Nonfiction

5Q Interview: University of Iowa Press Author Aidan Ryan
Monday, June 2, 2025
"I gave Cindy's eulogy—I was 18 years old—and the job never quite felt finished."

5Q Interview: Heidie Senseman, MFA Candidate in the Nonfiction Writing Program
Wednesday, May 21, 2025
"I’m working on a collection of essays about faith, art, and conversion—more specifically, about the way devotional art can act as a sort of vehicle for “translating” religious ideas into a vocabulary that’s more hospitable to secular audiences."
5Q Interview: Bethany Kaylor, MFA candidate in the Nonfiction Writing Program
Wednesday, May 14, 2025
"Giving myself permission to experiment with something new—like writing an essay in the form of dictionary entries modeled after Bob Flanagan's The Book of Medicine—is so exciting and invigorating."

5Q Interview: Grace Morse, MFA candidate in the Nonfiction Writing Program
Monday, April 7, 2025
"I am a near-daily journal-er; it's my precious, private place. Writing at night is akin to glory for me these days, and I love to light candles and enter my body in an extra-intentional way."

5Q Interview: Spencer Lane Jones, an MFA candidate in the Nonfiction Writing Program
Monday, February 10, 2025
"I became an early bird writer because I had to be, and it hasn't really left my body."

Sad Me of the Past // Episode 6: Joe Fassler
Tuesday, August 6, 2024
"I mean this book took me more than 10 years -- I started it while I was at Iowa!" We discuss his journey from apathetic high school student to a highly recognized journalist and author, as well his tips, tricks and inspiration for aspiring writers everywhere.

Sad Me of the Past // Episode 5: Nam Le
Tuesday, July 16, 2024
"There was a term that I heard somewhere used, just the other day, and she said "I'm in my gathering phase." Have you guys heard that? Is that a term of art over here?" Nam takes us on his writer's journey -- from a law firm in Australia to the Iowa Writers' Workshop in Iowa City.

Sad Me of the Past // Episode 3: Carmen Maria Machado
Tuesday, April 2, 2024
"My godmother gave me stationary -- it was jungle themed stationary that had my name, it was customized -- and I would write stories and send them to publishers."

Sad Me of the Past // Episode 2: Rachel Yoder
Wednesday, February 7, 2024
In today's podcast, novelist Rachel Yoder discusses her wild experience adapting Nightbitch to a soon-to-be-released feature film starring Amy Adams.