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Zadie Smith reads her short story from the July 23, 2018, issue of the magazine. Smith is the author of five novels, including "NW" and "Swing Time." Her essay collection "Feel Free" was published in February. 

The places we live in shape us. I don’t care who you are how indomitable your will…your spirit is in dialogue with the place you live. For example, I live in New York City, a place I wrapped around me like a second skin when I was 18 years old. Back then New York made me feel strong, cool, infinitely removed from the suburbs I grew up in. I’ve been here for 25 years and at this point what I mostly notice is the claustrophobic public spaces, the smallness of the sky.

What do you feel when you hear the word ‘Florida’? Do the pleasure centers of your brain light up, imagining palm trees and pristine beaches? Or does your amygdala kick in as you imagine the ancillary costs of a week at Disney World?

My guest today is the writer Lauren Groff. In her vivid, dreamlike new book of short stories, Florida is a humid, seething organism that wants to eat you. Snake-infested. Full of sinkholes. A thing to resist, get lost in, surrender to, and sometimes, temporarily escape.

Surprise conversation-starter clips in this episode:

Richard O. Prum on Duck Mating and Human Sexuality

Steven Pinker on Struggle

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Joseph O'Neill reads his story from the July 2, 2018, issue of the magazine. O'Neill is the author of four novels, including "Netherland," which won the PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction in 2009, and "The Dog." His first story collection, "Good Trouble," was published this month.

Ben Marcus reads his story "Stay Down and Take It," from the May 28, 2018, issue of the magazine. Marcus has published two novels and two short-story collections, including "The Flame Alphabet" and "Leaving the Sea," which was shortlisted for the Frank O'Connor International Short Story Award. A new story collection, "Notes from the Fog," will be published in August.

Joseph O’Neill reads his story "The Poltroon Husband" from the March 12, 2018, issue of the magazine. O'Neill has published four novels, including “Netherland,” which won the PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction in 2009, and “The Dog,” which came out in 2014. He is also the author of the nonfiction family history “Blood-Dark Track.” This is his fourth story in the magazine.

Rachel Kushner reads her story "Stanville," from the February 12 & 19, 2018, issue of the magazine. Kushner is the author of two novels, "Telex from Cuba" and "The Flamethrowers," both of which were finalists for the National Book Award. Her third novel, "The Mars Room," from which this story was adapted, will be published in May.

Colin Barrett reads his story from the January 1, 2018, issue of the magazine. Barrett is the author of the story collection "Young Skins," which won the Frank O'Connor International Short Story Award and the Guardian First Book Award in 2014.

Joseph O’Neill reads his story from the October 30, 2017, issue of the magazine. O’Neill has published four novels, including “Netherland,” which won the PEN/Faulkner award in 2009, and “The Dog” which came out in 2014.

Tessa Hadley reads her story from the October 16, 2017, issue of the magazine. Hadley has published six novels and four short-story collections, including “Sunstroke and Other Stories” and “Married Love.” In 2016, she won the Windham-Campbell Prize for Fiction.

Patricia Lockwood is a fearless writer and poet. In 2013 she gained popular attention with her piece in The Awl entitled "The Rape Joke." Since then she has established a name for herself, especially through her Twitter. However, she does not restrict herself to 140 characters--her new book "Priestdaddy" is a memoir of her life growing up as the daughter of one of the only married Catholic priests. Naturally, this unique upbringing paired with Patricia's skill with words makes for a great read. In this interview she and Sam dive more into her life growing up, her writing process, and her love of sarcasm. ------------------------------------------------- Music for the show is by Dylan Peck. Original illustrations by Krishna Shenoi: www.krishnabalashenoi.com/. Learn more about Talk Easy with Sam Fragoso at www.talkeasypod.com 

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