One of my favorite kinds of conversations is the kind where it feels like you’ve known someone for a long time — even if you just met them. That’s exactly what this week’s episode felt like with author and poet Tanner Olson. From the very beginning, it felt like we had a lot in common. What followed was a fun and insightful conversation about writing, creativity, faith, and his new book, Getting Through What You’re Going Through, which releases on Feb. 17, 2026. Tanner shares how he got into poetry through a love of music, specifically punk rock, and a desire to put words to what he was feeling. That eventually led him into spoken word, traveling the country, and building a career out of something he never originally planned. We also talk about what poetry actually is — or maybe more accurately, what it doesn’t have to be. Tanner explains how he approaches poetry as a way to communicate something deeper that helps people feel less alone. A big part of our conversation centers around the heart behind his new book. Much of it was written during a difficult season in his life, including walking through unexplained infertility with his wife, and the general weight of living through uncertain times. It’s a conversation that, if you're familiar with what Emily and I have endured the last few years, hit pretty close to home for me. We talk about what it feels like to walk through seasons where you don’t know when or if things will change, the tension between hope and doubt, the questions you bring to God when the answers don’t come, and how sometimes, the goal isn’t to rush past what you’re going through, but to actually walk through it, one step at a time. Tanner’s book is rooted in the idea that even in the middle of pain, confusion, and waiting, there are still words that can carry you forward. If you’ve ever felt stuck in a season you didn’t choose, or wondered how to hold onto faith when life doesn’t look the way you expected, I think this conversation will resonate with you. To connect with Tanner, you can find him on Substack under Tanner Olson, on Instagram @writtentospeak, and his website writtentospeak.com. You can find Getting Through What You’re Going Through wherever books are sold. — I’d also love to connect with you. You can find me on Substack at The Road Ahead: coledouglasclaybourn.substack.com You can also find more of my writing at: coleclaybourn.com And on social media: Instagram: @coleclaybourn Twitter: @ColeClaybourn Facebook: facebook.com/ColeDouglasClaybourn
