Shows
Gnostic Reformation, Clear and SimpleThe Gnostic Pleroma, plus Children of the Fullness readingThis 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...
2025-09-1902 min
Attaching to God: Neuroscience-informed Spiritual Formation127 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...
2025-07-3131 minAttaching to God: Neuroscience-informed Spiritual Formation126 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...
2025-07-2909 min
Gnostic InsightsHow do we know what we know? A conversation with my brother about the scientific method, knowledge, gnosis, and truthWelcome 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...
2025-07-0534 min
Gnostic Reformation, Clear and SimpleLogic, gnosis, and the scientific methodWelcome 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]
2025-07-0534 minGnostic InsightsWill AI Wake UpFIRST 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...
2025-01-1127 min
Broken to Beloved Podcast009: Exploring the Four Landscapes of Attachment with Geoff & Cyd HolsclawHave 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...
2024-08-2755 min
Gnostic Reformation, Clear and SimplePascal's WagerThe 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...
2024-08-2525 minGnostic InsightsPascal’s WagerWelcome 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...
2024-08-2425 min
Más Allá De La TiendaEpisodio 34: Tomando Control De Tus FinanzasEn 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...
2024-07-2910 minMás Allá De La TiendaEpisodio 33: ¿Tus Ventas Están Bajando? Descubre Cómo Ajustar Tu EstrategiaEn 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...
2024-07-1506 minMás Allá De La TiendaEpisodio 27: Los 4 Pasos Fundamentales Para Tener Una Tienda Online Que VendaQueremos 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...
2024-05-2633 minMás Allá De La TiendaEpisodio 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...
2024-04-2904 minMás Allá De La TiendaEpisodio 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...
2024-04-1505 min
Gnostic Reformation, Clear and SimpleInterview with Hathaway JaneWelcome 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...
2024-01-2835 minGnostic InsightsInterview with Hathaway JaneWelcome 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...
2024-01-2735 minMás Allá De La TiendaEpisodio 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...
2023-09-2511 minMás Allá De La TiendaEpisodio 14: Guía para Elegir Proveedores Para Tu eCommerceCyd 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...
2023-09-1807 minMás Allá De La TiendaEpisodio 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...
2023-08-2811 min
Gnostic Reformation, Clear and SimpleWhat 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....
2023-08-2720 minMás Allá De La TiendaMás 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
2023-06-1210 minAttaching to God: Neuroscience-informed Spiritual Formation017 Why Having the Mind of Christ Requires a Body; Or, why the Bible and Neuroscience Aren't OpposedDoes 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...
2021-12-0633 minAttaching to God: Neuroscience-informed Spiritual Formation016 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...
2021-11-2954 minAttaching to God: Neuroscience-informed Spiritual Formation015 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...
2021-11-0934 minAttaching to God: Neuroscience-informed Spiritual Formation014 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...
2021-08-2333 minAttaching to God: Neuroscience-informed Spiritual Formation13 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...
2021-06-2840 minAttaching to God: Neuroscience-informed Spiritual Formation012 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...
2021-06-0752 minAttaching to God: Neuroscience-informed Spiritual Formation011 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....
2021-05-2540 minAttaching to God: Neuroscience-informed Spiritual Formation010 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.
2021-05-2426 minAttaching to God: Neuroscience-informed Spiritual Formation009 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...
2021-05-1836 minAttaching to God: Neuroscience-informed Spiritual Formation008 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...
2021-05-1036 minAttaching to God: Neuroscience-informed Spiritual Formation007 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...
2021-05-0333 minAttaching to God: Neuroscience-informed Spiritual Formation006 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...
2021-04-2636 min
Awkward Silences#64 - Civic Tech with Cyd HarrellWhether 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...
2021-04-2042 minAttaching to God: Neuroscience-informed Spiritual Formation005 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...
2021-04-1640 minAttaching to God: Neuroscience-informed Spiritual Formation004 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.
2021-04-1332 minAttaching to God: Neuroscience-informed Spiritual Formation001 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:...
2021-04-1014 minAttaching to God: Neuroscience-informed Spiritual Formation002 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.
2021-04-1040 minAttaching to God: Neuroscience-informed Spiritual Formation003 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...
2021-04-1030 min
Book TalkEpisode 60: The Great Believers by Rebecca MakkaiHost 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.
2018-06-2755 min
Book TalkEpisode 60: The Great Believers by Rebecca MakkaiHost 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.
2018-06-2700 min
Book TalkEpisode 59: Mother of Invention by Caeli Wolfson WidgerHost 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.
2018-05-3000 min
Book TalkEpisode 58: The Optimistic Decade by Heather AbelHost 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.
2018-05-0200 min
Book TalkEpisode 57: Stray City by Chelsey JohnsonHost 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.
2018-04-1800 min
Book TalkEpisode 56: What You Don't Know About Charlie OutlawHost 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.
2018-04-0400 min
Book TalkEpisode 55: The Gunners by Rebecca KauffmanHost 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.
2018-03-2100 min
Book TalkEpisode 54: The Lost Girls of Camp Forevermore by Kim FuHost 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.
2018-02-2100 min
Book TalkEpisode 52: Halsey Street by Naima CosterHost 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.
2018-01-2400 min
Book TalkEpisode 51: The Immortalists by Chloe BenjaminHost 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.
2018-01-1000 min
Book TalkEpisode 50: Improvement by Joan SilberHost 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.
2017-11-1500 min
Book TalkEpisode 49: Unforgivable Love by Sophfronia ScottHost 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.
2017-10-1800 min
Book TalkEpisode 48: Hollow by Owen EgertonHost 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.
2017-09-2000 min
Book TalkEpisode 47: The Burning Girl by Claire MessudHost 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.
2017-09-0600 min
Book TalkEpisode 46: The Chalk Artist by Allegra GoodmanHost 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.
2017-08-2300 min
Book TalkEpisode 45: The Locals by Jonathan DeeHost 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.
2017-08-0900 min
Book TalkEpisode 45: The Locals by Jonathan DeeHost 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.
2017-08-0954 min
Book TalkEpisode 44: The Leavers by Lisa KoHost 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.
2017-07-2600 min
Book TalkEpisode 43: Who Is Rich? by Matthew KlamHost 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...
2017-07-1200 min
Book TalkEpisode 42: Spoonbenders by Daryl GregoryHost 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.
2017-06-2800 min
Book TalkEpisode 41: The Reminders by Val EmmichHost 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.
2017-05-3100 min
Book TalkEpisode 40: All I Love and Know by Judith FrankHost 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...
2017-05-1700 min
Book TalkEpisode 39: The Fall of Lisa Bellow by Susan PeraboHost 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."
2017-05-0300 min
Book TalkEpisode 38: All Grown Up by Jami AttenbergHost 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.
2017-04-1900 min
Book TalkEpisode 37: Marlena by Julie BuntinHost 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.
2017-04-0500 min
Book TalkEpisode 36: The Gargoyle Hunters by John Freeman GillHost 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.
2017-03-2200 min
Book TalkEpisode 35: This Is How It Always Is by Laurie FrankelHost 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.
2017-03-0800 min
Book TalkEpisode 34: Pachinko by Min Jin LeeHost 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.
2017-02-2800 min
Book TalkEpisode 33: The Animators by Kayla Rae WhitakerHost 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.
2017-02-0800 min
Book TalkEpisode 32: The Winter in Anna by Reed KaraimHost 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.
2017-01-2500 min
Book TalkEpisode 31: Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin SloanHost 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.
2016-12-1400 min
Book TalkEpisode 30: Brewster by Mark SloukaHost 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.
2016-11-0200 min
Book TalkEpisode 29: Don't Let My Baby Do Rodeo by Boris FishmanHost 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.
2016-10-1900 min
Book TalkEpisode 28: The Wangs vs. The World by Jade ChangHost 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.
2016-10-0500 min
Book TalkEpisode 27: The Nix by Nathan HillHost 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.
2016-09-2800 min
Book TalkEpisode 26: Behold the Dreamers by Imbolo MbueHost 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.
2016-09-0700 min
Book TalkEpisode 25: Good Morning, Midnight by Lily Brooks-DaltonHost 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?"
2016-08-2400 min
Book TalkEpisode 24: The Unseen World by Liz MooreHost 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.
2016-07-2700 min
Book TalkEpisode 23: Surprise Me by Deena GoldstoneHost 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.
2016-07-1300 min
Book TalkEpisode 22: A Hundred Thousand Worlds by Bob ProehlHost 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.
2016-06-2900 min
Book TalkEpisode 21: The Sunlit Night by Rebecca DinersteinHost 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.
2016-06-1600 min
Book TalkEpisode 20: Make Your Home Among Strangers by Jennine Capo CrucetHost 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.
2016-06-0200 min
Book TalkEpisode 19: The House at the Edge of the World by Julia RochesterHost 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.
2016-05-1900 min
Book TalkEpisode 18: Imagine Me Gone by Adam HaslettHost 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."
2016-05-0500 min
Book TalkEpisode 17: & Sons by David GilbertIn 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.
2016-04-2100 min
Book TalkEpisode 16: Every Anxious Wave by Mo DaviauHost 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.
2016-04-0600 min
Book TalkEpisode 15: The Madwoman Upstairs by Catherine LowellHost 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.
2016-03-2300 min
Book TalkEpisode 14: Girl Through Glass by Sari WilsonHost 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.
2016-03-0900 min
Book TalkEpisode 13: Why We Came to the City by Kristopher JansmaHost 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.
2016-02-2400 min
Book TalkEpisode 12: Bellweather Rhapsody by Kate RacculiaHost 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.
2016-02-1000 min
Book TalkEpisode 11: Florence Gordon by Brian MortonHost 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.
2016-01-2800 min
Book TalkEpisode 10: The Hundred Year House by Rebecca MakkaiHost 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.
2016-01-1400 min
Book TalkEpisode 9: Vaclav & Lena by Haley TannerHost 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.
2015-12-1600 min
Book TalkEpisode 8: Heft by Liz MooreHost 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).
2015-12-0200 min
Book TalkEpisode 7: Ten Thousand Saints by Eleanor HendersonHost 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.
2015-11-0400 min
Book TalkEpisode 6: The Half Brother by Holly LeCrawHost 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.
2015-10-2200 min
Book TalkEpisode 5: Tell the Wolves I'm Home by Carol Rifka BruntHost 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.
2015-10-0800 min
Book TalkEpisode 4: Your Face in Mine by Jess RowHost 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.
2015-09-2400 min