Ink Blots: Author Interviews

About Ink Blots: Author Interviews

Step inside the minds of storytellers with Ink Blots: Author Interviews — the podcast where books meet personality. Host Rob Southgate chats with authors across genres — from mystery to sci-fi, romance to non-fiction — diving deep into their creative process, personal journeys, and favorite reads. Each episode blends practical writing tips for aspiring authors with candid conversations about life, inspiration, and the stories that shaped them. Expect surprises, laughter, and the kind of insights only a great storyteller can provide. Whether you're an avid reader, a budding writer, or just love a good behind-the-scenes conversation, Ink Blots is your weekly dose of literary inspiration and creative fuel. Keywords: author interviews, writing tips, book lovers, fiction writing, storytelling, creative process, aspiring writers, writing advice, author life, Rob Southgate, reader community, genre fiction, behind the scenes, favorite books

Publisher

Southgate Media Group

Category

arts · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

13 Jun 2025

Latest episode

13 Nov 2025

Latest episodes

34 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   13 Nov 2025

   Cevin Soling | The Rumpleville Chronicles

   Cevin Soling — Filmmaker, Author, Academic & Cultural Provocateur In this compelling episode of Ink Blots, we sit down with the brilliantly unconventional Cevin Soling — an award-winning filmmaker, author, academic, artist, and musician whose work relentlessly challenges societal norms and exposes the absurdities embedded in modern institutions. Soling is best known for his groundbreaking documentary The War on Kids, the first theatrically released film to confront the prison-like nature of American schools. The documentary earned widespread critical acclaim from The New York Times, Variety, and The Huffington Post, and solidified Soling as one of the most fearless cultural critics of our time. Across nearly 20 films aired on HBO, PBS, the BBC, and more, as well as books, essays, lectures, and music projects like The Love Kills Theory and The Rumpleville Chronicles, Soling uses satire, scholarship, and art to interrogate the systems we take for granted. A graduate of Harvard University with four master's degrees, Soling has presented his research and ideas at Harvard, Yale, SXSW, and TEDx, continuing to challenge the boundaries of authority, education, conformity, and human freedom. This episode explores: The making and impact of The War on Kids Why American institutions often resemble the very problems they claim to solve Soling's unique multidisciplinary approach to activism and art How satire and storytelling can expose uncomfortable truths The cultural, educational, and philosophical themes driving his work What his new and upcoming projects reveal about society today If you're fascinated by cultural discourse, documentary filmmaking, education reform, or subversive art, this is an episode you won't want to miss. Cevin Soling Links ✅ Official Website: https://www.cevinsoling.com (https://www.cevinsoling.com) ✅ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cevinsoling ✅ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cevinsoling ✅ Linktree (additional links): https://linktr.ee/cevinsoling Hashtags #CevinSoling #TheWarOnKids #DocumentaryFilmmaker #CulturalCriticism #EducationReform #InkBlotsPodcast #IndependentFilm #SocialCommentary #SatireAndArt #InstitutionalCritique +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 📲 Follow and Share Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review Ink Blots: Author Interviews to help more readers and writers discover these amazing conversations. Are you a creative over 40 who's amazing at your craft—but totally overwhelmed by marketing? You're not alone. I help passionate, purpose-driven creatives like you overcome fear, get clear on your message, and build a marketing strategy that actually works. It's not too late to grow the business you've dreamed of. Let's take your work to the next level—together. Visit southgatesmallbusiness.com and let's get started today.

2. 

   11 Nov 2025

   Al Julius | Weird Tales of the Great Lakes

   Ink Blots: Featuring Aleco Julius — Unearthing the Weird Lore of the Great Lakes In this atmospheric episode of Ink Blots, we welcome Aleco Julius, author of Weird Tales of the Great Lakes and Endless Depths: Cosmic Themes, Weird Lore, & Hidden Knowledge. Blending cosmic horror, folklore, and strange tales rooted in the mysteries of the Midwest, Julius brings a unique voice to modern weird fiction. His stories have appeared in Dark Matter Magazine, Red Line: Chicago Horror Stories, Dolls in the Attic, and Always Night, and his nonfiction writings appear in Fiddler's Green, Hellebore, Myth & Lore, and others. As a member of the Chicagoland Horror Writers Association, Julius continues to contribute to the resurgence of regional horror and mythic storytelling. In this episode, we explore: The inspiration behind Weird Tales of the Great Lakes Why the Great Lakes remain a hotbed for horror, folklore, and cosmic mystery Julius's fascination with hidden knowledge, ancient forces, and eerie encounters The blend of regional history and supernatural imagination in his work What readers can expect from Endless Depths and his upcoming projects How environment, mythology, and strange phenomena shape his fiction From ancient deities beneath the waves to the uncanny patterns etched into seashells, Julius's stories evoke a haunting, poetic vision of the waters that define the Midwest. Tune in for an unforgettable conversation about lore, landscape, and the enduring power of the weird. 📚 Order Weird Tales of the Great Lakes on Bookshop.org 👉 bookshop.org/a/10588/9798218416966 Aleco Julius Links ✅ Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Aleco-Julius/author/B0CBTK4VRN ✅ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dagger_of_the_mind ✅ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dagger_of_the_mind #AlecoJulius #WeirdTalesOfTheGreatLakes #CosmicHorror #GreatLakesLore #WeirdFiction #HorrorAuthors #InkBlotsPodcast #FolkloreFiction #RegionalHorror #HiddenKnowledge +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 📲 Follow and Share Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review Ink Blots: Author Interviews to help more readers and writers discover these amazing conversations. Are you a creative over 40 who's amazing at your craft—but totally overwhelmed by marketing? You're not alone. I help passionate, purpose-driven creatives like you overcome fear, get clear on your message, and build a marketing strategy that actually works. It's not too late to grow the business you've dreamed of. Let's take your work to the next level—together. Visit southgatesmallbusiness.com and let's get started today.

3. 

   7 Nov 2025

   Mark Robinson | Black On Madison Avenue

   Ink Blots: Featuring Mark Robinson — Author of Black on Madison Avenue In this powerful episode of Ink Blots, we sit down with Mark Robinson, award-winning author and advertising industry veteran with over 40 years at the most prestigious agencies on Madison Avenue. Featured in Fortune, Black Enterprise, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and hand-selected by Spike Lee to co-found Spike/DDB, Mark brings shocking, eye-opening, and often unbelievable stories from inside one of America's least diverse white-collar professions. His groundbreaking book, Black on Madison Avenue, reveals the explosive reality behind the ad world's polished façade. Mark shares gripping and often humorous tales from his decades in the industry—including confrontations with military officials during a Venezuelan coup, clashes with international dignitaries, the kidnapping of an ad legend, and the creation of the first multicultural marketing holding company. This episode dives deep into: How Mark broke into the Madison Avenue elite Why the advertising industry remains one of the least diverse in America Behind-the-scenes stories Madison Avenue would rather keep hidden The personal experiences that shaped Black on Madison Avenue What real diversity and inclusion in advertising should look like How storytelling can disrupt an entire industry This conversation is a must-listen for anyone interested in advertising, cultural commentary, media history, or the lived experiences of Black professionals in corporate America. 📚 Order Black on Madison Avenue on Bookshop.org 👉 https://bookshop.org/a/10588/9781736621530 Mark Robinson Links ✅ Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Mark-Robinson/author/B0CSWJ7Q29 ✅ Black on Madison Avenue — Official Website: https://blackonmadisonavenue.com ✅ Author Website: https://markrobinson-writing.com/ (https://markrobinson-writing.com/) ✅ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mark_robinson.author/ ✅ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100091754917832 Hashtags #MarkRobinson #BlackOnMadisonAvenue #AdvertisingIndustry #MadisonAvenue #DiversityInAdvertising #InkBlotsPodcast #AuthorInterview #PublishingCommunity #AdvertisingStories #MulticulturalMarketing 📲 Follow and Share Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review Ink Blots: Author Interviews to help more readers and writers discover these amazing conversations. Are you a creative over 40 who's amazing at your craft—but totally overwhelmed by marketing? You're not alone. I help passionate, purpose-driven creatives like you overcome fear, get clear on your message, and build a marketing strategy that actually works. It's not too late to grow the business you've dreamed of. Let's take your work to the next level—together. Visit southgatesmallbusiness.com and let's get started today.

Who has been a guest on Ink Blots: Author Interviews

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• John Cohn
• Elizabeth S Devecchi
• Joey Powell
• James Kaine
• Viggy Parr Hampton

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

27,663

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Podcast Authority Score: 71 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

95

Social presence

94

YouTube

72

Engagement

0

Contact Ink Blots: Author Interviews

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

Questions about Ink Blots: Author Interviews