Kat Ex Machina Podcast

In chronological order! And yes, I’m an audiobook guy, in case you didn’t know. All of these were borrowed from the public library through the Libby app. Thank you, libraries! I love you!

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit katexmachina.substack.com/subscribe

All year, I’ve been eagerly anticipating the return of the Burbank Book Festival, held at my local library branch and celebrating its third year this Saturday, October 3. There are authors of all genres (and for all age groups) doing signings, great programming for writers, and—of course—food trucks. And it’s all put on in partnership with my best friend, the Burbank Public Library.

I got to interview Emily Barth Isler who, along with Erin La Rosa, started the festival to bring together local authors and foster a joy of reading in our community. We both have a lot of thoughts about being more involved in our neighborhoods, so there’s a lot of Burbank boosting in this convo. But also, Emily shares her perspectives on demystifying writing as a career, intentionality when programming literary events, and how letting things happen organically led to this festival’s success.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit katexmachina.substack.com/subscribe

This week, on the twenty-fifth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, I listened to Madeleine Brand’s interview with UC Berkeley professor Michael Mark Cohen. He talked about his “History of the Present” course, teaching college students about the events that shaped the world they grew up in. For most of them, it’s just something that happened before they were born, like any other chapter in their textbooks. A meme. He tries to contextualize the way media, surveillance, fear, and war are now, and how they were different in the minds of Americans a quarter-century ago.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit katexmachina.substack.com/subscribe

In chronological order! And yes, I’m an audiobook guy, in case you didn’t know. All of these were borrowed from the public library through the Libby app. Thank you, libraries! I love you!

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit katexmachina.substack.com/subscribe

Earlier this week, I asked my Instagram friends for a newsletter prompt, like I’m some kind of manic pixie improv girl, and not someone whose list of potential topics suddenly felt like a betrayal. One suggested theme was this one: back to school.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit katexmachina.substack.com/subscribe

In chronological order! And yes, I’m an audiobook guy, in case you didn’t know. All of these were borrowed from the public library through the Libby app. Thank you, libraries! I love you!

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit katexmachina.substack.com/subscribe

“Say It to Me Now” existed in some form for more than a decade on a Frames album before it returned in Once. It’s a growl of agony that I have played and replayed and belted along to with every heartbreak, or stomping my feet just because I want the powerful emotion to rush through me. It’ll always be there, along with his delicate falsetto in “Falling Slowly” and his rustic, tattered guitar.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit katexmachina.substack.com/subscribe

In chronological order! And yes, I’m an audiobook guy, in case you didn’t know. All of these were borrowed from the public library through the Libby app. Thank you, libraries! I love you!

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit katexmachina.substack.com/subscribe

Last week I shared a bunch of recommendations of film and television vehicles for my favorite sports stories. It was super fun for me! And my sister, who was basically my target audience for the post, told me she loved it. So I had to return to the well of my vast history of screen time for round two.

Last week we covered the biggies—football, baseball, basketball, soccer, etc. Now, as promised, more stories from the margins of athletics...

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit katexmachina.substack.com/subscribe

Here we are, twelve days into the Men’s World Cup. Every two years, when one of the planet’s foremost villainous sports organizations hosts a soccer showdown with the best players from dozens of countries, I get nice and cozy on my reserved seat on the bandwagon. If you want to join me, there’s plenty of room!

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit katexmachina.substack.com/subscribe