Listen Now

Today's episode features writing about food and writing about space, objectively the two best kinds of writing. Marian Bull reads "In the Morning Kitchen," which was originally published in Lucky Peach, and Anthony Michael Morena reads from his book, The Voyager Record: A Transmission.  <3 CatapultPodcast.com // @CatapultPodcast

Two pieces set in New York City, with narrators trying to make sense of their present and their past—Zoe Rana Mungin reads her short story, "Never Get Married," and Lucas Mann reads from his memoir, Lord Fear, which is out in paperback now. ~review The Catapult in iTunes~ CatapultPodcast.com // @CatapultPodcast // The Trebuchet

Today we bring you readings from three excellent independent literary magazines: NOÖ, Synaesthesia, and Moss, with short prose from Ari Baum-Hommes, a poem from Tania Nwachukwu, and an excerpt from a short story from Corinne Manning.  ~review The Catapult in iTunes~ CatapultPodcast.com

On today's episode: a mother tries to reach her daughter, a woman tries to make sense of a stranger in town, and some extraordinarily exuberant love poems. Readings from Lynn Steger Strong (Hold Still), Sasha Fletcher (It Is Going To Be A Good Year), and Kaitlyn Greenidge (We Love You, Charlie Freeman). Also discussed: The Tournament of Books! ~review The Catapult in iTunes~ CatapultPodcast.com // @CatapultPodcast // The Trebuchet

Three readings on the moments when our bodies and lives surprise us and betray us, in ways common and seemingly supernatural. Kerry Cullen reads her short story, "Unidentifiable," A. Igoni Barrett reads from his novel, Blackass (on sale March 1) and Sara Majka reads an excerpt from her collection, Cities I've Never Lived In (on sale now). ~review The Catapult in iTunes~ CatapultPodcast.com // @CatapultPodcast // The Trebuchet

This is not a Valentine's Day episode. But it is inappropriate for workplace listening, inappropriate for children, inappropriate for tender souls—wait, it's exactly right for tender souls. (Isn't all art?) Tony Tulathimutte and Belinda McKeon read from their new novels: on desire, longing, lust, shame, loneliness, family, and, yes, love. And porn.  ~review The Catapult in iTunes~ CatapultPodcast.com // @CatapultPodcast // The Trebuchet

Let's call this our Translation Special! Pulitzer Prize–winner Gregory Pardlo reads his essay, "On Translation," and poet/translators KT Billey and Anna Rosenwong read their translated work. ~review The Catapult in iTunes~ CatapultPodcast.com // @CatapultPodcast // The Trebuchet

After some discussion of reading that can change your life, two readings about life in huge moments of change: marriage, death, love. Cara Parks reads an essay and Paul Lisicky reads the opening of his new book, The Narrow Door: A Memoir of Friendship (on sale January 19). ~review The Catapult in iTunes~ CatapultPodcast.com // @CatapultPodcast // The Trebuchet

The many ages of man. And girl. And mothers. And bodies. It's all terrifying and hilarious. Helen Ellis reads a story from her collection, American Housewife, out January 12, and Michael Ian Black reads the introduction to his new book of essays, Navel Gazing: True Tales of Bodies, Mostly Mine (But Also My Mom's, Which I Know Sounds Weird), which is on sale now. ~review The Catapult in iTunes~ CatapultPodcast.com // @CatapultPodcast // The Trebuchet

Two Joshes for the price of a free podcast today! Josh Fruhlinger reads from his novel, The Enthusiast, and Josh Gondelman reads from his humor book, You Blew It, which he co-wrote with non-Josh Joe Berkowitz. ~review The Catapult in iTunes~ CatapultPodcast.com // @CatapultPodcast // The Trebuchet

Sailboats, witches, fathers, beer, red wine, tequila, and supplications to the power of Death: new nonfiction from Kea Krause and Alex Mar. Alex's book, Witches of America, is on sale now. ~review The Catapult in iTunes~ CatapultPodcast.com // @CatapultPodcast // The Trebuchet

Six short stories for the price of one (episode). Weird, whimsical, horrific, romantic—tiny containers make room for some of the strangest, most wonderful things. With Rahawa Haile and Lincoln Michel. ~review The Catapult in iTunes~ Note: Due to a technical error (a hard drive falling on the floor) there is no outtro music on this episode. Please keep the hard drive in your thoughts and prayers so that there may be outtro music again on future episodes. CatapultPodcast.com // @CatapultPodcast // The Trebuchet

Today we celebrate The Oyster Review, home to great essays about great books: reviews, personal essays, celebrations, and explorations. Vivian Lee on karaoke, Myles Tanzer on subway survival, and Miranda Popkey on escape. And all of them on books. Review The Catapult in iTunes CatapultPodcast.com // @CatapultPodcast // The Trebuchet

Two readings from two writers with brand new books: Emily Holleman reads from her new novel, Cleopatra's Shadows, and Maris Kreizman, author of Slaughterhouse: 90210, reads an essay about finding her path and her voice in NYC. And now it's time for the raffle! For a chance to win a copy of Cleopatra's Shadows, tweet a link to your favorite episode of The Catapult with the hashtag #CatapultPodcast before 11:59pm EST October 18th. (Alongside the link, feel free to say why you think that episode is great!) Review The Catapult in iTunes CatapultPodcast.com // @CatapultPodcast // The Trebuchet

From two great storytellers, two great essays, about love, teaching, New York City, and the things we do to lose ourselves or find ourselves. Tim Manley reads "Wearing My Heart on My Hand," and Molly McCloy reads "Eating East Elmhurst." Review The Catapult in iTunes CatapultPodcast.com // @CatapultPodcast // The Trebuchet

Poet Robin Beth Schaer reads from her collection, Shipbreaking, and playwright Sarah Ruhl reads essays from her book, 100 Essays I Don't Have Time to Write: On Umbrellas and Sword Fights, Parades and Dogs, Fire Alarms, Children, and Theater.  CatapultPodcast.com // @CatapultPodcast // The Trebuchet

The first in a sporadic series of readings collected from early in our archives: three poetry readings from the first year of The Catapult. With: mermaids, aliens, new geometries, neurological disorders, remarkable women, rejection, porn, eating meat, and the color of the stars. **Also note: Our website is now CatapultPodcast.com, and our twitter is now @CatapultPodcast. Everything will redirect, but for new followers and/or talking to us on twitter.**

What's the mythology driving your world? From family stories to fairy tales, classic movies to Food Network stars—on this episode, Adrienne Celt reads from her novel, The Daughters, and Jason Diamond reads his essay, "Bleach." CatapultReads.com // @CatapultReads // The Trebuchet

Both of today's readings come from novels that take their characters to foreign places: in Rebecca Dinerstein's The Sunlit Night, it's arctic Norway, and in Edan Lepucki's California, it's the wilderness of a world falling apart. The Sunlight Night is in bookstores now, and California is newly out in paperback. CatapultReads.com // @CatapultReads // The Trebuchet

On this episode, we bring you two different versions of lost and found: Jaya Saxena reads her essay, "Looking the Part," about trying to find a clear identity, and Molly McArdle reads from her novel in progress, Geography, with an excerpt about a boy lost on a city bus, and what he finds in the aftermath. CatapultReads.com // @CatapultReads // The Trebuchet