The Drunken Odyssey with John King: A Podcast About the Writing Life
John King
Join author John King for eclectic interviews with writers from a variety of genres, including fiction writing, poetry, memoirs, and journalism. From literature to genre writing to the movies, all writing is up for discussion. In particular, The Drunken Odyssey features discussion of all aspects of the writing process—not just the published manuscript, pristinely presented to the entire literate world, but also the scrawled notes and tortured drafts that lead writers there. In long-form interviews, writers discuss their process and the way that writing has influenced their lives. Besides this interview, each episode also features a short memoir essay from a writer about a beloved book, plus John King responds to listener's questions and observations about the writing (and the drinking) life.
For more information, see our website at www.thedrunkenodyssey.com.
For more information, see our website at www.thedrunkenodyssey.com.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Jan 13, 2018 • 1h 15min
296: Denise Duhamel
On this week's program, I talk to the poet Denise Duhamel about the role of politics and play in poetry. BOOKS DISCUSSED NOTES Here in Orlando, the City Beautiful, come out and hear some protest poetry on January 19th. If you love Pat Greene, or just love great art, please donate a little something to The Downtown Arts District of Orlando. The music used in this episode was "Tremor" and "As the Dark Wave Swells" by The Bambi Molesters.
Jan 6, 2018 • 52min
295: Charles Simic & Richard Blanco!
On this week's program, I talk to Charles Simic about James Tate, Kansas surrealism, humor in poetry, and embracing the unconscious, plus I talk to Richard Blanco about the accidents that turn us into artists, the grind of editing, and the joys of finding new forms and challenges. Be sure to check out the music of David Rego, whose songs "Rings Ring" and "Sapphire Showers" appear on this episode.
Dec 30, 2017 • 1h 19min
294: Ben Blum!
In this week's episode, I catch up with Ben Blum, who was my colleague in a Jonathan Lethem workshop circa 2009, and talk about finding room for earnestness in a postmodern outlook, finding room for pleasure in a world sick with stimulation, and writing a challenging project that changes who you are as a writer. TEXT DISCUSSED NOTES The music used in this episode was "Sweet Spot," "Chase," "Chaotica," and "As the Dark Wave Swells" by The Bambi Molesters. All hail Mistie Watkins, content editor of The Drunken Odyssey. Have you reviewed us on iTunes yet?
Dec 23, 2017 • 1h 35min
293: A Star Wars Roundtable (Happy Life Day)
In this week's episode, Tod Caviness, Julian Chambliss, Dianne Turgeon Richardson, and Jared Silvia join me in a roundtable discussion of the Star Wars Christmas Special of 1978 and maybe got a few other topics in there as well.
Dec 16, 2017 • 1h 17min
292: On the Road 60th Anniversary Celebration!
In this week's episode, we return to September 5th, 2017, the 60th anniversary of the publication of Jack Kerouac's On the Road. This celebration included Tod Caviness, Janna Benge, Bob Kealing, Erik Deckers, Suleika Jaouad, Karen Price, Holly Kapherr, Jared Silvia, Chris Cortez and Mark Piszczek. NOTES Check out The Blue Bamboo Center for the Arts! Learn more about The Kerouac Project residency program.
Dec 9, 2017 • 1h 7min
291: A Very French Christmas!
In this week's episode, I talk with Vanessa Blakeslee about the new fiction anthology, A Very French Christmas, from New Vessel Press. NOTES Some context for the dubious Dutch tradition of Black Pete. David Sedaris discusses this in his essay, "6 to 8 Black Men." Be sure to check out the music of David Rego, whose song "Harp" appears on this episode.
Dec 2, 2017 • 1h 6min
290: Jacob Shores-Agüello!
This week I talk to Jacob Shores-Agüello, the resident of the Kerouac House in summer of 2017. We talk about the roles that genres play in the process of mourning, the improvistory games that can create a sense of shared culture, the glory of compression, and how to avoid the musical information car crashes that happen with prose. TEXTS DISCUSSED NOTES Check out the offerings at the Annie Russel Theatre. Check out Burrow Press's latest tome.
Nov 25, 2017 • 1h 27min
289: Laurie Stone
This week I talk to the fiction writer Laurie Stone, and we talk about the need for more craft in experimental work, what New York means for writers, the tricks of memory and aging, and our beloved avant garde forebears. TEXTS DISCUSSED
Nov 18, 2017 • 1h 2min
288: Will Dowd!
This is a special episode, for Will Dowd, checks in to talk about how he turned his Drunken Odyssey blog, Areas of Fog, into a book! We try to get to the bottom of our editorial relationship, the trick of bypassing or appeasing the gatekeepers among the editors of the literary world, and how the weather affects every aspect of life in New England. TEXTS DISCUSSED NOTES If you are at Miami Book Fair this weekend, stop by the Burrow Press booth!
Nov 11, 2017 • 1h 32min
287: A Craft Discussion of Ann Hood's Morningstar
In this week's episode, I talk with Vanessa Blakeslee about Ann Hood's MorningStar: Growing Up With Books. NOTES Check out my interview with Ann Hood back on episode 242.
