Otherppl with Brad Listi: Books & Culture

Latest Episodes:

Episode 426 — Jonathan Franzen Aug 10, 2016

Show notes

Jonathan Franzen is the guest. His latest novel, Purity, is available now in trade paperback from Picador. It is the official August selection of The Nervous Breakdown Book Club. In today's monologue, I discuss being in flux. And my dog Walter.

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Episode 425 — Dorthe Nors Aug 03, 2016

Show notes

Dorthe Nors is the guest. Her new book, So Much For That Winter, is available now in the United States from Graywolf Press. I had a great time talking with Dorthe. She is, I believe, the first Danish author to guest on the program.

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Episode 424 — Sloane Crosley Jul 27, 2016

Show notes

Sloane Crosley is the guest. Her debut novel, The Clasp, is available now in trade paperback from Picador. A great pleasure to have Sloane on the program.

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Episode 423 — Chuck Klosterman Jul 20, 2016

Show notes

Chuck Klosterman is the guest. His new book, But What If We're Wrong?: Thinking About the Present As If It Were the Past, is available now from Blue Rider Press. So great to have Chuck on the program.

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Episode 422 — Frances Stroh Jul 13, 2016

Show notes

Frances Stroh is the guest. Her new memoir, Beer Money, is available now from Harper. In today's monologue, I talk about the logistics of vacationing with my family.

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Episode 421 — Mike Edison Jul 06, 2016

Show notes

Mike Edison is the guest. He is the former publisher of High Times magazine and was the editor-in-chief of Screw magazine. He is also a musician and a professional wrestler. His new memoir, You Are a Complete Disappointment, is available now from Sterling Books. Great fun talking with Mike. Also heartbreaking. The title of his memoir also happens to be the last thing his father ever said to him. Brutal. But he has found a kind of peace with it, and he has written this fine memoir. Aside from that, Mike is a person who has really lived some lives. He's authored 28 pornographic novels. Has been a correspondent for Penthouse and Hustler. The professional wrestling. He's in a band. High Times. We talk about all of it. Fasten your seat belts. In today's monologue, I talk about my sense of urgency and the heat of summer.

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Episode 420 — Max Porter Jun 29, 2016

Show notes

Max Porter is the guest. His debut novel, Grief is the Thing with Feathers, is the official June pick of The Nervous Breakdown Book Club. Winner of the Dylan Thomas Prize, it is available now from Graywolf Press. Max and I spoke by telephone. He was at home in London. It was nighttime for him. I was here in Los Angeles, mid-morning. His publication story is a good one. He wrote a book that isn't easily classifiable. Usually such books have a hard road to publication. But Grief found a way, and thank goodness. It's short, poetic, and wonderfully surprising novel. There's a talking bird in it. It takes chances. Packs a punch. The fact that it has gone on to do so well is a testament to Max's vision and skill. Wise, witty, and very deeply felt. A real gift to the reader. In today's monologue, I talk about compression in literature, compression of schedule, the podcast's logistical crossroads, Kickstarter, and my need to podcast in a cloistered environment.

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Episode 419 — Viet Thanh Nguyen Jun 22, 2016

Show notes

Viet Thanh Nguyen is the guest. His debut novel, The Sympathizer, was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2016. It is available now from Grove Press. I want to say that Viet is the first Pulitzer winner ever to appear on the program. I could be wrong. (Am I forgetting someone?) I read The Sympathizer earlier this year when I was a judge for the Tournament of Books at The Morning News. (You can read my judgment here.) This was before the Pulitzer. Fortunately I had the good sense to pick it as the winner and advance it to the next round; otherwise this conversation might never have happened. Kidding aside, Viet was great. He showed up ready to talk and was everything one might expect after reading the novel: sharp, funny, opinionated, and full of stories. In today's monologue, I talk about moving. Again. I promise this will end soon.��

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Episode 418 — Stephen Elliott Jun 15, 2016

Show notes

Stephen Elliott is the guest. He is the founding editor of The Rumpus, the author of seven books, and the director of three films. His latest film, After Adderall, will be premiering at the Rumpus Lo-Fi Los Angeles Film Festival on July 30th. I can't believe it's taken me this long to meet Stephen Elliott. He just moved out to Los Angeles for the summer and he came over and we sat down and talked. I admire Stephen. He does things. He gets things done. He's able to mobilize people. Build communities. He takes risks. He makes stuff. He's a writer. He's the editor of an online literary magazine. And now he's making films. He just keeps going. Great to have had the chance to meet him in person and talk to him for an hour. In today's monologue, I discuss my brief (very brief) history with adderall.

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Episode 417 — Claire Hoffman Jun 08, 2016

Show notes

Claire Hoffman is the guest. Her new memoir, Greetings from Utopia Park, is available now from Harper Books. Claire is a friend of mine here in Los Angeles. She grew up in Fairfield, Iowa in an intentional community founded by the late Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. Maharishi, for the uninitiated, was a spiritual guru and the progenitor of transcendental meditation, or TM. Claire's memoir deals in family history, her experiences growing up in Fairfield, and her struggle to come to terms with what it means to lead a spiritual life. In today's monologue, I talk about my friendship with Claire, and about interruptions, and (again) about my impending move.

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