Douglas Vigliotti is the author of the new book "Aristotle for Novelists: 14 Timeless Principles on the Art of Story." He says everything you need to know about storytelling can be found in the Ancient Greek philosopher's great treatise "Poetics," written over 2300 years ago. In this episode, Vigliotti breaks down Aristotle's tried-and-true principles that have been used since antiquity to tell great stories, including the real difference between tragedies vs. comedies, the importance of the three-act structure, why every character needs both external and internal obstacles, how a character's fatal flaw drives the story, why plot solutions must arise from within the story itself, how consistency in style and point of view shapes the narrative, the critical difference between plot-driven versus character-driven stories. Vigliotti also hosts the terrific podcast Books for Men and recommends his must-reads for 2025. 

Guest Taylor Lorenz is one of journalism's most notable and controversial voices. She covers tech and online culture as a reporter, podcaster, and internet personality. After leaving prime jobs writing for The New York Times and The Washington Post, she has launched her own media company called User Mag that covers "tech from the user side." In this spirited conversation, Lorenz explains why she's done with traditional media, how legacy companies fail miserably to understand internet culture, and why Democrats are losing the battle for online influence. She also discusses the challenges she's faced from right-wing nutjobs like Tucker Carlson, and why she believes the future of journalism lies outside traditional media. 

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Liz Mugavero is a bestselling cozy mystery writer of the Cat Cafe series, which she writes under the pen name Cate Conte.  She's also a writing coach and the host of the podcast Get Writing with Liz Mugavero. In this episode, we explore the fundamentals of mystery writing and Liz's journey to becoming a published author. She shares insights passed down from her grandfather, a small town detective, and reveals how she discovered her passion for crime writing. Other topics include creating compelling characters, building story settings, the cozy mystery genre, the brilliance of The Artists' Way, writing productivity tips, and creative mindfulness practices.

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In August 2020, during the depths of the pandemic, an unlikely TV show about a clueless American football coach taking over an English soccer team became a cultural phenomenon. In this episode, we're joined by New York Times television editor Jeremy Egner, whose new book "Believe" takes us behind the scenes of Ted Lasso's journey from a commercial to an Emmy award-winning, hit series. Through extensive interviews with the cast, creators, and crew, Jeremy uncovers how a show filled with mostly unknown actors and led by a mustachioed nice guy became exactly what the world needed then and now - a story about decency, friendship, and the power of believing. As someone who covered the show from its inception and survived his own harrowing battle with early COVID, Jeremy brings both journalistic insight and personal connection to this definitive account.

It's hard enough writing a novel, try writing one on your cell phone. Nifemi Aluko wrote his new book Musta's Mixtape with his thumbs. He says the process was liberating, allowing him to write whenever and wherever he wanted, including at the Parisian cafes Ernest Hemingway frequented. Nifemi joins the podcast to talk about his unique approach to writing, marketing, and funding his book, including using blockchain technology and NFTs to raise money and AI as a collaborative partner.

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Andrew Bridgeman has sold everything from carpets to insurance, but like so many of us, his lifelong dream was to publish a novel. And now he’s done it. At the age of 59, he just released his debut, Fortunate Son, a political thriller with memorable characters and plot twists that will keep you reading through the night. On the pod, Andrew talks to me about the challenges of learning to write at a later age, the importance of persistence, and the unexpected twists in his publishing journey. Andrew also offers insights into his unique approach to character development and plot construction. This convo is a must-listen for aspiring writers and book lovers alike.

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This week is Banned Books Week, which draws attention to the number of book ban attempts in U.S. schools and libraries. So far, in 2024, the American Library Association's Office for Intellectual Freedom tracked 414 attempts to censor books, with 1,128 unique titles challenged. American Library Association President Cindy Hohl joins the show to talk about who is trying to rid people of reading these books and why. She also discusses what the ALA and other groups are doing to fight back. 

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“Writing is my happy place,” says this week’s guest, bestselling mystery writer J.A. Jance. With 70 books under her belt, she’s spent a lot of time typing with a smile on her face. (That makes one of us) Her latest novel, Den of Iniquity, features the return of beloved private investigator J.P. Beaumont. How did this former high school teacher, who was told by her teachers, her ex-husband, and publishers that she couldn’t be a writer have such a prolific and successful career? That, my friends, is the mystery that we solve in this interview.

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William Cope Moyers, son of famed journalist Bill Moyers, thought he conquered his addiction demons after hitting rock bottom. But 20 years into recovery, prescribed painkillers triggered a relapse that challenged everything he knew about the path to sobriety. In this revealing conversation, Moyers opens up about his new book, Broken Open, sharing this experience with substance abuse and how it threatened to derail his life for a second time. His journey offers hope to those struggling with addiction and pushes for a more inclusive approach to treatment, even in the face of resistance from recovery traditionalists.

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Conspiracy theories such as QAnon have had devastating political consequences as they’ve exploded in popularity. But what’s often overlooked is their heartbreaking effect on families. In her new book The Quiet Damage, investigative journalist Jesselyn Cook tells the stories of five American families shredded by true believers whose journey down the rabbit hole caused them to be alienated, suicidal, and often completely different people. Jesselyn shares fascinating insights from her three-year deep dive into the world of conspiracy theories, revealing:

• The surprising economic and educational diversity of QAnon believers
• The psychological needs that conspiracy theories fulfill
• Social media's role in spreading misinformation
• Why fact-checking and ridicule are ineffective in combating beliefs
• Effective strategies for reaching loved ones, including setting boundaries