25.6K
Downloads
304
Episodes
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
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.
Tuesday Jan 25, 2022
Tuesday Jan 25, 2022
Episode 101 Notes and Links to Mia St. John’s Work
On Episode 101 of The Chills at Will Podcast, Pete welcomes Mia St. John, and the two talk about her upbringing, being a victim of racism, her private battles as a youth and her moving around a lot as a youth, her resolve in becoming a world-champion boxer, how her childhood shaped her boxing prowess, the highs and lows of high-level boxing, and the grief and love she has experienced, especially in recent years, which she has channeled into in becoming an advocate for mental health. The two discuss these topics and more through the prism of her recently-published memoir, Fighting for my Life: A Memoir about A Mother’s Loss and Grief.
Mia St. John was born in San Francisco, California. Her fighting career started soon after, at the age of six, competing in Tae Kwon Do. Mia earned a black belt and received a Bachelors Degree in Psychology from California State University of Northridge in June of '94.
In 1996, Mia decided to pursue her true passion full-time, the sport of combat. Valentines Day, 1997, Mia made her pro-debut in boxing, knocking out her opponent in fifty-four seconds into the first round. Mia signed with Don King and stayed with him for a year and a half before she left King for his rival Bob Arum of Top Rank. At Top Rank, Mia spent four years opening for all of Oscar De La Hoya's major fights.
Mia has fought all over the world, including Beijing, China, where she won her IBA Championship. After accumulating an unheard of boxing record of nearly 60 pro fights, on June 14th, 2008, Mia fulfilled her dream of fighting in her mother's home country of Mexico. She fought one of the toughest fights of her career and became the WBC International Boxing Champion of the World at the age of 40.
In November of 2010, Rep. Grace F. Napolitano joined Mia and LA Laker Ron Artest for an official mental health and suicide prevention training at Napolitano’s district office in Santa Fe Springs. Artest and St. John have joined Napolitano to promote the Mental Health in Schools Act, legislation she authored which would increase federal funding for mental health therapists in schools.
She also spoke at the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, where President Barack Obama made a riveting speech at the CHCI's annual Gala.
As well as Congress, Mia speaks in schools and juvenile halls on the importance of education and overcoming hardship. She speaks of her own battles with mental illness, addiction, poverty and overcoming it all, to become a three time international boxing champion.
On August 14th, 2012, Mia fought Christy Martin in a long awaited rematch. Her dream of sixteen years finally materialized and at the age of 45, she captured the WBC Super Welter Weight Championship of the World.
Buy Mia St. John's Fighting for My Life
Mia St. John's Personal Webpage
Support The Mia St. John Foundation
People Magazine Synopsis of Mia’s Memoir
At about 4:20, Mia talks about her mission in publishing her memoir
At about 4:55, Pete wonders and asks Mia a boxing question: How does someone train to get punched in the face?
At about 6:40, Mia references a synopsis of her memoir in People Magazine from Dec. 21, 2021
At about 7:20, Mia talks about her reasons and timing for her new book
At about 8:20, Pete asks Mia about the positive feedback-she cites so many notes from mothers-she has received for her memoir
At about 9:15, Mia talks about “seeds” for the book, explaining that its origins go back to childhood
At about 10:50, Pete refers to the opening of Mia’s book, and how a daily affirmation by Francisco “Panchito” Bojado affected and affects Mia
At about 11:50, Pete asks Mia about perspective and how years away from boxing have informed her book
At about 13:25, Mia talks about the “dark part of the soul” that was experienced in boxing and boxing in response to her tough upbringing
At about 14:55, Mia talks about her determination, as manifested in her boxing days, and in her response to the horrible
At about 15:50, Mia explains how her mother’s upbringing affected her later life, and the determination she inherited from her mother
At about 17:10, Mia describes the ways in which her father was a “functioning alcoholic”
At about 18:20, Mia details racist slurs and racism that she experienced growing up, and how sad it was that respect came with violence
At about 20:30, Mia responds to Pete’s question about how she was changed by moving around so often as a kid
At about 22:10, Mia responds to Pete’s question about what alcohol brought her as a young person who became addicted
At about 24:10, Pete asks Mia about her independent trip to live in CA after high school graduation, and Mia outlines her early days in the Los Angeles-area
At about 26:30, Pete inquires into her educational hard work and her choice to study psychology and about her initial time with Kristoff St. John
At about 28:05, Mia describes her early days in taekwondo, and how her mentor “Mr. V” showed such tough love and brought out the best in Mia
At about 29:00, Mia gives background on how she decided to turn pro in boxing
At about 30:00, Pete describes Mike Aspinwall’s description (at about 40:45 of this episode) of the adrenaline rush and feelings associated with his time on WWE, and then asks Mia to describe he feelings about entering the ring
At about 32:00, Mia describes her time with her mentor Art, an early boxing coach and Pete asks about how Mia is still inspired by him to this day
At about 33:10, Pete wonders about the “shady” nature of boxing that Mia learned about early on, and she describes the idea of the “tomato can”
At about 34:40, Pete wonders about the “solitude of boxing” that Mia describes in the book
At about 35:50, Pete asks Mia about her experience being featured in Playboy, which Mia describes as an overall great experience and how she came to be featured on the cover for the November 1999 issue
At about 36:55, Mia is asked to describe the incredible atmosp[here and feelings surrounding being on the undercard for the legendary Oscar de la Hoya vs. Julio Cesar Chavez 1998 fight
At about 39:10, Mia describes how she became a “boxer” under the tutelage of Fernardo Vargas’ team and left being a “fighter” in the past
At about 40:40, Mia talks about her relationship with and fights against Christy Martin, and she details her mindset and the moving end to their second fight
At about 43:00, Pete wonders what it was like for Mia after she retired
At about 44:15, Mia talks about her beautiful and sensitive son Julian and his brilliant art and her daughter, “a hero” to Mia, and how Julian’s schizophrenia manifested itself
At about 47:15, Mia talks about Julian’s legacy and his enduring art
At about 48:15, Mia talks about Stone Art and The Mia St. John Foundation (donate here) and their missions
At about 49:00, Mia talks about using her knowledge of mental health and mental health facilities to help others and change the system, including working with Grace Napolitano and Metta World Peace on The Mental Health in Schools Act
At about 50:45, Pete asks Mia about the tragic passing of her ex-husband and its connection to our mental health system
At about 52:00, Pete and Mia talk about her resolve and her family and friends who have helped her in these past years and Mia talks about her daily gratitude list
At about 54:10, Mia talks about her upcoming work, including working with homeless populations through Step Up
At about 55:00, Mia gives out contact information and thanks Elaine Aradillas and Post Hill Press for their help with the memoir
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 102 with Tice Cin, who 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.
Tuesday Jan 18, 2022
Tuesday Jan 18, 2022
Episode 100 Notes and Links to Susan Muaddi Darraj’s Work
On Episode 100 of The Chills at Will Podcast, Pete welcomes Susan Muaddi Darraj, and the two talk about their shared love for S.E. Hinton and public libraries, in addition to Susan’s history with language and words. They also discuss, among other topics, Susan’s versatile writing and knack for getting inside the heads of her characters and her reading public, her experience with Palestinan-American representation in literature, as well as her award-winning work for adults and middle-graders.
Susan Muaddi Darraj’s short story collection, A Curious Land: Stories from Home, was named the winner of the AWP Grace Paley Prize for Short Fiction, judged by Jaime Manrique. It also won the 2016 Arab American Book Award, a 2016 American Book Award, and was shortlisted for a Palestine Book Award. Her previous short story collection, The Inheritance of Exile, was published in 2007 by University of Notre Dame Press.
In 2018, she was named a Ford Fellow by USA Artists. Susan also is a two-time recipient of an Individual Artist Award from the Maryland State Arts Council. She has also been awarded a Ruby’s Artist Grant from the Greater Baltimore Cultural Alliance and a grant from the Sustainable Arts Foundation.
In 2019, she launched the viral #TweetYourThobe social media campaign to promote Palestinian culture. Later that year, she was named winner of the Rose Nader Award, by the American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), an award given by the Nader family to a person who “demonstrates an unwavering dedication and commitment to values of equality and justice.”
In January 2020, Capstone Books launched her debut children’s chapter book series, Farah Rocks, about a smart, brave Palestinian American girl named Farah Hajjar.
Buy Susan Muaddi Darraj's Work
"Memory, home and belonging in 'A Curious Land' "
Susan Muaddi Darraj’s Articles for Middle East Eye
Necessary Fiction’s Review of A Curious Land: Stories from Home
At about 3:00, Pete asks Susan about her childhood relationship with language and reading
At about 8:45, Susan lists and describes some memorable books that have informed her work and that she loved as a kid
At about 10:20, Susan discusses representation and how she felt or didn’t feel represented as an adolescent and beyond; she also describes her groundbreaking series, Farah Rocks
At about 11:55, Susan discusses how “demoralizing” it was in not seeing her experience in what she read as a kid, and the implications of a pertinent quote from Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop
At about 13:20, Susan describes in late high school and college how Naomi Shihab Nye’s Habibi was shocking and transformative for her
At about 14:30, Pete references the Episode 94 kudos and appreciation for Naomi Shihab Nye
At about 15:45, Pete wonders about lack of representation or negative representation for Arab-Americans/Palestinians, and Susan details the negative stereotypes that often lead to/come from Aladdin
At about 18:55, Susan responds to Pete’s question about inspirations and “ “Eureka’ moments” that catapulted her writing career, and she cites writers like Sylvia Plath, bell hooks, James Baldwin, Toni Morrison, Sandra Cisneros, Isabel Allende, and more
At about 22:50, Pete inquires about Susan’s relationship with Richard Wright’s work
At about 23:55, Susan details her college experience and her parents’ view of her studies; she references common career expectations in Arab-American/immigrant communities and how she began to write as she taught literature
At about 28:30, Susan references #5amwritersclub and Maya Angelou’s philosophy about early morning writing
At about 29:35, Pete asks Susan about who she’s reading now; she shouts out S.K. Ali, Aisha Saeed, Hena Khan, and Saadia Faruqi
At about 31:00, Susan describes the excellence of poetry that draws her back, including T.S. Elliott’s “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock”
At about 31:35, Pete wonders how being a successful published writer has affected the way she reads
At about 33:30, Susan talks about being “energized” by movies and TV and their structure and characterization
At about 35:10, Susan talks about the biographies for young readers she wrote for Chelsea House Publishing, as well as the phenomenon of “reluctant readers for preteen boys”
At about 37:50, Pete wonders about how Susan gets her work to the correct level for young readers
At about 38:40, Pete and Susan use S.E. Hinton’s work as an example of an impeccable sense of what young readers are drawn to; Pete talks about the chills that came with the cyclical nature of the book, and Susan is reminded of the iconic Theme for English B by Langston Hughes
At about 40:50, Pete recommends That Was Then, This is Now
At about 41:15, Susan gives some background on the title character’s name and significance for the Farah Rocks… Series, as well talking about her choices in translation
At about 45:00, Susan and Pete talk about ableism and “the new girl” as theme, as well as some subtle
At about 48:00, Susan talks about two upcoming projects
At about 48:40, Pete asks about the seeds for the book and the title of A Curious Land: Stories from Home, and Susan discusses the connection between the collection and her first book, The Inheritance of Exile: Stories from South Philly
At about 51:00, Susan discusses research done for A Curious Land: Stories from Home
At about 53:10, Pete wonders about any pressures Susan might feel in writing from the point-of-view of a member of the Palestianian diaspora, and in talking about her changing attitude regarding this, Susan quotes Jacqueline Woodson
At about 55:00, Pete asks Susan who else is “doing the work” in writing varied stories of the Palestinian community, including Eta Frum and Susan Abulhawa
At about 56:00, Susan gives background on the epigraphs for A Curious Land…
At about 58:00, Pete and Susan highlight the beginning of the collection in setting the scene for the thematically-linked collection and talk about themes of agency and women’s role in society, and sacrifice
At about 1:00:45, Pete asks Susan about her goal/rationale for using the town of the collection as a “character,” almost like Faulkner’s Yoknaptawpha County, including the effects of the Occupation
At about 1:03:00, Susan talks about the diversity of The Middle East and the ironies of people assuming that she needs to be taught about Christianity; she references an article on these misconceptions by Ryan al-Natour
At about 1:07:00, Susan describes a “family-tree effect” that she instituted for her collection
At about 1:08:30, Pete reads from a review of the collection
At about 1:10:00, Susan goes in-depth about upcoming projects
At about 1:13:25, Susan gives her contact info and social media info
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 101 with Mia St. John, former five time world champion boxer and dedicated advocate for improved mental health facilities and care. She is the author of the recently-published Fighting For My Life: A Memoir about a Mother's Loss and Grief. The episode will air on January 25.
Tuesday Jan 11, 2022
Tuesday Jan 11, 2022
Episode 99 Notes and Links to Sara Borjas’ Work
On Episode 99 of The Chills at Will Podcast, Pete welcomes Sara Borjas, and the two talk about, among other topics, Sara’s relationship with language, bilingualism and identity, pochismo, formative and transformative writers and teachers, and themes and ideas from Sara’s standout collection, Heart Like a Window, Mouth Like a Cliff.
SARA BORJAS is a Xicanx pocha, is from the Americas before it was stolen and its people were colonized, and is a Fresno poet. George Floyd. Delaina Ashley Yaun Gonzalez. Lorenzo Perez. Xiaojie Tan. Say their names. Joyce Echaquan. Her debut collection of poetry, Heart Like a Window, Mouth Like a Cliff was published by Noemi Press in 2019 and won a 2020 American Book Award. Juanito Falcon. Breonna Taylor. Daoyou Feng. Elcias Hernandez-Ortiz. Sara was named one of Poets & Writers 2019 Debut Poets, is a 2017 CantoMundo Fellow, and the recipient of the 2014 Blue Mesa Poetry Prize. Hyun Jung Grant. Ahmaud Arbery. Suncha Kim. Her work can be found in Ploughshares, The Rumpus, Poem-a-Day by The Academy of American Poets, Alta and The Offing, amongst others. Sandra Bland. Soon Chung Park. Yong Ae Yue. She teaches innovative undergraduates at UC Riverside, believes that all Black lives matter and will resist white supremacy until Black liberation is realized, lives in Los Angeles, and stays rooted in Fresno. Say their names. Justice for George Floyd and the countless others. She digs oldiez, outer space, aromatics, and tiny prints, is about decentering whiteness in literature, creative writing, and daily life.
Buy Sara Borjas' Heart Like a Window, Mouth Like a Cliff
From The Rumpus:"A CLEANSING TORNADO: HEART LIKE A WINDOW, MOUTH LIKE A CLIFF BY SARA BORJAS"
The Georgia Review Review of Heart Like a Window, Mouth Like a Cliff
“Pocha and Proud: An Interview with Sara Borjas” from Los Angeles Review of Books
At about 2:30, Sara talks about her relationship with language growing up, particularly her relationship with Spanish and bilingualism
At about 6:00, Sara explains the “pocho lecture” and how speaking Spanish was punished in her parents’ lives
At about 9:10, Pete asks Sara what she was reading as a kid, and if she “saw herself” in what she read
At about 11:10, Sara talks about her first exposure to writers of color, guided by Professors Alex Espinoza and Sameeta Najmee, and reading greats like Helena Maria Viramontes and Marisela Norte
At about 12:15, Pete and Sara talk about their shared admiration for Marisela Norte and Sara's work connecting to that of Moffat Takadiwa
At about 13:00, Sara talks about Tomás Rivera and his background and connections to UIC Riverside where she teaches
At about 14:00, Sara muses on the void that existed in her reading that “aligned with whiteness” and how it affected her
At about 15:50, Pete and Sara discuss “pocho” and its implications; Sara talks about reclaiming its meaning
At about 20:00, Sara describes the ways in which people of color, her parents included, have been innovative in escaping prejudice and oversimplified narratives
At about 20:45, Pete asks Sara about “pocho” in work that has come in recent years, including by innovators like Alan Chazaro, Episode 92 guest
At about 23:20, Sara shouts out writers who have and continue to have an effect on her through their chill-inducing work, including Marwa Helal, Aria Aber, Layli Long Soldier, Anthony Cody, Tongo Eisen-Martin, Roque Dalton, Bob Kaufman, Alejandra Pizarnik, and some standout students of hers
At about 26:25, Pete asks Sara how she explains to her students about “language to assert power,” including how Marwa Helal flips the script
At about 28:30, Pete wonders about Sara’s thoughts on “decoding” her poetry, and poetry “having one answers”
At about 31:30, Pete asks Sara about the idea of reciting poetry from memory, and she talks about the “power” that comes from memorizing, including how she talked to Tongo Eisen-Martin about memorization
At about 33:20, Sara describes how she grew into becoming a poet, including some incredible mentorship and encouragement from Juan Luis Guzmán, and transitions into ways in which she and other women have been made to feel like they need to be quiet
At about 37:30, Sara meditates on her evolving attitude towards her missions and work over the years
At about 39:10, Pete wonders how Sara seeks out and pumps up students who are like she was when she was in school
At about 41:50, Pete and Sara have a discussion about Sara’s ideas of prose and other formas, as done in Heart Like a Window, Mouth Like a Cliff; she also describes some probing and helpful questions from Carmen Gimenez Smith that led to writing ideas
At about 46:35, Sara details the inspiration she received from Anish Kapoor’s installation, and how it served as a muse for Sara’s poem “We are Too Big for This House”
At about 49:35, Pete asks Sara about poem titles and their connection to the poems themselves
At about 50:55, Sara gives her thoughts on translation in her poems
At about 52:20, Sara answers Pete’s question regarding if Sara is the narrator/protagonist of her poems
At about 53:50, Sara talks about the importance of creative expression and the power and beauty of poems, as exemplified by Michael Torres and The Minnesota Prison Writing Workshop
At about 55:20, Pete asks Sara about her collection using powerful words from Audre Lorde and Cherie Moraga as epigraphs
At about 59:00, Sara describes identity as seen in her work, including Aztlan’s significance in the collection’s first poem and in society as a whole; she describes it as a “marker” and a “tool for transformation”
At about 1:02:00, Pete recounts some brilliant and profound lines about identity from poems in the collection, including ones about women’s liberation
At about 1:04:45, Pete cites “Los de Abajo” and asks Sara about her ideas of rasquachismo and its importance in her work; she shouts out creative art as seen at Tío’s Tacos in Riverside
At about 1:06:55, Sara and Pete discuss the “mother and daughter’ relationships” as an overriding theme in her collection; Sara shouts out Rachel McKibbens as another inspiration
At about 1:10:20, Sara and Pete converse about intergenerational trauma and machismo in Sara’s work
At about 1:12:45, Pete wonders about Narcissus and the multiple appearances in Sara’s work; she mentions inspiration coming from a class taken with Reza Aslan
At about 1:16:10, Sara talks about conceptions of gender as seen in her work
At about 1:18:00, Sara gives background on “Mexican Bingo” and reads the poem
At about 1:22:30, Pete asks about Sara’s future projects, including her penchant for writing skits and music
At about 1:24:00, Sara gives out contact info and encourages people to buy her book from Noemi Press or on Bookshop
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.
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.
I’m looking forward to sharing Episode 100 (WHOA) with Susan Muaddi Darraj, teacher, writer of the groundbreaking Farrah Rocks middle-grade series, and winner of the AWP Grace Paley Prize for Short Fiction. The episode airs on January 17.
Tuesday Jan 04, 2022
Tuesday Jan 04, 2022
Episode 98 Notes and Links to Greg Bishop’s Work
On Episode 98 of The Chills at Will Podcast, Pete welcomes Greg Bishop, disciplined and voracious reader and writer of all types of articles that are about sports and so much more. The two talk about, among other topics, Greg’s early love of reading, his disciplined and careful reading for his work, his mentor, Gay Talese, his work on Manny Pacquaio, Dak Prescott, and so many more personalities, as well as the current state of high-impact sports like boxing and football.
Greg Bishop is a senior writer for Sports Illustrated whose feature subjects have ranged from Ricky Williams to Adrian Peterson to Aaron Rodgers. He spent time as the Jets beat writer for the New York Times and the Seahawks beat writer for the Seattle Times.
Buy Talking to Goats: The Moments You Remember and the Stories You Never Heard
"Xavien Howard’s 10 Picks: The Perfection of His Craft"
("Roger Federer Finds a Higher Level as Other Stars Fall" and "Federer Exerts His Power From the Ground Up") from The New York Times
Greg Bishop's Articles for Sports Illustrated
At about 1:40, Pete asks Greg about his relationship with language and reading as he grew up
At about 6:30, Greg outlines his daily reading process and how he comes up with story ideas, including his reading, both within his writing subject matter and without-some on his current reading list include Ryan Holiday’s work and Jake Fischer’s Built to Lose
At about 11:40, Greg shows and describes his reading plans as laid out in his office
At about 12:30, Greg details his nightly reading routine with his son
At about 13:10, Greg discusses his early reading interests, including Maraniss’ Lombardi, To Kill a Mockingbird, and The Tender Bar: A Memoir
At about 14:50, Greg gives background on his mentorship from, and friendship with, Gay Talese
At about 16:40, Pete talks about his connection to Gay Talese’s work
At about 17:45, Pete and Greg nerd out over Gay Talese’s iconic pieces on Frank Sinatra and Joe DiMaggio as Greg talks about Talese’s writing process and aesthetic
At about 21:45, Pete uses the metaphors of aging dealt with in Talese’s work to transition into Greg’s writing about Manny Pacquaio through the years
At about 23:50, Greg lays out his ethic in reporting on athletes, including his view on befriending writing subjects
At about 26:10, Greg responds to Pete’s questions about Pacquaio’s current standing in the Philippines, including his chances in the upcoming presidential election
At about 30:00, Pete and Greg nerd out again-this time about Roger Federer, especially as written about by David Foster Wallace-Greg also talks about two ("Roger Federer Finds a Higher Level as Other Stars Fall"/"Federer Exerts His Power From the Ground Up") favorite articles he wrote about Federer
At about 33:15, Greg breaks down the ratio of articles he writes, with regards to “human interest stories” and others; he highlights an article he wrote about athletes and their relationships with law enforcement in 2020 with Michael Rosenberg, as well as an article with Ben Baskin looking at the money donated by Colin Kaepernick
At about 37:15, Greg analyzes his own view of “human interest stories”
At about 38:40, Pete and Greg discuss Greg’s important work about Dak Prescott that dealt with, among other things, mental health; additionally, Greg talks about his relationship with Dak and other athletes, post-article
At about 45:00, Greg talks about five tenets he uses in moving through life
At about 46:40, Pete shouts out Mirin Fader’s Giannis and Pete talks about the “Mirin Fader Blessing”
At about 48:10, Greg describes the landscape in publishing in 2021, with its fraught situation, as well as his specific situation writing for Sports Illustrated
At about 53:45, Pete wonders if there are any genres/writing types that the multitalented Greg avoids/isn’t cut out for
At about 54:50, Greg outlines a “Football in America” 2016 article series and his short lived music career
At about 58:45, Pete and Greg discuss the state of the NFL, particularly with regards to concussions, CTE, and the state of football overall; Greg talks about his personal conflict in following boxing and football, inherently violent sports
At about 1:06:15, Pete talks about the crushing blow that was the death by suicide of Junior Seau, and Greg lays out his history with the tragic death of Seau
At about 1:08:35, Greg talks about upcoming projects of his
At about 1:09:00, Greg talks about his SÍ cover collection
At about 1:10:10, Greg gives out his contact info and shouts out Showtime All-Access, and his work with Jim Gray for Talking to GOATs-buy his work at Powell’s in Portland or The Strand in NYC
You can now subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, and leave me a five-star review. You can also ask for the podcast by name using Alexa, and find the pod on Stitcher, Spotify, and on Amazon Music. Follow me on IG, where I’m @chillsatwillpodcast, or on Twitter, where I’m @chillsatwillpo1. You can watch this and other episodes on YouTube-watch and subscribe to The Chills at Will Podcast Channel. Please subscribe to both my YouTube Channel and my podcast while you’re checking out this episode.
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, a conversation with Sara Borjas. SARA BORJAS is a Xicanx pocha, is from the Americas before it was stolen and its people were colonized, and is a Fresno poet. Her debut collection of poetry, Heart Like a Window, Mouth Like a Cliff was published by Noemi Press in 2019 and won a 2020 American Book Award. Sara was named one of Poets & Writers 2019 Debut Poets, is a 2017 CantoMundo Fellow, and the recipient of the 2014 Blue Mesa Poetry Prize. She teaches innovative undergraduates at UC Riverside, believes that all Black lives matter and will resist white supremacy until Black liberation is realized, lives in Los Angeles, and stays rooted in Fresno. The episode with Sara Borjas will air on January 11.
Tuesday Dec 28, 2021
Tuesday Dec 28, 2021
Episode 97 Notes and Links to Kyle Beachy’s Work
On Episode 97 of The Chills at Will Podcast, Pete welcomes Kyle Beachy, and the two talk about impactful childhood and adolescent experiences, both recreationally and involving reading, his formational days at the university school paper, his meeting with David Foster Wallace and his relationship to the latter’s work, his first novel, Slide, the myriad intricacies of skateboarding culture and its evolution, and existential questions that govern the critically-acclaimed The Most Fun Thing.
Kyle Beachy‘s first novel, The Slide (Dial Press, 2009), won The Chicago Reader’s Best Book by a Chicago Author reader’s choice award for the year. His short fiction has appeared in journals including Fanzine, Pank, Hobart, Juked, The Collagist, 5 Chapters, and others. His writing on skateboarding has appeared in The Point, The American Reader, The Chicagoan, Free Skateboard Magazine (UK & Europe), The Skateboard Mag (US), Jenkem, Deadspin, and The Classical. He teaches at Roosevelt University in Chicago and is a co-host on the skateboarding podcast Vent City with pro skater Ryan Lay and others. His newest book was released in 2021 to rave reviews-the book is The Most Fun Thing: Dispatches from a Skating Life.
Chicago Reader Review of Kyle’s The Most Fun Thing
“A Interview with Kyle Beachy”-regarding Slide -from 2009-Hobart Pulp
At about 2:20, Pete and Kyle jump right into the important topics: Was the remix better than the original for “Flava in Ya Ear”
At about 4:00, Kyle responds to Pete’s questions about his early relationship with reading and language
At about 7:00, Pete asks Kyle about the balance between the philosophical and the realistic as he got into adolescence, and Kyle responds with how these ideas impacted him and his reading/skating
At about 10:00, Kyle discusses his attitude toward realism and how it plays out (or doesn’t) in his writing process
At about 12:30, Pete wonders about any “ ‘Eureka’ moments” in Kyle becoming a writer, and he references his incredible Pomona College student newspaper editor, David Roth, as well as Kyle’s embrace of 90s hip hop styles
At about 16:00, Pete wonders about chill-inducing writers for Kyle, who shouts his “ravenous” reading after college, including John Barth, Murakami, Denis Johnson, David Foster Wallace, and Don DeLillo; later reading brought out Joan Didion, Marilyn Robinson, Annie Dillard
At about 19:00, Kyle details his career as a professor/teacher, and Pete and Kyle wax nostalgic about being “young, cool teachers”
At about 21:00, Kyle talks about how he does (or does not) use skateboarding and his personal experience in the classroom
At about 24:45, Pete wonders how Kyle would identify himself-as a “novelist?”
At about 26:50, Kyle summarizes and discusses seeds for his first book, Slide, including how Jonathan Franzen’s The Corrections informed the work
At about 30:00, Pete and Kyle begin talking about Kyle’s recent critically-acclaimed The Most Fun, and Kyle shouts out texts that informed his, like Iain Borden’s Skateboarding and the City
At about 33:45, Kyle explains his understanding of why skateboarding hasn’t necessarily been “put under the microscope” too often before
At about 35:30, Kyle discusses exciting and fast-moving changes in the last decade in skateboarding scholarship
At about 36:20, Pete compliments the book as “unclassifiable” and masterful in so many ways, and Kyle responds by talking about the particular challenges of writing about skateboarding
At about 40:15, Pete shouts out Kyle’s thoughtful comments as shared on the excellent writer’s podcast, “I’m a Writer But…”
At about 41:55, Kyle muses about what skateboarding is and what it isn’t, as described through the book
At about 45:00, Pete shouts out one of many skillful lines from Kyle’s book, and Pete details his first (and only) skateboarding incident; this
At about 49:30, Pete asks Kyle about the word at the center of his book title, as well as parallels between David Foster Wallace’s work, Infinite Jest, and Kyle’s recent work
At about 50:50, Kyle details the time he met David Foster Wallace
At about 53:25, Pete and Kyle nerd out over one of DFW’s pieces, “The View from Mrs. Thompson’s,” as well as the stunningly-good “A Supposedly Fun Thing…”
At about 56:20, Pete shares a chill-inducing final line from Wallace’s work
At about 57:00, Kyle discusses the troublesome fandom of “Wallaceheads” and how he endeavors to “foreground” the info when discussing Wallace’s work in his classes
At about 58:50, Pete recounts a profound quote from Kyle’s book involving his meeting DFW, and Kyle explains his usage of “equipped” and the “real costs” that can come with the writing life
At about 1:00:15, Kyle shouts out great storytellers like Danny Khalastchi
At about 1:02:00, Pete and Kyle recount examples of writers (like Kyle) who actually have fun writing, and Pete asks Kyle if he can detect writers (he notes Anne Carson and Christian TeBordo) who have a good time
At about 1:05:00, Kyle discusses the ever-evolving balance needed to figure out competitiveness in his writing life
At about 1:06:15 Pete asks Kyle about nostalgia in skateboarding and the balance between celebrating history while being open to new developments
At about 1:12:00, Pete and Kyle discuss the evolving demographics of skateboarding, the furor over Jason Jessee’s racist comments, and Kyle’s written response
At about 1:13:30, Kyle discusses the evolving and more inclusive skateboarding culture of the last ten years or so, including Chandler Burton and Matt King’s important work
At about 1:17:20, Kyle responds to Pete’s musings about hip hop culture and possible appropriation by skateboarding
At about 1:18:15, Pete asks Kyle about his skating “end date” and its implications
At about 1:21:15, Pete reads some masterful and profound lines from 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 this and other episodes on YouTube-watch and subscribe to The Chills at Will Podcast Channel. Please subscribe to both my YouTube Channel and my podcast while you’re checking out this episode.
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.
Pete is excited to share Episode 98 on January 4, with guest Greg Bishop. Greg is a senior writer for Sports Illustrated whose feature subjects have ranged from Ricky Williams to Adrian Peterson to Aaron Rodgers. He spent time as the Jets beat writer for the New York Times and the Seahawks beat writer for the Seattle Times.
Tuesday Dec 21, 2021
Tuesday Dec 21, 2021
Episode 96 Notes and Links to Frank Guridy’s Work
On Episode 96 of The Chills at Will Podcast, Pete welcomes Dr. Frank A. Guridy, and the two discuss, among other topics, his childhood in New York City and his early love of history, fostered by his parents and directly and indirectly based on his family’s immigration stories, his early and lasting introductions to influential writers and professors, as well as his book on African diasporas and connections to Cuba. The two spend the bulk of the interview discussing Frank’s latest book on Texas and its “sports revolution.”
Frank A. Guridy specializes in sport history, urban history, and the history of American social movements. His recent book, The Sports Revolution: How Texas Changed the Culture of American Athletics (University of Texas Press, 2021) explores how Texas-based sports entrepreneurs and athletes from marginalized backgrounds transformed American sporting culture during the 1960s and 1970s, the highpoint of the Black Freedom and Second-Wave feminist movements. His first book, Forging Diaspora: Afro-Cubans and African Americans in a World of Empire and Jim Crow (University of North Carolina Press, 2010), won the Elsa Goveia Book Prize from the Association of Caribbean Historians and the Wesley-Logan Book Prize, conferred by the American Historical Association. He is also the co-editor of Beyond el Barrio: Everyday Life in Latino/a America (NYU Press, 2010), with Gina Pérez and Adrian Burgos, Jr. His articles have appeared in Kalfou, Radical History Review, Caribbean Studies, Social Text, and Cuban Studies. His fellowships and awards include the Scholar in Residence Fellowship at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture and the Ray A. Billington Professorship in American History at Occidental College and the Huntington Library. He is also an award-winning teacher, receiving the Regents’ Outstanding Teaching Award from the University of Texas at Austin, and, more recently, the Mark Van Doren Award for Teaching at Columbia. His current book project, Between Conflict and Community: The Stadium in American Life, tells the story of the American stadium as a community institution that has been a battleground for social justice since its inception.
Frank Guridy's Columbia University Home Page
Review of Forging Diaspora: Afro-Cubans and African Americans in a World of Empire and Jim Crow
Kirkus’ Reviews Review for THE SPORTS REVOLUTION:
HOW TEXAS CHANGED THE CULTURE OF AMERICAN ATHLETICS
At about 2:50, Frank talks about his early relationship with languages, his parents as immigrants and/or bilingual and symbolism-as seen through reading and listening to The Bible
At about 8:10, Frank talks about the “Trujillo legacy as profound” in his family, as well as how his family’s history impacted his decision to become a historian
At about 10:00, Pete and Frank talk about historical traumas and troubles in reconstructing some histories, and the two discuss infamous incidents in Trujillo’s dictatorship, including the pivotal word “perejil”
At about 13:05, Frank responds to Pete’s question about his early reading habits; Frank describes an early penchant for nonfiction/history, including sports biographies-Giant Steps by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was one that “really spoke to [him]”
At about 16:35, Frank describes the unique and impressive reading culture of New York City, as well as how the subway served as a microcosm of NYC life-Frank calls it a “great place of learning”
At about 18:30, Pete wonders about any moments of discovery for Frank as he became someone who would read and write and study history for a living
At about 20:20, Frank recounts Horace Campbell’s intriguing and creative teaching that involved Rastafarianism and pulled Frank in as a future historian; he also cites other inspiring works from Angela Davis, Walter Rodney, C.L.R. James, and many others
At about 23:15, Frank explains his understanding of Bob Marley and Rastafarianism and the religious symbolism and history of the music and the cultures
At about 25:00, Pete asks about Frank’s ideas of representation in what he read from childhood into college
At about 27:55, Pete asks about Frank’s take on “publish or perish” in 2021
At about 31:00, Pete asks about the “seeds” for his first book, Forging Diaspora: Afro-Cubans and African Americans in a World of Empire and Jim Crow
At about 35:00, Frank gives background on the term “diaspora” and its connection to his work
At about 37:30, Frank talks about how sports advanced the end of the color line in baseball and other sports, with a particular focus on Cuba and the Caribbean; he also shouts out Adrian Burgos’ Cuban Star
At about 41:10, Pete wonders about the genesis of his latest book, The Sports Revolution: How Texas Changed the Culture of American Athletics
At about 46:00, Pete notes how the book’s form, in eight chapters, is reminiscent of Sam Quinones’ True Tales from Another México in its scope and cohesiveness
At about 46:40, Pete uses the book’s opening as a springboard
At about 47:30, Frank discusses some ideas of the book’s thesis including the book’s first chapter, which deals with early integration
At about 49:30, Frank responds to Pete’s question about motives for integration among Houston and Texas’ sports teams, drawing on history and contemporary connections
At about 52:50, Pete and Frank discuss the unfair and outsized expectations, burdens, and consequences for the “first” to integrate-Jackie Robinson, for one, and Jerry LeVias of SMU, “who lost the ability to feel” (watch the moving video interview here)
At about 56:20, Pete notes the intriguing stories told in the book about the Baseline Bums of the 1970s San Antonio Spurs and the incredibly-underpaid Cowboys’ Cheerleaders
At about 57:40, Frank discusses Bobby Riggs and the famous (infamous?) “Battle of the Sexes” tennis match, including the cigarette industry’s involvement, and innovators and visionaries like Gladys Heldman
At about 1:02:10, Pete and Frank discuss the importance of Houston and Phi Slamma Jamma’s impact and the book’s Epilogue, as the revolution was “undone,” particularly by business interests
At about 1:04:40, Frank explains a mission of his in writing the book: giving a more well-rounded and nuanced view of Texas
At about 1:05:35, Pete outlines an powerful essay, written by Dan Treadway, and that Pete has taught in his English classroom, that juxtaposes The University of Texas’ Asian Studies Program and its football program
At about 1:07:35, Frank discusses his upcoming book on the importance of stadiums in society, to be published by Basic Books
At about 1:09:00, Frank gives out his contact info
You can now subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, and leave me a five-star review. You can also ask for the podcast by name using Alexa, and find the pod on Stitcher, Spotify, and on Amazon Music. Follow me on IG, where I’m @chillsatwillpodcast, or on Twitter, where I’m @chillsatwillpo1. You can watch this and other episodes on YouTube-watch and subscribe to The Chills at Will Podcast Channel. Please subscribe to both my YouTube Channel and my podcast while you’re checking out this episode.
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, a conversation with Kyle Beachy. Kyle Beachy‘s first novel, The Slide (Dial Press, 2009), won The Chicago Reader’s Best Book by a Chicago Author reader’s choice award for the year. His short fiction has appeared in journals including Fanzine, Pank, Hobart, Juked, The Collagist, 5 Chapters, and others. His writing on skateboarding has appeared in The Point, The American Reader, The Chicagoan, Free Skateboard Magazine (UK & Europe), The Skateboard Mag (US), Jenkem, Deadspin, and The Classical. He teaches at Roosevelt University in Chicago and is a co-host on the skateboarding podcast Vent City with pro skater Ryan Lay and others. His newest book was released in 2021 to rave reviews-the book is The Most Fun Thing: Dispatches from a Skating Life. The episode with Kyle Beachy will air on December 28.
Thursday Dec 16, 2021
Thursday Dec 16, 2021
Episode 95 Notes and Links to Diana Lopez’s Work
On Episode 95 of The Chills at Will Podcast, Pete welcomes Diana Lopez, and the two discuss, among other things, ideas of representation in literature, Diana’s mentors in her writing life, the cooperative world of children’s literature, and her most recent work which has dealt with real-world issues, movie legends, and the force of nature that was Selena Quintanilla.
Diana Lopez is the author of the adult novella, Sofia's Saints, and numerous middle grade novels, including Confetti Girl, Nothing Up My Sleeve, and Lucky Luna. Her debut picture book is now available and is called Sing With Me: The Story of Selena Quintanilla. She also wrote the novel adaptation for the Disney/Pixar film, Coco. Diana retired after a 28-year career in education at both the middle grade and college levels. Her "second act" day job is helping her husband in his physical therapy clinic, FYZICAL Therapy & Balance Center, located in her hometown of Corpus Christi, Texas, but she still enjoys meeting with students when she visits schools to chat about books and writing.
Article from Texas Monthly about Diana’s Early Work
"Texas Author Invites Children to Sing with Selena" from Houston Press
"Alumna and author of Pixar’s 'Coco' novel inspires readers with inclusive storytelling" from The University Star
At about 2:20, Diana talks about her relationship with language and reading as a kid, including a love of Scholastic book fairs and World Book Encyclopedia
At about 4:50, Diana talks about her reading habits and lists from her high school and undergrad days
At about 6:15, Diana responds to Pete’s question about Diana feeling represented in the book, including a telling quote from Walter Dean Myers
At about 8:20, Diana talks about her mission in writing
At about 9:25, Pete asks Diana about writers who have thrilled her, including Willa Cather and Margaret Atwood
At about 11:05, Diana talks about her time at Texas State University in its MFA Program, and great guidance provided by Dagoberto Gilb; Pete shouts out a memorable Gilb piece
At about 13:00, Pete wonders about competition and a supportive writing community based on Diana’s experience
At about 14:20, Pete wonders about Diana’s path to becoming a professional writer
At about 17:45, Pete asks Diana about her first published works, and Diana talks about her thesis that became Sofia’s Saints
At about 21:15, Diana talks about her MFA emphasis and other early writing that hasn’t been published, as well as an impetus for her book Confetti Girl
At about 23:15, Pete and Diana talk about whether writing is ever a “waste” if it doesn’t “go anywhere” or get published
At about 25:05, Diana talks about former students who have read her books and her love of writing with her students
At about 27:25, Diana compares herself to her books’ characters, including pinpointing two big connections between her and the title character of Lucky Luna, including their relationships to bilingualism and their many primas
At about 30:15, Diana summarizes Lucky Luna
At about 32:00, Pete and Diana enjoy the sayings given by Luna’s grandmother and discuss multiple
At about 33:20, Diana reads from the chapter called “La Luna” from Lucky Luna
At about 36:00, Pete and Diana discuss the excerpt, including poliosis that Luna struggles with and its inspiration in Diana’s childhood
At about 38:25, Pete tells a story of when overanalysis goes wrong, regarding Reyna Grande’s Across a Hundred Mountains
At about 40:10, Diana responds to Pete’s question about how she does “focus groups” for her middle-grade writing
At about 42:45, Diana reveals her NBA allegiance
At about 43:05, Diana explains how she got involved in writing the Coco book adaptation, including an interesting reminder about early controversies, including Lalo Alcaraz’s role in reminding Disney of the importance of getting the film’s cultural background correct
At about 47:00, Diana discusses the fun and challenges of the book
At about 48:25, Pete asks Diana about her creative process and how much creative license she had for writing her book based on Coco
At about 52:00, Pete wonders about Diana’s treatment of Miguel, and she responds with interesting points on point-of-view
At about 55:00, Pete and Diana talk about Coco’s storyline and the importance of the family tree that is in the beginning and end of the book
At about 57:40, Diana tells the incredible saga of the physical books for Sing with Me: The Selena Quintanilla Story, including some nautical problems
At about 59:50, Diana details the continuing allure of Selena in Texas and beyond, as evidenced by one of the many beautiful pieces of art by illustrator Teresa Martinez, as well as how the two worked together to get big and small details correct
At about 1:05:05, Pete inquires as to Diana’s decision-making with the unique way in which she included Selena’s tragic death and how her legacy has unfolded since, in her book
At about 1:08:20, Diana details the most refreshing and edifying feedback she gets on her books
At about 1:10:10, Diana talks about her upcoming project, including a “magical” book coming out with Coquina Press
At 1:13:40, Diana gives her contact info
You can now subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, and leave me a five-star review. You can also ask for the podcast by name using Alexa, and find the pod on Stitcher, Spotify, and on Amazon Music. Follow me on IG, where I’m @chillsatwillpodcast, or on Twitter, where I’m @chillsatwillpo1. You can watch this and other episodes on YouTube-watch and subscribe to The Chills at Will Podcast Channel. Please subscribe to both my YouTube Channel and my podcast while you’re checking out this episode.
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, a conversation with Frank Guridy. Frank A. Guridy specializes in sport history, urban history, and the history of American social movements. His recent book, The Sports Revolution: How Texas Changed the Culture of American Athletics (University of Texas Press, 2021) explores how Texas-based sports entrepreneurs and athletes from marginalized backgrounds transformed American sporting culture during the 1960s and 1970s, the highpoint of the Black Freedom and Second-Wave feminist movements. His first book, Forging Diaspora: Afro-Cubans and African Americans in a World of Empire and Jim Crow (University of North Carolina Press, 2010), won the Elsa Goveia Book Prize from the Association of Caribbean Historians and the Wesley-Logan Book Prize, conferred by the American Historical Association. The episode with Frank Guridy will air on December 21.
Tuesday Dec 07, 2021
Tuesday Dec 07, 2021
Episode 94 Show Notes and Links
Francisco Goldman’s Wikipedia Page
Preview/Buy The Beacon Best of 2001…, Where “México, D.F.” Appears
Naomi Shihab Nye’s “Shoulders” (with reading by the writer)
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.
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, a conversation with Sara Borjas. SARA BORJAS is a Xicanx pocha, is from the Americas before it was stolen and its people were colonized, and is a Fresno poet. Her debut collection of poetry, Heart Like a Window, Mouth Like a Cliff was published by Noemi Press in 2019 and won a 2020 American Book Award. Sara was named one of Poets & Writers 2019 Debut Poets, is a 2017 CantoMundo Fellow, and the recipient of the 2014 Blue Mesa Poetry Prize. She teaches innovative undergraduates at UC Riverside, believes that all Black lives matter and will resist white supremacy until Black liberation is realized, lives in Los Angeles, and stays rooted in Fresno. The episode with Sara Borjas will air on December 14.
Tuesday Nov 30, 2021
Tuesday Nov 30, 2021
Episode 93 Notes and Links to Steph Cha’s Work
On Episode 93 of The Chills at Will Podcast, Pete welcomes Steph Cha, as the two discuss her work as an “Elite Yelper,” book reviewer, mystery writer, and award-winning novelist. The two discuss, among other topics, her early relationship with words, her inspiration for food writing and Yelp-ing, as well as her mystery writing and its connections to escape and/or reality. The two finish by discussing the historical fiction/mystery/character-driven modern classic Your House Will Pay and its vivid characters and prose.
Steph Cha is the author of Your House Will Pay, winner of the Los Angeles Times Book Prize and the California Book Award, and the Juniper Song crime trilogy. She’s a critic whose work has appeared in the Los Angeles Times, USA Today, and the Los Angeles Review of Books, where she served as noir editor, and is the current series editor of the Best American Mystery & Suspense anthology. A native of the San Fernando Valley, she lives in Los Angeles with her family.
Buy Steph Cha's Your House Will Pay
Buy Steph Cha's Follow Her Home
Buy Steph Cha's Dead Soon Enough: A Juniper Song Mystery
Buy Steph Cha's Beware Beware: A Juniper Song Mystery
Review: Kirkus Review for Beware Beware
Los Angeles Times Review of Books Review for Your House Will Pay
Your House Will Pay: A Conversation with Author Steph Cha on Race Relations-hosted by LA Public Library
The Rumpus Interview with Steph Cha from 2015
At about 1:40, Steph talks about growing up in the San Fernando Valley and her early love of reading, as well as interesting anecdotes about her mother’s role in encouraging her reading
At about 5:30, Steph discusses her relationship with bilingualism, growing up with Korean as her first language
At about 7:00, Steph outlines her early reading loves, including reading Jane Eyre at eight or nine and The Phantom Tollbooth, among others; she relates a funny early reading of Catch 22
and her voracious appetite for manga
At about 11:20, Steph is asked about representation in what she read as a adolescent, and she talks about what she was used to missing
At about 12:15, Steph talks about Maurene Goo and her standout work that makes Steph wish she had been able to read such work when she was a kid
At about 13:15, Pete asks Steph about inspiring writers and “ ‘Eureka’ moments in her writing career path, including examples of what to and what not to do
At about 16:50, Pete wonders how law school and her high-level Stanford and Ivy League education informed her later writing
At about 19:55, Steph talks about any connections between her and a protagonist of Your House Will Pay
At about 21:00, Steph talks about her prolific Yelp reviews and the Yelp-ing lifestyle
At about 22:00, Steph recounts an incredible anecdote that coincides with the early days of the legendary Kogi food truck
At about 24:00, Steph talks about her early work with Yelp and how it connected to other work and life events
At about 26:30, Pete asks for a few LA taco recs-Steph mentions Tacos 1986, Guisado’s, and Mexicali, among so many others
At about 28:20, Steph talks about her days working with the legendary writer, the late Jonathan Gold
At about 33:00, Steph and Pete discuss Jonathan Gold’s sense of generosity and how she was a scout with young standouts like Javier Cabral
At about 35:50, Pete asks Steph if there is ever a need or a benefit to “ripping” a book or restaurant in a review if the quality is low
At about 38:50, Steph discusses tropes and themes from her noir writing, as well as the seeds for her Juniper Song trilogy
At about 42:40, Pete wonders about the balance between realism and “escape” in Steph’s writing, in her mysteries and in Your House Will Pay
At about 44:20, Pete and Steph discuss her masterful usage of Los Angeles as almost a character in its own right in her writing
At about 46:50, Pete recounts his visceral experience at reading the marvelous and profound Your House Will Pay
At about 47:30, Steph’s son joins the chat!
At about 47:45, Pete and Steph discuss two marvelous works that have informed their reading and knowledge of the events regarding the 1992 Rebellion and Latasha Harlins’ murder, Anna Deavere Smith’s Twilight: Los Angeles, and Brenda Stevenson’s The Contested Murder of Latasha Harlins
At about 48:10, Steph discusses the seeds for Your House Will Pay
At about 49:50, Steph explains why and when she uses “Uprising”/ “Riot”/ “Rebellion” with regard to the events of 1992 after Rodney King’s police beating and in the book
At about 51:35, Pete inquires into the background on the book’s title and the use of “house”; she references a 1985 rap song that gave her the title-Toddy Tee’s “Batterram”
At about 52:30, Steph explains how Your House Will Pay, being her fourth book, plays with and avoids the “white gaze”
At about 54:30, Pete wonders about Steph’s writing process regarding the book’s flashbacks and nonlinear narrative
At about 57:00, Pete and Steph discuss the memorable main characters of the book and their significance, including LaTasha Harlins and the infamous Soon Ja Du
At about 59:45, Pete’s compliments about Steph’s book bring up a discussion of how topical the so-called “history” of the ‘92 Uprising and Lastasha Harlins are-”how cyclical violence is”
At about 1:01:40, Pete wonders about any evolution of the characters of the book, especially Grace and Shawn
At about 1:03:45, Pete and Steph discuss salient and profound themes from the book and Pete wonders about some positive feedback that stands out for Steph
At about 1:07:35, Steph discusses upcoming projects and works-in-progress, including some screenwriting (!)
You can now subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, and leave me a five-star review. You can also ask for the podcast by name using Alexa, and find the pod on Stitcher, Spotify, and on Amazon Music. Follow me on IG, where I’m @chillsatwillpodcast, or on Twitter, where I’m @chillsatwillpo1. You can watch this and other episodes on YouTube-watch and subscribe to The Chills at Will Podcast Channel. Please subscribe to both my YouTube Channel and my podcast while you’re checking out this episode.
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, a conversation with Sara Borjas. SARA BORJAS is a Xicanx pocha, is from the Americas before it was stolen and its people were colonized, and is a Fresno poet. Her debut collection of poetry, Heart Like a Window, Mouth Like a Cliff was published by Noemi Press in 2019 and won a 2020 American Book Award. Sara was named one of Poets & Writers 2019 Debut Poets, is a 2017 CantoMundo Fellow, and the recipient of the 2014 Blue Mesa Poetry Prize. She teaches innovative undergraduates at UC Riverside, believes that all Black lives matter and will resist white supremacy until Black liberation is realized, lives in Los Angeles, and stays rooted in Fresno. The episode with Sara Borjas will air on December 7.
Tuesday Nov 23, 2021
Tuesday Nov 23, 2021
Episode 92 Notes and Links to Alan Chazaro’s Work
On Episode 92 of The Chills at Will Podcast, Pete welcomes Alan Chazaro, poet, hip hop head, baller, and artist in the truest sense of the word. The two talk about Alan’s childhood in the Bay Area, the importance of music and hip hop in his work, as well as ideas of identity, cross-culturalism, pochismo, and gentrification, among other topics. The two discuss Alan’s eccentric and diverse interests in arts of all types, and the inspiration for, and themes behind, his prize-winning This a Not a Frank Ocean Cover Album and Piñata Theory.
After nine years as a public high school teacher in Louisiana, Massachusetts, and California, Alan Chazaro decided to pursue his creative writing more seriously and has been living as a freelance writer who travels and enjoys new cultures around the world. He’s a San Francisco Bay Area local but also has been finalizing his paperwork as a Mexican dual-citizen, so he’s jumping between both countries while he continues to write, edit, teach, and grow. In 2018, he graduated with his MFA in Creative Writing from the University of San Francisco where he was a Lawrence Ferlinghetti Poetry Fellow, which is awarded to a writer “whose work embodies a concern for social justice and freedom of expression.” Previously, he attended Foothill Community College, and later UC Berkeley, where he participated in June Jordan's Poetry for the People program. He also got some game from Patricia Smith, among others, at the Voices Of Our Nations summer workshops. His first poetry collection, This Is Not a Frank Ocean Cover Album, was the winner of the 2018 Black River Chapbook Competition and his second, Piñata Theory, was given the 2018 Hudson Prize. They are both available with Black Lawrence Press. Currently, he’s working as an adjunct professor at the University of San Francisco, managing his online NBA zine HeadFake, moonlighting as an assistant poetry editor at AGNI Magazine, and raising money for NBA arena workers during COVID-19. For more info, find him on Twitter @alan_chazaro.
Buy Alan Chazaro's Piñata Theory
Buy Alan Chazaro's This Is Not a Frank Ocean Cover Album
Pinata Theory: A Conversation with Alan Chazaro from The Adroit Journal
Review: This is Not a Frank Ocean Cover Album-done by José Hernández Diaz for Diode Poetry
Buy Alan's Notes from the Eastern Span of the Bay Bridge
At about 3:30, Alan talks about his upbringing in the California Bay Area and his family’s story, as well as how gentrification has affected his city and neighborhood
At about 8:10, Alan talks about his relationship with language and reading in his adolescent years, as well as his family’s experiences with assimilation
At about 9:45, Alan talks about the importance of sports and stereotypically-masculine pursuits in his life and in his writing
At about 10:50, Alan talks about a overwhelmingly-positive influence from his surrogate grandfather in his exploration of literature and art
At about 14:30, Alan talks about Bay Area music and its influence on him and his work
At about 15:55, Pete comes with two hot Bay Area hip hop takes
At about 16:55, Pete asks Alan about his usage of “pocho,” such as its used in his Twitter handle
At about 18:00, Alan shouts out Sara Borjas for her work in reclaiming the term “pocho/pocha,” which inspired him and his work-Sara will be in conversation with Pete in a few weeks!
At about 19:15, Pete and Alan discuss the book Pocho by Villarreal
At about 20:00, Alan highlights some chill-inducing literature in high school and college after being “academically , and he responds to Pete’s question about representation
At about 21:20, Alan talks about merging different art forms and knowledge in community college in conjunction with formative texts like those of Martin Espada and the music of Lateef the Truthspeaker
At about 23:25, Alan discusses his evolving understanding of how representation was tied to his reading and artistic development
At about 27:20, Alan talks about his contemporary reading habits and listening habits, including Oakland’s Ovrkast. and Offset Jim
At about 29:10, Pete wonders about any “ ‘Eureka’ moments” for Alan in his artistic endeavors
At about 30:20, Alan talks about his unique and varied experiences growing up melded into the book he wanted to write
At about 31:50, Alan talks about his musical output and how “being a person of words and ideation” found a natural fit in hip hop and poetry
At about 34:05, Pete drop bar(s)
At about 35:00, Alan lays out the timeline that led to the publishing of Frank Ocean and Piñata Theory
At about 36:50, Alan discusses some “seeds” that led him to put his publishing ideas into action and shouts out The June Jordan Poetry for the People program
At about 39:20, Alan discusses some of his motivations
At about 40:25, Pete asks Alan about his views on form, titles, and themes/concepts in poetry
At about 44:20, Pete wonders about Alan’s philosophy on language and translation in his work, and Alan gives background on his poem written solely in Spanish
At about 46:20, Alan discusses identity and cross-culture, as well as music’s thread through his life, including different genres
At about 50:35, Pete highlights love in its many forms as shown in some of Alan’s poems
At about 52:10, Pete and Alan discuss themes of “home” and identity and love and belonging in some of Alan's Piñata Theory
At about 54:30, Alan shouts out his incredible grandfather and his appearances in Alan’s poetry
At about 57:10, Pete and Alan discuss father/son relationships and ideas of masculinity, as well how searching for poetry ideas and threads
At about 59:45, the two discuss Alan’s poem about watching the 1996 Julio Cesar Chavez and Oscar De la Hoya fight and its ramifications and metaphors
At about 1:01:55, Pete and Alan discuss themes of innocence and youth in Alan’s poetry, with Alan shouting out Outkast as one of his many muses
At about 1:04:40, Alan describes the poetry collection’s title and its “many cores”
At about 1:08:45, Alan shouts out East Bay Booksellers, Walden Pond Books, Pegasus Books as some local indie stores to support
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, a conversation with Steph Cha. She is the author of Your House Will Pay, winner of the Los Angeles Times Book Prize and the California Book Award, and the Juniper Song crime trilogy. She’s a critic whose work has appeared in the Los Angeles Times, USA Today, and the Los Angeles Review of Books, where she served as noir editor, and is the current series editor of the Best American Mystery & Suspense anthology. The episode will air on November 30.
Tuesday Nov 16, 2021
Tuesday Nov 16, 2021
Episode 91 Notes and Links to Annie McDermott’s Work
On Episode 91 of The Chills at Will Podcast, Pete welcomes Annie McDermott, translator extraordinaire. The two talk about, among other things, Annie’s early reading inspirations, her journey to professional translator, and her excellent translation of Mario Levrero’s The Luminous Novel, in addition to details of her trip to Montevideo to learn more about him, and the books baffling and intriguing themes and ruminations.
Annie McDermott’s published and forthcoming translations include Mario Levrero’s Empty Words and The Luminous Novel (And Other Stories and Coffee House Press), Feebleminded by Ariana Harwicz (co-translation with Carolina Orloff, Charco Press) and City of Ulysses by Teolinda Gersão (co-translation with Jethro Soutar, Dalkey Archive Press). She has previously lived in Mexico City and São Paulo, Brazil, and is now based in London.
Buy Annie McDermott's Translation of The Luminous Novel
“Levrero Hunting” by Annie McDermott
New York Times Review- “This Novel Is a Record of Its Own Failure. Somehow It Succeeds.”
Asymptote, July, 2021- “The Full Spectrum of Phrases: An Interview with Annie McDermott”
At about 2:15, Annie McDermott talks about the immediate aftermath of the translation being published recently
At about 4:00, Annie responds to Pete’s questions about her relationship with words and reading as a kid; she points out Samuel Beckett and Virgina Woolff as writers who “floored her”
At about 8:15, Annie talks about her immersion into Spanish and English
At about 10:30, Annie talks about her experience in México City and some particular “Chilongo” slang
At about 11:45, Annie talks about “ ‘Eureka’ moments” in deciding to become a professional translator
At about 13:55, Annie is asked about “standard” Spanish and English and how she takes these into account when she translates
At about 16:05, Annie discusses her evolution as a translator from her beginnings to now
At about 17:45, Pete wonders how Annie manages to “fill in the gaps” with idioms, contemporary events, etc., that are very specifically located in a certain time and place
At about 21:50, Pete and Annie discuss particular idioms from The Luminous Novel and how Annie engineered particular ones to fit in English
At about 24:05, Pete asks Annie how she measures “success” in translating
At about 25:25, Pete and Annie summarize The Luminous Novel in its format and background, and Pete asks Annie to describe her trip to Montevideo and what she learned about Mario Levrero
At about 27:20, Annie talks about the singular independence of Mario Levrero
At about 31:00, Annie looks back on the year she spent doing the translation of Levrero’s writing and the parallels between her work and Levrero’s
At about 33:00, Annie discusses Leverero’s younger years and his natural eccentricities
At about 34:30, Pete and Annie ruminate on the book and its connection to Levrero’s perspective on mortality
At about 36:00, Annie discusses the inspired writing that Levrero was constantly searching for and its connection to mortality
At about 38:30, Annie and Pete emphasize the understated mindfulness that is featured in the book
At about 40:00, Annie talks about Levrero’s cycle of inertia as described in the book, as well as his dreams and subconscious
At about 41:40, Annie analyzes the telltale pigeon of the book
At about 44:30, Pete and Annie remark about Levero’s prescient thoughts on climate change
At about 46:10, Pete and Annie discuss the intangibility of Levrero’s dreams, both for him and for his translators
At about 49:20, Pete and Annie discuss the theme of intimacy as covered in the book, both with women and outside of these relationships, in addition to procrastination and the “subjective”
At about 52:00, Pete and Annie point out some highlights in Levrero’s life chronicled by him in his book
At about 53:05, Annie juxtaposes the original Spanish with her English translations and she and Pete discuss the process and wording
At about 56:30, Pete asks Annie how she knows that her translations are done and are ready for publication
At about 57:20, Annie gives out her contact info
At about 57:55, Pete asks Annie about future projects, and she mentions an upcoming translation of No Es Un Río by Selva Almada
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, a conversation with Alan Chazaro, the author of the highly-praised poetry collection Piñata Theory. He is currently a creative writing adjunct professor at the University of San Francisco, and is a writer and editor of NBA stories at HeadFake. The episode will air on November 23.