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
592: Dan Lauer!
On today’s show, I speak with Dan Lauer about memoirs, Spalding Gray, depression, the glorious bygone culture of video stores, the less glorious culture of Hollywood, and other matters of dark intere…
591: Greg Proops
On today’s show, I speak with comedian Greg Proops about his new comedy album, French Drug Deal, the way time passes when sober and writing scripts and novels, the perfection of Charlotte Rampling, a…
590: Melanie Farmer!
On today’s show, I speak with creative non-fiction writer Melanie Farmer about memoir, Brazilian jiu jitsu, the relationship between one's family and one's public, the Hurtson-Wright prize, and other…
589: Ian Patterson interviewed by Chelsea Alice
On today’s show, Chelsea Alice interviews Ian Patterson, who translated Finding Lost Time, the final volume of Penguin’s new edition of Proust’s novel cycle, In Search of Lost Time.
588: A Discussion of Kathleen Alcott's Emergency, with Samantha Nickerson
This week, I speak with Samantha Nickerson and I discuss the themes of friendship, relationships, depression, and death, and the craft of Kathleen Alcott in creating stories that are difficult to put…
587: A Discussion of Myhouse.wad for Doom, with Michael Merriam
This week, I speak with game designer Michael Merriam about the mysterious, recent addition to the world of Doomology that is the Myhouse.wad, a retro-fitted narrative freak out to one of the earlies…
586: Sarah Viren!
This week, I speak with Sarah Viren about memoir, the social structures of academic work, philosophy, and asking serious questions.
585: A Discussion of Leonard Nathan's The Teachings of Grandfather Fox, with Brian Salmons!
On this week’s episode, I speak with Brian Salmons about Leonard Nathan's 1976 book of poems, The Teachings of Grandfather Fox.
584: David Lipsky
This week, New York Times bestselling author David Lipsky discusses journalism, history, inventors, science, and the importance of storytelling to combine all of those ingredients.
583: Blair Hurley!
On this week's episode, I speak with novelist Blair Hurley about her thrilling new literary novel, Minor Prophets.
582: Andrew Porter Interviewed by David James Poissant
David James Poissant interviews fiction writer Andrew Porter about peripheral characters, quiet stories, writerly influences, the theme of disappearance, the importance of music, the teaching of writ…
581: Joy Baglio!
Speculative fiction writer Joy Baglio talks with me about labels, the surprises needed for compelling stories, outgrowing being an MFA student despite the fabulousness of being an MFA student, being …
580: A Discussion of Devin Watson’s Horror Screenwriting: The Nature of Fear, with Rachael Tillman
Rachael and I discuss horror screenplays and horror story podcasts on an episode in which the podcast turns 11 years old.
579: A Roundtable Discussion of Jodi Picault's The Storyteller, with Samantha Nickerson and Chelsea Alice
578: Bob Kealing!
This week journalist and cultural historian Bob Kealing returns to The Drunken Odyssey to discuss the Beatles's two momentous visits to Florida in 1964.
577: Sarai Walker, interviewed by Samantha Nickerson!
This week Samantha Nickerson returns to guest-hosting duties with a fabulous conversation with novelist writer Sarai Walker.
576: A Discussion of William Gibson's Distrust That Particular Flavor with Rachel Tillman
Rachael and I return to the subject of William Gibson in a non-fiction collection that proved charming fun.
575: TDO vs. The Curator of Schlock for May the Fourth
Jeff Shuster and John King celebrate May the 4th by discussing three films trying to capitalize on the science fiction success of Star Wars.
574: Nick Georgoudiou!
On this episode, I speak with the Nick Georgoudiou about owning a used bookstore, maintaining a murder of typewriters, literary citizenship, and many other matters of interest and whatnot.