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 4, 2014 • 57min
Episode 79: Sharon Olds and Robert Pinsky!
On this week’s show, I present my interview with Sharon Olds, and my interview with Robert Pinsky, plus I share Robert Pinsky and Laurence Hobgood's performance of Creole. TEXTS DISCUSSED NOTES I am in the running for the "Best of 2013" show of Jesse Bradley's reading series, There Will be Words. The current poll is here until midnight, January 6. The Drunken Odyssey now has a youtube channel. In the New York Times's Bit blog, David Steitfield has wrung his hands about the analytics coming out of subscription services for ebook libraries. There is a nice still photo of Keria Knightly from the film of Pride and Prejudice. Amiri Baraka seems to be recovering after his hospital visit last week, according to The New York Daily News. The Heaven of Animals, the forthcoming collection from friend-of-the-show David James Poissant (my co-host of the mailbag episodes), is available for pre-order. Please support the launch of this stellar story collection.
Dec 28, 2013 • 1h 2min
Episode 78: Edwidge Danticat and Koren Zailckas!
On this week’s show, I present my interview with Edwidge Danticat, and my interview with Koren Zailckas, plus Samantha Stemler writes about Neil McKenna's The Secret Life of Oscar Wilde. TEXTS DISCUSSED NOTES http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5I_3co-6Dw The Drunken Odyssey now has a youtube channel. According to the Kids' Right to Read Project, 2013 has been a record year for attempts to ban books in libraries in schools. The Diary of Anne Frank, you know, is too pornographic for American children to be exposed to. This was reported in The Guardian. The Heaven of Animals, the forthcoming collection from friend-of-the-show David James Poissant, is available for pre-order. Please support the launch of his book, which is wonderful reading.
Dec 21, 2013 • 2h 43min
Episode 77: The Monorail Line Pub Crawl!
On this week’s show, my friends Teege Braune of In Boozo Veritas fame, Ryan Rivas of Burrow Press fame, Nathan Holic of American Fraternity Man fame, and MFA candidate Dianne Turgeon Richardson join me along the monorail line for a pub crawl across the Magic King resorts at Walt Disney World. Ryan Rivas, Diane Turgeon Richardson, moi, Nathan Holic, and Teege Braune on the Polynesian's monorail station. A stanchion at the Polynesian Resort, this tiki appears to be licking its torch. TEXTS DISCUSSED The Devil's Race-Track: Mark Twain's "Great Dark" Writings" style="color: #990000; text-decoration: none;"> NOTES http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANlOFyhZJSI http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f100XgX2apY http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLCHg9mUBag http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BV24-cU4wz8
Dec 15, 2013 • 1h 3min
Episode 76: Richard Blanco!
On this week’s show, I present my interview with the poet Richard Blanco, John King interviewing Richard Blanco (photograph by Tammy Taylor) Plus Kenneth Nichol's writes about reading Tom Perrotta's Joe College. TEXTS DISCUSSED
Dec 7, 2013 • 1h 10min
Episode 75: The Repeal Day Show!
On this week’s show, I present TDO’s Repeal Day party, starring Robert Cassanelo, Mark Pursell, Hunter Choate, Leslie Salas, Anna King, Dan Lauer, and Teege Braune! The venue (photo by Leslie Salas) Robert Cassanello, preparing to read the opening piece (photo by Leslie Salas) Mark Pursell on his long ago teetotaling days (photo by Leslie Salas) Ah (photo by Leslie Salas) Hunter reads a ghost story told over vodkas (photo by Leslie Salas) City Fish was a wonderful location (photo by Leslie Salas) Anna King versifies on drinking Granadas at the Marriot Marquis (photo by Leslie Salas) Dan Lauer about a binge with the owner of the Murder Museum (photo by Leslie Salas) On my third drink, I am finally smiling (photo by Leslie Salas) Madison Bernath contemplates a world in which the repeal never happened (photo by Leslie Salas) Teege takes it home (photo by Leslie Salas) NOTES The Heaven of Animals, the forthcoming collection from friend-of-the-show David James Poissant, is available for pre-order. Please support the launch of his book, which is wonderful reading.
Nov 28, 2013 • 0sec
Episode 74: Nikki Giovanni!
On this week’s show, I interview the legend Nikki Giovanni, plus Peter Biello writes about reading Cormac McCarthy’s The Road. NOTES Peter Biello’s essay on The Road featured “Found Children” from Carlton Melton’s Pass it On. The Heaven of Animals, the forthcoming collection from friend-of-the-show David James Poissant, is available for pre-order. Please support the launch of his book, which is wonderful reading.
Nov 17, 2013 • 1h 9min
Episode 73: Matt Bell!
On this week’s show, I interview fiction writer Matt Bell, plus Rose Tran writes about encountering Matt Bell's How They Were Found. TEXTS DISCUSSED NOTES On December 5th, at 7 P.M., The Drunken Odyssey will host a live reading in honor of Repeal Day, which marked the signing of the 21st amendment, thus ending prohibition. See the facebook event. The Heaven of Animals, the forthcoming collection from friend-of-the-show David James Poissant, is available for pre-order. Please support the launch of his book, which is wonderful reading.
Nov 8, 2013 • 1h 16min
Episode 72: We Drink!
Episode 72: We Drink! On this week’s show, My friends Teege Braune of In Boozo Veritas fame, Matt Peters of Windward Press, and MFA candidate Diane Turgeon Richardson join me to discuss matters literary and drinkerly. Plus Dave Patterson writes about how Ray Bradbury's Farenheit 451 transformed him. TEXTS DISCUSSED NOTES Carlton Melton's song "Use Your Words" from their album Country Ways accompanied Dave Patterson's "A Pleasure to Burn." Laurie Anderson's Remembrance of Lou Reed appears in Rolling Stone. Teege Braune's eulogy for Lou Reed appeared in In Boozo Veritas #13. This weekend Playfest is happening at Orlando Shakespeare Theatre.
Oct 19, 2013 • 1h 14min
Episode 71: Mailbag Episode 3 (The Guermantes Way)!
On this week’s show, I answer some mail with my friend, David James Poissant, Plus Dan Lauer writes about a unique book that changed his life. NOTES R.I.P., Oscar Hijuelos. The Heaven of Animals, the forthcoming collection from friend-of-the-show David James Poissant, is available for pre-order. Please support the launch of his book, which is remarkable fucking reading. Orlando Shakespeare Theater presents Dracula: The Journal of Jonathan Harker, from October 9 – November 10, 2013.
Oct 12, 2013 • 1h 4min
Episode 70: Tessa Mellas!
On this week’s show, I talk to the fiction writer Tessa Mellas, Plus Todd Sentell writes about Huckleberry Finn, A Good Man is Hard to Find, and the Near Death of Literature. TEXTS DISCUSSED NOTES The Heaven of Animals, the forthcoming collection from friend-of-the-show David James Poissant, is available for pre-order. Please support the launch of his book, which is remarkable fucking reading. Orlando Shakespeare Theater presents Dracula: The Journal of Jonathan Harker, from October 9 - November 10, 2013. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Js56KlfJoGY The Drunken Odyssey's review of this production will appear next week.
