The Written Scene

Writers, creators, and anyone involved in the literary scene discuss path, process, and craft.

Episode 116: Julie Potiker 08/04/2026

Episode 116: Julie Potiker Author and retired lawyer never planned to write a book but eventually learned a powerful lesson by saying yes to something she never planned. In this episode of , Julie discusses how her writing path was heavily carved by medical concerns, consuming enough knowledge to want to write a book about it, needing evidence-based information in life, how the arts and nature positively interact with the brain, the random ideas about what a poetry book should be, how her poetry is becoming less mindful and more poetic, being a theater kid, when financial stability scares away a career in the arts, the ways the education system can and should be flexible, how the writing taught in law school plays a role in creative writing, what SNAP is and how to use it as a creative person, the power of pets and the poems they inspire, and much more. Please be sure to subscribe, rate, review, and share this and all episodes of The Written Scene. Click to subscribe to our once-a-month newsletter. Music: Addis Ababa by Eshi Era /episode/index/show/dfce4a17-f113-4164-b889-e0d2cd20dc4a/id/42294220

Episode 116 Teaser: Julie Potiker 07/28/2026

Episode 116 Teaser: Julie Potiker For author and retired lawyer , teaching a class on mindfulness that already taught her so much was a natural move. Please enjoy this brief teaser with Julie ahead of next week's full episode of . Be sure to subscribe so you don't miss it. Music: Addis Ababa by Eshi Era /episode/index/show/dfce4a17-f113-4164-b889-e0d2cd20dc4a/id/42195030

Episode 115: Chris Mancini 07/21/2026

Episode 115: Chris Mancini The world is full of artists but not the specific artist you are. When it comes to creating art, , an author, comedian, producer, and more, says to find what's missing and create that art. In this episode of , Chris talks about how crowdfunding and podcasting overlap and create supporters at the same time, getting lost in worlds unlike our own for a little needed escape, having the most fun with writing dialogue, knowing when a collaboration with other artists just clicks, the various things gained from reading a book more than once, what attracts him to new art, what's necessary to have a successful Kickstarter campaign, how marketing our art is a job itself, building an audience from scratch, why comics was the right format for his art, the messes behind the scenes that audiences don't see, and (somehow) much more. Go for more info on Alpha Cat #1 and make sure to support the Kickstarter project for Alpha Cat #2. Click to be a part of something fantastic. Please be sure to subscribe, rate, review, and share this and all episodes of The Written Scene. Click or tap to join our once-a-month newsletter. Music: Addis Ababa by Eshi Era /episode/index/show/dfce4a17-f113-4164-b889-e0d2cd20dc4a/id/42157890

Episode 115 Teaser: Chris Mancini 07/14/2026

Episode 115 Teaser: Chris Mancini The world can feel like a rough place sometimes. When it comes to entertainment he creates or consumes, writer and producer often seeks out other worlds to get lost in. Please enjoy this teaser with Chris ahead of next week's full episode of . Be sure to subscribe so you don't miss it. Music: Addis Ababa by Eshi Era /episode/index/show/dfce4a17-f113-4164-b889-e0d2cd20dc4a/id/42047990

Episode 114: Ernie McCray 07/07/2026

Episode 114: Ernie McCray Author, retired teacher, and activist discovered athletic interests early on in childhood. Still, even with the sports accolades, of which there are many, it was his desire to teach that became his career. In this episode of , Ernie talks about being both an athlete and writer at the same time, the intelligence of athletes, having a librarian to guide you on your reading path, growing up in a household full of music, childhood experiences in a segregated country, when it finally dawned on him that he might be really good at sports, wanting to teach from an early age, how writing used to be a processing tool but at 88 years old it's a cognitive skills check (and he's passing), the different reader reactions between his poetry and his blog, rarely having writer's block due to constantly reacing to life through writing, taking risks with sharing social justice driven art, and much more. Please be sure to subscribe, rate, review, and share this and all episodes of The Written Scene. You can also subscribe to our once-a-month newsletter by tapping or clicking . Music: Addis Ababa by Eshi Era /episode/index/show/dfce4a17-f113-4164-b889-e0d2cd20dc4a/id/41961720

Episode 114 Teaser: Ernie McCray 06/30/2026

Episode 114 Teaser: Ernie McCray Author Ernie McCray learned that being part of things gave him joy. Writing and playing sports became his way to play the part he wanted. Please enjoy this teaser ahead of next week's full episode of The Written Scene with Ernie. Music: Addis Ababa by Eshi Era /episode/index/show/dfce4a17-f113-4164-b889-e0d2cd20dc4a/id/41902365

Episode 113: Sandra Younger 06/23/2026

Episode 113: Sandra Younger When it comes to life and the inevitable tragedies that tag along, author and journalist is a big believer that you get to write and tell your own story. In this episode of , Sandra talks about what tragedy does in a journalistic mind, why being a nosy journalist can be useful, making an expensive deal with her publisher in order to relaunch a book, choosing your own story after a tragedy, feeling like you told the perfect story for Oprah, when deadlines and the panic monster become your writing routine, flourishing as a writer with support and accountability from others, all the ways the writing process is messy, ignoring the urge to edit while writing the first draft, the differences between a writer and a storyteller, a sneak peak into her new story, being ready for critique when feeling vulnerable as a writer, making sure characters fit the story and knowing when to cut them if they don't, and much. Please be sure to subscribe, rate, review, and share this and all episodes of The Written Scene. We also have a once-a-month newsletter. Click to subscribe. Music: Addis Ababa by Eshi Era /episode/index/show/dfce4a17-f113-4164-b889-e0d2cd20dc4a/id/41703245

Episode 113 Teaser: Sandra Younger 06/16/2026

Episode 113 Teaser: Sandra Younger If there's one thing an author knows it's just how powerful writing about tragedy can be. When author 's house burned down in a once historic wildfire, the idea of telling the story of what happened became impossible to ignore. Please enjoy this teaser ahead of next week's full episode of with Sandra. Music: Addis Ababa by Eshi Era /episode/index/show/dfce4a17-f113-4164-b889-e0d2cd20dc4a/id/41629930

Episode 112: Ashley Hanna-Morgan 06/09/2026

Episode 112: Ashley Hanna-Morgan Throughout her life, author and licensed clinical social worker has encountered many characters. In the fictional stories she writes, it's important she stays true to a character when writing them. In this episode of , Ashley discusses the ways our muse and our health interact, feeling pulled in two career directions, lessons learned from writing her first fiction book, being able to separate non-creative work from creative work, taking book notes while walking the baby, incorporating real-life parenting experiences in order to make it universal to her readers, getting her love of poetry from her grandmother, being pulled more to fiction than memoir, having poetry as a lifelong faithful companion, looking for good character development in stories she reads, staying true to the character, when friends know they may be a character in a story someday, reading things we normally wouldn't read, and so much more. Please be sure to subscribe, rate, review, and share this and all episodes of The Written Scene. You can also subscribe to our once-a-month newsletter by clicking or tapping . Music: Addis Ababa by Eshi Era /episode/index/show/dfce4a17-f113-4164-b889-e0d2cd20dc4a/id/41578915

Episode 112 Teaser: Ashley Hanna-Morgan 06/02/2026

Episode 112 Teaser: Ashley Hanna-Morgan Life is not one single track. For , an author and licensed clinical social worker, this is especially true, and that's by design. Please enjoy this teaser ahead of next week's full episode of with Hanna. Music: Addis Ababa by Eshi Era /episode/index/show/dfce4a17-f113-4164-b889-e0d2cd20dc4a/id/41492710

Episode 111: Patrick Stewart 05/26/2026

Episode 111: Patrick Stewart If there's ever a time where libraries need support, it's now. If there's a person that's perfectly built for the job, it's , the CEO of the . In this episode of , Patrick discusses the many ways the library system in San Diego is underfunded, growing up with a healthy respect for teachers and the education system, the importance of maintaining libraries and the history they encapsulate, examining the ways other libraries around the country design libraries, his CB radio handle, pushing back on book bans, playing a supportive role in the writing world, how art and culture has always been at the core of who he is, what a degree in Philosophy of Aesthetics & Literature is, ensuring the many different backgrounds of San Diego residents are represented, maintaining the mentality that we are artists and creatives above all else, following your creative path no matter how difficult it gets, and surprisingly more. Please be sure to subscribe, rate, review, and share this and all episodes of The Written Scene. You can also subscribe to our once-a-month newsletter by clicking or tapping . Music: Addis Ababa by Eshi Era /episode/index/show/dfce4a17-f113-4164-b889-e0d2cd20dc4a/id/41419790

Episode 111 Teaser: Patrick Stewart 05/19/2026

Episode 111 Teaser: Patrick Stewart If you were to ask the CEO of the , , what roles a library plays in a community, it's more than just a building with books. Much more. Please enjoy this brief teaser with Patrick ahead of next week's full episode of . Music: Addis Ababa by Eshi Era /episode/index/show/dfce4a17-f113-4164-b889-e0d2cd20dc4a/id/41326215

Episode 110: Debbie Wastling 05/12/2026

Episode 110: Debbie Wastling It's one thing to be excited about the arts. For author and historian , it's a passion, and you can hear it in every word. In this episode of , Debbie talks about having famous relatives in the arts back in the early 20th century, a brief geography and history lesson, mixing her love of music into her books and stories, famous writers from her childhood home, how her music writing is storytelling, not shying away from politics, the ways the railroad system in every country is historically relevant, trying to remain historically accurate in her novels, the evolution of her art after moving from England to Los Angeles, how knowing Shakespeare helps her write historical fiction, experiencing Shakespeare and other theater productions in Ashland, OR, writing poetry to understand and process feelings at an early age, reading out loud the things we write, learning discipline in writing through theater, writing grants for music education, and much more. Please be sure to subscribe, rate, review, and share this and all episodes of The Written Scene. You can also subscribe to our once-a-month newsletter by clicking or tapping . Music: Addis Ababa by Eshi Era /episode/index/show/dfce4a17-f113-4164-b889-e0d2cd20dc4a/id/41239855

Episode 110 Teaser: Debbie Wastling 05/05/2026

Episode 110 Teaser: Debbie Wastling For historical fiction author , her childhood experiences with libraries and powerful teachers makes giving back to libraries and schools very easy. Please enjoy this teaser with Debbie ahead of next week's full episode of . Music: Addis Ababa by Eshi Era /episode/index/show/dfce4a17-f113-4164-b889-e0d2cd20dc4a/id/41151480

Episode 109: Gene Desrochers 04/28/2026

Episode 109: Gene Desrochers Whether you're running a tennis club or a practicing lawyer, all of it matters if you want to write. For author , this is especially true. In this (long) episode of , Gene discusses growing up in a historical building and landmark, losing your virginity in weird and creepy places, writing about where we used to live instead of where we currently live, using story location as a character, the ways where you grow up factors into the writer inside, switching back and forth between writing novels and short stories, having low daily word count writing goals, when you get in your own way of writing a story, the ways legal trials are all about telling a better story, why it's fun to be on a jury, what different jobs in life can do for a writer's skillset, lessons tennis can teach you about yourself and your writing, how restrictions in a story can make for a better story, and so much more. Please be sure to subscribe, rate, review, and share this and all episodes of The Written Scene. You can also subscribe to our once-a-month newsletter by clicking or tapping . Music: Addis Ababa by Eshi Era /episode/index/show/dfce4a17-f113-4164-b889-e0d2cd20dc4a/id/40991695

Episode 109 Teaser: Gene Desrochers 04/21/2026

Episode 109 Teaser: Gene Desrochers They say to write what you know. For author , it was the loss of a childhood friend—an event he didn't know about until he was much older—that eventually became the kernel of his books. Please enjoy this teaser with Gene ahead of next week's full episode of . Music: Addis Ababa by Eshi Era /episode/index/show/dfce4a17-f113-4164-b889-e0d2cd20dc4a/id/40898800

Episode 108: LaDaryn Lockett 04/14/2026

Episode 108: LaDaryn Lockett For author and environmentalist , the world of writing has unlocked a joy of storytelling he didn't know existed at first. In this episode of , LaDaryn talks about finding the joy of Dungeons & Dragons in a college dorm basement, using ChatGPT but also making sure to give back in a more human manner, finding early influences in stories involving animals, writing to preserve positive growth as a person, not knowing where story concepts come from but still writing them anyway, the reward of challenging storytelling, how reading and writing should be habits for authors, telling stories that aren't about identity and encountering expectations that come with being a Black author, his love of reading and writing Germanic folklore, marrying his love of the environment and writing adventure stories, writing about animals in a way that doesn't further any harmful human behaviors toward them, getting out of your comfort zone to be less fearful about other things in life, and much more. Please be sure to subscribe, rate, review, and share this and all episodes of The Written Scene. You can also subscribe to our once-a-month newsletter but clicking or tapping . Music: Addis Ababa by Eshi Era /episode/index/show/dfce4a17-f113-4164-b889-e0d2cd20dc4a/id/40791680

Episode 108 Teaser: LaDaryn Lockett 04/07/2026

Episode 108 Teaser: LaDaryn Lockett Saying yes to an invitation into someone's basement can come with some risk. Fortunately, for author and environmentalist , it worked out well. Please enjoy this teaser ahead of next week's full episode of . Music: Addis Ababa by Eshi Era /episode/index/show/dfce4a17-f113-4164-b889-e0d2cd20dc4a/id/40751410

Episode 107: Daniela Sow 03/31/2026

Episode 107: Daniela Sow Poet and professor has always written poetry. It was in her 20's when she discovered the power of performance poetry. In this episode of , Daniela discusses the value of having another person help organize poems in a book, the high and lows (and delusions) of submitting for publication, knowing her poetry collection needed the right home, how Dean Koontz got her in trouble as a kid, writing fiction before poetry, the role of place in her recent collection of poetry, her MFA experience at San Diego State University, having a mentorship in writing, what a dedicated weekly writing session does for a writer, writing performance poetry long after first writing poetry for the page, the ways spoken word poetry helped her build community, slam poetry pros and cons, not censoring herself or shying away from tough subjects, the powerful impact poet Jim Moreno had in San Diego on not only individuals but also the community as a whole, and much more. Please be sure to subscribe, rate, review, and share this and all episodes of The Written Scene. You can also sign up to receive our once-a-month newsletter by clicking or tapping . Music: Addis Ababa by Eshi Era /episode/index/show/dfce4a17-f113-4164-b889-e0d2cd20dc4a/id/40660090

Episode 107 Teaser: Daniela P. Sow 03/24/2026

Episode 107 Teaser: Daniela P. Sow Sometimes all it takes is one acceptance to to generate a little hope and drive. For author and professor , this was certainly the case. Please enjoy this teaser ahead of next week's full episode of . Music: Addis Ababa by Eshi Era /episode/index/show/dfce4a17-f113-4164-b889-e0d2cd20dc4a/id/40572050

Episode 106: Taylor Hollingsworth 03/17/2026

Episode 106: Taylor Hollingsworth Everyone has their own level of what they'd call success. Musician makes a living playing guitar on stage, a level of success he's both proud of and humbled by. In this episode of , Taylor talks about how he creates his sound on stage, the difference in possibilities between electric and acoustic guitars, choosing to perform solo after playing decades with a band, what the genre term psychobilly means, playing both big and small stages, making sure you expand your knowledge of other art being made, his love of pre-1960s music, getting into kid lit thanks to his mother who wrote kid lit, being surprised at how much he enjoys Harry Potter, the role of musicians in depicting history and human behavior, discovering the heart of the song during the writing process, when people you admire turn out to have faults that are hard to ignore, how perhaps we've overcorrected, writing while out on the road, the ways modern technology has changed the music industry, and surprisingly more. Please be sure to subscribe, rate, review, and share this and all episodes of The Written Scene. You can also join our once-a-month newsletter by clicking or tapping . Music: Addis Ababa by Eshi Era /episode/index/show/dfce4a17-f113-4164-b889-e0d2cd20dc4a/id/40407215

Episode 106 Teaser: Taylor Hollingsworth 03/10/2026

Episode 106 Teaser: Taylor Hollingsworth Just as it can be with writing and finding a voice, musician discovered his sound by figuring out what most people were NOT doing and experimented with that. Please enjoy this teaser with Taylor ahead of next week's full episode of . Music: Addis Ababa by Eshi Era /episode/index/show/dfce4a17-f113-4164-b889-e0d2cd20dc4a/id/40356985

Episode 105: Deborah Holt Larkin 03/03/2026

Episode 105: Deborah Holt Larkin If you're an author, surely you've heard the "write what you know" advice. For author and retired educator , she knew quite well the story that gripped her town as a child, and also her father's career as a journalist. In this episode of , Deborah discusses how she's always been a reader and how that helps determine what's a good book, using her writing talents to write grants, why early on the idea of writing a book was a fleeting thought here and there, the usefulness of having a journalist for a father who kept everything, what was easy or difficult to write a book, learning how to be a better writer with each draft, encountering self-doubt during the writing process, how a read and critique group can keep us on task, providing feedback more to help a story than to change it, the ways age can play a role in getting published, what a shopping agreement is for screenplays, how swimming competitively helped her market the book, and much more. Please be sure to subscribe, rate, review, and share this and all episodes of The Written Scene. You can also subscribe to our once-a-month newsletter by clicking or tapping . Music: Addis Ababa by Eshi Era /episode/index/show/dfce4a17-f113-4164-b889-e0d2cd20dc4a/id/40289540

Episode 105 Teaser: Deborah Holt Larkin 02/24/2026

Episode 105 Teaser: Deborah Holt Larkin For author , a fatal crime in her neighborhood when she was a child became a catalyst to understand crime and protect herself, as well as write about it later in life. Please enjoy this brief teaser with Deborah ahead of next week's full episode of . Music: Addis Ababa by Eshi Era /episode/index/show/dfce4a17-f113-4164-b889-e0d2cd20dc4a/id/40190400

Episode 104: Melissa McKinstry 02/17/2026

Episode 104: Melissa McKinstry This episode is our four year anniversary of . Thank you to those that have been listening for a while. To those that are new here, welcome. You have a lot of great conversations about writing to catch up on. Speaking of great conversations... When it comes to making sure writers and non-writers alike feel comfortable and find joy in the arts community, author and community organizer plays a significant part in making sure that happens. In this episode of The Written Scene, Melissa discusses being the first author in an inaugural author residency, why it's been so fulfilling to have a quarterly arts event, holding events at small spaces vs. large spaces, the influence her grandfather and his book collection had on her reading path, memories of Bookmobiles when we were kids, how her rural upbringing impacted her writing, getting her MFA later in life, the ways her son was her biggest inspiration, learning to write about emotionally laden experiences without sentimentality, imitation as a way to learn and understanding craft, always having music on in the house, the accountability of having weekly writing sessions with other writers, and more. The next Poet Tree Productions reading and music event is Sunday, February 22nd, from 1pm to 4pm at Meraki in the South Park neighboorhood. Poetry, prose, jazz, food, and local artisans. Expect a fantastic afternoon and if you see me there, say hi. Get your tickets . Music: Addis Ababa by Eshi Era /episode/index/show/dfce4a17-f113-4164-b889-e0d2cd20dc4a/id/40126560

Episode 104 Teaser: Melissa McKinstry 02/10/2026

Episode 104 Teaser: Melissa McKinstry For author , the spark to host her own poetry and jazz series came from an inaugural author residency where, while it still holds a dear place in her heart, the rules were still being ironed out. Please enjoy this teaser ahead of next week's full episode of . Music: Addis Ababa by Eshi Era /episode/index/show/dfce4a17-f113-4164-b889-e0d2cd20dc4a/id/40043495

Episode 103: Julia Lemke 02/03/2026

Episode 103: Julia Lemke For author and poet , discovering the healing and connecting nature of poetry changed the course of her writing career. In this episode of , Julia talks about how a spiritual epiphany guided her and its effect on her book, loving the library as a kid and how many books she could check out, reading books as a child that are now banned, majoring in Packaging in college and what that really is, the muscle memory of creation as a kid and how it changes as we age, accepting the feeling of not knowing what's next after completing a large project, finding relevancy in a fast paced society, why we can't create if we're not living our lives too, the kind of stories that stick with her, how having patience when writing can pay off, why your reader won't figure out what you're saying if you don't know either, leveling up as a poet, the ways performing poetry improves your writing, and much more. If you enjoyed this convo, please be sure to subscribe, rate, review, and share this and all episodes of The Written Scene. We also have a once-a-month newsletter which you can subscribe to by clicking or tapping . Music: Addis Ababa /episode/index/show/dfce4a17-f113-4164-b889-e0d2cd20dc4a/id/39973770

Episode 103 Teaser: Julia Lemke 01/28/2026

Episode 103 Teaser: Julia Lemke For author , poetry felt inaccessible. Fortunately, all it took was finding her voice to unlock and open doors. Please enjoy this teaser ahead of next week's full episode of . Music: Addis Ababa by Eshi Era /episode/index/show/dfce4a17-f113-4164-b889-e0d2cd20dc4a/id/39904700

Episode 102: Janell Strube 01/20/2026

Episode 102: Janell Strube Author may also work as a tax accountant but her extensive use of spreadsheets made writing much easier. In this episode of , Janell talks about the writing lessons learned from going down rabbit holes, being the kid with their nose in the book instead of playing, viewing writing as feeding and nourishing people, the power of realizing and also believing you're a writer, having a day job that competes with time to write, zooming out to see just how much we've written over time, volunteering within a writer community and how that benefits us, developing thick skin through critique groups, using objects to tell a story, having a specific office just for writing, the lesson of less is more when writing a love scene, why bookstores survive in a digital world, and much more. Please be sure to subscribe, rate, review, and share this and all episodes of The Written Scene. Click to subscribe to our once-a-month newsletter of upcoming guests, events, and more. Music: Addis Ababa by Eshi Era /episode/index/show/dfce4a17-f113-4164-b889-e0d2cd20dc4a/id/39785845

Episode 102 Teaser: Janell Strube 01/13/2026

Episode 102 Teaser: Janell Strube Not all teachers are good. But even the bad ones can be motivating, just as it was for author and memoirist . Please enjoy this teaser ahead of next week's full episode of . Music: Addis Ababa by Eshi Era /episode/index/show/dfce4a17-f113-4164-b889-e0d2cd20dc4a/id/39672265

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