eMerge Unchained

Interview: John Dorroh

In this episode of eMerge Unchained, host Aubrey Green fights tech issues to talk with poet John Dorroh about what poetry means to him, writing in the bathroom with bright red lipstick, overachieving, and how to find places to submit work. John shares about how poetry has been a healing force for him, and how finding a poetry partner at a funeral party (yes, you read that right) changed his writing life. Come listen as John explains what a poetry partner does, why everyone should have one, and then name-drops a list of journals he thinks you should be submitting to, as well as a few he hopes to make it into one day. Send us Fan Mail Support the show Find Us Online At https://emerge-magazine.com

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Interview: Catherine Buercklin

In this episode of eMerge Unchained, host Aubrey Green and Arkansas writer Catherine Buercklin talk cats, spiders, the value of community, and the Woody Barlow Poetry Contest, including a reading of Catherine’s award-winning poem, Orb Weaver. They also explore the magic found in rituals, habits, and the small things in life that often go overlooked, a passion that led Catherine to start her own podcast leading people in this practice of slowing down and celebrating seasons. Join Aubrey and Catherine as they ponder the magic in the water of the creative spaces of Hot Springs and Eureka Springs, Arkansas, including a shot-out to the host of Hot Springs’ Wednesday Night Poetry. Mentioned In This Episode The Hot Springs Poetry Festival https://hspf.org/ Wed Night Poetry: the longest running open mic https://www.hotsprings.org/events/wednesday-night-poetry/ The Slow Season podcast - wherever you get podcasts https://theslowseason.podbean.com/ Send us Fan Mail Support the show Find Us Online At https://emerge-magazine.com

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Interview: Jessica Cloud

In this episode of eMerge Unchained, host Aubrey Green joins poet and nonprofit fundraising consultant, Jessica Nino Cloud, and the conversation quickly goes off in unexpected directions. They discuss their shared Southern upbringing, the deep conflicting feelings that come with growing up in the region, and how the nation as a whole processes (or doesn’t process) trauma. Jessica talks about the importance of being spiritually honest, balancing poetry with her more analytical day job, and what might be the healthiest perspective on when to write and when to rest. Come hear Jessica and Aubrey laugh, get serious, and give a shout-out to the poet who keeps pulling others into the craft. Mentioned in this Episode: https://emerge-magazine.com/author/jessica-cloud/ Send us Fan Mail Support the show Find Us Online At https://emerge-magazine.com

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Interview: Baylee Nichols

In this episode of eMerge Unchained, host Aubrey Green sits down with writer and fellow magazine editor, Baylee Nichols as they bond over the struggles both authors submitting and editors choosing submissions have in common. They also offer tips for submitting to journals and magazines, talk about how themes can make the process easier or harder, and list some open submissions dates to be aware of. They also go off on a tangent about the role age and experience can play in the writing and submissions process. Join Aubrey and Baylee as they reminisce about creative writing classes, critiquing, and the benefits of having rules, no matter how hard they might be to adhere to. You can find Baylee at: The Belladonna Garden Literary Magazine Website Instagram @bdg.lit Her eMerge Author Profile Check Out the Most Recent eMerge Issue At: https://emerge-magazine.com Send us Fan Mail Support the show Find Us Online At https://emerge-magazine.com

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Interview: Sydney Pruett

In this episode of eMerge Unchained, host Aubrey Green sits down with writer, licensed therapist, and author consultant, Sydney Pruett as she shares her summer writing projects, her involvement with the Poetry Society of Oklahoma, and how her lived experience with disabilities shapes both her creative work and her approach to helping authors write authentic characters respectfully. She also offers a glimpse into consulting with a bestselling author and some advice every writer can use. So listen in as Aubrey and Sydney laugh about the struggles of making time to write and look forward to an upcoming speaking engagement they’re both attending. Send us Fan Mail Support the show Find Us Online At https://emerge-magazine.com

Interview: Kelley Morris

In this episode of eMerge Unchained, host Aubrey Green sits down with poet, children’s book author, and friend, Kelley Morris as they bounce from poetry forms to conferences to what poets they’re currently reading (there is one collection they have in common). Together, they explore the magic of imagination, the lost art of finding shapes in the clouds, and the experiences that first drew Kelley to poetry. She also opens up about the challenges of submitting work, the intimidating nature of the open mic, and the courage it takes to share your writing with others. Join Aubrey and Kelley for a celebration of collaboration, imagination, and the simple joy of creating. Send us Fan Mail Support the show Find Us Online At https://emerge-magazine.com

Interview: A'Ja Lyons

In this episode of eMerge Unchained, host Aubrey Green sits down with A’Ja Lyons PhD, student, poet, and storyteller, as they explore the magic of place and how land and family ties effect people years and generations later. They dig into the need to write carefully about regions, as well how getting away from certain places can make it easier—or harder—to write those stories. A’Ja also turns the tables and asks Aubrey about her own writing and favorite authors to read before they bond over how they’ve used writing to process personal loss. So settle into a conversation that begs listeners to get outside and to be more empathetic readers. Enjoy this time spent with Aubrey and A’Ja Lyons. Send us Fan Mail Support the show Find Us Online At https://emerge-magazine.com

Interview: Maryfrances Wagner

In this episode of eMerge Unchained, host Aubrey Green sits down with poet and co-editor of the I-70 Review, Maryfrances Wagner. They put their editor hats on and share the one thing they wish people knew when work gets rejected, and Maryfrances offers the single best piece of advice when submitting to a magazine or journal for the first time. She reflects on the influence of her poetic family, as well as the inspiration her Italian heritage has brought to her own writing journey. She admonishes poets to never talk down to their readers, to be mindful of both how and what they write, and even shares the subject she finds hardest to approach herself. Join Aubrey and Maryfrances as they talk about turkey vultures, politics, and why, even as language changes, the elements of a good poem remain the same. Send us Fan Mail Support the show Find Us Online At https://emerge-magazine.com

Interview: Angela Mateus

In this episode of eMerge Unchained, host Aubrey Green sits down with Angela Mateus, director of the Writers’ Colony at Dairy Hollow, to talk about the magic that happens when writers get together with other writers. From unforgettable dinners to the deep connections that can form in just a few days, Angela reflects on why kindness—not competition—is the foundation of the colony experience. A neurodivergent poet who writes in multiple languages, Angela shares how her perspective has become an advantage both in her own work and in building community for others, many of whom also share a neurodivergent bent. Along the way, Aubrey gets excited about the possibilities from a partnership between the magazine and the colony to connecting with young writers from local universities and schools. Join Aubrey and Angela as they talk about artistic minds, the challenge of making space for the creative, and the places that leave a lasting mark. Send us Fan Mail Support the show Find Us Online At https://emerge-magazine.com

Interview: Ken Hada

In this episode of eMerge Unchained, host Aubrey Green sits down with poet and longtime educator Ken Hada for a conversation shaped by four decades in the classroom. With a firm belief that there’s no such thing as passive learning, Ken reflects on the energy of an engaged audience—whether he’s teaching or reading his work—and what it means to “dance” with the audience. They talk about finding and owning your voice, not just in performance, but on the page, where it really matters. Ken shares how his early failed fiction fragments revealed themselves as poetry, and why writers don’t always need to know when something is good, but they need to recognize when it isn’t. He emphasizes knowing why you make the choices you do and creating layered work that transcends time, place, and even writer. So join Aubrey and Ken as they explore voice, craft, and the kind of writing that stays with you. Send us Fan Mail Support the show Find Us Online At https://emerge-magazine.com

Interview: Michael Howarth

In this episode of eMerge Unchained, host Aubrey Green sits down with writer and academic Michael Howarth for a wide-ranging conversation about research, storytelling, and the unexpected places horror shows up. From using AI in the classroom (to expose its flaws) to tracing the gothic thread running through American history and children’s media, Michael brings both curiosity and humor to the craft of writing. Aubrey and Michael dig into the realities of research—why it takes time, but how it strengthens both critical texts and fiction. They explore why a flexible outline that can evolve along the way is better, the value of beta readers, and how to keep an audience on their toes by refusing to write the same old thing. Along the way, they even make space for zombies and explore why horror can be more nurturing for children than we might think. Join Aubrey and Michael for a conversation that blends craft, curiosity, and a love of sabbaticals. Send us Fan Mail Support the show Find Us Online At https://emerge-magazine.com

Interview: Hilka West-Irvin

In this episode of eMerge Unchained, host Aubrey Green sits down with poet and artist Hilka West-Irvin for a conversation about solitude, creativity, and the strange pull of place. From growing up feeling like an odd child to finding a home in the magic of Eureka Springs, Arkansas, Hilka reflects on the winding path that led her there. As a Minnesota transplant navigating recent events, she opens up about finding community and the freedom that comes with it—the kind that allows you to be fully yourself without apology. They explore how human behavior and the inner workings of the brain shape artistic expression, and why writing remains one of the best ways to make sense of it all. They also take a closer look at people watching, and how this simple act has changed in an age shaped by technology and social media. So join Aubrey and Hilka as they talk about the many sources of creative inspiration and the magic that happens when you find a place—and people—that let you belong. Send us Fan Mail Support the show Find Us Online At https://emerge-magazine.com

Interview: Margaret Lee

In this episode of eMerge Unchained, host Aubrey Green sits down with Margaret Lee to talk about what happens when writing collides with the realities of publishing. From struggling through translations to arguing with a major publishing house and watching a project nearly derail just days before it's due, Margaret shares behind-the-scenes frustrations and what gives her the persistence to keep going. The conversation also wanders through the mystery and magic of storytelling. They discuss how some ideas naturally want to become poems while others demand prose, and how different art forms like poetry and painting can inform one another. Margaret reflects on the shift from academic writing to poetry, how writing can become a way to think through difficult experiences, and why she sees writing reviews not as critique, but as a way of celebrating other poets and exploring their work. Join Aubrey and Margaret as they talk about fueling the imagination by trying difficult things, the surprising importance of hobbies, and the creative courage it takes to trust the process—even when the path forward isn’t clear. Send us Fan Mail Support the show Find Us Online At https://emerge-magazine.com

Interview: Durell Carter

In this episode of eMerge Unchained, host Aubrey Green sits down with Durell Carter, poet, short story writer, and teacher empowering high school students. They discuss the challenges of preforming compared to simply writing, and the dangers of working a gas station during a police sting. Durell shares about his time in the Red Dirt MFA program and how that was a pivotal period in both his life and writing journey. Coming to poetry only after years of writing stories, he recounts the importance of clever teachers pulling him out of his comfort zone and the importance of using grounded, everyday language in his poems. Listen as they talk about how formative the early years can be, commiserate over rejection letters, notice the tingles that come from having work published, and the importance of community no matter where you are in your literary life. Send us Fan Mail Support the show Find Us Online At https://emerge-magazine.com

Interview: Jennifer Sneed

In this episode of eMerge Unchained, host Aubrey Green laughs with author Jennifer Sneed about the secret struggles of the children’s book industry, from the enormous age range (13-18 years old) YA is expected to serve to the reality that board book writers face—their work will literally be consumed by their audience. Together, they talk about what really changes when writing for middle grade readers versus adults, what never changes at all, and why character is always at the center of good storytelling. Jennifer also shares some of her favorite authors, explains why she keeps returning to children’s literature, and opens up about aiming big with her latest short story submissions. So join them as they gush over the Thursday Murder Club books and learn why the SCBWI might have the worst name for one of the best communities out there. Send us Fan Mail Support the show Find Us Online At https://emerge-magazine.com

Interview: Nikki Hanna

In this information-packed episode of eMerge Unchained, host Aubrey Green sits down with powerhouse writer and long-time eMerge supporter, Nikki Hanna, whose experience and audacity has been delighting readers for more than a decade. Novelists and storytellers of all experience levels will learn something new as she talks candidly about how to find joy and purpose in writing, mastering "authorship," and what her favorite part of the processes is. While she loves writing, Nikki admits teaching is her true passion, and she eagerly shares advice on everything from what to include, or not include, in a memoir to how long to expect the revisions process of a novel to take (spoiler: you may not like it). Join them as Aubrey and Nikki Hanna sip tea and compare editing techniques, favorite words, and their thoughts on Stephen King. Send us Fan Mail Support the show Find Us Online At https://emerge-magazine.com

The 2025 Year End Review with Charles Templeton

In this episode of eMerge Unchained, host Aubrey Green talks with Charles Templeton about a year of ups and downs, the unexpected joys of good conversation, and why cursive writing still matters. Along the way, they touch on why poets tend to be such thoughtful conversationalists and what it means to slow down and really pay attention to words. Charles also shares his love of research and some of the discoveries he made while working on his latest book. He reflects on the resilience of the people who helped shape the country we know today and offers a gentle challenge to keep writing through the holiday season. Along the way the conversation includes a look ahead to what’s coming in 2026, including conferences, festivals, contests, and upcoming issues of eMerge, both online and in print. So grab a warm beverage, settle in, and enjoy another episode of the eMerge Unchained podcast. Send us Fan Mail Support the show Find Us Online At https://emerge-magazine.com

Interview: Paul Juhasz

In this episode of eMerge Unchained, host Aubrey Green sits down with writer and professor Paul Juhasz for a candid and often darkly funny conversation about storytelling, teaching, and survival. Paul talks about his upcoming poetry collection Catabasis, a descent through despair toward unexpected light, and how decades of living with bipolar depression uniquely prepared him to guide others through modern disillusionment. He also shares glimpses into his sprawling new novel-in-progress, where a hitman’s moral reckoning mirrors the violence and sacrifice embedded in parenthood. From the classroom to the page, Paul reflects on the power of humor in healing, the courage of memoir, and the strange grace that comes from giving words to trauma. The conversation ranges from the ethics of AI in education to the importance of trusting an idea to take its own form. Raw, reflective, and often unexpectedly hilarious, this episode captures the heart of a writer who believes in art’s ability to confront darkness, find connection, and keep going — one story at a time. Send us Fan Mail Support the show Find Us Online At https://emerge-magazine.com

Interview: Simóne J. Banks

In this episode of eMerge Unchained, guest host Aubrey Green sits down with poet, writer, and eco-poetic thinker Simóne J. Banks, whose work listens deeply to land, to lineage, and to the living world. Banks discusses her lifelong relationship with poetry. Inspired by Sonia Sanchez and Nikki Giovanni and expanded through her current explorations into Black ecologies, water, land loss, and ancestral landscapes, Banks offers an intimate glimpse into her creative process, from treating the blank page as a collaborator to honoring the emotional architecture of grief, change, and the color blue. Banks also reflects on the tension between emotional depth and technical precision, the influence of environmental justice on her work, and the quiet haunting of truth that threads through both her poetry and fiction. Whether she’s writing about hurricanes, disappearing coastlines, or what it means to “be care-full” in a broken world, Simone writes as if every word, like every seed, is an offering. Send us Fan Mail Support the show Find Us Online At https://emerge-magazine.com

Interview: Martin Perlman

In this episode of eMerge Unchained, host Chad Gurley speaks with writer Martin Perlman about the art and discipline of storytelling — from first drafts and rewrites to the quiet power of subtext. Together, they explore how dialogue reveals character, how tension often lives in what’s left unsaid, and why rewriting isn’t just editing but rediscovery. Martin reflects on the writer’s process — letting imagination lead, finding rhythm in revision, and embracing the mysterious way characters seem to arrive unannounced. The conversation also turns to the writer’s mindset: slowing down in a fast world, writing with curiosity instead of agenda, and staying open to surprise. Full of warmth, humor, and hard-earned wisdom, this episode reminds us that writing isn’t only about what’s on the page — it’s about the persistence, patience, and play that shape the storyteller behind it. Send us Fan Mail Support the show Find Us Online At https://emerge-magazine.com