Podcasts about short stories

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In this week's Short Story Summer Remix from Season 1, Angelina Stanford and Cindy Rollins discuss Guy de Maupassant's short story "The Necklace." Before getting into the short story discussion, Cindy and Angelina chat about what a "commonplace book" is and how they each go about recording quotes and thoughts. First off, Angelina gives us a little background on the author Guy de Maupassant and some information on French naturalism. Then she digs into her thoughts on how this story is a fairy tale in reverse and what that might mean in context. Cindy points out the perfection of de Maupassant's writing and his economy of style. They also bring up some of the formal elements of the story, particularly the key role the reversal takes in the plot. The main themes they find in "The Necklace" touch on common human struggles with ambition, discontentment, loss, suffering and gratitude. Check out the schedule for the podcast's summer episodes on our Upcoming Events page. Sign up for the newsletter at HouseofHumaneLetters.com to stay in the know about all the exciting new things we have coming up! Don't forget that you can find the full show notes for this episode at https://theliterary.life/335. 

Written by Simon ChadwickCome and follow more adventures on our animated TV show on Youtube!

Written by Simon ChadwickCome and follow more adventures on our animated TV show on Youtube!

Host Meg Wolitzer presents three works from an evening with New Yorker author and cartoonist Roz Chast, inspired by Chast's book I Must be Dreaming.  “The Wife on Ambien,” by Ed Park, is a sort of late-night fever dream.  It's read by John Fugelsang.  In Tessa Hadley's “Bad Dreams,” images than begin in dreams envelop a family in real life.The reader is Rita Wolf.  Tom Barbash's “Stay Up With Me” charts the rocky path of an old love affair.  It's read by Jason Ralph.  And stay tuned for Chast's own weird dream life, some of which she shares in this episode. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Host Jo Reed talks with contributor Kendra Winchester about three inventive story collections that reveal just how expansive audiobook storytelling can be. They begin with Fat Swim by Emma Copley Eisenberg, performed by a seven-person cast including Marin Ireland and Samantha Desz, where stories centered on fatness, vulnerability, and community take on added intimacy through distinct narrative voices. Then they discuss My Dear You by Rachel Khong, narrated by Xiaoling Pan, Rachel Khong, Zhen Zhao, and Annie Q. Riegel, a wildly imaginative collection that moves effortlessly between speculative fiction, satire, emotional realism, and the uncanny. Finally, they turn to Seasons of Glass and Iron by Amal El-Mohtar, with narrator Rachel Elizabeth Smith bringing warmth, precision, and quiet intensity to stories filled with fairy tales, scholarship, women's lives, and acts of self-rescue. Together, these audiobooks demonstrate how short fiction thrives in audio—each narrator shaping tone, atmosphere, and emotional texture in ways that make every story feel immediate and distinct.   Audio Books Discussed: Fat Swim by Emma Copley Eisenberg, read by Kristen DiMercurio, MW Cartozian Wilson, Marin Ireland, Lindsey Dorcus, Chrysanthy Balis, Samantha Desz, and Kristen Sieh (Random House Audio) My Dear You by Rachel Khong, read by Jialing Pan, Rachel Khong, Jen Zhao, and Annie Q. Riegel (Random House Audio) Seasons of Glass and Iron by Amal El-Mohtar, read by Rachel Elizabeth Smith (Macmillan Audio) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Written by Simon ChadwickCome and follow more adventures on our animated TV show on Youtube!

Written by Simon ChadwickCome and follow more adventures on our animated TV show on Youtube!

Today on The Literary Life, we continue our summer short story series of episodes from the archives. In this episode, Cindy Rollins and Angelina Stanford are joined by Angelina's husband, Thomas Banks. This week's selection for our summer series is Joseph Addison's "The Adventures of a Shilling." Their conversation kicks off with an attempt at defining the "essay" form and giving a brief history on its development. Thomas shares a little background information on Joseph Addison and his writing, as well as several other essayists who came before and after Addison. Thomas also talks about why essays are a significant part of his reading life. The conversation also spins off into a discussion of the importance of how we spend our leisure time.  Finally, our hosts chat about this week's essay, which gives highlights of England's history from the perspective of a silver coin. Addison's tale is full of humor and satire, as well as layers of social commentary and pathos.  For the full show notes on this episode, including book links, quotes, and today's poem, please visit https://theliterary.life/334.  If you want to connect more with Cindy, you can visit MorningTimeforMoms.com. You can also check out Angelina and Thomas' current classes and summer events at HouseofHumaneLetters.com.  Check out the schedule for the podcast's summer episodes on our Upcoming Events page.

Written by Simon ChadwickCome and follow more adventures on our animated TV show on Youtube!

Bar Talk (our recommendations):Jessica is watching Hallow Road (2025, dir by Babak Anvari); drinking Oak Aged Watermelon Kolsch by Ommegang.Damien is reading Angel Down by Daniel Kraus; drinking Bondstone Toasted Barrel Bourbon.Ryan is reading There Is No Anti-Memetics Division by QNTM; drinking The Obituary (dry gin martini with an absinthe wash). If you liked this week's story, watch Total Recall (1990; dir. Paul Verhoeven). Heck, watch it even if you didn't like this story. Up next: "The Rose Wall" by Joyce Carol Oates Special thank you to Dr Blake Brandes for our Whiskey and the Weird music!  Like, rate, and follow! Check us out @whiskeyandtheweird on Instagram, Threads & Facebook, and at whiskeyandtheweird.com

Welcome to episode 304 of the Spun Today podcast, where we dive deep into the creative life—its challenges, joys, and moments of breakthrough. In this free writing session, Tony Ortiz shares his latest writing stats, practical tips for writers, and an honest look into the ways presence and mindful living can fuel the creative process. This episode explores inspiration from Anne Lamott's Bird by Bird, actionable advice on tackling writer's block, and the value of noticing the world like a child. Tony Ortiz also introduces a bite-sized writing tool for overcoming stuck points, breaks down actionable writing tips from social media, and spotlights a personal freewriting piece about embracing life's constant transitions. Whether you're a seasoned wordsmith or just starting out, this episode is packed with creative motivation, strategies for productivity, and reminders to keep writing—one bird, one story, and one moment at a time. Check out all free-writing pieces at: spuntoday.com/freewriting.      The Spun Today Podcast is a Podcast that is anchored in Writing, but unlimited in scope.  Give it a whirl.      Twitter: https://twitter.com/spuntoday  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spuntoday/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@spuntoday   Website: http://www.spuntoday.com/home  Newsletter: http://www.spuntoday.com/subscribe      Links referenced in this episode:     Writing Advice from: https://www.instagram.com/schoolofplot   Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott: https://amzn.to/43IfVcG   Transitions in Life: https://www.spuntoday.com/freewriting/transitions-in-life   Get your Podcast Started Today! https://signup.libsyn.com/?promo_code=SPUN (Use Promo code SPUN and get up to 2-months of free service!)   Check out all the Spun Today Merch, and other ways to help support this show! https://www.spuntoday.com/support     Check out my Books Make Way for You – Tips for getting out of your own way ÁBRЕТЕ CAMINO: CONSEJOS PARA DEJAR DE SER TU PROPIO OBSTÁCULO (Spanish Edition) FRACTAL – A Time Travel Tale Melted Cold – A Collection of Short Stories   http://www.spuntoday.com/books/ (e-Book, Paperback and Hardcover are now available)   Fill out my Spun Today Questionnaire if you're passionate about your craft.  I'll share your insight and motivation on the Podcast: http://www.spuntoday.com/questionnaire/     Shop on Amazon using this link, to support the Podcast: https://amzn.to/4km592l      Shop on iTunes using this link, to support the Podcast: https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewTop?genreId=38&id=27820&popId=42&uo=10   Shop at the Spun Today store for Mugs, Notebooks, T-Shirts and more: https://spuntoday-shop.fourthwall.com/   Music: https://www.purple-planet.com   Outro Background Music: https://www.bensound.com   Spun Today Logo by: https://www.naveendhanalak.com/   Sound effects are credited to: http://www.freesfx.co.uk   Listen on: ApplePodcasts | Spotify | Pocket Casts | YouTube | Website

In this final 2 part coda to the series, we'll dive into the 7 short stories set in the Amber universe.

In this fifty-ninth installment of fictional horror written and narrated by Dan Cummins, we head to a new town, St. Jerome, that has a very, very strange grocery store, Peterson's, where something very, very awful is happening to some of the customers.  For Merch and everything else Bad Magic related, head to: https://www.badmagicproductions.com Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of Scared to Death ad-free and a whole week early. Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Written by Simon ChadwickCome and follow more adventures on our animated TV show on Youtube!

We discuss the hottest topics from the week! Toy Story 5 Box Office Projections ‘Obsession’ has now surpassed ‘The Blair Witch Project’at the worldwide box office. ‘Backrooms’ Has Hollywood Agencies Scouring Reddit for Short Stories ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ Trailer The Russo Brothers debated killing off Iron Man in ‘Avenger: Infinity War’ First trailer for Disney's new animated film ‘HEXED’. Shrek 5 Trailer Austin Powers 4 Teased? Batman Part 2 Casting Rumors Supergirl Skin Cup Weeman Popcorn Bucket ‘Jurassic World Dominion’ is the most expensive movie of all time. ‘Grand Theft Auto VI’ Pre-Order Join the conversation... FacebookInstagramTwitterTikTokYouTubeRate/Review/Subscribe:Apple PodcastsSpotifyYouTubeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Summer officially starts with the solstice on Sunday, but Colorado's already feeling the heat. We get the seasonal outlook with Denver7 Chief Meteorologist Lisa Hidalgo. Then, Denver's city auditor wants input about what to scrutinize next. And Broomfield librarian and author Pardeep Toor debuts "Hands," a collection of short stories that question the American Dream. 

Felony ep. 830 Roger Ley has self-published eight novels and one anthology of speculative stories. He was born and educated mainly in London, but spent some of his formative years in Saudi Arabia. Later, he worked as an engineer in the oilfields of North Africa and in the North Sea before starting a career in higher education teaching computer-aided engineering. His early articles appeared in publications including The Guardian, Reader's Digest, The Oldie, and Best of British. His short stories have been published on a multiplicity of websites and broadcast on BBC Radio. He lives in Suffolk (UK). Visit his website at rogerley.co.uk His Amazon author page is at https://www.amazon.com/stores/Roger-Ley/author/B01KOVZFHM More TTV Stories by Roger Ley: https://talltaletv.com/tag/roger-ley/ 'Guardian' by Roger Ley: https://talltaletv.com/guardian/   ---- Listen Elsewhere ---- YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/c/TallTaleTV Website: http://www.TallTaleTV.com   ---- Story Submission ---- Got a short story you'd like to submit? Submission guidelines can be found at http://www.TallTaleTV.com   ---- About Tall Tale TV ---- Hi there! My name is Chris Herron and I'm an audiobook narrator. In 2015, I suffered from poor Type 1 diabetes control which lead me to become legally blind for almost a year. The doctors didn't give me much hope, predicting an 80% chance that I would never see again. But I refused to give up and changed my lifestyle drastically. Through sheer willpower (and an amazing eye surgeon) I beat the odds and regained my vision. During that difficult time, I couldn't read or write, which was devastating as they had always been a source of comfort for me since childhood. However, my wife took me to the local library where she read out the titles of audiobooks to me. I selected some of my favorite books, such as the Disc World series, Name of the Wind, Harry Potter, and more, and the audiobooks brought these stories to life in a way I had never experienced before. They helped me through the darkest period of my life and I fell in love with audiobooks. Once I regained my vision, I decided to pursue a career as an audiobook narrator instead of a writer. That's why I created Tall Tale TV, to support aspiring authors in the writing communities that I had grown to love before my ordeal. My goal was to help them promote their work by providing a promotional audio short story that showcases their writing skills to readers. They say the strongest form of advertising is word of mouth, so I offer a platform for readers to share these videos and help spread the word about these talented writers. Please consider sharing these stories with your friends and family to support these amazing authors. Thank you!   ---- legal ---- All stories on Tall Tale TV have been submitted in accordance with the terms of service provided on http://www.talltaletv.com or obtained with permission by the author. All images used on Tall Tale TV are either original or Royalty and Attribution free. Most stock images used are provided by http://www.pixabay.com , https://www.canstockphoto.com/ or created using AI. Image attribution will be declared only when required by the copyright owner. Common Affiliates are: Amazon, Smashwords  

Host Meg Wolitzer presents two O. Henry Prize-winning stories, from the volume guest edited by Edward P. Jones.  The Prize was created in honor of the 19th-century writer best known for slyly humorous stories like “The Ransom of Red Chief” and “Gift of the Magi,” but contemporary selections range wide.  In “Rosaura at Dawn,” by Daniel Saldaña París, a woman searches for new life, and a new home.The reader is Sonia Manzano.  And “Countdown,” by Anthony Marra, is a darkly comic look at life in modern Russia.  The reader is Morgan Spector.   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Written by AlexCome and follow more adventures on our animated TV show on Youtube!

Elijah and Rex are joined by Daniel DiManna for a special episode tackling their brand new documentary centred on the life of the legendary monster sculptor Keizo Murase.Brush of the God Blu-Ray:https://srscinemastore.com/products/brush-of-the-god-blu-rayKaiju Conversation is a podcast series diving into the world of tokusatsu featuring genres like science fiction, J-Horror, action, and comedy! From Godzilla, Gamera, and Ultraman to the deepest darkest places like Zeiram, Zebraman, and Tetsuo: The Iron Man.The podcast is hosted by Elijah Thomas and Jackson Gibbens.Email: kaijuconversation@gmail.comTwitter/Facebook: @kaiju_convers Instagram: kaiju_conversLinktree:https://linktr.ee/Kaiju_Convers YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuni8GjDt1abcYq39cOxzDw Discord Server:https://discord.gg/gEwRexe Merchandise:https://teespring.com/stores/kaiju-conversation • Host: Elijah Thomashttps://linktr.ee/ET13_PRODUCTIONS• Co-host/Editor: Jackson Gibbenshttps://linktr.ee/RexXeno• Guest: Daniel DiManna"G-Cinema" Book: https://a.co/d/cJbYZDNWebsite: https://godzillanovelizationproject.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Danzilla93/X: https://x.com/Danzilla93_GNPPateron: https://www.patreon.com/godzillanovelizationproject/overview'Missing You' Short Story: https://godzillanovelizationproject.com/missing-you/Don't forget to leave us a 5-star review!

Written by Simon ChadwickCome and follow more adventures on our animated TV show on Youtube!

This week on The Literary Life, we continue our Summer of the Short Story replay series. On today's episode, Cindy and Angelina discussed Katherine Mansfield's short story "The Garden Party." They start with how Cindy found this story and the connections she was making to Little Women. Angelina gives a brief biographical sketch of Katherine Mansfield and highlights how Mansfield's own illness and death give us insight into how she deals with death in this story. Angelina walks us through how she looks at the use of figurative language and images, such as the Garden of Eden. They also touch on "The Garden Party" having the same structure of moving toward a moment of epiphany that we saw in "Araby."  Cindy brings up the disconnect between the world of the women at home and the working people outside the home, as well as between the classes in this story. They talk about the importance of Laura's new hat as a symbol of one type of person she can become. Another image that Angelina and Cindy take a look at is the descent from the garden into darkness. They discuss the parallels from the beginning of the story and the end of the story, as well as Laura's movement from innocence to experience, from blindness to sight. Keep up to date on the current classes and offerings from both Cindy and Angelina by visiting their websites, MorningTimeforMoms.com and HouseofHumaneLetters.com. Also, for the full show notes on this episode, head over to our podcast page at https://theliterary.life/333. 

On a layover in Brazil, a pilot goes missing and held to ransom.. But was this as innocent as a man who spoke to the wrong person in a parking lot? Or was there more to the story.Listen to this true story, retold in a short audiobook style on The Red Eye.Music Credits for The Abducted PilotReviver - The Grey Room _ Density & TimeMusic by Ievgen Poltavskyi from PixabaySound Effect by u_3enui7sssu from PixabaySound Effects by freesound_community from Pixabay  Sound Design by Ally MurphySend us a text! If you'd like a reply, please leave an email or numberWe would really appreciate it if you take 1 minute to leave a quick review. It really helps our podcast become more visible on all the platforms so we can reach more people! Thank you.Support the showThe Red Eye Podcast is written by Kaylie Kay, and produced and narrated by Ally Murphy.To subscribe to the monthly newsletter and keep up to date with news, visit www.theredeyepod.com. Or find us on Facebook, YouTube, TikTok & Instagram @theredeyepod, for behind the scenes stories and those funny short stories that only take a minute or less!If you'd like to support the podcast you can "buy us a beer" and subscribe at https://www.buzzsprout.com/2310053/support, we'd be happy to give you a shout out on our newsletter!Ally Murphy is a former flight attendant, and a British voice over artist based in the USA, visit www.allymurphy.co.ukKaylie Kay is a flight attendant and author based in the UK. You can find more of her work at www.kayliekaywrites.comTo buy The Red Eye's first book click on the following links:Amazon UKAmazon USABarnes and NobleOther E Book Platforms

Tonight's tale is based on the chilling urban legend "Humans Can Lick Too" a story about comfort, fear, and the horrifying realization that not everything lurking in the dark is what it seems.For more creepy stories, strange mysteries, and lost legends, follow @thelosttapes22 on Instagram.

Written by AlexCome and follow more adventures on our animated TV show on Youtube!

It's Mann versus machine. It's Mann versus manhood. It's probably the best television film of all time. And it just so happens to be the debut for one Steven Spielberg. If you like Jaws, may we recommend Duel... where the shark is a big, scary truck! We discuss the film and its background, plus some general Spielberg chatter, the Mouthgarf Report, and I See What You Did There! Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duel_(1971_film) https://www.rogerebert.com/features/book-excerpt-steven-spielberg-and-duel-the-making-of-a-film-career https://cinemaretro.com/index.php?/archives/8293-STEVEN-SPIELBERG-AND-DUEL-THE-MAKING-OF-A-FILM-CAREER;-INTERVIEW-WITH-AUTHOR-STEVEN-AWALT.html Please give us a 5 star rating on Apple Podcasts!  Want to ask us a question? Talk to us! Email debutbuddies@gmail.com Listen to Kelly and Chelsea's awesome horror movie podcast, Never Show the Monster. Get some sci-fi from Spaceboy Books. Get down with Michael J. O'Connor and the Cold Family and check out his new compilation The Best of the Bad Years 2005 - 2025 Next time: First 100th Episode!

Stories featured in this episode:The Waitlist, or Today is a Good Day to Die by Ai Jiang - https://aijiangauthor.wordpress.com/ -music by Oneirothopter -read by Jean-Paul Garnier -The Twain Shall Meet by Brent A. Harris - https://brentaharris.com/ -music by Phog Masheeen - https://phogmasheeen.com/   -read by Jenna Hanchey -theme music by Dain Luscombe -Simultaneous Times science fiction podcast began in March of 2018 and has since produced 100 episodes featuring 196 stories and 10 poems by 108 authors from over 20 countries. In this time, we have produced collaboration episodes with Apex Magazine, Radon Journal, Hexagon, Sci-Fi Lampoon, Shacklebound Books, Worlds of IF, and Utopia SF Magazine. We also produced three paperback anthologies, and one ebook anthology, of stories and authors from the podcast. -During the nine year run of Simultaneous Times we have won the Laureate Award, been a finalist for the Fiyah, BSFA, and British Fantasy Awards, and been long-listed for the Hugo Award three times. As of episode 100 we will no longer be producing episodes on a monthly basis but will rather move to a “when we feel like it” schedule, most likely creating two to four episodes a year. We will be redirecting our efforts (and finances) to publishing more books and our new magazine Electronic Brain. -A huge thank you to all of our authors, composers, narrators, and to our listeners! -Find all of our evergreen episodes at https://spacecowboybooks.bandcamp.com/ -Simultaneous Times is a monthly science fiction podcast produced by Space Cowboy Books in Joshua Tree, CA. https://www.spacecowboybooks.com https://ko-fi.com/spacecowboybooks7054

Episode Notes Today we're talking with Tina deBellegarde about short stories: What makes a good short story, and why certain short story writers are so appealing. Tina has been nominated for the Agatha Award for Best First Novel, has a short story published in the Mystery Writers of America anthology called "When a Stranger Comes to Town," and most recently won the USA Prize in the Writers in Kyoto annual story competition. They start the topic of the podcast by highlighting some Japanese short story writers such as Haruki Murakami and Banana Yoshimoto, Hiromi Kawakami, Aoko Matsuda, and Kyoko Nakajima. and foreign writers, including Lafcadio Hearn and, more recently, Rebecca Otowa. Amy also mentions two short story collections from China, one by the well-known author Xu Xu called Bird Talk, and an anthology of flash fiction called The Pearl Jacket and Other Stories: Flash Fiction from Contemporary China  which prompts a discussion on flash fiction, which Tina defines for us and elaborates upon, including the works of Mieko Kawakami. Lastly, Tina reveals what her favorite books on Japan are: Kyoto: Seven Paths to the Heart of the City by Diane Durston Kokoro by Natsume Sōseki Untangling My Chopsticks by Victoria Abbot Riccardi The Books on Asia Podcast is co-produced with Plum Rain Press. Podcast host Amy Chavez is author of The Widow, the Priest, and the Octopus Hunter: Discovering a Lost Way of Life on a Secluded Japanese Island. and Amy's Guide to Best Behavior in Japan.The Books on Asia website posts book reviews, podcast episodes and episode Show Notes. Subscribe to the BOA podcast from your favorite podcast service. Subscribe to the Books on Asia newsletter to receive news of the latest new book releases, reviews and podcast episodes.

Bar Talk (our recommendations):Jessica is reading Tell Me an Ending by Jo Harkin; drinking Yellowstone Toasted Bourbon.Damien is playing Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (2025; VG); drinking a Last Word (Drumshanbo gin, Luxardo, lime, and green friggin' Chartreuse).Ryan is watching Project: Hail Mary (2026; dir. Phil Lord and Chris Miller); drinking Glendronach 15 Year. If you liked this week's story, watch Jacob's Ladder (1990; dir. Adrian Lyne). Up next: "He Walked Around the Horses" by H. Beam Piper Special thank you to Dr Blake Brandes for our Whiskey and the Weird music!  Like, rate, and follow! Check us out @whiskeyandtheweird on Instagram, Threads & Facebook, and at whiskeyandtheweird.com

Want to get your short stories published? In this episode of The Fantasy Writers' Toolshed, host Richie Billing sits down with Benjamin Davis, co-founder of Chill Subs, for a comprehensive, no-nonsense guide to submitting short fiction to literary magazines, navigating the submissions process, and using it as a genuine route toward landing a literary agent.Chill Subs is the platform 50,000+ writers use to discover, track and submit to literary magazines, contests and agents — so Ben sees the short-fiction publishing world from the inside. He shares the latest shifts and trends in the literary magazine market, then gives honest, insider answers to the questions writers agonise over most:Do cover letters actually matter — and what should (and shouldn't) go in them?How should you format a short story submission?Are simultaneous submissions acceptable, and how do you keep track of them?Can you submit reprints, and where will editors accept them?How do short story credits actually help you get a literary agent?Where are the best places to submit right now, and how do you find them?Whether you're submitting your first short story or trying to build a publication history that opens doors to agents and book deals, this is a practical, market-leader's view of how short fiction publishing really works in 2026.In this episode, you'll learn:How to find the right literary magazines for your work using Chill SubsWhat editors really think about cover letters and formattingThe rules (and etiquette) around simultaneous submissions and reprintsHow short-story publication credits feed into querying literary agentsThe current trends reshaping the literary magazine and submissions marketAbout Benjamin Davis: Benjamin Davis is a writer and the co-founder of Chill Subs, a submissions platform used by over 50,000 writers to discover and track literary magazines, contests and agents. He also runs Sub Club, a top-selling Substack newsletter on literary publishing opportunities, and is connected with Write or Die Magazine. His own fiction and poetry have appeared in journals including Booth, Hobart and Maudlin House, and he's the author of The King of FU and Things We Do While Waiting to Die.

Today, we're heading to the magical world of Gravyland... When Hector and Sunny discover a swirling portal hidden inside the dog park fountain, they're whisked away to a land of gravy rivers, giant broccoli forests and a mashed potato volcano! But when a dangerous pea storm threatens to clog the volcano and stop the gravy flowing forever, the two best friends must embark on a delicious adventure to save Gravyland.

Host Meg Wolitzer presents two unconventional love stories, one classic, one contemporary, that avoid the usual tropes of “meet cute,” “opposites attract,” or “happily ever after” but are still engaging.  In “Love in the Slump,” by Evelyn Waugh, clueless upper-crust newlyweds are sent on a comic odyssey.  The reader is Jane Kaczmarek.  And Esther Yi's “Moon” explores something we often mistake for love—obsession--as a young woman is drawn farther and farther into K-Pop fandom. The story was selected by guest editor Min Jin Lee for Best American Short Stories 2023.  It's read by Hettienne Park.  And we hear Lee's and Park's thoughts about the story. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Ibtihal Reda Mahmood, editor and translator of the anthology Snow in Amman: An Anthology of Short Stories from Jordan joins us to talk both about the Jordanian literary landscape from the 1940s to now, as well as her personal relationship with Jordanian writers and books. We talk particularly about the iconic feminist and master of the short-story form Basma Nsour, and how Ibtihal came across her work as a pre-teen; the late, gifted, and generous Amjad Nasser, whose work still needs further translation; and the great Abdulrahman Munif's Story of a City, which describes his childhood in the Jordanian capital of Amman during the 1940s.   SHOW NOTES Abdulrahman Munif's Story of a City was translated by Samira Kawar and published by Quartet books in 1997.   There is no book-length collection of Basma El-Nsour's work in translation, but there are many stories available online: at ArabLit, The Common, and elsewhere.   Amjad Nasser's incredible poetry collection Petra was translated by Fady Joudah. His Land of No Rain was translated by Jonathan Wright. The twentieth century Jordanian classics that made the list of the “105 Best Novels of the 20th Century,” as voted by the Arab writers union, were: Sultanah, by Jordanian author Ghalib Halasa, Confessions of a Silencer, by Jordanian writer Mu'nis al-Razzaz, and Essential Pillars, by the Jordanian author Elias Farkouh.   Although many Jordanian books elide place, one novel that shows the landscape of contemporary Jordan is Ma'an Abu Taleb's All the Battles, which was translated by Robin Moger.   You can subscribe to BULAQ wherever you get your podcasts. Follow us on Twitter @bulaqbooks and Instagram @bulaq.books for news and updates. If you'd like to rate or review us, we'd appreciate that. If you'd like to support us as a listener by making a donation you can do so at https://donorbox.org/support-bulaq.    BULAQ is co-produced with the podcast platform Sowt. Go to sowt.com to check out their many other excellent shows in Arabic, on music, literature, media and more.    For all things related to Arabic literature in translation you should visit ArabLit.org, where you can also subscribe to the Arab Lit Quarterly. If you are interested in advertising on BULAQ or sponsoring episodes, please contact us at bulaq@sowt.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Written by AlexCome and follow more adventures on our animated TV show on Youtube!

Written by Simon ChadwickCome and follow more adventures on our animated TV show on Youtube!

On The Literary Life today we continue our re-airing of a series from our "Summer of the Short Story" that originally aired way back in Season 1 of the podcast! This week's episode features Angelina Stanford and Cindy Rollins discussing G. K. Chesterton's essay "A Defence of Penny Dreadfuls." Angelina opens with a brief history of the Victorian era and the more prevalent availability of the novel to the masses. She also gives several examples of the "penny dreadful." Cindy and Angelina discuss why they agree with Chesterton that people need these simple, even formulaic stories. They remind us that childhood is a time for good books, not a time to worry about reading all the "Great Books." Another topic that Cindy and Angelina chat about is the importance of developing imagination. They talk about the truth that fiction and story-telling are necessary parts of human culture. Cindy highlights the importance of the heroic adventure stories for boys. Angelina brings out the point that the elite critic is out of touch with the masses who long for stories of good winning over evil. The penny dreadful should not be judged as art, since that was never what it was intended to be. If you want to find replays of the 2019 Back to School online conference referenced in this episode, you can purchase them in Cindy's shop at MorningTimeforMoms.com. You can also find out about all the current classes and summer events happening at HouseofHumaneLetters.com. For the full show notes on this episode, please visit https://theliterary.life/332. 

In the premiere episode of Last Channel Before Dawn, we enter the ruined life of Evan, a man who has spent ten years trapped inside the aftermath of a disappearance no one could explain and everyone thought they understood. One ordinary autumn hike in the Bitterroot foothills became the dividing line between the life he had and the life he was forced to endure, after Mara Ellison vanished from a trail while he was only yards away. With no body, no answers, and no evidence strong enough to clear or condemn him, Evan became something worse than a suspect in the eyes of the public: he became a story people could reshape, consume, and weaponize.As the years passed, grief curdled into accusation, silence became punishment, and every anniversary dragged Evan back through the same nightmare of questions, theories, and strangers hungry for certainty. But on the tenth anniversary of Mara's disappearance, as rain falls and the old wounds reopen, something impossible arrives at Evan's door. What follows is not peace, not closure, and not the answer anyone expected. It is the beginning of a deeper mystery, one that suggests the truth behind Mara Ellison's disappearance may be far darker than the lie the world chose to believe.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-epstein-chronicles--5003294/support.

Writer Ben Fountain returns to the show to talk about his new novel, Rasputin Swims the Potomac, a hilarious and provocative exploration of why President Trump and his brand of politics have prevailed in the US for over a decade.  Thank you for listening! If you like what you hear, give us a follow at: X: Across the Pond, Galley Beggar Press, Interabang Books, Lori Feathers, Sam JordisonInstagram: Across the Pond, Galley Beggar Press, Interabang Books, Lori Feathers, Sam JordisonFacebook: Across the Pond, Galley Beggar Press, Interabang BooksBluesky: @acrossthepondbooks.bsky.socialThe Big Book Project https://substack.com/@thebigbookprojectTheme music by Carlos Guajardo-MolinaEdited and Mixed at ATX Audio Post

Written by Simon ChadwickCome and follow more adventures on our animated TV show on Youtube!

Bar Talk (our recommendations):Jessica is watching The Assessment (2024, dir. Fleur Fortuné); drinking Evil Twin Brewing Pils: Dandies.Damien is watching DTF St. Louis (2026; TV series); drinking Larceny Bourbon old fashioned with chipotle bitters.Ryan is watching Lee Cronin's The Mummy (2026; dir. Lee Cronin); drinking Campbeltown Journey whisky. If you liked this week's story, read  Voice of the Fire by Alan Moore. Up next: "The Badlands" by John Metcalfe Special thank you to Dr Blake Brandes for our Whiskey and the Weird music!  Like, rate, and follow! Check us out @whiskeyandtheweird on Instagram, Threads & Facebook, and at whiskeyandtheweird.com

In this fifty-eighth installment of fictional horror written and narrated by Dan Cummins, we return to Bluewater Falls as Kate Boyko continues to be haunted by what is looking more and more like the ghost of a woman her great-grandfather murdered, who has been exacting revenge on  pregnant women in her family for nearly a century.      Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of Scared to Death ad-free and a whole week early. Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Written by Simon ChadwickCome and follow more adventures on our animated TV show on Youtube!

Support this over on Patreon Follow the instagram Formed in New Jersey in the late 1990s, Houston Calls blended pop punk energy with catchy melodies and heartfelt songwriting. The band quickly built a loyal following through relentless touring and a string of well-received releases.  Their sound balanced upbeat hooks with lyrics that captured the uncertainty and excitement of young adulthood.  Albums like A Collection of Short Stories and The End of an Error helped establish them as a favorite within the mid-2000s pop punk scene. Known for their polished musicianship and memorable choruses, Houston Calls shared stages with many of the genre's biggest acts during their run. Though no longer active, their music remains a nostalgic touchstone for fans of that era's melodic punk and emo-influenced sound. I got Chitty on the Zoom and this is what we chat about: Where "Chitty" came from Face First As Tall As Lions Changing the name to Houston Calls and then dropping some members Being on the latest Drive Thru RSD release this year Getting signed to Drive Thru but having the first release put out on Rushmore Records Recording with Ed Rose Having a hard time recording vocals for the first record Who Bob and Bonnie is about Pulling inspiration from Saves the Day And a ton more Check out his new songs under the name Throw thermal pod on Spotify and band camp. These are his personal songs that he now puts out to the world.

In the second of two programs created with the podcast Death, Sex, and Money and our live event host Anna Sale, we explore issues of happiness.  Host Meg Wolitzer introduces a satirical romance by Oscar Wilde (did he write any other kind?).  “The Model Millionaire” is read by Peter Francis James.  In Kevin Brockmeier's “Space,” a grieving widower and his son try to get past their loss, looking for light in the darkness.  The reader is Michael Stuhlbarg. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Written by AlexCome and follow more adventures on our animated TV show on Youtube!

Written by Simon ChadwickCome and follow more adventures on our animated TV show on Youtube!

This week on The Literary Life we begin revisiting a series from our "Summer of the Short Story" that originally aired way back in Season 1 of the podcast! Today we return to Episode 11, in which Angelina and Cindy enjoyed a discussion of the short story "Araby" by James Joyce. Delving into "Araby," Angelina talks about the history and development of the short story form. Cindy gives a little of her own background with reading James Joyce and why she loves his short stories. Angelina and Cindy also discuss the essential "Irishness" of this story and all the tales in The Dubliners. Angelina walks us through the story, highlighting the kinds of questions and things we should look for when reading closely. Themes discussed in this story include: blindness and sight, light and darkness, romanticism, religious devotion, the search for truth, money, courtly love, and the knight's quest. If you want to find replays of the 2019 Back to School online conference referenced in this episode, you can purchase them in Cindy's shop at MorningTimeforMoms.com. You can also find out about all the current classes and summer events happening at HouseofHumaneLetters.com. Check out the schedule for the podcast's summer episodes on our Upcoming Events page. View the complete show notes for this episode at https://theliterary.life/331. 

Stoopkid Crew! Welcome back to Season 10 Episode 12!I am currently in Dallas,TX with Wicked! Send me an email at melly@stoopkidstories.com for meetups!Byron can't wait for summer soccer season—until he finds out his grades might keep him off the field!When Byron learns he may have to attend summer school instead of playing soccer with his friends, he's faced with a tough challenge. Listeners will explore themes of responsibility, perseverance, self-discipline, growth mindset, effort, and self-discovery.Perfect for elementary school students, classrooms, counselors, teachers, and families, this engaging story opens the door to meaningful conversations about making choices, working toward goals, and finding strengths you never knew you had.Support the show

In the first of two programs created with the podcast Death, Sex, and Money and host Anna Sale, we explore issues of identity and connection.  In “Sacrament of Confession,” by Ernie Wang, a man struggles with a messy past that is affecting the present.  The reader is Richard Kind.  And in a touching do-over, a man meets his wife for the first time—again.Amy Ryan reads Seth Fried's “You Again.” Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.