Heavy Bored

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/45iTyfu I Will Destroy You by Nick Flynn:  https://amzn.to/3J...

Andrew Wittstadt reads and interprets several poems about parenthood and children. Including poems by W.B. Yeats, Philip Larkin, Gwendolyn Brooks, William Blake, and W.D. Snodgrass. This be the Verse by Philip Larkin Infant Joy by William Blake A Prayer for my Daughter by W. B. Yeats Life for my child is simple, and is good. by Gwendolyn Brooks Heart’s Needle by W. D. Snodgrass Recorded 9/18/2024...

Andrew Wittstadt is joined by author James R. Gregory in a discussion about his life, work, and latest book, Zephyr’s War. Topics include: Writing as a hobby–book branding–book publishing economics–intangible capital–romanticizing stories–writing routines–self-publishing–and more! Recorded 8/17/2024 *LINKS*  *Buy the Books* Zephyr’s War by James R. Gregory: https://amzn.to/47vMBsL Killer App by Ja...

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 Lurhmann’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 vs...

Andrew Wittstadt is joined by author Jared Klickstein, discussing his memoir, Crooked Smile: What it Took to Escape a Decade of Homelessness, Addiction, and Crime. Topics Include: Living on the street–the source of addiction–the problems with rehab models–government policy failures–spiritual drive–Kurt Vonnegut–being labeled “right-wing”--and more!  Recorded 6/29/2024 *LINKS* *Buy the Books* Crook...

Andrew is joined by Yeerk of the Bistro Californium podcast in a deep-dive conversation about The Anxiety of Influence by Harold Bloom. Topics include: The Canon wars–Bloom’s poetic theories–Harold Bloom’s impact and reputation–Jordan Peterson–Literary Critics–wokeness in art and literature–and More! Recorded 6/22/2024 *LINKS* *Buy the Books* The Anxiety of Influence by Harold Bloom: https://amzn....

Author and physician David Weill joins the show for a wide-ranging conversation about his life, work, writing, and his debut novel, All That Really Matters. Topics include: Growing Up in Medicine–Doctors Turned Novelists–Realities of Working in Life or Death Transplants–Writing Routines–Inspiration from Experience–Memoir vs Fiction Writing–Parenthood–and More! Recorded: 6/15/2024 First Hour is FRE...

The first meeting of the Heavy Bored Book Club begins with Gertrude Stein’s Tender Buttons .  Recorded: 5/24/2024 Become a patron and join the conversation: https://www.patreon.com/HeavyBored   *LINKS* *Buy the Books* Tender Buttons by Gertrude Stein: https://amzn.to/4mc66ey The Autobiography of Alice B Toklas by Gertrude Stein: https://amzn.to/3UwxyYf More Books by Gertrude Stein: https://amzn.to...

Glen and Psi of the Rare Candy podcast join Andrew Wittstadt for a journey into the medical malpractice thriller, Chromosome 6 by Robin Cook. The boys go into 90’s Italian mobsters, medical ethics, podcasting life, animal rights, covid, Vegas sports, and MORE! Recorded 5/11/2024 *LINKS* *Buy the Books* Chromosome 6 by Robin Cook: https://amzn.to/3V9S7Kd Coma by Robin Cook: https://amzn.to/3UvNUQU...

Andrew Wittstadt is joined by musical mastermind and senior fellow at the James Bond Autist Institute, The Nani State (@thenanistate), for the second part of the James Bond novel series on Heavy Bored. The two go into Bond villains, Roger Moore’s first role as James Bond, Fleming’s importance to western literature, Movie vs book, Bond’s evolution as a character and cultural figure, international s...

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! First Hour is FREE! Join Patreon to get FULL access to Heavy Bored! https:...

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.  This is a free preview of an episode for subscribers only. Join Patreon to get FULL access to Heavy Bored! https://www.patreon.com/HeavyBored   *LINKS* Read “No One Buys Books” by Elle Griffin: ht...

Poet and artist, Sarah Fletcher, returns to the podcast to join Andrew as they go into The Complete Poems of Anne Sexton in a deep dive extravaganza that veers from contemporary mental illness aesthetics to above ground pools to Sexton’s allure and beauty. Topics include: Sexton’s Beauty–The Confessional Poets–Sexton vs Plath–Daddy Robert Lowell–Maxine Kumine’s Defensive Introduction–Mentorship in...

Andrew Wittstadt reads and reviews Sharon Olds' collection of poems, Odes. Going into bad line breaks, the state of contemporary poetry, aging as a writer and still writing teenage material, and more.  *LINKS* *Buy the Books* Odes by Sharon Olds: https://amzn.to/45TrNKD Stag’s Leap by Sharon Olds: https://amzn.to/4fDobzE The Dead and the Living by Sharon Olds: https://amzn.to/3V2zlV4 More Book...

Andrew goes into everything he read in January, February, and March of 2024  This is a free preview of an episode for subscribers only. Join Patreon to get FULL access to Heavy Bored! https://www.patreon.com/HeavyBored   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://...

Andrew Wittstadt reviews seasons three and four of HBO’s True Detective. Part 2 of 2. True Detective–season three (2019) True Detective: Night Country (2024) *LINKS* *Watch the Show* True Detective season 1: https://amzn.to/45mNbYG True Detective season 2: https://amzn.to/4fBNke4 True Detective season 3: https://amzn.to/4oCeCFc True Detective: Night Country: https://amzn.to/45m9JJ2 *Buy the Books*...

Andrew Wittstadt reviews the first two seasons of HBO’s True Detective. Part 1 of 2. True Detective–season one (2014) True Detective–season two (2015) *LINKS* *Watch the Show* True Detective season 1: https://amzn.to/45mNbYG True Detective season 2: https://amzn.to/4fBNke4 True Detective season 3: https://amzn.to/4oCeCFc True Detective: Night Country: https://amzn.to/45m9JJ2 *Buy the Books* Galves...

Andrew Wittstadt reviews Charles Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities, going into what works in the novel and what doesn’t, and why it may be one of Dickens' weakest novels.  This is a free preview of an episode for subscribers only. Join Patreon to get FULL access to Heavy Bored! https://www.patreon.com/HeavyBored   *LINKS* *Buy the Books* A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens: https://amzn.to...

Matt Wall is back for another edition of Heavy Bored presents JerkShop. Matt and Andrew get into all things KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing) and Self-Publishing while horsing around and shooting the shit about the publishing industry. Topics Include: Why Self-Publish?--The costs of KDP–The benefits of Self-Publishing–the downsides to self-publishing–Matt’s experience making a living off of KDP–and m...

Andrew Wittstadt is joined by Matt Wall of the I Hate Matt Wall Poetry Podcast as the two go into a lengthy discussion about Charles Bukowski’s The Pleasures of the Damned. Topics Include: Bukowski’s Legacy–Transgressive Poetry–Alcoholism–Masculinity–The Appeal of Bukowski’s prose–Bukowski’s distinct style–subject matter triumphing over craft–not giving a fuck–confessional vs fictional–and more! *...

*UNLOCKED EPISODE* The brilliance of Bogan’s work is discussed in length with Sophie going into some of her favorite works while discussing themes, the fear of being a square, and the power of being a critic.  *LINKS* *Buy the Books*  The Blue Estuaries by Louise Bogan: https://amzn.to/4lGQpv2 Body of This Death by Louise Bogan: https://amzn.to/3UxdLbm The Collected Poems of Theodore Roethke: http...

Andrew and poet Sarah Fletcher go into the depths of writing workshops while discussing the personality clashes that most tend to center around. Topics Include: American Workshops vs UK Workshops–MFA’s–zoom workshops–big personalities in the room–and more! This is a free preview of an episode for subscribers only. Join Patreon to get FULL access to Heavy Bored! https://www.patreon.com/HeavyBored  ...

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! This is a free preview of an episode for subscribers only. Join Patreon to get FUL...

Andrew Wittstadt Reviews four films from 2023. The Sound of Freedom (2023) The Creator (2023) Guy Ritchie’s The Covenant (2023) Saltburn (2023) This is a free preview of an episode for subscribers only. Join Patreon to get FULL access to Heavy Bored! https://www.patreon.com/HeavyBored   Join Patreon or Substack for FREE! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/HeavyBored   Substack: https://andrewwittsta...

This is a free preview of an episode for subscribers only. Join Patreon to get FULL access to Heavy Bored! https://www.patreon.com/HeavyBored   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://andrewwittstadt.substack.com/ Contact us: heavyboredpodcast@gmail.com Leave a...