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

In this week’s episode, I talk to comedian, podcaster, and now, author, Greg Proops, Photo by Idil Sukan/Draw HQ plus Rochelle Spencer writes about the liberating politics of Zora Neale Hurston's Their Eyes Were Watching God. TEXTS DISCUSSED NOTES Read Teege Braun's review of Greg Proops's comedy special, Live at Musso and Frank, here.

In this week’s episode, I talk to the fantasy, science fiction, and nonfiction writer Melissa Crandall, Plus Síofra Shaman Skye shares a letter she wrote to J.D. Salinger. TEXTS DISCUSSED [embed]https://youtu.be/hJFtCfHDFfw[/embed] Check out Melissa Crandall's blog, The Caretaker's Wild Ride, here. NOTES Check out more about Wilson Santos’ Dominican Republic project, including how to donate, here.

In this week’s episode, I talk to the memoirist, Chelsey Clammer, plus Susan Brennan shares her poetry sequence, Chromoluminarism, based on the last days of the pointillist, George Seraut. TEXTS DISCUSSED "The Circus" by George Seraut, 1891. NOTES If you live in the city beautiful (Orlando, in case you don't know), come out to see a great show and support a great cause on May 1st. Check out Jennifer Hoppe-House’s Bad Dog, playing at Orlando Shakespeare Theater through May 3rd. Ginger Lee McDermott as Molly in Jennifer Hoppe-House’s Bad Dog (Photo by Tony Firriolo). On May 8th, experience Poetry-O-Rama on the historic Wonder Wheel in Coney Island. Be sure to buy tickets in advance.

In this week’s episode, I talk to the playwright Jennifer Hoppe-House, whose extraordinary debut play is experiencing its world premiere at Orlando Shakespeare Theater, plus Lori D'Angelo writes about discovering The Scarlet Letter as a teenager, and reading it in a way probably not endorsed by her high school curriculum. TEXTS DISCUSSED NOTES Ginger Lee McDermott as Molly in Jennifer Hoppe-House’s Bad Dog (Photo by Tony Firriolo). Check out Jennifer Hoppe-House’s Bad Dog, playing at Orlando Shakespeare Theater through May 5th.

In this week’s episode, I talk to the poet Scott Bailey, Scott Bailey and Raquel Obando. plus Chad W. Lutz writes about Stephen King's novella "Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption." TEXTS DISCUSSED NOTES The music accompanying Chad W. Lutz's essay was "Crater" by The Spanish Donkey. Ginger Lee McDermott as Molly in Jennifer Hoppe-House's Bad Dog (Photo by Tony Firriolo). Check out Jennifer Hoppe-House's Bad Dog, playing at Orlando Shakespeare Theater through May 5th.

In this week’s episode, I host a roundtable discussion with Vanessa Blakeslee, David James Poissant, and Boris Fishman, in which we critique the essay collection, MFA vs. NYC, Plus J. Bradley reads a selection from his new prose poem book, A Wild Swing of the Knife. TEXTS DISCUSSED NOTES Buy It is a Wild Swing of the Knife here. Patrick Hawkins (Episode 145) and his fellow Geeks of Comedy will be performing at Megacon on April 10th and 11th in Orlando. Check out here for more info.

In this week’s episode, I engage in an epic, manic conversation about the creative appeal and history of comic books and superhero storytelling with Patrick Hawkins. TEXTS DISCUSSED Thor by Walter Simonson - Volume 1 (Thor (Graphic Novels))" target="_blank"> Four important panels that John came across early in his reading life: from The Incredible Hulk #182. NOTES Patty Hawkins is a geek theorist & humorist which is politer and more marketable than calling himself a fatuous gasbag who has seen & read far too much media involving capes, swords & ray guns. He makes no claims other then speaking the truth as he sees it about geek culture without sucking up or snarking down. Sometimes he succeeds. He is the producer & host of Come Get ∑ [pronounced 'come get sum'] a new TV/webcast set to debut in 2015 focusing on geekdom as a social culture instead of an exploited clichéd demographic of basement dwellers & cosplayers. He is one of the founding members & manager of The Geeks Of Comedy, a touring confederation of geek comedians who hack into all facets of fandom & fanDUMB with blistering honesty & self-effacement instead of lame ass Aquaman jokes. He is also Patrick The Uneducated Critic and reviews films at his own caprice when they roll over on his Netflix queue (YES I'm one of the weirdoes that still pays to get the damn discs mailed to me). He is a contributing panelist on the MarkWho42WHOniverse, a Dr. Who discussion podcast that bridges the generational gaps between Whovians which is not as easy as it sounds... In his day jobs his is co-owner of TyFy Studios, an audio production facility, an Ideator at Ideas To Go, & is an Equity actor for Walt Disney World. Go back and listen to Patrick perform some geek comedy as part of The Drunken Odyssey's Nerd Love live show back on episode 47.

In this week’s episode, I talk flash fiction, mythology, Cosmopolitan, the meeting of graphic and written art, and experimental writing with the fabulous Katie Farris, plus Jesse Back writes about his spiritual, romantic, and personal evolution through Will Durant's The History of Philosophy. Photo by Daniel Parsons. TEXTS DISCUSSED BodyHome" target="_blank"> NOTES The music used with "Forgetting Christianity" is “Bleached Beach” by Noveller, a one person band, that band being the amazing Sarah Lipstate. The music at the start and finish of this episode was "Rising East" and "Chaotica" by The Bambi Molesters, an amazing surf rock band out of Croatia. "Rising East" is from their 2010 album, As the Dark Wave Swells, and "Chaotica" is from their 2004 album, Sonic Bullets: 13 From the Hip. As The Dark Wave Swells">Sonic Bullets: 13 From the Hip">

In this week’s episode, I share a recording of a live event featuring Boris Fishman reading from his novel, A Replacement Life Photo by Rob Liguori and your humble host reading poetry. Texts Discussed Read the New Yorker profile of Merle Haggard here.

In this week’s episode, I catch up with Lisa Roney, who has just released her creative writing textbook, Serious Daring, and a poetry chapbook, The Best Possible Bad Luck, plus, Liz Haberkorn writes about Kurt Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse Five, starvation, and eating disorders. TEXTS DISCUSSED NOTES Rest in peace, Michael Brachfeld. John King, Taco Reus, Maria Fadiman, Michael Brachfeld, Jennifer Brachfeld.