Writing Remix Podcast

In Episode 76, we talk to Dr. Cara Marta Messina about the academic job market, open-access research and critical fan studies, the parallels between fanfiction and fantasy football, and teaching writing for podcasting.

In Episode 75, Dan & Katie answer questions from the audience about the Metaverse, the cost of higher education, teacher training and experiences, identity, and much more. If you have questions for us to talk about and answer on another Office Hours episode, you can email them to writingremixpodcast@gmail.com. People and Texts Mentioned in the Continue reading "75. Office Hours w/ Dan &&#1...

In Episode 74, Dan interviews Katie about her science fiction and fantasy novels, her background in medieval literature, her journey getting into podcasting, and her new role as a book writing coach.

Content Warning: Discussion of sexual and domestic violence, please listen with care. If you or someone you know has experienced sexual and/or domestic violence/abuse, you can find support through: RAINN & RSVP (for USC community). More resources available here. In Episode 73, Dan is joined by Writing Program faculty Chris Belcher & Stephanie Renee Payne, USC alum...

In Episode 72, Dr. Steven Mentz of the Saint John's University English Department interviews three SJU Alums about what academic, writing, and teaching life is like after the Ph. D. This was a special episode for Dr. Mentz's graduate theory course, and some of these questions come straight form his students

In Episode 71, Dan talks to comedian Christian Cintron about creating uplifting comedy, processing trauma through stand-up, and punching up instead of down.

In Episode 70, we talk to Danielle Mastrogiovanni about the intersectional issues misinformation creates for students, teachers, and administrators.

In Episode 69, Dan Dissinger talks to the founder of Progress Playbook, Lloyd Cambridge about practicing mindfulness to be a better entrepreneur and person, community building, and supplementing the gaps in higher education with experiential project-based learning. Lloyd J. Cambridge is the founder & CEO of Progress Playbook, a small business training and economic development Continue reading...

In Episode 68, Dan Dissinger talks to the founder of StoryBilder, Tanya Gough, about breaking the rules for the sake of creativity, curating the first-ever Shakespeare on film catalog, and teaching English in Japan pre-internet. Tanya Gough has been an ESL teacher, a retail store owner, a corporate digital marketer, and a freelance content strategist, Continue reading "68. Building Your Story w/ T...

In Episode 67, Dan Dissinger talks with to Actor, Director, and Board Certified Music Therapist Spencer Frankeberger about adaptability in Music Therapy, how being scared of improv is the best reason to do improv, we discuss systemic ableism in standardized testing from the bar exam to the GREs, and this all somehow ends up in Continue reading "67. Learning to Adapt w/ Spencer Frankeberger"

In Episode 66, Dan Dissinger talks with recent graduate of USC’s Film and Television Production program Sydney Laws about how Black stories are represented in media, cultural anthropology, and Storytelling versus Story-breaking. Sydney Laws is a very proud ATLien and recent graduate of USC’s Film and Television Production program. She defines herself as a creative, particularly Co...

In Episode 65, Dan Dissinger talks with filmmaker Scott Barber about storytelling through documentary, why Nickelodeon was such a positive creative force in the early 90s, and the role of writing when making a documentary. And who can forget GWAR. Scott made his directorial debut with his film, The Orange Years: The Nickelodeon Story, featuring Kenan Continue reading "65: Documenting the Nick...

In Episode 64, Dan Dissinger talks with Vocalist/Educator/Actor/Writer Viva Vinson about the positive impact of performing arts education, overcoming Dyslexia and ADHD, and harnessing the power of the performing arts to have deeper DEI discussions with students and teachers. Born of an Italian American mother, and African American father, Viva has always had multiple artistic Continue reading "64:...

In Episode 63, Dan Dissinger and special guest host Dr. Meghan Nolan talk with friend, colleague, and fellow Saint John’s University Alum Dr. Melissa Rampelli from Holy Family University about the impact of the Victorian Age, Medical Humanities, and what sea monsters have to do with the 2008 Great Recession. On top of all of Continue reading "63. Expanding the Victorian Conversation w/ Dr. M...

In Episode 62, Dan Dissinger and special guest host Stephanie Renée Payne talk with Chris Muniz of the USC Writing Program about reconnecting creative writing back to academic writing, developing meaningful and authentic student-centered projects, and how the personal journey leads the way towards student agency. Chris Muniz is a faculty member in the University of Southern Continue read...

Content Warning: Discussion of sexual and domestic violence, please listen with care. In Episode 61, Dan Dissinger & special guest host Danielle Lee talk to USC alum Emma Collins about being an advocate for survivors of relationship and sexual violence, working for RSVP (Relationship & Sexual Violence Prevention Services) at USC, and rape culture on and off the college campus.

In Episode 60, we talk to USC alum Andre Luna about what it means to be a First Generation college student, his commitment to a life of service and advocacy, and how a film about surfing is helping him meet his goals.

In Episode 59, we talk to USC alum Jordan Broberg about staying creative during the pandemic, finding a voice in poetry, and coming into her own as an artist and a person.

In Episode 58, we talk to Cody Lake about the collaborative power of poetry, web development, and videography, the pressure of commodification, and the surprising inventiveness of Pinterest. 

In Episode 57, we talk to Megan Tebbenhoff about the U.S.'s response to the pandemic, the role and responsibility of the government when it comes to public health messaging, and the work that needs to be done regarding climate change and population displacement.

In Episode 56, we talk to USC student Jordyn Jones about the expectations placed on marginalized creators, the real meaning of diversity, and making movies that challenge the status quo.

In Episode 55, we talk to Jephtha Prempeh about creating new spaces for marginalized voices, working in community, and forging paths outside of mainstream media outlets.

In Episode 54, we talk to writer Nancy Stohlman about her award-winning book Going Short, the power of flash fiction as a fully realized genre, and how to write and teach flash fiction.  

In Episode 53, we talk to Tim Hernandez about teaching at the University of Texas El Paso in the only bilingual creative writing program in the United States. We also chat about investigative poetics, finding the right shape for a story, and the importance of crossing genres, borders, and other boundaries.

In Episode 52, we talk to Atia Sattar about the power of meditation groups and affinity spaces for people of color, how storytelling and the acknowledgement of our embodied experiences empowers both students and faculty, and the importance of community for creating a humanized academic experience.