The Thoughtful Bro

With one of my true literary heroes, and a treasure to the world's literary and spiritual communities, Karen Armstrong, on her new book Sacred Nature.

We discussed the mythic self, natural ecstasy, and how saving the planet begins with the smallest of steps. Looking back across my life, she is probably the author I have loved most and longest.

All episodes of The Thoughtful Bro aired live originally on A Mighty Blaze. The Thoughtful Bro is proudly sponsored by Libro.fm.

One of my most hilarious Thoughtful Bros ever, with one of the funniest writers anywhere, former U.S. Poet Laureate, Billy Collins. Along with readings from his latest book, Musical Tables, we discussed finding your voice, how gratitude is a key ingredient in making a poet, and late bloomers.

All episodes of The Thoughtful Bro aired live originally on A Mighty Blaze. The Thoughtful Bro is proudly sponsored by Libro.fm.

A conversation with the ever-stylish, ever-readable, always unputdownable Rebecca Makkai, on her new boarding-school-literary-whodunit-bestseller, I Have Some Questions For You.

We discussed strategies for reviving a flagging work-in-progress, story structure hacks, and the importance of interrogating your own memories with a critical eye.

All episodes of The Thoughtful Bro aired live originally on A Mighty Blaze. The Thoughtful Bro is proudly sponsored by Libro.fm.

An epic discussion with one of my heroes & mentors, the world renowned screenwriting guru Robert McKee. While discussing his new book Action: The Art of Excitement For Screen, Page and Game, we covered: embracing story conventions while avoiding cliches; how you can't have great heroes without great antagonists; and a furious throw down of Joseph Campbell and the Hero's Journey.

All episodes of The Thoughtful Bro aired live originally on A Mighty Blaze. The Thoughtful Bro is proudly sponsored by Libro.fm.

Upholding his reputation for minimal BS and straight talk on Trump's America, Officer Michael Fanone did not disappoint as he discussed his new memoir Hold The Line.

We talked about what it was like in the war zone of January 6 at the Capitol, why that day inspired him, what to make of the midterms, and his sharp reply to whether the former President should be indicted.

All episodes of The Thoughtful Bro aired live originally on A Mighty Blaze. The Thoughtful Bro is proudly sponsored by Libro.fm.

With Maggie O'Farrell, whose heartfelt, lyrical exploration about genius and grief, Hamnet, vacuumed up awards and made, it seems, every last reader weep. If you're looking for sensual prose, a startling theory on why Shakespeare wrote his most famous play, or a rollicking sex scene in an apple-storage-shed, look no further.

With introductory thoughts on historical fiction as a genre, paring down your story, and becoming the writer you want to be, with Whitney Scharer, author of The Age Of Light. All episodes of The Thoughtful Bro aired live originally on A Mighty Blaze. The Thoughtful Bro is proudly sponsored by Libro.fm.

With Pulitzer Prize-winner Erin Kelly and Patsy Rembert, wife of the late Winfred Rembert, whose improbable life story and stunning art are featured in the miraculous, American-classic-to-be Chasing Me To My Grave: An Artist's Memoir of the Jim Crow South.

We discussed how Winfred found beauty in his life's terror and how he avoided resentment in order to live and make art with love. An indispensable new text for understanding our country's race relations. Trigger warnings for adult content.

• Link 1 to Winfred Rembert's paintings discussed in the show. (https://winfredrembert.com/paintings1)
• Link 2 to Winfred Rembert's paintings discussed in the show. (https://winfredrembert.com/paintings2)

All episodes of The Thoughtful Bro aired live originally on A Mighty Blaze. The Thoughtful Bro is proudly sponsored by Libro.fm.

With Harley Rustad, discussing his fascinating new true crime/travelogue Lost In The Valley Of Death. We covered: "India Syndrome"; the paradoxes of authenticity on social media; the intrepid 1800s explorer Richard Burton; and the potentially deadly perils of mythologizing your own life on Instagram. This book really got to me, and I spend a bit of time at the opening of the show trying to figure out why.

All episodes of The Thoughtful Bro aired live originally on A Mighty Blaze. The Thoughtful Bro is proudly sponsored by Libro.fm.

With Emily St. John Mandel, discussing her new novel Sea of Tranquility. Topics: how she got to know her "Station Eleven" HBO showrunner at a super creepy gun show; the cathartic role of art and sports in any functioning society; and her deep ambivalence regarding our utterly convenient, utterly tech-enabled modern life.

With guest host Whitney Scharer, author of the award winning novel The Age of Light. All episodes of The Thoughtful Bro aired live originally on A Mighty Blaze. The Thoughtful Bro is proudly sponsored by Libro.fm.

A mind-altering convo with anthropologist and public conversationalist Christopher Ryan about his book Civilized to Death. We discussed civilization's sneakily bad deal, as well as how cavemen knew better than we do how to laugh, live & love. Anecdote from the show: after reading his book Sex at Dawn, an elderly widow once told Chris, "This is the most important book I have ever read. I wish I could live my life over."

With guest host Joe Moldover, author of the YA novel Every Moment After. All episodes of The Thoughtful Bro aired live originally on A Mighty Blaze. The Thoughtful Bro is proudly sponsored by Libro.fm.