eMerge Unchained

In this episode of eMerge Unchained, host Aubrey Green sits down with poet and co-editor of the I-70 Review, Maryfrances Wagner. They put their editor hats on and share the one thing they wish people knew when work gets rejected, and Maryfrances offers the single best piece of advice when submitting to a magazine or journal for the first time. 

She reflects on the influence of her poetic family, as well as the inspiration her Italian heritage has brought to her own writing journey. She admonishes poets to never talk down to their readers, to be mindful of both how and what they write, and even shares the subject she finds hardest to approach herself.

Join Aubrey and Maryfrances as they talk about turkey vultures, politics, and why, even as language changes, the elements of a good poem remain the same.

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In this episode of eMerge Unchained, host Aubrey Green sits down with Angela Mateus, director of the Writers’ Colony at Dairy Hollow, to talk about the magic that happens when writers get together with other writers. From unforgettable dinners to the deep connections that can form in just a few days, Angela reflects on why kindness—not competition—is the foundation of the colony experience.

A neurodivergent poet who writes in multiple languages, Angela shares how her perspective has become an advantage both in her own work and in building community for others, many of whom also share a neurodivergent bent. Along the way, Aubrey gets excited about the possibilities from a partnership between the magazine and the colony to connecting with young writers from local universities and schools.

Join Aubrey and Angela as they talk about artistic minds, the challenge of making space for the creative, and the places that leave a lasting mark.

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In this episode of eMerge Unchained, host Aubrey Green sits down with poet and longtime educator Ken Hada for a conversation shaped by four decades in the classroom. With a firm belief that there’s no such thing as passive learning, Ken reflects on the energy of an engaged audience—whether he’s teaching or reading his work—and what it means to “dance” with the audience.

They talk about finding and owning your voice, not just in performance, but on the page, where it really matters. Ken shares how his early failed fiction fragments revealed themselves as poetry, and why writers don’t always need to know when something is good, but they need to recognize when it isn’t. He emphasizes knowing why you make the choices you do and creating layered work that transcends time, place, and even writer.

So join Aubrey and Ken as they explore voice, craft, and the kind of writing that stays with you.

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In this episode of eMerge Unchained, host Aubrey Green sits down with writer and academic Michael Howarth for a wide-ranging conversation about research, storytelling, and the unexpected places horror shows up. From using AI in the classroom (to expose its flaws) to tracing the gothic thread running through American history and children’s media, Michael brings both curiosity and humor to the craft of writing.

Aubrey and Michael dig into the realities of research—why it takes time, but how it strengthens both critical texts and fiction. They explore why a flexible outline that can evolve along the way is better, the value of beta readers, and how to keep an audience on their toes by refusing to write the same old thing.

Along the way, they even make space for zombies and explore why horror can be more nurturing for children than we might think. Join Aubrey and Michael for a conversation that blends craft, curiosity, and a love of sabbaticals. 

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In this episode of eMerge Unchained, host Aubrey Green sits down with poet and artist Hilka West-Irvin for a conversation about solitude, creativity, and the strange pull of place. From growing up feeling like an odd child to finding a home in the magic of Eureka Springs, Arkansas, Hilka reflects on the winding path that led her there. As a Minnesota transplant navigating recent events, she opens up about finding community and the freedom that comes with it—the kind that allows you to be fully yourself without apology.

They explore how human behavior and the inner workings of the brain shape artistic expression, and why writing remains one of the best ways to make sense of it all. They also take a closer look at people watching, and how this simple act has changed in an age shaped by technology and social media.

So join Aubrey and Hilka as they talk about the many sources of creative inspiration and the magic that happens when you find a place—and people—that let you belong.

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In this episode of eMerge Unchained, host Aubrey Green sits down with Margaret Lee to talk about what happens when writing collides with the realities of publishing. From struggling through translations to arguing with a major publishing house and watching a project nearly derail just days before it's due, Margaret shares behind-the-scenes frustrations and what gives her the persistence to keep going.

The conversation also wanders through the mystery and magic of storytelling. They discuss how some ideas naturally want to become poems while others demand prose, and how different art forms like poetry and painting can inform one another. Margaret reflects on the shift from academic writing to poetry, how writing can become a way to think through difficult experiences, and why she sees writing reviews not as critique, but as a way of celebrating other poets and exploring their work.

Join Aubrey and Margaret as they talk about fueling the imagination by trying difficult things, the surprising importance of hobbies, and the creative courage it takes to trust the process—even when the path forward isn’t clear.

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In this episode of eMerge Unchained, host Aubrey Green sits down with Durell Carter, poet, short story writer, and teacher empowering high school students. They discuss the challenges of preforming compared to simply writing, and the dangers of working a gas station during a police sting.

Durell shares about his time in the Red Dirt MFA program and how that was a pivotal period in both his life and writing journey. Coming to poetry only after years of writing stories, he recounts the importance of clever teachers pulling him out of his comfort zone and the importance of using grounded, everyday language in his poems.

Listen as they talk about how formative the early years can be, commiserate over rejection letters, notice the tingles that come from having work published, and the importance of community no matter where you are in your literary life.

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In this episode of eMerge Unchained, host Aubrey Green laughs with author Jennifer Sneed about the secret struggles of the children’s book industry, from the enormous age range (13-18 years old) YA is expected to serve to the reality that board book writers face—their work will literally be consumed by their audience.

Together, they talk about what really changes when writing for middle grade readers versus adults, what never changes at all, and why character is always at the center of good storytelling. Jennifer also shares some of her favorite authors, explains why she keeps returning to children’s literature, and opens up about aiming big with her latest short story submissions.

So join them as they gush over the Thursday Murder Club books and learn why the SCBWI might have the worst name for one of the best communities out there.

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In this information-packed episode of eMerge Unchained, host Aubrey Green sits down with powerhouse writer and long-time eMerge supporter, Nikki Hanna, whose experience and audacity has been delighting readers for more than a decade.

Novelists and storytellers of all experience levels will learn something new as she talks candidly about how to find joy and purpose in writing, mastering "authorship," and what her favorite part of the processes is. While she loves writing, Nikki admits teaching is her true passion, and she eagerly shares advice on everything from what to include, or not include, in a memoir to how long to expect the revisions process of a novel to take (spoiler: you may not like it).

Join them as Aubrey and Nikki Hanna sip tea and compare editing techniques, favorite words, and their thoughts on Stephen King.

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In this episode of eMerge Unchained, host Aubrey Green talks with Charles Templeton about a year of ups and downs, the unexpected joys of good conversation, and why cursive writing still matters. Along the way, they touch on why poets tend to be such thoughtful conversationalists and what it means to slow down and really pay attention to words.

Charles also shares his love of research and some of the discoveries he made while working on his latest book. He reflects on the resilience of the people who helped shape the country we know today and offers a gentle challenge to keep writing through the holiday season. 

Along the way the conversation includes a look ahead to what’s coming in 2026, including conferences, festivals, contests, and upcoming issues of eMerge, both online and in print. So grab a warm beverage, settle in, and enjoy another episode of the eMerge Unchained podcast.

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