Write About Now

Max Brooks knows all about using mental agility to solve big problems. He is the bestselling author of three zombie survival books, including World War Z and Devolution about a Sasquatch Massacre. Recently, he released Minecraft: The Mountain, his second book set in the Minecraft universe. On the podcast, we talk about a wide variety of topics, including the surprising lessons he’s taken away from the pandemic, the PSA he made with his dad Mel Brooks, and why he thinks Minecraft is the most important educational tool in a generation.

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In the late 19th century, women reporters went undercover in places like insane asylums, textile factories, abortion clinics, and even the circus to expose the corruption and poor conditions in which people lived and worked. They were called "Girl Stunt Reporters" and many have been forgotten despite their groundbreaking journalism. But in her new book Sensational, Kim Todd brings back to life the exciting stories of these pioneering women whose influence is still felt today. On the pod, she talks about who these women were, how they got so popular, and why they ultimately fell out of the public's favor. 

"Happiness is not a passive state of being but an active state of doing," says guest Meaghan B Murphy. She should know. In her new book, Your Fully-Charged Life, Meaghan (who is also editor in chief of Woman's Day) interviewed countless experts, poured over research, and roadtested techniques to reveals the habits and mindsets of happier people. She shares some of her secrets for "finding more yay every day" and speaks candidly about her own journey, overcoming anorexia and personal tragedy to live life to the fullest.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

Many of us have encountered a narcissist—at work, in life, or in our own families. But many of us are not prepared to deal with the traumatic psychological and destructive toll narcissists can cause. Guest Dan Shaw is a social worker, psychoanalyst, and the author of an illuminating new book called Traumatic Narcissism: Relational Systems of Subjugation. He talks about how his own experience in a cult with a charismatic leader led him to pursue a psychology career. Then he sheds light on narcissistic personality disorder, sharing suggestions on how to reprogram those who have been adversely affected.

Are we alone in the universe? No way, says guest Avi Loeb, a Harvard University astrophysicist and author of a persuasive new book called Extraterrestrial: The First Sign of Intelligent Life Beyond Earth, which focuses on the discovery of Oumuamua in 2017. Loeb argues that the unidentified interstellar object is the first to visit our solar system. On the pod, we talk about the evidence that led him to stake his reputation on his theory, the reason it's so controversial, and why more scientists aren't interested in discovering life beyond our planet. 

For more information on Write About Now, visit www.writeaboutnowmedia.com

Music and editing by Jesse McInturff

British writer Katherine May has written both fiction and non-fiction books about dealing with stress. In her new memoir Wintering, she writes beautifully about how to cope with life when it throws you unexpected challenges. After weathering the storms of a critically sick husband, Katherine became ill with Crohn's disease. Then her 6-year-old refused to go to school and she quit her job. Rather than wallowing in self-pity, Katherine mined her own experience and other cultures to learn how to deal with hard times by retreating, hibernating, healing, and re-grouping. 

Kristin Hannah is one of the most successful novelists working today. She has written over 20 novels, including the international blockbusters, The Nightingale (soon to be a film starring Dakota Fanning and Elle Fanning), and Firefly Lane (now on Netflix with Katherine Heigl). Her powerful new novel is called The Four Winds and takes place during the dust bowl. A former lawyer turned writer, Kristin shares her unlikely origin story, how she chooses the characters and setting of her epic tales, and what it's like to see her words come to life on the screen.

This podcast was produced by Jonathan Small and Strike Fire Productions, edited by Jeremy Grater. 

Elizabeth LaBan is the bestselling author of five novels and one nonfiction book, including Beside Herself, Not Perfect, The Restaurant Critic's Wife, and The Tragedy Paper, which has been translated into eleven languages. She's also a former high school classmate. We learned to write under the watchful eye of an erudite English teacher. On the pod, she talks about her journey from NBC Page to novelist, the importance of raising the stakes in storytelling, and her advice for every writer she meets.

Dr. Jack Goldstone is a sociologist, political scientist, and historian recognized as one of the leading authorities on revolutions and social change. His latest book, Revolutions: A Very Short Introduction, shows how revolutions have shaped our world. On the podcast, he talks about the current state of political instability in the U.S.: How we got here, where we're going, and what history can teach us about how to fix this seemingly intractable divide. This is a masterclass in understanding the current political and social climate.

While most of us are familiar with the stories of Black historical figures, like Frederick Douglass and Harriet Tubman, many unheralded people in Black history are lesser-known. In her new book, Unsung, Michelle D. Commander (with co-editor Kevin Young) collects life stories and overlooked American Slavery and Abolitionists' accounts that have mostly been excised from today's historical accounts. An associate director and curator of the Lapidus Center and a professor of Africana Studies, Commander shares some amazing stories you probably don't know but should.