Heavy Bored

Merry Christmas from Heavy Bored! Andrew asks the question, What is it about Christmas? The Man Who Came to Dinner (1942) The Nutcracker (Nevada Ballet Theatre 2023) Miracle on 34th Street (1947) Violent Night (2022) Join Patreon or Substack for FREE! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/HeavyBored   Substack: https://andrewwittstadt.substack.com/ Sign up for Andrew’s Newsletter for FREE! https://andr...

Andrew Wittstadt is joined by Emmy-winning sports journalist and author Joe Battaglia in a discussion of his novel, Beneath the Rings. Topics include: The Sherrone Moore vs U of Michigan scandal–steroids in sports–Olympic Games–corruption in Olympic game commissions–writing about terrorism–and more!  Recorded 12/13/2025 *LINKS* *Buy the Books* Beneath the Rings by Joe Battaglia: https://amzn.to/48...

Andrew Wittstadt is joined by friend of the pod, Erik (@bazillionplus), in a discussion of the first season of the ABC hit sitcom, Modern Family. Topics include: Ty Burrell–Child actors–one liners–writers rooms–the craft of sitcom making–the 2010s cultural shift–and more! Recorded: 11/30/2025 *LINKS* *Watch the Show*  Modern Family: https://amzn.to/4aHSG70 Join Patreon or Substack to get FULL acce...

Andrew Wittstadt is joined by author and professor Mark Peres in a discussion of his debut novel, The Accord. Topics include: is morality innate?--how do we make a machine ethical–what does the AI future look like–is AI changing things–technology causing cultural loss–and more! Recorded: 11/22/2025  *LINKS* *Buy the Books* The Accord by Mark Peres: https://amzn.to/44F7HTg More Books by Mark Peres:...

Andrew Wittsadt is joined by author Brad Kelly of the Method and Madness podcast, in a wide-ranging discussion about all things publishing and literature. Topics Include: the online spiritual revival–self-publishing–marketing your own books–networking on the internet–bodybuilding–politics in literature–online niche dynamics–and more! Recorded: 11/4/2025 *LINKS* *Buy the Books* House of Sleep by Br...

Andrew Wittstadt is joined by author Heather Colley in a discussion of her debut novel, The Gilded Butterfly Effect. Topics include: literary aesthetic–politics overtaking literature–Vonnegut–Martin Amis–dark academia–TikTok trends–literary publishing–Harry Potter–getting a PhD in literature–and more! Recorded: 10/25/2025 *LINKS* *Buy the Books* The Gilded Butterfly Effect by Heather Colley: https...

Andrew Wittstadt is joined by poet and writer Stephanie Yue Duhem in a discussion of her debut poetry collection, Cataclysm Moves Me I Regret to Say . Topics include: literary pollution–online literary movements–alt lit–romanticism–the romance of the occult–coming up with book titles–and more! Recorded: 10/18/2025 *LINKS* *Buy the Books* Cataclysm Moves Me I Regret to Say by Stehpanie Yue Duhem: h...

Andrew Wittstadt is joined by author Maxine Rosaler in a discussion of her latest book, The Missing Kidney . Topics include: writing as a living–emotional depth–writing about yourself–being sick of yourself–is writing worth it?--what’s the point of being a writer?--and more! Recorded 10/11/2025 *LINKS* *Buy the Books* The Missing Kidney by Maxine Rosaler: https://amzn.to/4hF7lkQ Queen for a Day by...

Andrew Wittstadt is joined by attorney, historian, and author Dennis A. Brennan in a wide-ranging discussion about his latest book, D.C. Swamp Strikes Back: Aaron Burr, Donald Trump, and Their Similar Battles. Topics include: Trump Indictments–Aaron Burr vs Alexander Hamilton–rogue politicians–AOC and Bernie Sanders–Donald Trump’s comeback–Aaron Burr’s many trials after the duel–media institutions...

Andrew Wittstadt is joined by friend of the pod, Erik (OrganizedMeat), in a discussion of John Irving’s The Cider House Rules and the 1999 film adaptation. Topics include: Irving’s style–adapting for the screen–Homer Wells–coming of age–abortion–Michael Caine–novels vs movies–Fathers and orphans–and more! Recorded: 10/5/2025 *LINKS* *Watch the Movie*  The Cider House Rules: https://amzn.to/472ri1u...

Andrew Wittstadt is joined by author Heather Ogden. *LINKS* *Buy the Books* The Betrayal by Heather Ogden: https://amzn.to/4qeVhLl 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@gmail...

Andrew Wittstadt is joined by poet, writer, and friend of the pod Damon Moore in the third part of a multi-part extravaganza that covers the complete Louise Glück. Topics include: Louise Glück’s career–water–recurring themes–dark poems–reluctant love poems––beauty–devastating images of children–energy on the page–Glück’s Descending Figure –and More! Recorded: 9/27/2025 *LINKS* *Buy the Books* Loui...

Andrew Wittstadt is joined by poet and novelist Aaron Barry (aka Jasper Ceylon) as he returns to the show to talk about the reaction to his controversial hoax project and his latest novel, Pound, Flesh. Topics include: James Joyce–Literary canons–media smears–great books and why they matter–challenging yourself as an artist–and more! Recorded: 9/20/2025 *Buy the Books* Femoid by Aaron Barry: https...

Andrew Wittstadt is joined by author Claire Isenthal in a discussion of her duology of novels. Topics include: emo culture–millennials and Harry Potter–dystopian settings–and more! Recorded: 9/12/2025 *LINKS* *Buy the Books* The Rising Order by Claire Isenthal: https://amzn.to/421yLLw The New Order by Claire Isenthal: https://amzn.to/4gw9ij8 Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling: https://amzn.to/423jhXe Fo...

Andrew Wittstadt is joined by friend of the pod, Erik (OrganizedMeat), in part 2 of the continuing discussion of John Irving’s The World According to Garp and the 1982 film adaptation. Topics include: Robin Williams–adapting for the screen–boomer libs–feminist culture–male sexuality–men vs women–Garp as a tragic figure–Jenny Fields' death–Garp’s assassination–righteousness–and more! Recorded:...

Andrew Wittstadt is joined by friend of the pod, Erik (OrganizedMeat), in a discussion of John Irving’s The World According to Garp. Topics include: feminism–Irving’s politics–boomer libs–feminist figures–male sexuality–men vs women–Garp as a tragic figure–Jenny Fields as a psycho–masculine torture–and more! Recorded: 8/23/2025 This is a free preview of a subscribers-only episode. Join Patreon or...

Andrew Wittstadt is joined by poet, writer, and friend of the pod Damon Moore in the second part of a multi-part extravaganza that covers the complete Louise Glück. Topics include: Louise Glück’s career–water–recurring themes–marshlands–love poems––beauty–devastating last lines–energy on the page–Glück’s The House on Marshland –and More! Recorded: 8/9/2025 This is a free preview of a subscribers-o...

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/41kpAFv More Books by Veronica Leigh: https://amzn.to/41TXktv Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen: https://amzn....

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 7/17/2...

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/...

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/4fHD1VY All the King’s Men by Robert Penn Warr...

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/47y0V47 More Book...

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/4mNXU4d More Books by A. O. Wagner: https://amzn.to/3HCI0up 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne: https://amzn.to/46TLTpb More Books by Jules Verne:...

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/4mCqbKO More Books by Gary Smith:...

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/4fzDCZI The Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis: https://amzn.to/46T1yVJ The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien: https://amzn.to/4ml5nI6 Bellevue by Robin Cook: https://amzn.to/3UPbDMh More Books by Robin Cook: https://amzn.to...