Reckon True Stories

Roxane Gay on Criticism, Social Media, and Being Heard

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Acclaimed author Roxane Gay joins Deesha and Kiese for a wide-ranging conversation about her writing journey, bringing your whole self to the page, the pressures of social media, and the value of criticism. 

Gay talks about her forthcoming book on writing advice, How to Be Heard, and Deesha and Kiese ask about her current pop culture influences—what she’s watching and who she’s listening to—and Deesha gets another hint about Roxane Gay’s nemesis.

Reading List: Authors, Stories, and Books Mentioned

  • Ayiti (Roxane Gay)
  • An Untamed State (Roxane Gay)
  • Bad Feminist (Roxane Gay)
  • Difficult Women (Roxane Gay)
  • Hunger (Roxane Gay)
  • Black Panther: World of Wakanda (Ta-Nehisi Coates, Roxane Gay, et. al) 
  • The Audacity 
  • Opinions (Roxane Gay)
  • “Why People Are So Awful Online” (Roxane Gay, The New York Times 2021)
  • Donna Tartt
  • James Hadley Chase
  • Tayari Jones
  • “A Conversation with Kiese Laymon” (Roxane Gay, The Nation 2013)
  • Roxane Gay Reviews On Goodreads
  • “What Fullness Is” (Roxane Gay, Medium 2018)
  • How to be Heard (Roxane Gay)
  • Sonia Sanchez
  • “Work Friend” column (Roxane Gay, The New York Times)
  • Choire Sicha
  • “i cannot stop thinking about true detective: cold lesbians” (Samantha Irby, bitches gotta eat! 2024)


    Watch List:

    • ReesaTeesa on TikTok
    • True Detective : Night Country
    • Expats
    • The Farewell


      • Listening List:

      • American Requiem (Beyoncé) 
      • The Roxane Gay Agenda podcast 
      • Brooks & Dunn


        • More from Deesha Philyaw and Kiese Laymon: 

        • The Secret Lives of Church Ladies (Deesha Philyaw)
        • Heavy (Kiese Laymon)
        • Long Division (Kiese Laymon)
        • How to Slowly Kill Yourself and Others in America: Essays (Kiese Laymon)
        • Ursa Short Fiction podcast (Deesha Philyaw and Dawnie Walton)


          Produced by Ursa Story Company in partnership with Reckon. 


          Hosted by Deesha Philyaw & Kiese Laymon

          Show Producers: Dawnie Walton & Mark Armstrong

          Associate Producer: Marina Leigh

          Episode Editor: Kelly Araja


          Reckon Editor In Chief: R.L. Nave

          Reckon Deputy Editor: Michelle Zenarosa

          Audience Director: Katie Johnston

          Creative Strategist: Abbey Crain

          Sr. Social Producer: Sid Espinosa

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          Reckon True StoriesBy Ursa Story Company
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