Guest Kim Dower has spent the last 40 years helping authors get noticed — as one of the top literary publicists in the business. She's also a celebrated poet, with a brand-new collection out now called What She Wants. In this episode, Kim pulls back the curtain on what publicists actually do, who really needs one, and the biggest mistakes authors make when trying to promote their work. If you're publishing a book — or even thinking about it — this conversation will help you understand the industry, the stakes, and what it takes to break through.

Subscribe to my Substack: JonSmallTalk.substack.com

Order AG1: DrinkAG1.com/writeaboutnow 

A lot of Gen Xers are facing an existential crisis, feeling stuck, burned out, unemployed, and just unsure about the future. This was supposed to be the time when we start to wind down so why does it feel like we're on a highway to hell? This doesn't mean we're doomed; it just means we need a reset on how we think about retirement. In my first-ever Substack Live over on my newsletter Small Talk, I had a live conversation with Brian Clark—entrepreneur, writer, and founder of Further—about what this next chapter actually looks like for Gen X. And how we can stop chasing old myths and start building something more sustainable and sane.

For more content like this, follow me over @ jonsmalltalk.subtack.com

Get a discount on AG1 @ drinkag1/writeaboutnow.com

Gretchen Rubin joins the show to talk about her new book, Secrets of Adulthood, in which she boils down a lifetime of wisdom into powerful aphorisms that resonate. Gretchen is a bestselling author, podcast host, and one of today’s most trusted voices on happiness, habits, and human nature. In this conversation, we talk about the lessons we learn too late, the advice she wants to pass on to her daughters, and why small, well-phrased truths often carry the biggest impact.

Other topics: – Why she made the leap from clerking at the Supreme Court to writing about happiness – The Four Tendencies framework and why so many of us are "Obligers" – Her process for crafting sticky, memorable aphorisms – Why motivation doesn't work as a motivation tool

Subscribe to my Substack @ https://jonsmalltalk.substack.com/

This show is sponsored by AG1. Sign up for a $76 discount @ DrinkAG1.com/writeaboutnow

When the New York Times declared it was “the end of work as we knew it” for Gen X, it did not feel fine. The story called the generation obsolete, irrelevant, and even likened them to candlestick makers in the age of electricity. Seriously? The article sparked a firestorm, prompting host Jonathan Small to write a viral Substack response that only raised the temperature. Now, Dana DuBois—fellow Gen X-er, writer, alt-rock aficionado—joins the show to talk about why the article sparked so much rage, what it got dead wrong, and how Gen X is not just surviving but reinventing midlife on their own terms. 

Read Jon's response on Substack here. 

Read the original NYT story here.

All things Dana DuBois can be found here. 

Has anyone ever told you, "Your life is so interesting—you should write a memoir!" It's flattering, no doubt. But then comes the doubts and the fears and the paralysis. How do you transform decades of memories and anecdotes into a narrative people would actually want to read? You can start by reading guest Wendy Dale's new book, The Memoir Engineering System. In it, she gives you the structure for constructing your memoir from the ground up. On this episode, we talk about useless writing advice such as just write a first draft, why the journey is more important than the memories themselves, and the things to prep yourself for capturing your life on the page in the best way possible.

Write About Now is sponsored by AG1, order using my code and get some freebies.DrinkAG1.com/writeaboutnow 

Subscribe to the Small Talk substack @ https://jonsmalltalk.substack.com/

Back in Hollywood's Golden Age, two men with vastly different backgrounds came together to shape the future of film. Louis B. Mayer, a shrewd businessman and Irving Thalberg, a visionary producer, formed a partnership that defined MGM and set the standard for the modern studio system. In this episode, famed film critic Kenneth Turan explores their unlikely partnership, their imperial rise, and their eventual fall. 

The 97th Academy Awards will grace Hollywood this Sunday, bringing its signature blend of glamour and controversy to the red carpet. To unpack all the drama, we're joined by  Katey Rich, Awards Editor at The Ankler and host of the acclaimed podcast "Prestige Junkie." Katey reveals her journey to securing her coveted position, the state of awards shows in today's world, and why they continue to be popular despite yearly reports of their demise. Katey also delves into the scandals clouding this year's Oscar race and shares her expert predictions for best picture, best actress, best actor, and more.

Was a bestselling romantasy novel stolen from someone else's unpublished book? New Yorker staff writer Katy Waldman investigates a fascinating case of alleged plagiarism rocking the publishing world—the first novel copyright infringement to reach trial in a century. The case raises profound questions about creative ownership in publishing, while exposing the way books in this red-hot genre are written. You'll never look at enemies-to-lovers werewolf sexcapades the same way again.

Read Katy's story @ https://bit.ly/4hyxLUP

Subscribe to Small Talk @ jonsmalltalk.substack.com

Stuck in a creative rut? Need some fresh ideas? The solution isn't staring harder at your screen – it's getting up from your desk and walking. This simple activity has been the secret weapon of history's most brilliant minds, from Charles Dickens to Virginia Woolf, Aristotle to Steve Jobs. Science backs this up: walking increases creative output by 60% compared to doom scrolling. But not all walks are created equal. Award-winning author Abbs Streets shares insights from her book "52 Ways to Walk,"  breaking down exactly when, where, and how to walk for maximum creative benefit.

The devastating wildfires in Los Angeles have destroyed 12,000 structures and taken at least 25 lives. In an intimate conversation, guest Lee Ann Daly shares her harrowing experience of evacuating her Pacific Palisades home with just minutes to spare, managing to save three cats and only a few documents. Lee Ann is a creative executive and former head of marketing at ESPN, Reuters, and the Game Show Network. In our conversation, she brings her unique perspective to processing tragedy. We discuss the true character of the Pacific Palisades that you won't hear in the news, details of her traumatic escape, the challenges of navigating California's complex fire insurance system, and how she's coping with the uncertainty of this unprecedented tragedy.

To donate to families affected by the fire: Mutual Aid Los Angeles Network

To help animals in need: Pasadena Humane Society