The Drunken Odyssey with John King: A Podcast About the Writing Life

In this week's episode, I talk to novelist Ben Gwin about postmodern satire, addiction, whether MFAs ruin or sustain writers, and for some reason I insist that he needs to write poetry, plus I talk to Jared Silvia about synth music, Woody Guthrie, the vagaries of how folk music gets recorded, and Jared's annual recording project every Labor Day.

In this week's episode, I talk to Peter Kuper about Kafka, the remarkable art form of comic books, the indie comic book scene in the late 1980s, Spy Vs. Spy, finding your Muse when it leaves the marketplace, and so much more. TEXTS DISCUSSED NOTES Check out Brian Turner, Jared Silvia, recordings of Elise Kusnetz, and others in a performance of The Interplanetary Acoustic Team at the Timucua White House in Orlando, Florida on Tuesday, September 25th. Check out Kyle Eagle's impeccable new jazz podcast, The Major Scale. If you search the iTunes store, you can find it there as a free download you can and should subscribe to. Leslie Salas reviewed Peter Kuper's adaptation of The Metamorphosis for the Drunken Odyssey back in 2013. Details from Kafkaesque:

Episode 332 of The Drunken Odyssey, your favorite podcast about creative writing and literature is available on iTunes, or right click here to download. In this week's episode, I talk with Vanessa Blakeslee about Chuck Palahniuk's Stranger Than Fiction: True Stories. Episode 332 of The Drunken Odyssey, your favorite podcast about creative writing and literature is available on iTunes, or right click here to download.

In this week's episode, I host a party in honor of the 60th anniversary of the publication go my favorite Jack Kerouac work, The Dharma Bums.

In this week's episode, I am joined by Chris Lafave, Erik Deckers, and David James Poissant for a discussion of Kurt Vonnegut. TEXTS DISCUSSED NOTES When in Indianapolis, visit the Kurt Vonnegut Museum and Library. If you are in Orlando, that is, the City Beautiful, this Wednesday, come celebrate the 60th anniversary of The Dharma Bums at the house where Jack wrote it. Here is our On the Road show from last year. https://youtu.be/Dg_V4amBlJo

In this week's episode, I chat with novelist Blair Hurley about our experiences in NYU's MFA program, how to plot novels, religion, and how to really dress like a writer. TEXTS DISCUSSED NOTES Check out Brian Turner's album, featuring recordings by his late wife, Ilyse Kusnetz.

This week, I interview Dale Lucas, the author of the Fifth Wardand Doc Voodooseries of novels about exploring ethics in long-form narrative, world-building (and when to stop), how to keep writing the novel in maddening isolation, and other stuff, too. Books Discussed NOTES Check out Dale's essayabout having Simon Vance perform the audiobook of his novel, The Fifth Ward: First Watch.

In this week's episode, I interview Adrian Todd Zuniga, the host of Literary Death Match, about how to plot a novel, and how he plotted his novel, Collision Theory. TEXT DISCUSSED NOTES Check out my previous convo with Adrian back on Episode 190.

In this week's episode, I talk with the Orlando legend, Patrick Greene, about the power of being an autodidact, the importance of curiosity outside of one's area of expertise, and the struggles of trying to live the life of a writer. NOTES To get some idea of Pat Greene's influence, here's a video featuring his 60th birthday celebration at the gallery earlier this year. https://youtu.be/CYXqonaFaAQ

In this week's episode, I talk with the poet Abraham Smith about his latest release, the book-length work, Destruction of Man. TEXT DISCUSSED

In this week's episode, I talk with Vanessa Blakeslee about short story writing over the long haul, and about her brand new book, Perfect Conditions. Plus James Chapin writes about how the King James Bible changed his life. TEXTS DISCUSSED

In this week's episode, I chat with the classicist and translator, Emily Wilson, whose translation of the Odyssey feels both superbly magical and contemporary. [caption id="attachment_23399" align="alignnone" width="1001"]Emily Wilson by Ralph Rosen.[/caption] TEXT DISCUSSED NOTES Check out this new funky, psychedelic audio soundscape project featuring Brian Turner, Ilyse Kusnetz, and Jared Silvia, among others.

In this week's episode, I chat with the actor Sean Pratt, who is approaching his 1,000th audiobook reading. We talk about breaking into voice work, how to read non-fiction, the audiobook of Infinite Jest, and many other things. NOTES Check out Sean's websiteto learn about his voice coaching and webinars.

In this week's episode, I talk with Vanessa Blakeslee about E. M. Forster's Aspects of the Novel as my copy of it crumbled and dissolved. I defend the honor of Henry James at great length. TEXT DISCUSSED

On this week's program, The Drunken Odyssey enjoys perhaps its final Bloomsday live show, and its perhaps final visit to The Gallery at Avalon Island. Jeremy DaCruz by Steve Erwin.Matthew Davis, Alisha Erao, and Sarah Morrison by Steve Erwin.Octavia Finch by Steve Erwin.Elise McKenna by Steve Erwin.Erik Branch by Steve Erwin.John King by Steve Erwin.Emmi Green by Steve Erwin.Patrick Greene and Jeremy DaCruz by Steve Erwin.

On this week's program, Julian Chambliss returns to the secret headquarters of TDO so we could share notes about the first season of the new television show of Black Lightning, and consider the context of the classic comic book from the 1970s. TEXTS DISCUSSED NOTES Check out this hysterical assist from Superman! Compare Tobias Whale on the CW show (Marvin 'Krondon' Jones III) and his considerably different look in the original comics.

On this week's show, I present the readings from the book release party for Condoms and Hot Tubs Don't Mix.

On this week's program, I talk to novelist Michal A. Ferro about the midwest and Postmodernism and alcoholism and other matters of interest. TEXT DISCUSSED NOTES Review The Drunken Odyssey on iTunes here. If in NYC on June 16th, enjoy Bloomsday at Ulysses Folk House! I wrote a profile about a past year's event here.

On this week's program, I talk to the fiction writer, screenwriter, and film director Laura Lee Bahr at the close of her residency at the Kerouac Project of Orlando. [caption id="attachment_23227" align="alignnone" width="4288"]Photo by Shawn McKee.[/caption] TEXTS DISCUSSED NOTES

On this week's program, I talk to the poet Terri Witek. TEXT DISCUSSED NOTES I'll be reading with the other contributors to this awkward sexcapade anthology! Episode 315 of The Drunken Odyssey, your favorite podcast about creative writing and literature is available on iTunes, or right click here to download.

On this week's program, I talk to the novelist and filmmaker, Tom Stern. TEXT DISCUSSED NOTES I'll be at two forthcoming events in the City Beautiful. Laura Lee Bahr will give her farewell readingat the Kerouac House on May 19th at 7:30. Plus I'll be reading with the other contributors to this awkward sexcapade anthology!

In this week's episode, I talk with Vanessa Blakeslee about Alexander Pope's Essay on Criticism and twitter and other stuff. NOTES [caption id="attachment_1614" align="alignnone" width="2592"] RIP, Phil Deaver.[/caption] Pre-order Vanessa's forthcoming short story collection, Perfect Conditions. If you like Walt Disney World, subscribe to my Disney-themed youtube channel.

On this week's program, I talk to poets Gerald Stern and Victor Hernandez Cruz, plus we hear John McMahon's prologue to his work in progress, A Boy from Nantucket.

On this week's show, I talk to M. Evelina Galang about writing about the insistence of history, collaborating with other voices, being inspired by our elders, and conveying the true flux of language. Books Discussed

On this week's show, I talk to essayist Chelsey Clammer about the lyric essay, finding humor in trauma, and being honestly surprising. BOOKS DISCUSSED

On this week's show, I talk to the poet David McLoghlin about the pains and joys of being a third culture kid, the aesthetic fun of the poetic sketch, the importance of travel and being present even when home, and the importance of saving everything one writes. I read a poem from the ARC that got cut from the published version of the book, and David maybe has second thoughts about its omission... BOOKS DISCUSSED NOTES Check out David reading Rilke's "Presentiment" back on episode 275.

On this week's show, the format is quite different.

On this week's show, I talk to poet, memoirist, and editor Brian Turner about how to build a strong anthology, how working in other media helps our writing, and working with our instincts in the writing process. His latest editing project, The Kiss: Intimacies From Writers, is now available from Norton. TEXTS DISCUSSED NOTES Learn more about The Ocean Clean Up, one of the beneficiaries of proceeds from The Kiss. Follow The Kiss column over at Guernica Magazine. If you live in Orlando, check out Poetry and Prose at the Timicua White House on Wednesday, April 4th.

On this week's show, I share my interview with poet Sean Patrick Mulroy, plus I chat with my veteran friend Joshua Dull (on the right) about his plans to do more mission work in Costa Rica. NOTES If you can, throw a few bucks into the can to send Joshua back to Costa Rica to work on clean water projects. The Kerouac Project of Orlando is accepting applications for its 3-month residency program until April 16th.

On this week's show, I share interviews I did with the short story writer Jim Shepard and one of my favorite novelists, Jennifer Egan. [caption id="attachment_22997" align="alignnone" width="1430"] Jennifer Egan © Pieter M. van Hattem.[/caption] TEXTS DISCUSSED NOTES Please leave a review of the show on iTunes. Episode 305 of The Drunken Odyssey, your favorite podcast about creative writing and literature is available on iTunes, or right click here to download.

Episode 304 of The Drunken Odyssey, your favorite podcast about creative writing and literature is available on iTunes, or right click here to download. On this week's special AWP program, Vanessa Blakeslee and I face off against Book Fight's Tom McAllister and Barrelhouse's Poetry Editor, Dan Brady. TEXTS DISCUSSED Episode 304 of The Drunken Odyssey, your favorite podcast about creative writing and literature is available on iTunes, or right click here to download.

On this week's program, I drive West of Orlando to meet up with two adventurers named Drunky & Rhiannon who've just happened to write the best guide to Walt Disney World as far is this show is concerned. We geek out about boozing like pros at WDW! We drank outside at Hurricane Hannah's, and then we walked over to inside the Ale and Compass over at the Yacht Club, and then enjoyed some beverages at The Belle Vue Lounge in the Boardwalk Inn. [caption id="attachment_22824" align="alignnone" width="4288"] The actual bar of The Bellevue Lounge. BUY THESE BOOKS NOTES The Belle Vue Lounge is where I, sober, interviewed Ridley Pearson all the way back on #199. This show did the Monorail pub crawl back on #77.

On this week's program, I talk to the novelist Cheryl Della Pietra, an editorial assistant to Hunter S. Thompson in 1992, about the dynamics of working with him, the reality of the actual writer's life, the dangers of a legendary persona, Hunter's gift for meta-journalism, the challenges of fiction writing and negotiating a gonzo vision in the service of a non-gonzo narrative, and when to put your work in the drawer and move on.

In this week's episode, I share a recording of Loose Lips, the monthly current events literary thing hosted by the inestimable Tod Caviness, Patrick Scott Barnes and Tod Caviness by Katherine J. Parker. Teege Braune, Teege Braune by Patrick Scott Barnes. Michael Cuglietta, Michael Cuglietta by Patrick Scott Barnes. Leigh Fields, Leigh Fields by Patrick Scott Barnes. Dianne Turgeon Richardson, Dianne Turgeon Richardson by Patrick Scott Barnes and moi, [caption id="attachment_22847" align="alignnone" width="720"] Moi by Patrick Scott Barnes. L'il Indies by Katherine J. Parker.

In this week's episode, I talk with Vanessa Blakeslee about David Mamet's Three Uses of the Knife: On the Nature and Purpose of Drama. We manage not to kill one another.

On this week's program, I talk to the novelist Laleh Khadivi about empathy, anticipating the future, the snarl of time management, challenging oneself as a writer as a form of motivation, the absolute transformation of characters, patriarchal similarities between Middle East and West, the mystical nature of surfing, the fraught possibilities of adolescence, religious fervor, the problematic role of country to identity, and modernity and the immigrant experience. NOTES Check out the second installment of The Drunken Odyssey's Unauthorized Film Commentary Series: https://youtu.be/VYfZUZjSgjo Subscribe to TDO's youtube channel.

On January 19th, 2018, Dianne Turgeon Richardson hosted an evening of protest poetry at Milk Bar in Orlando, Florida! The readers included on this recording are Talor Carr, Rachel Fox, Lana Ghannam, Drew Weinbrenner, John King, Dianne Turgeon Richardson, Lisa Roney, Troy Cunio, Laurie Uttich, and Sean Patrick Mulroy. Lana Ghannam. Lisa Roney. Bar dogs. NOTES For help with getting Voter IDs, for yourself or others, please check out IDignity. Learn more about Exodus United.

Episode 297 of The Drunken Odyssey, your favorite podcast about creative writing and literature is available on iTunes, or right click here to download. On this week's program, I talk to poets Paul Muldoon and Patricia Smith! NOTES Please subscribe to my youtube channel, and leave a review of the show on iTunes.

On this week's program, I talk to the poet Denise Duhamel about the role of politics and play in poetry. BOOKS DISCUSSED NOTES Here in Orlando, the City Beautiful, come out and hear some protest poetry on January 19th. If you love Pat Greene, or just love great art, please donate a little something to The Downtown Arts District of Orlando. The music used in this episode was "Tremor" and "As the Dark Wave Swells" by The Bambi Molesters.

On this week's program, I talk to Charles Simic about James Tate, Kansas surrealism, humor in poetry, and embracing the unconscious, plus I talk to Richard Blanco about the accidents that turn us into artists, the grind of editing, and the joys of finding new forms and challenges. Be sure to check out the music of David Rego, whose songs "Rings Ring" and "Sapphire Showers" appear on this episode.

In this week's episode, I catch up with Ben Blum, who was my colleague in a Jonathan Lethem workshop circa 2009, and talk about finding room for earnestness in a postmodern outlook, finding room for pleasure in a world sick with stimulation, and writing a challenging project that changes who you are as a writer. TEXT DISCUSSED NOTES The music used in this episode was "Sweet Spot," "Chase," "Chaotica," and "As the Dark Wave Swells" by The Bambi Molesters. All hail Mistie Watkins, content editor of The Drunken Odyssey. Have you reviewed us on iTunes yet?

In this week's episode, Tod Caviness, Julian Chambliss, Dianne Turgeon Richardson, and Jared Silvia join me in a roundtable discussion of the Star Wars Christmas Special of 1978 and maybe got a few other topics in there as well.

In this week's episode, we return to September 5th, 2017, the 60th anniversary of the publication of Jack Kerouac's On the Road. This celebration included Tod Caviness, Janna Benge, Bob Kealing, Erik Deckers, Suleika Jaouad, Karen Price, Holly Kapherr, Jared Silvia, Chris Cortez and Mark Piszczek. NOTES Check out The Blue Bamboo Center for the Arts! Learn more about The Kerouac Project residency program.

In this week's episode, I talk with Vanessa Blakeslee about the new fiction anthology, A Very French Christmas, from New Vessel Press. NOTES Some context for the dubious Dutch tradition of Black Pete. David Sedaris discusses this in his essay, "6 to 8 Black Men." Be sure to check out the music of David Rego, whose song "Harp" appears on this episode.

This week I talk to Jacob Shores-Agüello, the resident of the Kerouac House in summer of 2017. We talk about the roles that genres play in the process of mourning, the improvistory games that can create a sense of shared culture, the glory of compression, and how to avoid the musical information car crashes that happen with prose. TEXTS DISCUSSED NOTES Check out the offerings at the Annie Russel Theatre. Check out Burrow Press's latest tome.

This week I talk to the fiction writer Laurie Stone, and we talk about the need for more craft in experimental work, what New York means for writers, the tricks of memory and aging, and our beloved avant garde forebears. TEXTS DISCUSSED

This is a special episode, for Will Dowd, checks in to talk about how he turned his Drunken Odyssey blog, Areas of Fog, into a book! We try to get to the bottom of our editorial relationship, the trick of bypassing or appeasing the gatekeepers among the editors of the literary world, and how the weather affects every aspect of life in New England. TEXTS DISCUSSED NOTES If you are at Miami Book Fair this weekend, stop by the Burrow Press booth!

In this week's episode, I talk with Vanessa Blakeslee about Ann Hood's MorningStar: Growing Up With Books. NOTES Check out my interview with Ann Hood back on episode 242.

Episode 286 is a bonus episode, on the 1 year-anniversary of our national tragedy, the election day of 2016. I talk to the philosopher Bruce Janz about how to stay sane and process the current state of American democracy, and how our reading habits can console us. [caption id="attachment_22372" align="alignnone" width="2016"] Photo by Lisa Roney.

On this week's show, Sara Nicolas,Christina Farley, and Ella Martin, discuss the world of young adult fiction at Litlando, from February 25th, 2017.