Welcome to The Metaworker Podcast! We’ve published so much great stuff over the years but, as often happens with online magazines, the good stuff can get lost in the shuffle. So we created this podcast to discuss some of our favorite pieces and to delve deeper into the reasons we decided to publish them. (Though who are we kidding? Everything we publish is our favorite.) Our goal is to make the publishing world a little less murky, and to get you inspired to keep writing. We hope you enjoy these episodes as much as we enjoyed creating them!
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The text of each poem/prose piece read in individual episodes is copyright by the respective author(s). The Metaworker Podcast © 2024 by The Metaworker editors is licensed under Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International. This means you may not sell, alter, or transcribe any part of the podcast, but you are free to share or copy the file as long as you retain attribution to The Metaworker and the author(s).
Episode Description: Matthew, Elena, Mel, and new intern Cerid talk about how they fell in love with reading, then move into a history lesson about how The Metaworker got started, and how Mel and Cerid joined the team. Referenced in this episode: Treesong by Melissa Reynolds on The Metaworker website Cerid’s photo featured in A Fair Deal by Jon Kemsley on The Metaworker website A translated poem, A Passage by Irsa Ruçi, on The Metaworker website Episode Transcript: Matthew Maichen (00:01):Hello, we are doing our first editors only podcast recording because we have some new people here. Well, one specific new person and we just figured it would be interesting to touch base. So, let's start just by formally introducing ourselves again, just in case. My name is Matthew Maichen. I'm the editor-in-chief of The Metaworker. Elena L. Perez (00:32):I'm Elena Perez. I'm the managing editor of The Metaworker. Melissa ...
Episode Description: Matthew, Elena, Marina, and Mel talk with Sam Asher about his beautifully strange story Boy, Deer, Chair. We discuss symbolism, inherited trauma, pantsers vs. plotters, and imposter syndrome. Referenced in this episode: Boy, Deer, Chair by Sam Asher on The Metaworker website Chelsea Sutton - author recommended by Sam Karen Joy Fowler - author recommended by Sam Blackfish City by Sam Miller Clarion Writers Workshop Afrofuturism Trans authors Literary Magazines: Voodoonauts Fiyah LitMag Clarkesworld Apex Magazine Strange Horizons Uncanny Magazine Mid-American Review Author Bio: Sam Asher is an alcoholic born and partly raised in the Middle-East, now living in New York. He loves translating English -language fiction into Arabic, and being terrible at social media. Find his work in Amazing Stories, Daily SF, and the Gateway Review. Episode Transcript: Matthew Maichen (00:00):Hello, my name is Matthew Maichen. I am the editor-in-chief. Elena L. Perez (00:07):Hi, I'm Elena Perez, ...
Episode Description: In this episode, Matthew, Marina, and Elena talk with Mary Paulson about her poem, Ruins. We talk about writing poetry to express deep emotions, writing and rewriting with help from community, and Mary's own personal journey toward writing this version of this poem. Referenced in this Episode: Ruins by Mary Paulson on The Metaworker website Tenderness by Mary Paulson on The Metaworker website Paint the Window Open by Mary Paulson, a new collection of poems Donkey Gospel by Tony Hoagland, collection of poems recommended by Mary What Do Women Want by Kim Addonizio, poet recommended by Mary Author Bio: Mary Paulson currently lives and works in Naples, FL. Her poems have appeared in Slow Trains, Mainstreet Rag, Painted Bride Quarterly, Nerve Cowboy, Arkana, Thimble Lit Magazine, and Tipton Poetry Journal. Her chapbook, Paint the Window Open, has recently been accepted for publication by Kelsay Publishing. Episode Transcript: Matthew ...
Episode Description: Matthew, Marina, Melissa, and Elena talk about Mina Rozario’s flash fiction fantasy story, Rangoli Man. We gush about saying a lot in very few words, the utopian fairy-tale tone, and the story’s fascinating dive into Indian culture. Referenced in this Episode: Rangoli Man Mina Rozario on The Metaworker website A Future Leviathan’s Prodigious Sister by Mina Rozario on The Metaworker website Division of the Marked by March McCarron, book recommended by Mina A Deadly Education (book 1 of the Scholomance Trilogy) by Naomi Novik, book recommended by Mina Author Bio: Mina Rozario is an Indian-American writer and technical product manager. Her non-work hours consist of dreaming up storylines, learning new dance styles, and trying not to kill her plants. Episode Transcript: Matthew Maichen (00:01):Hello. My name is Matthew Maichen. I am the editor-in-chief. Elena L. Perez (00:05):I'm Elena Perez, the managing editor. Marina Shugrue (00:08):I'm Marina Shugrue, communications ...
Episode Description: Matthew, Marina, and Melissa gush about Lane Talbot’s Minotaurs before asking him about how he approaches his craft, the art of writing the thriller, and how his personal experiences have informed his storytelling. We manage to throw out nods to writers who take a long time on their work, and the hidden advantages of doing so. Referenced in this Episode: Minotaurs by Lane Talbot on The Metaworker website House in the Cerulean Sea by Tj Klune, book mentioned in episode Sunk-Cost Fallacy Mythbusters polishing a turd David Mamet, memo to writers of The Unit (distinguishing drama from information) Why you might want to rethink using the word ‘tribe' Lane’s blog Author Bio: Lane Talbot’s work has been listed as notable fiction in Best American Mystery Stories and published in Berkeley Fiction Review, ThugLit, Able Muse and elsewhere. His MFA is from Southern Illinois University. Episode Transcript: Matthew Maichen ...
Episode Description: Editors Matthew, Elena, and Melissa talk to Stella Meadows about her brilliant nonfiction (as well as what makes brilliant nonfiction in general), identity, introspection, LGBT+ representation in art, and specifically LGBT+ representation in the science fiction and fantasy genres. Referenced in this Episode: Meditations on Water by Stella Meadows on The Metaworker website; Paradise is a Feeling by Stella Meadows on The Metaworker website; House in the Cerulean Sea by Tj Klune, book recommended by Stella; The Pervert by Remy Boydell & Michelle Perez, comic book recommended by Stella; Drop-Out, web comic recommended by Stella; Grease Bats by Archie Bongiovanni, comic recommended by Stella Author Bio: Stella Meadows is a writer to know. Born in 1996, she’s been active since the age of eight, ever in search of the perfect sentence. Her first story was published in Quirk Literary Magazine in May, 2020. Her other work is forthcoming ...
Episode Description: Editors Matthew, Elena, and Melissa talk to Veronica Lupinacci about her wonderful poem, Kurt. We talk about nonfiction, how we remember people, and the general topic of learning to write well. Referenced in this Episode: Kurt by Veronica Lupinacci on The Metaworker website; Beating a Dead Horse or Good Prose Writing by Matthew Maichen on The Metaworker website; Neighbor by Darrell Pateska on The Metaworker website; Daniele Pantano, poet recommended by Veronica; Billy Collins, poet recommended by Veronica Author Bio: Veronica Lupinacci is poet, an adjunct writing professor at State College of Florida, and a Grant Officer for Mote Marine Laboratory is Sarasota, Florida, U.S. where she crafts foundation proposals and reports to grow philanthropic support for marine conservation research and education. Her poetry has been published in journals including BOAAT, Gravel, McNeese Review, Haiku Journal, and The Pinch, and she is the author of a children’s book ...
Episode Description: Editors Matthew, Elena, Marina, and Darin talk to Kate Shannon about her wonderful poetry! We touch on the history of the form, some of the brutal inspirations that Kate uses for her work, and what we love about beautiful poetry of all kinds. Referenced in this Episode: ghazal for aguas del sur by Kate Shannon on The Metaworker website; thick crusts of midnight in the late Ordovician, a wilderness of morning elsewhere by Kate Shannon on The Metaworker website a quote by Richard Siken, from his poetry collection CrushHip-Hop Ghazal by Patricia Smith The American Cavewall Sonnets by C.T. Salazar Author Bio: Kate Shannon is a farmer, editor, and poet from Upstate NY where she lives with her partner and too many dark secrets. She writes speculative poetry and fiction and hopes to not be eaten by one of her hideous creations. Her publication history includes The Mithila Review, Anti-Heroin Chic, and High ...
Episode Description: Editors Matthew, Elena, Darin, and Melissa talk to Paul Rabinowitz about his piece Little Gem Magnolia and its surreal mix of genres. We touch on New Orleans, art, making time for art, and so much more. Referenced in this Episode: Little Gem Magnolia by Paul Rabinowitz on The Metaworker website; I've Loved You So Long, film recommended by Paul; The Selfish Giant, film recommended by Paul; Paul Rabinowitz's Website Author Bio: Paul Rabinowitz is an author, photographer and founder of ARTS By The People. Paul’s photography, short fiction and poetry have appeared in many magazines and journals. Paul was a featured artist in Nailed Magazine, Mud Season Review and nominated for Best of the Net in 2021 for his Limited Light photo series. Paul is the author of Limited Light and The Clay Urn and working on a multimedia novel called Confluence. His poems and fiction have been ...
Episode Description: The Metaworker Editors (Matthew Maichen, Elena L. Perez, Marina Shugrue, Darin Milanesio, and Melissa Reynolds) talk to Omar Hussain about his wonderful piece "The Dog in You." We introduce the larger idea of the podcast, Omar reads an excerpt, and then we talk about the piece, morality, and interpreting stories in different ways than the author intends. Referenced in this episode: The Dog in You by Omar Hussain on The Metaworker websiteLobster by Rachel Reeher in SmokeLong Quarterly Author Bio: Omar Hussain is a writer from the San Francisco Bay Area, transplanted to Ann Arbor, Michigan. His work has appeared or is forthcoming in X-R-A-Y Magazine, The Cabinet of Heed, Ellipsis Zine, Spelk, Dream Noir, Fleas On the Dog and (mac)ro(mic), among others. Omar’s beta-test novel, The Outlandish and the Ego, debuted in late 2017. It received some praise, remarkably. Episode Transcript: Mathew Maichen (00:00):Hello! My name is ...
