Roughneck Dispatch
Writing about the bad, the bitter, and the wasted.
Matt Phillips
Show overview
Roughneck Dispatch has published 9 episodes during 2023. That works out to roughly 7 hours of audio in total. Releases follow a roughly quarterly cadence.
Episodes typically run thirty-five to sixty minutes — most land between 36 min and 58 min — though episode length varies meaningfully from one episode to the next. It is catalogued as a EN-language Society & Culture show.
The catalogue appears to be on hiatus or wound down — the most recent episode landed 2.4 years ago, with no new episodes in over a year. Published by Matt Phillips.
From the publisher
Welcome to Roughneck Dispatch, a podcast about storytelling. We talk to the best storytellers about their greatest stories and why they have to tell them. Hosted by crime writer and occasional journalist Matt Phillips. roughneckdispatch.substack.com
Latest Episodes
Roughneck Dispatch: Stephen J. Golds
On this episode, noir writer and poet Stephen J. Golds, editor-in-chief of Punk Noir Magazine, talks about his recent novel from Outcast Press, Shadows Slow Dancing in Derelict Rooms. Stephen was born in North London and has lived much of his life in Japan—he is the acclaimed noir writer of The Dead, The Dying, and The Gone series now available in stunning new editions from Punk Noir Press. These noir novels are Say Goodbye When I’m Gone, Always the Dead, and I’ll Pray When I’m Dying. Join us for an honest discussion of how mental illness is portrayed in crime and other fiction, how poetics does or does not fit into the noir creator’s craftsmanship, and an assessment of the indie crime fiction scene.Buy Shadows Slow Dancing in Derelict Rooms here or wherever books are sold.Intro music by Road Side Brake. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit roughneckdispatch.substack.com
Roughneck Dispatch: Alec Cizak
On this episode, crime writer Alec Cizak, creator of the renowned journal Pulp Modern, talks about his new crime collection, Nobody’s Coming Home. Cizak has more than twenty years of publication/editorial history in the crime writing community—he founded All Due Respect and Uncle B. Publications. Cizak’s published novels include Cool it Down, Breaking Glass, Manifesto Destination, and Down on the Street. He has had numerous novellas and short stories published, including the story collection Lake County Incidents. Recently, Cizak founded the Independent Fiction Alliance.Buy Nobody’s Coming Home here or wherever books are sold.Intro music by Road Side Brake. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit roughneckdispatch.substack.com
Roughneck Dispatch: Crime Writers in Conversation
In this episode, crime writers Joel Nedecky and Matt Phillips discuss Sunset and Jericho, a stellar hardboiled novel written by Canada's own, Sam Wiebe. In this episode, Joel and Matt discuss the book's spellbinding plot and Sam's incredible prose.Joel Nedecky is a crime writer and Arthur Ellis Award nominee for his forthcoming book The Broken Detective, a gritty detective novel that centers around a man’s struggle to solve a crime that will guarantee the safety of his loved ones, while he faces life changing consequences of his family’s alcoholic past. | Follow JoelMatt Phillips lives in San Diego. His next novel is A Good Rush of Blood, slated for release November 1, 2023 from Run Amok Crime. | Follow MattIntro music by Road Side Brake. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit roughneckdispatch.substack.com
Roughneck Dispatch: Crime Writers in Conversation
In this episode, crime writers Joel Nedecky and Matt Phillips discuss A Bluebird in My Heart, a stellar neo-noir directed by Jérémie Guez and starring Roland MØller, Veerle Baetens, and Lola Le Lann. The film is available for viewing via the Shudder channel on streaming devices. In this episode, Joel and Matt discuss the film’s most interesting elements and give some little known facts about the director and star.Joel Nedecky is a crime writer and Arthur Ellis Award nominee for his forthcoming book The Broken Detective, a gritty detective novel that centers around a man’s struggle to solve a crime that will guarantee the safety of his loved ones, while he faces life changing consequences of his family’s alcoholic past. | Follow JoelMatt Phillips lives in San Diego. His next novel is A Good Rush of Blood, slated for release November 1, 2023 from Run Amok Crime. | Follow MattIntro music by Road Side Brake. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit roughneckdispatch.substack.com
Roughneck Dispatch: Vern Smith
On this episode, crime writer Vern Smith, editor of the Chinaski award-winning anthology Jacked, talks about his new novel, Scratching the Flint. Already garnering critical acclaim from respected voices in crime circles, Scratching the Flint interrogates the perceived ethics of justice, the elements culpable for the destabilization of North American policing and society, and what it means or doesn’t mean to be responsible for another person’s violent and evil demise. Join us for an engaging conversation about street-level crime fiction, the DIY ethos it takes to write six bad ass books, and the threat that Artificial Intelligence poses to the independent spirit and expression of the true artists and writers among us.Buy Scratching the Flint here or wherever books are sold.This episode of Roughneck Dispatch is partially supported by the Independent Fiction Alliance.Intro music by Road Side Brake.Closing punk song courtesy Gagmesharkoff. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit roughneckdispatch.substack.com
Roughneck Dispatch: Matthew Louis
On this episode, Matthew Louis, founder of Gutter Books and Out of the Gutter Magazine, talks about his new novel, Roots Down to Hell. This modern noir classic—yeah, I said it—is about a blue collar misfit who marries an idealistic college girl…and about everything that goes wrong from there. Matthew Louis’s previous novel, The Wrong Man, has been optioned for film and his work with Out of the Gutter has made room for modern noir and pulp as we know it today—a listen not to be missed as Matthew talks blue collar fiction, gatekeeping, and the perilous roots of noir. Have a listen and buy a book: Gutter Books available here.This episode of Roughneck Dispatch is partially supported by the Independent Fiction Alliance.Music by Road Side Brake. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit roughneckdispatch.substack.com
Roughneck Dispatch: Jo Perry
On this episode, crime writer Jo Perry talks about poetry as fuel for fiction, the complex nature of seeing as a storyteller, and what a bad mofo Warren Zevon was…Rock ‘n’ roll, baby. Have a listen and buy a book: https://www.authorjoperry.com/Music by Road Side Brake. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit roughneckdispatch.substack.com
Roughneck Dispatch: Curtis Ippolito
On this episode, crime writer Curtis Ippolito talks about his debut crime novel, writing longhand in cursive (huh?), his work as a reporter, police ride-alongs, and the shape of story. Have a listen and buy a book: https://curtisippolito.com/Music by Road Side Brake.Sound effect of"Pencil, Writing, Close, A.wav" by InspectorJ (www.jshaw.co.uk) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit roughneckdispatch.substack.com
Roughneck Dispatch Trailer
Brief promo for Roughneck Dispatch.Music by Road Side Brake. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit roughneckdispatch.substack.com