosted by Michelle Post, MA, LMFT and Scott Grossberg, JD, CLC, CCH, NLP, and is 30 minutes of raw, irreverent, and results-oriented discussion with one purpose in mind . . . to help you cope, thrive, and survive the craziness that's going on in the world.As a reminder, our “Get Your Sh*t Together” Home Retreat can be found here:http://thinkingmagically.com/retreatReplays of prior episodes can be found at:https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/scott-grossbergYou can also join our Facebook group:https://www.facebook.com/groups/keepingystMichelle Post can be reached at michelle@postinternationalinc.com http://postinternationalinc.com
Scott Grossberg can be reached at sgrossberg@hotmail.com https://www.thinkingmagically.com© ℗ 2025 Scott Grossberg & Michelle Post. All rights reserved."Easy Lemon (60 second)" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0DISCLAIMER: MICHELLE IS A THERAPIST, BUT SHE IS NOT YOUR THERAPIST. SCOTT IS A RETIRED ATTORNEY, DOES NOT PRACTICE LAW, AND DOES NOT GIVE LEGAL ADVICE. AS SUCH, SCOTT IS NOT YOUR ATTORNEY. THE INFORMATION AND DISCUSSION THAT TAKES PLACE IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT LEGAL, MEDICAL, NOR MENTAL HEALTH ADVICE. LISTENING TO THIS PODCAST DOES NOT CREATE AN ATTORNEY-CLIENT NOR THERAPIST-PATIENT RELATIONSHIP. MICHELLE AND SCOTT ARE NOT LIABLE FOR ANY LOSSES OR DAMAGES RELATED TO ACTIONS OR FAILURES TO ACT RELATED TO ANY OF THEIR PROGRAMS OR TRAINING. IF YOU NEED SPECIFIC LEGAL, MEDICAL, OR MENTAL HEALTH ADVICE OR HELP, CONSULT WITH A PROFESSIONAL WHO SPECIALIZES IN YOUR SUBJECT MATTER AND JURISDICTION. NEVER DISREGARD THE MEDICAL ADVICE OF A PSYCHOLOGIST, PHYSICIAN OR OTHER HEALTH PROFESSIONAL, OR DELAY IN SEEKING SUCH ADVICE, BECAUSE OF THE INFORMATION OFFERED OR PROVIDED WITHIN OR RELATED TO ANY OF MICHELLE'S OR SCOTT'S PROGRAMS OR TRAININGS. THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY EITHER MICHELLE OR SCOTT OR BOTH OF THEM ARE OFFERED IN THEIR INDIVIDUAL CAPACITIES, OFFERED "AS-IS" AND NO REPRESENTATIONS ARE MADE THAT THE CONTENT OF ANY VIEWS ARE ERROR-FREE.MICHELLE'S AND SCOTT'S PROGRAMS AND TRAINING ARE NOT SUITED FOR EVERYONE. THEY DO NOT ASSUME, AND SHALL NOT HAVE, ANY LIABILITY TO USERS FOR INJURY OR LOSS IN CONNECTION THEREWITH. THEY MAKE NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ANY AND ALL LIABILITY CONCERNING ANY TREATMENT OR ANY ACTION FOLLOWING THE INFORMATION OFFERED OR PROVIDED WITHIN OR THROUGH ANY PROGRAM, COACHING, CONSULTING OR STRATEGIC WORK SESSION.

Yeah, yeah. It's April Fool's Day today...technically. And yes, we've pulled our japes in the past. You're right to be on your guard. But we promise, this is just a normal episode. Ok, maybe not normal normal. It's a pretty great episode, actually! Joining Lizzy and Nate in Spielenwald's basement studio are frequent guests, Z and Rich Johnson. They've come to talk about, spoil, examine, dissect, illuminate, and swear copiously about The Martian, Andy Weir's 2011 novel and Ridley Scott's 2015 adaptation of the same name. Both versions are pretty well out of sight, and there's a lot about both to dig. Even still, when we do run into the occasional speed bump you can be certain we'll talk our way through whatever it is. We're here for the vibes. Ayyy! Erratum: as far can be determined, Andy Weir does nor or has not lived in the PNW. We'll not hold it against him. Several good people don't.

Andy Weir is having a second outer space book adapted for film, and this time it's "Project Hail Mary." This story may have one of the best sidekick characters of all time. Is it worth it for those who aren't fans of sci-fi? Video: https://youtu.be/KfgbtQmH3JE

This week, we asked listeners in our Facebook Group for categories to share our top 3 rankings! We cover (almost) everything, from food to books to pop culture and more!   Food Trader Joe's products Becca - taco seasoning; hold the cone; pastry pups Olivia (Costco remix) - Rotisserie chicken, Costco Pizza, Carbonara Buldak Ramen, Built Bars Fast food orders Becca -McDonald's (Chicken Selects), Shake Shack, Dunkin' (Sausage Egg and Cheese Wake Up Wrap) Olivia -  McDonald's (2 Cheeseburgers, extra pickles), Auntie Anne's (Pretzel Bites), Starbucks Dips Becca - Chili's salsa, Hillstone Spinach & Artichoke Dip, Spicy Feta Olivia -  Helluva Good Onion Dip, mom's spinach dip in bread bowl, Chili's ranch Plane Snacks Becca - Mini pretzels, Twizzlers, peanut butter crackers Olivia - Gardetto's, Cheez Its, Peanut M&Ms   Books: Romance Becca - The Idea of You by Robinne Lee, The Royal We by Heather Cocks & Jessica Morgan, People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry Olivia - Talking at Night by Claire Daverley, Shark Heart by Emily Habeck, Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller  Thriller Becca - Verity by Colleen Hoover, First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston, All These Beautiful Strangers by Elizabeth Klefoth Olivia - The Push by Ashley Audrain, Nightwatching by Tracy Sierra, Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn  Books that deserve the hype Becca - The People We Keep by Alison Larkin, Musical Chairs by Amy Poepell, A Sky Painted Gold by Laura Wood  Olivia - We All Want Impossible Things by Catherine Newman, Rainbow Black by Maggie Thrash, Beautyland by Marie-Helene Bertino  Books to recommend  Becca - The Idea of You by Robinne Lee, Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir, The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern Olivia - Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir, The Wedding People by Alison Espach, The Husbands by Holly Gramazio Book-to-Film adaptations Becca - Crazy Rich Asians, The Devil Wears Prada, The Summer I Turned Pretty S1 Olivia - Gone Girl, The Martian, Pride & Prejudice 2005   Pop Culture: Newsletters to receive Becca - As Seen On (Ochuko Akpovbovbo), Gossip Time by Allie Jones, Galley Brag by Ezra Kupor Olivia - The Composite by Jordan Bogeegean, Morning Person by Leslie Stephens, Literary Leanings by Michelle Martin Formative celebrity crushes Becca - Leonardo DiCaprio, Paul Walker, Joshua Jackson Olivia - Ashton Kutcher, Sean Faris, Robert Pattinson Karaoke Songs Becca - Hero by Enrique Iglesias, Never Ever by All Saints, Spice up Your Life by the Spice Girls  Olivia - Goodbye, Earl by the Chicks, 2 a.m. by Anna Nalick, How To Save a Life by The Fray TV Romance Plotlines: Becca - Olivia+Fitz+Jake love triangle in Scandal, Blair Waldorf + Chuck Bass in Gossip Girl, Connell + Marianne in Normal People Olivia - Nick+Jess on New Girl, Emma+Dexter in One Day, Priest+Fleabag in Fleabag Reality TV Shows: Becca - RHONY, NYC Prep, Laguna Beach Olivia - RHOSLC, RHOOC, Below Deck   Misc Things to do when you need a reset Becca - Take a walk, go to bed early and don't set an alarm, journal Olivia - Let my phone die, take a shower, journal Candle scents Becca - The New Savant Summer Splendor, Brooklyn Candle Company Apple Cider, Hotel Lobby Candle Signature Olivia - Anything that doesn't smell like cologne Late 90s/early 00s beauty products Becca - Hard Candy lip gloss, Stila Kitten Sparkle Powder, Clinique Black Honey Olivia - Dream Matte Mousse, Lancome Juicy Tube, Clearasil Face Pads   Obsessions Becca - Paradise on Hulu Olivia - Gap Barrell Overalls   This Month's Book Club Pick - Deep Cuts by Holly Brickley (have thoughts about this book you want to share? Call in at 843-405-3157 or email us a voice memo at badonpaperpodcast@gmail.com)   Sponsors Quince - Go to Quince.com/bop for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Wayfair - Give your home the refresh it needs at Wayfair.com   Join our Facebook group for amazing book recs & more!  Buy our Merch! Join our Geneva! Order Olivia's Book, Such a Bad Influence! Subscribe to Olivia's Newsletter! Order Becca's Book, The Christmas Orphans Club! Subscribe to Becca's Newsletter!  Follow us on Instagram @badonpaperpodcast. Follow Olivia on Instagram @oliviamuenter and Becca @beccamfreeman.  

In this episode, Jamey and his guest Marc Wallace discuss Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir. Project Hail Mary is a science fiction novel that follows the journey of Ryland Grace, a lone scientist who wakes up in a spaceship with no memory of how he got there. His memory gradually returns and he realizes that he's on a suicide mission to save life on earth. Marc goes above and beyond and brings three drinks to the discussion.For videos and more episodes visit, https://onedrinkbookclub.com/

On this episode of Currently Reading, Kaytee and Meredith are discussing: Bookish Moments: Kindle samples and getting new indie bookstores Current Reads: all the great, interesting, and/or terrible stuff we've been reading lately Deep Dive: six star books to which we will take no criticism from anyone The Fountain: we visit our perfect fountain to make wishes about our reading lives Show notes are time-stamped below for your convenience. Read the transcript of the episode (this link only works on the main site) .  .  .  .  1:01 - Ad For Ourselves 1:18 - Currently Reading Patreon 1:34 - An Unlikely Story 2:35 - @anunlikelystory on Instagram 3:37 - Our Bookish Moments Of The Week 6:48 - Literally, A Bookshop 7:54 - @Literallybookshop on Instagram 8:52 - Our Current Reads 9:23 - The Seven Sisters by Lucinda Riley (Meredith) 16:32 - All the Right Notes by Dominic Lim (Kaytee) 16:40 - Tucson Festival of Books 2025 19:52 - Arsenic and Adobo by Mia P. Manasala 20:13 - This Savage Song by Victoria Schwab (Meredith) 21:47 - A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab 23:20 - The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab 23:49 - They Came for the Schools by Mike Hixenbaugh (Kaytee) 24:11 - Southlake Podcast 27:46 - Past Crimes by Jason Pinter (Meredith) 29:44 - Ready Player One by Ernest Cline 31:06 - Recursion by Blake Crouch 31:40 - The Swifts: A Gallery of Rogues by Beth Lincoln (Kaytee) 31:49 - The Swifts: A Dictionary of Scoundrels by Beth Lincoln 35:11 - Our Six Star Reads 36:08 - The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell 37:29 - The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas 37:33 - A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles 40:17 - Happy Place by Emily Henry 42:32 - The Home-Maker by Dorothy Canfield Fisher 42:37 - The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow 42:38 - In This House of Brede by Rumer Godden 42:41 - The Stand by Stephen King 42:43 - The Shell Seekers by Rosamunde Pilcher 42:44 - A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer 44:44 - All the Lonely People by Mike Gayle 45:00 - This Is How It Always Is by Laurie Frankel 45:09 - Castle of Water by Dane Huckelbridge 45:13 - Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir 45:14 - Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson 45:17 - Babel by R.F. Kuang 45:38 - Lobizona by Romina Garber Russell 45:43 - Cazadora by Romina Garber Russell 49:14 - The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman 49:49 - The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller 51:22 - Meet Us At The Fountain 51:43 - Sarah's Bookshelves Live 51:53 - I want everyone to listen to episode 188 of Sarah's Bookshelves Live if you enjoy fantasy reading. (Meredith) 51:54 - Sarah's Bookshelves Live episode 188 53:09 - I wish for a book aggregator that would house all book covers of all books so we could compare easily and find the ones we want to purchase quickly without having to browse multiple sites. (Kaytee) 54:09 - Greenwood by Michael Christie Support Us: Become a Bookish Friend | Grab Some Merch Shop Bookshop dot org | Shop Amazon Bookish Friends Receive: The Indie Press List with a curated list of five books hand sold by the indie of the month. March's IPL comes to you from our tried and true partner, An Unlikely Story in Plainville, MA. Love and Chili Peppers with Kaytee and Rebekah - romance lovers get their due with this special episode focused entirely on the best selling genre fiction in the business.  All Things Murderful with Meredith and Elizabeth - special content for the scary-lovers, brought to you with the behind-the-scenes insights of an independent bookseller From the Editor's Desk with Kaytee and Bunmi Ishola - a quarterly peek behind the curtain at the publishing industry The Bookish Friends Facebook Group - where you can build community with bookish friends from around the globe as well as our hosts Connect With Us: The Show: Instagram | Website | Email | Threads The Hosts and Regulars: Meredith | Kaytee | Mary | Roxanna Production and Editing: Megan Phouthavong Evans Affiliate Disclosure: All affiliate links go to Bookshop unless otherwise noted. Shopping here helps keep the lights on and benefits indie bookstores. Thanks for your support!

In this week's episode, we continue our discuss about how seeking prestige can be dangerous for writers, specifically in the form of traditional publishing and the New York Times Bestseller list. This coupon code will get you 50% off the audiobook of Dragonskull: Shield of the Knight, Book #2 in the Dragonskull series (as excellently narrated by Brad Wills), at my Payhip store: DRAGONSHIELD50 The coupon code is valid through March 21, 2025. So if you need a new audiobook for spring, we've got you covered! TRANSCRIPT 00:00:00   Hello, everyone. Welcome to Episode 241 of The Pulp Writer Show. My name is Jonathan Moeller. Today is February 28th, 2025. Today we are continuing our discussion of how to escape the trap of prestige for writers, specifically traditional publishing and The New York Times Bestseller List. Before we get to our main topic, we will do Coupon of the Week, an update on my current writing and audiobook projects, and then Question of the Week.   This week's coupon code will get you 50% off the audiobook of Dragonskull: Shield of the Knight, Book Two in the Dragonskull series (as excellently narrated by Brad Wills), at my Payhip store. That coupon code is DRAGONSHIELD50. As always, I'll include the coupon code and the link to the store in the show notes. This coupon code is valid through March 21st, 2025. So if you need a new audiobook as we start to head into the spring months, we have got you covered. Now an update on my current writing projects. I'm pleased to report I am done with the rough draft of Ghost in the Assembly. I came in at 106,000 words, so it'll definitely be over a hundred thousand words when it's done. I'm about 20% of the way through the first round of edits, so I am confident in saying that if all goes well and nothing unexpected happens, I am on track to have it out in March. I am also 10,000 words into Shield of Battle, which will be the fifth of six books in the Shield War series and I'm hoping to have that out in April, if all goes well.   In audiobook news, recording for both Cloak of Dragonfire and Orc-Hoard is done. I'm just waiting for them to get through the processing on the various stores so they're available. There is also an audiobook edition of Half Elven Thief Omnibus One and Cloak Mage Omnibus Three that hopefully should be coming in March. More news with that to come.   00:01:55 Question of the Week   Now let's move on to Question of the Week. Question of the Week is intended to inspire interesting discussions of enjoyable topics. This week's question: what is your favorite subgenre of fantasy, high fantasy, epic fantasy, sword and sorcery, historical fantasy, urban fantasy, LitRPG, cultivation, or something else? No wrong answers, obviously.   Cindy says: Epic fantasy or those with a good history for that world. The Ghost Series are fantastic at this.   Thanks, Cindy.   Justin says: I enjoy all those sub-genres, if they are done well. In times past I would've said comic fantasy, but that is because Terry Pratchett at his best was just that good.   Mary says: High fantasy.   Surabhi says: I'd honestly read anything fantasy that's written well and has characters I'm attached to, given that it's not too gritty. Bonus points if there's humor! Also, I love your books so much and they're the perfect blend of fantasy, adventure, and characters. Your books were what really got me into Sword and Sorcery.   Thanks, Surabhi.     Matthew says: See, that's difficult. I love my sabers, both light and metal. I would say urban fantasy crosses the boundary the most. If it's a captivating story, it will be read.   John F says: I can't choose one- Lord of the Rings or LWW, The Inheritance Cycle, The Dresden Files, Caina, Ridmark, or Nadia. I think what draws me is great characters who grow. The setting/genre is just the device. That's why I keep coming back to your books. You create great characters.   Thanks, John F.   John K says: I think I'm partial to historical fantasy. I enjoy all genres, but when I think of my favorites, they tend to be derivations of historical settings. Think Guy Gavriel Kay or Miles Cameron. That said, I was weaned on Robert E. Howard, Fritz Lieber, Michael Moorcock, Karl Edward Wagner, Jack Vance, so a strong sword and sorcery second place.   Juana says: High fantasy. Belgariad, Tolkien, dragons, et cetera.   Jonathan says: Sword and sorcery in space! Prehistoric sword and sorcery, sword and sorcery always.   Quint: says Sword and sorcery!   Michael says: Sword and sorcery.   For myself, I think I would agree with our last couple of commenters and it would be sword and sorcery. My ideal fantasy novel has a barbarian hero wandering from corrupt city state to corrupt city state messing up the business of some evil wizards. I'm also very fond of what's called generic fantasy (if a fighter, a dwarf, an elf, and a wizard are going into a dungeon and fighting some orcs, I'm happy).   00:04:18 Main Topic of the Week: Escaping the Prestige Trap, Part 2   Now onto our main topic for the week, Escaping the Prestige Trap, Part 2, and we'll focus on traditional publishing and the New York Times Bestseller List this week. As we talked about last week, much of the idea of success, especially in the United States, is based on hitting certain milestones in a specific order. In the writing world, these measures of success have until fairly recently been getting an MFA, finding an agent, getting traditionally published, and hitting The New York Times Bestseller List. Last week we talked about the risks of an MFA and an agent. This week, we are going to talk about two more of those writing markers of prestige, getting traditionally published and having a book land on The New York Times Bestseller List. Why are they no longer as important? What should you devote your energy and focus to instead?   So let's start with looking at getting traditionally published. Most writers have dreamed of seeing their book for sale and traditional publishing for a long time has been the only route to this path. Until about 15 years ago, traditional publishing was the way that a majority of authors made their living. Now that big name authors like Hugh Howie, Andy Weir, and Colleen Hoover have had success starting as self-published authors (or in the case of authors Sarah J. Maas and Ali Hazelwood, fan fiction authors) and then are getting traditional publishing deals made for them for their self-published works. It's proof that self-publishing is no longer a sign that the author isn't good enough to be published traditionally. Previous to the rise of the Kindle, that was a common belief that if you were self-published, it was because you were not good enough to get traditionally published. That was sort of this pernicious belief that traditional publishing was a meritocracy, when in fact it tended to be based on who you knew. But that was all 15 years ago and now we are well into the age of self-publishing. Why do authors still want to be traditionally published when in my frank opinion, self-publishing is the better path? Well, I think there are three main reasons for that.   One of the main reasons is that the authors say they want to be traditionally published is to have someone else handle the marketing and the advertising. They don't realize how meager marketing budgets and staffing support are, especially for unknown authors. Many traditionally published authors are handling large portions of their own marketing and hiring publicists out of their own pocket because publishers are spending much less on marketing. The new reality is that traditional publishers aren't going to do much for you as a debut author unless you are already a public figure.   Even traditionally published authors are not exempt from having to do their own marketing now. James Patterson set up an entire company himself to handle his marketing. Though, to be fair to James Patterson, his background was in advertising before he came into publishing, so he wasn't exactly a neophyte in the field, but you see more and more traditionally published authors who you think would be successful just discontented with the system and starting to dabble in self-publishing or looking at alternative publishers like Aethon Books and different arrangements of publishing because the traditional system is just so bad for writers. The second main reason authors want to be traditionally published is that they want to avoid the financial burden of publishing. This is an outdated way of thinking. The barrier to publishing these days is not so much financial as it is knowledge. In fact, I published a book entirely using free open source software in 2017 just to prove that it could be done. It was Silent Order: Eclipse Hand, the fourth book in my science fiction series. I wrote it on Ubuntu using Libre Office and I edited it in Libre Office and I did the formatting on Ubuntu and I did the cover in the GIMP, which is a free and open source image editing program. This was all using free software and I didn't have to pay for the program. Obviously I had to pay for the computer I was using and the Internet connection, but in the modern era, having an internet connection is in many ways almost a requirement, so that's the cost you would be paying anyway.   The idea that you must spend tens of thousands of dollars in formatting, editing, cover, and marketing comes from scammy self-publishing services. Self-publishing, much like traditional publishing, has more than its fair share of scams or from people who aren't willing to take the time to learn these skills and just want to cut someone a check to solve the problem. There are many low cost and effective ways to learn these skills and resources designed specifically for authors. People like Joanna Penn have free videos online explaining how to do this, and as I've said, a lot of the software you can use to self-publish is either free or low cost, and you can get some very good programs like Atticus or Vellum or Jutoh for formatting eBooks for very low cost.   The third reason that writers want to be traditionally published is that many believe they will get paid more this way, which is, unless you are in the top 1% of traditionally published authors, very wrong. Every so often, there's a study bemoaning the fact that most publishers will only sell about $600 worth of any individual book, and that is true of a large percentage of traditionally published books. Traditional publishers typically pay a lump sum called advance, and then royalties based on sales. An average advance is about the same as two or three months of salary from an office job and so not a reflection of the amount of time it typically takes most authors to finish a book. Most books do not earn out their advance, which means the advance is likely to be the only money the author receives for the book. Even well-known traditionally published authors are not earning enough to support themselves as full-time authors. So as you can see, all three of these reasons are putting a lot of faith in traditional publishers, faith that seems increasingly unnecessary or downright misplaced. I think it is very healthy to get rid of the idea that good writing comes from traditional publishers and that the prestige of being traditionally published is the only way you'll be accepted as a writer or be able to earn a living as a full-time writer. I strongly recommend that people stop thinking that marketing is beneath you as an author or too difficult to learn. Whether you are indie or tradpub, you are producing a product that you want to sell, thus you are a businessperson. The idea that only indie authors have to sell their work is outdated. The sooner you accept this reality, the more options you will have. Self-publishing and indie publishing are admittedly more work. However, the benefits are significant. Here are five benefits of self-publishing versus traditional publishing.   The first advantage of self-publishing is you have complete creative control. You decide what the content of your book will be; you decide what the cover will be. If you don't want to make the covers yourself or you don't want to learn how to do that, you can very affordably hire someone to do it for you and they will make the cover exactly to your specifications. You also have more freedom to experiment with cross-genre books. As I've mentioned before, publishers really aren't a fan of cross genre books until they make a ton of money, like the new romantasy trend.   Traditional publishing is very trend driven and cautious. Back in the 2000s before I gave up on traditional publishing and discovered self-publishing, I would submit to agents a lot. Agents all had these guidelines for fantasy saying that they didn't want to see stories with elves and orcs and dwarves and other traditional fantasy creatures because they thought that was passe. Well, when I started self-publishing, I thought I'm going to write a traditional fantasy series with elves and orcs and dwarves and other traditional fantasy creatures just because I can and Frostborn has been my bestselling series of all time in the time I've been self-publishing, so you can see the advantages of having creative control.   The second advantage is you can control the marketing. Tradpub authors often sign a contract that they'll get their social media and website content approved by the publisher before posting. They may even be given boilerplate or pre-written things to post. In self-publishing, you have real time data to help you make decisions and adjust ads and overall strategy on the fly to maximize revenue. For example, if one of your books is selling strangely well on Google Play, it's time to adjust BookBub ads to focus on that platform instead of Amazon.   You can also easily change your cover, your blurb, and so forth after release. I've changed covers of some of my books many times trying to optimize them for increased sales and that is nearly impossible to do with traditional publishing. And in fact, Brandon Sanderson gave a recent interview where he talked about how the original cover of his Mistborn book was so unrelated to the content of the book that it almost sunk the book and hence his career.   You also have the ability to run ad campaigns as you see fit, not just an initial launch like tradpub does. For example, in February 2025, I've been heavily advertising my Demonsouled series even though I finished writing that series back in 2013, but I've been able to increase sales and derive a significant profit from those ads.   A third big advantage is that you get a far greater share of the profits. Most of the stores, if you price an ebook between $2.99 (prices are USD) and $9.99, you will get 70% of the sale price, which means if you sell an ebook for $4.99, you're probably going to get about $3.50 per sale (depending on currency fluctuations and so forth). That is vastly more than you would get from any publishing contract.   You also don't have to worry about the publisher trying to cheat you out of royalties. We talked about an agency stealing money last episode. Every platform you publish your book on, whether Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Kobo, Google Play, Smashwords and Apple will give you a monthly spreadsheet of your sales and then you can look at it for yourself, see exactly how many books you sold and exactly how much money you're going to get. I have only very rarely seen traditional publishing royalty statements that are as clear and have as much data in them as a spreadsheet from Google Play or Amazon. A fourth advantage is you don't have to worry about publishers abandoning you mid-series. In traditional publishing, there is what's called the Publishing Death Spiral where let's say an author is contracted to write a series of five books. The author writes the first book and it sells well. Then the author publishes the second book and it doesn't sell quite as well, but the publisher is annoyed enough by the decrease in sales that they drop the writer entirely and don't finish the series. This happens quite a bit in the traditional publishing world, and you don't have to worry about that in indie publishing because you can just publish as often as you want. If you're not happy with the sales of the first few books in the series, you can change the covers, try ad campaigns, and other strategies.   Finally, you can publish as often as you want and when you want. In traditional publishing, there is often a rule of thumb that an author should only publish one book a year under their name. Considering that last year I published 10 books under my name, that seems somewhat ridiculous, but that's a function of the fact that traditional publishing has only so much capacity and the pieces of the machine involved there are slow and not very responsive. Whereas with self-publishing, you have much more freedom and everything involved with it is much more responsive. There's no artificial deadlines, so you can take as long as you want to prepare it and if the book is ready, you don't have to wait a year to put it out because it would mess up the publisher's schedule.   So what to do instead of chasing traditional publishing? Learn about self-publishing, especially about scams and bad deals related to it. Publish your own works by a platform such as KDP, Barnes and Noble Press, Kobo Writing Life, Apple Books, Google Play, Smashwords, and possibly your own Payhip and/or Shopify store.   Conquer your fear of marketing and advertising. Even traditionally published authors are shouldering more of this work and paying out of their own pocket to hire someone to do it, and if you are paying your own marketing costs, you might as well self-publish and keep a greater share of the profits. The second half of our main topic, another potential risk of prestige, is getting on The New York Times Bestseller List. I should note that I suppose someone could accuse me of sour grapes here saying, oh, Jonathan Moeller, you've never been on The New York Times Bestseller List. You must just be bitter about it. That is not true. I do not want to be on The New York Times Bestseller List. What I would like to be is a number one Amazon bestseller. Admittedly though, that's unlikely, but a number one Amazon bestseller would make a lot more money than a number one New York Times Bestseller List, though because of the way it works, if you are a number one Amazon bestseller, you might be a New York Times Bestseller, but you might not. Let's get into that now.   Many writers have the dream of seeing their name on the New York Times Bestseller List. One self-help guru wrote about “manifesting” this milestone for herself by writing out the words “My book is number one on The New York Times Bestseller List” every day until it happened. Such is the mystique of this milestone that many authors crave it as a necessity. However, this list has seen challenges to its prestige in recent years. The one thing that shocks most people when they dig into the topic is that the list is not an objective list based on the raw number of books sold. The list is “editorial content” and The New York Times can exclude, include, or rank the books on the list however they choose.   What it does not capture is perennial sellers or classics. For example, the Bible and the Quran are obviously some of the bestselling books of all time, but you won't see editions of the Bible or the Quran on the New York Times Bestseller List. Textbooks and classroom materials, I guarantee there are some textbooks that are standards in their field that would be on the bestseller list every year, but they're not because The New York Times doesn't track them. Ebooks available only from a single vendor such as Kindle Unlimited books, ebook sales from not reporting vendors such as Shopify or Payhip. Reference Works including test prep guides (because I guarantee when test season comes around the ACT and SAT prep guides or the GRE prep guides sell a lot of copies) and coloring books or puzzle books.  It would be quite a blow to the authors on the list to realize that if these excluded works were included on the list, they would in all likelihood be consistently below To Kill a Mockingbird, SAT prep books, citation manuals, Bibles/other religious works, and coloring books about The Eras Tour.   Publishers, political figures, religious groups, and anyone with enough money can buy their way into the rank by purchasing their books in enormous quantities. In fact, it's widely acknowledged in the United States that this is essentially a legal form of bribery and a bit of money laundering too, where a publisher will give a truly enormous advance to a public figure or politician that they like, and that advance will essentially be a payment to that public figure in the totally legal form of an enormous book advance that isn't going to pay out. Because this is happening with such frequency, The New York Times gave into the pressure to acknowledge titles suspected of this strategy with a special mark next to it on the list. However, these books remain on the list and can still be called a New York Times Bestseller.   Since the list is not an objective marker of sales and certainly not some guarantee of quality, why focus on making it there? I think trying to get your book on The New York Times Bestseller List would be an enormous waste of time, since the list is fundamentally an artificial construction that doesn't reflect sales reality very well.   So what can you do instead? Focus on raw sales numbers and revenue, not lists. Even Amazon's bestseller category lists have a certain amount of non-quantitative factors. In the indie author community, there's a saying called Bank not Rank, which means you should focus on how much revenue your books are actually generating instead of whatever sales rank they are on whatever platform. I think that's a wiser approach to focus your efforts.   You can use lists like those from Publishers Weekly instead if you're interested in what's selling or trends in the industry, although that too can be manipulated and these use only a fairly small subset of data that favors retail booksellers, but it's still more objective in measuring than The New York Times.   I suppose in the end, you should try and focus on ebook and writing activities that'll bring you actual revenue or satisfaction rather than chasing the hollow prestige of things like traditional publishing, agents, MFAs, and The New York Times Bestseller List.   So that is it for this week. Thank you for listening to The Pulp Writer Show. I hope you found the show useful. A reminder that you can listen to all back episodes at https://thepulpwritershow.com. If you enjoyed the podcast, please leave a review on your podcasting platform of choice. Stay safe and stay healthy and see you all next week.

​​Welcome to You Haven't Blanked That! It's Modern Fairy Tales month. We watched A.I. Artificial Intelligence. We talk about Spielberg finishing the movie for Stanley Kubrick, the ending make sense, robot love, imprinting, Martin is an asshole, robostroke, Ministry, Haddonfield, Indiana Jones 4 and 5, Pinocchio movies, Haley Joel Osment, Sixth Sense, Jackass, Kubrick's career path, A Clockwork Orange (book), Ready Player One, Who Would Corey Feldman play? What We Are Blanking: Juror #2, Hail Mary by Andy Weir, The Traitors, Clear Cut, Marvel Rivals, Shrinking, Grifter's Game, Jurassic Park (book), Wake Up And Open Your Eyes, ​​Opening theme by the Assassins ​​Closing theme by Lucas Perea ​​ For more info, click the link bio or below. https://linktr.ee/yhblankthat Email: Yhblankthat@gmail.com

Az űrutazás első ötletétől az utolsó esélyt jelentő misszióigAndy Weir harmadik kötetével foglalkozik a Kello Könyvkultúra Magazin podcast-sorozatának új epizódja. Müllner Nándor kutúrakutató és Rácz András, a magazin főszerkesztője persze nem csak a regényről beszélget, sőt – a spoilerezés elkerülése érdekében –, arról a legkevesebbet. Szóba kerül viszont a scifi-irodalom születése, Andy Weir két korábbi regénye, A marsi – Mentőexpedíció és az Artemis, a gimnáziumi tanárok és a tudományos karrier viszonya, valamint a megvalósulással fenyegető disztópiákhoz, illetve a megvalósulás lehetőségével kecsegtető utópiákhoz sok (vagy akár minden) esetben kapcsolódó totális uralom kérdése is. De azért a legfontosabb kérdések A Hail Mary küldetésről is kiderülnek: kellően tudományos és szórakoztatóan fantasztikus, jó dramaturgiával építkező, izgalmasan kibontott cselekményt kínál, okos kérdéseket vet föl, magával ragadó, olvasmányos, fordulatos, sőt már-már letehetetlen… Egyszóval minden-scifi-kedvelő, kalandkereső, gondolkodni vágyó olvasónak jó szívvel ajánlja Andy Weir harmadik könyvét a SAPERE AUDE PODCAST.

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan and Star Trek III: The Search for Spock are built around one key piece of technology which may or may not have real world implications.“KHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAN!!!!!”Admiral James Tiberius Kirk, 2285There are countless reasons why fans love Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. Up until that point, it was the most action-packed installment of Star Trek ever put on screen, so that certainly has something to do with it. William Shatner delivers an all-time great career performance in this one as Admiral James T. Kirk, full of downright Shakespearean drama with his old enemy, the diabolical Khan Noonien Singh. It's got at least one of the most memorable, shocking, and poignant moments in franchise history. Or maybe it's just Ricardo Montalban's magnificent chest. Who's to say?But possibly lost amidst all that magnificence is the fact that The Wrath of Khan is built around a truly great piece of science fiction with the Genesis Device. A project designed to help Starfleet terraform barren worlds is also potentially the ultimate weapon in the galaxy, given that in creating new life it first has to wipe out anything else that's there. Of course the wrong people want to get their grubby mitts on it!In this episode we're diving into just what it would take to truly terraform an alien world, and whether the Genesis Device follows its own rules in the Star Trek universe. Check out the latest episode of Does it Fly? right here…SUGGESTED VIEWING Star Trek II: The Wrath of KhanYou mean to tell us you're watching or listening to a Roddenberry podcast and you somehow haven't seen Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan? We sure hope you watched it before this episode spoiled the absolute hell out of it for you! But in all seriousness, there's a reason this is the most critically acclaimed and beloved Star Trek movie of all time and why we chose it for this week's topic. Star Trek III: The Search for SpockBut also, you can't watch The Wrath of Khan (or get a full picture of the scope of the Genesis Device's implications) without also watching Star Trek III: The Search for Spock. Forget that even number/odd number nonsense about the Star Trek movies, this one is just as essential!Star Trek: The Original Series Season 1 Episode 22 “Space Seed”And just in case you've never done this, we also highly recommend “Space Seed” which first introduced Ricardo Montalban as Khan Noonien Singh. It doesn't have anything to do with terraforming in space, but it's a classic bit of Star Trek lore, nonetheless!The Evolution of Planet EarthWant a real life taste of what the Genesis Device does…except over the course of millions/billions of years instead of minutes/hours? This video is pretty cool.FURTHER READING Do you want to delve a little deeper into the facts, concepts, and stories Hakeem and Tamara referenced in today's episode? Of course you do! TerraformingWhile still primarily a science fiction concept, the idea of using terraforming to make a planet or moon into something that can support life as we know it is gaining considerable steam as we look to our nearest neighbor, Mars. See also: Bionengineering“Is there life on…Venus?”Wait, that's not how the song goes! But the key here is that while Mars gets all the attention as the planet in our solar system with the most potential to support life, there's also a chance that Venus could, as well. Key to that is the presence of phosphine in the atmosphere, which scientists have gone back and forth on, but recently found new evidence that it may be present.“PIXAAAAAAR!”Read more about that funny connection between a beloved animation studio and these beloved Trek movies here.“Colonized by earth bacteria”It doesn't take long, just to give you an idea of how quickly “life finds a way.”The Mars TrilogyTamara brings up Kim Stanley Robinson's acclaimed trilogy about terraforming our nearest planetary neighbor, Red Mars, Green Mars, and Blue Mars. There's also the follow-up The Martians which is a collection of short stories that expands this universe further.Project Hail MaryAnother Tamara recommendation this week is the Hugo Award-nominated Project Hail Mary from sci-fi author Andy Weir. You might also recognize Weir's name as the author of The Martian, which was adapted into a beloved film from director Ridley Scott and starring Matt Damon.The Wrath of Khan: The Novel!Even if you've seen Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan dozens of times, Vonda N. McIntyre's superb novelization of the film is full of surprises that will enrich your understanding of the story and your love of Trek in general. For extra credit, follow it up with her equally great (possibly better than the film it's based on!) novelization of Star Trek III: The Search for Spock!WANT MORE FROM DOES IT FLY?Go back to the very beginning with the first ever episode of Does it Fly? which tackled another iconic Star Trek concept: the transporter. Watch it right here!We're not particularly big on the whole Star Trek vs. Star Wars debate around these parts, so for those folks who love ‘em both, check out our episode on lightsabers right here!FOLLOW US!Stay in the loop! Follow DoesItFly? on YouTube and TikTok and let us know what you think! And don't forget to follow Roddenberry Entertainment:Instagram: @RoddenberryOfficial Facebook: RoddenberryBlueky: @Roddenberry  For Advertising Inquiries: doesitfly@roddenberry.comCheck out the official Does it Fly? playlist, too!

Well it is official, this is the most hyped book I have ever listened to. But does Project Hail Mary, by Andy Weir, narrated by Ray Porter live up to all that hype? Stay tuned to find out! Support us: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/kotplpod Join us: https://www.facebook.com/KnightOfThePagelessLibrary/ Critisize us: kotpl.pod@gmail.com

 This week we are diving into our favorite books of 2024! Throughout the episode we share why these books really hit home for us, and why a few might be complete surprises to anyone that knows our usual tastes. There are some classics on the list that you may already know of, but if you are looking for good recommendations to start the new year off with some amazing reads, then this is the episode for you!  Check below for the links to the books mentioned!  --------------------------------- https://theheartuniversity.com/imposter --------------------------------- “PODCAST10” for 10% off anything from The Shop! www.theheartuniversity.com/shop --------------------------------- Primally Pure https://primallypure.com/?rfsn=5649435.725fd3 Use HEARTANDHUSTLE for 10% OFF. --------------------------------- Check Out The Books Mentioned In The Episode: Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis: https://amzn.to/4ft8Obu All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriot: https://amzn.to/41PwAv5 Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez: https://amzn.to/407HOcY Project Hail Mary (Audiobook version specifically) by Andy Weir: https://amzn.to/4gSzDXL Little Women by Louisa May Alcott: https://amzn.to/4gQTTJ6 Evidence Not Seen by Darlene Deibler Rose: https://amzn.to/4iTbeD2 Powerless by Lauren Roberts: https://amzn.to/3DpG3is Glory on Your House by Jack Hayford: https://amzn.to/4iO27Ud Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiwosaki: https://amzn.to/3Dr0XOq The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom: https://amzn.to/49STALG --------------------------------- Watch on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@theheartuniversitychannel?si=33lzxpBA9UxKlgTE --------------------------------- If you want to connect with us and other listeners in the Heart and Hustle community join our Facebook group here. --------------------------------- Follow along: www.instagram.com/mrslindseyroman www.instagram.com/evierupp www.instagram.com/theheartuniversity  

The brothers discuss Star Wars Episode VII The Force Awakens. Drew absolutely loves this movie, Eric likes it, and Jason was unimpressed. Along the way they discuss Burton Cummings from the Guess Who and Eric Van Lustbader's treachery to Robert Ludlum.   Housekeeping begins at 1:00:25 during which they discuss Rian Johnson, Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir, House of Leaves by Mark Z Danielewski, Will and Harper, and VR Batman.   File length 1:14:14 File Size 52.6 MB   Theme by Jul Big Green via SongFinch Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts Listen to us on Stitcher Like us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Send your comments to show@notinacreepyway.com Visit the show website at Not In A Creepy Way

Meaning of life

We wrap up our thoughts on A Night in the Lonesome October by Roger Zelazny. Tom lays down some very obscure hints about the next pick. And why we're glad Andy Weir got fired.

2:00 - Our Bookish Moments of the Week 2:26 - @thewilltoread on Instagram 3:55 - Currently Reading Zazzle store 3:58 - Scary Books Are My Jam mug 5:47 - Our Current Reads 6:03 - The Blueprint by Rae Giana Rasha (Bill) 7:30 - Chain Gang All Stars by Nana Kwame Adjeh-Brenyah 8:03 - Nightcrawling by Leila Mottley 8:05 - Legendborn by Tracy Deonn 9:31 - The Road by Cormac McCarthy 11:57 - The Witch of Wild Things by Raquel Vasquez Gilliland (Meredith) 13:26 - The Novel Neighbor 15:30 - The Girls from Corona Del Mar by Rufi Thorpe (Bill, amazon link)) 16:55 - Margot's Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe 18:38 - The Knockout Queen by Rufi Thorpe 19:20 - First Contact by Kim Harrison (Meredith, amazon link) 23:00 - Contact by Carl Sagan 23:59 - The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox by Maggie O'Farrell (Bill) 27:32 - Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell 27:36 - The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O'Farrell 28:20 - Instructions for a Heat Wave by Maggie O'Farrell 29:22 - The Safekeep by Yael Van Der Wouden (Meredith) 30:33 - Booker Longlist 2024 30:59 - Booth by Karen Joy Fowler 33:13 - Burial Rites by Hannah Kent 33:15 - Our Hideous Progeny by C.E. McGill 33:17 - Clytemnestra by Costanza Casati 34:32 - Deep Dive: Bill's Reading Life 35:42 - Currently Reading Patreon 36:18 - Ms. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh by Robert C. O'Brien 36:30 - A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L'engle 38:48 - Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra and John Rutherford (translator) 38:48 - The Shining by Stephen King 39:56 - The Amityville Horror by Jay Anson 41:17 - Born a Crime by Trevor Noah 41:20 - The Storyteller by Dave Grohl 41:26 - Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir 41:38 - @bookishbetsie on Instagram 47:18 - Dune by Frank Herbert 48:08 - The Road by Cormac McCarthy 48:44 - Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger 49:11 - Eye of the World by Robert Jordan 49:41 - Meet Us At The Fountain 49:47 - I wish you'd go into a book blind more often. (Bill) 50:18 I wish that more men would read out loud and find bookish community. (Meredith) Support Us: Become a Bookish Friend | Grab Some Merch Shop Bookshop dot org | Shop Amazon Bookish Friends Receive: The Indie Press List with a curated list of five books hand sold by the indie of the month. September's IPL comes to us from Bright Side Bookshop in Flagstaff, Arizona! Love and Chili Peppers with Kaytee and Rebekah - romance lovers get their due with this special episode focused entirely on the best selling genre fiction in the business.  All Things Murderful with Meredith and Elizabeth - special content for the scary-lovers, brought to you with the behind-the-scenes insights of an independent bookseller From the Editor's Desk with Kaytee and Bunmi Ishola - a quarterly peek behind the curtain at the publishing industry The Bookish Friends Facebook Group - where you can build community with bookish friends from around the globe as well as our hosts Connect With Us: The Show: Instagram | Website | Email | Threads The Hosts and Regulars: Meredith | Kaytee | Mary | Roxanna Production and Editing: Megan Phouthavong Evans Affiliate Disclosure: All affiliate links go to Bookshop unless otherwise noted. Shopping here helps keep the lights on and benefits indie bookstores. Thanks for your support!

On this episode of Currently Reading, Meredith and Kaytee are discussing: Bookish Moments: utilizing AI and getting back into the library swing of things Current Reads: all the great, interesting, and/or terrible stuff we've been reading lately Deep Dive: our most huggable books The Fountain: we visit our perfect fountain to make wishes about our reading lives Show notes are time-stamped below for your convenience. Read the transcript of the episode (this link only works on the main site) .  .  .  .  .  1:29 - Our Bookish Moments of the Week 4:01 - Lake Travis Community Library 5:52 - Life After Life by Kate Atkinson 7:01 - Our Current Reads 7:22 - The Surviving Sky by Kritika H. Rao (Kaytee) 7:35 - The King's English Bookshop 9:28 - The Change by Kirsten Miller 10:21 - The Unrelenting Earth by Kritika H. Rao 11:15 - The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan (Meredith) 13:00 - @thewilltoread on Instagram 15:54 - The Stand by Stephen King 17:13 - Bite by Bite by Aimee Nezhukumatathil (Kaytee) 19:14 - World of Wonders by Aimee Nezhukamatathil 21:25 - The Last Time I Lied by Riley Sager (Meredith) 22:35 - Final Girls by Riley Sager 24:37 - Currently Reading Patreon 25:22 - Faebound by Saara El-Arifi (Kaytee) 25:32 - The Other Boleyn Girl by Phillipa Gregory 29:16 - Fairyloot 31:26 - We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer (Meredith) 35:31 - @booktalketc on Instagram 35:32 - Book Talk, Etc podcast 37:32 - Deep Dive: Our Most Huggable Books 38:28 - All The Only People by Mike Gayle 38:29 - A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman 38:30 - The Storied Life of AJ Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin 39:12 - Sipsworth by Simon Van Booey 39:25 - The Shell Seekers by Rosamunde Pilcher 39:51 - The War that Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley 40:05 - The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate 40:36 - The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise by Dan Gemeinhart 40:38 - Charlotte's Web by E.B White 41:18 - The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan 41:28 - The Eighth Life by Nino Haratischvili 41:53 - Babel by R.F. Kuang 42:35 - A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara 42:29 - Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell 42:56 - A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles 43:28 - Echo by Pam Munoz Ryan 43:56 - Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir 44:14 - Lily and the Octopus by Steven Rowley 45:06 - We Begin at the End by Chris Whitaker 45:19 - The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese 45:46 - All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker 46:03 - Happy Place by Emily Henry 46:29 - Fates and Furies by Lauren Groff 46:32 - Matrix by Lauren Groff 48:48 - Meet Us At The Fountain 48:55 - I wish that we always live in a world where women are celebrated (Kaytee) 56:37 - I wish everyone would try a book flight (Meredith) Support Us: Become a Bookish Friend | Grab Some Merch Shop Bookshop dot org | Shop Amazon Bookish Friends Receive: The Indie Press List with a curated list of five books hand sold by the indie of the month. August's IPL comes to us from The King's English Bookshop in Utah! Love and Chili Peppers with Kaytee and Rebekah - romance lovers get their due with this special episode focused entirely on the best selling genre fiction in the business.  All Things Murderful with Meredith and Elizabeth - special content for the scary-lovers, brought to you with the behind-the-scenes insights of an independent bookseller From the Editor's Desk with Kaytee and Bunmi Ishola - a quarterly peek behind the curtain at the publishing industry The Bookish Friends Facebook Group - where you can build community with bookish friends from around the globe as well as our hosts Connect With Us: The Show: Instagram | Website | Email | Threads The Hosts and Regulars: Meredith | Kaytee | Mary | Roxanna Production and Editing: Megan Phouthavong Evans Affiliate Disclosure: All affiliate links go to Bookshop unless otherwise noted. Shopping here helps keep the lights on and benefits indie bookstores. Thanks for your support!