Passion and Practicality: A Liberal Arts Podcast

In which Wireside Chat is joined by instructor Dr. Courtney Watson, an award-winning fiction writer and scholar of literary travel and tourism. Learn from Courtney how to combine your passions for travel and writing to become a globe-trotting frequent-flier!

In this episode, Dr. Jamie Goodall discusses her new book, The Daring Exploits of Pirate Black Sam Bellamy: From Cape Cod to the Caribbean, which describes the political, cultural, legal, and economic relationships between pirates and the coast of colonial New England. Dr. Goodall teaches American history at Southern New Hampshire University and is a historian with the U.S. Army Center of Military...

Word for Word celebrates six recent graduates of the online BA, MA, and MFA programs! Join writers Kori Elise Chamberlin, Miranda Denler, Geoff Campbell, Katherine Hancock, Scott Fazekas, and Abigailrose Helwig in an evening of fiction and nonfiction readings that stretch from ancient Rome to World War II-era San Francisco, modern-day Paris, and dark realms beyond the borders of the real. 

Wireside Chat welcomes Online MFA instructor Tiffany Trent! Tiffany is the author of eight dark YA fantasy novels, including the award-winning The Unnaturalists duology (Simon & Schuster/Saga) and the Hallowmere series (Wizards of the Coast/Mirrorstone). Join us as Tiffany shares her publishing journey from traditional to indie to launching her own small press!

Join us as Word for Word welcomes author and SNHU President Dr. Paul LeBlanc! Topics include the impact of the liberal arts on Dr. LeBlanc's distinguished career, the impact of AI on the future of liberal arts and creative writing, what lies ahead for him and SNHU, and more!

Kelly Link's genre-bending-and-blending short stories have won major awards and established her as one of the most inventive writers working today. In this edition of Word for Word, Kelly reads from her bestselling new novel, The Book of Love, discusses the craft of writing, and answers questions from the audience.

Hosts Melissa Hart and Paul Witcover welcome Online MFA instructor Patricia Lillie to this month's Wireside Chat! As Patricia Lillie, she writes quiet horror and weird fiction. Her story collection, “The Cuckoo Girls,” was a 2020 Bram Stoker Award® finalist. As Kay Charles, her much nicer alter-ego, she writes cozy-ish mysteries with ghosts. Join us as we discuss Patricia's writing journey, her "n...

Join hosts Paul Witcover and Jacob Powers as Word for Word welcomes an all-star panel of professional editors to discuss all things editorial, from acquisition to copy-editing! 

Ben Lord, Executive Communications Specialist with Equifax joins us to give us an idea of what a typical workday looks like as communications professional. Ben speaks about contextualizing your samples of work when it comes to preparing your portfolio. Ben also talks about preparing for interviews as “algorithmic conversations” and how it’s important to be able to go with the flow. You can find Be...

Wireside Chat welcomes longtime Online MFA instructor Anne-Marie Yerks! Anne-Marie is a creative writer and Pushcart Prize nominee from metro Detroit, MI. She is the author of Dream Junkies (New Rivers Press, 2016) and LUSH (Odyssey Books, 2020), and recently finished a literary hybrid called The Origin of Blair Millerstowe. Listen as Anne-Marie discusses freelancing, hybrid storytelling, and how...

Jaclyn O’Connell, SNHU Alumna and owner of Bittersweet Media joins us to give us an idea of what a typical workday looks like as creative professional. Jaclyn gives advice on the importance of networking to build your brand, as well as how to build your portfolio and finding your community. Jaclyn’s website is www.bittersweet.media . You can connect with her on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com...

Join hosts Paul Witcover and Jacob Powers as Word for Word celebrates SNHU instructors and award-winning poets Carla Sameth and Stephanie Wytovich in our first-ever all-poetry event!    

Eric Onkenhout, SNHU Creative Writing Alumnus and Freelance Writer joins us to give us an idea of what a typical workday looks like as a freelance writing professional. Eric speaks how he was able to leverage his current position into a writing role, as well as how it important to be accurate when writing. 

Dr. Luke Peterson teaches Arabic and Middle Eastern history at Southern New Hampshire University and Duquesne University. In this episode, Dr. Peterson discusses his new book, The U.S. Military in the Print News Media: Service and Sacrifice in Contemporary Discourse, which “analyzes the history of the popular discourse in the United States concerned with the U.S. military and its engagement in for...

Word for Word is proud to host the winners of the 2023 Penmen Review Fall Fiction Contest for a virtual reading of their winning work!  First Place: “I found a genie in a bottle of Glenlivet 12 year,” by Tayler Kastros  Second Place: “Dark Water,” by Gabe Converse  Third Place: “Sleeping Beauty,” by RE Bunch  Fourth Place: “Beasts,” by Ness Wheeler  Fifth Place: “Rat-a-tat,” by Mackenzie Bodily  E...

Join host Paul Witcover as Wireside Chat welcomes longtime MFA instructor Jason Morgan! Writing as J. Lloyd Morgan, he is the bestselling author of Going Down the Far Well and the fantasy trilogy The Bariwon Chronicles, among other novels. We'll discuss Jason's writing journey and the importance of theme in his work and in fiction generally.

Nicole Fenner, CEO of Sister Girl Publishing joins us to give us an idea of what a typical workday looks like as a liberal arts professional after starting her own publishing company. Nicole speaks about the importance of being well-rounded and continuously growing your creative skill set. Feel free to connect with Nicole on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicole-fenner83/ , TikTok or Inst...

In which hosts Melissa Hart and Paul Witcover are joined by MFA instructor and award-winning author Heather Hepler to discuss how to build a career in Middle Grade and Young Adult fiction. How do these genres differ? Where do they overlap? Heather draws on her experience writing in both genres to shed light on what can be a confusing literary landscape.

In which Paul Witcover, Associate Dean of the Online MFA, is joined by Jacob Powers, Associate Dean of the online BA and MA Creative Writing programs at SNHU, and Derrick Craigie, Senior Associate Dean overseeing all online Creative Writing programs at SNHU, for a Q&A. A must-listen for anyone considering a graduate degree in creative writing at SNHU!

Ryan Gravatt, CEO and Owner of Raconteur joins us to give us an idea of what a typical workday looks like as a liberal arts professional, as well as how to make yourself stand out in an interview. Ryan speaks about his “rule of three’s” as it pertains to your career journey, as well as different paths to think about as a profession within the Liberal Arts niche. Feel free to connect with Ryan on L...

Word for Word is honored to welcome acclaimed writer Elizabeth Hand, multiple award-winning author of the Cass Neary mysteries, the supernatural thriller Hokuloa Road, the folk-horror classic Wylding Hall, Waking the Moon, and many other novels. Her most recent novel, The Haunting on the Hill, is the official sequel to Shirley Jackson's The Haunting of Hill House. Join us as Hand reads from her wo...

In which hosts Melissa Hart and Paul Witcover welcome SNHU instructor and Bram Stoker Award-winning writer Thomas Deady, author of, most recently, the novel Eternal Darkness. Join us as we talk about his writing journey and all things Horror.

Landis Tindell, Manager of Corporate Communications for the Oklahoma City Thunder joins us to give us an idea of what a typical workday looks like as a communications professional, as well as how to make yourself stand out in an interview. Landis’ extensive experience in the Liberal Arts and communications spaces paints a great picture for students of what a career journey can look like to help ge...

Word for Word kicks off its 2023-24 season of literary events by welcoming bestselling and award-winning writer Morgan Talty, author of the acclaimed collection of linked stories Night of the Living Rez. Talty, a citizen of the Penobscot Indian Nation, reads from his work, discusses the craft of writing, and answers questions from moderators and attendees. 

In which hosts Melissa Hart and Paul Witcover are joined by SNHU instructor Joseph Chianakas, whose new YA novel, Singlets and Secrets, recently debuted as Amazon's #1 new release in teen and YA LGBTQ fiction. Listen in as we talk to Joe about his writing journey, why themes of diversity and inclusion are so central to his work, and how he is always thinking a few steps ahead in planning his caree...