There was a time when I was not a so-called “Podcast Person.” I had, however, struggled to make sense of my place as a writer within the vast sea of writing programs, workshops, and conferences. The writing world and its accoutrements often feel inaccessible to writers—being invited to participate can be a hard, complicated thing to navigate. When are you granted the right to call yourself a writer? How many credentials are needed before you’re taken seriously? What are the most impactful ways to develop (and feel confident in) your craft? If you’re feeling the same dread I frequently do when trying to acclimate to literary spheres, you may find encouragement within this list of podcasts that are cognizant of the “unwelcomed” writer’s dilemma. Their in-depth discussions with writers, craft talks, and reading recommendations beckon listeners into relevant, encouraging conversations and spaces. Incorporating these podcasts into my own listening rotation has informed my knowledge as a writer and reader. I leave each episode with new, expansive ideas about what it means to be a member of the literary world.
Literary Friction
I love Literary Friction because of its lively, conversational tone, the diversity of interviewees, and the plethora of reading recommendations that accompany each episode. Many episodes have aided me in making sense of my own writing, or putting words to ideas and feelings I hadn’t been able to articulate. In the “Desire” episode with K Patrick, hosts Carrie Plitt and Octavia Bright ask “How do you render the physical intensity of desire on the page?” Listening propelled me into a rewrite of a short story about identity and desire I had spent months agonizing over. With each installment revolving around a unique theme like feminism, money, magical realism, or deception, there’s something for every kind of writer to learn from this podcast.
Great Podversations
Great Podversations is made up of “candid conversation” between meticulously matched author-interviewer teams. These conversations about writing, culture, politics, and history are held in front of a live audience at The Kentucky Center, and the energy and excitement of the crowd are palpable. Listeners are invited to hear Colm Tóibín and Silas House discuss childhood and home, Joan Baez and Diane Rehm cover music and activism, Charles Booker and Eddie Glaude Jr. talk about race and politics in the United States, and many more renowned authors meditate on their work.
DIY MFA Radio
Consisting of intelligent and enthusiastic dives into craft, the minutia of the literary world, and author processes, DIY MFA Radio has the same value as many traditional MFA programs. The podcast promises to help listeners “get those words on the page” and follows through with its generative and inspiring episodes. Writers with and without an MFA are bound to benefit from this podcast brimming with insight and ideas from authors, teachers, and publishing professionals.
MFA Writers
MFA Writers is a wonderful resource for anyone who is curious about pursuing a master’s degree in creative writing. Jared McCormack interviews students who attend a wide range of programs, creating a space for discussion about “their program, their process, and a piece they’re working on.” Not every creative writing program is a good fit for every writer, but these thorough, twice-monthly accounts from students provide exceedingly helpful information about assessing, applying to, and acclimating to MFA spaces.
First Draft: A Dialogue on Writing
Hosted by Mitzi Rapkin, First Draft celebrates creative writers as artists with the propensity to meaningfully impact our society. Weekly episodes focus on one author who provides a glimpse into their writing career, perspectives on craft, influences, and processes. Kaveh Akbar’s episode about “not looking away from the terrors of the world, addiction and rehabilitation, the messiness of life, and questions about goodness” feels especially resonant right now.
Writer’s Routine
For many writers, a lack of time and resources are insurmountable barriers to creating routines that support their careers. Writer’s Routine consists of interviews with writers who are in the process of maximizing their time and creativity to imagine, create, and publish their work. Night owls and early birds alike are represented through a plethora of episodes that provide listeners with tips for managing a life of writing.
The Book Case
Being a writer means being a reader, but if you feel “stuck in a reading rut” try listening to a few episodes of The Book Case. This is a podcast focused on broadening horizons—listeners are guided on a journey through the literary world to become acquainted with titles they may not have considered otherwise. After listening to an episode from last October, I read Into the Water by Paula Hawkins and uncovered an interest in thrillers and mysteries. With new episodes posted every Thursday, this podcast makes a perfect addition to weekly listening line-ups.
Writer Unleashed
Geared toward fiction writers and memoirists, Writer Unleashed is a podcast that helps listeners learn to create engrossing stories with “unstoppable momentum.” Episodes are fairly short—they range from fifteen to thirty minutes—and allow writers to feel motivated to get started on, or move forward in, a project. I found the encouragement to develop a strong writerly vision in “What To Do When Feedback Shakes Your Confidence” particularly useful.
Borrowed
From Brooklyn Public Library, Borrowed is an award-winning podcast that focuses on the importance and vitality of libraries within our culture and society. As a podcast rooted in a free, communal environment, every episode seeks to “center the voices of our patrons and our librarians and find stories that challenge your idea of the public library.” Fascinating discussions about topics like race in librarianship, Luddite teenagers, and the labor of maintaining a common space abound. Listeners should tune into other series from BPL—Borrowed and Banned and Borrowed & Returned—for more stories about the politics of reading, writing, and literary spaces.