Notes and Links to Keith O’Brien’s Work

   Keith O'Brien is a New York Times bestselling author and award-winning journalist. He has written four books, been a finalist for the PEN/ESPN Award for Literary Sportswriting, been longlisted for the Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Nonfiction, and has contributed to multiple publications over the years.

   O’Brien’s work has appeared in the New York Times Magazine, the Atlantic, the Washington Post, and on National Public Radio. His radio stories have aired on All Things Considered, Morning Edition, and Weekend Edition, as well as Marketplace and This American Life.

   The Wall Street Journal calls his latest book, CHARLIE HUSTLE, "compulsively readable and wholly terrific." Publishers Weekly calls it "definitive and elegantly told, this is a home run," and Kirkus Reviews hails CHARLIE HUSTLE as a "masterpiece of a sports biography."

   A midwesterner by birth, O'Brien grew up in Cincinnati and graduated from Northwestern University. He now lives in New Hampshire with his wife, two children, two dogs and two cats.

Buy Charlie Hustle

Keith O'Brien's Website

New York Times Review of Charlie Hustle

At about 2:00, Pete asks Keith about the medium of radio, and Keith talks about how he loves radio and how it works different “muscles”

At about 3:40, Keith traces his early reading and writing life and his love of sports stories, Sports Illustrated, and more, including David Halberstam’s stellar work

At about 5:45, Pete and Keith fanboy over great work from The Best American Sports Writing of the Century

At about 7:05, Keith shouts out Mirin Fader and Andrew Maraniss and Jonathan Eig, among others, as writing inspirations

At about 8:55, Keith talks about how work in Japan helped to ignite his love of and skill for writing

At about 10:45 (13:50), Keith discusses how he views storytelling, showing/telling, as well as objectivity in writing, as well as expectations for readers

At about 14:50, Pete quotes a meaningful excerpt from the beginning of Charlie Hustle, and Keith expands upon how “stunned” he was by the crying and emotional responses from those talking about Pete Rose’s impact in their lives

At about 17:20, Pete alludes to the Author’s Note, and asks Keith about his childhood outlook on Pete Rose and the Reds as a native Cincinnatian

At about 21:05, Pete gives some exposition from the book and summarizes the “high point” from the Introduction 

At about 22:00, Keith paints a picture of Pete Rose’s childhood growing up on the Westside of Cincinnati, and talks about “Big Pete” Rose and his legendary exploits, including a 

At about 26:40, Keith explains the significance of two events in the summer of 1956 and how it shaped Pete

At about 29:15, Keith recounts an emblematic story involving Pete Rose and boxing

At about 30:45, Pete picks up on the aforementioned story and asks Keith if he sees the same mindset in Pete Rose in denying his betting later in life; Keith talks about a lack of vulnerability for Pete Rose

At about 32:45, Keith charts the importance of Pete Rose’s Uncle Buddy in jumpstarting Pete’s career 

At about 37:15, Keith gives background on Pete Rose’s iconic nickname and its “mythology”

At about 39:55, The two reflect on the “juxtaposition” between those who gave Pete Rose his nickname and Pete Rose

At about 41:10, Keith talks about racism and the treatment of Black players in the Major Leagues, as well as how Pete viewed/spoke about race 

At about 44:35, Keith expands on the ways in which Pete was seen as a “white, working-class hero” in the media and among fans 

At about 48:15, Keith reflects on the echoing importance of Pete Rose’s collision with Ray Fosse

At about 52:15, Keith responds to Pete’s questions about how Pete Rose’s upbringing may or may not have been “seeds” for his later gambling and vice

At about 56:35, Decree Rule 21(d) and its ubiquity in baseball clubhouses is discussed 

At about 57:10, Pete talks about how skillfully Keith shows Pete Rose’s impending fall at the end of Part III

At about 58:35, Keith responds to Pete’s questions about Pete Rose and whether he felt remorse over the way he treated women and his children

At about 1:00:20, Keith reflects on how the same qualities that made Pete Rose great also were his downfall

At about 1:01:40, The two discuss “credible allegations that Pete Rose had had a relationship with an underage girl in the 1970s and its impact on his baseball analyst job

At about 1:03:20, Keith responds to Pete’s questions about the importance of a homecoming in 1986 to Cincinnati

At about 1:06:50, Keith expands upon the inextricable links between Bart Giamatti and Pete Rose

At about 1:09:10, The two discuss Pete Rose’s last years and prodigious autograph signing and the ways in which his fans continued to be moved by meeting him and talking to him; Keith shares his personal experiences in being amazed by the awe of the fans he witnessed in person

At about 1:11:45, Keith reflects on the “crucial” and “poigna[nt]” ending of the book, an ending that Pete is highly complimentary of 

At about 1:13:30, Keith discusses how he felt upon learning of Pete’s death and the sadness associated with Pete “being defined by his greatest mistakes”

At about 1:15:00, Pete and Keith reflect on connections between Jake LaMotta in Raging Bull and Pete Rose and the “fleeting” nature of fame

At about 1:16:15, shoutout to Ellen Adar for the audiobook

At about 1:17:10, Keith shouts out places to buy the book, including Waterstreet Books in NH, and gives social media/contact info

    You can now subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, and leave me a five-star review. You can also ask for the podcast by name using Alexa, and find the pod on Stitcher, Spotify, and on Amazon Music. Follow Pete on IG, where he is @chillsatwillpodcast, or on Twitter, where he is @chillsatwillpo1. You can watch other episodes on YouTube-watch and subscribe to The Chills at Will Podcast Channel. Please subscribe to both the YouTube Channel and the podcast while you’re checking out this episode.

      Pete is very excited to have one or two podcast episodes per month featured on the website of Chicago Review of Books. The audio will be posted, along with a written interview culled from the audio. This week, his conversation with Episode 255 guest Chris Knapp is up on the website. A big thanks to Rachel León and Michael Welch at Chicago Review.

    Sign up now for The Chills at Will Podcast Patreon: it can be found at patreon.com/chillsatwillpodcastpeterriehl

     Check out the page that describes the benefits of a Patreon membership, including cool swag and bonus episodes. Thanks in advance for supporting Pete’s one-man show, his DIY podcast and his extensive reading, research, editing, and promoting to keep this independent podcast pumping out high-quality content!

   This month’s Patreon bonus episode will feature an exploration of the wonderful poetry of Khalil Gibran.

   I have added a $1 a month tier for “Well-Wishers” and Cheerleaders of the Show.

   This is a passion project of Pete’s, a DIY operation, and he’d love for your help in promoting what he’s convinced is a unique and spirited look at an often-ignored art form.

   The intro song for The Chills at Will Podcast is “Wind Down” (Instrumental Version), and the other song played on this episode was “Hoops” (Instrumental)” by Matt Weidauer, and both songs are used through ArchesAudio.com.

    Please tune in for Episode 268 with Dax-Devlon Ross, who is the author of six books. His journalism has been featured in Time, The Guardian, The New York Times, and other national publications, and he won the National Association of Black Journalists’ Investigative Reporting Award for coverage of jury exclusion in North Carolina courts. His most recent book, Letters to My White Male Friends, is a call to action and a reflection on race.

   The episode airs on December 31.

   Please go to ceasefiretoday.com, which features 10+ actions to help bring about Ceasefire in Gaza.

Notes and Links to Lydia Kiesling’s Work

   Lydia Kiesling is a novelist and culture writer. Her first novel, The Golden State, was a 2018 National Book Foundation “5 under 35” honoree and a finalist for the VCU Cabell First Novelist Award. Her second novel, Mobility, a national bestseller, was named a best book of 2023 by Vulture, Time, and NPR, among others. It was longlisted for the Joyce Carol Oates Prize and a finalist for the Oregon Book Award. Her essays and nonfiction have been published in outlets including The New York Times Magazine, The New Yorker online, and The Cut. Contact her at [email protected].

Buy Mobility

Lydia Kiesling's Website

Lydia’s Wikipedia Page

At about 1:35, Lydia gives out contact information and social media information, as well as places 

At about 4:10, “Return of the Mack” as an “eternal jam” is highlighted in the book

At about 5:40, Lydia talks about her reading life and how it connected to her “cusp generation” and her time as a “foreign service brat”

At about 9:50, Lydia talks about her experience reading Joyce Carol Oates, for whom an award is named that Lydia was longlisted for, and Pete compares the narrator, Bunny, and her situation in Mobility to iconic characters from “Where are you going, Where have you been?” and “In the Land of Men”

At about 11:30, Lydia recounts interesting parts of her life in boarding school and how it shaped her

At about 15:20, Lydia discusses the reading life fostered through memorable English classes in boarding school

At about 21:15, Lydia highlights the ways in which her life as a writer developed, including early work in the blog era and a great opportunity from The Millions

At about 26:00, Lydia shouts out contemporary writers who thrill and inspire, including Jenny Erpenbeck and Bruna Dantas Lobato

At about 30:55, Lyda responds to Pete’s questions about the ways in which Lydia’s history as a “diplomat brat” has affected her view of the US

At about 34:45, The two discuss seeds for the book and the importance of the book’s concise epigraph 

At about 37:25, Lydia highlights The Oil and the Glory as inspiration for the book

At about 40:45, Pete lays out part of the book’s exposition and underscores the importance of the book’s first scene and use of oil prices to mark each year 

At about 42:30, Lydia responds to Pete asking about the draw of Eddie and Charlie and the older men/boys

At about 43:55, Pete quotes Mario Puzo in relating to “men doing what they do when they’re away from home” and Lyda builds on it when talking about Baku and the things and people that came with oil drilling

At about 45:00, Lydia gives background of the soap opera referenced in the book as she and Pete further discuss important early characters

At about 47:40, Lydia explains the background and significance of a ring that Bunny covets that says “I respond to whoever touches me”

At about 51:00, Pete recounts some of the plot involving Bunny’s return to the US and Texas and asks Lydia about the intentions of her mentor, Phil

At about 53:20, Lydia expands on the “weird current” that comes with being a young woman/woman in a male-dominated world

At about 54:40, Pete and Lydia discuss the manner in which Bunny and so many in our society choose to look away when faced with the evils of capitalism, oil, war, etc. 

At about 58:15, Lydia emphasizes the ways in which story and narrative govern so much of the way politics and business work

At about 59:40, The two discuss Bunny as a nominal liberal 

At about 1:01:15, Lydia responds to Pete’s question about any reasons for optimism in response to climate change

At about 1:04:00, The idea of “geologic time” as a negative and positive is discussed with regards to the environment and oil and positive change 

   You can now subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, and leave me a five-star review. You can also ask for the podcast by name using Alexa, and find the pod on Stitcher, Spotify, and on Amazon Music. Follow Pete on IG, where he is @chillsatwillpodcast, or on Twitter, where he is @chillsatwillpo1. You can watch other episodes on YouTube-watch and subscribe to The Chills at Will Podcast Channel. Please subscribe to both the YouTube Channel and the podcast while you’re checking out this episode.

      Pete is very excited to have one or two podcast episodes per month featured on the website of Chicago Review of Books. The audio will be posted, along with a written interview culled from the audio. This week, his conversation with Episode 255 guest Chris Knapp is up on the website. A big thanks to Rachel León and Michael Welch at Chicago Review.

    Sign up now for The Chills at Will Podcast Patreon: it can be found at patreon.com/chillsatwillpodcastpeterriehl

     Check out the page that describes the benefits of a Patreon membership, including cool swag and bonus episodes. Thanks in advance for supporting Pete’s one-man show, his DIY podcast and his extensive reading, research, editing, and promoting to keep this independent podcast pumping out high-quality content!

  This month’s Patreon bonus episode will feature an exploration of the wonderful poetry of Khalil Gibran.

   I have added a $1 a month tier for “Well-Wishers” and Cheerleaders of the Show.

   This is a passion project of Pete’s, a DIY operation, and he’d love for your help in promoting what he’s convinced is a unique and spirited look at an often-ignored art form.

   The intro song for The Chills at Will Podcast is “Wind Down” (Instrumental Version), and the other song played on this episode was “Hoops” (Instrumental)” by Matt Weidauer, and both songs are used through ArchesAudio.com.

   Please tune in for Episode 267 with Keith O’Brien. He is a New York Times bestselling author and award-winning journalist who has written four books, been longlisted for the Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Nonfiction, and contributed to multiple publications over the years, including the New York Times Magazine, the Atlantic, and NPR. Kirkus Reviews hails his latest, Charlie Hustle, as a "masterpiece of a sports biography."

   The episode airs on December 24.

   Please go to ceasefiretoday.com, which features 10+ actions to help bring about Ceasefire in Gaza.

Notes and Links to Carvell Wallace’s Work

   Carvell Wallace is a writer and podcaster who has contributed to The New Yorker, GQ, New York Times Magazine, Pitchfork, MTV News, and Al Jazeera. His debut memoir, Another Word For Love (MCD, 2024), explores his life, identity, and love through stories of family, friendship, and culture and is a 2024 Kirkus Finalist in Nonfiction. He was a 2019 Peabody Award nominee, a 2022 National Magazine Award Finalist, a 2023 winner of the Mosaic Prize in Journalism, and a 2025 UCross Fellow. He lives in Oakland. 

Buy Another Word for Love

Carvell Wallace’s Website

New York Times Review of Another Word for Love

“Carvell Wallace on What Writing Taught Him About His Life” for LitHub

At about 2:25, Carvell describes his “active” reading youth during his youth, including interest in Edgar Allan Poe and fables and fairy tales, and how creative pursuits in college paused and started his writing life 

At about 6:25, Carvell shouts out a teacher who exposed him to great literary works and “treated [him] like a real writer”

At about 7:45, Carvell talks about being an artist “getting off the academic train” and academic “tracking”

At about 9:20, Carvell and Pete discuss “math people” and implications around embracing the label or not

At about 10:40, Carvell lists Song of Solomon, Judy Blume, Grapes of Wrath as “formative” texts and writers, and he details how imitation works in his writing, 

At about 14:00-Ayn Rand and Jordan Peterson talk!

At about 15:50, Carvell discusses his take on expectations of literary and pop culture “representation” growing up, as well as how he “goes to reading to find [himself]” 

At about 19:15, Pete asks Carvell about his wide level of interest and knowledge and “muses,” and Carvell describes the “throughline” for his varied work as “people”

At about 22:50, Carvell and Pete discuss the definitive answer to the pronunciation of “gif” and highlight meaningful gifs of JR Smith and Andre Iguoadala

At about 25:15, Carvell responds to Pete’s question about writers and creators who inspire, including the film podcast You Must Remember This and Tricia Hersey’s We Will Rest

At about 28:20, Pete tiptoes into asking about Frankenstein’s monster

At about 29:05, Pete highlights stirring parts of Another Word for Love and shares gushing blurbs

At about 30:40, Pete asks about the structuring of the book and links that Catrvell envisioned and put into practice; Carvell explains his rationale for structuring around recovery

At about 33:05, Carvell connects Choose Your Own Adventure to the ways in which he tried to avoid “prescriptive” writing 

At about 34:05, Carvell replies to Pete’s question about “killing [his] darlings” 

At about 36:10, Carvell gives background on his June Jordan epigraph and talks about her revolutionary ways

At about 40:00, Carvell muses profoundly on the “contradiction(s)” of the United States

At about 42:05, Carvell responds to Pete’s asking about the “encroaching shadows” and loneliness that govern the book’s opening scene; Carvell also reflects on the “unreliability of memory”  

At about 46:00, The two reflect on a pivotal early chapter about a literal and figurative “fog” and unorthodox lessons learned from the experience 

At about 48:45, Carvell explains the importance of descriptions in the books about seeking intimacy with his mother and flipping tropes

At about 50:20, Carvell talks about writers and dishonesty and remembrance with regard to a possibly apocryphal story regarding kids forced to take care of themselves

At about 54:40, Carvell talks about nomenclature for sexual assault and reflections on ideas of culpability and masculinity 

At about 58:20, Carvell reflects on healing through writing the book and his ethic in writing it

At about 1:01:05, Pete recounts important parts of Carvell’s childhood daydreaming 

At about 1:02:20, Carvell points out a “theory of recovery” as seen in a metanarrative and ideas of “endless beautiful things in the world”

At about 1:03:30, Carvell muses on connections between hip hop and Shakespeare that especally

At about 1:05:20, The two discuss “The Finger” and racism shown by a white man and its larger implications 

At about 1:08:40, Pete asks Carvell about links between “overwrit[ing] reality” and racist violence towards him

At about 1:10:00, The two reflect on change and the birth scene of his child; Carvell reflects on humility as illustrated in the scene  

At about 1:12:45, Pete recounts important scenes that end Part I and govern Part II and asks Carvell about “re-union” and healing

At about 1:14:10, Pete gushes honestly over the book’s greatness, evocative nature, and resonant nature 

At about 1:15:30, Carvell talks about the book’s end and its lack of an end 

At about 1:16:20, Carvell shares contact info, social media info, and places to buy his book, including great Bay Area bookstores like Harold’s Books 

   You can now subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, and leave me a five-star review. You can also ask for the podcast by name using Alexa, and find the pod on Stitcher, Spotify, and on Amazon Music. Follow Pete on IG, where he is @chillsatwillpodcast, or on Twitter, where he is @chillsatwillpo1. You can watch other episodes on YouTube-watch and subscribe to The Chills at Will Podcast Channel. Please subscribe to both the YouTube Channel and the podcast while you’re checking out this episode.

      Pete is very excited to have one or two podcast episodes per month featured on the website of Chicago Review of Books. The audio will be posted, along with a written interview culled from the audio. This week, his conversation with Episode 255 guest Chris Knapp is up on the website. A big thanks to Rachel León and Michael Welch at Chicago Review.

    Sign up now for The Chills at Will Podcast Patreon: it can be found at patreon.com/chillsatwillpodcastpeterriehl

     Check out the page that describes the benefits of a Patreon membership, including cool swag and bonus episodes. Thanks in advance for supporting Pete’s one-man show, his DIY podcast and his extensive reading, research, editing, and promoting to keep this independent podcast pumping out high-quality content!

This month’s Patreon bonus episode will feature an exploration of the wonderful poetry of Khalil Gibran.

I have added a $1 a month tier for “Well-Wishers” and Cheerleaders of the Show.

   This is a passion project of Pete’s, a DIY operation, and he’d love for your help in promoting what he’s convinced is a unique and spirited look at an often-ignored art form.

   The intro song for The Chills at Will Podcast is “Wind Down” (Instrumental Version), and the other song played on this episode was “Hoops” (Instrumental)” by Matt Weidauer, and both songs are used through ArchesAudio.com.

    Please tune in for Episode 266 with Lydia Kiesling. She is a novelist and culture writer whose first novel, The Golden State, was a 2018 National Book Foundation “5 under 35” honoree and a finalist for the VCU Cabell First Novelist Award. Her second novel, Mobility, a national bestseller, was named a best book of 2023 by Time and NPR, among others.

The episode airs on December 17.

Please go to ceasefiretoday.com, which features 10+ actions to help bring about Ceasefire in Gaza.

Notes and Links to Maggie Sheffer’s Work   

   Marguerite (Maggie) Sheffer is a writer who lives in New Orleans. She is a Professor of Practice at Tulane University, where she teaches courses in design thinking and speculative fiction as tools for social change. Formerly, she taught English at the East Oakland School of the Arts, Castlemont High School, Life Academy, and GW Carver High School.

   Her debut short story collection, The Man in the Banana Trees, was selected by judge Jamil Jan Kochai for the Iowa Short Fiction Award, was published in Fall 2024. 

   Maggie is a founding member of Third Lantern Lit, a local writing collective, and the Nautilus and Wildcat Writing Groups. She received her MFA from Randolph College. She was a 2023 Veasna So Scholar in Fiction at The Adroit Journal, and was selected as a top-twenty-five finalist for Glimmer Train's Short Story Award for New Writers.  Her story “Tiger on My Roof” was a finalist for the 2024 Chautauqua Janus Prize, which awards emerging writers’ short fiction with “daring formal and aesthetic innovations that upset and reorder readers’ imaginations.”

   Her position on semicolons (for) is noted in an Australian grammar textbook (pg. 16).

Buy The Man in the Banana Trees

Maggie's Website

From LitHub: "Marguerite Sheffer on Crafting a Collection of Century-Spanning Speculative Fiction"

"Marguerite Sheffer: These Stories Are an Intimate Map of What Scares Me" from Writer’s Digest

At about 2:05, Maggie shares a fun story about being published with George Bernard Shaw

At about 3:35, Maggie talks about her early reading life

At about 4:40, The two reflect on the evolving reputation of Star Wars and Star Wars fans

At about 6:05, Maggie shares how wine bottles led to writing an early and pivotal short story 

At about 7:10, Maggie describes a gap in “actively writing” while teaching and interacting differently with writing

At about 8:10, Maggie lists texts and writers that helped her “reorder [her] brain”

At about 10:15, Pete and Maggie stan Tillie Olsen’s “I Stand Here ironing”  

At about 12:05, Pete recounts a story about how he happened upon the great story by Shirley Jackson, “The Lottery”

At about 12:50, Maggie responds to Pete asking about what drew and draws her to science and speculative fiction

At about 13:50, Maggie highlights past guest Jamil Jan Kochai, Ken Liu, E. Lily Yu, Sofia Samatar, Clare Beams, Maurice Carlos Ruffin, the book The Safekeep, and others as contemporary writers who thrill and inspire

At about 15:05, Pete asks Maggie how teaching has inspired her writing

At about 16:45, Maggie cites Octavia Butler’s and Sandra Cisneros’ work and The Things They Carried and other texts that were favorites of her students 

At about 18:10, The two discuss the epigraph and seeds for the short story collection 

At about 19:50, The two discuss the collection’s first story and connection to Tillie Olsen’s idea of being “imprisoned in his own difference” and students being “othered”

At about 24:00, Maggie reflects on an important truth of fiction

At about 24:40, Maggie discusses famous unicorn tapestries that inspire a story of hers

At about 26:00, Pete compliments Maggie’s “delightfully weird” stories and “soft endings” and she responds to his questions about allegory/plot and “cool stories”

At about 27:40, Maggie talks about realizing the throughlines in her collections

At about 29:10, Maggie responds to Pete’s questions about writing in Covid times

At about 29:40, Pete cites examples of misogyny in the collection and asks about Joycleyn Bell and Maggie expands upon the story “The Observer’s Cage”-its genesis and connections to Jocelyn Bell Burnell

At about 32:20, Pete notes the use of animals as stand-ins for humanity and Maggie expands on deas of resistance as seen in the collection

At about 33:20, The two discuss ideas of redress and reclaiming the past through stories in the collection, especially “The Observer’s Cage”

At about 36:00, the two discuss a story with ghosts and ideas of “unfinished business” and capturing past natural greatness

At about 38:00, Maggie talks about sadly learning that an idea that she thought was original was not, as the two discuss a few stories about commercialism, dystopia, and climate change

At about 41:40, the two discuss middens, and themes of reclaiming what has been lost 

At about 43:50, Pete notes an interesting story that deals with memory and AI, and Maggie talks about writing from a interesting-placed narrator 

At about 45:40, Pete draws connections between a title character, Miriam Ackerman, and Truman Capote’s wonderful “A Christmas Memory”, while Maggie discusses the relationship between the title character and the narrator 

At about 48:30, The two discuss violence and parental lack of control, especially in “Tiger on the Roof” and its memorable ending and creative plot 

At about 51:45, Pete highlights the poignant and resonant closing line for the above story and connects the ending to Alice Elliott Dark’s classic, “In the Gloaming”

At about 53:20, The two discuss the collection’s title story and Maggie discuses inspiration from Carmen Maria Machado

At about 54:20, The two discuss the way the above story is “gutting” in its portrayal of the “banality of loss”

At about 57:30, Maggie reminds that the book is not just a “downer!”

At about 58:10, Maggie reads from “En Plein Aire”

At about 1:01:50, Maggie gives information on places to buy her book and social media and contact information

At about 1:02:40, Maggie shares information on some exciting new projects 

   You can now subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, and leave me a five-star review. You can also ask for the podcast by name using Alexa, and find the pod on Stitcher, Spotify, and on Amazon Music. Follow me on IG, where I’m @chillsatwillpodcast, or on Twitter, where I’m @chillsatwillpo1. You can watch this and other episodes on YouTube-watch and subscribe to The Chills at Will Podcast Channel. Please subscribe to both my YouTube Channel and my podcast while you’re checking out this episode.

      I am very excited to have one or two podcast episodes per month featured on the website of Chicago Review of Books. The audio will be posted, along with a written interview culled from the audio. A big thanks to Rachel León and Michael Welch at Chicago Review.

    Sign up now for The Chills at Will Podcast Patreon: it can be found at patreon.com/chillsatwillpodcastpeterriehl

     Check out the page that describes the benefits of a Patreon membership, including cool swag and bonus episodes. Thanks in advance for supporting my one-man show, my DIY podcast and my extensive reading, research, editing, and promoting to keep this independent podcast pumping out high-quality content!

   This month’s Patreon bonus episode features segments from conversations with Jeff Pearlman, Matt Bell, F. Douglas Brown, Jorge Lacera, Jean Guererro, Rachel Yoder, and more, as they reflect on chill-inducing writers who have inspired their own work.

   I have added a $1 a month tier for “Well-Wishers” and Cheerleaders of the Show.

   This is a passion project of mine, a DIY operation, and I’d love for your help in promoting what I’m convinced is a unique and spirited look at an often-ignored art form.

   The intro song for The Chills at Will Podcast is “Wind Down” (Instrumental Version), and the other song played on this episode was “Hoops” (Instrumental)” by Matt Weidauer, and both songs are used through ArchesAudio.com.

    Please tune in for Episode 265 with Carvell Wallace. He is a writer and podcaster who has contributed to GQ, New York Times Magazine, Pitchfork, MTV News, and Al Jazeera, among others. His debut memoir, Another Word For Love, is a 2024 Kirkus Finalist in Nonfiction, and one of Pete’s all-time favorite memoirs.

   The episode airs on December 10.

   Lastly, please go to ceasefiretoday.com, which features 10+ actions to help bring about Ceasefire in Gaza.

Notes and Links to Fernanda Trías’ Work

   Fernanda Trías was born in Uruguay and is the award-winning author of three novels, two of which have been published in English. She is also the author of the short story collection No soñarás flores and the chapbook El regreso. A writer and instructor of creative writing, she holds an MFA in creative writing from New York University. She was awarded the National Uruguayan Literature Prize, The Critics’ Choice Award Bartolomé Hidalgo, and the Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz International Prize in Mexico for her novel Pink Slime. Both The Rooftop and Pink Slime were awarded the British PEN Translates Award, and Pink Slime was chosen by The New York Times in Spanish as one of the ten best books of 2020. Translation rights for her work have been sold in fifteen languages. She currently lives in Bogotá, Colombia, where she is a teacher at the creative writing MFA program of Instituto Caro y Cuervo. In 2017, she was selected as Writer-in-Residence at the Casa de Velázquez in Madrid, where she started writing her latest novel, Pink Slime.

Buy Pink Slime

Fernanda Trias' Publisher Page for Simon and Schuster

Review of Pink Slime from Reactor Mag

At about 2:00, Pete and Fernanda discuss the book’s Spanish and English titles and different subtleties of each; Fernanda details how she decided to title the book as she dd

At about 3:20, Annie McDermott, Episode 91 and Mario Levrero shout outs!

At about 4:00, Fernanda discusses her reading life growing up, the ways in which better translations slowly came to Uruguay, and reading 

At about 6:45, Fernanda talks about respect for Garcia Marquez, though not being a huge fan, and cites Juan Rulfo as “perfección”

At about 8:15, Pete expands on a Rulfo favorite of his, “No Oyes Ladrar los Perros,” and Fernanda expands on her love of Rulfo’s Pedro Paramo 

At about 10:05, Fernanda talks about favorite contemporary authors, like Herta Muller and Olga Tokarczuk 

At about 12:00, Pete shouts out Jennifer Croft, and Fernanda responds to Pete’s questions about why there is such a affinity for Eastern European writing in Latin América, and she specifies the Río Plata region as connected 

At about 14:55, Fernanda describes her familial connections to Europe-particularly Italy and Spain

At about 17:15, Fernanda responds to Pete’s question about seeds for her writing life

At about 19:05, Fernanda references The Stranger and El Lugar by Levrero as chill-inducing books

At about 21:30, Pete is complimentary of Fernanda’s worldbuilding, and she expands on what she loves about it

At about 23:00, Pete and Fernanda discuss translation in her book, especially of colloquialisms like “ni fu ni fa”

At about 26:25, Fernanda responds to Pete’s question about climate change and other stimuli for Mugre Rosa/Pink Slime

At about 28:50, Pete mentions the book’s interesting dialogues that complement the action, and Fernanda expands on the evolving dialogues  

At about 30:50, Fernanda talks about the book’s opening and the “first image” in her mind of a foggy port that creates an ambience for the book

At about 33:45, Pete shares laudatory blurbs for the book, especially about the book’s “envelop[ing]” world built by Fernanda

At about 34:25, Fernanda describes the book’s opening, including a pivotal scene involving a possible last fish

At about 37:05, Pete wonders about nostalgia, and Fernanda talks about her interest and lack of interest in certain ideas of what has been lost 

At about 39:40, Fernanda discusses the relationship between the narrator and Max and its significance in the novel, especially in charting changes in the narrator as the book continues

At about 44:20, Pete points out a funny saying/joke from the book and Fernanda outlines her conversations with Heather Cleary in the translating of the joke

At about 46:05, The two discuss “surrendering and letting go” and connections to the novel and specifically, the narrator and Max’s relationship 

At about 47:30, Pete lays out some basics on the relationships between the narrator and her mother, as well as her work situation with Mauro; Fernanda talks about how Covid’s social dynamics have mirrored so many parts of her novel and the ways in which the rich were able to move to safety   

At about 51:45, the two discuss the differing relationships between the narrator’s two mother figure-Fernanda talks about the key questions of “What is a mother?”

At about 55:50, Fernanda and Pete discuss Mauro and his health condition and his memories of the time outlined in the book

At about 58:00, Pete and Fernanda reflect on ideas of community and if there is optimism/hope that comes with the book 

At about 1:01:50, The two discuss ideas of systems and individuals’ culpability 

At about 1:04:00, Fernanda gives social media info, and places to buy her book

   You can now subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, and leave me a five-star review. You can also ask for the podcast by name using Alexa, and find the pod on Stitcher, Spotify, and on Amazon Music. Follow me on IG, where I’m @chillsatwillpodcast, or on Twitter, where I’m @chillsatwillpo1. You can watch this and other episodes on YouTube-watch and subscribe to The Chills at Will Podcast Channel. Please subscribe to both my YouTube Channel and my podcast while you’re checking out this episode.

      I am very excited to have one or two podcast episodes per month featured on the website of Chicago Review of Books. The audio will be posted, along with a written interview culled from the audio. A big thanks to Rachel León and Michael Welch at Chicago Review.

    Sign up now for The Chills at Will Podcast Patreon: it can be found at patreon.com/chillsatwillpodcastpeterriehl

     Check out the page that describes the benefits of a Patreon membership, including cool swag and bonus episodes. Thanks in advance for supporting my one-man show, my DIY podcast and my extensive reading, research, editing, and promoting to keep this independent podcast pumping out high-quality content!

   This month’s Patreon bonus episode features segments from conversations with Jeff Pearlman, Matt Bell, F. Douglas Brown, Jorge Lacera, Jean Guererro, Rachel Yoder, and more, as they reflect on chill-inducing writers who have inspired their own work.

I have added a $1 a month tier for “Well-Wishers” and Cheerleaders of the Show.

   This is a passion project of mine, a DIY operation, and I’d love for your help in promoting what I’m convinced is a unique and spirited look at an often-ignored art form.

   The intro song for The Chills at Will Podcast is “Wind Down” (Instrumental Version), and the other song played on this episode was “Hoops” (Instrumental)” by Matt Weidauer, and both songs are used through ArchesAudio.com.

    Please tune in for Episode 264 with Maggie Sheffer. She is Professor of Practice at Tulane University, where she teaches courses in design thinking and speculative fiction as tools for social change. She is a founding member of Third Lantern Lit, a local writing collective, and her debut short story collection, The Man in the Banana Trees, was selected by judge Jamil Jan Kochai for the Iowa Short Fiction Award, and is published as of November 5.

   The episode airs on December 3.

   Lastly, please go to ceasefiretoday.com, which features 10+ actions to help bring about Ceasefire in Gaza.

Notes and Links to Rus Bradburd’s Work

   Rus Bradburd’s latest book is the satirical novel, “Big Time.”  Rus attended Chicago Public Schools for eleven years before graduating from North Park College. After coaching basketball for fourteen seasons at UTEP and New Mexico State University, he left the game to study with Robert Boswell and Antonya Nelson—and pursue a life in writing. His five books focus on the intersections of sport, social progress, politics, and race. Rus has remained connected to the game through his acclaimed Basketball in the Barrio summer program in El Paso, as well as serving as NMSU’s television “color analyst.”  He was awarded a Fulbright fellowship to return to Ireland to work on his next book about refugees in Belfast, “Almost Like Belonging.” An accomplished fiddle player, he lives in Chicago, Belfast, and New Mexico.

Buy Big Time

Rus Bradburd's Website

At about 2:00, Rus gives background on his fiddle playing and his time as color commentator for New México State University 

At about 3:40, Rus talks about Big Time as his first work of fiction, as well as its nice timing, and he details how he worked on the book for many years

At about 5:40, Rus outlines some of the book’s exposition and plot, and talks about the current Colorado Football connections

At about 6:40, Rus talks about Univ of Chicago’s 1939 dropping of football and other stimuli for the book’s genesis, including Rick Russo’s work, and Dave Meggyesy's book 

At about 8:40, Rus talks about satire and fiction and ideas of how fiction often gets at truth so well

At about 10:00, Rus gives more background on committee workloads and how the proliferation of committees and on particular example worked their ways into his book 

At about 12:25, Rus talks about normalization of budget imbalance in universities 

At about 13:30, Pete and Rus discuss the book’s epigraph, and Ruis talks about how the book satirizes college athletics, while he’s “knee-deep” in sports still

At about 15:30, Pete details a compare and contrast lesson that he teaches 

At about 17:00, Rus responds to Pete’s question about the book’s opening and main characters Mooney and Braverman, history professors, working concessions at football games 

At about 18:40, Rus gives background on “pop poet” Layla, and the ways in which she and the two history professors work together; Rus connects today’s conversations around student protests and protests in the book

At about 20:30, Rus talks about the downfall of the Coors State English Department in the book

At about 22:00, Rus cites the Missouri Football protest in fodder for a similar situation in his book

At about 23:00, Rus speaks about rich owners often asking taxpayers to finance big building projects 

At about 24:20, Pete asks Rus about any inspirations for Layla, and he expands upon how the character evolved in his writing

At about 27:50, Pete charts the roles and importance of some characters in the book

At about 28:35, Rus discusses the financial costs and gains of big sport universities, and argues that the sporting program is taking away from education and educators

At about 33:00, Rus talks about a flawed system that puts so much work and so little compensation for adjunct instructors and showcases much hypocrisy

At about 35:00, Pete points out links between Braverman and Mooney’s activism and civil rights movements, and Rus connects to the push and pull that governs his own thoughts with regards to activism 

At about 38:00, Rus talks about how the book’s events are in many ways reminiscent of fractures on the political Left

At about 40:25, Pete and Rus talk about NlL and how it relates to topics covered n the book, and whether/how NIL affected Rus’ writing 

At about 44:00, Rus cites Dagoberto Gilb as an example of a writer who is successful while not being preachy, and how through satire, one can be a “little more message-heavy”

At about 45:50, Rus responds to Pete’s questions about satire and hyperbole and highlights how his writing the book made him love his characters 

At about 48:45, Pete asks Rus about doing dystopia in The Age of Trump, and Rus cites David Shields and a tantalizing book idea that is now obsolete 

At about 51:10, Pete wonders about Rus’ thoughts on the frenzied rise of legalized sports gambling, and Rus talks about further normalization of formerly-”sacreligious” things like beer sales at college games

At about 53:20, Rus cites Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk as an influence on his book and talks about using a real beer company’s name

At about 54:45, Pete compliments Rus’ use of stream of consciousness 

At about 56:30, Rus shares out information on readings and book events coming up, including one with Beto O’Rourke, and contact and book buying information

You can now subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, and leave me a five-star review. You can also ask for the podcast by name using Alexa, and find the pod on Stitcher, Spotify, and on Amazon Music. Follow me on IG, where I’m @chillsatwillpodcast, or on Twitter, where I’m @chillsatwillpo1. You can watch this and other episodes on YouTube-watch and subscribe to The Chills at Will Podcast Channel. Please subscribe to both my YouTube Channel and my podcast while you’re checking out this episode.

      I am very excited to have one or two podcast episodes per month featured on the website of Chicago Review of Books. The audio will be posted, along with a written interview culled from the audio. A big thanks to Rachel León and Michael Welch at Chicago Review.

    Sign up now for The Chills at Will Podcast Patreon: it can be found at patreon.com/chillsatwillpodcastpeterriehl

     Check out the page that describes the benefits of a Patreon membership, including cool swag and bonus episodes. Thanks in advance for supporting my one-man show, my DIY podcast and my extensive reading, research, editing, and promoting to keep this independent podcast pumping out high-quality content!

This month’s Patreon bonus episode features segments from conversations with Jeff Pearlman, Matt Bell, F. Douglas Brown, Jorge Lacera, Jean Guererro, Rachel Yoder, and more, as they reflect on chill-inducing writers who have inspired their own work.

I have added a $1 a month tier for “Well-Wishers” and Cheerleaders of the Show.

   This is a passion project of mine, a DIY operation, and I’d love for your help in promoting what I’m convinced is a unique and spirited look at an often-ignored art form.

   The intro song for The Chills at Will Podcast is “Wind Down” (Instrumental Version), and the other song played on this episode was “Hoops” (Instrumental)” by Matt Weidauer, and both songs are used through ArchesAudio.com.

    Please tune in for Episode 263 with Fernanda Trías, award-winning author of three novels and the short story collection No soñarás flores; awarded the National Uruguayan Literary Prize, The Critics’ Choice Award Bartolomé Hidalgo, and Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz International Prize in Mexico for Pink Slime/Mugre Rosa.

The episode goes live on November 26.

Lastly, please go to ceasefiretoday.com, which features 10+ actions to help bring about Ceasefire in Gaza.

Notes and Links to Greg Mania’s Work

   Greg Mania’s words have been published in The New York Times, The New Yorker, Vanity Fair, HuffPost, Oprah Daily, PAPER, among other international online and print platforms. He is also a contributing editor to BOMB Magazine, he hosts The Rumpus’s #ShowUsYourDesk on Instagram Live, and co-hosts Empty Trash, a reading series in Los Angeles. His debut memoir, Born to Be Public, is out now from CLASH Books.

   He lives in Los Angeles, where he spends his days writing and hanging out with his boyfriend, the poet and TV writer Tommy Pico, whose commitment to the bit rivals his own.

Buy Born to Be Public

Greg Mania’s Website

Lambda Literary Review of Born to Be Public

“How Born to Be Public Author Greg Mania Lived a Double Life Before Coming Out” for Oprah Daily

At about 2:10, Greg talks about growing up in Central New Jersey, and his cultural life and the ways in which New York City held a special magnetism for him

At about 5:35, Greg describes the different parts of New Jersey and its immortal malls 

At about 6:45, Greg responds to Pete’s questions about growing up speaking Polish and whether his writing in English has parallels in Polish 

At about 8:15, Greg explains how he’s a “word nerd” and how this and his family affects his joke creation 

At about 9:40, Greg talks about how he and Ruth Madievsky vibe for me many reasons, including a shared affinity for dark humor

At about 12:30, Greg notes that Born to Be Public has been **translated into Polish**

At about 13:20, Greg gives background on Poland and its evolving conservatism and liberalism 

At about 14:15, Greg shows his Beverly Cleary-related tattoo and shouts out his love of Garfield and other dark/weird humor in growing up; Phyllis Diller gets stanned 

At about 16:30, n expanding upon his love for Pee Wee Herman, Greg talks about his love for and interest in persona 

At about 17:40, Phyllis Diller gets stanned more as Greg notes an incredible sign from Phyllis/the universe

At about 19:25, Greg discusses the litany of publications with which he works, and being a “freelance” writer in a year of transformation

At about 21:20, Greg responds to Pete’s question about his writing routine

At about 24:50, Greg gives information on his upcoming novel project 

At about 27:15, Greg answers Pete’s question about how taking his nonfiction to fiction is “freeing”

At about 30:10, Greg lists Ruth Madievsky, Samantha Irby, Emily Austin, Rufi Thorpe, Kristen Arnett, Chantal Johnson, Kimberly King Parsons as some of the writers who thrill and challenge her

At about 32:40, Greg responds to Pete’s asking about how one is funny on the page

At about 34:25, Greg makes a startling Friends’-related admission

At about 35:15, Pete and Greg discuss the interplay between the humor and heaviness in his book

At about 39:20, Sand art!

At about 40:30, Greg talks about advice from a writer about how he ended up writing a book that has resonated with so many 

At about 41:30, Greg reflects on childhood fears and the ways in which he has worked through these fears and compulsions 

At about 43:45, The two discuss fixations with death

At about 44:40, Greg gives background on his childhood fascination with chimneys and diesel trains, and his dad’s selflessness

At about 47:30, Greg talks about the ways in which his parents’ generosity and love was counterbalanced by homophobia and migraines and anxiety 

At about 51:00, Greg details some harmful words from a childhood doctor 

At about 53:15, Greg responds to Pete’s question about his mindset in retorting to bullies and he mentions the “power” that came with quips 

At about 55:15, Pete connects Greg’s humor to a Tillie Olsen line and wonders about Greg’s feelings at the time 

At about 57:45, Greg details how his friend Rachel brought him so much confidence and helped him build his humor

At about 1:00:00, Greg talks about the “no inhibitions” that govern his relationships with his boyfriend Tommy in the same way as with Rachel

At about 1:01:15, Greg charts how educating himself on his fears has been helpful, particularly with regards to “fight or flight”  

At about 1:05:15, Pete notes a “LOL” moment that sums up a classic college trope 

At about 1:07:30, Greg speaks to the idea of “identity as never neat”

At about 1:09:00, Greg talks about the links between his first friends in New York and Lady Gaga and the ways in which “Greg Mania” (MAYN-ee-uh) grew to fit him

At about 1:10:10, Greg discusses how his writing mentors in high school and college helped him on his way to professional writing 

At about 1:13:20, Greg talks about the book as A memoir, and how it’s him “pars[ing] the different parts of [him]”

At about 1:15:50, Greg responds to Pete’s questions about his days at “Magic Mondays” and its connection to the worlds of publishing

At about 1:19:00, Greg talks about his “majestic” hair (Pete’s words) and the ways in which it was his calling card in his clubbing days

At about 1:20:40, Greg answers Pete’s questions about what comedy writing “satisfies” for him, and Greg expands on the “sacred[ness]” of joke writing

At about 1:23:00, Greg details the “reward” in writing jokes and talking humor with his boyfriend

At about 1:24:40, Greg talks about the difference between memoir/memoirs and how his book applies to the former

   You can now subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, and leave me a five-star review. You can also ask for the podcast by name using Alexa, and find the pod on Stitcher, Spotify, and on Amazon Music. Follow me on IG, where I’m @chillsatwillpodcast, or on Twitter, where I’m @chillsatwillpo1. 

      I am very excited to have one or two podcast episodes per month featured on the website of Chicago Review of Books. The audio will be posted, along with a written interview culled from the audio. A big thanks to Rachel León and Michael Welch at Chicago Review.

    Sign up now for The Chills at Will Podcast Patreon: it can be found at patreon.com/chillsatwillpodcastpeterriehl

     Check out the page that describes the benefits of a Patreon membership, including cool swag and bonus episodes. Thanks in advance for supporting my one-man show, my DIY podcast and my extensive reading, research, editing, and promoting to keep this independent podcast pumping out high-quality content!

This month’s Patreon bonus episode features segments from conversations with Jeff Pearlman, Matt Bell, F. Douglas Brown, Jorge Lacera, Jean Guererro, Rachel Yoder, and more, as they reflect on chill-inducing writers who have inspired their own work.

I have added a $1 a month tier for “Well-Wishers” and Cheerleaders of the Show.

   This is a passion project of mine, a DIY operation, and I’d love for your help in promoting what I’m convinced is a unique and spirited look at an often-ignored art form.

   The intro song for The Chills at Will Podcast is “Wind Down” (Instrumental Version), and the other song played on this episode was “Hoops” (Instrumental)” by Matt Weidauer, and both songs are used through ArchesAudio.com.

    Please tune in for Episode 262 with Rus Bradburd, who teaches writing classes in New Mexico State University’s MFA program and coached basketball at UTEP and New Mexico State for fourteen seasons. His work has appeared in The Southern Review, Colorado Review, Puerto del Sol, SLAM Magazine, Bounce, Los Angeles Times, and many others. Rus is a two-time guest spoke about 2018 nonfiction book, All the Dreams We've Dreamed: A Story of Hoops and Handguns on Chicago's West Side on Chills at Will Episode 15. November 19 is Pub Day for Big Time, his fourth book and second novel. The episode airs on Pub Day.

Lastly, please go to ceasefiretoday.com, which features 10+ actions to help bring about Ceasefire in Gaza.

Notes and Links to Lauren Markham’s Work

    Lauren Markham is a writer based in northern California. She is the author of the recent A Map of Future Ruins: On Borders and Belonging (Riverhead, 2024) which The New Yorker listed as one of “The Best Books We’ve Read in 2024 So Far” and which Kirkus reviews called “a remarkable, unnerving, and cautionary portrait of a global immigration crisis.”

A fiction writer, essayist and journalist, her work most often concerns issues related to youth, migration, the environment and her home state of California. Markham’s first book, The Far Away Brothers: Two Young Migrants and the Making of an American Life (Crown, 2017) was the winner of the 2018 Ridenhour Book Prize, the Northern California Book Award, and a California Book Award Silver Prize. It was named a Barnes & Noble Discover Selection, a New York Times Book Critics' Top Book of 2017, and was shortlisted for the J. Anthony Lukas Book Prize and the L.A. Times Book Award and longlisted for a Pen America Literary Award in Biography. 

Markham has reported from the border regions of Greece and Mexico and Thailand and Texas; from arctic Norway; from gang-controlled regions of El Salvador; from depopulating towns in rural Sardinia and rural Guatemala, too; from home school havens in southern California; from imperiled forests in Oregon and Washington; from the offices of overwhelmed immigration attorneys in L.A. and Tijuana; from the upscale haunts of women scammed on the Upper East Side. 

Her writing has appeared in outlets such as VQR (where she is a contributing editor), Harper's, The New York Times Magazine, The Guardian, The New York Review of Books, The New Republic, Guernica, Freeman's, Mother Jones, Orion, The Atlantic, Lit Hub, California Sunday, Zyzzyva, The Georgia Review, The Best American Travel Writing 2019, and on This American Life. She has been awarded fellowships from The Mesa Refuge, UC Berkeley, Middlebury College, the McGraw Center, the French American Foundation, the Society for Environmental Journalists, the Silvers Prize, the de Groot Foundation, and the Bread Loaf Writers' Conference. 

In addition to writing, Markham has spent fifteen years working at the intersection of education and immigration. She regularly teaches writing in various community writing centers as well as at the Ashland University MFA in Writing Program, the University of San Francisco and St. Mary’s MFA in Writing Program. Her third book, Immemorial, will be published by Transit Books in 2025.

Buy A Map of Future Ruins

Lauren's Website

Los Angeles Review of Books’ Review of A Map of Future Ruins

At about 4:00, Lauren makes the case that not all young reading has to be high-brow as she discusses formative works as a kid and adolescent, which included Nancy Drew and Milan Kundera

At about 6:50, Lauren responds to Pete’s question about how she thinks and writes in diverse genres, and how her reading of varied writers informs her own work

At about 10:40, Lauren shouts out Vauhini Vara, Hernan Diaz, Nathan Heller, Jia Tolentino, and other treasured contemporary writers

At about 12:45, Lauren talks about how writing informs her teaching, and vice versa

At about 15:25, Pete asks Lauren about seeds for A Map of Future Ruins and how her work with many undocumented and refugee students has affected her writing

At about 19:00, Lauren and Pete discuss ideas of belonging and exclusion and pride and heritage in connection to Lauren’s Greek heritage and reporting trips there

At about 23:10, Ideas of “insiders” and “outsiders” and the challenges of immigration paperwork are discussed

At about 26:05, Pete and Lauren reflect on a powerful quote from Warsan Shire regarding people being impelled to emigrate

At about 26:55, Lauren gives background on the conditions that made Moria on the Greek slang of Lesbos a “purgatory”

At about 31:20, Demetrios, a representative Greek from the book, and his views on immigration and “speak[ing] bird” is discussed 

At about 36:05, Lauren expands upon how Greece as the “starting point of democracy” has been corrupted and co-opted and points to a stellar expose on truth from Kwame Anthony Appiah

At about 41:50, The two discuss the arbitrary nature of “The West” and Greece and its ideals and ideas of a “Western lineage

At about 43:55, Lauren expands upon the ideas of “proximity to Whiteness” with particular historical relevance for Greeks, Italians, and Southern Europeans

At about 44:55, Pete and Lauren reference the horrific images of the Syrian refugee whose death galvanized support, as well as Ali Sayed’s story, traced in her book

At about 46:40, Lauren explains terminology and methods of doing business by Turkish and other smugglers

At about 48:10, Turkish and Greek relations and how they affected the lack of patrols is highlighted 

At about 49:20, “The Moria Six” and Ali’s story and trials are discussed in relation to the fire referenced at the beginning of the book

At about 52:00, The impositions of maps and Empire are reflected upon 

At about 53:05, “Whiteness” and its imposition on “classical form” and racist science are explored, as written about in the book

At about 54:55, The two trace the initial and later welcome for refugees to Greek islands and ideas of the original meaning of “asylum”; Lauren also highlights many incredible people helping refugees to this day, as well as ideas of “invaders” and scapegoats

At about 58:40, Discussion of Greek austerity and true issues of difficulty for are referenced 

At about 59:50, The two discuss Lauren’s section in the book regarding Darien Gap and connections to Lauren’s family’s own emigration/immigration story

At about 1:02:00, The two highlight ideas of community among refugees, and Pete asks Lauren about pessimism and optimism and the book’s title

At about 1:03:25, Ali’s unfinished story is referenced 

At about 1:04:05-Laser Round Questions! East Bay Booksellers, Point Reyes Books and Green Apple are shouted out as good places to buy her books

At about 1:05:05, Immemorial, Lauren’s 2025 release, is described 

What a pleasure it has been to speak with Lauren. Continued good luck to her with her future writing and important work.

Thank you for listening to this episode of The Chills at Will Podcast.

   You can now subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, and leave me a five-star review. You can also ask for the podcast by name using Alexa, and find the pod on Stitcher, Spotify, and on Amazon Music. Follow me on IG, where I’m @chillsatwillpodcast, or on Twitter, where I’m @chillsatwillpo1. You can watch this and other episodes on YouTube-watch and subscribe to The Chills at Will Podcast Channel. Please subscribe to both my YouTube Channel and my podcast while you’re checking out this episode.

      I am very excited to have one or two podcast episodes per month featured on the website of Chicago Review of Books. The audio will be posted, along with a written interview culled from the audio. A big thanks to Rachel León and Michael Welch at Chicago Review.

    Sign up now for The Chills at Will Podcast Patreon: it can be found at patreon.com/chillsatwillpodcastpeterriehl

     Check out the page that describes the benefits of a Patreon membership, including cool swag and bonus episodes. Thanks in advance for supporting my one-man show, my DIY podcast and my extensive reading, research, editing, and promoting to keep this independent podcast pumping out high-quality content!

This month’s Patreon bonus episode features segments from conversations with Jeff Pearlman, F. Douglas Brown, Matt Bell, Rachel Yoder, Jorge Lacera, and more, as they reflect on chill-inducing writing and writers that have inspired their own work.

   I have added a $1 a month tier for “Well-Wishers” and Cheerleaders of the Show.

   This is a passion project of mine, a DIY operation, and I’d love for your help in promoting what I’m convinced is a unique and spirited look at an often-ignored art form.

   The intro song for The Chills at Will Podcast is “Wind Down” (Instrumental Version), and the other song played on this episode was “Hoops” (Instrumental)” by Matt Weidauer, and both songs are used through ArchesAudio.com.

    Please tune in for Episode 261 with Greg Mania, who is a writer, comedian, and award-winning screenwriter. He’s also author of the debut memoir, Born to Be Public, which was an NPR Best Book of 2020 and an O, Oprah Magazine Best LGBTQ Book of 2020. Greg’s work has appeared in The New Yorker, Vanity Fair, Oprah Daily, PAPER, among other international online and print platforms.

This episode will air on November 12.

Lastly, please go to ceasefiretoday.com, which features 10+ actions to help bring about Ceasefire in Gaza.

Notes and Links to Jessica Whipple’s Work

Buy I Think I Think a Lot

Interview with WESA/NPR, Regarding I Think I Think a Lot

Jessica Whipple's Website

At about 2:20, Jessica gives background information on places to buy her books

At about 4:40, Jessica speaks to how her reading life is and was

At about 7:00, Jessca traces where her writing life kicked in and how her writing life was “reinvigorated” 

At about 10:00, Julie Fogliano and other inspiring and beloved children’s authors are given kudos

At about 12:20, Jessica reads “This is What I’m Thinking at the Container Store”

At about 15:50, Jessica expands on the universality and specificity of her poem, talking about OCD as a “spectrum”

At about 19:00, The two reflect on some stellar and vivid lines from the poem

At about 21:00, Jessica breaks down the different mechanisms of OCD and focuses on the compulsions and obsessions in their mental and outward forms

At about 23:35, Jessica introduces and reads her poem, “ Sometimes I Google You”

At about 26:25, Jessica explains how she is “speaking to the memory” depicted in the poem

At about 29:30, Jessica provides a nice way to think of haiku, thanks to Tim Green 

At about 32:45, Pete highlights the beautiful security given in Jessica’s work and other standout work

At about 33:40, Pete asks about the “Enough” from the title of Enough Is… and Jessica expands upon the “sense of importance” given to the word 

At about 35:20, Jessica responds to Pete’s questions about using symbolism and analogy in books for kids 

At about 37:00, Pete wonders about seeds for the book, I Think I Think a Lot

At about 40:15, Pete likens the apologies in the book to a Seinfeld episode

At about 41:20, Jessica talks about how the illustrator works off her writing

At about 42:45, Pete highlights the ways in which Jessica use nuance and asks Jessica about writing to engender empathy in kids 

At about 44:40, Jessica reads and discusses “To My Husband Now a Father” 

At about 48:20, Pete asks Jessica about writing about personal things and catharsis

At about 50:20, Lauren details exciting upcoming projects 

       You can now subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, and leave me a five-star review. You can also ask for the podcast by name using Alexa, and find the pod on Stitcher, Spotify, and on Amazon Music. Follow me on IG, where I’m @chillsatwillpodcast, or on Twitter, where I’m @chillsatwillpo1. You can watch this and other episodes on YouTube-watch and subscribe to The Chills at Will Podcast Channel. Please subscribe to both my YouTube Channel and my podcast while you’re checking out this episode.

      I am very excited about having one or two podcast episodes per month featured on the website of Chicago Review of Books. The audio will be posted, along with a written interview culled from the audio. A big thanks to Rachel León and Michael Welch at Chicago Review.

   Sign up now for The Chills at Will Podcast Patreon: it can be found at patreon.com/chillsatwillpodcastpeterriehl

    Check out the page that describes the benefits of a Patreon membership, including cool swag and bonus episodes. Thanks in advance for supporting my one-man show, my DIY podcast and my extensive reading, research, editing, and promoting to keep this independent podcast pumping out high-quality content!

This month’s Patreon bonus episode features segments from conversations with Deesha Philyaw, Luis Alberto Urrea, Chris Stuck, and more, as they reflect on chill-inducing writing and writers that have inspired their own work.

      This is a passion project of mine, a DIY operation, and I’d love for your help in promoting what I’m convinced is a unique and spirited look at an often-ignored art form.

   The intro song for The Chills at Will Podcast is “Wind Down” (Instrumental Version), and the other song played on this episode was “Hoops” (Instrumental)” by Matt Weidauer, and both songs are used through ArchesAudio.com.

    Please tune in for Episode 260 with Lauren Markham, whose writing regularly appears in outlets like Harper's, Lithub, The New York Times Magazine and VQR. She is the author of The Far Away Brothers: Two Young Migrants and the Making of an American Life, the winner of the 2018 Ridenhour Book Prize and a CA Book Award Silver Prize. Her most recent book, A Map of Future Ruins: On Borders and Belonging, is out in 2024 to acclaim.

The episode airs on November 5.

Lastly, please go to ceasefiretoday.com, which features 10+ actions to help bring about Ceasefire in Gaza.

Show Notes and Links to Porochista Khanpour's Work

For Episode 258, Pete welcomes Porochista Khakpour, and the two discuss, among other topics, her harrowing departure from Iran to the US at a young age, her voracious reading and writing and storytelling, amazing life experiences that have fed her writing, her love of contemporary stan culture and KPop, how her latest book’s release is different, seeds for Tehrangeles, modern wellness and conspiracy theory cultures, her experiences with the real Tehrangeles, the role of the outsider as a writer, and so much about themes and topics related to her novel, like celebrity worship, assimilation, cancel culture, and racism.

   Porochista Khakpour was born in Tehran and raised in the greater Los Angeles area. She is the critically acclaimed author of two previous novels, Sons and Other Flammable Objects and The Last Illusion; a memoir, Sick; and a collection of essays, Brown Album. Her writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, The Wall Street Journal, Bookforum, Elle, and many other publications. Her latest book is Tehrangeles. She lives in New York City.

Buy Tehrangeles 

Porochista’s Official Website

Porochista’s Wikipedia Page

“Writing Iranian America…”-2020 Interview from Columbia Journal

At about 1:45: Pete gets the wrong vegetable in remembering his first exposure to Porochista’s excellent work

At about 2:45, Porochista talks about the year in publishing and the ways in which this year’s tragedies have been in juxtaposition to careful and affectionate feedback for her novel

At about 7:30, Porochista and Pete discuss some politicians’ cowardice and Porochsta’s book as a “weird distraction”

At about 10:20, Pete asks Porochista about writing satire in an increasingly off-its-hinges world

At about 13:20, Porochista talks about the 1%, richest of the richest, and how “this sort of madness of wealthy people during the beginning of the pandemic”

At about 15:10, Porochsta gives background on the acquisition of her novel 

At about 17:25, The two highlight Danzy Senna’s great work

At about 18:20, Porochista cites examples of “dark humor” that at times run through Persian cultures 

At about 20:10, Porochista reflects on the idea of “perpetual outsiders” and the effect on writing

At about 21:40, Porochista details her family’s fleeing Iran and the traumas and memories that came with her odyssey to arriving in the US

At about 24:30, Porochista traces the way that Iran was often viewed by Americans at the time in which her family arrived in the US

At about 25:15, Porochista responds to Pete’s questions about her early reading and writing and language life, both in English and Persian 

At about 31:45, 

At about 32:50, Porochista talks about she’s been described as a “maximalist” and the connection to Persian as her first language

At about 34:35, Porochista talks about representation in the texts she read growing up and her early love of particular works that allowed her to learn about the Western canon in order to enjoy it and resist it

At about 37:30, Porochista charts her reading journey from Faulkner to Morrison to Sartre to the Beat Poets and describes her self-designed silent book reading “retreat”

At about 40:20, Porochista describes her reading and writing as responses to her life experiences and her identity revolving around writing

At about 41:35, Porochista describes transformative and formative texts and mentors and her time at Sarah Lawrence College and Oxford

At about 43:50, Porochista talks about the ways in which her reading was affected by how women writers are often limited, and how this connects to her seeking out adventure and life experience in living as a writer, including her going to William Faulkner Country

At about 49:45, The two make appreciations of James Joyce’s work 

At about 50:55, Porochista makes a case for contemporary writing as comprising a “golden era”

At about 52:00, Pete wonders if and how Porochsta has been influenced by Bret Easton Ellis and David Foster Wallace

At about 54:45, Porochista talks about ways in which Less than Zero and American Psycho and Donna Tartt’s work have affected the sensibility of Tehrangeles and especially its ending

At about 59:15, Porochista talks about “dream” casting in case the novel becomes a movie, including Tara Yummy

At about 1:01:00, Porochista talks about the “twisted logic” found on many of the chat rooms/forums she spent time in for book research 

At about 1:04:15, Porochista talks about how Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women and Alcott’s experience informed the writing of Tehrangeles

At about 1:07:55, The two discuss how Shahs of Sunset affected the novel

At about 1:10:00, Porochista explains her rationale in making the book’s reality show producers a collective

At about 1:10:45, Porochista responds to Pete’s question about the book’s epitaphs  

At about 1:13:55, Porochista talks about the book’s untranslated Persian section and “progress” in people’s understanding

At about 1:15:20, Pete cites and quotes the book’s opening litany and the exposition of Book I

At about 1:16:20, Porochista describes a raucous scene where Roxana, a main character, goes through a “zodiac reassignment”

At about 1:17:50, Porochista digs into Roxana’s “Secret”

At about 1:19:10, The two lament Kanye West’s horrible recent behavior and other misogynists and abusers, in connection with the setting of the book

At about 1:22:30, The two discuss the world of influencers and their effect on younger generations in line with the characters of the book

At about 1:24:20, Pete recounts the Milani family members and their views of the 

At about 1:26:00, Porochista recounts inspiration for Violet’s sweets diet from an interview with Momofuku’s Christina Tosi and Porochista’s time at Sarah Lawrence

At about 1:28:00, The two discuss Violet’s experience with a racist and demeaning model shoot that plays on her Iranian heritage 

At about 1:29:30, Porochista reflects on Tehrangeles culture and its connection to religion 

At about 1:30:35, Porochista discusses KPop and “stan culture” and how Mina “found her voice” through these online forums 

At about 1:34:20, Porochista talks about purposely focusing on realistic and empathetic portrayals of gender identity 

At about 1:38:30, The two discuss Hailey as representative of the intersections between Covid conspiracy theories and racism and “hidden” CA racism and wellness culture

At about 1:40:00, Porochista talks about her own experiences with the “dark wu wu” of the wellness cultures during her own fragile 

At about 1:44:00, The two discuss Ali (Al) and his leaving Iran behind and how he seeks Americanization and how he makes his fortune

At about 1:46:15, Porochista likens events of the book, “The World of Al” to the DJ Khaled song 

At about 1:48:05, The two discuss Roxana’s desire to have a blowout early Covid-era party and how the physical “wings” of the house connect to the sisters’ different growing pains and goals and ethics

At about 1:50:40, The two riff on some beautifully absurd scenes in the book, including a pet psychic’s appearance 

At about 1:51:50, Porochista gives background on deciding to do untranslated Persian in the book and about Homa and the ways she doesn't want to be part of Tehrangeles; also Editor Maria Goldberg Love

At about 1:55:10, Pete asks about the rationale and background for the book’s ending using stream of consciousness

At about 1:57:15, Porochista shouts out Golden Hour Books and City of Asylum Books, and other places to buy her book, including Shawnee, Kansas’ Seven Stories, run by 17 yr old Halley Vincent

At about 1:59:45, Porochista shouts out the stellar Deep Vellum and Verso and writers like

At about 2:01:05, Porochista talks about exciting upcoming projects 

You can now subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, and leave me a five-star review. You can also ask for the podcast by name using Alexa, and find the pod on Stitcher, Spotify, and on Amazon Music. Follow me on IG, where I’m @chillsatwillpodcast, or on Twitter, where I’m @chillsatwillpo1. You can watch this and other episodes on YouTube-watch and subscribe to The Chills at Will Podcast Channel. Please subscribe to both my YouTube Channel and my podcast while you’re checking out this episode.

      I am very excited to have one or two podcast episodes per month featured on the website of Chicago Review of Books. The audio will be posted, along with a written interview culled from the audio. A big thanks to Rachel León and Michael Welch at Chicago Review.

    Sign up now for The Chills at Will Podcast Patreon: it can be found at patreon.com/chillsatwillpodcastpeterriehl

     Check out the page that describes the benefits of a Patreon membership, including cool swag and bonus episodes. Thanks in advance for supporting my one-man show, my DIY podcast and my extensive reading, research, editing, and promoting to keep this independent podcast pumping out high-quality content!

This month’s Patreon bonus episode features segments from conversations with Deesha Philyaw, Luis Alberto Urrea, Chris Stuck, and more, as they reflect on chill-inducing writing and writers that have inspired their own work.

I have added a $1 a month tier for “Well-Wishers” and Cheerleaders of the Show.

   This is a passion project of mine, a DIY operation, and I’d love for your help in promoting what I’m convinced is a unique and spirited look at an often-ignored art form.

   The intro song for The Chills at Will Podcast is “Wind Down” (Instrumental Version), and the other song played on this episode was “Hoops” (Instrumental)” by Matt Weidauer, and both songs are used through ArchesAudio.com.

    Please tune in for Episode 259 with Jessica Whipple. Jessica writes for adults and children, and her poetry has been published recently in Funicular, Door Is a Jar, and many more. She has published two children's picture books in 2023: Enough Is… and I Think I Think a Lot. 

The episode will air on October 29.

Lastly, please go to ceasefiretoday.com, which features 10+ actions to help bring about Ceasefire in Gaza.