Writer, podcaster and Troop Nate Bethea (@inthesedeserts) joins us to talk about the buzzed-about Cherry by Nico Walker, the almost-entirely true story of an Iraq vet getting into heroin, then bank robbery. We also talk about the opioid crisis, the shoot'n'cry genre, alt-lit and being afraid to like Bukowski. Music by Ulthar: https://listen.20buckspin.com/album/cosmovore And Grimorium Verum, from the WOMAN II compilation: https://blackeneddeath.bandcamp.com/album/worldwide-organization-of-metalheads-against-nazis-ii You can read more of Nate's writing about his time in the military here: https://www.mcsweeneys.net/columns/in-these-deserts-war-stories-from-afghanistan