Welcome to Some Things Considered
Join award-winning author Sean Murphy for conversations with the most accomplished minds spanning the literary, music, and tech industries. Sean brings his decades of experience as a cultural critic, professor, and founder of a literary non-profit to explore and celebrate the ways stories define us as artists and human beings. This podcast peels back the layers of creativity, examining why it matters and how brilliant minds achieve mastery. Each episode features authentic discussions and deep dives into craft, routines, and the personal journeys of successful storytellers.
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About the Host
Sean Murphy is an award-winning author, columnist, poet, professor, and executive director of the literary non-profit 1455.
Sean Murphy is founder of the non-profit 1455 Literary Arts, and directs the Center for Story at Shenandoah University. He has appeared on NPR’s “All Things Considered” and been quoted in USA Today, The New York Times, The Huffington Post, and AdAge. A long-time columnist for PopMatters, his work has also appeared in Salon, The Village Voice, Washington City Paper, The Good Men Project, Sequestrum, Blue Mountain Review, and others. His chapbook, The Blackened Blues, was published by Finishing Line Press in 2021. His second collection of poems, Rhapsodies in Blue was published by Kelsay Books in 2023. His third collection, Kinds of Blue, and This Kind of Man, his first collection of short fiction, released in May 2024. He has been nominated four times for the Pushcart Prize, twice for Best of Net, and his book Please Talk about Me When I’m Gone was the winner of the 2022 Memoir Prize.
Featured Episodes
E P I S O D E 1
Brian Broome: Flipping the Script on Toxic Masculinity
Award-winning author of Punch Me Up to the Gods Brian Broome discusses toxic masculinity, the art of political writing, and creating positive narratives around men with host Sean Murphy, author of the 2024 release This Kind of Man.
Brian Broome joins us to talk about issues of “maleness,” interrogating toxic masculinity, writing about men (and men’s health), the possibility of establishing positive narratives around men, and the art of political writing. Brian discusses both the artistic and existential notions of authenticity, and how honest engagement with false constructions (of gender, of class, of race relations, etc.) is a way to establish more constructive dialogue and understanding. We compare and contrast the ways effective storytelling works in the classroom, via memoir, and for the public, particularly anything that gets “political” in our current cultural environment. As a regular columnist for The Washington Post, Brian has valuable insights regarding how to use powerful writing as an impetus not only for education, but consensus. Not least, we explore the private vs. public lives of creatives, and why social media can be, naturally, both blessing and curse. If this is your first introduction to Brian, this conversation will help you understand why he is such a beloved and important presence in American culture.
E P I S O D E 2
James Millner: Building a Better Male
James Millner, Director of VA Pride, explores inclusivity, opportunity, and fostering positive sociopolitical conversations during an election year with host Sean Murphy.
Today’s guest is James Millner, Director of VA Pride at Diversity Richmond and LGBTQ advocate, whom Sean has known—and been inspired by—for several decades. This discussion covers the special urgency of messaging and awareness during an election year, and more broadly covers the evolving discourse about maleness, with a special focus on how far America has come (and how much work still needs to be done) in terms of inclusivity and opportunity. If we look at the ways “wokeness” has been attacked by cynical opportunists, are there effective ways to engage and initiate conversations (instead of simply accepting that our sociopolitical discourse is a zero sum game)? James has years of experience and is ideally positioned to articulate that while many of these matters play out in the political and cultural arena, they are, of course, human issues, and require all of us to find more positive and peaceful ways to work and prosper.
E P I S O D E 3
Jeannine Ouellette: The Intersection of Artistry & Advocacy
Sean Murphy hosts Jeannine Ouellette to discuss behind the scenes on building a thriving literary community and transforming lives with her newsletter Writing in the Dark!
Today’s guest is the one and only Jeannine Ouellette, who is not only a gifted and celebrated writer, teacher, and editor, but creator of the beloved Substack newsletter Writing in the Dark. In addition, she’s author of the memoir The Part That Burns (2021), and is the quintessential creative advocate and enthusiast. Our discussion gets behind the scenes of how literary community works: how one gets involved, how one involves others, and how artistic momentum can be sustained over time. Jeaninne describes how she’s built her incredibly popular and important newsletter community, literally one subscriber at a time, and how the combination of showing up and caring is what builds genuine relationships. All of this might sound either obvious or even banal, but for those of us who have spent time in an industry filled with solitude, rejection, and very transactional relationships, to defy cynicism and actually counter it with positivity is nothing short of miraculous. Jeannine, as you’ll see and hear, is a miracle: she brings her gifts to the world, but is equally interested in helping others locate, refine, and share their gifts. The sum total of her life’s work (in progress!) is a capacity to enlarge hearts, minds, and stories. This conversation is certain to be continued.
E P I S O D E 4
Courtney Maum: The Continuing Story of Literary Citizenship
Unlock the secrets of the publishing industry with host Sean Murphy and guest Courtney Maum, the literary champion behind countless successful writers.
Courtney Maum, to invoke Whitman, truly contains multitudes: she is a widely published and successful writer (fiction, non-fiction, essays, criticism, etc.) and a one woman ambassador for literary apprentices. Her deep knowledge, gained from years of experience, of all-things publishing is nicely captured in her indispensable book Before and After the Book Deal (2020), and is alive and well via her super popular newsletter of the same name. Courtney has assisted countless writers, and deeply believes in Community (with a capital C). We delve into how one becomes part of this world, how one can aspire to do meaningful work (creatively, within communities, spiritually) while also being a champion for others. All too often in recent years, so many stories coming from inside the publishing world are about lack of resources, closed doors, decreased opportunities; Courtney is proof that one person can make a difference, and she’s an inspiration for all of us to look beyond our own work and be involved in lifting up creatives—both the apprentices and the established. We are certain you’ll subscribe to Courtney’s substack after seeing her in action!
E P I S O D E 5
Sarah Trembath: Creative and Cultural Applications of Invitational Rhetoric
Sean Murphy hosts guest Sarah Trembath, who is revolutionizing the teaching of writing and promoting civic engagement through the innovative concept of Invitational Rhetoric!
Today’s guest is the writer, editor, and educator Sarah Trembath. Sarah has been teaching since 1998 and joined the faculty of American University in 2014 where she’s co-chair of the Critical Information Literary Committee; her written work has been widely published and anthologized and her most recent book is the poetry/creative non-fiction hybrid This Past Was Waiting for Me. Our discussion is part of a continuing dialogue we’ve enjoyed about creativity, community, the teaching of writing, and promoting civic engagement. While this conversation covers a lot of ground, the guiding topic is the concept of Invitational Rhetoric: what it is, how it’s effectively utilized (inside and outside the classroom), and why encouraging productive and respectful dialogue is particularly vital during an election year. Too much contemporary discourse (inside and outside the classroom!) quickly devolves into “I’m right, you’re wrong!” which serves little purpose other than perpetuating division; invitational rhetoric is an impactful tool for initiating conversation and accelerating the possibility of progressive cultural change.
E P I S O D E 6
Whitney Collins: Are Short Stories the Key to Success?
Multiple award-winning author of Big Bad Whitney Collins discusses her new collection Ricky and Other Love Stories, the art and craft of short fiction, and how to be an active participant in the literary world circa 2024.
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.
E P I S O D E 7
Steven L. Herman: Behind the Scenes & Untold Stories from the White House
Award-winning journalist and author Steven L. Herman joins to discuss his new book Behind the White House Curtain, his decades of covering U.S. presidents, and the evolving relationship between the press and the presidency.
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 steveherman.press
E P I S O D E 8
Jon Madof: How to Survive--and Thrive--in the Music Industry
Guitarist and producer Jon Madof joins Sean Murphy to discuss his music career, co-founding CHANT Records, and building a DIY studio, offering insights on creativity and supporting fellow artists.
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. Explore Jon’s music and more at jonmadof.com
E P I S O D E 9
Deesha Philyaw: A Literary Icon on Creating a Positive Platform
Deesha Philyaw joins Sean Murphy to discuss her writing journey, her acclaimed debut The Secret Lives of Church Ladies, forthcoming novel The True Confessions of First Lady Freeman, literary advocacy, supporting underrepresented voices, and the impact of success.
Today’s guest is the award-winning author and literary queen Deesha Philyaw. Her debut short story collection The Secret Lives of Church Ladies won the 2021 PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction, and was a finalist for the 2020 National Book Award for Fiction. Deesha is also a Baldwin for the Arts Fellow, and co-host of two podcasts, Ursa Short Fiction (with Dawnie Walton) and Reckon True Stories (with Kiese Laymon). Her debut novel, The True Confessions of First Lady Freeman, is forthcoming in 2026. Deesha has been featured in the 1455 Author Series, and been a repeat speaker at the 1455 StoryFest, and she’s been busy and productive since she and Sean last spoke on air. In addition to her writing and travels, Deesha has established herself as an indispensable voice for writers, using her growing platform to find positive and effective ways to help authors (especially under-represented voices) find publication. Deesha and Sean discuss what being a true literary citizen entails, and why championing the work of individual writers creates momentum for all creatives. Deesha provides detail about what it’s like to find success later in one’s life (after having written diligently for many years) and why a breakthrough book like Secret Lives served as both validation and motivation for more writing. No one can read Deesha’s words without being moved (and quite possibly changed, for the better), and no one will listen to her speak without being entertained, amused, and inspired. Find out about everything Deesha is up to these days at deeshaphilyaw.com
E P I S O D E 10:
Mark Katz: Redemption on Death Row: The Power of Story
Host Sean Murphy and Mark Katz, writer and music expert, discusses his new book Rap and Redemption on Death Row, co-authored with Alim Braxton. Katz also talks about his hip-hop diplomacy work and the power of creativity.
Today’s guest is the writer, professor, music expert and advocate Mark Katz. Dr. Katz, after receiving his PhD in muscilogy, has spent the last several decades writing, teaching, thinking about, and proselytizing the power of music; his accomplishments and publications are too numerous to list, but please visit him online to get a handle on the scope of his work and ongoing projects. The topic of today’s discussion was his new book Rap and Redemption on Death Row, co-authored with incarcerated musician Alim Braxton. I would describe this text as at once a compelling and necessary read, equal parts personal story of discovered purpose, history lesson, indictment of the American justice system (and our prisons), and advertisement for the power of creativity. Katz, having talked the good talk, walked the good walk (he is also Founding Director of the U.S. State Department hip hop cultural diplomacy program Next Level, established in 2014), connected with Alim via a letter, and their relationship—with led to a personal friendship and collaboration—is the basis of this remarkable story. We also talk about the formative influence of falling in love with art, the necessity of creativity, and the always humbling influence of learning (from others, about ourselves). Dr. Katz is one of the most positive and deep human beings I know, and it’s an absolute honor to share this conversation. Learn more about Dr. Katz here: https://music.unc.edu/people/musicfaculty/mark-katz
