
Midwest Weird
An Audio Literary Magazine
Broads and Books Productions
Show overview
Midwest Weird has been publishing since 2024, and across the 2 years since has built a catalogue of 39 episodes, alongside 3 trailers or bonus episodes. That works out to roughly 15 hours of audio in total. Releases follow a monthly cadence, with the show now in its 3rd season.
Episodes typically run ten to twenty minutes — most land between 11 min and 26 min — though episode length varies meaningfully from one episode to the next. The publisher flags most episodes as explicit, so expect adult themes or strong language throughout. It is catalogued as a EN-language Arts show.
There hasn’t been a new episode in the last ninety days; the most recent episode landed 3 months ago. The busiest year was 2025, with 23 episodes published. Published by Broads and Books Productions.
From the publisher
Midwest Weird is an audio literary magazine featuring weird fiction and nonfiction by Midwestern writers. From strange styles to unique identities, from written tales to oral tradition, from Iowa to Indiana and everywhere in between, we’re the podcast home for stories that stick with you. Listen every other week for the edge of creation, come to life.
Latest Episodes
View all 39 episodes
Introducing: Past Ten Podcast
bonusEWelcome the newest Broads and Books Production, and cousin to Midwest Weird: Past Ten! This audio nonfiction journal asks writers: "Where were you on this date ten years ago?"Follow Past Ten wherever you get your podcasts!------In the first episode, Heather Gudenkauf reads her essay, "I Am Struck by How Upbeat I Sound."Heather Gudenkauf is the Edgar Award nominated, New York Times & USA Today bestselling author of ten novels, including The Overnight Guest and her most recent thriller Everyone is Watching. Her debut novel, The Weight of Silence, was an instant NYT bestseller and remained on the list for 22 weeks. Gudenkauf’s critically acclaimed novels have been published in over 25 countries and have sold over 2.5 million copies worldwide._________Past Ten asks writers to answer the question: "Where were you on this date ten years ago?"Get more Past Ten at our website, and our anthology.Want your work to appear on Past Ten? Submit today!

S3 Ep 10"Bob," Mario Senzale
EToday on Midwest Weird: “Bob," by Mario Senzale.Buy Mario a coffee in support of his work! Be sure to leave a message and note who the coffee is for : )Mario Senzale is a South American writer and mathematician currently living in Indianapolis, Indiana.For a full transcript of this episode, visit www.midwestweird.com._____Midwest Weird is an audio literary magazine from Broads and Books Productions. We’re the home of weird fiction and nonfiction by Midwestern writers.Submit your own work to Midwest Weird at www.midwestweird.com.

S3 Ep 9"Small Town Inc is Going Public," Joe Prosit
EToday on Midwest Weird: “Small Town Inc Goes Public," by Joe Prosit.Buy Joe a coffee in support of her work! Be sure to leave a message and note who the coffee is for : )Joe Prosit writes sci-fi, horror, and psycho fiction. He has independently published six novels and two short story collections. He lives with his wife, kids, and dog in Brainerd, Minnesota.For a full transcript of this episode, visit www.midwestweird.com._____Midwest Weird is an audio literary magazine from Broads and Books Productions. We’re the home of weird fiction and nonfiction by Midwestern writers.Submit your own work to Midwest Weird at www.midwestweird.com.

S3 Ep 8"I Wanna Be Sedated," Melissa Ford Lucken
EToday on Midwest Weird: “I Wanna Be Sedated," by Melissa Ford Lucken.Buy Melissa a coffee in support of her work! Be sure to leave a message and note who the coffee is for : ) Melissa Ford Lucken holds an MA in Special Education from Eastern Michigan University and an MFA in Creative Writing from Lasell University. She is a professor of creative writing and composition at Lansing Community College, where she serves as the fiction and creative non-fiction editor of The Washington Square Review, the college’s literary journal.For a full transcript of this episode, visit www.midwestweird.com. _____Midwest Weird is an audio literary magazine from Broads and Books Productions. We’re the home of weird fiction and nonfiction by Midwestern writers.Submit your own work to Midwest Weird at www.midwestweird.com.

S3 Ep 7"Before the Rain," Betty Stanton
EToday on Midwest Weird: “Before the Rain" by Betty Stanton.Buy Betty a coffee in support of her work! Be sure to leave a message and note who the coffee is for : ) Betty Stanton (she/her) is a Puschart nominated writer who lives and works in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Her work has appeared or is forthcoming in various journals and collections and has been included in various anthologies. She received her MFA from The University of Texas - El Paso and holds a doctorate in Educational Leadership. She is currently on the editorial board of Ivo Review. Reach Betty at @fadingbetty.bsky.For a full transcript of this episode, visit www.midwestweird.com. _____Midwest Weird is an audio literary magazine from Broads and Books Productions. We’re the home of weird fiction and nonfiction by Midwestern writers.Submit your own work to Midwest Weird at www.midwestweird.com.

S3 Ep 6"Dark Earth," Sarah L. Parris
EToday on Midwest Weird: "Dark Earth," by Sarah L. Parris.Buy Sarah a coffee in support of her work! Be sure to leave a message and note who the coffee is for : ) Sarah Parris writes short speculative and fantasy fiction. She is also an instructor of English and Creative Writing, which she believes is the best job ever. Sarah lives in Missouri with her wife and cats. In her free time, Sarah can often be found playing Dungeons & Dragons.For a full transcript of this episode, visit www.midwestweird.com. _____Midwest Weird is an audio literary magazine from Broads and Books Productions. We’re the home of weird fiction and nonfiction by Midwestern writers.Submit your own work to Midwest Weird at www.midwestweird.com.

S3 Ep 5"the oven of america," Gabriella Fryer
EToday on Midwest Weird: “the oven of america," by Gabriella Fryer. Buy Gabriella a coffee in support of her work! Be sure to leave a message and note who it's for : ) Gabriella Fryer is a mother, wife, and writer located in New England, but she was born and raised all over the Midwest. She started her family in Illinois, and finds her writing often starts or ends in its familiar landscapes. Gabriella enjoys writing poetry, short fiction, essays, and creative nonfiction about magic, food, ecology, queerness, and the nonhuman. Her chapbook, Muted Red, was published by Bottlecap Press and her creative writing can also be found at Gramarye, Crow & Cross Keys, 12 Willows Press, and Shemom Poetry Zine, among others.For a full transcript of this episode, visit www.midwestweird.com. _____Midwest Weird is an audio literary magazine from Broads and Books Productions. We’re the home of weird fiction and nonfiction by Midwestern writers.Submit your own work to Midwest Weird at www.midwestweird.com.

S3 Ep 4"The Move Out from Marbury Drive," Shiv Majmudar
EToday on Midwest Weird: “The Move Out from Marbury Drive” by Shiv Majmudar. Buy Shiv a coffee in support of his work! Be sure to leave a message and note who it's for. Shiv Majmudar has published fiction in the Alabama Literary Review. His stories have been recognized by the Writers of the Future Contest. A senior at Olentangy Orange High School, he lives in Westerville, Ohio.For a full transcript of this episode, visit www.midwestweird.com. _____Midwest Weird is an audio literary magazine from Broads and Books Productions. We’re the home of weird fiction and nonfiction by Midwestern writers.Submit your own work to Midwest Weird at www.midwestweird.com.

S3 Ep 3"How to Survive Being Brought to Church by Your Grandparents," Ryan Van Ells
EToday on Midwest Weird: "How to Survive Being Brought to Church by Your Grandparents," by Ryan Van Ells. Buy Ryan a coffee in support of his work! Be sure to leave a message and note who it's for. Ryan Van Ells (he/him) is a queer lawyer and author of dark fiction from Milwaukee, WI. His work has appeared in State of Matter, Tiny Terrors and Drabbledark III. He is an affiliate member of the HWA. You can find him at ryanvanellsauthor.wordpress.com.For a full transcript of this episode, visit www.midwestweird.com. _____Midwest Weird is an audio literary magazine from Broads and Books Productions. We’re the home of weird fiction and nonfiction by Midwestern writers.Submit your own work to Midwest Weird at www.midwestweird.com.

S3 Ep 2"Bruno and His Classmates," Sophie Anne Hinkson
EToday on Midwest Weird: “Bruno and His Classmates," by Sophie Anne Hinkson.Buy Sophie a coffee in support of her work! Be sure to leave a message and note who it's for. Sophie Ann Hinkson relocated to Chicago from Paris a few years ago. In France, she worked as a bookseller and journalist for a literary magazine and radio station. She is now teaching ESL and French at various colleges in Chicago. She holds an MA in Modern Literature from France and is currently an MFA candidate in Creative Writing at UC Riverside’s Low Residency Program. She lives in Chicago with her husband, one cat, and six pet rats.For a full transcript of this episode, visit www.midwestweird.com. _____Midwest Weird is an audio literary magazine from Broads and Books Productions. We’re the home of weird fiction and nonfiction by Midwestern writers.Submit your own work to Midwest Weird at www.midwestweird.com.

S3 Ep 1"Why I Don't Deserve to Be in Jail This Halloween," Itto and Mekiya Outini
EToday on Midwest Weird: “Why I Don't Deserve to Be in Jail This Halloween” by Itto and Mekiya Outini.Buy Itto and Mekiya a coffee in support of their work! Be sure to leave a message and note who it's for. Itto and Mekiya Outini write about America, Morocco, and all those caught in between. They’ve published in The North American Review, Modern Literature, Fourth Genre, and elsewhere. Their work has also received support from the MacDowell Foundation, the Steinbeck Fellowship Program, the Edward F. Albee Foundation, and the Fulbright Program. They’re collaborating on several books and running The DateKeepers, an author support platform. For a full transcript of this episode, visit www.midwestweird.com. _____Midwest Weird is an audio literary magazine from Broads and Books Productions. We’re the home of weird fiction and nonfiction by Midwestern writers.Submit your own work to Midwest Weird at www.midwestweird.com.

S2 Ep 13"A Woman is a God: Part 1," Amy Lee Lillard
EToday on Midwest Weird: The first episode of a new audio drama by Amy Lee Lillard. All episodes of the show, A Woman is a God, will be available on July 9, wherever you listen to podcasts. The show and its original music comes from Amy Lee Lillard, the co-creator and producer of Midwest Weird. She is also the author of three books: Exile in Guyville, A Grotesque Animal, and Dig Me Out. And she’s the founder of Rebel Yell Creative, helping writers, community groups and small businesses build, create and resist, through creative consulting, courses and community. _____Midwest Weird is an audio literary magazine from Broads and Books Productions. We’re the home of weird fiction and nonfiction by Midwestern writers.Submit your own work to Midwest Weird at www.midwestweird.com.

S2 Ep 12"Pants Free in St. Paul," Erin Johnston
EToday on Midwest Weird: "Pants Free in St. Paul," by Erin Johnston.Erin Johnston is the co-creator and editor of Midwest Weird. And with Heath Smith and Amy Lee Lillard, she hosts the 80s and 90s pop culture podcast Fuzzy Memories.For a full transcript of this episode, visit www.midwestweird.com. _____Midwest Weird is an audio literary magazine from Broads and Books Productions. We’re the home of weird fiction and nonfiction by Midwestern writers.Submit your own work to Midwest Weird at www.midwestweird.com.

S2 Ep 11"Covers We Didn't Need," Heath Smith
EToday on Midwest Weird: A special reading of Donzerly Light, our pop culture column from Heath Smith. Heath Smith is a special pop culture contributor to Midwest Weird. Read his column, Donzerly Light, at midwestweird.com, and get it direct to your inbox when you sign up. Heath is co-host of Fuzzy Memories, the 80s and 90s pop culture podcast. For a full transcript of this episode, visit www.midwestweird.com. _____Midwest Weird is an audio literary magazine from Broads and Books Productions. We’re the home of weird fiction and nonfiction by Midwestern writers.Submit your own work to Midwest Weird at www.midwestweird.com.

S2 Ep 10"How to Grow a House," LL Kelly
EToday on Midwest Weird: “How to Grow a House" by LL Kelly. LL Kelly currently lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota with her family. When not writing (or reading), she can be found working on new tricks with her dog, crafting, or gardening.For a full transcript of this episode, visit www.midwestweird.com. _____Midwest Weird is an audio literary magazine from Broads and Books Productions. We’re the home of weird fiction and nonfiction by Midwestern writers.Submit your own work to Midwest Weird at www.midwestweird.com.

S2 Ep 9Three Shorts, Mathew Serback
EToday on Midwest Weird: Three short works by Mathew SerbackMathew Serback is a re-educated goblin from the lower west side of Cleveland, OH, whose art and writing delve into the complexities of trauma, identity, and societal dissonance. Through his YouTube channel, he shares his creative journey, posting audio-visual poems and stories, including the popular documentary What to Do When Surviving Violence. For a full transcript of this episode, visit www.midwestweird.com. _____Midwest Weird is an audio literary magazine from Broads and Books Productions. We’re the home of weird fiction and nonfiction by Midwestern writers.Submit your own work to Midwest Weird at www.midwestweird.com.

S2 Ep 8"Flood," Stephanie Frazee
EToday on Midwest Weird: “Flood” by Stephanie Frazee. Stephanie Frazee's work is forthcoming from Variant Literature and has appeared in Marrow Magazine, Pithead Chapel, The Evergreen Review, Bayou Magazine, Juked, SmokeLong Quarterly, and elsewhere. She is online at www.stephaniefrazee.com and @stephieosaurus.bsky.social.For a full transcript of this episode, visit www.midwestweird.com. _____Midwest Weird is an audio literary magazine from Broads and Books Productions. We’re the home of weird fiction and nonfiction by Midwestern writers.Submit your own work to Midwest Weird at www.midwestweird.com.

S2 Ep 7"Eviction Notice," Joshua Grasso
EToday on Midwest Weird: “Eviction Notice” by Joshua Grasso. Joshua Grasso (he/him) is a professor of English at East Central University (OK), where he’s taught since getting his PhD in 2006. He teaches courses in writing, Shakespeare, world literature, and when he can, comic books. His works have appeared most recently in the anthology The Speculative Teachers Lounge, and magazines such as On Spec, Androids & Dragons, and Allegory.For a full transcript of this episode, visit www.midwestweird.com. _____Midwest Weird is an audio literary magazine from Broads and Books Productions. We’re the home of weird fiction and nonfiction by Midwestern writers.Submit your own work to Midwest Weird at www.midwestweird.com.

S2 Ep 6"The Death of the Dinosaurs," Kristin Harley
EToday on Midwest Weird: “The Death of the Dinosaurs” by Kristin Harley. Kristin Harley's fiction has appeared in Haunted MTL, Parcham Magazine, and most recently Third Name's a Charm: Tales of Trios and Triple Threats. She works at a library and freelances as a journalist, fiction writer, and science writer. Two novels in her four-book series about the surrealist poets Antonin Artaud and Robert Desnos were published in 2023 (Traitor Comet) and 2024 (L'Etoile de Mer, or The Starfish).For a full transcript of this episode, visit www.midwestweird.com. _____Midwest Weird is an audio literary magazine from Broads and Books Productions. We’re the home of weird fiction and nonfiction by Midwestern writers.Submit your own work to Midwest Weird at www.midwestweird.com.

S2 Ep 5"The Shape of Her Life," E.F. Schraeder
EToday on Midwest Weird: “The Shape of Her Life” by E.F. Schraeder. A Rhysling and Pushcart nominated poet, E.F. Schraeder is author of The Price of a Small Hot Fire (Raw Dog Screaming Press, 2023), What Happened Was Impossible (Ghoulish Books, 2023), and several other works. Schraeder’s creative work and nonfiction has appeared in Mystery Weekly Magazine, Ghoulish Tales, Vastarien: A Literary Journal, and other journals and anthologies. They believe in ghosts, magic, and dogs and hold an advanced degree in Library Science and PhD in ethics.For a full transcript of this episode, visit www.midwestweird.com. _____Midwest Weird is an audio literary magazine from Broads and Books Productions. We’re the home of weird fiction and nonfiction by Midwestern writers.Submit your own work to Midwest Weird at www.midwestweird.com.