

Heavy Bored
Andrew Wittstadt
Heavy Bored is a writing and literature podcast hosted by poet and writer Andrew Wittstadt as he speaks with guests about all things books, poetry, art, and culture. Join Heavy Bored on Patreon or Substack to get full access to book clubs, bonus interviews, Jerkshop, and more.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Aug 25, 2025 • 1h 7min
#94 Mysterious Fiction w/ Veronica Leigh
Andrew Wittstadt is joined by author Veronica Leigh. Topics Include: Mothers and daughters–writing routines–historical fiction–end of life care–hustling as an indie author–and more!Recorded 8/5/2025*LINKS**Buy the Books*The Keeper of Lost Daughters by Veronica Leigh: https://amzn.to/41kpAFvMore Books by Veronica Leigh: https://amzn.to/41TXktvPride and Prejudice by Jane Austen: https://amzn.to/4mpo7pQMore Books by Jane Austen: https://amzn.to/3UGbkDkThe Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton: https://amzn.to/3JxRQykMore Books by Edith Wharton: https://amzn.to/3JNEQViLittle House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder: https://amzn.to/4oSvojILittle Women by Louisa May Alcott: https://amzn.to/4mw3Df4Join Patreon or Substack to get FULL access to Heavy Bored!Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/HeavyBored Substack: https://andrewwittstadt.substack.com/Sign up for Andrew’s Newsletter for FREE! https://andrewwittstadt.substack.com/Contact us: heavyboredpodcast@gmail.comLeave a 5-Star Review on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/heavy-bored/id1617156706Follow Us!Twitter: @heavyboredpod https://x.com/HeavyBoredPod@AndrewWittstadt https://x.com/AndrewWittstadt@vlauthor https://x.com/vlauthorInstagram:@heavybored https://www.instagram.com/heavybored/@veronicaleighauthor https://www.instagram.com/veronicaleighauthor/TikTok:@heavyboredpodcast https://www.tiktok.com/@heavyboredpodcastYouTube:@heavybored https://www.youtube.com/@heavybored@heavyboredclips https://www.youtube.com/@heavyboredclips*when available, we use affiliate links*

Aug 18, 2025 • 3h 7min
#93 John Irving's A Prayer for Owen Meany w/ Erik
Andrew Wittstadt is joined by friend and Heavy Bored regular, Erik. The two discuss John Irving’s A Prayer for Owen Meany and the film Simon Birch. Topics include: Faith–belief–prayer–Miracles–the Vietnam War–boomer lib politics–John Irving’s career–Irving’s legacy in literature–Irving’s politics–book vs movie–changes to the story in Simon Birch–writing screen adaptations–and more!Recorded 7/17/2025*LINKS*Watch the Movie: https://amzn.to/3UtMo1M*Buy the Books*A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving: https://amzn.to/3HATDC9The Cider House Rules by John Irving: https://amzn.to/3HgU0lnThe World According to Garp by John Irving: https://amzn.to/4lCNgwbThe Hotel New Hampshire by John Irving: https://amzn.to/45zwyaUMore books by John Irving: https://amzn.to/45ACf8yJoin Patreon or Substack to get FULL access to Heavy Bored!Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/HeavyBored Substack: https://andrewwittstadt.substack.com/Sign up for Andrew’s Newsletter for FREE! https://andrewwittstadt.substack.com/Contact us: heavyboredpodcast@gmail.comLeave a 5-Star Review on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/heavy-bored/id1617156706Follow Us!Twitter: @heavyboredpod https://x.com/HeavyBoredPod@AndrewWittstadt https://x.com/AndrewWittstadt@BazillionPlus https://x.com/BazillionplusInstagram:@heavybored https://www.instagram.com/heavybored/@bazillionplus https://www.instagram.com/bazillionplusTikTok:@heavyboredpodcast https://www.tiktok.com/@heavyboredpodcastYouTube:@heavybored https://www.youtube.com/@heavybored@heavyboredclips https://www.youtube.com/@heavyboredclips*when available, we use affiliate links*

Aug 11, 2025 • 1h 14min
#92 Tragic Comedies w/ Leslie Rasmussen
Andrew Wittstadt is joined by screenwriter, entrepreneur, and novelist Leslie Rasmussen in a discussion of her latest novel, When People Leave. Topics Include: grief–sisterhood–sibling relationships–writers rooms–screenwriting vs novel writing–drama vs comedy–old hollywood vs new hollywood–and more!Recorded 7/15/2025*LINKS**Buy the Books*When People Leave by Leslie Rasmussen: https://amzn.to/4lmdPp9More Books by Leslie Rasmussen: https://amzn.to/47pRB25From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg: https://amzn.to/3UHiQhnAre You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret by Judy Blume: https://amzn.to/4m34lAiMore Books by Judy Blume: https://amzn.to/4ou1x0PCharlotte’s Web by E.B. White: https://amzn.to/45cOUzFThe Outsiders by S.E. Hinton: https://amzn.to/3J9vuDdThe Witches by Roald Dahl: https://amzn.to/45tATMIMore Books by Roald Dahl: https://amzn.to/3H61w2pJoin Patreon or Substack to get FULL access to Heavy Bored!Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/HeavyBored Substack: https://andrewwittstadt.substack.com/Sign up for Andrew’s Newsletter for FREE! https://andrewwittstadt.substack.com/Contact us: heavyboredpodcast@gmail.comLeave a 5-Star Review on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/heavy-bored/id1617156706Read Leslie Rasmussen: https://www.lesliearasmussen.com/Follow Us!Twitter: @heavyboredpod https://x.com/HeavyBoredPod@AndrewWittstadt https://x.com/AndrewWittstadtInstagram:@heavybored https://www.instagram.com/heavybored/@leslieauthor https://www.instagram.com/leslierauthor/TikTok:@heavyboredpodcast https://www.tiktok.com/@heavyboredpodcast@leslieauthor https://www.tiktok.com/@leslieauthorYouTube:@heavybored https://www.youtube.com/@heavybored@heavyboredclips https://www.youtube.com/@heavyboredclips*when available, we use affiliate links*

Aug 4, 2025 • 1h 9min
#91 Prep School Boys w/ Thomas Cullen
Andrew Wittstadt is joined by federal judge and author Thomas Cullen in a discussion of his debut novel, Charlie-Man. Topics include: Masculinity–male coming of age stories–prep schools–male companionship–the philosophy of a sitting judge–writing routines–and more!Recorded 7/8/2025*LINKS**Buy the Books*Charlie-Man by Thomas Cullen: https://amzn.to/4fHD1VYAll the King’s Men by Robert Penn Warren: https://amzn.to/3UZCR2zMore Books by Robert Penn Warren: https://amzn.to/3JagoNRLegal Writing in Plain English by Bryan Garner: https://amzn.to/45OFBpIMore Books by Bryan Garner: https://amzn.to/3Hdvv8FJoin Patreon or Substack to get FULL access to Heavy Bored!Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/HeavyBored Substack: https://andrewwittstadt.substack.com/Sign up for Andrew’s Newsletter for FREE! https://andrewwittstadt.substack.com/Contact us: heavyboredpodcast@gmail.comLeave a 5-Star Review on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/heavy-bored/id1617156706Follow Us!Twitter: @heavyboredpod https://x.com/HeavyBoredPod@AndrewWittstadt https://x.com/AndrewWittstadtInstagram:@heavybored https://www.instagram.com/heavybored/TikTok:@heavyboredpodcast https://www.tiktok.com/@heavyboredpodcastYouTube:@heavybored https://www.youtube.com/@heavybored@heavyboredclips https://www.youtube.com/@heavyboredclips*when available, we use affiliate links*

Jul 28, 2025 • 2h 30min
#90 Louise Glück: Poems 1962-2012 w/ Damon Moore (part 1)
Andrew Wittstadt is joined by poet, writer, and friend of the pod Damon Moore in the first part of a multi-part extravaganza that covers the complete Louise Glück. Topics include: Louise Glück’s career–first books–beauty–devastating last lines–energy on the page–Glück’s Firstborn–and More!Recorded: 6/28/2025*LINKS**Buy the Books*Louise Glück: Poems 1962-2012: https://amzn.to/47y0V47More Books by Louise Glück: https://amzn.to/45QU70bStag’s Leap by Sharon Olds: https://amzn.to/45kjKXcMore Books by Sharon Olds: https://amzn.to/45AWZwQThe Complete Poems of Anne Sexton: https://amzn.to/4fE2PlUMore Books by Anne Sexton: https://amzn.to/4loVLe1Join Patreon or Substack to get FULL access to Heavy Bored!Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/HeavyBored Substack: https://andrewwittstadt.substack.com/Sign up for Andrew’s Newsletter for FREE! https://andrewwittstadt.substack.com/Contact us: heavyboredpodcast@gmail.comLeave a 5-Star Review on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/heavy-bored/id1617156706Follow Us!Twitter: @heavyboredpod https://x.com/HeavyBoredPod@AndrewWittstadt https://x.com/AndrewWittstadtInstagram:@heavybored https://www.instagram.com/heavybored/@my_banlieue https://www.instagram.com/my_banlieue/TikTok:@heavyboredpodcast https://www.tiktok.com/@heavyboredpodcastYouTube:@heavybored https://www.youtube.com/@heavybored@heavyboredclips https://www.youtube.com/@heavyboredclips*when available, we use affiliate links*

Jul 21, 2025 • 2h 38min
#89 Projecting the Universe w/ A.O. Wagner
Andrew is joined by the author known as A.O. Wagner in a wide-ranging discussion on life, addiction, philosophy, marketing, self-publishing, and more. Recorded 6/4/2025*LINKS**Buy the Books*The Karma Sequence by A. O Wagner: https://amzn.to/4mNXU4dMore Books by A. O. Wagner: https://amzn.to/3HCI0up20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne: https://amzn.to/46TLTpbMore Books by Jules Verne: https://amzn.to/3JhnzUgThe War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells: https://amzn.to/3Ji0YafThe Terminal Man by Michael Crichton: https://amzn.to/3UuKHRGMore Books by Michael Crichton: https://amzn.to/3JyKFFXSlaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut: https://amzn.to/45kjgQPMore Books by Kurt Vonnegut: https://amzn.to/4fyAhtOSelected Stories of Philip K. Dick: https://amzn.to/4oH3mHWThe Complete Works of Nietzsche: https://amzn.to/4fE2XloThe World as Will and Representation by Arthur Schopenhauer: https://amzn.to/45yVdfTJoin Patreon or Substack to get FULL access to Heavy Bored!Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/HeavyBored Substack: https://andrewwittstadt.substack.com/Sign up for Andrew’s Newsletter for FREE! https://andrewwittstadt.substack.com/Contact us: heavyboredpodcast@gmail.comLeave a 5-Star Review on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/heavy-bored/id1617156706Follow Us!Twitter: @heavyboredpod https://x.com/HeavyBoredPod@AndrewWittstadt https://x.com/AndrewWittstadtInstagram:@heavybored https://www.instagram.com/heavybored/TikTok:@heavyboredpodcast https://www.tiktok.com/@heavyboredpodcastYouTube:@heavybored https://www.youtube.com/@heavybored@heavyboredclips https://www.youtube.com/@heavyboredclips*when available, we use affiliate links*

Jul 7, 2025 • 2h 12min
#88 Eroding Masculinity w/ Gary E Smith
Andrew Wittstadt is joined by author and entrepreneur Gary Smith in a discussion of his latest installment of the Warren Steelgrave series of novels. Topics include: masculine role models–growing up in 1950s America–family roots–Italian living–self-publishing–and more!Recorded 5/27/2025*LINKS**Buy the Books*More than you Know by Gary E. Smith: https://amzn.to/4mCqbKOMore Books by Gary Smith: https://amzn.to/4fDAhZKThe Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler: https://amzn.to/4mPDub7The Long Goodbye by Raymond Chandler: https://amzn.to/4mIsLPyMore Books by Raymond Chandler: https://amzn.to/3Jk6TLPJoin Patreon or Substack to get FULL access to Heavy Bored!Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/HeavyBored Substack: https://andrewwittstadt.substack.com/Sign up for Andrew’s Newsletter for FREE! https://andrewwittstadt.substack.com/Contact us: heavyboredpodcast@gmail.comLeave a 5-Star Review on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/heavy-bored/id1617156706Follow Us!Twitter: @heavyboredpod https://x.com/HeavyBoredPod@AndrewWittstadt https://x.com/AndrewWittstadtInstagram:@heavybored https://www.instagram.com/heavybored/TikTok:@heavyboredpodcast https://www.tiktok.com/@heavyboredpodcastYouTube:@heavybored https://www.youtube.com/@heavybored@heavyboredclips https://www.youtube.com/@heavyboredclips*when available, we use affiliate links*

Jun 23, 2025 • 1h 27min
#87 Monitoring the Dream Situation w/ Ron Richard
Andrew Wittstadt is joined by author, inventor, and entrepreneur Ron Richard. Recorded 5/14/2025*LINKS**Buy the Books*The Zenith Project by Ron Richard: https://amzn.to/4fzDCZIThe Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis: https://amzn.to/46T1yVJThe Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien: https://amzn.to/4ml5nI6Bellevue by Robin Cook: https://amzn.to/3UPbDMhMore Books by Robin Cook: https://amzn.to/4lwLrARJurassic Park by Michael Crichton: https://amzn.to/45QZCMjMore Books by Michael Crichton: https://amzn.to/4lzgJajOutliers by Malcolm Gladwell: https://amzn.to/45QhuHg More Books by Malcolm Gladwell: https://amzn.to/3Hd1rKjJoin Patreon or Substack to get FULL access to Heavy Bored!Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/HeavyBored Substack: https://andrewwittstadt.substack.com/Sign up for Andrew’s Newsletter for FREE! https://andrewwittstadt.substack.com/Contact us: heavyboredpodcast@gmail.comLeave a 5-Star Review on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/heavy-bored/id1617156706Follow Us!Twitter: @heavyboredpod https://x.com/HeavyBoredPod@AndrewWittstadt https://x.com/AndrewWittstadtInstagram:@heavybored https://www.instagram.com/heavybored/TikTok:@heavyboredpodcast https://www.tiktok.com/@heavyboredpodcastYouTube:@heavybored https://www.youtube.com/@heavybored@heavyboredclips https://www.youtube.com/@heavyboredclips*when available, we use affiliate links*

Jun 9, 2025 • 1h 58min
#86 In the Fires of Joy w/ Tara Heaton
Andrew Wittstadt is joined by author and public speaker Tara Heaton, in a discussion about her debut memoir, Life Minutes: Igniting Joy from the Fire of Heartache. Topics include: Sales and marketing–messaging and advertising–the art of storytelling–the art of sales–neuroscience as self empowerment–the craft of memoir–grief–motherhood–trauma–and more!Recorded 5/6/2025*LINKS**Buy the Books*Life Minutes: Igniting Joy from the Fire of Heartache by Tara Heaton: https://amzn.to/3JfeonsA Place Called Home by David Ambroz: https://amzn.to/3JAj3AjJoin Patreon or Substack to get FULL access to Heavy Bored!Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/HeavyBored Substack: https://andrewwittstadt.substack.com/Sign up for Andrew’s Newsletter for FREE! https://andrewwittstadt.substack.com/Contact us: heavyboredpodcast@gmail.comLeave a 5-Star Review on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/heavy-bored/id1617156706En Pointe Communication: https://enpointeglobal.com/lifeminutes/Follow Us!Twitter: @heavyboredpod https://x.com/HeavyBoredPod@AndrewWittstadt https://x.com/AndrewWittstadt@TaraHeatonEPC https://x.com/TaraHeatonEPCInstagram:@heavybored https://www.instagram.com/heavybored/@taraheatonauthor https://www.instagram.com/taraheatonauthor/TikTok:@heavyboredpodcast https://www.tiktok.com/@heavyboredpodcast@talktothebrain https://www.tiktok.com/@talktothebrainYouTube:@heavybored https://www.youtube.com/@heavybored@heavyboredclips https://www.youtube.com/@heavyboredclips*when available, we use affiliate links*

Jun 3, 2025 • 8min
Heavy Bonus: Ghost Craft w/ Meg Hamand (preview)
Meg Hamand joins Andrew Wittstadt for an extended bonus interview for subscribers only. Topics include: dogs vs cats–ghost stories and technique–pov in fiction writing–adoption journeys–and more!Recorded 5/1/2025*LINKS**Buy the Books*Diamonds in Auschwitz by Meg Hamand: https://amzn.to/4fASrv0Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen: https://amzn.to/3UZYAayMore Books by Jane Austen: https://amzn.to/3UZYAY6Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell: https://amzn.to/4166OS8Join Patreon or Substack to get FULL access to Heavy Bored!Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/HeavyBored Substack: https://andrewwittstadt.substack.com/Sign up for Andrew’s Newsletter for FREE! https://andrewwittstadt.substack.com/Contact us: heavyboredpodcast@gmail.comLeave a 5-Star Review on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/heavy-bored/id1617156706Read Meg Hamand: https://www.meghamandauthor.com/Follow Us!Twitter: @heavyboredpod https://x.com/HeavyBoredPod@AndrewWittstadt https://x.com/AndrewWittstadtInstagram:@heavybored https://www.instagram.com/heavybored/@meghamand https://www.instagram.com/meghamand/TikTok:@heavyboredpodcast https://www.tiktok.com/@heavyboredpodcastYouTube:@heavybored https://www.youtube.com/@heavybored@heavyboredclips https://www.youtube.com/@heavyboredclips*when available, we use affiliate links*