Chicago Writers Podcast

Dan Finnen

Interviews with authors, storytellers, literary professionals, and more about the craft and business of writing.

66 Episodes

S3 Ep 02 - Coast of Chicago (Part 2)
6/4/2026
54:06
We return to the fantastic Stuart Dybek short story collection COAST OF CHICAGO to cover the second half of the volume. This episode is part of our ongoing celebration of all things Chicago for the 10th anniversary of the Chicago Review of Books.
S3 Ep 01 - Coast of Chicago (Part 1)
4/24/2026
42:30
To celebrate the tenth anniversary of the Chicago Review of Books, this year we're reading and discussing some of the best literature the Windy City has to offer! To start out, we're covering Mike's absolute favorite short story collection COAST OF CHICAGO by the legendary Stuart Dybek. Jessica Keller joins the conversation as we cover the first half of the book. We'll be covering the second half in episode 2.
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S2 Ep 09: When Harry Met Sally... with Adrienne Gunn
9/8/2025
43:03
Adrienne Gunn drops by the podcast to discuss the script for the legendary film WHEN HARRY MET SALLY... storystudiochicago.org https://chireviewofbooks.com/
S2 Ep 08: Roscoe Books Scavenger Hunt
8/6/2025
21:19
Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube at https://youtu.be/cLOQDDyrPIo?si=RAdOkyNxx4KE41J_ Michael Welch goes head-to-head with Greg Zimmerman at Roscoe Books to see who can find the top picks for some very silly categories. Shenanigans ensue.
S2 Ep 07: Nocturnal Creatures with Jessica Keller
6/3/2025
40:29
Jessica Keller drops by the podcast to discuss the short story 'Nocturnal Creatures' by Saïd Sayrafiezadeh. storystudiochicago.org https://chireviewofbooks.com/
S2 Ep 06: Story of Your Life with Anna Sortino
5/5/2025
43:04
Author Anna Sortino stops by the podcast to discuss Ted Chiang's 'Story of Your Life.' https://annasortino.com/ https://chireviewofbooks.com/ https://www.storystudiochicago.org/
S2 Ep 05: Here is My Heart with Megan Stielstra and Sara Cutaia
3/31/2025
1:00:46
Megan Stielstra and Sara Cutaia join the pod to discuss Megan's essay 'Here is My Heart' from THE WRONG WAY TO SAVE YOUR LIFE. https://bsky.app/profile/chicagowriterspod.bsky.social https://www.storystudiochicago.org/
S2 Ep 04: Busman's Honeymoon with Jen Coffeen
3/3/2025
1:15:16
Jen Coffeen drops by the podcast to discuss the prologue and chapter 1 of BUSMAN'S HONEYMOON by Dorothy Sayers and all the complex romance hidden in this classic detective series. https://www.storystudiochicago.org/ https://chireviewofbooks.com/
S2 Ep 03: 2025 Preview with the Chicago Review of Books
2/3/2025
43:30
Rachel's Recommendations Favorite 2024: What's Not Mine by Nora Decter Non-2024 book: Take My Hand by Dolen Perkins-Valdez 2024 book no one read: Dead in Long Beach, California by Venita Blackburn Most anticipated 2025 by a Chicago author: Original Sins by Eve L. Ewing Most anticipated by an author with a long gap since last book: Dream Count by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Small press titles: The Gloomy Girl Variety Show by Freda Epum Leave: A Postpartum Account by Shayne Terry No Offense: A Memoir in Essays by Jackie Domenus Friends might think you're nuts but sorry not sorry: The Harder I Fight the More I Love You by Neko Case Greg's Recommendations Favorite 2024: There's Always This Year: On Basketball and Ascension, by Hanif Abdurraqib Non-2024 Book: Bunny, by Mona Awad 2024 Book No One Read: Familiaris, by David Wroblewski Most Anticipated Chicago: All the Water in the World, by Eiren Caffall Most Anticipated after long gap: Dream Count, by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Most Anticipated Small Press: A Forty-Year Kiss, by Nickolas Butler Friends Might Think I'm Nuts: Great Big Beautiful Life, by Emily Henry ... Mark Twain, by Ron Chernow Mike's Recommendations Street Fight by Anne Morrissy The Overstory by Richard Powers Original Sins: The (Mis)education of Black and Native Children and the Construction of American Racism by Eve L. Ewing People of Means by Nancy Johnson Vanishing Daughters by Cynthia Pelayo True Failure by Alex Higley All the Water in the World by Eiren Caffall The El by Theodore C. Van Alst Jr The Antidote by Karen Russell Stag Dance by Torrey Peters Sour Cherry by Natalia Theodoridou The Fantasy and Necessity of Solidarity by Sarah Schulman Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins A Danger to the Minds of Young Girls: Margaret C. Anderson, Book Bans, and the Fight to Modernize Literature by Adam Morgan Waterline by Aram Mrjoian
S2 Ep 02: A Visit From the Goon Squad with Sara Cutaia
1/6/2025
43:56
Sara Cutaia joins us to discuss a story from A VISIT FROM THE GOON SQUAD by Jennifer Egan. https://www.storystudiochicago.org/ https://chireviewofbooks.com/ https://arcturus.chireviewofbooks.com/

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Chicago Writers Podcast

Dan Finnen

66 Episodes

S3 Ep 02 - Coast of Chicago (Part 2)

S3 Ep 01 - Coast of Chicago (Part 1)

S2 Ep 09: When Harry Met Sally... with Adrienne Gunn

S2 Ep 08: Roscoe Books Scavenger Hunt

S2 Ep 07: Nocturnal Creatures with Jessica Keller

S2 Ep 06: Story of Your Life with Anna Sortino

S2 Ep 05: Here is My Heart with Megan Stielstra and Sara Cutaia

S2 Ep 04: Busman's Honeymoon with Jen Coffeen

S2 Ep 03: 2025 Preview with the Chicago Review of Books

S2 Ep 02: A Visit From the Goon Squad with Sara Cutaia