Shows
Talking WritingAthena Dixon's Highs and Lows of WritingIn our last episode of the season, TW Creative Director John Vogel interviews author Athena Dixon, our first repeat guest for the podcast. A year and a half ago we released Neva’s interview with Athena, which focused on her book The Loneliness Files (Tin House, 2023). This time around, in January 2025, John asked her questions from his Perfect Recognition project focusing on intense aesthetic experiences and people’s life paths towards creativity. Fellow artists might find some resonance and solace in their open discussion about their own disillusionment surrounding artistic pursuit and how their lived experiences deviate from the more...2025-06-241h 05Talking WritingSteve Hoffman and the Art of Authentic Traveling and WritingTW proofreader Jess Barnett hosts award-winning Minnesotan food writer, Steve Hoffman, for a conversation about the unique joys and challenges of travel. Hoffman, a lover of French cuisine and culture, discusses traveling to the picturesque south of France, not as a tourist, skimming the surface of trending destinations, but as a humble guest, ready to immerse himself and his family in the cultural and culinary experience. In his recently published memoir, A Season for That: Lost and Found in the Other Southern France, Hoffman dishes out a humorous and layered perspective on marriage, parenting, and cooking in the small...2025-06-0435 minTalking WritingReimagining David and Bathsheba with Jeanne BlasbergTW Podcast Production Manager Sarah Tulloch interviewed author Jeanne Blasberg this past September. Jeanne Blasberg is an award-winning and bestselling author and essayist. The two discuss her latest book, Daughter of a Promise, a modern retelling of the story of David and Bathsheba, completing the thematic trilogy she began with Eden and The Nine.2025-05-1536 minTalking WritingMary Carroll Moore: Finding Connection Through FictionTW Creative Director John Vogel interviewed author Mary Carroll Moore this past November. Mary pursued a decades-long career as a food and cookbook writer before pivoting into writing instruction and self-releasing Your Book Starts Here in 2011. The two discuss her latest book, Last Bets, and her lifelong career as a creative with multiple mediums.2025-04-2348 minTalking WritingNadia Pupa on the Publishing Process from Start to FinishTW’s Community Manager Neva Talladen talks to the CEO and Co-Founder of Pique Publishing. In 2022, she was inspired to launch The Editor's Half Hour podcast—a monthly podcast that focuses on the craft of editing, industry trends, and editorial resources for advanced editors. The two discuss Nadia’s move from book coaching to starting her own publishing company, where she and her team help authors take advantage of the best book production practices. 2025-04-0956 minTalking WritingLaura Hartenberger: What's Wrong with Chatbot Writing?Last May, TW founder Martha Nichols spoke with Laura Hartenberger, author of the definitive 2023 essay “What AI Teaches Us About Good Writing” in Noema. Laura, who’s a lecturer in the Writing Programs at University of California at Los Angeles, is an essayist and fiction writer herself. When she spoke with Martha, they were both finishing up a turbulent spring semester that included protests for and against Israel at UCLA and Harvard. Here they confront big ethical questions surrounding AI and writing instruction. Are bots helpful tools for students or just another way of cheating? How and when should such t...2025-02-1344 minTalking WritingNaomi Cohn On Reimagined Lexicons and Writing Forward TW’s Neva Talladen talks to writer Naomi Cohn about her book The Braille Encyclopedia: Brief Essays on Altered Sight and the reclamation of self it explores for her as a legally blind person. A 2023 McKnight Artist Fellow in Writing, her previous publications include a chapbook, Between Nectar & Eternity (Red Dragon-fly Press, 2013), and pieces in Baltimore Review, Fourth River, Hippocampus, Terrain, and Poetry, among others. Naomi has also appeared on NPR and been honored by a Best of the Net Finalist and two Pushcart nominations. 2025-01-131h 07Talking WritingJianna Heuer on Rediscovering and Sustaining Her Writer SelfTW’s Neva Talladen talks to author Jianna Heuer about blown-up whale parts, opening a bookstore during the 2020 pandemic, and writing a revenge novel as catharsis. Her creative nonfiction and personal essays have been published in The Inquisitive Eater, Midsummer Dream House, Across The Margin, and other literary journals. Her flash non-fiction has appeared in two books, Fast Funny Women and Fast Fierce Women. 2024-12-2149 minTalking WritingMaris Kreizman on Publishing and Pop CultureTW Creative Director John Vogel interviews writer Maris Kreizman, creator of the Tumblr blog and book Slaughterhouse 90210 and the podcast turned Substack newsletter, The Maris Review. Maris's work mixes together humor and serious poignancy to talk about a wide range of topics, from the publisher industry to politics and social justice to prime time soap operas. It's all on the table. Her forthcoming book, I Want to Burn This Place Down, is a series of essays that takes on the myths of the American system from the personal standpoint of a disillusioned adult. I2024-12-1735 minTalking WritingThe Weird Punk of Northern LibertiesTW's Creative Director John Vogel interviews Philadelphia punk trio Northern Liberties. The band consists of brothers Justin and Marc Duerr on vocals and drums and Kevin Riley on bass and occasional vocals. The band’s most recent album, Self-Dissolving Abandoned Universe, was recorded in March 2022 with the legendary engineer and producer Steve Albini, who passed away in May of this year. The album provides the soundtrack to this episode. In this interview they dive into their background growing up in a small town and then squatting in Philadelphia, the role that art plays in their lives, and deep experiences wi...2024-10-3150 minTalking WritingDr. Tamara Mitchell-Davis’ Guide to Self-Publishing SuccessTW Managing Editor Neva Talladen interviews Dr. Tamara Mitchell-Davis, award-winning author of #GoalGetter: Strategies for Overcoming Life’s Challenges (self-published, 2017) and chief executive officer of TM Davis Enterprises, LLC, a coaching practice that empowers aspiring authors to bring their books and business visions to life through storytelling. In this week’s episode, Tamara joins us from Jamaica to discuss the process of self-publishing her first book.2024-10-1535 minTalking WritingPerception vs Reality in the Music Industry With Jay MumfordTW Creative Director John Vogel interviews drummer and composer Jay Mumford from New York City. He is half of the funk duo the Du-Rites and author of the out-of-print autobiography Root for the Villain, which pokes fun at the classic musician’s story of rising to fame and fortune. The book offers a different and more realistic perspective of a creative career.2024-10-0252 minTalking WritingSean Michaels on AI, Poetry, and the Future of CreativityIn this week’s episode, TW publisher and founder Martha Nichols interviews author Sean Michaels. Sean is an internationally bestselling novelist and critic from Montreal. He is the author of the new novel Do You Remember Being Born?, a book about family, poetry, work, and artificial intelligence (AI). During their conversation, Martha inquires about his thoughts on the intersection of AI and writing.2024-09-1842 minTalking WritingMinaa B on Healing Trauma Through Community CareTW Managing Editor Neva Talladen interviews Minaa B, author of Owning Our Struggles, which is available for purchase now on our Bookshop page. Her work focuses on taking responsibility for one’s self in order to enjoy the benefits of healing, including taking a look at one’s own personal development, one’s community, and the social justice issues that one may have to deal with on a day-to-day basis. In this week’s episode, Neva and Minaa dive into what Mina means by healing trauma through community care and how her readers can implement her ideas in their everyday...2024-09-0642 minTalking WritingWhat We're Obsessed with Now: On TechnologyIn this week’s episode, the TW staff get together to share their current technological obsessions. We discuss everything from software to hardware and everything in between. We share the tools that make our daily lives so much easier and complain about the planned obsolescence that seems to be ingrained in every new piece of tech we buy today.2024-06-1259 minTalking WritingJonathan Kravetz on Publishing a Debut NovelTW Copyeditor Jess Barnett interviews Jonathan Kravetz, author of How We Were Before, which will be released Running Wild Press this month. His short stories and plays have appeared in various journals, including The Iris Literary Journal, The Rappahannock Review, The Furious Gazelle, The Opiate Magazine, Narrative Northeast, and others. He also teaches a creative writing class online. This week’s conversation focuses on his writing process, experience in publishing, and career as a full-time writer. 2024-05-2340 minTalking WritingNaomi Baron Is Worried About Bots Doing the Thinking for UsTW founder and publisher Martha Nichols talks AI with linguist and professor Naomi Baron. Mostly centering around Baron's recent book, Who Wrote This? How AI and the Lure of Efficiency Threaten Human Writing (Stanford University Press, 2023), their discussion ranges from the effects of AI on writing and teaching, what makes good writing, and the importance of thinking for oneself in an AI world.2024-05-1551 minTalking WritingRussell Baker on Technological Sustainability and Doing Good-erTW Creative Director John Vogel interviews Russell Baker, the creator of the sustainability platform A Modern Remedy (AMR), a company helping purpose-led organizations deliver value for people and the planet. On his website, Russell writes long-form essays about various topics and their role in sustainability, including artificial intelligence, social media, fashion, and weather, among other subjects.2024-05-0839 minTalking WritingWork Won’t Love You Back With Sarah JaffeTW Creative Director John Vogel interviews Sarah Jaffe, author of Work Won’t Love You Back: How Devotion to Our Jobs Keeps Us Exploited, Exhausted, and Alone. In this episode, the two discuss the idea of the American dream, how it is used to control the working class, and how it affects working artists and their ability to live off their work.2024-04-2446 minTalking WritingThe Intense Aesthetic Experiences of Writing Poetry With Alan KingTW Creative Director John Vogel interviews Alan King, a poet and author of the book, Point Blank. In this interview, which John collected as part of his Perfect Recognition project on intense aesthetic experiences, the two discuss his connection to music and poetry, as well as his development as a poet.2024-04-1154 minTalking WritingAngie Elita Newell on Crafting Accessible Native American History FictionTW’s Podcast Production Manager Sarah Tulloch interviews Angie Elita Newell, a trained historian, and author of the novel All I See Is Violence. The two discuss how Angie sought to make Native American history more accessible by writing a historical fiction novel as well as the lasting impact of the Battle of the Little Bighorn and how the results of the battle still affect us to this day.2024-03-2731 minTalking WritingSaundra Gilliard on Prioritizing Feminine Storytelling and Connection TW Managing Editor Neva Talladen interviews Saundra Gilliard, a professional storyteller, a playwright, and a personal transformation leader. The two discuss the importance of prioritizing feminine storytelling from the perspective of feminine people. Much of mainstream media prioritizes the misogynistic idea of a feminine woman rather than the stories written by women for women. Saundra emphasizes the connection that is lost within this misrepresentation and how it can be found in women’s writing. 2024-03-1853 minTalking WritingParenting Roundtable With Bekka Palmer, Matt Buccelli, and Toya GavinTW Creative Director John Vogel interviews Bekka Palmer, Matt Buccelli, and Toya Gavin. Each guest is a respected artist in their field and creates art while raising their kids. In this week’s episode, the group discusses how they juggle their creative careers and parenting.2024-03-0445 minTalking WritingAdam Gnade on the Realities of Life as an ArtistTW Creative Director John Vogel interviews musician and author Adam Gnade, who just released I Wish to Say Lovely Things. The two discuss the realities of life as an artist—including the idea of the starving artist, avoiding lifestyle creep, and making the world a better place.2024-02-1442 minTalking WritingIlluminating Collective History With Claudia Acevedo-QuiñonesTW Managing Editor Neva Talladen interviews Claudia Acevedo-Quiñones, author of The Hurricane Book: A Lyric History. In this episode, Neva and Claudia discuss the process of writing a memoir from the perspective of people who have experienced ecological and colonial trauma. 2024-02-0239 minTalking WritingNFTs, Web3, and the Future of Publishing With Nifemi AlukoTW Managing Editor Neva Talladen interviews Nifemi Aluko, author of Toffy’s Divide. In this episode, Neva and Nifemi discuss the rise of Web3 options in publishing and his use of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) to maintain ownership over his work. 2024-01-2444 minTalking WritingAmy Belfi on the Cognition, Neuroscience, and Creation of MusicTW Creative Director John Vogel interviews Amy Belfi, PhD, an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychological Science exploring the intersection of music, psychology, and neuroscience. In this week’s episode, they discuss intense aesthetic experiences, the role of art in people's personal lives and society as a whole, and Amy’s journey to the science of music.2024-01-1032 minTalking WritingInk-Making, Place-Based Art, and an Artist Community With Jason LoganIn this week’s episode, the TW staff get together to share their current artistic obsessions. We discussed everything from community building, ink making, book reviewing, and a thorough analysis of Beverly Hills, 90210. This discussion allowed us to take a break from making art to pay the bills and discuss our processes of making art for art’s sake.2023-12-1949 minTalking WritingCurrent Obsessions With the Talking Writing StaffIn this week’s episode, the TW staff get together to share their current artistic obsessions. We discussed everything from community building, ink making, book reviewing, and a thorough analysis of Beverly Hills, 90210. This discussion allowed us to take a break from making art to pay the bills and discuss our processes of making art for art’s sake.2023-12-1947 minTalking WritingAthena Dixon on Exploring Isolation, Art, and ConnectionTW Managing Editor Neva Talladen interviews Athena Dixon, the author of The Loneliness Files. In this episode, Neva and Athena discuss the weight of loneliness that came about during the lockdown of 2020 and how it affected our daily lives even after being lifted.2023-12-0746 minTalking WritingTuan Phan: The Trouble with Memory TW Managing Editor Neva Talladen interviews Tuan Phan, author of Remembering Water: A Memoir of Departure and Return (Hidden River Press). Tuan juxtaposes his childhood memories of Vietnam and his family’s exile to the US with his parents’ recollection of the same events, finding connections and resonance in spite of the discrepancies. The memoir explores the complex questions around identity and home through the story of Tuan’s leaving and eventual return to his birthplace, where he reconnects with his father and old friends. Remembering Water is a winner of the 2018 Panther Creek Nonfiction Book Award.2023-11-1550 min
New Ways#10 | Addressing the Future of the Show + What’s a Modern Remedy? | Season 1 HighlightsThis week, we say goodbye to season 1, share an update on the future of New Ways, and go looking for a modern remedy.
Sit back and enjoy this special episode that’s packed with insightful highlights from our debut season, where you’ll hear from ten amazing guests: Founders, creators, CEO’s and thought leaders who share their perspective on solutions for the modern age.
We talk about creativity, sustainability, health, technology and much more.
Special thanks to Dr Megan Lee, Paolo Garde, Neva Talladen, Dr Simon Schillebeeckx, Sam Hart, Jack Taylor, Noam Bardin, B...2023-11-1129 minTalking WritingWART on Connecting With the CreativeJohn Vogel, our creative director, interviews artist and short story writer Christian McCulloch, also known as WART. WART's art has been featured on the Talking Writing website before so it’s only natural that we invite him to speak on the podcast. WART is a prolific short-story writer with a background in fine art. He’s been an international teacher in the British West Indies, Singapore, Japan, and Hong Kong. He also worked for 10 years in special needs in the United Kingdom. After 30 years of teaching, he returned to the United Kingdom and now lives and creates in London.2023-10-2628 minTalking WritingJoeAnn Hart on Confronting Climate Change Hopes and RealitiesSarah Tulloch, Talking Writing’s podcast production manager, interviewed JoeAnn Hart. JoeAnn is the author of Highwire Act and Other Tales of Survival. Highwire Act is a collection of previously published short stories that highlight the conflicts that climate change will bring to the forefront of human civilization. The characters are confronted with the consequences of dying ecosystems, illnesses, political tension, and new norms within human communities in order to survive the global change.2023-10-1125 minTalking WritingAmbitions for the Future of ClimateIn the wake of this summer’s Canadian wildfires, protesters are descending on Climate Week NYC, which includes today’s United Nations Climate Ambition Summit. Although the spotlight on climate change has gotten a lot brighter in the past several months, the issue has been going on for decades. Three works have come out recently that were all conceived before this summer’s alarming weather but seem even more relevant now. All three artists have some connection to Talking Writing, and I decided that making a collage of their works and interviewing them would be a great way to explor...2023-09-2052 min
Talking WritingWeird Music Episode 5 - Why Is Live Music Dynamic?In this episode, the interviewed artists talk about their approaches to playing their music live. What are the challenges? Where is the wiggle room for improvisation? What makes a performance engaging? As with the previous episode, each artist approaches the live situation differently, whether trying to present something that you've made in a studio or working out something that you've made in rehearsal.2023-09-0632 min
Talking WritingWeird Music Episode 4 - Two Entirely Different ThingsPerforming live and recording music are very different acts, and the skill sets don't necessarily cross over. Some musicians are prone to creating things in the studio and then face the challenge of making something live out of it. Others write and experiment in the live setting and then go into the studio to try and translate what they've been doing live. Both approaches come with unique challenges, and this episode asks the question: "What do you get psychologically out of each process, playing live and recording?"2023-09-0633 min
Talking WritingWeird Music Episode 5 - Why Is Live Performance Dynamic?In this episode, the interviewed artists talk about their approaches to playing their music live. What are the challenges? Where is the wiggle room for improvisation? What makes a performance engaging? As with the previous episode, each artist approaches the live situation differently, whether trying to present something that you've made in a studio or working out something that you've made in rehearsal.2023-09-0632 min
Talking WritingWeird Music Episode 4 - Two Entirely Different ThingsPerforming live and recording music are very different acts, and the skill sets don't necessarily cross over. Some musicians are prone to creating things in the studio and then face the challenge of making something live out of it. Others write and experiment in the live setting and then go into the studio to try and translate what they've been doing live. Both approaches come with unique challenges, and this episode asks the question: "What do you get psychologically out of each process, playing live and recording?"2023-09-0633 min
Talking WritingWeird Music Episode 3 - Growing Projects on the SideMost artists tend to have many different projects occurring simultaneously or over the course of their artistic lives. Here the artists interviewed tell how they tend to move from one project to another and what their various projects provide them.2023-09-0629 min
Talking WritingWeird Music Episode 2 - When Ideas Float Out of the EtherThis episode explores the way that ideas come up and how they move through the process into becoming a piece of art. The path from vague idea to finished product is never straightforward. One thing that becomes clear during these conversations is how messy and random the progression can be.2023-09-0632 min
Talking WritingWeird Music Episode 1 - Communicating Through ArtThe first episode of the Weird Music podcast series focuses on an idea put forth by Stephen King in On Writing: that art depends on telepathy. While discussing the telepathic elements of art, the conversation veers into the area of whether or not the artist's intention translates through the work.2023-09-0634 minTalking WritingBrad Schreiber on the Quantifiable Power of MusicJohn Vogel, Talking Writing's art director, interviews author Brad Schreiber on his latest book, Music is Power, and the influences that shaped his writing. Brad is an author, screenwriter, producer, literary consultant, journalist, playwright, teacher, and performer. Music Is Power: Popular Songs, Social Justice, and the Will to Change tells fascinating stories about the origins and impact of dozens of world-changing songs while revealing political context and the personal challenges of legendary artists from Bob Dylan to Bob Marley.2023-07-2540 min
New Ways#3 | Sustaining Your Creative Passion | Otherwordy's Neva TalladenWords are powerful. They can inspire change, influence thought and are the building blocks of meaningful stories. But sometimes, it can be difficult to find the right words. Sometimes, it can feel like you’re stuck in the wrong story, or that the journey is too arduous and no longer fulfilling.
Burnout is real, and inspiration can be illusive, even at the best of times.
So, what can you do to regain your inner spark and continue your personal narrative?
And how can you reconnect with what matters most?
We often we...2023-07-2348 minTalking WritingDana Humphrey on Writing a Memoir in the Third PersonNeva Talladen, managing editor of Talking Writing, interviews the self-published author Dana Humphrey. The two discuss creating such a vulnerable piece of work while still keeping your real-life relationships intact. Dana is a life coach, an author, a life coach, a death doula, and a hot yoga instructor. May All Beings Be Fed is an incredibly vulnerable memoir of Dana’s life written in the third person. Through Yaya, Dana is able to explore her upbringing, her experience acquiring a mental health diagnosis, and her experience with drugs at a healthy distance.2023-07-0437 minTalking WritingKelli Russell Agodon: Writing, Family, and the Spaces They ShareJohn Vogel, Talking Writing’s art director, interviewed poet, writer, and editor Kelli Russell Agodon. Kelli Russell Agodon (she/her) is the author of four collections of poems, including her most recent, the award-winning Dialogues with Rising Tides, published by Copper Canyon Press in 2021. Kelli and John discuss the logistics behind making time for art as a parent, the role of their spouses in the artistic process, and staying motivated to submit and publish.2023-06-0727 minTalking WritingDavid Santos Donaldson Goes to the WildernessTalking Writing founder and publisher Martha Nichols talks to David Santos Donaldson about his novel Greenland, published by Amistad Press in 2022 and out now in paperback, which has garnered wide critical acclaim. In this interview, Martha and David discuss the personal background of the novel, the struggle of racial and sexual identity in the face of the white heterosexual default, and the cultural background of magical realism.2023-05-1643 minTalking WritingNicki Pappas: Finding Community Among the ExcommunicatedTW's managing editor Neva Talladen speaks with Nicki Pappas, a writer and podcaster whose self-published memoir, As Familiar as Family, delves into the abusive events that led her to leave a church with which she had been intimately involved. Nicki also hosts Broadening the Narrative, a podcast dedicated to exploring themes, ideas, and ways of being that exist outside the white evangelicalism in which she was raised. Neva and Nicki discuss the book, religion, and self-publishing.2023-04-2440 minTalking WritingRichard Zimler: Making Connections Between Times, Between PeopleTW's publisher, Martha Nichols, talks with novelist Richard Zimler. Their conversation focuses on Richard's latest novel, The Incandescent Threads, which was selected as a finalist for the National Jewish Book Award. Martha delves into the personal stories behind the book's themes as well as Richard's thoughts on the invisible threads that connect the past with the future – and all of us.2023-02-2741 minTalking WritingAnjan Chatterjee: Combining Aesthetics with NeuroscienceJohn Vogel, TW’s art director, talks with director for the Penn Center for Neuroaesthetics Anjan Chatterjee about his paths in science and photography, the brain’s role in deriving pleasure from art, and the funding of the science of art. Anjan has practiced neurology for the past thirty years and produced two books on the subject of neuroaesthetics.2023-02-0231 minTalking WritingWhy Do We Do This? #CreativeLiferIn this closing episode for the year, the Talking Writing team discusses how they mix their creative lives with everything else. Publisher Martha Nichols, Art Director John Vogel, Managing Editor Neva Talladen, and Nonfiction Editor Gabrielle (Gabi) Coloma talk about their successes, hesitations, failures, and determination to stay creatively sparked. Happy Holidays! The TW podcast will be on hiatus for the rest of 2022, returning early next year.2022-12-2138 minTalking WritingEditors Can't Eat Prestige: Rachel Kambury and the HarperCollins StrikeAs the HarperCollins strike continues, we're running a fuller edit of TW managing editor Neva Talladen's interview with HarperCollins associate editor Rachel Kambury. This version focuses on Rachel's personal story entering into the publishing world, as well as specifics about the causes and conditions of the strike.2022-12-0636 minTalking WritingThe Trouble with Money and PublishingThis episode focuses on the financial sustainability of art and publishing. It features an interview by managing editor Neva Talladen about the current HarperCollins strike with Rachel Kambury, an associate editor at HarperCollins, and a reading by Rebecca Steinitz of her essay "On Writing Another Novel."2022-11-2038 min
The Tao of Self-Confidence854: Take The Opportunity With Neva TalladenGet Your Copy of Asian Women Who Boss Up - https://bit.ly/SYC-Shop
Want to manifest like a queen? Click here to learn how."Let’s Build Your Queendom With A.I!" Click here to get on the waiting list. 2022-11-1520 minTalking WritingVote for Art: Writers and Artists Remake the WorldIn this spotlight episode about politics and art, we bring together readings from poets, interview comments, and excerpts from the essay "Is History Wasted on Everyone?" by Martha Nichols.2022-11-0636 minTalking WritingJamey Robinson's Path Through MusicJohn Vogel, TW's art director, talks with Philadelphia musician Jamey Robinson about creativity, criticism, and intense aesthetic experiences. Robinson is the former keyboard player for Need New Body and Man Man as well as composer for his solo project, Buffalo Stance.All music in this episode is © Jamey Robinson and used with his permission.2022-10-2334 minTalking WritingSarah Fay's Cautionary Tale About MisdiagnosesIn this inaugural episode, TW founder and publisher Martha Nichols talks to Sarah Fay, author of Pathological: The True Story of Six Misdiagnoses, about writing and diagnosing mental health conditions.2022-10-1140 min