Heavy Bored

Andrew Wittstadt covers four poems from the latest issues of The New Yorker magazine.  Recorded: 6/29/2026 *LINKS* Join 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 [at] gmail  Leave a 5...

Andrew Wittstadt is joined by Brendan of the Tales from the Mall podcast in a discussion of William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet and two film adaptations of the play, Zeffirelli’s Romeo and Juliet (1968) and Luhrmann's Romeo And Juliet (1996) Topics Include: Masculinity–Male Romance–Emo boys–Shakespeare’s massive influence–fear and faith–romantic comedies–It’s a Wonderful Life–small talk–men...

Andrew Wittstadt is joined by acclaimed poet and writer, Nick Flynn . Topics include: poetry vs memoir–mind, body, and spiritual connections for creativity–sources of creativity–creative outlets–collaboration in art making–writing stamina–meditation–and more! Recorded 9/28/2024 *LINKS*  *Buy the Books* Low by Nick Flynn: https://amzn.to/4avWx6k I Will Destroy You by Nick Flynn:  https://amzn.to/49...

Andrew Wittstadt is joined by poet Sarah Fletcher in a lively and lengthy discussion about all things poetry, including her debut poetry collection, Plus Ultra . Topics include: Robert Lowell–Elizabeth Bishop–John Berryman–Confessional poetry–feminism–lack of craft in contemporary poetry–musical influences–and More! *LINKS*  *Buy the Books* Anne Sexton: The Complete Poems: https://amzn.to/4fwZvee...

Andrew Wittstadt is joined by friend of the pod, Erik (@catenjoyer81), in a discussion of the 11th and final season of the ABC sitcom, Modern Family. Topics include: Proper send-offs for beloved shows–anime and its impact on TV–Ty Burrell being underrated the entire series–old school candy bars–Ed O’Neill’s final act–and more! Recorded: 5/31/2026 *LINKS* *Watch the Show*  Modern Family: https://am...

Andrew Wittstadt covers the Granta AI short story winner controversy.  Recorded: 5/24/2026 *LINKS* Join 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 [at] gmail  Leave a 5-Star Review on...

Andrew Wittstadt goes into the viral article by Elle Griffin, “No One Buys Books,” and the revealing truths about the publishing industry and the state of the literary world as a culture and a business.  *LINKS* Read “No One Buys Books” by Elle Griffin: https://www.elysian.press/p/no-one-buys-books Join Patreon or Substack for FREE! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/HeavyBored   Substack: https://a...

The famous novel about the great depression in New York and the infamous character Gloria Wanderous is discussed while going into what a reputation does for a book, the dramatic devices at work in the text, and the praising of books leading to them being overblown.  *LINKS*  *Buy the Books*  BUtterfield 8 by John O’Hara (Library of America edition): https://amzn.to/4nkBKIj BUtterfield 8 by John O’...

Andrew Wittstadt is joined by friend of the pod, Erik (@catenjoyer81), in a discussion of the 10th season of the ABC sitcom, Modern Family. Topics include: Woke plot lines taking over–Manny and Alex explaining wokeness to everyone else–Phil Dunphy getting some redemption–Cam and Mitch bickering–Jump the shark plots continue–weak writing–Jay really carrying the show in later seasons–social media jo...

Andrew Wittstadt reacts to Ben Lerner’s interview in the New Yorker from April 2026. Recorded: 4/26/2026 *LINKS* *Buy the Books* Transcription by Ben Lerner: https://amzn.to/48qX20C The Hatred of Poetry by Ben Lerner: https://amzn.to/4mSlrSJ More books by Ben Lerner: https://amzn.to/4mNT1Jq Join Patreon or Substack to get FULL access to Heavy Bored! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/HeavyBored   Su...

Andrew Wittstadt is joined by friend of the pod, Erik (@catenjoyer81), in a discussion of the 9th season of the ABC sitcom, Modern Family. Topics include: Social media culture–Intelligence as a joke–Phil Dunphy in the hospital–Mitch perpetually coming out as gay–Jump the shark plotlines–weak writing vs over explaining–guest stars–and more! Recorded: 4/12/2026 *LINKS* *Watch the Show*  Modern Famil...

Andrew Wittstadt is joined by friend of the pod, Erik (@catenjoyer81), in a discussion of the 8th season of the ABC sitcom, Modern Family. Topics include: A return to form in season 8–Cam and Mitch as Laurel and Hardy–Phil Dunphy getting electrocuted–Manny explaining wokeness–Marxism coming into any workplace depiction–the women's march–guest stars–and more! Recorded: 3/29/2026 *LINKS* *Watch...

Andrew Wittstadt is joined by author and scholar, Steven Powell, to talk about his award-winning biography of the American crime writer James Ellroy, Love Me Fierce in Danger: The Life of James Ellroy. Topics include: Crime fiction–mystery in novels–the work of writing a biography–scholarship around crime and noir–and more! *LINKS* *Buy the Books* Love Me Fierce in Danger: The Life of James Ellroy...

Andrew Wittstadt is joined by friend of the pod, Erik (@catenjoyer81), in a discussion of the 7th season of the ABC sitcom, Modern Family. Topics include: Therapy culture becoming full-blown in 2015–Cam losing screen time and plotlines–Phil Dunphy and the ducks–Manny suddenly being insecure–politics coming into jokes–guest stars–and more! Recorded: 3/15/2026 *LINKS* *Watch the Show*  Modern Family...

Andrew Wittstadt is joined by poet, writer, and friend of the pod Damon Moore in the 5th part of a multi-part extravaganza that covers the complete Louise Glück. Topics include: Louise Glück’s turn toward the confessional mode–using family in poetry–redundant poems–––sisters fighting–Glück’s Ararat –and More! Recorded: 3/7/2026 *LINKS* *Buy the Books* Louise Glück: Poems 1962-2012: https://amzn.to...

Andrew Wittstadt is joined by friend of the pod, Erik (@catenjoyer81), in a discussion of the 6th season of the ABC sitcom, Modern Family. Topics include: The beginning of woke in the culture–Haley becoming more important to the show–Cam’s many rivals–changing tone of the writing–explaining as dialogue–Manny losing his spark–guest stars–and more! Recorded: 2/28/2026 *LINKS* *Watch the Show*  Moder...

Andrew is joined by freelance editor and spicy take appreciator, Sam Fakahany, as the pair go into Ottessa Moshfegh’s hit novel, My Year of Rest and Relaxation . Topics include: censorship–Ottessa’s reputation–Publishing industry–literary “it girls”--Art hoes–art cowards–lit bros–DFW–Substack–the new literary world–and more! *LINKS*  *Buy the Books* My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfe...

Andrew Wittstadt is joined by friend of the pod, Erik (@catenjoyer81), in a discussion of the 5th season of the ABC sitcom, Modern Family. Topics include: The changing language of 2013–the wedding–the gay marriage moment–great sitcom writing–the split in the writers room–guest stars––Phil, Cam, and Jay carrying the show–and more! Recorded: 2/15/2026 *LINKS* *Watch the Show*  Modern Family: https:/...

Andrew Wittsadt is joined by author Brad Kelly of the Method and Madness podcast, in a discussion of his latest novel, The Earthen Dark . Topics Include: men in fiction–the cultural shifts in literature–soliciting agents–self-publishing game plans–why is sci-fi so irresistible–ancient archetypes–and more! Recorded: 2/3/2025 *LINKS* *Buy the Books* House of Sleep by Brad Kelly: https://amzn.to/3ObW...

Andrew Wittstadt is joined by friend of the pod, Erik (@catenjoyer81), in a discussion of the 4th season of the ABC hit sitcom, Modern Family. Topics include: Jay and Gloria have a baby–classic sitcom gags–Phil Dunphy looks to the camera–guest stars–the birth of online wokeness in the culture–and more! Recorded: 2/1/2026 *LINKS* *Watch the Show*  Modern Family: https://amzn.to/4aHSG70 *Buy the Boo...

Andrew Wittstadt is joined by friend of the pod, Erik (@bazillionplus), in a discussion of the 3rd season of the ABC hit sitcom, Modern Family. Topics include: peaky Manny–tight sitcom scripts–evolving characters–period jokes–David Cross and other guest stars–fake online foot fetishes–and more! Recorded: 1/25/2026 *LINKS* *Watch the Show*  Modern Family: https://amzn.to/4aHSG70 *Buy the Books* Mod...

Andrew Wittstadt is joined by author Audrey Lee in a discussion of her debut short story collection, Utter Goodness. Topics Include: mid-atlantic accents–confessional essays–esoteric health products–internet sub-cultures–alt lit scenes–-Substack and the future of writing–building an audience as a writer–feminism–”woman writers”--and more! Recorded: 1/17/2026 *LINKS* *Buy the Books* Utter Goodness...

Andrew Wittstadt is joined by poet, writer, and friend of the pod Damon Moore in the 4th part of a multi-part extravaganza that covers the complete Louise Glück. Topics include: Louise Glück’s career–using family in poetry–Greek Mythology–reluctant love––the destruction of beauty for creativity–Glück’s The Triumph of Achilles –and More! Recorded: 1/10/2026 *LINKS* *Buy the Books* Louise Glück: Poe...

Andrew Wittstadt is joined by friend of the pod, Erik (@bazillionplus), in a discussion of the 2nd season of the ABC hit sitcom, Modern Family. Topics include: cultural clash–classic sitcom writing–cell phones ruining storylines–wokeness as a punchline in 2010–sexual jokes in family shows–and more! Recorded: 12/29/2025 *LINKS* *Watch the Show*  Modern Family: https://amzn.to/4aHSG70 Join Patreon o...

Andrew Wittstadt is joined by friend of the pod, Erik (OrganizedMeat), in a discussion of John Irving’s The Hotel New Hampshire and the 1984 film adaptation. Topics include: Irving following the success of Garp–Franny and John's incest storyline–who the main characters actually are–quirked up fiction–bear suits–and more! Recorded: 12/17/2025 This is a free preview of a subscribers-only episode...