Show overview
Washington Square On Air has been publishing since 2023, and across the 3 years since has built a catalogue of 83 episodes. That works out to roughly 40 hours of audio in total. Releases follow a fortnightly cadence, with the show now in its 4th season.
Episodes typically run twenty to thirty-five minutes — most land between 25 min and 30 min — and the run-time is fairly consistent across the catalogue. None of the episodes are flagged explicit by the publisher. It is catalogued as a EN-language Fiction show.
The show is actively publishing — the most recent episode landed 2 days ago, with 10 episodes already out so far this year. The busiest year was 2025, with 31 episodes published. Published by LCC Connect.
From the publisher
Washington Square On-Air serves as the audio town square for the Washington Square Review, the literary journal of Lansing Community College. Melissa Ford Lucken, the host, brings her expertise as a professor, creative writer, and author to engage with writers, readers, scholars, students, publishing professionals, and individuals worldwide, discussing various aspects of the writing craft.
Latest Episodes
View all 83 episodesTurning Stories Into Novels With Joseph Esper
Myth-Crafting Through Fan-Fiction
A Pasodoble in Prose: Richard Stimac
S3 Ep 80Braiding the Essay with Conviction With Lyzette Wanzer
Award‑winning author, researcher, and teacher Lyzette Wanzer chats with Washington Square Review editor Melissa Ford Lucken. Wanzer traces the journey of her ground‑breaking anthology from a quick idea for an Association of Writers and Writing Programs panel proposal, to a book proposal, to a published volume. Her book, Trauma, Tresses & Truth, explores the complex relationship Black women continue to have with their hair among the still‑remaining systemic biases in schools, academia, and corporate America, and was named a Top 10 Best Social Sciences Book by Library Journal.Lyzette’s edited anthology, Trauma, Tresses & Truth, is available from Lawrence Hill Books.Lyzette on LindedInLyzette on Insta_________________________Website: Washington Square Review Melissa's Website: Adventures in MFALandFacebook: Melissa Ford LuckenInstagram: Melissa Ford Lucken
S3 Ep 79Pairing Poetry and Wine With Michael Waterson
Poet, playwright, singer, and songwriter Michael Waterson chats with Washington Square Review editor Melissa Ford Lucken. A Pennsylvania native who now calls the California wine country home, Waterson reveals his lifelong interest in dark fairy tales, puzzles over writing for that mystical, sometimes fleeting, moment of joy, and divulges some secrets of a vineyard’s wine‑tasting room.Michael’s poem Fairytale Ending, appears in the Summer 2026 issue of the Washington Square Review.Michael on FacebookMichael on InstaMichael’s website_________________________Website: Washington Square Review Melissa's Website: Adventures in MFALand Facebook: Melissa Ford Lucken Instagram: Melissa Ford Lucken
S3 Ep 78Emboldening Students Through Creative Expression With Jon Lawrence
High school English teacher Jonathan Lawrence, who teaches at the same school he once graduated from, sits down with Washington Square Review editor Melissa Ford Lucken. Lawrence, in the way only an experienced teacher can, reflects on the art of arranging poems in an anthology, considers the delicate balance between guidance and restraint, and explains how and why poets need to stay out of the poem’s way.Jonathan’s poem, Imagination on Eleven in Church, appears in the Summer 2026 issue of the Washington Square Review.Jon on Insta_________________________Website: Washington Square Review Melissa's Website: Adventures in MFALandFacebook: Melissa Ford LuckenInstagram: Melissa Ford Lucken
S2 Ep 77Historicizing Mistaken Memories With John Frame
Historian and author John Frame talks with Washington Square Review editor Melissa Ford Lucken. Integrating research and real life into fiction gives this writer the opportunity to find new meaning in past events and imagine lives lived. This conversation also explores the differences between creative and scholarly writing and the danger of an unwanted crush.John Frame’s story, Dorothy, appears in the Summer 2025 issue of the Washington Square Review.John on BlueSkyJohn’s website_________________________Website: Washington Square Review Melissa's Website: Adventures in MFALandFacebook: Melissa Ford LuckenInstagram: Melissa Ford Lucken
S2 Ep 76Defusing Bombastic Rhetoric With Courtney Crisp
Pop culture scholar and professor Courtney Crisp sits down with Washington Square Review editor Melissa Ford Lucken. This conversation covers the hot topics such as crusader rhetoric found in tabletop role playing games, Dungeons and Dragons, for example, to the magic of old-school printed-on-paper fanzines, to the difficulties of explaining pop culture scholarship to family members who struggle to understand how Pathfinder and Hello Kitty are worthy of scholarly research.Courtney on BlueSky_________________________Website: Washington Square Review Melissa's Website: Adventures in MFALandFacebook: Melissa Ford LuckenInstagram: Melissa Ford Lucken
S2 Ep 75Archiving Mid-Century Comics & Americana With Jerico Woggon
Artist and comic archivist Jerico Woggon chats with Washington Square Review editor Melissa Ford Lucken. Woggon, grandson of Ink Pot award recipient Bill Woggon who created the Archie comics’ character Katy Keene, inherited his grandfather’s decades old research, original art, and documents collection. While the mission of organizing the truckload of materials into an archive is new and ongoing, this artist has been living and leading in creative worlds his entire life.Note: The Katy Keene character discussed in this episode is the same character of the CW’s short-lived Katy Keene television series.Jerico on FacebookJerico on Instagram Jerico’s Hand-crafted tiesArticle: Biding Time Under Lockdown with Legendary DTLA Artist Jerico WoggonJerico’s Music Festival Art Installation _________________________Website: Washington Square Review Melissa's Website: Adventures in MFALandFacebook: Melissa Ford LuckenInstagram: Melissa Ford Lucken
S2 Ep 74Connecting Myth & History With Radus & Mareto
Bulgarian writing partners, Radus & Mareto, chat with Washington Square Review editor Melissa Ford Lucken. The creative partners explore how the intersection of history and myth provoke thought, the importance of reflecting on the human condition, and why writing novel length works is easier than writing short stories.Radus & Mareto’s story, The Orphans, appears in the Summer 2025 issue of the Washington Square Review.Radus & Mareto on FacebookRadus & Maretos’ book series publisher_________________________Website: Washington Square Review Melissa's Website: Adventures in MFALandFacebook: Melissa Ford LuckenInstagram: Melissa Ford Lucken
S4 Ep 73Revising Your Writing With Christopher Russell
Western Michigan University’s Writing Center’s Assistant Director Christopher Russel chats with Washington Square Review editor Melissa Ford Lucken. An author who has work-shopped manuscripts as both an undergraduate and graduate student as well as worked collaboratively with writers through his work at WMU’s Writing Center, Russell demystifies writer’s block and breaks down the best strategies for ensuring an inspiring and successful workshop experience by honoring your own creative process and meeting yourself where you are.Christopher Russel’s story, Fifteen Minutes, appears in the Summer 2025 issue of the Washington Square Review.Christopher on InstagramChristopher’s Western Michigan University faculty profile_________________________Website: Washington Square Review Melissa's Website: Adventures in MFALand Facebook: Melissa Ford Lucken Instagram: Melissa Ford Lucken
S4 Ep 72Unspooling the Lyrical Essay With Ashni Math
Columbia University graduate student Ashni Math sits down with Washington Square Review editor Melissa Ford Lucken. A writer who prefers to ignore definitional boundaries, Math explores the similarities of poetry and creative non-fiction, shares her lessons learned from work as a poetry editor, and offers her perspective on what makes a successful college application essay.Ashni Math’s story, Pastoral, appears in the Summer 2025 issue of the Washington Square Review.Ashni’s website_________________________Website: Washington Square Review Melissa's Website: Adventures in MFALand Facebook: Melissa Ford Lucken Instagram: Melissa Ford Lucken
S4 Ep 71Watching the Watchers With Michelle Slater
Debut fiction author and accidental memoirist Michelle Slater talks with Washington Square Review editor Melissa Ford Lucken. Slater, whose first novel, The Lunatic, tackles the tough truth about invasive technology and the potential grip it has on our lives, is no stranger to difficult topics. Each of her memoirs goes against conventional wisdom and challenges modern culture’s scientific assumptions.Michelle on InstagramMichelle’s website_________________________Website: Washington Square Review Melissa's Website: Adventures in MFALand Facebook: Melissa Ford Lucken Instagram: Melissa Ford Lucken
S4 Ep 70Feeling Nostalgic With Timothy Dodd
Author, artist, and life-long creative, Timothy Dodd talks with Washington Square Review editor Melissa Ford Lucken. West Viginian native and world traveler, Dodd examines the creative differences between poetry, fiction, and art, the magic of nostalgia, and the mysterious ways new experiences generate ideas and inspiration.Timothy Dodd’s story, The Darlene Conspiracy, and poem, Skyeaters, appear in the Summer 2025 issue of the Washington Square Review.Timothy on InstagramTimothy’s WordpressTimothy on AmazonTimothy on GoodreadsTimothy’s art website_________________________Website: Washington Square Review Melissa's Website: Adventures in MFALand Facebook: Melissa Ford Lucken Instagram: Melissa Ford Lucken
S4 Ep 69Discovering Literary Truths in Historical Fiction With Dylan Hoover
Author Dylan Hoover chats with Washington Square Review editor Melissa Ford Lucken. A writer who has workshopped his stories internationally, Hoover reflects on the difficulties of crafting dialogue, the importance of placing emotion in the center of a story, and puzzles over the continued devaluing of historical fiction in literary communities. Dylan Hoover’s story, Aztec, appears in the Summer 2025 issue of the Washington Square Review.Dylan on Instagram_________________________Website: Washington Square Review Melissa's Website: Adventures in MFALand Facebook: Melissa Ford Lucken Instagram: Melissa Ford Lucken
S4 Ep 68Gatebreaking Creative Writing With Deanna Oudelha
Professor, student advocate, and writer, Deanna Oudelha, sits down with Washington Square Review editor Melissa Ford Lucken. A teacher and student who loves learning and teaching, Oudelha breaks down the hidden beauty of the English language, her frustration with academic gatekeeping, and how she embraces all possibilities in her work with first year students at the University of Omaha.Deanna Oudelha’s flash essay, I am humming, a living thing woven into countless lives among many, appears in the Summer 2025 issue of the Washington Square Review.Deanna's website_________________________Website: Washington Square Review Melissa's Website: Adventures in MFALand Facebook: Melissa Ford Lucken Instagram: Melissa Ford Lucken
S4 Ep 67Big Action in a Minimalistic Manner With Grady Van Wright
Former combat U.S. Marine and lover of poetry, Grady VanWright, talks with Washington Square Review editor Melissa Ford Lucken. A lifelong writer, VanWright explores the differences between therapeutic writing created for the self and polished writing created for an audience, learning how to use feedback from other writers, and the beauty of having time later in life to dedicate to craft.Grady VanWright’s story, The Wormhole Killers, appears in the Summer 2025 issue of the Washington Square Review.Grady on InstagramGrady on Facebook_________________________Website: Washington Square Review Melissa's Website: Adventures in MFALand Facebook: Melissa Ford Lucken Instagram: Melissa Ford Lucken
S4 Ep 66Going From Performance to Prose With Renée LoBue
Interdisciplinary creative, Renée LoBue, sits down with Washington Square Review editor Melissa Ford Lucken. An experienced recording artist who has performed all over the world, reveals the surprising power of harsh rejection, the beauty of creating works across mediums, and the importance of the often overlooked development of the artist. Renée LoBue’s story, Mountainside Pool, appears in the Summer 2025 issue of the Washington Square Review.Renée on InstagramRenée’s Linktree_________________________Website: Washington Square Review Melissa's Website: Adventures in MFALand Facebook: Melissa Ford Lucken Instagram: Melissa Ford Lucken
S4 Ep 65Separating Real Life From Fiction With Michel Feeney
Lifelong writer, newly published author, Michael Feeny, chats with Washington Square Review editor Melissa Ford Lucken. A former corrections officer, Feeny creates stories about people meeting in dark places and how the unexpected, profound experiences of life reveal the unique characteristics that result in complex humans.Michael Feeney’s story, Across the River Styx, appears in the Summer 2025 issue of the Washington Square Review._________________________Website: Washington Square Review Melissa's Website: Adventures in MFALand Facebook: Melissa Ford Lucken Instagram: Melissa Ford Lucken
S4 Ep 64Finding the Real in Sci-Fi With Annie Fox
Lifelong writer of books for toddlers to teens, Annie Fox, talks with Washington Square Review editor Melissa Ford Lucken. Fox, who published her first book before she was old enough to sign the book contract, describes her approach to meeting readers where they are, reflects on the emotional beauty of nature, and surprising lessons learned while replying to the hundreds of advice-seeking letters she’s received over the years.Annie on BlueSkyAnnie on InstagramAnnie’s websiteAnnie’s book Leeta Simtar: A Life on Two PlanetsAnnie’s book People are Like Lollipops. Annie’s book The Girls Q&A Book on Friendship_________________________Website: Washington Square Review Melissa's Website: Adventures in MFALand Facebook: Melissa Ford Lucken Instagram: Melissa Ford Lucken