LitCit: Antioch's Literary Citizen Podcast

Lit Cit explores the multi-faceted life of a writer in today’s literary community through insightful interviews with authors, editors, agents, and all of the people who help make writing happen. The podcast is produced and run by members of Antioch Los Angeles’ MFA Creative Writing program.

Antioch LitCit #63 Joy Kecken 07/25/2025

Antioch LitCit #63 Joy Kecken On this episode of Antioch MFA's LitCit, host Alejandra Alexander chats with writer, director, producer, teacher, and esteemed Antioch faculty member, Joy Kecken. They discuss her career, which spans from co-founding The Film Foundry, a Culver City-based media company, to writing and directing HBO's The Wire, and serving as Co-Executive Producer of Genius: MLK/X, a National Geographic series, among other notable achievements. Her short films, Woman Hollering Creek and Louisville, and her feature documentary, The Biggest Little Farm, have screened at over 30 festivals. She has also developed series for Amazon, ABC Signature, and FX. Her feature film, All-In, is currently in development with Maven Pictures. This episode was produced by Bo Thomas Newman and mastered by David Nguyen. /episode/index/show/antiochlitcit/id/37540240

Antioch LitCit #62 Anjali Enjeti 06/13/2025

Antioch LitCit #62 Anjali Enjeti On this episode of Antioch MFA’s , host Brenda Fantroy-Johnson chats with acclaimed author, essayist, activist, and esteemed Antioch faculty member . Together they discuss in detail her debut novel , her essay collection, , what writing as activism means, and exploring family history. This episode was produced by Bo Thomas Newman and edited by Brenda Fantroy-Johnson and David Nguyen. /episode/index/show/antiochlitcit/id/36979645

Antioch LitCit #61 Morgan Jerkins 05/11/2025

Antioch LitCit #61 Morgan Jerkins On of LitCit, host chats with author, screenwriter, editor, director, journalist, and professor, . They discuss her multifaceted career as a professor, editor and journalist, the balance between fiction and nonfiction, her past works such as and , her path to directing her first short film, , and how her new novel, , came to be, which is in stores now. This episode was produced by Mansi Aneja and mastered by Mitko Grigorov. /episode/index/show/antiochlitcit/id/36473485

Antioch LitCit #60 Cathy Linh Che and Jonathan Chou 04/30/2025

Antioch LitCit #60 Cathy Linh Che and Jonathan Chou On this episode of , host Jonathan Chou chats with poet, children's book author, filmmaker, multidisciplinary artist, and the Antioch MFA program's new Core faculty head of Poetry, . Together they go in-depth of Cathy Linh Che's previous poetry collection, , and her new collection, , in addition to discussing Jonathan Chou's collection, . They discuss the role of memory in community building, activism, and poetry, false memories found in culture such as in the film, Apocalypse Now, and what it means to write poetry as an Asian-American. This episode was produced by Bo Thomas Newman and mastered by David Blixt. /episode/index/show/antiochlitcit/id/36381615

Antioch LitCit #59 Kai Adia 04/05/2025

Antioch LitCit #59 Kai Adia On this episode of , host Jacqueline Rose chats with Los Angeles writer, artist, and publisher, . They discuss Kai's poetry collection, , the Pushcart nominated Afrofuturist anthology she co-edited, and the press she co-founded, Adia also discusses her overlapping responsibilities to the literary community, inspirations, and social activism among writers. This episode was produced by Ian Rodriguez and mastered by Bo Thomas Newman. /episode/index/show/antiochlitcit/id/33709257

Antioch LitCit #58 Sorcha De Brún part 2 03/21/2025

Antioch LitCit #58 Sorcha De Brún part 2 On this second episode of a two-part episode of , host Caren McDonald chats with guest, , a writer, lecturer, researcher, and Irish translator. They discuss the new wave of Irish language novelists as well as Sorcha De Brun's recent monograph about the intersection of masculinities and the Irish language, focusing on three contemporary writers: , , . This episode was produced by Bo Thomas Newman, and mastered by David Ngyuen. /episode/index/show/antiochlitcit/id/35716165

Antioch LitCit #57 Sorcha De Brún part 1 03/07/2025

Antioch LitCit #57 Sorcha De Brún part 1 On this of a two-part episode of host Caren McDonald chats with , a writer, lecturerer, researcher, and Irish translator. They discuss how friendship can serve as an important tool for learning language, the need for imagination to keep the Irish language alive, and the different theories on translation pedagogy. Additionally, they critique Caren's attempt at translating one of Sorcha's poems, followed by a discussion of nuances of translation and the (un)reliability of online translation softwares. This episode was produced by Bo Thomas Newman and mastered by Mitko Grigorov. /episode/index/show/antiochlitcit/id/35453620

Antioch LitCit #56 Erin Aubry Kaplan 02/26/2025

Antioch LitCit #56 Erin Aubry Kaplan On of , host Jacqueline Rose chats with author, journalist, essayist, and esteemed Antioch faculty member, . They discuss a great deal of Kaplan's books: and , the respect of social justice in writing and observing the world around us, and answering the question: What does it mean to the local and global community, and how does one write about it? This episode was produced by Ian Rodriguez and Mastered by Jacqueline Rose and Bo Thomas Newman. /episode/index/show/antiochlitcit/id/33709217

Antioch LitCit #55 Claire Dederer 02/25/2025

Antioch LitCit #55 Claire Dederer On of , host Lisa Locascio Nighthawk chats with author, memoirist, and critic, . They discuss her CNF novel, , the importance of a literary community, separating the art from the artist, preserving your mental health in the current political landscape, and the value of structure vs. plot in storytelling. This episode was produced and mastered by Bo Thomas Newman. /episode/index/show/antiochlitcit/id/35417900

Antioch LitCit #54 Natashia Deón 12/05/2024

Antioch LitCit #54 Natashia Deón On this episode of , host engages in a thought-provoking conversation with author, attorney, and esteemed Antioch faculty member . Delving into an exploration of Deon's acclaimed novels, and Deon provides unique insights into her professional life as a writer, her activism, her adept juggling of diverse careers and even homeschooling. They also discuss the intricacies of historical fiction, contemplating the elusive nature of time itself. This episode was produced by Ian Rodriguez and mastered by Beth Dewey. /episode/index/show/antiochlitcit/id/33696397

Antioch LitCit #53 Jessica Johns 11/10/2024

Antioch LitCit #53 Jessica Johns On this episode of , host Caren McDonald chats with author, . They discuss Johns' debut novel, , the power of community, and the importance of learning your inner wisdom. This episode was produced by Bo Thomas Newman and mastered by Beth Dewey. /episode/index/show/antiochlitcit/id/33696162

Antioch LitCit #52 Ken Liu 10/23/2024

Antioch LitCit #52 Ken Liu On this episode of Antioch MFA program's , host Keshia Nash-Johnson chats with guest , author of the Dandelion Dynasty fantasy series, which inludes the novel , and the award-winning shortstory collection, The Paper Menagerie. They discuss his creation and use of the genre Silkpunk, his writing process, his literary influences, and the way his speculative fiction engages with his readers. This episode was produced by Michael Sedillo, and mastered by Elyse Jackson Williams, Ian Rodriguez, and Bo Thomas Newman. /episode/index/show/antiochlitcit/id/33586562

Antioch LitCit #51 Lynn Ferguson 09/23/2024

Antioch LitCit #51 Lynn Ferguson On this episode of Antioch MFA Program's LitCit, host Amalia Mora chats with Lynn Ferguson, a self described "mongrel of the arts," whose career spans TV, radio, film, and stage. They discuss Lynn's work as a writer and storyteller, self-forgiveness as a cure for writer's block, and why creating connection-often through the use of humor-motivates her writing. They talk about her debut collection of essays, Notes From The Valley, and they also share a lot of laughs-about cavemen, cults, and two things Lynn has fallen in love with: her dog, Arthur, and her new trailer named Bertha. This episode was produced by Michael Sedillo, and mastered by Ian Rodriguez and Bo Thomas Newman. /episode/index/show/antiochlitcit/id/33145177

Antioch LitCit #50 Angela Harvey 08/29/2024

Antioch LitCit #50 Angela Harvey On this episode of Antioch MFA Program's LitCit, host Paula Williamson chats with guest and screenwriter, Angela Harvey. Angela reveals her unconventional path into television writing. She discusses her success in the stories of the supernatural, her exploration of race, religion and politics, and her excitement about the depiction of Black rural life onscreen. This episode was produced by Michael Sedillo and mastered by Beth Dewey. /episode/index/show/antiochlitcit/id/32618117

Antioch LitCit #49 Shannon C. F. Rogers 06/14/2024

Antioch LitCit #49 Shannon C. F. Rogers On this episode of Antioch MFA Program's , host chats with guest , winner of the 2024 APALA Asian/Pacific American Award for Young Adult Literature and author of the debut YA novel, . In this interview, Shannon discusses her upbringing in Albuquerque, her experience as a playwright, her Filipino-American identity, themes of grief and self-discovery in her cinematic writing, and her publishing journey with her first novel. This episode was produced by Michael Sedillo and mastered by Jasmine Gipson and . /episode/index/show/antiochlitcit/id/31742107

Antioch LitCit #48 Kimberly King Parsons 05/31/2024

Antioch LitCit #48 Kimberly King Parsons On this episode of , host chats with guest , author of two works including her recent debut novel, . In this interview, Kimberly shares her journey as a writer, the differences between crafting short-stories and novels, and how motherhood and psychedelia play a central part in We Were the Universe. This episode was produced by Ian Rodriguez and mastered by Jasmine Gipson and Bo Thomas Newman. /episode/index/show/antiochlitcit/id/31530377

Antioch LitCit #47 Ana Maria Spagna 05/17/2024

Antioch LitCit #47 Ana Maria Spagna On this episode of , Caren McDonald chats with guest a writer, teacher, and former backcountry trails worker. They discuss Spagna’s newest book, , and the power of reframing narrative and honoring other people’s stories. They also talk about the importance of imagination for nonfiction writers, the benefits of working on multiple projects at once, and the joys of writing the MFA critical paper. This episode was produced by Ian Rodriguez and mastered by Caren McDonald. /episode/index/show/antiochlitcit/id/31336372

Antioch LitCit #46 Isabel Yap 04/12/2024

Antioch LitCit #46 Isabel Yap On this episode of LitCit, host Keshia Nash-Johnson engages author in a discussion about her breakout short story collection . Isabel talks about fanfiction as a sandbox for a writer’s growth, the value of cultural mythology in her stories, monsters and the monstrous parts of humanity, death and its weight in her writing, the musicality of prose, and her forthcoming books. This episode was produced by Kenzy El-Mohandes and mastered by Keshia Nash-Johnson. /episode/index/show/antiochlitcit/id/30743498

Antioch LitCit #45 Hanz Wasserburger 03/15/2024

Antioch LitCit #45 Hanz Wasserburger On this episode of Antioch MFA Program’s LitCit, host chats with screenwriter . Hanz discusses his journey from lawyer (assistant attorney general in the Civil Medicaid Fraud Division) to screenwriter (A Tale of Two Coreys, Second Impression). This interview was conducted shortly after the 2023 Writers Guild of America Strike, and was produced and mastered by Jacqueline Rose. /episode/index/show/antiochlitcit/id/30383953

Antioch LitCit #44 Gayle Brandeis 02/16/2024

Antioch LitCit #44 Gayle Brandeis On this episode of LitCit, host chats with guest about her latest book (2023). Gayle discusses her favorite childhood authors, why writers are afraid to write about illness, what it means to write a "bonus book," and her new "novel in multiverse" in which Lilith embodies Marilyn Monroe! This episode was produced by Kenzy El-Mohandes and mastered by Elyse Jackson-Williams. /episode/index/show/antiochlitcit/id/29947313

Antioch LitCit #43 Ross Brown 01/19/2024

Antioch LitCit #43 Ross Brown On this episode of LitCit host talks to screenwriter about his journey from second assistant director to television writer to executive producer and creator of three different network shows. If you remember Webster, The Facts of Life, and Step By Step, among others, you’re in for a treat! This interview was conducted shortly before the 2023 Writers Guild of America Strike. This episode was produced by Michael Sedillo and mastered by Thomas Huisking. /episode/index/show/antiochlitcit/id/29475788

Antioch LitCit #42 Iwalani Kim 12/08/2023

Antioch LitCit #42 Iwalani Kim On this episode of LitCit, Ian Rodriguez chats with guest an associate agent at Sanford J. Greenberger Associates. They discuss what makes a story moving and Iwalani's pathway from slam poetry to becoming an agent, giving her fresh insights. They also talk about how works have literary value with evocative characters and bring words from two of Iwalani's favorite books, and . This episode was produced by Michael Sedillo and mastered by Ian Rodriguez. /episode/index/show/antiochlitcit/id/28884963

Antioch LitCit #41 Kavita Das 11/02/2023

Antioch LitCit #41 Kavita Das On this episode of LitCit, host Diana Hardy chats with guest . Kavita Das discusses writing for social change in her book . Das explores the importance of representation and the barriers she faced while writing , the life story of Grammy-nominated Hindustani singer Lakshmi Shankar. This episode was produced by Michael Sedillo and mastered by Diana Hardy and Beth Dewey. /episode/index/show/antiochlitcit/id/28402148

Antioch LitCit #40 Toni Ann Johnson 09/29/2023

Antioch LitCit #40 Toni Ann Johnson On this episode of LitCit, host Kevin Cummins chats with guest Toni Ann Johnson: playwright, screenwriter, and author of five books including her most recent, . In this interview, Toni Ann shares stories of her New York upbringing, discusses how race and lightness intersect, and tells us why she values James Baldwin. This episode was produced by Samantha Rahmani and mastered by Ian Rodriguez. /episode/index/show/antiochlitcit/id/28121525

Antioch LitCit #39 Vanessa Hua 08/25/2023

Antioch LitCit #39 Vanessa Hua On this episode of LitCit, host Michelle Yee chats with guest Vanessa Hua, author of three books including her most recent, . In this interview, Vanessa shares stories about her beginnings as a writer, why she went back to school for an MFA, and how Forbidden City took fourteen years to become published. This episode was produced by Michael Sedillo and mastered by Michelle Yee. /episode/index/show/antiochlitcit/id/27753966

Antioch LitCit #38 Toni Jensen 07/28/2023

Antioch LitCit #38 Toni Jensen On this episode of LitCit, host Irvina Kanarek chats with guest Toni Jensen about her Memoir, (2020) which includes her personal experiences with gun violence, domestic violence, and living as a white-presenting indigenous person. Jensen also shares her thoughts about combating racism in the classroom, what it truly means to be labeled a ‘difficult woman’, her writing process, gentrification, and Gen Z. This episode was produced by Michael Sedillo and mastered by Irvina Kanarek. /episode/index/show/antiochlitcit/id/27516309

Episode #37: Diana Khoi Nguyen 06/16/2023

Episode #37: Diana Khoi Nguyen On this episode of LitCit, host Maggie Lam chats with guest Diana Khoi Nguyen about their beginnings as a poet, philosophies in teaching, and techniques used in creating their debut poetry collection . Diana reads “Triptych” and shares stories and tips around self-care when writing about trauma and grief. This episode was produced by Michael Sedillo and mastered by Maggie Lam. /episode/index/show/antiochlitcit/id/27144216

Antioch LitCit #36: Ellen O'Connell Whittet 05/26/2023

Antioch LitCit #36: Ellen O'Connell Whittet On this episode of LitCit, host Mikaela Ryan chats with guest Ellen O’Connell Whittet, who is the author of the memoir (2020), and a co-host of the podcast, . Mikaela and Ellen discuss unlearning childhood lessons about the body and femininity, studying with Jo Ann Beard, honing the tiny expert, balancing motherhood with teaching and writing, and creating a literary community. This episode was produced and mastered by Kenzy El-Mohandes. /episode/index/show/antiochlitcit/id/26876916

Antioch LitCit #35 Aminah Mae Safi 04/07/2023

Antioch LitCit #35 Aminah Mae Safi Host Michael Sedillo talks to young adult author about her newest novel, (2022), a combination of historical fiction about the Third Crusades and a retelling of Robin Hood. Aminah discusses identity, representation, diversity in literature, and her life as a writer. This episode was produced by Samantha Rahmani and mastered by Michael Sedillo, students of the . /episode/index/show/antiochlitcit/id/26448918

Antioch LitCit #34 Shruti Swamy 03/03/2023

Antioch LitCit #34 Shruti Swamy Host Diana Hardy talks to author Shruti Swamy about her short story collection, , and novel, . Shruti Swamy discusses her experience launching two books back-to-back during the pandemic, motherhood and creativity, punctuation, her influences, and what she's working on now. This episode was produced by Samantha Rahmani and mastered by Diana Hardy. /episode/index/show/antiochlitcit/id/26061756

LitCit: Antioch's Literary Citizen Podcast

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