Podcast appearances and mentions of David Sedaris

I'm a big fan of Nathalia (Nat) Holt's books, and am so excited to have the opportunity to talk to her about her new book, The Beast in the Clouds: The Roosevelt Brothers' Deadly Quest to Find the Mythical Giant Panda. I first met Nat when her book Cured: The People Who Defeated HIV came out and I attended a book event at Dartmouth Medical Center. She is so smart and curious and in this episode we will be talking about the process of researching elusive history, where her ideas come from, and who gets to tell what stories. Nathalia Holt's websiteTranscript below!EPISODE 455 - TRANSCRIPTJess LaheyHey, AmWriters! It's Jess Lahey here. I am so excited to talk about a new series that I am putting out there on the Hashtag AmWriting platform called From Soup to Nuts. I interview and work with and mentor an author—a nonfiction author—who has subject matter expertise and a killer idea, frankly, that just knocked me sideways. This author really thinks this is the time and place for this idea. And I agreed, and I asked her—I begged her—if I could mentor her through this process in a series. We're having to work together on agenting and proposal and all the stuff that you've got to do, from soup to nuts, to get a book out into the world. This series, From Soup to Nuts, is subscriber-only. The first episode is free, so you can go back and listen to that. That's for everyone. But if you want to join us for the whole process and learn from her mistakes—and learn from the stuff that I'm working on right now too—you have to subscribe. So consider supporting the Hashtag AmWriting podcast. It helps us bring you stuff like this—these extra series—not to mention the podcast itself. Alright, it's a lot of work. Help us support our podcast and these extra bonus series. By becoming a supporter, you'll get a sticker for it. You'll get your hypothetical, figurative sticker for being a good Hashtag AmWriting.Multiple speakers:Is it recording? Now it's recording, yay. Go ahead. This is the part where I stare blankly at the microphone. I don't 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.Jess LaheyHey, this is the Hashtag AmWriting podcast. This is the podcast about writing all the things—writing the short things, writing the long things, writing the queries, the proposals, the poetry, the fiction, the nonfiction. This is the podcast actually, at its heart, about getting the work done. I am Jess Lahey. I am your host today. I'm the author of the New York Times best-selling The Gift of Failure and The Addiction Inoculation. And you can find my journalism at The New York Times and The Atlantic and The Washington Post. And today I am interviewing an author I respect deeply. I have known this author since she wrote her first book, which overlapped with some work that my husband does and some work that I had done in a previous career, and she has gone on to have a glorious and enviable career in nonfiction. My dream has always been to be one of those people that can, like, get curious about a topic and then just go off and write about that topic. And this is what she does. So Natalia—NAT—Holt, I am so excited to introduce you to our listeners. They are deep, deep, deep lovers of the nuts and bolts and the geeky details of the writing and the process. So welcome to the Hashtag AmWriting podcast.Nathalia HoltThank you so much. I'm excited to talk to you today.Jess LaheySo we have a book on HIV—the first book, Cured, which is the way that I got to know you. Also, full disclosure, we share an agent. Laurie Abkemeier is our agent, and I think she actually may have introduced us in the first place. Yeah, your first book—yeah, your first book, Cured, about the Berlin patients. Really interesting—if you've never heard of the Berlin patients, listeners, just, just Google it. It's really a fascinating story. I'll go over—I'll go read Cured. Cured is all about the Berlin patients. And then we have The Queens of Animation—the women behind, sort of, the way Disney does what they do. And—and—and then we also have Rise of the Rocket Girls, which is another fascinating book out there about the women behind a lot of the math and the planning and the work that was done to get us into space. And so when I heard about your new book, I'm like, "Oh, NAT's working on a new book. Great! What women are we going to talk about this time?" And it's such a departure for you, and it is such a fascinating topic for you. And, well, for me, it's like—it's deep in my geeky, Jess-book-loving nonfiction zone. Could you tell us a little bit about it and where the idea came from for this book?Nathalia HoltSure. The book is called The Beast in the Clouds, and it's about an expedition that the two eldest sons of President Theodore Roosevelt took in 1928 and 1929. And they went to China and Tibet in search of the giant panda, which at that time was unknown to Western scientists. And even in China, there were very few people that were aware of where this animal lived, what it ate—so little was known. So during this time period, the 1920s, you have all of these expeditions going to China, trying to find this black-and-white bear that no one is really sure exists. It's just a crazy period of history, because you have all of the other bears at that time—even polar bears—were known and even were in zoos. But the panda was not, and many people even thought it would be a ferocious bear. They thought this was going to be, you know, a combination of polar and black bears.Jess LaheyYeah, yeah.Nathalia HoltSo that's what the Roosevelts are going to. And so the expedition ends up being torturous, deadly. They're going through the Himalayas. They're not very well prepared. They lose all their food. They're attacked. They get lost. Just every crazy thing happens to them. But it's also a journey of transformation. They're documenting all of the ecology around them, and it really ends up changing their own worldview. And so it was such a fun book to research and to write. And I spent a lot of time also going into many of the other ex—many of the other members of the expedition, which was—which was fun, and maybe a little bit different than other books in this genre. But yeah, for me, you know, it's scary to be writing a part of history that is very different than what I've done before—but it's also fun.Jess LaheyWhere'd the germ of the idea for the book come from? Because I had never heard this story before. I guess it had just never occurred to me—like, where do we—how do we know about the panda bear?Nathalia HoltYeah, it's not a topic that has been written about much before, and I came across it while I was researching my last book, which is called Wise Gals, and is about women that helped form the CIA. And as part of that book, I was looking into the Roosevelts' role in World War Two. And it's so confusing when you research the Roosevelts, because they all have the same name. It's just Theodore and...Jess LaheyActually, I have to tell you, Tim's a huge fan—my husband, Tim, who you also know, is a big fan and has read a lot about—and he's like, "Well, which Roosevelt?" So you—and I'm like, "Oh, that's a really good question. I don't know which Roosevelt... like, the adventuring ones." He's like, "Well..." [unintelligible]Nathalia HoltYeah, there's so many of them, and they all have the same name. And so as I was trying to parse out son and father—who are both named Kermit Roosevelt and both served in World War Two—I kind of stumbled across this expedition that the elder Kermit Roosevelt had taken. So he and his older brother, Theodore, who were the sons of President Theodore Roosevelt, and so it just kind of—it came from there. Just sort of came from wanting to learn more about it. And I always love a challenge. If there's a topic that's difficult to research, that seems impossible to find anything about—I'm there. I want to know everything.Jess LaheyYeah. So, okay, so here's a—really a question that I—well, first of all, you and I are both research geeks. I just—I have said I could just keep researching books and not actually write the books. I just love that process. So aside from the easy answer, which is Google, like, where do you start with a story that hasn't been told yet? How do you start diving into that story, and where do you find information?Nathalia HoltIt's difficult, and it depends on the topic. For this one, I went through a number of different archives, and that was great. I was able to get old letters that the Roosevelts had. But I really wanted to bring in other voices. I was really, really persistent in my desire to bring in Jack Young, who was this young, 19-year-old, Hawaiian-born translator and naturalist on the trip. And I was fortunate enough that I was able to track down some interviews he had done with another author back in the 1990s, and I just was persistent. I just pleaded until I got these tapes and was able to get all these interviews with him. And then I also contacted his daughter, who lives in Hawaii, and was able to get his unpublished autobiography. And it gives such an interesting perspective, because Jack Young went on and became a very impressive person and really deserves a biography all of his own, but he was also very close friends with the Roosevelts. They had a real connection—a real bond. And you get a different sense of the story when you're hearing it through his descriptions of what it was like, because he is young, and he is sort of really documenting things for the first time. And then, in addition, I was so lucky with this book because I was able to also get the field journals from a scientist that was on the expedition, as well as all the writings from another naturalist. So it was fascinating, because there were so many different accounts of the same events, which really lets you go into detail about what it was like, what people were feeling, what they were seeing. And I don't think I've ever had that before—where I have so many different accounts of the exact same events.Jess LaheyThat's really cool, because it gives you that ability to, you know—if we went with just Jack Young's account, then you've got the Jack Young lens. And as you well know, history gets to be told by certain people, unless someone like you comes along and says, "Oh, wait, this account has not been brought to the surface," whether it's the women who are the animators at Disney, or whether it's the women who are part of NASA. So how do you—if you go into something like this and you have a limited number of perspectives—it sounds like you had a fair number of perspectives going into this, but since the documentation happened—usually tends to happen among the more powerful, the more privileged people—how do you manage getting a full perspective on an event like this expedition when you may have limited perspectives?Nathalia HoltThat is the real challenge, because it's easy to get the Roosevelts' documentation.Jess LaheyYeah, yeah, yeah.Nathalia HoltI have all of their journals, all of their letters. I am able to get into real detail about what this expedition was like for them. Even the difficult parts—for them—they really documented that, and everything has been saved. For the others... it's much more difficult, and it really requires that persistence of being able to get the letters. Being able to get the autobiography was really key, because he goes into so much detail about what things were like. And these interviews that he did were also really, really helpful, because he goes into a lot of his feelings about what it was like to be with the Roosevelts on the expedition, about how he felt… Because his father was born in China, his mother was born in San Francisco, he himself was born in Hawaii—which, at that time, is not part of the U.S.—he feels like he doesn't have a country. He doesn't know where he is. So when he's in China, he can speak all of these languages, but he's still struggling to connect and be able to talk with people, because there are so many dialects.Jess LaheyYeah.Nathalia HoltAnd so to be able to get into what that was like, and how he felt—just gives such a perspective—a different perspective of the expedition than perhaps what is usually had in these kinds of books. And he also talks a lot about the guides on the expedition, which was really interesting. There were a lot of women that were part of this expedition. Half of the guides, who kind of act as Sherpas—they, you know, they carry things, they lead the way, they guide the route, they make camp. And so there are just some great moments with these guides—especially the women guides—where they are just protecting from crazy marauders that have come down and have attacked the group. And lots of great moments like that. That was really interesting to document. And in addition, another thing I was able to get for this book is—there was actually some early video and a lot of photographs that were taken.Jess LaheyOh my goodness.Nathalia HoltBy one of the members. And that is just such an incredible thing—to be looking at video of this expedition in the 1920s—it's just amazing.Jess LaheyOkay, so geek question here, since this is definitely what our listeners like the most. So I haven't laid hands on the book yet, because it's not out yet—did you put photographs in the book? Were you able to get access to photographs, and did you put them in the book? And I ask that because whenever I write a proposal or we're working on a book proposal, we have to indicate whether or not there's going to be artwork, and that changes things in terms of budget, and it changes things in terms of permissions and stuff. And I was curious about—I've never dealt with that side of it before, but maybe you have.Nathalia HoltI have. I've always sent photographs, and I love it. Because I feel like it helps when you read the book—especially a book like this.Jess LaheyYeah.Nathalia HoltYou know, when I'm describing what they look like, and where they are, you want to see it with your own eyes. And so it's really interesting to be able to see those photographs. And I had so many, and it's always a challenge to parse out—who has the permissions? Where do they come from? Finding the photographs—this always takes forever. Fortunately, this particular book was maybe a little bit easier, because a lot of the photographs are out of copyright, that had been published at that time. So that was nice. But yeah, no, it was still just a mess, as it always is. It's always a mess to figure out who do photographs belong to. I feel like I would love to become a lawyer—just for that moment in researching a book.Jess LaheyThat's a whole layer I've never had to go into. And it was easier for me to—rather than just say, "Yeah, I'd like to include this one thing," and then I realized the nightmare that's ahead of me in terms of accessing and getting permission and all that stuff. I'm like, "Eh! Let's just stick with what we got in the print." But, for something like this—and especially when you're writing about, for example, animation, or if you're writing about, you know, this expedition, and there's art available—you know, it sounds like it's really, really worth it for that aspect. I mean, that's definitely something I would want in this book. So I think I know the answer to this question. This is a heavily loaded question, but are you—when it comes to research and it comes to what you include in the book—are you an overwriter or an underwriter? Or do you land pretty much—like, when you're doing your editing, are you like, "Oh no, this was the perfect amount to include?"Nathalia HoltOh, I'm a terrible overwriter.Jess LaheyOh. So am I!Nathalia HoltIt's really a problem. But I worked very hard on this book at cutting, and it was not easy for me, because I do always tend to go way overboard. I'm always over the word count that I'm supposed to be at—with the exception of this book, where I did a very good job of cutting it down and really trying to focus and not, you know, getting too distracted.Jess LaheyYeah, we joke all the time with my other co-hosts and friends that my—like, my history sections in both of my books could have been half of the book or, you know... and all the stuff that ends up on the floor ends up getting told in cocktail parties. You know, "By the way, did you know how many, you know, kegs of beer there were on the ships that came over? I do. Can I share? Because I did all this work and I've got to put it somewhere." And there's this weird—there's this weird line between, "Look, look how thorough I am. Can I have an A+ for how thorough I am?" versus what your reader might actually be interested in. I keep some of my favorite notes from my former editor, and she's like, "Yeah, the reader... no. Reader doesn't care. Not going to care. You know, this may be really fun for you, but maybe not for your reader." So—but I can imagine with something like this, you know, the details of the flora and fauna and all that other stuff—it would be really easy to get off on tangents that are not necessary for the core mission.Nathalia HoltYes, absolutely. But in some ways it was easier than my past books, because it only takes place over a year, which is incredible. Most of my books take place over decades, and the cast of characters is much smaller as well. And unlike some of my past books, I feel like I need to include everyone out of fairness—which is kind of a weird way to approach a book. I don't recommend it. That's not the way to do things. But yeah, if you're really just looking at a few—a handful of people—over a year, it's much easier to stay on track. So that was a good exercise for me.Jess LaheyYeah, there's a—there's a line I love, where David Sedaris talks about the fact that what it takes for him to purchase something is if the clerk at the store has gone to the trouble to take it out of the case, to show it to him, and then he feels like he has to buy it because he—someone went through the trouble. And same thing for me. If, like, someone's going to go to the trouble to be interviewed, then cutting that entire interview, or cutting that whole through line, or whatever that person is a part of, is incredibly painful to do. And then I feel like—I feel obligated. So it's a difficult—it's a difficult balance, you know, between what your readers are going to actually want and what makes for a good book, versus doing right by the people who spent time talking to you. It's a hard balance to strike. Alright, speaking of being in the weeds and geek questions—so I'd love to talk to you a little bit. I was just—I'm mentoring someone for a little series we're doing for this podcast, sort of from soup to nuts, from the beginning of an—from the inception of an idea to getting a book out. And the very first thing she did was send something to me in a Pages document. And I had to say, "Hey, you might want to think about using Word or maybe Google Docs, because, like, I don't have Pages." So—some details about how you work. Number one, do you have a preferred app that you like to write in? Because I'm a Scrivener gal.Nathalia HoltI mean, I prefer Word because I feel like it is the most universal. It's the easiest to send to people... and so that's what I go with.Jess LaheyYeah, I use Scrivener only because it allows me to blank out the rest of the world really easily. Okay, and then organizing your research. This is something—the question of organizing your research, how you know you're done researching and really just need to actually start writing the words—are the two questions that I get the most. Because the research could go—especially on a topic like this—could go on forever. So number one, given this voluminous research that you had, how do you organize your research? Do you use folders on your computer? Do you use folders in—you know—how do you do all of that?Nathalia HoltI do folders on my computer, and then I also do hard copies that I actually keep organized in real folders, which helps me, because then, if I'm going into a specific topic, a lot of times it can be easier to actually hold on to those documents and being able to see them. So I do both. Um, and...Jess LaheyHas everything pretty much been digitized in this area? Do you feel like—or do you have to go into rooms and, like, actually look at paper documents, and sometimes they don't let you scan those? So, you know, how does that work for you?Nathalia Holt Yes, it's very difficult if they don't allow you to photograph them. Usually they do. Usually you can. So I have always had to digitize documents, and there's so many different ways to do it, but now it's much easier just to use your phone than anything else, which is great. Very happy about this development. And yeah, I think—I think maybe that's part of the reason why I do like to print things out is because that's how I was first introduced to the material, so it can be useful for me. But there's way too much material to print everything out. I mean, there's so many hundreds, thousands of pages even. And so it's always just going to be sort of key documents that end up making their way into the actual folders, and then the rest—it's just, you know, organized by topic. Make sure images are separate, by person.Jess LaheySo then, how do you know you're done? Like, how do you feel like you're at a place where I now know enough to come at this from—to come at the storytelling from an informed place?Nathalia HoltThat is really a good question, and I'm not sure I can answer it, because I feel like you're never done. You're always going to be researching. There's no real end to it.Jess LaheyBut you have to start. Well, and this—this takes—this is separate from the question of, like, how much research—how much research do you have to have done for the book proposal? Like take it for example, for example, The Addiction Inoculation, where I needed to learn, really, a whole new area... that was a year-long process just to write the proposal for that book, and then another couple years for the book. So, for me—and I'm very happy to say—I got to ask Michael Pollan this question, and he had the same answer that I feel like is my instinctual answer for this, which is when I start to say, "Oh, I'm starting to repeat. Things are starting to repeat for me," and/or, "Oh, I already knew that," and so I'm not finding out new stuff or encountering things I don't already know at the same rate. It's starting to sort of level off. Then I feel like, "Oh, I've got this sort of, like, you know, mile-high view of the—of the information," and I maybe have enough in my head to start actually being an expert on this thing.Nathalia HoltThat's a good answer. That sounds responsible. I'm not sure that I do that, though. I think for myself, there's not a bad time to start, because it's going to change so much anyway, that for me, I almost feel like it's part of the learning process. Is that you start to write about it, and then as you go along, you realize, "Oh, this is not right. I'm going to change all of this," but it's all just part of helping you move along. And I think even from the beginning, if you start writing even just bits and pieces of how you want to write the scene, you want to think about this or outline it, that can be helpful, and it doesn't matter, because it's all going to change anyway.Jess LaheyThat's true. I actually find I write—the way I write is very specific, in that each topic I'm going to write about in a chapter has a narrative arc, story that goes with it. So I—that narrative arc story gets written first, and then I drop the research in as I go along. But I remember, with The Gift of Failure, a book came out that had a key piece of research that then I had to go back and figure out, "Oh my gosh, this impacts everything." And so I had to figure out how to sort of drop that in. And I couldn't have done it at any other time, because the research didn't exist or I hadn't found it yet. So that's a tough thing to do, is to go back and sort of link the things to something new that you think is important. But the research part is just so much fun for me. Again, I could do that forever and ever and ever. Do you? So the other thing I wanted to ask... and this is selfishly... do you have large boxes in your home of all the research that you feel like you can't get rid of, even though you wrote the book, like, five years ago, ten years ago?Nathalia HoltI do not. I pare down.Jess LaheyYou do?!Nathalia HoltAfter time, yes. It's hard to do, though, because it's hard to throw things away, and I definitely have folders that I keep. They're just full of things that I can never get rid of. And obviously it's all digitized as well, but there are things like that that mean a lot to me, that I can't get rid of.Jess LaheyWell, there's actually—this was a very selfish question, because I actually just went through and finally got rid of a whole bunch of stuff that... I felt like it was at the heart—it was the main research for The Gift of Failure, and I used it to mulch my gardens. I put—and so it was like this metaphorical kind of, like, knowledge feeding the thing that I care about the most right now. And so I used it to mulch all the paths in my gardens and create new garden beds and stuff like that. But I'm always curious about that. Like, I every once in a while see something on, like, "X"—what used to be Twitter—or someplace like that, like, can I get rid of the research from the book I wrote 25 years ago? Or is that too soon? Well, so when exactly does the book come out? Give us your—give us your pub date.Nathalia HoltIt comes out July 1st.Jess LaheyOkay. And I have to say... cover is gorgeous. How did you land on that cover image?Nathalia HoltOh, I really didn't get much say.Jess Lahey Okay.Nathalia HoltThe one thing I—I mean, you know, they have whole people that have skills that do these things, but one thing I was very passionate about was keeping the brothers on the cover in their expedition gear. So originally, the publisher had wanted them to be in suits on the front, and I just hated it. I hated it so much, because I feel like they need to be on the trail. You need to see them as they were on the trail. And so that's one thing I really pushed for. And I was fortunate that they—they listened, and they were okay with that.Jess LaheyWell, I'm just—I mean, this book is going to have such a great place alongside books like The River of Doubt and other, you know, really wonderful books that are about the expositions—that the expeditions that get taken by these historical fixtures—figures. And I'm just—I'm so excited for this book. I'm so happy for you about this book, because it is just—when I started telling people about the topic, they're like, "Oh, I would read that." And I'm like, "I know! Isn't that the best idea?" And that's part of the magic, is coming upon the really cool idea. And so I'm just really, really happy for you and really, really happy about this book and excited for it.Nathalia HoltThank you. Oh, that's so nice to hear, especially because this was a very difficult book to get published. I mean, there was a real moment where I wasn't sure I was going to find someone that would...Jess LaheyWell, can you—I didn't want to ask it. You know, this is—having—doing a podcast like this, where we often talk about the mistakes, we talk about the blunders, we talk about the stuff that went wrong. It can be really, really hard because you don't want to bite the hand that feeds you, or you don't want to, like, make anyone think that this book wasn't anything other than a 100% lovely experience from beginning to end. But I would love to talk about that, if you're willing.Nathalia HoltOh, sure. I don't really have anything bad to say about anyone. I think it's—I think it's understandable that people wouldn't naturally think I would be the best author to write this. I haven't written other books like it, and so it was a difficult book to sell. It wasn't easy, and it definitely crystallized to me how important it was that I write it. I really felt like this was my purpose. I really wanted to write it, and maybe it's good to have that moment, because it really makes it clear that this is something you need to do, even if it's not easy, even if it's tough to find a publisher. And I was fortunate that I did. You know, luckily, there was an editor that—sort of at the last minute—believed in it enough to give it a go. And yeah, it's just—it always feels like a miracle when the book comes to fruition and is actually published. It just seems as if that could never really happen, and this one was a difficult road to get there, for sure.Jess LaheyWell, especially since a big part of the proposal process is trying to convince someone that you're the—you're the person to write this book. And in this case, it's not so much because you're a subject matter expert going into it. It's that you're a really good researcher, and you're a meticulous writer and a meticulous researcher, and most importantly, this story speaks to you. And I think, you know, some of my very favorite nonfiction books that I recommend over and over and over again—narrative nonfiction—it's clear in the reading how excited the author was about the story, and I think that's part of the magic. So I think you're the perfect person to write it. I don't know what they could have—because if you are—if you're fired up about the story... And as an English teacher, and as someone who's had to convince middle school students why they need to be excited about this thing I want to teach them, the enthusiasm of the teacher is part of what can spark the engagement for the learner. So I think that's a really, really important part of any book. Plus, you got to—you're—as an author, you're going to have to be out there talking about this thing, and so you better love the topic, because you're going to be talking about it for ages.Nathalia HoltYes, absolutely. I mean, no matter what, this is many years of your life that's dedicated to a topic. But I think it's—it's a good lesson in general, that you can write in one genre and one kind of book for years, and then it might not be easy, but it is possible to actually break out of that and find other topics and other things you want to write about. We grow. We all change.Jess LaheyYeah, one of my—one of, as our listeners will know, Sarina Bowen, one of my co-hosts and one of my best friends—she's—she has written romance forever and ever and ever, and she's like, "You know what? I want to write a thriller," and it has been a really steep learning curve and also a huge effort to sort of convince people that she can do that too. But it's also really, really satisfying when you show your chops in another area. So—and I had an—as I was going through sort of the details about this book, and reading about this book, I was thinking, you know what this would be really, really good for? An exhibit at someplace like the Field Museum, or like an exhibit of—oh my gosh, that would be incredible. Like, if this is a story that hasn't been told, and there's a lot of art, and there may be video and photographs and all—and journals—man, that would make for an amazing—if anyone out there is listening, that would make for an amazing museum exhibit, I think. And of course, everyone's listening to me.Nathalia HoltThat would be amazing.Jess LaheyEveryone is listening to me...Nathalia Holt Oh, well, they should.Jess LaheyAll right. Well, thank you so, so much. Where can people find you? And is there anything else you'd like to talk about that you're working on or that you're excited about? Besides, you know, just getting this book out into the world?Nathalia HoltYou can find me at nathaliaholt.com and on Instagram and Facebook and X @NathaliaHolt. And yeah, right now I'm pretty much focused on this book. I have something else percolating, but it's still away a good days. So it's the fun research part. Isn't that...?Jess LaheyYou will notice I did not ask you what's next, because to be asked what's next when you haven't even birthed the thing you're working on now can be a little irritating. So as someone who's aware of this inside baseball, I didn't even. Later on—privately—I would love, because I'm a big fan, big excited about your work, and love, love introducing people to your work. So I think—and also, one of the things we talk about a lot on this podcast is having books that are exemplars of good research, of good storytelling. I have a stack of books that I keep near me when I need to dissect something to get at—oh, this person did a really good job with, for example, historical research, or this person did a really good job of using their expert voice, and I need to tap into that today. I think your books are—would be excellent, excellent selections for our listeners, for their pile of exemplars for really well-done research and telling other people's stories—historical stories that occur in a sort of in a modern context. Your books are really dissectible, and I know that's super high-level geek stuff, but they've really helped me become a better storyteller as well.Nathalia HoltThank you. That's so kind of you. I really appreciate that.Jess LaheyAll right, everyone—go get the book, read the book. Don't forget to pre-order, because that really matters to us authors, and don't forget to review it wherever you purchased it, once you have read it. And Nat, thank you so much. And I apologize for calling you Natalia at the top of the hour. I'm so just so used to doing that—Nat. 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

Meg Wolitzer presents four works that consider various forms of risk, and risk taking.  In “Clicking on Heaven's Door,” by Anand Giridharadas, performed by Negin Farsad, the pearly gates require an online account, a password, a security question…you get the idea.  “The Stand-In,” by Gerald Jones and Jean Marple, imagines a unique job. It's read by Tony Hale.  David Sedaris creates the ultimate in well-meant interference in other people's lives—oh, and there's a parrot.  “Farnsworth” is read by Jessica Keenan Wynn.  And—dining at the end of the world.  Where's the waiter?  Robin Hemley's “The Last Customer,” is read by Jane Curtin and Mike Doyle.

Over the course of his 40-year career, Larry Charles has had two central creative relationships with Larry David (‘Seinfeld' and ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm') and Sacha Baron Cohen (‘Borat' and ‘Brüno'). Now, he reveals in a new memoir that he hasn't spoken to either man in years. In his return to The Last Laugh podcast, Charles breaks down how it all fell apart with two comedians he still considers complicated geniuses. He shares stories about how ‘Seinfeld' solved its early Elaine problem after Julia Louis-Dreyfus came to the creators sobbing and reveals why a young David Sedaris turned down an offer to write for ‘Seinfeld.' Charles also discloses what exactly it was about his HBO documentary that Larry David couldn't stand, shares his thoughts about friends Bill Maher and Cheryl Hines flirting with MAGA, explains why there was a time he would have literally “died” for Sacha Baron Cohen and what went so wrong with their final collaboration ‘The Dictator.' Buy Larry Charles' new memoir ‘Comedy Samurai: Forty Years of Blood, Guts, and Laughter'Follow Larry Charles on Instagram @larrycharlesFollow Matt Wilstein on Bluesky @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Guest Cindy House is the author Mother Noise, a memoir in essays and a regular opener for David Sedaris on his tours across the country. She teaches nonfiction in the Lesley University MFA program and memoir writing at the Gotham Writers Workshop. She also offers private writing classes. Summary This podcast episode explores the art of memoir writing with Cindy House, my memoir writing coach. My conversation with Cindy delved into the memoir's rising popularity and its essential elements. Cindy emphasizes curiosity as the foundation of writing—be still my curious soul!—and how memoir differs from autobiography by focusing on specific aspect of one's life rather than a comprehensive account. Our conversation also covers the major elements of memoirs, including the importance of a central dramatic question, its supporting thematic framework, and the structure that holds everything together. Cindy shares insights on overcoming writer's resistance and self-doubt, offering practical strategies for perseverance. The episode also tackles the complex nature of truth in memoir writing, highlighting the significance of personal perspective over historical accuracy. Three Key Takeaways: Curiosity drives the writing process and is essential for personal and creative growth. Memoir writing focuses on specific life aspects and requires a central dramatic question and thematic framework. Truth in a memoir is often subjective, relying on personal experience and memory rather than historical accuracy. Social Media Website Writer Noise Substack Email

In this episode of the Open Bedroom Podcast, I explore the importance of nurturing one-on-one time—what I call “dyad dates”—with each partner in a polyamorous relationship. I share personal stories about my connections with Scott, Jess, and Steph, highlighting how each relationship is unique and requires individual attention. I discuss the different needs and dynamics within each partnership, offering my insights and advice on fostering intimacy, communication, and deeper connections in polyamorous arrangements. I encourage listeners to prioritize individual relationships for stronger, more fulfilling connections.Defining Dyad Dates & Relationship Dynamics (00:01:16) Explains "dyad" meaning, outlines her relationships with Scott, Jess, and Steph, and the importance of one-on-one time.Challenges of Scheduling Dyad Dates (00:02:26) Discusses logistical difficulties in arranging alone time for Scott and Jess, and creative solutions.Erotic Blueprints & Partner Needs (00:03:35) Explains erotic blueprints, how each partner experiences love and connection differently, and how this affects intimacy.Planning Dyad Dates & Overcoming Assumptions (00:05:56) Jen shares her assumptions about Steph's preferences and how she initiated a sleepover to support Scott and Jess's alone time.Jess and Scott's Sensual Night (00:08:06) Details Jess and Scott's date, including the sundress fantasy, horror movie, and their intimate connection.Steph and Jen's Primal Night (00:10:02) Describes the sensual and primal dynamic between Jen and Steph, including their exploration of fantasies and fishnet outfits.The Importance of Individual Dyad Experiences (00:14:53) Highlights how each dyad's intimacy is unique and why one-on-one time matters in polyamorous relationships.Non-Sexual Dyad Time: David Sedaris Outing (00:15:52) Shares a non-sexual example: Jen and Steph attending a David Sedaris show together.Food Play and Sensuality with Jess (00:16:56) Describes a sensual night with Jess involving food play, snacks, and tailored experiences based on Jess's preferences.Exploring New Toys with Jess (00:18:54) Talks about introducing new toys into her relationship with Jess and their shared experiences.Normalizing Open Relationships & Coaching Offer (00:20:01) Jen normalizes open relationships, shares her coaching services, and encourages listeners to reach out for support.Coaching With JenJen's Website

Saul Bellow wrote, “Losing a parent is something like driving through a plate-glass window. You didn't know it was there until it shattered, and then for years to come you're picking up the pieces.” In honor of Father's day, we offer some thoughts about parental relationships that you may find helpful as you pick up your own pieces of glass, and maybe a few splinters.  https://bit.ly/4l8cvXf In this Episode:02:54 - Road Trip: Virginia and Pimento Cheese Recipe04:21 - Patrick Henry's Famous Speech06:52 - Essay by David Sedaris on the Death of His Father, "Orphaned at Last"18:08 - Leo Tolstoy - The Old Grandfather and the Grandson19:42 - OutroSupport the showGet show notes and resources at our website: every1dies.org. Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | mail@every1dies.org

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit chrisryan.substack.comLet's get into it! Issues discussed include: Scott Galloway on the sickness of money, David Sedaris on the sickness of fame, Why some people sacrifice intimacy for attention, and Was it hard for me to transition out of my “adventure years” into “settling down?”

"Accentuate the Positive: The Music of Arlen and Mercer” is a concert-cabaret show premiering at The Breman this Sunday. Flying Carpet Theatre founder Adam Koplan and executive director of The Breman, Leslie Gordon discuss the timeless classics and melodies Johnny Mercer and Harold Arlen wrote throughout their career. Plus, WABE music contributor Dr. Scott Stewart looks at the latest summer blockbuster soundtracks in “Music in Media.” And we listen back to one of Lois’ “Farewell Favorite” segments with humorist and author David Sedaris discussing his book, “Happy Go Lucky."See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Alessandro Barbaglia ci porta nella quarta stagione di Shelf, con qualche novità. In questa puntata con Alessandro Barbaglia anche Marco Ballarè con le parole che hanno a che fare con gli occhi, Eleonora C. Caruso, che confronta Heartbreak Hotel di Micol Beltraminie Agnese Innocente con Muori romantica di Matteo Grilli e Sara Cattai, ospite della puntata, libraia della libreria Piena di LisbonaInoltre, si può partecipare a Shelf, inviando un breve messaggio vocale tramite Whatsapp al numero 3489128916: se ti va, puoi raccontarci cosa stai leggendo, dove e se ti sta piacendo!***SHELF. IL POSTO DEI LIBRIDi Alessandro Barbaglia. Con: Eleonora C. Caruso, Chiara Sgarbi, Manlio Castagna, Marco Ballarè.Realizzato da Mondadori StudiosA cura di Miriam Spinnato, Elena Marinelli, Danilo Di TerminiProgetto grafico di Francesco PoroliMusiche di Gianluigi CarloneMontaggio e post produzione Indiehub studio***Con l'invio del tuo contributo audio dichiari di accettare le condizioni del servizio podcast disponibili al seguente link

Mark Steven Porro, a New Jersey native (Exit 163), earned an Industrial Design degree from The Ohio State University. After years of agency work, his love of acting led him to Hollywood, where he appeared in dozens of television, film, and stage productions. Mark also spent his twenty-eight years in Tinseltown, entrepreneuring. He started five non-profit companies. But hold the applause, none were intended to be. He now lives in the South of France. But hold your pity. He of sound mind and body chose to suffer in the heart of wine country where the locals insist his French isn't so bad—at least that's what he thinks they're saying. Mark is an award-winning designer, writer, director, and now a best-selling, award-winning author. He has written lots of jokes, several screenplays, and one award-winning short film. A Cup of Tea on the Commode—a sad, sweet, and funny debut memoir—chronicles his multitasking adventures of filling his mother's last years with love, laughter, and joy. Though not always successful, he came pretty damn close. 2024 Best Indie Book Award Winner 2024 NYC Big Book Award Winner 2024 Paris Book Festival Winner 2024 Living Now Book Awards Winner 2024 International Book Awards Winner 2024 IndieReader Discovery Award Winner 2024 Book Excellence Award Winner 2024 Firebird Book Award Winner 2024 Eric Hoffer Book Award Finalist 2024 Readers' Favorite International Book Awards Finalist 2024 National Indie Excellence Awards Finalist 2024 American BookFest Awards Finalist “This author weaves his stories together, employing a wickedly humorous skill not unlike that of David Sedaris and Augusten Burroughs” — Five-Star Amazon review

Lords: * CisHetKayFaber * https://www.patreon.com/CisHetKayFaber * Andrew * https://luxurybunkers.bandcamp.com/album/killer-karen Topics: * People say the craziest stuff in front of janitors. * Revisiting development of a creative work after 20 years * Naming conventions in the demo scene vs. the ZZT scene * How to Be Perfect, by Ron Padgett * https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/57243/how-to-be-perfect * Floops, a 3D cartoon character generated in VRML in the mid-90's internet Microtopics: * Putting all your stress from the last three months into a single EP. * Brains pooping right into your ears. * Refusing to talk about Lou Reed's Metal Machine Music. * Are you allowed to talk to janitors?? * Being assumed to be part of a group (openly racist people) that you are not actually part of. * The risks of letting other people clean up after you. * How do you know when it's time to eat candy when you don't have the candy gland? * Giving yourself heat stroke because you don't realize it's too hot. * Making a plan for how to not get heat stroke! * Not having a thirst meter but your snacking meter is pegged 24/7. * The inability to sleep and eat at the same time. * How to tell if you're on SSRIs. * Cyclothymia. * "You have to do this now or I'm going to stare at you." * A VR exercise app where if your heart rate drops too low all the NPCs start staring at you. * The cost of not taking care of yourself. * Clinging to your flow state for dear life. * Feeling like you've done a thing vs. actually doing the thing. * Sedarising and unsedarising your essay. * The many eras of cancelling David Sedaris. * Independent tabletop game developers in the Osaka area. * Writing to explore your own thought space. * Writing the program and then running the program. * Taking a twenty year break between essay drafts so you can revisit your ideas fresh. * Cyberpunk-coded online handles. * Attaching a political ideology to the ZZT scene. * Role-playing bring a small business owner as you make art in your bedroom and share it with the online community. * Social capital in the cracking community. * The era in your life when you didn't even know it was possible to pay for computer games. * Who'd win in a fight, Slayer, or Mega Slayer ZZ9 Final? * The revealed philosophies of different online communities. * Shareware and early web nostalgia. * A wild time to be on the Internet. * Enjoying lo-fi versions of a thing. * A movie with bad special effects that look great in the pirated cammed version. * Straightening your room before you save the world. * Not doing anything to make what you want impossible. * Using attractive stamps, like the one with the tornado on it. * Carrying the only poem you like around with you on index cards. * Living in a culture where respect for the elderly is out of control. * The age at which you get to elbow your way to the front of every line. * Getting paid to tell people how to do things better. * Things you had to learn outside of school. * A guy who looks like he's eaten every lemon in the world. * Ron Padgett celebrity lookalikes. * An alarm clock that wakes you up by shouting "I'm looking forward to the Internet of things!" in your own voice. * Who's been to cocktail parties and when, and did you discuss VRML? * Hand animating 3D cartoons by typing VRML. * Vtubers in the 90s. * Making things and putting them on the Internet and everyone just assumes you just prompted an AI to make it. * Demystifying the magic pixie dust. * The burly wizard with a hammer and anvil who knows how to make the metal not brittle. * NAND to Tetris and Cryptopals. (Not the blockchain kind.) * Learning to never roll your own crypto. * Magic. (Derogatory.) * Punished for understanding the assignment.

John Moe joins us as we start recording and releasing new episodes in 2025 after an extended break over the winter. Maybe we are rusty, but we really take the whole "don't want to know you ahead of time" thing to an extreme with John, which he handles well. John Moe is a Twin Cities-based podcast maker, author, public speaker, and mental health advocate. He created and currently hosts the podcasts Depresh Mode with John Moe (LA Press Club Award) and Sleeping with Celebrities on the Maximum Fun network and he has created and produced podcasts for clients including the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), the American Psychiatric Association, Whitman College (two higher ed marketing awards), and University of Puget Sound. Moe has hosted three national public radio programs, Wits, Marketplace Tech, and Weekend America, and he created and hosted the groundbreaking podcast, The Hilarious World of Depression (Webby Award). His writing has appeared in numerous publications, including The New York Times Magazine and McSweeney's. He is the author of four books, including the WSJ bestseller, The Hilarious World of Depression. Moe has delivered speeches on mental health all over the country.The Hilarious World of Depression was launched in late 2016 and was an instant success, quickly reaching the number two spot on the Apple Podcasts chart, garnering millions of downloads, and receiving widespread press coverage. It was based on the idea that depression is a lot more common than people realize, especially among celebrities and entertainers like comedians and musicians, and that open conversations on this often taboo topic could be a healing experience. The show won the Webby Award for Best Comedy Podcast in 2017 and led to a critically-acclaimed bestselling book of the same name in 2020.Our Whitman, My Story was conceived in collaboration with the communications staff at Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington. The small school had a challenge: how to attract applicants from around the world and how to get admitted students to actually enroll. The unhosted podcast series featured profiles of a diverse group of students, the kind of people who could be friends once a student arrived on campus. The podcast, which was renewed for a second season, won the CASE Circle of Excellence Award and the Educational Advertising Award. The success of the Whitman series led to another podcast at the University of Puget Sound featuring students, faculty, and alums as part of the school's capital campaign. Depresh Mode with John Moe is a mental health interview podcast program produced in conjunction with Maximum Fun, an employee-owned co-op podcast network. Drawing on his extensive connections in the entertainment industry, John Moe has interviewed celebrities such as Jamie Lee Curtis, Patton Oswalt, and David Sedaris and won an...

David Sedaris (Happy-Go-Lucky, A Carnival of Snackery, Calypso) is a comedian, humorist, and author. David returns to the Armchair Expert to discuss why his Picasso painting is what he would grab in a fire, what in 50 years we will see as unforgivable, and how you can have a towering hatred for someone who has no idea. David and Dax talk about the paradox of stinky, kissable money, how he schemed an off-the-rack priest outfit, and the nuance in offensiveness. David explains that there's nothing better than a pants-shitting story, a defense of a children's book with no lesson, and how his whole mission as a writer is to make everyone love his mother as much as he did.Follow Armchair Expert on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. Watch new content on YouTube or listen to Armchair Expert early and ad-free by joining Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/links/armchair-expert-with-dax-shepard/ now.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What happens when a writer steps into a prison and discovers more than just stories behind bars? In this episode author and educator Jim Reese shares vivid stories and hard lessons from more than a decade working with incarcerated men. In a world obsessed with punishment over understanding, this episode dives deep into the transformative power of writing in places most people never dare to go. If you've ever wondered whether creativity can truly change lives—on both sides of the prison walls—this conversation offers surprising answers.Discover how inmates find their voices and reconnect with family and humanity through storytelling.Hear how teaching in prisons reshaped Jim Reese's understanding of justice, redemption, and the role of an artist.Learn why authentic connection, vulnerability, and purpose can break barriers even in the most rigid environments.Tune in explore how the written word is transforming lives and shifting mindsets—inside and outside the prison system.* A "kite" In prison slang, a term for a written note or message. It's a way for inmates to communicate with each other or staff, especially when direct verbal communication is restricted. The term likely originated from the way inmates would attach folded notes to strings and "fly" them between cells, resembling a kite. Notable MentionsHere's a list of the people, events, organizations, and publications mentioned in the show with hyperlinks for more in-depth information:PeopleJim Reese: An American poet, professor, and advocate for arts in corrections. He is the Associate Professor of English at Mount Marty University and has taught creative writing at the Yankton Federal Prison Camp.David Sedaris: A renowned humorist and author known for his sardonic wit and incisive social critiques. Jim Reese had the opportunity to open for Sedaris during a live performance.Kyle Roberson: Supervisor of Education at Yankton Federal Prison Camp who collaborated with Jim Reese on the prison's creative writing program. Marquise Bowie: An inmate participant in the creative writing program at Yankton Federal Prison Camp who credited the program with aiding his healing process.2. EventsJim Reese Opening for David Sedaris: In October 2023, Jim Reese opened for David Sedaris at the Orpheum Theater Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. A Decade of Learning at Federal Prison Camp Yankton: Celebrating Jim Reese's ten years of teaching creative writing at the Yankton Federal Prison Camp, highlighting the impact of arts in corrections. 3. OrganizationsMount Marty University: A Catholic liberal arts university in Yankton, South Dakota, where Jim Reese serves as Associate...

Apteczka. Kulturalny niezbędnik złożony z najważniejszych książek, reprodukcji obrazów, filmów 
i płyt, ale też wspomnień o miejscach, formujących doświadczeń. Moich rozmówców i rozmówczynie pytam o to, co przynosi im spokój, napędza do działania i ratuje w momentach kryzysu. Z czego składa się kulturalna apteczka amerykańskiego pisarza i satyryka, Davida Sedarisa? Zapraszam do słuchania cyklu. Mateusz Roesler ---------------- Słuchaj więcej materiałów audio w stałej, niższej cenie. Wykup miesięczny dostęp online do „Pisma”. Możesz zrezygnować, kiedy chcesz. magazynpismo.pl/prenumerata/dostep-online/

Thursday, Jazz Thursdays with MAQ at South Hill Cider and Popa Chubby at the Center for the Arts in Homer.  On Friday, the Geneva Jazz Festival at Ventosa Vineyards, First Friday Gallery Night all over Downtown Ithaca, 4word Days at Summerhill Brewing, Mandy Goldman at Stone Bend Farm, Happy Hour with GoGone at Deep Dive, London McDaniel at the Antlers, and an evening with David Sedaris at the State Theatre. All day Saturday and Sunday, Ithacon 48 at Ithaca College’s Emerson Suites. The Ithaca Farmers Market is still Saturdays at Triphammer Marketplace for another couple of weeks! Saturday night, Pierce Walsh & Friends at South Hill Cider, and Start Making Sense & The Ocean Avenue Stompers Horns at the State Theatre. Sunday, fire department pancake breakfasts in Etna and Harford, a Benefit Concert with Cast Iron Cowboys and Rev Ezra at Newfield High School, a Spring Contra Dance with Stove Dragon at Cornell’s Willard Straight Hall Memorial Room, and Modern Western Square Dancing at the Lansing Community Center. Wednesday, a talk on Women and the Erie Canal at the Newfield Public Library, Networking at Rev Ithaca Startup Works, Jazz Night at Brookton's Market, Wednesday open mic night at the Nocturnal [...]

Play Stupid Games, Win Stupid Prizes: Short stories about friendship, growth, and social misdemeanors by Andy Dietrich Amazon.com Andysbook.com Ever wonder what happens when you crash the wrong wedding or mistake a fraternity rush for a question about your heritage? How about fashioning a fake nightclub stamp empire in Vegas, or trying (and failing) to pull off a flawless heist for a Super Nintendo game? From laugh-out-loud anecdotes to surprisingly heartfelt reflections, this collection explores themes of friendship, growth, and the chaos that comes with simply trying to be human. Tackling everything from awkward cultural misunderstandings to the wild adventures of military life, this book offers readers a candid, hilarious, and sometimes poignant glimpse into a life lived fully—and occasionally just recklessly enough. Some highlights... “Are You Russian?”: The awkward misunderstanding that kicked off a college fraternity adventure. “That One Time I Witnessed a Divorce”: A Chipotle line, a hair tie, and a (potentially) marriage-ending discovery. “When You Mess It Up for Everyone Else”: How one man's shenanigans changed Vegas club re-entry policies forever. “Honey Bee Did What Honey Bees Do”: The miraculous conception story that starts with a bottle of Patrón. “The Night I Lost My Damn Mind”: An unforgettable encounter with medical-grade THC and pulled-pork sliders. Play Stupid Games, Win Stupid Prizes is perfect for fans of David Sedaris, Tucker Max, or anyone who has ever made a questionable decision and lived to laugh about it later. With a mix of humor, heart, and the occasional ridiculous life lesson, this book will leave you smiling, shaking your head, and maybe even feeling a little better about your own misadventures. “If you're gonna do something stupid, be smart about it.”About the author Andy Dietrich was born at an early age and lived a fairly uneventful life in the Black Forest of Germany. At age 14, he and his mom packed their things and moved to Alaska to experience the true meaning of "holy shit, it's cold!" At 19, while on a sugar high, he enlisted and became one of Uncle Sam's Misguided Children. He was released early due to good behavior and moved to Las Vegas where he now spends his time harassing, errr...."welcoming" the tourists and exercising his second-favorite drinking arm. If you come across a wild Andy in his natural habitat, do not feed him attention; he will only come back for more.

In this episode, Chrissie shares her take on how children's publishing feels right now vs. how it should beTo access the full essay including graphics of the Venn diagrams described in this episode, visit Chrissie Writes on Substack.Also mentioned in the epsiode: David Sedaris discussing picture books and lessonsBe sure to subscribe to the show wherever you get your podcasts. You can follow the show on Instagram @bookdelightpod, follow Chrissie on Instagram @librarychrissie, and subscribe to Chrissie's kidlit newsletter at librarychrissie.substack.com.If you want to support the show, please consider becoming a paid subscriber on Substack. For $7/month, you are helping to pay the costs of the show and receive exclusive content like extra booklists, live video Q&As with Chrissie, reviews of books Chrissie did not like, and more. Visit librarychrissie.substack.com to subscribe.

The radio version of an episode we did live on stage and beamed to movie theaters. David Sedaris, Tig Notaro, Ryan Knighton, and the late David Rakoff in his final performance on the show. The other half of this two-hour show was visual, including dancers, animation, and more. You can watch it on YouTube. Visit thisamericanlife.org/lifepartners to sign up for our premium subscription.Ira interviews Ryan Knighton, a blind guy who had a very peculiar experience with a hotel room telephone. (7 minutes)Act One: Ryan Knighton tells a story about trying to get his daughter to understand his blindness. (7 minutes)Act Two: Famous people are supposed to be somewhere else, invisible to us. Comedian Tig Notaro tells this story about repeatedly running into Taylor Dayne, who was a pop star in the late 80s and early 90s. At the end of the story, we have a little surprise for Tig. (16 minutes)Act Three: David Rakoff tells this story, about the invisible processes that can happen inside our bodies and the visible effects they eventually have. (15 minutes)Act Four: Ira Glass's sister once met David Sedaris, and commented that he was much nicer than she thought he would be, given his writing. David replied, "I'm not nice, just two-faced." In this story, David shares the thoughts running through his head as he attempts to buy a cup of coffee. (8 minutes)Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.orgThis American Life privacy policy.Learn more about sponsor message choices.

Bill Maher and his guests answer viewer questions after the show. (Originally aired 3/7/25) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Bill's guests are David Sedaris, Alyssa Farah Griffin, Sen. Jon Tester (Originally aired 3/7/25) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Words are worth a thousand pictures by Eli Woolery How does Sir Jony Ive, the famed former head of design at Apple, start every project? If, like me, you guessed by sketching, you'd be wrong. I was surprised to learn when he visited the design capstone class I co-teach at Stanford that he starts all projects by writing. But Jony gave our class a powerful example of why writing is a far more versatile conceptual tool than sketching. He spoke of working with a landscape designer on his property in the UK. The designer could have shared drawings, but instead he wrote about the night garden, and how the flagstones would radiate both the heat from the warmth of the day and the fragrance of the flowers along the pathway. “I write because I realized at art school that you can only draw a small percentage of the attributes of an object. You know, if I were to draw this [holds up a glass], you would understand only 20 percent of its nature. You would have no sense of its weight or material or temperature. You would have no sense of the way that it reacted to its environment. Writing helps me frame the problem. A lot of mistakes are made when you frame a problem, because you could already be dismissing 60 percent, 70 percent of the potential ideas.” —Jony Ive, in an interview with McKinsey Quarterly Free from the constraints that even the best draftsperson would face, Jony and his team can conceptualize not only the look of products, but the touch, weight, and even the emotions they trigger. Perhaps it shouldn't surprise us that good design can start with writing. Good writers are adept at taking an iterative approach to creativity. They create memorable characters through empathy. Their characters evolve, and they often reimagine old stories with new, innovative approaches. “The difference between writers and non-writers is that writers go back again and again. My old classics teacher used to say that the people who succeeded in classics were the people with the highest tolerance for failure. I think the same is true for writers.”—Madeline Miller, author of Circe and The Song of Achilles Madeline Miller is a great example of an author who uses all of these techniques in her writing. Her book Circe takes the titular character who was a peripheral—if important—part of Homer's Odyssey, and reimagines her as the protagonist. Her empathetic approach to the enchantress-in-exile reframes the story in a way that makes us feel a human connection to the not-quite-human character. Professional writers also aren't afraid to make mistakes as they go. Many have a bias toward action, creating the rough outlines (parallel to a prototype) of the work before going back to refine it. “My husband is a master carpenter. When I asked him if master carpenters make fewer mistakes than regular carpenters, he said no–but they recognize [the mistakes] more quickly. It's the same for writers as they gain experience.” —Madeline Miller, author of Circe and The Song of Achilles Former guests on the show, David Sedaris and Dan Pink, shared wisdom about writing that can teach us plenty about becoming better designers. Continue reading this issue of The Brief on Substack

In this Deep Dive episode, Chrissie shares a week by week look at a weird books unit with 4th and 5th grade students in the library.Resources Mentioned on the Show:"Let the Kids Get Weird" by Janet Manely on LitHub"Goodnight Moon" on Looking at Picture Books Substack by Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen Mac Barnett on NPR: "Are picture books undervalued? This new ambassador of children's literature thinks so"Books Discussed on the Show:Tumblebaby by Adam Rex and Audrey Helen WeberThe Cat Way by Sara Lundberg, translated by BJ WoodsteinGoodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown, illustrated by Clement HurdLet's Be Bees by Shawn HarrisWhere the Wild Things Are by Maurice SendakI Want to Be a Vase by Julio Torres, illustrated by Julian GlanderSam and Dave Dig a Hole by Mac Barnett and Jon KlassenThe Pineapple Princess by Sabina HahnI Do Not Eat Children by Marcus CutlerThe Teeny Weeny Unicorn by Shawn HarrisA Sleepless Night by Micaela Chirif, illustrated by Joaquin Camp, translated by Jordan LandsmanPretty Ugly by David Sedaris, illustrated by Ian FalconerPepper and Me by Beatrice AlemagnaTove and the Island with No Address by Lauren SoloyBe sure to subscribe to the show wherever you get your podcasts. You can follow the show on Instagram @bookdelightpod, follow Chrissie on Instagram @librarychrissie, and subscribe to Chrissie's kidlit newsletter at librarychrissie.substack.com.If you want to support the show, please consider becoming a paid subscriber on Substack. For $7/month, you are helping to pay the costs of the show and receive exclusive content like extra booklists, live video Q&As with Chrissie, reviews of books Chrissie did not like, and more. Visit librarychrissie.substack.com to subscribe.

Host Meg Wolitzer presents stories that were presented as part of an evening with the writer Judy Blume that explored the issues around book banning, and featured works by two authors whose works have been banned. (Blume's works have also frequently been banned.). First, Xu Mason's witty “Finally a Book that Cannot be Banned,” imagines what it would take to write a work that could escape all censure.  It's read by Troy Iwata.  Celebrated children's author Roald Dahl cooks up the perfect murder in “Lamb to the Slaughter,” read by Catherine O'Hara. And David Sedaris recounts a challenging encounter with a young man in “Bruised,” read by Maulik Pancholy.  Some of Blume's onstage remarks are included. 

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions!What happens when a seasoned television writer known for his work on irreverent comedies such as Beavis & Butthead, Just Shoot Me, and King of the Hill takes a leap into the author world? In this episode, Michael Jamin reveals the more personal and vulnerable side of his writing through his release of A Paper Orchestra. From navigating the intricacies of the TV industry to exploring the art of storytelling and the decision to self-publish, Michael offers an unfiltered glimpse into the realities of a creative career.Michael candidly discusses the contrast between writing for TV and writing for oneself. His reflections on creativity, inspired by authors like David Sedaris, offer insight into the importance of staying true to oneself in a world full of (neverending) expectations.You'll also hear about the joys and hurdles Michael experienced with the self-publishing process, including the role of social media in building an audience (as well as what led to his decision to abandon his quest for a traditional publisher). Is 2025 the year you start your own podcast? Let's make it simple!Get 35% off the Podcast Starter Pack with code PODCAST35 at https://publishaprofitablebook.com/podcast101"I got my podcast launched in 3 days thanks to this great mini-course!"--Dr. Diana Naranjo, The Characterist podcast host Your readers are waiting! Let's get your book published! PublishAProfitableBook.com/Publish (use code AUTHOR25 for 25% off!)Write the Damn Book Already is a weekly podcast featuring interviews with authors as well as updates and insights on writing craft and the publishing industry. Available wherever podcasts are available: Apple PodcastsSpotify YouTube Let's Connect! InstagramWebsite Email the show: elizabeth [at] elizabethlyons [dot] comThe podcast is a proud affiliate partner of Bookshop, working to support local, independent bookstores.To see all the ways we can work together to get your book written and published, visit publishaprofitablebook.com/work-with-elizabeth

We read, we laugh, we die.

This week Mike has all-timer David Sedaris back on the podcast. Sedaris, of course, wrote Naked, Me Talk Pretty One Day, and Holidays on Ice, among other classics. The two discuss where the truth lies in autobiographical non-fiction, fact-checking comedy at The New Yorker, and how to navigate storytelling when it's all too personal. Plus, David plays F**k, Marry, Kill, with his own published works and Mike can't accept the answer. Please consider giving money to a stranger in need.

Who else loves David Sedaris? I discovered him in 1997 when an old mentor/editor at Golden Words, my college humor papers, suggested I pick up his book 'Naked' to become a better writer myself. I found the essays sardonic, witty, uncannily observational, and laugh-out-loud funny. I couldn't believe how gently and elegantly he wrote about topics ranging from his obsessive compulsive tics to dropping out of school to (in the namesake essay) visiting a nudist colony. Like millions of people around the world I became obsessed with David Sedaris. I've read all of his books—'Me Talk Pretty One Day' (2000) being close to my heart and 'Calypso' (2018) being a recent fave. I even went to see him speak at Massey Hall in Toronto which is where I learned—first-hand!—that he waits hours and hours after every talk to happily chat and sign books from anybody willing to wait for him. (In my case my phone died about two hours before I had a chance to say hi. Years ago we had a sixty-second conversation about pie and he wrote 'Neil, I am so happy you are alive' in my book.) In this classic chapter of 3 Books—the all-time #1 most popular conversation ever on the podcast—I squeeze into the back of David's limo from the Four Seasons hotel in Toronto en route to the CBC building and then up to his bookstore event at the Indigo at Yorkdale. What was supposed to be a tight 20 minute chat evolved into a beautiful hour and a half conversation covering topics like the secret to getting old, artistic integrity after commercial success, why artists have a hole in their hearts, and, of course, the incredible David Sedaris's 3 most formative books. On this New Year's Eve let's flip the book back to Chapter 18...

Send us a textLee and Simon enter the Christmas spirit by discussing fart walking. Simon reads Lee a brief story, they discuss a plan to move things and Lee has an airport encounter. Things covered: Determination to continue, Simon being a Christmas grinch, saying Happy Solstice, putting clothes down in different rooms, Lee in Portugal (hence poppy microphone), fart walking, Bob Whalley's suggestions (and drunken guest appearance), flight attendants' crop dusting, David Sedaris stories (sadness and meanness), not talking to people on airplanes, post-prandial walks, reading a (bread) story to Lee, the song of sourdough, Simon has a follower (no that's not right, it's Lil), physical (analogue) emojis, getting stuff (and what stuff) from Coventry to Sardegna, the first item on a list, emptying your pockets as you go through security, Lee gets a pat down in airport security, back to back meetings in full sun, the tupperware container sky in the UK, a Friends episode (doing things slowly = sexier), airport feedback, smelly toilets (which is how they are supposed to be), Bob asking L&S to do ASMR, cooking for guests in Lisbon, porridge cooked overnight, Bob and Lee going to a restaurant for Christmas. Get in touch with Lee and Simon at info@midlifing.net. ---The Midlifing logo is adapted from an original image by H.L.I.T: https://www.flickr.com/photos/29311691@N05/8571921679 (CC BY 2.0)

Welcome back to the Finding the Throughline interview with Laura Belgray, author of the national bestseller Tough Titties, a collection of essays that is essentially a permission slip to be a dork, a sometimes-unspiritual slacker, a late bloomer and, ultimately, unapologetically you. Laura is the founder of Talking Shrimp and co-creator of The Copy Cure with Marie Forleo. She has been featured in Elle, Fast Company, and Business Insider, and has written for Bravo, HBO, Nick at Nite, VH1, and more. Today, we find out what's currently brewing for Laura and what she knows at this moment about where her personal throughline is leading her next, as well as what kinds of things she's been reading, watching and listening to lately We covered: • Crawling out of a pit of despair after the election results • Continuing to build her email list in the modern world where there are so many more things vying for our attention • How she is not a visionary or planner—yet has achieved many amazing things anyway • David Sedaris as the author who first introduced her to a genre/structure of book that is a collection of essays and also memoir. • Her love of fiction and lack of confidence she will be able to write one someday, though she would love to • How she would love to win Powerball so she could write whatever she wants • How she wouldn't have written a fraction of what she'd written if she didn't write as a way to eat and make money • Margot's Got Money Troubles by Rufy Thorpe--the last book that she could not put down. • Spaghettini pomodoro at Scarpetta, with plenty of extra butter Connect with Laura at talkingshrimp.com. For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com. Thank you for listening! And thanks to this week's sponsor, Air Doctor Pro. Visit airdoctorpro.com and use code KATE to save 30% off an amazing indoor air filter *and* receive a free three-year warranty (an $84 value). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Special holiday re-release! Zibby speaks to award-winning author David Sedaris about THE BEST OF ME, a wickedly funny and memorable collection of stories about life's surprises. David talks about owning who you are as a writer and explains why “publishing isn't writing.” He also tells Zibby why he doesn't read internet comments and discloses how he expresses love (hint: it involves Christmas!)Purchase on Bookshop: bit.ly/3OIvWspShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens! Now there's more! Subscribe to Moms Don't Have Time to Read Books on Acast+ and get ad-free episodes. https://plus.acast.com/s/moms-dont-have-time-to-read-books. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Christmas feels.

Talking about guns, Trump, writing, and typical nonsense.

Host Jo Reed and Laura Rossi, AudioFile's Director of Publicity and Social Media, talk all things holiday gifting on today's episode of Behind the Mic. Laura recommends a favorite audiobook to give to friends and family this time of year, HOLIDAYS ON ICE, written and read by David Sedaris, with a little help from Amy Sedaris and Ann Magnuson. This is where you'll find the hilarious “SantaLand Diaries,” among other essays. Laura talks about what she loves about the audiobook, and what listeners can expect from the raucous collection. Read our review of the audiobook at our website. Published by Hachette Audio. Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile's website. Today's episode is brought to you by Brilliance Publishing. The Sound of Storytelling. Discover your next great listen at https://www.brilliancepublishing.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Growing up in Raleigh, North Carolina, Amy Sedaris watched a lot of television. She counts "Alvin and the Chipmunks" and "Second City Television" as major influences on her desire to perform, whether that meant pranking family members or acting in the plays written by her older brother, the humorist David Sedaris. Siblings aside, she was also surrounded by several other notable comedians, including Stephen Colbert and Paul Dinello, whom she met in her twenties at Chicago's Second City comedy troupe. That trio would go on to create "Strangers with Candy" in 1999, a sitcom underpinned by the same surreal yet comic tone that would come to define Sedaris's later roles on shows like "BoJack Horseman," "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt," and her own series, "At Home with Amy Sedaris." On this week's episode of "Table for Two," the actress and writer joins host Bruce Bozzi to discuss her years working as a waitress, why she prefers guest-starring over leading roles, and her recent addiction to BonBon candy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We explore the aftermath of a significant political event, referred to as a "big red wave," and its varied impacts on listeners and participants alike. We share personal anecdotes about how we spent election night, with one of us enjoying pulled pork and tequila, while the other experienced a David Sedaris reading. The stock market's reaction to the political changes is analyzed, noting a rally with specific movements in crypto and energy stocks. We consider the potential economic strategies that might be employed, such as tax subsidies for American manufacturing, and discuss Elon Musk's strategic positioning with the new administration. Additionally, there's mention of a missed opportunity for Kamala Harris to engage in a Joe Rogan interview, adding to the political discourse. We also take a look at the intersection of political and economic challenges, starting with reflections on a recent concession speech and the broader implications for both major U.S. political parties. We explore the pressing issue of the eroding middle class, emphasizing the critical role of government intervention in reversing this trend. Shifting gears, we address the surprising rise in vehicle interest rates and the skyrocketing costs of SUVs, which reflect broader economic disparities. Housing affordability becomes a focal point, as we compare historical and current income-to-house price ratios, highlighting the growing financial strain on everyday Americans. The discussion touches on corporate influence in real estate, with entities like BlackRock affecting the housing market. Finally, we consider the implications of these trends on personal projects and hint at upcoming discussions on insurance news. And finally, we cover a wide range of topics sparked by a thought-provoking article on the implications of Trump's hypothetical second administration on business. We speculate on Elon Musk's potential role, drawing comparisons to fictional villains and office efficiency consultants, while considering the impact of integrating such a wealthy individual into government. Cryptocurrency's volatility and its association with criminal activities are highlighted, humorously juxtaposed with Trump's notorious branding. We examine Trump's energy policies, especially the contrast between his ties to traditional energy and Musk's carbon-free advocacy. Additionally, we discuss the practicalities of owning electric vehicles, such as the convenience of not needing to refuel at gas stations, despite challenges like power outages in Texas. A playful anecdote about charging an electric vehicle with a gas generator rounds off the discussion. Timestamps 3:04 Stock market after Trump's victory 3:50 What will Trump do with tariffs? 6:48 How Trump's discourse and vocabulary changed since the 80s 8:48 Trump's voting among women and black people 10:27 The issues of polarization and taking Trump as a role model 13:29 Trump's role in the invasion of the Capitol 14:21 Kamala's concession speech and the future of both parties 16:00 The disparity between salaries and insurance rates today 19:34 Will Elon Musk have a role in Trump's administration? 21:33 Impact of Trump's government on crypto 23:25 Trump's plan for energy policies 29:48 Will Trump increase government expenses and debt? Connect with RiskCellar: Website: https://www.riskcellar.com/ Brandon Schuh: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61552710523314 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandon-stephen-schuh/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/schuhpapa/ Nick Hartmann: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickjhartmann/

Wie wars mit David Sedaris? Ist Halloween tot? Wie sprechen iPad-Kinder? Und muss man als trockene Ex-Partymaus den Freundeskreis wechseln? Hazel und Thomas haben viele Fragen - und manchmal auch sowas wie eine Antwort. Inhalt: 00:00 Hazel & Thomas über ihren Content 06:06 Hörbi-Frage: Kinderplanung 13:16 Krätze & Filme über Bösewichte 20:48 David Sedaris 28:10 Comedy-Entwicklung der letzten Jahre 38:30 stirbt Halloween aus? 42:17 Brainrot Content 50:38 Hörbi-Fragen: Tourstart 57:02 Hörbi-Fragen: Schweizer LOL, Chemnitz & Shirts 01:02:42 Hörbi-Frage: Freundeskreis Zeitstempel können variieren. HTH Folge mit Robert Marc Lehmann https://hazel-thomas-hoererlebnis.podigee.io/106-wasserschwein-liebe-mit-meeresbiologe-robert-marc-lehmann Pluto TV https://www.instagram.com/plutotvde/ Krätze https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krätze Bettwanzen https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bettwanze The Penguin https://youtu.be/NWFhMr_jDzE?si=LKLrcgyef_NGpp6f Conan O'Brien über „The Witch“ https://youtu.be/a3s7QF4INMI?si=--1wcmVRwcL58W2m David Sedaris https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Sedaris Stirbt Halloween aus? https://youtu.be/7da7o0ksJ6Q?si=AQSB47acqOGEzvdt Verstörendes Video über Brain Rot Generation https://youtu.be/f22lD2DVXH8?si=s-cwp0-3KBYxXuuc Hazels Tour https://hazelbrugger.com/#aktueller-tourplan Lustige Shirts https://shitheadsteve.com Du möchtest mehr über unsere Werbepartner erfahren? Hier findest du alle Infos & Rabatte: https://linktr.ee/hoererlebnis Du möchtest Werbung in diesem Podcast schalten? Dann erfahre hier mehr über die Werbemöglichkeiten bei Seven.One Audio: https://www.seven.one/portfolio/sevenone-audio

It's time for One Funny Morning, today we talk about my home renovations, David Sedaris and where I am two years post divorce.

In this deep dive episode, Chrissie shares 6 ways picture books can give kid readers agency on the page:The Far Side fast forwardWords vs. picturesThe "I made you blink..."The sound partyThe "Oh no you didn't..."The love/hate endingFEATURED TITLES, in the order discussed on the show:I Want My Hat Back by Jon KlassenThe Rock from the Sky by Jon KlassenI Do Not Eat Children by Marcus CutlerSam and Dave Dig a Hole by Mac Barnett and Jon KlassenGuess Again by Mac Barnett and Adam RexGo and Get with Rex by David LaRochelle and Mike WohnoutkaFluffy McWhiskers Cuteness Explosion by Stephen W. Martin and Dan TavisChester Van Chime Who Forgot How to Rhyme by Avery Monson and Abby HanlonPretty Ugly by David Sedaris and Ian FalconerI Just Ate My Friend by Heidi McKinnonThe Skull by Jon KlassenPepper & Me by Beatrice AlemagnaCircle by Mac Barnett and Jon KlassenRESOURCE MENTIONED ON THE SHOW:Jon Klassen with Taylor Sterling on MoonbowBe sure to subscribe to the show wherever you get your podcasts. You can follow the show on Instagram @bookdelightpod, follow Chrissie on Instagram @librarychrissie, and subscribe to Chrissie's kidlit newsletter at librarychrissie.substack.com.If you want to support the show, please consider becoming a paid subscriber on Substack. For $7/month, you are helping to pay the costs of the show and receive exclusive content like extra booklists, roundups of kidlit books that have received starred reviews, reviews of books Chrissie did not like, and more.

David Sedaris joins Deborah Treisman to read and discuss “Love Letter,” by George Saunders, which was published in The New Yorker in 2020. Sedaris is the author of more than a dozen books of essays, memoirs, and diaries, including, most recently, “A Carnival of Snackery” and “Happy-Go-Lucky.”

Episode #106: Welcome to Dear Nina, Conversations About Friendship. Today is a tough topic, and I'm not going to promise you that we come to an easy solution at the end. The fallout from losing the friendship of an entire group is a heartache that takes tremendous time to heal. Today's guest, is still in that healing process. I spoke to writer and podcaster, Meghan Judge, about her experience being dropped by an entire group of friends in a small community. This happened in her adult life (and not that long ago). Meghan takes us through her story of becoming friends with this group, all that happened when the friendships fell apart, and how she's taking care of her mental health now. With compassion and humor, Meghan gives hope to others who have experienced the same pain. Note: the David Sedaris essay we discussed is "Consider the Stars" from Dress Your Family in Corduroy and DenimMeet Meghan Judge:Meghan is a trauma survivor who covers PTSD, mental health, and suicide prevention on her show Judging Meghan. Through interviews with other survivors, she has learned that there is a way out. "From recovering to surviving and thriving, we all have the strength to come out to the other side." Follow Meghan on Instagram @judgingmeghanSend us a Text Message.* All transcripts are available on the main Buzzsprout "Dear Nina" site. Click on any episode and find the transcript tab. Let's connect over all things friendship! My Substack newsletter about friendship & more Dear Nina website with show notes and a guide to pitching yourself as a guest Instagram , TikTok, Twitter, Youtube, Threads JOIN the Dear Nina Facebook group Ask an anonymous question

Guest Cindy House is the author Mother Noise, a memoir in essays and a regular opener for David Sedaris on his tours across the country. She teaches nonfiction in the Lesley University MFA program and memoir writing at the Gotham Writers Workshop. She also offers private writing classes. Summary This podcast episode explores the art of memoir writing with my guest, Cindy House. Our conversation delved into the memoir's rising popularity and its essential elements. Cindy emphasizes curiosity as the foundation of writing, discussing how memoir differs from autobiography by focusing on specific life aspects rather than a comprehensive account of one's life. The conversation covers the structure of memoirs, including the importance of a central dramatic question and thematic framework. Cindy shares insights on overcoming writer's resistance and self-doubt, offering practical strategies for perseverance. The episode also tackles the complex nature of truth in memoir writing, highlighting the significance of personal perspective over historical accuracy. Three Key Takeaways: Curiosity drives the writing process and is essential for personal and creative growth. Memoir writing focuses on specific life aspects and requires a central dramatic question and thematic framework. Truth in a memoir is often subjective, relying on personal experience and memory rather than historical accuracy. Social Media Website Writer Noise Substack Email   About Jeff Jeff Ikler is the Director of Quetico Leadership and Career Coaching. “Quetico” (KWEH-teh-co). He works with leaders in all aspects of life to identify and overcome obstacles in their desired future. He came to the field of coaching after a 35-year career in educational publishing. Prior to his career in educational publishing, Jeff taught high school U.S. history and government. Jeff has hosted the “Getting Unstuck—Cultivating Curiosity” podcast for 5 years. The guests and topics he explores are designed to help listeners think differently about the familiar and welcome the new as something to consider. He is also the co-host of the Cultivating Resilience – A Whole Community Approach to Alleviating Trauma in Schools, which promotes mental health and overall wellness. Jeff co-authored Shifting: How School Leaders Can Create a Culture of Change. Shifting integrates leadership development and change mechanics in a three-part change framework to help guide school leaders and their teams toward productive change.

Welcome to Dev Game Club, where this week we continue our series on The Sims. We talk about a dark spiral, read some poetry, the problem of having enough time, and other topics. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Sections played: A few more hours Issues covered: alien life, Windows snippet tool vs print screen, not saving, random seeds, introducing a chaos event, theorizing about end games for careers, Tim's persistent chip bag, forums and forever games, games you can play daily, free-to-play mobile games, appointment-based gaming, min/maxing psychology, selling the kids' doll house for food, Dianne being negative, "I'm too depressed to even look at myself," lack of weekends, two Sims having a day off, a podcast first, multiple burners, having to closely manage Bob's fun, the Sims for therapy, externalizing developer feelings of 21st century life, using the room meter to understand what needs to be done, the ultimate plate-spinning game, "did you know that love could be lucrative?," falling in love to increase your net worth, 3D characters and a 2D environment, modding goals and having 3D characters, dimetric vs isometric, revisiting gender normativity, liking problematic things, listening to their audience, how you might approach things the second time around, remastering Final Fantasy VI, a party of side characters, two automated characters healing each other. Games, people, and influences mentioned or discussed: SimCity, Dianne Feinstein, Apple ][, Farmville, Diner Dash, Bejeweled, Animal Crossing, Sims Online, Maxis, Firaxis, Ensemble Studios, Terry Pratchett, Mia Goth, Halo, Kenneth Koch, David Sedaris, Diablo, Quake, Tomb Raider, Super Mario 64, Michael, EA, Wing Commander, Anita Sarkeesian, Northern Exposure, Starfighter, Kirk Hamilton, Aaron Evers, Mark Garcia, Final Fantasy VI, BioStats, Kaeon, Unity, Final Fantasy Tactics, Cloud Strife, Apocalypse Now.  Next time: A few more hours and maybe finish with The Sims Links: Here's an audio recording of the poet Kenneth Koch reading his poem Twitch: timlongojr, Twitter/Threads/Insta: @devgameclub Discord DevGameClub@gmail.com

Stephen's back on the podcast with exclusive stories from his trip to The Vatican to meet Pope Francis! Hear all about his time at the Apostolic Palace where he was joined by an all-star lineup of comedians and comic artists, including author, old friend, and subject of today's podcast: David Sedaris, whose message to graduates at his 2018 commencement address was that they're perfectly well-equipped for poverty and rejection. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This episode originally aired November 18, 2020.Did you know wine can expire? Bestselling author and humorist David Sedaris joins Tig to tackle questions about terrible gift-givers and more!This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp Online Counseling (betterhelp.com/Tig).

The news lately has not exactly been a walk in the park. Iran launched hundreds of rockets at Israel, creating the prospect of World War III; we have Trump's ongoing criminal trial; a TikTok ban; a war in Ukraine; and much of the Ivy League is now co-opted by Hamas. Should we go on? Today's episode isn't about any of that. Because sometimes we just need a breath of fresh air. Cue the one and only David Sedaris—America's favorite humorist, or at the very least, our favorite humorist. You might know David from one of his bestselling books like Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim, Me Talk Pretty One Day, and Calypso. His words are frequently in The New Yorker, and he's also just come out with a children's book called Pretty Ugly, which he says has “no message.”  David was on Honestly a few years ago—if you haven't heard that interview, please check it out; it's a highlight of this show—and he's here again today to read an essay he wrote for The Free Press, where he imparts his thoughts on the underappreciated joys of small talk. We hope you enjoy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Late Night supervising producer Sarah Jenks-Daly interviews author Lisa Ko, author of the upcoming novel Memory Piece. Plus, acclaimed writer David Sedaris offers a book recommendation for your next read.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Seth takes a closer look at the Supreme Court ruling that Donald Trump can remain on the ballot, overriding a decision by the Colorado state Supreme Court that declared Trump ineligible due to the Constitution's ban on insurrectionists holding office.Then, David Sedaris talks about having no interest in writing a children's book at first, his unique shoes and not being worried about children getting frightened of the images in his book Pretty Ugly.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Humorist and author David Sedaris is a public radio regular – his 'Santaland Diaries' first aired on NPR's Morning Edition in 1992 and has gone on to become a holiday staple. He also is a regular Fresh Air guest, and in a first, we're sharing an exclusive bonus episode with Sedaris – normally only available for our Fresh Air+ supporters – with everyone. If you're not already a Fresh Air+ supporter, enjoying weekly bonus episodes like this and sponsor-free listening on all our episodes, you can find out more at https://plus.npr.org. You can hear all of Sedaris' 1997 interview here https://n.pr/4agJKmN. Sedaris' 'Santaland Diaries': https://n.pr/3TswxkO. Sedaris in 2022: https://n.pr/3Tm2qvf. Sedaris in 2018: https://n.pr/3Tsevz0. Sedaris in 2017: https://n.pr/48jrebn. Sedaris in 2013 https://n.pr/3GNj937. Sedaris in 2008: https://n.pr/3GL1wks. Sedaris in 2004: https://n.pr/47TsaDA. Sedaris in 2000: https://n.pr/48lw8oy. Sedaris in 1996: https://n.pr/41nfz98. Sedaris in 1994: https://n.pr/3Nw7V6W. Sedaris in 1993 https://n.pr/3Nv0FIf. Hear all 40+ years of Fresh Air's archives: https://FreshAirArchive.org.

For the lead up to Halloween, scary stories that are all true. Zombie raccoons, haunted houses—real haunted houses!—and things that go "EEEEK!!!" in the night. Plus, a story by David Sedaris in which he walks among the dead. Ira and Albert Donnay read a true ghost story that appeared in a medical journal in 1921. A "Mrs. H" and her family moved into an old rambling house and strange apparitions started appearing, until her brother-in-law figured out the real cause of the ghostly presences. (6 minutes)Act One: Some of the scariest stories happen when fluffy, innocent creatures turn murderously evil. Producer Alex Blumberg tells one such story, about a raccoon gone bad. (13 minutes)Act Two: Writer Bill Eville and his brother are picked up on the side of the road late at night, and not taken to their destination. (10 minutes)Act Three: We set up a special 800-number for listeners to call with their true-life scary stories. More than 500 people called. The scariest stories we got all had one thing in common. (9 minutes)Act Four: One Halloween, David Sedaris decides to skip all the fake monsters and ghosts and zombies and visit the real thing: dead people, in a morgue. (14 minutes)Transcripts are available at thisamericanlife.org