Keep The Channel Open

Celeste Ng is a writer based in Cambridge, MA. Celeste's first novel, 2014's Everything I Never Told You, is, without exaggeration, one of the most important books of my life. When I read it in 2016, it gave me my first real glimpse at what representation in fiction could mean, and it was revelatory. Celeste's newest novel, which was just released this week, is called Little Fires Everywhere, and I was thrilled to get the chance to talk with her about it. In our conversation we talked about both books, about the importance of representation in media and culture, our shared obsession with Hamilton, and about Celeste's fascination with family roles. For the second segment, Celeste talked about how she got over her phobia of octopuses. (Conversation recorded July 27, 2017. Originally aired September 13, 2017.) Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | RadioPublic | Stitcher | Spotify | TuneIn | RSS Support: Support our Patreon | Leave a review Share: Tweet this episode | Share to Facebook Connect: Newsletter

Last month, I was scheduled to moderate a panel at the annual AWP Conference called “The Craft of the Literary Podcast Interview,” featuring Rachel Zucker of Commonplace, Dujie Tahat of The Poet Salon, and David Naimon of Between the Covers, three of my favorite literary podcasts. Due to the coronavirus, we ended up having to cancel our appearance at the conference, which makes it all the sweeter to be able to bring you this podcast version of our panel. In this wide-ranging coversation, Rachel, Dujie, David, and I talked all about the “how”s and the “whys” of interviewing, including the importance of establishing rapport with our guests, questions about the ethics of interviewing, and what the role of the host ought to be. (Conversation recorded March 27, 2020.) Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | RadioPublic | Stitcher | Spotify | TuneIn | RSS Support: Support our Patreon | Donate via PayPal Share: Tweet this episode | Share to Facebook Connect: Email | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube Sho

Julian K. Jarboe is a writer based in Massachusetts. Julian’s debut story collection, Everyone on the Moon Is Essential Personnel, is a mix of body-horror fairy tales, mid-apocalyptic science fabulism, and blue-collar queer resistance. The stories grapple with body dysmorphia and transformation, and the realities of laboring under late capitalism. In our conversation we talked about different communities responses to the climate crisis, the frustration of white feminism, and “science fabulism” as a genre. Then in the second segment, we talked about different aspects of food and community. (Conversation recorded March 13, 2020.) Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | RadioPublic | Stitcher | Spotify | TuneIn | RSS Support: Support our Patreon | Donate via PayPal Share: Tweet this episode | Share to Facebook Connect: Email | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube Show Notes: Julian K. Jarboe Julian K. Jarboe - Everyone on the Moon Is Essential Personnel Franz Kafka - “The Metamorphosis” Uncanny - “Dis

Jon Sands is a poet based in Brooklyn, NY. I first became acquainted with Jon as one of the co-hosts of the podcast The Poetry Gods, one of my all-time favorites, and the poems in his latest collection, It’s Not Magic, are both exuberant and profound. In our conversation we talked about being braver on the page, about balancing self-love and accountability, and about writing toward growth. Then in the second segment we talked about how having kids changes how you see other people, and we talked about the work of Aracelis Girmay and how she uses personification in her poems. (Conversation recorded February 18, 2020.) Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | RadioPublic | Stitcher | Spotify | TuneIn | RSS Support: Support our Patreon | Donate via PayPal Share: Tweet this episode | Share to Facebook Connect: Email | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube Show Notes: Jon Sands Jon Sands - It’s Not Magic The Poetry Gods Aziza Barnes José Olivarez Keep the Channel Open - Episode 33: José Olivarez Jon Sands

Brandon Taylor’s debut novel, Real Life, is one of the best books I’ve read in years. Real Life is the story of Wallace, an introverted, black, gay graduate student studying biochemistry. Over the course of a summer weekend, a series of confrontations with his friends and labmates and a confusing encounter with a straight classmate bring all of the unspoken tensions in the group to the surface. In our conversation, Brandon and I talked about the craft of writing a novel, the question of what real life is, the banality of racism, and the hidden selfishness inside altruism. Then in the second segment, we talked about digital communities and how our interactions in those communities have changed over time. (Conversation recorded November 12, 2019.) Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | RadioPublic | Stitcher | Spotify | TuneIn | RSS Support: Support our Patreon | Donate via PayPal Share: Tweet this episode | Share to Facebook Connect: Email | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube Show Notes: Brandon

Lilliam Rivera is a writer based in Los Angeles, CA. In her young adult novels The Education of Margot Sanchez and Dealing In Dreams, Lilliam tells familiar stories in new ways—instead of a typical teen drama or dystopian science fiction, she centers Latina characters in stories that take on topics like colorism and gentrification. In our conversation, we talked about why she’s drawn to write stories about young people, what it means to buy into the American Dream, and whether violence is actually empowering. Then for the second segment, we discussed Jeanine Cummins’ recent novel American Dirt and the controversy around it. (Conversation recorded January 23, 2020.) Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | RadioPublic | Stitcher | Spotify | TuneIn | RSS Support: Support our Patreon | Donate via PayPal Share: Tweet this episode | Share to Facebook Connect: Email | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube Show Notes: Lilliam Rivera Lilliam Rivera - The Education of Margot Sanchez Lilliam Rivera - Dealing i

Philipp Scholz Rittermann is a photographer based in the San Diego, CA area. In his photographic work, Philipp has long been interested in trying to see the impossible, and in his latest series sight • time • memory, he tries to imagine what it would look like if his gaze could encompass more than just the present moment—using a large-scale projector, he projects a landscape image from a previous season onto the same landscape, then rephotographs the resulting scene. In our conversation, we talked about his fascination with time and memory, the pleasure of figuring out the “puzzle” of an image, and how to make images that reward long engagement. Then for the second segment, we discussed the decline of hand-making in our culture, the nature of authenticity, and the emotional impact of change. (Conversation recorded January 10, 2020.) Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | RadioPublic | Stitcher | Spotify | TuneIn | RSS Support: Support our Patreon | Donate via PayPal Share: Tweet this episode | Share to

Paula Riff is a photographic artist based in Los Angeles, CA. Combining the cyanotype and gum bichromate processes, Paula Riff creates bold, colorful images that push the boundaries of the photographic medium. In our conversation, Paula and I talked about what photography is to her, why she’s attracted to alternative processes, and how her work is ultimately autobiographical. Then for the second segment, we talked about the value of physical art spaces. (Conversation recorded December 3, 2019.) Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | RadioPublic | Stitcher | Spotify | TuneIn | RSS Support: Support our Patreon | Donate via PayPal Share: Tweet this episode | Share to Facebook Connect: Email | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube Show Notes: Paula Riff Paula Riff - Blue Is Not the Sky Building Bridges Art Exchange - “All Women Are Dangerous II” Center for Photographic Art - “Winter Blues, Contemporary Cyanotypes” Mark Rothko László Moholy-Nagy Alfred Stieglitz Catalyst: Interviews - Paula Riff Keep th

Rakesh Satyal is a writer and editor. Rakesh’s novel No One Can Pronounce My Name was an utterly delightful read, subverting the stereotypical tropes of the immigrant story with humor and empathy to create something wonderfully unexpected. In our conversation, Rakesh and I talked about expanding the notion of what kinds of immigrant stories can be told, using humor to create connection, and writing toward what you want to know. Then in the second segment we talked about ASMR. (Conversation recorded November 15, 2019.) Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | RadioPublic | Stitcher | Spotify | TuneIn | RSS Support: Support our Patreon | Donate via PayPal Share: Tweet this episode | Share to Facebook Connect: Email | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube Show Notes: Rakesh Satyal Rakesh Satyal - No One Can Pronounce My Name Rakesh Satyal - Blue Boy NPR - Code Switch Code Switch - “Hold Up! Time For An Explanatory Comma” A Novel Idea (Bend, OR) A Novel Idea 2018 - Rakesh Satyal Presentation The Brain-Ti

Hanif Abdurraqib is a poet from Columbus, Ohio. For today's episode I was pleased to talk to Hanif about his 2016 book The Crown Ain't Worth Much, one of my favorite reads of 2016. The poems in this book are an intensely personal account of his experiences growing up in Columbus, and in our conversation we talked about Hanif's approach to writing from experience, and how art can engender empathy. We also talked about music, a subject he's very familiar with as a music and culture writer for MTV News. For the second segment, we talked about a subject near and dear to Hanif's heart: the Columbus Blue Jackets. (Conversation recorded January 23, 2017. Originally aired March 1, 2017.) Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | RadioPublic | Stitcher | Spotify | TuneIn | RSS Support: Support our Patreon | Donate via PayPal Share: Tweet this episode | Share to Facebook Connect: Email | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube Show Notes: Hanif Abdurraqib Hanif Abdurraqib - The Crown Ain't Worth Much Hanif Abdurr

Photographer Jess T. Dugan is one of my favorite contemporary portrait artists, whose work explores issues of gender, sexuality, identity, and community. Jess's 2015 book Every Breath We Drew is a favorite of mine, and I was pleased to be able to discuss that book with her, as well as her recent series To Survive On This Shore, photographs and interviews with transgender and gender non-conforming people over the age of fifty. We had a great conversation about her artistic process, how she approaches making a portrait, and how her tools inform her work. For the second segment, Jess chose "golden hour" as her subject, the time just before sunset when the light is both striking and rapidly changing. (Conversation recorded May 8, 2017. Originally aired June 21, 2017.) Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | RadioPublic | Stitcher | Spotify | TuneIn | RSS Support: Support our Patreon | Leave a review Share: Tweet this episode | Share to Facebook Connect: Email | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube Show

Ada Limón's latest book of poems, The Carrying, was just released this month by Milkweed Editions, and it's just beautiful. In this episode, Ada and I discuss the book, the power of naming, connection with the Earth, and her collaboration with poet Natalie Diaz. Then in the second segment, we talked about travel and artistic pilgrimages. (Conversation recorded August 17, 2018.) Bonus Reading: Subscribers to the KTCO Patreon campaign can hear Ada read her poem “Instructions on Not Giving Up.” Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | RadioPublic | Stitcher | Spotify | TuneIn | RSS Support: Support our Patreon | Leave a review Share: Tweet this episode | Share to Facebook Connect: Newsletter | Email | Facebook | Twitter | Tumblr Show Notes: Ada Limón Ada Limón - The Carrying: Milkweed Editions | IndieBound | B&N | Goodreads Ada Limón - Bright Dead Things: Milkweed Editions | IndieBound | B&N | Goodreads Commonplace - Episode 76: Ada Limón Ada Limón - Calendar Magnificent frigatebird Robin Wall Kimm

Keah Brown is a journalist and essayist. Keah’s debut essay collection The Pretty One is an honest and thoughtful look at what it means to be black and disabled in a culture that doesn’t make space for marginalized bodies. In our conversation we talked about the importance of representation, the insidious nature of ableism, and compared notes on how each of us approaches an interview. Then for the second segment, we talked about the 24-hour news cycle. (Conversation recorded October 17, 2019.) Bonus Reading: Subscribers to the Likewise Media Patreon campaign can hear Keah read an excerpt from her book The Pretty One. Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | RadioPublic | Stitcher | Spotify | TuneIn | RSS Support: Support our Patreon | Leave a review Share: Tweet this episode | Share to Facebook Connect: Email | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube Show Notes: Keah Brown Keah Brown - The Pretty One #DisabledAndCute Keah Brown - “Brie Larson on superheroes, success and her Hollywood sisterhood” Keah’s

Marisa Crane is a writer based in San Diego, CA. What I love about Marisa’s chapbook Our Debatable Bodies is how it moves from one emotion to another and another, both within a poem and throughout the collection—the poems juxtapose our society’s casual misogyny and homophobia with the tenderness and intimacy of a moment between lovers. In our conversation, Marisa and I talked about her book, our “zig-zagging brains,” and what it means to invite an audience into our private moments. Then for the second segment, we talked about the hit sitcom Schitt’s Creek. (Conversation recorded October 8, 2019.) Bonus Reading: Subscribers to the Likewise Media Patreon campaign can hear Marisa read her poem “We Get To Talking About Dating Apps & I Remember How.” Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | RadioPublic | Stitcher | Spotify | TuneIn | RSS Support: Support our Patreon | Leave a review Share: Tweet this episode | Share to Facebook Connect: Email | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube Show Notes: Marisa

Introducing LikeWise Fiction! I'm thrilled to announce the launch of my new diverse fiction podcast, LikeWise Fiction! I'm sharing the first episode as a bonus for KTCO listeners—enjoy! Whale Fall, by Alvin Park. A whale washes ashore, a village loses its memories, and a relationship falls apart. (This story first appeared in issue 60 of SmokeLong Quarterly.) Bonus Interview: Subscribers to the Likewise Media Patreon campaign can hear an interview with author Alvin Park. This episode is sponsored by the William Male Foundation. Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | RadioPublic | Stitcher | Spotify | RSS Support: Support our Patreon | Donate via PayPal | Leave a review Share: Tweet this episode | Share to Facebook Connect: Email | Newsletter | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Lyz Lenz is a writer based in Iowa. Part journalism and part memoir, Lyz’s book God Land is a nuanced, insightful, and moving look at the role of faith in the culture of Middle America. In our conversation, Lyz and I talked about her book, belonging, false nostalgia, and the ways marginalized people are expected to share their pain. Then for the second segment, we talked about country music. (Conversation recorded September 19, 2019.) Bonus Reading: Subscribers to the Likewise Media Patreon campaign can hear Lyz read an excerpt from God Land. Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | RadioPublic | Stitcher | Spotify | TuneIn | RSS Support: Support our Patreon | Leave a review Share: Tweet this episode | Share to Facebook Connect: Email | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube Show Notes: Lyz Lenz Lyz Lenz - God Land Lyz Lenz - Men Yell At Me (newsletter) Lyz Lenz - “The Mystery of Tucker Carlson” Texas Book Festival - Schedule Jacob Wetterling Lyz Lenz - “How Many Personal Stories Must Women Share to C

  Binh Danh is a photographer based in San Jose, CA. Using both historical photographic processes and his unique chlorophyll prints—using photosynthesis to embed images into leaves—Binh makes haunting and resonant images about war, aftermath, landscape, and memory. In our conversation, Binh and I talked about his creative process, his interest in history, and the deep connections between all things. Then in the second segment we took a moment to acknowledge the recent passing of legendary photographer Robert Frank, then talked about the aesthetics of smoke. (Conversation recorded September 12, 2019.) Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | RadioPublic | Stitcher | Spotify | TuneIn | RSS Support: Support our Patreon | Leave a review Share: Tweet this episode | Share to Facebook Connect: Email | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube Show Notes: Binh Danh Haines Gallery - Binh Danh: After the Gold Rush Daguerrotype Binh Danh - The Crosses Robert Frank Robert Frank - The Americans New Topographics Mrs.

Helen Zaltzman is the host of the podcasts Answer Me This!, The Allusionist, and Veronica Mars Investigations. The Allusionist is one of my favorite podcasts, one that I never miss an episode of, an informative and entertaining and often deeply empathetic look at how we use language. In our conversation, Helen and I talked about her interest in language, her process in creating her shows, and the importance of the podcasting community. Then for the second segment, Helen and I talked about visible mending techniques. (Conversation recorded August 12, 2019.) Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | RadioPublic | Stitcher | Spotify | TuneIn | RSS Support: Support our Patreon | Leave a review Share: Tweet this episode | Share to Facebook Connect: Email | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube Show Notes: Helen Zaltzman The Allusionist Answer Me This! Veronica Mars Investigations Allusionist Live Events Pop Culture Happy Hour The Allusionist - Survival part 2: Oot in the Open PRX - What Helen Zaltzman Lear

Robert Calafiore is a photographer based in West Hartford, CT. Robert’s photographic practice involves building elaborate sets around male nudes or mid-century modern glassware, then photographing them using a hand-built pinhole camera. The resulting images are stunningly colorful and each print is one-of-a-kind. In our conversation, Robert and I talked about his creative process, the depiction of the male figure in art history, the place of vulnerability in masculinity, and the immigrant story behind his glass work. Then in the second segment, Robert and I talked about the phenomenon of de-skilling and what it might mean for the future of humanity. (Conversation recorded July 23, 2019.) Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Play | RadioPublic | Stitcher | Spotify | TuneIn | RSS Support: Support our Patreon | Leave a review Share: Tweet this episode | Share to Facebook Connect: Email | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube Show Notes: Robert Calafiore New Britain Museum of American Art - Expanded Field: Phot

Rachel Zucker is a writer based in New York City. Rachel’s podcast Commonplace: Conversations with Poets (and Other People) is one of my favorite literary shows, a show that has deeply influenced my approach to podcasting. In our conversation, Rachel and I talked about Commonplace and her 2014 book The Pedestrians, how each of us approach hosting a conversational podcast, and writing as a form of self-castigation. (Conversation recorded July 18, 2019.) Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Play | RadioPublic | Stitcher | Spotify | TuneIn | RSS Support: Support our Patreon | Leave a review Share: Tweet this episode | Share to Facebook Connect: Email | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube Show Notes: Rachel Zucker Commonplace: Conversations with Poets (and Other People) Rachel Zucker - The Pedestrians: Wave Books | IndieBound | B&N Rachel Zucker - SoundMachine (preorder) SoundMachine Rachel Zucker - MOTHERs: IndieBound | B&N Alice Notley Sharon Olds Wayne Koestenbaum Mike Sakasegawa - “The Lie Beneath