Season 4 Ep 8 | Lisa Cooper Ellison | Writing, Resilience, and the Creative Life
Release Date: 09/16/2025
From Prison to Advocacy: Stephanie Shepard on Justice and Reform
Some Things Considered
In this episode, I speak with Stephanie Shepard, Executive Director of Last Prisoner Project. She was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for a first-time, nonviolent cannabis offense and now leads the Last Prisoner Project (LPP). Her story—and her advocacy—reveals the human cost of the War on Drugs and the urgent need for restorative justice. Some key takeaways from our conversation include: Stephanie’s story: From her 2010 conviction and nine-year sentence to becoming Executive Director of LPP. What LPP does: Freeing cannabis prisoners, record clearance, reentry support, and...
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Season 5 Ep 1 | Matt Davis | What does Mount Rushmore tell us about America?
Some Things Considered
Some Things Considered returns with our fifth season, and we could not be more excited. Episode One features Matthew Davis, with whom I speak about his new book Biography of a Mountain, an in-depth examination of Mt. Rushmore as both a monument and a metaphor for America. Drawing on years of research and personal engagement with the Black Hills, Davis unpacks the layered histories, mythologies, and political tensions embedded in this iconic site. We cover a ton of ground, and highlights include: Why Mt. Rushmore: How Davis realized this was the book he needed to write — and why the...
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Season 4 Ep 11 | Karen E. Bender | Literary Fiction, Storytelling, and the Times We Live In
Some Things Considered
What is the role of literary fiction in 2025? Is it simply escapism, or is it something deeper — a mirror to the world we inhabit, a lens on its inequities, contradictions, and quiet truths? In my latest episode of Some Things Considered, I spoke with Karen E. Bender, National Book Award finalist and author of The Words of Dr. L, to explore these questions. Karen’s new collection is a meditation on our times. Her stories navigate the uneasy space between overt political urgency and narrative subtlety, achieving what only the most mature and authoritative fiction can: illuminating society...
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Season 4 Ep 10 | Caroline Bock & Jona Colson | Talking "America's Future" with Washington Writer's Publishing House
Some Things Considered
In this episode of Some Things Considered, I’m joined by Caroline Bock and Jona Colson, co-presidents of . They are two of my favorite DC-area writers and advocates, but today we gather to discuss–and celebrate–the publication of a brand new anthology “America’s Future: poetry & prose in response to tomorrow.” Caroline is the author of the story collection “Carry Her Home” and Jona’s poetry collection “Said Through Glass” (both published in 2018). Washington Writers’ Publishing House is the longest, continuously operating nonprofit, cooperative, literary...
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Season 4 Ep 9 | Karen Eber | The Art & Science of Storytelling
Some Things Considered
In this episode of Some Things Considered, I sit down with Karen Eber — TED speaker, award-winning author of The Perfect Story, and former Fortune 500 executive whose talks have reached millions worldwide. Karen specializes in the science and skill of storytelling, helping leaders and creatives alike use stories to inform, influence, and inspire. The conversation explores: The science of storytelling: what happens in the brain when a story works, and why humans are wired to connect through narrative. What makes a story succeed—or fail: common pitfalls and how to avoid them. Trust and...
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Season 4 Ep 8 | Lisa Cooper Ellison | Writing, Resilience, and the Creative Life
Some Things Considered
In this episode, I’m joined by Lisa Cooper Ellison—author, speaker, trauma-informed writing coach, and host of Writing Your Resilience. Lisa works at the intersection of storytelling and healing, using her personal experiences and clinical training to help writers transform difficult life events into meaningful art. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, HuffPost, Risk!, and more. She recently completed her memoir Please Stage Dive Carefully: How I Survived My Brother’s Suicide and Forgave Myself. Our conversation explores: The multiple hats every modern writer must wear:...
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Season 4 Ep 7 | Whitney Matheson | Talking Shop with the Queen of Pop
Some Things Considered
In this wide-ranging, high-energy conversation, I’m overjoyed to connect with old pal Whitney Matheson—one of the most important and beloved pop culture writers of the past 25 years. Best known as the creator of Pop Candy, the groundbreaking USA Today blog that ran from 1999–2014, Whitney has built a career out of curiosity, enthusiasm, and the art of connecting people to the culture they love. Today she’s busier than ever with her Substack newsletter Hi, It’s Whitney, as well as short fiction, comics, and other creative projects. We cover a lot of ground, digging into her career...
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Season 4 Ep 6 | Robert Rodriguez | The Long and Winding Road with a Beatles Expert
Some Things Considered
This week on Some Things Considered I’m joined by Robert Rodriguez—award-winning author, creator of the Something About the Beatles podcast, and one of the most prolific and insightful chroniclers of the Fab Four and their cultural universe. Robert has written or contributed to more than a dozen books, including Solo in the '70s, The Beatles FAQ series, and the critically acclaimed Revolver: How the Beatles Reimagined Rock ‘n’ Roll. He’s also one of the most trusted voices in Beatles fandom, consistently bridging rigorous scholarship with genuine fan enthusiasm. More, he is a...
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Leah Paulos: Finding Your Book PR Superpower
Some Things Considered
What does it really take to break through the noise and get your book noticed? In this episode, I talk with Leah Paulos, founder of Press Shop PR and Book Publicity School. With 25+ years in the literary publicity world, Leah has worked on campaigns for authors like Ruth Bader Ginsburg, John Lewis, and Neil deGrasse Tyson — and now she’s using that experience to demystify the PR process for authors of all stripes. We discuss: Why standing out in today’s media landscape is harder than ever The biggest myths authors believe about publicity What publishers actually do — and what...
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Gregg Wilhelm: Telling Better Stories in Troubled Times
Some Things Considered
Today on STC, I’m joined by someone I’ve had the pleasure of working with (and learning from) for years: Gregg Wilhelm, Director of Mason Creative Writing, co-founder of Watershed Lit, and long-time literary advocate and publishing pro. Gregg’s experience spans every corner of the literary world—from launching presses to running CityLit, mentoring students, and staying in the fray as the arts face new pressures and provocations. In this conversation, we go deep on: The state of MFA programs and the future of English majors Why fewer students are reading (and how to bring them back)...
info_outlineIn this episode, I’m joined by Lisa Cooper Ellison—author, speaker, trauma-informed writing coach, and host of Writing Your Resilience. Lisa works at the intersection of storytelling and healing, using her personal experiences and clinical training to help writers transform difficult life events into meaningful art. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, HuffPost, Risk!, and more. She recently completed her memoir Please Stage Dive Carefully: How I Survived My Brother’s Suicide and Forgave Myself.
Our conversation explores:
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The multiple hats every modern writer must wear: creator, promoter, brand-builder, and, most importantly, healthy human.
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Why curiosity, empathy, and vulnerability are essential to creativity—and how to cultivate them without burning out.
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What it means to “gaslight-proof” your writing practice and set healthy boundaries.
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How to share your story in an era of oversharing and constant brand-building.
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The intersection of trauma and art, and how to transform pain into powerful creative work.
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Lessons Lisa has learned as a podcaster—from preparation to professionalism—that can serve as a blueprint for others.
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Practices and mindsets that make for a rewarding creative process, including pushing past comfort zones.
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The evolving meaning of “literary citizenship” and why it matters for writers today.
This is part craft talk, part creative therapy session, and part masterclass in how to live a sustainable creative life.
ABOUT LISA COOPER ELLISON
Instagram: @lisacooperellison
Twitter: @LisaEllisonsPen
Facebook: facebook.com/lisacooperellison
Website: lisacooperellison.com
ABOUT SOME THINGS CONSIDERED
Award-winning author Sean Murphy in conversation with creative thinkers, spanning the literary, music, art, politics, and tech industries. As a cultural critic, professor, founder of a literary non-profit, Sean is always looking to explore and celebrate the ways Story is integral to how we define ourselves, as artists and human beings. This Substack newsletter and weekly podcast peels back the layers of how creativity works, why it matters, how our most brilliant minds achieve mastery. Join us to explore how our most successful and inspired storytellers engage by discussing craft, routines, brand, and mostly through authentic and honest expression.
ABOUT HOST SEAN MURPHY
Website: seanmurphy.net
Substack: seanmurphy.live
Twitter: @bullmurph
Instagram: @bullmurph
Facebook: facebook.com/AuthorSeanMurphy
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sean-murphy-4986b41