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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
35 minutes ago
35 minutes ago
58 min
Notes and Links to Nafissa Thompson Spires’ Work
Born and raised in Southern California, Nafissa Thompson-Spires is the author of the award-winning, National Book Award longlisted short story collection, Heads of the Colored People.
She earned a doctorate in English from Vanderbilt University and a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from the University of Illinois. Her short fiction and essays have appeared in The Paris Review Daily, New York Magazine’s “The Cut,” The Root, The White Review, Ploughshares, 400 Souls: A Community History of African America 1619-2019, and The 1619 Project, among other publications.
In addition to a debut novel with Scribner, The Four Wives and Five Deaths of Rich Milford, her young adult debut is forthcoming with Make Me a World (Penguin Random House). She is the recipient of a 2024 United States Artists Grant and a 2019 Whiting Award.
Buy The Four Wives and Five Deaths of Richard Milford
Nafissa Thompson Spires’ Website
Review of The Four Wives… from Publishers’ Weekly
At about 1:55, Nafissa responds to Pete asking about her appearance on Seth Myers’ show
At about 3:30, Nafissa gives some background on family history that gave rise to The Four Wives…
At about 5:00, Nafissa reflects on the feedback readers have given her, especially with protagonist Rich “being painted with a compassionate brush,” as said in a review
At about 6:15, Nafissa gives information about book tour events
At about 7:10, Nafissa gives background on her early reading and writing life
At about 10:20, Nafissa highlights current and past writers who have thrilled and inspired her
At about 12:45, Nafissa talks about difficulty in managing a structure for her novel, and sage advice from R.O. Kwon
At about 14:00, Nafissa responds to Pete commenting on the town of Newville in the novel as a “Greek chorus”
At about 14:50, Nafissa expands on the significance of the epigraphs
At about 15:30, Nafissa discusses her mindset in starting the book at the end of the chronology
At about 16:45, Nafissa responds to Pete noting the book’s humor by discussing the ways in which writing each wife’s story was easy or not
At about 18:30, Nafissa reflects on sitting in judgment (or not) morally of the women in the book
At about 20:25, Nafissa explains ways in which Rich and the town of Newville show interesting ways of “moving through time” and John Edgar Wideman and his ideas of cyclical time
At about 22:20, Nafissa discusses "insiders" and “outsiders” as seen via dance
At about 23:00, Pete places The Tulsa Race Massacre in juxtaposition to the book’s setting and events, and Nafissa gives background on writing outside the white gaze
At about 26:05, Mythology and childhood traumas in Rich’s life are discussed
At about 28:50, Pete and Nafissa give background on Newville itself in relation to Rich and his wives’ Chantilly estate with its variety of characters
At about 31:30, Alberta and her “advoca[cy]” for Rich are featured as well as the importance of an inciting incident and a crazy history of Rough on Rats ™
At about 33:40, The history of the Milford family is recounted
At about 34:50, A “binary” approach in W.E. DuBois and Booker T. Washington and the ways they are viewed today are discussed
At about 37:05, Mae, Rich’s sister, is discussed, as is Rich’s childhood mischief
At about 38:15, Pete asks Nafissa about the importance of religious institutions in the book
At about 40:20, The two discuss early inciting incidents in the book and the ways in which Rich solidifies power
At about 41:40, Nafissa talks about Lally as “performative” and “affected” in the way she behaves and writes
At about 43:20, Pete and Nafissa reflect on a pivotal scene that leads to a loss of passion and the ways in which two more wives join the Milford family
At about 44:25, Pete points out a list made by Lally that speaks
At about 45:20, Taxidermy!
At about 46:10, Pete points the cinematic quality of the book, and Nafissa pictures it as a series with each woman getting a “chapter”
At about 47:30, Nafissa talks about “crumbs” and “hunger” and a “humiliating” scene
At about 50:00, Theo the philanderer and Rosemary, the goddess, are discussed, and Nafissa explains the significance of the blood moon
At about 52:10, Nafissa responds to Pete asking about the balancing of the literal and figurative/satirical
At about 53:40, Nafissa compares writing short stories and novels
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.
Sign up now for The Chills at Will Podcast Patreon: it can be found at patreon.com/chillsatwillpodcastpeterriehl
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 is the second episode for Pete’s limited podcast series, Rage is a Gift: Evil Empire at 30. Pete reflects on the Importance (and the power of this capital "I") of Rage Against the Machine and their seminal Evil Empire album, which is celebrating 30 years of resistance. The episode focuses on the opening track, “People of the Sun.” The limited podcast series will do a deep exploration of, and reflection on, the lyrics and context of each of the 12 powerful songs on the album.
Pete has added a $1 a month tier for “Well-Wishers” and Cheerleaders of the Show.
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 361 with Dr. Assal Rad, a scholar of Middle East history and political advocate based in California. She works on research and writing related to U.S. foreign policy issues, the Middle East, contemporary Iran, and Israel/Palestine.
Dr. Rad graduated with a PhD in Middle Eastern History from the University of California, Irvine in 2018. Her PhD research focused on modern Iran, with an emphasis on national identity formation and popular culture in post-revolutionary Iran.
She is the author of The State of Resistance: Politics, Culture, and Identity in Modern Iran (Cambridge University Press, 2022). Her writing can be seen in Newsweek, Foreign Policy, The American Prospect, and more. She has appeared as a commentator on BBC World, CNN, Al Jazeera, NPR, and others.
In 2021, Assal was selected for Middle East Policy Council's 40 Under 40 List and OUT in National Security's Leaders and New Voices List.
Her newest book, Don’t Say Palestine, is an important and groundbreaking addition to the canon on media bias regarding Gaza and Palestine.
The episode airs on October 13.
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.
2 days ago
2 days ago
1 hr 20 min
Notes and Links to Kristen Millares Young’s Work
A prize-winning novelist, journalist and essayist, Kristen Millares Young is the author of the memoir Desire Lines, forthcoming from Red Hen Press and Brilliance Audio on October 6, 2026, and the novel Subduction, named a staff pick by The Paris Review. “Kristen Millares Young will take readers along on her journey of discovery as she publishes her debut memoir this year,” writes People magazine in its exclusive cover reveal for Desire Lines, named a “Most Anticipated Feminist Book of 2026” by Ms. Magazine. “Young provides an intellectually courageous road map for readers reconciling the cracks in their own family narratives,” writes Shelf Awareness in a starred review.
Called “searching, generous, and unrelenting” by Melissa Febos, “explosive and daring” by Luis Alberto Urrea, and “alive with style and poetic lyricism” by Weike Wang, Desire Lines is a forensic investigation into the emotional topography of being a woman, a writer and a mother. Kristen narrated the Desire Lines audiobook to be released on October 6, 2026 by Brilliance Publishing. She received a 4Culture grant to support her memoir’s translation into Senderos del deseo by Majel Reyes Quesada. “In Desire Lines, Kristen Millares Young explores womanhood, human rights, and identity with a moral imperative and artistry that few writers achieve,” writes Brandon Hobson. “She is an immense literary talent, and this remarkable book should be read by all.”
Kristen Millares Young’s Website
Article and Preview and Interview with Kristen Millares Young Desire Lines in People Magazine
At about 1:00, Kristen describes a delectable meal she’s about to share in celebration with her neighbors
At about 3:05, Pete asks Kristen about her mindset as her memoir is a few days from publication
At about 5:00, Kristen describes the use of the second-person in the book after Pete asks about Cuban translations using “tú” or “Usted”
At about 6:00, Kristen responds to Pete’s asking about book tour events and publication info
At about 8:20, Kristen responds to Pete asking about her background with reading and writing, and talks about book as a continuing “solace” to her
At about 10:30, Kristen describes the “moving” experience of visiting Hemingway House as she is asked about formative and transformative writers and writing, Sara Ahmed and Audre Lorde are also highlighted
At about 15:25, Kristen responds to Pete’s question about contemporary favorites by citing Melissa Febos and Elissa Washuta
At about 17:40, Kristen reflects on continuity in a collection made up of individuals essays-she talks about her appreciation for “fractals”
At about 20:00, Kristen talks about different forms of storytelling: spiraling, for example, and those precepts set out by Ursula LeGuin and others
At about 22:05, Kristen sets up and reads the epigraph/opening poem of the memoir
At about 25:40, Pete lays out some of the book’s opening lines and asks Krsiten about her mindset in starting the book in Galicia
At about 30:15, Kristen gives background on Cybele, an important part of her book
At about 32:55, Kristen makes the salient point about the continuing propping up of rapists like Oddyseus and others from mythology
At about 36:50, Kristen responds to Pete's question about perspectives that she has had regarding two health scares 20 or so years apart
At about 42:50, Kristen speaks of her interactions and experiences in Cuba with writers and “jinetes”
At about 46:00, Kristen expands talks on the idea of women as “providers,” as evidenced by the previous comments on what she experienced in Cuba
At about 47:50, Kristen talks of the idea of the flâneur and misogynistic expectations
At about 49:40, Kristen responds to Pete asking about the supposed “protection” provided (or not) by men in her life and in society in general
At about 56:40, The two discuss expectations for women’s bodies, and Kristen points out “Our Lady of Perpetual Self-Loathing” as a chapter that reflects on these ideas
At about 1:02:20, Kristen discusses sexual harassment in the workplace
At about 1:03:10, Pete points out some profound quotes from the book and the two discuss systems and the ways in which systems oppress women, including sexual assault and rape victims; Kristen cites
At about 1:06:45, Kristen talks about “asserting regard” for herself and other women through this book
At about 1:09:00, Cybele as representative of women’s strength and dark humor are discussed-Kristen talks about “wit as a weapon”
At about 1:09:40, Pete asks Kristen about forgiveness and contrition as discussed in the book
At about 1:13:00, Kristen refers to Chekhov in connecting to her last two books in responding to Pete’s question about “catharsis”
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.
Sign up now for The Chills at Will Podcast Patreon: it can be found at patreon.com/chillsatwillpodcastpeterriehl
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 is the second episode for Pete’s limited podcast series, Rage is a Gift: Evil Empire at 30. Pete reflects on the Importance (and the power of this capital "I") of Rage Against the Machine and their seminal Evil Empire album, which is celebrating 30 years of resistance. The episode focuses on the opening track, “People of the Sun.” The limited podcast series will do a deep exploration of, and reflection on, the lyrics and context of each of the 12 powerful songs on the album.
Pete has added a $1 a month tier for “Well-Wishers” and Cheerleaders of the Show.
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 360 with Nafissa Thompson-Spires. Born and raised in Southern California, Nafissa Thompson-Spires is the author of the award-winning, National Book Award longlisted short story collection, Heads of the Colored People. Her short fiction and essays have appeared in The Paris Review Daily, New York Magazine’s “The Cut,” The Root, 400 Souls: A Community History of African America 1619-2019, and The 1619 Project, among other publications.
In addition to a debut novel with Scribner, The Four Wives and Five Deaths of Rich Milford, her young adult debut is forthcoming with Make Me a World (Penguin Random House). She is the recipient of a 2024 United States Artists Grant and a 2019 Whiting Award.
The episode airs on October 11.
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.
6 days ago
6 days ago
1 hr 9 min
Notes and Links to Daniel Peña’s Work
Daniel Peña is a Pushcart Prize-winning writer and Associate Professor of Creative Writing. Formerly, he was based out of the UNAM in Mexico City where he worked as Fulbright-Garcia Robles Scholar. A graduate of Cornell University and a former Picador Guest Professor in Leipzig, Germany, his writing has appeared in Ploughshares, The Rumpus, the Kenyon Review, Texas Monthly, NBC News, and The New York Times Magazine among other venues. He’s currently a regular contributor to the Guardian and the Ploughshares blog. His debut collection of essays, HOW TO LOOK AWAY is out now from One World books. He splits his time between Dallas, Mexico City, and a tiny farm in Germany.
At about 1:00, Daniel talks about purchasing info for How to Look Away, tour events, and his mindset four days before the book’s Pub Day
At about 4:30, Daniel talks about his Texas sports’ loyalties
At about 12:55, David responds to Pete’s questions about his childhood language and literature life
At about 20:55, Pete highlights Alfredo Corchado’s work as he asks Daniel about formative writers and writing in his life, including work by Francisco Goldman and Corchado
At about 25:15, Pete asks Daniel’s choice in titling his book and implications for the title
At about 29:45, Daniel talks about movement and its importance and connects it to COVID and George Floyd protests
At about 34:00, Daniel outlines his experience in September 2014 in protests re: Ayotzinapa, and the importance of riots in a democracy
At about 36:40, the two discuss the individualistic ethic and the “intens[ity]” of the early pandemic
At about 37:40, Daniel talks about the strangeness of writing and parenthood during the pandemic
At about 39:35, The two discuss the ways in which self-regulating industries have worked, including crypto companies/businesspeople as featured in Daniel's book
At about 42:35, The two reflect on the ways in which institutions have failed people of color, and how crypto has failed so many; Daniel references “creating the worse parts of humanity” Nefando by Monica Ojeda and Labatut’s When We Cease to Understand the World
At about 46:30, Daniel talks about critical free speech issues in 2026
At about 47:45, Pete asks Daniel about a main topic of the book-the compulsion to gaze at disaster; Daniel references Primo Levi and “useless violence”
At about 50:25, Daniel talks about an “epiphany” he had in researching for the book
At about 51:35, Daniel reflects on ideas of survival and “what’s done in our names”
At about 52:40, Pete and Daniel discuss traumas and “forms of disappearance”
At about 55:40, The two discuss the tragic story of Aliana featured in the book
At about 59:10, Pete highlights areas of joy featured in the book
At about 1:01:00, Daniel discusses the cruelty involved with family separation through immigration policies
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.
Sign up now for The Chills at Will Podcast Patreon: it can be found at patreon.com/chillsatwillpodcastpeterriehl
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 is the second episode for Pete’s limited podcast series, Rage is a Gift: Evil Empire at 30. Pete reflects on the Importance (and the power of this capital "I") of Rage Against the Machine and their seminal Evil Empire album, which is celebrating 30 years of resistance. The episode focuses on the opening track, “People of the Sun.” The limited podcast series will do a deep exploration of, and reflection on, the lyrics and context of each of the 12 powerful songs on the album.
Pete has added a $1 a month tier for “Well-Wishers” and Cheerleaders of the Show.
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 359 with Kristen Millares Young, A prize-winning novelist, journalist and essayist, Kristen Millares Young is the author of the memoir Desire Lines, forthcoming from Red Hen Press and Brilliance Audio on October 6, 2026, and the novel Subduction, named a staff pick by The Paris Review. “Kristen Millares Young will take readers along on her journey of discovery as she publishes her debut memoir this year,” writes People Magazine in its exclusive cover reveal for Desire Lines, named a “Most Anticipated Feminist Book of 2026” by Ms. Magazine.
The episode airs on October 6 or 7.
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 Palestinian 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.
6 days ago
6 days ago
2 hr 50 min
In this special anthology episode, Pete's shares his conversations with titans of the industry, Traci Thomas, David Naimon, and Brad Listi.
Traci Thomas is the creator and host of the critically acclaimed literary podcast, The Stacks. She is a passionate champion of books and a deeply curious interviewer. Traci is a monthly contributor on NPR’s Here & Now, a columnist for shereads.com, the creator of the LAist live literary series, One for the Books. She also hosts and moderates literary events, book festivals, and author talks nationwide. Traci’s substack, Unstacked, is a place where she dives deeper into books, and also discusses topics outside the literary world like pop culture, sports, politics, and more.
Away from The Stacks, Traci is a lover of hot takes, a watcher of sports, and a true snack enthusiast. Originally from Oakland, CA, she now lives in Los Angeles with her husband, Mr. Stacks, and her twin boys, the Mini Stacks.
David Naimon is a writer and host of the literary podcast Between the Covers. His writing is published widely, from Orion Magazine to Tin House. It has garnered a Pushcart Prize and been reprinted in Best American Science & Nature Writing, Best Spiritual Literature, and The Best Small Fictions anthology. He is also the co-author, with Ursula K. Le Guin, of Ursula K. Le Guin: Conversations on Writing. Between the Covers is his long-running podcast.
Brad Listi was born in Milwaukee. He is the author of the novel Be Brief and Tell Them Everything (Ig Publishing / May 2022). His other books include the novel Attention. Deficit. Disorder., an LA Times bestseller, and Board, a work of nonfiction collage, co-authored with Justin Benton. In 2011 he launched the Otherppl podcast, one of the longest-running literary interview podcasts in the world. It features in-depth interviews with today's leading authors. He is also the founder of DeepDive, a digital learning platform that creates in-depth audio courses. DeepDive's debut course is called How to Write a Novel. It features more than 50 hours of insight and instruction from nearly four dozen leading contemporary authors. He lives in Los Angeles.
6 days ago
6 days ago
51 min
Notes and Links to Brad Listi’s Work
Brad Listi was born in Milwaukee. He is the author of the novel Be Brief and Tell Them Everything (Ig Publishing / May 2022). His other books include the novel Attention. Deficit. Disorder., an LA Times bestseller, and Board, a work of nonfiction collage, co-authored with Justin Benton. In 2011 he launched the Otherppl podcast, one of the longest-running literary interview podcasts in the world. It features in-depth interviews with today's leading authors. He is also the founder of DeepDive, a digital learning platform that creates in-depth audio courses. DeepDive's debut course is called How to Write a Novel. It features more than 50 hours of insight and instruction from nearly four dozen leading contemporary authors. He lives in Los Angeles.
Listen to The Otherppl Podcast
Buy Brad’s Be Brief and Tell Them Everything
At about 2:00, Pete congratulates Brad on 15 years of Otherppl and asking him about his reading and writing example
At about 3:10, The two discuss “the creepiest author photo” ever and the man behind the iconic photo, Shel Silverstein
At about 4:15, Brad reflects on formative and transformative writers and texts
At about 6:15, Brad posits the perfect book length
At about 7:20, Brad reflects on Chris McCandless and Into the Wild
At about 9:00, Pete cites On the Road in asking Brad about texts that deal with mysticism and philosophy and search for meaning, which prompts Brad to talk about the importance of the Beat writers and Transcendentalists
At about 14:15, Pete makes a J-Will analogy to the Beats!
At about 15:10,
At about 17:25, Brad responds to Pete’s questions about seeds for the podcast, and Brad cites Marc Maron and Terri Gross
At about 24:45, Brad evangelizes for the need tío support those who create book media
At about 28:50, The two discuss persona and audience feedback and the comedian as writer
At about 31:05, Pete remarks on Brad as “infinitely curious” and patient and asks him how patience and curiosity serve him as a writer
At about 34:45, Brad talks about the ethos of the podcast and describes its format
At about 35:55, Brad discusses Brad and Mira: For the Culture-a “roast”-as “therapeutic”
At about 39:35, The two reflect on the power of the episode with Salman Rushdie
At about 40:25, Brad responds to Pete’s questions about any surreal experiences in hosting the show
At about 42:00, Brad and Pete fanboy over VV Ganeshanthan’s Brotherless Night
At about 44:40, Brad outlines his reading process for preparation and reading for pleasure
At about 46:20, Brad responds to Pete asking about which episode(s) would serve as a good primer for the show-Brad recommends “The Otherppl 15”
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.
Sign up now for The Chills at Will Podcast Patreon: it can be found at patreon.com/chillsatwillpodcastpeterriehl
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 is the second episode for Pete’s limited podcast series, Rage is a Gift: Evil Empire at 30. Pete reflects on the Importance (and the power of this capital "I") of Rage Against the Machine and their seminal Evil Empire album, which is celebrating 30 years of resistance. The episode focuses on the opening track, “People of the Sun.” The limited podcast series will do a deep exploration of, and reflection on, the lyrics and context of each of the 12 powerful songs on the album.
Pete has added a $1 a month tier for “Well-Wishers” and Cheerleaders of the Show.
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 358 with Daniel Pena, Daniel Peña is a Pushcart Prize-winning writer and Associate Professor of Creative Writing. Formerly, he was based out of the UNAM in Mexico City where he worked as Fulbright-Garcia Robles Scholar, his writing has appeared in Ploughshares, The Rumpus, the Kenyon Review, Texas Monthly, NBC News, and The New York Times Magazine among other venues. He’s currently a regular contributor to the Guardian and the Ploughshares blog. His debut collection of essays, HOW TO LOOK AWAY is out now from One World books.
The episode airs on October 6, Pub Day for How to Look Away.
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.
6 days ago
6 days ago
1 hr 5 min
Notes and Links to David Naimon’s Work
David Naimon is a writer and host of the literary podcast Between the Covers. His writing is published widely, from Orion magazine to Tin House. It has garnered a Pushcart Prize and been reprinted in Best American Science & Nature Writing, Best Spiritual Literature, and The Best Small Fictions anthology. He is also the co-author, with Ursula K. Le Guin, of Ursula K. Le Guin: Conversations on Writing. Between the Covers is his long-running podcast.
At about 2:40, David responds to Pete’s questions about his early reading and writing, and a pivotal decision in high school
At about 5:30, David talks about reading Crime and Punishment as an "existential moment”
At about 6:55, David reflects on his contemporary reading versus his past history of reading
At about 8:30, Pete references David’s employment history, as laid out in an article by Kylie, and David explains his process in moving from medicine to hosting
At about 10:50, David responds to Pete’s questions about political bents among his previous medical colleagues
At about 15:10, David talks about some writers and texts who have thrilled and inspired him, homing in on Ursula LeGuin’s more obscure/unknown works
At about 17:30, David traces the way his guests rounded out, genre-wise, as his podcast aged
At about 19:50, David recommends works by the great Anthony Doerr, an early guest of David’s on Between the Covers
At about 20:40, Pete asks David about how reading for the podcast has affected the way he reads
At about 23:15, Pete reflects on the same above question, and highlights Rachel Khong and Wright Thompson’s tear-inducing work
At about 24:45, David brings up the incredibly-keen point about high emotions felt over art while on airplanes
At about 26:20, David wrestles with how he describes the podcast
At about 30:10, Pete highlights a recent episode with Valeria Luiselli and its power and variety and intimacy
At about 33:00, Pete asks David if and how he sees himself as a “critic”
At about 36:30, Pete highlights David’s interview style, and David discusses his “mini essays” and the ways in he approaches his questioning
At about 39:45, Pete talks about the options for listeners
At about 40:25, David responds to Pete’s questions about his reading/annotation process, as he and Pete agree on their general styles and bookmarking
At about 41:50, The two discuss the commerce and creativity balance in literary podcasting
At about 48:50, Pete and David discuss the surreal moments in interviewing some of their favorite writers
At about 52:15, Pete and David fanboy over Tobias Wolff and
At about 54:00, David explains the history of Between the Covers, both the title and the continuing shows
At about 55:50, David outlines episodes with Dionne Brand “Nomenclature” and Jorie Graham “Runaway” as good “entryways” to the ethos of the podcast
At about 57:10, David talks about his association with Milkweed and ways in which to listen to Between the Covers
At about 59:45, David talks about future plans
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.
Sign up now for The Chills at Will Podcast Patreon: it can be found at patreon.com/chillsatwillpodcastpeterriehl
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 is the second episode for Pete’s limited podcast series, Rage is a Gift: Evil Empire at 30. Pete reflects on the Importance (and the power of this capital "I") of Rage Against the Machine and their seminal Evil Empire album, which is celebrating 30 years of resistance. The episode focuses on the opening track, “People of the Sun.” The limited podcast series will do a deep exploration of, and reflection on, the lyrics and context of each of the 12 powerful songs on the album.
Pete has added a $1 a month tier for “Well-Wishers” and Cheerleaders of the Show.
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 357 with Brad Listi, the author of the novel Be Brief and Tell Them Everything (Ig Publishing / May 2022). His other books include the novel Attention. Deficit. Disorder., an LA Times bestseller, and Board, a work of nonfiction collage, co-authored with Justin Benton. In 2011 he launched the Otherppl podcast, one of the longest-running literary interview podcasts in the world. It features in-depth interviews with today's leading authors. He is also the founder of DeepDive, a digital learning platform that creates in-depth audio courses.
The episode airs on October 6 or 7.
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.
Oct 4, 2026
Oct 4, 2026
59 min
Notes and Links to Traci Thomas’ Work
Traci Thomas is the creator and host of the critically acclaimed literary podcast, The Stacks. She is a passionate champion of books and a deeply curious interviewer. Traci is a monthly contributor on NPR’s Here & Now, a columnist for shereads.com, the creator of the LAist live literary series, One for the Books. She also hosts and moderates literary events, book festivals, and author talks nationwide. Traci’s substack, Unstacked, is a place where she dives deeper into books, and also discusses topics outside the literary world like pop culture, sports, politics, and more.
Away from The Stacks, Traci is a lover of hot takes, a watcher of sports, and a true snack enthusiast. Originally from Oakland, CA, she now lives in Los Angeles with her husband, Mr. Stacks, and her twin boys, the Mini Stacks.
Become a Stacks Podcast Patreon Supporter
At about 2:00, Traci traces the history of the book podcast as a thing
At about 2:50, Traci talks about where her sports loyalties lie
At about 5:55, Traci responds to Pete’s question about the ways in which Bay Area’s history has shaped her
At about 6:50, Traci traces some of her favorite reading from childhood
At about 10:35, Traci highlights the “book of [her] life”- Into Thin Air- and The Autobiography of Malcolm X as formative and transformative texts
At about 12:40, Traci outlines the process by which she became a huge fan of Shakespeare
At about 15:55, Pete asks Traci for tips on teaching Shakespeare, and Traci lays out a great curriculum, including the need to highlight a lack of subtext through the eyes of Shakespearean characters
At about 21:25, Pete and Traci discuss a “binary” way in which Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X were taught
At about 23:05, Traci responds to Pete’s question about seeds for and the genesis of The Stacks Podcast
At about 27:25, Traci summarizes the mechanics and ethos of her podcast
At about 29:40, Pete highlights the recent episode where Traci discussed Priya Parker’s The Art of Fighting and asks Traci about her view of the term “critic”
At about 34:40, Traci talks about opinions and tastes in art, and charts a few books that lead to great conversations despite not being universally-liked
At about 35:55, Traci responds to Pete’s musings about how he saw basketball differently after watching it as a coach-for her, it’s the way she reads differently now
At about 41:00, Traci charts her reading routine
At about 43:00, Traci reflects on Pete asking about “balancing” commerce and creativity in her work
At about 45:45, Pete asks Traci about the importance of in-person/community-based events for books and bookish topics
At about 48:35, Traci reflects on “surreal” guests and experiences and meaningful guests
At about 51:00, Traci and Pete home in on the episode with Kamala Harris
At about 53:00, Traci accounts for the number of episodes she has recorded and talks about future plans for the podcast
At about 54:05, Traci gives information on her Patreon, Substack, and social media, and podcast info
At about 55:30, Traci highlights fall events and plans
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.
Sign up now for The Chills at Will Podcast Patreon: it can be found at patreon.com/chillsatwillpodcastpeterriehl
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 is the second episode for Pete’s limited podcast series, Rage is a Gift: Evil Empire at 30. Pete reflects on the Importance (and the power of this capital "I") of Rage Against the Machine and their seminal Evil Empire album, which is celebrating 30 years of resistance. The episode focuses on the opening track, “People of the Sun.” The limited podcast series will do a deep exploration of, and reflection on, the lyrics and context of each of the 12 powerful songs on the album.
Pete has added a $1 a month tier for “Well-Wishers” and Cheerleaders of the Show.
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 356 with David Naimon, another Paragon of the Literary Podcast. David is a writer and host of the literary podcast Between the Covers. His writing is published widely, from Orion Magazine to Tin House. It has garnered a Pushcart Prize and been reprinted in Best American Science & Nature Writing, Best Spiritual Literature, and The Best Small Fictions anthology. He is also the co-author, with Ursula K. Le Guin, of Ursula K. Le Guin: Conversations on Writing.
The episode airs on October 4 or 5.
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.
Oct 3, 2026
Oct 3, 2026
48 min
Notes and Links to Jason M. Thornsberry’s Work
Jason M. Thornberry’s writing appears in World Literature Today, Los Angeles Review of Books, Maryland Literary Review, North Dakota Quarterly, South Florida Poetry Journal, JMWW, Letters Journal, Soundings East, Medicine and Meaning, Harbor Review, Entropy, Maudlin House, and many others. He was nominated in 2023 and 2024 for Best of the Net. Jason’s chapbook, The Finish Line, is available through Sand and Gravel Press.
At about 1:25, Jason talks about the “rough” heat wave(s) hitting in Seattle in recent weeks and years, as well as his preference for going out in the wintertime
At about 3:20, Jason responds to Pete’s questions about Jason’s early reading and writing life
At about 5:10, Pete asks Jason about inspirational musicians and writers for him
At about 6:50, Jason explains how he has written a daily journal for decades, even in the midst of musicianship and his extensive time in the hospital
At about 10:45, Jason talks about his love of education and his hard work to get to the university level
At about 12:00, Jason responds to Pete’s questions about his current playlist and listening to “what’s cool”
At about 13:50, The two fanboy about 90s hip hop, including Wu-Tang’s/RZA’s greatness
At about 16:00, Jason ranks his best drummers of all-time
At about 18:10, Jason responds to Pete’s questions about the composition of his chapbook, The Finish Line
At about 20:05, Pete sets up the title piece of The Finish Line
At about 21:15, Jason reflects on the “beauty in the banal” and how this connects to “The Finish Line”
At about 23:30, Jason and Pete explore the banal and details of the title piece and Jason ties the story to his other writing and trying to make his work “relata[ble]”
At about 25:00, the two discuss “My Vasectomy” from Medicine and Meaning, the journal of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
At about 26:55, Jason talks about which texts come more quickly, and his mindset when his piece on vasectomy was written
At about 29:55, “Deadbolt” is discussed as part of a future memoir, as Pete expresses surprise that it is nonfiction, and Jason provides context
At about 35:15, The two discuss “Good Enough for Now”, and Jason talks about the excerpt’s piece in the larger novel
At about 40:15, Jason responds to Pete’s questions about balancing multiop;le projects
At about 43:20, Jason summarizes his memoir writing
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.
Sign up now for The Chills at Will Podcast Patreon: it can be found at patreon.com/chillsatwillpodcastpeterriehl
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 is the second episode for Pete’s limited podcast series, Rage is a Gift: Evil Empire at 30. Pete reflects on the Importance (and the power of this capital "I") of Rage Against the Machine and their seminal Evil Empire album, which is celebrating 30 years of resistance. The episode focuses on the opening track, “People of the Sun.” The limited podcast series will do a deep exploration of, and reflection on, the lyrics and context of each of the 12 powerful songs on the album.
Pete has added a $1 a month tier for “Well-Wishers” and Cheerleaders of the Show.
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 355 with Traci Thomas, the creator and host of the critically acclaimed literary podcast, The Stacks. She is a passionate champion of books and a deeply curious interviewer. Traci is a monthly contributor on NPR’s Here & Now, a columnist for shereads.com, the creator of the LAist live literary series, One for the Books. She also hosts and moderates literary events, book festivals, and author talks nationwide. Traci’s substack, Unstacked, is a place where she dives deeper into books, and also discusses topics outside the literary world like pop culture, sports, politics, and more.
The episode airs on October 2 or 3rd ish.
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 Palestinian 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.
Oct 1, 2026
Oct 1, 2026
1 hr 2 min
Notes and Links to Tomas Moniz’s Work
Tomas Moniz is a latinx writer living in East Oakland, CA. His debut novel, Big Familia, was a finalist for the 2020 PEN/ Hemingway and the LAMBDA. His second novel, All Friends Are Necessary, won the 2024 California Golden Poppy Award.
His new novel, The King of Aloe Vera, will be published on September 29th, 2026 from Algonquin Books. He edited the popular Rad Dad and Rad Families anthologies, and he teaches at Berkeley City College, the Antioch MFA, and St Mary's College USF.
He has stuff on the internet but loves penpals: PO Box 3555, Berkeley CA 94703.
He promises to write back.
Review of The King of Aloe Vera from Publishers Weekly
At about 2:00, Tomas talks about his Luddite delights
At about 2:55, Tomas discusses ways and places to buy his book, tour events, and his mindset as the book has approached publication
At about 7:10, Tomas talks about the book being allowed to “hold together…themes” by posing the action in October
At about 9:15, the two reflect on the “tender[ness] featured in the book, and Tomas expands on ideas
At about 10:15, The two discuss the “found family” and single men-ethic of the book
At about 11:20, Tomas responds to Pete’s asking about his early reading and writing life, including books that reflected his own experience and inspired him
At about 15:05, Tomas shouts out Genevieve Hudson and others as contemporary writers who thrill and him
At about 16:55, Tomas recounts seeds for The King of Aloe Vera, and his mindset in seeking out a third-person work
At about 19:10, Tomas explains the importance of aloe vera and connections to the book
At about 20:40, The two reflect on the Ron Arias’ epigraph
At about 23:20, Tomas responds to Pete asking about his views of the word pocho
At about 24:30, Tomás gives background on the book’s first line, and he reads this line
At about 26:20, Tomas shares a wild and “surreal” story about real-life and his book’s events mirroring each other
At about 27:30, Tomas and Pete discuss the book’s opening setting, and a “nuanced” gentrification throughline
At about 29:20, Tomas discusses the people and things that Rey is grieving
At about 33:00, Pete shares a quote from the book that is emblematic of Rey’s personality
At about 34:05, Tomas reflects on the development of the character Q/Reina
At about 35:40, Pete references a telling quote from Tony Soprano as Pete and Tomas discuss a loneliness that comes with remembering
At about 36:20, The two discuss Rey’s memorable possessions and ideas of mental health struggles for older people
At about 39:00, Pete references the “waves of grief” that Rey feels in thinking about his deceased wife
At about 40:00, Tomas responds to Pete’s questions about those who are tasked with moving Rey and making him comfortable
At about 41:45, The two discuss Rey making hesitating connections via public transportation and mindfulness
At about 42:40, Tomas describes his love of “setting and neighborhood" in discussing the political issues roiling Rey’s neighborhood in the book
At about 45:05, The two discuss empathy between Q and Rey
At about 46:05, The two discuss moments of joy for Rey, including wonderful moments in the library that are in juxtaposition to a scary moment from his childhood
At about 47:05, Tomas discusses Reina’s attempts at contrition
At about 48:00, Pete recounts the ways in which Rey attacks his checklist, and Tomas discusses his mindset and goals in writing the book in a month, day-by-day format
At about 52:00, The two chronicle Rey’s checklist actions
At about 53:35, Pete quotes a potent line from Q
At about 54:15, Tomas speaks on the importance of a lease in the book and the effort (or lack thereof) in honoring/breaking that lease
At about 55:20, Pete highlights a tender line from Q that Tomas notes is a quiet throughline in the book
At about 56:20, The Raging Elders and a possible budding romance for Rey are charted
At about 57:25, Pete gives kudos to Tomas for “making [him] cry at a trampoline park”
At about 58:15, Pete asks Tomas about how he sees and how he developed Rey
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.
Sign up now for The Chills at Will Podcast Patreon: it can be found at patreon.com/chillsatwillpodcastpeterriehl
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 is the trailer episode for Pete’s limited podcast series, Rage is a Gift: Evil Empire at 30. Pete reflects on the Importance (and the power of this capital "I") of Rage Against the Machine and their seminal Evil Empire album, which is celebrating 30 years of resistance. The limited podcast series will do a deep exploration of, and reflection on, the lyrics and context of each of the 12 powerful songs on the album.
Pete has added a $1 a month tier for “Well-Wishers” and Cheerleaders of the Show.
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 354 with Jason M. Thornberry, whose writing appears in Los Angeles Review of Books, Medicine and Meaning, Harbor Review, Entropy, Maudlin House, and many others. He was nominated in 2023 and 2024 for Best of the Net. Jason’s chapbook, The Finish Line, is available through Sand and Gravel Press.
The episode will air on Oct 1 or 2.
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 Palestinian 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.
Sep 29, 2026
Sep 29, 2026
1 hr 15 min
Notes and Links to Sarah Blakley-Cartwright’s Work
Sarah Blakley-Cartwright is the author of Alice Sadie Celine (Simon Books, Simon & Schuster, November 28th, 2023). She is also the author of Red Riding Hood (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers), a New York Times #1 bestseller that was published worldwide in thirty-eight editions and fifteen languages.
Sarah is the editor of The Artist's Library, featuring conversation with artists on their most beloved books, transcribed, and appearing monthly at Hauser & Wirth's Ursula magazine. The series launched in March 2021 with Anj Smith on Vladimir Nabokov’s Speak, Memory.
She has been the recipient of residencies and scholarships from the Millay Colony of the Arts, the Kimmel Harding Nelson Center for the Arts, the Aspen Writers Foundation, and the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts. She has spoken at SXSW, AWP, Brazil’s Biennale de Livros, One Story Summer Conference, and the Roxbury Writers Residency. Sarah's writing has appeared in BOMB Magazine and the Georgia Review, and she has written about Henni Alftan for KARMA Books and James Baldwin for the National Book Foundation.
Sarah Blakley-Cartwright's Website
People Magazine's Preview of Heavy Cream
At about 5:15, Sarah describes her mindset with Heavy Cream about to be published
At about 6:45, Sarah reflects on the importance (or lack thereof) of blurbs
At about 12:50, Sarah highlights places to buy her book and details her book tour events
At about 14:00, Sarah responds to Pete’s asking about her early reading and writing life
At about 18:25, Sarah talks about how her acting life and life as the daughter of creative filmmaker and successful actress affected Heavy Cream
At about 24:50, Sarah responds to Pete’s question about the connections between writing and acting
At about 26:45, Sarah expands on the differences between his father’s girlfriends and the ways in which this information hit her as a young girl and later as a writer
At about 30:15, Sarah reflects on individuality in teenagers and clothes as making one "legible"
At about 31:20, Sarah and Pete discuss the high schoolers depicted in her book and how protagonist Gerry and her classmates showcase an understanding and “entitle[ment]” to their rights
At about 35:55, Pete cites Antonya Nelson’s “In the Land of Men” as evocative and reflection-inducing and setting up his question to Sarah about “writing to the ‘female gaze’ ”
At about 40:45, Sarah reflects on her interest in observers and “novels of reinvention” like The Talented Mr. Ripley and The Great Gatsby
At about 41:50, Pete riffs (and rambles!) on what type of books do and don’t “hit” with students
At about 47:25, Pete and Sarah give some background on Gerry’s mom and grandmother and their relationship’s history and consequences and Sarah’s process in crafting these important characters
At about 55:00, Sarah reflects on the ways in which mother and daughter are “enmeshed” in the novel
At about 56:40, Sarah talks about Gerry’s and her mother Helene, her POV chat
At about 57:40, Sarah discusses the ways in which Gerry “makes herself legible”
At about 58:15, Pete remarks on the world “opening up” for the reader and Gerry at the same time
At about 59:25, Sarah summarizes the women and situations in which Gerry lives with them
At about 1:04:00, The two discuss Gerry/Henry Hill from Goodfellas connections as Sarah describes Gerry as a “social learner”
At about 1:05:30, “Tener” y “ha tenido!”
At about 1:05:50, Pete remarks on the book’s intrigue and mysteries
At about 1:06:45, The two tread lightly in talking about the pivotal Harlan
At about 1:11:00, Pete and Sarah reflect on two quotes-one from Hawthorne, and one from Orwell-that connect to the novel
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.
Sign up now for The Chills at Will Podcast Patreon: it can be found at patreon.com/chillsatwillpodcastpeterriehl
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 is the second episode for Pete’s limited podcast series, Rage is a Gift: Evil Empire at 30. Pete reflects on the Importance (and the power of this capital "I") of Rage Against the Machine and their seminal Evil Empire album, which is celebrating 30 years of resistance. The episode focuses on the opening track, “People of the Sun.” The limited podcast series will do a deep exploration of, and reflection on, the lyrics and context of each of the 12 powerful songs on the album.
Pete has added a $1 a month tier for “Well-Wishers” and Cheerleaders of the Show.
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 353 with Tomás Moniz, a latinx writer living in East Oakland, CA. His debut novel, Big Familia, was a finalist for the 2020 PEN/ Hemingway and the LAMBDA. His second novel, All Friends Are Necessary, won the 2024 California Golden Poppy Award.
His new novel, The King of Aloe Vera, will be published on September 29th, 2026 from Algonquin Books, with September 29 or 30th being the day the episode drops.
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.
Sep 28, 2026
Sep 28, 2026
58 min
Notes and Links to Daniel Dockery’s Work
Daniel Dockery began writing online and in print in 2011. Since then, he's been a Senior Writer and Assistant Editor at Crunchyroll, as well as a Columnist and Assistant Editor at Cracked.com. He's also written for WIRED, Vulture, Polygon, SYFY, Paste Magazine, Roger Ebert, Thrillist, and various other outlets. His first book, Monster Kids: How Pokémon Taught a Generation to Catch Them All, was released by Running Press on October 4, 2022. His upcoming book, I AM THE NIGHT: The Ultimate Unauthorized History of Batman: The Animated Series, will be published by St. Martin's Press on September 1, 2026. When not writing, Daniel can be found reading, weightlifting, and spending time with his lovely wife, adorable son, and absolutely wild Australian Cattle Dog Elmer.
Buy I am the Night: The Ultimate Unauthorized Biography of Batman: The Animated Series
Review of I am the Night... from Atomic Geekdom
At about 3:00, Daniel shouts out places to buy his book, including through great writer and mentor Matthew Seitz Zoller
At about 4:10, Daniel responds to Pete’s question about the meaning and possibilities with an “unauthorized history”
At about 5:30, Daniel paints a picture of his early knowledge and watching Batman: The Animated Series and other movies and pop culture in his childhood
At about 8:50, Daniel talks about his unique experience watching Batman: The Animated Series
At about 9:50, Daniel describes his early reading and writing lives
At about 12:20, Daniel highlights Patrick Radden Keefe and David Grann and other writers who thrill and inspire him
At about 14:30, Daniel responds to Pete’s questions about feedback he’s received on his book
At about 17:45, Daniel traces seeds for his book
At about 20:00, The two discuss the praise heaped upon Batman: The Animated Series and the ways that the series went against type in the early 1990’s regarding cartoons
At about 24:30, Daniel shares an anecdote that illustrates the depth of his Batman fandom
At about 26:30, Daniel provides background on the many iterations of Batman and the show’s ethos of “not talking down to children” with the Animated Series
At about 30:00, Daniel maps Warner Brothers’ Batman vision
At about 33:15, Daniel responds to Pete’s asking about Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill and the ways in which they came to Batman: The Animated Series and what made them so successful as marquee voice actors
At about 36:30, Daniel responds to Pete asking about the way that he viewed and continues to view animated shows and about his rewatch(es) for BTAS for research purposes
At about 38:40, Daniel lists and describes his favorite two episodes of the series
At about 40:40, Daniel responds to Pete’s questions about “canon[ical]” characters and their treatment, and the ways in which the BTAS writers handled Batman’s violent tendencies
At about 44:20, Pete asks Daniel about Batman the character as allegory/symbolic
At about 46:50, Alan Burnett’s rules and touches and his importance to the success of the series are discussed
At about 49:15, Daniel riffs on the disparate writers who “put their stamp” on BTAS
At about 51:25, Daniel riffs on an “introduction” to Batman through The Mask of the Phantasm and the greatness of the comic, “The Killing Joke”
At about 52:25, Daniel talks about the costs of making BTAS
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.
Sign up now for The Chills at Will Podcast Patreon: it can be found at patreon.com/chillsatwillpodcastpeterriehl
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 is the second episode for Pete’s limited podcast series, Rage is a Gift: Evil Empire at 30. Pete reflects on the Importance (and the power of this capital "I") of Rage Against the Machine and their seminal Evil Empire album, which is celebrating 30 years of resistance. The episode focuses on the opening track, “People of the Sun.” The limited podcast series will do a deep exploration of, and reflection on, the lyrics and context of each of the 12 powerful songs on the album.
Pete has added a $1 a month tier for “Well-Wishers” and Cheerleaders of the Show.
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 352 with Sarah Blakley-Catwright, the author of Alice Sadie Celine (Simon Books, Simon & Schuster, November 28th, 2023). She is also the author of Red Riding Hood (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers), a New York Times #1 bestseller that was published worldwide in thirty-eight editions and fifteen languages. Her newest book is Heavy Cream.
The episode airs on September 29, Pub Day for Heavy Cream.
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.
Sep 22, 2026
Sep 22, 2026
53 min
Notes and Links to Benjamin Moser’s Work
Benjamin Moser is the author of Why This World: A Biography of Clarice Lispector, a finalist for the National Book Critics’ Circle Award and a New York Times Notable Book of 2009. For his work bringing Clarice Lispector to international prominence, he received Brazil’s first State Prize for Cultural Diplomacy. He won a Guggenheim Fellowship in 2017, and Sontag: Her Life and Work won the Pulitzer Prize in 2020. The Upside-Down World: Meetings with the Dutch Masters appeared in 2023. He completed Anti-Zionism: A Jewish History at the Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center for Scholars and Writers at the New York Public Library.
Buy Anti-Zionism: A Jewish History
Review of Anti-Zionism from Forward Magazine
At about 1:45, Ben talks about what he expects with the September 22 Pub Day
At about 2:40, Ben expands on ideas of repentance and the Jewish Yom Kippur, as well as political and personal complicity in the ongoing genocide in Gaza
At about 4:20, Ben expands on his understanding of the acronym “P.E.P” and people being againstt genocide, as evidenced by the bravura shown by the people profiled in Anti-Zionism: A Jewish History
At about 5:00, Ben talks about his early reading and writing and what put him in his path to being a writer, including Clarice Lispector and V.S. Naipul
At about 7:00, Ben reflects on lessons learned from researching for biographies and expands on the “craziness” of Zionism titan Theodor Herzl
At about 8:30-Saudade unmasked!
At about 10:00, Ben shouts out places to buy the book and talks about upcoming tour events and about his hopes for the book
At about 11:30, Pete cites the book’s Acknowledgements and Ben explores a “joke” from his friend over the split among Jews and others regarding Zionism while also examining people’s courage and reticence to speak against genocide
At about 13:25, Ben talks about the “original cancel culture”
At about 14:25, The two reflect on The Onion and social media as news dispenser
At about 15:30, Ben talks about what “it cost them” in discussing the heroes of the book
At about 16:40, Ben responds to Pete’s question about seeds for the book, and Ben describes the indescribable: the “highly fraught” atmosphere in Palestine, and its racist daily life
At about 19:10, Ben emphasizes the relatively-young Birthright program and the effects of Israeli propaganda and the world seeing the genocide on phones
At about 20:40, Ben responds to Pete’s questions about the significance of verses from the Hebrew Bible
At about 22:20, The two discuss an important book and Ben discusses the book’s gravitas
At about 24:00, Ben talks about how “weird” Der Judenstatt is
At about 24:45, Pete and Ben talk about Herzl as the “L. Ron Hubbard of the Jews” and wonder how Herzl’s work and persona were/and so impactful
At about 26:15, Ben expands on connections between Zionism and Herzl and an “Ibsen plot”
At about 28:15, The two reflect on an incredibly anecdote recounted by Herzl himself that sets off alarm bells for a friend of his, and for Ben as well
At about 30:10, The two discuss Herzl as a self-styled prophet
At about 33:25, Ben reflects on modern and historical connections between Zionism and Anti-Semitism
At about 36:40, Pete cites “The Sensitive Rabbi” as an example of putting religious faith into good works, and Ben expands on Judaism as a "pacifistic religion”
At about 41:00, Ben discusses the retroactive “claim[ing]” of the Holocaust in Zionism, and the process of “unlearning” narratives
At about 44:25, Pete asks Ben about one of the appeals of Zionism, as Ben explains the desire to be tough and strong in response to oppression
At about 46:20, The two discuss the enduring and uncomplicated meaning of “Never Again”
At about 47:25, The two discuss those who are fighting back against the genocide and apartheid in Palestine
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.
Sign up now for The Chills at Will Podcast Patreon: it can be found at patreon.com/chillsatwillpodcastpeterriehl
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 is the second episode for Pete’s limited podcast series, Rage is a Gift: Evil Empire at 30. Pete reflects on the Importance (and the power of this capital "I") of Rage Against the Machine and their seminal Evil Empire album, which is celebrating 30 years of resistance. The episode focuses on the opening track, “People of the Sun.” The limited podcast series will do a deep exploration of, and reflection on, the lyrics and context of each of the 12 powerful songs on the album.
Pete has added a $1 a month tier for “Well-Wishers” and Cheerleaders of the Show.
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 351 with Daniel Dockery, who has been a Senior Writer and Assistant Editor at Crunchyroll, as well as a Columnist and Assistant Editor at Cracked.com. He's also written for WIRED, Vulture, Polygon, SYFY, Paste Magazine, Roger Ebert, Thrillist, and various other outlets. His first book, Monster Kids: How Pokémon Taught a Generation to Catch Them All, was released by Running Press on October 4, 2022. His upcoming book, I AM THE NIGHT: The Ultimate Unauthorized History of Batman: The Animated Series, is out with St. Martin's Press as of September 1, 2026.
The episode airs on September 22.
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.
Sep 14, 2026
Sep 14, 2026
1 hr 4 min
Notes and Links to Ankur Thakkar’s Work
Ankur Thakkar is the author of Blow Yourself Up, which was longlisted for The Center for Fiction First Novel Prize. His stories have appeared in Guernica, [PANK], and TriQuarterly. He was a 2025 Sewanee Writers’ Conference Scholar and his artwork has been exhibited at the Palais de Tokyo and La Friche la Belle de Mai.
At about 1:30, Ankur talks about his mindset as Blow Yourself Up comes out and lays out tour events
At about 3:00, Ankur talks about his early reading and writing life, and homes in on how formative the Mahabharata has been for him
At about 6:55, Ankur talks about how Asian Studies courses and his own reading and life experience inform his views of the multiple stories and layers of Hinduism
At about 8:00, Ankur cites Continental Philosophy class led him to Tolstoy, Sartre, Bret Easton Ellis, and the power of reading those with “names like [his]”-Rushdie, Jhumpa Lahiri, among others
At about 10:15, The two reflect on the culture panache of American Psycho
At about 11:45, Ankur talks about connections to Indian/South Asian cultures through “impactful” exposure in college
At about 13:00, Ankur shouts out writers who thrill and inspire him, including Hari Kunzu, Mosin Mohammed, and Maryam Rahmani
At about 14:15, Ankur describes his epigraph and its significance, especially connections to the talented and creative Heems of Das Racist
At about 15:55, Pete asks Ankur about starting the book with in medias res and his omniscient narrator
At about 18:30, Ankur talks about playing with time and “loops” and connects his time working with Vine to these concepts
At about 20:40, Pete talks about an iconic (at least to him) Vine involving Michael Jordan
At about 22:20, Ankur responds to Pete’s asking about Arjun’s musical intelligence and natural abilities
At about 25:20, Pete lays out some of the book’s exposition
At about 26:45, Ankur talks about the ways in which Payal and her family react to the patriarch's death, and how the most vulnerable often are ripe for political malleability
At about 28:35, The two discuss
At about 29:30, Pete compliments the ways in which Ankur paints the relationship between Arjun and Payal’s ailing father
At about 31:00, Ankur outlines the ways in which he is “loose” with his chronology in the book and his mindset in writing thusly
At about 32:55, Ankur riffs on the “transcendan[ce]” of music and live concerts and recounts memories of his first concerts
At about 35:00, The two discuss the death of the family patriarch, and Ankur shares wise thoughts on the aftereffects of the death of a loved one
At about 36:25, Ankur describes the secrets in the relationship between Arjun and Payal and different levels of familial communication, especially among Indian-American families
At about 38:10, Ankur talks about the “Whispercore” movement and its connection to the book’s music scene
At about 39:30, The two discuss the travails of the Payal and Arjun relationships, and Pete asks Ankur about the traumas endured by Payal and how it might affect her resignation towards the world
At about 43:00, Ankur points out some foreshadowing with the bandmate of Arjun
At about 44:25, Ankur responds to Pete’s question about Payal mimicking/mocking Bollywood and some South Asian literature through Boosts
At about 45:20, Ankur responds to Pete’s question about “standing in judgment” of his characters
At about 47:20, Ankur cites the example of Naomi Klein’s Doppelganger and how it plays out in pop culture and politics with turnabouts in goals and mindsets for creators and politicians
At about 50:10, The two discuss commercialism and art through his turning music and colonialism on its face
At about 50:45, Diya is shouted out by Ankur and cited as a favorite character for him
At about 51:40, Pete outlines an important scene involving an artistic event
At about 54:00, Ankur reflects on Payal’s ease and unease in becoming a popular influencer
At about 56:35, Ankur discusses a “lack of cultural baggage” that might come with a burgeoning relationship and responds to Pete asking about the ways the fortunes of the couple are connected
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.
Sign up now for The Chills at Will Podcast Patreon: it can be found at patreon.com/chillsatwillpodcastpeterriehl
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 is the second episode for Pete’s limited podcast series, Rage is a Gift: Evil Empire at 30. Pete reflects on the Importance (and the power of this capital "I") of Rage Against the Machine and their seminal Evil Empire album, which is celebrating 30 years of resistance. The episode focuses on the opening track, “People of the Sun.” The limited podcast series will do a deep exploration of, and reflection on, the lyrics and context of each of the 12 powerful songs on the album.
Pete has added a $1 a month tier for “Well-Wishers” and Cheerleaders of the Show.
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 350 with Daniel Dockery, who has been a Senior Writer and Assistant Editor at Crunchyroll, as well as a Columnist and Assistant Editor at Cracked.com. He's also written for WIRED, Vulture, Polygon, SYFY, Paste Magazine, Roger Ebert, Thrillist, and various other outlets. His first book, Monster Kids: How Pokémon Taught a Generation to Catch Them All, was released by Running Press on October 4, 2022. His latest book, I AM THE NIGHT: The Ultimate Unauthorized History of Batman: The Animated Series, is out with St. Martin's Press as of September 1, 2026.
The episode airs on September 22.
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.
Sep 10, 2026
Sep 10, 2026
54 min
Notes and Links to Danny Funt’s Work
Danny Funt is a Charlotte-based writer and editor. His reporting on the business of sports betting, politics, news and sports media, climate solutions, and healthcare innovation has appeared in The Washington Post, The New Yorker, The New Republic, The Wall Street Journal, TheWeek.com, and the Columbia Journalism Review, and he has discussed the consequences of the betting boom on CNN, NBC, CBS, NPR, and many other outlets.
He’s written profiles of Defector Media, football gambler Warren Sharp, Esquire editor David Granger, author Alana Massey, New York Times columnist David Brooks, Las Vegas bookie Chris Andrews, and the MIT personalized medicine researcher Leo Celi.
Buy Everybody Loses: The Tumultuous Rise of American Sports Gambling
Review of Everybody Loses… from Library Journal
At about 1:00, Danny talks about edifying feedback on his book Everybody Loses…
At about 1:55, Danny talks about early reading and writing
At about 2:55, Pete and Danny share their fantasy sports origin stories
At about 3:45, Danny talks about early inspiration for his journalism career
At about 6:15, Danny talks about boxing books that has thrilled and informed him
At about 8:00, Danny reflects on ideas of objectivity in journalism, and how he approached the writing of the book with its particular subject matter
At about 9:50, Danny responds to Pete asking about the ways in which his betting habits (or lack thereof) changed after writing the book
At about 11:15, Pete and Danny commiserate on “the bet that got away” and the anger/sleaziness that comes with close loss in betting
At about 16:45, Pete shares gushing blurbs for the book
At about 17:15, Pete lays out the book’s opening that features athletes talking about online harassment from jilted gamblers
At about 18:00, Danny reflects on new, popular, frenzied areas of gambling that are also being resisted and rolled back in some places in the US
At about 19:25, Danny talks a bit of the history of early US sports and gambling
At about 21:40, Danny responds to Pete’s question about early fantasy sports as a kind of “gray area” and connections to today’s sports gambling landscape
At about 25:05, Adam Silver as an early proponent of “regulated sports betting” is discussed
At about 28:20, Danny outlines the importance of Murphy v. NCAA in later sports gambling developments
At about 30:45, Pete asks Danny about political and religious divisions (or the lack thereof) regarding sports betting
At about 33:50, Pete and Danny recount a few anecdotes from the book about gambling addictions
At about 34:45, Chris Christie’s and others’ empty words on allocating money to help for gambling addiction
At about 36:05, The pivotal wording used in many sports betting ads-like “risk-free”-are discussed
At about 38:55, Jason shares a staggering statistic from Bank of América about the reduced saving
At about 39:20, Pete cites the title of the penultimate chapter and the book’s title and asks Danny about the lack of “winners” in (almost) all areas of sports gambling
At about 40:50, Sharapova v. Serena, 2004 Wimbledon, is discussed
At about 43:50, “Microbets” and “parlays” and their possible outlawing are discussed
At about 44:40, Pete asks Danny about the UK’s history and present of sports gambling and its possibly being a predictor of the US’ sports betting future
At about 46:50, The two discuss some proposed laws and pushing back against out-of-control sports betting
At about 49:00, Pete cites an aspirational scenario that might prevent future unmitigated sports gambling
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.
Sign up now for The Chills at Will Podcast Patreon: it can be found at patreon.com/chillsatwillpodcastpeterriehl
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 is the second episode for Pete’s limited podcast series, Rage is a Gift: Evil Empire at 30. Pete reflects on the Importance (and the power of this capital "I") of Rage Against the Machine and their seminal Evil Empire album, which is celebrating 30 years of resistance. The episode focuses on the opening track, “People of the Sun.” The limited podcast series will do a deep exploration of, and reflection on, the lyrics and context of each of the 12 powerful songs on the album.
Pete has added a $1 a month tier for “Well-Wishers” and Cheerleaders of the Show.
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 349 with Jason Thornberry, whose writing appears in World Literature Today, Los Angeles Review of Books, Maryland Literary Review, Maudlin House, and many others. He was nominated in 2023 and 2024 for Best of the Net. Jason’s chapbook, The Finish Line, is available now through Sand and Gravel Press.
The episode airs on September 11 or 12.
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.
Sep 1, 2026
Sep 1, 2026
1 hr 17 min
Notes and Links to Julian Randall’s Work
Julian Randall is a Living Queer Black author from Chicago. He has received fellowships from Cave Canem, CantoMundo, Callaloo, and the Watering Hole. Julian is the recipient of a Pushcart Prize and the winner of the 2019 Betty Berzon Emerging Writer Award from the Publishing Triangle.
His writing has been published in New York Times Magazine, Ploughshares, and POETRY, and anthologized in Black Boy Joy (which debuted at #1 on the NYT Best Seller list), Wild Tongues Can’t Be Tamed, and Furious Flower. Julian has essays in Vibe Magazine, Los Angeles Review of Books, and other venues. They hold an MFA in poetry from University of Mississippi.
Julian is the author of five books across three genres. For adults: Refuse (Pitt, 2018), winner of the 2017 Cave Canem Poetry Prize and a finalist for a 2019 NAACP Image Award and The Dead Don’t Need Reminding: In Search of Fugitives, Mississippi and Black TV Nerd Shit (Bold Type Books, 2024) winner of the Mississippi Institute of Arts and Letters award in Life Writing. For middle grade novel readers, he has written the Pilar Ramirez duology, The Chainbreakers and Shook, a middle grade novel in verse, which was published on August 9th, 2026.
Support Flourish Community Hub on the Ground in Gary, Indiana
At about 1:45, Julian lays out the sobering situation in Gary, Indiana-support here
At about 3:20, Julian talks about feedback he has received on Shook and tour events
At about 4:30, Julian talks about favorite bookstores at which to buy his book, including Call and Response
At about 5:30, Julian details his reading journey, especially his father’s influence on his reading and his language and literature background
At about 7:00, Julian talks about, among others, Artemis Fowl, Langston Hughes, and Van Helsing-influences on his sensibility
At about 9:50, Julian riffs on Shawn of the Dead and his reference in the book
At about 11:50, Julian responds to Pete’s question about his contemporaries and literary influences, including Jason Reynolds and Leah Johnson
At about 14:55, Jason expands on the greatness of Leah Johnson
At about 16:50, Pete asks Julian about how he “inhabits” his younger characters so well, and Julian adds information about how his writing has been informed by his own experiences
At about 21:20, Julian responds to Pete’s question about his basketball player profile
At about 22:20, Julian reflects on the avoidance of moralizing in his writing, and he expands on his admiration for Suzanne Collins, especially her Gregor the Overlander series
At about 30:15, Julian talks about seeds for Shook and connections to the pandemic
At about 33:45, Julian responds to Pete;’s asking about the book’s sequencing and use of unique “chapters”
At about 37:00, Julian connects his writing style in Shook, featuring “beats,” to DVD “scene selection”
At about 38:00, Pete lays out some of the book’s exposition
At about 39:00, Julian characterizes and compliments his main character, Malik “Shake” Page
At about 40:15, Julian talks Malik, backstory, and “My Story” on NBA 2K
At about 42:40, Julian talks about a question for his characters, “What is magic for you?” and connections between the calming factor of basketball and anxiety
At about 44:30, Russell Westbrook Love
At about 45:40, The two discuss the protagonist’s group chat, and the genesis of the book’s title and the titular character
At about 47:45, Julian compares the group chat to a “Greek chorus”
At about 48:55, The two discuss the book’s semifinal game and the importance of trash talking
At about 53:00, Discussion of a damaging injury to Shake leads to discussion of “Up North,” Chicago redlining history, and economic and racial segregation
At about 55:55,
At about 57:00, Dr. Betts and real-life inspirations are discussed-Dr. Tara Betts
At about 59:35, Shake and his “widening gulf” with friends discussed
At about 1:00:15, Julian talks about a prominent character, Duke, real-life connections, and how he is a quiet “hero” in the book, instructive for Shake
At about 1:04:00, Pete recounts a crushing comparison made by Kaveh Akbar that speaks to the idea of everyone’s expansive stories
At about 1:05:20, Dr. Jason Clopton and his fictional doppelganger, Dr. Kendrick J. Drake are lovingly referenced
At about 1:06:40, Julian talks about the “manifestation of the classic middle-school” fear and “anxiety representation” and therapy discussions in his book
At about 1:09:50, Pete cites some profound and moving quotes in the book
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.
Sign up now for The Chills at Will Podcast Patreon: it can be found at patreon.com/chillsatwillpodcastpeterriehl
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 is the second episode for Pete’s limited podcast series, Rage is a Gift: Evil Empire at 30. Pete reflects on the Importance (and the power of this capital "I") of Rage Against the Machine and their seminal Evil Empire album, which is celebrating 30 years of resistance. The episode focuses on the opening track, “People of the Sun.” The limited podcast series will do a deep exploration of, and reflection on, the lyrics and context of each of the 12 powerful songs on the album.
Pete has added a $1 a month tier for “Well-Wishers” and Cheerleaders of the Show.
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 348 with Daniel Dockery, who has been a Senior Writer and Assistant Editor at Crunchyroll, as well as a Columnist and Assistant Editor at Cracked.com. He's also written for WIRED, Vulture, Polygon, SYFY, Paste Magazine, Roger Ebert, Thrillist, and various other outlets. His first book, Monster Kids: How Pokémon Taught a Generation to Catch Them All, was released by Running Press on October 4, 2022. His upcoming book, I AM THE NIGHT: The Ultimate Unauthorized History of Batman: The Animated Series, is out with St. Martin's Press as of September 1, 2026.
The episode airs on September 8.
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.