Podcasts about credits theme

ISBW 22.12 Happy Pride! Recently we welcomed Isabel J. Kim to the show to talk about her debut novel, Sublimation! We not only talk about her mind-bending Severence-like novel, but her use of point of view, second person, and about her award-winning story "WHY DON'T WE JUST KILL THE KID IN THE OMELAS HOLE". This post went live for supporters on June 19, 2026. If you want early and ad-free episodes, support at Patreon! Remember you can join us on Thursdays, 3pm Eastern on Twitch! The next live episode is June 25! Links: Isabel J. Kim "WHY DON'T WE JUST KILL THE KID IN THE OMELAS HOLE" Evergreen Links Like the podcast? Get the book! I Should Be Writing. Socials: Bluesky, Instagram, YouTube, Focusmate Theme by John Anealio Support local book stores! Station Eternity, Six Wakes, Solo: A Star Wars Story: Expanded Edition and more! OR Get signed books from my friendly local store, Flyleaf Books! Some of the links above may be affiliate, allowing you to support the show at no extra cost to you. You can also support by leaving a Spotify or Apple review! CREDITS Theme song by John Anealio, art by Numbers Ninja, and files hosted by Libsyn. Get archives of the show via Patreon. Jun 19, 2026 | ISBW 22.12 | murverse.com "Isabel J. Kim talks SUBLIMATION" by Mur Lafferty is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 In case it wasn't clear: Mur and this podcast are fully supportive of LGBTQ+ folks, believe that Black Lives Matter, and trans rights are human rights, despite which direction the political winds blow. If you do not agree, then there are plenty of other places to go on the Internet.

This week and hot off the heels of a past episode, Alex & Dan make a break for the Nostalgia beach, as they discuss some of the things which were banned from their school playgrounds... and some of yours, too!From spinning plastic toys destined for a window or someone's eyes - to more plastic cards and collectibles which ended up being taken by the school bully. If that wasn't enough, the joys of pure sugar in fluorescent straws being knocked back in the classroom and discarded in the halls - to triange flapjacks? There were some odd contraband back in the day!Sit back, relax and enjoy another trip down 90s and 2000s memory lane!#GITS

This week, Alex & Dan go back to the books to find you more creepy and odd stories from Urban Myths and English Folklore in this fantastic follow up to 2020's Volume 1! In that episode, they discussed the issues with Big Cats, Men in Black, Chupacabra's, eery sounds of banging drums in times of war - and lots more! In this episode, it's turned up a notch; from odd robotic-like colourful beings who appear to Children on an island off the coast of the UK, Hags who haunt the woodland in the Midlands - to a game played in an elevator where you musn't look at the person who gets on for fear of spending eternity in the liminal world, to Glaswegian Vampires and hoardes of murderous children on the hunt.... this episode has it all!Grab you deck chair, come sit on the Pop Culture beach as we discuss some strange and odd stories from the UK - and further afield!#GITS

This week we go down to the Pop Culture Beach and open the vault - and it's an absolute belter! Just in time for the Volume 2 coming up in the next week, Alex & Dan talk through their favourite Urban Legends and Myths and where it all started back in the Summer of 2020, with the dawn of the new podcast / channel direction. As was in that week, this week Alex & Dan discuss the Rat-man of Southend-on-Sea, a murderous song in Pokemon Red & Blue's Lavender Town, Spring Heeled Jack, the Slender Man and plenty of others! Considering roots in the real world and for some, how these have changed and altered due to the online age, the duo give some background on these dark legends and thanks to the power of social media - some of yours too!Turn on the lights for this one guys if you want to sleep tonight!#GITS

This week, the dynamic duo of the south coast are swapping the Pop Culture Beach for the nearby public house - because, you guessed it - it's birthday time! You know the drill; it's Ask Me Anything time and for another year, you did not dissapoint!From Smoked or Unsmoked Bacon (it's an important topic!), some of our favourite Thunderbirds episodes, what TV series we'd like to star in - to whether book to film adaptations should be a thing and whether blowing on hot food really cools it down.... we tackle all the big subjects at the beer tables!We also discuss Smutty Seagulls and who would win in a royal rumble of the Cryptids - sounds like a normal OTT episode to us!#GITS

This week, Alex & Dan once again get nostalgic as they make their way down memory lane to the 1990s! There were some crazy going's on during that decade and they've got so many to share, they've slapped a volume 1 on it!From racing home from school to spend the evening with friends on web chat forums downloading music (ahem), to the origins of some of your favourite childhood toys from old makeup boxes. From the must-have toys of Christmas secretly listening to your conversations, to the dawn of direct-to-tape movies which changed the way we watched our favourite films from then onwards...That and - when actors fall out with the giants of Hollywood, they get paid in Picasso paintings worth millions - and lazy magazine editors who inadvertantly change the course of pop music forever - there's plenty of amazing facts to discuss during this episode!#GITS

ISBW 22.11 (There will be a giveaway of Ruinous Creatures! I'm taking entries until May 21! Email me with GIVEAWAY in the subject line! You do not need to be a paying supporter to enter.) Recently we welcomed Jessi Cole Jackson to the show to talk about her debut novel, Ruinous Creatures! We cover Jackson's unique bone-specific magic system and her inspirations, not to mention how to wrap your head around romance and spice when you've only written tame things before. Remember you can join us on Thursdays, 3pm Eastern on Twitch! The next live episode is May 16. This post went live for supporters on May 11, 2026. If you want early and ad-free episodes, support at Patreon! Links: Jessi Cole Jackson Sarah Maclean T. Kingfisher Naomi Novik The Ornithologist's Field Guide to Love Save the Cat The Heroine's Journey The Author Burnout Cure podcast 4 Act Structure Evergreen Links Like the podcast? Get the book! I Should Be Writing. Socials: Bluesky, Instagram, YouTube, Focusmate Theme by John Anealio Support local book stores! Station Eternity, Six Wakes, Solo: A Star Wars Story: Expanded Edition and more! OR Get signed books from my friendly local store, Flyleaf Books! Some of the links above may be affiliate, allowing you to support the show at no extra cost to you. You can also support by leaving a Spotify or Apple review! CREDITS Theme song by John Anealio, art by Numbers Ninja, and files hosted by Libsyn. Get archives of the show via Patreon. May 16, 2025 | ISBW 22.11 | murverse.com "Ruinous Creatures and Magic Systems" by Mur Lafferty is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 In case it wasn't clear: Mur and this podcast are fully supportive of LGBTQ+ folks, believe that Black Lives Matter, and trans rights are human rights, despite which direction the political winds blow. If you do not agree, then there are plenty of other places to go on the Internet.

This week, Alex & Dan go down to the TWRAD Vault to delve once more into the entertainment industry to bring you their great, not so great and down right terrible casting choices from the silver screen! They discuss Harry Potter's Dumbledore, MCU's Iron-clad Avenger, an infamous casting of a Bond Girl and one of the most impressive castings of Wonder Woman in a failing DCU franchise - and many more, including some of yours, thanks to the power of social media and the Gramophone - where we get a listener's question through on the topic of being worthy!#GITS

This week, Alex & Dan make it down to the Pop Culture Beach to bring you some dark content on what should arguably be off-limits - some of your favourite childhood animated movies growing up: Dark Disney Theories!That's right, these seemingly innocent films are not what you thought they were and the doors are blasted well and truly open, as the dynamic duo of southsea trawl through some of the dankest thoughts of the internet.From parasitic rats, discarded innanimate immortal toys to unlikely collaborations of ship wrecks and Mermaids, this episode certainly lives up to its title!Alex & Dan find the true villain of Beauty and the Beast and perhaps Captain Hook wasn't a bad guy after all! Who'd have thought?! Thanks to the power of social media, we have some of yours too!Come on down to the OTT beach and be prepared to have some of your favourite films absolutely ruined! Sorry not sorry.#GITS

"If you injure somebody, that injury tells a story, and you have to decide whether that story fits the rest of your story." 22.10 In this episode, I go into "realism" with regards to injuries and health. Are injuries for pain? For an instant of shock? To give the character a new hardship? We talk about some of Stephen King's works and how to balance realism with narrative flow. This post went live for supporters on April 21, 2026. If you want early and ad-free episodes, support at Patreon! NOTE- This coming weekend (May 1-3) I will be GoH at DemiCon! Remember, you can join us live on Thursdays at 3 PM Eastern on Twitch! Don't miss our next live episode! Links Ravencon Demicon Evergreen Links Like the podcast? Get the book! I Should Be Writing. Socials: Bluesky, Instagram, YouTube, Focusmate Theme by John Anealio Support local book stores! Station Eternity, Six Wakes, Solo: A Star Wars Story: Expanded Edition and more! OR Get signed books from my friendly local store, Flyleaf Books! Some of the links above may be affiliate, allowing you to support the show at no extra cost to you. You can also support by leaving a Spotify or Apple review! CREDITS Theme song by John Anealio, art by Numbers Ninja, and files hosted by Libsyn. Get archives of the show via Patreon. April 27, 2025 | ISBW 22.10 | murverse.com "Are you sure you want to injure that character?" by Mur Lafferty is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 In case it wasn't clear: Mur and this podcast are fully supportive of LGBTQ+ folks, believe that Black Lives Matter, and trans rights are human rights, despite which direction the political winds blow. If you do not agree, then there are plenty of other places to go on the Internet.

This week, we reveal listener...you've been lied to. Well, sometimes. Because there might be some truth to the stories which your Parents / Grandparents / Guardians told you. But some? Absolutely nonesense and we blow the lid off them during this episode!Square eyes sitting too close to the TV? Touching that frog will give you warts? How about venturing outside with wet hair will give you a cold?We talk about Cheese - alot of it. And troughs. Specifically one in 90s swimming pools and the question as to where they have all gone now. We also discuss swimming and how we might be able to get some vivid dreams!Come down to the OTT beach and be prepared to have some myths dispelled which might well rock your world!#GITS

"Every character is the star of their own story." ISBW 22.9 In this episode we talk about how different writers view characterization, from the ones who struggle to the ones who say the characters live in their heads. How do you manage all these wily beasts who want their stories told? I will also be appearing next week at Ravencon, and then the following week at Demicon! This post went live for supporters on April 17, 2026. If you want early and ad-free episodes, support at Patreon! Remember you can join us on Thursdays, 3pm Eastern on Twitch! The next live episode is April 24, when we will talk about A Year of Furious Creation. Links Ravencon Demicon Becca Puglisi and Angela Ackerman Evergreen Links Like the podcast? Get the book! I Should Be Writing. Socials: Bluesky, Instagram, YouTube, Focusmate Theme by John Anealio Support local book stores! Station Eternity, Six Wakes, Solo: A Star Wars Story: Expanded Edition and more! OR Get signed books from my friendly local store, Flyleaf Books! Some of the links above may be affiliate, allowing you to support the show at no extra cost to you. You can also support by leaving a Spotify or Apple review! CREDITS Theme song by John Anealio, art by Numbers Ninja, and files hosted by Libsyn. Get archives of the show via Patreon. April 21, 2025 | ISBW 22.9 | murverse.com "When Characters Go Rogue" by Mur Lafferty is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 In case it wasn't clear: Mur and this podcast are fully supportive of LGBTQ+ folks, believe that Black Lives Matter, and trans rights are human rights, despite which direction the political winds blow. If you do not agree, then there are plenty of other places to go on the Internet.

This week, Alex & Dan go down to the TWRAD Vault where they are joined by the channel's (and arguably, the nation's) foremost expert on Harry Potter, taking you the listener through the world's most favourite Wizard and his coming of age story. The trio recall their most memorable moments from the books and films and thanks to Vicky, explore some of the back story behind these events.From the humble beginnings of the boy Wizard's entry into the Wizarding World, to the final moments of the flash forward at the end of The Deathly Hallows Part 2 (which no one asked for!) - they take you on a magical journey with plenty of discussion and debate along the way! With revelations of drastic joy riding given alternative magical means of transportation (speak to an adult!), the demise of a Star Trek Red Shirt (and Riker's Majestic Beard!), a Scottish accented-Dan and the Marauder's Map showing a strange visitor to the boy's dormitory and no one noticing - this would surely have you scrambling for the DVD collection to start watching the films!Alex and Dan also have a rather public spat over the 4th film - do they recover, or is this the end of the channel? Download, sit back and relax to find out!#GITS

This week, Alex & Dan try to dispel some of the plot holes riddled throughout the Harry Potter franchise, following feedback from other episodes.From Unbreakable Vows, not-so Invisible Cloaks to trusting entirely untrustable people with your safety and life - some of these plot holes, just can't be explained, no matter how much you swish and flick your wand at it.And thanks to the power of social media, one listener sets the Dynamic Duo off on a swear-laden tirade, after it comes to light a particularly underutilised magical object is treated very poorly at Hogwarts!Grab your broom, because you're in for a ride this episode!#GITS

"I think the thing people have the most problem with is, 'This was very good, but it didn't excite me.'" ISBW 22.8 Mur is back solo, talking about Rejectomancy and how to interpret the rejections you get, and more importantly, how to move forward after getting said rejection. And the bad news: you're aiming to make writing a job, which means you have to deal with the bad parts along with the good. Remember you can join us on Thursdays, 3pm Eastern on Twitch! The next live episode is April 9*, when we will talk about A Year of Furious Creation. *(Maybe. I may have jury duty that day. Stay tuned.) Links The person who coined the phrase 'rejectomancy.' Escape Pod Evergreen Links Like the podcast? Get the book! I Should Be Writing. Socials: Bluesky, Instagram, YouTube, Focusmate Theme by John Anealio Support local book stores! Station Eternity, Six Wakes, Solo: A Star Wars Story: Expanded Edition and more! OR Get signed books from my friendly local store, Flyleaf Books! — Some of the links above may be affiliate, allowing you to support the show at no extra cost to you. You can also support by leaving a Spotify or Apple review! CREDITS Theme song by John Anealio, art by Numbers Ninja, and files hosted by Libsyn. Get archives of the show via Patreon. April 6, 2025 | ISBW 22.8 | murverse.com "Can Rejectomancy Save Our Sanity?" by Mur Lafferty is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 In case it wasn't clear: Mur and this podcast are fully supportive of LGBTQ+ folks, believe that Black Lives Matter, and trans rights are human rights, despite which direction the political winds blow. If you do not agree, then there are plenty of other places to go on the Internet.

It's the big one! Collecting Volumes 1 and 2 of these absolute classic 90s nostalgia films, Alex & Dan bring these into one handy episode for you to enjoy at your leisure, back to back!First up in Volume 1 back in 2019, this episode features the sci-fi Will Smith and Jeff Goldblum Classic - Independence Day, the original mind bending reality TV show The Truman Show, plenty of Dan's disaster movies - and the podcast duo remember the age of VHS and Blockbusters! We learn a little more about Dan's past experience in Foley Work and how random sounds play an important part in bringing films to life - and how he will be changing his name on Deed Poll soon....We then come forward a few years to 2023, where to no one's surprise Alex gets carried away and imagines a conversation with Quentin Tarrentino and his foot fetish in Dan's film choice - and at times, overshares with Lori Petty! Dan glazes over talking about a Neo-Western and a leading actress in the form of Salma Hayek - and keeps a body count as he recalls some of his favourite shooty-shooty bang-bang films.... including a trouser pistol?#GITS

"Acceptance is built on a pile of rejections." ~ Justin C. Key ISBW 22.7 Dr. Justin C. Key joins us to discuss his debut novel, The Hospital at the End of the World, exploring intersection of medicine and AI. Justin shares his experiences as a psychiatrist and balancing a medical career with being an author. We go over writing process, community, and the lessons learned from both success and setbacks. This post went live for supporters on March 27, 2026. If you want early, ad-free, and sometimes expanded episodes, support at Patreon! Remember you can join us on Thursdays, 3pm Eastern on Twitch! The next live episode is April 2, when we will talk about Characters with a Mind of Their Own. Links Justin C. Key Escape Pod Out There Screaming Vital, the Future of Healthcare Scribophile The Hospital at the End of the World Evergreen Links Like the podcast? Get the book! I Should Be Writing. Socials: Bluesky, Instagram, YouTube, Focusmate Theme by John Anealio Support local book stores! Station Eternity, Six Wakes, Solo: A Star Wars Story: Expanded Edition and more! OR Get signed books from my friendly local store, Flyleaf Books! — Some of the links above may be affiliate, allowing you to support the show at no extra cost to you. You can also support by leaving a Spotify or Apple review! CREDITS Theme song by John Anealio, art by Numbers Ninja, and files hosted by Libsyn. Get archives of the show via Patreon. March 30, 2025 | ISBW 22.7 | murverse.com "Medicine and AI with Dr. Justin C. Key" by Mur Lafferty is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 In case it wasn't clear: Mur and this podcast are fully supportive of LGBTQ+ folks, believe that Black Lives Matter, and trans rights are human rights, despite which direction the political winds blow. If you do not agree, then there are plenty of other places to go on the Internet.  

This week, Alex & Dan wander down to the Nostalgia Beach to discuss Alex's new album (not THAT Alex - Alex Melton!).Discussing where Alex Melton came from during the COVID-era Covers on YouTube to the polished anthemic songs lovingly crafted for his first proper full length studio album, there's plenty to breakdown; from band influences to song composition, this short episode dives into the Pop Punk and Country roots of the artist and how the dynamic duo of the South Coast believes delivers a wonderful first album!#GITS

"Weird is hot right now." ISBW 22.6 CW- pet death. It's been a rough week, so I'm talking regret and spite. Can they help and fuel us? Or is it just wasted bile? Then we talk about new book releases, like Nobody's Baby by Olivia Waite and Hell's Heart by Alexis Hall. And we touch on our next show, an interview with Justin C. Key, author of The Hospital at the End of the World. Remember you can join us on Thursdays, 3pm Eastern on Twitch! The next live episode is March 26, when we will talk about Rejectomancy. Links Nobody's Baby by Olivia Waite Hell's Heart by Alexis Hall The Hospital at the End of the World by Justin C. Key Ruinous Creatures by Jessie Cole Jackson You Should Have Been Nicer to My Mom by Vincent Tirado Wolf Worm T. Kingfisher (Ursula Vernon) Flyleaf Books Evergreen Links Like the podcast? Get the book! I Should Be Writing. Socials: Bluesky, Instagram, YouTube, Focusmate Theme by John Anealio Support local book stores! Station Eternity, Six Wakes, Solo: A Star Wars Story: Expanded Edition and more! OR Get signed books from my friendly local store, Flyleaf Books! — Some of the links above may be affiliate, allowing you to support the show at no extra cost to you. You can also support by leaving a Spotify or Apple review! CREDITS Theme song by John Anealio, art by Numbers Ninja, and files hosted by Libsyn. Get archives of the show via Patreon. March 23, 2025 | ISBW 22.6 | murverse.com "Regret, Spite, and shiny new book haul" by Mur Lafferty is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 In case it wasn't clear: Mur and this podcast are fully supportive of LGBTQ+ folks, believe that Black Lives Matter, and trans rights are human rights, despite which direction the political winds blow. If you do not agree, then there are plenty of other places to go on the Internet.  

Alex & Dan head back down to Nostalgia Beach to sift through the unexpected classic films from the last decade! Hot off the heels from the Vault Volume 1, how could they ever meet the lofty heights of that selection?Well they only bloody gone and done it!As Alex remarks that the last decade was full to the brim of MCU and other superhero films, there were some unexpected gems found as the Dynamic Duo sifted through the 10 years of cinema releases; from Who-done-it's to marmalade-fuelled bears inciting floods of tears from Alex one Christmas - sit back, relax and enjoy a trip down [recent] memory lane!#GITS

"Take your time, there's no rush. The audience will be here whenever your story is ready." ISBW 22.5 In this episode we welcome author Olivia Waite to discuss her latest books, including Murder by Memory and Nobody's Baby. We touch on one of my favorite topics, writing science fiction mysteries, but we also delve into compelling beginnings and how to avoid the cringe in romance.  Chapters: (00:00) Introduction (01:30) Writing Updates (05:00) Interview with Olivia Waite (10:00) Discussion on Book Beginnings (15:00) Overview of Nobody's Baby (25:00) Writing Process and Genre Exploration (35:00) Audience Questions (This post went live for supporters on March 12, 2026. If you want early and ad-free, episodes, support at Patreon!) Remember you can join us on Thursdays, 3pm Eastern on Twitch! Next episode is March 19, when I interview Justin C. Key, author of The Hospital at the End of the World. Links Olivia Waite Douglas Adams Terry Pratchett Ocean's Echo Evergreen Links Like the podcast? Get the book! I Should Be Writing. Socials: Bluesky, Instagram, YouTube, Focusmate Theme by John Anealio Support local book stores! Station Eternity, Six Wakes, Solo: A Star Wars Story: Expanded Edition and more! OR Get signed books from my friendly local store, Flyleaf Books! — Some of the links above may be affiliate, allowing you to support the show at no extra cost to you. You can also support by leaving a Spotify or Apple review! CREDITS Theme song by John Anealio, art by Numbers Ninja, and files hosted by Libsyn. Get archives of the show via Patreon. March 16, 2025 | ISBW 22.5 | murverse.com "Revisiting Space Murder with Olivia Waite" by Mur Lafferty is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 In case it wasn't clear: Mur and this podcast are fully supportive of LGBTQ+ folks, believe that Black Lives Matter, and trans rights are human rights, despite which direction the political winds blow. If you do not agree, then there are plenty of other places to go on the Internet.

This week, Alex & Dan go back into the Vaults once more to bring you a classic from The Weekly Round Up days - Your Favourite 2010s Films Volume 1!Featuring an eclectic mix of films, they provide some unexpected favourites from the silver screen, with many notable mentions from the years leading up to Christmas 2019!#GITS

"It might be too much, but it looks really fun." ISBW 22.4 I've had a strong opinion about writing contests for years, but things have apparently evolved. I was reading about writing contests and found two that were quite interesting. A bit of housekeeping: I am no longer doing an exclusive version of Patreon episodes. They will still be early, still ad-free, but I've found that making two versions of the same show is just too much for me right now. I will still do completely exclusive episodes that the feed will never see, but I will rarely do extended interviews, etc. (This post went live for supporters on February 25, 2026. If you want early, ad-free, and sometimes expanded episodes, support at Patreon!) We touch on the Webbys and why I won't enter them, and as for contests, NYC Midnight and Writing Battle intrigue me! The both have good rewards, good communities, and reasonable rules. Then I chat with the livestream, which you can join on Thursdays, 3pm Eastern on Twitch! Next episode is March 5, where I interview Olivia Waite, author of Murder by Memory and Nobody's Baby. Links Writer's Digest NYC Midnight Writing Battle Evergreen Links Like the podcast? Get the book! I Should Be Writing. Socials: Bluesky, Instagram, YouTube, Focusmate Theme by John Anealio Support local book stores! Station Eternity, Six Wakes, Solo: A Star Wars Story: Expanded Edition and more! OR Get signed books from my friendly local store, Flyleaf Books! — Some of the links above may be affiliate, allowing you to support the show at no extra cost to you. You can also support by leaving a Spotify or Apple review! CREDITS Theme song by John Anealio, art by Numbers Ninja, and files hosted by Libsyn. Get archives of the show via Patreon. February 27, 2025 | ISBW 22.4 | murverse.com "Have I changed my opinion on writing contests?" by Mur Lafferty is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 In case it wasn't clear: Mur and this podcast are fully supportive of LGBTQ+ folks, believe that Black Lives Matter, and trans rights are human rights, despite which direction the political winds blow. If you do not agree, then there are plenty of other places to go on the Internet.

This week, it's back to the MCU with their 17th (!) Television / Streaming storyline; this time with Sir Ben Kingsley and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II's fantastic superhero drama depicting the challenges of making it big in Hollywood - for two budding - but far from normal actors!It opens with an outrageous set of euphemisms which no one saw coming and it doesn't rise much out of the gutter from there! From gaining superpowers from Mackerel and more film premise pitches to the Hollywood elite, to renewed debates around biscuits and their dunk-ability - there's plenty of segues during this week's episode!Grab that Peach Ring and enjoy a spolier-ific review of Season 1! #GITS

"If [I] start thinking about the details, [I] will either go down the wrong pathand not record or [I'll] talk [my]self out of it." ISBW 22.3 I finally finished the archives, and learned quite a bit about myself, not all good things. We also touch on Hugo season, book club scams, and AI publicists. This post went live for supporters on February 20, 2026. If you want early, ad-free, and sometimes expanded episodes, support at Patreon! Notes I FINISHED THE ARCHIVES! Now I just have to figure out how to release them. Hugo voting is open!  I'm playing Dispatch and Clair Obscur, which are going to be my nominations for the Best Game Hugo. Dispatch has made me think a lot about interactive fiction. Beware the newest book club scam. I want to stream some solo-RPGs. I'm considering ION HEART, Midnight Muscadines, and A Perfect Rock. Annalee Newitz and Charlie Jane Anders made pure gold with Our Opinions Are Correct. Check out my 2026 appearances thus far! Next one is Ret-Con in Durham, NC, March 6-8. Evergreen Links Like the podcast? Get the book! I Should Be Writing. Socials: Bluesky, Instagram, YouTube, Focusmate Theme by John Anealio Support local book stores! Station Eternity, Six Wakes, Solo: A Star Wars Story: Expanded Edition and more! OR Get signed books from my friendly local store, Flyleaf Books! — Some of the links above may be affiliate, allowing you to support the show at no extra cost to you. You can also support by leaving a Spotify or Apple review! CREDITS Theme song by John Anealio, art by Numbers Ninja, and files hosted by Libsyn. Get archives of the show via Patreon. February 23, 2025 | ISBW 22.3 | murverse.com "977 Episodes: What Have I Learned?" by Mur Lafferty is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 In case it wasn't clear: Mur and this podcast are fully supportive of LGBTQ+ folks, believe that Black Lives Matter, and trans rights are human rights, despite which direction the political winds blow. If you do not agree, then there are plenty of other places to go on the Internet.

It's round two! It's raining...fish? Hallucinations, talking trees, self eating brains - and lots more!We also talk about reliving our adelocence again (why would you??), ginger cats and the sweet sweet smells of cut grass and rain on a summer's day. You know them well - but why and what is it?All of these questions answered - and many more you probably didn't want or need to know - in this week's Mind Blowing Facts vol. 2!#GITS

"Not every opportunity is equal, and you don't have to chase everything." ~Tim Minneci ISBW 22.2 What do you need to have when you're wrangling several pro writers? What can a writer expect from an assistant? Meet Tim Minneci, writer, podcaster, musician, and my assistant. (And Ursula's, and Kameron's.)  We discuss the challenges of being a writer, the importance of having an assistant, and the various tasks that come with supporting authors in their creative endeavors. Tim covers social media, the publishing industry, and the balance between creativity and administrative work.  (This post went live for supporters on February 16, 2026. If you want early, ad-free, and sometimes expanded episodes, support at Patreon!) Links Tim Minneci and his Dig Me Out podcast Evergreen Links Like the podcast? Get the book! I Should Be Writing. Socials: Bluesky, Instagram, YouTube, Focusmate Theme by John Anealio Support local book stores! Station Eternity, Six Wakes, Solo: A Star Wars Story: Expanded Edition and more! OR Get signed books from my friendly local store, Flyleaf Books! — Some of the links above may be affiliate, allowing you to support the show at no extra cost to you. You can also support by leaving a Spotify or Apple review! CREDITS Theme song by John Anealio, art by Numbers Ninja, and files hosted by Libsyn. Get archives of the show via Patreon. February 18, 2026 | ISBW 22.2 | murverse.com "The Art of Juggling Writers (as an assistant)" by Mur Lafferty is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 In case it wasn't clear: Mur and this podcast are fully supportive of LGBTQ+ folks, believe that Black Lives Matter, and trans rights are human rights, despite which direction the political winds blow. If you do not agree, then there are plenty of other places to go on the Internet.

It's the big day! Out goes the sofa, in comes the beach - with some washed up Pop Cultural icons to boot!It's been a long time coming, but in this episode the dynamic duo of the south coast explain the creative journey they've been on, why things sound the same but look different - and what you can look forward to in the next few episodes!#GITS

This week, it's getting incredible!From an unpleasant round of golf over a ten year period, to a tidal wave of destruction in a small town - to an abandoned and long forgotten speakeasy to dancing against your will - this episode literally has it all!If nothing else, this episode describes how you can be a princess of your own country and educates the masses around the digestive practices of Turkey Vultures!Sit back, try and relax as the south coast duo bring some incredibly questionable stories to your ears!#GITS

It's day 3455 of January, but we're looking ahead to the next 300 odd days of 2026. It's our annual Most Anticipated as we share Films, TV, Music, Games and Events we're looking forward to.And with the power of social media, YOU the listener didn't disappoint as per usual. And remember, you got this episode before GTA6. #GITS

"All I can do is what I can do right now." ISBW 22.1 First episode of the year, and we talk about the things we may not want to take along with us into the new year. New books, new shows (Patreon-only Evil Mur podcast called STET!), and all that other stuff. (This post went live for supporters on January 12, 2026. If you want early, ad-free, and sometimes expanded episodes, support at Patreon!) Links Stet (first episode is free to everyone!) Gnosia (game and anime) Escape Pod How to Be More D&D The Compound Recipes for an Unexpected Afterlife Evergreen Links Like the podcast? Get the book! I Should Be Writing. Socials: Bluesky, Instagram, YouTube, Focusmate Theme by John Anealio Support local book stores! Station Eternity, Six Wakes, Solo: A Star Wars Story: Expanded Edition and more! OR Get signed books from my friendly local store, Flyleaf Books! — Some of the links above may be affiliate, allowing you to support the show at no extra cost to you. You can also support by leaving a Spotify or Apple review! CREDITS Theme song by John Anealio, art by Numbers Ninja, and files hosted by Libsyn. Get archives of the show via Patreon. January 6, 2025 | ISBW 22.1 | murverse.com "Careful What You Pack" by Mur Lafferty is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 In case it wasn't clear: Mur and this podcast are fully supportive of LGBTQ+ folks, believe that Black Lives Matter, and trans rights are human rights, despite which direction the political winds blow. If you do not agree, then there are plenty of other places to go on the Internet.

It's here! Join the South Coast Dynamic Duo on the orange sofa in OTT Central as they announce their winners and losers of 2025!With a streamlined category list, it was everything to fight for this year - but were there any upsets or surprises on the night?Sit back, relax and enjoy as we take you through the awards evening - and thanks to the power of social media - some of your nominees as well!#GITS

"You tell them enough information to show that you know 10% of what you're talking about, and your reader will assume you know the other 90%." In this episode, Mur discusses the seemingly innocuous action of research, and how it can become a trap that distracts from actual writing. Advent calendar info and AI complaints are free additions! Links Kim Stanley Robinson Cory Doctorow The Sociopath Next Door Master of Malt Advent Calendars Evergreen Links See all books from Season 21 Like the podcast? Get the book! I Should Be Writing. Socials: Bluesky, Instagram, YouTube, Focusmate Theme by John Anealio Support local book stores! Station Eternity, Six Wakes, Solo: A Star Wars Story: Expanded Edition and more! OR Get signed books from my friendly local store, Flyleaf Books! — Some of the links above may be affiliate, allowing you to support the show at no extra cost to you. You can also support by leaving a Spotify or Apple review, please! CREDITS Theme song by John Anealio, art by Numbers Ninja, and files hosted by Libsyn (affiliate link). Get archives of the show via Patreon. December 4, 2025 | Season 21 Ep 24 | murverse.com "Research or Procrastination?" by Mur Lafferty is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 In case it wasn't clear: Mur and this podcast are fully supportive of LGBTQ+ folks, believe that Black Lives Matter, and trans rights are human rights, despite which direction the political winds blow. If you do not agree, then there are plenty of other places to go on the Internet.

"It's a definitely a giftable type thing for the Tolkien lover in your life." In this somewhat festive episode we talk about all the books we weren't able to feature over the year, to let you know about books you may not have heard of. We go by blurbs and first sentences - video also shows book covers! We talk SF, horror, mystery, and more. Mur might also rant about publicists who use AI. Check out all the books here! (affiliate) Links T. Kingfisher Kosoko Jackson R. Lee Fryer LaDarrion Williams Agatha Christie Evergreen Links See all books from Season 21 Like the podcast? Get the book! I Should Be Writing. Socials: Bluesky, Instagram, YouTube, Focusmate Theme by John Anealio Support local book stores! Station Eternity, Six Wakes, Solo: A Star Wars Story: Expanded Edition and more! OR Get signed books from my friendly local store, Flyleaf Books! — Some of the links above may be affiliate, allowing you to support the show at no extra cost to you. You can also support by leaving a Spotify or Apple review, please! CREDITS Theme song by John Anealio, art by Numbers Ninja, and files hosted by Libsyn (affiliate link). Get archives of the show via Patreon. November 16, 2025 | Season 21 Ep 23 | murverse.com "2025 Gift Guide" by Mur Lafferty is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 In case it wasn't clear: Mur and this podcast are fully supportive of LGBTQ+ folks, believe that Black Lives Matter, and trans rights are human rights, despite which direction the political winds blow. If you do not agree, then there are plenty of other places to go on the Internet.

It's the big one this week! Get your slippers and hot chocolate handy, as Alex & Dan bring you - for the first time ever! - their own interpretation of the cornerstone of straight-to-TV film tradition - the Hallmark Christmas movie!Who went to the big city, only to return and open old wounds? Who was enticed by big Kevin at Marvel, only to experience a meet cute back in their home town? Who did the dirty and moved in with an old flame just before Christmas.... wait, what? That's right - complete with live readings, recorded scenes and Hallmark Trailers to boot - this episode continues Christmas Season with a breakdown of what to expect from a Hallmark Movie - along with some of your ideas too!Make a mad dash for that soon-to-be-departing plane, find love in the Christmas Tree farm and uncover unresolved relationship woes in the coffee shop, in this amateur dramatic hour over at OTT!#GITS

We're kicking off Festive Season this week by discussing some of our favourite iterations of Santa from film. And with the power of social media, some of yours! What differs these iterations of Santa from the mythical being we're used to on coca cola cans and Christmas cards?We discuss the reluctant, the jacked, the cool, and... The violent. Why do they make us love their respective films?#GITS

This week, Mark is joined once again by the brilliant Kieran Rose, AKA The Autistic Advocate – writer, educator, and parent of three neurodivergent children. Together, they take a deep (and sometimes uncomfortable) dive into one of the most contentious topics in neurodiversity parenting: labels. What do we mean when we describe someone as “severely autistic”? Why is it so hard to explain what being autistic actually means? And how useful (or harmful) are terms like high-functioning, low-functioning, profound autism, or even Asperger's? In a wide-ranging and compassionate chat, Mark and Kieran explore how complex, deeply personal and often contradictory this topic is - both for parents and for autistic people themselves. What starts as a provocative question ends up as a fascinating conversation about diagnosis, co-occurring conditions, identity, education, eugenics, power, and prejudice. Not one to miss. Make a cuppa, maybe two - this one's long. But worth it.

This week, the Dynamic South Coast duo return to the not-so-mean streets of Old Portsmouth to the cinema and back, to bring you their honest thoughts - AND THE SPOILERIFIC REVIEW - on the latest film from the magic-hesit action film franchise Now You See Me - with the third outing - Now You Don't!Returning is an all star cast of illusionists, thieves and escape artists - the first one was great (Alex's guilty pleasure), the second was OK - will the third buck the third film curse and be any good? There's only one way to find out - stream and listen wherever you get your podcasts! Whatever you do - don't take your eye off of the trick.....#GITS

"You want to preserve your experience of the work. You want to preserve the doing of the art." ~Cadwell Turnbull Amazing author Cadwell Turnbull joins us to dives deep into the creative process and discuss his latest book, A Ruin Great and Free. We talk about his writing journey, trilogy challenges, and approaching social issues in his books. (This post went live for supporters on November 24, 2025. If you want early, ad-free, and sometimes expanded episodes, support at Patreon!) Download Transcript Links Cadwell Turnbull and on YouTube Emily St. John Mandel Octavia Butler North Carolina State University's MFA program Evergreen Links See all books from Season 21 Like the podcast? Get the book! I Should Be Writing. Socials: Bluesky, Instagram, YouTube, Focusmate Theme by John Anealio Savor I Should Be Writing tea blends Support local book stores! Station Eternity, Six Wakes, Solo: A Star Wars Story: Expanded Edition and more! OR Get signed books from my friendly local store, Flyleaf Books! — "The Journey from Ideas to Anarchy with Cadwell Turnbull" is brought to you in large part by my supporters, the Fabulists, who received an early, expanded version of this episode. You can join our Fabulist community with a pledge on Patreon! Some of the links above may be affiliate, allowing you to support the show at no extra cost to you. Also consider leaving a review for ISBW, please! CREDITS Theme song by John Anealio, art by Numbers Ninja, and files hosted by Libsyn (affiliate link). Get archives of the show via Patreon. November 24, 2025 | Season 21 Ep 22 | murverse.com "The Journey from Ideas to Anarchy with Cadwell Turnbull" by Mur Lafferty is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 In case it wasn't clear: Mur and this podcast are fully supportive of LGBTQ+ folks, believe that Black Lives Matter, and trans rights are human rights, despite which direction the political winds blow. If you do not agree, then there are plenty of other places to go on the Internet.

"Anytime someone starts a sentence with, 'why don't you just,' immediately stop listening to them." ~Valerie Valdes (Lia Amador) While it hasn't been a long time for podcast listeners, it's been a while for us and considering her expertise, I've invited Valerie Valdes back for a candid discussion about the recent demise of NaNoWriMo and what it means for writers. We delve into the challenges of maintaining community and motivation without the established infrastructure of the once-beloved event. Valerie shares her insights as a former municipal liaison and offers alternatives for writers looking to stay engaged during November. We cover Nano 2.0, Shut Up and Write, and 4 The Words. Community is one of the most important parts of this month, and we make sure people know that they're still not alone! (This post went live for supporters on November 4, 2025. If you want early, ad-free, and sometimes expanded episodes, support at Patreon!) Download Transcript Links Valerie Valdes / Lia Amador Escape Pod NaNoWriMo 2.0 Shut Up and Write 4thewords Dreamfoundry World Anvil Game of Tomes Kate Cavanaugh's Livestream Evergreen Links See all books from Season 21 Like the podcast? Get the book! I Should Be Writing. Socials: Bluesky, Instagram, YouTube, Focusmate Theme by John Anealio Savor I Should Be Writing tea blends Support local book stores! Station Eternity, Six Wakes, Solo: A Star Wars Story: Expanded Edition and more! OR Get signed books from my friendly local store, Flyleaf Books! — "NaNoWriMo's Ghosts and New Beginnings" is brought to you in large part by my supporters, the Fabulists, who received an early, expanded version of this episode. You can join our Fabulist community with a pledge on Patreon! Some of the links above may be affiliate, allowing you to support the show at no extra cost to you. Also consider leaving a review for ISBW, please! CREDITS Theme song by John Anealio, art by Numbers Ninja, and files hosted by Libsyn (affiliate link). Get archives of the show via Patreon. November 6, 2025 | Season 21 Ep 21 | murverse.com "NaNoWriMo's Ghosts and New Beginnings" by Mur Lafferty is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 In case it wasn't clear: Mur and this podcast are fully supportive of LGBTQ+ folks, believe that Black Lives Matter, and trans rights are human rights, despite which direction the political winds blow. If you do not agree, then there are plenty of other places to go on the Internet.

"If you're writing your stories down, you're more than a writer than a lot of people ever will have the courage to try to be." It's a solo episode! I get into the complexities of writing and self-doubt, the struggles of completing a manuscript, the challenges of balancing creativity with personal life, and the ever-present specter of The Imposter Cop. We try to accept the importance of focusing on one task at a time, despite everything. Also we talk about K Pop Demon Hunters, exploring its themes and storytelling techniques. (This post went live for supporters on October 22, 2025. If you want early, ad-free, and sometimes expanded episodes, support at Patreon!) Download Transcript Links The Princess Knight by Cait Jacobs K Pop Demon Hunters NaNo2.0 Evergreen Links See all books from Season 21 Like the podcast? Get the book! I Should Be Writing. Socials: Bluesky, Instagram, YouTube, Focusmate Theme by John Anealio Savor I Should Be Writing tea blends Support local book stores! Station Eternity, Six Wakes, Solo: A Star Wars Story: Expanded Edition and more! OR Get signed books from my friendly local store, Flyleaf Books!   — "The Bully that Knocks: The Imposter Cop" is brought to you in large part by my supporters, the Fabulists, who received an early, expanded version of this episode. You can join our Fabulist community with a pledge on Patreon! Some of the links above may be affiliate, allowing you to support the show at no extra cost to you. Also consider leaving a review for ISBW, please! CREDITS Theme song by John Anealio, art by Numbers Ninja, and files hosted by Libsyn (affiliate link). Get archives of the show via Patreon. October 27, 2025 | Season 21 Ep 20 | murverse.com "The Bully that Knocks: The Imposter Cop" by Mur Lafferty is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 In case it wasn't clear: Mur and this podcast are fully supportive of LGBTQ+ folks, believe that Black Lives Matter, and trans rights are human rights, despite which direction the political winds blow. If you do not agree, then there are plenty of other places to go on the Internet.

"You should be writing, because that's the only thing that ultimately you can have even a hope of controlling." ~Valerie Valdes Welcome back to the talented Valerie Valdes, also known as Lia Amador! We are here to launch her newest book, a fantasy rom-com titled Witch You Wood. We talk magical reality shows, romance, and tropes. We also get real about the struggles that persist even after being published. Valerie discusses her experiences with self-doubt and how she manages to push through these challenges. We also explore the nuances of writing romance, the balance between subtlety and straightforwardness, and the significance of knowing your audience. (This post went live for supporters on October 20, 2025. If you want early, ad-free, and sometimes expanded episodes, support at Patreon!) Download Transcript Links Valerie Valdes / Lia Amador Escape Pod  International Latino Book Award Ali Hazelwood Mary Balogh India Holton Jackie Lau Archive of Our Own Baldur's Gate 3 Hades 2 Behooved Evergreen Links See all books from Season 21 Like the podcast? Get the book! I Should Be Writing. Socials: Bluesky, Instagram, YouTube, Focusmate Theme by John Anealio Savor I Should Be Writing tea blends Support local book stores! Station Eternity, Six Wakes, Solo: A Star Wars Story: Expanded Edition and more! OR Get signed books from my friendly local store, Flyleaf Books! — "Exploring Romance and Reality in Writing with Valerie Valdes" is brought to you in large part by my supporters, the Fabulists, who received an early, expanded version of this episode. You can join our Fabulist community with a pledge on Patreon! Some of the links above may be affiliate, allowing you to support the show at no extra cost to you. Also consider leaving a review for ISBW, please! CREDITS Theme song by John Anealio, art by Numbers Ninja, and files hosted by Libsyn (affiliate link). Get archives of the show via Patreon. October 23, 2025 | Season 21 Ep 19 | murverse.com "Exploring Romance and Reality in Writing with Valerie Valdes" by Mur Lafferty is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 In case it wasn't clear: Mur and this podcast are fully supportive of LGBTQ+ folks, believe that Black Lives Matter, and trans rights are human rights, despite which direction the political winds blow. If you do not agree, then there are plenty of other places to go on the Internet.

[Worldcon] was my first convention where I went to panels, gave a reading, and had a big party. It made my sweet little book feel like the huge thing it is in my heart and mind. -Tim Chawaga S21 Ep18 In this episode, we welcome Tim Chawaga, author of Salvagia, as we dive into the depths of his near-future science fiction mystery set in a flooded Florida. Tim shares the inspiration behind his book, where a freelance Salvagia diver uncovers a dead body while searching for valuable artifacts from the past. We explore the blending of genres in Salvagia, from climate fiction to humor, and discuss the delicate balance between plot and world-building in writing. Tim reflects on his debut at Worldcon, the challenges of imposter syndrome, and the importance of building connections within the writing community. (This post went live for supporters on October 16, 2025. If you want early, ad-free, and sometimes expanded episodes, support at Patreon or get my newsletter at Ghost!) Download Transcript Links Tim Chawaga Salvagia Seattle Worldcon Evergreen Links See all books from Season 21 Like the podcast? Get the book! I Should Be Writing. Socials: Bluesky, Instagram, YouTube, Focusmate Theme by John Anealio Savor I Should Be Writing tea blends Support local book stores! Station Eternity, Six Wakes, Solo: A Star Wars Story: Expanded Edition and more! OR Get signed books from my friendly local store, Flyleaf Books! — "From Idea to Ink: Tim Chawaga on Crafting Salvagia" is brought to you in large part by my supporters, the Fabulists, who received an early, expanded version of this episode. You can join our Fabulist community with a pledge on Patreon! Some of the links above may be affiliate, allowing you to support the show at no extra cost to you. Also consider leaving a review for ISBW, please! CREDITS Theme song by John Anealio, art by Numbers Ninja, and files hosted by Libsyn (affiliate link). Get archives of the show via Patreon. October 16, 2025 | Season 21 Ep 18 | murverse.com "From Idea to Ink: Tim Chawaga on Crafting Salvagia" by Mur Lafferty is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 In case it wasn't clear: Mur and this podcast are fully supportive of LGBTQ+ folks, believe that Black Lives Matter, and trans rights are human rights, despite which direction the political winds blow. If you do not agree, then there are plenty of other places to go on the Internet.

Even writing badly will get you to writing well eventually. - Chinaza Bado S21 Ep17 In this episode, we sit down with Chinaza Bado, author of Birth of a Dynasty, to discuss the challenges and strategies of getting a trilogy published. Chinaza shares advice for how to query the a book and how to pitch a trilogy to publishers. We also discussed agents and marketing yourself in a competitive landscape. (This post went live for supporters on October 14, 2025. If you want early, ad-free, and sometimes expanded episodes, support at Patreon or get my newsletter at Ghost!) Links Chinaza Bado Harper Voyager Martha Wells Evergreen Links See all books from Season 21 Like the podcast? Get the book! I Should Be Writing. Socials: Bluesky, Instagram, YouTube, Focusmate Theme by John Anealio Savor I Should Be Writing tea blends Support local book stores! Station Eternity, Six Wakes, Solo: A Star Wars Story: Expanded Edition and more! OR Get signed books from my friendly local store, Flyleaf Books! — "Navigating the Trilogy: Insights from Chinaza Bado" is brought to you in large part by my supporters, the Fabulists, who received an early, expanded version of this episode. You can join our Fabulist community with a pledge on Patreon! Some of the links above may be affiliate, allowing you to support the show at no extra cost to you. Also consider leaving a review for ISBW, please! CREDITS Theme song by John Anealio, art by Numbers Ninja, and files hosted by Libsyn (affiliate link). Get archives of the show via Patreon. September 8, 2025 | Season 21 Ep 17 | murverse.com "Chinaza Bado and Navigating the Trilogy" by Mur Lafferty is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 In case it wasn't clear: Mur and this podcast are fully supportive of LGBTQ+ folks, believe that Black Lives Matter, and trans rights are human rights, despite which direction the political winds blow. If you do not agree, then there are plenty of other places to go on the Internet.

You have to celebrate your friends who are more successful than you. ~Jim Kelly In this special 20th anniversary episode of I Should Be Writing, recorded live at Worldcon 2025, I reunite with my mentor and long-time friend, James Patrick Kelly. We talk about the last two decades of writing, the evolution of our careers, and the ever-changing landscape of storytelling. We still face bullies like self-doubt and shiny new ideas, but we also explore strengths like community support and celebrating each other's successes. We discuss all the bullies unveiled, the concept of "bullies" that plague writers, including the Imposter Cop, the Blade, and the Nap. And as always we discuss how to handle creative hurdles. Transcript Links James Patrick Kelly The First Law of Thermodynamics Escape Pod Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. Evergreen Links See all books from Season 21 Like the podcast? Get the book! I Should Be Writing. Socials: Bluesky, Instagram, YouTube, Focusmate Theme by John Anealio Savor I Should Be Writing tea blends Support local book stores! Station Eternity, Six Wakes, Solo: A Star Wars Story: Expanded Edition and more! OR Get signed books from my friendly local store, Flyleaf Books! — Some of the links above may be affiliate, allowing you to support the show at no extra cost to you. Also consider leaving a review for ISBW, please! CREDITS Theme song by John Anealio, art by Numbers Ninja, and files hosted by Libsyn (affiliate link). Get archives of the show via Patreon. September 5, 2025 | Season 21 Ep 16 | murverse.com "20 Years of ISBW, Live from WorldCon with James Patrick Kelly!" by Mur Lafferty is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 In case it wasn't clear: Mur and this podcast are fully supportive of LGBTQ+ folks, believe that Black Lives Matter, and trans rights are human rights, despite which direction the political winds blow. If you do not agree, then there are plenty of other places to go on the Internet.

Content warning: since Spread Me is erotic horror, this episode has an explicit tag. I wrote it to have fun because I have written a lot of books that were not fun to write... -Sarah Gailey In this episode, we welcome Hugo winning author Sarah Gailey, author of Spread Me, as we explore the wild world of erotic horror. Sarah shares their journey of writing a novel that takes inspiration from John Carpenter's classic film, The Thing, blending horror and erotica and humor. We dive into the creative process behind Spread Me, discussing the unique premise of a research crew encountering a specimen with prurient interests, and how the protagonist's unusual attraction to viruses plays into the narrative. (viruses!) Sarah candidly reflects on the challenges of writing explicit content and the journey of finding the perfect title that captures the essence of their work. And we get Sarah's meticulous approach to outlining and how specificity in description enhances storytelling.  Then we fight book bans! It's a magical time. (This post went live for supporters on August 29, 2025. If you want early, ad-free, and sometimes expanded episodes, support at Patreon or get my newsletter at Ghost!) Transcript Links Sarah Gailey Nightfire Know Your Station Authors Against Book Bans Publishing Professionals Against Book Bans Evergreen Links See all books from Season 21 Like the podcast? Get the book! I Should Be Writing. Socials: Bluesky, Instagram, YouTube, Focusmate Theme by John Anealio Savor I Should Be Writing tea blends Support local book stores! Station Eternity, Six Wakes, Solo: A Star Wars Story: Expanded Edition and more! OR Get signed books from my friendly local store, Flyleaf Books! — "The Sweet Spot of Horror and Desire with Sarah Gailey" is brought to you in large part by my supporters, the Fabulists, who received an early, expanded version of this episode. You can join our Fabulist community with a pledge on Patreon! Some of the links above may be affiliate, allowing you to support the show at no extra cost to you. Also consider leaving a review for ISBW, please! CREDITS Theme song by John Anealio, art by Numbers Ninja, and files hosted by Libsyn (affiliate link). Get archives of the show via Patreon. September 1, 2025 | Season 21 Ep 15 | murverse.com "The Sweet Spot of Horror and Desire with Sarah Gailey" by Mur Lafferty is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 In case it wasn't clear: Mur and this podcast are fully supportive of LGBTQ+ folks, believe that Black Lives Matter, and trans rights are human rights, despite which direction the political winds blow. If you do not agree, then there are plenty of other places to go on the Internet.

I think I was a very... particular kind of undergraduate workshop student. -Dan Kois In this episode, I welcome my old classmate from UNC,  Dan Kois, Slate editor and author of Hampton Heights. We dive into our journey from college classmates to published authors. Both pro writers, we each took a very different path.  Dan shares the inspiration behind Hampton Heights, a thrilling adventure featuring four kids selling newspapers and encountering monsters unexpected relatives, and more.  Of course we discuss the struggles of self-doubt, the impact of mentorship, and the significance of continuing to write despite the obstacles.  Transcript Links Dan Kois Hampton Heights Slate Vintage Contemporaries Lynda Barry Evergreen Links See all books from Season 21 Like the podcast? Get the book! I Should Be Writing. Socials: Bluesky, Instagram, YouTube, Focusmate Theme by John Anealio Savor I Should Be Writing tea blends Support local book stores! Station Eternity, Six Wakes, Solo: A Star Wars Story: Expanded Edition and more! OR Get signed books from my friendly local store, Flyleaf Books! — "Chasing Monsters: A Journey Through Hampton Heights" is brought to you in large part by my supporters, the Fabulists, who received an early, expanded version of this episode. You can join our Fabulist community with a pledge on Patreon! Some of the links above may be affiliate, allowing you to support the show at no extra cost to you. Also consider leaving a review for ISBW, please! CREDITS Theme song by John Anealio, art by Numbers Ninja, and files hosted by Libsyn (affiliate link). Get archives of the show via Patreon. August 29, 2025 | Season 21 Ep 14 | murverse.com "Chasing Monsters: A Journey Through Hampton Heights" by Mur Lafferty is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 In case it wasn't clear: Mur and this podcast are fully supportive of LGBTQ+ folks, believe that Black Lives Matter, and trans rights are human rights, despite which direction the political winds blow. If you do not agree, then there are plenty of other places to go on the Internet.

Episode #386 of BGMania: A Video Game Music Podcast. Today on the show, Bryan closes out the month of August 2025 with another eclectic mix in Radio Hour, Volume 78! We're going on a sonic journey from Persian parkour to cyberpunk cemeteries and everywhere in between! This episode features fresh releases like The Rogue Prince of Persia and Mafia: The Old Country alongside incredible listener submissions from our Discord and Instagram community, including infectious J-pop from Yakuza 5, classic Yuzo Koshiro electronica from Streets of Rage 3, and beautiful indie melancholy from Villnoire. We spotlight Austin Wintory's masterful work on Sword of the Sea with three stunning oceanic tracks, plus Crypt Custodian, gritty underground sounds from Drug Dealer Simulator, and Daniel Pemberton's heroic Concord theme to round out another diverse Radio Hour adventure. Email the show at bgmaniapodcast@gmail.com with requests for upcoming episodes, questions, feedback, comments, concerns, or any other thoughts you'd like to share! Special thanks to our Executive Producers: Jexak, Xancu, Jeff & Mike. EPISODE PLAYLIST AND CREDITS Sunset Smackdown from Leximan [Jake Whittaker, 2024] The Rogue Prince of Persia from The Rogue Prince of Persia [Daniel Asadi feat. Xye, 2025] The Don's Daughter from Mafia: The Old Country [BT feat. the Czech National Symphony Orchestra, 2025] Mountain Rush from Herdling [Joel Schoch, 2025] Be the Star!! from Yakuza 5 [Chihiro Aoki feat. HIROMI, 2012] Inga Rasen from Streets Of Rage 3 [Yuzo Koshiro, 1994] Credits Theme from Villnoire [Clayton Stroup, 2019] One Drop Remained from Sword of the Sea [Austin Wintory, 2025] The Veiled Sea from Sword of the Sea [Austin Wintory, 2025] The Perfect Wave from Sword of the Sea [Austin Wintory, 2025] Neon Crest from Crypt Custodian [Eric Thompson, 2024] CoCo from Drug Dealer Simulator [K. Pietras, 2020] Main Theme from Concord [Daniel Pemberton, 2024] Strange Journey from Dear me, I was... [Satoshi Okubo feat. ITSUKA, 2025] LINKS Patreon: https://patreon.com/bgmania Website: https://bgmania.podbean.com/ Discord: https://discord.gg/cC73Heu Facebook: BGManiaPodcast X: BGManiaPodcast Instagram: BGManiaPodcast TikTok: BGManiaPodcast YouTube: BGManiaPodcast Twitch: BGManiaPodcast PODCAST NETWORK Very Good Music: A VGM Podcast Listening Religiously

'Reformed Pantser' is one of the most difficult things to be. -Seth Haddon In this episode, we welcome Seth Haddon, the talented Australian author behind Volatile Memory. We cover hybrid publishing, writing routines, and pursuing nuns. Volatile Memory explores themes of transhumanism and identity within a corporate-dominated future. Also  haunted masks. And love. (This post went live for supporters on August 25, 2025. If you want early, ad-free, and sometimes expanded episodes, support at Patreon or get my newsletter at Ghost!) Transcript Links Volatile Memory Blind Eye Books Reactor Seth on Internet, Instagram, and Patreon Evergreen Links See all books from Season 21 Like the podcast? Get the book! I Should Be Writing. Socials: Bluesky, Instagram, YouTube, Focusmate Theme by John Anealio Savor I Should Be Writing tea blends Support local book stores! Station Eternity, Six Wakes, Solo: A Star Wars Story: Expanded Edition and more! OR Get signed books from my friendly local store, Flyleaf Books! — "The Haunted Mask: Exploring Volatile Memory with Seth Haddon" is brought to you in large part by my supporters, the Fabulists, who received an early, expanded version of this episode. You can join our Fabulist community with a pledge on Patreon or support via Ghost!! Some of the links above may be affiliate, allowing you to support the show at no extra cost to you. Also consider leaving a review for ISBW, please! CREDITS Theme song by John Anealio, art by Numbers Ninja, and files hosted by Libsyn (affiliate link). Get archives of the show via Patreon. August 25, 2025 | Season 21 Ep 13 | murverse.com "The Haunted Mask: Exploring Volatile Memory with Seth Haddon" by Mur Lafferty is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 In case it wasn't clear: Mur and this podcast are fully supportive of LGBTQ+ folks, believe that Black Lives Matter, and trans rights are human rights, despite which direction the political winds blow. If you do not agree, then there are plenty of other places to go on the Internet.

"Nothing's easy, man; being an adult sucks." -Mur Lafferty In this episode, we dive deep into Bully #5: The Nap. We discuss the sneaky ways the Nap can derail our writing plans. Rest is vital, but The Nap isn't rest. It's escape. We also discusses the importance of sleep hygiene and how to combat the allure of a cozy nap when creativity calls.  We touch on the other bullies we've encountered along the way, including Bart, The Blade, The Sponge, and Despair, each representing unique obstacles in the creative process. (Still 3 to go!) (This post went live for supporters on August 21, 2025. If you want early, ad-free, and sometimes expanded episodes, support at Patreon or get my newsletter at Ghost! Transcript Links Flyleaf Books Escape Pod Salvadore Dali (recently I discovered his admiration of fascism, so I won't be linking to him.) Evergreen Links See all books from Season 21 Like the podcast? Get the book! I Should Be Writing. Socials: Bluesky, Instagram, YouTube, Focusmate Theme by John Anealio Savor I Should Be Writing tea blends Support local book stores! Station Eternity, Six Wakes, Solo: A Star Wars Story: Expanded Edition and more! OR Get signed books from my friendly local store, Flyleaf Books! — "The Silent Bully: The Nap" is brought to you in large part by my supporters, the Fabulists, who received an early, expanded version of this episode. You can join our Fabulist community with a pledge on Patreon! Some of the links above may be affiliate, allowing you to support the show at no extra cost to you. Also consider leaving a review for ISBW, please! CREDITS Theme song by John Anealio, art by Numbers Ninja, and files hosted by Libsyn (affiliate link). Get archives of the show via Patreon. August 22, 2025 | Season 21 Ep 12 | murverse.com "The Silent Bully: The Nap" by Mur Lafferty is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 In case it wasn't clear: Mur and this podcast are fully supportive of LGBTQ+ folks, believe that Black Lives Matter, and trans rights are human rights, despite which direction the political winds blow. If you do not agree, then there are plenty of other places to go on the Internet.