626 episodes

Join author John King for eclectic interviews with writers from a variety of genres, including fiction writing, poetry, memoirs, and journalism. From literature to genre writing to the movies, all writing is up for discussion. In particular, The Drunken Odyssey features discussion of all aspects of the writing process—not just the published manuscript, pristinely presented to the entire literate world, but also the scrawled notes and tortured drafts that lead writers there. In long-form interviews, writers discuss their process and the way that writing has influenced their lives. Besides this interview, each episode also features a short memoir essay from a writer about a beloved book, plus John King responds to listener’s questions and observations about the writing (and the drinking) life.

For more information, see our website at www.thedrunkenodyssey.com.

The Drunken Odyssey with John King: A Podcast About the Writing Life John King

    • Arts
    • 4.8 • 69 Ratings

Join author John King for eclectic interviews with writers from a variety of genres, including fiction writing, poetry, memoirs, and journalism. From literature to genre writing to the movies, all writing is up for discussion. In particular, The Drunken Odyssey features discussion of all aspects of the writing process—not just the published manuscript, pristinely presented to the entire literate world, but also the scrawled notes and tortured drafts that lead writers there. In long-form interviews, writers discuss their process and the way that writing has influenced their lives. Besides this interview, each episode also features a short memoir essay from a writer about a beloved book, plus John King responds to listener’s questions and observations about the writing (and the drinking) life.

For more information, see our website at www.thedrunkenodyssey.com.

    623: Nicholson Baker!

    623: Nicholson Baker!

    In this week’s show, John talks with Nicholson Baker about the potential sorrows of writing, the drive to discover joy, and the need to explore other creative endeavors besides writing.

    • 54 min
    622: Michael Korda!

    622: Michael Korda!

    In this week’s show, John talks with prose writer Michael Korda about telling the historical stories of the poets of World War I.

    • 49 min
    621: Tyler Mills!

    621: Tyler Mills!

    In this week’s show, John talks with Tyler Mills about her extraordinary multimedia memoir, a poetic people’s history of America’s secretive relationship to the atomic bomb.

    • 59 min
    620: A Discussion of Asteroid City, with Jared Silvia!

    620: A Discussion of Asteroid City, with Jared Silvia!

    In this week’s show, John talks with Jared Silvia about the 2023 film, Asteroid City, and look at how Wes Anderson and co-writer Roman Coppola counterbalances surges of emotion with layers of artifice, which is a mixed metaphor, we know.

    • 1 hr 5 min
    619: Jessie Ren Marshall!

    619: Jessie Ren Marshall!

    In this week’s show, John talks with Jessie Red Marshall about her extraordinary short story collection, Women! In! Peril! The topics discussed include how story collections are like mixtapes, how thematic unity occurs brilliantly by accident, and how the interesting questions to ask ourselves in writing fiction is often what about ourselves, as writers, is problematic to ourselves.

    • 1 hr 21 min
    618: A Book Discussion of Kenneth Patchen's Memoirs of a Shy Pornographer, with Nick Georgoudiou!

    618: A Book Discussion of Kenneth Patchen's Memoirs of a Shy Pornographer, with Nick Georgoudiou!

    In this week’s show, John and Nick Georgoudiou discuss Kenneth Patchen's surreal postmodern novel, Memoirs of a Shy Pornographer, before a small crowd gathered at the Kerouac Project of Orlando.

    • 45 min

Customer Reviews

4.8 out of 5
69 Ratings

69 Ratings

IantheRoge ,

Smart, Fun, and Relevant

Literary podcasts have a tendency toward dryness (which is why I don't often listen to them...), but this one doesn't -- like, at all. John King peppers his interviews with contemporary authors and poets (and the occasional graphic artist or screenwriter!) with wry humor, down-to-earth conversation about the writing life, and great music. The movie review shows and craft discussions on writing are special favorites. Comes highly recommended!

steventhowell ,

Great Writers, Great Discussions

Here’s a show featuring successful, working writers discussing what they do and how they do it. Come for the interesting people; stay for the nuggets of wisdom, ideas, and irreverent fun.

Colorado Carnivore ,

"And don't swallow the worm".

I listen to dozens of shows about the writing life. Only 3 really excite me when I see a new episode has been uploaded. TDO is one of them. Specifically, I enjoy John's tone, the connections he makes with the guests, the "vibe" of the show, and the undercurrent of humor that comes from John not taking any of it too seriously. Cheers!

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