Episodios

  • Season 5 Ep 7 | Shane Hinton | Writing, Teaching, & Giving Away Books for Free

    Season 5 Ep 7 | Shane Hinton | Writing, Teaching, & Giving Away Books for Free
    Feb 10 2026

    Today's episode features writer and teacher Shane Hinton, author of Pinkies, Radio Dark, Other Shane Hintons, and editor of We Can't Help It If We're From Florida. His work blends the absurd, the uncanny, and the deeply human—often with Florida as both setting and state of mind.

    We dove into two big threads: his fantastic Lit Hub essay "Why I Give My Books Away for Free" and the larger questions that essay raises about art, money, and the changing literary landscape.

    Shane's Lit Hub piece struck a chord because it articulates something many writers feel but rarely say out loud. He talked about:

    • wanting to connect rather than transact

    • realizing most readers struggle to keep up with the sheer amount of new work

    • generosity as a meaningful (and honest) form of outreach

    • measuring impact through engagement, not sales

    We moved into the broader implications of Shane's philosophy and what it says about the industry right now. A few themes:

    • there's more content than ever, but not more readers

    • making a living from literary fiction is harder than ever

    • creatives now need comfort with marketing, social media, and guerrilla outreach

    • writers often feel torn between authenticity and self-promotion

    • the traditional routes to a writing career are shrinking

    Shane teaches, which adds another layer to this discussion. He reflected on:

    • how writing classrooms have changed

    • students' realistic (and sometimes sobering) expectations

    • why MFA programs must begin addressing economic realities

    • how to balance craft, hope, and honesty

    • teaching students to build community—not just manuscripts

    His perspective: these conversations aren't optional anymore; they're ethical.

    Shane, in sum, epitomizes how to adapt and thrive in an ever-changing (and, often, super challenging) literary industry, and I hope you find his example inspiring!

    Shane is the author of three books: Pinkies (2015), Radio Dark (2019) and Other Shane Hintons, and is the editor of the anthology We Can't Help It If We're From Florida (2017). His work has been published in literary magazines and exhibited at national and international conferences. His work focuses on the absurd and the horrific in contemporary society. He often writes about Florida and is an active member of the local literary community.

    MORE ABOUT SHANE HINTON

    LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/shanehinton/
    Website: ut.edu/directory/hinton-shane-r

    ABOUT SOME THINGS CONSIDERED

    Award-winning author Sean Murphy in conversation with creative thinkers, spanning the literary, music, art, politics, and tech industries. As a cultural critic, professor, founder of a literary non-profit, Sean is always looking to explore and celebrate the ways Story is integral to how we define ourselves, as artists and human beings. This Substack newsletter and weekly podcast peels back the layers of how creativity works, why it matters, how our most brilliant minds achieve mastery. Join us to explore how our most successful and inspired storytellers engage by discussing craft, routines, brand, and mostly through authentic and honest expression.

    ABOUT HOST SEAN MURPHY

    Website: seanmurphy.net
    Substack: seanmurphy.live
    X: @bullmurph
    Instagram: @bullmurph
    Facebook: facebook.com/AuthorSeanMurphy
    LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sean-murphy-4986b41
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    1 h y 2 m
  • Season 5 Ep 6 | Sara Stibitz | A Ladder to the Stars

    Season 5 Ep 6 | Sara Stibitz | A Ladder to the Stars
    Feb 3 2026
    In this episode of Some Things Considered, I had the pleasure of speaking with Sara Stibitz—NYT-bestselling collaborative writer, author of Writing on Purpose, and creator of the Substack A Ladder to the Stars—about creativity, narrative, and how story shapes everything we do. We went deep and wide, and some of the highlights include: Sara's relationship to story:Why storytelling is central to human meaning, healing, and creative practice. A Ladder to the Stars:Helping writers navigate craft, publishing, emotional resilience, and building a sustainable creative life. Creativity as connection:Why Sara rejects the isolated "lone genius" model and embraces community, teaching, and collaboration. "What's Your Favorite Story Really Selling You?"Her essay on how stories bypass our defenses, sell identities, and shape behavior—whether in art, marketing, or politics. Story as persuasion:Apple and Nike as master storytellers; no such thing as neutral narrative; all stories have intentions. Politics as storytelling:Campaigns run on narratives, not policy papers; the immigrant as threat vs. dreamer; how story shapes interpretation of facts. Why Democrats struggle with narrative:Lack of clarity, emotion, and message discipline compared to the GOP's storytelling instincts. "Refusing to niche down":Sara's stance against creative confinement; embracing curiosity and multi-genre exploration. Making a creative life sustainable:Money, balance, boundaries, and the realities of getting paid as a writer. AI & the content flood:It's easier than ever to create content, harder than ever to stand out; humans win through voice, depth, insight, and intention. Sara is a New York Times bestselling collaborative writer and coach. Many of her clients' books have won awards from Nautilus, Bloomsbury, Axiom, Reviewers Choice, Indie Excellence, and Independent Press. Her book Writing on Purpose: An Essential Guide to Writing a Book That Matters published earlier in 2025—and her Substack A LADDER TO THE STARS is an invaluable point of reference for anyone who writes. MORE ABOUT SARA STIBITZ Instagram: Sara Stibitz LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sarastibitz Facebook: facebook.com/sara.stibitz Website: sarastibitz.com ABOUT SOME THINGS CONSIDERED Award-winning author Sean Murphy in conversation with creative thinkers, spanning the literary, music, art, politics, and tech industries. As a cultural critic, professor, founder of a literary non-profit, Sean is always looking to explore and celebrate the ways Story is integral to how we define ourselves, as artists and human beings. This Substack newsletter and weekly podcast peels back the layers of how creativity works, why it matters, how our most brilliant minds achieve mastery. Join us to explore how our most successful and inspired storytellers engage by discussing craft, routines, brand, and mostly through authentic and honest expression. ABOUT HOST SEAN MURPHY Website: seanmurphy.net Substack: seanmurphy.live X: @bullmurph Instagram: @bullmurph Facebook: facebook.com/AuthorSeanMurphy LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sean-murphy-4986b41
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    1 h y 7 m
  • Season 5 Ep 5 | Chris Colin | Modern Life is Designed to Exhaust You

    Season 5 Ep 5 | Chris Colin | Modern Life is Designed to Exhaust You
    Jan 27 2026
    In this episode, I talk with journalist and author Chris Colin, whose work in The New York Times, The Atlantic, and the WSJ explores the strange, frustrating, and revealing corners of modern life. We cover some of his recent journalism–and the experiences that inspired them, as well as the contemporary state of all-things literary. Some key takeaways include: His New York Times story "You're Going to Lose Your Mind': My Three-Day Retreat in Total Darkness." How Chris ended up in a three-day total-darkness retreat; what happens to the mind without stimulus; fear, boredom, insight, and why the piece went viral. Sensory deprivation & anxiety: Sean reflects on his own float-tank experiences and how quickly the mind resists stillness. His remarkable essay "Sludge," from The Atlantic. The argument that long holds, dropped calls, and customer-service nightmares are intentional—designed to exhaust us into compliance. Customers → shareholders: How corporate incentives shifted, eroding loyalty and degrading everyday life; the political and cultural consequences of institutional distrust. Apathy as design: Engineered exhaustion leads to resignation, which opens the door to authoritarian tendencies. The impetus of his brilliant piece from the Wall Street Journal, "How To Turn the Bureaucratic Grind of Life Into a Party." Chris's manifesto-like piece about turning administrative drudgery into a communal event—and why connection and shared suffering matter. Dystopian overlap: How 1984, Brave New World, and Kafka all apply to our current bureaucratic, automated, profit-driven world. Storytelling & power: Why corporations tell better stories than the people they burden—and how better narratives can expose the real "us vs. them." Chris, needless to say, is a writer you'll be smarter and happier having read. I hope this conversation turns you onto his work, and you help spread the word! Chris Colin's work has appeared in the Atlantic, the New York Times Magazine, and "Best American Science and Nature Writing." He has written about billionaires, rivers, rent-a-friends, endangered noodles, solitary confinement and much more, including several books, including What To Talk About, and Off: The Day the Internet Died: A Bedtime Fantasy. He lives in San Francisco. MORE ABOUT CHRIS COLIN Instagram: @chriscolin3000 Bluesky: @chriscolin3000.bsky.social Website: chriscolin.com ABOUT SOME THINGS CONSIDERED Award-winning author Sean Murphy in conversation with creative thinkers, spanning the literary, music, art, politics, and tech industries. As a cultural critic, professor, founder of a literary non-profit, Sean is always looking to explore and celebrate the ways Story is integral to how we define ourselves, as artists and human beings. This Substack newsletter and weekly podcast peels back the layers of how creativity works, why it matters, how our most brilliant minds achieve mastery. Join us to explore how our most successful and inspired storytellers engage by discussing craft, routines, brand, and mostly through authentic and honest expression. ABOUT HOST SEAN MURPHY Website: seanmurphy.net Substack: seanmurphy.live X: @bullmurph Instagram: @bullmurph Facebook: facebook.com/AuthorSeanMurphy LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sean-murphy-4986b41
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    56 m
  • Season 5 Ep 4 | Jenna Blum | Changing Genres, Creative Identity, & the Business of Writing

    Season 5 Ep 4 | Jenna Blum | Changing Genres, Creative Identity, & the Business of Writing
    Jan 13 2026
    This episode of Some Things Considered features the always-brilliant Jenna Blum, New York Times and #1 international bestselling author of Those Who Save Us, The Stormchasers, The Lost Family, Woodrow on the Bench, and her forthcoming psychological thriller Murder Your Darlings (out January 2026). It's a wide-ranging, candid conversation about writing across genres, the realities of literary success, and what it really means to build a sustainable creative life. Murder Your Darlings & Genre Shifts Jenna's first psychological thriller Why she chose to tackle the genre now Writing across historical fiction, memoir, contemporary fiction, and thriller Following curiosity over market expectations Using genre shifts as creative challenges (No spoilers — you'll have to read the book.) Success, Industry & Change Life as a New York Times bestseller — inspiration and envy How publishing and promotion have changed since the early 2000s The impact of social media on writers and careers Audience, Promotion & Showing Up Jenna's genuine love of touring, events, and reader engagement Rewriting the rules early on for building an audience Being present online and on the road — without losing balance Letting go of what writers can't control Community, Teaching & A Mighty Blaze The ongoing work behind A Mighty Blaze Why literary community matters (including micro-communities) How Jenna's approach to teaching has evolved over the past decade I hope this episode will encourage you to not only buy Jenna's book, but get one for a friend, spread the word, and explore the remarkable work she's been doing. I celebrate Jenna as the ideal literary citizen and a ceaseless source of knowledge and inspiration! ABOUT JENNA BLUM Instagram: @jenna_blumX: @Jenna_BlumFacebook: facebook.com/JennaBlumAuthor TikTok: @jennablumauthorWebsite: jennablum.com Subscribe to Jenna Blum on Substack ABOUT SOME THINGS CONSIDERED Award-winning author Sean Murphy in conversation with creative thinkers, spanning the literary, music, art, politics, and tech industries. As a cultural critic, professor, founder of a literary non-profit, Sean is always looking to explore and celebrate the ways Story is integral to how we define ourselves, as artists and human beings. This Substack newsletter and weekly podcast peels back the layers of how creativity works, why it matters, how our most brilliant minds achieve mastery. Join us to explore how our most successful and inspired storytellers engage by discussing craft, routines, brand, and mostly through authentic and honest expression. ABOUT HOST SEAN MURPHY Website: seanmurphy.net Substack: seanmurphy.live X: @bullmurph Instagram: @bullmurph Facebook: facebook.com/AuthorSeanMurphy LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sean-murphy-4986b
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    1 h y 1 m
  • Season 5 Ep 3 | Tim Wendel | Baseball, History, and Craft

    Season 5 Ep 3 | Tim Wendel | Baseball, History, and Craft
    Jan 6 2026
    In this episode, I speak with award-winning author and Johns Hopkins writing professor Tim Wendel, whose books include Summer of '68, Castro's Curveball, Cancer Crossings, and his newest novel Rebel Falls. Tim is productive, well-read, and well-traveled, so our conversation inexorably covered a great deal of ground, and some topics include: Baseball & storytelling: How the game shaped Tim's life as a writer; the mythology of Bull Durham; the legend of Steve Dalkowski. Substack & citizen historians: Why Tim believes everyday people must help preserve historical truth, especially amid 2025's wave of historical erasure. History as many stories: Why the meaning of history changes depending on who tells it—and why authoritarian regimes always try to control the narrative. Travel as antidote to prejudice: In the spirit of Mark Twain, how Tim's global reporting career shaped his worldview and fuels empathy. Censorship & cultural retreat: The rise of anti-Humanities rhetoric, the danger of "whitewashing" civil rights history, and why cultural amnesia is alarming. Artists and athletes as change agents: Jackie Robinson, jazz musicians, and others who changed America while facing enormous resistance. Teaching writing today: Tim's advice to students, the challenges and opportunities of AI, and why craft still matters. I hope you find Tim as refreshing and informative as I do: he's versatile, curious, and passionate–and cares deeply about why stories matter, and how to tell them. Tim Wendel's books include SUMMER OF '68, CASTRO'S CURVEBALL, CANCER CROSSINGS and other works. His latest, the historical novel REBEL FALLS, won the W.Y. Boyd Award from the American Library Association. A longtime writer-in-residence at Johns Hopkins University, his stories and columns have appeared in Esquire, GQ, Gargoyle, The New York Times, The Washington Post, USA Today, Psychology Today and National Geographic. ABOUT TIM WENDEL Instagram: @timlwendelLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/tim-wendel-39973 Facebook: facebook.com/TimWendelBooksWebsite: timwendel.com Endnotes & Backstory A eclectic look at history, culture and sports by Tim Wendel, a longtime writer-in-residence at Johns Hopkins University. By Tim Wendel ABOUT SOME THINGS CONSIDERED Award-winning author Sean Murphy in conversation with creative thinkers, spanning the literary, music, art, politics, and tech industries. As a cultural critic, professor, founder of a literary non-profit, Sean is always looking to explore and celebrate the ways Story is integral to how we define ourselves, as artists and human beings. This Substack newsletter and weekly podcast peels back the layers of how creativity works, why it matters, how our most brilliant minds achieve mastery. Join us to explore how our most successful and inspired storytellers engage by discussing craft, routines, brand, and mostly through authentic and honest expression. ABOUT HOST SEAN MURPHY Website: seanmurphy.net Substack: seanmurphy.live X: @bullmurph Instagram: @bullmurph Facebook: facebook.com/AuthorSeanMurphy LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sean-murphy-4986b41
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    1 h y 6 m
  • From Prison to Advocacy: Stephanie Shepard on Justice and Reform

    From Prison to Advocacy: Stephanie Shepard on Justice and Reform
    Dec 16 2025
    In this episode, I speak with Stephanie Shepard, Executive Director of Last Prisoner Project. She was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for a first-time, nonviolent cannabis offense and now leads the Last Prisoner Project (LPP). Her story—and her advocacy—reveals the human cost of the War on Drugs and the urgent need for restorative justice. Some key takeaways from our conversation include: Stephanie's story: From her 2010 conviction and nine-year sentence to becoming Executive Director of LPP. What LPP does: Freeing cannabis prisoners, record clearance, reentry support, and policy reform. Breaking myths: The legacy of "Just Say No," drug panic politics, and bipartisan failures from Nixon to Clinton. Narrative & policy: How storytelling shifts public perception and drives real legislative change. Where we are now: Cannabis tolerated or legal while people remain imprisoned; opioid crisis reframes priorities. Human impact: Individual cases showing how lives are disrupted—and rebuilt—through LPP's work. Mobilizing advocates: How people affected by incarceration become powerful voices for reform. LPP's current battles: Clemency, resentencing, expungement, and federal reform. Goals ahead: Expanding services, increasing national awareness, and pushing comprehensive drug reform. What everyone should know: Drug policy is political—not scientific—and justice requires empathy and action. I'm so grateful for, and inspired by this conversation. I encourage everyone to listen and share, and get involved: spreading the word and supporting justice for all Americans is an essential act not only for activists, but patriots. Stephanie was convicted of conspiracy to distribute marijuana in 2010. As a first-time, non-violent offender, Stephanie was sentenced to ten years in the Federal Bureau Of Prisons. After serving nine years, she was placed on federal probation for an additional five years. She now serves as Last Prisoner Project's Executive Director and sits on the organization's Board of Directors. She is adamantly advocating for restorative justice for those who have suffered as she has from the criminalization of cannabis. ABOUT STEPHANIE SHEPARD Instagram: @lastprisonerproject @stephy_sheps X: @lastprisonerprj Facebook: facebook.com/lastprisonerproject Website: lastprisonerproject.org LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/lastprisonerproject ABOUT SOME THINGS CONSIDERED Award-winning author Sean Murphy in conversation with creative thinkers, spanning the literary, music, art, politics, and tech industries. As a cultural critic, professor, founder of a literary non-profit, Sean is always looking to explore and celebrate the ways Story is integral to how we define ourselves, as artists and human beings. This Substack newsletter and weekly podcast peels back the layers of how creativity works, why it matters, how our most brilliant minds achieve mastery. Join us to explore how our most successful and inspired storytellers engage by discussing craft, routines, brand, and mostly through authentic and honest expression. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber at seanmurphy.live ABOUT HOST SEAN MURPHY Website: seanmurphy.net Substack: seanmurphy.live X: @bullmurph Instagram: @bullmurph Facebook: facebook.com/AuthorSeanMurphy LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sean-murphy-4986b41
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    1 h y 5 m
  • Season 5 Ep 1 | Matt Davis | What does Mount Rushmore tell us about America?

    Season 5 Ep 1 | Matt Davis | What does Mount Rushmore tell us about America?
    Dec 9 2025
    Some Things Considered returns with our fifth season, and we could not be more excited. Episode One features Matthew Davis, with whom I speak about his new book Biography of a Mountain, an in-depth examination of Mt. Rushmore as both a monument and a metaphor for America. Drawing on years of research and personal engagement with the Black Hills, Davis unpacks the layered histories, mythologies, and political tensions embedded in this iconic site. We cover a ton of ground, and highlights include: Why Mt. Rushmore: How Davis realized this was the book he needed to write — and why the mountain mirrors the American story. Many Americas: Mt. Rushmore as a metaphor for the evolving, often conflicting visions of what "America" means. Native history: The mountain's sacred role long before white settlement, and how Indigenous perspectives were erased or overwritten. Power & narrative: Who tells America's story? Who benefits? Why monuments become battlegrounds. Gutzon Borglum: The ambition, ego, and controversy surrounding the monument's creator — including his troubling political ties. Author in the narrative: Why Davis chose to include his own journey, and how personal context strengthens historical storytelling. The paradox of monuments: How the same statue symbolizes pride to some and oppression to others — and what that reveals about American identity. Relevance in 2025: How Davis's research unexpectedly speaks to today's political climate and the weaponization of history. Trump, Reagan, and symbolism: The modern fight over commemoration, legacy, and political mythmaking. What the mountain teaches us: Reflections on history, country, culture, and narrative itself. It's always a pleasure to speak with Matt, whom I consider a good friend, colleague, and source of inspiration. His book could hardly be more timely–and it adds valuable insights for an America that, in 2025, is as complicated and bifurcated as ever. Matthew Davis is the author of When Things Get Dark: A Mongolian Winter's Tale. His work has appeared in the New Yorker, The Atlantic, The Los Angeles Review of Books and Guernica, among other places. He has been an Eric and Wendy Schmidt Fellow at New America, a Fellow at the Black Mountain Institute at UNLV, and a Fulbright Fellow to Syria and Jordan. He holds an MFA in nonfiction writing from the University of Iowa and an MA in International Relations from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. Davis lives in Washington, D.C. with his wife, a diplomat, and their two young kids. ABOUT MATT DAVIS Website: matthewdaviswriter.com ABOUT SOME THINGS CONSIDERED Award-winning author Sean Murphy in conversation with creative thinkers, spanning the literary, music, art, politics, and tech industries. As a cultural critic, professor, founder of a literary non-profit, Sean is always looking to explore and celebrate the ways Story is integral to how we define ourselves, as artists and human beings. This Substack newsletter and weekly podcast peels back the layers of how creativity works, why it matters, how our most brilliant minds achieve mastery. Join us to explore how our most successful and inspired storytellers engage by discussing craft, routines, brand, and mostly through authentic and honest expression. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. ABOUT HOST SEAN MURPHY Website: seanmurphy.net Substack: seanmurphy.live Twitter: @bullmurph Instagram: @bullmurph Facebook: facebook.com/AuthorSeanMurphy LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sean-murphy-4986b41
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    1 h y 2 m
  • Season 4 Ep 11 | Karen E. Bender | Literary Fiction, Storytelling, and the Times We Live In

    Season 4 Ep 11 | Karen E. Bender | Literary Fiction, Storytelling, and the Times We Live In
    Oct 7 2025

    What is the role of literary fiction in 2025? Is it simply escapism, or is it something deeper — a mirror to the world we inhabit, a lens on its inequities, contradictions, and quiet truths? In my latest episode of Some Things Considered, I spoke with Karen E. Bender, National Book Award finalist and author of The Words of Dr. L, to explore these questions.

    Karen's new collection is a meditation on our times. Her stories navigate the uneasy space between overt political urgency and narrative subtlety, achieving what only the most mature and authoritative fiction can: illuminating society without sacrificing character or craft. We talked about how her stories came together, the delicate process of unifying disparate pieces into a cohesive collection, and how she chooses between writing short fiction or novels.

    We also discussed the realities of the literary ecosystem today. Universities and festivals that once nurtured writers are under threat — including the recent cancellation of the Iowa Summer Writing Festival, a hub of creative excellence for decades. Karen reflected on the growing importance of nonprofits, activism, and community support to sustain writers and their work in challenging times.

    Throughout our conversation, one thing became clear: literary fiction matters now more than ever. It helps us reflect, empathize, and engage with our world in ways that journalism, social media, or fleeting news cycles cannot. Karen's insights remind us that stories are not just entertainment — they are essential.

    ABOUT KAREN E. BENDER

    Website: karenebender.com
    Facebook: facebook.com/KarenEBenderBooks

    ABOUT SOME THINGS CONSIDERED

    Award-winning author Sean Murphy in conversation with creative thinkers, spanning the literary, music, art, politics, and tech industries. As a cultural critic, professor, founder of a literary non-profit, Sean is always looking to explore and celebrate the ways Story is integral to how we define ourselves, as artists and human beings. This Substack newsletter and weekly podcast peels back the layers of how creativity works, why it matters, how our most brilliant minds achieve mastery. Join us to explore how our most successful and inspired storytellers engage by discussing craft, routines, brand, and mostly through authentic and honest expression.

    To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

    ABOUT HOST SEAN MURPHY

    Website: seanmurphy.net
    Substack: seanmurphy.live
    Twitter: @bullmurph
    Instagram: @bullmurph
    Facebook: facebook.com/AuthorSeanMurphy
    LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sean-murphy-4986b41
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    1 h y 1 m