Writing Forward

Jeff Oloizia

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?

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15 episodes
weekly
Avg 38 min
English

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Sunday · 17 min
Bonus Episode! Jane Rotonda previews the Wisconsin Book Festival
Writing Forward previews the Wisconsin Book Festival's 25th Annual Fall Celebration with Festival Director Jane Rotonda. Presented by Madison Public Library in partnership with the Madison Public Library Foundation, the Wisconsin Book Festival celebrates 25 years this fall with four days of free author events across downtown Madison, October 15–18, 2026. Hosted by Jeff Oloizia, Writing Forward is a conversation show exploring what keeps Wisconsin writers moving forward, one word at a time. This season of Writing Forward is presented by Leopold’s Books Bar Caffè. Located in Madison, Leopold’s is a night-owl-friendly bookstore, bar and coffee shop, offering espresso drinks, craft cocktails, and beer alongside a superbly curated selection of books. All season long, Writing Forward listeners get 20% off books in Leopold’s local section — just tell your bookseller you listen to the show. If you like what you hear, follow Writing Forward on Instagram and Substack.
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S2 · E2
October 7 · 37 min
Ep. 12: Sadia Hassan on what we carry forward — and leave behind
Writing Forward welcomes poet and essayist Sadia Hassan, author of "Enumeration" (Akashic Books, 2020), selected by Kwame Dawes and Chris Abani as part of the African Poetry Fund chapbook series. In this episode, Sadia talks about coming to (and leaving) Wisconsin, the places and people that make a home, what gets carried across generations, and the role of poetry in bearing witness to what might otherwise be lost. 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. Theme music by The Lola Hombre. This season of Writing Forward is presented by Leopold’s Books Bar Caffè. Located in Madison, Leopold’s is a night-owl-friendly bookstore, bar and coffee shop, offering espresso drinks, craft cocktails, and beer alongside a superbly curated selection of books. All season long, Writing Forward listeners get 20% off books in Leopold’s local section — just tell your bookseller you listen to the show. If you like what you hear, follow Writing Forward on Instagram and Substack.
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S2 · E1
September 30 · 45 min
Ep. 11: Nickolas Butler on the other side of success
Writing Forward welcomes Nickolas Butler, author of the internationally bestselling, prize-winning novel “Shotgun Lovesongs” and the redemptive love story “A Forty Year Kiss,” as well as four other works of fiction. In this episode, Nick discusses the rough patch that followed the success of his debut, the part of writing he doesn’t think AI can touch, and why being a Brewers fan doesn’t stop him from appreciating the Cubs. 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. Theme music by The Lola Hombre. This season of Writing Forward is presented by Leopold’s Books Bar Caffè. Located in Madison, Leopold’s is a night-owl-friendly bookstore, bar and coffee shop, offering espresso drinks, craft cocktails and beer alongside a superbly curated selection of books. All season long, Writing Forward listeners get 20% off books in Leopold’s local section — just tell your bookseller you listen to the show. If you like what you hear, follow Writing Forward on Instagram and Substack.
- Transcript
September 23 · 1 min
Coming Soon: Writing Forward Season 2
Writing Forward is back! Get ready for a fresh season of Wisconsin-connected writers, including Nickolas Butler, Sadia Hassan and Michael Perry. Writing Forward is a weekly podcast featuring candid conversations with writers connected to Wisconsin. Named for the state’s motto, “Forward,” the show explores what keeps writers going, one word at a time. Hosted by Jeff Oloizia. Produced by Anya van Wagtendonk. New episodes every Wednesday. Subscribe now.
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July 8 · 44 min
Ep. 10: Nicholas Gulig
In the season one finale, Writing Forward welcomes former Wisconsin poet laureate Nicholas Gulig, author of the acclaimed poetry collections "The Other Altar" and "Orient." Nick reflects on growing up in Minneapolis's punk scene, why moving his family to Wisconsin initially felt like a mistake, how poetry can become a salve for grief, and its power to help us see the familiar in new ways. Along the way, he explains why everyone should listen to John Coltrane's "A Love Supreme." Watch Nick's PBS Wisconsin series "Welcome Poets." Writing Forward is a conversation show exploring what keeps writers shaped by Wisconsin 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 and Substack.
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S1 · E9
July 1 · 48 min
Ep. 9: Nate Marshall
Writing Forward welcomes Nate Marshall, author of the acclaimed poetry collections "Wild Hundreds," winner of the Agnes Lynch Starrett Prize, and "Finna," praised by Roxane Gay as "elegantly and precisely crafted" and "full of realness about Blackness, masculinity, family, and Chicago." In this episode, Nate reflects on growing up in a house full of women, how masculinity became one of the central questions of his work, what it means to build a sense of home in a new place, and why paying close attention has always been at the heart of his writing. Along the way, he talks about Chicago and Madison, fatherhood, Alzheimer's as a "poetic-ass disease," and the stories we inherit — and rewrite — for ourselves. Writing Forward is a conversation show exploring what keeps writers shaped by Wisconsin 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 and Substack.
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June 24 · 50 min
Ep. 8: Dantiel W. Moniz
Writing Forward welcomes Dantiel W. Moniz, author of the acclaimed story collection "Milk Blood Heat," 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 and Substack.
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S1 · E7
June 17 · 41 min
Ep. 7: Tamara Saviano
Writing Forward welcomes Tamara Saviano, cultural historian, Grammy Award-winning music producer, and author of the books "Poets and Dreamers: My Life in Americana Music," "The Most Beautiful Girl: A True Story of a Dad, a Daughter and the Healing Power of Music," and "Without Getting Killed or Caught: The Life and Music of Guy Clark," 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 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 and Substack.
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June 10 · 46 min
Ep. 6: Christina Clancy
Writing Forward welcomes Christina Clancy, author of the novels "The Second Home," "Shoulder Season," and "The Snowbirds," 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" (The New York Times Modern Love) "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 and Substack.
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#5
June 3 · 45 min
Ep. 5: Liam Callanan
Writing Forward welcomes Liam Callanan, author of the novels "The Cloud Atlas," "Paris by the Book," "When in Rome," and the forthcoming nonfiction book "Stone Age Astronaut: The Astonishing Adventures of America's Forgotten Flier" (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 Chippewa Valley Book Festival Red Oak Writing AllWriters Workplace & Workshop Cornerstone Press Woodland Pattern Arts + Literature Laboratory 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 and Substack.
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#4
May 27 · 38 min
Ep. 4: Chloe Benjamin
Writing Forward welcomes Chloe Benjamin, author of the novels "The Anatomy of Dreams," the New York Times bestseller "The Immortalists," and the forthcoming "Under Story," 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. 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 and Substack.
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May 20 · 50 min
Ep. 3: Melissa Faliveno
Writing Forward welcomes Melissa Faliveno, author of the novel “Hemlock” and the essay collection “Tomboyland,” 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” by Matt Bell “A Swim in a Pond in the Rain” 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 and Substack.
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May 13 · 51 min
Ep. 2: Maggie Ginsberg
Writing Forward welcomes Maggie Ginsberg, author of the award-winning novel Still True 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 and Substack.
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S1 · E1
May 6 · 54 min
Ep. 1: Barrett Swanson
Our inaugural Writing Forward guest is Barrett Swanson: Harper's Magazine contributor, author of the essay collection 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, 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 and Substack.
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May 1 · 2 min
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.
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