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The Chills at Will Podcast is a celebration of the visceral beauty of literature. This beauty will be examined through close reads of phrases and lines and passages from fiction and nonfiction that thrills the reader, so much so that he wants to read again and again to replicate that thrill. Each episode will focus on a different theme, such as "The Power of Flashback," "Understatement," "Cats in the Cradle," and "Chills at Will: Origin Story."
Episodes
Sunday Oct 04, 2020
Sunday Oct 04, 2020
Matthew's poem ends at 2:38
Matthew Mejia is the publisher of Nervous Ghost Press, a poet, and a professor at East LA College.
Sunday Oct 04, 2020
Sunday Oct 04, 2020
Pete introduces the show, discusses his love of literature, and reads his piece "The Death of Humility, An Elegy in Six Parts."
The reading of the prose starts at 2:33 and ends at 7:58.
Allusions Used:
Trump Brings Up "Pocahontas" at Event Honoring Navajo Code Talkers
Sunday Sep 27, 2020
Sunday Sep 27, 2020
On Episode 19, Pete talks with Mike “The Poet” Sonksen, a brilliant writer, educator, spoken-word performer and Los Angeles raconteur. Mike has an encyclopedic knowledge of LA's history and its present, and his subject matter and genuine love for all of LA show through in his rhythmic and soulful poetry and prose.
An exciting event is coming up this Friday, October 2, at 6pm, on Nervous Ghost Live on YouTube. "Voices of California" is a virtual open mic held in support of the Tia Chucha's Centro Cultural in Sylmar, and it features Mike The Poet, Luis Rodriguez, Myriam Gurba, Tongo Eisen-Martin, Allan Aquino, Helena Maria Viramontes, and Karla Brundage, among others. The event is cosponsored by the dynamic members of Nervous Ghost Press and The Chills at Will Podcast.
You can now subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, and leave a five-star review. You can also ask for the podcast by name using Alexa, find the pod on Spotify, and, as of last week, on Amazon Music as well! Follow Pete on IG, where he's @chillsatwillpodcast, or on Twitter, where he's @chillsatwillpo1.
This is a passion project, a DIY operation, and Pete would love for your help in promoting what he's convinced is a unique and spirited look at an often-ignored art form.
The intro song for The Chills at Will Podcast is “Wind Down” (Instrumental Version), and this song is used through ArchesAudio.com.
Writers Mentioned, Allusions, and Texts Referenced (with links) During the Episode:
Audrey Lorde: “Poetry is Not a Luxury”
Episode Highlights and References/Links
6:56- Mike talks about his connection to hip-hop group The Visionaries, featuring 2Mex, Key-Kool & Rhettmatic (The Beat Junkies), among others, and their influence on his life and his writing
13:40-Horace Tapscott and the Pan Afrikan Peoples Arkestra and Steve Isoardi and Kamou Daoud
32:00-Mikes shares a cool story about “magical performance” from Saul Williams and BESSKEPP
33:00-Mike Davis is discussed as a source of inspiration
33:50-Mike lauds Lynell George and her outsized influence on his work
34:20-Mike talks about Dolores Hayden’s The Power of Place and its influence on his writing and world view
36:45-Brian Taylor and how he introduced Mike to Biddy Mason and her incredible story
40:20-Mike describes the “magic” of Huell Howser
42:06-Mike describes the origin of ‘Mike the Poet”
43:43-Mike reads, freestyling the dulcet words of “I am Alive in Los Angeles!”
47:00-Chick Hearn and Vin Scully and their influence on Mike
48:12-The Unfortunate History of Chavez Ravine
48:30-The sinister “Santa Ana Winds” and Raymond Chandler’s famous quote
50:00-Chuck D and his rap style and cadence influenced by Marv Albert
51:50-Mike cites examples of short texts he reads with his college classes, as a way to lead them to other interesting texts; Chapter 1: “COLUMBUS, THE INDIANS, AND HUMAN PROGRESS” from A People’s History of the United States and Luis Rodriguez’s piece in LAtitudes: An Angeleno's Atlas
53:12-Mike shouts out the excellent poet/DJ F. Douglas Brown and talented artist Umar Rashid
54:11-Mike talks about Peter Elbow, a big proponent of freewriting, and Julia Cameron’s “Morning Pages,” and how they inform Mike’s writing and teaching
58:15-Author Sandro Meallet’s quote, “Writing is Thinking” provider fodder for Pete and Mike to discuss its implications in the classroom
59:16-Mike discusses his future works, including a manuscript of poems, and a book of essays about Nina Revoyr, Wanda Coleman, and Naomi Hirahara, among others
1:01:44-Mike discusses his piece in Writing for Life from Nervous Ghost Press and its inspiration from Judy Baca’s mural-the poem is “WHOSE STORY DO WE TELL?”
1:02:42- Mike provides information on his writing and performance and where to buy his book, Letters to My City!
1:05:25-Pete gives information about this Friday, October 2, and “Voices of California” virtual open mic to be held at Tia Chucha’s Centro Cultural (donate to this great bookstore and community center here!), livestreamed at Nervous Ghost Live-featuring, among others, Myriam Gurba, Tongo Eisen-Martin, Allan Aquino, Helena Maria Viramontes, Karla Brundage, Mike The Poet!
Monday Sep 21, 2020
Monday Sep 21, 2020
SHOW NOTES: ** Trigger warning: the featured short story and my discussion include violence and rape.**
On Episode 18, Pete discusses “Incredible Endings,” through the insular and male-dominated spaces in which the victimized narrator of Antonya Nelson’s “In the Land of Men” exists.
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 Spotify, and, as of this week, 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.
You can find the literature referenced today through the short story collection of the same name In the Land of Men, published in 1999 by Scribner.
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.
Thanks again for listening, and I hope that these quarantine days bring you texts by writers with MAD Skills whose work gives you chills at will.
The intro song for The Chills at Will Podcast is “Wind Down” (Instrumental Version), and the other cool song played on this episode was “Hoops” (Instrumental Version”) by Matt Weidauer, used through Arches Audio. Matt’s artist page can be found here.
Authors Mentioned and Allusions and Songs Referenced During the Episode:
Wednesday Sep 09, 2020
Wednesday Sep 09, 2020
SHOW NOTES:
On Episode 17, Pete discusses “Incredible Endings and Mother-Child Relationships,” as seen in writing by Pat Mora and Helena Maria Viramontes. Mora's poem, "Elena" has been a favorite of Pete's in his high school classroom for years. The poem, about an immigrant mother and her isolation as her kids learn the English language that eludes her, is alternately beautiful and sad and resonant.
Viramontes, with "The Moths," crafts a short but incredibly powerful story about a misfit girl who looks for her place as a woman, a sister, a daughter, and a granddaughter. In the process, she gains an incredible insight into transformation and rebirth.
**SPOILER ALERT** As this episode focuses on "incredible ENDINGS," there will obviously be some "plot spoilers," but they are well worth it!
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 Spotify. 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.
You can find the literature referenced today in Pat Mora’s collection from 1984, Chants, published by Arte Publico Press. Helena Maria Viramontes’ The Moths and Other Stories, was published in 1995, also by Arte Publico Press.
The intro song for The Chills at Will Podcast is “Wind Down” (Instrumental Version), and the other cool song played on this episode was “Hoops” (Instrumental Version”) by Matt Weidauer, used through Arches Audio. Matt’s artist page can be found here.
Authors Mentioned and Allusions and Songs Referenced During the Episode:
Pat Mora: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pat_Mora
Helena Maria Viramontes: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helena_Maria_Viramontes
Definitions and Etymology of Catharsis:
Wednesday Sep 09, 2020
Wednesday Sep 09, 2020
SHOW NOTES:
On Episode 17, Pete discusses “Incredible Endings and Mother-Child Relationships,” as seen in writing by Pat Mora and Helena Maria Viramontes.
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 Spotify. 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.
You can find the literature referenced today in Pat Mora’s collection from 1984, Chants, published by Arte Publico Press. Helena Maria Viramontes’ The Moths and Other Stories, was published in 1995, also by Arte Publico Press.
The intro song for The Chills at Will Podcast is “Wind Down” (Instrumental Version), and the other cool song played on this episode was “Hoops” (Instrumental Version”) by Matt Weidauer, used through Arches Audio. Matt’s artist page can be found here.
Authors Mentioned and Allusions and Songs Referenced During the Episode:
Pat Mora: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pat_Mora
Helena Maria Viramontes: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helena_Maria_Viramontes
Definitions and Etymology of Catharsis:
Tuesday Sep 01, 2020
Tuesday Sep 01, 2020
SHOW NOTES: On Episode 16, Pete discusses “Incredible Endings and Mother-Daughter Relationships,” as seen in writing by Tillie Olsen, Jamaica Kincaid, and Huda Al-Marashi. In “As I Stand Here Ironing,” Olsen leaves us with an incredibly apt image wholly representative of the protagonist’s hopes for her daughter. In her short story, “Girl,” Kincaid’s protagonist asks a probing question of both her daughter and the reader in a way that leaves the reader pondering it for a long while after taking her gaze off the page.
Al-Marashi’s final paragraph is a sort of promise to, and a prayer for, her daughter. Her work is nonfiction, which is a nice addition to the podcast. I actually read a lot more nonfiction than you might think from listening to this podcast, and Al-Marashi’s shining work is a perfect fit for this episode.
Like, share, and subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, and leave a five-star review. You can also ask for the podcast by name using Alexa, and find the pod on Spotify.
You can follow Pete on Instagram, where he’s @chillsatwillpodcast, or on Twitter, where he’s @chillsatwillpo1.
This is a passion project, a DIY operation, and Pete would love for your help in promoting a unique and spirited look at an often-ignored art form.
You can find the literature referenced today in Tillie Olsen’s 1961 Tell Me a Riddle collection, published by New World Writing. Both Olsen’s “As I Stand Here Ironing” and Jamaica Kincaid’s “Girl” are widely anthologized. Kincaid’s story was published in the collection At the Bottom of the River, published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux.
Huda Al-Marashi’s “A Birthday at the Cemetery” was published in the August 7, 2020, edition of The New York Times.
The intro song for The Chills at Will Podcast is “Wind Down” (Instrumental Version), and the other cool song played on this episode was “Hoops” (Instrumental Version”) by Matt Weidauer, used through Arches Audio. Matt’s artist page can be found here.
Authors Mentioned and Allusions and Songs Referenced During the Episode:
Tillie Olsen: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tillie_Olsen
Margaret Atwood Speaks of Olsen’s Hectic Life: https://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/03/books/03olsen.html
Jamaica Kincaid: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamaica_Kincaid
Huda Al-Marashi’s Amazon.com Page: https://www.amazon.com/Books-Huda-Al-Marashi/s?rh=n%3A283155%2Cp_27%3AHuda+Al-Marashi
Huda Al-Marashi’s “A Birthday at the Cemetery”: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/07/well/family/a-birthday-at-the-cemetery.html
Saudade Description: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saudade
Wednesday Aug 26, 2020
Wednesday Aug 26, 2020
Rus Bradburd is a Renaisssance Man-a former Division I basketball coach, a virtuoso fiddler, an author of four books, and a professor in creative writing at New Mexico State University. His heart-wrenching and impeccably-researched book All the Dreams We've Dreamed: A Story of Hoops and Handguns on Chicago's West Side is discussed, especially with regards to its stalwart mentor/teacher/coach extraordinaire, Shawn Harrington, who was paralyzed while diving on top of his daughter during a 2014 shooting in Chicago. Shawn's GoFundMe, which will allow him greater independence and ADA-accessible housing is here. Please give if you can!
The discussion of the book and of Shawn Harrington begins at 37:14.
Pete and Rus also discuss Rus' days as a recruiter and coach for UTEP and NMSU, his days as a coach in lowly Irish basketball, his circuitous and unique route to professional writer and writing teacher, among other things. The discussion is rife with great recommendations for chill-inducing authors, books, short stories, and even a documentary!
SHOW NOTES:
Rus Bradburd teaches writing classes in New Mexico State University’s MFA program. A Chicago native, he coached basketball at UTEP and New Mexico State for fourteen seasons before resigning to pursue a writing career in 2000.
At NMSU, he studied with Robert Boswell, Antonya Nelson, and Kevin McIlvoy. His fiction has appeared in The Southern Review, Colorado Review, Puerto del Sol, Freight Stories, and Aethlon.
Since retiring from college coaching, his essays have appeared in New York Times, The Houston Chronicle, El Paso Times, Las Cruces Sun-News, Heartland Journal, SLAM Magazine, Bounce, and Los Angeles Times.
Rus went to Ireland in 2002 to coach Tralee's Frosties Tigers. Paddy on the Hardwood: A Journey in Irish Hoops was his first book, published in 2006. In 2010, he published Forty Minutes of Hell: The Extraordinary Life of Nolan Richardson, and in 2013, a book of fiction called Make It, Take It.
Our main discussion of his writing on today’s episode will be about his 2018 nonfiction book, All the Dreams We've Dreamed: A Story of Hoops and Handguns on Chicago's West Side. The book is impeccably researched and features Rus himself as a character as he recounts a page-turning set of stories about basketball, gun violence, family and community ties, and redemption.
Selected Publications by Rus Bradburd:
Rus and Shawn Harrington's Connections:
2018 WBUR Story about 20 Year+ relationship between the two
Shawn and Rus on HBO's Real Sports
Shawn Harrington:
Alma mater NMSU honors Shawn at halftime of 2017 game
"West Side Story: Shawn Harrington"-2015 News Segment from NBC Sports Chicago
Trailer for 2019's ChiTown, which features Shawn
Podcast Info and Social Media
Like, share, and subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, and leave a five-star review. You can also ask for the podcast by name using Alexa, and find the pod on Spotify.
You can follow Pete on Instagram, where he’s @chillsatwillpodcast, or on Twitter, where he’s @chillsatwillpo1.
This is a passion project, a DIY operation, and Pete would love for your help in promoting 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 cool song played on this episode was “Hoops” (Instrumental Version”) by Matt Weidauer, used through Arches Audio. Matt’s artist page can be found here.
Monday Aug 17, 2020
Monday Aug 17, 2020
*This is not a new episode-it's just in a different format for my Spotify people! This is my most downloaded episode, and one that is very closely related to the ongoing racism that is an ugly legacy of United States history.
In this episode, Pete explores the festering and righteous and justified anger felt by many over the continued oppression of African-Americans at the hands of law enforcement and society as a whole. This anger is made visible through a close read of Langston Hughes’ incredibly-powerful poem, “The Colored Soldier,” in which he talks to his brother, killed in France in WWI, in a dream.
Authors Mentioned and Allusions and Songs Referenced During the Episode:
Rage Against the Machine’s “Freedom”-with “Anger is a gift” lyrics
Song at beginning and end of episode: “Wicked” (Instrumental) by Ice Cube
Monday Aug 17, 2020
Monday Aug 17, 2020
This is not a new episode-it's in a different format for my Spotify users!
Monday Aug 10, 2020
Monday Aug 10, 2020
On Episode 14, Pete discusses “MAD Writer Skills: Characterization Edition,” as seen in writing by Khaled Hosseini, Denis Johnson, and Elie Wiesel. Hosseini’s description of the protagonist’s father is ridiculously evocative and visual and powerful. Denis Johnson’s description of a majorly minor character packs so much into a dozen or so words. His writing is the equivalent of James Harden scoring 25 points on ten shots from the field, with no turnovers in 20 minutes played. Wiesel’s characterization comes through a mix of action, an unforgettable setting, and unspeakable tragedy.
Like, share, and subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, and leave a five-star review. You can also ask for the podcast by name using Alexa, and find the pod on Spotify.
You can follow Pete on Instagram, where he’s @chillsatwillpodcast, or on Twitter, where he’s @chillsatwillpo1.
This is a passion project, a DIY operation, and Pete would love for your help in promoting a unique and spirited look at an often-ignored art form.
You can find the literature referenced today in Khaled Hosseini’s novel The Kite Runner, published by Riverhead Books in 2003. Denis Johnson’s A Tree of Smoke was published in 2007 by Farrar, Straus, and Giroux. Elie Wiesel’s Night was published in 1960 by Hill and Wang.
The intro song for The Chills at Will Podcast is “Wind Down” (Instrumental Version), and the other cool song played on this episode was “Hoops” (Instrumental Version”) by Matt Weidauer, used through Arches Audio. Matt’s artist page can be found here.
SHOW NOTES: On Episode 14, Pete discusses “Mad Writers Skills: Characterization Edition,” as seen in writing by Khaled Hosseini, Denis Johnson, and Elie Wiesel. Hosseini’s description of the protagonist’s father is ridiculously evocative and visual and powerful. Denis Johnson’s description of a majorly minor character packs so much into a dozen or so words. His writing is the equivalent of James Harden scoring 25 points on ten shots from the field, with no turnovers in 20 minutes played. Wiesel’s characterization comes through a mix of action, an unforgettable setting, and unspeakable tragedy.
Like, share, and subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, and leave a five-star review. You can also ask for the podcast by name using Alexa, and find the pod on Spotify.
You can follow Pete on Instagram, where he’s @chillsatwillpodcast, or on Twitter, where he’s @chillsatwillpo1.
This is a passion project, a DIY operation, and Pete would love for your help in promoting a unique and spirited look at an often-ignored art form.
You can find the literature referenced today in Khaled Hosseini’s novel The Kite Runner, published by Riverhead Books in 2003. Denis Johnson’s A Tree of Smoke was published in 2007 by Farrar, Straus, and Giroux. Elie Wiesel’s Night was published in 1960 by Hill and Wang.
The intro song for The Chills at Will Podcast is “Wind Down” (Instrumental Version), and the other cool song played on this episode was “Hoops” (Instrumental Version”) by Matt Weidauer, used through Arches Audio. Matt’s artist page can be found here.
Authors Mentioned and Allusions and Songs Referenced During the Episode:
Pete's Short Story "Beauty," where for once he was proud of characterization-particularly of the protagonist's mother
Tony Soprano (explicit language)
Training Day’s Alonzo Harris (explicit language)
Don Draper (explicit language)
“The Revelator” by Jim Lewis in New York Times
Monday Aug 03, 2020
Monday Aug 03, 2020
SHOW NOTES: On Lucky Episode 13, complete with a new theme song for the podcast, Pete discusses Mad Writers Skills,” as seen in writing by Ocean, Vuong, David Foster Wallace, and Tobias Wolff. While Foster Wallace’s lines reference something lighthearted, they are nonetheless stunningly true to life. Vuong’s work rings out with beauty, so talented is he with his phrasing, in lines deal with trauma and acceptance. Wolff’s lines have every word in the best possible placement to display a sad truism of the world. These are writers whose work titillates, entertains, and puts the reader in awe.
Hopefully this 13th episode will bring Pete luck in having you, dear listener, subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, and leaving a five-star review. You can also ask for the podcast by name using Alexa, and find the pod on Spotify starting August 5. You can follow Pete on Instagram, where he’s @chillsatwillpodcast, or on Twitter, where he’s @chillsatwillpo1.
This is a passion project, a DIY operation, and Pete would love for your help in promoting a unique and spirited look at an often-ignored art form.
You can find the literature referenced today in Ocean Vuong’s novel On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous, published by Penguin Press in 2019. David Foster Wallace’s essay “A Supposedly Fun Thing I'll Never Do Again” can be found in A Supposedly Fun Thing I'll Never Do Again: Essays and Arguments, published in 1998 by Back Bay Books. Tobias Wolff’s “The Chain” is from the July 1, 1996 issue of Esquire Magazine, and/or his collection.
The intro song for The Chills at Will Podcast is “Wind Down” (Instrumental Version), and the other cool song played on this episode was “Simple Math” (Instrumental Version” by Jake Haws, used through ArchesAudio.com.
Tuesday Jul 07, 2020
Tuesday Jul 07, 2020
Excited to present my interview with 2/3 of the Nervous Ghost Press team, Matthew Mejia and Michael Nicholson, proud grads of Mills College MFA. These dynamic writers and readers and I discussed philosophy and influences, the power of writing and reading, the craft of writing, and their upcoming virtual readings that coincide with today’s publication of The Writing for Life anthology.
Check out Episode 12 on Apple Podcasts, or at chillsatwillpodcast6.podbean.com
More info on Nervous Ghost Press at www.nervousghostpress.com
Also, you can ask Alexa to hear the podcast!
Tuesday Jul 07, 2020
Tuesday Jul 07, 2020
In this episode, Pete discusses Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man, building on the ideas of righteous, historical, and justified anger felt by African-Americans over their oppression throughout American history. The book’s opening scene, the infamous “battle royal chapter” is the focus of the episode, as it is highly allegorical in symbolizing so many parts of the African-American male experience.
Tuesday Jun 16, 2020
Tuesday Jun 16, 2020
In this episode, Pete explores the festering and righteous and justified anger felt by many over the continued oppression of African-Americans at the hands of law enforcement and society as a whole. This anger is made visible through a close read of Langston Hughes’ incredibly-powerful poem, “The Colored Soldier,” in which he talks to his brother, killed in France in WWI, in a dream.
Authors Mentioned and Allusions and Songs Referenced During the Episode:
Rage Against the Machine’s “Freedom”-with “Anger is a gift” lyrics
Song at beginning and end of episode: “Wicked” (Instrumental) by Ice Cube