The Downtown Writers Jam

After Party: Wanda M. Morris

Wed, 02 Nov 2022 15:56:14 -0000

One of our favorite authors, Wanda M. Morris, stopped by the Bunker for an After Party storytelling Q&A with Brad. Her latest book, Any Where You Run, is out now. Wanda and Brad swapped stories about their parents, shared their best advice to writers, and talked about how writing helps them make sense of the world.

Plus, they had a callback to Brad's favorite Wanda story: how she wrote her first book without anybody knowing until it was done!

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Jam Sessions: David Lee Csicsko

Wed, 26 Oct 2022 07:30:00 -0000

Designer David Lee Csicsko dropped by the Bunker for a Jam Session about his latest project, LGBTQ+ Icons: A Celebration of Historical LGBTQ+ Icons in the Arts. David and Brad discussed their strange overlapping experience in the Indianapolis theatre scene, his work as a graphic designer, and the process he and his writing partner went through in narrowing down the 50 stories they wanted to tell in this book.

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Felice Cohen

Wed, 12 Oct 2022 07:30:00 -0000

Author Felice Cohen dropped by the Bunker to talk about her latest book, Half In: A Coming-of-Age Memoir of Forbidden Love. Be warned, Felice came ready with some amazing stories. She and Brad went on a long, winding road through her life. They talked playing sports growing up, her fearless drive to explore, family, and even a little bit about living in that very tiny New York apartment. (But not too much. Just, um, a little.)

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After Party: Sergio Troncoso

Wed, 05 Oct 2022 07:30:00 -0000

One of Brad's favorite guests, author Sergio Troncoso, dropped by the bunker After Party to talk about his latest novel, Nobody's Pilgrims. The two talked about Sergio's evolution in thinking about "voiceless" characters, the "flow" in writing, and probably other topics we could put in quotes.

Oh, and the time Sergio met George W. Bush.

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Natalia Molina

Wed, 28 Sep 2022 07:30:00 -0000

Author and professor Natalia Molina stopped by the Bunker to talk about her latest book, A Place at the Nayarit: How a Mexican Restaurant in Los Angeles Nourished its Community. Natalia and Brad has a long, wide-ranging discussion about comedians (Steve Martin, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler in particular), audio books, meeting famous people, and the trauma of academia.

Plus, how place intersects with race, class, and gender in America.

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Keri Blakinger

Wed, 14 Sep 2022 18:00:00 -0000

Author and journalist Keri Blakinger stopped by the Bunker to talk about her memoir, Corrections in Ink, a fascinating examination of the women's prison system told through the lens of somebody who made it to the other side of incarceration. It's a fantastic book, and one you want to read. Of course, Keri and Brad talked about the rest of her life: growing up as a competitive skater, trying to fit in, and navigating her career as a journalist after.

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Katie Hafner

Wed, 07 Sep 2022 15:47:37 -0000

Journalist and author Katie Hafner stopped by the Bunker to talk about her debut novel, The Boys. She and Brad took a stroll through some of the difficult times she had growing up and as a professional, but swerved through the difficulties of switching from nonfiction to fiction. And the joy of writing about goodness.

Oh, and we forgot to mention that Katie not only influenced Brad's early career, she also taught a class he took at Berkeley. (There's only a few fanboy moments.)

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Emi Nietfeld

Wed, 31 Aug 2022 07:30:00 -0000

Author Emi Nietfeld stopped by the Bunker to talk about her memoir, Acceptance, which is—in many ways—a story about the cost of surviving. For that, you can check out the book. She and Brad took a walk through her childhood in Minnesota, her almost modeling career, her search for her own identity, and ultimately the road where she found her own path through...everything.

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Angelique Pesce

Wed, 17 Aug 2022 07:30:00 -0000

Author Angelique Pesce stopped by the Bunker to talk with Brad about her latest book, American Pastime, and the importance of family. She grew up working in her father's bakery. She went to law school because of her grandfather. She started a nonprofit because of her grandmother. And she watched her mother blazer her own career. All of those forces shaped her journey as a writer, a producer, and filmmaker.

It is—in the mythological way that we tell ourselves these stories—the American Dream.

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After Party: Elisabeth Sharp McKetta

Mon, 15 Aug 2022 07:30:00 -0000

Author Elisabeth Sharp McKetta came back to the Bunker After Party to talk about her latest book, Awake with Asashoryu and Other Essays.

She joined Brad to tell some stories about why it's so hard to sit in the chair to write, why writers only really believe the bad reviews, what it means to be a writer, and the joy of making things (and being in a family that makes things)!

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Jenny Colgan

Wed, 10 Aug 2022 07:30:00 -0000

Author Jenny Colgan stopped by the Bunker to talk about her latest book, An Island Wedding, and the conversation was just delightful.

She and Brad talked about the weirdness of their respective small towns (Elvis and castles, but not how you think), the circular nature of family dynamics, the impact of class, and the importance of finding your art community!

But what they didn't discuss: all of her work with Doctor Who. At least not as much as Brad wanted.

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Jeevani Charika (aka Rhoda Baxter)

Wed, 27 Jul 2022 07:30:00 -0000

Author Jeevani Charika—who also writes under the pseudonym Rhoda Baxter that was inspired by the bacteria she studied while getting her Ph.D. in Microbiology—stopped by to talk with Brad about romcoms, Legos, science, travel, and basically all things nerdy! In other words, it's a great day in the Bunker.

She has a book out now, Playing for Love, and another coming out in September—because she somehow manages to write two books a year! You can also find her on Twitter and Facebook.

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Rodrigo Ribera d’Ebre

Wed, 20 Jul 2022 07:30:00 -0000

Author Rodrigo Ribera d’Ebre stopped by the Bunker to talk about his latest book, The Displaced. He and Brad talked a lot about finding your home and finding your voice, and the long road it takes to do that. And Rodrigo's journey took him into some hard places. But when he realized he was at a fork in the road, he decided to find his way back to writing, filmmaking, and storytelling (including writing his first book while he was in college!)

He's a fantastic storyteller. And if you stick around long enough, you'll get a little Wu-Tang. You can—and should—find him on Instagram.

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After Party: Bobi Conn

Mon, 18 Jul 2022 07:30:00 -0000

Author Bobi Conn (A Woman in Time) stopped by the After Party to share a little Appalachian storytelling with Brad. Bobi's own story has been filled with a lot of hard times (In The Shadow of the Valley), but that's only one part of her tale. She and Brad talked about the joy of writing, the happiness her children bring her, and importance of finding peace with yourself. Oh, and a bit about the humor that comes out in places we don't expect.

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Kelly Sokol

Wed, 13 Jul 2022 07:30:00 -0000

Author Kelly Sokol (Breach) stopped by the Bunker this week to talk with Brad about her journey, which included a stop at the Capitol and a job on the railroad. She's had an interesting ride that has taken her from Nebraska to Virginia Beach, with lots of stops in between. Oh, and she's an ultramarathoner as well. You can find her on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

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After Party: Catherine Drake

Mon, 11 Jul 2022 07:30:00 -0000

Vermont author Catherine Drake (The Treehouse on Dog River Road) stopped by the Bunker for a wild After Party with Brad to talk about how Christmas card writing led to her writing career, her brush with Bernie (it's Vermont, duh!), a hometown parade that featured a float of her book, and her fiftieth birthday party at Burning Man. And trust me, you don't want to miss her grand-daughter's idea for a BookTok channel because it's brilliant!

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After Party: Rebecca van Laer

Fri, 08 Jul 2022 07:30:00 -0000

Author Rebecca van Laer (How to Adjust to the Dark) stopped by the Bunker After Party to talk a bit one of our favorite topics: the anxiety of writing and writers! She and Brad also shared stories about patience with your writing, most definitely avoiding people who believe they are gatekeepers, and ghosts in New Orleans. Should have led with the ghosts! You can find her on Twitter and Instagram.

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Nicole Exposito

Wed, 06 Jul 2022 07:30:00 -0000

Writer Nicole Exposito stopped by the Bunker this week to talk about her fiction podcast, The Burned Photo, which frankly scared the crap out of Brad. They talked about her awkward childhood, finding her community while working on student films, graduating in a recession, her work at an EMT (yikes!), and how that all led her back to writing. Plus, they took a long digression about the work of Tom Robbins and the writer brain!

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After Party: Louise Mumford

Fri, 01 Jul 2022 07:30:00 -0000

Author Louise Mumford (The Safe House) stopped the Bunker for the After Party! She and Brad discussed why it's important to be less polite (especially if you're a young woman), happiness as nothing, and road tripping across the United States in an RV without really understanding how big this country is. (Louise is from Wales!) Plus, the state of watching movies when you're a writer.

Find her on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

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Sophie Flynn

Wed, 29 Jun 2022 07:30:00 -0000

Author Sophie Flynn stopped by the Bunker this week to talk about her latest book, Keep Them Close. She and Brad explored her transformation from a "mean girl" (not our words, folks!) into the theater and music world where she began to find her own footing. It's a joyous, funny, and thoughtful conversation about how life—and expectations—crash together!

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After Party: Colin Kersey

Mon, 27 Jun 2022 07:30:00 -0000

Colin Kersey (Swimming with the Angels) joined Brad in the Bunker for an After Party Q&A to discuss how he became a writer (it took some time), the importance of mentors, and the things that make him happiest. He also doled out a bit a wisdom to his younger self, which you might recognize from television: Just do it!

You can find him on Facebook and LinkedIn.

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Jam Sessions: Lisa Knopp

Fri, 24 Jun 2022 07:30:00 -0000

Author Lisa Knopp joined Brad in the Bunker this week for the first Jam Session, a deep dive conversation into her book From Your Friend, Carey Dean. The book is an examination of prison culture, religion, and friendship, and the conversation explores the complexity of writing about a confessed murder who goes through a profound personal evolution while incarcerated before being executed.

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Louise Mangos

Wed, 22 Jun 2022 07:30:00 -0000

Author Louise Mangos joins us in the Bunker this week from her writing retreat in the Swiss Alps (!!!) to talk about her latest book, The Beaten Track. She and Brad spent an hour talking about growing up in a small town in England, an aborted backpacking trip that ended with a 16-year stay in Switzerland, the around the world trip that eventually happened, plus painting and genre fiction. You can find Louise on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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After Party: Sam Holland

Mon, 20 Jun 2022 07:30:00 -0000

Author Sam Holland (The Echo Man) stopped by Bunker for an After Party Q&A. She talked about her greatest writing epiphany (Post-it Notes!), and she proceeded to tell the grossest story ever told on the program! It's delightfully hilarious, but we don't recommend eating while you listen to this one!

Sam can be found on Twitter and Instagram.

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Mintie Das

Wed, 15 Jun 2022 07:30:00 -0000

Author Mintie Das stopped by the Bunker to talk about her YA novel, Brown Girl Ghosted. It's rare to meet somebody more extroverted than Brad, but we've found with Mintie, whose journey is amazing. She's truly a child of the world. She was born in India, raised in Illinois, and now lives in Helsinki. She's traveled extensively and has stories that'll knock your socks off. After fifteen years working in public relations, she embarked on her writing career and has found her voice writing about "kickass heroines of color."

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After Party: Hannah Mary McKinnon

Fri, 10 Jun 2022 07:30:00 -0000

Author Hannah Mary McKinnon (Never Coming Home) stopped by the Bunker to be our first guest on a Q&A show. A master storyteller, Hannah is going to have you riveted as she talks about why she writes, what makes her happiest, and the insane way she met and married her husband, the history of her hometown. Plus, there's a whole lot of talk about the things that drive writers mad.

Find Hannah on Facebook and Instagram @hannahmarymckinnon, and on Twitter @HannahMMcKinnon.

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Wanda M. Morris

Wed, 08 Jun 2022 07:30:00 -0000

Author Wanda M. Morris stopped by the Bunker to talk about her debut novel, All Her Little Secrets. She and Brad discussed their love of structure and rules (but not in writing), which led her to a career in law, advocating, storytelling, and writing. (They are connected: promise!) Plus, they discussed how Wanda wrote a whole book without anyone knowing.

Learn more at wandamorriswrites.com or follow Morris on social media on Instagram: @wandamowrites or Twitter: @WandaMo14.

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Gillian McAllister

Wed, 01 Jun 2022 07:30:00 -0000

Crime author Gillian McAllister dropped by the Bunker just a few weeks before we went on hiatus. We've been gone so long that her last book, That Night, is now out everywhere and her current book, Wrong Place, Wrong Time just dropped in the U.K. (and comes to the U.S. in August). She and Brad talked about the pressure of success, growing up as a creative kid, and the long, winding road to finding your way in the world. You can find her on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, or over at her website.

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Chris Jones

Wed, 12 Jan 2022 08:30:00 -0000

Two-time National Magazine Award winner and author Chris Jones stopped by the Bunker to talk about his latest book, The Eye Test, a treatise on expertise and the art of making decisions. This isn't your typical Jam. Chris and Brad took a deep dive into the ideas in the book. But, they also go back a few years (at least online). So, they also talked about the work men need to do on themselves, Chris' story "The Things That Carried Him," editing and writing, and sports. Plus, a whole bunch of stories about the magazine world that will never make it on air!

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Elisabeth Sharp McKetta

Wed, 22 Dec 2021 08:30:00 -0000

A little tired from the holiday season? We've got the cure here in the Ohio Bunker! The fantastic and lovely Elisabeth Sharp McKetta stopped by to talk about her first novel, She Never Told Me About the Ocean. She and Brad talked about life in Texas, fairy tales, Harvard and M.I.T., English living, and the intricacies that make a writer a writer. Pour a little holiday cheer and join them for a high-energy hour of fun.

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Mini Episode: Elizabeth B. Splaine

Fri, 17 Dec 2021 08:30:00 -0000

Author and friend of the program Elizabeth B. Splaine stopped by the Bunker to talk about her historical fiction novel, Swan Song. Buckle up for this conversation as Elizabeth and Brad take a deep dive into the events that led to her writing the book and the nuggets of information that she uncovered while doing her research!

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Ari Honarvar

Wed, 15 Dec 2021 08:30:00 -0000

Author and activist Ari Honarvar stopped by the Bunker to talk about her novel, A Girl Called Rumi. She immigrated from Iran when she was young, and she's spent the better part of her adult life using music, dance, and poetry to connect with refugees and people in war-torn regions. She and Brad chatted about empathy and trauma, the importance of art, and the joy that you can find in life through dance and words.

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Mini Episode: Rachel Krantz

Mon, 13 Dec 2021 08:30:00 -0000

Award-winning journalist and author Rachel Krantz stopped by the program to talk about her reporter memoir, Open: An Uncensored Memoir of Love, Liberation, and Non-Monogamy. She and Brad took a deep dive into the difficulty of mining your own life for a story, the stigma that women face when writing—and talking about—sex, and powerful social structures that keep people from talking about their sex life.

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Mini Episode: Jacqueline Friedland

Fri, 10 Dec 2021 08:30:00 -0000

Friend of the program and author Jacqueline Friedland stopped by the Bunker to talk about her latest novel, He Gets That From Me, a story that mixes her romcom storytelling with her legal training. She and Brad talked about the idea that sparked this book, why she's returning to historical fiction for her next book, and the joy of getting to do some in-person events! You can also check out her Jam interview on Episode 93.

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Sophie Santos

Wed, 08 Dec 2021 08:30:00 -0000

Author, comedian, and TV writer Sophie Santos stopped by the Bunker to talk about her memoir, The One You Want to Marry, and her live stage show, The Lesbian Agenda. Since she (mostly) grew up in Alabama so talk naturally turned to college football. (Don't worry, we cut a lot of that out.) But, she talked with Brad about growing up in a military family, musical theatre, surviving two years in a sorority, and finding her voice in NYC.

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Mini-Episode: Bruce Ledewitz

Mon, 06 Dec 2021 08:30:00 -0000

Professor, anti-death penalty legal advocate, and author Bruce Ledewitz stopped by the Jam Bunker for a very soberting conversation about his latest book, The Universe Is on Our Side: Restoring Faith in American Public Life. Bruce and Brad sit down to discuss whether the United States can build a humane society without religion at the center of life, and the similarities between religion and secularism. You know: just a nice holiday dinner conversation!

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Mini-Episode: Sophie Cousens

Fri, 03 Dec 2021 08:30:00 -0000

Television producer turned author Sophie Cousens joined Brad in the Bunker to talk about her latest book, Just Haven't Met You Yet. Sophie made the career switch from producing comedy to writing where she eventually settled on romcoms, the genre that fit the voices in her head! She and Brad talked about her life on the isle of Jersey, how comedy helped shape her writing, and the insufferable nature of writers at parties!

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Clifford Garstang

Wed, 01 Dec 2021 08:30:00 -0000

Author Clifford Garstang stopped by the Bunker this week to talk about his latest book, Oliver's Travels. Clifford is one of those fascinating people who may slip under the radar because of his understated style, but he and Brad took a trip through his unhappy at times childhood that catapulted him into a world of travel, volunteering, and service. From the Peace Corps to the World Bank to a staple of the literary magazine world, Clifford's story is fantastic. So, pour a glass of holiday cheer and sit down for a great story!

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Mini Episode: Dan Sanders

Fri, 26 Nov 2021 08:30:00 -0000

Author and vending machine repair guide writer Dan Sanders stopped by the Bunker to talk about his novella, The Loop. But this turned out to be one of the GenX, West Coast, weird writer connection chats as Dan and Brad covered writing in the Bay Area, McSweeney's, Dave Eggers, and the end of the word processing DIY aesthetic. Oh, and the nostalgia for those times that comes with growing old!

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Kia Abdullah

Wed, 24 Nov 2021 08:30:00 -0000

Travel writer and author Kia Abdullah stopped by the Bunker to talk about her latest novel, Next of Kin, which was the Times Crime Book of the Month September 2021. She and Brad talked about growing up in a family with eight children, her decision to get a degree in computer science and work in the technology industry, and the leap of faith she took when she started her travel website Atlas & Boots, an award-winning outdoor travel blog covering thrilling activities in far-flung places.

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Mini Episode: Ann R. Williams

Fri, 19 Nov 2021 08:30:00 -0000

Author, archaeologist, and retired National Geographic writer Ann R. Williams stopped by the Bunker to talk with Brad about her latest book, Lost Cities, Ancient Tombs, a beautiful book that explores one-hundred of the most important—and fascinating—archeological finds. In this episode, Brad just sat back and let Ann tell some of the riveting stories you'll find in the book. And, she and Brad discussed how closely connected we are to human history, no matter how far back it stretches.

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Dr. Kara Cooney

Wed, 17 Nov 2021 08:30:00 -0000

Author, TV producer, and Egyptologist Dr. Kara Cooney stopped by the Bunker this week to talk about her latest book, The Good Kings: Absolute Power in Ancient Egypt and the Modern World. She and Brad had a fascinating, fun, and funny discussion about her current work researching more than 300 coffins from the ancient world. Along the way, they pulled in feminist and cultural critiques of history as well as the importance of drawing lines from the past to present. Plus, a whole lot about how difficult it is to find your voice when you exist outside the dominant paradigm.

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Mini Episode: Louise Fein

Mon, 15 Nov 2021 08:30:00 -0000

Author and friend of the program Louise Fein is back to talk about her sophomore book, The Hidden Child, which is climbing the best-seller charts! Like her debut, People Like Us (Daughter of the Reich in North America), Louise taps her family's history and weaves it through the late twenties and early thirties in England—with some American flavor. Plus, she and Brad talked about the creative ways she's done research during the pandemic: lots of books and Zoom calls!

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Mini Episode: Yanis Varoufakis

Fri, 12 Nov 2021 08:30:00 -0000

Renowned economist, politician, and author Yanis Varoufakis stopped by the Bunker to talk about his latest book, Another Now, which is an alternate history in which our world developed into a post-capitalist world after the economic crash in 2008. Yanis shared the story of how he was politicized early after the Greek civil war and his father's imprisonment, and how that helped shape his economic vision that led him to become an accidental politician (he led the bailout talks between Greece and the European Union) and a best selling author.

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Laura Zlatos

Wed, 10 Nov 2021 08:30:00 -0000

Playwright Laura Zlatos stopped by the Bunker to talk about her writing journey and her latest play, The Empress of Jupiter, which debuts in December at the New Perspectives Theatre Group. A fascinating writer with a laser-sharp sense of voice, she and Brad talked about finding your way into an idea and a story. But they also talked about Pittsburgh BBQ (Walter's is the best) and her interesting (and amazing) exposure to writing early in her education, and their shared dislike of being on stage (also developed early).

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Mini Episode: Robert McCaw

Mon, 08 Nov 2021 08:30:00 -0000

Author Robert McCaw stopped by the Bunker to talk about the latest in his Koa Kane mystery series, Treachery Times Two. But Robert has led a fascinating life, traveling all over the world first with his military family and later as a U.S. Army lieutenant. He eventually went to law school, became a lawyer, and settled in Hawaii, where he immersed himself in the culture for twenty years. And he took Brad on a brief—but fascinating—dive into the history and politics of Hawaii.

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Mini Episode: Teresa K. Miller

Fri, 05 Nov 2021 07:30:00 -0000

Author Teresa K. Miller stopped by the bunker to talk about her memoir reflection in poetry, Borderline Fortune. She and Brad talked about the impact of family trauma, healing and therapy, the power of storytelling, and how we think about interacting with the world around us. And, those conversations were grounded in the very real nature of interacting with people, our neighbors, and those with whom we disagree.

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Nadine Matheson

Wed, 03 Nov 2021 07:30:00 -0000

Introverts: buckle up! Author Nadine Matheson stopped by the Bunker to talk about her debut novel, The Jigsaw Man. But she and Brad got right down to it, discussing the existential melancholy of getting older, pushing their way in to places where others didn't want them, and telling stories all the way. They talked so much, in fact, that Nadine's earbuds ran out of charge! (There may need to be a Part II someday soon.)

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Mini Episode: Robbie Bach

Mon, 01 Nov 2021 07:30:00 -0000

Sometimes Brad has a guest on for personal reasons. Like this week. Author Robbie Bach stops by the Bunker to talk about his debut thriller, The Wilkes Insurrection. However, Brad knew Robbie when he was in charge of developing the Xbox and Brad was writing at Wired. So, they talked about how storytelling in games, cinematic stories, and marketing helped teach him how to write a novel.

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Mini Episode: Samantha Specks

Fri, 29 Oct 2021 07:30:00 -0000

Author Samantha Specks has one of the most interesting origin stories: A clinical social worker, she hadn't planned on becoming a writer. But she had a story in her that she couldn't shake, and that became her debut novel, Dovetails in Tall Grass. She and Brad talked about the work it takes to write historical fiction when your story involves cultures and experiences outside of your own, and how her training as a social worker helped her along the way!

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Ed Davis

Wed, 27 Oct 2021 07:30:00 -0000

Author Ed Davis stopped by the Bunker South (aka, our Birmingham studio) to talk about his latest book, The Last Professional. But he and Brad had so much more than just the book to discuss. They talked about Skywalker Ranch and George Lucas, jumping trains, the joy of traveling, a love of working with their hands (even if Brad is terrible at that), and how writing became a way to both chronicle and make sense of living life outside the box.

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Mini Episode: Jessica DuLong

Mon, 25 Oct 2021 07:30:00 -0000

Author, journalist, and mariner Jessica DuLong stopped by the Bunker to talk about one of the most fascinating books we've read here at the Jam. Her book, Saved at the Seawall, chronicles the 800 civil mariners who helped rescue more than 400,000 from New York City on 9/11. Brad and Jessica took a deep dive into the life of the civil mariners who work with the Coast Guard all across the country and the strength of resolve people show in times of great tragedy.

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Mini Episode: Lee Matthew Goldberg

Fri, 22 Oct 2021 07:30:00 -0000

Author Lee Matthew Goldberg stopped the Bunker to talk about his latest novel, Stalker Stalked. Lee, who came on the Jam last year (Episode 74), has been cranking out books and scripts through the pandemic. He and Brad talked about finding your place in the literary world, and maybe more importantly, how you can structure your work so that watching reality television becomes part of your research. It's always a good time when Lee stops by!

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Jan Beatty

Wed, 20 Oct 2021 07:30:00 -0000

Author Jan Beatty stopped by the Bunker to talk about her award-winning memoir, American Bastard. If you follow the show, you know that title alone was going to Brad interested. But, the two writers took a really deep dive into some difficult subjects: adoption, addiction, recovery, trauma, therapy, and the brokenness of some families.

Just the little things that make up life. This conversation is long, slow burn, and one of the best we've had on the Jam.

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J.L. Torres

Wed, 13 Oct 2021 07:30:00 -0000

Author J.L. Torres stopped by the Bunker to talk about his latest book, Migrations, that takes a deep dive into the inbetween-ness many Puerto Ricans experience living in America. He and Brad had a long, wonderful conversation about their love of writing, baseball (obviously), and the struggle to write and tell stories about people who exist in two worlds. Maybe most importantly, they talked about the importance of boys reading and developing empathy for the stories of other people. And, did we mention: baseball?

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Mini Episode: Spencer Fluery

Fri, 01 Oct 2021 07:30:00 -0000

Author Spencer Fluery stopped by the Bunker to talk about his first novel, How I’m Spending My Afterlife, a title that absolutely ensured Brad would invite him on the program. They also got around to discussing San Francisco, their shared favorite bar (The Lucky 13) that closed, and living as a writer in one of the most expensive cities in the country.

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Ellen Michaelson

Wed, 29 Sep 2021 07:30:00 -0000

Dr. Ellen Michaelson stopped by the Bunker to talk about her debut novel The Care of Strangers. And this is one of those delightful interviews where the writer, and Brad, discovers something! And to be honest, Brad wasn't sure how you draw a line from doctor to novelist, but Ellen connected all the dots, including her work with NW Narrative Medical Collaborative, an initiative that helps train doctors how to hear patient stories in order to provide better care.

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Mini Episode: Chevy Stevens

Mon, 27 Sep 2021 07:30:00 -0000

Sometimes, we have unexpected conversations in the Bunker. That's exactly what happened when author Chevy Stevens stopped by to talk with Brad about her latest thriller, Dark Roads. The two bonded over a shared love of the outdoors, a rural upbringing, and their battle with anxiety and depression. That last part spurred a twenty-minute discussion about the difficulties of creating while taking care of their mental health.

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Mini Episode: Robyn Harding

Fri, 24 Sep 2021 07:30:00 -0000

Author Robyn Harding is the latest Canadian thriller writer to stop by the Bunker, and she joined Brad to talk about her latest book The Perfect Family, which is out now. But she's also one of our many guests who bounced between screenwriting and novel writing. Oh, and add that she ALSO wrote comedy novels with women at the center. Let's just say she's a writer whose voice spans genres.

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Sumbul Ali-Karamali

Wed, 22 Sep 2021 07:30:00 -0000

Buckle up for this conversation. Brad strays from the traditional structure in the Bunker. Instead, he has a long discussion with author and speaker Sumbul Ali-Karamali who stopped by to discuss her third book, Demystifying Shariah: What It Is, How It Works, and Why It's Not Taking Over Our Country. She takes a deep-dive into how the Radical Right used fear-mongering around Islamic law to push through its agenda. And, she and Brad are talking scientific studies, discussions of the law, the Nation of Islam, 9/11, a little media analysis...and this being the Jam—about ten minutes of Star Trek and Battlestar Galactica.

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Mini Episode: Louise Mumford

Fri, 17 Sep 2021 08:00:00 -0000

Author Louise Mumford stopped by the Bunker to talk about her debut book, Sleepless, which is out in stores now. A former middle-grade English teacher, Louise struck gold after being discovered at a literary festival in 2019. Her novel has since been optioned for television!

But, she and Brad also took some time to talk about camping (!!) and the leap she took a few years ago to become a full time writer.

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Colleen van Niekerk

Wed, 15 Sep 2021 07:30:00 -0000

Author Colleen van Niekerk stopped by the Bunker to talk about her debut novel, A Conspiracy of Mothers (October, 2021), which blends together life in apartheid South Africa and northern Appalachia. And so, Colleen and Brad went on a deep exploration of Colleen's life growing up in Cape Town, her love all Tom Robbins and magic realism, and her journey exploring the world. (We had a long talk about parrots, but that's for another show!)

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Mini Episode: Eddy Boudel Tan

Mon, 13 Sep 2021 07:30:00 -0000

Author Eddy Boudel Tan stopped by the Bunker to talk about his latest book, The Rebellious Tide, which is out in stores now. But, Brad had more than just book talk on his mind. The two writers talked about Eddy's Sidewalk Supper Project, which is a neighborhood initiative he co-founded to provide homeless people with home-cooked meals. They also discussed the changing economic landscape of Vancouver, where Tan lives with his husband.

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Mini Episode: Minal Bopaiah

Fri, 10 Sep 2021 07:30:00 -0000

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. We are all talking about those three ideas these days. But one of the big challenges is how to create systemic change built around those ideas. Author Minal Bopaiah stopped by the Bunker to talk about her book Equity: How to Design Organizations Where Everyone Thrives. And, she and Brad weren't just talking about the book. They also took a deep dive into what Minal's company Brevity & Wit does to help companies and groups build better working environments.

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Tommy Swerdlow

Wed, 08 Sep 2021 14:22:00 -0000

Buckle up, good people, because actor, screenwriter, and author Tommy Swerdlow stopped by the Bunker to talk about his novel Straight Dope. While you have probably seen the movies he's written—Cool Runnings, The Grinch, and Little Giants—and the movies he's acted in—Real Genius and Hamburger Hill, he and Brad had a LOT to more to discuss: addiction, writing, famous friends, and the joy of storytelling. It's one of those GenX Writers Collide interviews (even though Tommy isn't technically GenX. But, he kinda is.)

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Mini Episode: Roz Nay

Mon, 06 Sep 2021 07:30:00 -0000

Author Roz Nay is one of Brad's favorite types of people: a traveler and adventurer. She's been to twenty-eight countries, and has spent a lifetime making semi-questionable decisions while exploring the world. And now, she's turned her eye to creating rich worlds on the page. Her third book, The Hunted, is a story about two people who weren't quite so lucky with their bad traveling choices!

But this show isn't so much about them as it's about Roz and Brad! Well, mostly Roz!

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Mini Episode: Nydia Hetherington

Fri, 03 Sep 2021 07:30:00 -0000

Author Nydia Hetherington has been creating worlds in her head since she was a child in Leeds, dreaming about fairies and the sea. She channeled that energy into...well, a lot of things: working as an actor, a clown, and eventually creative writing. She stopped by the Bunker to talk with Brad about her first book, A Girl Made of Air.

And David Bowie. She loves David Bowie.

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Philippa East

Wed, 01 Sep 2021 07:30:00 -0000

Scottish author Philippa East came out of the gate hot when her first book Little White Lies was longlisted for the Guardian's prestigious "Not The Booker" prize. Her her second book Safe and Sound came our earlier this year, and she stopped by the Bunker to talk with Brad about growing up in Scotland, her wonderful group of creative friends, her training as a psychologist and philosophy at Oxford, and the trauma of success.

Plus: castles. There's a surprising amount of talk about castles.

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Mini Episode: Tim Ewins

Mon, 30 Aug 2021 07:30:00 -0000

There is nowhere better than here! You’ll know when you know. Author Tim Ewins came to the Bunker to talk about his book, We Are Animals. But, of course, you know he and Brad spent a lot of time talking about traveling, comedy (Tim was a stand-up comedian), and the long, weird road to writing fiction.

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Mini Episode: Drs. Gale Sinatra and Barbara Hofer

Fri, 27 Aug 2021 07:30:00 -0000

Drs. Gale Sinatra and Barbara Hofer are the latest researchers to stop by the Bunker to talk about their work understanding why people are rejecting science these days. Their book, Science Denial, is out now. Gale, Barbara, and Brad took a deep dive into the psychology of why people deny some parts of science and discussed the ways we can understand the underlying fears and concerns people have. This is a Don’t Miss Episode!

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Mini Episode: Steven Tingle

Wed, 25 Aug 2021 07:30:00 -0000

Author Steven Tingle stopped by the Bunker to talk about his book, Graveyard Fields. And, along the way, Brad and he discussed his circuitous route into writing books, which included stops working at a golf course and writing for luxury brand magazines.

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Bonnie MacBird

Wed, 25 Aug 2021 07:30:00 -0000

You ever meet one of those people who just seem to be good...at everything? Well, you're about to meet one! Author, screenwriter, producer, and documentarian Bonnie MacBird stopped by the Bunker to talk about her latest Sherlock Holmes novel, The Three Locks. But, she and Brad took a long, deep dive through her life growing up around art and science, her screenwriting career (Tron, anyone?), the horrible obstacles a woman in Hollywood faced, and her drive to continue writing and telling stories.

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Mini Episode: Evan Morgan Williams

Fri, 20 Aug 2021 07:30:00 -0000

Short story writer and author Evan Morgan Williams stopped by the Bunker to talk about his latest collection, Stories of the New West, an examination of personal risks and the aftermath that comes with those. He and Brad also talked about the joys of building a writing community, finding a home with a press, and the differences between writing books and short stories.

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Jiordan Castle

Wed, 18 Aug 2021 14:01:00 -0000

Poet and author Jiordan Castle stopped by the Bunker to talk about her recently acquired memoir in verse, Disappearing Act. Even though it won't hit stores until 2023, Brad convinced her to come on the Jam to talk about her most recent writing successes (including a poem in The New Yorker), her work with the New York reading series Pigeon Pages, and maybe most importantly her dog, Hacksaw!

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Greg McGoon

Wed, 11 Aug 2021 18:32:00 -0000

This is a very special and wonderful episode with children's book author and actor Greg McGoon. Greg stopped by to talk about his latest Oliver Gilmore: A Doxie's Diary, but he and Brad took a deep, heartfelt, and hilarious dive into why he's spent his life helping people. It's a long journey—running a candy store in elementary and middle school (yes, you read that correctly), finding himself through theater, working as a resident assistant, writing children's books, and founding and running a creative nonprofit for children—but one you are going to want to hear!

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Claire Cox

Wed, 04 Aug 2021 07:30:00 -0000

Author Claire Cox stopped by the Bunker to talk about her debut novel, Silver Beach. But before she and Brad got to that, they covered a lot of ground: religion, family trees that have some mis-shaped branches, misfits in high school, never quite fitting in, and teaching and writing. Don't let the laughing fool you. They took a deep dive into the what it means to be a writer.

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Mini Episode: Simon Van Der Velde

Fri, 30 Jul 2021 07:30:00 -0000

Wanderer, drifter, lawyer, teacher, and author Simon Van Der Velde stopped by the Bunker to talk about his book, Backstories. An award-winning short story writer at heart, Simon combined his childhood love of heroes with his adult love of meeting people from around the world. So, he and Brad sat down to commiserate on the nature of truth, traveling, and people. You know: the little stuff.

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Mini Episode: Alice Kaltman

Mon, 26 Jul 2021 16:00:00 -0000

Dog lovers of the world: unite: Author Alice Kaltman stopped by the Bunker to talk with Brad (and Maxx) about her book, Dawg Towne, a series of interconnected stories of people sharing the same space. And, you know, dogs. It's a lovely conversation about their shared love of animals and the strangeness of turning short stories into a book.

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Vanessa Carlisle

Wed, 21 Jul 2021 07:30:00 -0000

Author Vanessa Carlisle stopped by the Bunker to talk about her latest book, Take Me With You, a novel she wrote while getting her PhD in Creative Writing, Literature, & Gender Studies. (Stick around for that story!) But, she’s more than just a brilliant writer. She’s hosted a radio program about sexuality. She appeared on Season One of Showtime’s Polyamory. And she’s currently a sex worker and death doula.

So, naturally she and Brad talked about growing up working class, the struggle to find oneself, and all of the things they each did just because somebody told them they couldn’t!

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Mini Episode: Drs. Sara & Jack Gorman

Fri, 16 Jul 2021 07:30:00 -0000

Drs. Sara and Jack Gorman stopped by the Bunker to talk about one of the most important issues we’re facing: science deniers. The father and daughter doctor combo just released a revised edition of their book Denying to the Grave: Why We Ignore the Facts That Will Save Us. And that co-founded a company, Critica, that is working to advance that mission. And uncharacteristically for Brad, he stayed entirely focused on that topic. So take a deep breath because these two brought a whole lot of smart to the Jam.

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Mini Episode: B.B. Russell

Mon, 12 Jul 2021 07:30:00 -0000

Author B.B. Russell stopped by the Bunker to talk about her young adult novel Kindreds. She and Brad have more than just writing in common. B.B. has a PhD in Education, so she and Brad commiserated on the complexities of YA novels (and, let’s face it, YAs!) and the difficulty switching between academic and trade writing.

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Mini Episode: Amanda Headlee

Fri, 09 Jul 2021 07:30:00 -0000

Author Amanda Headlee has been thinking about fear and folklore more of her life, which was all Brad needed to hear to have her on the show. She stopped by the Bunker to talk about her love of all things dark fiction and her book Till We Become Monsters. And, this being the Jam, she and Brad talked about bookshelves and adventure racing!

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Sergio Troncoso

Wed, 07 Jul 2021 07:30:00 -0000

Award winning author Sergio Troncoso stopped by the Bunker to talk about his eighth book, an edited collection titled Nepantla Familias: An Anthology of Mexican American Literature on Families in Between Worlds. Along with his writing, he's the President of Texas Institute of Letters, board member of the Author's Guild Council, and judge for the PEN/Faulkner Awards. So, obviously, he and Brad spent a ton of time talking about growing up in small towns, and Sergio's propensity to write truths other people didn't necessarily want to hear!

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Mini Episode: Hannah Tovey

Fri, 02 Jul 2021 07:30:00 -0000

Author Hannah Tovey popped by the Bunker to talk about her forthcoming novel, Is This Is?, which hits shelves in July and a follow up to her first book The Education of Ivy Edwards. Naturally, she and Brad spent a good deal of time talking about her home country of Wales, a place Brad feels a kinship with!

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Mini Episode: Greg Larson

Wed, 30 Jun 2021 07:30:00 -0000

Author Greg Larson dropped by the Bunker to talk about one of Brad’s favorite subjects: baseball. Larson spent two years as the a clubhouse attendant for Cal Ripken Jr.’s Aberdeen IronBirds, the short-season single-A affiliate for the Baltimore Orioles. His book Clubbie: A Minor League Baseball Memoir recounts that time.

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Mini Episode: Ross Benes

Fri, 25 Jun 2021 07:30:00 -0000

Award-winning author and researcher Ross Benes stopped by the Bunker to talk with Brad about one of his favorite topics: the transformation of the Republican party and rural America. Benes' new book Rural Rebellion: How Nebraska Became a Republican Stronghold is both a personal account of the change in his home town and a deep-dive into the political figures who have moved Nebraska far to the political Right.

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Don Merrill

Wed, 23 Jun 2021 07:30:00 -0000

Sometimes—ever so rarely—Twitter isn't a dumpster fire. And, a few weeks ago the hellsite brought author and journalist Don Merrill to the Bunker. He's the author of Pledge, a book about nonprofit radio, but he's also one of the most interesting people to join Brad on the Jam. He served in the military, where he discovered his passion for journalism. He's also worked in public affairs, all while keeping one foot in the world of journalism. And after retiring to Portland, he joined a community radio station and helped build out its news operation.

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Mini Episode: Lucie Elven

Fri, 18 Jun 2021 07:30:00 -0000

British author Lucie Elven stopped by the Bunker to talk about her first book, The Weak Spot. She and Brad also talked about the weirdness of book readings, being multilingual (well, one of them!), and...well...there's a lot about language.

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Andy Abramowitz

Wed, 16 Jun 2021 07:30:00 -0000

Buckle up GenX'ers. Author Andy Abramowitz and Brad sat down in the bunker to discuss Baltimore, baseball, David Simon, Phil Collins, music, and weird stuff about writers. In between, we also chatted about Andy's third book, Darling at the Campsite.

Oh, and AA baseball and Michael Jordan as a three-story banner.

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Lucy Leitner

Wed, 02 Jun 2021 07:30:00 -0000

Brad enjoyed having horror-comedy author Lucy Leitner on the first episode of the video podcast so much, he invited her to Jam to talk about her latest book, Outrage: Level 10. But they weren't just talking zombies and comedy! They covered growing up in small towns, playing sports, abandoning journalism, and the joys of striking out on your own as a writer. Plus, zombies.

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Leah Hampton

Wed, 26 May 2021 07:30:00 -0000

Brad came across author Leah Hampton on Twitter, and he was immediately sold for two reasons: She had Appalachia in her bio and her book is called Fuckface and Other Stories. The rest was just logistics. Before they delved into those two juicy topics, the conversation took some turns through Hungary, Eastern Europe, and the struggles of community college. Trust us, it all fits together. More or less.

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Gian Sardar

Wed, 19 May 2021 12:34:00 -0000

Author Gian Sardar stopped by the Bunker to talk about her second novel, Take What You Can Carry, which is a fictionalized version of her mother and father's trip back to northern Iran for a Kurdish wedding. Fortunately, thier crazy dogs didn't make an appearance as they discussed what happens when you're writing a book about your family.

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Mini Episode: Peter Quinn

Mon, 17 May 2021 07:30:00 -0000

Peter Quinn stopped by the Bunker to talk about the re-release of his 1995 American Book Award-winning novel Banished Children of Eve: A Novel of Civil War New York. But his story runs so much deeper. His family has been in New York for two hundred years. And much of his work–whether fiction or non-fiction—has chronicled the ever-changing landscape there. This is a conversation you do not want to miss!

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Mini Episode: Kim Catanzarite

Fri, 14 May 2021 07:30:00 -0000

Kim Catanzarite stopped by the Bunker to talk about her novel, They Will Be Coming For Us. Kim is also an editor, working with Writer’s Digest Books, and she teaches copyediting at Writer’s Digest University. And, she’s a self-publishing advocate, which is one of our passions here at the Jam!

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Margo Orlando Littell

Wed, 12 May 2021 07:30:00 -0000

Author Margo Orlando Littell stopped by the Bunker to talk about her latest book, The Distance from Four Points, which is set in Northern Appalachia. Not only that, Margo just moved back to Pittsburgh, making her the ideal Jam guest. She and Brad sat down to discuss her life growing up in Pennsylvania, finding her way into graduate school, publishing her first book Each Vagabond by Name, traveling, and eventually finding her way back to Appalachia.

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Mini Episode: Hannah Mary McKinnon

Mon, 10 May 2021 07:30:00 -0000

Hannah Mary McKinnon stopped by the Bunker to talk about her latest book, Look What You Made Me Do. But Hannah is a more than just a writer. She’s a true literary citizen, and so she and Brad also talked about how she accidentally started the First Chapter Fun literary community, where she and her partner read the first chapter from books that are about to his the shelves.

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Mini Episode: Nikki Smith

Fri, 07 May 2021 07:30:00 -0000

Nikki Smith’s book All in Her Head was one of Brad’s favorite psychological thrillers from 2020. And now, Nikki is back with her follow up, Look What You Made Me Do. She stopped by the Bunker to talk about pandemic publishing, writing thrillers, and escape that writing gave her. And, don't forget to check out our first interview with Nikki on Episode 72.

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Sarah Elaine Smith

Wed, 05 May 2021 07:30:00 -0000

This week in the Bunker, author and poet Sarah Elaine Smith stops by to talk about her debut novel, Marilou Is Everywhere, "a coming-of-age tale that reveals itself as a parable about race in America." But she and Brad also talked about growing up in the country, the joys of "home ownership," hiking, nature, and snakes. You should probably know, the two of them had a LOT of thoughts about Appalachia. A lot.

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Mini Episode: Phil Bowne

Mon, 03 May 2021 07:30:00 -0000

Sometimes, we interview authors because of their book title. This is one of those times! Stop by the Bunker to listen to Brad interview Phil Bowne, whose book Cows Can't Jump is out now. Phil is hilarious (obviously. Plus, we’re here to support first-time authors, particularly award winning ones! And his novel won’t the SPOTLIGHT FIRST NOVEL prize this year!

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Kathleen Rooney

Wed, 28 Apr 2021 07:30:00 -0000

Anytime a third wave, GenX feminist writer stops by the Bunker, we know it's going to be a good day. And author Kathleen Rooney did not disappoint. While Kathleen stopped by the program to talk about her latest book, Cher Ami and Major Whittlesey, she and Brad took a deep dive into politics, feminism, generational labels, Oprah's book club, the great outdoors, and the joys of running a publishing press!

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Margot Bloomstein

Wed, 21 Apr 2021 13:50:00 -0000

Author Margot Bloomstein isn't a typical guest here in the Bunker. She works in content strategy and advising. But two things brought her to Brad's attention: the first was her work with technology, and—more importantly—the second was Margo's focus on trust and inclusion, two slippery ideals in the world of technology. So, stop by for our talk about her latest book Trustworthy: How the Smartest Brands Beat Cynicism and Bridge the Trust Gap, and stay for their rumination on life, the universe, and everything.

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Burt Weissbourd

Wed, 14 Apr 2021 07:30:00 -0000

Author Burt Weissbourd stopped by the Bunker to discuss his latest book In Velvet. But, there's more than just thriller writing in his bones. Burt has spent his life producing stories, from educational films when he was starting out to major Hollywood movies such as Raggedy Man and Ghost Story with the likes of Fred Astair, Sissy Spacek, and Sam Shepard. So, buckle up for this fascinating conversation!

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Vanessa Lillie

Wed, 07 Apr 2021 07:30:00 -0000

Author Vanessa Lillie stopped by the Jam Bunker to talk about her book, For the Best, a follow-up to her Amazon Best Selling debut Little Voices. But Vanessa and Brad covered a lot of ground: institutional poverty, partying in college, romance writing, avenues of publishing, and most importantly her son’s love of dinosaurs!

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Mini Episode: Shannon McLeod

Fri, 02 Apr 2021 07:30:00 -0000

We first caught up with Shannon McLeod way back in 2016 when she published her debut chapbook PATHETIC. Since then, she’s been working on her debut novella, WHIMSY, which was just published by Long Day Press. (It’s been…a process, readers!)

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Emma Christie

Wed, 31 Mar 2021 07:30:00 -0000

Author Emma Christie didn't just publish her first book, The Silent Daughter, during the pandemic. She also helped organize the Diary of a Debut Novelist online gathering and conference as a way to connect writers from around the globe. And, as you'll see, all of this makes complete sense. Buckle up for a fascinating conversation as Emma and Brad take a journey through medieval history, storytelling, world travel, and (shockingly) writing!

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Gina Barreca

Wed, 24 Mar 2021 22:30:00 -0000

The brilliant, hilarious, wildly enthusiastic, feminist author Gina Barreca stormed the Bunker this week to talk about her latest edited collection, Fast Funny Women. There's no way to encapsulate Gina in a few sentences: a Ph.D, a member of the Friar's Club, author and editor of twenty-one books, and television pundit and expert. So, obviously, she and Brad talked about growing up working class, finding your voice, teaching, and the joy of storytelling (and laughing).

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Mini Episode: Angela Jackson-Brown

Sat, 20 Mar 2021 01:30:00 -0000

We interviewed Angela Jackson-Brown way back in 2014 about her debut novel, Drinking From a Bitter Cup. Seven years later, Brad is thrilled to have her back on to discuss her latest novel, When Stars Rain Down, which will be published by Thomas Nelson, an imprint of HarperCollins, in April of 2021. (And the really big news: Target is carrying this book in all its locations!)

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Brendan O'Meara

Wed, 17 Mar 2021 16:31:00 -0000

Author and podcast host Brendan O'Meara stopped by the Bunker today ostensibly to talk about his podcast, Creative Nonfiction, his book Six Weeks in Saratoga, and his current book projectThe Tools of Ignorance: A Memoir of My Father and Baseball. Instead, he and Brad channelled their inner Keith Olbermann and Dan Patrick, taking a deep dive into their love of baseball, their playing days, their love of sports, and how that all turned each of them into writers. It's a very special locker room edition of The Jam, so grab a cold beer and join us.

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Diana Giovinazzo

Wed, 10 Mar 2021 19:00:00 -0000

Author Diana Giovizanno stopped by the Bunker to talk with Brad about her debut novel, The Woman in Red, a historical novel about Anita Garibaldi, a 19th century Brazilian revolutionary. But, she and Brad also spent a lot of time talking about high school and how those years led Diana into the world of historical fiction as she began exploring her own family's past.

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Mini Episode: Lucy Leitner

Fri, 05 Mar 2021 08:30:00 -0000

We've launched a new, short-form video podcast so that we can keep up with all the books hitting the shelves post-pandemic. In our first episode, Pittsburgh comedy-horror writer Lucy Leitner stopped by the Bunker to talk about her latest book, Outrage: Level 10, which came out in February.

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Paul Vidich

Wed, 03 Mar 2021 21:49:00 -0000

Today on the program: a blast from Brad's past stopped by the Bunker. Author Paul Vidich's fourth book, The Mercenary, dropped last month. He's become a renowned thriller writer. Before that, though, he was Executive Vice President in charge of global digital strategy for Warner Music Group back when Brad was writing about digital entertainment at Wired. This is one show you don't want to miss because Paul has led a fascinating life.

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Sharon Harrigan

Wed, 24 Feb 2021 08:30:00 -0000

Author Sharon Harrigan stopped by the bunker to talk about her first novel, Half, the story of identical twins who speak with one voice. She and Brad took a deep dive into what it means to pursue your dream when you don't follow the path society lays out in front you, and how those experiences shape the person—and writer—you become because of it.

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Kathy Haueisen

Wed, 17 Feb 2021 08:30:00 -0000

The Bunker is large; We contain multitudes. This week on the program, author and ELCA pastor Kathryn Haueisen stopped by to talk about her debut novel, Mayflower Chronicles: The Tale of Two Cultures. She's traversed the country. She's worked as a journalist, a public relations specialist, a freelance writer, and a pastor. In between, she's written five non-fiction books. But her historical fiction novel might be the most personal.

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Russell Heath

Wed, 10 Feb 2021 08:30:00 -0000

Today, author Russell Heath stops by the Bunker to talk about his book Rinn's Crossing. But, here's the thing. Russell is so much more than a writer. When he was seventeen, he moved to Alaska. He's worked the Pipeline. He's circumnavigated the world in a twenty-five foot boat. He's traveled the Earth...looking. So, Russell and Brad had a discussion about books and life and what it means to be A Human.

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Meredith Essalat

Wed, 03 Feb 2021 08:30:00 -0000

This week's Jam is going to take you deep into the heart of elementary and middle-school teachers, something near and dear to our cold hearts here in the Bunker. (You'll see why!) The brilliant and hilarious Meredith Essalat stopped by the Bunker to talk about her book The Overly Honest Teacher. And while she and Brad did take a detour through her life, they also took a deep-dive into what makes a classroom work, the structure of education, and the importance of learning how to communicate with parents and students.

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Melanie Conroy-Goldman

Thu, 28 Jan 2021 08:30:00 -0000

It's hard to sum up this episode. Author Melanie Conroy-Goldman stopped by the Jam Bunker to talk about her latest book, The Likely World. But, as we do here, we took a left turn through her work in prison literacy, her brief stint with AmeriCorp teaching Spanish (which she didn't speak) in Compton, and through her fascinating life in words.

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Bruce Van Dusen

Mon, 25 Jan 2021 08:30:00 -0000

Bruce Van Dusen is one of the funniest people we've had on the program. And, if you doubt our word here in the Bunker, check out his bio. Scratch that. Check out this episode. Bruce is the author of—deep breath—60 STORIES ABOUT 30 SECONDS: How I Got Away with Becoming a Pretty Big Commercial Director without Losing My Soul (Or Maybe Just Part of It). He stopped by the Bunker to talk with Brad about writing bios, Jim Morrison, failure, films, and the joy of finding yourself.

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Dr. Cynthia Miller-Idriss

Thu, 21 Jan 2021 08:30:00 -0000

Dr. Cynthia Miller-Idriss (Hate in the Homeland: The New Global Far Right) joins Brad in the Bunker for a a very special episode of the Jam this week. We dispensed with our typical interview. Instead, Brad and Dr. Miller-Idriss dove headfirst into her work, which focuses on the threats facing down America: radical right-wing white supremacists, the radicalization of teenagers online, and QAnon and its impact on teenagers. You can find out more information about Dr. Miller-Idriss' work at the Polarization and Extremism Research Innovation Lab.

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Meredith O'Brien

Mon, 18 Jan 2021 05:00:00 -0000

Meredith O'Brien started her career as a newspaper reporter and investigative journalist before transitioning into an author and teacher. She stopped by the Jam Bunker to talk with Brad about her fourth book, Uncomfortably Numb: a memoir, which chronicled the life-altering impact of her Multiple Sclerosis diagnosis. And, they took a little side-trip through her heartbreaking book Mr. Clark's Big Band: A Year of Laughter, Tears and Jazz in a Middle School Band Room, which won an Independent Book Publisher Award and was a finalist for a ForeWord INDIES award.

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Simon Stephenson

Thu, 14 Jan 2021 08:30:00 -0000

Author Simon Stephenson's road to novel writing was long and winding. After his brother died in the 2004 Thailand tsunami, Simon left his job as a doctor in the United Kingdom. He went to bring his brother home but ended up extending that trip several months. Out of that tragedy came his first book, a memoir about his brother and the tsunami, and the re-start of his writing career, which took him from television to Pixar and now to novel writing. He stopped by the Bunker to talk with Brad about his debut, Set Your Heart to Five.

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Ellen Alpsten

Mon, 11 Jan 2021 08:30:00 -0000

We're back after an unexpectedly long holiday break. But what a great start to 2021. Author Ellen Alpsten stops by the Bunk to to talk with Brad about growing up in the Kenyan highland, attending school in Paris, working as a television reporter, the book industry, and eventually finding her way to becoming a novelist. And her historical novel Tsarina. Plus, there's even a bit about our dogs!

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Wendy Walker

Thu, 17 Dec 2020 08:30:00 -0000

Wendy Walker is one of those people just seems so normal. Until you realize that she’s not: she’s exceptional. She’s a world-class over-achiever who is sweet as pie and driven as the snow. That’s what Brad found out when she dropped by the Bunker to talk about her fourth book, Don’t Look For Me. She’s gone from the Olympic training center in Colorado to Georgetown Law to Goldman Sachs and now on to great literary success. So, buckle up. It’s a full sixty minutes!

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Michelle Bowdler

Mon, 14 Dec 2020 08:30:00 -0000

Author Michelle Bowdler's memoir, Is Rape a Crime? A Memoir, An Investigation, and A Manifesto, was long-listed for the National Book Award this year. That's an amazing accomplishment for a writer, but there's so much more to her own life story. She stopped by the Bunker to talk with Brad about growing up poor in Ohio, selling fruit on the side of the road to help pay for college, developing a love of baseball thanks to neighborhood fathers after her own dad passed away, and eventually making her way the Harvard School of Public Health. Along the way, she worked with people in addiction recovery and today she's the Executive of Health & Wellness at Tufts.

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Corey Sobel

Thu, 10 Dec 2020 08:30:00 -0000

Corey Sobel stopped by the Bunker to talk about his debut novel, The Redshirt . But what he and Brad ended up talking about was toxic masculinity, particularly how is plays out in sports. Don't worry, they got back to Corey's real life as a journalist, where he's an award winning journalist writing stories about the human rights abuses in Burma

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Sarah Kasbeer

Mon, 07 Dec 2020 08:30:00 -0000

There are times you meet somebody and you instantly recognize each other. That happened with Brad and author Sarah Kasbeer, whose book A Woman, A Plan, and Outline of a Man came out in October. The two writers covered a wide ranging of topics (obviously), but most importantly they discussed the aftermath of trauma, mental health, and the importance of healing those past hurts. Plus, lots of sports. Seriously. It'll all make sense when you listen.

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Elizabeth B. Splaine

Thu, 03 Dec 2020 08:30:00 -0000

We're back after a Thanksgiving hiatus with author Elizabeth B. Splaine. And good people, this is a wild ride. From healthcare to opera to voice teacher, Elizabeth has gone on one of those unconventional paths to becoming a writer. Her story is fantastic, and she stopped by the Bunker to talk with Brad about the absurdity of it all!

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Nina Renata Aron

Thu, 19 Nov 2020 08:30:00 -0000

Buckle up, good people, because this episode is unlike any other we've done. Author Nina Renata Aron stopped by the Bunker to talk with Brad about her memoir, Good Morning, Destroyer of Men's Souls, which chronicles Nina's co-dependent, destructive relationship. Along the way, Brad and Nina open up about addiction, trauma, Alcoholics Anonymous, and the lives they've forged on the other side of their destructive natures. Not saying it's a very special episode...but it's a very special episode.

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Brad Fox

Mon, 16 Nov 2020 08:30:00 -0000

Author Brad Fox is a citizen of the world. Born in Kansas City, he's been wandering around the globe for most of his adult life. And, he joined Brad in the Bunker from Peru, where he's currently quarantined because of travel restrictions related to the coronavirus. But shaky Internet and the potential for monkey sightings weren't enough to keep These Two Brads from talking about Brad Fox's debut novel, To Remain Nameless, Eastern Europe, and the horrors of high school.

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Lorraine Brown

Thu, 12 Nov 2020 08:30:00 -0000

Writers face rejection regularly. Listen to this show—or talk to any writer—and the ten-year journey to publication becomes a familiar tale. Author Lorraine Brown took that to origin story to an absurd, new level. She was constantly on the precipice of success only to have the rug pulled out from under her. But, listeners, Brad is here to tell you that this story has a happy ending because Lorraine's debut novel Uncoupling is come to the world in February of 2021!

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Ava Homa

Mon, 09 Nov 2020 08:30:00 -0000

If you're like Brad, you don't know much about the Kurdish people other than they have been our allies in the Middle East. That's all getting fixed in today's episode. Kurdish novelist Ava Homa dropped by the Bunker to talk about her debut novel, Daughters of Smoke and Fire. But she and Brad also talk about the history of the Kurdish region, Ava's decision to leave for North America, and how she's used her writing—she's the first Kurdish woman to write an English novel—to make good trouble.

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Alechia Dow

Mon, 02 Nov 2020 08:30:00 -0000

Alechia Dow first came across the radar here in the Jam Bunker because of her tweets about delicious baked goods she made for her family. But, Brad soon realized there was more to this former pastry chef than just cookie tweets. She's also the author of the YA science fiction book, The Sound of Stars, a story about "a girl who risks her life for books and an alien who loves pop music" working together to save the world. So, join Brad and Alechia as they talk Black Lives Matter, science fiction, reading, baked good, and the importance of giving good presentations!

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Larry Smith

Thu, 29 Oct 2020 07:30:00 -0000

Buckle up. You are about to take a walk through the DIY, GenX media landscape of the nineties. Writer Larry Smith, founder of SMITH magazine, and Brad circled around each other for three decades. Until now.

Sit back while they talk about boing boing, Mondo2000, Might Magazine, Ms. Magazine, Mother Jones, Alternet, and all the publications that shaped a generation of writers. And, how that inspired Larry to launch the Six-Word Memoirs project with Twitter in 2006. Today, 1.7 million people have contributed stories.

(And yes, we touched on his wife, Piper Kerman, and her work in prison reform.)

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Alysia Sawchyn

Mon, 26 Oct 2020 07:30:00 -0000

Buckle up for the wild ride on the 100th episode from the Jam Bunker. Author Alysia Sawchyn and Brad go on a wild journey from Eastern Europe to Florida to the psych ward to graduate school and on to Alysia's debut book, A Fish Growing Lungs, a series of "linked essays that reflect on Sawchyn’s (bi polar) diagnosis and its unraveling, the process of withdrawal and recovery, and the search for identity." Along the way, they talked about serendipity, travel, trauma, and how in the hell they shared a building for three years but never met!

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Elisheba Haqq

Thu, 22 Oct 2020 07:30:00 -0000

When you get two working class writers together, you an expect some laughter at situations that aren't funny. And Brad and Author Elisheba Haqq didn't disappoint. Elisheba was born in India, but she was raised in Minnesota with an overbearing father and a step-mother who didn't much care for her or her siblings. After a career in nursing, she went back to school, earned her M.F.A. in Creative Writing from Fairleigh Dickinson University, and now teaches writing at Rutgers University. Her first book, Mamaji: A Memoir, is out now!

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Suzanne Roberts

Mon, 19 Oct 2020 07:30:00 -0000

National Geographic’s Traveler named Suzanne Roberts “The Next Great Travel Writer.” Since then, she’s written two travel books, Almost Somewhere: Twenty-Eight Days on the John Muir Trail (which won the National Outdoor Book Award) and her latest essay collection Bad Tourist: Misadventures in Love and Travel.

But Suzanne and Brad didn’t get into any of that. Instead, they talked about her struggles in high school with an undiagnosed learning disability through earning a Ph.D. in literature and the environment. Oh, publishing poetry books while doing what writers do best: procrastinating on another project.⁣

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Keah Brown

Thu, 15 Oct 2020 07:30:00 -0000

If you're on Twitter, you may know Keah Brown as the creator of the hashtag #DisableAndCute and as the author of The Pretty One. But, true to Jam form, Keah and Brad didn't talk about either of those. Instead, they talked about the space for Black joy, grandmas, the absolute dumpster fire that is Twitter, and some of their favorite movie biopics. Oh, and Keah's next project, a picture book coming in 2022: Sam's Super Seats!

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Lilly Dancyger

Mon, 12 Oct 2020 07:30:00 -0000

Author Lilly Dancyger is one of the most punk rock, badass writers to stop by the Jam Bunker. She and Brad talked about growing up as working class kids, working through the rage that simmers beneath the surface of that life, and the joy of coming out on the other side. Her book, Negative Space, comes out next year (but pre-orders are open now)!

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Angela Chen

Thu, 08 Oct 2020 07:30:00 -0000

There's nothing better than a science and journalist stopping by the Jam Bunker. And that's exactly what happened when author Angela Chen joined Brad to talk about her book Ace: What Asexuality Reveals about Desire, Society, and the Meaning of Sex. This is one of those rare occasions when the Jam takes a deep dive into the author's book because this topic isn't one we talk about enough. But, Brad and Angela also talked about journalism, their shared experiences covering technology, and the importance of finding your place in the world.

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Esuantsiwa Jane Goldsmith

Mon, 05 Oct 2020 07:30:00 -0000

You're going to want to buckle up for today's conversation with author and activist Esuantsiwa (Esua) Jane Goldsmith, whose book The Space Between Black and White is out now. She and Brad had a conversation unlike anything else that's happened in the Jam Bunker. With family in both the United Kingdom and (she would find much later) Ghana, they touched a bit on Esau's story (spoiler: she's been breaking barriers in her life since 1975!), but then they mused on the importance of conversations, the work it takes to get comfortable talking about race and class, intersectionality, and absolute joy of life even when everything around you is falling down.

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Jacqueline Friedland

Thu, 01 Oct 2020 07:30:00 -0000

Author Jacqueline Friedland stopped by the Jam Bunker to talk about leaving her law career to pursue her dream of writing, which all happened in the middle of having four children in six years! But, as you're about to find out, she's not one to shy away from hard work. She started working on her first novel and then returned to school to earn her Masters of Fine Arts from Sarah Lawrence College, graduating from the program in 2016. Her second novel, That's Not a Thing, is out now.

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Sara Schaff

Mon, 28 Sep 2020 07:30:00 -0000

Authors rarely travel a direct path to their writing career. But author Sara Schaff may have one of the most winding roads yet. She spent several years exploring the world, including a stint studying of storytelling in Northern Ireland as well as teaching in China and Columbia.

Eventually, she made her to way to the University of Michigan where we earned her MFA. And earlier this year, she published her second book of short stories, The Invention of Love. Oh, and she—and her daughter—stopped by the Jam Bunker to talk with Brad and Maxx about dinosaurs!

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Iris Cohen

Thu, 24 Sep 2020 07:30:00 -0000

Author Iris Cohen stopped by the Jam Bunker to talk with Brad about her latest novel, Last Call on Decatur Street. But, good people, she is the embodiment of GenX, punk rock, DIY writers and she's carved quite a path through the world! She grew up in the French Quarter, a place with almost no children but surrounded adults content with putting building an art scene. She dropped out of high school and college before she was 17. And she co-founded The Accompanied Library, a storied literary salon in New York City. All before getting her M.F.A. and becoming a novelist!

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Whitney Hill

Mon, 21 Sep 2020 07:30:00 -0000

Author Whitney Hill stops by the Jam Bunker to talk with Brad about her book ELEMENTAL and her Shadows of Otherside series, which she wrote during National Novel Writing Month! Whitney's journey has taken her from Pittsburgh to London and now to Raleigh, where she's working on her third and fourth books! Pull up a chair, pour yourself a drink, and join us for a conversation about writing, flying by the seat of your pants, and how to pack for the apocalypse!

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Brad Balukjian

Thu, 17 Sep 2020 07:30:00 -0000

Brad Balukjian is director of the Natural History and Sustainability Program and teaches biology at Merritt College in Oakland, California. He's also a scientist. Specifically, he's an island biogeographist. (Yeah, Brad didn't know what that was either. He studies evolutionary diversity on islands!) Of course he's written one of the most interesting baseball books—The Wax Pack—to come out during the pandemic. So, grab a cold beer and swing by the Jam Bunker as the two Brads talk science, baseball cards, and the state of writing.

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Erica Wright

Mon, 14 Sep 2020 07:30:00 -0000

Erica Wright is a poet, a crime novelist, and now a non-fiction writer, three genres of writing you don't normally associate together. But, here we are. Erica stopped by the Jam Bunker to talk with Brad about her latest book, SNAKE, which is part of Bloomsbury's Object Lessons series. She's also the poetry editor and a senior editor at Guernica Magazine as well as a former editorial board member for Alice James Books. Along with all the writing chat Erica and Brad also talked the horribleness of social media, making up stories in the woods, and growing up in very small towns. (And, ghosts. Definitely ghosts.)

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Robert Dugoni

Thu, 10 Sep 2020 07:30:00 -0000

He's been called one of the best crime writers in the business. And with six million books sold and three thriller series to his credit (and one coming to the small screen), it's hard to argue with that descriptor. But like all good stories, this one began with a main character who was unhappy with the direction of his life.

Author Robert Dugoni (THE LAST AGENT) stopped by the Jam Bunker to talk with Brad about his decision to stop practicing law, his long road to becoming an overnight success, his early days in the theater, and the importance of luck and perseverance when it comes to the business of writing.

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Anna Cox

Mon, 07 Sep 2020 07:30:00 -0000

Author and photograph Anna Cox brought her charming and upbeat storytelling to the Jam Bunker to talk about her debut novel, I Keep My Worries in My Teeth. Anna and Brad talked about the importance of the arts early in life, a love affair with storytelling, the importance of her two brothers, and how an M.F.A. program jump-started her writing career. Oh, and they bonded a bit over their lifetime of bad decision making.

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Hafizah Geter

Thu, 03 Sep 2020 07:30:00 -0000

Hafizah Geter is a poet and writer whose work has appeared in The New Yorker, Tin House, Boston Review, Longreads, and McSweeneys Indelible in the Hippocampus. She's also an editor with Little A and TOPPLE Books, working on projects such as Bobi Conn's In The Shadow of the Valley and Melissa Faliveno's Tomboyland. But Hafizah stopped by the Jam Bunker to talk with Brad about her book Un-American, which is a memoir in poems about the challenges of the lives of her immigrant mother and her American father.

So, join Brad and Hafizah as they discuss small town America, art, race, poetry, and the difficulty in keeping indoor plants alive in the pandemic.

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Melissa Faliveno

Mon, 31 Aug 2020 07:30:00 -0000

Melissa Faliveno's writing has appeared in Bitch magazine, the Millions, Prairie Schooner, Midwestern Gothic, and received a notable selection in The Best American Essays 2016. However, she stopped by the Jam Bunker to talk about her first book, Tomboyland, which is an absolute tour de force that examines identity, gender, class, and identity through a series of personal essays. So, join Brad and Melissa as they talk about life in their small towns, their shared love of sports, accidentally turning into townies, and their undying love of alt weeklies and 'zines.

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Scott Spencer

Thu, 27 Aug 2020 07:30:00 -0000

Author Scott Spencer has written thirteen books and received two National Book Award nominations. His novel Endless Love has sold more than two million copies, and it—along with Waking the Dead—have been adapted into movies. And, in 2004, he was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship. But, he didn't drop by the Jam Bunker to talk about ANY of that that. Instead, Scott and Brad took a deep dive into doing college wrong, the desire to hop trains, playing baseball, joining a socialists party, the importance of writing—and, of course, Scott's latest novel, An Ocean Without a Storm, which is out now.

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Jennifer Steil

Mon, 24 Aug 2020 07:30:00 -0000

You know you're in for a wild interview when the part about the author getting kidnapped barely makes it into the program. That's what happened when Jennifer Steil stopped by the Jam Bunker to talk with Brad about her latest novel, Exile Music. Although Jennifer wanted to be a professional dancer and actress, her life steered her towards writing. That path took her through two graduate programs, jobs at newspapers in the United States, and on to Yemen where she became editor-in-chief of the Yemen Observer in 2006. She's continued writing books while living abroad with her husband UK Ambassador Tim Torlot and their daughter.

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Michael Elias

Thu, 20 Aug 2020 07:30:00 -0000

Michael Elias has been more successful in five careers than most of us will be in one. His story cuts across comedy, television, film, theater, and fiction writing. (Some of) his writing credits: The Frisco Kid, The Jerk, Young Doctors in Love, and Head of the Class. Still, he calls himself a middle-manager, but he's far more than that. He's weaved in and out of the careers of some of the funniest people in America. And, Brad fanboy'd just a bit when Michael stopped by the Jam Bunker to talk about his fantastic new novel You Can Go Home Now.

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Melanie Abrams

Mon, 17 Aug 2020 07:30:00 -0000

Author Melanie Abrams stopped by the Jam Bunker to talk with Brad about her latest novel, Meadowlark. Melanie is the California-est of Californians—from the Valley in Los Angeles to living in the Bay Area with a stop at the banana stand along the way. (It'll make sense when you get there!) But it wasn't all Golden State talk. They talked children, getting waitlisted in grad school, teaching, and the joy of stories.

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Alice Randall

Thu, 13 Aug 2020 07:30:00 -0000

Songwriter and novelist Alice Randall stopped by the Jam Bunker to talk about her new book, Black Bottom Saints, which is out September 1. Along the way, Alice and Brad took a deep dive into the roots of Black girl magic in Detroit, the language of literature, blues and country music, and the joys helping others find their voice. This is a joyful and joyous celebration of words and the world. (And, you'll get a recipe for Alice's COVID-19 Candy!)

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Brad Parks

Mon, 10 Aug 2020 07:30:00 -0000

Welcome to a very special episode of Between Two Brads, as award-winning mystery and thriller author Brad Parks stops by the Jam Bunker to talk with Brad about baseball, newspapers, sports writing, and his latest novel, Interference. Oh, and there's a little talk of a cappella (although not enough for either of the Brads). So, pull up a chair and pour yourself a drink.

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Emily Liebert

Thu, 06 Aug 2020 07:30:00 -0000

Author Emily Liebert stopped by the Jam Bunker to talk with Brad about her latest book, Perfectly Famous. She's had a wild career: from magazine editor-in-chief at twenty four, to editing Kerry Kennedy's (yes, that Kennedy family) book Being Catholic, and on to writing six books.

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Alisson Wood

Mon, 03 Aug 2020 07:30:00 -0000

Author Alisson Wood stopped by the Jam Bunker to talk cats, feminism, her little sister, politics, more cats, and her brilliant memoir Being Lolita, which is "a coming-of-age memoir that shines a bright light on our shifting perceptions of consent, vulnerability, and power." While Alisson and Brad laugh quite a bit, this episode contains some discussions of violence and abuse. So, if you need, please skip this episode and we'll see you on Thursday.

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Stephanie Scott

Thu, 23 Jul 2020 04:00:00 -0000

Episode 75: Stephanie Scott: This one is a wild ride. We begin with breakfasting with orangutan, move to translating Dante, slip through banking, and wind our way to author Stephanie Scott's debut, What's Left of Me Is Yours. And you're going to learn a great deal about Brad's desire to befriend Stephanie's father. Pull up chair and get ready to laugh. This is our last episode before launching with the SOLID LISTEN PODCAST NETWORK on Monday, August 3.

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Lee Matthew Goldberg

Mon, 20 Jul 2020 04:00:00 -0000

Episode 74: Lee Matthew Goldberg: It's not often you meet a writer who wrote a four season television show as a middle school student, but author Lee Matthew Goldberg did just that. In other words: He knew he was going to write from very early. Goldberg stopped by the Bunker to talk about his new book, The Ancestor, growing up in New York City, and (gasp) not enjoying Mister Rogers as a kid! (We're not holding that against him, good people.)

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Bobi Conn

Thu, 16 Jul 2020 04:00:00 -0000

Episode 73: Bobi Conn: It's not too often the Jam comes to you with this much accent. But author Bobi Conn stopped by the Bunker to talk with Brad about her book, In The Shadow of the Valley, a memoir about her life growing up in Appalachia, her escape from her violent upbringing, and her building a life outside of her small, rural town. There's a little bit of humor. A bit of down home storytelling. And a lot of wrangling with the legacy of Appalachia.

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Nikki Smith

Mon, 13 Jul 2020 01:19:00 -0000

Episode 72: Nikki Smith: There's nothing like getting a job at a bank to inspire you to pursue your passion. And that—along with a Facebook message from an old classmate—absolutely helped kickstart British author Nikki Smith's writing career. Well, sort of. So, pull up a chair and listen to Nikki and Brad talk pets, writing, accidental careers, and her road to writing All in Her Head, a deep

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Dr. Megan Kate Nelson

Thu, 09 Jul 2020 04:00:00 -0000

Episode 71: Dr. Megan Kate Nelson: Author and U.S. historian Dr. Megan Kate Nelson and Brad take a deep dive into the cultural discussion happening about statues, placemaking, and the lens through which we view history. From history vacations with her family to graduating from Harvard, she’s spent her life learning, teaching, and now writing about the United States. Her book, The Three-Corned War, examines the Civil War and the American West through three different lenses: indigenous people, soldiers, and civilians. But, the show isn’t all heavy. Brad and Megan talked about her father’s love of paper maps, her two-year teaching stint at a boarding school, and her mom winning the Better Homes & Garden living room of the year award.

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Stephanie Storey

Mon, 06 Jul 2020 04:00:00 -0000

Episode 70: Stephanie Storey: Author Stephanie Storey (Raphael, Painter in Rome) took a rather circuitous route from Hot Springs, Arkansas to Hollywood. After studying Art History at Vanderbilt, she made her way to Los Angeles where she began working in television. There, she learned the craft of storytelling and interviewing while working her way up as a producer on various television programs. Then, she wrote her first book—Oil and Marble—which became a best seller. So what comes next besides the existential dread that comes with success? Her second book, Raphael, Painter in Rome, which is out now.

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Helen Zuman

Mon, 29 Jun 2020 15:21:00 -0000

Episode 69: Helen Zuman: The search for meaning often takes us on interesting journeys. For author Helen Zuman, that search led the Harvard graduate to Zendik Farm in 1999. But, this isn't the story you are expecting. Sit down and listen as Helen and Brad talk about her book, Mating in Captivity, her search for meaning in the world, and the fallout—and her subsequent rebirth—after nearly losing herself in a cult of personality.

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Aimee Liu

Thu, 25 Jun 2020 20:13:00 -0000

Episode 68: Aimee Liu: The pandemic has given everyone enough time to sit with our own philosophical musings. And author Aimee Liu and Brad brought that to the show, ruminating on the meaning of time and the fallacy of memory. It wasn't all existentialism, though. They also covered her early modeling career, her eating disorder, a failed painting career, and how all of that shaped her writing and her career. (A career that has spanned both fiction and non-fiction!) Her latest book, Glorious Boy, is out now.

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Joe Clifford

Mon, 22 Jun 2020 16:19:00 -0000

Episode 67: Joe Clifford: Buckle up for this interview. It's unlike anything else you've heard on the program. But this is no Hero's Journey for either author Joe Clifford (Occam's Razor + The Lakehouse) or Brad. Joe came out of the block on fire, and they covered everything from Donald Trump (two thumbs down), addiction, white privilege, empathy, toxic masculinity, mental health, and therapy. Oh, and writing. There was some talk of writing. If you listen closely.

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Hannah Mary McKinnon

Thu, 18 Jun 2020 22:10:00 -0000

Episode 66: Hannah Mary McKinnon: You're going to learn a little bit about German dialects and the insanity of the word "the" in the German language in this episode. But stick around—Brad and author Hannah Mary McKinnon aren't just talking languages. They are here to talk about her book, Sister Dear, which is a Canadian best seller. Oh, her family's drive to consistently reinvent themselves. So, yeah, come for a chat with a marvelous author and stay for your daily dose of German.

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Dr. James Carter

Mon, 15 Jun 2020 20:54:00 -0000

Episode 65: Dr. James Carter: The Downtown Writers Jam Podcast is staying on the history train with author Dr. James (he goes by Jay, though) Carter (Champions Day: The End of Old Shanghai), who spent his life unpacking how he looks at the world. In this episode, Jay and Brad talk about how he does that using curiosity, writing, and (professionally) through examining the United States' relationship with China.

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Dr. Stephen Knott

Fri, 12 Jun 2020 01:22:00 -0000

Episode 64: Dr. Stephen Knott: There’s nothing better than good, old political gossip, and that’s just what Brad got with Dr. Stephen Knott, who—amongst other projects—ran an oral history program that covered the Regan and Bush presidential years. And, it was that project that led Knott to write seven books, including The Lost Soul of the American Presidency: The Decline into Demagoguery and the Prospects for Renewal. Come for the political intrigue and stay…well stay for the political intrigue!

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Abigail Mann

Mon, 08 Jun 2020 21:48:00 -0000

Episode 63: Abigail Mann: From writing journals at the dinner table to writing her first novel (The Lonely Fajita), novelist Abigail Mann and Brad talk what they didn't know about the publishing industry and the joy of fan fiction readings. (And, you know, a bit about the literary feud happening in the world of poetry. Sorry, poets!)

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Jennifer Louden

Thu, 04 Jun 2020 19:02:00 -0000

So much of life is about finding comfort in your own skin. Somehow, Brad and author Jennifer Louden (Why Bother?) stumbled down that rabbit hole on this episode of the Jam. But it wasn't all philosophical. Jennifer also explains how she accidentally ended up with her writing career.

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Anika Scott

Tue, 02 Jun 2020 00:17:00 -0000

Author Anika Scott has been on the move for most of her life, but that has made all the difference! While her first novel, The German Heiress, is now available, Anika’s personal life has also been filled with adventure. From working at major newspapers to quitting her job to move to Germany after meeting her future husband on a travel website, you will want to settle back in for this story. (Oh, and there’s a great discussion about Winter Guard. Don’t know what that is? You will!)

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Susan Allott

Thu, 28 May 2020 18:55:00 -0000

Episode 60: Susan Allott: One of the enduring themes of the program is that almost nobody knows how to become a writer. On this episode of the Jam, author Susan Allot went to Australia for a boy, got homesick, came back to Britain, married an Australian...and then more than a decade later she wrote her book about a British woman who returns to Sydney. But, as you'll find out, that's not what her book The Silence is about. And there's more to Susan's story.

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Hosho McCreesh

Thu, 21 May 2020 19:52:00 -0000

Episode 59: Hosho McCreesh: Saddle up to the bar, y'all as author Hosho McCreesh and Brad talk about the world of DIY writing, publishing, and drinking. You're going to want to leave the top of the bottle for this one. Lord knows they did. Oh, and make sure you check out Hosho's audio project, A Deep and Gorgeous Thirst.

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Andrew Altschul

Mon, 18 May 2020 23:20:00 -0000

Episode 58: Andrew Altschul: If you're a fan of the show, you've heard Brad talk about the MFA versus kludge writer divide. Today, it comes to the Jam! Author Andrew Altschul stopped by to talk about his latest book, The Gringa. In between their shared love of dogs and the outdoors, they slipped into that oh-so-writerly debate. Sidle on up to the bar for an insider conversation on what it means to be a writer.

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Dr. Hilary Green

Thu, 14 May 2020 15:58:00 -0000

Episode 57: Dr. Hilary Green: On this episode of the Jam, Brad and author Dr. Hilary Green talk the importance of oral culture and the difficulty of tracking down those shared stories. The driving force of that discussion, Hilary's book, Educational Reconstruction: African American Schools in the Urban South, 1865-1890, which grew out of her research into the stories and data that history texts have forgotten. And that research came—in part—from a question her mother asked!

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Dr. Lindsay Chervinsky

Mon, 11 May 2020 18:42:00 -0000

Episode 56: Dr. Lindsay Chervinsky: This is one of those podcasts where you're going to learn a thing or two! Historian Lindsay Chervinsky stopped by the Jam to discuss her book, The Cabinet: George Washington and the Creation of an American Institution. More than once, Brad found himself saying "I had no idea that's how this whole thing worked." You will, too. But, it wasn't all work. They also talked baseball and hiking!

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Michael Seese

Thu, 07 May 2020 19:37:00 -0000

Episode 55: Michael Seese: Author Michael Seese went from writing business books to writing children's books. But he did that in the most modern way possible. He wrote The Extraordinary eTab Of Julian Newcomber, tapping the story on his phone while his young son was at football practice. The only unexpected consequence: now he has two more books to write because the other children are waiting for their stories!

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Louise Fein

Mon, 04 May 2020 18:21:00 -0000

Episode 54: Louise Fein: Sometimes a conversation stays with me long after the interview. That was the case with novelist Louise Fein, whose book People Like Us (Daughter of the Reich in the U.S.) is out in May. We talked of her family's escape from Germany in the thirties, her rediscovering a history she didn’t know, and staking claim to a voice about a place—and a culture—to which she is forever connected.

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Trevor Wood

Wed, 29 Apr 2020 21:34:00 -0000

I'm never quite sure what we're getting into on the Jam. In this episode, author and playwright Trevor Wood took me on a journey that weaved through his time in the Royal Navy, then to becoming a playwright, and on to writing his first novel, The Man on the Street. Most writers travel a circuitous path on their way to publishing, but Trevor's is one of the most interesting we'd had on the show. Buckle up and pour a stiff drink.

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Tommy Jenkins

Tue, 28 Apr 2020 15:29:00 -0000

When you get two hillbillies behind the microphone, you never know where the conversation is going to go. Author Tommy Jenkins stopped by the Jam to talk about his new graphic novel, Drawing the Vote, living in Appalachia, and the learning curve both he and I went through in terms of understanding race and class in America. Oh, and the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

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Samantha M. Bailey

Thu, 23 Apr 2020 01:39:00 -0000

This conversation could have gone on all day. (Don't worry, it doesn't!) Author Samantha M. Bailey stopped by the show to talk about her debut thriller, Woman on the Edge. Her road to publication was neither smooth nor fast. But the journey proved worthwhile. As did the unexpected turns she took along her way.

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Sara Sligar

Mon, 20 Apr 2020 17:06:00 -0000

The Big Number 50 is here! We're happy to celebrate that milestone with author Sara Sligar (Twitter, Instagram), who stopped by the Jam to talk about her debut novel, Take Me Apart. Plus, we took a deep dive into the weird insecurities that come from being a writer without all that formal writing training. Oh, and the power of just wandering through your world.

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Janelle Brown

Thu, 16 Apr 2020 03:04:00 -0000

Episode 49: Janelle Brown: I've been wanting Janelle on the program for some time, but the release of her fourth book, Pretty Things, felt like the right time considering Nicole Kidman optioned the book for an Amazon Prime series. But this is her second writing act. Before she was a best selling novelist, she was one of the most important voices in technology journalism.

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Katie Orphan

Mon, 13 Apr 2020 19:33:00 -0000

Episode 48: Katie Orphan: Author and book consultant Katie Orphan stopped by the Jam to talk about her book Read Me, Los Angeles: Exploring L.A.'s Book Culture. Turns out literary tourism is another thing Brad didn’t know existed, so they took a deep into how Katie’s life led her to curating books for a living and writing about experiencing the world through the eyes of literary figures and their haunts. Less on the pandemic, more on life with words.

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Sarah Frier

Thu, 09 Apr 2020 00:20:00 -0000

Bloomberg reporter Sarah Frier stopped by the Jam to discuss her book, No Filter: The Inside Story of Instagram. But, we also got into her illustrious college journalism career (and if you like sports, you've actually heard of her work) and the work it takes to cover technology these days. Thankfully, I only told a few stories from back in my day!

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Mindy Mejia

Sun, 05 Apr 2020 22:12:00 -0000

Crime novelist Mindy Mejia stopped by the Jam to talk about her fourth novel, Strike Me Down. Along the way we talked about growing up around science and engineers, life in Minnesota, her two bachelor's degrees (including her C.P.A. certification!), and how she's built her own cottage industry and fan base.

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Hayley Doyle

Wed, 01 Apr 2020 19:22:00 -0000

Buckle up, introverts, because two extroverts who've been locked down are coming at you in this episode. Hayley Doyle is an actress, singer, teacher, and writer with a fully-developed sense of adventure. She stopped by the Jam to talk about her debut novel Never Saw You Coming and the long, creative journey that took her from Liverpool to Dubai and then to London.

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Elisa Batista

Mon, 30 Mar 2020 22:39:00 -0000

My old Wired.com colleague stopped by the Jam to talk about her mom blog, her life as a political activist with MomsRising, and her new book, ¡Presente! Latinx Power Remaking U.S. Democracy. Oh, and we spent a good deal of time talking about hillbillies and neighborhoods, both Appalachian and Cuban!

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Jen Sullivan Brych

Mon, 23 Mar 2020 02:24:00 -0000

JenSul was the Wired.com colleague who wasn't actually my colleague and the person everyone assumed I knew even though we didn't. We've corrected that error on this show. Jen Sullivan Brych visited the Jam to talk about the dotcom era, her winding road to a writing career, and her first novel, which she's currently shopping. Definitely the best, nerdiest deep dive into the world of writing in forty-three episodes of the Jam.

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Kristen "KP" Philipkoski

Thu, 19 Mar 2020 17:21:00 -0000

My old Wired.com colleague Kristen "KP" Philipkoski dropped by The Downtown Writers Jam to talk about her new venture, Mean Magazine, a feminist magazine for GenX women. Along the way, we also reminisced about the insanity of the dotcom era and the craziness of the media way back when.

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Erik Deckers

Mon, 09 Mar 2020 19:59:00 -0000

I sat down with Erik Deckers, a humor column writer, and the co-author of several social media books. He's a grinder, the kind of working writer whose schedule just exhausts me. (I did that for two years and couldn't take the stress.) We talked about that lifestyle, his writer-in-residency at the Jack Kerouac House, and his first book, Mackinac Island Nation. Oh, and there's cussing.

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Lauren Gaskill

Tue, 25 Feb 2020 01:31:00 -0000

Last year I had the chance to talk with Lauren Gaskill, one of my former writing students. Since graduating, she's had an amazing start to her career, which isn't surprising because she's one of the most ambitious young writers I've ever worked with. She's not only the author of Into the Deep: Diving Into a Life of Courageous Faith, but also a national speaker and the founder of She Found Joy.

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Remembering Elizabeth Wurtzel

Tue, 07 Jan 2020 21:30:00 -0000

"She was our rock god." Elizabeth Wurtzel passed away on January 7, 2020. She was one of the voices of GenerationX, a proud feminist, and a god damned force of nature.

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Julia Scheeres

Mon, 30 Dec 2019 18:04:00 -0000

My friend and former Wired.com colleague Julia Scheeres has written two best sellers: Jesus Land, a memoir of her relationship with her adopted brother David as they grew up in a fundamental Christian household in Indiana, and A Thousand Lives, a heart-wrenching story about the people who were murdered in Jonestown. But her story will blow you away. It’s the story of bravery and perseverance.

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Woody Lewis

Thu, 07 Feb 2019 03:09:00 -0000

My friend for nearly twenty years, author Woody Lewis and I sat down for the first time to talk about his book Three Lost Souls: Stories about race, class and loneliness and life. What came out of that: his membership in the Student Non-violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), meeting and playing drums with Jimmy Hendricks, his family’s relationship to Sally Hemings, and the struggle with writing about being black in America.

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Evan Ratliff

Wed, 30 Jan 2019 00:55:00 -0000

We were Wired lackeys during the dotcom boom, but those days are long gone. In the years since we left the magazine, Evan is a two-time National Magazine Award finalist, the co-founder of the Atavist publishing platform, the editor-in-chief of The Atavist Magazine, the co-founder of Pop-Up Magazine, and now the author of what is sure to be the next big bestseller, The Mastermind: Drugs, Empire, Murder, Betrayal.

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Danielle Sepulveres

Wed, 19 Dec 2018 00:19:00 -0000

Episode 35: Danielle Sepulveres: Author, actress, and Tweeter extraordinaire, Danielle Supulveres‘ memoir Losing It chronicles how how she lost her virginity in what she believed was a loving relationship. Instead, her journey delves into the medical, emotional, and physical toll that comes from falling in love with the wrong person—and not trusting you own instincts.

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Keri Leigh Merritt

Thu, 13 Dec 2018 16:09:00 -0000

We live in a time when race and class have smashed together in ways that threaten to tear about the social fabric. Historian and author Keri Leigh Merritt has written one of the best books on how we got here. Her book Masterless Men explains the how the social and economic fabric of the “white working class” came to be. And in our interview, she talks about what we need to do to get out of the mess we’re in today.

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George Carlin (Bonus–Circa 2001)

Fri, 07 Dec 2018 05:00:00 -0000

In 2001, I hosted a thirty-minute interview show as part of Wired.com's strategy to expand into multimedia. Along with my producer Jeremey Barna, we were given free reign to experiment. Most of what we did was not great, but this interview show proved to be popular. In mid-February, I had the chance to sit down with comedian George Carlin. That show—and that interview—was the genesis of The Downtown Writers Jam Podcast.

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Vikki Tobak

Wed, 05 Dec 2018 03:51:00 -0000

Writer, photographer, curator, and storyteller, Vikki Tobak left Detroit for New York City and found herself at the center of the nascent hip-hop scene in 1991. Her new book Contact High: A Visual History of Hip-Hop will change the way you think and talk about the music that shook up America.

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KT Peterson

Mon, 22 May 2017 11:00:00 -0000

After hours of conversations with Brad outside the podcast, Indianapolis playwright and writer KT Peterson came by to talk about how empathy, performance, curiosity, and writing come together in her work.

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Too Black

Mon, 15 May 2017 11:00:00 -0000

Indianapolis spoken word artist Too Black stopped by the podcast to talk about how he developed his performance and writing voice, and how he's gotten comfortable challenging the assumptions people hold.

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Jen Blackmer

Mon, 08 May 2017 11:00:00 -0000

PEN Literary award-winning playwright Jen Blackmer came by the podcast to discuss the importance of the personal perspective in art, particularly in the time of a Trump presidency.

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Ellen Munds

Thu, 04 May 2017 18:44:00 -0000

Continuing with the pursuit of writing in all of its forms, Storytelling Arts of Indiana director Ellen Munds discussed how stories and live performances shaped her life.

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Trisha Borowicz

Mon, 17 Apr 2017 11:30:00 -0000

In this episode, we went full nerdy-artist-filmmaker smart with Trisha Borowicz, a scientist and documentary filmmaker who raised $20,000 to create her film Science, Sex, and the Ladies: The True Story of the Female Orgasm in 2011.

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Matt Mullins

Wed, 12 Apr 2017 19:12:00 -0000

Back from a winter hiatus, the Podcast picks up with more post-election musings between Brad and his guest Matt Mullins, a writer and professor at Ball State. In this episode, the two middle-aged white guys discuss how the election of Donald Trump changed the way they approached writing and storytelling, a theme you'll see resonating through the next several months. As for Matt, he writes screenplays, fiction, and poetry. He also makes videopoems and digital/interactive literature. He is the mixed media editor for the Atticus Review and teaches creative writing at Ball State University. You can check out his videopoems on Vimeo, his short story collection, and his interactive literature.

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Celestine Bloomfield

Mon, 28 Nov 2016 03:05:00 -0000

The 2016 Presidential election changed everything about this country. And so it goes with The Downtown Writers Jam Podcast. Host Brad King has gotten political. In this first post-election episode, Storyteller Celestine Bloomfield stopped by to talk about her career as a storyteller, and how she's used those skills in the business world. But she's not about to get hemmed in by the shifting political winds.

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Ben Asaykwee

Sun, 23 Oct 2016 12:00:00 -0000

Ben Asaykwee left Indiana to pursue his music and returned home to form one of Indianapolis' most interesting and innovative theater companies, Q Artistry. Along the way, he wrote Christian music in Nashville and performed original theater in Chicago. And his show Cabaret Poe has been running for eight years. But his story is really about the need to create.

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Frankie Bolda

Sun, 16 Oct 2016 23:50:00 -0000

Frankie Bolda stopped by the Jam to talk about her improv comedy work at Comedy Sportz, her life as the associate artistic director of the EclecticPond Theater Company, and writing. Yeah, she's one of those theater dynamos who lives in Indianapolis. The twenty-five year old is the associate artistic director of EclecticPond Theater Company, the director of fan services at Comedy Sportz, and has built her entire life around creating and writing (even if I had to convince her that she was a writer).

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Adam Petty

Mon, 03 Oct 2016 12:00:00 -0000

Brad King of The Geeky Press hosts The Downtown Writers Jam Podcast, where writers and authors discuss what drives them to tell stories. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, listen on Stitcher, listen on the web, or check out all the podcasts here on the site. You can also sign up for our newsletter to get updates on what we’re doing. Adam Petty is an Indianapolis-based writer. Brad caught up with Adam as he was teaching at Etchings Fest, a free one-day workshop hosted by the University of Indianapolis and Metonymy Media. They discussed the role science fiction played in both of their early writing lives, and why it's so important to create spaces where you can explore deep, thoughtful questions in writing.

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Shannon McLeod

Mon, 26 Sep 2016 12:00:00 -0000

Shannon McLeod is a soft-spoken writer from Michigan who writers stories where characters almost, but not quite. Much like like. Currently, she’s a teacher and writer (although never the two shall meet, as you’ll soon find out). Her work has has appeared in Hobart, NEAT, Word Riot, Cheap Pop, TXTOBJX, Moonsick Magazine, The Billfold, and (R.I.P.)Gawker Her chapbook Pathetic is available from Etchings Press, the student-run publisher of the University of Indianapolis Department of English, and Metonymy Media.

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Kelli Allen

Mon, 19 Sep 2016 11:37:00 -0000

Kelli Allen is probably the most traveled, and least likely to be pinned down, writer we’ve had on the Podcast. She's a four-time Pushcart Prize nominee and she’s won awards for both poetry & prose. She’s currently a professor at Lindenwood University, where’s she’s also the poetry editor for The Lindenwood Review. Brad caught up with her at Etchings Fest, a free afternoon of workshops sponsored by Etchings Press. Her chapbook Some Animals is available from Etchings Press, the student-run publisher of the University of Indianapolis Department of English, and Metonymy Media.

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Loren Niemi

Mon, 12 Sep 2016 12:00:00 -0000

Brad is still trying to wrap his head around the fact that Storyteller is a career. To help him understand what that means, Loren Niemi stops by the Jam to discuss his life as a Storyteller, his work with businesses, and his background in Philosophy and Visual Arts that prepared him for it all.

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Casey Ross

Mon, 05 Sep 2016 12:00:00 -0000

Writing is a terrible, terrible trade. But it's also one that can help find the voice we always wanted, but could never muster. Indianapolis playwright Casey Ross stopped by the Jam to talk about how writing plays helped her find herself, and find some measure of closure with her childhood.

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Les Kurkendaal

Sun, 28 Aug 2016 23:45:00 -0000

Welcome to the first iteration of the second generation of The Downtown Writers Jam Podcast with Brad King. In this episode, we sat down with Los Angeles-based storyteller Les Kurkendaal, who was in town performing "Terror on the High Seas" as the Indy Fringe Festival. But this conversation was really about how Les found his voice as a writer despite the pushback he's gotten from the more traditional theater and acting world. And how his writing has evolved from comedy to theater to storytelling.

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David Blomenberg

Sun, 28 Aug 2016 23:27:00 -0000

The last "lost episode" from the vault of The Downtown Writers Jam Podcast. In this episode, Brad talks to David Blomenberg is a kick-ass writer and amazing performer. He participated in the Downtown Writers Jam, Vol. 3 + rocked our world. So Brad wanted to find out what led him into this awful, awful profession of writing.

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Kari McElroy

Sun, 28 Aug 2016 23:01:00 -0000

Well we're back from our short hiatus. Which really wasn't short. It's been 18 months since we sat down with Kari McElroy, our favorite graphic novelist. While life has moved on, her story hasn't. And she's STILL the author of Regarding Dandelions, which is both a labor of love and incredibly cool.

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Salvatore Pane

Wed, 04 Feb 2015 22:15:00 -0000

Salvatore Pane is at the center of the small and independent literary scene in Indianapolis. He's a professor at the University of Indianapolis, he's an author, and he's part of Corgi Snorgel Press (along with his fiance Theresa, who is also a big driver of the scene.) Brad and Sal talked about writing, working class sensibilities, and the New York Knicks, three ideas that are more linked than you may think.

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Halle Butler

Wed, 04 Feb 2015 21:57:00 -0000

Halle Butler's novel Jillian is getting rave reviews. I had the chance to sit down with her last November -- before the book came out -- to talk about writing while drinking tea in the office of Curbside Splendor Publshing in Chicago. It was also her first official interview, which made for an even better time.

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Dmity Samarov

Mon, 24 Nov 2014 13:00:00 -0000

Dmitry Samarov's book Where To? A Hack Memoir chronicles his time as a cab driver by combining narrative stories, visual art, and a 'zine sensibility. But that's not even close to the whole story. His parents left the Soviet Union in 1978, and came to America. Raised in Boston, Dmitry fell into writing while pursuing his passion in painting and visual arts and avoiding the dreaded 9-to-5 job. Now, he's working on a book that chronicles the story of his immigrant parents and their journey in the U.S...kind of.

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Ben Tanzer

Fri, 21 Nov 2014 23:42:00 -0000

Brad visited Curbside Splendor Publishing author Ben Tanzer in Chicago where they had two discussions. The first part of the podcast explored Ben's most recent book Lost in Space, writing, and fatherhood. The second half of the podcast focused on using literature and writing to carve our spaces for men to talk about what it means to be a man in a time when societal roles are evolving. Once you've listened to the podcast, you can check out Ben's performance in The Downtown Writers Jam, Vol. 2.

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Erika T. Wurth

Sun, 16 Nov 2014 16:13:00 -0000

Curbside Splendor Publishing author Erika T. Wurth stopped by the podcast before her appearance at The Downtown Writers Jam, Vol. 2. We talked about tension, particularly how the tensions from life shape and inform the stories you tell. You can purchase her debut novel, Crazy Horse's Girlfriend, directly from Curbside Splendor Publishing or Amazon and other retailers.

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Amanda Heckert

Thu, 30 Oct 2014 22:00:00 -0000

Amanda Heckert is the best kind of editor. She's got an eclectic background, she's curious, and she loves reading, which is good since she's the editor-in-chief at Indianapolis Monthly. She stopped by the podcast to talk about the long, weird, and winding road that brought her into publishing, her love of reading, the amazing stories she's worked on at the magazine, and the South.

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Angela Jackson-Brown

Tue, 28 Oct 2014 23:45:00 -0000

Angela Jackson-Brown isn’t just appearing at The Downtown Writers Jam, Vol. 2. She also stopped by the Podcast to talk about how her life helped shape her writing. Her first book, Drinking from a Bitter Cup (WiDo Publishing), is a fictionalized memoir that explores what her life in a small Southern town and abuse she faced as a child. She and Brad touched on what it means to be a writer, why it’s okay to write negatively about books, and the importance of mentors.

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Sarah Layden

Thu, 16 Oct 2014 17:35:00 -0000

When Sarah Layden stopped by the Downtown Writers Jam Podcast, she wasn’t expecting to explore how the themes from her childhood diaries played out in her fiction writing. But that happened. Before long, they were discussing how writers find their voice, and what it means to be authentic. The showed ended as they discussed the problem with "women’s literature" label, and the ways writers use empathy to tell universal stories. Oh, and don't forget to buy Sarah's debut novel, Trip Through You Wires (Engine Books, 2015). You can pre-order the novel today.

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John P. Gibson

Wed, 08 Oct 2014 04:12:00 -0000

John P. Gibson is the writer/director of Revelation Trail, a feature film that follows the journey of a preacher and a lawman along the Old West frontier as they try to find meaning in a world that is falling to the mysterious undead. Brad visited him in his office at Northern Kentucky University, where they discussed the film’s seven year life cycle, the archetypes of Joss Whedon, and why The Empire Strikes Back is the template for all sequels.

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Ben H. Winters

Tue, 30 Sep 2014 19:40:00 -0000

Ben H. Winters is the author of the best selling book Sense and Sensibilities and Sea Monsters as well as the The Last Policeman trilogy, and a relatively recent Indianapolis transplant. He sat down with Brad to talk about his utter lack of direction in his early writing career and his daily writing routine that involves no Internet and tons of structure. At the end, he talks about his newest counter-factual novel — currently under construction — that explores an America where the Civil War never happened, and slavery was never abolished.

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Andrew Neylon

Tue, 16 Sep 2014 18:51:00 -0000

When Andrew Neylon joined The Invictus Writers project, Brad didn't know what to expect. Much to his surprise, "The Long War" turned out to be one of the most popular stories ever published in the series. Andrew stopped by the Jam to talk about how his father's depression and suicide influenced his writing, how his color blindness shapes his vision of the world, and what he's working on now.

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Travis DiNicola

Mon, 15 Sep 2014 21:36:00 -0000

Travis DiNicola has his hand on the pulse of arts, reading, and writing in Indianapolis. He’s the executive director of Indy Reads, a non-profit literacy organization, and the host of "The Art of the Matter" on WFYI. Brad met Travis at the Indy Reads Books store to talk about how you end up getting to be the heart of the city's art community.

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Michelle Freed

Thu, 04 Sep 2014 15:07:00 -0000

Writer Michelle Freed wrote a one-woman stage monologue for the Fringe Festival on a whim. That's not exactly how you're told to find a writing career. And yet, here she is. Michelle stopped by the Jam to discuss stumbling into a writing career, doing first and learning later, and the overwhelming world modern writers have to navigate to find success.

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Barbara Shoup

Tue, 02 Sep 2014 23:01:00 -0000

Barbara Shoup, the author of Looking for Jack Kerouac and the executive director of the Indiana Writers Center, discussed why she waited 20 years between her first and second novel, the secret worlds writers create, and what writers really think about feedback.

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