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Showing episodes and shows of
Cyd Ropp
Shows
Gnostic Reformation, Clear and Simple
The Gnostic Pleroma, plus Children of the Fullness reading
This week I appeared as a guest on Aeon Byte Gnostic Radio. I’m going to make that YouTube video this week’s episode. The interview went well and the viewers like it very much, judging by their Comments of the episode. I’m including the YouTube link here on the transcript. The episode is called “What Is The Gnostic Pleroma? ”The episode lasts an hour and a half. People in Comments said it was their favorite episode from Aeon Byte. Seemed to cause quite a positive stir among the viewers.It’s funny, when the intervie...
2025-09-19
02 min
Attaching to God: Neuroscience-informed Spiritual Formation
127 Landscapes of the Soul: Chapters 1-2 (read by Cyd Holsclaw)
Here is an audio snippet of our new book. Description below. Please buy and review.______Does it feel like you experience life in a totally different way than others? Like you are living somewhere else, and you can’t build connection or intimacy with God like others can?There’s a good chance that you, like so many of us, have tried it all: read your Bible more, gone to church more, prayed more, and delved deeper into self-awareness. But you still struggle with discontent, anxiety, avoidance and doubt. You...
2025-07-31
31 min
Attaching to God: Neuroscience-informed Spiritual Formation
126 Where it all started: The Shepherd Story (with Cyd Holsclaw)
In a sense, this is where all the attachment stuff started, with Cyd telling the "Shepherd Story" to our boys during bedtime. Over and over, year by year, she did this little guided meditation with them. She was doing attachment work with the Good Shepherd even before we had language for it. Many listeners and cohort members have asked for a recording of this prayer exercise, so here it is. For all the background (attachment theory and spirituality), see our new book, Landscapes of the Soul: How the Science and Spirituality of Attachment Can Move Yo...
2025-07-29
09 min
Gnostic Insights
How do we know what we know? A conversation with my brother about the scientific method, knowledge, gnosis, and truth
Welcome back to Gnostic Insights and the Gnostic Reformation on Substack. I have another treat for you this week, a conversation with my brother Bill and myself concerning what is knowledge? How do we know what is true? This is a field of philosophy known as epistemology. My brother Bill was a philosophy professor. He taught this at the university level for many years. I hope you enjoy this conversation and you learn something from it. Cyd Ropp, Ph,D, Gnostic Insights author and podcast host [Cyd] Okay, recording in progress. Here we are. Hi, B...
2025-07-05
34 min
Gnostic Reformation, Clear and Simple
Logic, gnosis, and the scientific method
Welcome back to Gnostic Insights and the Gnostic Reformation on Substack. I have another treat for you this week, a conversation with my brother Bill and myself concerning what is knowledge? How do we know what is true? This is a field of philosophy known as epistemology. My brother Bill was a philosophy professor. He taught this at the university level for many years. I hope you enjoy this conversation and you learn something from it.[Cyd]Okay, recording in progress. Here we are. Hi, Bill. Welcome back to Gnostic Insights.[Bill]
2025-07-05
34 min
Gnostic Insights
Will AI Wake Up
FIRST AN ANNOUNCEMENT: Join us for our first Gnostic Insights group zoom chat on Saturday, January 18th, at 8 am Pacific, 10 am Central, 11 am Eastern. Here is the calendar reminder link: https://calendar.google.com/calendar/event?action=TEMPLATE&tmeid=OTYxanMwNGNkczQyMzNhY2IzZnMwMmJodDggY3lkLnJvcHBAbQ&tmsrc=cyd.ropp%40gmail.com Cyd Ropp is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.Join Zoom Meetinghttps://us05web.zoom.us/j/84555830779?pwd=wUAaJ5zkJ33YyNbyk3l0osVX4qNLpU.1 Meeting ID: 845 5583 0779Passcode: 3dW4JG I’ve never set up a Zoom meeting before, so I hope this...
2025-01-11
27 min
Broken to Beloved Podcast
009: Exploring the Four Landscapes of Attachment with Geoff & Cyd Holsclaw
Have you heard of Attachment Theory? Have you ever found yourself lost in the language and terminology? Have you wondered if your less-than-perfect childhood and history of abuse or trauma means you're stuck in a specific styleGeoff and Cyd Holsclaw offer simple, easy to understand language around the concept of Attachment using the visual landscapes of the Pasture, Jungle, Desert, and War Zone. By laying a foundation of joy, Geoff and Cyd explain how our capacity for intimacy and independence can help us move us toward more healthy and whole relationships.They...
2024-08-27
55 min
Gnostic Reformation, Clear and Simple
Pascal's Wager
The big day has finally arrived! The book is ready. It’s in publication. It will be posted on Amazon for sale. The soonest they’ll get it up for me is on the 28th of August. That’s Wednesday, the 28th of August. You’ll be able to buy the paperback version of A Simple Explanation of the Gnostic Gospel for only $24. That’s the least I’m allowed to sell it for by Amazon. So, meanwhile, as a bonus, I did format the book as an e-book, and it is already posted. So if you were to go to Amazon...
2024-08-25
25 min
Gnostic Insights
Pascal’s Wager
Welcome back to Gnostic Insights. The big day has finally arrived! The book is ready. It’s in publication. It will be posted on Amazon for sale. The soonest they’ll get it up for me is on the 28th of August. That’s Wednesday, the 28th of August. You’ll be able to buy the paperback version of A Simple Explanation of the Gnostic Gospel for only $24. That’s the least I’m allowed to sell it for by Amazon. So, meanwhile, as a bonus, I did format the book as an e-book, and it is already posted. So if you were...
2024-08-24
25 min
Más Allá De La Tienda
Episodio 34: Tomando Control De Tus Finanzas
En este episodio de "Más allá de la tienda", Melyvette aborda un tema crucial para cualquier emprendedor: las finanzas y nuestra relación con el dinero. ¿Alguna vez te has desvelado preocupado por las deudas? ¿Te gustaría tener más dinero para ayudar a alguien o simplemente ganar más de lo que ganas ahora? Si es así, este episodio es para ti.Melyvette comparte historias personales y herramientas para que tomes control de tus finanzas tanto personales como de negocio. Aprenderás sobre el manejo consciente del dinero, cómo establecer proyecciones y metas financieras...
2024-07-29
10 min
Más Allá De La Tienda
Episodio 33: ¿Tus Ventas Están Bajando? Descubre Cómo Ajustar Tu Estrategia
En este episodio de "Más allá de la tienda", Cyd Marie revela las estrategias clave que MC Boutique implementó para enfrentar la caída en ventas en 2024. Descubre cómo identificar problemas en tu negocio, ajustar tu enfoque y reconectar con tus clientes para revitalizar tus ventas. ¡No te lo pierdas!Nos encantaría saber tu opinión. Envíanos un mensaje o un correo y podrías ser destacado en un próximo episodio.¿No sabes los pasos a seguir para comenzar tu propia tienda online? Visita www.monetizatutienda.com/ahora y permítenos ayudart...
2024-07-15
06 min
Más Allá De La Tienda
Episodio 27: Los 4 Pasos Fundamentales Para Tener Una Tienda Online Que Venda
Queremos que entiendas que hacer la página web de tu tienda online, no hará que la gente llegue, y no entender esto te va a causar mucha frustración. Por eso, en este episodio compartimos los 4 Pasos Fundamentales Para Tener Una Tienda Online Que Venda:✅Encuentra tu Nicho: Necesitas saber para quién son tus productos, el problema que resuelves y por qué decidirán comprarte a ti y no a la competencia.✅Perfecciona el mensaje de tu Marca: Crea una marca que conecte profundamente con tu cliente. Aprende a...
2024-05-26
33 min
Más Allá De La Tienda
Episodio 23: ¿Crees que tener una tienda online en 2024 es una buena idea?
¡Bienvenida a "Más Allá de la Tienda", tu podcast favorito sobre estrategias para el éxito en el comercio electrónico! En este episodio, Melyvette y Cyd Marie te sumergen en el fascinante mundo del comercio electrónico en 2024.Descubre las estadísticas que muestran el crecimiento constante del comercio electrónico, con proyecciones que alcanzan los 8 billones de dólares para 2028. Conoce quiénes lideran este cambio y qué sectores están en auge, desde entretenimiento hasta tecnología y turismo.La pregunta del día es ¿es una buena idea tener una tienda online en 2024...
2024-04-29
04 min
Más Allá De La Tienda
Episodio 21: No Vivas Así
¿Vives con algún remordimiento? Nos hemos dado cuenta de que a veces nos convertimos en observadores en vez de hacedores...Y te decimos esto , porque esta mañana hablando con una chica que quiere comenzar su propia tienda online, nos comentaba que no había comenzado con su negocio porque habían como 1,000 boutiques online ya 🤯Y es cierto, hay muchas boutiques, pero aún hay espacio para ti...Como empresaria, apuesto a que has escuchado sobre la saturación del mercado un millón de veces. Y hoy hablaremos de eso un p...
2024-04-15
05 min
Gnostic Reformation, Clear and Simple
Interview with Hathaway Jane
Welcome back to the Gnostic Reformation on Substack. Today’s episode is an interview with one of your fellow listeners to Gnostic Insights and the Gnostic Reformation on Substack. Her name is Hathaway Jane.Hathaway wrote to me saying how much the Gnostic Insights episodes have meant to her. She’s also purchased and read A Simple Explanation of Absolutely Everything and A Simple Explanation of the Gnostic Gospel of the Tripartite Tractate, and she has some very kind words to say about how meaningful they have been to her. She said she’d like to talk to me...
2024-01-28
35 min
Gnostic Insights
Interview with Hathaway Jane
Welcome back to Gnostic Insights. Today’s episode is an interview with one of your fellow listeners to Gnostic Insights and the Gnostic Reformation on Substack. Her name is Hathaway Jane. Hathaway wrote to me saying how much the Gnostic Insights episodes have meant to her. She’s also purchased and read A Simple Explanation of Absolutely Everything and A Simple Explanation of the Gnostic Gospel of the Tripartite Tractate, and she has some very kind words to say about how meaningful they have been to her. She said she’d like to talk to me on the ph...
2024-01-27
35 min
Más Allá De La Tienda
Episodio 15: Dónde Conseguir Proveedores para tu Boutique ó Tienda en Línea: Estrategias y Consejos
¿Estás buscando proveedores confiables para tu tienda o boutique online? ¡Estás en el lugar correcto! En "Más Allá de la Tienda," Melyvette y Cyd Marie, tus mentoras de eCommerce, te guiarán hacia los mejores recursos y estrategias.Descubre cómo nació nuestro programa "Monetiza Tu Tienda" a partir de la misma pregunta que te haces. Aprende cómo transformamos la búsqueda de proveedores en una experiencia exitosa.Exploraremos opciones como tradeshows, así como las infinitas oportunidades que encuentras en línea. No te pierdas este episodio y sigue persigu...
2023-09-25
11 min
Más Allá De La Tienda
Episodio 14: Guía para Elegir Proveedores Para Tu eCommerce
Cyd Marie y Melyvette, tus Mentoras del eCommerce, te brindan una completa "Guía para Elegir Proveedores Para Tu eCommerce". Este es el primero de tres episodios que te ayudarán para la adquisición de productos en línea. Aprenderás cómo definir tus necesidades comerciales, investigar la demanda de tu mercado y comprender a fondo a tu cliente ideal, y sobre elementos esenciales para tomar decisiones informadas.Descubre la importancia de establecer un presupuesto realista y cómo este se relaciona directamente con tus metas de ventas. Además, exploramos los aspectos legales q...
2023-09-18
07 min
Más Allá De La Tienda
Episodio 11: Cómo Encontrar el Nicho Perfecto para Tu Tienda Online
¡Bienvenidos a un nuevo episodio de "Más Allá de la Tienda" con Cyd Marie y Melyvette!¿Estás buscando el secreto para desatar tu potencial y lograr ventas extraordinarias? No busques más. Te adentraremos en el emocionante arte de elegir un nicho que no solo te haga saltar de la cama, ¡sino que también te impulse hacia obtener resultados increíbles! Exploramos cómo fusionar tu pasión con la demanda del mercado para construir un negocio sólido y gratificante. Desde consejos prácticos para encontrar ese nicho perfecto hasta ejemplos inspiradores...
2023-08-28
11 min
Gnostic Reformation, Clear and Simple
What Is Knowledge?
Bill Puett Interview, 08/24/23We welcome my brother, Dr. Bill Puett. Bill is going to help clarify some issues with us between information versus knowledge, and what is a meme? Bill's doctorate is in philosophy and mine is in Classical Rhetoric, so I often turn to him for philosophical clarification of terms. Bill is a Professor Emeritus from the California University system. I love talking philosophy with my brother.BillWell, you kindly say that and glad to be part of it and work with my sister who does remarkable, remarkable work....
2023-08-27
20 min
Más Allá De La Tienda
Más Allá De La Tienda - Bienvenida al podcast - Descubre el Poder del E-Commerce con Melyvette y Cyd Marie
¡Bienvenida a "Más Allá De La Tienda"! Descubre el Poder del E-Commerce con Melyvette y Cyd Marie¡Prepárate para una emocionante travesía en el mundo del comercio electrónico! En este episodio inaugural, te damos la bienvenida a nuestro podcast "Más Allá De La Tienda", donde Melyvette y Cyd Marie, las fundadoras de MC Boutique, te guiarán a través de estrategias poderosas, inspiración transformadora y experiencias reales que te ayudarán a impulsar tu tienda o boutique en línea hacia nuevas alturas.Somos Melyvette
2023-06-12
10 min
Attaching to God: Neuroscience-informed Spiritual Formation
017 Why Having the Mind of Christ Requires a Body; Or, why the Bible and Neuroscience Aren't Opposed
Does neuroscience change our understanding of sin? Does it rob us of our sense of free will? What does salvation even mean if we take neuroscience seriously?New Testament professor Joel Green talks about how a properly biblical view of sin and salvation isn't at odds with the finds of neuroscience. And he talks about why this matters for our spiritual formation. Get the FREE ebook, The Brain God Gave Us, when you join the Being With community (connecting you to new episodes, posts, and other re...
2021-12-06
33 min
Attaching to God: Neuroscience-informed Spiritual Formation
016 When Everything 's on Fire: In and Through Deconstruction (with Brian Zahnd)
Is there a way forward beyond certainty and after deconstruction? Is it possible to hold to faith after such disappointment?Author and Pastor Brian Zahnd joins the podcast to talk about the crisis of faith and the journey of reconstruction. If you are in the midst of DECONSTRUCTION (or want learn more to journey with others through it), check out this short course on the 5 Shifts to make while Deconstructing Fundamentalism without Losing Faith. Get the FREE ebook, The Brain God Gave Us, when you join...
2021-11-29
54 min
Attaching to God: Neuroscience-informed Spiritual Formation
015 Why Your Future Self Will Thank You (with Drew Dyck)
Many talk about the need for more self-esteem, and even more self-compassion. But what about self-control? Why are we so often our biggest enemies? Why do we do what we don't want to do? And what can we do about it? Drew Dyck joins the podcast to talk about all this and more. Drew is the acquisitions editor at Moody Publishers and a contributing editor at CTPastors.com. He's also written Your Future Self Will Thank You: Secrets to Self-Control from the Bible and Brain Science (Moody, 2019), Yawning at Tigers: You Can’t Tame...
2021-11-09
34 min
Attaching to God: Neuroscience-informed Spiritual Formation
014 What is a Trauma-Informed Church (with Fred Liggin)
In families, friendships, and at church, we are surrounded by people who have experienced and live with trauma. Pastor and reconciliation activist Fred Liggin talks about what it means to be a trauma-informed church. Fred Liggin is a pastor and social entrepreneur ministering among the homeless and those struggling with poverty Williamsburg, VA, and is a justice and reconciliation advocate. Trauma recovery is not a theory or an individual practice for Fred. It is a holistic and communal activity.Find out more about Fred here: https://fredsforehead.com/about/Don't miss an episode of...
2021-08-23
33 min
Attaching to God: Neuroscience-informed Spiritual Formation
13 Why SEEING Matters for Skeptics and the Sacred (with Richard Beck)
What we attend to, what we pay attention to, becomes our reality. It causes us to see some things and be blind to others. And this is never more true than SEEING the SACRED in our modern world. Dr. Richard Beck, author of numerous books, professor and psychologist, talks about our disenchanted world, the ACHE caused by it, and how to find God today (find him at http://experimentaltheology.blogspot.com/). Get the FREE ebook, The Brain God Gave Us, when you join the Being With community...
2021-06-28
40 min
Attaching to God: Neuroscience-informed Spiritual Formation
012 How To Welcome the Parts Warring Within Us (Jenna Riemersma)
Why do we do what we don't want to do? Why are we at war within ourselves? And what can we do about it?Jenna Riemersma (LPC) introduces us to "Internal Family Systems" (parts theory), how to grow in self-compassion, and how God is redeeming our hurts, brokenness, and sin. Settle in if you are tired of trying so hard, unsure how to deal with negative feelings or destructive patterns. And see Jenna's book "Altogether You" (https://jennariemersma.com/).Get the FREE ebook, The Brain God Gave Us, wh...
2021-06-07
52 min
Attaching to God: Neuroscience-informed Spiritual Formation
011 Grace and Attachment to God (with Ed Khouri)
What's grace got to do with the brain? Isn't grace just a theological word about God? But really grace has everything to do with every part of our relationships. Learning to live in grace is essential to being with others, with God, and with ourselves. We're talking about all this with Ed Khouri, co-founder of Equipping Hearts for the Harvest. Ed ministers and trains within the intersection of trauma and addiction recovery, neuroscience, and spiritual formation. Please join the Being With community for episodes, posts, and other resources....
2021-05-25
40 min
Attaching to God: Neuroscience-informed Spiritual Formation
010 Why Brain Science and Not Bible Study? Answering Common Objections (with Ed Khouri)
Enough with all this neuroscience, pyscho-bable, and and emotion language. Shouldn't we just talk about the Bible and follow Jesus?We're talking about these common objections with Ed Khouri, co-founder of Equipping Hearts for the Harvest. Ed ministers and trains within the intersection of trauma and addiction recovery, neuroscience, and spiritual formation. Please join the Being With community for episodes, posts, and other resources.Please subscribe and review on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube.
2021-05-24
26 min
Attaching to God: Neuroscience-informed Spiritual Formation
009 Learning to Say Yes to Fear and Risk (with Dr. Jason Clark)
What is fear for? Fear can save our lives, but the Bible tells repeatedly not to fear. Can we learn to act in ways that are more faithful, even in the face of risk?Jason Clark has wrestled with these very demons in himself as a pastor, a professor, and as the leader of the Leadership and Global Perspectives Doctor of Ministry at Portland Seminary.Please join the Being With community for episodes, posts, and other resources.Please subscribe and review on iTunes...
2021-05-18
36 min
Attaching to God: Neuroscience-informed Spiritual Formation
008 Did My Neurons Make Me Do It? (with Dr. Warren Brown)
Are we really responsible for our actions? Or is it just brain chemistry and personal history? Do we really have free will? And what does this mean for our understanding of sin? I talk with Dr. Warren Brown, of Fuller Seminary, about how our brains make meaning for us and with others. Check out his new book, "Enhancing Christian Life" (co-authored with Dr. Brad Strawn).Please join the Being With community for episodes, posts, and other resources.Please subscribe and review on i...
2021-05-10
36 min
Attaching to God: Neuroscience-informed Spiritual Formation
007 Simple Practices That Shape Your Mind (with John Loppnow)
Can we really change our minds? What is the practical application of all this neuroscience talk? Can all this make us more street smart, not just book smart? Glad you asked! Our guest, John Loppnow, a licensed marriage and family therapist, and life coach, leads us through practices that integrate faith and neuroscience. Find John at Presence and Practice.Please join the Being With community for episodes, posts, and other resources.Please subscribe and review on iTunes, Spotify...
2021-05-03
33 min
Attaching to God: Neuroscience-informed Spiritual Formation
006 Attuning to the 5 Levels of the Brain (with Maribeth Poole)
Our brains have different levels with different functions at each level. This episode, with guest Maribeth Poole, looks at the relational brain and how to ATTUNE to each level for deep connection to others and to God. Don't miss an episode of the Being With podcast on neuroscience and faith. Like, and subscribes, or join the community here (https://geoffrey-holsclaw.ck.page/47259e09a4).Learn more about Maribeth Poole here.Please join the Being With community for episodes, posts, and other resources.Pl...
2021-04-26
36 min
Awkward Silences
#64 - Civic Tech with Cyd Harrell
Whether you’re paying a parking ticket or getting a divorce, chances are high that you’ll go through some (if not all) of that process online. Chances are also good that the UX of that process will be… not great. Cyd Harrell wants to change that.Cyd—prominent Civic Design Consultant and Service Design Lead at the Judicial Council of California—has been working in civic tech since 2012. She’s passionate about helping governments create digital services that meet people where they are. In this episode, Cyd joins Erin and JH to talk about her past projects, na...
2021-04-20
42 min
Attaching to God: Neuroscience-informed Spiritual Formation
005 Why Lament Amid The Meaninglessness of Life (with Mega Anna Neff & Mark R. McMinn)
Is lament a lack of faith, or the fullness of hope? Could the refusal to lament be a "spiritual defense" rather than spiritual maturity? And what do we do when everything in life becomes meaningless?Today we are talking with Megan Anna Neff and Mark R. McMinn about integrating theology and psychology during those difficult times that inevitably come in life. They both co-authored Embodying Integration: A Fresh Look at Christianity in the Therapy Room (by IVP).Join the Being With community for episodes, posts, and other resources.Please subscribe and review o...
2021-04-16
40 min
Attaching to God: Neuroscience-informed Spiritual Formation
004 How To Supersize Your Discipleship (with Dr. Brad Strawn)
"I am NOT a Christian. We are Christian." What if your "personal" devotions are anything but? What if you can't really be a Christian alone? What if we need to extend our minds in order to enhance our spiritual life. These questions and more are what we are talking about in this episode, with guest Dr. Brad Strawn. Check out his new book, Enhancing Christian Life: How Extended Cognition Augments Religious Community. Please join the Being With community for episodes, posts, and other resources.Please subscribe and review on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube.
2021-04-13
32 min
Attaching to God: Neuroscience-informed Spiritual Formation
001 What is Relational Neuroscience?
Neuroscience?If this podcast is all about neuroscience, spiritual formation, and faith, then we need some sort of definition of neuroscience. This episode talks about "relational neuroscience" (really "interpersonal neurobiology"), what it covers and why it matters.Please join the Being With community for episodes, posts, and other resources.Please subscribe and review on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube.If you would like coaching or spiritual direction that aligns with this podcast, then connect with Cyd Holsclaw here.—Resources:Brain in the Palm of Your Hand:...
2021-04-10
14 min
Attaching to God: Neuroscience-informed Spiritual Formation
002 The Making of a Mature Disciple (with Jim Wilder)
How do disciples grow in maturity? And why do some get stuck while others flourish? And what about the barriers of trauma and abuse? Dr. Jim Wilder is our guest today. He is a Clinical Psychologist & Neurotheologian at Life Model Works. He is author of many books, recently Renovated: God, Dallas Willard and the Church that Transforms and co-author of The Other Half of the Church: Christian Community, Brain Science, and Overcoming Spiritual Stagnation.Please join the Being With community for episodes, posts, and other resources.Please subscribe and review on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube.
2021-04-10
40 min
Attaching to God: Neuroscience-informed Spiritual Formation
003 Can you just turn on JOY? (with Chris Coursey)
Can you just turn on Joy like a switch? And does it matter for your relationships?Chris Coursey says yes in his new book Joy Switch: How Your Brain's Secret Circuit Affects Your Relationships--And How You Can Activate It.In this episode you will discover how to know when your joy switch is offhow to turn it back on, andwhat it means for your relationships others and with God.Please join the Being With community for episodes, posts, and other resources.Please subscribe and review on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube.If y...
2021-04-10
30 min
Book Talk
Episode 60: The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai
Host Cyd Oppenheimer talks with author Rebecca Makkai about what constitutes cultural appropriation and how to "write across difference," the dangers of "leading with meaning" and why writers should trust their subconscious, and why she had to kill off Cyd's favorite character; guest readers Jessica Sager and Annie Thoms join Oppenheimer to discuss mistakes, responsibility, and guilt; striving for safety while living in danger; and what happens -- to us and to others -- when our stories unravel.
2018-06-27
55 min
Book Talk
Episode 60: The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai
Host Cyd Oppenheimer talks with author Rebecca Makkai about what constitutes cultural appropriation and how to "write across difference," the dangers of "leading with meaning" and why writers should trust their subconscious, and why she had to kill off Cyd's favorite character; guest readers Jessica Sager and Annie Thoms join Oppenheimer to discuss mistakes, responsibility, and guilt; striving for safety while living in danger; and what happens -- to us and to others -- when our stories unravel.
2018-06-27
00 min
Book Talk
Episode 59: Mother of Invention by Caeli Wolfson Widger
Host Cyd Oppenheimer talks with author Caeli Wolfson Widger about "morning" sickness and parenting, leaning in and pushing through, and what it means to write a feminist novel; guest readers Tui Sutherland and Brian Slattery join Oppenheimer to discuss false choices and the patriarchy , strong women and toxic masculinity, and the ways Brian does and doesn't resemble Tessa's husband Peter.
2018-05-30
00 min
Book Talk
Episode 58: The Optimistic Decade by Heather Abel
Host Cyd Oppenheimer talks with author Heather Abel about idealism and disillusionment, booms and busts, and why stories matter; guest readers Kristopher Jansma and Brad Ridky join Oppenheimer to discuss power and privilege, masculinity and mythmaking, and the invention of identity.
2018-05-02
00 min
Book Talk
Episode 57: Stray City by Chelsey Johnson
Host Cyd Oppenheimer talks with author Chelsey Johnson about being a rock'n'roll flutist, learning to love plot, and how to write an ending; guest readers Emily Moore and Jennifer Eng join Oppenheimer to discuss records and oceans, mothers and daughters, and strays and strayings.
2018-04-18
00 min
Book Talk
Episode 56: What You Don't Know About Charlie Outlaw
Host Cyd Oppenheimer talks with author Leah Stewart about her "thematic preoccupation" with identity and gender, writing at the border of genre and literary fiction, and the influences of the 17th-century novel and Buffy the Vampire Slayer on this novel; guest readers Tui Sutherland, Brian Slattery, and Alfie Guy join Oppenheimer to discuss love, fame, and the hero's quest.
2018-04-04
00 min
Book Talk
Episode 55: The Gunners by Rebecca Kauffman
Host Cyd Oppenheimer talks with author Rebecca Kauffman about change and the passage of time, the infinite complexity of the human heart, and the importance of allowing ourselves to be seen and to be known; guest readers Annie Thoms and Jessica Sager join Oppenheimer to discuss wood frogs and grackles, quicksand and bridges, blindness and seeing.
2018-03-21
00 min
Book Talk
Episode 54: The Lost Girls of Camp Forevermore by Kim Fu
Host Cyd Oppenheimer talks with author Kim Fu about Lord of the Flies, girls and their friendships, and unhappy endings; guest readers Yael Shinar and Alice Baumgartner join Oppenheimer to discuss mothers, daughters, and chickens, and what it means to be lost and then found.
2018-02-21
00 min
Book Talk
Episode 52: Halsey Street by Naima Coster
Host Cyd Oppenheimer talks with author Naima Coster about "the kinds of distance and intimacy that can exist between people across lines of class and race," "figuring out how to find freedom without running away," and "not wanting to write a book in which nobody raised their voices;" guest readers Emily Moore and Sophfronia Scott join Oppenheimer to discuss object studies, returning home, and what it means to be the woman in the attic.
2018-01-24
00 min
Book Talk
Episode 51: The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin
Host Cyd Oppenheimer talks with author Chloe Benjamin about unreliable narrators ("To me, every narrator is unreliable"), about allowing herself to write characters whose lived experience differs from her own ("research and empathy are the best way I've found to give myself that permission"), and choosing to end not with death but with healing; guest readers Annie Thoms and Jessica Sager join Oppenheimer to discuss the journeys of oppressed peoples, the stories that we tell ourselves, and what it means to believe in transformation.
2018-01-10
00 min
Book Talk
Episode 50: Improvement by Joan Silber
Host Cyd Oppenheimer talks with author Joan Silber about writing against the "narcissism of the novel," about being "against narrowness," and the dangers of being too careful ("then you lie in other ways"); guest readers Brad Ridky and Alice Baumgartner join Oppenheimer to discuss impermanence and contingency, the public and the private, and the desire to be seen.
2017-11-15
00 min
Book Talk
Episode 49: Unforgivable Love by Sophfronia Scott
Host Cyd Oppenheimer talks with author Sophfronia Scott about the constraints and possibilities inherent in telling a story that's already been told, about villains and heroes, and about the influence of "Dallas" and "The Godfather" on her writing; guest readers Deborah Cantrell and Jessica Sager join Oppenheimer to discuss race, gender, and the political and cultural relevance of this novel today.
2017-10-18
00 min
Book Talk
Episode 48: Hollow by Owen Egerton
Host Cyd Oppenheimer talks with author Owen Egerton about the difference between the novel and film ("a movie knows exactly what it wants you to feel when you step out of the theater; a book you can walk away from in a bunch of different ways"); about why he fell in love with writing ("here was a place where my questions could live"); and about how writing Hollow changed him ("it expanded the mystery"). Guest readers Annie Thoms and Jessica Sager join Oppenheimer to discuss loss and grief, passivity and action, the choice to live, and the search for meaning.
2017-09-20
00 min
Book Talk
Episode 47: The Burning Girl by Claire Messud
Host Cyd Oppenheimer talks with author Claire Messud about coming of age ("I was reminded of how central bafflement is to that experience"); her purposeful choice to leave so many questions unanswered ("the writers I love and admire the most write into the openness"); and how we tell stories to make sense of our world -- and yet in doing so, leave so many things out. Guest readers Kristopher Jansma and Emily Moore join Oppenheimer to discuss shelter and asylum; babysitters and caretakers; poisoned cloaks and loss of innocence.
2017-09-06
00 min
Book Talk
Episode 46: The Chalk Artist by Allegra Goodman
Host Cyd Oppenheimer talks with author Allegra Goodman about about the challenges of articulating the visual, about what fiction and video games have in common (and how they differ), and about why she believes art continues to be important ("people are interested, these days, in which lives matter... a novel validates individual lives"); guest readers Alice Baumgartner and Brad Ridky join Oppenheimer to discuss mythology, metaphor, and metamorphosis.
2017-08-23
00 min
Book Talk
Episode 45: The Locals by Jonathan Dee
Host Cyd Oppenheimer talks with author Jonathan Dee about writing a prologue that doesn't seem like a prologue, about the rise and fall of the "social novel," and about why fiction continues to matter in today's America; guest readers Sam Purdy and Mark Oppenheimer join Cyd to discuss masculinity, morality, and authenticity.
2017-08-09
00 min
Book Talk
Episode 45: The Locals by Jonathan Dee
Host Cyd Oppenheimer talks with author Jonathan Dee about writing a prologue that doesn't seem like a prologue, about the rise and fall of the "social novel," and about why fiction continues to matter in today's America; guest readers Sam Purdy and Mark Oppenheimer join Cyd to discuss masculinity, morality, and authenticity.
2017-08-09
54 min
Book Talk
Episode 44: The Leavers by Lisa Ko
Host Cyd Oppenheimer talks with author Lisa Ko about becoming the person you want to be to write the book you want to write; about trying and failing and trying again; and about how you know, after you've been working on a book for 8 years, when it's finally done (winning a prestigious literary award before the book is even under contract is a helpful sign!); guest readers Kristopher Jansma and Emily Moore join Oppenheimer to discuss mothers and sons, coming of age, and language and its loss.
2017-07-26
00 min
Book Talk
Episode 43: Who Is Rich? by Matthew Klam
Host Cyd Oppenheimer talks with author Matthew Klam about his process ("I write this sentence and then the next sentence and then the one after that and if I can't pull off the sentence that comes after that I know I can't keep going"); about writing the un-sayable ("I am trying to upset people"); and about whether it's possible to draw a line between fiction and autobiography. Also, they bond over their intense obsession with the writer Tim O'Brien. Guest readers Annie Thoms and Jessica Sager join Oppenheimer to discuss concussions, broken arms, and diamond earrings; unreliable narrators and unlikely lov...
2017-07-12
00 min
Book Talk
Episode 42: Spoonbenders by Daryl Gregory
Host Cyd Oppenheimer talks with author Daryl Gregory about quarreling with his editor about structure, about the advantages of writing science fiction, and about the ways science fiction is like every other genre; guest readers Tui Sutherland and Alfie Guy join Oppenheimer to discuss fraud, fakery, fire-starters, friendship, and family.
2017-06-28
00 min
Book Talk
Episode 41: The Reminders by Val Emmich
Host Cyd Oppenheimer talks with author Val Emmich about why he writes (“Because I’m insane? Why do any of us do this?”), capturing the perspective of a 10-year-old girl (“the actual discovery of her voice was an accident”), and what Sydney’s secret was in earlier drafts (you have to listen to find out!). Also, he sings! Guest readers Brian Slattery and Tui Sutherland join Oppenheimer to discuss old friends and nosy children, trusted sidekicks and flawed partners; and TV talk shows, shopping carts, and song-writing.
2017-05-31
00 min
Book Talk
Episode 40: All I Love and Know by Judith Frank
Host Cyd Oppenheimer talks with author Judith Frank about where this book started for her ("it was going to begin with a terrorist attack and end with the day that gay marriage became legal in Massachusetts. I had a hunch that they might have something to say to each other"); writing from a child's point of view ("I knew I was going to be using my full vocabulary to be describing her thoughts"); and why she thought a book about gay men was more likely to sell than a book about lesbians ("It's just sexism. Men still count as universal...
2017-05-17
00 min
Book Talk
Episode 39: The Fall of Lisa Bellow by Susan Perabo
Host Cyd Oppenheimer talks with author Susan Perabo about the ways this novel is and isn't about an abduction ("it's about this family, it's about coming of age, it's about motherhood); about her choice to leave us with an ending full of questions; and about "the things we allow ourselves to do that put distance between us and the people that we love;" guest readers Annie Thoms and Jessica Sager join Oppenheimer to discuss futility and hope, profound acts of courage and kindness, and what it means to "get out of the way."
2017-05-03
00 min
Book Talk
Episode 38: All Grown Up by Jami Attenberg
Host Cyd Oppenheimer talks with author Jami Attenberg about writing in the second person, playing with non-linear narratives, and what to make of readers who yell at you; guest readers Alice Baumgartner and Deborah Cantrell join Oppenheimer to discuss the Eiffel Tower, change and sameness, and upending the marriage plot.
2017-04-19
00 min
Book Talk
Episode 37: Marlena by Julie Buntin
Host Cyd Oppenheimer talks with author Julie Buntin about books that are about what it means to write a book, about the space between what happened and what you remember and how you tell it, and about the way remembering can be an act of love; guest readers Jessica Sager and Sam Purdy join Oppenheimer to discuss mothers and brothers, witnesses and bystanders, and strong girls, wielding knives.
2017-04-05
00 min
Book Talk
Episode 36: The Gargoyle Hunters by John Freeman Gill
Host Cyd Oppenheimer talks with author John Freeman Gill about the Bogardus Heist (a true-life architectural mystery), how his non-fiction writing mirrors his fiction, and what it was like to carry around the first 15 pages of his novel for 20 years before sitting down to write it; guest readers Alice Baumgartner and Alfie Guy join Oppenheimer to discuss collections and connections, restoration and re-creation, and stealing, salvage, and salvation.
2017-03-22
00 min
Book Talk
Episode 35: This Is How It Always Is by Laurie Frankel
Host Cyd Oppenheimer talks with author Laurie Frankel about how she managed to write so convincingly about life with five kids, which parts she ended up leaving out, and all the ways this novel is and isn't a metaphor; guest readers Annie Thoms and Jessica Sager join Oppenheimer to discuss loss and gain, diagnosis and transformation, and princesses in towers.
2017-03-08
00 min
Book Talk
Episode 34: Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
Host Cyd Oppenheimer talks with author Min Jin Lee about writing what you know versus writing what you don't, and what she sees at the heart of this novel ("It's about race, and refugees, and assimilation, but I think, above all, it's a book about survival"); guest readers Kate Kincaid and Sophfronia Scott join Oppenheimer to discuss passing and identity, family and home, and whether, and how, it matters if history has failed us.
2017-02-28
00 min
Book Talk
Episode 33: The Animators by Kayla Rae Whitaker
Host Cyd Oppenheimer talks with author Kayla Rae Whitaker about why she left so many questions unanswered and what, in the book, surprised even her; guest readers Annie Thoms and Jessica Sager join Oppenheimer to discuss mothers and daughters, journeys and rebirth, and the powers and dangers of stories.
2017-02-08
00 min
Book Talk
Episode 32: The Winter in Anna by Reed Karaim
Host Cyd Oppenheimer talks with author Reed Karaim about choosing to begin at the end, how to revise, and why he writes fiction in today's America; guest readers Alice Baumgartner and Jennifer Eng join Oppenheimer to discuss fire and ice, oceans and buffalo, and tragedy and redemption.
2017-01-25
00 min
Book Talk
Episode 31: Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan
Host Cyd Oppenheimer talks with author Robin Sloan about unlearning how to write for the Internet ("I still catch myself rushing, hurrying, getting nervous that a section’s going to go on too long”) and reading with Google open on the side ("it makes my brain light up and makes my heart glow, what an amazing, wonderful way to read"); guest readers Tui Sutherland and Alfie Guy join Oppenheimer to discuss technology and tradition, fantasy and friendship, names and nighttime.
2016-12-14
00 min
Book Talk
Episode 30: Brewster by Mark Slouka
Host Cyd Oppenheimer talks with Mark Slouka about story and memory, truth and fiction, tragedy and redemption; guest readers Sam Purdy and Jessica Sager join Oppenheimer to discuss fathers and brothers, power and pain, and why we run the race we run.
2016-11-02
00 min
Book Talk
Episode 29: Don't Let My Baby Do Rodeo by Boris Fishman
Host Cyd Oppenheimer talks with Boris Fishman about belonging, community, and notions of home, along with how fiction is a way to explore alternate lives ("or the lives at which we have not yet arrived"); guest readers Brad Ridky and Shifra Sharlin join Oppenheimer to discuss insiders and interlopers, others and outsiders, driving and being driven.
2016-10-19
00 min
Book Talk
Episode 28: The Wangs vs. The World by Jade Chang
Host Cyd Oppenheimer talks with author Jade Chang about what was interesting about writing a book set during the Great Recession ("When you're in a time of upheaval, it's also a time when anything can happen"), and the ways her novel rebels against the traditional immigrant narrative ("I really wanted to write about immigrants who see themselves as absolutely central to their own story and to the story of this country"); guest readers Brian Eng and Jennifer Eng join Oppenheimer to discuss art and artifice, success and failure, and the relationship between being seen and being known.
2016-10-05
00 min
Book Talk
Episode 27: The Nix by Nathan Hill
Host Cyd Oppenheimer talks with author Nathan Hill about misadventures in Chicago traffic, writing as a source of joy, and what he left out between the 1200-page first draft and the final 620 pages; guest readers Annie Thoms and Jessica Sager join Oppenheimer to discuss ghosts, choosing your own adventure, and the invisible injury.
2016-09-28
00 min
Book Talk
Episode 26: Behold the Dreamers by Imbolo Mbue
Host Cyd Oppenheimer talks with author Imbolo Mbue about race, class, and becoming a writer; guest readers Ian Solomon and Matt Levine join Oppenheimer to discuss what this novel has to say about heroism and humanity, dissembling and deception, and the quest for authenticity.
2016-09-07
00 min
Book Talk
Episode 25: Good Morning, Midnight by Lily Brooks-Dalton
Host Cyd Oppenheimer talks with author Lily Brooks- Dalton about writing the quietest post-apocalyptic novel ever and about her choice to end with a cliffhanger ("Coming to a culmination in a place of not knowing is so much of what life is"); guest readers Brian Slattery and Tui Sutherland join Oppenheimer to discuss isolation, loneliness, grief, and hope, and crack each other up playing a game of "Which Astronaut Are You?"
2016-08-24
00 min
Book Talk
Episode 24: The Unseen World by Liz Moore
Host Cyd Oppenheimer talks with author Liz Moore about her writing process, the way this novel differs from her last, and her character's original secret past; guest readers Sophfronia Scott and Alice Baumgartner join Oppenheimer to discuss grief and ghosts, betrayal and bequests, inheritance and invention.
2016-07-27
00 min
Book Talk
Episode 23: Surprise Me by Deena Goldstone
Host Cyd Oppenheimer talks with author Deena Goldstone about the morality of mining other people's lives in your own writing and whether it's possible to teach someone to write; guest readers Emily Moore and Matt Higbee join Oppenheimer to discuss gender dynamics, writing and motherhood, and stalkers and figure skaters.
2016-07-13
00 min
Book Talk
Episode 22: A Hundred Thousand Worlds by Bob Proehl
Host Cyd Oppenheimer talks with author Bob Proehl about his first draft and how he chose when to reveal certain secrets ("[When] you realize a piece of information is going to be in the marketing materials, you have to give that away right off - that's the not-fun answer!"); guest readers Brian Slattery and Alfie Guy join Oppenheimer to consider the ways this novel is both a love letter to comic books and a critique of them, and to see how many times they can say "agency" in 25 minutes.
2016-06-29
00 min
Book Talk
Episode 21: The Sunlit Night by Rebecca Dinerstein
Host Cyd Oppenheimer talks with author Rebecca Dinerstein about starting her novel with a broken condom ("That sentence absolutely mortifies me") and what her writing workshop had to say about her first draft ("'There's no plot! There's no story!'"); guest readers Brad Ridky and Annie Thoms join Oppenheimer to discuss bread-making and art, beginnings and endings, and why we sometimes need darkness.
2016-06-16
00 min
Book Talk
Episode 20: Make Your Home Among Strangers by Jennine Capo Crucet
Host Cyd Oppenheimer talks with author Jennine Capó Crucet about her novel Make Your Home Among Strangers ("It's not a writer's job to solve a problem, but to define a problem clearly"); guest readers Sam Purdy and Shifra Sharlin join Oppenheimer to examine how their own backgrounds shape their reactions to these characters and their choices.
2016-06-02
00 min
Book Talk
Episode 19: The House at the Edge of the World by Julia Rochester
Host Cyd Oppenheimer talks with author Julia Rochester about her novel The House at the Edge of the World, and about escape, re-invention, and the power of storytelling; guest readers Tui Sutherland and Sophfronia Scott join Oppenheimer to discuss fable and myth, and water as metaphor.
2016-05-19
00 min
Book Talk
Episode 18: Imagine Me Gone by Adam Haslett
Host Cyd Oppenheimer talks with author Adam Haslett about his novel Imagine Me Gone ("It feels like the book I was meant to write") ; guest readers Kate Kincaid and Alice Baumgartner join Oppenheimer to discuss haunting, ghosts, and "the dark repetition."
2016-05-05
00 min
Book Talk
Episode 17: & Sons by David Gilbert
In one of the most fascinating interview ever on Book Talk, host Cyd Oppenheimer talks with author David Gilbert about his novel & Sons, discussing what it means when you decide to kill off a character by having him get hit by a bus; guest readers Annie Thoms and Jessica Sager join Oppenheimer to talk about shoes, closets, and the ways this post-modern novel plays with our understanding of stories, truth, and our own histories.
2016-04-21
00 min
Book Talk
Episode 16: Every Anxious Wave by Mo Daviau
Host Cyd Oppenheimer talks with author Mo Daviau about her novel Every Anxious Wave (she even sings!); guest readers Alfie Guy and Brian Slattery join Oppenheimer to consider the ways the stories we tell bout our pasts shape our presents and our futures.
2016-04-06
00 min
Book Talk
Episode 15: The Madwoman Upstairs by Catherine Lowell
Host Cyd Oppenheimer talks with author Catherine Lowell about her novel The Madwoman Upstairs, asking her whether you need to read the whole Bronte oeuvre to appreciate this book (short answer, no, but why not do it anyway?); guest readers Tui Sutherland and Sophfronia Scott join Oppenheimer to discuss mothers, madness, and the Wizard of Oz.
2016-03-23
00 min
Book Talk
Episode 14: Girl Through Glass by Sari Wilson
Host Cyd Oppenheimer talks with author Sari Wilson about her novel Girl Through Glass, and the way it mimics the form of a Romantic ballet; guest readers Alice Baumgartner and Kate Kincaid discuss beauty, power, and desire, and reflect upon blackouts.
2016-03-09
00 min
Book Talk
Episode 13: Why We Came to the City by Kristopher Jansma
Host Cyd Oppenheimer talks with author Kristopher Jansma about his novel Why We Came to the City ("It's about what happens to the city when the characters aren't in it, after they've left it, when it's become a part of them"); guest readers Annie Thoms and Jessica Sager join Oppenheimer to discuss pilgrimages and odysseys, 9/11, and the poet Yehuda ha-Levi.
2016-02-24
00 min
Book Talk
Episode 12: Bellweather Rhapsody by Kate Racculia
Host Cyd Oppenheimer talks with author Kate Racculia about her novel Bellweather Rhapsody, discussing the way smartphones have rendered the mystery obsolete; guest readers Alfie Guy and Tui Sutherland join Oppenheimer to talk about ghosts and guilt, disguise and destruction, and music, magic, and mirrors.
2016-02-10
00 min
Book Talk
Episode 11: Florence Gordon by Brian Morton
Host Cyd Oppenheimer talks with author Brian Morton about his novel Florence Gordon ("If you give up the effort to try to imagine what the world looks like from other people's points of view, you're not only giving up the effort to write fiction, you're giving up the effort to be a citizen of the world"); guest readers Sam Purdy and Shifra Sharlin join Oppenheimer to discuss whether ambition and decency can co-exist, and what constitutes courage.
2016-01-28
00 min
Book Talk
Episode 10: The Hundred Year House by Rebecca Makkai
Host Cyd Oppenheimer talks with author Rebecca Makkai about her novel The Hundred Year House and how to tell a story backwards; guest readers Alfie Guy and Alice Baumgartner join Oppenheimer to discuss Greek mythology, coincidence, and fate.
2016-01-14
00 min
Book Talk
Episode 9: Vaclav & Lena by Haley Tanner
Host Cyd Oppenheimer talks with author Haley Tanner about her novel Vaclav & Lena, and eating borscht in Brighton Beach; guest readers Annie Thoms and Jessica Sager join Oppenheimer to discuss disappearing acts, becoming invisible, and magic as metaphor.
2015-12-16
00 min
Book Talk
Episode 8: Heft by Liz Moore
Host Cyd Oppenheimer talks with author Liz Moore about her novel Heft; guest readers Brad Ridky and Deborah Cantrell join Oppenheimer to weigh in (no pun intended).
2015-12-02
00 min
Book Talk
Episode 7: Ten Thousand Saints by Eleanor Henderson
Host Cyd Oppenheimer talks with author Eleanor Henderson about her novel Ten Thousand Saints ("I wanted to write a book not just about the coming of age of young people, but the coming of age of a city"); guest readers Sam Purdy and Shifra Sharlin join Oppenheimer to discuss brothers and mothers, guilt and love.
2015-11-04
00 min
Book Talk
Episode 6: The Half Brother by Holly LeCraw
Host Cyd Oppenheimer talks with author Holly LeCraw about her novel The Half Brother; guest readers Annie Thoms and Jessica Sager join Oppenheimer to discuss heroes and outsiders, and custom, culture, and conscience.
2015-10-22
00 min
Book Talk
Episode 5: Tell the Wolves I'm Home by Carol Rifka Brunt
Host Cyd Oppenheimer talks with author Carol Rifka Brunt about her novel Tell the Wolves I'm Home ("I don't really like villains in books") and guest readers Deborah Cantrell and Sarah Woodford join Oppenheimer to discuss innocence lost, negative space, and the interplay of love, jealousy, and need.
2015-10-08
00 min
Book Talk
Episode 4: Your Face in Mine by Jess Row
Host Cyd Oppenheimer talks with author Jess Row about his novel Your Face in Mine about what his book has to say about race in America, and guest readers Ian Solomon and Shifra Sharlin join Oppenheimer to discuss identity, re-invention, and what Nabokov has to do with it all.
2015-09-24
00 min