Podcasts about McGrath

Allan McGrath Isbell is a relationship and intimacy coach and teacher, and the founder of the men's work organization Thirteen Pines. Allan guides men, women, and couples on the path of sacred union, sexual polarity, and embodied transformation. For more than a decade, he has studied with some of the world's foremost teachers of embodiment, masculine-feminine dynamics, spirituality, and deep intimacy. Through in-person retreats, workshops, online programs, and guided practices, his work has reached thousands of people around the world, and he's become a highly sought-after coach, mentor, and teacher. His mission is to help people cultivate deeper intimacy and more freedom in life and love. Episode Highlights ▶ Sacred sexuality and relational intimacy as Allan's core work ▶ Safety, presence, and authenticity as the foundation of deep relational work ▶ Cultural shifts, initiation, and polarity in modern relationships ▶ Community, lineage, and skillful facilitation in sacred practice ▶ Why prescriptive rules about masculine and feminine roles fall short ▶ Sex as a mirror for the health of the whole relationship ▶ Relational and consciousness work as a path to societal healing    Allan McGrath Isbell's Links & Resources ▶ https://www.allanmcgrathisbell.com/ ▶ https://www.instagram.com/allanmcgrathisbell  ▶ Free 40-Minute Polarity Practice - His Presence, Her Receptivity: https://www.allanmcgrathisbell.com/free-polarity-practice    Download Beth's free trainings here:  Clarity to Clients: Start & Grow a Transformational Coaching, Healing, Spiritual, or Psychedelic Business:  https://bethaweinstein.com/grow-your-spiritual-business Integrating Psychedelics & Sacred Medicines Into Business: https://bethaweinstein.com/psychedelics-in-business ▶ Beth's Coaching & Guidance: https://bethaweinstein.com/coaching  ▶ Beth's Offerings & Courses: https://bethaweinstein.com/services ▶ Instagram:  @bethaweinstein  ▶ FB: / bethw.nyc + bethweinsteinbiz  Download Beth's free trainings here: Clarity to Clients: Start & Grow a Transformational Coaching, Healing, Spiritual, or Psychedelic Business: https://bethaweinstein.com/grow-your-spiritual-businessIntegrating Psychedelics & Sacred Medicines Into Business: https://bethaweinstein.com/psychedelics-in-business▶ Beth's Coaching & Guidance: https://bethaweinstein.com/coaching ▶ Beth's Offerings & Courses: https://bethaweinstein.com/services▶ Instagram: @bethaweinstein ▶ FB: / bethw.nyc + bethweinsteinbiz

Exploring The College of Wooster with Jason McGrathIn this episode, I spoke with Jason McGrath, Vice President for Enrollment Management, about what makes The College of Wooster a distinctive option for students.A defining feature of Wooster is its Senior Independent Study (IS), a year-long, faculty-mentored research project required for all students, emphasizing independent thinking and real-world application.The conversation also highlights Wooster's holistic admissions process, where applications are reviewed in context, academic rigor is evaluated based on available opportunities, and standardized testing remains optional. Notably, test scores are not considered in scholarship decisions.Jason shares practical advice for applicants, including how to approach the activities list, what makes a compelling personal statement, and when Early Decision is an appropriate choice.The episode also explores Wooster's strong support systems, commitment to personalized learning, and outcomes for graduates.The College of Wooster - AdmissionsColleges That Change Lives

McGrath strikes disaster on the bus, Smith hits up Swedish nightclubs, and Ethan FINALLY gets painted gold!Buy WingFEST Tickets HERE: http://wingfest.co.uk

First up, we debate a highly important question: what would your “walk-up” song be for speaking at Stake Conference? We’re throwing out everything from Michael McLean to Usher to the Imperial March. We also share some stories from a genuinely incredible trip on the Rocky Mountaineer train (those glass-dome roofs are top-tier) and countdown the final 90 days of wedding season. (If you still need a DJ, you know where to go: BestDJinUtah.com). We also read an awesome email from a listener in McGrath, Alberta, who took our advice for a Bear Lake trip, which naturally led us into a brand new round of Smooch, Marry, Kill: Villain Edition. If your ward bishop had to be Voldemort, Sauron, or Darth Vader… who are you picking? Then, we get into a pretty heavy and packed Articles of News: The Viral “Darth Vader” Devotional: Elder Lawrence E. Corbridge's clip about staying in the Church—even if the culture was Alcatraz and Vader was your bishop—went viral. We break down the massive online debate it sparked. Copyrights & Lawsuits: The ACLU just filed an amicus brief in the Mormon Stories lawsuit. We talk about the reality of copyright protection and why this is one of thousands of similar suits filed every year. Arizona Supreme Court: We discuss a very difficult ruling out of AZ determining that clergy are not required to report child abuse disclosed during a confession. Kearns Tragedy: We touch on the heartbreaking news of a deadly shooting outside a local meetinghouse during a funeral. BYU Marriage Stats: The married student population at BYU has plummeted to just 17%. We talk about what's causing the drop and the school’s new “date night” initiative to fix it. Chapel Layouts: Are the sacrament tables actually moving to the center of the rostrum? The post Bishop Vader, I wish that Gangs were more Respectful appeared first on The Cultural Hall Podcast.

Dom returns to Manchester and shares his lowest moment to date. Meanwhile, McGrath reveals his hair-transplant!Buy WingFEST Tickets HERE: http://wingfest.co.uk

Ben Ennis and Brent Gunning open this hour with more on the Blue Jays' 5-3 win over the Red Sox to close the Wild Card gap to 2.5 games. They take a closer look at Dylan Cease's shorter than usual outing last night, his case to win the American League Cy Young award, and how this season compares to Robbie Ray's 2021 campaign. The guys also share an injury update on Trey Yesavage and discuss the possibility of him returning to the Blue Jays this season, before looking into Paul Skenes' recent dip in velocity and early exit from yesterday's game. After the break, Kailyn McGrath (22:10) joins the conversation to discuss what's behind the Jays' recent run, Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s dip in production at the plate, and Brett Bateman's early returns. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

John Buchanan never played Test cricket. Seven first-class games for Queensland.Then, he walked into a dressing room with Warne, McGrath, Ponting, Gilchrist, and the Waugh brothers, handed them Sun Tzu's Art of War, and told them they were going to dominate world cricket.He coached Australia to a 79% win rate, 16 consecutive Test victories, and two World Cups.But it nearly cost him everything. Jobs, relationships, and the constant question of whether he belonged.We go deep on coaching philosophy, the courage to hold your line when it loses you the job, why doubt is essential to leadership, and what it takes to harness elite ego without letting it destroy the team.This is a conversation for anyone who's ever had to lead without the credentials, hold standards when it's easier to walk past them, and find belief in themselves when no one else does.Notebook ready. Play on!

On today's REX Daily Podcast, Dom talks with Kristine Asuncion, Canterbury dairy farmer and Chair of the Filipino Dairy Workers of NZ, about running for the National Party in the Dunedin electorate in the November election, why she's decided to have a crack at politics and her role as HR Cultural Advisor at Craigmore Sustainables... And he talks with Karen McGrath from Southern Alp Sprouts about the origin and growth of the business over the past few decades, the incredible health benefits of sprouts and winning the 'Love of the Land' category at the recent NZI Rural Women Business Awards. Tune in daily for the latest and greatest REX rural content on your favourite streaming platform, visit rexonline.co.nz and follow us on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn for more.

Dom talks with Karen McGrath from Southern Alp Sprouts about the origin and growth of the business over the past few decades, the incredible health benefits of sprouts and winning the 'Love of the Land' category at the recent NZI Rural Women Business Awards. Tune in daily for the latest and greatest REX rural content on your favourite streaming platform, visit rexonline.co.nz and follow us on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn for more.

Kirkland & Ellis partner Kim McGrath joins the Crossroads podcast to discuss the rapidly evolving environment for data center finance, from ever-higher project dollar values and financing mechanisms, to an increasingly active market for stabilized assets.

Episode 227: In this Gameplan episode - a collaboration between Gameplan & Inform Performance, Host Andy McDonald is joined by Consultant Physiotherapist and Director of Pitch-Ready Tim McGrath.  Tim is a Sports Physiotherapist with over 23 years professional practice & professional sport experience. Most recently returned to Australia after working as Senior Director of Player Health & Performance for the Washington Commanders NFL team in the USA, Tim completed his PhD from the Research Institute of Sports & Exercise (UCRISE) at the University of Canberra on the topic of ACL rehabilitation and return to sport following knee injury in 2016. - In this episode, Tim shares his comprehensive Gameplan framework for PCL rehabilitation and return to play.  - Topics Discussed: PCL injury assessment and management Sport-specific physical demands and rehab goals Progressive training buckets: quad, hamstring, calf, lateral movement Objective benchmarks for an effective return-to-play Common pitfalls and decision making in PCL rehab -  Where you can find Tim McGrath: LinkedIn Instagram   Where you can find Pitch Ready:  Pitch-Ready -  Sponsors Gameplan Is a Rehab Management System providing Medical & Performance Departments with a centralised platform to plan, track & manage the return-to-play process inside a data rich environment. Gameplan provides one platform to connect the people, process and data during rehab.  - Where to Find Us Keep up to date with everything that is going on with the podcast by following Inform Performance on: Instagram Twitter Our Website

On this morning's show... The Government is set to launch its new National Public Procurement Strategy. Minister Frank Feighan will join us on that in a few moments. Beyond Politics with Cllr Marie Murphy. We have amid week panel looking back at Covid. The lockdowns, empty streets, closed businesses, and separation from family and friends can sometimes feel like a distant memory. Cllr Máirín McGrath has called on the HSE to urgently explain why the Breast-Check mobile screening unit has been removed from Cahir A commemorative event celebrating the life and legacy of Seán Hogan. Cllr Seamie Morris chatting about New York, New York.

Connect with Melissa McCue-McGrath!https://melissamccuemcgrath.com/ Melissa McCue-McGrath gets humped and peed on professionally more than she thought she would in this line of work. She has written two books. The first, "Considerations for the City Dog" was written for her clients in Boston who needed support for living with dogs in an urban setting, and the second, "Misadventures of the World's Okayest Dog Trainer" is for people who are curious about what it's like behind the scenes working with clients and dogs.Melissa paved the way as the first American resident certified by the British Animal Behavior and Training Council, thanks to the Professional Association of Canine Trainers, also based in the UK. She's a Victoria Stilwell Academy faculty advisor, a trainer for Grisha Stewart's dog training academy, and was part of a nationwide study to see if pet dog trainers, like Melissa, could train pet dogs - like many of your dogs at home - to find an invasive species. There were six dogs in Melissa's cohort two years ago, and this year, the year the invasive Spotted Lantern Fly is predicted to be in her home state of Maine, Melissa has a total of 22 dogs at the Animal Welfare Society in Kennebunk Maine who can find the invasive spotted lanternfly...in a controlled setting :)

Buy WingFEST Tickets HERE: http://wingfest.co.ukThis week - McGrath and Ethan hit up London WingFEST, with 50 different vendors to try from. Meanwhile, the Lava Wing Challenge hits a new level!

Why do tenants' rights cases end up on appeal—and what happens when the Ellis Act gets weaponized? Tenants' rights appellate attorney Fran Campbell joins Jeff Lewis as a guest host while Tim Kowal is on vacation, sharing hard-won insight from landlord-tenant litigation, mobile home park law, and the appellate front lines of California's housing crisis.Key points:The Ellis Act and Barrington Plaza: Campbell's firm challenged Douglas Emmett's attempt to invoke the Ellis Act to remove roughly 750 tenants, raising a statutory interpretation question under Gov. Code § 7060.7.Supersedeas strategy: Collecting rent from remaining tenants while an appeal is pending may inadvertently create new periodic tenancies — a risk Campbell says practitioners often overlook.Berk v. Choy: The U.S. Supreme Court's unanimous ruling could further erode California's anti-SLAPP protections in federal court, with significant implications for practitioners.Social media as abuse: A June 2026 Second District opinion holds that social media conduct can qualify as cognizable abuse under the Domestic Violence Prevention Act.Conflict waivers and fee agreements: Failing to obtain a conflict waiver can void not just a fee agreement but its arbitration clause too — per Jane Doe v. McGrath.Tenants' rights practitioners: Have you faced an Ellis Act claim where the landlord's intent was the deciding issue? Share your experience in the comments.

Wildfires have been raging across Spain and France and we have experienced this at home with fires breaking out in Tipperary, Waterford, Kerry and Wicklow.Not only has there been an outbreak of wildfires, but firefighters who were sent to Slievenamon were targeted by thieves. Cars, vans and jeeps parked outside the fire station were broken into on the fifth day of battling the fires. Tools they use for daily use were taken, and some of the vehicles were damaged…We want to hear from you: have you experienced fires in your area? What advice have you been given to deal with them?Joining Andrea to discuss is Eoghan Corry, Travel Commentator & owner of Travel Extra, Mattie McGrath, Independent TD for Tipperary South, Máirín McGrath, Independent Councillor for Cahir LEA and more.

'Galway Talks' hosted an All-Ireland Senior Football Final preview in Supermacs, Ballindine on Friday (24th July), two days before Mayo attempt to end 75 years without Sam Maguire when they meet the defending champions Kerry in Croke Park. Presented by Galway Bay FM's Ollie Turner, he was joined by John Stagg, Ciarán McGrath, Enda McGearty, Danny McHugh, John Dooley, James Regan and Billy Kearns. == Throw-in at Croke Park on Sunday is 3.30pm.

C.S. Lewis is remembered by many as a novelist, apologist, and literary scholar, but his reflections on science remain surprisingly relevant. Alister McGrath argues that Lewis offers a surprisingly nuanced understanding of the relationship between science, reason, imagination, and faith—one that challenges common assumptions about both scientific and Christian ways of knowing. The conversation explores Lewis's understanding of the scientific enterprise, the role of imagination in forming and testing theories, and the historical development of science from the medieval world to the present. McGrath also considers why Lewis continues to be cited in contemporary debates over science and faith, while arguing that his views are often read out of context. Along the way, the discussion reflects on why Lewis's ideas continue to speak into contemporary questions about science, faith, meaning, and the search for truth. Rather than treating imagination as an escape from reality, Lewis saw it as an indispensable part of discovering and understanding the world—a vision that remains both timely and compelling.

The family of a murdered Christchurch man whose body was never found is welcoming a renewed push for a 'no body, no parole' law. A Bill from National MP Tom Rutherford would only let convicted murderers be released, if they reveal where to find their victim's remains. A similar push in 2020 didn't get through. Simon McGrath - whose brother Michael was killed - says he's not sure this law would've changed his case, but he sees value. "The bill's certainly going to incentivise perpetrators to do the right thing and give up information about the location of their victim's remains - it's a leveraging tool for the police." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Host Amber Bell chews on the latest in beef production as she sits down with Sean McGrath of Round Rock Ranching to discuss designing, building, and adapting reliable watering setups for grazing cattle. In this episode of Ruminating with RealAg, McGrath breaks down how to manage cattle water requirements and work with effective rainfall dynamics... Read More

One thing that a lot of people with vestibular disorders notice is how fatiguing or challenging different tasks become over time.  What's happening is your brain is trying to process multiple inputs (or even tasks) at the same time.  For those with vestibular disorders, it becomes more difficult because your body is trying to process more information—and it’s also now having to work double time to keep you upright. Multitasking and task switching are a part of daily life, but it comes with costs. And those with vestibular disorders often notice this more but aren't quite sure how to make it go away. But this episode is here to help! In this episode, we'll dig into: Why tasks feel manageable alone but become overwhelming when combined How multitasking and task switching are similar and different What the “switch cost” is and how it adds up over time for those with vestibular disorders What percentage of people with vestibular conditions experience cognitive symptoms like brain fog How the central nervous system and cerebral cortices matter for cognitive symptoms Why spatial awareness demands extra resources when you have a vestibular disorder How balance exercises in VRT are designed to gradually scale up task demands Why errors are actually part of healing with a vestibular condition Why rest and recovery are essential when you’re adding in more cognitive or physical tasks Task switching and multitasking are hard for everyone! A vestibular disorder just adds an extra layer—it doesn’t mean things can’t improve, but it does take time, space, and grace. You're doing more things than you think and certainly doing more than you take credit for. Links Mentioned: Vestibular Group Fit (code GROUNDED at checkout for 15% off!): https://thevertigodoctor.com/vestibular-group-fit Free Resources: ⁠The 4 Steps to Managing Vestibular Migraine: https://thevertigodoctor.myflodesk.com/cb5js0y78n ⁠The PPPD Management Masterclass⁠: https://thevertigodoctor.myflodesk.com/new-pppd ⁠What your Partner Should Know About Living with Dizziness⁠: https://thevertigodoctor.myflodesk.com/partnership ⁠The FREE Mini VGFit Workout⁠: https://thevertigodoctor.myflodesk.com/minifit ⁠The FREE POTS – safe Workouts⁠: https://thevertigodoctor.myflodesk.com/pots Connect with Dr. Madison (@TheVertigoDoctor): https://instagram.com/thevertigodoctor Work with Dr. Madison: For 1:1 Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy, email madison@thevertigodoctor.com Otherwise, I'll see ya in Vestibular Group Fit! Connect with Dr. Jenna (@dizzy.rehab.therapist): https://www.instagram.com/dizzy.rehab.therapist/ Learn about the Oak Method: http://thevertigodoctor.com/why-vestibular-group-fit Love what you heard?Consider leaving a review on your favorite podcast platform to help us reach more vestibular warriors like you! This podcast is for informational purposes only and may not be the best fit for you and your personal situation. It shall not be construed as medical advice. The information and education provided here is not intended or implied to supplement or replace professional medical treatment, advice, and/or diagnosis. Always check with your own physician or medical professional before trying or implementing any information read here. Citations  McGrath, Kim. “The “Switch Cost” of Multitasking.” Wake Forest News, 16 Apr. 2024, news.wfu.edu/2024/04/16/the-switch-cost-of-multitasking/. Asuako, P. A. G., Stojan, R., Bock, O., Mack, M., & Voelcker-Rehage, C. (2025). Multitasking: does task-switching add to the effect of dual-tasking on everyday-like driving behavior?. Cognitive research: principles and implications, 10(1), 5. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41235-025-00611-y Smith, L. J., Wilkinson, D., Bodani, M., & Surenthiran, S. S. (2024). Cognition in vestibular disorders: state of the field, challenges, and priorities for the future. Frontiers in neurology, 15, 1159174. https://doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2024.1159174 ————————————— task switching and multitasking, things to help with brain fog, vestibular migraine brain fog, what causes brain fog and dizziness, vestibular disorders, vestibular group fit, living with vestibular migraine, living with chronic dizziness, sensory overload, spatial awareness, cognitive abilities

Paul Byrne talks through the new rules and also asks about the sale of drugs ship MV Matthew. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Michael McGrath, EU Commissioner speaks to Jackie Fox. Washington Correspondent

This week - Smith disappears, his replacement gets lost and McGrath hosts his BIGGEST pub quiz yet!

In this episode of the Human Rights Podcast, LLM student Eduarda Boni speaks with Dr Alexander Gilder, Associate Professor of International Law and Security at the University of Reading and Associate Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute. Together, they explore Dr Gilder's newly published research on developing an evidence‑based framework for NATO's Human Security approach, informed by his recent work with NATO's Allied Rapid Reaction Corps. The episode examines how the framework emerged, why it matters for NATO at this moment, and what enhanced human security means for international law and military operations. This research, co‑authored with Daniel Linsdell, appears in the Scandinavian Journal of Military Studies and will feature in the forthcoming Oxford Handbook on Human Security. The podcast was produced by Eduarda Boni, Gráinne McGrath and Kirsten Larson. Intro Music: 'Smarties Intro -FMA Podcast Suggestions' by Birds for Scale (Attribution - ShareAlike 4.0 international License). Outro Music 'Smarties Outro -FMA Podcast Suggestions' by Birds for Scale (Attribution - ShareAlike 4.0 international License).

In this interview, we speak with Laura B. McGrath, an Assistant Professor of English at Temple University and the author of Middlemen: Literary Agents and the Making of American Fiction (Princeton University Press, 2026). Her writings have appeared in the Los Angeles Review of Books and The Atlantic. Middlemen rewrites literary history from the perspective of one of its most important but least visible figures: the literary agent. Chronicling the story of agents in the United States from the 1950s to today, Laura McGrath uncovers their critical role in the making of American literature. From the famed three-martini lunch to the Frankfurt Book Fair, Middlemen takes readers behind the scenes to show how agents influence what we read. Along the way, it explains why many debut novelists never publish another book, why agents champion short story collections even though they sell poorly, how agents advocate for writers of color in a system that values whiteness, and why there are so many New York novels. Weaving together original archival research, data analysis, and interviews with scores of agents and other publishing professionals, Middlemen demonstrates that agents—eighty percent of whom are in fact women—are much more than “middlemen.” As intermediaries between author and publisher, agents act as advocates, matchmakers, negotiators, and tastemakers, and they must balance artistic values with the commercial imperatives of publishing conglomerates. The book describes the decisive role agents have played in celebrated novels—from Jack Kerouac's On the Road to Colson Whitehead's The Intuitionist—but also in the creation of entire literary categories like the debut novel, the story collection, postmodernism, multiethnic fiction, and world literature. Featuring profiles of agents past and present such as Sterling Lord, Lynn Nesbit, Candida Donadio, Marie Brown, and Andrew Wylie, along with perspectives from agents at all stages of their careers, Middlemen is an entertaining and eye-opening account of how literary fiction—and the literary canon—is made. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

In this interview, we speak with Laura B. McGrath, an Assistant Professor of English at Temple University and the author of Middlemen: Literary Agents and the Making of American Fiction (Princeton University Press, 2026). Her writings have appeared in the Los Angeles Review of Books and The Atlantic. Middlemen rewrites literary history from the perspective of one of its most important but least visible figures: the literary agent. Chronicling the story of agents in the United States from the 1950s to today, Laura McGrath uncovers their critical role in the making of American literature. From the famed three-martini lunch to the Frankfurt Book Fair, Middlemen takes readers behind the scenes to show how agents influence what we read. Along the way, it explains why many debut novelists never publish another book, why agents champion short story collections even though they sell poorly, how agents advocate for writers of color in a system that values whiteness, and why there are so many New York novels. Weaving together original archival research, data analysis, and interviews with scores of agents and other publishing professionals, Middlemen demonstrates that agents—eighty percent of whom are in fact women—are much more than “middlemen.” As intermediaries between author and publisher, agents act as advocates, matchmakers, negotiators, and tastemakers, and they must balance artistic values with the commercial imperatives of publishing conglomerates. The book describes the decisive role agents have played in celebrated novels—from Jack Kerouac's On the Road to Colson Whitehead's The Intuitionist—but also in the creation of entire literary categories like the debut novel, the story collection, postmodernism, multiethnic fiction, and world literature. Featuring profiles of agents past and present such as Sterling Lord, Lynn Nesbit, Candida Donadio, Marie Brown, and Andrew Wylie, along with perspectives from agents at all stages of their careers, Middlemen is an entertaining and eye-opening account of how literary fiction—and the literary canon—is made. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/literary-studies

In this interview, we speak with Laura B. McGrath, an Assistant Professor of English at Temple University and the author of Middlemen: Literary Agents and the Making of American Fiction (Princeton University Press, 2026). Her writings have appeared in the Los Angeles Review of Books and The Atlantic. Middlemen rewrites literary history from the perspective of one of its most important but least visible figures: the literary agent. Chronicling the story of agents in the United States from the 1950s to today, Laura McGrath uncovers their critical role in the making of American literature. From the famed three-martini lunch to the Frankfurt Book Fair, Middlemen takes readers behind the scenes to show how agents influence what we read. Along the way, it explains why many debut novelists never publish another book, why agents champion short story collections even though they sell poorly, how agents advocate for writers of color in a system that values whiteness, and why there are so many New York novels. Weaving together original archival research, data analysis, and interviews with scores of agents and other publishing professionals, Middlemen demonstrates that agents—eighty percent of whom are in fact women—are much more than “middlemen.” As intermediaries between author and publisher, agents act as advocates, matchmakers, negotiators, and tastemakers, and they must balance artistic values with the commercial imperatives of publishing conglomerates. The book describes the decisive role agents have played in celebrated novels—from Jack Kerouac's On the Road to Colson Whitehead's The Intuitionist—but also in the creation of entire literary categories like the debut novel, the story collection, postmodernism, multiethnic fiction, and world literature. Featuring profiles of agents past and present such as Sterling Lord, Lynn Nesbit, Candida Donadio, Marie Brown, and Andrew Wylie, along with perspectives from agents at all stages of their careers, Middlemen is an entertaining and eye-opening account of how literary fiction—and the literary canon—is made. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/american-studies

In this interview, we speak with Laura B. McGrath, an Assistant Professor of English at Temple University and the author of Middlemen: Literary Agents and the Making of American Fiction (Princeton University Press, 2026). Her writings have appeared in the Los Angeles Review of Books and The Atlantic. Middlemen rewrites literary history from the perspective of one of its most important but least visible figures: the literary agent. Chronicling the story of agents in the United States from the 1950s to today, Laura McGrath uncovers their critical role in the making of American literature. From the famed three-martini lunch to the Frankfurt Book Fair, Middlemen takes readers behind the scenes to show how agents influence what we read. Along the way, it explains why many debut novelists never publish another book, why agents champion short story collections even though they sell poorly, how agents advocate for writers of color in a system that values whiteness, and why there are so many New York novels. Weaving together original archival research, data analysis, and interviews with scores of agents and other publishing professionals, Middlemen demonstrates that agents—eighty percent of whom are in fact women—are much more than “middlemen.” As intermediaries between author and publisher, agents act as advocates, matchmakers, negotiators, and tastemakers, and they must balance artistic values with the commercial imperatives of publishing conglomerates. The book describes the decisive role agents have played in celebrated novels—from Jack Kerouac's On the Road to Colson Whitehead's The Intuitionist—but also in the creation of entire literary categories like the debut novel, the story collection, postmodernism, multiethnic fiction, and world literature. Featuring profiles of agents past and present such as Sterling Lord, Lynn Nesbit, Candida Donadio, Marie Brown, and Andrew Wylie, along with perspectives from agents at all stages of their careers, Middlemen is an entertaining and eye-opening account of how literary fiction—and the literary canon—is made.

In this interview, we speak with Laura B. McGrath, an Assistant Professor of English at Temple University and the author of Middlemen: Literary Agents and the Making of American Fiction (Princeton University Press, 2026). Her writings have appeared in the Los Angeles Review of Books and The Atlantic. Middlemen rewrites literary history from the perspective of one of its most important but least visible figures: the literary agent. Chronicling the story of agents in the United States from the 1950s to today, Laura McGrath uncovers their critical role in the making of American literature. From the famed three-martini lunch to the Frankfurt Book Fair, Middlemen takes readers behind the scenes to show how agents influence what we read. Along the way, it explains why many debut novelists never publish another book, why agents champion short story collections even though they sell poorly, how agents advocate for writers of color in a system that values whiteness, and why there are so many New York novels. Weaving together original archival research, data analysis, and interviews with scores of agents and other publishing professionals, Middlemen demonstrates that agents—eighty percent of whom are in fact women—are much more than “middlemen.” As intermediaries between author and publisher, agents act as advocates, matchmakers, negotiators, and tastemakers, and they must balance artistic values with the commercial imperatives of publishing conglomerates. The book describes the decisive role agents have played in celebrated novels—from Jack Kerouac's On the Road to Colson Whitehead's The Intuitionist—but also in the creation of entire literary categories like the debut novel, the story collection, postmodernism, multiethnic fiction, and world literature. Featuring profiles of agents past and present such as Sterling Lord, Lynn Nesbit, Candida Donadio, Marie Brown, and Andrew Wylie, along with perspectives from agents at all stages of their careers, Middlemen is an entertaining and eye-opening account of how literary fiction—and the literary canon—is made. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/communications

In this interview, we speak with Laura B. McGrath, an Assistant Professor of English at Temple University and the author of Middlemen: Literary Agents and the Making of American Fiction (Princeton University Press, 2026). Her writings have appeared in the Los Angeles Review of Books and The Atlantic. Middlemen rewrites literary history from the perspective of one of its most important but least visible figures: the literary agent. Chronicling the story of agents in the United States from the 1950s to today, Laura McGrath uncovers their critical role in the making of American literature. From the famed three-martini lunch to the Frankfurt Book Fair, Middlemen takes readers behind the scenes to show how agents influence what we read. Along the way, it explains why many debut novelists never publish another book, why agents champion short story collections even though they sell poorly, how agents advocate for writers of color in a system that values whiteness, and why there are so many New York novels. Weaving together original archival research, data analysis, and interviews with scores of agents and other publishing professionals, Middlemen demonstrates that agents—eighty percent of whom are in fact women—are much more than “middlemen.” As intermediaries between author and publisher, agents act as advocates, matchmakers, negotiators, and tastemakers, and they must balance artistic values with the commercial imperatives of publishing conglomerates. The book describes the decisive role agents have played in celebrated novels—from Jack Kerouac's On the Road to Colson Whitehead's The Intuitionist—but also in the creation of entire literary categories like the debut novel, the story collection, postmodernism, multiethnic fiction, and world literature. Featuring profiles of agents past and present such as Sterling Lord, Lynn Nesbit, Candida Donadio, Marie Brown, and Andrew Wylie, along with perspectives from agents at all stages of their careers, Middlemen is an entertaining and eye-opening account of how literary fiction—and the literary canon—is made. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Daniele Franceschi and Zack Bodenstein begin the second hour live from Coppinwood Golf Club at the NHLAA Golf Classic! They break down the latest on Kawhi Leonard and the Raptors, discussing the status of the trade, its potential implications, Kawhi's contract situation, possible next steps, and the NBA's investigation. After the break, Sportsnet Blue Jays contributor Kaitlyn McGrath (25:22) joins the show to recap the Blue Jays' weekend series in San Diego, assess the team's first half, discuss Dylan Cease's upcoming All-Star Game start, and examine the club's approach to the trade deadline amid ongoing labour uncertainty. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

What happens when Outer Banks This Week jumps aboard the OBX Party Bus for the A250 Pub Crawl? Pure chaos ... the fun kind! From ice-cold drinks and great food at McGrath's Burger Shack to the legendary vibes at Bonzer Shack, Tap That OBX and Chilli Peppers Coastal Grill, the party rolled from stop to stop without missing a beat. There were laughs, unforgettable moments and plenty of stories we'll never live down. If you're looking for one of the most fun nights on the Outer Banks, grab your crew, book the OBX Party Bus and let the good times roll!  

This week - McGrath forces the world's biggest BuzzBall down Ethan's gullet and Smith spits in his cake.Buy WingFEST Tickets HERE: http://wingfest.co.ukJoin our Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/sloppyjoespodcastWe have merch! https://sloppyjoespod.com

Constituency TD Seamus McGrath and listeners on the planning decision for the former Bessboro Mother & Baby Home Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A major thread of the episode is the relationship between immigration rhetoric and broader racial control. Danielle and Rebecca argue that calls to “secure the border” are not only about the nation's geographic borders, but also about who gets counted as belonging, qualified, safe, or fully human. They connect immigration enforcement, birthright citizenship, anti-DEI backlash, voting rights, and gerrymandering as part of a larger project of redrawing the boundaries of American life around whiteness and power. The conversation also turns inward toward betrayal within communities of color. Danielle speaks with grief and anger about Latino communities voting against their own ancestors, families, and cultural memory, while Rebecca reflects on the pain of Black men and other communities of color supporting a political movement that has openly threatened their own interests. Together they ask what stories people have to believe about themselves, their communities, and America in order to align with power that intends to harm them. Rebecca offers one of the episode's central metaphors: America as a survivor choosing to remain in a familiar cycle of violence rather than step into the uncertainty of a freer world. She describes the country's attachment to white male narcissistic violent power as a kind of domestic violence cycle, where the known threat becomes more tolerable than the terrifying work of standing without it. The episode closes with Rebecca naming the exhaustion of Black women and Black communities being expected to remain at the front lines of every fight for justice. She frames stepping out of the room not as abandonment, but as a defiant and resilient act of self-care. Danielle and Rebecca end by questioning the stability of integration into white institutions, noting that access may have produced real success, but that success remains unstable when institutions can reverse commitments the moment political cover appears. The episode leaves listeners with a sober but clarifying truth: survival, solidarity, and resistance may now require refusing the old bargain that marginalized communities must keep sacrificing themselves to save a country still choosing domination.   Rebecca — on safety and the Black or brown body “We need to have a brutally honest conversation about the one Black kid in the all-white room. We need to have a conversation about how that isn't safe. Nobody is surprised by that sentence. It might not have been one we said as brutally and blatantly as it is being said now, but I guarantee you that has been the worry all along: the ways in which it is not safe for the Black or brown body.”  Danielle — on no justice coming “Yesterday I said to Luis, ‘There will be no justice for Lorenzo. There's not going to be justice. There wasn't justice for Renee Nicole Goode. There wasn't justice for Alex Preddi. There's no justice coming down for this dude.'”  Well, first I guess I would have to believe that there was or is an actual political dialogue taking place that I could potentially be a part of. And honestly, I'm not sure that I believe that.

In Episode 229, Sarah talks with Laura B. McGrath about her new book, Middlemen, and the behind-the-scenes role literary agents play in publishing. They discuss what agents actually do, how they shape an author's career, the hype surrounding debut novels, and what Laura learned while researching one of publishing's least visible professions. Plus, Laura shares her book recommendations. This post contains affiliate links through which I make a small commission when you make a purchase (at no cost to you!). CLICK HERE for the full episode Show Notes on the blog. Highlights Middlemen by Laura B. McGrath (April 28) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  Why a literary agent's most important job isn't what most readers think. What agents are really looking for when they decide to represent an author. The surprising amount of homework agents do before signing a new client. The hype surrounding debut novels — and some of the downsides that come with it. Why the publishing industry was initially wary of public book sales data. Laura's Book Recommendations Two OLD Books She Loves Housekeeping by Marilynne Robinson (1980) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [45:12]  Franny and Zooey by J. D. Salinger (1961) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [47:59]  Other Books Mentioned   Gilead by Marilynne Robinson (2004) [46:36]  Two NEW Books She Loves London Falling by Patrick Radden Keefe (April 7) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[49:25]  Discipline by Larissa Pham (Jan 20) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [51:42]  Other Books Mentioned  Say Nothing by Patrick Radden Keefe (2018) [50:31]  One Book She DIDN'T Love The Ending Writes Itself by Evelyn Clarke (April 7) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[53:14]  Other Books Mentioned Erasure by Percival Everett (2001) [53:30]  The Wife by Meg Wolitzer (2003) [53:32]  And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie (1939) [54:16] The Mousetrap by Agatha Christie (1947/1952) [54:19]   Yellowface by R. F. Kuang (2023) [55:34]  One NEW RELEASE She's Excited About Music Against the Night by Yiyun Li (October 13, 2026) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [57:04] Sneak Pick: Miss Lambert Steps Aboard Danger by Kazuo Ishiguro (March 9, 2027) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [57:04]  Other Books Mentioned Things in Nature Merely Grow by Yiyun Li (2025) [57:39]  The Unconsoled by Kazuo Ishiguro (1995) [58:43]  The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro (1989) [59:27]  Books From the Discussion The Middle Man by Paul R. Reynolds (1972) [3:09] Talking at Night by Claire Daverley (2023) [10:40] Zone One by Colson Whitehead (2011) [11:20] Catch-22 by Joseph Heller (1961)  [12:36]  Mila 18 by Leon Uris (1961) [13:33] The Intuitionist by Colson Whitehead (1999) [14:18] Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel (2014) [33:52]  Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin (2022) [34:28]  The God of the Woods by Liz Moore (2024) [34:34]  Long Bright River by Liz Moore (2020) [34:36]  The Unseen World by Liz Moore (2016) [34:39] 

Many of us love the hustle and bustle of city life, but unfortunately, our pets don't always agree. From the endless barrage of sounds and smells to unnerving experiences like riding elevators, urban environments often present unique challenges to dogs and their owners. However, this doesn't mean you and Fido have to ditch the city and head for the hills! With a little patience and some good training, there are all kinds of things you can do to help your pup thrive in an urban setting. Dog trainer Melissa McCue-McGrath returns to the show today to share tips and tricks for city living with dogs.    For show notes and more, please go to Your Family Dog.

Rebecca In this country, what we do with adoption is this notion automatically that adoption is a good thing, and whoever is in the role of adoptive parent is the hero of the story. That usually means the story of the adopted child, and however they came to be in a position where adoption was an option, is villainized in a way that is often inaccurate and radically oversimplified. It's told as if the adopted child's story begins at the moment of adoption, as if there was not something that happened before or during. It sets up this dynamic where there are clear heroes, clear villains, and a kid in the middle who has everyone writing their story except the kid to whom the story belongs. The frame is problematic to me. The fact that we don't know how to address it is problematic to me. What is true for that kid at the time of adoption? What is true for that kid ten years later? What is true for that kid thirty years later? There's no conversation about that at all. There's no vocabulary around what that means to identity and culture. Jenny I reread a book called Kisses from Katie, which was very popular. Katie Davis was a white woman from the States who went to Uganda and adopted fourteen Ugandan daughters by the time she was twenty-three. In one of the last chapters, a child's biological mother comes and takes the child back to the village in Uganda, and Katie Davis writes as if it is absolutely unjust that a child would be taken from its mother. There is seemingly complete obliviousness to the children she has who were birthed by someone else, who have stories there. It's like there is no history or narrative because God has called her to be mommy. That call is unquestioned and unproblematic, and it is really heavy. Danielle What comes up for me is the Supreme Court ruling and Amy Coney Barrett having adopted Haitian children and then voting to end TPS status for Haitians. That is where our books overlap. That is literally psychotic to me. How are her kids going to make sense of that at some point in their life? Right now, they have to survive and do whatever they need to do, but the reality shift required to live inside that world is so great.   Theme 2: Transracial Adoption, Cultural Severing, and Identity Loss Rebecca When you're talking about transracial adoption, I think it's twofold. There is the issue of being a member of a marginalized community adopted into a majority family and having to navigate the explicit or implicit, conscious or subconscious racism that exists in that dynamic. To have to navigate that from inside the four walls of your own home is a thing unto itself. But the other piece, which I think may be equally harmful in a different way, is the absence of the collective identity space that shapes who you are. Whole parts of your identity go unacknowledged, undeveloped, misignored, because you have been removed from the womb of your cultural and ethnic identity. I don't think there is enough language to talk about how significant that connection is—not just to your family of origin, but to land, extended family, and the whole collective group. Oftentimes for the adoptive kid, I don't have vocabulary to describe what it is that I don't know, except I have this haunting whisper that there is something I'm missing, and I can't even identify it because I don't have enough access to the cultural knowledge to tell you what I'm missing. Jenny It makes me think about Indigenous residential schools and the phrase, “kill the Indian, save the child.” What makes adoption acceptable is that it is actually adopting these kids into whiteness. It is not bringing them with their Haitian culture and language and pride in the same way TPS holders have. A month ago, Sean and I stood with the TPS community in front of the Supreme Court when they heard this case, and it was an entire day of songs and stories and such beauty in the various cultures represented by TPS countries. That is what is being killed. That is what is not allowed. You can come if you adopt whiteness. Danielle I think we have sanitized the abuse and harm in European-dominant families here in the States, in evangelical white churches, schools, and other places. We are told that the white families adopting these children are not perpetrating harm. But I'm looking back at it today and thinking, no, they are perpetrating a lot of harm. So you have a child coming out of one set of harm and having to navigate another set of harm. It's a double whammy. Well, first I guess I would have to believe that there was or is an actual political dialogue taking place that I could potentially be a part of. And honestly, I'm not sure that I believe that.

Andy McGrath je britanski novinar, ki je lani napisal biografijo o Tadeju Pogačarju, ta je pred kratkim izšla tudi v slovenskem prevodu. McGrath se je v pogovoru spomnil pisanja knjige, kaj ga je presenetilo in navdušilo, razmišljal pa je tudi o napovedi pred Dirko po Franciji. To je slovenska različica pogovora, kjer je Andyju glas posodil Luka Petrič (Val 202).

Andy McGrath je britanski novinar, ki je lani napisal biografijo o Tadeju Pogačarju, ta je pred kratkim izšla tudi v slovenskem prevodu. McGrath se je v pogovoru spomnil pisanja knjige, kaj ga je presenetilo in navdušilo, razmišljal pa je tudi o napovedi pred Dirko po Franciji.

Student wellbeing isn't an “extra”… it is the foundation for everything else in education!In this episode of Rainbow Skies for Teachers, we sit down with Ashley McGrath from OurFutures Institute to explore why wellbeing needs to move from the sidelines to the centre of every school conversation.Ashley shares practical insights into how student and teacher wellbeing directly impact learning, engagement, behaviour, and academic success. Together, we unpack what schools are getting right, where many are struggling, and how educators can create proactive wellbeing cultures that genuinely support students for the long term.In this episode, we chat about:Why student wellbeing is the foundation for all learningThe connection between teacher wellbeing and classroom successEarly signs that students may be struggling emotionallyCreating psychologically safe classrooms where students feel seen and heardWhy reactive wellbeing approaches often miss the markThe importance of preventative mental health educationSupporting students without teachers needing to “become counsellors”How peer influence impacts student decision-makingEvidence-based wellbeing programs and what schools should look forWhy long-term wellbeing strategies matter more than one-off initiativesWith experience supporting nearly 1,500 schools across Australia, Ashley brings evidence-based strategies, realistic advice, and an encouraging reminder that wellbeing work doesn't have to feel overwhelming.There are rainbows ahead,Alisha and AshleighResources mentioned in this episode: Connect with Ashley via email: ashley@rethinkcolelctive.com.au or LinkedInwww.rethinkcollective.com.auhttps://ourfuturesinstitute.org.auAPPLE PODCAST | SPOTIFY  | AMAZONAbout Today's GuestAshley McGrath is a founder, author, and systems strategist who works across philanthropy, business, government, and community. He's the author of Rethink - Thriving Young Futures Begin with Systems Change, and the founder of The Rethink Collective, which helps organisations align strategy and collaboration around real social impact.He co-founded Good in the Hood, a community initiative tackling loneliness in Sydney's Inner West, and Our Futures Institute, which partners with the University of Sydney to bring evidence-based wellbeing programs into schools. He also serves on the board of StreetWork.Ashley's work is never abstract, it's grounded in a genuine belief that we can build something better, and a practical commitment to doing exactly that.Let's hear from you! Text us!

Buy WingFEST Tickets HERE: http://wingfest.co.ukThis week - McGrath finds out his future through some mystic fish batter readings, while Ethan falls out with another bouncer.

Presented by 6D Helmets A couple of weeks ago, a post on Travis Pastrana's Instagram caught our attention, in which Dana White phoned up the action sports hero and said that he had gotten clearance for Pastrana to jump his dirt bike over the WHite House lawn. Over the next few days, posts from other heroes of moto began to surface... When Jeremy McGrath showed up tp jump ramps at Twitch's house, we knew something really big was happening! Unless you've been living in a cave, you should already know that Pastrana, McGrath, Ricky Carmichael, Keith Sayers, Brian Deegan, and Jeremy Stenberg all got to jump the White House lawn in the "Freedom Jump" exhibition held as part of the UFC Freedom 250 festivities celebrating America's 250th anniversary. We caught up with Pastrana to find out just how crazy it was to get such a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity in this installment of the 6D Helmets Midweek Podcast!

Peter McGrath is a recording engineer, photographer, and longtime advocate for high-fidelity sound reproduction whose career has spanned more than five decades. He has worked extensively with organizations including Harmonia Mundi, the New World Symphony, and Friends of Chamber Music. In addition to capturing performances by leading orchestras, chamber ensembles, soloists, and vocalists, he has also served for many years as a Director of Sales at Wilson Audio, acting as a key voice for the company's approach to music playback and loudspeaker demonstration. ------ Thank you to the sponsors that fuel our podcast and our team: AG1 https://DrinkAG1.com/tetra ------ LMNT Electrolytes https://DrinkLMNT.com/tetra Use code 'TETRA' ------ Squarespace https://Squarespace.com/tetra Use code 'TETRA' ------ Lectio 365 https://Lectio365.com ------ Sign up to receive Tetragrammaton Transmissions https://www.tetragrammaton.com/join-newsletter

What do you do when God speaks a powerful call over your life… and the next day your dad suddenly dies? In this powerful conversation, Dr. Griffin McGrath joins Josiah and Micah Kennealy to talk about loss, resilient faith, spiritual fathers, and a rising young adult movement in Arizona. From losing his dad at 15 to pioneering youth and young adult ministry across the desert, Griffin shares how secure attachment to God, spiritual covering, and real community can fuel resilience in Gen Z and Gen Alpha. If you're a young adult, pastor, or leader asking God for your greatest kingdom contribution, this episode will stir your faith and give you language for what you're feeling—and tools for what to do next. More about us: www.youngadults.today Resources & Action Steps: Sign up for the West Coast Leader Gathering August 12-13th, 2026 in Irvine, CA: https://www.youngadults.today/west-coast-conference Give to the mission of youngadultstoday: https://tithe.ly/give?c=5350133 Resources: Free eBook "10 Steps to Starting a Successful Young Adult Ministry: https://www.youngadults.today/book/starting-a-successful-young-adult-ministry Join our FaceBook Group Community with 2500+ leaders: https://www.facebook.com/groups/796270437396021 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/youngadults.today/ 

“Just 25 literary agents represent more than half of all prizewinning novelists in the 21st century. The agent is the unacknowledged legislator of the literary field.” — Laura McGrath We think of publishers and editors as the ultimate tastemakers. As those godlike gatekeepers controlling what we read. But if you're looking for literary gods, Laura McGrath argues, then you need to look at literary agents rather than publishers or editors. Her ten-year project, Middlemen: Literary Agents and the Making of American Fiction, is the first serious scholarly account of the literary agent's astonishingly powerful role in shaping what America reads. Except, of course, the Middlemen are actually Middlewomen — since 80% of literary agents are women. The numbers are striking. Just 25 literary agents represent more than half of all prizewinning novelists in the 21st century. McGrath interviewed 75 of them over ten years. Shelley called poets the unacknowledged legislators of the world. McGrath's agents are the unacknowledged legislators of the literary field. They shaped postmodernism (Candida Donadio and Pynchon, Heller, Gaddis). They launched the debut novel as a literary form. They made the short story collection viable. And 25 of them control more than half of the prizes. So will AI replace the agent? In operations, perhaps, McGrath acknowledges — the slush pile is overwhelming and smart machine assistance is welcome. But in creative work — in the business of writing, editing, translation, cover design, and above all taste — she thinks not. No algorithm will ever learn the Catch-22 of publishing — separating the Thomas Pynchon or Joseph Heller from all the dross. And no bot (male or female) is ever going to host a three-martini lunch in Manhattan. Five Takeaways •       The Literary Agent as the New Gatekeeper: Replacing the Publisher: In the early 20th century, publishing was shaped by the taste of individual publishers: Bennett Cerf at Random House, Alfred and Blanche Knopf at their imprint, Max Perkins at Scribner's. Those days are over. Publishers are now conglomerates where individual editors may have excellent taste but no single figure shapes the house. Into that vacuum has come the literary agent — who now operates, McGrath argues, exactly as the great publishers once did: as the primary tastemaker, the person whose aesthetic and commercial judgment shapes what America reads. •       25 Agents, Half the Prizes, 80% Women: The Numbers: McGrath's most striking statistical finding: just 25 literary agents represent more than half of all prizewinning novelists in the 21st century. Twenty-five people. The field is 80% women — hence the tongue-in-cheek title — and 73% white. Agents tend, McGrath found, to represent authors who resemble themselves. One answer to the question “why is contemporary literary fiction so white?” is: because agents are. And agents, because they work on contingency fees rather than salaries, face severe financial pressures that concentrate power at the top of the profession. •       The Unacknowledged Legislators: Agents Shaped American Literary History: McGrath's book is full of literary history rewritten from the agent's perspective. Sterling Lord persisted past dozens of rejections to place On the Road for Kerouac. Candida Donadio — Pynchon's, Heller's, Gaddis's, and early Philip Roth's agent — championed maximalist, experimental writers whom no one was interested in, and built the social network of editor relationships that made postmodernism possible. The debut novel as a cultural form, the persistence of the short story collection despite poor sales, the rise of the New York novel — all are, in McGrath's account, partly agent-made. •       Can White Male Writers Not Get Published? No: Andrew raises the complaint he hears from white male writers: that they can no longer get published because of diversity initiatives. McGrath's answer is flat. No. She thinks it's silly. The number of books published each week is staggering. Being able to see some success on the part of writers of colour does not diminish the work white men are doing. The complaint, she notes, circulates every ten years, typically after a boom in support for writers of colour. We are in another round of this cycle. There will be another one in a decade. •       Will AI Replace the Literary Agent? In Operations, Maybe. In Taste, No: Andrew's closing question: will AI replace the middlemen? McGrath draws the distinction she heard at the US Book Show: AI in operations (slush pile management, contract tracking), yes, possibly. AI in creative work — writing, editing, translation, cover design, and above all taste — she hopes not. An algorithm is built on priors. It narrows the window of possibility endlessly, replicating itself. That is not what a good literary agent does. A good literary agent is looking for books that surprise, frustrate, and thrill. No algorithm has learned to take an author out for a three-martini lunch. About the Guest Laura McGrath is an assistant professor of English at Temple University and a National Endowment for the Humanities Fellow. She was formerly the associate director of the Literary Lab at Stanford University. She is the author of Middlemen: Literary Agents and the Making of American Fiction (Princeton University Press, April 28, 2026). She writes the textCrunch Substack on literary and publishing culture. References: •       Middlemen: Literary Agents and the Making of American Fiction by Laura McGrath (Princeton University Press, April 28, 2026). •       Earlier on KOA: Gayle Feldman on Nothing Random: Bennett Cerf and the Publishing House He Built — the companion episode referenced at the opening. •       Sterling Lord (agent for Kerouac), Candida Donadio (Pynchon, Heller, Gaddis, Roth), Andrew Wylie — agents profiled in the book. •       Andrew Keen, Cult of the Amateur (2007) — referenced as Andrew's own defence of gatekeepers. About Keen On America Nobody asks more awkward questions than the Anglo-American writer and filmmaker Andrew Keen. In Keen On America, Andrew brings his pointed Transatlantic wit to making sense of the United States — hosting daily interviews about the history and future of this now venerable Republic. With nearly 3,000 episodes since the show launched on TechCrunch in 2010, Keen On America is the most prolific intellectual interview show in the history of podcasting. WebsiteSubstackYouTube

This week - Smith returns from France with the GREATEST toilet roll you've ever seen. Meanwhile, McGrath's baguette fact stuns all.Buy WingFEST Tickets HERE: http://wingfest.co.ukJoin our Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/sloppyjoespodcastWe have merch! https://sloppyjoespod.com

On this 1920th episode of Toronto Mike'd, Mike chats with Kaitlyn McGrath about her years covering the Toronto Blue Jays for The Athletic, why she left that job after the 2024 season, and why she decided to return to journalism a year later.A version of this podcast without programmatic ads is available to all Toronto Mike'd Patrons at patreon.com/torontomike.Toronto Mike'd, an award-winning podcast, is proudly brought to you by Great Lakes Brewery, Palma Pasta, Toronto Maple Leafs Baseball, Ridley Funeral Home, Nick Ainis, and RecycleMyElectronics.ca.If you would like to support the show, we do have partner opportunities available. Please email Toronto Mike at mike@torontomike.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.