In this final episode of 2016 (we'll be back online the first week of January 2017!), the Loft Podcast regulars Britt Udesen, Tanner Curl, Bao Phi, and Kathryn Savage reflect on a year's worth of writing. Both local Minnesota writing and national writing left a far-reaching depth of work. The regulars also forecast what writing we need most in 2017, and how literature can engage with empathy. Happy New Year to all our listeners.

In this episode, Loft Podcast regulars Britt Udesen, Bao Phil, Kathryn Savage, and Tanner Curl interview Tea Rozman-Clark, the executive director and cofounder of Green Card Voices (greencardvoices.org). Green Card Voices is a nonprofit that gathers the stories of recent immigrants in video and text format to share and connect with others through the power of personal story. 

In this episode, Loft Podcast regulars Britt Udesen, Bao Phi, Tanner Curl, and Kathryn Savage talk about how artists influence a city's collective identity. The episode features a phone interview Bao Phi had with Into Quarterly founders Laura Benys and Virginia Sasser. City-inspired literary and arts journal Into Quarterly launches its Minneapolis volume on Dec 9: a portrait of Minneapolis, depicted through the creative work of the city’s own writers, photographers, designers, and fine artists. 

In this episode, Loft Podcast regulars Tanner Curl, Bao Phi, and Kathryn Savage talk to Evelyn Miller from the Minnesota Center for Book Arts gift shop, and Daley Farr from Milkweed Books (a new bookstore in Minneapolis) to get holiday gift ideas for the writers and readers in our life. From hand-bound leather journals, to a slew of books from local Minnesota publishers, to the gift of childcare for writers with kids - this episode covers it all.

In this episode, Loft Podcast regulars Tanner Curl and Kathryn Savage introduce us to the world of teenage angst before turning it over to a pre-recorded Loft Member Happy Hour on the subject. Included in this recording are featured storytelling performances by Sherrie Fernandez-Williams and Maxwell Collyard, and spontaneous audience performances from Loft members Catherine Brennan and LE LaRue. Get out your black eyeliner: we're ready to get angsty. 

Disclaimer: There is adult language and content in this recording during Maxwell's performance. 

In this episode, airing on election day, our regulars Britt Udesen, Bao Phi, and Tanner Curl take on the task of taking our minds off of the contentious current election for a moment to think about which fictional characters would make the best or worst president of the United States. Also discussed: how words affect elections and campaigns. 

In this first episode of The Loft Podcast, staff members and Loft Podcast regulars Britt Udesen, Bao Phi, Kathryn Savage, and Tanner Curl talk about all things novel writing, in preparation for November being National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). They speak with special guests Dawn Frederick (of Red Sofa Literary) and author Peter Geye on the subject.

The Loft Podcast is produced by Melissa Wray, assisted by Chris Jones. Regular staff round-table contributors are Britt Udesen, Bao Phi, Tanner Curl, and Kathryn Savage. The theme music is written by Toki Wright and produced by Mamadu.