Write About Now

Ewandro Magalhães is the former chief interpreter for the United Nations. He has interpreted for world leaders, pop singers, and the Dalai Lama. On this episode, he shares a collection of stories from the field and talks about this book The Language Game, which offers insights on the power of communication. Ewandro recalls the chance encounter with a certain member of the royal family that brought him to this high-pressure profession, and the work involved in interpreting for high-profile dignitaries. He also talks about what interpreters do in tricky situations, and the underrated traits that help someone succeed in the field.

Caitlin Doughty has devoted her life to death. She is a mortician, funeral home owner, and writer of three bestselling books. Her work has spawned the death-positive movement, which believes that open conversations about death and dying are the cornerstone of a healthy society. In this playback of our conversation a few years ago, Caitlin talks about why she became so interested in death and her desire to reform how Western society thinks about it. She also talks about her Anthony Bourdain-like journeys across the world to witness how other cultures practice more life-affirming funerals, unburdened by fear and morbidity.

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When was the last time you tried to change someone’s mind? How did it go? In our hyper-polarized world, persuading someone to see issues differently can seem maddeningly impossible. But David McRaney believes he has discovered a way. He is author of a fascinating new book called How Minds Change: The Surprising Science of Belief, Opinion, and Persuasion , in which he lays out a psychological and scientific approach to getting people to change their minds. David culls from cutting-edge research and techniques used by groups such as political canvassers to detail a step-by-step process of getting someone to change their opinion, no matter how dug in they may seem. 

Have you ever wondered how audiobooks are created? This week, audio book narrator and voice over artist Sheri Saginor gives some behind-the-scenes insights into the process of creating an audiobook. Sheri breaks down the complicated process from the perspective of a voice over artist and shares the type of technology needed to become a part of the industry. She also shares considerations authors should make when turning their story into an audiobook, and what red flags to look out for when seeking a narrator. Plus, Sheri reveals why authors themselves are oftentimes the best voice over option for their audiobooks.

Writers Kelly and Zach Weinersmith take an illuminating and humorous look at emerging technological innovations, and how they can potentially help and harm us. Their graphic book on this topic is called Soonish. Some of the new science we discuss includes augmented reality, space elevators, asteroid mining, and more. The Weinersmiths are an unlikely couple and that’s what makes them so darn interesting. She’s a professor at Rice University specializing in parasites; he’s a cartoonist. They’re both self-professed science nerds fascinated with future technology. This is a replay of an interview Jonathan did with them in 2019.

Being from Wuhan, China, Kay Zhang is intimately aware of the ways COVID-19 tore apart families and affected Chinese society. One story from this crisis that particularly struck a chord with her was of a woman who attempted to journey from China’s countryside to Wuhan in order to reach her newborn child. Kay portrays this harrowing story in her short film  Mother in the Mist, which has appeared in numerous film festivals including the Cannes Film Festival and San Diego International Film Festival. On the pod, she details how she brought the story to the screen, and the ideas of American individualism and Chinese collectivism that are behind the film. She also talks about the way globalization has changed because of COVID and how artists in the U.S. and China are affected by politics.

Editors can teach us a lot of valuable lessons about good writing. They are the gatekeepers, generating story ideas, fielding pitches, and making out stories read better. In this episode, Shannon Palus gives us insight into what makes a successful editor and what they look for when finding writers. Shannon is a senior editor at Slate magazine and has spent much of her career focused on writing and editing health and science stories. In this episode, she talks about how she molded her career from her science background and how specializing has helped propel her career. She also details the makings of a good pitch, how to come up with winning story ideas, and the secrets to writing compelling personal essays. Plus, Shannon gives her opinion on journalists in the influencer age and how social media affects the industry.

What do David Bowie, Paul McCartney, and Salvador Dali have in common? They all admit to stealing from other artists in their creative endeavors. They have not only been caught stealing, but they've also admitted to doing it red-handed. As Pablo Picasso once said, “Good artists borrow; great artists steal,” and there is some question as to whether he stole that phrase. So, what the hell is going on here? Are all great artists plagiarists? Guest Austin Kleon joins this show in a replay of an episode I recorded with him in 2019 to talk about the joy and art of stealing from those you admire. He also shares his wisdom on creative ways to get the creative juices flowing and come up with all sorts of killer ideas. Austin is a writer, illustrator, and font of wisdom. The Atlantic once called him “the most interesting man on the Internet,” and you will see why. 

Disagreement can feel uncomfortable, especially as conversations about insurrection, gun control, and abortion capture public attention. But instead of descending into a full-blown argument whenever you disagree with someone, Bo Seo has some advice for turning these conversations into learning opportunities. Bo is a writer, two-time world champion debater, and author of Good Arguments: How Debate Teaches Us to Listen and Be Heard. In this episode, Bo offers tips for those seeking a productive debate—even when you’re dealing with ignorant people or alternative facts. He also talks about the importance of disagreement, especially at a time when viewpoints seem so polarized, and offers some real life examples we can turn to for debate inspiration.

In his bestselling book Unwinding Anxiety, Dr. Judson Brewer offers a 3-step plan clinically proven to break the cycle of worry and fear that drives anxiety and addictive habits. Dr. Jud believes we get stuck in "anxiety habit loops" that we can’t think our way out of or use willpower to overcome. The result is trying to run from anxiety and worry through actions like doom scrolling or binge eating rather than getting close and curious about what's actually happening in our bodies and our minds. This is a replay of a conversation I had with him in 2021.