The Chills at Will Podcast

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The Chills at Will Podcast is a celebration of the visceral beauty of literature. This beauty will be examined through close reads of phrases and lines and passages from fiction and nonfiction that thrills the reader, so much so that he wants to read again and again to replicate that thrill. Each episode will focus on a different theme, such as "The Power of Flashback," "Understatement," "Cats in the Cradle," and "Chills at Will: Origin Story."

Episodes

7 days ago

Episode 334 with Lisa Lee, Author of American Han and Creator of Wonderful Dialogue and Darkly Humorous, Memorable Characters and Scenes

7 days ago

Notes and Links to Lisa Lee’s Work

Lisa Lee is the recipient of the Marianne Russo Emerging Writer Award from the Key West Literary Seminar, an Emerging Writer Fellowship from the Center for Fiction, and a Pushcart Prize. Her work has appeared in Ploughshares, VIDA: Women in Literary Arts, North American Review, Sycamore Review, and elsewhere. Her essay on racial invisibility and erasure in the writing workshop was featured on Bitch Media’s feminism & pop culture podcast Popaganda, on the episode “Writing About Race.”

Today, March 31, is Pub Day for her novel, American Han.

Buy American Han

Lisa Lee’s Website

Review of American Han from Kirkus Reviews

At about 1:40, Lisa discusses the exhaustion and excitement that comes with Pub Day and the book’s unveiling

At about 4:45, Lisa gives info on publishing and buying her book

At about 5:40, Lisa and Pete shout out meaningful writers in her life and talk about her book events coming up

At about 6:15, Lisa responds to Pete’s question about her language and reading life in childhood and into young adulthood

At about 9:00, Lisa cites Housekeeping by Robinson and Everett’s Erasure as changing her perceptions of what writers

At about 10:30, Lisa expands upon the greatness of Percival Evertett, homing in on Erasure

At about 13:20, Pete reads a generic definition of han and compares it to a word like saudade that is virtually untranslatable

At about 14L15, Lisa responds to Pete’s questions about the meaning(s) of han

At about 16:00, Pete sets the book’s exposition, and Lisa expands on the narrator Jane’s mindset at the beginning of American Han

At about 20:45, The two discuss the competitiveness within the family and expectations of Jane’s mother

At about 21:45, Lisa responds to Pete asking about the quote that Jane has succeeded “despite” her mother, not “because of” her mother

At about 25:15, Pete cites the Korean folk tale of Chun in talking about parental-child relationships and sibling relationships

At about 26:05, Lisa responds to Pete’s question about empathy/sympathy for her characters

At about 29:05, Lisa reflects on Pete’s wondering about han and intergenerational traumas in the book, and expands upon differences in han’s impact in contemporary Korea and among members of the Korean diaspora

At about 33:30, Pete highlights a memorable scene that

At about 34:05, Pete riffs on the "manosphere" and connections to Kevin, the narrator’s sister, and his misogyny; Lisa speaks on Kevin’s background and sense of han and sense of gender identity

At about 40:15, Lisa and Pete discuss the book’s timing and pacing and flashbacks

At about 42:40, Pete highlights an important and well-drawn scene about an alternate way of being mother and daughter

At about 43:55, Lisa expands on a Korean custom of associating parents with their children through different forms of address

At about 45:40, The two reflect on children as the parents’ “identity”

At about 46:40, Pete points out the independence of the mother and father at a point in the book where Kevin’s horrific act shakes up the family

At about 47:35, The two discuss the importance of a family vacation and ideas of “let[ting] the lid off”

At about 48:10, Pete asks Lisa about ending the book as she does, with a flashback, and with the tone that she uses

You can now subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, and leave me a five-star review. You can also ask for the podcast by name using Alexa, and find the pod on Stitcher, Spotify, and on Amazon Music. Follow Pete on IG, where he is @chillsatwillpodcast, or on Twitter, where he is @chillsatwillpo1. You can watch other episodes on YouTube-watch and subscribe to The Chills at Will Podcast Channel. Please subscribe to both the YouTube Channel and the podcast while you’re checking out this episode.

Pete is very excited to have one or two podcast episodes per month featured on the website of Chicago Review of Books. The audio will be posted, along with a written interview culled from the audio. His conversation with Jeff Pearlman, a recent guest, is up now at Chicago Review.

Check out the page that describes the benefits of a Patreon membership, including cool swag and bonus episodes. Thanks in advance for supporting Pete’s one-man show, DIY podcast and extensive reading, research, editing, and promoting to keep this independent podcast pumping out high-quality content!

This month’s Patreon bonus episode features an exploration of formative and transformative writing for children, as Pete surveys wonderful writers on their own influences.

Pete has added a $1 a month tier for “Well-Wishers” and Cheerleaders of the Show.

This is a passion project, a DIY operation, and Pete would love for your help in promoting what he’s convinced is a unique and spirited look at an often-ignored art form.

The intro song for The Chills at Will Podcast is “Wind Down” (Instrumental Version), and the other song played on this episode was “Hoops” (Instrumental)” by Matt Weidauer, and both songs are used through ArchesAudio.com.

Please tune in for Episode 335 with Toni Ann Johnson, who won the 2024 Screen Door Press Prize for Fiction with her linked collection, BUT WHERE’S HOME? (UPK 2026). In 2021, she won the Flannery O’Connor Award for her linked short story collection LIGHT SKIN GONE TO WASTE (UGA Press 2022). The collection was shortlisted for an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work, and also shortlisted for the Saroyan Prize. A novella, HOMEGOING, won Accents Publishing’s inaugural novella contest in 2020 and was released in May of 2021.

She is also a screenwriter with a number of produced projects to her credit including, Ruby Bridges (ABC), Crown Heights (Showtime), The Courage to Love (Lifetime) the TV pilot, Save The Last Dance (Fox Television), and the feature film, Step Up 2: The Streets (Summit Entertainment).

The episode airs March 31 or April 1.

Please go to ceasefiretoday.org, and/or https://act.uscpr.org/a/letaidin to call your congresspeople and demand an end to the forced famine and destruction of Gaza and the Gazan people.

You can also donate at chuffed.org, World Central Kitchen, and so many more, and/or you can contact writer friend Ursula Villarreal-Moura directly or through Pete, as she has direct links with friends in Gaza.

Saturday Mar 28, 2026

Episode 333 with Keith O'Brien, Author of Heartland: A Forgotten Place, an Impossible Dream, and the Miracle of Larry Bird, and Dogged Researcher and Journalist Whose Alchemy Leads to Wondrous Stories

Saturday Mar 28, 2026

Notes and Links to Keith O’Brien’s Work

Keith O’Brien has written five books, won the PEN America award for best biography, and has contributed to multiple publications over the years.

Keith's work has appeared in the New York Times Magazine, the Atlantic, Rolling Stone, the Wall Street Journal, and on National Public Radio. His radio stories have aired on All Things Considered, Morning Edition, and Weekend Edition, as well as Marketplace and This American Life. His latest gem is Heartland: A Forgotten Place, an Impossible Dream, and the Miracle of Larry Bird.

Buy Heartland: A Forgotten Place, an Impossible Dream, and the Miracle of Larry Bird

Keith O'Brien's Website

Review for Heartland from The Wall Street Journal

At about 1:50, Pete shouts out his brother as a huge Larry Bird fan

At about 2:30, Keith talks about his book tour for the launch of Heartland and gives a summary of the book

at about 4:40, Keith responds to Pete asking about the time period covered in the book and how he figured out his angle for the book

at about 7:55, Keith talks about his attempts to talk to Larry Bird for the book

at about 10:00, Pete sets the record straight grammatically, and Keith expands on Indiana State University President Dick Landini's persona

at about 11:20, The two discuss the book's opening sequence, and Keith explains why he started the book where he did, with an Indiana State NIT loss and Larry Bird fracas

at about 16:25, Keith talks about Larry Bird's treatment as "The Great White Hope" and the ways in which he was talked about and treated in the late 1970s

at about 19:00, Larry Bird's childhood is discussed, including his father's military background, and Larry talks about his research and work to make Joey Bird "three-dimensional"

at about 22:40, Keith gives background on the poverty and hardship in Larry Bird's upbringing

at about 23:40, Dave Bliss, Bobby Knight, and Larry Bird's college recruitment are discussed

at about 24:20, Keith recounts an amazing story involving Denny Crum and Larry Bird's recruitment

at about 26:45, Larry's short time at Indiana University and Northwood Institute are highlighted

at about 29:40, The two discuss important recruits for Indiana State to team up with Larry Bird, including Harry Morgan and his upbringing in a racist town/society

at about 33:00, Larry responds to Pete's asking about the college basketball Magic Johnson/Larry Bird dynamic, and the racial dynamics and popularity of the NBA in the late 1970s

at about 36:30, Keith gives background on the Celtics drafting Larry Bird after his junior year of college

at about 37:10, Pete discusses the "glue guys" that Coach Hodges brought in to ISU for Larry's third year and the novelty of nationally-televised games

at about 39:00, Keith reflects on the fact that while Magic Johnson is crucial to the book's events, he was at the time of the book's action, largely unknown to Larry, and vice versa

at about 41:30, Keith responds to Pete's referring to the book's last section, a sort of "Where are they now?" by calling it his favorite section and how the players and connections to ISU were irrevocably-changed

This month’s Patreon bonus episode features an exploration of formative and transformative writing for children, as Pete surveys wonderful writers on their own influences.

Pete has added a $1 a month tier for “Well-Wishers” and Cheerleaders of the Show.

This is a passion project, a DIY operation, and Pete would love for your help in promoting what he’s convinced is a unique and spirited look at an often-ignored art form.

Please tune in for Episode 334 with Lisa Lee. She is the recipient of the Marianne Russo Emerging Writer Award from the Key West Literary Seminar, an Emerging Writer Fellowship from the Center for Fiction, and a Pushcart Prize. Her work has appeared in Ploughshares, VIDA: Women in Literary Arts, North American Review, Sycamore Review, and elsewhere. Her essay on racial invisibility and erasure in the writing workshop was featured on Bitch Media’s feminism & pop culture podcast Popaganda, on the episode “Writing About Race.”

The episode airs on March 31, Pub Day for her novel American Han.

Please go to ceasefiretoday.org, and/or https://act.uscpr.org/a/letaidin to call your congresspeople and demand an end to the forced famine and destruction of Gaza and the Gazan people.

Saturday Mar 28, 2026

Episode 332 with Jordy Rosenberg, Author of Night Night Fawn and Master of the Poetic, the Profound, the Hilarious, and the Satirical

Saturday Mar 28, 2026

Notes and Links to Jordy Rosenberg’s Work

Jordy Rosenberg is the author of the novel Confessions of the Fox, a New York Times Editors Choice selection, shortlisted for the Center for Fiction First Novel Prize, a Lambda Literary Award, a Publishing Triangle Award, the UK Historical Writers Association Debut Crown Award, longlisted for The Dublin Literary Award, and named one of the best books of the year by The New Yorker, Kirkus Reviews and others. Jordy’s work has been supported by MacDowell, The Lannan Foundation, The Banff Centre, and The Ahmanson-Getty Foundation. He is a professor in the Department of English and Associated MFA Faculty in the Program for Poets and Writers at UMass-Amherst. His latest work is Night Night Fawn, published in early 2026.

Buy Night Night Fawn

Jordy Rosenberg’s Website

Review for Night Night Fawn from The New York Times

At about 0:45, Jordy responds to Pete’s questions about the feedback Jordy has received since Night Night Fawn has come out

At about 2:50, Jordy talks about tour events and purchase info

At about 4:15, Jordy talks about his background in reading and writing, especially the influence of the Marxist tradition

At about 6:50, Jordy responds to Pete’s questions about what draws him to sci-fi, and Jordy expands on his interesting view of genre as “collective”

At about 9:00, Jordan cites contemporary writers whom he appreciates in his "omnivorous" writing, including Lara Sheehi

At about 12:30, Jordy reflects on seeds for his novel, which started out as memoir

At about 16:10, the two discuss the narrator, Barbara, and the book’s exposition, and connections to Marx

At about 18:50, Jordy discusses how he wanted to explore Marxism through the voice of someone with a passing knowledge of it

At about 20:45, Part II of the book, a letter from Barbara, is discussed

At about 22:45, Jordy reflects on how he satirizes those so obsessed with anti-trans vitriol

At about 25:00, Jordy expands on Barbara’s antiquated and biased world view and victim mentality

At about 26:45, Jordy discusses a pivotal scene at a funeral and the importance of a photo

At about 31:00, Jordy responds to Pete’s question about meta-writing and

At about 35:00, Barbara’s job and it providing “ammunition” for her homophobia is the basis of discussion

At about 36:00, Neil, a family friend, is discussed as a trope and anti-trope

At about 38:00, Pete compares Neil’s Marxism to “a la carte Catholicism”

At about 38:50, The beginnings of discussions of Israel and 1980s viewpoints and a “public relations nightmare” and a broken friendship are highlighted

At about 42:40, Jordy talks about the importance of the “carrot scene” and ideas of Jewish masculinity

At about 47:15, Pete cites Deni Avdija's story and Jordy expands on ideas of BDS and narratives of “the most moral army in the world”

At about 52:00, Jordy and Pete posit some ideas about the adult daughter in the novel and talk about Jewish leadership in the BDS movement

At about 54:10, The two discuss the scene in which Barbara reunites with her old friend and how Jordy uses satire in the scene

At about 57:15, Jordy reflects on real-life connections to Barbara sending her daughter to Israel for “support work”

At about 59:15, Jordy cites the book as adding to conversations that come from “bedside rants”

This month’s Patreon bonus episode features an exploration of formative and transformative writing for children, as Pete surveys wonderful writers on their own influences.

Pete has added a $1 a month tier for “Well-Wishers” and Cheerleaders of the Show.

This is a passion project, a DIY operation, and Pete would love for your help in promoting what he’s convinced is a unique and spirited look at an often-ignored art form.

Please tune in for Episode 333 with Keith O’Brien. Keith has written five books, won the PEN America award for best biography, and has contributed to multiple publications over the years.

Keith's work has appeared in the New York Times Magazine, the Atlantic, Rolling Stone, the Wall Street Journal, and on National Public Radio. His radio stories have aired on All Things Considered, Morning Edition, and Weekend Edition, as well as Marketplace and This American Life. His latest gem is Heartland: A Forgotten Place, an Impossible Dream, and the Miracle of Larry Bird.

The episode airs on March 29 or thereabouts.

Please go to ceasefiretoday.org, and/or https://act.uscpr.org/a/letaidin to call your congresspeople and demand an end to the forced famine and destruction of Gaza and the Gazan people.

Tuesday Mar 24, 2026

Episode 331 with Davina Agudelo, Founder of Alegria Publishing, and Bright Light Bringing Underrepresented Voices, Stories, and Talent to the Reading and Creative World

Tuesday Mar 24, 2026

Notes and Links to Davina Agudelo’s Work

Davina Agudelo-Ferreria is a Colombian-American bilingual poet, writer and the founder of her independent publishing company, Alegría Publishing. Agudelo-Ferreira was born in Miami and raised in Medellín, Colombia until the age of 17.

Alegría Publishing was created in 2020 to spotlight modern Latino/x stories and give a special opportunity for upcoming writers to have a platform to present their work.

She also runs the bilingual Alegría magazine, which was founded in 2012 and is published digitally and printed quarterly.

2021 Article in Remezcla: “With Alegría Bilingual Media, Colombiana Davina A. Ferreira Is Uplifting Latine Storytelling

Publishing on Instagram

At about 1:40, Davina shares some good Medellin, Colombia slang

At about 3:20, Davina expands upon her upbringing and her language and literary lives and literature and writing were places of “refuge” for her

At about 6:10, Davina talks about “gatekeepers” and difficulty in getting to read diverse writers and publish; she talks about her publishing company as a response to that

At about 7:50, Davina responds to Pete’s asking about her early writing-poetry, journals, etc.

At about 9:50, Pete cites Ingrid Rojas Contreras in asking Davina about connections between Colombian cultures and magic realism

At about 11:35, Davina responds to Pete’s wondering about her take on diversity in publishing and any positive changes in recent years

At about 14:15, Davina reflects on the usage of Latine and Latinx

At about 16:05, Davina talks about the name of her publishing company and its significance

At about 17:45, Davina expands on alegria vs. joy and their power

At about 18:20, Davina talks about the publishing company and its mission and challenges around the COVID pandemic

At about 23:05, Davina responds (en español) to Pete asking about her own writing-likes and specialties

At about 26:00, Pete asks Davina (en español) about balancing the personal and the universal, and the balance between the romantic and the cheesy

At about 28:20, Davina outlines the year-round work at a publishing company

At about 30:15, Davina discusses future projects for Alegria Publishing

This month’s Patreon bonus episode features an exploration of formative and transformative writing for children, as Pete surveys wonderful writers on their own influences.

Pete has added a $1 a month tier for “Well-Wishers” and Cheerleaders of the Show.

This is a passion project, a DIY operation, and Pete would love for your help in promoting what he’s convinced is a unique and spirited look at an often-ignored art form.

Please tune in for Episode 332 with Jordy Rosenberg, the author of the novels Confessions of the Fox (2018) and Night Night Fawn (2026). Confessions of the Fox was a New York Times Editors Choice selection, shortlisted for the Center for Fiction First Novel Prize, a Lambda Literary Award, and has been recognized by The New Yorker, the Huffington Post, among other places, as one of the Best Books of 2018. Jordy is a professor in the Department of English and Associated MFA Faculty in the Program for Poets and Writers at The University of Massachusetts-Amherst.

The episode airs on March 24.

Please go to ceasefiretoday.org, and/or https://act.uscpr.org/a/letaidin to call your congresspeople and demand an end to the forced famine and destruction of Gaza and the Gazan people.

Thursday Mar 19, 2026

Episode 330 with Gaspare Randazzo, Wry and Hilarious Observer of The Teaching Life, the Student Life, and Life, and Alumnus of Netflix's "The Trust"

Thursday Mar 19, 2026

Notes and Links to Gaspare Randazzo’s Work

Gaspare Randazzo is a NYC high school teacher in his 13th year in the classroom. When he’s not in the classroom, you can find Gaspare doing Stand Up Comedy all around the country where he talks about his life as a teacher and his experiences dealing with students from all walks of life. In addition to stand up comedy and teaching, Gaspare recently starred in the Netflix show “The Trust” and co-hosts “The Social Studies Podcast” along with Joe Dombrowski. You can find him on all social media platforms at StandUpRandazzo.

Gaspare Randazzo’s Instagram

Gaspare’s Website

Tickets for Gaspare’s Shows

At about 1:35, Gaspare relates the incredible story of him buying an Egyptian sarcophagus

At about 7:50, Pete shouts out the connections between Gaspare and his AOL screen name

At about 9:00, Gaspare talks about his early connections to the comedy world, some tangential

At about 10:15, Gaspare responds to Pete’s questions about catalysts for his comedy career

At about 12:00, Gaspare shares an anecdote about his first headlining show and how he stretched eight minutes of material into an hour of material

At about 14:50, Gaspare talks about how he is “just him[self]” on stage

At about 15:45, Gaspare responds to Pete’s question about the “clip culture” of contemporary comedy

At about 16:30, Gaspare talks about “clean comedy”

At about 17:55, Gaspare talks about connections between teaching and comedy, and his public persona making it necessary to be a good teacher

At about 19:00, Gaspare expands on his usage of costumes in his history classes

At about 21:00, Gaspare responds to Pete’s questions about privacy concerns and how he is “mindful” of not giving specifics

At about 22:00, Gaspare discusses his evolving classroom management over the years

At about 23:15, Gaspare reflects on the comment boards and positive and negative comments

At about 26:10, Gaspare lays out his weekend schedule that integrates family time and comedy

At about 28:10, Gaspare talks about his time on Netflix’s The Trust and lays out his early experience and the concept of the show

At about 31:00, Gaspare explains his mindset on the show

At about 32:30, Gaspare talks about the shared experience with his castmates

At about 33:25, Gaspare shares how the byzantine way he “resigned” from his teaching job in order to be on the show

At about 35:15, Pete asks Gaspare about “go-to” jokes and lessons

At about 37:20, Gaspare cites about 92% of his audience being teachers and riffs on “translating” his comedy for non-teachers

At about 38:30: Rigor!

This month’s Patreon bonus episode features an exploration of formative and transformative writing for children, as Pete surveys wonderful writers on their own influences.

Pete has added a $1 a month tier for “Well-Wishers” and Cheerleaders of the Show.

This is a passion project, a DIY operation, and Pete would love for your help in promoting what he’s convinced is a unique and spirited look at an often-ignored art form.

Please tune in for Episode 331 with Davina Agudelo, a Colombian-American bilingual poet, writer and the founder of her independent publishing company, Alegría Publishing, which was created in 2020 to spotlight modern Latino/x stories and give a special opportunity for upcoming writers to have a platform to present their work.

The episode airs on March 19.

Please go to ceasefiretoday.org, and/or https://act.uscpr.org/a/letaidin to call your congresspeople and demand an end to the forced famine and destruction of Gaza and the Gazan people.

Wednesday Mar 18, 2026

Episode 329 with Grant Ginder, Author of So Old, So Young, and Master Craftsman of Memorable and Funny Scenes, and Profound and Reflection-Inducing Truths

Wednesday Mar 18, 2026

Notes and Links to Grant Ginder’s Work

Grant Ginder is the author of the novels Let’s Not Do That Again, Honestly, We Meant Well, The People We Hate at the Wedding, Driver’s Education, and This is How It Starts. Originally from Southern California, he studied at the University of Pennsylvania and received his MFA from NYU, where he currently teaches writing. He lives in Brooklyn with his husband, Mac, and their disastrous dog, Frankie.

Follow Grant on Twitter and Instagram at @GrantGinder.

Buy So Old, So Young

So Old, So Young Review for The Boston Globe

Grant Ginder’s Website

At about 2:05, Grant shares the fortifying feedback he has received since So Old, So Young has been out

At about 3:45, The two ruminate on aging and its “surprise” and its prevalence in

At about 5:15, Grant gives out book-buying info and upcoming book events

At about 7:15, Grant provides background on his rich reading life as a kid

At about 10:30, Grant talks about his love for Jane Austen’s work, and the two discuss connections in Austen and Grant’s work

At about 11:40, Grant talks about the “compulsion” and catalysts that led him to become a writer

At about 13:45, Grant reflects on how his speechwriting career has informed his novel writing

At about 14:50, Grant responds to Pete’s questions about seeing his work on the big screen with The People You Hate at the Wedding

At about 17:15, Grant shares writing wisdom from his teacher E.L Doctorow in discussing the episodic nature of his book

At about 18:25, Grant talks about the seeds for his novel

At about 20:20, The two discuss the meaningful epigraph and its change; Grant shouts out James Salter’s Light Years

At about 23:55, Pete lays out the book’s opening and a cryptic comment

At about 24:40, the two discuss the book’s chronological opening in 2007 and discuss the characters

At about 27:30, Grant explains the compliment of Adam being compared to a “roll of duct tape”

At about 28:50, Grant expands on why he steers clear of a straightforward cause-and-effect for his characters

At about 31:30,

At about 33:30, Pete shares some amazing coincidences in his life and the book’s second event, a 2014 wedding

At about 35:10, Grant expands on Mia’s comment that going to friends’ weddings is “bloodsport”

At about 37:40, Poor Nina, in her complexities, is discussed, and Pete compares her to Cecily Strong’s SNL character

At about 40:30, Ideas of expectations for women and the stakes “slowly getting ratched up” are discussed

At about 42:44, the next event, 2018’s party, is discussed

At about 44:00, Grant reflects on self-sabotage among longtime friends

At about 45:10, Nina and her hyperawareness of social anxiety and isolation are discussed

At about 47:50, Pete shouts out the wonderful invitation for Event #4 and the two discuss “dad rock”

At about 48:45, the two discuss the book cover and a “madcap scene”

At about 49:20, Grant talks about the eventual moving to the suburbs and people digging in their heels to stay in “the city”

At about 51:10, the two discuss the ways in which youth or lack thereof affects your mindset

At about 52:20, Grant reflects on long-lasting friendships and grace and change

At about 55:00, The two discuss connections between Grant’s book and The Big Chill

This month’s Patreon bonus episode features an exploration of formative and transformative writing for children, as Pete surveys wonderful writers on their own influences.

Pete has added a $1 a month tier for “Well-Wishers” and Cheerleaders of the Show.

This is a passion project, a DIY operation, and Pete would love for your help in promoting what he’s convinced is a unique and spirited look at an often-ignored art form.

Please tune in for Episode 330, a conversation with Gaspare Randazzo, a New York City high school history teacher and stand-up comedian known for his humorous insights into education, social media presence, and appearance on Netflix's "The Trust." He has over a decade of teaching experience and performs comedy nationwide, co-hosting the "Social Studies" podcast.

The episode airs on March 18.

Please go to ceasefiretoday.org, and/or https://act.uscpr.org/a/letaidin to call your congresspeople and demand an end to the forced famine and destruction of Gaza and the Gazan people.

Wednesday Mar 11, 2026

Episode 328 with Tom Junod, Author of In the Days of My Youth I Was Told What it Means to be a Man, and Masterful Researcher and Writer of Iconic Character and Cultural Studies

Wednesday Mar 11, 2026

Notes and Links to Tom Junod’s Work

Tom Junod is an ESPN senior writer who has written some of the most enduring and widely read longform journalism of the last 30 years.

He joined ESPN in 2016 and has specialized in deeply reported stories on subjects ranging from Muhammad Ali’s funeral to Tom Brady’s desire to play forever. He has been nominated for an Emmy for his work on “The Hero of Goodall Park,” an E60 program on the ancient secrets that were revealed when a car drove on a baseball field in Maine during a Babe Ruth League game in 2018.

In a 2022 piece, “Untold,” he and ESPN investigative reporter Paula Lavigne spent nearly two years uncovering the horrific crimes of Todd Hodne, a Penn State football player who in the late 1970’s terrorized State College PA, and Long Island, NY, as a serial sexual predator.

Before coming to ESPN, Junod wrote for GQ and Esquire, where he won two National Magazine Awards and was a finalist for the award a record 11 times. For Esquire’s 75th Anniversary, the editors of the magazine selected his 9/11 story “The Falling Man’ as one of the seven top stories in Esquire’s history. In 2019, his story on beloved children’s TV host Fred Rogers, “Can You Say…Hero?,” served as the basis for the movie “A Beautiful Day in The Neighborhood,” starring Tom Hanks and Matthew Rhys.

His work has been widely anthologized in collections including The Best American Magazine Writing, the Best American Sports Writing, the Best American Political Writing, the Best American Crime Writing, and the Best American Food Writing.

Buy In the Days of My Youth I Was Told What It Means to be a Man

Esquire: “Mr Rogers Changed Tom Junod's Life. Here's the True Story Behind A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

Esquire Magazine: “Can You Say…Hero” Article about Fred Rogers

New York Times Review: “Tom Junod Would Like to Tell You about His Father”

“My Father’s Fashion Tips”-1996 GQ Article

“Untold”: 2023 Article from ESPN Regarding Penn State and Todd Hodne

At about 1:00, Tom talks about his night and days leading up to Pub Day, and the sometimes-arbitrary nature of publishing and Pub Day

At about 3:00, Tom talks about his upcoming book tour/events

At about 4:15, Tom highlights the greatness and importance of Amy Wallace and her work, an upcoming conversation partner for him

At about 6:30, Pete is highly complimentary-joining thousands and ten of thousands of fans-of Tom’s legendary “The Falling Man” article

At about 7:05, Tom responds to Pete’s questions about the ways in which Jerry Sandusky haunts Tom and Paula Lavigne’s master class in journalism, “ ”

At about 12:00, Tom expands on how the article about Todd Hodne pointed out the lies and hypocrisy regarding Joe Paterno and Penn State

At about 13:35, Tom responds to Pete’s questions about the seeds for In the Days of My Youth I Was Told What It Means to be a Man; he emphasizes the importance of a 1996 GQ article

At about 17:30, Pete brings up some intriguing quotes in making some connections between Lorenzo Carcaterra’s A Safe Place and Tom’s memoir

At about 18:30, Tom highlights the classic portrait of her father for the GQ article by Marion Ettlinger (also featured in the book), and talks about his father’s essence being captured

At about 20:20, Tom responds to Pete asking about his father Lou as a distinctive type of “man’s man”

At about 25:00, Tom talks about his dad as “Italian-adjacent”

At about 26:30, Tom discusses the two funeral services held for his father, and how “having the last word” in dealing with his father led to him becoming a writer

At about 30:50, Tom highlights a stunning eulogy from a former lover of his father

At about 32:10, Tom responds to Pete’s questions about balancing his father’s behaviors in his mind and in his feelings towards him; Tom emphasizes the “suspicions” about his father that he harbored for decades about his father

At about 36:50, Tom talks about love “unlocking” so much for his writing of the book, including his father but also his wife, his mother, his siblings, his aunts, etc.

At about 38:55, Tom reflects on ideas of grace and scrutiny involving his father, his paternal grandmother, and their life histories

At about 42:35, Tom responds to Pete’s question about how his life with his father has affected him as a father

This month’s Patreon bonus episode features an exploration of formative and transformative writing for children, as Pete surveys wonderful writers on their own influences.

Pete has added a $1 a month tier for “Well-Wishers” and Cheerleaders of the Show.

This is a passion project, a DIY operation, and Pete would love for your help in promoting what he’s convinced is a unique and spirited look at an often-ignored art form.

Please tune in for Episode 329 with Grant Ginder Please tune in for Episode 325 with Grant Ginder, the author of the novels Let’s Not Do That Again, Honestly, We Meant Well, The People We Hate at the Wedding, Driver’s Education, and This is How It Starts, a few of which have been made into movies. His latest is So Old, So Young.

The episode airs on March 13 or 14.

Please go to ceasefiretoday.org, and/or https://act.uscpr.org/a/letaidin to call your congresspeople and demand an end to the forced famine and destruction of Gaza and the Gazan people.

Wednesday Mar 04, 2026

Episode 327 with Adolfo-Guzman Lopez, Author of California Southern: writing from the road, 1992-2025, and Reflective and Intrepid Reporter, Activist, and Chronicler of the Mundane and Marvelous

Wednesday Mar 04, 2026

Notes and Links to Adolfo Guzman Lopez’s Work

Adolfo Guzman-Lopez has been a reporter at LAist 89.3, the Los Angeles NPR affiliate since 2000. He reported and hosted Imperfect Paradise: The Forgotten Revolutionary, a true crime podcast looking into the death in 1994 of Chicano college activist Oscar Gomez. He has reported on L.A. politics, education, art, museums and other topics. His stories have also aired and published nationally on NPR, The Washington Post, and other media. His awards include the LA Press Club’s “Radio Journalist of the Year.” He was born in Mexico City, grew up in Tijuana and San Diego, and lives in Long Beach.

Buy California Southern: writing from the road, 1992-2025

Listen to Adolfo’s “The Forgotten Revolutionary” Podcast Series

KPCC/LAist Article about Adolfo’s Visit to Pete’s Classroom, 2012

KPCC/Laist OnRamp Article about Adolfo being referenced on The Simpsons

At about 2:20, Pete and Adolfo talk about the wonderful experience Adolfo provided for Pete’s students during a 2012 class visit

At about 5:15, Adolfo recounts great stories and lessons learned (especially “collective voice”) from time with The Taco Shop Poets

At about 9:00, Adolfo gives background on growing up in San Diego and Tijuana, "bicultural and bilingual”

At about 11:30, Pete and Adolfo reflect on the book as “a road trip book”

At about 13:30, Adolfo discusses what he recently learned about earlier family immigrants to the US

At about 15:40, the two discuss of National City and San Diego in discussing the wonderful “binaries” that Mike Sonksen compliments in blurbs for the book

At about 20:50, Adolfo describes the “sadness” in the writing of Jack Kerouac and connections to ideas of “home” for himself and Kerouac

At about 23:10, Pete and Adolfo shout out Tim Hernández and his great work with Mañana Means Heaven

At about 24:00, “The Spine of Califas,” the book’s first poem, is discussed, and Adolfo discusses the “personification” of the border

At about 27:50, Pete highlights the POV and “myriad stories” in a poem about

At about 28:40, Adolfo responds to Pete’s questions about poems that focus on the border crossing and questions from immigration authorities

At about 29:40, Adolfo explains a dynamic phrase he uses-”milquetoast bilingualism" and how he played with language, especially with regards to “proper” Spanish and English

At about 34:55, Adolfo reads some of his work, meditating on ideas of possessions, tangible and not

At about 38:00, The two discuss “SanDiegotijuana” and its “negative definitions” and Adolfo reflects on the “set of feelings” that differ depending on where he is

At about 41:00, Adolfo reflects on his “footprints still [being] wet” in San Diego and its implications

At about 43:40, Pete compliments Adolfo’s work in tracing the histories, military and not, of San Diego and LA

At about 47:00, Adolfo responds to Pete’s asking about his poem(s) about Pacific Beach Junior High School

At about 48:55, Adolfo expands on his word play, especially using various permutations of “Sal” and talks about adopting Jewish religious practices and writing about a meaningful story from the Torah

At about 53:25, Adolfo responds to Pete’s questions about “The Words I’ve Lost” and ideas of remembered and forgotten language

At about 55:45, The two discuss gentrification as a topic in the poetry collections, particularly in San Diego

At about 1:00:25, Adolfo recounts the story behind his poem on the opening of the National City Library

At about 1:03:40, ideas of “passing the baton” and transitions between immigrant communities and migrant communities are discussed

At about 1:06:20, Adolfo reads the poem “Prudence”

At about 1:07:45, Adolfo talks about writing in response/in honor of Ginsberg and Chicano/a history

At about 1:10:35, Adolfo talks about the Chicano Student Movement, which he covered for his podcast, “The Forgotten Revolutionary”

At about 1:11:50, Adolfo talks about continuing various movements, and how he has written a “sequel(s) for “The Movement” poem

At about 1:14:00, Adolfo responds to Pete’s questions about the term Chicano and its changing meanings

At about 1:18:00, Adolfo reflects

At about 1:20:30, Adolfo reflects on continuing activism and misogyny within activist circles

At about 1:24:10, Adolfo expands on writing and a changed viewpoint on life after a horrible injury caused by police at a protest

At about 1:26:40, Pete shouts out “Those Winter Sundays” in highlighting Adolfo’s strong ending with a question

At about 1:27:40, Adolfo expands on a poem that highlights the building of the LA Philharmonic

At about 1:31: 30, Pete highlights a favorite poem in the collection, “Trucks” and shares a little Italian bone to pick with Adolfo

At about 1:35:15, Pete compares Adolfo’s “Trucks” and love for home to Hemingway’s “Old Man at the Bridge”

At about 1:37:30, Shifra Goldman and her mentorship and activism are referenced, as well as the “Tercera Caida”

At about 1:39:00, Adolfo reflects on dreams and their impact on writing and learning

At about 1:41:10, Adolfo reflects on how he was cognizant of tone at the end of the collection, and he reads “The Treaty”

At about 1:43:00, Adolfo shares how he ended “The Treaty” with a reference to the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

This month’s Patreon bonus episode features an exploration of formative and transformative writing for children, as Pete surveys wonderful writers on their own influences.

Pete has added a $1 a month tier for “Well-Wishers” and Cheerleaders of the Show.

This is a passion project, a DIY operation, and Pete would love for your help in promoting what he’s convinced is a unique and spirited look at an often-ignored art form.

Please tune in for Episode 328 with Tom Junod, ESPN senior writer who has written some of the most enduring and widely read longform journalism of the last 30 years.

His work has been widely anthologized in collections including The Best American Magazine Writing, the Best American Sports Writing, the Best American Political Writing, the Best American Crime Writing, and the Best American Food Writing.

The episode airs on March 10 or thereabouts, Pub Day for In the Days of My Youth I Was Told What It Means to Be a Man: A Memoir.

Please go to ceasefiretoday.org, and/or https://act.uscpr.org/a/letaidin to call your congresspeople and demand an end to the forced famine and destruction of Gaza and the Gazan people.

Tuesday Mar 03, 2026

Episode 326 with Yiming Ma, Author of These Memories Do Not Belong to Us, and Reflective, Skilled Worldbuilder and Craftsman of "Constellation Writing"

Tuesday Mar 03, 2026

Notes and Links to Yiming Ma’s Work

Born in Shanghai, Yiming Ma spent a decade in tech and finance before writing the dystopian novel These Memories Do Not Belong to Us, named a Spotify Editors' Pick, longlisted for the Goodreads Choice Award, and featured on Best Book of 2025 lists by Electric Literature, Debutiful, PEN America,and elsewhere.

Yiming attended Stanford for his MBA, and Warren Wilson for his MFA. His stories and essays appear in the New York Times, The Guardian, The Globe and Mail, Florida Review, and elsewhere. His story “Swimmer of Yangtze” won the 2018 Guardian 4th Estate Story Prize.

Buy These Memories Do Not Belong to Us

Locus Magazine Review of These Memories Don't Belong to Us

Yiming Ma's Website

Interview with Michael Zapata for Chicago Review of Books: “Mirrors, Memories, Rebellions: An Interview with Yiming Ma”

At about 2:10, Yiming shares the feedback he’s gotten and the ways in which These Memories Do Not Belong to Us has “resonated” with readers

At about 4:20, Yiming talks about his relationship with “home” and reading as a kid

At about 5:15, Ishiguro’s Never Let Me Go is highlighted as a formative and transformative read for Yiming

At about 8:15, Yiming expands on how his immigrant background informed his career choices, agency, and adaptive skills and outlook on capitalism-he connects these to his book’s plot and themes

At about 10:25, Pete reflects on the book as science fiction/speculative fiction

At about 11:25, Yiming responds to Pete’s question about contemporary books that “flipped the switch”

At about 12:50, Yiming reflects on the dearth of fiction read by people in his former work life, as well as ideas of empathy and the changing landscape of diversity in authorship

At about 15:00, Yiming talks about AI and men reading (or not reading) fiction, and differences between his writer friends and tech friends

At about 18:00, Yiming describes the structure of the book in conjunction with seeds for the book, largely coming from the pandemic and ideas of what is remembered and not remembered and how

At about 21:55, Yiming explains how his award-winning story “Swimmer of Yangtze” and the idea of “constellation writing”

At about 23:00, Yiming lays out the book’s opening/exposition

At about 24:40, Yiming responds to Pete’s questions about early connections and memories between Jill and Hao

At about 28:00, Yiming recalls the early question about seeds for the book in reflecting on the motif of watches in the novel

At about 30:15, the two discuss “Easter eggs” in the book regarding “Ri-Ben” (China in Japanese), and Pete reflects on geopolitical tragedies that frame the “constellation writing”

At about 32:10, Pete asks Yiming about the book’s “Memory Epics” and ideas of art vs. commercialism and censorship in connection to today’s similarities

At about 36:40, Yiming expands on the story “Chankonabe” and its connections to real-life and its fit in the novel’s “constellation”

At about 37:35, Yiming talks about the importance of mantras in his book as guides for his storytelling

At about 40:00, Yiming talks about research on sumo wrestling and the resulting questions and reflection that brought out some profound scenes

At about 43:15, The two discuss the book’s first-person accounts from the main narrator, and Yiming expands upon ideas of agency and resistance against systems

At about 45:30, Yiming reflects on connections between the Chrysanthemum Virus and the coronavirus

At about 51:00, The two discuss the story “Swimmer of Yangtze”

At about 52:10, Yiming tells of the beautiful homage to his grandmother in the book

At about 53:10, Yiming turns the tables and asks Pete probing questions about the ever-encroaching AI

At about 56:40, Yiming talks about the “incredible” students he’s spoken with and reflects on a “biased sample” and the “paradigm shift” between disparate groups he speaks with regarding AI and its implementation

At about 1:01:00, Yiming reflects on the “worry” he has over critical thinking skills and employment in a future focused on AI

At about 1:02:20, Pete asks about “+86 Shanghai” and its immigration stories

At about 1:03:20, The two discuss the balance between changing the system and ideas of assimilation and Yiming talks about personal connections to “mining [his] own immigration story” and changing immigration narratives

At about 1:07:50, The two reflect on Kaveh Akbar’s brilliant work that Yiming riffs off in the book; Pete shares a story about Kaveh’s profundity in action, and Yiming talks about censorship and the timing of the release of his book

This month’s Patreon bonus episode features an exploration of formative and transformative writing for children, as Pete surveys wonderful writers on their own influences.

Pete has added a $1 a month tier for “Well-Wishers” and Cheerleaders of the Show.

This is a passion project, a DIY operation, and Pete would love for your help in promoting what he’s convinced is a unique and spirited look at an often-ignored art form.

Please tune in for Episode 327 with Adolfo Guzman-Lopez. Adolfo Guzman-Lopez has been a reporter at LAist 89.3, the Los Angeles NPR affiliate since 2000. He reported and hosted Imperfect Paradise: The Forgotten Revolutionary, a true crime podcast looking into the death in 1994 of Chicano college activist Oscar Gomez. He has reported on L.A. politics, education, art, museums and other topics. His stories have also aired and published nationally on NPR, The Washington Post, and other media, and his poetry, especially from time with the Taco Shop Poets, has been awarded and anthologized.

The episode airs later today, March 3.

Please go to ceasefiretoday.org, and/or https://act.uscpr.org/a/letaidin to call your congresspeople and demand an end to the forced famine and destruction of Gaza and the Gazan people.

Tuesday Feb 24, 2026

Episode 325 with Oliver James, Author of Unread, and Dogged Proponent of Literacy, Vulnerability, and Self-Improvement

Tuesday Feb 24, 2026

Notes and Links to Oliver James’ Work

Oliver James is a literacy advocate and motivational speaker who has been sharing his journey about learning to read as an adult, through TikTok and Instagram. Through videos and posts, he has been charting the books he’s read, and the lessons he’s learned and relearned. He has been featured on The Jennifer Hudson Show, The Today Show, NPR, and more.

Buy Unread: A Memoir of Learning (and Loving) to Read on TikTok

Oliver's Website

Oliver on The Jennifer Hudson Show

At about 1:25, Oliver talks about feedback he has gotten from early readers of Unread

At about 2:35, Oliver responds to Pete’s question about vulnerability in writing the book and presenting the book to the world

At about 4:00, Oliver talks about his social media availability and upcoming tour stops

At about 5:20, Pete asks Oliver about the book’s Dedication and important epigraph; Oliver expands upon the connections between reading and exercises

At about 7:40, Oliver talks about the emotions at the moment after he shared with his social media followers that he couldn’t read, in 2021

At about 10:00, Oliver explains how he would get by when being called on to read in school

At about 12:20, Oliver replies to Pete’s question about good ways for people to start learning to read/cement their developing reading skills

At about 15:00, Oliver talks about his singing and reading and other things that he does on Tik Tok Live and Instagram

At about 16:10, Oliver and Pete discuss

At about 18:00, Pete highlights Oliver’s great book recommendations throughout his book, and particularly connections between The Giver and Oliver’s pains and triumphs in learning and reading

At about 21:45, The two discuss missing important learning opportunities and learning cycles in adolescence

At about 23:15, Oliver talks about “creating [his] own identity” based on what teachers and other authority figures sometimes told him, subtly or not

At about 24:40, The two discuss how The Phantom Tollbooth connects to Oliver’s reading and learning journey

At about 26:30, Oliver gives background on how a speech class gave him more confidence and how it led to speech becoming a vocation

At about 29:50, Oliver reflects on what might have been different had he been a reader when he was set up in a sting operation

At about 31:50, Oliver explains how people in jail gave him hope and how this experience connects to the character of Zero in Holes, particularly with regard to a sense of “duty” and community learning

At about 33:50, Oliver highlights Dirty Laundry and shame and relationships with girls and dependence

At about 37:20, Oliver talks about the importance of a quote book that was his first gifted book and the “helpless[ness]” that came at the beginning of the COVID pandemic

At about 43:20, Oliver makes connections between COVID and “how to carry” on his reading and emotional journey

At about 44:20, The Diary of Anne Frank and The Outsiders and ideas of reading and being in community with readers and reading is discussed

At about 45:40, Pete gives a rec for one of his all-time favorites, That Was Then, This is Now

At about 46:20, The two discuss the Piiraha people and “living in the moment” based on Oliver’s car accident and other traumatic and triumphant moments

At about 51:00, Pete highlights The Alchemist and ideas of how books “unlock” so much, and expands upon the “agreements” featured in Don Ruiz’s books, in particular with regards to his father

At about 54:30, Empathy is discussed, as experienced in reading and in life, and love and thanks for his mother

At about 56:10, Oliver reflects on children’s books and “tap[ping] into emotions” and “be[ing] a kid”

At about 1:00:30, Pete highlights ways in which Oliver gave him a different perspective on finishing a book and on the classic The Giving Tree

At about 1:02:10, Oliver responds to Pete’s questions about his feelings upon meeting famous people for interviews, like Jennifer Hudson

This month’s Patreon bonus episode features an exploration of formative and transformative writing for children, as Pete surveys wonderful writers on their own influences.

Pete has added a $1 a month tier for “Well-Wishers” and Cheerleaders of the Show.

This is a passion project, a DIY operation, and Pete would love for your help in promoting what he’s convinced is a unique and spirited look at an often-ignored art form.

Please tune in for Episode 326 with Yiming Ma, who spent a decade in tech and finance before writing the dystopian novel These Memories Do Not Belong to Us, named a Spotify Editors' Pick, longlisted for the Goodreads Choice Award, and featured on Best Book of 2025 lists by Electric Literature, Debutiful, PEN America, and elsewhere.

The episode airs on February 24 or 25.

Please go to ceasefiretoday.org, and/or https://act.uscpr.org/a/letaidin to call your congresspeople and demand an end to the forced famine and destruction of Gaza and the Gazan people.

Tuesday Feb 17, 2026

Episode 324 with Lillian Li, Author of Bad Asians, and Nuanced Chronicler of the Young and Restless

Tuesday Feb 17, 2026

Notes and Links to Lillian Li’s Work

Lillian Li is the author of the novel Number One Chinese Restaurant, which was an NPR Best Book of 2018, and longlisted for the Women’s Prize and the Center for Fiction’s First Novel Prize. Her work has been published in the New York Times, Granta, One Story, Bon Appetit, Travel & Leisure, The Guardian, and Jezebel. Originally from the D.C. metro area, she lives in Ann Arbor.

Buy Bad Asians

Kirkus Reviews for Bad Asians

Lillian Li's Website

At about 1:30, Lillian talks about her mindset as Pub Day is a day away, and she shares heartening feedback she’s received on Bad Asians

At about 3:00, Lillian talks about her early relationship with language and literature, including Amy Tan’s Joy Luck Club, and coins a great term, a “Borders Kid”

At about 4:40, Lillian describes growing up in a Chinese-American and Asian-American community in connection with ideas of representation

At about 6:30, Lillian reflects on “growing pains” with Joy Luck Club and having ambivalent feelings towards the book’s lasting impact

At about 8:50, Lillian highlights How to Commit a Postcolonial Murder as a standout text she’s reading currently

At about 10:10, Lillian highlights Literati Bookstore as a great place to buy her book and interesting tour events coming up

At about 12:05, Lillian gives background on starting the book with a map

At about 13:10, Lillian talks about North Potomac, MD, and growing up there

At about 14:50, Pete sets the book’s exposition through discussion of the Prologue, and Lillian comments on her interest in the experience of those who have gone viral

At about 16:30, Grace as the “golden child” is discussed in terms of Lillian’s childhood seeing comparison and "competitive friendships”

At about 18:10, the two continue to describe the book’s opening and main characters

At about 21:40, Lillian describes the original video that Grace recorded that morphs into the foundation for the “Bad Asians” viral video(s)

At about 23:00, Lillian responds to Pete’s asking about a middle-of-the-book scene with a caring/boundary-overstepping teacher

At about 25:20, Grace and her gilded rich girl life is described

At about 27:20, Lillian and Pete describe the ways in which the friends like Errol and Justin feel “unburdened” and free in filming with Grace, but also how Grace gets some controversial footage

At about 28:55, “Going to the Mall on Molly” and its ramifications is discussed

At about 30:40, Lillian describes how Vivían’s phone call leads to Grace “running away” to LA

At about 32:25, Lillian gives background on the plan that the group hatches in collaboration with Carrie Yang

At about 35:00, Vivían and Errol and their post-vows life and rave culture are discussed by Lillian; she talks about MDMA as a sort of emotional regulation

At about 36:30, Lillian talks about the scenes in the book as emblematic of the 2008 recession and recovery in Detroit

At about 37:20, Lillian riffs on “self-medication,” with regards to an article she read about overdoses in the Asian-American community/rave culture

At about 38:40, Errol’s dangerous “pranks” are analyzed

At about 40:00, Lillian discusses the “gilded cage” and “success trap” for Grace and her creative pursuits

At about 42:10, the two discuss the notoriety that comes with leaked cell phone footage from the New York

At about 42:45, Lillian talks about Justin’s sexuality and provides background on her research on bisexuality, intimacy and love for his character

At about 46:00, Pete compliments the ending of the book, and Lillian expands on her mindset in ending the book that way

This month’s Patreon bonus episode features an exploration of formative and transformative writing for children, as Pete surveys wonderful writers on their own influences.

Pete has added a $1 a month tier for “Well-Wishers” and Cheerleaders of the Show.

This is a passion project, a DIY operation, and Pete would love for your help in promoting what he’s convinced is a unique and spirited look at an often-ignored art form.

Please tune in for Episode 325 with Grant Ginder, the author of the novels Let’s Not Do That Again, Honestly, We Meant Well, The People We Hate at the Wedding, Driver’s Education, and This is How It Starts, a few of which have been made into movies. His latest is So Old, So Young.

The episode airs on February 20, three days after Pub Day for So Old, So Young.

Please go to ceasefiretoday.org, and/or https://act.uscpr.org/a/letaidin to call your congresspeople and demand an end to the forced famine and destruction of Gaza and the Gazan people.

Monday Feb 16, 2026

Episode 323 with Luke Epplin, Author of Moses and the Doctor, and "Sportswriter" Who Writes so Adroitly about Race and Racism, Culture, and Intersections with Sport

Monday Feb 16, 2026

Notes and Links to Luke Epplin’s Work

Luke Epplin is the author of Moses and the Doctor: Two Men, One Championship, and the Birth of Modern Basketball, and Our Team: The Epic Story of Four Men and the World Series That Changed Baseball.

His writing has appeared online in The Atlantic, The New Yorker, GQ, Slate, The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Review of Books, and The Paris Review Daily. Born and raised in rural Illinois, Epplin lives outside of New York City with his wife and daughter.

Buy Moses and the Doctor

Wall Street Journal Review of Moses and the Doctor

Luke Epplin's Website

At about 1:15, Luke highlights Greenlight Books and Astoria Bookshop as places to find signed books, both online and off-

At about 2:15, Luke shares an interesting tidbit about fellow Illinois-ian David Foster Wallace

At about 4:40, Luke responds to Pete’s question about seeds for Moses and the Doctor, and how his first book figured in

At about 8:10, Luke and Pete discuss the book’s Prologue and an important Julius Erving “speech”

At about 11:15, Luke shares Dr. J’s thoughts on this consequential speech and further implications for his relationship with future teammate Moses Malone

At about 12:15, Chapter One is discussed, especially Julius Erving’s dazzling time at Rucker Park; Luke ruminates on Julius as “two people at once”

At about 17:55, The two discuss Moses Malone as a “prodigy” and how his hometown and upbringing shaped him

At about 21:05, Moses Malone’s college search and pro basketball signing are discussed

At about 24:00, Luke responds to Pete’s comments and question about the ABA/NBA and generalizations about Julius Erving and other players

At about 26:50, Luke reflects on Julius Erving’s free agent demands and travails

At about 28:00, the two discuss Moses Malone's “lost year” as the ABA wilts

At about 29:20, Luke references Julius Erving’s time in the ABA, and how people who watched him and played with him talk about how the NBA Julius Erving wasn’t the same

At about 30:55, Luke talks about the ways in which the super-successful Sixers were not hyped as much as teams like Magic Johnson’s Lakers and Larry Bird’s Celtics

At about 31:55, Luke pinpoints a pivotal scene in 1982 that he marks as critical in his book’s arc

At about 33:15, Luke responds to Pete wondering about the criticism towards Julius Erving before he won a NBA Championship

At about 34:15, The 1977 Finals and the competing styles the two teams brought are discussed, along with the New Jersey Nets’ impasse with Julius over his signing

At about 37:55, Pete shouts out an incredible dunk from Julius Erving on Bill Walton

At about 38:30, Luke expands upon the legendary stories told about Julius from his ABA days

At about 39:50, Luke responds to Pete’s questions about research processes for the book

At about 41:45, Luke reflects on his interactions with and memories of Bill Walton

At about 43:15, The two discuss Moses Malone’s opening season and NBA Finals’ Run with the Rockets

At about 45:00, Pete notes a transformational experience for Julius Erving/Dr. J at the end of the 1970s and Luke talks about Julius’ injury history and a turning point at age 30

At about 47:30, Luke reflects on a sense of “blessing” and introspection by Julius

At about 48:10, Luke reflects on racial and racist more of the 70s and 80s in Philadelphia, including the town ethic and Frank Rizzo’s oppressive governing, and how Moses Malone and Julius Erving acted in response and how they were received in Philly

At about 52:20, Pete references the Fonde Rec Center and its connection to Moses Malone’s “superstardom”

At about 53:15, Pete and Luke reflect on key moments and key losses that led to the teaming up with Moses Malone and the winning of the 1983 NBA Championship and Julius Erving opening up emotionally

At about 56:25, Pete highlights the power of Luke ending the book in 1983

At about 57:50, Luke discusses Moses Malone’s post-NBA career and his choice to live in the “shadows”

At about 58:40, Pete catalogs some of the post 1983 foibles and missteps of the 76ers players and brass, and Luke expands on why the buildup to the championship was so “dramatically satisfying”

At about 1:00:25, Luke talks about Julius Erving’s “legend” and legacy

At about 1:01:30, Andrew Toney was a bucket!

This month’s Patreon bonus episode features an exploration of formative and transformative writing for children, as Pete surveys wonderful writers on their own influences.

Pete has added a $1 a month tier for “Well-Wishers” and Cheerleaders of the Show.

This is a passion project, a DIY operation, and Pete would love for your help in promoting what he’s convinced is a unique and spirited look at an often-ignored art form.

Please tune in for Episode 324 with Lillian Li, author of the book out as of today, February 17, Bad Asians. She is also the author of the novel Number One Chinese Restaurant, which was an NPR Best Book of 2018, and longlisted for the Women’s Prize and the Center for Fiction’s First Novel Prize. Again, the episode airs on February 17, today, Pub Day for Bad Asians.

Please go to ceasefiretoday.org, and/or https://act.uscpr.org/a/letaidin to call your congresspeople and demand an end to the forced famine and destruction of Gaza and the Gazan people.

Tuesday Feb 10, 2026

Episode 322 with Peter Orner, Author of The Gossip Columnist's Daughter and Maestro of the Offbeat, the Original, the Creative, and the Resonant

Tuesday Feb 10, 2026

Notes and Links to Peter Orner’s Work

Peter Orner is the author of eight books, most recently the novel, The Gossip Columnist’s Daughter, named one of the best books of 2025 by the New Yorker and the Chicago Tribune, as well as the essay collections, Still No Word from You, a finalist for the PEN Award for the Art of the Essay, and Am I Alone Here?, a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award for Criticism. His story collection Maggie Brown and Others was a New York Times Notable Book. Other books include Love and Shame and Love (Winner of the California Book Award) Last Car Over the Sagamore Bridge, The Second Coming of Mavala Shikongo (finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Award), and Esther Stories. A recipient of the Rome Prize and a Guggenheim Fellowship, Orner is also the editor of three books of oral history for the Voice of Witness series, and co-editor with Laura Lampton Scott of a new oral history series from McSweeney’s called “Dispatches.” His work has appeared in The New Yorker, the Atlantic, Harper’s, the Paris Review and has been awarded four Pushcart Prizes. With Yvette Benavides, he’s the co-host of the Lonely Voice Podcast on Texas Public Radio. Orner recently led short courses on James Joyce’s Ulysses, and Melville’s Moby-Dick for the Community of Writers/Writers’ Annex. He teaches at Dartmouth College and lives in Vermont.

Buy The Gossip Columnist’s Daughter

New York Times Review of The Gossip Columnist’s Daughter

Peter Orner's Website

At about 2:30, Peter responds to Pete’s question about the feedback he’s gotten since the publication of

At about 3:30, Peter expands on ideas of making Chicago concrete for his readers

At about 4:40, Peter gives background on family’s roots in Chicago and in Eastern Europe

At about 6:25, Mike Ditka slander?!

At about 7:50, Peter highlights Saul Bellow as a writer who influenced him, as well as Stuart Dybek, Betty Howland, and John Irving among others

At about 10:05, Peter reflects on David Foster Wallace as an “Illinois writer”

At about 12:10, Peter discusses Zadie Smith and Yiyun Li, and as impressive and chill-inducing contemporary writers

At about 13:30, Peter lists some reading favorites of his university students, and he expands on how they are “blown away” by James Joyce’s work

At about 15:00, The two fanboy over James Joyce’s “The Dead”

At about 16:15, Peter reflects on Pete asking if his The Gossip Columnist’s Daughter would be classified as “historical fiction”

At about 17:15, Peter expands on his view of the book’s epigraph from Chekhov

At about 18:15, Pete cites another great epigraph and great book from Jess Walter

At about 18:50, The two lay out the book’s exposition, and Peter describes the book’s inciting incident, a tragic death

At about 20:20, The two discuss the book’s beginning as in medias res

At about 21:30, Peter talks about the character of Babs as inspired by grandmother, and Pete shares about his Chicago grandfather’s longevity

At about 22:55, Peter expands on the idea of Jed, the book’s narrator, feeling that three key events in 1963 were a pivot point for the family

At about 26:15, Jack Ruby and the provinciality and “small world” of Chicago

At about 29:10, Pete and Peter lay out Jed’s college professor setup

At about 30:00, Peter explains the cause of death and theories and conspiracy theories around it

At about 31:35, Peter responds to Pete’s musings about the old-fashioned “imperative” headlines that

At about 33:00, Some of Cookie Kupcinet’s last writings are discussed

At about 34:30, Peter reflects on the travails and pressures of Cookie

At about 36:00, Some of the prodigious pull of Irv Kupcinet is discussed, and Pete compares Irv’s work to that of Ace in Casino

At about 37:55, Lou Rosenthal’s reticence and kinship with Robert Todd Lincoln are discussed

At about 39:00, Peter expands on a scene in which the “grieving” narrator walks by the house where his ex-wife and daughter live; he discusses the importance he places on place

At about 41:40, Sidney Korshak and his historical background and Chicago connection is discussed

At about 44:10, The two discuss doubts in the story about the way in which Cookie died

At about 45:20, Cookie’s legacy and the ways in which Jed, the narrator, gains a sort of obsession with conspiracy theories and marginalia

At about 48:20, Peter talks about the book’s storyline as a “family story” and using a “tiny kernel” as a “jump off” point for his book

At about 49:20, Peter responds to Pete’s questions about the state of the current conspiracy theories involving the Kupcinets and JFK’s assassination

At about 51:20, The two discuss the breakup of the friendship between the Rosenthals and Kupcinets, as Pete compares a turned-down piece of writing to the book’s storyline

At about 53:20, Peter reflects on the intrigue that comes with

At about 55:00, Peter expands on the “Captain” moniker his grandfather have, and that he played off in his book

At about 58:20, The two reflect on the memorable character of Solly

At about 1:01:00, Theories involving traumas and low points and broken relationships are discussed

At about 1:03:00, Pete highlights a resonant last scene

This month’s Patreon bonus episode features an exploration of formative and transformative writing for children, as Pete surveys wonderful writers on their own influences.

Pete has added a $1 a month tier for “Well-Wishers” and Cheerleaders of the Show.

This is a passion project, a DIY operation, and Pete would love for your help in promoting what he’s convinced is a unique and spirited look at an often-ignored art form.

Please tune in for Episode 323 with second-time guest Luke Epplin. He is the author Our Team: The Epic Story of Four Men and the World Series That Changed Baseball and Moses and the Doctor: Two Men, One Championship, and the Birth of Modern Basketball.

The episode airs on February 13, three days after Pub Day for Moses and the Doctor.

Please go to ceasefiretoday.org, and/or https://act.uscpr.org/a/letaidin to call your congresspeople and demand an end to the forced famine and destruction of Gaza and the Gazan people.

Tuesday Feb 03, 2026

Episode 321 with Carolina Ixta, Author of Few Blue Skies and Master of Nuance and the Balance Between Nonfiction Concepts and Real-Life Ossues and Fiction in Her Fictional Work

Tuesday Feb 03, 2026

Notes and Links to Carolina Ixta’s Work

Carolina Ixta is a writer from Oakland, California. A daughter of Mexican immigrants, she received her BA in creative writing and Spanish language and literature at the University of California, Santa Cruz, and obtained her master's degree in education at the University of California, Berkeley. Her debut novel, Shut Up, This Is Serious, was a Morris Award finalist, an LA Times Book Prize finalist, and the winner of the Pura Belpré Award. Few Blue Skies is out now.

Buy Few Blue Skies

Carolina Ixta's Website

Kirkus Review on Few Blue Skies

At about 1:50, Carolina responds to Pete’s question about how she feels with her book at Pub Day

At about 3:35, Carolina shouts out Mrs. Dalloway’s and other bookstores to buy Few Blue Skies

At about 4:25, Carolina talks about her language and reading background

At about 6:00, Pete and Carolina reminisce on taking the challenging Spanish linguistics class

At about 8:25, The two reflect on the unceasing reading list

At about 9:15, Carolina shouts out Pam Munoz Ryan and Esperanza Rising-a transformative book and wonderful person

At about 10:45, Carolina highlights the wonderful evolution of young adult fiction

At about 12:45, The two fanboy and -girl over Jason Reynolds

At about 14:55-RILKE!

At about 16:30, Aria Aber is cited as a great fan and proponent of Rilke

At about 18:10, Carolina gives an intricate and wise explanation of how writing and teaching elementary school and her own schooling have come together in a balance in writing for young people

At about 24:30, Carolina gives information on seeds for Few Blue Skies-an urban education class and references to drinking water in Oakland Public Schools is cited

At about 27:05, Pete compliments the universality and specificity of the book in asking Carolina about the area in which she writes and connections to real-life companies

At about 28:30, The two set the book’s exposition

At about 32:40, Carolina expands on familial connections to the Bracero Program and cites Alejandra Oliva’s Rivermouth as a great source for information about the shocking (or not) racism associated with the program

At about 36:20, Carolina likes to

At about 38:00, Carolina makes interesting points about the “invisible” work done by Paloma’s mother and many women

At about 42:00, The two discuss the strike undertaken in the book and ideas of practicality and idealism

At about 42:40, AQA days are discussed in connection to air quality issues that happen in the book and in real life

At about 44:00, The two discuss grief, and Pete compliments the realism shown by the character in the book after Julio’s father’s death

At about 45:20, Carolina responds to Pete’s question about the significance of a garden envisioned by Julio in the book

At about 47:40, Carolina expands on Julio as a “wholesome character” and drawing his dimensions and his future and romantic life

At about 49:00, Carolina talks about stretching her Bay Area loyalties in writing realistically about the IE and their sports loyalties; she talks about wanting/needing to write something that shows her "range"

At about 51:15, Carolina responds to Pete’s question about the provenance of the book’s Mayor Warner

At about 55:45, Pete and Carolina talk about ideas of ignorance with regard to Paloma, and real-life versions of naivete and idealism

At about 59:00, Carolina talks about anxieties around proving that she can write fiction rooted in nonfiction, and how she so wants kids to go to Wikipedia and do deeper research in enjoying reading

At about 1:01:55, Pete cites the “good and fun awkwardness” in some of the romantic scenes in the book, and Carolina talks about struggling to write those scenes

This month’s Patreon bonus episode features an exploration of formative and transformative writing for children, as Pete surveys wonderful writers on their own influences.

Pete has added a $1 a month tier for “Well-Wishers” and Cheerleaders of the Show.

This is a passion project, a DIY operation, and Pete would love for your help in promoting what he’s convinced is a unique and spirited look at an often-ignored art form.

Please tune in for Episode 322 with Peter Orner, the author of eight books, most recently the novel, The Gossip Columnist’s Daughter, named one of the best books of 2025 by the New Yorker and the Chicago Tribune, as well as the essay collections, Still No Word from You, a finalist for the PEN Award for the Art of the Essay, and Am I Alone Here?, a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award for Criticism.

The episode airs February 3, later in the day.

Please go to ceasefiretoday.org, and/or https://act.uscpr.org/a/letaidin to call your congresspeople and demand an end to the forced famine and destruction of Gaza and the Gazan people.

Friday Jan 30, 2026

Episode 320 with Larry Strauss, Author of A Lasting Impact in the Classroom and Beyond Knowledge and Insight for Brave Teachers, and Sage Writer of a Diverse Listing of Opinion Pieces, & (Non)Fiction

Friday Jan 30, 2026

Notes and Links to Larry Strauss’ Work

Larry Strauss is the author of five novels, most recently Light Man and Now's the Time—now an Earphone Award winning audiobook—and numerous non-fiction titles, including Students First and Other Lies, a collection of essays mostly about education, and 2025’s A Lasting Impact in the Classroom and Beyond, a guide for new and struggling teachers.

His short fiction has appeared in Streetlight, Extract(s), and elsewhere. Op-eds and other non-fiction have appeared in USA Today, for which he is an opinion columnist, and The Guardian, among others. If you grew up in the 1980s, you might have seen some of the episodes he wrote for the first-generation Transformers cartoons.

Buy A Lasting Impact in the Classroom and Beyond

Larry Strauss' Article Listing

The Chills at Will Podcast, Episode 83, with Larry Strauss

At about 1:45, Larry highlights positive feedback for his book, including a lawyer who found the book so instructive

At about 4:50, Larry recounts a tale from the book’s Preface,

At about 7:40, Larry talks about the “contagion” that is fun that can and should come with teaching, and how this relates to him wanting to write the book

At about 9:20, Larry talks about his first teaching job allowed him to “find [his] way”

At about 10:30, Larry reflects on a Catch-22 that balances systematic change and day-to-day work

At about 13:10, Larry recounts conversations dealing with guilt for teachers in taking days off

At about 15:20, Larry talks about administration and the demands they feel and what they ask of teachers

At about 16:00, The two discuss the travails of teaching during the early days of the Covid pandemic-Larry had an active 40 person class!

At about 20:30, Larry reflects on ideas of “saving kids” as a teacher

At about 23:55, Larry talks about learning, including in literature, as “life-saving” and “writers as the first psychologists"

At about 25:30, The two discuss cinematic displays of teaching and “inspirational” teaching

At about 28:25, The two reflect on early days for teachers and ideas of teaching “authenticity”

At about 33:30, Larry talks about

At about 34:25, Larry references Willy Loman in talking about “salesman” as one of the myriad roles that a teacher plays, and Pete cites extracurriculars like basketball and the difference in working with students in a voluntary situation

At about 36:20, Larry expands on his first year(s) teaching and ways in which students bought in

At about 39:00, The two discuss the importance of passion and enthusiasm and getting to know students

At about 40:40, Larry responds to Pete’s question about how he came to understand that a loud classroom is not necessarily a bad thing

At about 44:10, Larry recounts a story of a former student discovering journalism stories that already existed in his life

At about 45:30, Larry reflects on a revelation he had about never surrendering to resistant learners and about how all/most students want to learn

At about 47:25, the two talk about being adaptable as students both change and remain the same

At about 50:20, Larry draws a distinction between talking about students’ incredible qualities versus complaining to other teachers about the students

At about 52:45, Larry talks about a second-generation student and parent complaints

At about 55:25, Larry and Pete discuss the need for adaptability and “improv” as a teacher, illustrated by a lesson that has become a stalwart

At about 57:20, The two discuss the need for joy and empathy in the midst of sadness and the grind of teaching-a great Cain and Abel story!

At about 58:50, The two discuss the pros and cons of small schools

At about 1:05:15, Pete highlights an early publication of Larry’s as the two talk about supporting the students unconditionally

At about 1:07:00, The two discuss different ways of being an advocate as a teacher

At about 1:08:10, Pete compliments the book’s mixture of art and science

At about 1:08:45, Larry talks about unique new writing assignments for himself

At about 1:11:30, in talking about horrible hires for US Secretary of Education, Larry highlights the way in which John King’s fifth-grade teacher “saved his life” through field trips and other ways

This month’s Patreon bonus episode features an exploration of formative and transformative writing for children, as Pete surveys wonderful writers on their own influences.

Pete has added a $1 a month tier for “Well-Wishers” and Cheerleaders of the Show.

This is a passion project, a DIY operation, and Pete would love for your help in promoting what he’s convinced is a unique and spirited look at an often-ignored art form.

Please tune in for Episode 321 with Carolina Ixta, a writer from Oakland, California. Her debut novel, Shut Up, This Is Serious, was a Morris Award finalist, an LA Times Book Prize finalist, and the winner of the Pura Belpré Award. Few Blue Skies is her sophomore novel, forthcoming from HarperCollins on February 3, 2026.

The episode airs on February 3, Pub Day.

Please go to ceasefiretoday.org, and/or https://act.uscpr.org/a/letaidin to call your congresspeople and demand an end to the forced famine and destruction of Gaza and the Gazan people.