Heavy Bored

Andrew Wittstadt is joined by author and public speaker Tara Heaton , in a discussion about her debut memoir, Life Minutes: Igniting Joy from the Fire of Heartache . Topics include: Sales and marketing–messaging and advertising–the art of storytelling–the art of sales–neuroscience as self empowerment–the craft of memoir–grief–motherhood–trauma–and more! Recorded 5/6/2025 *LINKS* *Buy the Books* Li...

Meg Hamand joins Andrew Wittstadt for an extended bonus interview for subscribers only. Topics include: dogs vs cats–ghost stories and technique–pov in fiction writing–adoption journeys–and more! Recorded 5/1/2025 *LINKS* *Buy the Books* Diamonds in Auschwitz by Meg Hamand: https://amzn.to/4fASrv0 Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen: https://amzn.to/3UZYAay More Books by Jane Austen: https://amzn.t...

Andrew Wittstadt is joined by author Meg Hamand in a discussion of her debut novel, Diamonds in Auschwitz . Topics include: historical fiction–Millennial childhoods–Pride and Prejudice–Jane Austen–Wishbone stories–romanticism in writing–earning a living as a writer–and more! Recorded 5/1/2025 *LINKS* *Buy the Books* Diamonds in Auschwitz by Meg Hamand: https://amzn.to/4fASrv0 Pride and Prejudice b...

Andrew Wittstadt is joined by writer, Maggie Zhu, in an hours long discussion of Thomas Mann’s masterpiece, The Magic Mountain . Topic Include: stuck in the sanatorium–Hans Castorp as a coward–intellectuals–twitter discourse repeating itself–the trad cath movement–AWP–German modernism–and more! Recorded 4/16/2025 *Buy the Books* The Magic Mountain by Thomas Mann: https://amzn.to/3HvBgyu Doctor Fau...

Andrew Wittstadt is joined by the poet and author known as Jasper Ceylon , in a wide-ranging discussion about his latest project, Echolalia Review: An Anti-Poetry Collection. Jasper’s latest project spans over two years and involves the publication of over 47 fake poems in 30 poetry journals. These fake poems are collected, along with detailed notes about the process, in Ceylon’s latest book. Topi...

Andrew Wittstadt is joined by author and friend of the pod, James Gregory . As the two go into James’ latest novel, Killer App, and Tom Clancy’s Without Remorse. Topics include: Artificial intelligence–AI assistants–AI chatbots–technology in art–seduction in literature–writing historical fiction–and more! Recorded 3/15/2025 Buy the Books! Without Remorse by Tom Clancy: https://amzn.to/4lvxGCn More...

Andrew Wittstadt is joined by filmmaker and author, Josh Mendoza , in a subscribers only extended interview. Topics include: Changes in creative industries–the indie film boom–the streaming wars–politics in art–and more! Recorded 3/1/2025 This is a FREE preview of a longer episode! Join Patreon or Substack to get FULL access to Heavy Bored! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/HeavyBored   Substack: h...

Andrew Wittstadt is joined by filmmaker and author, Josh Mendoza , in a conversation about his debut novel, Shadow of the Eternal Watcher . Topics include: Social media for artists–Grinding out an artistic career–realistic filmmaking–noir fiction classics–Star Wars–screenwriting vs novel writing–and more! Recorded 3/1/2025 Buy the Books! Shadow of the Eternal Watcher by Josh Mendoza: https://amzn....

Andrew Wittstadt is joined by musician and artist, Paris Heart . In a special bonus segment of Heavy Bored. Topics include: Dogs vs Cats–the music industry missing something–vibes–ancient religions and cultures–native American culture–and more! Recorded 2/15/2025 This is a FREE preview of a longer episode! Join Patreon or Substack to get FULL access to Heavy Bored! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com...

Andrew Wittstadt is joined by musician and artist, Paris Heart . Topics include: Songwriting–recognizing artistic strengths and weaknesses–social media for creatives–earning a living as an artist–building a business–artist branding–bending music genres–and more! Recorded 2/15/2025 Listen to Paris Heart! Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1zd1nUPhQbqxICwQuxNPFA YouTube:  https://www.youtube.c...

Andrew Wittstadt is joined by poet, and friend of the pod, Damon Moore in a discussion of George Oppen’s New Collected Poems. Topics include: Louise Gluck and Oppen’s influence–Objectivism in poetry–Objectivist poets–modernist poets–Ezra Pound–Oppen’s decades long break from poetry–Ezra Pound and Oppen–and more! Recorded 2/9/2025 Buy the Books! George Oppen: New Collected Poems: https://amzn.to/46...

Andrew Wittstadt and Becky Bell talk about indie publishing, filling gaps in the literature market, Mormon misconceptions, and more! Recorded 1/25/2025 This is a FREE preview of a longer episode! Join Patreon or Substack to get FULL access to Heavy Bored! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/HeavyBored   Substack: https://andrewwittstadt.substack.com/ Buy the Books! The Gnomes of FIbberton by Becky Be...

Andrew Wittstadt is joined by children’s author, Becky Bell. Topics include: Classic children’s stories–morality tales–right vs wrong–faith–indie publishing–pay to play social media–family life–and more! Recorded 1/25/2025 Buy the Books! The Gnomes of FIbberton by Becky Bell: https://amzn.to/3V4MPQe Join Patreon or Substack to get FULL access to Heavy Bored! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/HeavyB...

Andrew Wittstadt is joined by author, physician, and sleep expert, Dr. Funke Afolabi-Brown . Topics include: Sleep schedules–Sleep aids–insomnia–sleep as a superpower–self-publishing–hydration and sleep–blue light and social media–and more! Recorded: 12/14/2024 Buy the Books! Beyond Tired by Dr. Funke Afolabi-Brown: https://amzn.to/4ltYgf2 Dr. Funke Afolabi-Brown: https://www.therestfulsleepplace....

Andrew Wittstadt reads listener emails about workshop culture and literary institutions. Topics include: The literary canon–Harold Bloom–publishing houses–the literary culture–wokeness–politics vs poetry–and more! Recorded 1/11/2025 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 A...

Andrew Wittstadt is joined by political strategist and thriller author Michael Fedor . Topics include: Political strategy–self-publishing–growing up in the mid-Atlantic–teaching–writing routines–the 2024 election–pendulum swings in politics and culture–power dynamics–indie authors–self-marketing plans–and more! Recorded 11/23/2024 Buy the Books! The Senate Deception by Michael Fedor: https://amzn....

Merry Christmas! Andrew Wittstadt is joined by friend of the pod, Erik (@bazillionplus) to celebrate Christmas with an in-depth discussion of The Shop Around the Corner (1940) and It’s a Wonderful Life (1947) Recorded 12/18/2024 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 Andre...

Andrew Wittstadt is joined by children’s author Sasha Saidman . The conversation continues for subscribers only. Topics include: Collaborating with illustrators–children screaming in public–Storyboarding–dyslexia–creativity and youth–and MORE! ONLY FOR SUBSCRIBERS Recorded 11/2/2024 This is a FREE preview of a longer episode! Join Patreon or Substack to get FULL access to Heavy Bored! Patreon: htt...

Andrew Wittstadt is joined by children’s author Sasha Saidman . Topics include: Growing up dsylexic–imagination–social media followings–haters–self-publishing–creativity–emo era–parenting–motherhood–and more! Recorded 11/2/2024 Buy the Books! All Out of Ducks by Sasha Saidman: https://amzn.to/4ozBt4x First Day: An Adoption Story by Sasha Saidman: https://amzn.to/3V1C410 Melonade by Sasha Saidman:...

Andrew Wittstadt and Amy Daughters go into football, home teams, the power of prayer, ribbon dancing, fishing, and the hit soap opera Dallas, and more! ONLY FOR SUBSCRIBERS. Recorded 10/27/2024 This is a FREE preview of a longer episode! Join Patreon or Substack to get FULL access to Heavy Bored! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/HeavyBored   Substack: https://andrewwittstadt.substack.com/ Buy the...

Andrew Wittstadt is joined by author and public speaker Amy Daughters . Topics include: Handwriting vs typing–handwritten letters vs email–social media friends vs real life friends–spreading hope–arranging flowers–and more!  Recorded 10/27/2024 Buy the Books! Dear Dana by Amy Daughters: https://amzn.to/4oF6MLc You Cannot Mess This Up by Amy Daughters: https://amzn.to/4mK1EDK Join Patreon or Substa...

Andrew Wittstadt is joined by author and entrepreneur Doug Villhard in a subscribers only extended interview. Topics include: Building schools from scratch–Private vs Public school–History and its relevance–Building community–fatherhood–and more! ONLY FOR SUBSCRIBERS. Recorded 10/26/2024 This is a FREE preview of a longer episode! Join Patreon or Substack to get FULL access to Heavy Bored! Patreon...

Andrew Wittstadt is joined by author and entrepreneur Doug Villhard in a discussion about writing, building your own press, passion projects, Stephen King books, historical fiction, teaching, and more! ONLY FOR SUBSCRIBERS. Recorded 10/26/2024 This is a FREE preview of a longer episode! Join Patreon to get FULL access to Heavy Bored! https://www.patreon.com/HeavyBored   Buy the Books! The Golden A...

Andrew Wittstadt is joined by author and journalist Stephen Harrison . The two go into writing workshops, Wikipedia’s bias, politics ruining everything, lack of religion, gotcha questions, mean comments, and more! ONLY FOR SUBSCRIBERS. Recorded 10/19/2024 This bonus segment is for subscribers only! Join Patreon to get FULL access to Heavy Bored! https://www.patreon.com/HeavyBored   *LINKS*  *Buy t...

Andrew Wittstadt is joined by author and journalist Stephen Harrison . Topics include: Wikipedia–separating non-fiction and fiction–social media for writers–millennials and the internet–the lack of internet in contemporary fiction–and more! Recorded 10/20/2024 *LINKS*  *Buy the Books* The Editors by Stephen Harrison: https://amzn.to/4mEn8BS Join Patreon or Substack for FREE! Patreon: https://www.p...