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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
Thursday Mar 31, 2022
Thursday Mar 31, 2022
Episode 116 Notes and Links to Noel Casler’s Work
On Episode 116 of The Chills at Will Podcast, Pete welcomes Noel Casler, and the two talk about, among other topics, Noel’s growing up and understanding of struggle and poverty and American political and cultural forces that shaped the country in recent decades. They also discuss Noel being shaped by ploitically-aware comedians, writers, and musicians, Donald Trump as emblematic of American excess, Noel’s observances and understanding of Donald Trump and his family, Noel’s writing process and standup techniques, and some amazing and profound experiences in the world of music and other entertainment.
Noel Casler is a New York City based stand-up comedian. He has appeared in People Magazine, Newsweek, on Sirius XM and in clubs across the country. His comedy draws on his over 25 years experience working behind the scenes in live television and the music industry; including working directly with the Trump family for six seasons on ‘Celebrity Apprentice.’ He has become an outspoken critic of the Trump administration.
Buy Tickets for Noel’s Upcoming Shows
"Noel Standup: He Discusses Donald Trump / NDA"
The Hole Podcast-Noel on Working with Trump
Video of Noel’s Standup from November, 2019
Video of Noel’s Car Rant from June 18, 2021
At about 1:45, Noel gives background on growing up in the multicultural DC and how humor helped him survive
At about 4:45, Noel talks about his interest in being a rock star, including his interest in songwriting and its transformative power
At about 6:30, In response to Pete’s questions about Noel mentions Marvin Gaye, Bob Dylan, and his connections to Pete Seeger and Crosby, Stills & Nash and Jackson Browne
At about 8:15, Noel explains a shift in focus from music to comedic acting
At about 9:25, Noel recounts a transformative time in his family life and “American Imperialism in Central America” and its connection to Jackson Browne
At about 10:40, Noel outlines how he began working in live TV
At about 11:20, Noel mentions Narcissus and Goldmund as a big influence on him
At about 12:15, Pete wonders about Noel’s ideas on “laughing at” and “laughing with”
At about 13:30, Pete asks Noel about vulnerability and the essence of comedy and perspective
At about 15:00, Noel talks about sympathy and empathy for Richard Pryor, due to similar childhoods
At about 16:00, Noel highlights George Carlin and Howard Zinn and their understanding of American groupthink, “jingoistic” rhetoric, and a tragic American tradition of the disenfranchised blaming others who are disenfranchised due to race
At about 18:15, Noel talks about a song that he recorded for The Southern Poverty Law Center with two folk music legends, and in 2017, how he saw comedy (and Comedy Twitter) as a better avenue for social change
At about 19:50, Noel explains how Donald Trump was seen by New Yorkers in the 80s and 90s, and how Trump’s renown was indicative of the “calcification of the Reagan years” and “greed is good” mentality
At about 22:40, Noel talks about the ignorance and media outrage that played on and played up racist tropes
At about 24:20, Pete asks Noel if Mark Burnett made Trump POTUS, and Noel talks about the “whitewashing” of Trump’s image for purposes of entertainment, as well as how Mark Burnett picked Trump as his second choice for The Apprentice
At about 25:50, Noel talks about the “lark” that got him into The Celebrity Apprentice and how Trump was not taken seriously as a candidate initially
At about 27:20, Pete and Noel talk about the quandary of giving Trump too much “air time,” and Noel talks about the disgusting things that Trump was able to get away with pre-POTUS, including on the Miss USA Pageant
At about 29:10, Noel details the media’s thinking as so many (including Trump) though Hillary Clinton would win, and Noel describes his speaking out about Trump brought him into the public eye
At about 30:30, Noel describes media mores about speaking out about celebrities
At about 32:00, Noel highlights how his career as a comedian and his ethos of speaking the truth and keeping his “artistic sanity” developed
At about 33:30, Noel gives background on a routine of his going viral, with some help from his keen insight and the Trailer Park Boys
At about 35:05, Noel details Trump’s surprise and “shock” after being elected, in response to Pete’s comparison of Trump’s campaign to an incredible Law & Order episode
At about 37:40, Noel discusses Trump’s immediate and “visceral” needs and how so many grifters jumped on Trump’s bandwagon
At about 38:25-Noel responds to Pete’s wondering if Trump is a manipulator or manipulated, and Noel expands on the idea of his love of adulation
At about 40:10, Noel answer Pete’s questions about Trump’s lack of work ethic/care
At about 42:30, Noel describes the “broken” Trump family as Pete wonders about the family’s connections to each other; Noel throws in a Martin Shkreli reference
At about 48:00, Pete asks Noel if Trump has friends and about Trump’s interactions in social situations
At about 50:15, Noel homes in on the disgusting infamous video of Trump and Jeffrey Epstein as a microcosm of Trump’s personality
At about 51:15, Pete and Noel discuss why people vote for Trump, and racism seems to be a unifying factor
At about 54:40, Pete wonders about the infamous key moment when Trump decided to run for POTUS, as well as jealousy/resentment towards Barack Obama
At about 56:20, Pete asks if Noel ever saw humanity in Trump, and Noel discusses lack of punishment for Trump that has become his hallmark
At about 58:40, Noel discusses the process of writing comedy, revision, and trial-and-error, as well as the importance of pacing
At about 1:02:10, Noel cites Anthony Jeselnik and his innovative joke structure as inspiring, as well as Noel’s study of the masterful Steve Martin
At about 1:04:20, Noel talks about hypocrisy and injustice as major themes of his comedy, and how he considers “voice”
At about 1:06:10, Noel sharing an iconic line from his skits sets up conversation about connection with the audience
At about 1:08:00, Noel talks about his almost-retirement of Trump Twitter material before January 6 happened; Noel talks about how the family
At about 1:08:50, Noel gives out information about upcoming projects, including a book project, his podcast, and his upcoming tour dates (see above for links)
At about 1:09:30, Noel gives a brief overview of working with Stephen Stills and other incredible stories racked up over so many years in the music and entertainment industries
At about 1:11:20, Noel shares a funny story about his time with Bruce Springsteen
At about 1:12:25, Pete wonders if Jackson Browne ever read Noel’s treatise on foreign policy, and Noel highlights his respect for Jackson and details an incredible reunion with the singer
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 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.
This is a passion project of mine, a DIY operation, and I’d love for your help in promoting what I’m convinced is a unique and spirited look at an often-ignored art form.
The intro song for The Chills at Will Podcast is “Wind Down” (Instrumental Version), and the other song played on this episode was “Hoops” (Instrumental)” by Matt Weidauer, and both songs are used through ArchesAudio.com.
Please tune in for Episode 117 with Nadia Owusu, a Ghanaian and Armenian-American writer and urbanist. Her debut memoir, Aftershocks, was selected as a best book of 2021 by Time, Vogue, Esquire, The Guardian, NPR, and others.
The episode will air on April 5.
Tuesday Mar 29, 2022
Tuesday Mar 29, 2022
Episode 115 Notes and Links to Jennifer Fliss’ Work
On Episode 115 of The Chills at Will Podcast, Pete welcomes Jennifer Fliss, and the two discuss, among many other topics, Jen’s early reading and writing and worldbuilding, her indirect route to professional writing, flash fiction’s definition, the particular benefits and obstacles that come with flash fiction, and the profound and clever work in Jen’s latest story collection.
Jennifer Fliss’ flash collection, The Predatory Animal Ball, came out in December 2021. Her short story collection, As If You Had a Say, is forthcoming from Northwestern University Press/Curbstone Books in 2023.
She has a B.A. from the University of Wisconsin and a certificate in Literary Fiction from the University of Washington, and she’s been nominated several times for the Pushcart Prize and Best of the Net, and she was selected for inclusion in the 2019 Best Small Fictions anthology. Her over 200 creative writing pieces have appeared in print and online in places like The Rumpus, PANK, The Washington Post, F(r)iction,The Kitchn, and elsewhere. She was the 2018/2019 Pen Parentis Fellow, and a recipient of a 2019 Artist Trust GAP award.
When not doing things associated with writing (this is rare), she can be found riding her bike, running, trying to learn the ukulele, pining for New York, intellectually sparring with her young daughter, and occasionally swinging on the flying trapeze (really.)
“LIFE AS A SERIES OF SMALL GESTURES: TALKING WITH JENNIFER FLISS” from The Rumpus, Dec. 2021
“Dandelions” Flash Fiction Story from Whiskey Paper
Jen’s Article, "Flash, Back: Kafka’s 'A Fratricide,' " from 2016 in SmokeLong Quarterly
The Predatory Animal Ball Review
At about 2:10, Jen talks about her lifelong love of trapeze
At about 4:50, Jen discusses her relationship with language and literature growing up, and books as “escape”
At about 7:25, Jen highlights a vivid example of her writing being unique and appreciated
At about 8:30, Jen details worldbuilding-maps, pictures, the whole deal!-at a young age
At about 9:40, Jen responds to Pete’s questions about affecting literature in her adolescence, and Jen talks about the fluctuating importance of the “classics” in her reading life and a diverse reading list
At about 12:50, Pete makes a perhaps random Dave Matthews Band
At about 13:20, Pete and Jen opine on Kafka, especially The Metamorphosis, including how Kafka wrote flash fiction that was maybe unrecognized
At about 15:55, Jen discusses “ ‘Eureka’ moments” in her path to becoming a professional writer
At about 21:00, Pete asks Jen what it was like and is like in creating characters who are their own entities
At about 22:45, Jen outlines her process of creating stories and getting ideas from disparate places
At about 24:40, Jen defines “flash fiction”
At about 27:40, Jen replies to Pete’s question about contemporary writers and writing that thrill her-she cites Nnedi Okorafor’s Akata Witch and Yōko Ogawa’s The Memory Police, as well as work by Aimee Bender, Kelly Link, Carmen Maria Machado, and Karen Russell
At about 30:35, Jen shouts out flash fiction inspirations-among them, Kendra Fortmeyer, Amy Barnes, and Megan Phillips; she
At about 32:00, the two discuss the power and greatness of the flash fiction (arguably) that is a major inspiration for the podcast title and the ethic of the podcast
At about 33:35, Pete wonders about any obstacles that may come up in flash fiction, and Jen expands upon ideas
At about 35:50, Pete asks Jen about dialogue’s place and function in flash fiction
At about 37:15, Jen describes how her prior work in entertainment has informed her writing
At about 40:45, Pete cites interesting and unique titles for Jen’s work and asks about the relationship between title and story material
At about 44:35, the two discuss the title story of the collection and ideas of “predators”; Jen illuminates the idea that so many of us are predators in different ways
At about 48:10, Jen gives background on the genesis of the collection’s title story
At about 49:35, the two recount some themes from the collection, and particular stories and how predatory and loss of innocence themes come through
At about 51:00, “A Greater Folly is Hard to Imagine” and its incredible links to reality (see asterisk at bottom of story) are discussed
At about 53:00, themes of penitence and trauma and abuse in the collection are discussed
At about 54:05, Jen talks about ideas of show and undisclosed thoughts and feelings and these topics’ effect on her story “Emily Beside Herself”
At about 57:20, the two discuss ideas of loss with regards to motherhood and moving with trauma, concepts that are referenced in multiple stories, and Pete asks Jen about any burden on her as writer of such heavy topics
At about 1:01:20, Jen describes an ethic of Judaism that directs her writing and her life
At about 1:04:20, Jen reads her story “Dandelions” from Whiskeypaper, and edited by the great Leesa Cross-Smith
At about 1:09:00, Jen gives out her contact info and social media information
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 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.
This is a passion project of mine, a DIY operation, and I’d love for your help in promoting what I’m convinced is a unique and spirited look at an often-ignored art form.
The intro song for The Chills at Will Podcast is “Wind Down” (Instrumental Version), and the other song played on this episode was “Hoops” (Instrumental)” by Matt Weidauer, and both songs are used through ArchesAudio.com.
Please tune in for Episode 116 with Noel Casler, A STAND-UP COMEDIAN, ACTOR, MUSICIAN AND WRITER. His 25 years of experience in the industries, including working on The Celebrity Apprentice with The Former Guy, has informed his comedy writing. The episode will air on March 31.
Tuesday Mar 22, 2022
Tuesday Mar 22, 2022
Episode 114 Notes and Links to Reyna Grande’s Work
On Episode 114 of The Chills at Will Podcast, Pete welcomes Reyna Grande, and the two discuss, among other topics, Reyna’s early reading and love of stories of all kinds, her evolving ideas of “El Otro Lado,” her early writing and “finding her voice,” and the intensive research she undertook for her latest book, A Ballad of Love and Glory. Reyna expands upon themes and events from this chapter in US/Mexican history, as well as legacies of The St. Patrick’s Battalion and connections between the book’s events and events of today.
Reyna Grande is the author of the bestselling memoir, The Distance Between Us, (Atria, 2012) where she writes about her life before and after she arrived in the United States from Mexico as an undocumented child immigrant. The much-anticipated sequel, A Dream Called Home (Atria), was released in 2018.
Her other works include the novels, Across a Hundred Mountains, (Atria, 2006) and Dancing with Butterflies (Washington Square Press, 2009) which were published to critical acclaim. The Distance Between Us is also available as a young readers edition from Simon & Schuster’s Children’s Division–Aladdin. Her books have been adopted as the common read selection by schools, colleges, and cities across the country. She has two forthcoming books due to be published in 2022: A Ballad of Love and Glory (Atria, March 15), a novel set during the Mexican-American War, and an anthology by and about undocumented Americans called Somewhere We Are Human: Authentic Voices on Migration, Survival and New Beginnings (HarperVia, June 7).
Reyna has received an American Book Award, the El Premio Aztlán Literary Award, and the International Latino Book Award. In 2012, she was a finalist for the prestigious National Book Critics Circle Awards, and in 2015 she was honored with a Luis Leal Award for Distinction in Chicano/Latino Literature. The young reader’s version of The Distance Between Us received a 2017 Honor Book Award for the Américas Award for Children’s and Young Adult Literature and a 2016 Eureka! Honor Awards from the California Reading Association, and an International Literacy Association Children’s Book Award 2017.
Reyna is a proud member of the Macondo Writer’s Workshop founded by Sandra Cisneros, where she has also served as faculty.
Buy A Ballad of Love and Glory and Reyna’s Grande’s Other Work
Article: “During the Mexican-American War, Irish-Americans Fought for Mexico in the ‘Saint Patrick’s Battalion’ ”
At about 3:10, Reyna talks about how things are going in the week leading up to the publication of A Ballad of Love and Glory (the episode was filmed in the week before the March 15 release
At about 4:00, Pete asks about Reyna’s experiences with words, language, and intellectual curiosity as a kid; she talks about access and cites the radio show that really moved her
At about 10:00, Reyna discusses how dramas helped her escape
At about 11:05, Reyna responds to Pete’s question about how she’d define “El Otro Lado”
At about 13:00, Pete asks Reyna about her love of reading and story as she was newly arrived in the US
At about 14:00, Reyna describes “discovering” Latino/a literature and coming into awareness that she “wasn’t in the books [she] was reading”
At about 16:00, Reyna talks about “being connected” to VC Andrews’ work
At about 18:00, Pete recounts a random run-in with romance novel model Fabio
At about 18:30, Pete and Reyna discuss Reyna’s opinion column and her role in the aftermath of the American Dirt publishing fiasco, as this eases the transition into Reyna’s ideas of changes in representation for Latinx writers
At about 22:40, Pete wonders about Reyna’s thoughts on being at a point in her career where she has more independence
At about 24:10, Reyna expounds upon the importance of a Prop 209 protest in her college days
At about 26:45, Pete asks Reyna about “finding [her] voice” and realizing that she was, little by little, performing activism through writing
At about 28:20, Pete asks Reyna about contemporary writers who are making a difference through their writing, including Viet Thanh Nguyen
At about 30:55, Pete thanks Reyna for her visits to his school a few years back, and talks about how cool it
At about 32:10, Reyna responds to Pete’s questions about the separation between author and narrator in Across a Hundred Mountains; she talks about how this book and Dancing with Butterflies didn’t need a lot of research
At about 34:30, Reyna details the excruciating research for A Ballad of Love and Glory
At about 36:50, Pete remarks on how well Reyna depicts the “fog of war” and the idea of “war is hell”
At about 37:40, Reyna provides a background for the seeds of the book
At about 40:00, Reyna details her mindset in designing the book’s structure and love story
At about 41:00, Reyna gives background on John Riley and Irish immigrants to the US
At about 42:30, Pete wonders about research done for the book, particularly with regard to the language used by the battalion and the mindset of the immigrant; Reyna shouts out The University of Galway’s History Department’s help
At about 44:45, Pete cites a telling quote from the book about ideas of “conquered” and “conqueror” and asks Reyna about connections between the book and today
At about 47:00, Pete remarks on the realistic battle scenes of the book and asks Reyna who plays who if a movie were to be made
At about 49:40, Reyna discusses Ximena’s story, her background, and how she explored Ximena on the page
At about 51:45, the two discuss Santa Anna and his depiction in the book, as well as how he is seen in contemporary México
At about 53:30, Reyna details how The Battalion of San Patricio is remembered today
At about 55:00, Pete asks Reyna about “moralizing” in the novel
At about 57:00, Reyna shares how the book’s characters are still “living with [her]”
At about 58:15, the two discuss themes of healing and class and the military’s racial/class differences in the book
At about 59:30, Reyna responds to Pete’s questions about healing herself after writing such brutal battle scenes; she connects the pandemic to the writing of the book
At about 1:00:50, Pete wonders about early feedback from readers regarding the novel
At about 1:03:10, Reyna highlights upcoming book publication events
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 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.
This is a passion project of mine, a DIY operation, and I’d love for your help in promoting what I’m convinced is a unique and spirited look at an often-ignored art form.
The intro song for The Chills at Will Podcast is “Wind Down” (Instrumental Version), and the other song played on this episode was “Hoops” (Instrumental)” by Matt Weidauer, and both songs are used through ArchesAudio.com.
Please tune in for Episode 115 with Jennifer Fliss. a Seattle-based writer with over 200 stories and essays that have appeared in various publications. She has been nominated four times for The Pushcart Prize and her story, Hineni, was selected for inclusion in the Best Small Fictions 2019 anthology. Her flash fiction collection, The Predatory Animal Ball was published in late 2021. The episode will air on March 29.
Friday Mar 18, 2022
Friday Mar 18, 2022
Episode 113 Notes and Links to Nicole Santa Cruz’s Work
Nicole Santa Cruz is a reporter covering issues of inequality in the Southwest. She joined ProPublica from the Los Angeles Times, where she spent nearly 12 years as a staff writer. As lead reporter on the Times’ Homicide Report, a groundbreaking public service project that documents every homicide victim in Los Angeles County, she reported on the lives of hundreds of people, highlighting neighborhoods that were disproportionately affected by violence and uncovering trends, including an increase in women being killed even as officials hailed a decline in murders. Santa Cruz also assembled a first-of-its-kind database of county prosecutor memos detailing fatal police encounters.
She began her career on the Times’ national desk, from which she was dispatched to the swamps of Louisiana to cover the BP oil spill and to her hometown of Tucson, Arizona, to write about the 2011 mass shooting at an event held by then-Rep. Gabrielle Giffords.
Santa Cruz’s work at ProPublica focuses on investigating the impact of inequities on marginalized communities. She is based in Phoenix.
On Episode 113 of The Chills at Will Podcast, Pete welcomes Nicole Santa Cruz, and the two talk about her bookworm childhood, her decision to take up journalism, as well as her early days of reporting on Orange County and some sensational stories in SoCal. Much of the discussion focuses on her time at the extremely important Los Angeles Times “Homicide Report,” as well as her current work covering ideas of inequality in the Southwest.
A Selection of Nicole's Articles through MuckRack
The Los Angeles Times “Homicide Report”
"What covering hundreds of homicides taught me" from 2021 Los Angeles Times
At about 2:30, Nicole gives background on her reading life as a child and adolescent
At about 4:50, Nicole talks about the formative experience of working in journalism at the University of Arizona
At about 7:40, Nicole talks about her early reading interests
At about 8:45, Nicole shouts out Lane DeGregory, Thomas French, and George Sánchez as some of the many journalists who inspired and inspire her
At about 12:25, Nicole responds to Pete’s question about accurate portrayals of newsrooms and Nicole’s experience with journalism
At about 13:15, Nicole answers Pete’s question about representation in what she read, especially in journalism
At about 14:40, Nicole details early days in her career, including covering Michael Jackson’s death
At about 16:30, Pete asks Nicole about her early experiences with being an empathetic and sympathetic listener as a journalist; Nicole also talks about seeing mental health care for journalists perspectives changing
At about 18:55, Pete wonders about the Gabriele Giffords shooting as emblematic and foreshadowing
At about 23:00, Nicole chronicles her work on the BP oil spill
At about 26:00, Nicole provides background on the earliest iterations of The Homicide Report and how she became involved in 2013
At about 27:45, Pete wonders about The Homicide Report’s philosophy/mission, and Nicole talks about the idea of “humanizing
At about 30:40, Pete gives an example of a Homicide Report post, and asks Nicole about the paper’s rationale on including the race of the victim, and the fraught term “gang-related”
At about 34:50, Pete wonders about sensationalizing certain murders
At about 39:10, Pete refers to the retrospective Nicole wrote about her time at The Homicide Report, as the two discuss some heartbreaking stories Nicole chronicled and revisited
At about 40:30, Pete references Roberto Saviano’s quote about “dying twice” and The Holocaust Museum in making the point about the power of individual stories
At about 42:00, Nicole gives perspective on why some felt it a “point of pride” to know people from The Homicide Report
At about 44:30, Nicole discusses relationships with police connected to the report
At about 45:45, Nicole reflects on the common question she was asked in the homicide reporting field
At about 48:30, Nicole repeats what she’s been told about a “before and after” for loved ones of homicide victims
At about 50:00, Nicole sums up her work with ProPublica, including a desire to use data in new and efficient ways
At about 53:30, Nicole responds to Pete’s question about how ideas of objectivity in journalism have changed in recent years in the “Age of Trump”
At about 56:00, Pete asks Nicole about a “dream project”
At about 57:00, Pete talks about his admiration for the “public service” done by Nicole Santa Cruz
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 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.
This is a passion project of mine, a DIY operation, and I’d love for your help in promoting what I’m convinced is a unique and spirited look at an often-ignored art form.
The intro song for The Chills at Will Podcast is “Wind Down” (Instrumental Version), and the other song played on this episode was “Hoops” (Instrumental)” by Matt Weidauer, and both songs are used through ArchesAudio.com.
Please tune in for Episode 114 with Reyna Grande. Reyna is an award-winning novelist and memoirist. She has received an American Book Award, the El Premio Aztlan Literary Award, and the Latino Book Award, among many honors and awards. I have known Reyna for about 10 years now, as she visited my classes in LA a few times to speak to students. I look forward to talking with her about her highly-anticipated March 15 release of A Ballad of Love & Glory. The episode will air on March 22.
This episode is the last of five this week. On Monday, March 21, there will be a drawing for a $100 gift card to bookshop.org. In order to enter the drawing:
- DM Pete on Twitter by Monday at 8am PST with the five code words that are contained (one per episode) within each day’s podcast.
- Retweet any five tweets that have episode links for Episodes 109-113, with Ben Guest, Bryce Hedstrom, Taylor Byas, James Tate Hill, and Nicole Santa Cruz, respectively.
Thursday Mar 17, 2022
Thursday Mar 17, 2022
Episode 112 Notes and Links to James Tate Hill’s Work
On Episode 112 of The Chills at Will Podcast, Pete welcomes James Tate Hill, and the two discuss much of his childhood, formative years, and postgraduate years as dealt with in his memoir, as well as literary and pop culture icons and tropes around blindness. The two also discuss the advent of his vision loss, ideas of the meaning of nomenclature around vision loss, James’ journey as a writer, and James’ eventual embrace of himself and his vision loss.
James Tate Hill is the author of a memoir, Blind Man’s Bluff, released August 3, 2021 from W. W. Norton. His fiction debut, Academy Gothic, won the Nilsen Literary Prize for a First Novel. His essays were Notable in the 2019 and 2020 editions of Best American Essays. He serves as fiction editor for Monkeybicycle and contributing editor for Literary Hub, where he writes a monthly audiobooks column. Born in Charleston, WV, he lives in North Carolina with his wife.
"Pseudonym: On vision loss and hiding in plain sight from my high school classmates": From Salon Magazine, 2021
Tommy Tomlinson’s Review of Blind Man’s Bluff in The New York Times
At about 2:00, James talks about his childhood in Charlestown, WV, and surrounding areas
At about 3:30, James talks about his pop culture interests in his childhood
At about 4:40, Pete wonders about James’ early reading and
At about 7:30, James describes the process of losing his vision during his year of high school
At about 9:20, James responds to Pete’s question about the before and after memories of his lessened vision
At about 11:05, Pete compliments James for his writing ability that brings sympathy (empathy?); James references a few books, like Planet of the Blind by Stephen Kuusisto; There Plant Eyes by Leona Godin, that have dealt with issues of blindness in standout ways
At about 14:45, James points to Leona Godin’s analysis of “Cathedral” by Raymond Carver and how he views the story in more recent times; James also points out a poem from Godin’s work that twists the simplistic narrative of Carver’s story
At about 17:10, Pete quotes a turning point in James’ admissions that was featured in the book, and James underlines its importance
At about 18:20-20:45, James responds to Pete’s question about nomenclature with regards to James’ vision
At about 20:55, Pete references Dwight Garner’s complimentary review of Blind Man’s Bluff in The New York Times, especially with regard to James’ likeability
At about 21:20, Pete and James and talk about the book as a “coming-of-age tale,” including with regard to developing technologies
At about 28:25, Pete and James talk about the book’s epigraph, using a quote from Michael Chabon’s Wonder Boys, and James shouts out Curtis Armstrong’s stellar audiobook narrating
At about 32:50, Pete asks James about the process of writing a memoir and being so open and writing about real people
At about 35:45, Pete cites the Prologue and its echoing last line, and James talks about meanings associated with the line
At about 37:25, Pete highlights the book’s narrative structure and asks James about a few chapters written in second person; House of Prayer No. 2 by Mark Richard is cited by James as inspiration
At about 43:25, Pete and James talk about Ben Affleck comparisons
At about 46:05, the two home in on Chapter 10’s uniqueness and Chapter Three, which was featured in a slightly different form in LitHub as a discussion starter regarding audiobooks
At about 49:25, the two discuss the power of writing being read aloud
At about 52:30, Pete references the book’s stellar writing about common and everyday occurrences from the book, and James talks about “possibility of choices” and internal and external forces affecting James asking for help
At about 57:10, James talks about the importance when his work was praised and read aloud by Irene McKinney
At about 59:35, Pete highlights the anecdote from the book where James missed his first class meeting, and James details the experience
At about 1:03:00, James responds to Pete’s questions about James asking for help, and James expounds on ideas of independence
At about 1:07:00, James reflects on a telling scene from the book involving his mother
At about 1:09:30, the last chapters with some triumphs are discussed, as plot spoilers are (mostly!) avoided as James talks about deciding to write the book
At about 1:13:00, James describes some parallel stories that are featured at the end of the book, particularly a Dustin Hoffman/Tom Cruise scene from Rainman
At about 1:17:50, Pete highlights the ease of the ending, and the two talk about their shared love of hoops
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 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.
This is a passion project of mine, a DIY operation, and I’d love for your help in promoting what I’m convinced is a unique and spirited look at an often-ignored art form.
The intro song for The Chills at Will Podcast is “Wind Down” (Instrumental Version), and the other song played on this episode was “Hoops” (Instrumental)” by Matt Weidauer, and both songs are used through ArchesAudio.com.
Please tune in for Episode 113 with Nicole Santa Cruz, a former Los Angeles Times staff writer and lead reporter for the Homicide Report. She now works as a @ProPublica reporter, writing about underserved communities and inequality in the Southwest. The episode will air March 18.
This episode is the fourth of five this week. On Monday, March 21, there will be a drawing for a $100 gift card to bookshop.org. In order to enter the drawing:
- DM Pete on Twitter by Monday at 8am PST with the five code words that are contained (one per episode) within each day’s podcast.
- Retweet any five tweets that have episode links for Episodes 109-113, with Ben Guest, Bryce Hedstrom, Taylor Byas, James Tate Hill, and Nicole Santa Cruz, respectively.
Wednesday Mar 16, 2022
Wednesday Mar 16, 2022
Episode 111 Notes and Links to Taylor Byas’ Work
On Episode 111 of The Chills at Will Podcast, Pete welcomes Taylor Byas, and the two discuss many topics, such as Taylor’s early reading, both school-selected and then her discovery of titans like Toni Morrison and Patricia Smith, contemporary writers who continue to inspire and thrill her, her relationship with form in her writing, close-up views of some of her affecting work, and how her work interrogates the ways in which Black women walk through the world due to historical and current racist and systematic tropes and practices.
Taylor Byas is a Black Chicago native currently living in Cincinnati, Ohio where she is a PhD student and Yates scholar at the University of Cincinnati, and an Assistant Features Editor for The Rumpus. She was the 1st place winner of both the Poetry Super Highway and the Frontier Poetry Award for New Poets Contests. Her work appears or is forthcoming in New Ohio Review, Borderlands Texas Poetry Review, Glass, Iron Horse Literary Review, Hobart, Frontier Poetry, SWWIM, TriQuarterly, and others.
Taylor's "My Twitter Feed Becomes Too Much"
“Tiger Stripes” Nonfiction from Taylor-Mixed Mag
“Hypothetically Speaking” Poem from Palette Poetry
At about 2:50, Taylor talks about her creativity and input and mindset during COVID
At about 6:10, Pete asks Taylor about her philosophy in writing and revising
At about 8:00, Taylor responds to Pete’s questions about her relationship with language in childhood
At about 9:15: “Reading beef!”
At about 10:00, Taylor talks about an ekphrastic poetry class in undergrad as a “perfect bridge”
At about 11:00, Pete zeroes in on what Taylor was reading as a kid and adolescent; Taylor points to junior year in high school as a reading turning point in discovering Toni Morrison’s work and The Color Purple
At about 13:00, Pete alludes to a joyful photo of literary giants, Toni Morrison and Maya Angelou, dancing
At about 13:10, Pete asks Taylor to name her favorite Toni Morrison work
At about 13:45-15:35, Taylor discusses Black poets who have thrilled and inspired her-Erica Dawson is referenced as a meaningful writer for Taylor
At about 15:45, Taylor shouts out Patricia Smith and how she and Erica Dawson as formalists were inspiring; Taylor talks about getting to meet a hero in Patricia Smith and correspondence with Patricia
At about 17:45, Taylor responds to Pete’s questions about representation, and she explains the “void” she felt in her high school reading
At about 20:00, Taylor highlights Alexis Pauline Gumbs and Tiana Clark and Claudia Rankine as contemporary writers who she enjoys and draws inspiration from; Georgia Douglas Johnson is a writer Taylor returns to
At about 21:45, Taylor gives background on how she became sure of her path as a writer
At about 24:20, Pete asks Taylor for her views on form in her work; she cites Michael Frazier’s interesting philosophy on form
At about 27:00, Taylor talks about her teaching life and student life and views on form in academia and in writing communities
At about 28:35, Taylor talks about how she approaches others’ works as an editor
At about 30:40, Taylor talks about “meaning” in her work and its connection to narrative
At about 32:40, Taylor responds to Pete’s question about the relationship between poet and speaker
At about 34:45, Pete and Taylor discuss her nonfiction piece “Tiger Stripes” and exposure and self-reflection in her projects
At about 38:05, the two discuss “Hypothetically Speaking” and Taylor talks about balancing nostalgia and perspective
At about 39:40, Taylor talks about what she learned through watching the ways in which her younger siblings and other children she worked with moved through the world
At about 41:40, Jeni de la O’s incredibly in-depth wise reading of Taylor’s poem is discussed
At about 41:45, Pete shouts out F. Douglas Brown and his expertise with ekphrastic poetry, and Pete asks Taylor what is so monumental about the genre for her
At about 44:10, Taylor describes some new poems she’s working on that question the writings and mindsets of problematic artists
At about 45:15, Taylor responds to Pete’s question about how music acts as a muse
At about 46:25, “On Hesitation” is discussed, and Pete highlights some standout lines
At about 47:50, Taylor gives background and inspiration for the piece, with regard to pessimism/expectations
At about 50:20, Pete wonders about any feelings of catharsis for Taylor after writing about difficult experiences
At about 52:00, Bloodwarm is discussed, with Taylor providing background and seeds for the chapbook, including the 2016 election’s impact
At about 55:15, Taylor talks about ideas of safety
At about 57:00, The two discuss “The Black Girl Comes to Dinner”; Taylor gives background on the poem’s genesis and “sundown towns
At about 1:01:00, Pete and Taylor marvel at the level of analysis and research in Jeni de la O’s article about Taylor’s “I Don’t Care if Mary Jane Gets Saved or Not”
At about 1:03:30, Taylor gives background on the form of pantoum and talks about why she loves the form
At about 1:05:30, Pete references repetition as seen in Taylor’s “My Twitter Feed Becomes Too Much”
At about 1:06:40, Taylor discusses ideas of “damsel in distress” and who is “saved”
At about 1:10:00, Pete cites a survey provided by Jeni de la O and how white participants perceive Black girls, and Taylor discusses these perceptions and how they are “built into systems,” as well as the “double bind” experienced by Black girls
At about 1:13:30, Taylor and Pete discuss ideas of “weaponizing tears” and look at the recent example of Kim Potter and Daunte Wright
At about 1:15:00, Taylor cites a Tik Tok trend and its connection to white women being tone deaf to issues of racist systems
At about 1:16:00, Pete cites a cool question asked in the interview attached to Jeni de la O’s study of Taylor’s poem
At about 1:18:00, Taylor reads “Hypothetically Speaking”
At about 1:22:20, Taylor explains her thoughts on the function of second person and who “you” is in the poem
At about 1:23:40, Taylor talks about future projects, including Shutter, coming out soon through Madhouse Press
At about 1:26:00, Taylor shares contact information and social media, and shouts out Semicolon Books in Chicago as a good place to buy her 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 me on IG, where I’m @chillsatwillpodcast, or on Twitter, where I’m @chillsatwillpo1. You can watch 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.
This is a passion project of mine, a DIY operation, and I’d love for your help in promoting what I’m convinced is a unique and spirited look at an often-ignored art form.
The intro song for The Chills at Will Podcast is “Wind Down” (Instrumental Version), and the other song played on this episode was “Hoops” (Instrumental)” by Matt Weidauer, and both songs are used through ArchesAudio.com.
Please tune in for Episode 112 with James Tate Hill, the author of a memoir, Blind Man’s Bluff, released in August 2021 from W. W. Norton. His fiction debut, Academy Gothic, won the Nilsen Literary Prize for a First Novel. His essays were Notable in the 2019 and 2020 editions of Best American Essays. He serves as fiction editor for Monkeybicycle and contributing editor for Literary Hub, where he writes a monthly audiobooks column. The episode will air on March 17.
This episode is the third of five this week. On Monday, March 21, there will be a drawing for a $100 gift card to bookshop.org. In order to enter the drawing:
- DM Pete on Twitter by Monday at 8am PST with the five code words that are contained (one per episode) within each day’s podcast.
- Retweet any five tweets that have episode links for Episodes 109-113, with Ben Guest, Bryce Hedstrom, Taylor Byas, James Tate Hill, and Nicole Santa Cruz, respectively.
Tuesday Mar 15, 2022
Tuesday Mar 15, 2022
Episode 110 Notes and Links to Bryce Hedstrom’s Work
On Episode 110 of The Chills at Will Podcast, Pete welcomes Bryce Hedstrom, and the two discuss, among other topics, Bryce’s introduction to Spanish immersion in Chile, formative experiences in his professional and personal lives that have shaped the way he stresses independent and pleasure reading, comprehensible input in the foreign language classroom, and practical ways in which teachers can put his strategies on La Persona Especial, Rejoinders, etc. into their daily lessons.
Bryce Hedstrom is El Padrino of Comprehensible Input in the foreign language classroom, and widely recognized as an outstanding world language teacher with more than 30 years of experience at all levels. A frequent regional, state and national presenter, he is known for helping world language teachers to enhance their existing programs by incorporating many strategies that emphasize social awareness, interpersonal communication and varied reading techniques in the classroom.
Bryce is the author of Hi-Impact Reading Strategies. In addition, he is the author of many world language instructional materials, teacher resources and fiction and non-fiction for students.
Buy Hi-Impact Reading Strategies
An Article about Comprehensible Input in the Classroom
“La Persona Especial” Resources from Bryce
At about 2:10, Pete references the power of language and etymology, and the two discuss the word “acatamiento” and its implications
At about 3:40, Bryce responds to Pete’s questions about Bryce’s early experiences with reading and with Spanish
At about 8:30, Bryce describes the intricacies of Chilean Spanish
At about 9:50, Bryce discusses what he was reading in college and beyond, including James Michener’s influence
At about 12:15, the two discuss The Godfather, cuz, DUH, and why the book is (maybe?) better than the movie
At about 13:00, Pete asks Bryce about inspirational teachers and how Bryce was compelled to get into teaching
At about 15:00, Pete asks about the importance of reading, especially about “pleasure reading” and independent reading
At about 18:23-23:53, Bryce tells of an incredible epiphany and real-life scenario of promoting reading
At about 24:00, Pete wonders about Bryce’s teaching experience at different levels, and Pete shouts out a hero, his uncle
At about 24:40, Pete and Bryce discuss “old-school,” grammar-heavy Spanish teaching and Comprehensible Input, and Bryce talks about transitioning into CI
At about 30:15, Bryce responds to Pete wondering if the transition to CI/TPRS was difficult for Bryce
At about 32:50, Bryce defines “comprehensible input” and talks about Stephen Krashen’s seminal Natural Approach: Language Acquisition in the Classroom
At about 36:00, Pete asks some practical questions about the best ways to teach a book/story in the classroom setting; Bryce highlights the need to differentiate the levels of questions and the need to keep Bloom’s Taxonomy in mind
At about 39:00, Pete wonders if a student saying something in English is permissible in keeping the target language as a priority
At about 40:15, Pete shouts out the incredibly useful word “agarrar”
At about 40:45, Bryce explains the connections between CI and classroom management, including info on the importance of daily “passwords” and “sponge activities”
At about 44:30, Bryce shouts out The Talent Code by Daniel Coyle and its stressing the importance of a structured ending of class
At about 46:00, Pete highlights his wonderful colleagues and their success with passwords
At about 46:50, Pete wonders about gaining back the students’ attentions and its link to the target language; Bryce explains call-and-response and its essentialness
At about 49:00, In order to illustrate the importance of the essential “La Persona Especial”
At about 57:00, Bryce highlights an example of the power of La Persona Especial
At about 1:01:00, Bryce and Pete discuss Bryce’s views of “Rejoinders” in the flow of class
At about 1:05:40, Pete’s got jokes, en español
At about 1:06:15, Pete shouts out some great publications from Bryce and other CI practitioners, such as A.C. Quintero
At about 1:08:30, Bryce shares a joke from his joke book-JAJA
At about 1:11:00, Bryce shouts out the recently-published and interactive resource, Chistes para Aprender Español, from Veronica Moscoso
At about 1:11:50, Pete asks Bryce about upcoming projects-personal and sponsored ones- including upcoming projects from Diego Ojeda
At about 1:14:40, Pete wonders about meaningful feedback that Bryce has received from former students, including Dr. David Dalton
At about 1:17:50, Bryce gives out social media info and contact information
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 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.
This is a passion project of mine, a DIY operation, and I’d love for your help in promoting what I’m convinced is a unique and spirited look at an often-ignored art form.
The intro song for The Chills at Will Podcast is “Wind Down” (Instrumental Version), and the other song played on this episode was “Hoops” (Instrumental)” by Matt Weidauer, and both songs are used through ArchesAudio.com.
Please tune in for Episode 111 with Taylor Byas, a PhD student and Yates scholar at the University of Cincinnati, and an Assistant Features Editor for The Rumpus. She was the 1st place winner of both the Poetry Super Highway and the Frontier Poetry Award for New Poets Contests, and her latest standout work is Bloodwarm. The episode will air on March 16.
This episode is the second of five this week. On Monday, March 21, there will be a drawing for a $100 gift card to bookshop.org. In order to enter the drawing:
- DM Pete on Twitter by March 21 at 8am PST with the five code words that are contained (one per episode) within each day’s podcast.
- Retweet any five tweets that have episode links for Episodes 109-113, with Ben Guest, Bryce Hedstrom, Taylor Byas, James Tate Hill, and Nicole Santa Cruz, respectively.
Monday Mar 14, 2022
Monday Mar 14, 2022
Episode 109 Notes and Links to Ben Guest’s Work
On Episode 109 of The Chills at Will Podcast, Pete welcomes Ben Guest, and the two discuss shared teaching histories, a love of great literature, including sportswriting, and Ben’s early days of coaching and the lessons learned therein. The two also discuss, among other topics, the importance of zen and relationship building in Ben’s coaching life and everyday life, as well as his book that chronicles some amazing times and players from the Namibian high school basketball world and the KBA, its professional basketball league.
Ben Guest is a three-time champion and two-time Basketball Coach of the Year, with a PHD in Educational Leadership. He spent ten years in Namibia where he coached in the KBA, and he wrote the book Zen and the Art of Coaching Basketball: Memoir of a Namibian Odyssey.
Buy Ben Guest's Zen and the Art of Coaching Basketball: Memoir of a Namibian Odyssey
The Creativity, Education, and Leadership Podcast
Article on Namibian Independence and Apartheid in the Country Imposed by South Africa
At about 2:20, Pete introduces Ben Guest, after an unusual start for the podcast, with Pete and Ben talking about the similarities between being a high school teacher and a traveling salesman
At about 3:20, Pete talks about a friend’s incredible devotion to leaving schoolwork at school
At about 4:10, Ben details his grading regimen from his high school teaching days
At about 5:15, Ben responds to Pete’s questions about his childhood love of reading and highlights inspirational teachers John Roemer and Howard Berkowitz)
At about 7:10, Ben talks about his early love for Stephen King and other fantasy and horror and comic books that drew his interest
At about 10:15, Pete posits that Ben’s relatively-late embrace of basketball is a large reason for his passion, and Ben responds and talks about his early days of shooting
At about 12:20, Ben gives his scouting report from his prime basketball-playing days
At about 14:20, Ben disabuses any notion of regular Joes like Pete and Ben getting a bucket in NBA “garbage time,” using the example of Perry Moss, and Pete shouts out Isaac Fontaine as a similar case
At about 17:10, Ben shouts out Brian Scalabrine being challenged for his skills-the video is classic; at about 18:00, Ben highlights a great quote from “Dre” Alvarez of Box Score Geeks Podcast
At about 19:20, Ben responds to Pete’s question about sportswriters who have inspired him-Gary Smith is one, and Best American Sportswriting, edited by Glenn Stout, is cited as a formative anthology, and Ben relates how he can to have Glenn Stout as the editor for his book
At about 22:30, Ben talks about Hakeem Olajuwon as an inspiration
At about 23:30, Pete and Ben discuss a short
At about 24:40, Ben describes his time coaching basketball in Mississippi, and Pete and Ben talk about coaching styles-specifically coaches known as yellers and Ben talks about his early understandings of “control”
At about 28:00, Ben discusses the importance of relationships and self-growth in coaching and life overall
At about 29:35, Ben outlines the background of and seeds for Zen and the Art of Coaching Basketball
At about 32:35, Ben shares meaningful feedback that he has received from readers, and he details the breakdown of the book’s format
At about 35:30, Pete and Ben break down the epigraph of the book and the book’s first chapter
At about 36:45, Ben provides background on his early coaching days, lessons learned, and how his first team in Namibia came together
At about 37:50, Ben quotes Mr. Berkowitz with some great coaching/teaching/life advice
At about 39:15, Ben gives historical background on Namibia and its “locations” (neighborhoods), as well as continuing traumas
At about 41:50, Ben highlights his education in Namibia of how Americans are seen abroad and the country’s horrendous past alliances with racist governments and power structures
At about 44:30, Pete highlights lessons learned by Ben in using a “less is more” approach in MS coaching, and why he didn’t continue using this approach after having a one game success
At about 46:30, Ben mentions his podcast, and how this helped him get in touch via email with Phil Jackson
At about 48:20, Ben details his journey with meditation and how it has helped him
At about 49:10, Ben teases an upcoming project with a retired NBA player
At about 51:00, Pete shouts out a coaching mentor, and compliments Ben’s even keel, leading to a description of a stunning Brad Stevens’ moment of zen
At about 51:50, Pete and Ben discuss the historic KBA victory
At about 53:40, Pete discusses the investment that the reader makes with the players in the book
At about 54:00, Ben shouts out his Substack, and where to buy 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 me on IG, where I’m @chillsatwillpodcast, or on Twitter, where I’m @chillsatwillpo1. You can watch 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.
This is a passion project of mine, a DIY operation, and I’d love for your help in promoting what I’m convinced is a unique and spirited look at an often-ignored art form.
The intro song for The Chills at Will Podcast is “Wind Down” (Instrumental Version), and the other song played on this episode was “Hoops” (Instrumental)” by Matt Weidauer, and both songs are used through ArchesAudio.com.
Please tune in for Episode 110 with Bryce Hedstrom, El Padrino of Comprehensible Input in the foreign language classroom, and widely recognized as an outstanding world language teacher with more than 25 years of experience at all levels. A frequent regional, state and national presenter, he is known for helping world language teachers to enhance their existing programs by incorporating many strategies that emphasize social awareness, interpersonal communication and varied reading techniques in the classroom. The episode will air on March 15.
This episode is the first of five this week. On Monday, March 21, there will be a drawing for a $100 gift card to bookshop.org. In order to enter the drawing:
- DM Pete on Twitter by Monday at 8am PST with the five code words that are contained (one per episode) within each day’s podcast.
- Retweet any five tweets that have episode links for Episodes 109-113, with Ben Guest, Bryce Hedstrom, Taylor Byas, James Tate Hill, and Nicole Santa Cruz, respectively.
Tuesday Mar 08, 2022
Tuesday Mar 08, 2022
Episode 108 Notes and Links to Navdeep Dhillon’s Work
On Episode 108 of The Chills at Will Podcast, Pete welcomes Navdeep Dhillon, and the two discuss Navdeep’s childhood filled with moving, his love of reading, fan fiction, and his disparate influences, as well as his dynamic and eccentric and memorable characters. Questions about his standout book, Sunny G’s Series of Rash Decisions, lead to discussions of the book’s themes, including self-esteem and fitting in, cosplay as escape and a welcoming home, grief and its expression, or lack thereof, and much more.
Navdeep Singh Dhillon is the author of Sunny G’s Series of Rash Decisions, an adjunct professor of creative writing and English at Borough of Manhattan Community College, and co-founder of IshqInABackpack, a narrative travel blog. He holds an MFA in creative writing from California State University, Fresno and is a graduate of Voices of Our Nation and the CUNY Writers’ Institute.
Born in England, raised in Tanzania, Nigeria, Dubai, and Fresno, California, he is a Punjabi boy at heart. He was a former linguist in the U.S. Navy, ESL teacher in China, and door-to-door knife salesman.
When he isn’t reading, writing or grading, he is cosplaying across the fandoms with his two nerdy kiddos, while his wife looks on helplessly. He is also a very delicate purple belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
Buy Navdeep Dhillon's Sunny G's Series of Rash Decisions
At about 2:00, Navdeep talks about his book’s publication being on the horizon (the episode was recorded on February 7, and the book was released on February 8), along with his feelings as the date approaches and work he’ll be doing to promote the book
At about 5:40, Navdeep responds to Pete’s questions about any links between his moving around a lot as a kid and his reading habits
At about 9:10, Pete wonders about the connections between Navdeep’s childhood, the need for stability, and Sunny G’s own experiences
At about 10:40, Pete and Navdeep appreciate the Acknowledgments of the book as the two discuss the cutoff between the writer and the narrator
At about 11:45, Pete asks Navdeep about his experiences with representation in adolescent reading; Navdeep talks about being a “third culture kid”
At about 13:45, Navdeep describes ideas of “windows and mirrors” in childhood reading
At about 14:20, Pete asks about early reading and writing influences and how he got his start writing for keeps-Navdeep points out fan fiction as a starting point
At about 15:55, Pete wonders about how Navdeep saw the stakes of his writing as he did various jobs
At about 17:05, Navdeep charts some ups and downs in his love/distaste for reading and its connections to the “canon”
At about 18:50, Navdeep highlights the power of his reading Syal’s Anita and Me
At about 20:40, Navdeep responds to Pete’s question about contemporary writers who thrill him, including Sona Charaipotra and Adiba Jaigirdar
At about 23:30, the two shout out Sona and Dhonielle Clayton-what a duo!
At about 24:20, Navdeep talks about Ishq in a Backpack
At about 26:25, Navdeep talks about his teaching informs his own writing and his experience with community college creative writing
At about 30:15, Navdeep describes the world of his book, and Pete talks about the book’s universality and specificity
At about 31:35-32:35, Navdeep summarizes the book, Sunny G’s Series of Rash Decisions
At about 32:45, Pete asks Navdeep about publishing and middle-grade/YA, etc., as Navdeep describes some of the themes
At about 35:30, Navdeep details the process of writing the book and ideas of grounding the book’s events and environment in reality, trends, etc.
At about 38:15, Navdeep talks about his love of the “dated” Nick and Nora’s Infinite Playlist
At about 38:55-40:10, Navdeep defines “nerd”
At about 40:10, the two discuss “nerdom going mainstream”
At about 40:55, Pete compliments Navdeep’s worldbuilding and some original and clever phrases and references used in the book
At about 44:00, Navdeep talks about Bollywood and sci-fi influences in his worldbuilding
At about 46:30, Pete references true fandom as seen through The Simpsons
At about 46:55, Pete highlights the longest word in the world
At about 47:40, Pete gives kudos for a great line from the book
At about 49:20, Cosplay is discussed and the idea of “putting on a mask” and its symbolism in the book is explored
At about 52:50, the two discuss ideas of coming-of-age and reinvention
At about 55:00, ideas of grief and the ways in which Sunny’s family deals with grief are discussed
At about 56:00, the two discuss “What will people think?” ("log kya kahenge") as referenced in the book, just as it is in an equally stirring scene in Hasan Minhaj’s Homecoming King that informed lessons in Pete’s classrooms;
At about 58:00, Navdeep discusses ideas of silences and their iterations in Punjabi and other communities
At about 1:01:35, Pete and Navdeep discuss the dynamic, fun character of Mindii and some of what inspired her character
At about 1:04:00, Navdeep talks about literary components that he could relate to in his own life with the histories of Hmong poetry
At about 1:05:30, Pete recounts some chilling and powerful lines from Sunny, particularly in talking about his grieving
At about 1:06:25, Pete highlights the dynamic dialogue and interesting and cool characters with so many personal stories
At about 1:08:10, Navdeep describes a future project
At about 1:08:55, Navdeep reads an excerpt from the book
At about 1:13:20, Navdeep gives out his social media information and highlights Penguin Teen/Dial as his publisher
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 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.
This is a passion project of mine, a DIY operation, and I’d love for your help in promoting what I’m convinced is a unique and spirited look at an often-ignored art form.
Please tune in for Episode 109 with Ben Guest, a 3x champion and two-time Basketball Coach of the Year, with a PHD in Educational Leadership, Ben spent ten years in Namibia where he coached in the KBA, and wrote the book Zen and the Art of Coaching Basketball: Memoir of a Namibian Odyssey. The episode will air on March 14.
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.
Thursday Mar 03, 2022
Thursday Mar 03, 2022
Episode 107 Notes and Links to Dr. Benjamin Gilmer’s Work
On this episode of The Chills at Will Podcast, Pete welcomes Dr. Benjamin Gilmer, and the two discuss, among other topics, Dr.’s early days at the rural Mountain Area Health Education Center, his directly following Dr. Vince Gilmer, and the ways in which Dr. Benjamin Gilmer got to know Dr. Vince’s story and generous medical work, and then Dr. Vince himself. The conversation includes discussion of the newly-released book, the neurological disease that Dr. Vince discovered he had, and the specific implications for his case and society’s understanding and treatment of mental health’s connection to incarceration.
Dr. Benjamin Gilmer is a family physician and Associate Professor at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine and Mountain Area Health Education Center’s (MAHEC) Family Medicine Residency Program. He is an international Albert Schweitzer Fellow and attended Davidson College followed by medical studies at the Sorbonne in Paris, France and East Carolina University. As the Medical Director for MAHEC’s Rural Health Initiative and Rural Fellowship, he is passionate about advocating for global and rural health disparities. He has worked extensively in Central and South America and West Africa. Benjamin is committed to advancing medical education, point of care ultrasound, interprofessional collaboration and inspiring students to pursue rural health.
His advocacy work currently focuses on bringing media attention to the social injustice of mass incarceration. His book, The Other Dr. Gilmer (Ballantine/Penguin Random House) and feature film project (Concordia Films) both highlight the injustice of mass incarceration of people with mental illness. The book is out as of March 1! Both projects are based on a 2013 This American Life podcast (Dr. Gilmer and Mr. Hyde), a collaboration between Benjamin and Sarah Koenig (“Serial”) which has had more than 10 million listeners. A former neurobiologist turned rural family doctor, Dr. Gilmer has lectured across the country about medical ethics, global and rural health, bias in medicine, and the intersection of medicine and social justice. He lives with his wife, Deirdre, two children, Kai and Luya, and their dog Prince Peanut Butter in Asheville, North Carolina.
Penguin Random House Page for The Other Dr. Gilmer
Hollywood Reporter Article about Movie Adaption of The Other Dr. Gilmer
The legendary This American Life episode, “Dr. Gilmer and Mr. Hyde” (10+ million downloads to date!)
At about 3:10, Dr. Gilmer responds to Pete’s questions about his parents’ and family influences on intellectual curiosity
At about 4:30, Pete asks Dr. Gilmer about early reading experiences and childhood exploration
At about 6:20, Dr. Gilmer describes the outsized impact of Dr. Albert Schweitzer and speaks of some of his own work in Gabon; Pete and Dr. Guilmer also speak of the late, great Dr. Paul Farmer
At about 8:50, Pete and Dr. Gilmer talk about corporatization/for-profit medicine, and Dr. Gilmer talks about service-oriented medicine as experienced in Gabon; he also discusses a symbolic anecdote of the “throne” being shared by a town leader in Gabon
At about 13:20, Dr. Benjamin talks about his time-his “baptism in medicine”-at Broughton Hospital as an instructive and inspiring time
At about 15:25, Pete and Dr. Benjamin discuss the ACE testing and tests for gauging sociopathy
At about 16:45, Pete references Ira Glass’ understated, stunning beginning of the legendary This American Life episode, “Dr. Gilmer and Mr. Hyde”
At about 17:30, Dr. Gilmer talks about starting work at the clinic (MAHEC Family Health Center at Cane Creek) as an “outsider” and almost not being hired due to the fact that his name was the same as his imprisoned predecessor
At about 19:25, Pete and Dr. Gilmer reference a humorous and inauspicious anecdote about suspicions of modern medicine that is told in the book
At about 21:15, Dr. Gilmer gives some background on Fletcher, NC, where the clinic is located
At about 22:40, Dr. Gilmer discusses the clinic’s patients’ views and stories of Dr. Vince Gilmer’s generosity and kindness, including an allegorical incident involving caring for mice, and how these stories being in opposition to the crimes that Dr. Vince committed, and how Dr. Benjamin was inspired “to look further” into
At about 25:10, Dr. Benjamin recounts a story of a patient shaking him up and making him “paranoid” about Dr. Vince seeing him as a “usurper”
At about 28:55, Dr. Benjamin talks about Tommy, a recipient of generosity from Dr. Vince, and how Dr. Vince’s traumatic childhood and evolving disease led to “effusive generosity”
At about 31:00, Dr. Benjamin highlights Woody Guthrie’s experience with a similar disease
At about 32:40, Dr. Benjamin and Pete discuss the parts of the book where the doctor had done research into the specifics of Dr. Vince’s crime, and the delusion that led to baffling and strange actions in the immediate aftermath of the murder; Dr. Benjamin also cites the brain “as a character” in the book and how Dr. Vince’s background of abuse served as a trigger
At about 35:40, Dr. Benjamin talks about sensitizing readers/listeners to the fallibility of the brain and how we all share mental health imbalances/struggles
At about 38:00, Dr. Benjamin talks about the “coin toss” of brian health and his connection to Dr. Vince
At about 40:00, the two discuss the precedent in the legal world for SSRI-related crimes, and Dr. Benjamin talks about his initial “no” to inquiries from Sarah Koenig re: doing an episode for “This American Life”
At about 42:20, Dr. Benjamin drops some “WOAH!” information about the connection between his NPR episode and the legendary “Serial”
At about 42:50, the two discuss some early interviews that Dr. Benjamin and Sarah Koenig did with local residents and law enforcement after Dr. Vince’s crime
At about 43:50, Dr. Benjamin talks about “preconceptions” and their impact in the Dr. Vince case and in society in general; he also talks about how he hopes the book allows more room for
At about 45:25, Dr. Benjamin describes his first meeting with Dr. Vince and how his own doubts and biases came into play
At about 49:00, Dr. Benjamin recounts the “farcical” nature of Dr. Vince’s court case
At about 51:20, Dr. Benjamin talks about Dr. Vince’s court case as representative of problems with the country’s carceral, legal, and medical systems
At about 52:40, Pete cites an example from the This American Life episode of questions asked by Dr. Vince backfiring spectacularly at trial
At about 53:20, the two discuss intergenerational abuse and its cycles, particularly with regards to sexual and physical violence done to Dr. Vince and his sister
At about 54:00, Pete and Dr. Benjamin muse on culpability with regards to Dalton Gilmer, Dr. Vince’s father
At about 56:45, Dr. Benjamin reflects on ideas of “reverence for life,” a philosophy of looking at victims and victimizers
At about 58:50, Dr. Benjamin and Pete give some staggering statistics about the connections between prisoners and mental health
At about 59:45, Dr. Benjamin highlights the heroic contributions of Dr. Steve and Dr. Colin Angliker in small and big ways
At about 1:01:20, Dr. Benjamin answers Pete’s question about what brought a sense of calm to Dr. Vince, even when receiving word of his degenerative health condition
At about 1:03:10, Dr. Benjamin talks about Dr. Vince’s disease as not “the whole picture,” but just part of a larger mental health puzzle
At about 1:03:55, Pete and Dr. talk about the Gilmer family expanding to include Dr. Vince
At about 1:04:40, Dr. Benjamin shares his hopes about what the book can do, has done, and will do
At about 1:07:20, Dr. Benjamin talks about reframing the ways in which we treat prisoners
At about 1:08:25, Pete discusses the changes that have come through reading this book
At about 1:09:20, Dr. Benjamin responds to Pete’s question about how to get involved in similar advocacy groups, and he talks about ways in which people can help in big and small ways and in learning about incredible organizations like Bryan Stevenson’s Equal Justice Initiative, The Innocence Project, Marshall’s Project
At about 1:11:20, Dr. Benjamin and Pete talk about where to buy the book and the early roll-out of the book; Malaprop’s in Asheville is shouted out as a great bookstore to buy The Other Dr. Gilmer
At about 1:11:50, Dr. Benjamin talks about the collaboration with Jennifer Fox and Concordia with Dr. writing the book and Jennifer writing the upcoming film
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 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.
This is a passion project of mine, a DIY operation, and I’d love for your help in promoting what I’m convinced is a unique and spirited look at an often-ignored art form.
The intro song for The Chills at Will Podcast is “Wind Down” (Instrumental Version), and the other song played on this episode was “Hoops” (Instrumental)” by Matt Weidauer, and both songs are used through ArchesAudio.com.
Please tune in for Episode 108 with Navdeep Singh Dhillon, the author of Sunny G’s Series of Rash Decisions, an adjunct professor of creative writing and English at Borough of Manhattan Community College, and co-founder of IshqInABackpack (Ish-k), a narrative travel blog. The episode will air on March 8.
Tuesday Mar 01, 2022
Tuesday Mar 01, 2022
Episode 106 Notes and Links to Daniel Olivas’ Work
On Episode 106 of The Chills at Will Podcast, Pete welcomes Daniel Olivas, and the two talk about…well, everything. They discuss, among other things, Daniel’s childhood in Los Angeles, pochismo, formative and unforgettable reads, his family’s stories, his work as a lawyer and his myriad writing and genres, the difference between fiction and nonfiction with regard to truth, as well as his just-released short story collection.
Daniel A. Olivas is the author of ten books and editor of two anthologies. His books include How to Date a Flying Mexican: New and Collected Stories (University of Nevada Press, 2022), The King of Lighting Fixtures: Stories (University of Arizona Press, 2017), Crossing the Border: Collected Poems (Pact Press, 2017), and Things We Do Not Talk About: Exploring Latino/a Literature through Essays and Interviews (San Diego State University Press, 2014).
Daniel's plays have been produced for the stage and readings by Playwrights' Arena, Circle X Theatre Company, and The Road Theatre Company.
Widely anthologized, Daniel has written for many publications including the New York Times, The Guardian, El Paso Times, Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Review of Books, Huffington Post, High Country News, La Bloga, BOMB, and the Jewish Journal.
Buy Daniel Olivas' How to Date a Flying Mexican
Daniel Olivas’ Page at Los Angeles Review of Books
Waiting for Godinez Play Information and Praise
"Turning the Page"-Daniel's beautiful tribute to his father from Stanford Magazine
At about 2:50, Daniel gives his family background, including his father’s experiences with writing and education, as well as Daniel’s schooling and educational experiences
At about 10:10, Daniel responds to Pete’s questions about writing and artistic influences for Daniel’s father
At about 11:40, Daniel talks about bilingualism in his family and a meaningful comment from his mother about his writing
At about 16:30, Daniel talks about family roots in Ocotlán, Jalisco, and its influence on his writing
At about 17:40, Daniel highlights his fictionalized city of Dos Cuentos and the ways in which he uses the city in his work
At about 18:50, Daniel talks about early reviews of his story collection and the ways in which they often add “trigger warnings” and what those warnings reinforce for him
At about 19:40, Pete asks Daniel about John Fante and Daniel talks about Fante as a great chronicler of the immigrant experiences
At about 21:45, Pete and Daniel talk about shared roots in Jesuit high schools and Daniel gives background on connections to Father Greg Boyle
At about 23:30, Daniel responds to Pete’s questions about important texts that Daniel gravitated to, as Daniel talks about how long it took him to think about writing himself and being inspired by Juan Rulfo, Sandra Cisneros, and Rivera’s And the Earth Did Not Devour Him, and laments missing taking a class with José Antonio Burciaga
At about 26:00, Pete and Daniel fanboy over Villarreal’s Pocho, and Daniel talks about the evolving meanings of “pocho”
At about 29:40, Daniel talks about “shaming” over the ways that Mexican Catholic customs were manifested
At about 32:25, shout out to Pete’s beloved uncle
At about 33:30, Pete wonders about turning points in Daniel’s route to becoming a professional writer, including early publication with The Stanford Chaparral, and unfortunate grief bringing inspiration through his first novel dealing with joy and pain
At about 40:30, Daniel details the publication of Assumption and Other Stories with Bilingual Press
At about 41:15, Daniel talks about how his career trajectory and writing style may differ from what his work would have been like had he gone the MFA route; he also quotes Stewart Dybek
At about 43:00, Daniel talks about keeping his work fresh
At about 44:30, Daniel references an article he wrote for The Guardian upon the publication of American Dirt, as well as a telling quote from Luis Alberto Urrea
At about 45:40, Daniel references two story from the recent collection that highlight the Trump years
At about 47:15, Daniel responds to Pete’s slight misunderstanding about the differences in writing for law and for fiction
At about 50:25, Pete wonders if Daniel can point out any renderings of the law that have rung true for him
At about 53:50, Pete references a chilling Law & Order episode, and Daniel talks about parallels to Trump and the events of recent years
At about 58:50, Daniel talks about how he chose the stories for his latest collection and his mindset in choosing “old” and newer stories
At about 1:01:05, Daniel talks about reading his work spanning so many years and judging any “evolution” in his writing
At about 1:02:00, Daniel asks Pete his thoughts on whether Daniel’s work reads as similar throughout the years
At about 1:04:30, Daniel references “Later Days,” an early “cynical” story of his curated by Bruce Handy
At about 1:07:30, Daniel recollects some interesting childhood reading and Daniel talks about the reading connection to his later writing
At about 1:08:25, Pete points out connections between the reading histories of Tod Goldberg and Daniel
At about 1:08:55, Daniel talks about the short story collection and its dedication and connections to Luis Alberto Urrea’s Hummingbird’s Daughter
At about 1:11:20, Daniel talks about an upcoming article for Alta Journal discussing Natalie Diaz’s “Postcolonial Love Poem”
At about 1:12:20, Daniel says he’ll accept any comparisons to Franz Kafka or Garcia Marquez, and talks about Dagoberto Gilb, A Parrot in the Oven by Victor Martinez, Borges, Yxta Maya Murray, and others as inspirations
At about 1:15:25, Daniel makes a comparison between his work (especially with short stories) and the life of a character actor
At about 1:17:20, Pete shouts out an incredible piece by Borges- “The Gospel According to Mark”
At about 1:21:45, Daniel talks about storylines in his writing and ideas of morality
At about 1:24:20, Daniel explains “political writing” that is overtly not political
At about 1:25:05, Pete makes parallels between Toni Morrison’s one short story’s headlines
At about 1:27:00, Pete highlights the skillful magical realism of the title short story, and Daniel explains the balance between the two parts of the phrase
At about 1:31:00, Pete and Daniel discuss themes of agency for women, with Conchita as an example
At about 1:34:00, Pete highlights a skillful line in the title story, and Daniel responds to Pete’s questions about using second person and present tense
At about 1:36:15, Daniel discusses the importance of prioritizing the title before getting into the story’s nuts and bolts
At about 1:38:25, Pete and Daniel discuss minimalism and dichos in Daniel’s writing
At about 1:45:00, Pete shouts out “Belen” as possibly his favorite story and compares Belen’s situation to that of the the narrator in Antonya Nelson’s “In the Land of Men”
At about 1:47:00, Pete asks about the cool names used in the collection
At about 1:49:40, Quezatcoatl is discussed as featured in the short story collection
At about 1:51:20, Pete asks Daniel about a hilarious and deep turn-of-phrase in discussing evil and history, as Daniel discusses some awkward conversations with Hollywood types oversimplifying race for financial purposes
At about 1:54:55, Daniel reads from the title story
At about 1:59:45, Pete wonders about future projects for Daniel
At about 2:02:00, Daniel talks about the events for the book’s launch, and discusses a nice pre-release review from Buzzfeed
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 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.
This is a passion project of mine, a DIY operation, and I’d love for your help in promoting what I’m convinced is a unique and spirited look at an often-ignored art form.
The intro song for The Chills at Will Podcast is “Wind Down” (Instrumental Version), and the other song played on this episode was “Hoops” (Instrumental)” by Matt Weidauer, and both songs are used through ArchesAudio.com.
Please tune in for Episode 107 with Dr. Benjamin Gilmer, a family medicine physician in Fletcher, North Carolina. He is an Albert Schweitzer Fellow for Life and associate professor in the department of family medicine at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine at Chapel Hill, and his new book, The Other Dr. Gilmer, is a heart wrenching true story, with part of the story covered in a 2013 "This American Life" episode that has more than 10 million views to date.
The episode airs on Thursday, March 3.
Tuesday Feb 22, 2022
Tuesday Feb 22, 2022
Episode 105 Notes and Links to Nikesha Elise Williams’ Work
On Episode 105 of The Chills at Will Podcast, Pete welcomes Nikesha Elise Williams, and the two discuss, among other things, her early aptitude for, and interest in, the written word, her varied and prolific reading habits, formative books and writers for her, her days as a television producer, her fantastic podcast and its seeds, and her prolific publishing history, with special emphasis on her award-winning Beyond Bourbon Street.
Nikesha Elise Williams is a two-time Emmy award winning producer, an award-winning author, and producer and host of the Black & Published podcast. Her latest novel, Beyond Bourbon Street, was awarded Best Fiction by the Black Caucus of African-American Librarians in the 2021 Self-Published eBook Literary Awards. It also received the 2020 Outstanding Book Award from the National Association of Black Journalists. Nikesha’s debut novel Four Women received the 2018 NABJ Outstanding Literary Work Award and the Florida Authors and Publisher’s Association President’s Award for Adult Contemporary/Literary Fiction. Nikesha is a Chicago native. She attended The Florida State University where she graduated with a B.S. in Communication: Mass Media Studies and Honors English Creative Writing. Nikesha writes full time with bylines in The Washington Post, ESSENCE, and VOX. She lives in Jacksonville, Florida with her family.
Nikesha Elise Williams' Website
Black and Published Podcast Home
At about 2:40, Elise talks about her early relationship with words, her home being full of books, and an inversion of preschool “nap time”
At about 3:55, Elise talks about a fateful and inspirational autograph signing with Connie Porter of the American Girls’ series
At about 5:20, Pete references the notes often found in used books
At about 7:05, Nikesha references Robert Jones, Jr.’s quest to buy first-editions of his favorite texts-here’s Nikesha’s episode with him!
At about 8:45, Nikesha talks about the vast swath of books she read as a kid, and the singular exuberance of the Scholastic Book Fair-she mentions reading above her grade level with John Grisham, Roots, and Eric Jerome Dickey, E. Lynn Harris, and Zane
At about 11:00, Pete and Nikesha talk about the powerful impact of reading Roots at young ages, and the need to re-read to take in the full experience and context
At about 13:05, Pete poses a tough question: Which is Nikesha’s favorite Toni Morrison book?
At about 14:50, Pete asks Nikesha about memorable reading from college and early adulthood, and then asks her the question she uses on her wonderful podcast: “When did you know you were a writer?” This brings up Nikesha’s kind words about the wonderful Eric Jerome Dickey and his encouragement
At about 17:00, Nikesha refers to important books for her, like TP Carter’s Lovestoned, Erica Simone Turnipseed’s A Love Noire, An American Marriage, and Deesha Philyaw’s short-story collection The Secret Lives of Church Ladies, and Heavy by Kiese Laymon
At about 18:35, Nikesha gives a highly-complimentary explanation of the greatness of The Secret Lives of Church Ladies
At about 21:35, Pete wonders about any career-starting moments and/or “ ‘Eureka’ moments”-Nikesha talks about doing early writing after entering the workforce
At about 24:10-26:35, Pete asks Nikesha about what she did as a television producer
At about 26:35, Nikesha responds to Pete’s questions about objectivity in news in the Age of Trump, and Nikesha recounts her memories of Election Night 2016
At about 31:00, Nikesha describes her writing for Essence and VOX
At about 32:45, Pete asks about seeds for the Black and Published Podcast and its serendipitous early days
At about 38:30, Pete wonders about Nikesha feeling represented in what she read-she points out Flyy Girl by Omar Tyree as a first
At about 42:00, Pete asks about positive feedback that Nikesha has recived, from both listeners and writers
At about 43:00, Nikesha describes the “journey” of Four Women and the excitement that came with its publication
At about 43:45, Pete inquires about the epigraph for Beyond Bourbon Street, and Nikesha talks about “living abundantly”
At about 48:10, Pete and Nikesha talk about the book’s beginnings and New Orleans as a “character” in the story
At about 53:00, Nikesha talks about how an early iteration of the book, and Pete and her reflect on the power of perspective that strengthens the book
At about 54:25, Pete asks about the main character Graigh and Bombei and their marriage issues
At about 57:40, Pete and Nikesha talk about sympathy and empathy as it is portrayed in the book
At about 58:45, Nikesha compliments her editor for helping her best involve thoughts in the book
At about 1:00:00, Pete outlines the ways in which “wanting to be seen and heard” intersects with history and personal stories
At about 1:01:31, Pete asks Nikesha about the writing of the sex scenes, and she connects her days in television with this writing
At about 1:04:00, Pete highlights some standout themes and writing and a key quote involving the burdens that women can carry
At about 1:07:20, Nikesha talks about her beloved grandparents and their connections to the book
At about 1:10:19, Nikesha reads from Chapter Four of Beyond Bourbon Street
At about 1:15:00, Pete stans over Nikesha’s usage of “Sisqo Blond"
At about 1:15:30, Nikesha gives out contact info and talks about future projects, inclusing an exciting one for LSU Press
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 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.
This is a passion project of mine, a DIY operation, and I’d love for your help in promoting what I’m convinced is a unique and spirited look at an often-ignored art form.
The intro song for The Chills at Will Podcast is “Wind Down” (Instrumental Version), and the other song played on this episode was “Hoops” (Instrumental)” by Matt Weidauer, and both songs are used through ArchesAudio.com.
Please tune in for Episode 106 with Daniel Olivas, Daniel Olivas, a second-generation Angeleno, is a playwright and the author of nine books including, most recently, The King of Lighting Fixtures: Stories and How to Date a Flying Mexican, a story collection published on February 22.
His first full-length play, Waiting for Godínez, was selected for the 2020 Playwrights’ Arena Summer Reading Series. Widely anthologized, he has also written for the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, El Paso Times, Jewish Journal, La Bloga, and many other print and online publications. By day, Olivas is an attorney in the Public Rights Division of the California Department of Justice.
This episode will air on March 1.
Tuesday Feb 15, 2022
Tuesday Feb 15, 2022
Episode 104 Notes and Links to Matt Bell’s Work
On Episode 104 of The Chills at Will Podcast, Pete welcomes Matt Bell, and the two discuss, among many other topics, his upbringing in semi-rural Michigan, his love of video games and fantasy, his skill in writing in different modes, and his blockbuster success Appleseed, with its myriad pertinent themes and its intricately-crafted narratives and allegorical greatness.
Matt Bell is the author most recently of the novel Appleseed (a New York Times Notable Book) published by Custom House in July 2021. His craft book Refuse to Be Done, a guide to novel writing, rewriting, and revision, will follow in early 2022 from Soho Press. He is also the author of the novels Scrapper and In the House upon the Dirt Between the Lake and the Woods, as well as the short story collection A Tree or a Person or a Wall, a non-fiction book about the classic video game Baldur's Gate II, and several other titles. His writing has appeared in The New York Times, Esquire, Tin House, Fairy Tale Review, American Short Fiction, Orion, and many other publications. A native of Michigan, he teaches creative writing at Arizona State University.
Book Recommendations from Matt Bell
New York Times Review of In the House upon the Dirt Between the Lake and the Woods
Alta Journal Review of Appleseed
The Brooklyn Rail Review of Appleseed
At about 2:00, Matt talks about the different ways of writing, editing, and publicizing books in the Covid era, noting that his newest book, Refuse to Be Done: How to Write and Rewrite a Novel in Three Drafts
At about 4:10, Matt details his childhood in rural Michigan and his relationship with reading and language
At about 6:15, Matt and Pete
At about 7:10, Matt describes the rural/urban combo in his writing
At about 9:10, Matt ponders whether his rural upbringing and reading fantasy, as well as ideas of what is “fantastical”
At about 10:35, Matt mentions formative books for him as an adolescent and college student, and how Fight Club led to other favorite writers as prescribed by Chuck Palahniuk, including Denis Johnson and Raymond Carver
At about 12:40, Matt sings the praises of The Intuitionist and John Henry Days by Colson Whitehead and inspiration for Appleseed
At about 14:30, Pete asks Matt about any “ ‘Eureka’ moments” in his path to becoming a professional writer; Matt cites a “poverty of examples”
At about 16:10, Matt describes the “different” feeling that came with an early short story and things started “clicking”
At about 17:30, Matt describes just a few contemporary writers who bring “thrills at will,” including Bryan Evenson, DeLillo, Anne Carson, Christine Schutt, Jeff Vandermeer, Laird Hunt, and Dana Spiotta
At about 18:30, Matt discusses reading a huge quantity of Ursula LeGuin while writing Appleseed
At about 20:00, Pete delivers some good news to Matt regarding his short story output, and Matt responds to Pete’s inquiries about Matt’s previous short story collection and early publications
At about 21:20, Matt talks about the connection between rural and vast landscapes and the themes of man’s relationship with nature from In the House… and other work of his
At about 22:10, Matt discusses differing views across the country of his book Scrapper as dystopian/realistic in various American locales
At about 24:25, Pete asks Matt about connections between Matt’s history of gaming and his writing, including his book Baldur’s Gate
At about 26:40, Matt talks about “writing with your whole self” and writing authentically for him
At about 27:40, Matt describes the copyediting process after Pete’s shouts out an atypical
At about 28:40, Pete asks about the finished feeling seeds for the book Appleseed, and the process of editing with great help from Kate Nintzel and Kirby Kim
At about 32:20-Matt describes inspiration and the impetus for writing his book came from faun myths, myths in general, Dionysus, etc.
At about 33:20-Pete makes Garcia Marquez comparisons with magical realism and the nonchalant and skillful ways in which fantasy is presented in Appleseed, and Matt discusses how myth and research came into play
At about 35:20- Matt talks about the ways in which the storylines developed and about the book as self-propelling
At about 36:30, Matt responds to Pete’s wondering about the balance between allegory and moralizing
At about 39:10, Matt and Pete discuss the three major storylines, and Matt responds to Pete’s questions about how he made the storylines congeal so nicely
At about 41:50, Matt discusses the essential Chapman storyline from Appleseed
At about 44:40, Matt analyzes Nathaniel, a main character from Appleseed, and his motivations
At about 46:45, Pete shouts out a wonderfully crafted scene and intricately-meaningful from the book
At about 47:20, Pete shouts out a beautiful fraternal relationship and asks Matt about his mindset in crafting the relationship and Matt cites how the faun allowed him freedom
At about 49:20, Matt discusses the John character from his book and themes of the balances between nature and technology, including a real life connection to a detail from the book
At about 52:00, Pete wonders if Yuri is representative of someone in particular
At about 53:00, Pete highlights themes of “collective memory” and learning from history, as seen through the futuristic storyline, and Matt and Pete discuss ideas of “fates” and “furies”
At about 54:30, Matt responds to questions around greater good, and if democracy is up for combating climate change
At about 55:35, Matt cites a quote and books from Derrick Jensen and his memorable A Language Older than Words amid constant questions and urges to act
At about 57:10, Pete mentions a real-time connection to the themes of the conversation
At about 58:10, Pete asks Matt about the ways and places in which the book is being taught, and Matt talks about “think[ing] on top of it/past it”
At about 59:00, Matt describes his latest project, coming out in March 2022, Refuse to Be Done: How to Write and Rewrite a Novel in Three Drafts, and how he goes about writing about writing; Pete and Matt also shout Matthew Salesses’ wonderful Craft in the Real World: Rethinking Fiction Writing and Workshopping
At about 1:02:30, Matt gives contact info and shouts out Changing Hands and Literati and Bookbug, and Snowbound as good independent places to buy his books
At about 1:03:45, Matt reads from Appleseed
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 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.
This is a passion project of mine, a DIY operation, and I’d love for your help in promoting what I’m convinced is a unique and spirited look at an often-ignored art form.
The intro song for The Chills at Will Podcast is “Wind Down” (Instrumental Version), and the other song played on this episode was “Hoops” (Instrumental)” by Matt Weidauer, and both songs are used through ArchesAudio.com.
Please tune in for the next episode, Episode 104 with Nikesha Elise Williams. Nikesha is a two-time Emmy award winning producer, an award-winning author, and producer and host of the Black & Published podcast. Nikesha writes full time with bylines in The Washington Post, ESSENCE, and VOX. She lives in Jacksonville, Florida with her family. The episode will air on February 22.
Tuesday Feb 08, 2022
Tuesday Feb 08, 2022
Episode 103 Notes and Links
On Episode 103 of The Chills at Will Podcast, Pete welcomes Tracey Thompson, a super reader, especially of short stories. The two discuss, among other things, indelible stories and her memories of their initial impact, the wondrous beauty of libraries, her writing music and theater criticism, her unabashed fandom of Shirley Jackson, and her quest to read a short story a day for her ‘California Reading” Project.
California Reading is written by Tracey Thompson. Tracey is a British expat living in Southern California with her daughter, husband, and books. Her daughter is named after her favorite Shirley Jackson character; can you guess which one it is?
In her twenty-year writing career, Tracey has written for various music magazines and theatre websites, but now prefers more sedate pleasures. And looser deadlines.
Since April 2018, Tracey has read a short story (almost) every day. You can follow her ever-growing list at https://california-reading.com/.
Tracey Thompson’s Website- “California Reading”
Tracey Thompson’s Short Story Tracker
Tracey Thompson's Goodreads Page
At about 2:05, Tracey discusses her reading interests and relationship to language as a kid, as well as an early formative reading experience with Roald Dahl’s “The Hitchhiker”
At about 7:00, Tracey talks about coming to books later in life after being recommended them earlier in life
At about 9:15, Tracey gives background on her writing about music and theater for Big Cheese Magazine
At about 12:15, Pete asks Tracey about criticism and the possibilities for the medium
At about 14:15, Pete wonders about Tracey’s reading and reviewing for pleasure versus for “work”
At about 17:10, Pete asks about Tracey’s reading tendencies before she started her short story reading quest
At about 18:05, Tracey responds to Pete’s asking about the genesis of her short story quest, and she shouts out her liberal usage of the fabulous library system
At about 20:40, Pete shouts out the Cerritos Library
At about 21:50, Tracey talks about electronic books versus physical books
At about 23:05, Tracey talks about her daily short story reading habits and shouts out Alison Rumfitt’s Tell Me I’m Worthless
At about 25:30, Pete and Tracey talk about short stories versus novels and their various charms
At about 27:05, Pete and Tracey geek out about the greatness of “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson, as Pete tells his story of discovering the story later in life, and Tracey talks about being “hypnotized” by the story, as well as subsequent Jackson work
At about 30:40, Tracey details the underrated humor and lack of confidence that Shirley Jackson had in her life
At about 32:40, Tracey cites “The Old Man” by Daphne DuMaurier and Samantha Schweblin’s “Unstep” as unforgettable stories where she remembers where she was when she read them
At about 34:20, Tracey explains her reading journal’s “Saddest Short Story” citation, Malachi Whitaker’s “The Music Box,” brought back by Persephone Books
At about 36:10, Pete wonders if Tracey has a favorite genre
At about 39:00, Reading = self-care!
At about 39:45, Pete asks about George Saunders, and Tracey gives some feedback on his story collection
At about 41:25, Pete wonders if Tracey has any recs on quirky, unique, underrated writers; Tracey includes Camille Grudova, whose “Waxy” was the first story read for Tracey’s quest, Julie Armfield, and more
At about 43:15, Pete gives two recs-Louise Erdrich, particularly “The Red Convertible,” and Antonya Nelson’s In the Land of Men
At about 44:30, Tracey talks about Netgalley, Goodreads, and the “review culture”
At about 47:00, Tracey talks about literary journals and the myriad ways in which to support short story writers and get short stories
At about 48:25, Pete wonders about the future for the California Reading project
At about 50:00, Pete and Tracey talk about the particular challenges of shorter writing projects
At about 52:15, Tracey gives out her contact info/social media info
At about 53:10, Tracey describes her reading for the night: O, Caledonia by Elsbeth Barker
At about 54:10, Pete talks about The Great Gatsby’s more current iteration and his other reading
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 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.
This is a passion project of mine, a DIY operation, and I’d love for your help in promoting what I’m convinced is a unique and spirited look at an often-ignored art form.
The intro song for The Chills at Will Podcast is “Wind Down” (Instrumental Version), and the other song played on this episode was “Hoops” (Instrumental)” by Matt Weidauer, and both songs are used through ArchesAudio.com.
Please tune in for the next episode, Episode 104 with Matt Bell. Matt Bell is the author most recently of the novel Appleseed (a New York Times Notable Book) published by Custom House in July 2021. His craft book Refuse to Be Done, a guide to novel writing, rewriting, and revision, will follow in early 2022 from Soho Press. He is also the author of the novels Scrapper and In the House upon the Dirt Between the Lake and the Woods, as well as the short story collection A Tree or a Person or a Wall, a non-fiction book about the classic video game Baldur's Gate II, and several other titles. His writing has appeared in The New York Times, Esquire, Tin House, Fairy Tale Review, American Short Fiction, Orion, and many other publications. A native of Michigan, he teaches creative writing at Arizona State University. The episode with Matt will air on February 15.
Tuesday Feb 01, 2022
Tuesday Feb 01, 2022
Episode 102 Notes and Links to Tice Cin’s Work
On Episode 102 of The Chills at Will Podcast, Pete welcomes Tice Cin, and the two discuss a wide range of topics, from Tice’s youth in the warm and multilingual communities of north London to her love of music and its impact on her writing (as well as the reverse), to her artistic inspirations and muses (hint: Scorcese and Barry Jenkins are a few), her depictions of immigrant life, intergenerational trauma, cabbages (so cleverly and skillfully rendered in her writing!), and crime. The bulk of the conversation revolves around the exquisite pacing, structure, and understatement coupled with sheer beauty that propels her wonderful and unique Keeping the House.
Tice Cin is an interdisciplinary artist from north London. A London Writers Award-winner, her work has been published by Extra Teeth and Skin Deep and commissioned by places like Battersea Arts Centre and St Paul’s Cathedral. An alumnus of Barbican Young Poets, she now creates digital art as part of Design Yourself – a collective based at the Barbican Centre – exploring what it means to be human when technology is changing everything. A producer and DJ, she is releasing an EP, Keeping the House, to accompany her debut novel of the same name.
Buy Tice Cin's Keeping the House
Tice Cin's Keeping the House Playlist
Los Angeles Review of Books Review for Keeping the House
The Guardian Review for Keeping the House (called “a cult classic in the making”)
At about 1:25, Pete describes his perfect record in reading standout books published through And Other Stories, including Annie McDermott’s (Episode 91 guest) translation of Levrero.
At about 2:30, Pete asks Tice about growing up in North London, and she talks about gentrification’s role in her childhood environs, as well as her relationship with the Turkish and Turkish Cypriot languages
At about 4:45, Pete registers his awe that Tice has done such marvelous and critically-acclaimed work at such a young age, similar to S.E. Hinton and Christopher Paolini.
At about 5:35, Tice discusses how the Turkish Cypriot language informs the way she writes in English
At about 6:35, Pete and Tice discuss the skill and beauty of Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart, particularly with its Ibo proverbs, which helped inspire Tice to use proverbs and flowery language in her book
At about 7:10, Tice responds to Pete’s wondering about what she was reading as a kid and into high school; Tice talks about her different cultures and representation, including ways in which writers succeeded and didn’t succeed
At about 9:25, Tice explains how she looks back at some of what she read as a kid as “Orientalist,” including Dune
At about 11:20, Pete wonders about “those who got it right” and whose work spoke to Tice; she highlights Samuel Delaney and Octavia Butler
At about 12:45, Pete wonders what moment/s provided inspiration for Tice to become a writer-she cites J.G. Ballard’s work as one inspiration
At about 14:05, Pete asks Tice about her relationship with music, and how music informs her writing, and vice versa; she talks about battle raps/community, and more
At about 18:25-another “ATLiens” shout out! It’s at least the second-check out 40:00 in this episode with Alan Chazaro
At about 19:40, Tice talks about the varied music she listens to as she writes
At about 20:45, Tice details her path to becoming a “professional writer.”
At about 23:50, Tice talks about building her craft and style, and how she is influenced by Delaney, and made her work more “gully”
At about 26:30, Tice talks about contemporary work that thrills and energizes her, including fellow Tottenham-ite Derek Owusu's That Reminds Me
At about 27:15, Tice explains what she means that the book was written for the “under the kitchen table kids”
At about 29:45, Tice describes the variety of structures in the book and her structures
At about 32:25, Tice describes the “light blue” color she is chasing in charting particularly noir-ish part of her book
At about 33:15, Pete makes yet-another Henry Hill comparison in fleshing out Damla’s role as observer in Keeping the House, and the Scorcese talk moves onto The Irishman, as Pete gives kudos to Tice for her treatment of aging and guilt (or lack thereof) in her book
At about 36:30, Pete shouts out some memorable and skillful lines from Tice’s writing
At about 37:30, Tice describes the ways in which the pacing of her book was inspired by Moonlight and “the gentle eye of the director”
At about 40:25, Tice responds to Pete wondering about how she has been able to “say goodbye” to the characters from the book
At about 41:25, Pete inquires about Tice’s incredibly-creative and successful method of footnotes/side-notes, thanks to some great help from Alex the typesetter
At about 45:15, Tice speaks to Damla and the ways in which she was raised, in addition to the connections to the book’s title; Pete asks about a double/multiple meaning for “keeping the house”
At about 48:00, Pete and Tice discuss the idea that the women in the book are often cleaning up after men, in more ways than one, including the ways in which mother and daughter deal with stress/trauma
At about 51:00, Tice and Pete discuss themes of community in the book, and Pete asks Tice about her impressive lack of moralizing when writing about the drug trade; she references misunderstandings/misreadings of her book and shouts out fellow UK standout Graeme Armstrong and his ideas of “holding up a mirror to society”
At about 54:55, Pete and Tice enjoy the beautiful scene between Cemile and Damla and discuss Cemile’s role in the book; Pete wonders who Cemile is for Damla, and Tice discusses methods of coping
At about 58:15, the two discuss intergenerational trauma, and how the 1974 Cypriot civil war was a quiet but powerful specter over the story’s characters/events
At about 1:02:50, Tice discusses the myriad meanings of cabbage in her book and its symbolism
At about 1:03:35, Tice’s cat has entered the chat!
At about 1:06:20, Pete gives a prospective future blurb for
At about 1:06:50, Tice reads from the chapter “Ayla”
At about 1:12:45, Tice talks about interesting future projects
At about 1:16:50, Tice gives her social media information, including mentioning her new Tik Tok page
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 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.
This is a passion project of mine, a DIY operation, and I’d love for your help in promoting what I’m convinced is a unique and spirited look at an often-ignored art form.
The intro song for The Chills at Will Podcast is “Wind Down” (Instrumental Version), and the other song played on this episode was “Hoops” (Instrumental)” by Matt Weidauer, and both songs are used through ArchesAudio.com.
Please tune in for the next episode, Episode 103 with Tracey Thompson. Tracey is a woman after my own heart-a voracious reader of short stories, who has read a short story a day for over a year. The episode with Tracey will air on February 8.