MTS 18: Heartbreak, heart devices, and conflict minerals with Kati Standefer
Jun 3, 2021
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Writer Kati Standefer discusses heartbreak, conflict minerals, and illness as a driving force for nonfiction writing. She explores crafting personal stories with narrative depth, the ethical implications of conflict minerals in medical devices, and the emotional hurdles in her writing journey. Her book 'Lightning Flowers' delves into a complicated relationship with her ICD, the healthcare system, and the global supply chain.
Personal storytelling can change lives, embracing authenticity in nonfiction writing.
Intertwining personal narratives with scientific research enhances storytelling depth.
Exploration of global ethical dilemmas through personal medical experiences in upcoming book.
Deep dives
Introduction to More to the Story Season 3
More to the Story Season 3, episode 3 focuses on the power of sharing personal true stories with the world. The podcast host, Jana Marin, introduces the theme of telling true stories without shame and highlights the literary magazine, Under the Gumtree, dedicated to creative nonfiction and visual art.
Interview with Katie Standefer
Katie Standefer, author of Lightning Flowers, discusses her writing journey and background in creative nonfiction. She shares the personal experience that led her from fiction and poetry to creative nonfiction, specifically driven by a genetic heart condition. Standefer's transition to nonfiction stemmed from a need to authentically tell her story.
Crafting Personal Essays with Science
Katie Standefer delves into the craft of combining personal storytelling with scientific research in her essays. She reflects on how intimate experiences like heartbreak and illness interplay with broader scientific concepts, notably drawing inspiration from neuroscientist Helen Fisher's research on love and brain activity. Standefer's writing explores the emotional and physical impacts of personal narratives alongside scientific insights.
Exploration of Conflict Minerals in Memoir
Standefer introduces her upcoming book, delving into her tumultuous relationship with her implanted cardiac defibrillator and the complex narrative surrounding it. She shares her research journey to Africa, focusing on conflict minerals and their ethical implications in the context of personal medical experiences. The book scrutinizes the interconnectedness of personal health, technology, and global supply chains.
Book Progress and Insights
With her manuscript approaching completion, Standefer discusses the challenges and revelations encountered during the writing process. Reflecting on the emotional toll of revisiting traumatic experiences for the book, she emphasizes the depth of personal and journalistic storytelling intertwined with her global research. Standefer's book promises a unique blend of personal narrative, medical exploration, and ethical reflection.
Community Support and Conclusion
The episode concludes with a mention of the 'More to the Story' community as a supportive space for nonfiction authors to connect and develop their writing. Standefer's inspiring writing journey from personal heartbreak to global research underscores the transformative power of true storytelling without shame. The episode invites listeners to engage with Standefer's work and join the writing community for continued support and inspiration.
In this episode I talk with writer Katherine Standefer. Katherine's debut book, Lightning Flowers, published November 2020 from Little Brown, was shortlisted for the 2018 J. Anthony Lukas Work-in-Progress Prize from Columbia Graduate School of Journalism and the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard. Her work was featured in The Best American Essays 2016, won the 2015 Iowa Review Award in Nonfiction, and most recently appeared in Virginia Quarterly Review, Kenyon Review Online, New England Review, Crazyhorse, Quarterly West, and The Normal School. She was a Fall 2018 Logan Nonfiction Fellow at The Carey Institute for Global Good, and earned her MFA in Creative Nonfiction at the University of Arizona. As a creative entrepreneur, she teaches intimate, electric writing classes that help people tell their stories about sexuality, illness, and trauma. She is also a professor in Ashland University's Low-Residency MFA.
In the episode we talk about:
Heartbreak and conflict minerals
Illness as a driver force for writing nonfiction
Owning a story vs. disguising it in thinly veiled fiction
The need for narrative distance to craft nonfiction
Processing illness through writing
Research as a means of survival
The personal is enough, a personal story well told can change lives
Kati’s book, Lighting Flowers, story of a complicated relationship with her ICD, the American healthcare system, and the global supply chain.
Book forthcoming March 2020 - Nov 2020, Little Brown
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit moretothestorypodcast.substack.com
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