Write About Now

Small Talk Media
  • 4.9 (163)
  • BOOKS
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Write About Now features in-depth interviews with successful writers of all types and stripes—journalists, screenwriters, novelists, ghostwriters, and more. Host, Jonathan Small, takes a deep dive into how writers master their craft, offering tips, inspiration, and laughs for both aspiring and professional scribes.

  1. 1D AGO

    A Hip Hop Historian on the Records That Started It All

    Jeff Chang, author of Can't Stop Won't Stop, joins the pod to reminisce about when hip hop moved from park jams to mainstream America in the 1980s. From "Rapper's Delight" to Run-DMC's crossover moment to Rakim changing the flow entirely and Public Enemy making it political, Jeff breaks down the turning points. We revisit the so-called golden era debate, why the 80s deserve more respect, and our nomintations for the best rappers of this time.  For more content like this, subscribe to Small Talk  Wanna go to Gen X Con? Sign up

    1h 17m
  2. You Might Also Like: On Purpose with Jay Shetty

    1D AGO · BONUS

    You Might Also Like: On Purpose with Jay Shetty

    Introducing LUKE COMBS: The Man Behind The Success (Marriage, Fatherhood & Life With OCD) from On Purpose with Jay Shetty. Follow the show: On Purpose with Jay Shetty You can achieve everything you set out to and still feel empty. So what actually makes a truly successful life? Jay sits down with global country superstar Luke Combs for an honest conversation about life beyond the sold-out stadiums and awards. Luke shares what it’s really been like navigating success while still trying to stay grounded and feel like himself. He shares what it was like growing up with OCD, the intrusive thoughts that once controlled his days, and the quiet battles he faced long before fame. Luke also reflects on love, marriage, and fatherhood and how those roles mean more to him than any chart position ever could. He talks candidly about missing the birth of his son while on tour, the guilt that followed, and the ongoing effort to show up as the best husband and dad he can be. Jay and Luke explore the tension so many of us feel between chasing ambition and protecting what matters most, asking the question: What does success really mean if you’re not present for the people you love? Luke speaks about money, fame, and gratitude with humility, admitting that while financial success makes life easier, it can’t buy the feeling of a perfect day with your family or the peace of knowing you’re living in alignment with your values. In this interview, you'll learn: How to Stay Grounded When Success Changes Your Life How to Manage Intrusive Thoughts Without Letting Them Control You How to Be Present for Your Family While Chasing Big Dreams How to Strengthen Your Marriage Through Growth and Challenge How to Support Your Mental Health Without Shame How to Give Back When You’ve Been Given More How to Stay True to Who You Are as Your World Expands We all wrestle with doubt, guilt, fear, and the quiet pressure to be more than we think we are. But growth doesn’t come from pretending those struggles aren’t there, it comes from facing them with honesty and compassion. Luke Combs’ The Way I Am is an honest reflection on identity, love, and personal growth, a grounded collection of songs that explore what it means to show up as your true self. Get your copy here: https://twia.lukecombs.com 📷 Courtesy of David Bergman With Love and Gratitude, Jay Shetty JAY’S DAILY WISDOM DELIVERED STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX Join 900,000+ readers discovering how small daily shifts create big life change with my free newsletter. Subscribe here: https://news.jayshetty.me/subscribe   Check out our Apple subscription to unlock bonus content of On Purpose! https://lnk.to/JayShettyPodcast  What We Discuss: 00:00 Intro 01:05 Staying Grounded in the Face of Fame 03:34 The Life He Never Imagined 06:28 Finding the Calling That Changed Everything 07:45 Growing Up with Undiagnosed OCD 10:23 Inside the Battle with Intrusive Thoughts 17:26 When You Don’t Know Who You Are Yet 20:37 The Work Ethic That Shaped Him 24:27 The Hustle Before the Breakthrough 30:19 Making Music That Truly Connects 32:21 The Quiet Fears of Fatherhood 40:15 What Does It Mean to Be Truly Rich? 46:28 Why Giving Back Matters 51:48 Showing Up for Fans on Your Hardest Days 58:48 The Unexpected Way He Met His Wife 01:03:04 Was It Love at First Sight? 01:07:12 When You Stop Needing All the Answers 01:12:08 The Power of Being Deeply Understood 01:17:16 Why Avoidance Makes It Worse 01:18:02 Stepping Back and Coming Back Stronger 01:25:55 The "Everyday Guy" Test 01:32:10 Finish This Sentence... 01:38:41 Luke on Final Five  Episode Resources: Website | https://www.lukecombs.com/home/  YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOSIXyYdT93OzpRnAuWaKjQ  Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/LukeCombs/  Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/lukecombs  TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@lukecombs  X | https://www.tiktok.com/@lukecombs See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests. For any concerns, please reach out to team@podroll.fm.

  3. JAN 25

    Joyce Maynard on J.D. Salinger, Survival, and Writing Through ADHD

    Joyce Maynard has been writing for 53 years. At 18, she landed on the cover of the New York Times Magazine, caught the eye of J.D. Salinger, and disappeared into a relationship that would define her for decades—until she finally told her story and was called a "predator" by Maureen Dowd. In this conversation, Joyce talks about being canceled before canceling was a thing, surviving as a Me Too survivor before Me Too became a movement, and why she returned to Yale at 65 only to discover she reads in the 17th percentile.  TIMELINE: 00:35 Being canceled before it was a thing 01:47 The New York Times Magazine cover story at 18 03:29 JD Salinger's letter and the beginning of their relationship 04:30 Moving in with Salinger and giving up Yale 05:39 Keeping the secret for 25 years 06:22 Writing "At Home in the World" and the backlash 08:26 When 18-year-olds dating 53-year-olds was "romantic" 09:41 The Charlie Rose interview (and what happened after) 10:27 Why the culture turned against her in 1998 11:23 Can you separate the artist from the art? 13:25 Teaching memoir to women in Guatemala 15:45 Writing family sagas and "How the Light Gets In" 16:31 Growing up in a problematic family 17:00 Mother's writing bootcamp from age 3 22:23 Including real-world events (Trump, January 6th) in fiction 24:09 Writing is not therapy or catharsis 29:43 Throwing away manuscripts that aren't good enough 30:08 Discovering ADHD at Yale at age 65 32:08 The D-minus French exam that changed everything 34:22 Reading in the 17th percentile 36:39 The gift of ADHD 40:39 "You cannot be a writer if you're not a reader" - and why that's wrong 41:48 Character-first vs. plot-first writing 43:33 Never knowing where the story will end (vs. John Irving) 44:18 No outlines - "outline is for a term paper" 46:22 Finding inspiration in news headlines 47:49 Why some stories are memoir and others are fiction 50:48 On sensitivity readers and the transgender character 51:44 When characters display "politically incorrect" attitudes 52:57 Fear of cancellation from the left 53:29 Trigger warnings at Yale and the softening of everything

    1h 14m

  4. JAN 2

    Inside the Pluribus Writers' Room

    Since its debut on Apple TV Plus, Pluribus has sparked an unusually intense response. Viewers not only watch it, they debate it and project onto it. Executive Producer Alison Tatlock talks about why the series has connected so deeply with audiences. We dig into the emotional problem at the center of the show, how skepticism shapes its characters, and why discomfort is doing more of the storytelling than plot twists or spectacle. We also talk about writing restraint, trusting viewers, and building a world that feels strange but uncomfortably familiar.  Subscribe to my newsletter @jonsmalltalk.substack.com

    53 min

  5. 12/02/2025

    The Money Conversation Writers Can No Longer Avoid

    People in their 50s are confronting a financial reality nobody prepared us for. We grew up assuming steady careers, pensions, and a clear path to retirement. Instead, we're juggling layoffs, credit card debt, college tuition, aging parents, and rising healthcare costs, all while wondering what "retirement" even means anymore. Kerry Hannon and Janna, co-authors of Retirement Bites: A Gen X Guide to Securing Your Financial Future, break down how our generation ended up here and offer practical steps we can take now to build a future that feels possible, not panicked. Even if you're not Gen X, there is practical and useful advice for you here.  Subscribe to my Small Talk substack for more conversation like this

    58 min

  6. 11/24/2025

    3 Keys to Building a Seven-Figure Writing Business

    Former Hollywood TV writer Amy Suto walked away from Hollywood to build a seven-figure freelance writing business. She talks about the 3 pillars that got her there, the Substack tweaks that added $100,000 in value, and why self-publishing can earn more than traditional book deals. Amy's new book is Write for Money and Power: The Anti-Starving Artist's Guide to Becoming a Seven-Figure Writer. Follow us on Substack: Amy Suto Jonathan Small

    1h 4m

  7. 11/17/2025

    The Magazine Traditional Media Refuses to Make

    Lili Zarghami spent decades working in women's magazines before realizing none of them were speaking to women like her anymore. After turning 40 and getting laid off, she decided to create Jenny Mag—a digital magazine for Gen X women who don't fit the cookie-cutter mold of traditional women's media. In this conversation, we discuss why dating stories outperform health content, the complicated relationships Gen X women have with their Boomer mothers, what it's like running a magazine on nights and weekends with zero budget, and why owning your platform matters when you've been disposable to corporate publishers one too many times. Lili also opens up about empty nesting with twins, being back in the dating world after 25 years of marriage, and creating content that makes readers say "I thought it was just me."  This episode originally aired on my new podcast Small Talk. Subscribe to Small Talk Podcast Small Talk Substack Jenny Mag

    1h 3m

  8. 11/11/2025

    Elizabeth George: Inside the Mind of a Master Crime Writer

    The legendary crime writer talks about how she builds characters, steals voices, mines real communities for detail, and turns dark human behavior into bestselling fiction. We also get into real police sources in London, writing about Nigerian communities and FGM in a way that doesn't get you canceled, and the piece of advice PD James gave her that changed her life forever. Follow me @ jonsmalltalk@substack.com Try AG1 and get a FREE bottle of Vitamin D3K2 AND 5 free AG1 Travel Packs with your first purchase @ drinkAG1.com/writeaboutnow

    53 min
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4.9
out of 5
163 Ratings

About

Write About Now features in-depth interviews with successful writers of all types and stripes—journalists, screenwriters, novelists, ghostwriters, and more. Host, Jonathan Small, takes a deep dive into how writers master their craft, offering tips, inspiration, and laughs for both aspiring and professional scribes.

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