Writing Forward is a weekly podcast featuring candid conversations with writers from and connected to Wisconsin.
Hosted by writer and former New York Times editor Jeff Oloizia, the show explores craft, identity, and the challenges and rewards of building a writing life outside the traditional centers of the literary world. Across fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and journalism, each episode offers an honest look at what it takes to keep going — one word at a time.
At its heart, Writing Forward asks a simple question: What if the most vital stories are being written in the places we’re taught to overlook?
Ep. 16: Chad Harbach on the art of following up (LIVE!)
Host Jeff Oloizia interviews author Chad Harbach about the pressures of following up a bestseller and his return to a beloved fictional world.
28 Oct 2026TRANSCRIPT
Ep. 15: Michael Perry on the art of the hustle
Host Jeff Oloizia interviews New York Times bestselling author Michael Perry about his writing hustle, farming lessons, and the joy of crafting words.
21 Oct 2026TRANSCRIPT
Ep. 14: Carol Dunbar on writing off the grid
Host Jeff Oloizia interviews author Carol Dunbar about how living off the grid shapes her fiction and inspires creative work.
14 Oct 2026TRANSCRIPT
Ep. 13: David McGlynn on writing toward compassion
Host Jeff Oloizia interviews author David McGlynn about finding humanity in writing and the perseverance learned from swimming the English Channel.
11 Oct 2026TRANSCRIPT
Bonus Episode! Jane Rotonda previews the Wisconsin Book Festival
Host Jeff Oloizia interviews Festival Director Jane Rotonda about the Wisconsin Book Festival's upcoming 25th annual celebration.
7 Oct 2026TRANSCRIPT
Ep. 12: Sadia Hassan on what we carry forward — and leave behind
Host Jeff Oloizia interviews poet and essayist Sadia Hassan about the enduring impact of place, people, and poetry across generations.
30 Sept 2026TRANSCRIPT
Ep. 11: Nickolas Butler on the Other Side of Success
Host Jeff Oloizia interviews author Nickolas Butler about navigating post-success challenges and the enduring human element in writing.
23 Sept 2026TRANSCRIPT
Coming Soon: Writing Forward Season 2
Host Jeff Oloizia previews Season 2 of Writing Forward, featuring Wisconsin-connected writers like Nickolas Butler, Sadia Hassan, and Michael Perry.
8 Jul 2026TRANSCRIPT
Ep. 10: Nicholas Gulig
Host Jeff Oloizia interviews former Wisconsin poet laureate Nicholas Gulig about poetry's power to heal grief and reveal new perspectives.
1 Jul 2026TRANSCRIPT
Ep. 9: Nate Marshall
Host Jeff Oloizia interviews author Nate Marshall about masculinity, home, and the power of paying attention in his writing.
24 Jun 2026
Ep. 8: Dantiel W. Moniz
Writing Forward welcomes Dantiel W. Moniz (https://www.dantielwmoniz.com/), author of the acclaimed story collection "Milk Blood Heat," (https://bookshop.org/p/books/milk-blood-heat-dantiel-w-moniz/a2e0679d7b55627a?ean=9780802158154&next=t&next=t) which was shortlisted for the PEN/Jean Stein Award, the PEN/Robert W. Bingham Prize, and the New York Public Library Young Lions Fiction Award.
In this episode, Dantiel discusses why she chose Wisconsin over Iowa, the hard-won confidence that allowed her to embrace her authority as a storyteller, and how the loss of her mother reshaped both her life and her work.
Writing Forward is a conversation show exploring what keeps Wisconsin writers moving forward, one word at a time.
Hosted by Jeff Oloizia. Podcast production by Anya van Wagtendonk. If you like what you hear, follow Writing Forward on Instagram (https://instagram.com/writingforward) and Substack (https://writingforwardpod.substack.com/).
17 Jun 2026
Ep. 7: Tamara Saviano
Writing Forward welcomes Tamara Saviano (https://www.tamarasaviano.com/), cultural historian, Grammy Award-winning music producer, and author of the books "Poets and Dreamers: My Life in Americana Music," (https://www.tamupress.com/book/9781648433214/poets-and-dreamers/) "The Most Beautiful Girl: A True Story of a Dad, a Daughter and the Healing Power of Music," (https://www.tamarasaviano.com/store/p/the-most-beautiful-girl-a-true-story-of-a-dad-a-daughter-and-the-healing-power-of-music-ebook) and "Without Getting Killed or Caught: The Life and Music of Guy Clark," (https://www.tamupress.com/book/9781648430909/without-getting-killed-or-caught/) which won the Belmont Award from the International Country Music Conference.
In this episode, Tamara discusses her longtime friendship with Kris Kristofferson, how a dustup with Charlie Daniels got her blackballed by the country music establishment, and why an obscure book from the 1960s convinced her to move back to Wisconsin.
Watch (https://www.primevideo.com/detail/0GQOT45M545DQYQBUZBUSHU1CX) the documentary "Without Getting Killed or Caught."
Writing Forward is a conversation show exploring what keeps Wisconsin writers moving forward, one word at a time.
Hosted by Jeff Oloizia. Podcast production by Anya van Wagtendonk. If you like what you hear, follow Writing Forward on Instagram (https://instagram.com/writingforward) and Substack (https://writingforwardpod.substack.com/).
10 Jun 2026
Ep. 6: Christina Clancy
Writing Forward welcomes Christina Clancy, author of the novels "The Second Home," (https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250239617/thesecondhome/) "Shoulder Season," (https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250761507/shoulderseason/) and "The Snowbirds," (https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250284952/thesnowbirds/) a USA Today bestseller and one of People's Best New Books of February 2025.
In this episode, Christi discusses the similarities between writing and knitting, how publishing an essay in the New York Times' Modern Love column left her gun-shy, her evolving relationship to the idea of home, and more.
Essays by Christi mentioned in this episode:
"Revenge of the Friend" (https://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/27/fashion/27ModernLove.html) (The New York Times Modern Love)
"Lost Cause" (https://www.thesunmagazine.org/articles/22281-lost-cause) (The Sun)
Writing Forward is a conversation show exploring what keeps Wisconsin writers moving forward, one word at a time.
Hosted by Jeff Oloizia. Podcast production by Anya van Wagtendonk. If you like what you hear, follow Writing Forward on Instagram (https://instagram.com/writingforward) and Substack (https://writingforwardpod.substack.com/).
3 Jun 2026
Ep. 5: Liam Callanan
Writing Forward welcomes Liam Callanan, author of the novels "The Cloud Atlas," (https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/23032/the-cloud-atlas-by-liam-callanan/) "Paris by the Book," (https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/551237/paris-by-the-book-by-liam-callanan/) "When in Rome," (https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/666756/when-in-rome-by-liam-callanan/) and the forthcoming nonfiction book "Stone Age Astronaut: The Astonishing Adventures of America's Forgotten Flier" (https://boswellbooks.com/book/9781976600913) (Wisconsin Historical Society Press, September 1).
In this episode, Liam discusses meeting Pope Francis, why Milwaukee is the new Paris, how his 2023 Parkinson's diagnosis has changed his relationship with ambition, and more.
Wisconsin writing resources mentioned in this episode:
Write On Door County (https://writeondoorcounty.org/)
Chippewa Valley Book Festival (https://www.cvbookfest.org/)
Red Oak Writing (https://redoakwriting.com/)
AllWriters Workplace & Workshop (https://www.allwritersworkshop.com/)
Cornerstone Press (https://www3.uwsp.edu/english/cornerstone/Pages/CORNERSTONEPRESS.aspx)
Woodland Pattern (https://woodlandpattern.org/)
Arts + Literature Laboratory (https://artlitlab.org/)
Writing Forward is a conversation show exploring what keeps Wisconsin writers moving forward, one word at a time.
Hosted by Jeff Oloizia. Podcast production by Anya van Wagtendonk. If you like what you hear, follow Writing Forward on Instagram (https://instagram.com/writingforward) and Substack (https://writingforwardpod.substack.com/).
27 May 2026
Ep. 4: Chloe Benjamin
Writing Forward welcomes Chloe Benjamin (https://www.chloebenjaminbooks.com/), author of the novels "The Anatomy of Dreams," (https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Anatomy-of-Dreams/Chloe-Benjamin/Award-Winning-Fiction/9781982105037) the New York Times bestseller "The Immortalists," (https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/551044/the-immortalists-by-chloe-benjamin/) and the forthcoming "Under Story," (https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/723843/under-story-by-chloe-benjamin/) out September 1 from G.P. Putnam's Sons.
In this episode, Chloe discusses the challenges of pitching literary fiction, the ambitions behind "Under Story," how living with chronic migraines reshaped her relationship to time, and what it means to keep writing through uncertainty.
Read and subscribe to Chloe's newsletter (https://www.chloebenjaminbooks.com/newsletter).
Writing Forward is a conversation show exploring what keeps Wisconsin writers moving forward, one word at a time.
Hosted by Jeff Oloizia. Podcast production by Anya van Wagtendonk. If you like what you hear, follow Writing Forward on Instagram (https://instagram.com/writingforward) and Substack (https://writingforwardpod.substack.com/).
20 May 2026
Ep. 3: Melissa Faliveno
Writing Forward welcomes Melissa Faliveno (https://www.melissafaliveno.com/), author of the novel “Hemlock” (https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/melissa-faliveno/hemlock/9780316588195/) and the essay collection “Tomboyland,” (https://bookshop.org/p/books/tomboyland-essays-melissa-faliveno/dc5c194c3fc2e1f6) which was named one of the best books of 2020 by NPR, the New York Public Library, Electric Literature, and Debutiful.
In this episode, Melissa discusses writing from within communities and subcultures, the quiet grief of leaving home, and Midwestern weather as a love language.
Books on writing craft mentioned in this episode:
“Refuse to Be Done: How to Write and Rewrite a Novel in Three Drafts” (https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/688508/refuse-to-be-done-how-to-write-and-rewrite-a-novel-in-three-drafts-by-matt-bell/) by Matt Bell
“A Swim in a Pond in the Rain” (https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/609280/a-swim-in-a-pond-in-the-rain-by-george-saunders/) by George Saunders
Writing Forward is a conversation show exploring what keeps Wisconsin writers moving forward, one word at a time.
Hosted by Jeff Oloizia. Podcast production by Anya van Wagtendonk. If you like what you hear, follow Writing Forward on Instagram (https://instagram.com/writingforward) and Substack (https://writingforwardpod.substack.com/).
13 May 2026
Ep. 2: Maggie Ginsberg
Writing Forward welcomes Maggie Ginsberg (https://maggieginsberg.com/), author of the award-winning novel Still True (https://maggieginsberg.com/still-true-novel/) and the forthcoming Daisy Chain, due out in fall 2027 from Blackstone Publishing.
In this episode, Maggie discusses her transition from journalism to fiction; the realities of building a life as a published author; and the emotional whiplash of the publishing industry. She also reflects on ambition, sobriety, and how getting sober transformed both her writing process and her sense of creative identity.
Writing Forward is a conversation show, digging into what keeps Wisconsin writers moving forward, one word at a time.
Hosted by Jeff Oloizia. Podcast production by Anya van Wagtendonk. If you like what you hear, follow us on Instagram (https://instagram.com/writingforward) and Substack (https://writingforwardpod.substack.com/).
6 May 2026
Ep. 1: Barrett Swanson
Our inaugural Writing Forward guest is Barrett Swanson: Harper's Magazine contributor (https://harpers.org/author/barrettswanson/), author of the essay collection Lost in Summerland (https://www.counterpointpress.com/books/lost-in-summerland/), and assistant professor at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. His new book, Equipment for Living: Notes on Selfhood after the End of the World, is forthcoming from Atria/Simon & Schuster.
Barrett is also a co-founder of either/or (https://www.eitherormagazine.com/), a magazine of fiction, nonfiction and poetry published annually out of UW-Whitewater.
Writing Forward is a conversation show, digging into what keeps Wisconsin writers moving forward, one word at a time.
Hosted by Jeff Oloizia. Podcast production by Anya van Wagtendonk. If you like what you hear, follow us on Instagram (https://instagram.com/writingforward) and Substack (https://writingforwardpod.substack.com/).
1 May 2026
Writing Forward with Jeff Oloizia - Coming May 6th
Writing Forward is a weekly podcast featuring candid conversations with writers connected to Wisconsin, a state with a rich and often underrecognized literary tradition.
Hosted by writer and former New York Times editor Jeff Oloizia and named for the state’s motto, “Forward,” the show explores the idea of momentum — what keeps writers going and how a creative life takes shape beyond the traditional centers of the literary world.
Spanning fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and journalism, each episode offers an honest look at what it takes to keep going, one word at a time. At its heart, Writing Forward asks: What if the most vital stories are being written in the places we’re taught to overlook?
New episodes every Wednesday. Subscribe now, and don't miss Season 1, featuring Chloe Benjamin, Barrett Swanson, Christina Clancy, and more.
Who has been a guest on Writing Forward
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Chad Harbach
Michael Perry
Carol Dunbar
David McGlynn
Jane Rotonda
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
26 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
17 ratings
Contact Writing Forward
Guest appearances
Books guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
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