Today’s guest is guitarist, composer, producer, and bandleader Jon Madof. Based in New York, Jon is the leader of several bands, including Zion80 and Rashanim, and has released seven albums on Tzadik Records. In addition, Madof is co-founder of the prolific and eclectic CHANT Records label. I have known Jon for two decades and followed his remarkable career as a fan, critic, and friend. Our conversations, dating back to my days as a tech analyst, have always revolved around the challenges and opportunities of contemporary creativity, and how it’s incumbent on artists to both understand and utlize available technology. Jon is an original and multi-faceted musician, but he also strongly advocates for fellow artists—he leads by example and the music he has made possible through his CHANT Records label is no small miracle. Jon gives his always-insightful take on the current landscape: what he’s learned, and what led him to create a DIY recording studio in his basement. While any aspiring musician can learn a great deal from Jon, his words of wisdom are recommended for any creative looking to find a foothold in a rapidly changing (and yes, intimidating) environment. How does one balance imagination, discipline, promotion, and being an active part of a community? This conversation will shed light on how the hard work gets done, and typically ends up being its own reward.

Today’s guest is Steven L. Herman, author, teacher, and chief national correspondent for the Voice of America. His latest book, Behind the White House Curtain: A Senior Journalist’s Story of Covering the President—and Why It Matters, was published in June. Steve was one of the first guests for the new Speaker Series I curate for the Center for Story at Shenandoah University, and he was on my podcast wish list as the election year chaos shifts into overdrive. In addition to discussing his book, which covers his decades of experience on the front lines, culminating with some truly surreal stories from the (first?) Trump presidency, Steven describes his formative years, and how he cultivated the skills necessary to rise to the very top of the super competitive journalism industry. Steve is also a walking and talking encyclopedia of American political history, and his insights on how the always uneasy relationship between presidents and the press are invaluable and fascinating. Naturally, this conversation explores the dynamics of the current election cycle, and what to look for in the weeks and months ahead. We hear so much—often from cynical and opportunistic insiders—about lack of trust in the media, and Steven is the gold standard for how objective, critical, and useful reporting is a genuine American tradition that informs (rather than senselessly dividing) our citizens.

For more about Steve, check him out online at https://www.steveherman.press

Whitney Collins joins us to discuss—and celebrate—her brand-new collection Ricky and Other Love Stories. Whitney describes the unique ways short fiction works, and why this form (traditionally disdained by the Lit Industry as not being sufficiently “commercial,” prompting the by-now cliched question even a successful short story writer hears “what about a novel?”) seems uniquely situated for our current attention-deficit / info-overload cultural moment. Whitney unpacks why short fiction appeals to her and has helped her development an aesthetic that often does what the best flash fiction achieves: delivering quick punches that land and linger. Whitney also talks about the responsibilities of literary citizenship and why being part of a community (or, circa 2024, a number of micro-communities) is at once necessary and, for the writer, refreshing. Aspiring writers looking for inspiration and guidance will appreciate Whitney’s thoughts on the importance of putting one’s work out to a wide variety of outlets, especially contests—which can provide an author with invaluable exposure that leads to other opportunities.