Upstart Crow

Journalist and writer Catherine Nixey and host William Miller discuss her books that focus on early church history and some of the other men who lived lives not unlike that of Jesus—men whose deeds are recorded in ancient texts.

Catherine studied classics at Cambridge University and works as a journalist at The Economist. Her writing also has appeared in The Times and the Financial Times. Her two books are: The Darkening Age, which was an international bestseller and a New York Times notable book and which won a Royal Society award for non‑fiction; and, her more recent one, the first U.S. edition of which was published last year, Heretic: Jesus Christ and the Other Sons of God.

The daughter of a former nun and a former monk, Catherine was reared a Catholic. She developed a deep curiosity about religion and the nature of the church and its teachings. In her books, she draws on the research and writings of scholars, philosophers, primary text investigators—and she identifies big questions.

The Gospel of John begins, “In the beginning was the Word,” but while this sentence and the others in the four Gospels are central to the teachings of the Christian church, the truth is, there was not one word in the years right after the death of Jesus. There was not “one word” for centuries after the death of Jesus. Indeed, there were different Jesuses. One who challenged his parents and the norms of their community. One who sold a twin into slavery. One who had someone else crucified in his stead. And there were other men who, though their names were not Jesus, wandered that same part of the world before, after and during his time, doing a lot of the same things he is reported to have done. Those others also healed the sick, restored sight to the blind, raised the dead. Their stories did not make it into the main record, the Bible. While they didn’t completely fall out of history, one has to look hard to find their traces. As Catherine notes, history has been compared to fishing. What you pull out depends on where you drop the line.

“History has been compared to fishing. What you pull out depends on where you drop the line.” - Catherine Nixey

Available at major booksellers Amazon or Barnes & Noble:

https://a.co/d/ikUa2ri

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/heretic-catherine-nixey/1145064532

#EarlyChristianity #HereticBook #UpstartCrow

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Be sure to check out our website for more information about our hosts, guests, and ways you can support the show: https://upstartcrow.org/

Thank you for listening to Upstart Crow, a part of Watershed Lit Radio

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Copyright 2025 - Upstart Crow Podcast - All Rights Reserved

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Recorded & Produced by Jon D PodCom

A professor at Jackson State University in Mississippi, Robert T. Luckett Jr. discusses his book analyzing the career of Joe T. Patterson, the attorney general of Mississippi from 1956 to 1969. While the book focuses on Patterson, the study behind it looks at the larger scale of the effort to achieve equality for all.

Patterson, an avowed segregationist, tried to preserve the system of white hegemony by allowing some compromises with the civil rights movement but fighting with every legal means against others. During his time, the civil rights movement grew in power and form, and pulled the United States government and court system into a campaign to compel Mississippi and other Southern states to accept Black advancement.

But many years later, how much advancement has there been? And what of Southern exceptionalism? How has that idea born out? Robert Luckett discusses all of this and more in this episode with host William Miller.

“We are watching people today try to do the same things that Patterson and his ilk tried to do in the 1950s and ‘60s.” — Robert T. Luckett Jr.

Dr. Robert Luckett discusses how Joe T. Patterson and other segregationists used legal and political systems to block civil rights progress — and how those same strategies are being revived today.

He explains how the past isn’t just history, but a roadmap some leaders are following to suppress voting, dismantle public education, and silence communities of color.

Robbie also highlights the resilience of Jackson, Mississippi — a city pushing back against these efforts through activism, education, and a refusal to forget the truth of its history.

#CivilRightsLegacy

#MississippiPolitics

#HistoryRepeats

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Purchase a copy of Joe T. Patterson and the White South’s Dilemma on Amazon here: https://a.co/d/39ssxYw

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Be sure to check out our website for more information about our hosts, guests, and ways you can support the show: https://upstartcrow.org/

Thank you for listening to Upstart Crow, a part of Watershed Lit Radio

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Copyright 2025 - Upstart Crow Podcast - All Rights Reserved

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Edited & Produced by Jon D PodCom

Dinaw Mengestu is the author of four novels—Someone Like Us (2024), All Our Names (2014), How to Read the Air (2010), and The Beautiful Things That Heaven Bears (2007)— each of which was named a New York Times notable book. He was chosen as a MacArthur Fellow and has received a Lannan Literary Fellowship for Fiction, National Book Foundation 5-Under-35 Award, Guardian First-Book Award, Los Angeles Times Book Prize, and he recently was chosen by the Alan Cheuse International Writers Center to deliver the 2025 Cheuse Lecture.

His articles and fiction have appeared in the New York Times, New Yorker, Harper’s, Granta and Rolling Stone. As a journalist, Dinaw has reported on life in Darfur, Northern Uganda and eastern Congo. Dinaw is himself a native of Ethiopia who immigrated to the US with his parents when he was two years old.

In this episode of Upstart Crow, Dinaw talks with host William Miller in a wide-ranging conversation about the ways his own life story inform his fiction, how his work has developed over the years he has written, and the significance of many of the elements within each of the four novels.

"Lives are rarely good or bad. You know, we don't live in binaries. But what he is able to do is accept that he is here... and to kind of let go of this impossible return. That ability to accept—'this is my life'—still feels pretty profound to me."

— Dinaw Mengestu

The Power of Absence: Mengestu explores how silence and absence—especially of country, culture, and family—shape identity and narrative, allowing readers to feel the haunting spaces between what’s said and unsaid.

Immigrant Narratives Reimagined: His characters wrestle with displacement, the myth of return, and the trauma of migration, often facing the complex reality of accepting a new life while holding onto a lost one.

Violence and Perspective: Dinaw examines political and personal violence, not through spectacle but through subtlety—what is implied, withheld, and felt across generations.

#DinawMengestu #ImmigrantStories #UpstartCrowPodcast

Connect with Dinaw on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dinaw_mengestu/

Find out more about his books and where you can purchase them here: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/170308/dinaw-mengestu/

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Be sure to visit the Upstart Crow website for more information about our guests, hosts, and ways you can support the podcast: https://upstartcrow.org/

Thank you for listening to Upstart Crow, a part of Watershed Lit Radio

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Copyright 2025 - Upstart Crow Podcast - All Rights Reserved

Recorded & Produced by Jon D PodCom

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Dr. Rina Bliss, an associate professor of sociology at Rutgers University, discusses her most recent book, What’s Real About Race?, with Upstart Crow host William Miller.

In her scholarship, Dr. Bliss researches, writes about, and speaks about—as she puts it on her website—“the personal and social significance of new genetic sciences.” Her work “is centered at the intersection of sociology, psychology, and technology, offering a full-spectrum understanding of how our social worlds shape our personal worlds, affecting the health and quality of our lives.”

She brings her years of scholarship and observations to What’s Real About Race?

Published recently by W.W. Norton, the book looks at historic perspectives on race, views of race currently, and factors shaping the future view of race.

In the year 2000, President Bill Clinton and a half-dozen other world leaders joined to celebrate the finding of a science research project—an effort to map the genome of humans from around the world determined, as Dr. Bliss says, that “humans were 99.9 percent (genetically) the same.” Because people had conflated race and DNA, this finding challenged a lot of thinking.

But did it change minds? Following that declaration by scientists, there came another—“if race is not biological, what is? A social construct.” What does that even mean? Dr. Bliss answers that question, as well as what race being a social construct means given that people observe differences between themselves and other people. Where do those differences come from? What is the reality of race?

For the future, Dr. Bliss says we need “a new paradigm of race as well as a new language for talking about race”—but where would that come from, and how would those elements solve the race-related problems we see around us? She has ideas, which she discusses here.

One thing, she says, stop calling race a “social construct” and think of it as a “social reality.”

"We are all one family. So this idea of continental difference or division... it really cancels out any ability for us to recognize that we are all brothers and sisters." — Dr. Rina Bliss, author of What’s Real About Race

Check out Dr. Bliss’s website: https://www.drrinabliss.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.rinabliss/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rina-bliss-28263714/

Visit Upstart Crow on the web for more information about our hosts, guests, and how you can support the show: https://upstartcrow.org/

Copyright 2025 - Upstart Crow Podcast - All Rights Reserved

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Edited & Produced by Jon D PodCom

[email protected]

In this episode, first-time novelist Carol Mitchell discusses the ideas and experiences out of which grew this novel, What Start Bad A Mornin’.

The story she tells us of Amaya Lin, a Jamaican living and working in the United States, who is leaving the office where she works with her lawyer husband and his partner, rushing off to gather in her elderly aunt for the evening, when a younger woman approaches Amaya’s car, saying she is Amaya’s sister.

But Amaya thinks that is not possible. Since she was 17, she has had no family other than after she married - her husband and their son.

Why would this woman say that? Who was she really? She did have a familiar look, but, still—

Thus is Amaya - launched onto a journey into her past, a past she had forgotten, or suppressed. This is the novel Carol spins for readers, weaving three narrative lines through the U.S., Jamaica and Trinidad—the immigration experience; the challenge of constructing a successful life in a complex, sometimes tragic world; experiences of loss and rediscovery.

Hosted by William Miller

“I wanted to write a woman who wasn’t perfect. Who didn’t know everything. Who had to go back and recover parts of herself she didn’t even know she’d lost.” – Carol Mitchell

#CaribbeanFiction

#WhatStartBadAMornin

#WomenWhoWrite

Find out more about Carol on her website: https://carolmitchellbooks.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/writewithcarol/?hl=en

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Visit Upstart Crow on the web for more information about our hosts, guests, and how you can support the show: https://upstartcrow.org/

Copyright 2025 - Upstart Crow Podcast - All Rights Reserved

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Edited & Produced by Jon D PodCom

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Why are people less interested in discovering new music? In this episode, we explore how nostalgia, technology, and cultural shifts shape our listening habits with guest David Rowell and his new book The Endless Refrain. From the dominance of classic hits to the impact of streaming algorithms, we break down the forces that keep us clinging to the familiar while new artists struggle to break through.

David Rowell is a seasoned journalist, editor, and author with a deep understanding of cultural trends. He spent nearly 25 years at The Washington Post Magazine, covering entertainment, music, and societal shifts. His writing has explored the ways we consume art and culture, making him the perfect voice to tackle this topic. With years of experience analyzing trends, Rowell offers a thought-provoking perspective on why we may be turning away from new sounds and what that means for the future of music.

Join us for a deep dive into the changing landscape of music consumption - why we love what we already know and whether there's still room for something new.

Hosted by Ken Budd

Key Takeaways:

• The power of familiarity: Why audiences react more strongly to old favorites than fresh tracks.
• The rise of nostalgia-driven music consumption and the impact of streaming algorithms.
• Concert holograms and AI artists: Are we embracing the past at the cost of innovation?
• What this trend means for independent musicians trying to break through.

#MusicTrends #NostalgiaEffect #NewMusic

You can learn more about David on his website and purchase this book or his other writings here:

https://www.davidrowellauthor.com/

Be sure to visit the Upstart Crow website for more information about hosts, guests, and ways you can support the show:

https://upstartcrow.org/

Thank you for listening to Upstart Crow, a part of Watershed Lit Radio

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Copyright 2025 - Upstart Crow Podcast

Edited & Produced by Jon D PodCom

To write his novel The Death and Life of August Sweeney, Samuel Ashworth drew on experience and some very personal research—he worked in the back of Michelin-starred restaurants and assisted with autopsies in a Pittsburgh hospital.

The result is an engaging novel, highly artful in conceit and execution, one his publisher, the Santa Fe Writers Project, calls “an epic novel about life, death and the world in between.”

In this episode of Upstart Crow, Sam discusses where the idea came from, the research, the writing, and how he was able to pack so much into a little over 300 pages.

Hosted by William Miller

Check out Samuel's website, where you can purchase his book and learn more about him:

https://www.samuelashworth.com/

Follow Samuel on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/samuelashworth/

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Be sure to visit our website where you can learn more about the hosts, guests, and ways you can support the show:

https://upstartcrow.org/

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Recorded and Produced by Jon D. PodCom / AmberTree Media

Steph Liberatore, as a writer, specializes in nonfiction, so it stands to reason she founded a new on-line journal focused on short forms of the genre. Inshortjournal.com offers readers and writers alike the chance to savor some very well-chosen words: Flash pieces of 1,000 words or fewer; micro pieces of 400 words or fewer, short-shorts of 100 words or fewer.

In this episode of Upstart Crow, Steph and Upstart Crow host William Miller look at some of the pieces published in the first two issues and discuss her goals for In Short, how it operates, and why it is an on-line rather than in-print journal and probably will remain that way.

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Follow Steph and In Short Journal online: https://inshortjournal.com/

Their latest issue: https://inshortjournal.com/issue-2-winter-25/

In Short's submissions page: https://inshortjournal.com/in-short-home-page/submissions/

In Short's X account: @inshortlit

Steph Liberatore on X: @stephliberatore

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Be sure to visit the Upstart Crow website:

https://upstartcrow.org/

Copyright 2025 - Upstart Crow Podcast

Recorded & Produced by Jon D PodCom / AmberTree Media

When Scott Strode was 11, he had his first drink. By 15, he was using cocaine. In his 20s, paranoid and fearing death, he got sober, replacing drugs and alcohol with fitness: Biking, boxing, triathlons, mountain climbing.

Those experiences led him to start an addiction and recovery organization called The Phoenix, which uses, as he puts it, “The inherent transformative power of sport and activity and social events to build a supportive community that helps on the path to recovery.”

Today the Phoenix has about 500,000 members nationwide.

Scott tells the story of his dramatic transformation—from his traumatic childhood to his innovative nonprofit work—in a powerful new memoir: Rise. Recover. Thrive. How I Got Strong, Got Sober, and Built a Movement of Hope.

Hosted by Ken Budd

Order Scott’s book on his website: https://www.scottstrode.com/

Learn about The Phoenix: https://thephoenix.org/

Find out more about Upstart Crow: https://upstartcrow.org/

Follow Upstart Crow on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/upstartcrowpod.bsky.social--

Copyright 2025 - Upstart Crow Podcast

Edited & Produced by Jon D PodCom / AmberTree Media

In this special episode, guest hosts Debra Lane and Ann Marie Luce, two educators and researchers with extensive backgrounds in leadership development and organizational studies, discuss their new book, Building Inclusive Leadership Beyond the Gender Binary, which seeks to help build the broader understanding of the complexities surrounding gender and leadership that is necessary to foster insights for organizations seeking a more inclusive and equitable leadership landscape.

The book works from the premise that the gender binary presents a paradox for organization leaders and raises the question of how to forge new paths and confront gender-based stereotypes. The authors observe that many leaders outside of the gender binary remain absent from critical research and leadership studies.

They also observe that societal expectations and stereotypes influence the journeys of all gender identities across professions and that challenging beliefs about leadership may allow organizations to break through the gender binary and embrace gender-fluid leadership styles.

Written during a time when our world feels increasingly divided, this book brings together different voices and experiences to help restore authentic leadership. It's not just about theory - it's about solutions that work in organizations.

Chapters covered in this discussion include:

"Leadership 'Qualities' and Gendered Social Cues: An Intersex Perspective" by Seri Robinson

"Sharing Power Willingly" by Jack Harris and Rocco Capraro

"The Individual Within the System" by Lydia Loizides

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Note: There is a third author of the book, Jenna Konyak Terrel, who is not present for this discussion.

About your host's:

Debra Lane, is a veteran educator with over 30 years of experience leading schools in the U.S. and abroad. She has taught from pre-K to graduate-level courses and directed talent development and equity initiatives in numerous school settings and systems.

With advanced degrees from Baylor, Virginia Tech, George Mason, and U.Va., her research on bullying prevention has guided schools and government agencies. A sought-after speaker and consultant, Dr. Lane is dedicated to leadership development, curriculum innovation, and inclusive education worldwide.

Ann Marie Luce, is a globally experienced educational leader who recently joined Citibank as vice president in Enterprise Risk Management Training programs. Her two decades in international education include work as associate director of the Centennial Center at Hobart and William Smith College, where she shaped leadership and entrepreneurship programs for students. With a doctorate from Gonzaga University focused on cultural intelligence and women's leadership, Dr. Luce champions global competence, diversity, and inclusion through humanistic leadership and systems thinking.

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The authors see the book as not just another academic text but as a practical guide for creating change in how people think about and practice leadership. By sharing stories and solutions, they hope to help organizations move from talking about inclusion to making it happen.

Join Upstart Crow for an engaging discussion about how leadership is changing, and learn practical ways to create more inclusive workplaces where everyone thrives.

You can purchase a copy of the book or single chapters at: Building Inclusive Leadership Beyond the Gender Binary

Please, visit the Upstart Crow website for more information about what we do, our hosts, guests, and how you can support the show: https://upstartcrow.org/

Copyright 2025 - Upstart Crow Podcast

Edited & Produced by Jon D PodCom / AmberTree Media