The Drunken Odyssey with John King: A Podcast About the Writing Life
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.
- Update frequency
- every 7 days
- Average duration
- 71 minutes
- Episodes
- 694
- Years Active
- 2012 - 2025
612: A Discussion of Anaïs Nin's Little Birds, with Samantha Nickerson
Samantha Nickerson and I delve into Anaïs Nin's posthumously published slender volume of erotica, Little Birds.
611: Matt Mason!
On today’s show, John King chats with poet Matt Mason about the poetic necessity of engaging with the popular culture that is part of the fabric of our American life, including rock music and obvious…
610: Rebecca Renner & Major Jackson!
On today’s show, John King chats with journalist Rebecca Renner and poet Major Jackson at Miami Book Fair.
609: Meg Cabot & Kelle Groom, interviewed by Samantha Nickerson!
Today’s show features novelist Meg Cabot and memoirist Kelle Groom in conversation with TDO correspondent Samantha Nickerson, recorded during Miami Book Fair 2023.
608: Maggie Smith and Michael Cunningham!
On today's show, John talks to the poet and memoirist Maggie Smith about the complexities of trying to merge reality with narrative structure, and discusses the same, in different ways, with the nove…
607: Brian Turner!
On today’s show, John talks poet Brian Turner about learning to write the thing we need to write rather than the thing we want to write, the long conversations we have with those we love, and the pro…
606: Felicia Day!
On today’s show, John talks to author, actor, and producer Felicia Day about her new audiobook masterpiece, Third Eye, which is a hysterically funny fantasy epic that deep down has heart. Nerd cultur…
605: Elle Nash!
On today's show, John talks to the novelist Elle Nash about her breathtaking new novel, Deliver Me. The chief topic is how to write a strange, nearly impossible story about American poverty without w…
604: A Discussion of William Gibson's Neuromancer, with Rachael Tillman!
Rachael and I return to the subject of William Gibson to discuss his 1984 classic science fiction novel, Neuromancer, which is wonderful in its fusion of noir style and cyberpunk vision.
603: Mistie Watkins!
On today’s show, John talks to Mistie Watkins about her new book of flash essays, Hireath, which might be the most Florida book he's ever read.
602: Walter Mosley!
On today’s show, John talks to best-selling author Walter Mosley about his process, especially when exploring unsettling, psychological science fiction in his new novel, Touched.
601: Stephanie Land!
On this episode, John talks to best-selling author Stephanie Land about her newest book, Class: A Memoir of Motherhood, Hunger, and Higher Education.
600: Tom Lucas!
On today’s show, John talks to Tom Lucas about his brand new Lovecraftian YA-ish novel, Research Randy & the The Mystery of Grandma's Half-Eaten Pie of Despair, told by an unreliable narrator about a…
599: Schloctoberfest Discussion of Shin'ya Tsukamot's Tetsuo: The Iron Man with Jeff Shuster
Jeff Shuster and I discuss the surreal techno-horror allegorical masterpiece that is Shin'ya Tsukamot's Tetsuo: The Iron Man.
598: Schloctoberfest Discussion of Dario Argento's Phenomena [1985] with Jeff Shuster
On this week’s show, Jeff Shuster and I discuss Dario Argento’s strange, mid-eighties masterpiece, Phenomena.
597: A Schloctoberfest Discussion of David Cronenberg's Videodrome with Jeff Shuster
Jeff Shuster and I get rather turned around discussion the invo-convolutions of David Cronenberg's Videodrome (1983).
596: A Schloctoberfest Discussion of Oliver Stone's The Hand with Jeff Shuster
Jeff Shuster and I discuss Michael Caine's brilliant acting and deranged hair as they appeared in Oliver Stone's directorial debut, The Hand (1981).
595: Rebecca Makkai (Interviewed by Chelsea Alice)
Chelsea Alice and Rebecca Makkai talk about diversity in novels, breaking genre conventions, student-teacher relationships, and how motherhood is represented in literature.
594: Jack Houghteling!
On this week's show, I talk to novelist Jack Houghteling about Modernism, football, and the literary value of gangster movies, among other important topics.
593: Ryler Dustin!
On #593, I speak with the poet Ryler Dustin about creating new forms of sanctification and representing rural landscapes with familiarity without fetishizing or satirizing the setting. We probably di…