On January 6, 2021, thousands of Trump supporters stormed the Capitol as Congress was meeting to confirm Joe Biden as the 46th U.S. President. Five people died and the nation plunged into chaos. Our brave guests--both writers--were on the ground to bear witness: Andrew Denny is a journalist who reported on the riot for Business Insider. Terry Bouton is an author and professor of history at UMBC. His Twitter thread on the event has over 100 thousand views. This is what they saw and heard, and what they believe it means for the future of our country. 

Ever feel like you could organize your days better? This is the episode for you. Guest Laura Vanderkam is a time-management and productivity guru. She's the author of several bestselling books on the topic, including What the Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast and The New Corner Office: How The Most Successful People Work From Home. Her Ted Talk has over 11 million views. On the pod, we talk about the best morning routines, how to organize your days by task not time, dealing with email overload, and the future of working from home. 

In 1864, two newspapers published a call, allegedly from President Lincoln, for the conscription of 400,000 more Union soldiers to the Civil War. But it was a hoax. The fake news and what happened next is the subject of guest Elizabeth “Biz” Mitchell’s new book Lincoln’s Lie. We talk about journalism during this time, the complicated relationship between the President and the press, and Mitchells’ own rise from the executive editor at John F. Kennedy Jr's George magazine to the author of historical books.

Meowy Christmas! On this special holiday episode of Write About Now, we take a deep dive into the fuzzy world of felines. Guest Dr. Meghan Herron, DVM is a veterinary behavior specialist and author of the new book Decoding Your Cat. She explains common cat behaviors, such as purring, meowing, and even loving, to help demystify kitties. She also offers fascinating insights into understanding different cat personalities and techniques to train your cat. 

Pulitzer Prize finalist Sarah Maslin Nir talks about her new coming-of-age memoir, Horse Crazy, which explores why she and so many others are completely obsessed with horses. We learn about her life growing up as an outsider in the insular world of New York City's elite. From riding to writing, Nir also takes us behind-the-scenes of her impressive career, including a yearlong investigation into New York City’s exploitive and dangerous nail salon industry. 

2020 is the year of the cult. TV shows, documentaries, bestsellers, and podcasts flood popular culture with stories of charismatic leaders and their brainwashed followers. The word is even being used to describe Donald Trump and his conspiracy-loving acolytes. But what is a cult? How do they work and why do otherwise normal people become involved in them? Our guest is therapist Rachel Bernstein, an expert in cultic groups who counts over 80 former cult members as clients. Rachel is also the host of the terrific podcast Indoctrination, which features interviews with former cultists.  

Stanley Kubrick was one of the greatest filmmakers of all time. With classics such as Dr. Strangelove, Spartacus, The Shining, Full Metal Jacket, and 2001: A Space Odyssey, the director changed the way we viewed the world. Guest David Mikics has written an engrossing new book called "Stanley Kubrick: American Filmmaker," which explores the personal side of Kubrick's films. We talk about what made his movies so powerful, his controversial approach to working with people, and the lessons we can take from his genius. 

Looking for a way to earn some extra money as a writer? There are plenty of side hustle opportunities if you know where to look. In Part 1 of our side hustle series, we talk to married couple Alexander and Sarabeth Lewis of Lewis Commercial Writing, who have found great success in business copywriting. What is that exactly? It's creating copy for businesses hungry for content in all sorts of forms: blogs, white papers, conversion copy, emails, UX, to name a few. In this episode, the Lewis's lay out what's selling, who's hiring, and how to get a piece of the action. 

In this age of social media distraction and "doom scrolling," the ability to be present is often lost. My guest Rob Walker offers a solution to this predicament. In his book and newsletter "The Art of Noticing," he gives suggestions on becoming a clearer thinker, a better listener, and a more creative person. We discuss the power of being able to turn away from your devices and become a "first-class noticer," seeing what others overlook and paying attention to what seemed invisible to everyone else. 

How will Donald Trump's narcissism play out over the next few months? Guest Dr. Bandy Lee offers a sobering analysis. She is a forensic psychiatrist, president of the World Mental Health Coalition, and author of bestsellers The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump and Trump’s Mind and America’s Soul. On the pod, she explains Trump's mental disorder and his uncanny ability to amass so many followers. Dr. Lee also offers some suggestions on how to manage the anxiety so many of us are feeling right now.