Today’s guest is Paula Whyman, author of the collection You May See a Stranger, which received a starred review in Publishers Weekly. Her new book Bad Naturalist: One Woman’s Ecological Education on a Wild Virginia Mountaintop is a blend of memoir, natural history, and conservation science. Her writing has appeared in myriad outlets, and she was co-founder and editor in chief of the literary journal Scoundrel Time. Paula and I discuss the story behind the story of her new memoir, and her real time training as a contemporary naturalist. Her book, filled with vivid descriptions of plants, insects, and one woman’s battle/love affair with seemingly everything that grows, flies, lives, and dies, is highly recommended, perhaps especially for anyone looking for a positive distraction from the chaotic “inner space” of today’s sociopolitical reality. I learned a great deal about everything from invasive species to non-native plants, all of which seem to mirror present discussions about immigration, identity, and ownership. Paula is not only a wonderful writer, but patient and passionate tour guide, and her words will resonate with outdoor enthusiasts and those with less green thumbs. We also talked about craft, teaching, the rewards and burdens of running a literary magazine, the solace of nature and the inspiration of one’s imagination. Inevitably, we also touched on the importance of community and the responsibility of being a good literary citizen.

Learn more about Paula’s work at https://paulawhyman.com

Award-winning author Sean Murphy in conversation with creative thinkers, spanning the literary, music, art, politics, and tech industries. As a cultural critic, professor, founder of a literary non-profit, Sean is always looking to explore and celebrate the ways Story is integral to how we define ourselves, as artists and human beings. This Substack newsletter and weekly podcast peels back the layers of how creativity works, why it matters, how our most brilliant minds achieve mastery. Join us to explore how our most successful and inspired storytellers engage by discussing craft, routines, brand, and mostly through authentic and honest expression.

Website: seanmurphy.net
Substack: seanmurphy.live
Twitter: @bullmurph
Instagram: @bullmurph
Facebook: facebook.com/AuthorSeanMurphy
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sean-murphy-4986b41

Today’s guest is my longtime friend and colleague, Dr. Shawn DuBravac. Shawn is author of the New York Times bestseller Digital Destiny: How the New Age of Data Will Transform the Way We Work, Live, and Communicate. An economist, futurist, tech analyst, and public speaker, Shawn has always been my go-to guy when I want to better understand emerging technologies, or make necessary connections between what’s happening today to understand—and predict—what might happen tomorrow. Shawn is one of the most intelligent, curious, and charismatic people I know, and I’ve seldom encountered anyone who can talk effortlessly about complex issues in such a conversational, accessible way. This, of course, is a tremendous skill, and Shawn has been polishing his portfolio for decades. We, inevitably, get into the implications of AI, why our culture typically fears new innovations before embracing them, and how technology will impact everything from the classroom to the creative world. If you are really into tech or if you are looking for someone who can help make sense of a world that is quite literally changing, fast, each day, I can’t recommend anyone more highly than Dr. DuBravac!

Learn more about Shawn DuBravac at https://shawndubravac.com

Twitter: @shawndubravac

Award-winning author Sean Murphy in conversation with creative thinkers, spanning the literary, music, art, politics, and tech industries. As a cultural critic, professor, founder of a literary non-profit, Sean is always looking to explore and celebrate the ways Story is integral to how we define ourselves, as artists and human beings. This Substack newsletter and weekly podcast peels back the layers of how creativity works, why it matters, how our most brilliant minds achieve mastery. Join us to explore how our most successful and inspired storytellers engage by discussing craft, routines, brand, and mostly through authentic and honest expression.

Website: seanmurphy.net
Substack: seanmurphy.live
Twitter: @bullmurph
Instagram: @bullmurph
Facebook: facebook.com/AuthorSeanMurphy
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sean-murphy-4986b41