Just Press Record They Never Planned to Be Writers | Aaron Gwyn & Michael Perry on Mentors Who Changed Everything
In this episode of Just Press Record, host Matt Zeigler brings together two writers from very different worlds who discover how much they actually share. Author and musician Michael Perry and writer and professor Aaron Gwynn connect over farm life, physical labor, creative discipline, and the unlikely paths that led them to writing books. What begins with stories of rural upbringing and lost fingers turns into a deep conversation about mentorship, gratitude, art, politics, and staying grounded in a world driven by abstractions and online outrage.
Main topics covered
Growing up on farms and ranches and how physical labor shapes perspective
Stories of injury, toughness, and humor in working-class communities
How mentors and teachers recognize talent before you do
The discipline of practice in athletics, music, and writing
Finding confidence through critique rather than praise
Imposter syndrome as a source of gratitude and motivation
Creativity, literature, and making art without losing touch with real people
The danger of parasocial relationships and losing community to politics
Why staying human matters more than choosing sides
Timestamps
00:00 Introduction and why these two writers needed to meet
01:00 Farm life, injuries, and the humor of hard work
06:00 Rural upbringing, cattle, and growing up working-class
18:00 Toughness, storytelling, and blue-collar humor
25:00 Lost fingers, accidents, and adapting through skill
35:00 Music, guitar, and physical limitations as creative fuel
39:00 Aaron Gwynn’s path from ranch life to writing books
46:00 Michael Perry’s path from nursing to writing and storytelling
52:00 Positive imposter syndrome and gratitude for unlikely success
59:00 Politics, parasocial relationships, and real human connection
01:01:00 Art, community, and staying grounded in a divided world