Otherppl with Brad Listi 984. Michael Clune
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Aug 12, 2025 Michael Clune, author of the debut novel 'Pan' and acclaimed memoirs like 'White Out: The Secret Life of Heroin,' shares his vivid journey through adolescence and panic attacks. He discusses the complexities of teenage consciousness and the misconceptions of mental health in the 90s. Clune beautifully connects creativity with anxiety, revealing how art and psychedelics can transform personal experiences. He also explores the mythological figure Pan and its ties to identity and emotional struggles, inviting listeners to reflect on their own paths.
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Pan Is A Psychedelic Coming‑Of‑Age
- Brad Listi frames Pan as a psychedelic coming-of-age that recreates teenage consciousness.
- He credits the novel's singular voice for making that experience feel immediate.
Book Sprang From Teenage Panic
- Michael Clune says the book grew from his panic attacks at age fifteen in a Chicago suburb.
- He wanted to recapture panic before it had a clinical name or framework.
Reading Ivanhoe To Fend Off Panic
- Michael Clune recounts mistaking his first panic attack for a heart attack and reading Ivanhoe until 4 a.m.
- He used reading to suspend the terror until he could get his dad to drive him to the hospital.
