Upstart Crow

Constance Sayers has published three novels (A Witch in Time, The Ladies of the Secret Circus and The Star and the Strange Moon) in four years. All are books that appeared in seven languages and have sold more than 200,000 copies.

Reflecting on those works, she discusses what it was like:

• to write that many novels so quickly
• how she wove into the first book the craft techniques that made readers enthusiastic for the second and third
• how she wants to manage production of the fourth
• plus her ideas for the next phase of her creative life, as well as how she is deliberately laying plans to achieve her goals

In the course of the discussion, she also reveals the source for her recurring demon character, Althacazur.

Hosted by William Miller

Connect with Constance on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/constancesayers/

Be sure to visit her website: https://constancesayers.com/

Find out more about the show: https://upstartcrow.org/

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

Copyright 2024 - Upstart Crow Podcast

Recorded & Produced by Jon D PodCom in association with AmberTree Media

This episode hosted by Jennifer Disano, features Paula J. Johnson.

Paula is a distinguished curator at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, whose work has brought iconic stories of American culture to life. Most notably, Paula played a key role in preserving the legacy of culinary legend Julia Child. In 2001, she was part of the team that collected Julia Child’s home kitchen and later developed the celebrated exhibition Bon Appétit! Julia Child’s Kitchen at the Smithsonian, which captivated audiences from 2002 to 2012.

Paula shares behind-the-scenes stories about curating Julia’s kitchen—a treasure trove of culinary history—and how this exhibit became a landmark celebration of food’s role in American culture. We also explore her broader work, including co-curating FOOD: Transforming the American Table, 1950–2000, and her passion for connecting people to history through objects and storytelling.

Don’t miss this fascinating discussion about Julia Child’s enduring impact, the art of curation, and Paula’s remarkable career in preserving American history.

#JuliaChild #SmithsonianStories #AmericanFoodHistory

Pick up a copy of Paula's book on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Julia-Childs-Kitchen-Design-Stories/dp/141977008X

Visit Julia Child's Kitchen at The Smithsonian Institution's Museum of American History in Washington, D.C.

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Visit our website to find out more about our Hosts, Guests, and ways you can support the show: https://upstartcrow.org

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

Copyright - 2024 - Upstart Crow Podcast - All Rights Reserved

Edited & Produced by Jon D. Miller / AmberTree Media

In remarks delivered at the Institute for Immigration Research at George Mason University, former National Public Radio correspondent Ray Suarez presents observations drawn from work that led to his book, We Are Home: Becoming American in the 21 St Century—An Oral History.

As he notes, the history of America is one of immigration, where migrants often have fulfilled many of the country’s needs for both talent and labor. But, he says, the newest of those to immigrate are less well known and less well appreciated than were generations before them.

This veteran journalist crossed the country and listened to the stories of those migrants, hearing them in their own voices. He presents their stories alongside broad-scale facts, with focus and analysis, and a sharp eye for ironic detail.

He notes, for example, that 50 percent of the home health care workers in America today were born in another country. That means, he says, some people are being cared for—fed, given their medications, bathed—by people they would prefer not to live next door.

**During the program, you'll hear a partial recording of a "Question & Answer" session. While some of the questions are not fully audible, Mr. Suarez's thoughtful and insightful responses have been preserved, providing an even further in-depth perspective on his expertise.**

Get your copy of Mr. Suarez's book here: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/ray-suarez/we-are-home/9780316353878/?lens=little-brown

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Please visit the Upstart Crow podcast website to find out more about our Hosts, Guests, and ways you can support the show:

https://upstartcrow.org/

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

This episode was presented in association with the Institute for Immigration Research at George Mason University.

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Copyright 2024 - Upstart Crow Podcast - All Rights Reserved

Edited & Produced by Jon D. Miller/AmberTree Media

Master fiction writer Charles Baxter joins host William Miller to discuss his latest novel, Blood Test, in a conversation that spans a wide range of topics. They explore the nature of the main character, Brock Hobson, the story’s action, the underlying ideas, and the embedded themes and connections.

The discussion touches on everything from the initially proposed cover art—which could have misrepresented the novel—to the metafictional elements woven into the narrative and Baxter’s long-held thoughts on the power of computers, an idea he’s contemplated for over 20 years. He even addresses how the novel aligns with the guidance he outlined in his craft essays from Burning Down the House.

Get a copy of Blood Test: A Comedy or any of Charles Baxter's writings here on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B000AQ4H12

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Be sure to check out the Upstart Crow website to learn more about our guests, meet the hosts, and discover ways to support the show: https://upstartcrow.org/

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

Copyright 2024 - Upstart Crow Podcast

Edited & Produced by Jon D. Miller/AmberTree Media



In this episode of Upstart Crow, host Jennifer Disano sits down with Chelsea Henderson, author of Glacial: The Inside Story of Climate Politics. Henderson, an experienced advocate in climate policy, unveils the complexities of climate politics, sharing stories from her work with policymakers and communities impacted by environmental change.

They discuss the challenges of bipartisan cooperation on climate action, Henderson’s perspective as a conservative voice in the environmental space, and her insights on effective climate advocacy. Tune in to learn how climate policy shapes our future and what individuals can do to contribute.

Get a copy of Chelsea's book on Amazon here: Glacial: The Inside Story of Climate Politics

Visit the the republicEn website to learn more about them: https://republicen.org/

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Be sure to check out the Upstart Crow website to learn more about our guests, meet the hosts, and discover ways to support the show: https://upstartcrow.org/

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

Copyright 2024 - Upstart Crow Podcast

Edited & Produced by Jon D. Miller/AmberTree Media



Literary translator Katherine E. Young joins host William Miller to talk about her latest project, the first-time-in-English volume People and Trees by Azerbaijani writer Akram Aylisli.

Set in the Caucuses during and right after War War II, the three novellas capture the coming-of-age story of the narrator, a boy named Sadyk, but also the struggles of the village and its people, notably the women who were left behind when the men went off to war and who must deal with their return after both they and the men have been changed by what has happened. This translation captures the rich subtleties of the story, the characters, the situations they confront, their conflicts both internal and external, and it makes these far-away events real and important to understanding today’s world. The volume is available from Plamen Press.

The conversation also covers the life situation confronting Aylisli, now almost 87, still writing, and living in the Azerbaijani capital as a political detainee after another story, published in 2012, offended some of his countrymen and their leaders. Katherine E. Young also has translated that work, and she discusses it and the larger issue of Aylisli’s political plight, as well.

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Learn more and connect with Katherine E. Young here:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/katherine.young.338/

X: @KEYoung_Poet

website: https://katherine-young-poet.com/

Bluesky: @katherineeyoung.bsky.social 

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Be sure to visit the Upstart Crow podcast website: https://upstartcrow.org/

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/upstartcrowpodcast/

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

Copyright 2024 - Upstart Crow Podcast

Recorded & Produced by Jon D. Miller / AmberTree Media

In this episode, host William Miller talks to writer and teacher Nicholas Delbanco, who has published thirty-one books of fiction and nonfiction, including the one they discuss together, his memoir, Still Life at Eighty, begun on his 80th birthday, finished on his 81st. The book and this discussion look over his early embrace of art, his adventures in a family art business in London, the time while an undergrad at Harvard when he directed a play the opening night of which was threatened by the Cuban missile crisis. But then as Delbanco tells the story, had Hitler during World War II not turned and invaded Russia and instead pressed on toward England, he might not even have been born, given that his parents were living in London, afraid of what was coming toward them. This many years later, after his career at the University of Michigan, where he was the Robert Frost Distinguished University Professor in English and directed the Helen Zell Writers’ Program; at Bennington College, where he founded the low-residency creative writing program and, with writer John Gardner, founded the Bennington Summer Writing Workshops, Delbanco opens the way to share the life and the meaning he has made from it.

Visit Nicholas Delbanco's website to learn more about him and find his works: http://nicholasdelbanco.com/

Learn more about the Upstart Crow podcast, it's hosts, and how you can support the show here: https://upstartcrow.org/

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/upstartcrowpodcast/

Thank you for listening to the Upstart Crow podcast!

copyright - 2024 - Upstart Crow Podcast

Recorded, Edited, and Mixed by Jon D. Miller / AmberTree Media

In this episode of Upstart Crow, a part of Watershed Lit Radio, host Ken Budd sits down virtually with Dr. Charan Ranganath, renowned neuroscientist and author of Why We Remember: Unlocking Memory's Power to Hold On to What Matters. This episode is presented in collaboration with the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute and Fall for the Book, with Budd—vice chair of the Fall for the Book board of directors—leading an insightful conversation about memory's impact on our lives.

Dr. Ranganath, a Guggenheim Fellow and director of the Dynamic Memory Lab at UC Davis, has spent over two decades researching how the brain forms and recalls memories. In Why We Remember, he redefines the way we think about memory, showing it as an active, transformative force that shapes our identity, decision-making, and emotional well-being. His work reveals how memory is not just a record of the past but a tool for understanding the present and preparing for the future. The conversation delves into this groundbreaking research and offers practical tips on harnessing memory’s strengths, healing from trauma, and even using memory to improve focus and growth.

The second half of this episode offers a Q&A with Dr. Ranganath. Viewers who saw the episode live when it was recorded sent questions through a group chat, exploring topics from everyday memory hacks to the science behind forgetting. Join Upstart Crow for an engaging journey through the science of memory and its profound implications for personal growth and resilience.

Find out more about Dr. Charan Ranganath on his website: https://charanranganath.com/

Follow him on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thememorydoc/

Visit the Upstart Crow website to learn more about us, the podcast, and how you can support the show: https://upstartcrow.org/

Also, follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/upstartcrowpodcast/

Leave a review on Apple, Spotify, iHeart, Amazon, or wherever you get your podcasts. It helps others find the show!

Thanks for listening!

Copyright 2024 - Upstart Crow Podcast

Edited & Mixed by Jon D. Miller / AmberTree Media

In this episode of Upstart Crow, host Jennifer Disano interviews Dr. Joseph M. Thompson, historian at Mississippi State University and author of the book Cold War Country: How Nashville's Music Row and the Pentagon Created the Sound of American Patriotism. Thompson dives into the intricate ties between Nashville's country music industry and the U.S. military, revealing how Music Row collaborated with the Pentagon to shape a patriotic American sound that reached soldiers and civilians alike.

Thompson first explains the true start of country music in the 1920's. Then beginning in the 1940's and 50's, how it grows in part through military support. With artists performing for troops worldwide, crafting a sound that embodied American values into the Cold War. He discusses how these efforts influenced the genre's trajectory, impacted race relations within the music industry, and contributed to country music’s image as a symbol of American patriotism. This conversation uncovers the lesser-known intersections of culture, politics, and military strategy, showing how entertainment and national interests often aligned in unexpected ways​.

Learn more about Joseph M. Thompson on his website: https://www.josephmthompson.com/

Be sure to visit the Upstart Crow website for more information on episodes, hosts, and other news: https://upstartcrow.org/

Follow us on social media: https://www.instagram.com/upstartcrowpodcast/

Editing and Mixing by - Jon D. Miller/AmberTree Media

Copyright 2024 - Upstart Crow Podcast, a part of Watershed Lit Radio

In this episode, host William Miller is joined by writer Chris Stuck, who dives into the creative process behind Give My Love to the Savages, his acclaimed collection of nine daring, thought-provoking stories. They discuss his character-driven storytelling; his process for building rich, layered narratives; and why, as one character says, "Race is a really weird thing but it’s kind of working for you now."

Described as “bold” and “masterfully crafted,” Stuck’s work has drawn praise for its unflinching look at race, identity, and belonging. Known for his unique ability to blend dark humor with uncomfortable truths, Stuck reveals how he channels personal experiences to create characters that resonate with readers on multiple levels.

Recognized by O, The Oprah Magazine, and a finalist for the PEN/Robert W. Bingham Prize for Debut Short Story Collection, Give My Love to the Savages cements Stuck as a powerful voice in contemporary fiction.

Learn more about Chris Stuck on his website: https://www.chrisstuck.com/

Follow Chris Stuck on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/super_biracial_man/

Be sure to visit the Upstart Crow website for more information on episodes, hosts, and other news: https://upstartcrow.org/

Follow us on social media: https://www.instagram.com/upstartcrowpodcast/

Recorded October 25, 2024

Recording, Editing, and Mixing by - Jon D. Miller/AmberTree Media

Copyright 2024 - Upstart Crow Podcast, a part of Watershed Lit Radio