Heartell - Podcast Details

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Grief & HappinessYou Can Be Grieving and Grateful: The Card Collection That’s Changing How We Show Up for LossIf you’ve ever struggled to find the right words—or any words at all—when someone you care about is grieving, episode 354 is for you. Grief activist Lisa Keefauver and artist Rachel Kroh reveal how their hand-printed card collection is changing the way we support each other in loss, offering messages that are honest, beautiful, and deeply human. They share personal stories of heartbreak, cultural myths that make grief even harder, and why showing up with presence—not platitudes—can transform relationships. If you want to be a better grief supporter (or feel less alone in your own sorrow), d...2025-07-2244 min

Hear-TellRyan AtkinsonIn this episode of Hear-Tell, Rosalind Bentley—distinguished professor of practice in the University of Georgia’s MFA Narrative Nonfiction program—sits down with recent MFA graduate and freelance journalist Ryan Atkinson for a thoughtful conversation about reporting, trust, and the art of storytelling. Ryan, now based in metro Atlanta, spent over a decade as a sports writer and editor in newsrooms across the lower Midwest before transitioning into trade publishing. Last year, he returned to longform with a powerful feature for FanSided, chronicling hurdler Cordell Tinch’s remarkable quest for a spot on the 2024 Paris Ol...2025-07-1837 min

I-65 to 30aWyatt EspalinWyatt Espalin, a native of Hiawassee, Georgia, began his musical career with the encouragement and influence of his grandfather. He released his debut album, Songwriter/Singer, in 2015, and his latest EP, Diamondback, is currently available. I had the opportunity to catch up with Wyatt during the 2025 30A Songwriters Festival, where he has performed for several years. In addition to discussing his upbringing on his grandfather's campground, we talked about the art of Appalachian fiddle styles, a genre in which Wyatt excels. He, along with other musicians, also teaches songwriting techniques to inmates at a Florida correctional institution.2025-02-211h 23

Hear-TellKim CrossIn this episode, Moni Basu, the director of the University of Georgia’s MFA Narrative Nonfiction program, talks with journalist and author Kim Cross. Kim spent many formative years in the South, swimming in catfish ponds in Alabama, finishing graduate school in Birmingham, and editing stories at Southern Living Magazine. Kim is the author of three books: “What Stands in a Storm,” explores how people came together in the aftermath of the deadliest tornado outbreak in America; “Stahl House,” is a biography of an architectural gem in Los Angeles and “In Light of All Darkness,” delves into the i...2025-02-1241 min

I-65 to 30aLevi LowreyLevi Lowrey is a singer-songwriter based in Dacula, Georgia. His hit song, "Colder Weather," was a chart-topping success for the Zac Brown Band. In collaboration with fellow songwriter Wyatt Durrette, Levi forms the duo "Yesterday's Wine," and together they continue to produce incredible music. I had the opportunity to catch up with Levi during the 16th annual 30A Songwriters Festival. Along with his wife, Stephanie, they discussed Levi's writing and production schedule. Levi has been open about his struggles with mental health issues and how they affect both his professional and family life. Joining us...2025-02-061h 24

Hear-TellTommy TomlinsonIn this episode, John T. Edge, a distinguished professor of practice in the University of Georgia’s MFA Narrative Nonfiction program, talks with Tommy Tomlinson about his latest book, “Dogland: Passion, Glory and Lots of Slobber at the Westminster Dog Show.” Tommy’s book explores the bond between dogs and their people in this inside account of the Westminster Dog Show that follows one dog on his quest to become a champion. In this conversation with John T, Tommy, a UGA grad, discusses his writing process, and how he went about determining his main character amidst the...2024-12-1232 min

Hear-TellAshley Fantz, From CNN Reporter to PodcasterIn this episode, we talk to Ashley Fantz about her transition from an senior investigative reporter at CNN to writer, reporter and host of two hit podcasts. Ashley graduated with her MFA from UGA in 2024 and has more than 20 years of experience as a reporter, writing and voicing multimedia stories at CNN, where she won two Peabody Awards, an Eppy and numerous other awards. But in 2021, facing burn-out and a rapidly changing media landscape, she made the jump to podcasting. Her first podcast, "Suspect: Vanished in the Snow," jumped quickly to number one on Apple cha...2024-11-1135 min

Hear-TellNick ChilesIn this episode, celebrity ghost writer Nick Chiles discusses the process of writing in someone else’s voice. Nick, who graduated from UGA with his MFA in 2022, has won nearly 20 major journalism awards, including a 1992 Pulitzer Prize as part of a New York Newsday team. He is currently writer in residence teaching Feature Writing courses at The University of Georgia. Nick is also the author or co-author of 22 books, including three New York Times bestsellers he wrote with R&B icon Bobby Brown, civil rights leader Rev. Al Sharpton and Dallas pastor, T. D. Jakes. His most...2024-06-1838 min

Proof to Product346 | Tripling Revenue by Focusing on Wholesale with Rachel Kroh, Heartell PressWhat if you lived in a different state than your business? Meaning, all of your products, your inventory, your team, and your operations were in a completely different state. For today's guest, Rachel Kroh of Heartell Press, this is her every day now. She lives in Washington with her family, while her team of 5 works remotely across the country. They're shipping cards and gifts to more than 1,000 stores worldwide. In this episode, Rachel shares how she tripled her revenue by focusing on selling wholesale, strengthening her systems, and building the infrastructure of her business. Plus, Ra...2024-06-1131 min

Hear-TellEmily StrasserIn this episode, Laurie Hertzel, a distinguished professor of practice in the University of Georgia’s MFA Narrative Nonfiction program, interviewed Emily Strasser about her book, “Half-Life of a Secret: Reckoning With a Hidden History.” Emily visited Athens in January to speak to our MFA students during their winter residency. In this conversation, she discussed her 10 years of research and writing about her grandfather’s role in developing the atomic bomb while a scientist in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, home to the top-secret Manhattan Project. She also talked about her growth as a journalist while weaving together family secrets in...2024-04-1828 min

Hear-TellKaToya Ellis Fleming, "Bigger Than Bravery"In this episode, Lookout Books editor and writing professor KaToya Ellis Fleming (MFA '18) reflects on the work of editing the award-winning anthology Bigger Than Bravery: Black Resilience and Reclamation in a Time of Pandemic. Bigger Than Bravery was edited by the late Valerie Boyd who founded the MFA in narrative nonfiction program at UGA. Publishers’s Weekly listed Bigger than Bravery among their Big Indie books of fall, Library Journal named it one of the best books of 2022 and Foreword Indies named it the silver winner for Anthologies. It also won the Georgia Author of the Year Award in th...2024-02-1819 min

Hear-TellBrandon P. Fleming, ”MisEducated”In this episode, renowned speaker, nationally acclaimed educator and former debate coach at Harvard University, Brandon P. Fleming discusses his memoir, “MisEducated,” (Hachette, 2021). Brandon, who earned his MFA in 2021 and worked primarily with the program’s mentor Pat Thomas, shares the inspirational story of his transformation from a delinquent, drug-dealing dropout to an award-winning Harvard educator – all by the age of 27. In this show, Brandon talks about how and why it’s so important to tell the truth when writing a memoir, as well as navigating family members who not only question why you’re sharing the story but also may not a...2024-01-0734 min

Hear-TellJames Murdock, ”Orange is the New Peach”In this episode, poet, educator and environmental writer James Murdock (MFA ‘21) discusses how using poetry, place and the natural world around him informed the reporting and writing of “Orange is the New Peach.” The piece was recently featured in Food Stories: Writing That Stirs the Pot, an anthology published by The Bitter Southerner. James says good writing is built on the fine art of paying close attention and this article is no exception. Here is the link James’ story, “Orange is the New Peach:” https://bittersoutherner.com/feature/2021/orange-is-the-new-peach Here are a few of the poets and wr...2023-11-0831 min

Hear-TellMoni Basu, ”In Search of Spirits in Cassadaga”Moni Basu reads her story, "In Search of Spirits in Cassadaga," originally published in Flamingo Magazine. Basu, a member of the Low-Residency MFA in Narrative Nonfiction faculty, travels to the quiet Floridian community of Cassadaga, known as the psychic capital of the world and home, since 1894, to followers of Spiritualism, a faith that believes that we never truly die. Instead, we leave our bodies and become another form of matter and our spirit selves can still interact with the living. Over the years, a mysterious shroud surrounded Cassadaga. It's known as a mecca for mystics, a...2023-11-071h 10

Hear-TellShannon McCaffrey and Jan Winburn, ”Sanctuary”In this episode, Shannon McCaffrey (MFA ‘23) and Distinguished Professor of practice Jan Winburn discuss the challenges Shannon ran into while reporting and writing, “Sanctuary,” the love story between a woman named Carol and an elephant named Tarra and their 50- year bond that was published earlier this year in Atavist Magazine. Shannon’s article was described as “lyrical” by Sunday Longform, in part, because of the many beautifully constructed scenes contained in the narrative, as well as the emotion she was able to evoke from her main character. Shannon has worked as a journalist for over 20 years and currently...2023-11-0735 min

Hear-TellPaul Kix and John T. EdgeIn this episode, Distinguished Professor of practice John T. Edge interviews author Paul Kix about his latest book You Have to Be Prepared To Die Before You Can Begin to Live, which chronicles 10 critical weeks of the Civil Rights Movement. From nuts and bolts questions on how to keep a story moving forward, and how to humanize grandiose questions like how to change the world through narrative this conversation gets to the core of why we write. Paul's weekly newsletter This Week Paul Likes offers practical writing advice and inspiration. 2023-09-0825 min

Hear-TellThe Art of Micro-Memoir: Imagine Writing HummingbirdsMississippi writer and poet Beth Ann Fennelly, author of the genre-bending Heating and Cooling, spoke at the nonfiction program’s residency in January 2023. She asked students to explore the art of micro-memoir. "What should we do when we can’t figure out how or where to start our story?" she asked. The answer? Start small. Precisely because they are so small, hummingbirds can do things other birds can’t do. In this episode of Hear-Tell, we delve into the art of writing short. You’ll hear Fennelly, Grady's new MFA program director, Moni Basu and two MFA students, Beth Burch and...2023-07-2531 min

I-65 to 30aGrant WaldenGrant Walden is the owner and Chief Audio Engineer of Heartell Studios in Muscle Shoals, AL. He cut his teeth learning from music's best-known sound masters and was recognized as one of Muscle Shoals' top recording engineers. He's also the creator and host of the Muscle Shoals Storytellers podcast. Grant sat down with me in the SOWAL House studio in Rosemary Beach, FL, to chat about the Muscle Shoals music and recording scene, podcasting, and how sound engineering is evolving. Interestingly, Grant wrote and recorded the theme to the I-65 to 30a podcast and reguarly plays in...2022-06-081h 35

Hear-TellMartin Padgett, ”Underneath the Sweet Gum Tree”Martin Padgett reads an essay titled “Underneath the Sweet Gum Tree,” originally published by the Oxford American, and adapted from his book, “A Night at the Sweet Gum Head: Drag, Drugs, Disco, and Atlanta’s Gay Revolution” (W.W. Norton, 2021). The story follows Frank Powell, an architect of Atlanta’s queer nightlife from the 1960s until his death in 1996. One of Powell’s many nightclubs, the Sweet Gum Head, offered gay Atlantans a safe space to be themselves long before queer culture became popular culture. Padgett’s story details the progress made in the South and the United States in te...2021-05-311h 10

Hear-TellREVISED: MFA Writers Honor Mother's DayWe're telling stories about a kind of love that created us, sustained us, maybe drove us crazy. A kind of love that—no matter what—made us who we are. This special episode of Hear-Tell revisits stories about relationships with our mothers—how they cared for us and how we care for them. Stories come from past guests on the show: 2017 MFA graduate Karen Thomas, a professor of practice in journalism at Southern Methodist University; MFA faculty member John T. Edge, director of the Southern Foodways Alliance and host of ESPN's "True South"; and 2019 MFA graduat...2021-05-0458 min

Hear-TellMax Blau, ”How Jim White Helped His Bluebird Spread Her Wings”For parents, building nests, rather than cages, for baby birds can prove difficult. In Max Blau's story "How Jim White Helped His Bluebird Spread Her Wings," originally published by the Sunday Long Read, a songwriter and his daughter learn to overcome turmoil to love each other on equal terms. Blau, a 2018 graduate of the Low-Residency MFA program at the University of Georgia, spent years interviewing the subjects of the story, Jim White and daughter Willow Martin. He squared their accounts of a messy custody battle and inter-personal growing pains with family members, and he fact-checked th...2021-04-061h 01

Hear-TellJasmin Pittman Morrell, ”Is That Your Mother?”Jasmin Pittman Morrell reads an essay originally published by the Bitter Southerner called "Is That Your Mother?" The story follows the author's experience as a Black mother to a child who appears white; it explores the commodification of Black motherhood throughout U.S. history and challenges the recurring assumptions of the white gaze. In response to hurtful encounters, Jasmin celebrates the fullness of her identity and family. A 2020 graduate of the Low-Residency MFA in Narrative Nonfiction program at the University of Georgia, Jasmin is a writer and editor based in Asheville, North Carolina. 2021-02-0946 min

Hear-TellKristin Lowe, ”The Orchard on a Cloud”Kristin Lowe reads an essay called "The Orchard on a Cloud," about the agricultural community of Quincy, Washington. The Grand Coulee Dam irrigates the apple orchard and potato fields around Quincy. That same water source has attracted data storage centers, run by the likes of Microsoft, creating fundamental shifts in how the people of Quincy define themselves. Returning to an important geography from her childhood, Kristin reflects on how life has changed for farmers like her uncle, Carl Yeates, and what these changes mean for generations to come. A 2018 graduate of the Low-Residency MFA in N...2020-10-1256 min

Hear-TellJeremy Redmon, ”December 21 and What Came After2019 MFA graduate Jeremy Redmon reads an essay called “December 21 and What Came After,” about his experiences as a reporter embedded with U.S. troops in Iraq. The essay was originally published by The WarHorse, a nonprofit new website dedicated to telling stories about military service and the impact of war. Redmon’s essay explores what drew him to covering armed conflict, what working in a war zone taught him about his Air Force veteran father, and the lasting impact of trauma on his life. A veteran journalist, Redmon currently reports for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. 2020-09-1555 min

Hear-TellMFA Students Read Short Narratives, Pt. 2Current MFA students Alison Miller, Will Alford, Sierra Williams, and Stephanie Paladino read short narrative essays composed during their low-residency coursework over the past year. Their stories introduce us to fascinating characters and take us to communities across the US and Global South. We'll meet independent wrestlers, awkward roommates, stifling small towns, and almost romances. This episode is the second Hear-Tell episode produced from the safety of the homes of our guests and host. Considering the health of our contributors, the show will continue in this fashion for the near future. To learn more about Hear...2020-08-1126 min

Hear-TellMFA Students Read Short Narrative EssaysKim Lute, Tom Cullen, Jasmin Pittman Morrell, and Diana Keough read short narrative essays composed during their low-residency coursework over the past year. The stories share the theme of family, and consider the lessons our ancestors and loved ones provide us today. This episode is the first Hear-Tell episode produced from the safety of the homes of our guests and host. Considering the health of our contributors in light of the continuing coronavirus pandemic, the show will continue in this fashion for the near future. Follow Hear-Tell on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. 2020-07-1418 min

Hear-TellKaren Thomas, ”Traveling Graces”Karen Thomas, a 2017 MFA graduate, reads an essay called "Traveling Graces," which is adapted from a chapter from an in-progress book project currently titled "Stealing Away: Alzheimer's and One African-American Family's Journey," which is currently seeking a publisher. The story follows the day Thomas moved her mother, who had Alzheimer's and died in 2016, into an assisted living facility. The plan had been long in the making, but when moving day finally arrived, Thomas worried if that decision was truly for the best. Following a distinguished career in newspaper journalism, Thomas now serves as a professor of...2020-06-0939 min

Hear-TellSamantha Bresnahan, ”In the Blood, Flowers Bloom”Samantha Bresnahan, a 2018 MFA graduate, reads a chapter from her book “In the Blood, Flowers Bloom,” which is currently seeking a publisher. The story follows American and Japanese veterans of Iwo Jima during World War II and how the keepsakes that soldiers took from enemies kept the battle alive long after the fighting stopped. Bresnahan’s story concerns the trauma of war, but is ultimately about the necessity of reconciliation and forgiveness, no matter how long that takes. Bresnahan is a senior writer and copy editor at CNN in the international features division, where she has wo...2020-05-1253 min

Hear-TellJohn T Edge, ”My Mother’s Catfish Stew”John T. Edge reads his essay “My Mother’s Catfish Stew,” originally published in the Oxford American, about a son’s duty toward family memories and his mother’s legacy. Edge is the author of “The Potlikker Papers: A Food History of the Modern South.” He’s the director of the Southern Foodways Alliance and host of ESPN’s True South. Edge is also an original member of the Low-Residency MFA in Narrative Nonfiction at UGA faculty. In the episode, Edge discusses the changing role of the first person in his writing and what he learned about narrative...2020-04-1451 min

Recording Studio RockstarsRSR239 - Grant Walden - Recording Legendary Muscle Shoals MusiciansMy guest today is Grant Walden a music producer, audio engineer, multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter, studio owner, and host of Tape Noise Podcasts. Grant has worked with Grammy-winning studio musicians, audio engineers, and recording artists, including Denny Laine of The Moody Blues and Wings; Jimmy Hall of Wet Willie and Jeff Beck Band; Christine Ohlman of the Saturday Night Live Band; Rock & Roll Hall of Fame member, keys player and songwriter Spooner Oldham; the legendary Muscle Shoals Horns and rhythm section the Swampers; Hanson, and a host of groundbreaking performing artists. He has also been mentored by notable...2020-04-031h 49

Hear-TellMark Shavin, ”Unforgettable: Marriage, Memory and Madness in a Small Southern Town”Mark Shavin reads a selection from his book-length manuscript “Unforgettable: Marriage, Memory and Madness in a Small Southern Town,” which is currently seeking a publisher. The story follows Harold Riley, who lost his memory following brain surgery in 1971, and his wife, Elaine, as she tries to help Harold relearn how to live in the world. A veteran reporter and TV broadcaster, Shavin lives in Atlanta and teaches journalism at Georgia State University. He is a 2018 graduate of the Grady Nonfiction MFA program. In this episode, Shavin discusses his decades-long research into the Rileys’ story...2020-03-1745 min

Hear-TellDorothy Lennon, ”Coming Out”Dorothy Lennon reads from her essay “Coming Out,” about the author’s relationship with her mother, and how Lennon’s sexuality affected their family. Lennon, a 2019 MFA graduate, also holds degrees from North Carolina A&T State University, New York University, and currently teaches theatre. She lives in Atlanta, where she is the founder of Dope Sista, an online publication highlighting the achievements of black women. In the episode, Lennon discusses how a theatre background impacted her writing, as well as her journey to unlocking an authentic voice. Visit the podcast's home at bit.ly/he...2020-02-1853 min

Hear-TellWhy Narrative? Why Now? A Conversation with Valerie BoydValerie Boyd, director of the Low-Residency MFA in Narrative Nonfiction program at the University of Georgia, joins host André Gallant to help define narrative nonfiction and discuss why stories, especially true ones, are so important to us. Voices heard during the intro belong to MFA alums Katoya Fleming, Marty Padgett, and Tracy Coley. Learn more about Hear-Tell and the innovative Low-Residency MFA in Narrative Nonfiction program at the University of Georgia, visit bit.ly/heartellpodcast. Follow Hear-Tell at @heartellpodcast on Instagram and Twitter. 2020-02-0519 min