Shows
Dynamic Business Leaders PodcastEP.32 - From Gridiron to Boardroom: Jonathan Perry on Leading with Purpose, Faith, and ResponsibilityWhat does it actually look like when someone builds a career around purpose rather than just achievement? In this episode of the Dynamic Business Leaders Podcast, hosts Roy Richardson and Sean Murphy sit down with Jonathan Perry, co-managing shareholder and co-chair of the real estate practice at Greenberg Traurig's Orlando office — one of the most prominent commercial real estate attorneys in the country.Jonathan has led multi-billion dollar transactions, including a $2.3 billion real estate investment trust deal and complex cross-border work spanning the Middle East. But what makes his story compelling is the through-line that connects all of...
2026-06-251h 24
Dynamic Business Leaders PodcastEP.31 - Momentum Starts with Clarity: How Joe Forgét Helps Leaders Align, Execute, and GrowWhat happens when a talented leadership team has everything it takes to win — but still can't get everyone moving in the same direction? In this episode of the Dynamic Business Leaders podcast, hosts Roy Richardson and Sean Murphy sit down with Joe Forgét, founder and CEO of Igniting Momentum, to answer that exact question.With more than 35 years of real-world experience spanning marketing, sales, operations, finance, and entrepreneurship — and having served as president, COO, and business owner — Joe brings a practitioner's lens to executive coaching and growth advisory work. He shares how he built the Ignition Framewo...
2026-06-101h 13
Dynamic Business Leaders PodcastEP.30 - More Than a Dealership: How Mike Murphy Built a Legacy on Family, Community, and FaithWhat does it take to build a business that lasts through cancer diagnoses, cyberattacks, hurricanes, and house fires — and still come out growing? In this episode of the Dynamic Business Leaders Podcast, host Roy Richardson and co-host Sean Murphy sit down with Mike Murphy, President of Murphy Auto Group, a seven-dealership, 22-entity operation spanning Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina.Mike's story isn't just about cars. It's about failing forward, servant leadership, and what happens when you anchor a business in purpose rather than profit. From washing cars at 14 to becoming one of the youngest general managers in th...
2026-05-271h 04
Dynamic Business Leaders PodcastEP.29 - From Football Fields to Boardrooms: David Sprinkle on Leading with IntentionWhat does coaching youth sports have to do with building a world-class recruiting firm? More than you might think.In this episode of the Leaders Podcast, hosts Roy Richardson and Sean Murphy sit down with David Sprinkle, founder and managing partner of Veritas Recruiting Group and Inc. 5000 honoree, for a candid conversation about leadership, hiring, and what it actually takes to build something that lasts.David draws a straight line from his days as a collegiate football player and youth sports coach to the leadership philosophy he runs his firm by today: standards matter, one-size-fits-all...
2026-05-131h 06
Some Things Considered with Sean MurphySeason 5 Episode 12 | Laurie Sheck | Exploring AI, Art, and EmpathyWhat happens when one of the most intellectually fearless writers working today sits down to talk about:* Dostoyevsky’s dialogic voice* Frankenstein as misunderstood creation myth* AI and the future of creativity* Illness as altered consciousness* Capitalism’s grip on media and academiaThis conversation moves from 19th-century Russia to present-day neural networks — but the real subject is this:What does it mean to remain human when machinery dominates the narrative?We talk about:• Writers who chase status vs. writers obsessed with the...
2026-03-171h 04
Dynamic Business Leaders PodcastEP.25 - Building, Rebuilding, and Leading in Deep Tech with Shari CostantiniIn this episode, Roy Richardson and Sean Murphy sit down with trailblazing founder and CEO Shari Costantini—a woman who has built not one, but two industry-shaping companies.Shari first scaled Avant Healthcare Professionals into one of the largest international healthcare staffing firms in the U.S., earning national recognition, including EY Entrepreneur of the Year and Orlando Business Journal CEO of the Year. Today, she’s disrupting an entirely different arena as co-founder and CEO of Kismet Technologies, the company behind a first-of-its-kind mineral-based antimicrobial tech...
2026-03-1153 min
Some Things Considered with Sean MurphySeason 5 Episode 11 | Walt Hunter | Teaching, Poetry, and Refusing to Lower the BarOn this episode of Some Things Considered, I spoke with Walt Hunter — senior associate dean at Case Western Reserve University, professor of 20th- and 21st-century literature, poetry editor at The Atlantic, and author of the poetry collection Some Flowers.The conversation began with the Atlantic essay that prompted the invitation: “Stop Meeting Students Where They Are.”It’s a provocative title — but the thesis is bracing rather than punitive. Hunter argues that in an era defined by devices, distraction, AI, and cultural impatience, educators must resist the impulse to lower expectations in the name of accessibil...
2026-03-1059 min
Some Things Considered with Sean MurphySeason 5 Episode 10 | Gina Gershon | Autonomy, Art, and Refusing the Path of Least ResistanceIn this episode of Some Things Considered, the conversation centers on icon, actor, performer, and now memoirist Gina Gershon — a career artist whose new book, Alpha Pussy, reflects on four decades in the entertainment industry and the life that shaped it.Rather than a conventional Hollywood tell-all, this book reveals something deeper: Gershon’s career has been defined as much by what she refused as by what she accepted.Key points in this conversation:* Autonomy is not rebellion for its own sake — it’s maintenance of self.* Longevity in creative...
2026-03-0359 min
Some Things Considered with Sean MurphySeason 5 Episode 9 | Stephen Marche | Writing, Failure, Endurance...and Civil WarOn this week’s episode, I had a wide-ranging, bracing conversation with Stephen Marche on Some Things Considered—a writer I’ve admired since his Esquire days, and one whose work feels more urgent by the year.We focused on two recent books that feel both timely and enduring: The Next Civil War and On Writing and Failure.A few key threads from our conversation:* The Next Civil War now reads less like prophecy and more like reportage. What once felt foreboding increasingly feels like documentation.* What’s changed in America isn’t be...
2026-02-2455 min
Some Things Considered with Sean MurphySeason 5 Episode 8 | John Lingan | Marching to the Beat of Many DrummersHad the pleasure of sitting down with John Lingan on Some Things Considered to talk about his new book, Backbeats: A History of Rock and Roll in 15 Drummers — and I can’t recommend it highly enough.A few highlights from our conversation:* Drummers are the perfect lens for understanding rock history: feel, time, culture, and collaboration all live at the kit.* John Bonham vs. Charlie Watts isn’t about better or worse — it’s about how radically different approaches shape a band’s identity.* Ringo Starr remains one of the most misunderstoo...
2026-02-171h 10
Dynamic Business Leaders PodcastEP.23 - From Kingston Dreams to Wall Street Ambitions: David Mulling's PathIn this inspiring episode, Roy and Sean sit down with globally recognized investor, philanthropist, and economic visionary David Mullings, founder and CEO of Blue Mahoe Capital. From his early years in Kingston and Miami to building companies before most people finish college, David shares a powerful journey driven by purpose, discipline, and a deep commitment to uplifting the Caribbean diaspora.David opens up about discovering his life mission at age 15, the cultural influence of growing up Jamaican, and how intentional life design keeps him balanced and focused. He breaks down the roles of...
2026-02-111h 23
Some Things Considered with Sean MurphySeason 5 Ep 7 | Shane Hinton | Writing, Teaching, & Giving Away Books for FreeToday’s episode features writer and teacher Shane Hinton, author of Pinkies, Radio Dark, Other Shane Hintons, and editor of We Can’t Help It If We’re From Florida. His work blends the absurd, the uncanny, and the deeply human—often with Florida as both setting and state of mind.We dove into two big threads: his fantastic Lit Hub essay “Why I Give My Books Away for Free” and the larger questions that essay raises about art, money, and the changing literary landscape.Shane’s Lit Hub piece struck a chord because it articulates so...
2026-02-101h 01
Some Things Considered with Sean MurphySeason 5 Ep 6 | Sara Stibitz | A Ladder to the StarsIn this episode of Some Things Considered, I had the pleasure of speaking with Sara Stibitz—NYT-bestselling collaborative writer, author of Writing on Purpose, and creator of the Substack A Ladder to the Stars—about creativity, narrative, and how story shapes everything we do. We went deep and wide, and some of the highlights include:* Sara’s relationship to story:Why storytelling is central to human meaning, healing, and creative practice.* A Ladder to the Stars:Helping writers navigate craft, publishing, emotional resilience, and building a sustainable creative life.* Creativity as connection:Why Sara r...
2026-02-031h 06
Dynamic Business Leaders PodcastEP.22 - Building Better Businesses: The Nperspective Approach with Russell SlappeyIn this episode of the Dynamic Business Leaders Podcast, host Roy Richardson and co-host Sean Murphy sit down with Russell Slappey, Founder & CEO of Nperspective CFO & Strategic Services — a leader who has spent more than two decades helping companies gain clarity, confidence, and financial control. Russell shares his entrepreneurial journey, his leadership philosophy, and the lessons he learned from scaling one of Florida’s premier fractional CFO firms.From early struggles and pivotal reinventions to navigating partnership challenges and embracing AI-driven transformation, Russell offers a transparent look into what it really takes to buil...
2026-01-281h 23
Some Things Considered with Sean MurphySeason 5 Ep 5 | Chris Colin | Modern Life is Designed to Exhaust YouIn this episode, I talk with journalist and author Chris Colin, whose work in The New York Times, The Atlantic, and the WSJ explores the strange, frustrating, and revealing corners of modern life. We cover some of his recent journalism–and the experiences that inspired them, as well as the contemporary state of all-things literary. Some key takeaways include:* His New York Times story “You’re Going to Lose Your Mind’: My Three-Day Retreat in Total Darkness.”How Chris ended up in a three-day total-darkness retreat; what happens to the mind without stimulus; fear, boredom, insight, and why the pi...
2026-01-2755 min
Some Things Considered with Sean MurphySeason 5 Ep 4 | Jenna Blum | Changing Genres, Creative Identity, & the Business of WritingThis episode of Some Things Considered features the always-brilliant Jenna Blum, New York Times and #1 international bestselling author of Those Who Save Us, The Stormchasers, The Lost Family, Woodrow on the Bench, and her forthcoming psychological thriller Murder Your Darlings (out January 2026).It’s a wide-ranging, candid conversation about writing across genres, the realities of literary success, and what it really means to build a sustainable creative life.Murder Your Darlings & Genre Shifts* Jenna’s first psychological thriller* Why she chose to tackle the genre now* Writing across historical fict...
2026-01-131h 01
Some Things Considered with Sean MurphySeason 5 Ep 3 | Tim Wendel | Baseball, History, and CraftIn this episode, I speak with award-winning author and Johns Hopkins writing professor Tim Wendel, whose books include Summer of ’68, Castro’s Curveball, Cancer Crossings, and his newest novel Rebel Falls. Tim is productive, well-read, and well-traveled, so our conversation inexorably covered a great deal of ground, and some topics include:* Baseball & storytelling: How the game shaped Tim’s life as a writer; the mythology of Bull Durham; the legend of Steve Dalkowski.* Substack & citizen historians: Why Tim believes everyday people must help preserve historical truth, especially amid 2025’s wave of historical erasure.* History...
2026-01-061h 05
Dynamic Business Leaders PodcastEP.21 - The Courage to Scale: Geoffrey Gallo on Vision, Strategy, and ImpactIn this episode of the Dynamic Business Leaders Podcast, host Roy Richardson and co-host Sean Murphy interview Geoffrey Gallo, Partner for Client Relations in the Central Florida region at H&CO USA. With a strong background in strategic advisory and business development, Geoffrey co-founded CEO Leadership Forums to tackle hiring and retention challenges faced by privately held companies. He shares insights on building resilient leadership communities, aligning talent with growth, and the evolving needs of mid-market businesses. Join us for a conversation that blends practical strategy with visionary leadership. Key Takeaways
2025-12-171h 31
Some Things Considered with Sean MurphySeason 5 Ep 2 | From Prison to Advocacy: Stephanie Shepard on Justice and ReformIn this episode, I speak with Stephanie Shepard, Executive Director of Last Prisoner Project. She was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for a first-time, nonviolent cannabis offense and now leads the Last Prisoner Project (LPP). Her story—and her advocacy—reveals the human cost of the War on Drugs and the urgent need for restorative justice. Some key takeaways from our conversation include:* Stephanie’s story: From her 2010 conviction and nine-year sentence to becoming Executive Director of LPP.* What LPP does: Freeing cannabis prisoners, record clearance, reentry support, and policy reform.* Breaking myths...
2025-12-161h 04
Some Things Considered with Sean MurphySeason 5 Ep 1 | Matt Davis | What does Mount Rushmore tell us about America?Some Things Considered returns with our fifth season, and we could not be more excited. Episode One features Matthew Davis, with whom I speak about his new book Biography of a Mountain, an in-depth examination of Mt. Rushmore as both a monument and a metaphor for America. Drawing on years of research and personal engagement with the Black Hills, Davis unpacks the layered histories, mythologies, and political tensions embedded in this iconic site.We cover a ton of ground, and highlights include:* Why Mt. Rushmore: How Davis realized this was the book he needed to...
2025-12-091h 02
Dynamic Business Leaders PodcastEP.20 – Genius at Play: Marnie Forestieri on Empowering Early LearnersIn this episode of the Dynamic Business Leaders Podcast, host Roy Richardson and co-host Sean Murphy interview Marnie Forestieri, a nationally recognized entrepreneur, author, and early childhood education advocate. As the founder of Young Innovators Academy and a former journalist turned EdTech leader, Marnie blends creativity with business acumen to transform how children learn and grow. She shares her journey from media to education, the challenges of scaling impact-driven ventures, and her mission to empower educators and parents through innovation. Join us for an inspiring conversation on leadership, learning, and building a legacy through purpose-driven...
2025-11-191h 08
Dynamic Business Leaders PodcastEP.19 – Scaling with Purpose: David Carrier on Leading Through Change and ChallengeIn this episode of the Dynamic Business Leaders Podcast, host Roy Richardson and co-host Sean Murphy interview David Carrier, founder of QuantumFlo and managing partner at QuantumFly Capital Group. With over 40 years of experience in sales, engineering, and entrepreneurship, David shares his journey from building pump systems to scaling disruptive technologies. He discusses the founding of QuantumFlo, the creation of industry-defining software, and the pivotal moment that led him to invest in himself after a significant setback. Now focused on private equity and real estate, David offers insights into market dynamics, tax strategies, and the...
2025-10-151h 09
Some Things Considered with Sean MurphySeason 4 Ep 11 | Karen E. Bender | Literary Fiction, Storytelling, and the Times We Live InWhat is the role of literary fiction in 2025? Is it simply escapism, or is it something deeper — a mirror to the world we inhabit, a lens on its inequities, contradictions, and quiet truths? In my latest episode of Some Things Considered, I spoke with Karen E. Bender, National Book Award finalist and author of The Words of Dr. L, to explore these questions.Karen’s new collection is a meditation on our times. Her stories navigate the uneasy space between overt political urgency and narrative subtlety, achieving what only the most mature and authoritative fiction can: illuminating soci...
2025-10-071h 00
Some Things Considered with Sean MurphySeason 4 Ep 10 | Caroline Bock & Jona Colson | Talking "America's Future" with Washington Writer's Publishing HouseIn this episode of Some Things Considered, I’m joined by Caroline Bock and Jona Colson, co-presidents of Washington Writers’ Publishing House. They are two of my favorite DC-area writers and advocates, but today we gather to discuss–and celebrate–the publication of a brand new anthology “America’s Future: poetry & prose in response to tomorrow.” Caroline is the author of the story collection “Carry Her Home” and Jona’s poetry collection “Said Through Glass” (both published in 2018). Washington Writers’ Publishing House is the longest, continuously operating nonprofit, cooperative, literary organization in the United States. Established in 1975 in our nation’s capital, we have...
2025-09-301h 02
Some Things Considered with Sean MurphySeason 4 Ep 9 | Karen Eber | The Art & Science of StorytellingIn this episode of Some Things Considered, I sit down with Karen Eber — TED speaker, award-winning author of The Perfect Story, and former Fortune 500 executive whose talks have reached millions worldwide. Karen specializes in the science and skill of storytelling, helping leaders and creatives alike use stories to inform, influence, and inspire.The conversation explores:* The science of storytelling: what happens in the brain when a story works, and why humans are wired to connect through narrative.* What makes a story succeed—or fail: common pitfalls and how to avoid them.* Trus...
2025-09-2359 min
Dynamic Business Leaders PodcastEP.18 - Leading with Purpose: Steven Castino on Growth, Culture, and CommunityIn this episode of the Dynamic Business Leaders Podcast, host Roy Richardson and co-host Sean Murphy interview Steven Castino, the Chief Growth Officer at Rehmann. A key figure in the professional services industry, Steven's career spans finance and executive leadership, marked by innovative mergers, acquisitions, and a commitment to a people-first culture. As a former collegiate athlete, Steven emphasizes teamwork and resilience in leadership. He shares insights from his career journey, discussing challenges, lessons learned, and the impact of technology and private equity on the industry. He also highlights his passion for community engagement. Join...
2025-09-1750 min
Some Things Considered with Sean MurphySeason 4 Ep 8 | Lisa Cooper Ellison | Writing, Resilience, and the Creative LifeIn this episode, I’m joined by Lisa Cooper Ellison—author, speaker, trauma-informed writing coach, and host of Writing Your Resilience. Lisa works at the intersection of storytelling and healing, using her personal experiences and clinical training to help writers transform difficult life events into meaningful art. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, HuffPost, Risk!, and more. She recently completed her memoir Please Stage Dive Carefully: How I Survived My Brother’s Suicide and Forgave Myself.Our conversation explores:* The multiple hats every modern writer must wear: creator, promoter, brand-builder, and, most import...
2025-09-161h 07
Some Things Considered with Sean MurphySeason 4 Ep 7 | Whitney Matheson | Talking Shop with the Queen of PopIn this wide-ranging, high-energy conversation, I’m overjoyed to connect with old pal Whitney Matheson—one of the most important and beloved pop culture writers of the past 25 years. Best known as the creator of Pop Candy, the groundbreaking USA Today blog that ran from 1999–2014, Whitney has built a career out of curiosity, enthusiasm, and the art of connecting people to the culture they love. Today she’s busier than ever with her Substack newsletter Hi, It’s Whitney, as well as short fiction, comics, and other creative projects.We cover a lot of ground, digging into her career...
2025-09-021h 00
Some Things Considered with Sean MurphySeason 4 Ep 6 | Robert Rodriguez | The Long and Winding Road with a Beatles ExpertThis week on Some Things Considered I’m joined by Robert Rodriguez—award-winning author, creator of the Something About the Beatles podcast, and one of the most prolific and insightful chroniclers of the Fab Four and their cultural universe.Robert has written or contributed to more than a dozen books, including Solo in the '70s, The Beatles FAQ series, and the critically acclaimed Revolver: How the Beatles Reimagined Rock ‘n’ Roll. He’s also one of the most trusted voices in Beatles fandom, consistently bridging rigorous scholarship with genuine fan enthusiasm. More, he is a community builder, a...
2025-08-261h 16
Dynamic Business Leaders PodcastEP.17 - Vision, Grit, and Capital: Richard Powell’s Billion-Dollar JourneyThe Dynamic Business Leaders Podcast presents Richard Powell as this episode's guest.In this powerful episode of the Dynamic Business Leaders Podcast, host Roy Richardson and co-host Sean Murphy sit down with Richard Powell, a Jamaican-born entrepreneur, investor, and strategic advisor whose journey has included elite athletics, Harvard academia, and billion-dollar business ventures.Richard shares his inspiring path from Spanish Town, Jamaica, to becoming a Young Global Leader recognized by the World Economic Forum. From co-founding a $100 million company during the dot-com era to scaling Zero Chaos into one...
2025-08-221h 07
Some Things Considered with Sean MurphySeason 4 Ep 5 | Leah Paulos | Finding Your Book PR SuperpowerWhat does it really take to break through the noise and get your book noticed?In this episode, I talk with Leah Paulos, founder of Press Shop PR and Book Publicity School. With 25+ years in the literary publicity world, Leah has worked on campaigns for authors like Ruth Bader Ginsburg, John Lewis, and Neil deGrasse Tyson — and now she’s using that experience to demystify the PR process for authors of all stripes.We discuss:* Why standing out in today’s media landscape is harder than ever* The biggest myths authors believ...
2025-08-191h 01
Some Things Considered with Sean MurphySeason 4 Ep 4 | Gregg Wilhelm | Telling Better Stories in Troubled TimesToday on STC, I’m joined by someone I’ve had the pleasure of working with (and learning from) for years: Gregg Wilhelm, Director of Mason Creative Writing, co-founder of Watershed Lit, and long-time literary advocate and publishing pro. Gregg’s experience spans every corner of the literary world—from launching presses to running CityLit, mentoring students, and staying in the fray as the arts face new pressures and provocations.In this conversation, we go deep on:* The state of MFA programs and the future of English majors* Why fewer students are reading (and how...
2025-08-121h 07
Some Things Considered with Sean MurphySeason 4 Ep 3 | Dinaw Mengestu | Art, Immigration, Masculinity, and the Power of StorytellingToday’s guest is the acclaimed Ethiopian American novelist and writer Dinaw Mengestu, whose award-winning work has appeared in Harper’s Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, and many other outlets. He currently directs the Written Arts program at Bard College and has been recognized as a MacArthur Fellow among numerous other honors.I first encountered Dinaw at a recent event hosted by George Mason’s Cheuse Center—shout out to my alma mater!—where his insights lingered long after the talk. His artistry is compelling, but I was especially drawn to his reflections on two urgent themes: masculinit...
2025-08-0547 min
Some Things Considered with Sean MurphySeason 4 Ep 2 | Emma Sarappo | On Novels, Lists, and Literary LifeThis week, I was delighted to be joined by Emma Sarappo, senior associate editor at The Atlantic, where she writes and commissions coverage on books, poetry, and literary culture. Formerly the arts editor at Washington City Paper, Emma’s work has also appeared in Preservation, Pacific Standard, Washingtonian, The Bitter Southerner, and beyond.In other words: she’s the real deal, and she’s got the literary chops to prove it.In this wide-ranging and lively conversation, we dug into everything from The Atlantic's ambitious recent packages on The Best American Novels of the 20th Centur...
2025-07-2959 min
Some Things Considered with Sean MurphySeason 4 Ep 1 | Richard Blanco | The Inaugural Poet on Politics, Poetry, and PowerWe’re back. And I can’t think of a better or more necessary guest to kick off Season 4 of STC than the poet Richard Blanco.If you’ve been reading or listening to me for any length of time, you know I believe in the power of storytelling—not only to entertain or inspire, but to bear witness, raise the stakes, and push the culture forward. That’s why this conversation means so much to me, and why I hope you’ll make time for it.Richard Blanco was selected by President Obama as the fifth in...
2025-07-221h 00
Some Things Considered with Sean MurphySome Things Considered: Season 3 RecapSeason 3 of Some Things Considered wrapped up a remarkable run that continued to peel back the layers of how creativity works—from the personal routines and philosophies of master storytellers to the broader cultural currents shaping art and expression in America today.Hosted by award-winning author and cultural critic Sean Murphy, Some Things Considered remained a weekly podcast and Substack newsletter that went deep with creative minds across literature, music, art, politics, and tech. These weren’t just interviews—they were immersive conversations about what drives creativity, why story matters, and how our most inspired thinkers turn vision...
2025-07-1501 min
Some Things Considered with Sean MurphySeason 3 Ep 10 | Paula Whyman | In the Weeds: Writing, Identity, & BelongingToday’s guest is Paula Whyman, author of the collection You May See a Stranger, which received a starred review in Publishers Weekly. Her new book Bad Naturalist: One Woman’s Ecological Education on a Wild Virginia Mountaintop is a blend of memoir, natural history, and conservation science. Her writing has appeared in myriad outlets, and she was co-founder and editor in chief of the literary journal Scoundrel Time. Paula and I discuss the story behind the story of her new memoir, and her real time training as a contemporary naturalist. Her book, filled with vivid descriptions of plants, inse...
2025-07-081h 03
Some Things Considered with Sean MurphySeason 3 Ep 9 | Shawn DuBravac | AI, Technology, and the Cultural Shift AheadToday’s guest is my longtime friend and colleague, Dr. Shawn DuBravac. Shawn is author of the New York Times bestseller Digital Destiny: How the New Age of Data Will Transform the Way We Work, Live, and Communicate. An economist, futurist, tech analyst, and public speaker, Shawn has always been my go-to guy when I want to better understand emerging technologies, or make necessary connections between what’s happening today to understand—and predict—what might happen tomorrow. Shawn is one of the most intelligent, curious, and charismatic people I know, and I’ve seldom encountered anyone who can talk effor...
2025-07-011h 00
Some Things Considered with Sean MurphySeason 3 Ep 8 | Ryan Flahive | Fighting Disinformation and Inspiring ChangeToday’s guest is Ryan Flahive, an entrepreneur, podcaster, and Learning Technology & Publishing Executive with deep experience in higher education, workforce development, and social impact. He is currently producer and host of CLIMATE CHANGERS, a podcast featuring interviews with scientists, activists, and other leaders. Ryan, and this conversation scarcely scratches the surface, has a long, varied, successful career, and he’s the rare individual who combines passion with expertise, and success has followed him from adventure to adventure. We talked about his amazing work and mission, as well as the necessity of wearing many hats in the creative realm. Ryan...
2025-06-2451 min
Some Things Considered with Sean MurphySeason 3 Ep 7 | Will Boast | Gut Feelings: Storytelling, Writing, and IndigestionToday’s guest is Will Boast, author of a story collection, Power Ballads, a memoir, Epilogue, and a novel, Daphne. His work has appeared in The New York Times Magazine, The New Republic, and The Guardian, among others. I love Will’s writing and was truly blown away by his recent piece in the Virginia Quarterly Review, “From the Gut: A Literary History of Indigestion.” This is long-form journalism at its best: informative, deeply researched, often amusing, at times disturbing, and a reminder that so many human beings, including beloved authors ranging from Voltaire to Twain, Kafka and Beckett, have all...
2025-06-171h 03
Some Things Considered with Sean MurphySeason 3 Ep 6 | Jason Zinoman | For Comedians, PR & Branding is No JokeToday’s guest is Jason Zinoman, a critic and author of Shock Value and Letterman: The Last Giant of Late Night. He’s currently critic at large for the Culture section of the New York Times and writes a column about comedy. Jason became a blinking red light on my radar courtesy of his recent piece “For Comics, Honing Jokes Has Taken a Back Seat to Marketing. That’s Not Good.” Jason’s perceptive take confirmed a phenomenon I’ve both read a great deal about and experienced personally: that is, any artist, in today’s environment, is obliged to focus an incr...
2025-06-101h 10
Some Things Considered with Sean MurphySeason 3 Ep 5 | Ed Simon | The Great American Novel Remains a Work-in-ProgressToday’s guest is Ed Simon, who is the Public Humanities Special Faculty in the English Department of Carnegie Mellon University and the Editor-in-Chief for Belt Magazine and the forthcoming Pittsburgh Review of Books. His essays have appeared in The Atlantic, The Washington Post, The New York Times and many others. He dropped by to discuss his recent piece from Lit Hub, “American Literature’s White Whale: Why the “great American Novel” is Still Worth Pursuing.” Our conversation tackled this question (spoiler alert: a resounding YES), and explores how the best American novels have had one consistent quality across the centurie...
2025-06-031h 05
Some Things Considered with Sean MurphySeason 3 Ep 4 | Leeya Mehta & Bill Miller | International Literature as Cultural ForceToday’s guests are Leeya Mehta and Bill Miller, both of whom I admire as friends, artists, teachers, and occasional collaborators. Bill directed the creative writing program at George Mason University for more than two dozen years, and helped establish the Alan Cheuse Center. Leeya is the current Director of the Center, and is also a prize-winning poet, fiction writer and essayist. This year marks the tenth anniversary of the Cheuse Center, and we talk about how this beloved institution went from idea to thriving cultural force. Bill and Leeya share a genuine passion for community and connection, and th...
2025-05-271h 03
Some Things Considered with Sean MurphySeason 3 Ep 3 | Jessa Crispin | Cultural Criticism as Political ProjectToday’s guest is Jessa Crispin, one of my favorite go-to sources for cultural insight and inspiration. She’s the author of Why I Am Not a Feminist: A Feminist Manifesto, and The Dead Ladies Project. Currently, she is editor-in-chief of the awesome publication The Culture We Deserve. Jessa joins me to talk about everything from the present state of American politics, to how both class and education remain ubiquitous yet oddly—and annoyingly—under-discussed topics in our media, and especially amongst progressives. Jessa, suffice it to say, is a much-needed voice, and one more self-satisfied and myopic critics and opin...
2025-05-201h 03
Some Things Considered with Sean MurphySeason 3 Ep 2 | Matthew Shipp | Visions of Icons & ArtistryToday’s guest is American avant-garde jazz pianist, composer, and bandleader Matthew Shipp. Prolific and critically adored, Shipp has been praised by eclectic musicians ranging from David Bowie to Henry Rollins, and has recorded with virtually every significant contemporary jazz musician. Matthew joined me to talk about his new book Black Mystery School Pianists and Other Writings, which covers decades of his writing on subjects ranging from jazz icons, his own influences, and his voracious appetite for art and culture of all kinds. Matthew has many opinions, all of them deeply held and informed, and he shared his thoughts on...
2025-05-061h 23
Some Things Considered with Sean MurphySeason 3 Ep 1 | Jacob Silverman | Crypto, Chaos, & the Culture WarToday’s guest is Jacob Silverman, who is an independent journalist and co-author of the New York Times bestseller Easy Money: Cryptocurrency, Casino Capitalism, and the Golden Age of Fraud. He writes often about the politics of technology, the media, and is a contributing editor for The Baffler and The New Republic. Jacob and I compare notes on how we saw the 2024 election unfold (including predictions and assumptions we—and most journalists—made), and some of the myriad things that are different with Trump 2.0. One particular topic we go deep on is the unsettling, recent development of MAGA-supporting tech oligar...
2025-04-291h 05
Some Things Considered with Sean MurphySome Things Considered: Get Ready for Season 3We’re thrilled to announce that Season 3 of Some Things Considered drops next Tuesday, April 29th—and we’re just getting started.Hosted by award-winning author and cultural critic Sean Murphy, Some Things Considered is a weekly podcast and Substack newsletter that goes deep with creative minds across literature, music, art, politics, and tech. These aren’t just interviews—they’re immersive conversations about what drives creativity, why story matters, and how our most inspired thinkers turn vision into impact.Now entering its third season, the podcast continues to peel back the layers of how creativity w...
2025-04-2201 min
Dynamic Business Leaders PodcastEP.16 - Navigating Adversity with Purpose and Perseverance: A Conversation with Sean MurphyIn this episode of the Dynamic Business Leaders Podcast, host Roy Richardson welcomes Sean Murphy, a senior business advisor at South State Bank with over 30 years of experience serving the Central Florida business community. Sean shares his incredible journey from humble beginnings in New Orleans to becoming a respected leader in the banking industry. From cold-calling as a stockbroker to his pivotal role at Deloitte, Sean has never avoided taking risks or shied away from adversity. His story is one of resilience, determination, and a relentless d...
2025-04-1658 min
Some Things Considered with Sean MurphySeason 2 Ep 10 | Jane Friedman | The Truth About AI and the Future of WritingToday’s guest is Jane Friedman who, if you have even casually followed anything to do with book publishing and the state of the literary industry during the last two decades, you already know—and appreciate. Jane has been the consensus go-to for insights on trends, developments, and how to build a platform in the 21st Century. Named Publishing Commentator of the Year by Digital Book World in 2023, Jane has been featured across countless media outlets, including The New York Times, The Atlantic, CNN, BBC, NPR, and many others. Her guide The Business of Being a Writer is the book...
2025-03-041h 00
Some Things Considered with Sean MurphySeason 2 Ep 9 | Grant Shonkwiler | How Storytelling Powers Best-Selling GamesToday’s guest is Grant Shonkwiler who, if you’ve been following the gaming industry during the last couple of decades, you already know as the legend he is. For those unfamiliar, Grant has built his reputation as a programmer, lead designer, technical producer, leadership coach, and author. (Even if you aren’t personally a gaming enthusiast, it’s almost impossible you’ve not heard of Doom and Fortnite—just two of the massively popular and influential projects Grant has worked on!) For today’s discussion, Grant reviews his career trajectory—from apprentice to master, from fan to mentor—throug...
2025-02-251h 01
Some Things Considered with Sean MurphySeason 2 Ep 8 | Karen E. Bender & Robert Anthony Siegel | How to Adapt & Thrive as a WriterToday’s guests are dynamic duo and my favorite creative husband and wife team Karen E. Bender and Robert Anthony Siegel. Karen is author of the story collection Refund, which was a Finalist for the 2015 National Book Award in Fiction and also a Los Angeles Times bestseller. Her third collection of stories, The Words of Dr. L, will be published by Counterpoint Press in May, 2025. Robert is a writer, writing coach, and author of the memoir Criminals and two novels, All Will Be Revealed, and All the Money in the World. In addition, they have taught creative writing at th...
2025-02-111h 06
Some Things Considered with Sean MurphySeason 2 Ep 7 | Hannah Grieco | A Literary Powerhouse on Writing & MotherhoodToday’s guest is Hannah Grieco, who, using baseball terminology is a five tool player: she’s a writer, a teacher, an editor, an advocate, and a literary citizen extraordinaire. She is also one of my favorite creative people, managing to be insanely productive (and successfully published!), but also a devoted mother, friend, and cheerleader for the arts. You may have read her work in The Washington Post, or Huffington Post, or The Rumpus, or in any number of other highly regarded lit journals. Her writing has been nominated for Best American Essays, The Pushcart Prize, Best of the Net...
2025-02-041h 07
Some Things Considered with Sean MurphySeason 2 Ep 6 | Jordan Blum | Prog Rock, Honest Criticism, & Managing Modern MediaToday’s guest is Jordan Blum, a writer and critic I admire and hold up as an ideal example for anyone who is trying to figure out how to navigate an ever-evolving media landscape. I first met Jordan more than a decade ago when we both were columnists for PopMatters—contributing features, reviews, and interviews on everything from music and books to movies and politics. Jordan, like myself, is a music fanatic and it’s illuminating (and, yes, inspiring) to hear him discuss his early forays into criticism, his first bylines, and his maturation as a widely published editor and su...
2025-01-2856 min
Some Things Considered with Sean MurphySeason 2 Ep 5 | Justen Ahren | Creativity, Community, & Devotion to ArtToday’s guest is Justen Ahren, a photographer, poet, musician and writing workshop facilitator. I met Justen at the Noepe Center a decade ago, and he and I share—among other things—a passion for writing and how to push creative boundaries, the rewards of cultivating communities (both in and outside artistic spaces), and balancing how to make a living and how to suck the marrow out of life, as Thoreau encouraged. Justen has, in addition to running the Noepe Center and producing his own work across multiple genres, been developing his Devotion to Writing program, which is at once a...
2025-01-2156 min
Some Things Considered with Sean MurphySeason 2 Ep 4 | Holly Karapetkova | Poet Laureate to Professor: Art Advocacy and Higher EducationToday’s guest is the poet, professor, and arts advocate Holly Karapetkova. If you’ve been following anything I do, especially the year-round free programming of 1455, you already know Holly, because she is one of my favorite people and someone to whom I always take the opportunity to speak with: speaking with her on any topic is always enlightening and inspiring, and the primary purpose of today’s conversation is celebrating her forthcoming poetry collection, and comparing notes on the state of higher education. Holly brings informed opinions based on decades of classroom experience, and she has only become more c...
2025-01-141h 05
Some Things Considered with Sean MurphySeason 2 Ep 3 | Louis Bayard | #1 Netflix Novelist Tells Oscar Wilde's StoryToday’s guest is Louis Bayard, the critically beloved and ever popular novelist, whose novel The Pale Blue Eye was adapted into the global #1 Netflix release starring Christian Bale. I’m honored to call Lou a friend, but I’ve been a fan since long before I met him, and it was a true pleasure to name him 1455’s Storyteller of the Year in 2022. The New York Times has written that Lou “reinvigorates historical fiction,” rendering the past “as if he’d witnessed it firsthand.” Anyone familiar with his work knows Lou combines brilliant storytelling with deep research, and his titles include...
2025-01-0756 min
Some Things Considered with Sean MurphySeason 2 Ep 2 | Charles Bock | Writing Success in the Age of OverloadToday’s guest is Charles Bock, author of the new memoir I Will Do Better, as well as the novels Alice & Oliver and Beautiful Children (which was a New York Times bestseller and Notable Book, and which won the Sue Kaufman Prize for First Fiction from the American Academy of Arts and Letters). His fiction and nonfiction have appeared in The New Yorker, Harper’s, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Newsweek, and in numerous anthologies. Our discussion covered Charles’s experience, thus far, with his memoir (which, it should be stated, has garnered uniformly positi...
2024-12-171h 05
Some Things Considered with Sean MurphySeason 2 Ep 1 | Austin Smith | The Corporatization of Colleges is an Epic FailWe kick off Season 2 of Some Things Considered with a conversation continued from real life in real time. If you are in any way involved with (in no particular order) academia, writing, or the insanity of late-stage capitalism on a micro level, you might have read about what’s going on at Stanford, and the debacle occurring in their Creative Writing program.Long story short: just as professors were preparing for the fall semester, they were notified (via Zoom, because of course) that the non-tenured teachers who account for most of the courses being taught to undergrads we...
2024-12-101h 02
Some Things Considered with Sean MurphyEp. 10: Redemption on Death Row: The Power of StoryToday’s guest is the writer, professor, music expert and advocate Mark Katz. Dr. Katz, after receiving his PhD in muscilogy, has spent the last several decades writing, teaching, thinking about, and proselytizing the power of music; his accomplishments and publications are too numerous to list, but please visit him online to get a handle on the scope of his work and ongoing projects. The topic of today’s discussion was his new book Rap and Redemption on Death Row, co-authored with incarcerated musician Alim Braxton. I would describe this text as at once a compelling and necessary read, equa...
2024-10-0156 min
Some Things Considered with Sean MurphyEp. 9: A Literary Icon on Creating a Positive PlatformToday’s guest is the award-winning author and literary queen Deesha Philyaw. Her debut short story collection The Secret Lives of Church Ladies won the 2021 PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction, and was a finalist for the 2020 National Book Award for Fiction. Deesha is also a Baldwin for the Arts Fellow, and co-host of two podcasts, Ursa Short Fiction (with Dawnie Walton) and Reckon True Stories (with Kiese Laymon). Her debut novel, The True Confessions of First Lady Freeman, is forthcoming in 2026. Deesha has been featured in the 1455 Author Series, and been a repeat speaker at the 1455 StoryFest, and she’s be...
2024-09-2457 min
Some Things Considered with Sean MurphyEp. 8: How to Survive --and Thrive-- in the Music IndustryToday’s guest is guitarist, composer, producer, and bandleader Jon Madof. Based in New York, Jon is the leader of several bands, including Zion80 and Rashanim, and has released seven albums on Tzadik Records. In addition, Madof is co-founder of the prolific and eclectic CHANT Records label. I have known Jon for two decades and followed his remarkable career as a fan, critic, and friend. Our conversations, dating back to my days as a tech analyst, have always revolved around the challenges and opportunities of contemporary creativity, and how it’s incumbent on artists to both understand and utlize avail...
2024-09-1758 min
Some Things Considered with Sean MurphyEp. 7: Behind the Scenes & Untold Stories From the White HouseToday’s guest is Steven L. Herman, author, teacher, and chief national correspondent for the Voice of America. His latest book, Behind the White House Curtain: A Senior Journalist’s Story of Covering the President—and Why It Matters, was published in June. Steve was one of the first guests for the new Speaker Series I curate for the Center for Story at Shenandoah University, and he was on my podcast wish list as the election year chaos shifts into overdrive. In addition to discussing his book, which covers his decades of experience on the front lines, culminating with some t...
2024-09-1058 min
Some Things Considered with Sean MurphyEp. 6: Are Short Stories the Key to Success?Whitney Collins joins us to discuss—and celebrate—her brand-new collection Ricky and Other Love Stories. Whitney describes the unique ways short fiction works, and why this form (traditionally disdained by the Lit Industry as not being sufficiently “commercial,” prompting the by-now cliched question even a successful short story writer hears “what about a novel?”) seems uniquely situated for our current attention-deficit / info-overload cultural moment. Whitney unpacks why short fiction appeals to her and has helped her development an aesthetic that often does what the best flash fiction achieves: delivering quick punches that land and linger. Whitney also talks about the res...
2024-09-031h 00
Some Things Considered with Sean MurphyEp. 3: The Intersection of Artistry & AdvocacyToday’s guest is the one and only Jeannine Ouellette, who is not only a gifted and celebrated writer, teacher, and editor, but creator of the beloved Substack newsletter Writing in the Dark. In addition, she’s author of the memoir The Part That Burns (2021), and is the quintessential creative advocate and enthusiast. Our discussion gets behind the scenes of how literary community works: how one gets involved, how one involves others, and how artistic momentum can be sustained over time. Jeaninne describes how she’s built her incredibly popular and important newsletter community, literally one subscriber at a time...
2024-07-301h 00