Podcasts about National Book Award

Yale historian and memoirist Carlos Eire recounts his extraordinary journey from being an 11-year-old Cuban boy in Operation Peter Pan—sent to the United States to escape Fidel Castro's regime—to becoming a National Book Award–winning author and chaired professor at Yale. Eire discusses the painful separation from his family, the challenges of assimilation, and the lifelong tension between his Cuban and American identities, themes he explores in his acclaimed memoirs Waiting for Snow in Havana and Learning to Die in Miami. The conversation also delves into Eire's recent book They Flew: A History of the Impossible, which examines early modern testimonies of levitation, bilocation, and miracles, and how belief, culture, and skepticism shaped their reception. Eire also reflects on Cuban history, the failures of the Castro regime, the broader Hispanic experience in America, and the enduring clash between materialist skepticism and openness to mystery. Subscribe to Uncommon Knowledge at hoover.org/uk

Karen Russell joins Deborah Treisman to read and discuss “The Stone,” by Louise Erdrich, which was published in The New Yorker in 2019. Russell is the author of six books of fiction, including the story collections “Vampires in the Lemon Grove” and “Orange World and Other Stories” and the novels “Swamplandia!,” which was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in 2012, and “The Antidote,” which came out earlier this year and was long-listed for the National Book Award. Russell, the recipient of a MacArthur Fellowship, was included in the magazine's “20 Under 40” Fiction Issue in 2010. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

This week on The Stacks we are joined by Angela Flournoy to discuss her new book, The Wilderness. Longlisted for the 2025 National Book Award and a finalist for the Kirkus Prize, The Wilderness is an expansive novel that covers the friendship of four black women over the course of twenty years. Today, we discuss maximalism in her writing style, how Angela aimed to write an era-defining novel, and what other works The Wilderness is in conversation with.The Stacks Book Club pick for October is Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. We will discuss the book on Wednesday, October 29th with Angela Flournoy returning as our guest.You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:https://www.thestackspodcast.com/2025/10/1/ep-392-angela-flournoy Connect with Angela: Instagram | WebsiteConnect with The Stacks: Instagram | Twitter | Shop | Patreon | Goodreads | Substack | Youtube | SubscribeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

"I don't want to be whatever version of masculinity y'all keep telling me I have to be. Why are all the benchmarks violent and aggressive? I don't wanna do it. I'm not interested” — Jason ReynoldsWe all inherit scripts about who we're supposed to be. For boys, they often center on toughness, aggression, and hiding their emotions. Jason Reynolds has spent his life questioning those scripts, carving out space for tenderness and love, honoring friendships that offered freedom, and exploring what masculinity might mean beyond the narrow definitions passed down to us. Jason Reynolds is a national treasure. A Newbery Medal winner, a National Book Award finalist, a MacArthur Genius Grant recipient, and a two-time National Ambassador for Young People's Literature, he is the beloved author of “Ghost,” “Long Way Down,” “Look Both Ways,” “Twenty-four Seconds From Now,” and so many more. Jason brings expansiveness to his books, illuminating the gentleness, humor, and vulnerability too often left out of stories of boyhood. In this episode, Jason shares his thoughts on masculinity: the good, the bad, and the beautiful. He explains why everyone needs to have a 'tuning fork' friend, reveals how Saturn flipped his life around at age 30, and pays an incredible tribute to the tattooed biker badass who was his loving father.Settle in for a vulnerable, revelatory conversation with an icon of American literature. ***For his reading challenge, Challenging Conventions, Jason has curated a collection of books that push back against the narrow definitions of boyhood and girlhood many of us have come to live by. Peruse selected titles and Jason's full reading challenge for free at thereadingculturepod.com/jason-reynolds.***This week's Beanstack Featured Librarians are not actually librarians, but they are integral members of the literary community who are pioneers when it comes to student voice and writing. They happen to be friends of Jason Reynolds. Kathy Crutcher and Sasa Aakil – from Shout Mouse Press – share about their upcoming book, “Bright Before Us Like a Flame,” which Jason Reynolds called “a gift,” and for which a previous guest of the podcast, Elizabeth Acevedo, wrote the foreword.Show ChaptersChapter 1: AaronChapter 2: It's OK to Say I Love YouChapter 3: It's ComplicatedChapter 4: Growing PainsChapter 5: GirlChapter 6: Cultivating What MattersChapter 7: Reading ChallengeChapter 8: Beanstack Featured LibrarianShow LinksThe Reading CultureThe Reading Culture Newsletter SignupFollow The Reading Culture on Instagram (for giveaways and bonus content)Jason ReynoldsJason Reynolds on InstagramGirl by Jamaica KincaidThe Cosby ShowGood TimesBright Before Us, Like a FlameShout Mouse PressBeanstack resources to build your community's reading cultureJordan Lloyd BookeyHost and Production CreditsHost: Jordan Lloyd BookeyProducers: Mel Webb and Lower Street MediaScript Editors: Josia Lamberto-Egan, Mel Webb, Jordan Lloyd Bookey

Although we have featured this wonderful guest and journalist on the Rick Flynn Presents podcast before we have made the decision to rewind this episode so even more audience members can experience this brilliant and highly gifted writer and journalist CLAUDIA ROWE.Longlisted for the 2025 National Book Awards in Nonfiction“An immersive, devastating look at foster children's lives.” (Seattle Times)A compelling exploration of the broken American foster care system, told through the stories of six former foster youth. This powerful narrative nonfiction book delves into the systemic failures that lead many foster children into the criminal justice system, highlighting the urgent need for reform.​This book is a must-read for anyone interested in child welfare, social justice, and the transformative power of the best narrative nonfiction.In Wards of the State, award-winning journalist Claudia Rowe's storytelling is both vivid and unflinching, offering readers a deep understanding of the foster care-to-prison pipeline. Through interviews with psychologists, advocates, judges, and the former foster children themselves, Rowe paints a heartbreaking picture of the lives shaped by this broken system.Contact Claudia at www.ClaudiaRowe.com

Yale historian and memoirist Carlos Eire recounts his extraordinary journey from being an 11-year-old Cuban boy in Operation Peter Pan—sent to the United States to escape Fidel Castro's regime—to becoming a National Book Award–winning author and chaired professor at Yale. Eire discusses the painful separation from his family, the challenges of assimilation, and the lifelong tension between his Cuban and American identities, themes he explores in his acclaimed memoirs Waiting for Snow in Havana and Learning to Die in Miami. The conversation also delves into Eire's recent book They Flew: A History of the Impossible, which examines early modern testimonies of levitation, bilocation, and miracles, and how belief, culture, and skepticism shaped their reception. Eire also reflects on Cuban history, the failures of the Castro regime, the broader Hispanic experience in America, and the enduring clash between materialist skepticism and openness to mystery. Subscribe to Uncommon Knowledge at hoover.org/uk

Jason Mott is the author of two poetry collections, including We Call This Thing Between Us Love and five novels including The Returned, which was a New York Times bestseller and was made into a TV series that ran for two seasons. His novel Hell of a Book was named the winner of the National Book Award for fiction.  He has a BFA in fiction and an MFA in poetry from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington.  His new novel is called People Like Us.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The queens descend upon Pittsburgh for a bittersweet (but dishy) tribute for Ed Ochester (1939-2023).Please Support Breaking Form!Review the show on Apple Podcasts here.Aaron's STOP LYING is available from the Pitt Poetry Series.James's ROMANTIC COMEDY is available from Four Way Books.SHOW NOTES:For more about the weekend events and about Ed Ochester's impact on American poetry, read here and here and here.The Agnes Lynch Starrett Poetry Prize carries a cash award of $5,000 and publication by the University of Pittsburgh Press as part of the Pitt Poetry Series. Submissions are accepted March 1--April 30. For more about Southern Methodist University's Project Poetica, read here. Read more about the George Garrett Award for Outstanding Community Service in Literature here. Damon Young is a writer, critic, humorist, satirist, and (as he says on his website) "professional Black person." He's a co-founder and editor in chief of VerySmartBrothas—coined "the blackest thing that ever happened to the internet" by The Washington Post and recently acquired by Univision and Gizmodo Media Group to be a vertical of The Root—and a columnist for GQ. Visit his website at https://www.damonjyoung.comAccording to CruisingGays.com, the Cathedral of Learning's 2nd and 8th floor bathrooms were popular cruising spots. The International Poetry Forum launched in 1966 with a reading that featured Archibald MacLeish. Since then, alumni of the series include nine Nobel Laureates, 14 Academy Award recipients, 28 U.S. Poets Laureate, 39 National Book Award winners, and 47 Pulitzer Prize winners.Joy Priest is the author of HORSEPOWER (Pitt Poetry Series, 2020), selected by the 19th U.S. Poet Laureate Natasha Trethewey as the winner of the Donald Hall Prize for Poetry, and the editor of Once a City Said: A Louisville Poets Anthology (Sarabande, 2023). Visit her website here.Check out Pittsburgh's City of Asylum here: https://cityofasylum.orgMonroeville is about 15 miles east of Pittsburgh. Read Ed's poem titled "Monroeville"; several others can be found online at the Poetry Foundation here.Thanks to Nancy Krygowski and Jeffrey McDaniel and Terrance Hayes for putting together an incredible, moving weekend to a brilliant editor, mentor, and friend. We miss you, Ed.

On this episode of Shelf Care: The Podcast, host Susan Maguire sits down with two of our favorite Sara(h)s. First, librarian and Booklister Sara Martínez talks about REFORMA's National Book Award winner and tips for Spanish-language collection development. Then, Sarah Hunter, Editor, Books for Youth and Graphic Novels, drops some book suggestions perfect for fall reading. Here's what we talked about: REFORMA.org Pura Belpré Award REFORMA's 2024 National Book Award (includes longlist and shortlist) Malas, by Marcela Fuentes Spanish Sure Bets for Adult Readers: Summer 2025 ALA Free Pass Program Spanish-language book stores: Liberías Gandhi in Mexico, Casa del Libro in Spain America Reads Spanish newsletter Guatemalan Rhapsody, by Jared Lemus Brother Brontë, by Fernando A. Flores Starling House, by Alix E. Harrow By the Fire We Carry: The Generations-Long Fight for Justice on Native Land, by Rebecca Nagle Loudmouth: Emma Goldman vs. America (a Love Story), by Deborah Heiligman Angelica and the Bear Prince, by Trung Le Nguyen, art by the author Cat Nap, by Brian Lies, art by the author Popo the Xolo, by Paloma Angelina Lopez, illustrated by Abraham Matias The Witch in the Tower, by Júlia Sardà, illustrated by the author The Queen in the Cave, by Júlia Sardà, illustrated by the author More Weight: A Salem Story, by Ben Wickey, art by the author

EPISODE 597 - Kate Woodworth - Little Great Island, A Story of a Commuity of fishing families to the lobsters and the butterflies impacted by Climate ChangeKate Woodworth is the award-winning author of the novel Racing into the Dark, which Publishers Weekly said, “hits the mark repeatedly with emotional truths and fluid prose” and which Kirkus Reviews called, “vivid and honest, dramatic and without pat resolutions: an impressive debut”.A passionate lover of the natural world, Kate is the author of essays on the impact of climate change on fishing and farming that have been published by the Climate Fiction Writers League and on her Substack, “Food in the Time of Climate Change.” Her novel about love, community, and climate change, Little Great Island, has been called “an extraordinary achievement and a pure pleasure to read” by National Book Award and PEN/Faulkner Award winner Ha Jin. Kate is the founder and creative force behind “Be the Butterfly”, a grassroots climate action initiative that invites everyone to do one small thing to help mitigate climate change. Kate received her MFA from Boston University.Little Great IslandOn Little Great Island, climate change is disrupting both life and love.After offending the powerful pastor of the cult where she's lived for a decade, Mari McGavin must flee with her six-year-old son. With no money and no place else to go, she returns to the tiny Maine island where she grew up—a place she swore she'd never see again. There Mari runs into her lifelong friend Harry Richardson, one of the island's summer residents, now back himself to sell his family's summer home. Mari and Harry's lives intertwine once again, setting off a chain of events as unexpected and life altering as the shifts in climate affecting the whole ecosystem of the island…from generations of fishing families to the lobsters and the butterflies.Little Great Island  illustrates in microcosm the greatest changes of our time and the unyielding power of love.“An uplifting and grown-up novel in which two lost souls find love and purpose”—Kirkus Reviews“…utterly grounded and achingly empathetic, developed with gorgeous, flowing prose and a steady, sometimes heart-wrenching plot.”—Booklisthttps://katewoodworth.com/Support the show___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

In this episode of Diverse Voices Book Review, host Hopeton Hay welcomes back the acclaimed author Walter Mosley for an insightful discussion about his latest novel, GRAY DAWN, the 17th installment in the Easy Rawlins series. In the interview, Walter Mosley discusses the origins and development of his character Easy Rawlins, emphasizing the importance of representing the struggles and resilience of Black Americans through his novels. Additionally, Mosley reflects on writing about characters who strive to live their best lives despite the obstacles they face.Walter Mosley is one of America's most celebrated writers. He was given the 2020 National Book Award's Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters, named a Grand Master of the Mystery Writers of America, and honored with a Grammy, a PEN USA Lifetime Achievement Award, and several NAACP Image Awards. As an executive producer, he adapted his novel, The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey, for AppleTV+ and serves as a writer and executive producer for FX's “Snowfall.”Diverse Voices Book Review Social Media:Facebook - @diversevoicesbookreviewInstagram - @diverse_voices_book_reviewX - @diversebookshayEmail: hbh@diversevoicesbookreview.com 

Mga ka-linya, iba naman setup natin ngayon. Wala tayo sa Linya-Linya HQ, at wala rin sa TPN Studio. Nandito tayo ngayon sa gitna ng ganda, ginhawa, at hiwaga ng Puerto Princesa sa Palawan. At syempre, special din ang guest natin. Hindi lang basta writer, hindi lang basta doktor. He's both — isang makata at manggagamot. Award-winning poet, essayist, lyricist, performance poet, at Medical Doctor for Public Health. Laki sa Maynila, pero may roots din ang pamilya sa Cuyo, Palawan. Finalist ng National Book Award ang kanyang librong Ang Kartograpiya ng Pagguho, at ilang beses nang kinilala sa Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature. Mga kaibigan, kasama natin ngayon — Doc Ralph Fonte, a.k.a. Doc Loaf!Malaman ang kwentuhan natin kasama sya-- tungkol sa kasaysayan at kagandahan ng Palawan, sa naging lakbay nya sa larangan ng medisina at literatura, sa halaga ng mga salita, ng mga kuwento, ng pagtulak sa mga adbokasiya't mga ipinaglalaban. Naibahagi nya rin ang isinasagawa nilang taunang Pawikaan Writers Workshop, para sa tuloy-tuloy na paglinang sa pagsusulat ng mga Palaweño. Samahan nyo kami ni Doc Loaf sa kwentuhang ito. Listen up, yo!

Percival Everett, né en 1956 en Géorgie aux États-Unis, est l'auteur d'une vingtaine de romans dont «Effacement» (2001), qui explore les stéréotypes raciaux dans le monde littéraire, et adapté au cinéma sous le titre «American Fiction» en 2023. Ont suivi «Blessés», «Montée aux enfers» et «Châtiment» dans la veine du polar. Son nouveau roman «James», couronné par le National Book Award et le prix Pulitzer de la fiction en 2025 revisite le classique «Les Aventures de Huckleberry Finn» du point de vue de Jim, l'esclave en fuite.   Traduit de l'anglais (États-Unis) par Anne-Laure Tissut « Ces gamins blancs, Huck et Tom, m'observaient. Ils imaginaient toujours des jeux dans lesquels j'étais soit le méchant soit une proie, mais à coup sûr leur jouet. [...] On gagne toujours à donner aux Blancs ce qu'ils veulent. » Qui est James ? Le jeune esclave illettré qui a fui la plantation ? Ou cet homme cultivé et plein d'humour qui se joue des Blancs ? Percival Everett transforme le personnage de Jim créé par Mark Twain, dans son roman Huckleberry Finn, en un héros inoubliable. James prétend souvent ne rien savoir, ne rien comprendre ; en réalité, il maîtrise la langue et la pensée comme personne. Ce grand roman d'aventures, porté par les flots tourmentés du Mississippi, pose un regard incisif entièrement neuf sur la question du racisme. Mais James est surtout l'histoire déchirante d'un homme qui tente de choisir son destin. (Présentation des éditions de l'Olivier)

Christopher Marlowe and William Shakespeare were both born in 1564, rising from working-class origins finding success in the new world of the theater. But before Shakespeare transformed English drama, Marlowe had already done so—with Tamburlaine the Great and the introduction of blank verse to the stage. As Stephen Greenblatt argues in his new biography, Dark Renaissance: The Dangerous Times and Fatal Genius of Shakespeare's Greatest Rival, virtually everything in the Elizabethan theater can be seen as “pre- and post-Tamburlaine.” Shakespeare learned from Marlowe, borrowed from him, and even tried to outdo him. Beyond his theatrical innovation, Marlowe was a poet, provocateur, and likely spy whose turbulent life was cut tragically short. In this episode, Greenblatt explores Marlowe's audacious works, his entanglements with power and secrecy, and his lasting influence on Shakespeare and the stage. From the Shakespeare Unlimited podcast. Published September 23, 2025. © Folger Shakespeare Library. All rights reserved. This episode was produced by Matt Frassica. Garland Scott is the executive producer. It was edited by Gail Kern Paster. We had help with web production from Paola García Acuña. Leonor Fernandez edits our transcripts. Final mixing services are provided by Clean Cuts at Three Seas, Inc. Stephen Greenblatt is Cogan University Professor of the Humanities at Harvard University. He has written extensively on English Renaissance literature and acts as general editor of The Norton Anthology of English Literature and The Norton Shakespeare. He is the author of fourteen books, including The Swerve, winner of the Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award, and Will in the World, a Pulitzer Prize finalist.

Host Jason Blitman talks to 2025 Kirkus and National Book Award longlisted author Angela Flournoy about her newest book, THE WILDERNESS. Highlights include:

Jeff and Rebecca talk about the week's book news, from Trump flimsy lawsuit against PRH and The New York Times (and why it matters, flimsy as it is), break down a couple of award lists, do some Jefftionary entries, and more. Subscribe to the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. Ready for a cozy, bookish autumn? Let Tailored Book Recommendations help you find your next favorite read with handpicked suggestions from professional book nerds. Get started today from just $18! The Book Riot Podcast is a proud member of the Airwave Podcast Network. Discussed in this episode: Check out Zero to Well-Read! Subscribe to The Book Riot Newsletter for regular updates to get the most out of your reading life. The National Book Awards fiction longlist is here Finalists for the 2025 Barnes & Noble Discover Prize Trump sues NYT and PRH  How “actual malice” works in defamation Scholastic launches streaming service Mother Mary Comes to Me by Arudhati Roy Baldwin: A Love Story by Nicholas Boggs The Ten Year Affair by Erin Somers Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Part 1 of our discussion on Harriet Jacobs's Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl: Written by Herself, we welcome editor Evie Shockley to discuss the author's family background, lively language as a storyteller, and influence on Shockley's own creative process as a poet. Evie Shockley is the Zora Neale Hurston Distinguished Professor of English at Rutgers University and the author of Renegade Poetics: Black Aesthetics and Formal Innovation in African American Poetry.   For her poetry collections—including suddenly we, semiautomatic, the new black, and a half-red sea—she has been awarded the Shelley Memorial Award, the Lannan Literary Award, and the Holmes National Poetry Prize, has twice won the Hurston/Wright Legacy Award, has received an NAACP Image Award, and has been named a finalist for the National Book Award, the Pulitzer Prize, and the LA Times Book Prize.   She has served as an editor of jubilat and Feminist Studies, and is Editor for Poetry at Contemporary Literature.To learn more or purchase a copy of the Norton Library edition of Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl: Written By Herself, go to https://wwnorton.com/books/9780393870787. Learn more about the Norton Library series at https://wwnorton.com/norton-library.Have questions or suggestions for the podcast? Email us at nortonlibrary@wwnorton.com or find us on Twitter at @TNL_WWN and Bluesky at @nortonlibrary.bsky.social. 

Anna and Annie discuss the settlement offer by Anthropic to pay $1.5bn to settle a book piracy lawsuit and the 2025 National Book Awards fiction longlist. Our book of the week is ENDLING by Maria Reva.  Yeva is a snail conservationist in Ukraine who becomes caught up in Nastia and Sol's scheme to disrupt the romance tour industry. A heist ensues but everything changes when Russia invades Ukraine. Longlisted for the Booker Prize and one of the New Yorker's Best Books Of The Year So Far, this is Reva's debut novel. We can't wait to see what she does next. Coming up: I MAKE ENVY ON YOUR DISCO by Erica Schnall Follow us! Email: Booksonthegopodcast@gmail.com Instagram: @abailliekaras and @mr_annie Substack: Books On The Go Credits Artwork: Sascha Wilkosz

Hannah Murray will start by looking at the bestseller lists on Amazon.co.uk and The Sunday Times, the oldest and most influential book sales chart in the UK, and seeing what new entries there are. Ed Needham is the Editor of Strong Words Magazine. He joins us monthly to review a selection of new Fiction and Non Fiction titles, which this week includes Don't Let it Break you, Honey, by Jenny Evans. Elliot Ackerman is the New York Times bestselling author of various novels as well as the memoir 'The Fifth Act' His books have been nominated for awards including the National Book Award, and the Andrew Carnegie Medal in both fiction and non-fiction. His novel 'Sheepdogs' was the subject of a massive TV auction last year. Apple paid seven figures in an 11-way auction, and Playtone, which is Tom Hanks's production company, will be developing it into a major TV series. It's about two down-on-their-luck ex-CIA operatives who get caught in a shadowy network working jobs for an unknown dispatcher - Sheepdog - and must navigate an increasingly tangled set of loyalties where no-one and nothing is what it seems.  Karin Walker's debut novel 'Love, Lies & Sticky Toffee Pudding' is about friendship, reinvention, and finding sweetness in life's stickiest moments. Set between Cornwall, Barbados and London, the story follows three best friends, all 38 and at a personal crossroads, as they navigate the chaos of modern love, long-held secrets, and the kind of challenges that test even the closest bonds.  ... Mary-Jane Riley was a BBC journalist, presenting radio programmes and major crime stories over the past twenty years. She has also published four thrillers. 'Beattie Cavendish and the White Pearl Club' is the first in a new series that follows Beattie's undercover work with GCHQ as the Cold War intensifies.  A. Gill-Gray is an award-winning journalist who has written for British national and regional newspapers. He was named the National Feature Writer of the Year, and is now pursuing his passion for fiction. 'A Smart Address' is a dark comedy about sixty-nine year old spinster Arabella Pettygrew who plunges from the roof of her apartment in Edinburgh's expensive Balmoral Square Mansions. There are three possibilities...was it a tragic accident, suicide or murder?  Clemence Michallon is the author of the international bestseller 'The Quiet Tenant' which was shortlisted for the International Association of Crime Writer's 2023 Hammet Prize. Her second thriller 'Our Last Resort' is now out, and both have been optioned for a TV series. Alternating between past and present timelines, Our Last Resort builds toward a shattering climax. It's about Frida and her brother who escaped a cult fifteen years ago. Now her brother is the prime suspect in a murder investigation.  Sophie Wiggins' debut novel 'Making the Cut' was inspired by her love-hate relationship with the world of dance. It's inspired by Sophie's first-hand experience of being a dance mum! The book explores the competitive dance world through a darker, psychologically thrilling lens. 

Writer Omar El Akkad joins co-hosts Whitney Terrell and V.V. Ganeshananthan to discuss his recent nonfiction book, One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This, which was just nominated for the National Book Award in nonfiction. El Akkad talks about developing the arc of the book, which addresses how Israel's genocide in Gaza led to his “breaking away from the notion that the polite, Western liberal ever stod for anything at all.” He explains how he conceptualized the West as a young man moving from Egypt to Qatar to Canada and finally the U.S. He also talks about how he can no longer vote for Democrats simply because they are “the lesser evil.” He reflects on how to talk to children about naming and understanding the world as it really is. El Akkad reads from One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This.  To hear the full episode, subscribe through iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app (include the forward slashes when searching). You can also listen by streaming from the player below. Check out video versions of our interviews on the Fiction/Non/Fiction Instagram account, the Fiction/Non/Fiction YouTube Channel, and our show website: https://www.fnfpodcast.net/ This podcast is produced by V.V. Ganeshananthan, Whitney Terrell, and Moss Terrell. Omar El Akkad One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This What Strange Paradise American War Omar El Akkad on Genocide, Complicit Liberals, and the Terrible Wrath of the West | Literary Hub Omar El Akkad on X: "One day, when it's safe, when there's no personal downside to calling a thing what it is, when it's too late to hold anyone accountable, everyone will have always been against this." Others: Suzanne Nossel, PEN America Leader, to Leave Embattled Organization - The New York Times (October 31, 2024) A Campus for All | Faculty & Academic Affairs (University of Minnesota) Holocaust Scholar Raz Segal Loses Univ. of Minnesota Job Offer for Saying Israel Is Committing Genocide | Democracy Now! (June 18, 2024) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Notes and Links to Ursula Villarreal-Moura's Work     A native of San Antonio, Texas, Ursula Villarreal-Moura is the author of two works of fiction. Her debut novel Like Happiness is a finalist for The Rudolfo Anaya Fiction Award, longlisted for The Crook's Corner Book Prize, selected as an Indie Next Pick, and was named a Best Book of 2024 by NPR, San Francisco Chronicle, ELLE, and Them. Math for the Self-Crippling, her flash fiction story collection, was a small press bestseller and has been taught at numerous universities. Her stories, essays, and interviews can be found in Lit Hub, Electric Literature, Story, Alta Journal, and The Rumpus, among others. She is a longtime advocate of reading diversely and of Land Back.    Buy Like Happiness   Ursula's Website   Book Review for Like Happiness from NPR   At about 30:50, Ursula expands on “subverting” ideas of teenage rebelliousness and daughter/parent relationships At about 34:40, Pete talks about Happiness, M. Dominguez's book, as an “oasis”  At about 35:15, Ursula responds to Pete's questions about Tatum “using her voice” and revisiting past events with Mateo At about 36:20, The two discuss the initial email correspondence between Tatum and Mateo At about 37:40, Ursula responds to Pete's question about At about 39:40, Pete remarks on the literary world's idiosyncrasies, and Ursula shares an amazing story about the National Book Awards and some writing industry “slipper[iness]” At about 42:05, Pete and Ursula reflect on book readings and their myriad crowds; Ursula shares a cool summary of seeing Sigrid Nuñez speak   At about 44:00, Ursula expands on Pete's wondering and asking about Mateo and Tatum's early relationship and ideas of a platonic and perhaps unequal relationship At about 47:35, Ursula gives background on real-life parallels to the nunnery portrayed in the novel  At about 49:00, Ursula talks about the juxtaposition of Mayumi and Valeria as reflections of Tatum's naivete and growth At about 51:10, Ursula talks about the “limbo” that governs Tatum's reaction to early indications of Mateo's possible womanizing At about 54:05, Pete wonders about Tatum being in denial and also aware that Mateo may be guilty of charges, and Ursula talks about the Kitty Genovese story and it “always staying with [her]” At about 55:15, Ursula expands on her interest in the “bystander effect” and how this phenomenon has played out with outreach for Gaza At about 56:50, Pete asks Ursula about the importance of Tatum staying in New York At about 59:00, Ursula responds to Pete's question about the pull of teachers and teaching in Tatum's life At about 1:01:30, the two discuss the phases of life and subtleties of the Mateo and Tatum relationship At about 1:02:10, Pete talks about Tatum reading Maria Luz's account of the abuse inflicted by Mateo At about 1:3:00, Pete asks Ursula about writing the phases of the relationship  At about 1:06:00, Pete and Ursula talk about Tatum's writing her own account of his time with Mateo and if her “ ‘complicated feelings' ” are helping to “sanitize” Mateo's behaviors      You can now subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, and leave me a five-star review. You can also ask for the podcast by name using Alexa, and find the pod on Stitcher, Spotify, and on Amazon Music. Follow Pete on IG, where he is @chillsatwillpodcast, or on Twitter, where he is @chillsatwillpo1. You can watch other episodes on YouTube-watch and subscribe to The Chills at Will Podcast Channel. Please subscribe to both the YouTube Channel and the podcast while you're checking out this episode.       Pete is very excited to have one or two podcast episodes per month featured on the website of Chicago Review of Books. The audio will be posted, along with a written interview culled from the audio. His conversation with Hannah Pittard, a recent guest, is up at Chicago Review.     Sign up now for The Chills at Will Podcast Patreon: it can be found at patreon.com/chillsatwillpodcastpeterriehl      Check out the page that describes the benefits of a Patreon membership, including cool swag and bonus episodes. Thanks in advance for supporting Pete's one-man show, DIY podcast and extensive reading, research, editing, and promoting to keep this independent podcast pumping out high-quality content!    This month's Patreon bonus episode features an exploration of flawed characters, protagonists who are too real in their actions, and horror and noir as being where so much good and realistic writing takes place.    Pete has added a $1 a month tier for “Well-Wishers” and Cheerleaders of the Show.     This is a passion project, a DIY operation, and Pete would love for your help in promoting what he's convinced is a unique and spirited look at an often-ignored art form.    The intro song for The Chills at Will Podcast is “Wind Down” (Instrumental Version), and the other song played on this episode was “Hoops” (Instrumental)” by Matt Weidauer, and both songs are used through ArchesAudio.com.     Please tune in for Episode 297 with Cynthia Miller-Idriss, who is an opinion columnist for MSNBC and writes for The New York Times, The Atlantic, Foreign Affairs, The Washington Post, Politico, USA Today, The Boston Globe, and more. The episode airs today, Sept 16, Pub Day for Man Up: The New Misogyny and the Rise of Violent Extremism.    Please go to ceasefiretoday.org, and/or https://act.uscpr.org/a/letaidin to call your congresspeople and demand an end to the forced famine and destruction of Gaza and the Gazan people.

In new her new novel, "A Sea of Lemon Trees: The Corrido of Roberto Alvarez," San Diego author María Dolores Águila writes about community efforts to combat segregation of Mexican-American students in Depression-era Lemon Grove.Midday Edition on Tuesday explores more about the Lemon Grove Incident, Águila's writing process, as well as her reaction to the book being selected for the longlist of the National Book Awards 2025 for Young People's Literature.Guest:María Dolores Águila, author

Book Riot's managing editor Vanessa Diaz joins Rebecca for a discussion about the National Book Awards longlists, authors' big settlement from Anthropic, and exciting adaptation news. Then, Vanessa takes Rebecca on a journey down the literary rabbit hole. Subscribe to the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. Subscribe to The Book Riot Newsletter for regular updates to get the most out of your reading life. Ready for a cozy, bookish autumn? Let Tailored Book Recommendations help you find your next favorite read with handpicked suggestions from professional book nerds. Get started today from just $18! Discussed in this Episode: Anthropic agrees to pay $1.5 billion to settle book piracy lawsuit, but the judge has delayed it, citing concerns 2025 National Book Awards longlists are rolling out Audition is being adapted Annotated episode: The Original Gone Girl Agatha Christie: A Mysterious Life by Laura Thompson Ruth by Kate Riley The Wilderness by Angela Flournoy Murder Takes a Vacation by Laura Lippman The Macabre by Kosoko Jackson This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this *spoiler free* conversation, host Jason Blitman talks to author Alejandro Varela, about his book MIDDLE SPOON, the October Gays Reading Book Club pick with Allstora.MIDDLE SPOON unpacks what happens when you've got the husband, the kids, the bougie life… AND you're going through a breakup with your boyfriend. Provocative, witty, and deeply human—this one's not afraid to challenge the so-called “rules” of love.Alejandro Varela's debut novel, The Town of Babylon, was a finalist for the National Book Award. His short story collection, The People Who Report More Stress, was one of Publishers Weekly's best works of fiction in 2023, a finalist for the International Latino Book Awards, and longlisted for the Aspen Literary Prize, the Story Prize, and the PEN/Jean Stein Book Award. Varela is an editor-at-large of Apogee Journal, holds a master's degree in public health, and is based in New York.What do you get when you join the Gays Reading Book Club?Curated book delivered monthly to your door (at a discount!) – the books we'd call “accessibly literary”30% Off Allstora's websiteAccess to the book club “Kiki” to talk about the booksExclusive author Q&AsAllstora donates a children's book to an LGBTQIA+ youthThis club exclusively supports LGBTQIA+ authorsAnd more!Support the showBOOK CLUB!Sign up for the Gays Reading Book Club HERE October Book: Middle Spoon by Alejandro Varela SUBSTACK!https://gaysreading.substack.com/ MERCH!http://gaysreading.printful.me WATCH!https://youtube.com/@gaysreading FOLLOW!Instagram: @gaysreading | @jasonblitmanBluesky: @gaysreading | @jasonblitmanCONTACT!hello@gaysreading.com

Poet Roger Reeves, author of King Me, Best Barbarian and Dark Days: Fugitive Essays, is a National Book Award finalist, Griffin Poetry Prize Winner, Whiting Award winner and professor at UT Austin. His frank and gracious discussion of poetry, growing up in the Pentecostal church, parenthood, and the importance of silence, carves a path encouraging us toward the revelation that the life we want is already here, reaching out for our hand.

443. Liz Gilbert on Loving Without Losing Yourself  Glennon and Liz Gilbert go deeper into Liz's relationship with Rayya, into the tender, messy, miraculous place where caring for someone else pushes hard against caring for yourself. They talk about the quiet traps of codependency, the heartbreak of giving away your power, and the transformative freedom that comes when you turn to a higher voice for guidance. Listen to the first part of our conversation here. About Elizabeth: Elizabeth Gilbert is the author of nine previous works of fiction and nonfiction, which collectively have sold more than 25 million copies worldwide, spent more than 250 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list, and been translated into more than fifty languages.  She has been a finalist for the National Book Award, the National Book Critics Circle Award, and the PEN/Hemingway Award. With more than 20 million views of her TED Talk and 2.7 million followers on her social media accounts, she continues to be one of the most beloved and influential writers of our age.. Her new memoir: ALL THE WAY TO THE RIVER: Love, Loss, and Liberation is available now.

All Home Care Matters and our host, Lance A. Slatton were honored to welcome esteemed author Eliezer Sobel as guest to the show.   About Eliezer Sobel:   Eliezer is the author of The Silver Lining of Alzheimer's: One Son's Journey Into the Mystery, as well as two picture books for people with Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia, Blue Sky, White Clouds: A Book for Memory-Challenged Adults, and L'Chaim! Pictures to Evoke Memories of Jewish Life. He has also published Minyan: Ten Jewish Men in a World That is Heartbroken, selected by National Book Award winner John Casey as the winner of the Peter Taylor Prize for the Novel, among 400 entries.   Also, The 99th Monkey: A Spiritual Journalist's Misadventures with Gurus, Messiahs, Sex, Psychedelics and Other Consciousness-Raising Experiments; Wild Heart Dancing: A One-Day Personal Quest to Liberate the Artist & Lover Within; The Dark Light of the Soul/Encounters with Gabrielle Roth; an e-book titled Why I Am Not Enlightened, and he blogs for PsychologyToday.com.   Eliezer has also led creativity workshops and silent meditation retreats around the U.S.; he is a certified teacher of Gabrielle Roth's 5Rhythms® conscious movement practice; has served as a hospital chaplain; was the publisher of two magazines, The New Sun and the Wild Heart Journal; served as Music Director for several children's theater companies on both coasts, and taught music in two alternative high schools. Also an amateur painter, he and Shari reside in Red Bank, New Jersey with their two cats, Shlomo and Nudnick.

442. Elizabeth Gilbert on Losing the Love of Her Life  Elizabeth Gilbert comes to Glennon's home to talk about her love with Rayya Elias—the joy, the devastation, and the truth-telling that came after. Liz opens up about the brutal reality of addiction—Rayya's drug addiction and her own love addiction—and how their secret lives collided. This is a conversation about intimacy, betrayal, codependency, survival, and recovery. And it's about how even the hardest truths, once spoken, can set us free. About Elizabeth: Elizabeth Gilbert is the author of nine previous works of fiction and nonfiction, which collectively have sold more than 25 million copies worldwide, spent more than 250 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list, and been translated into more than fifty languages.  She has been a finalist for the National Book Award, the National Book Critics Circle Award, and the PEN/Hemingway Award. With more than 20 million views of her TED Talk and 2.7 million followers on her social media accounts, she continues to be one of the most beloved and influential writers of our age.. Her new memoir: ALL THE WAY TO THE RIVER: Love, Loss, and Liberation is available now.

Host Jason Blitman talks to Patrick Ryan about his new novel, Buckeye, which is this month's Read with Jenna Book Club selection. They talk about writing inspirations, father-son relationships, and Ryan's love for pinball. Jason is then joined by Guest Gay Reader, Rabih Alameddine (The True True Story of Raja the Gullible (and His Mother)) his perspective on dealing with trauma, devotion, and forgiveness. Patrick Ryan is the author of the novel Buckeye. He is also the author of the story collections The Dream Life of Astronauts (named one of the Best Books of the Year by the St. Louis Times-Dispatch, LitHub, Refinery 29, and Electric Literature, and longlisted for The Story Prize) and Send Me. His work has appeared in The Best American Short Stories, the anthology Tales of Two Cities, and elsewhere. The former associate editor of Granta, he is the editor of the literary magazine One Story and lives in New York City.Rabih Alameddine is the author of the novels The Wrong End of the Telescope; Angel of History; An Unnecessary Woman; The Hakawati; I, the Divine; Koolaids; the story collection, The Perv; and one work of nonfiction, Comforting Myths. He has won the PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction and was a finalist for the National Book Award. He received the Dos Passos Prize in 2019 and a Lannan Award in 2021.Support the showBOOK CLUB!Sign up for the Gays Reading Book Club HERE September Book: The Sunflower Boys by Sam Wachman SUBSTACK!https://gaysreading.substack.com/ MERCH!http://gaysreading.printful.me WATCH!https://youtube.com/@gaysreading FOLLOW!Instagram: @gaysreading | @jasonblitmanBluesky: @gaysreading | @jasonblitmanCONTACT!hello@gaysreading.com

Chris Barton is the author of the poetry chapbook A Finely Calibrated Apocalypse, published by Bottlecap Press in 2024. His writing has appeared in Epiphany, Peach Magazine, The Plenitudes, Hotel, and elsewhere. From 2016 to 2019, he co-hosted the Electric Pheasant Poetry in Knoxville, TN. Peter Gizzi grew up in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. His many books of poetry include Artificial Heart, Threshold Songs, In Defense of Nothing: Selected Poems, 1987–2011 and Archeophonics, which was a finalist for the National Book Award. His book Fierce Elegy, published in 2023, won the T. S. Eliot Prize. He teaches at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. “In Defense of Nothing” from In Defense of Nothing: Selected Poems, 1987–2011 © 2015 by Peter Gizzi. Published by Wesleyan University Press. Used by permission.Links:Read "our free trial lives," "last supper," and "the bafflement" by Chris BartonRead "In Defense of Nothing" by Peter GizziChris BartonA Finely Calibrated Apocalypse by Chris Barton (Bottlecap Press)"2 Poems by Chris Barton" in Peach Magazine"Ouroboros as a Treat" in The Plentitudes"Three Poems" in Potluck MagazinePeter GizziBio and poems at The Poetry FoundationBio and poems at Poets.org"Peter Gizzi Talks About His Work" (YouTube Video--T.S. Eliot Prize)Mentioned in this episode:KnoxCountyLibrary.orgThank you for listening and sharing this podcast. Explore life-changing resources and events, sign up for newsletters, follow us on social media, and more through our website, www.knoxcountylibrary.org.Rate & review on Podchaser

National Book Award finalist and PEN/Faulkner Award winner Rabih Alameddine joins us to discuss The True True Story of Raja the Gullible (And His Mother) (Grove, September 2). Kirkus calls his latest novel “a sharp exploration of resilience in dark times.” Then our editors recommend their top picks in books for the week.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Chris Barton is the author of the poetry chapbook A Finely Calibrated Apocalypse, published by Bottlecap Press in 2024. His writing has appeared in Epiphany, Peach Magazine, The Plenitudes, Hotel, and elsewhere. From 2016 to 2019, he co-hosted the Electric Pheasant Poetry in Knoxville, TN. Peter Gizzi grew up in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. His many books of poetry include Artificial Heart, Threshold Songs, In Defense of Nothing: Selected Poems, 1987–2011 and Archeophonics, which was a finalist for the National Book Award. His book Fierce Elegy, published in 2023, won the T. S. Eliot Prize. He teaches at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. “In Defense of Nothing” from In Defense of Nothing: Selected Poems, 1987–2011 © 2015 by Peter Gizzi. Published by Wesleyan University Press. Used by permission.Links:Read "our free trial lives," "last supper," and "the bafflement" by Chris BartonRead "In Defense of Nothing" by Peter GizziChris BartonA Finely Calibrated Apocalypse by Chris Barton (Bottlecap Press)"2 Poems by Chris Barton" in Peach Magazine"Ouroboros as a Treat" in The Plentitudes"Three Poems" in Potluck MagazinePeter GizziBio and poems at The Poetry FoundationBio and poems at Poets.org"Peter Gizzi Talks About His Work" (YouTube Video--T.S. Eliot Prize)Mentioned in this episode:KnoxCountyLibrary.orgThank you for listening and sharing this podcast. Explore life-changing resources and events, sign up for newsletters, follow us on social media, and more through our website, www.knoxcountylibrary.org.Rate & review on Podchaser

Few institutions are as secretive, controversial, and consequential as the CIA. From covert Cold War operations to the war on terror, America's spy agency has been both praised for keeping the country safe and condemned for its failures and abuses. Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist and historian Tim Weiner joins us to unpack that complicated history and discuss his new book, The Mission, which traces how the CIA has struggled to adapt espionage in the 21st century. Weiner is also the author of the National Book Award–winning Legacy of Ashes: The History of the CIA, Enemies: A History of the FBI.  In this conversation, we explore the agency's origins, its Cold War and post-9/11 record, and the lessons of Iraq, torture, and Afghanistan. We discuss the biggest threats facing the U.S. today—including China's massive intelligence apparatus, estimated to be 20 times the size of the CIA, and how Beijing's ambitions differ from Russia's. We discuss whether intelligence leaders believe the biggest threat to US national security is internal or external. And, Weiner breaks down the concerns over President Trump's approach to the agency—and what happens when intelligence is shaped, or warped, by politics. 

Few institutions are as secretive, controversial, and consequential as the CIA. From covert Cold War operations to the war on terror, America's spy agency has been both praised for keeping the country safe and condemned for its failures and abuses. Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist and historian Tim Weiner joins us to unpack that complicated history and discuss his new book, The Mission, which traces how the CIA has struggled to adapt espionage in the 21st century. Weiner is also the author of the National Book Award–winning Legacy of Ashes: The History of the CIA, Enemies: A History of the FBI.  In this conversation, we explore the agency's origins, its Cold War and post-9/11 record, and the lessons of Iraq, torture, and Afghanistan. We discuss the biggest threats facing the U.S. today—including China's massive intelligence apparatus, estimated to be 20 times the size of the CIA, and how Beijing's ambitions differ from Russia's. We discuss whether intelligence leaders believe the biggest threat to US national security is internal or external. And, Weiner breaks down the concerns over President Trump's approach to the agency—and what happens when intelligence is shaped, or warped, by politics. 

Today, we're joined by one of the most respected voices in American journalism—Pulitzer Prize winner Tim Weiner. You know him from his groundbreaking book Legacy of Ashes: The History of the CIA, which won the National Book Award and became the defining account of the Agency's first 60 years. Now, Tim is back with THE MISSION: The CIA in the 21st Century—a riveting and urgent look at the CIA's modern battles, from 9/11 to Russia, China, and the chaotic state of American intelligence today. Based on exclusive on-the-record interviews with top spymasters and undercover officers, THE MISSION is already a New York Times bestseller and one of the most talked-about books of 2025. Tim Weiner has appeared everywhere from Morning Joe to The New Yorker, and today he's here to take us deep inside the world of secrets, power, and peril.

Jonas Hassen Khemiri is the author of six novels, seven plays, and a collection of short stories and essays. His work has been translated into more than thirty-five languages. The Family Clause was a finalist for the National Book Award for translated literature, and Invasion! Won an Obie Award for best script. His work has appeared in The New York Times, The New Yorker, and numerous other publications. He lives in Brooklyn with his family and teaches creative writing at New York University. In this interview we discuss his latest book, The Sisters (FSG, 2025). Recommended Books: Brian Boyd, Nabokov: The American Years Selma Lagerlöf, The Treasure Dantiel Moniz, Milk, Blood, Heat Junichiro Tanizaki, The Makioka Sisters Chris Holmes is Chair of Literatures in English and Professor at Ithaca College. He writes criticism on contemporary global literatures. His book, Kazuo Ishiguro Against World Literature, is published with Bloomsbury Publishing. He is the co-director of The New Voices Festival, a celebration of work in poetry, prose, and playwriting by up-and-coming young writers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jonas Hassen Khemiri is the author of six novels, seven plays, and a collection of short stories and essays. His work has been translated into more than thirty-five languages. The Family Clause was a finalist for the National Book Award for translated literature, and Invasion! Won an Obie Award for best script. His work has appeared in The New York Times, The New Yorker, and numerous other publications. He lives in Brooklyn with his family and teaches creative writing at New York University. In this interview we discuss his latest book, The Sisters (FSG, 2025). Recommended Books: Brian Boyd, Nabokov: The American Years Selma Lagerlöf, The Treasure Dantiel Moniz, Milk, Blood, Heat Junichiro Tanizaki, The Makioka Sisters Chris Holmes is Chair of Literatures in English and Professor at Ithaca College. He writes criticism on contemporary global literatures. His book, Kazuo Ishiguro Against World Literature, is published with Bloomsbury Publishing. He is the co-director of The New Voices Festival, a celebration of work in poetry, prose, and playwriting by up-and-coming young writers. 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

Jonas Hassen Khemiri is the author of six novels, seven plays, and a collection of short stories and essays. His work has been translated into more than thirty-five languages. The Family Clause was a finalist for the National Book Award for translated literature, and Invasion! Won an Obie Award for best script. His work has appeared in The New York Times, The New Yorker, and numerous other publications. He lives in Brooklyn with his family and teaches creative writing at New York University. In this interview we discuss his latest book, The Sisters (FSG, 2025). Recommended Books: Brian Boyd, Nabokov: The American Years Selma Lagerlöf, The Treasure Dantiel Moniz, Milk, Blood, Heat Junichiro Tanizaki, The Makioka Sisters Chris Holmes is Chair of Literatures in English and Professor at Ithaca College. He writes criticism on contemporary global literatures. His book, Kazuo Ishiguro Against World Literature, is published with Bloomsbury Publishing. He is the co-director of The New Voices Festival, a celebration of work in poetry, prose, and playwriting by up-and-coming young writers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/literature

Creativity doesn't come easy. It is often an act of resistance against chaos and other de-personalizing forces. In this episode, author Mitali Perkins joins Mark Labberton to discuss her latest book Just Making: A Guide for Compassionate Creatives. Known for her acclaimed novels for young readers—including You Bring the Distant Near and Rickshaw Girl—Perkins reflects on the creative life as both a gift and a struggle, marked by tenderness and tenacity. With candour about rejection, moments of mortification, and the relentless call to keep making, Perkins offers encouragement for artists who want their work to be both beautiful and just. Episode Highlights “I was very, very close myself to giving up on the creative life.” “Any time we're bringing order from chaos, there's going to be pushback—and it's diabolical pushback.” “Stories widened my heart, they widened my mind, they gave me a sense of calling that I was not just here for myself.” “We can't put on our faith like lace and bows; it has to be in the bones of the story.” “When I feel that embarrassment, that mortification, if I can just stay and do something physical to honour my work, goodness comes pouring back.” “To not write it, after hearing your passion to combat this foe of our age, would be exactly what the diabolical enemy wants us to do.” Helpful Links and Resources Just Making: A Guide for Compassionate Creatives by Mitali Perkins *You Bring the Distant Near* by Mitali Perkins (National Book Award finalist) Rickshaw Girl (adapted into a film) *Steeped in Stories: Timeless Children's Novels to Refresh Our Tired Souls* by Mitali Perkins The Dangerous Act of Worship by Mark Labberton Kiva Microloans About Mitali Perkins Mitali Perkins writes novels for young readers that cross borders and break down walls. Her books include You Bring the Distant Near, a National Book Award nominee; Rickshaw Girl, now a feature film; and Tiger Boy, winner of the South Asia Book Award. Born in Kolkata, India, Perkins immigrated to the United States as a child and has published with major houses including Penguin Random House, Charlesbridge, Candlewick, and Little, Brown. Her newest book for adults, Just Making: A Guide for Compassionate Creatives, encourages artists to persist with both tenderness and tenacity. She speaks widely at schools, libraries, and conferences. More at mitaliperkins.com. Show Notes Perkins describes the heart of Just Making as born from nearly giving up on the creative life during the pandemic. Creativity, tenderness, and tenacity “I was very, very close myself to giving up on the creative life.” Just Making: a survival guide for writers and artists facing rejection, discouragement, and the sense that their work doesn't matter The struggles of the creative life Perkins speaks candidly about rejection, failed manuscripts, and the long twelve-year gap between her first and second published books. “You end up looking at the exterior packaging—my career looks amazing on social media—but inside it's pride, vainglory, rejections, bad reviews.” Practices such as finding “third spaces” and championing one's own work sustain her through rejection. Childhood, immigration, and storytelling Born in Kolkata, India, Perkins immigrated to New York at age seven. She calls herself a “feral reader,” devouring fourteen hundred novels in four years as a child “Stories widened my heart, they widened my mind, they gave me a sense of calling that I was not just here for myself.” Obstacles and motivation during her upbringing as the daughter of refugees Encountering faith through story Growing up in a Hindu home and finding coming to Christ in college Through reading the Gospels and C.S. Lewis, she encountered Jesus as “the true story behind all the stories.” Conversion and baptism while a student at Stanford Writing, justice, and flourishing “We can't put on our faith like lace and bows; it has to be in the bones of the story.” Fiction that tackles themes of poverty, gender, courage, and flourishing Justice is defined not only as righting wrongs but fostering shalom—wholeness and human flourishing. Publishing industry and perseverance Perkins recounts the twelve-year struggle to publish her second book, revising manuscripts dozens of times. “It was twelve years between my first book and my second book.” Tenacity grounded in prayer and a sense of God's invitation: “I've got the heavy yoke; will you walk with me?” Moments of humiliation Perkins shares a public humiliation at a book signing where no one lined up for her book. Choosing not to leave, she pulled out her manuscript and began editing “When I feel that embarrassment, that mortification, if I can just stay and do something physical to honor my work, goodness comes pouring back.” How Rickshaw Girl was published and adapted into a film Coaching for creatives Perkins counsels Mark Labberton on his unfinished book about fear “To not write it, after hearing your passion to combat this foe of our age, would be exactly what the diabolical enemy wants us to do.” How to embrace imperfection and see writing as part of a larger communal conversation Community and the impact of children's literature Direct engagement with children in classrooms and libraries How young readers form friendships with her characters and are inspired toward justice How books like Rickshaw Girl and her forthcoming The Golden Necklace connect global justice issues with young readers' imaginations Production Credits Conversing is produced and distributed in partnership with Comment magazine and Fuller Seminary.

Notes and Links to Joan Silber's Work    Joan Silber was raised in New Jersey and received her B.A. from Sarah Lawrence College, where she studied writing with Grace Paley. She moved to New York after college and has made it her home ever since. She holds an M.A. from New York University. She's written ten books of fiction--most recently, Mercy, out in fall 2025.  Secrets of Happiness was a Washington Post Best Book of the year and a Kirkus Reviews Best Fiction of the Year.  Improvement won The National Book Critics Circle Award for Fiction and the PEN/Faulkner Award.  She also received the PEN/Malamud Award for Excellence in the Short Story.  Her other works of fiction include Fools, longlisted for the National Book Award and finalist for the PEN/Faulkner Award, The Size of the World, finalist for the Los Angeles Times Prize in Fiction, and Ideas of Heaven, finalist for the National Book Award and the Story Prize.  She's also written Lucky Us, In My Other Life, and In the City (to be reissued by Hagfish in 2026), and her first book, Household Words, won the PEN/Hemingway Award. She's the author of The Art of Time in Fiction, which looks at how fiction is shaped and determined by time, with examples from world writers.  Her short fiction has been chosen for the O. Henry Prize, Best American Short Stories, and the Pushcart Prize.  Stories have appeared in The New Yorker, Tin House, The Southern Review, Ploughshares, Zyzzyva, and other magazines. She's been the recipient of an Award in Literature from the American Academy of Arts and Letters, a Guggenheim Fellowship, and grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and the New York Foundation for the Arts. For many years Joan taught fiction writing at Sarah Lawrence College and in the Warren Wilson MFA Program for Writers.  Joan lives on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, with Jolie, her rescued street dog from Taiwan, and she travels as often as she can, with a particular interest in Asia. Buy Mercy   Joan Silber's Website   Joan Silber's Wikipedia Page   Boston Globe Review of Mercy   At about 2:55, Joan talks about responses about her new novel and how uncertainty is always  At about 3:45, Joan talks about places to buy her new novel and upcoming book events At about 5:05, Joan traces her early relationship with reading and writing and talks about early inspirations like Louisa May Alcott At about 6:55, Joan responds to Pete's question about the catalysts for her writing career, and she references the wonderful Grace Paley and her generative teaching methods At about 8:35, Joan talks about contemporary writers and influences like Charles Baxter, Andrea Barrett, and Margo Livesy At about 9:50, Pete bumbles through a vague comparison in complimenting Joan on her depiction of New York in the 1970s and gives some exposition of the book, especially regarding the book's main protagonist, Ivan  At about 11:25, Joan reflects on Ivan and Eddie as “intellectuallizing” their drug adventures  At about 12:35, Joan responds to Pete asking about Eddie and his mindset and personality  At about 14:45, the two trace the book's inciting incident, involving Eddie and Ivan indulging in drugs to an extreme  At about 17:30, Joan expands on her initial thoughts for the book, and on the secret that Ivan keeps to himself, as well as how she views Ivan in a “complicated” way At about 18:45, Joan responds to Pete's question about whether or not she “sit[s] in judgment of [her] characters” At about 20:20, Pete highlights Ivan and asks Joan's about Eddie “hav[ing] his own kingdom” in Ivan's life, especially with regard to his atonement for Alcoholics Anonymous At about 21:50, Pete traces Astrid/Ginger's career arc, as Ivan sees her rise and connects to Eddie, and Joan expands on why her film being done in Malaysia is connected to real-life regulations in China At about 23:30, Pete asks Joan about how she gets into the mindset to write about “What if?” At about 24:50, Chapter Two is discussed, with a new narrator in Astrid, and her tragedies and triumphs At about 26:10, Joan talks about the movie that takes place in the book, with Astrid as a star; Joan expands upon the “circle” of heroin/opioids in the novel At about 28:30, Joan discusses the “echo in the title” about heroin as the “drug of mercy” At about 29:00, Joan gives background on her choice in including Cara as a character who is a “bystander” to Eddie's abandonment  At about 30:15, Joan and Pete discuss the whys of Cara leaving and getting on the road At about 31:40, Joan talks about Chapter Three as a previously-published chapter/standalone, and how she likes “getting her characters in trouble” At about 32:00, Joan explains how she “follows” Nini into the next chapter, based on a previous quote, and how Joan's own travels influenced her writing about the Iu Mien of Thailand and Laos At about 35:00, Joan describes how Nini's injury in Southeast Asia serves as a vessel for a description of opium's uses/the way it's viewed in a variety of ways around the world  At about 36:15, Pete and Joan discuss the roles of anthropologists and their roles At about 38:30, Cara's chapter is highlighted, with Cara's relationship with her previously-absent father discussed   At about 41:00, Pete asks Joan to discuss the book's title-its genesis and connections to the book's events and characters  At about 42:30, Joan differentiates between mercy and forgiveness  At about 43:00, Pete compliments Joan's work in tracing a long but coherent storyline and her depiction of New York At about 44:10, Joan discusses an exciting upcoming project  At about 45:20, Pete and Joan discuss youth and innocence and aging as key parts    You can now subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, and leave me a five-star review. You can also ask for the podcast by name using Alexa, and find the pod on Stitcher, Spotify, and on Amazon Music. Follow Pete on IG, where he is @chillsatwillpodcast, or on Twitter, where he is @chillsatwillpo1. You can watch other episodes on YouTube-watch and subscribe to The Chills at Will Podcast Channel. Please subscribe to both the YouTube Channel and the podcast while you're checking out this episode.       Pete is very excited to have one or two podcast episodes per month featured on the website of Chicago Review of Books. The audio will be posted, along with a written interview culled from the audio. His conversation with Hannah Pittard, a recent guest, is up at Chicago Review.     Sign up now for The Chills at Will Podcast Patreon: it can be found at patreon.com/chillsatwillpodcastpeterriehl      Check out the page that describes the benefits of a Patreon membership, including cool swag and bonus episodes. Thanks in advance for supporting Pete's one-man show, DIY podcast and extensive reading, research, editing, and promoting to keep this independent podcast pumping out high-quality content! This month's Patreon bonus episode features an exploration of flawed characters, protagonists who are too real in their actions, and horror and noir as being where so much good and realistic writing takes place. Pete has added a $1 a month tier for “Well-Wishers” and Cheerleaders of the Show.     This is a passion project, a DIY operation, and Pete would love for your help in promoting what he's convinced is a unique and spirited look at an often-ignored art form.    The intro song for The Chills at Will Podcast is “Wind Down” (Instrumental Version), and the other song played on this episode was “Hoops” (Instrumental)” by Matt Weidauer, and both songs are used through ArchesAudio.com.     Please tune in for Episode 293 with Melissa Lozada-Oliva, a Guatemalan-Colombian-American writer. Her chapbook peluda explores the intersections of Latina identity and hair removal. In her novel-in-verse Dreaming of You (2021, Astra House), a poet brings Selena back to life through a seance and deals with disastrous consequences. Candelaria was named one of the best books of 2023 by VOGUE and USA Today. Her collection of short stories is BEYOND ALL REASONABLE DOUBT, JESUS IS ALIVE! The episode airs on September 2, today, Pub Day.    This episode airs today, September 2, Pub Day.    Please go to ceasefiretoday.org, and/or https://act.uscpr.org/a/letaidin to call your congresspeople and demand an end to the forced famine and destruction of Gaza and the Gazan people.

Today we have a very special guest on the podcast, M.T. Anderson who is the New York Times best-selling author of Feed, a National Book Award finalist and winner of the Los Angeles Times Book Prize; The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, winner of the 2006 National Book Award; and Symphony for the City of the Dead: Dmitri Shostakovich and the Siege of Leningrad, a Boston Globe–Horn Book Prize winner, among many other books for children and young adults. We are going to be talking about his latest novel, Nicked, which follows the story of a medieval heist for a saint's body. Thank you for listening to Medieval Murder! If you have any listener questions, comments, or topic suggestions please feel free to reach out via our instagram account @MedievalMurder or via email at info.medievalmurder@gmail.com. Also, check out our merch available on our website medievalmurder.org.

"I really love this medium. I think cartooning is an incredible medium. There aren't a lot of rules. You can, if you can, really make it up. You can make it suit you," says Roz Chast a cartoonist and artist whose work routinely appears in The New Yorker.So today we have Roz Chast. You know Roz Chast, and if you don't, quite frankly I hope we never meet. She's a long time cartoonist for The New Yorker whose work is kinda of panicky and bleak and goofy and … heightened … and wicked smaht. She's the author of Can't We Talk About Something More Pleasant?, Going into Town, and What I Hate from A to Z and what brought Roz to the podcast is a two 1,000-piece puzzles and a 2026 wall calendar now out by Workman Publishing. Really cool, and you can find those at hachettebookgroup.com.Cool stuff.Roz was, of course, a joy to speak with. I watched several interviews with her in preparation for this and I reached out to Dana Jeri Maier for questions because Dana loves Roz, and is a working cartoonist, so it seemed like a good shoulder to tap.Roz is a true artist. She paints these pysanka eggs, which are dyed eggs with cool paintings on them. She's into block printing now and she does some rug weaving things, too. I'm sure there's a formal term for it. She was inducted into the Society of Illustrators Hall of Fame in 2019. She won the National Book Critics' Circle award for Autobiography in 2014, and also was a National Book Award finalist for Can't We Talk About Something More Pleasant? Her work routinely appears in The New Yorker and in this episode we talk about: The ricketyness of a freelance career How being an outsider made her a better cartoonist How cartooning is like being at the children's table of art Aging parents And her experience on The Simpsons.Lots of rich stuff here that I hope you enjoy. I know I did.Order The Front RunnerNewsletter: Rage Against the AlgorithmWelcome to Pitch ClubShow notes: brendanomeara.com

This week on The Big Fib we find out if our child contestant can spot which adult expert is fibbing about COMIC BOOKS. Which country first published comic books? What is the word for comic book in Japan? Which comic book won a National Book Award? Play along and see if you can guess who is telling the truth on The Big Fib gameshow. For more great shows for kids and families visit GZMshows.com. To hear all episodes of The Big Fib ad-free, subscribe now at GZMshows.com/subscribers SPONSOR SHOUTOUT: Sponsorship for The Big Fib comes from ⁠⁠⁠Quince⁠⁠⁠. To help support the show, go to ⁠⁠⁠Quince.com/bigfib⁠⁠⁠ and learn more about their cool, relaxing bedding. Further support for The Big Fib comes from ⁠⁠Acorns Early⁠⁠. Ready to teach your kids the smart way to earn, save, and spend? Get your first month on us when you head to ⁠⁠acornsearly.com/bigfib⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Part 3 of 3. God's Hand on America: Divine Providence in the Modern Era by Michael Medved– November 26, 2019  Purchase this fine book at your favorite book seller or at- https://www.amazon.com/Gods-Hand-America-Divine-Providence/dp/0451497414 The national radio host and bestselling author of The American Miracle reveals the happy accidents, bizarre coincidences, and flat-out miracles that continue to shape America's destiny. “A hopeful message for our troubled times . . . Michael Medved has an eye for a story, and a preternatural gift for telling it in beguiling ways.”—Joseph J. Ellis, Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award–winning author of Founding Brothers Has God withdrawn his special blessing from the United States? Americans ponder that painful question in troubled times, as we did during the devastation of the Civil War and after the assassinations of the '60s, and as we do in our present polarization. Yet somehow—on battlefields, across western wilderness, and in raucous convention halls—astounding events have reliably advanced America, restoring faith in the Republic's providential protection.   In this provocative historical narrative, Michael Medved brings to life ten haunting tales that reveal this purposeful pattern, including: • A near-fatal carriage accident forces Lincoln's secretary of state into a canvas-and-steel neck brace that protects him from a would-be assassin's knife thrusts, allowing him two years later to acquire Alaska for the United States. • A sudden tidal wave of Russian Jewish immigration, be­ginning in 1881, coincides with America's rise to world leadership, fulfilling a biblical promise that those bless­ing Abraham's children will themselves be blessed. • Campaigning for president, Theodore Roosevelt takes a bullet in the chest, but a folded speech in his jacket pocket slows its progress and saves his life. • At the Battle of Midway, U.S. planes get lost over empty ocean and then miraculously reconnect for five minutes of dive-bombing that wrecks Japan's fleet, convincing even enemy commanders that higher powers intervened against them. • A behind-the-scenes “conspiracy of the pure of heart” by Democratic leaders forces a gravely ill FDR to replace his sitting vice president—an unstable Stalinist—with future White House great Harry Truman. These and other little-known stories build on themes of The American Miracle, Medved's bestseller about America's remarkable rise. The confident heroes and stubborn misfits in these pages shared a common faith in a master plan, which continues to unfold in our time. God's Hand on America con­firms that the founders were right about America's destiny to lead and enlighten the world.

Part 2 of 3. God's Hand on America: Divine Providence in the Modern Era by Michael Medved– November 26, 2019  Purchase this fine book at your favorite book seller or at- https://www.amazon.com/Gods-Hand-America-Divine-Providence/dp/0451497414 The national radio host and bestselling author of The American Miracle reveals the happy accidents, bizarre coincidences, and flat-out miracles that continue to shape America's destiny. “A hopeful message for our troubled times . . . Michael Medved has an eye for a story, and a preternatural gift for telling it in beguiling ways.”—Joseph J. Ellis, Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award–winning author of Founding Brothers Has God withdrawn his special blessing from the United States? Americans ponder that painful question in troubled times, as we did during the devastation of the Civil War and after the assassinations of the '60s, and as we do in our present polarization. Yet somehow—on battlefields, across western wilderness, and in raucous convention halls—astounding events have reliably advanced America, restoring faith in the Republic's providential protection.   In this provocative historical narrative, Michael Medved brings to life ten haunting tales that reveal this purposeful pattern, including: • A near-fatal carriage accident forces Lincoln's secretary of state into a canvas-and-steel neck brace that protects him from a would-be assassin's knife thrusts, allowing him two years later to acquire Alaska for the United States. • A sudden tidal wave of Russian Jewish immigration, be­ginning in 1881, coincides with America's rise to world leadership, fulfilling a biblical promise that those bless­ing Abraham's children will themselves be blessed. • Campaigning for president, Theodore Roosevelt takes a bullet in the chest, but a folded speech in his jacket pocket slows its progress and saves his life. • At the Battle of Midway, U.S. planes get lost over empty ocean and then miraculously reconnect for five minutes of dive-bombing that wrecks Japan's fleet, convincing even enemy commanders that higher powers intervened against them. • A behind-the-scenes “conspiracy of the pure of heart” by Democratic leaders forces a gravely ill FDR to replace his sitting vice president—an unstable Stalinist—with future White House great Harry Truman. These and other little-known stories build on themes of The American Miracle, Medved's bestseller about America's remarkable rise. The confident heroes and stubborn misfits in these pages shared a common faith in a master plan, which continues to unfold in our time. God's Hand on America con­firms that the founders were right about America's destiny to lead and enlighten the world.  

Part 1 of 3. God's Hand on America: Divine Providence in the Modern Era by Michael Medved– November 26, 2019  Purchase this fine book at your favorite book seller or at- https://www.amazon.com/Gods-Hand-America-Divine-Providence/dp/0451497414 The national radio host and bestselling author of The American Miracle reveals the happy accidents, bizarre coincidences, and flat-out miracles that continue to shape America's destiny. “A hopeful message for our troubled times . . . Michael Medved has an eye for a story, and a preternatural gift for telling it in beguiling ways.”—Joseph J. Ellis, Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award–winning author of Founding Brothers Has God withdrawn his special blessing from the United States? Americans ponder that painful question in troubled times, as we did during the devastation of the Civil War and after the assassinations of the '60s, and as we do in our present polarization. Yet somehow—on battlefields, across western wilderness, and in raucous convention halls—astounding events have reliably advanced America, restoring faith in the Republic's providential protection.   In this provocative historical narrative, Michael Medved brings to life ten haunting tales that reveal this purposeful pattern, including: • A near-fatal carriage accident forces Lincoln's secretary of state into a canvas-and-steel neck brace that protects him from a would-be assassin's knife thrusts, allowing him two years later to acquire Alaska for the United States. • A sudden tidal wave of Russian Jewish immigration, be­ginning in 1881, coincides with America's rise to world leadership, fulfilling a biblical promise that those bless­ing Abraham's children will themselves be blessed. • Campaigning for president, Theodore Roosevelt takes a bullet in the chest, but a folded speech in his jacket pocket slows its progress and saves his life. • At the Battle of Midway, U.S. planes get lost over empty ocean and then miraculously reconnect for five minutes of dive-bombing that wrecks Japan's fleet, convincing even enemy commanders that higher powers intervened against them. • A behind-the-scenes “conspiracy of the pure of heart” by Democratic leaders forces a gravely ill FDR to replace his sitting vice president—an unstable Stalinist—with future White House great Harry Truman. These and other little-known stories build on themes of The American Miracle, Medved's bestseller about America's remarkable rise. The confident heroes and stubborn misfits in these pages shared a common faith in a master plan, which continues to unfold in our time. God's Hand on America con­firms that the founders were right about America's destiny to lead and enlighten the world.  

In this episode Adam speaks with translator Frank Wynne and Argentinian writer Samanta Schweblin about the first-ever English edition of Mafalda, the beloved Argentine comic strip by Quino (Archipelago Books). Together, they explore how this precocious, principled six-year-old girl—who challenged everything from soup to capitalism—shaped generations of readers in Argentina and beyond. Frank discusses the joys and puzzles of translating Mafalda's quick wit and political edge, while Samanta recalls how the strip introduced her to feminism, philosophy, and satire as a child. The conversation touches on cartooning as subversion, and why Mafalda's questions still matter today. Whether you're meeting Mafalda for the first time or grew up with her, this episode is a moving celebration of one of the 20th century's most enduring comic heroines.Buy Mafalda: https://www.shakespeareandcompany.com/books/mafalda-3*Samanta Schweblin won the 2022 National Book Award for Translated Literature for her story collection, Seven Empty Houses. Her debut novel, Fever Dream, was shortlisted for the International Booker Prize, and her novel Little Eyes and story collection Mouthful of Birds have been longlisted for the same prize. Her books have been translated into more than forty languages, and her stories have appeared in English in The New Yorker, The Paris Review, Granta, Harper's Magazine and elsewhere. Originally from Buenos Aires, Schweblin lives in Berlin. Good and Evil and Other Stories is her third collection.Frank Wynne is a writer and award-winning literary translator. Born in Ireland he has lived and worked in Dublin, Paris, Amsterdam, London, Buenos Aires and currently lives in San José, Costa Rica. He has translated more than a dozen major novels, among them the works of Michel Houellebecq, Frédéric Beigbeder, Pierre Mérot and the Ivorian novelist Ahmadou Kourouma. A journalist and broadcaster, he has written for the Sunday Times, the Independent, the Irish Times, Melody Maker, and Time Out.Adam Biles is Literary Director at Shakespeare and Company.Listen to Alex Freiman's latest EP, In The Beginning: https://open.spotify.com/album/5iZYPMCUnG7xiCtsFCBlVa?si=h5x3FK1URq6SwH9Kb_SO3w Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What happens when politics becomes performance and politicians become influencers? In today's Part 2 episode, former Marine and NYT bestselling author Elliot Ackerman joins Ryan to talk about the idea that “everything's a racket,” the collapse of institutional trust, and why restraint used to define real leadership. They talk about how cancel culture morphed into shamelessness as a superpower, why we might be living in a post-shame society, Ambrose Bierce's wild literary exit, and why modern media feels more like professional wrestling than journalism.Elliot Ackerman is the New York Times bestselling author of the novels 2054, 2034, Halcyon, Red Dress in Black and White, Waiting for Eden, Dark at the Crossing, and Green on Blue, as well as the memoirs The Fifth Act: America's End in Afghanistan and Places and Names: On War, Revolution, and Returning. Elliot's books have been nominated for the National Book Award, the Andrew Carnegie Medal in both fiction and nonfiction, and the Dayton Literary Peace Prize, among others. He is a contributing writer at The Atlantic, a Senior Fellow at Yale's Jackson School of Global Affairs, and a veteran of the Marine Corps and CIA special operations, having served five tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan, where he received the Silver Star, the Bronze Star for Valor, and the Purple Heart. Be sure to check out Elliot's latest book, SHEEPDOGS. Apple Studios has actually bought the rights to develop the book as a series with Tom Hanks production company. Grab signed copies of Elliot's books 2054 and 2034 at The Painted Porch | https://www.thepaintedporch.com/Follow Elliot Ackerman on Instagram and X @elliot.ackerman

Former Marine turned novelist Elliot Ackerman sits down with Ryan to talk about what discipline really looks like in everyday life. From 100-degree runs to cold plunges and daily writing routines, they discuss what helps them stay steady, focused, and consistent even when it's hard.Elliot Ackerman is the New York Times bestselling author of the novels 2054, 2034, Halcyon, Red Dress in Black and White, Waiting for Eden, Dark at the Crossing, and Green on Blue, as well as the memoirs The Fifth Act: America's End in Afghanistan and Places and Names: On War, Revolution, and Returning. Elliot's books have been nominated for the National Book Award, the Andrew Carnegie Medal in both fiction and nonfiction, and the Dayton Literary Peace Prize, among others. He is a contributing writer at The Atlantic, a Senior Fellow at Yale's Jackson School of Global Affairs, and a veteran of the Marine Corps and CIA special operations, having served five tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan, where he received the Silver Star, the Bronze Star for Valor, and the Purple Heart. Be sure to check out Elliot's latest book, SHEEPDOGS. Apple Studios has actually bought the rights to develop the book as a series with Tom Hanks production company. Grab signed copies of Elliot's books 2054 and 2034 at The Painted Porch | https://www.thepaintedporch.com/Follow Elliot Ackerman on Instagram and X @elliot.ackerman

Lauren Groff joins Deborah Treisman to read and discuss “The Faithful,” by Elizabeth Hardwick, which was published in The New Yorker in 1979. Groff's works of fiction include the novels “Fates and Furies” and “Matrix,” both of which were finalists for the National Book Award, and “The Vaster Wilds,” which was published in 2023. A new story collection, “Brawler,” will come out in February of 2026. In 2024, she opened the bookstore The Lynx, in Gainesville, Florida. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices