Josh Hamermesh asked, and boy, did Andy Ward deliver. In this episode, Andy, the Executive Vice President and Publisher of Random House, takes us deep into how he edits books written by some of our finest authors.

In this episode, you'll learn:

How Andy's father shaped his writing and editing skills.

His intricate process of editing, emphasizing both detailed line edits and broader feedback. (Plus, the unlikely place where he does some of his best work.)

How he approaches having tough conversations with authors.

The potential impact of AI on the publishing industry, and the advice he'd give parents of young kids about how and how not to weave AI into their studies.

The Amherst classmates he wants me to interview next.

To get in touch with Andy, email him at [email protected].

Update (10/1/25): Andy has appeared on more podcasts, not surprisingly:

Check out his two appearances on the Kelly Corrigan Wonders podcast, entitled "Deep Dive with Andy Ward" and "Thanks For Being Here - Andy Ward"