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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
Wednesday Jan 17, 2024
Wednesday Jan 17, 2024
Notes and Links to Roxanna Asgarian’s Work
For Episode 219, Pete welcomes Roxanna Asgarian, and the two discuss, among other topics, her history in working with varied journalistic pursuits, the ways in which she has viewed power and racism and privilege in the child welfare system, and the hideous ways in which the system worked against the adopted children in the infamous Hart family murders.
Roxanna Asgarian is a Texas-based journalist who writes about courts and the law for The Texas Tribune. Her work has appeared in The Washington Post, New York Magazine, and Texas Monthly, among other publications. She received the 2022 J. Anthony Lukas Work-in-Progress Award for We Were Once a Family: A Story of Love, Death, and Child Removal in America.
Buy We Were Once a Family: A Story of Love, Death, and Child Removal in America
Review on Book from Jennifer Szalai for The New York Times
At about 1:00, Roxanna discusses early reading
At about 2:30, Roxanna discusses her early writing inspirations and the writing lives’ vagaries
At about 4:15, Roxanna responds to Pete’s questions about how student journalism work informed her later writing
At about 7:00, Roxanne discusses contemporary writers and writing that challenge and thrill her
At about 10:10, Roxanna talks about seeds for the book, and what in her personal professional life drew her to the story
At about 14:10, Roxanna gives out contact information and social media info and shouts out Las Vegas’ Writers Block as one of many great places to buy her books
At about 15:25, Roxanna provides some background on the horrific Hart murders and how power came into play in the events surrounding the murders, and how the child welfare system functioned and functions
At about 19:10, Roxanna discusses the rare inquest that took place after the murders
At about 21:15, Roxanna fills in listeners on the “inhumane” way that local detectives called the murders a “Thelma and Louise” situation and ways in which race played in to the stories told by law enforcement and media
At about 23:20, Roxanna explains the power and significance of the “Hug Shared around the World” with Devonte Davis and how it was understood and misunderstood
At about 27:30, The two discuss Dontay Davis’ and the ways in which he was done wrong by The System
At about 30:00, Roxanna explains ASFA (1997 Adoption and Safe Families’ Act), particularly with respect to Sherry Davis’ situations
At about 32:55, Pete refers to Judge Shelton and other paragons of prejudice and racism who were in control in some many family law cases
At about 35:40, Pete mentions adoption incentives and the ways in which those in TX never followed up once the Davis’ kids went to MN, and Roxanna tells the story of how “Bree” was an early foster case that showed the Harts’ unfitness as parents
At about 38:45, Roxanna gives background on gaps and prejudices in the child welfare system and in society that have led to “colorblind” adoptions that have been highly problematic
At about 42:30, The two discuss more about Dontay’s life in recent years, especially after he found out about his siblings’ death
At about 44:25, Roxanna recounts the intense scene in which she helped make the transference of cremains and memories from the children
At about 47:35, Roxanna gives background on the selfless surrogate father, Nathaniel
At about 50:00, Roxanna discusses upcoming projects
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 me on IG, where I’m @chillsatwillpodcast, or on Twitter, where I’m @chillsatwillpo1. You can watch this and other episodes on YouTube-watch and subscribe to The Chills at Will Podcast Channel. Please subscribe to both my YouTube Channel and my podcast while you’re checking out this episode.
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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 220 with Neef Ekpoudom, a writer and journalist from south London who documents the people, voices and communities of modern Britain. He has written for publications including the Guardian, GQ, Vogue, and VICE. In 2022, he was named on the Forbes 30 Under 30 List in Media & Marketing. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, and his newest book, Where We Come From: Rap, Home & Hope in Modern Britain, has today, Jan 18, as its Pub Day.
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