Reusable pattern: Why We Write Season 1

Katie Cotugno black and white author photo

Bestselling YA author & love junkie

In our inaugural podcast episode, New York Times best-selling author Katie Cotugno tells us about her messy, complicated, feminist love stories.

Listen to Katie Cotugno's podcast episode

Women, History, and The Weight of Ink with Rachel Kadish

The acclaimed author discusses her novel—a literary page-turner about two women living centuries apart.

Listen to Rachel Kadish's podcast episode

Searching for the real Shakespeare

In this episode of Why We Write, Cheryl Eagan-Donovan talks about her documentary, which posits that an A-list playboy was the real Shakespeare.

Listen to Cheryl Eagan-Donovan's podcast episode

Writing books for kids who don't read books

Best-selling author and Newbury Award honoree Jason Reynolds writes novels that are unfailingly compelling, compassionate, and timely with diverse characters.

Listen to Jason Reynolds' podcast episode

From the page to the stage

On the podcast, Jami Brandli discusses "making it" as a playwright, writing strong female characters, and her Greek mythology trilogy.

Listen to Jami Brandli's podcast episode

Scott Loring Sanders on Surviving Jersey

On the podcast, Sanders speaks about murder and mayhem in his home state, the advice he gives to young writers, and going on a police ride for his new novel.

Listen to Scott Loring Sanders' podcast episode

What an MFA in Creative Writing Can Do For You

If you've ever contemplated getting your MFA in Creative Writing, this is the Why We Write episode for you.

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Monster trucks and The Truth About Poop

Susan Goodman talks about her adventures as a writer and telling kids the truth in her books.

Listen to Susan Goodman's podcast episode

Watch Us Rise author Renée Watson

New York Times bestselling author, educator, and activist Renée Watson talks about her latest novel for teens and writing strong, black, female characters.

Listen to Renée Watson's podcast episode

Poetry for the broken spaces

Alumnus Enzo Silon Surin talks about his poetry, which gives voice to experiences that take place in the “broken spaces.”

Listen to Enzo Silon Surin's podcast episode

Recommending kids books

The educators behind The Classroom Bookshelf blog encourage teachers to try new and diverse books in their classrooms.

Listen to The Classroom Bookshelf podcast episode

Making hard science easy

On the Why We Write podcast, children's author and alumna Sara Levine ’06 talks about her lifelong love of science and the humanities.

Listen to Sara Levine's podcast episode

Chasing poetry with Jess Rizkallah

Jess Rizkallah first realized she wanted to 'chase poetry' as a Lesley undergrad. She writes about being a Lebanese-American woman, family, love, religion, and gender.

Listen to Jess Rizkallah's podcast episode

Dreaming about Joan of Arc

David Elliott tells us about washing pickles, singing opera, and writing a book that's been compared to Hamilton (yes, that Hamilton).

Listen to David Elliott's podcast episode

Risky memoir writing

Janet Pocorobba's new book, "The Fourth String: A Memoir of Sensei and Me," is both a biography of her leather jacket-wearing sensei and her own complicated experiences abroad.

Listen to Janet Pocorobba's podcast episode

Black and white photo of Fabiola Decius speaking into a microphone.

Teaching teens to WRITE

Playwright Fabiola Decius discusses her path to become a playwright and how she's teaching the next generation of theater enthusiasts.

Listen to Fabiola Decius's episode

Sara Farizan is 'Here to Stay'

Young adult author Sara Farizan talks about her new book on basketball and Islamophobia.

Listen to Sara Farizan's podcast episode

Richard Blanco looks at the camera and holds a book.

Poet Richard Blanco on 'How to Love a Country'

One of America's most popular poets explores family, place, and his Cuban-American identity with his latest book.

Listen to Richard Blanco's podcast episode

A memoir of family and the Holocaust

Caroline Heller's memoir explores not only her family's experiences during World War II, but also how the Holocaust affected her as the child of a concentration camp survivor.

Listen to Caroline Heller's podcast interview

A digital illustration of three adolescence racing down the sidewalk on bicycles, one with a speak bubble that says, "Go!"

Strange Fruit and forgotten black history

Artist Joel Christian Gill tells the stories of extraordinary black people from American history.

Listen to Joel Christian Gill's podcast episode

Self-publishing, ghost hunting lesbians, and Dolly Parton

Nicole Mello ’18 talks about the gumption it takes to call yourself a writer....plus advice from Dolly Parton.

Listen to Nicole Mello's podcast interview