The Drunken Odyssey with John King: A Podcast About the Writing Life

260 shows equals a fifth anniversary, I've decided, so it was a pleasure to talk to someone who was here at the very beginning. Jaroslav Kalfař was my occasional co-host to talk about craft books, during those last days of his being an undergraduate at the University of Central Florida. Five years, one MFA, and one novel later, Jaroslav is an international literary phenomenon. We try to catch up and manage to talk about writing along the way, plus Heleen Sikorski reads her poem "Autoerotic Alliteration."

 

Direct download: The_Drunken_Odyssey_Episode_260.mp3
Category:Arts/Culture/Writing -- posted at: 2:34am EDT

Direct download: The_Drunken_Odyssey_Episode_259.mp3
Category:Arts/Culture/Writing -- posted at: 1:54am EDT

On Episode #258, I am joined by Julian Chambliss, Dianne Turgeon Richardson, Tod Caviness, and Kevin Hutchinson to talk about Star Wars in honor of May the 4th. We talk about the questionable genius of George Lucas, the role of Disney in anticipating the needs and desires of the SW audience, the imposition of romance in war narratives, and the profound role of play in our development of self. A lot of beer was drunk. We made fun of each other.

Direct download: The_Drunken_Odyssey_Episode_258.mp3
Category:Arts/Culture/Writing -- posted at: 9:51pm EDT

 

In this week’s episode, I talk with Vanessa Blakeslee about Margaret Atwood's In Other Worlds and The Handmaid's Tale.

 

Direct download: The_Drunken_Odyssey_Episode_257.mp3
Category:Arts/Culture/Writing -- posted at: 7:31pm EDT

In this week’s episode, I shut up and let Ephraim Scott Sommers, Vanessa Blakeslee, and David James Poissant discuss how to get published in lit mags, plus Tiffany Fussell discusses how The Secret Garden changed her life.

 

Direct download: The_Drunken_Odyssey_Episode_256.mp3
Category:Arts/Culture/Writing -- posted at: 12:30am EDT

In this week’s episode, I talk to fiction writer Holly Tavel about the urge to experiment in fiction, the need to subvert grand narratives, and the joys of the avant-garde and children's schlock and obsessions of all kinds,

holly-tavel

Plus I chat with Michael Martin about the fascinating ways poetry finds itself entering Miami during the month of April.

Michael Martin
Photo by Gesi Schilling.

TEXTS DISCUSSED


NOTES

Learn more about the O Miami Poetry Festival, including its schedule of events, here.

O Miami Bus
Photo by Gesi Schilling. Special Thanks to The Children's Trust and Miami-Dade Transit.

 

Direct download: The_Drunken_Odyssey_Episode_255.mp3
Category:Arts/Culture/Writing -- posted at: 10:40pm EDT

On this week’s show, David James Puissant and I offer words of advice for new writers and answer some of their questions, in the equivalent of our 8th mailbag episode, almost 2 years after the 7th...


Litlando (Words of Advice)

plus Ramona Pojoga writes about a book that changed her life!

Ramona Pojoga

Direct download: The_Drunken_Odyssey_Episode_254.mp3
Category:Arts/Culture/Writing -- posted at: 12:10am EDT

Barry Temple

In this week’s episode, I talk to animator Barry Temple about his extraordinary professional experience in show business. We cover career highlights like The Mouse and His Child, Ralph Bakshi's animated version of The Lord of the Rings, and the arc of Disney animation in the 1980s (from Don Bluth's defection to the renaissance of Disney filmmaking). We discuss the role that perseverance and adaptation play in a successful career, and what it is like to create animation before a theme park audience.

TEXTS DISCUSSED

The Mouse and His Child

The Lord of the Rings.jpg

Black CauldronWho Framed Roger RabbitRoller Coaster RabbitThe Little Mermaidbeauty beast posterThe_lion_king_poster

Mulan

 

NOTES

On April 15th, check out this amazing fundraiser for Exodus United at The Geek Easy.

Save

Direct download: The_Drunken_Odyssey_Episode_253.mp3
Category:Arts/Culture/Writing -- posted at: 11:42pm EDT

In this week’s episode, I talk to Gary Evans, Brian Crum, and Adam Watson of The Intoxicators about writing music, working collaboratively, fast tempos, and staying fired up!

The Intoxicators B&W

ALBUMS

Easter Eggs on Halloween
I Dreamed the Best PartThe Intoxicators JTTCOTE


Direct download: The_Drunken_Odyssey_Episode_252.mp3
Category:Arts/Culture/Writing -- posted at: 1:39am EDT

In this week’s episode, I talk with the poet Ephraim Scott Sommers.

Ephraim Scott Sommers

TEXTS DISCUSSED

The Night We Set the Dead Kid On Fire

NOTES

Litlando 2017 will take place on March 25th at The Gallery at Avalon Island. Buy tickets now here.

litlando-2017-poster_web

Check out Ephraim's music here.

Come to Ephraim's book launch, if you are in Orlando.

Ephraim Scott Sommers book launch final

Direct download: The_Drunken_Odyssey_Episode_251.mp3
Category:Arts/Culture/Writing -- posted at: 2:13am EDT