All posts tagged: Podcasts

Ala Fox on “Ramadan in Saint-Denis”

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Transcript: Ala Fox Podcast

Ala Fox speaks to managing editor Emily Everett about her essay “Ramadan in Saint-Denis,” which appears in The Common’s most recent issue. Ala talks about weaving together the threads of her experiences living in Paris into an essay that explores a lot of questions but doesn’t try to answer them. The piece dives into the dynamics between neighborhoods, and between native Parisians and immigrant communities, and explores the possibility of creating and sustaining love across language barriers and distance. Ala also discusses why she was nervous about publishing the essay, and how it would be received in the Muslim community.

headshot of ala fox with cover of issue 25 next to her

Ala Fox on “Ramadan in Saint-Denis”
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Podcast: Matt Donovan on “Guy with a Gun”

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Transcript: Matt Donovan Podcast

Matt Donovan speaks to managing editor Emily Everett about his prose poem “Guy with a Gun,” which appeared in The Common’s fall issue. Matt talks about the conversation that inspired the poem—an encounter with a Sandy Hook parent that highlights the complex gray area around guns and gun ownership. He also discusses how his poetry collection about the issue of guns in the US evolved from a nonfiction book proposal, his aims in undertaking the project, and his job running The Boutelle-Day Poetry Center at Smith College.

a picture of matt donovan next to issue 23's cover of buttons

Podcast: Matt Donovan on “Guy with a Gun”
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Podcast: Gerardo Sámano Córdova on “Iceberg, Mine”

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Transcript: Gerardo Sámano Córdova Podcast

Gerardo Sámano Córdova speaks to managing editor Emily Everett about his story “Iceberg, Mine,” which appears in The Common’s fall 2022 issue. Gerardo talks about combining the real and the surreal in this story, and using both to show the power of a brief moment of connection. He also discusses the risks and rewards of writing about the fantastical, the process of finding balance through revision, and his debut novel Monstrilio, which is out now from Zando. The novel is about a boy who transforms into a monster, a monster who tries to be a man, and the people who love him in every form he takes.

Gerardo Sámano Córdova's headshot (man sitting on the floor in brown pants and striped shirt), plus The Common's issue 24 cover (buttons on white background).

Podcast: Gerardo Sámano Córdova on “Iceberg, Mine”
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Podcast: Robin Lee Carlson on “Reading the Ashes”

 

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Transcript: Robin Lee Carlson Podcast

Robin Lee Carlson speaks to managing editor Emily Everett about her essay “Reading the Ashes,” which appears in The Common’s fall 2022 issue. Robin talks about the many-year process of observation, illustration, and writing that went into the essay, which explores the cycle of fire and rebirth in Cold Canyon. She also discusses how her work balances the poetic and artistic with the scientific, how sketching and watercolors help her understand the natural world, and how she hopes her book will encourage readers to observe and question ecological change in their local areas.

Robin Lee Carlson headshot next to cover of Issue 24 of the common

Podcast: Robin Lee Carlson on “Reading the Ashes”
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Podcast: Meera Nair on “The Desire Tree”

 

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Transcript: Meera Nair Podcast

Meera Nair speaks to managing editor Emily Everett about her essay “The Desire Tree,” which appears in The Common’s new fall issue. Meera talks about the long process of writing this piece, which explores loss and longing through a visit to a banyan tree in Kerala, India that is said to grant prayers. She also discusses writing from memories, finding the right length for a piece, and teaching revision strategies to her creative writing students.

headshot of Meera nair next to issue 24 cover

Podcast: Meera Nair on “The Desire Tree”
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Podcast: Ellen Doré Watson on “In Which Raging Weather is a Gift”

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Transcript: Ellen Doré Watson Podcast. 

Ellen Doré Watson speaks to managing editor Emily Everett about her poem “In Which Raging Weather is a Gift,” which appears in The Common’s spring issue. Ellen talks about the importance of letting a poem surprise you as the first draft comes together. She also discusses her thoughts on the revision process, her work translating poetry and prose, and the years she spent running the Smith College Poetry Center.  

Podcast: Ellen Doré Watson on “In Which Raging Weather is a Gift”
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Podcast: Jane Satterfield on “Letter to Emily Brontë”

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Transcript: Jane Satterfield Podcast. 

Jane Satterfield speaks to managing editor Emily Everett about her poem “Letter to Emily Brontë,” which appears in The Common’s spring issue. Jane talks about her longstanding interest in the Brontë sisters, and why this pandemic poem is directed to Emily in particular. She also discusses letter-writing as a structure for poetry, and reads another poem published in The Common, “Totem,” which reflects on a childhood memory through more adult understanding.

Jane Satterfield headshot next to issue 23

Podcast: Jane Satterfield on “Letter to Emily Brontë”
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Podcast: Ben Stroud on “Three Omens of Federico da Montefeltro”

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Transcript: Ben Stroud Podcast. 

Ben Stroud speaks to managing editor Emily Everett about his story “Three Omens of Federico da Montefeltro,” which appears in The Common’s spring issue. The story fictionalizes a moment in the lives of historical figures from fifteenth-century Italy. In this conversation, Ben talks about finding his interest in writing stories set in ancient and medieval times, and what kind of research and play is required to blend fact and fiction in those stories. He also discusses his process for revising his work and teaching creative writing.

headshot of Ben Stroud next to cover of Issue 23, green background with burned toast

Podcast: Ben Stroud on “Three Omens of Federico da Montefeltro”
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Podcast: Anu Kumar on “The Woman in the Well”

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If you require a transcript or other accessible format, please contact us at info@thecommononline.org.

Anu Kumar speaks to managing editor Emily Everett about her essay “The Woman in the Well,” which appears in The Common’s spring issue. Anu talks about the vivid memories from childhood that inspired this essay about ghosts, fear, family dynamics, and violence against women in India. She also discusses the revision process for the essay, her interest in writing women’s untold stories, and her current writing projects.

Headshot of Any Kumar next to the common's issue 23

Podcast: Anu Kumar on “The Woman in the Well”
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Podcast: Adrienne G. Perry on “Flashé Sur Moi”

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Transcript: Adrienne G. Perry Podcast.

Adrienne G. Perry speaks to managing editor Emily Everett about her essay “Flashé Sur Moi,” which appears in The Common’s new spring issue. Adrienne talks about the questions that inspired this essay: questions about memory and friendship and coming of age, questions about what it means to desire someone and be desired, and what we do to appear desirable to others. She also discusses her approach to teaching creative writing, her interest in writing about place, and her current works-in-progress.

Image of Adrienne G. Perry's headshot and The Common's Issue 23 cover (toast on turquoise background).

Podcast: Adrienne G. Perry on “Flashé Sur Moi”
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