Alone At Lunch

This week we are joined by Mark Greaney! Mark Greaney is an American novelist, best known for his Gray Man thriller series and as Tom Clancy’s collaborator on several Jack Ryan novels.  His extensive research has taken him to more than 35 countries, and he has trained alongside military and law enforcement in firearms, battlefield medicine, and close-range combat tactics.  His latest novel, The Ha...

This week we are joined by Kelly Yang! Kelly Yang is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of THE TAKE, the FRONT DESK series, and many other books for children, young adults, and adults. THE TAKE is her first adult novel. In this episode, Kelly Yang shares her extraordinary journey from managing the front desk at a motel at the age of eight to becoming an acclaimed author and advocate for yout...

This week we are joined by Jeremy Alder! Jeremy Alder is a dry, spiritually curious comedian who draws on his upbringing as a homeschooled kid in a deeply religious Texas family to craft quietly audacious, deceptively sharp comedy. His Dry Bar Comedy special has surpassed 5 million views, and he's been featured on Nateland Presents and heard regularly on SiriusXM. Headlining nationwide, Jeremy exp...

This week we are joined by Fergus Craig! Fergus Craig is a multi-award winning writer, actor and comedian. Fergus has written two parody novels based on his character Detective Roger LeCarre. The second, Murder At Crime Manor, was shortlisted for the Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Prize for Comic Fiction. His third novel, I'm Not The Only Murderer In My Retirement Home, came out in February 2026.  I...

This week we are joined by Rosie Storey! Rosie Storey grew up on a farm in the south of England. She left her corporate career to finish her debut novel, Dandelion Is Dead . She holds a master’s in creative writing, lives in East London, and works as a writing coach. In this episode, Rose Storey shares her journey from a corporate career in tech to becoming a published author, highlighting the cha...

This week we are joined by Rojo Perez! Rojo Perez is a New York-based comedian who is currently a recurring guest on Netflix’s Survival Of The Thickest. Originally from Puerto Rico, Rojo served as a writer on Netflix’s DRINK MASTERS. In a busy 2021, Rojo made his network debut on The Tonight Show w/ Jimmy Fallon, while also being featured in Comedy Central’s Tight Five. In April ‘19, Rojo formed p...

This week we are joined by Wade Rouse! Wade Rouse is a USA TODAY, Publishers Weekly, and #1 internationally bestselling author of 21 books, whose work has been translated into nearly 30 languages and celebrated worldwide. His novel That’s What Friends Are For , inspired by The Golden Girls, marks his first book published under his own name and has already been named one of 2026’s Most Anticipated...

This week we are joined by Elizabeth Arnott. Elizabeth Arnott is an award-winning writer and journalist and has written critically acclaimed historical fiction as Lizzie Pook. Her work - covering everything from true crime to Arctic exploration - has featured in publications including The Sunday Times, National Geographic, The New York Times Book Review and The Guardian. She lives with her husband...

This week we are joined by Nalini Singh! Nalini Singh is the New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, and international bestselling author of the iconic Psy-Changeling and Guild Hunter series of paranormal romances. She also writes atmospheric New Zealand-set thrillers, the latest of which is SUCH A PERFECT FAMILY.   Two of her thrillers have been optioned for television adaptation. Check h...

This week we are joined by LizaBanks Campagna! LizaBanks Campagna is New York City based comedian and tour guide. Her work blends cultural commentary, internet chaos, and on-the-ground storytelling. She performs comedy regularly in New York and travels the country for shows. Check her out! In this episode, we delve into the crossover between tour guiding and stand-up comedy and the impact of child...

This week we are joined by Yosha Gunasekera. Yosha Gunasekera is a Sri Lankan-American attorney who represents people who have spent decades behind bars for crimes they did not commit. She teaches a course at Princeton University focused on wrongful conviction and exoneration. Yosha is a former Manhattan public defender and has written and spoken extensively on the criminal legal system. Check her...

This week we are joined by Maria J. Morillo. Maria J. Morillo is a born and raised Venezuelan ESL teacher, translator, and author of love stories featuring Venezuelan women getting absolutely everything they’ve always wanted. When she’s not writing, you can find her leading the choir at her local church. She currently lives in Maturin, Venezuela, with her family. Her debut novel is The Ex-Periment...

This week we are joined by Ashley Bennett. Ashley is a small-town paranormal and monster romance author from Baltimore, Maryland. She writes stories that are equal parts spice and swoon. When she’s not writing, you can find her reading webtoons, playing cozy video games, and taking care of her houseful of rescue animals. In this episode, Ashley shares her journey from being a veterinary technician...

This week we are joined by Virginia Kantra. New York Times bestselling author Virginia Kantra is a big believer in the power of stories—the ones we grow up with and the ones we tell ourselves. She has written over thirty novels about strong women, messy families, and the journey to find yourself. Her books have received numerous awards as well as starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and Booklist...

This week we are joined by Ihea Inyama. Ihea is a NYC-based comedian, writer, and actor from Ewing, New Jersey. He's a house team writer for UCB's Maude Night, and is a co-creator and star of the web series i’m so happy for you!!!!!! . He has been awarded stand-up comedy residencies at Broadway and Greenwich Village Comedy clubs, co-hosts the variety comedy show Mind the Gap! , and regularly perfo...

This week we are joined by Jessica Levin. Jessica is an NYC based comedian. The daughter of a sanitation worker, with longshoreman genes, she has a blue collar mentality with white color taste. She released her first comedy special, Party Body , on YouTube in November 2025. In this engaging episode, Jessica discusses the importance of saying yes to opportunities, reflects on her childhood and fami...

This week we are joined by Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka. Emily and Austin met and fell in love in high school. Austin went on to graduate from Harvard, while Emily graduated from Princeton. Together, they are the authors of multiple novels including The Roughest Draft and Reese's YA Bookclub Pick Heiress Takes All. They are also two-thirds of USA Today bestselling author E.B. Asher....

This week we are joined by Lucy Sandwick. Lucy Sandwick is a comic and sketch writer based in NYC. She's been a semi finalist in the NY Queer Comedy Festival and Comedy Mob Festival, and her videos have garnered millions of views across TikTok, Instagram, and her enemies' group chats. Follow her @lucysandwick ! In this episode, Lucy shares her experiences growing up with brothers and how it influe...

This week we are joined by Rachel Van Dyken. Rachel Van Dyken the #1 New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA TODAY bestselling author of regency and contemporary romances. When she's not writing you can find her drinking coffee at Starbucks and plotting her next book while watching guilty-pleasure TV. Her new romantasy FALLEN GODS from Red Tower Books is out now. In this episode, Rachel discu...

This week we are joined by Ivi Demi! Ivi is a Brooklyn comic originally from Albania. He was voted the Best House Comic at the Laugh Index Theatre in DC for 2020 and 2021. He has performed at the DC Improv, DC Comedy Loft, Gotham, Comic Strip, the Riot Comedy Festival, and the Burbank Comedy Festival, where he was selected to the Best of the Fest for 2021. You can see him producing and performing...

This week we are joined by Laura Griffin. Laura Griffin is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than thirty books and novellas. Her books have been translated into fourteen languages. Laura is a two-time RITA® Award winner as well as the recipient of the Daphne du Maurier Award. Laura got her start in journalism before venturing into the world of writing fiction. She lives i...

This week we are joined by Zaib Pirani! Zaib is a stand-up comedian in New York City, who makes jokes about his life; especially about growing up in a family of previously-undocumented Indian-Muslims in Sugar Land, Texas. In this episode, Zaib shares his journey from Texas to New York, exploring his experiences with religion, community, and comedy. He discusses the challenges of fitting into tradi...

This week we are joined by Alex Falcone! Alex Falcone is a comedian and writer living in Los Angeles. He’s appeared in several episodes of Portlandia, performed standup on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert , and his videos have racked up over 300 million views online . He’s also the author of a best selling young-adult romance novel, Unwrap My Heart: or It's Time For Mummies . Despite these modes...

This week we are joined by Jamie Harrow! Jamie Harrow was born and raised at the Jersey Shore. She is a graduate of Harvard Law School and Villanova University and lives in New Jersey with her family. Her debut novel, One on One , was published by Dutton in 2024. Fun at Parties , her second novel, is available now. In this episode, Jamie Harrow discusses the importance of embracing non-linear care...

This week we are joined by Anika Fajardo! Anika Fajardo is an award-winning writer born in Colombia and raised in Minnesota. Her debut novel for adult readers is T he Many Mothers of Dolores Moore . She is also the author of the middle-grade books What If a Fish and Meet Me Halfway , as well as the memoir Magical Realism for Non-Believers . In this episode, Anika Fajardo shares her journey from gr...