Best Devri Alice Podcasts (2025)

1
Poems by Fran Markover & Elizabeth Hamilton 8:34

24h ago8:34

8:34

Fran Markover reads her poem "Uncle Julius Gifts Me with Awe," and Elizabeth Hamilton reads her poem "Sunday at the SoCal Winery." Fran is a retired psychotherapist who lives in Ithaca, NY. Her poems have been published in many journals. She has a chapbook, and has published two books, History's Trail (Finishing Line Press) and Grandfather's Mandol…

1
The Sacrament of Silence by Layne Matthews Boles 34:10

4d ago34:10

34:10

Layne Matthews Boles reads her essay "The Sacrament of Silence." Layne holds an MFA from Seattle Pacific University in creative nonfiction, and is co-editor of Among Winter Cranes, the quarterly for the Christian Poetics Initiative (CPI) of the Rivendell Center for Theology and the Arts. While also working the front desk of a climbing gym, Layne en…

1
Poems by Jonathan Chibuike Ukah & Maryella Desak Sirmon 5:47

4d ago5:47

5:47

Jonathan Chibuike Ukah reads his poem "The Valley of the Living," and Maryella Desak Sirmon reads her poem "Uncertain Opposites." Jonathan Chibuike Ukah is a Pushcart-nominated poet living in the United Kingdom. His poems have been featured in TAB: The Journal of Poetry and Poetics, Unleash Lit, The Pierian, Propel Magazine, Atticus Review, The Jou…

1
Beulah Land by Corey Flintoff 21:58

11d ago21:58

21:58

Corey Flintoff reads his short story "Beulah Land" from our current Spring issue. Corey Flintoff is a former foreign correspondent for NPR. His fiction has appeared in the Virginia Quarterly Review, Glimmer Train, Ploughshares, and other journals.

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What If You Do Everything Right and the Book Launch Still Goes Wrong? with A.S. King 50:33

11d ago50:33

50:33

“It really broke my heart, actually. . . . For the rest of my life, it will break my heart.” A.S. King gets honest about what happened when the publishing industry failed her book. What happens after you edit your book? What happens after you’ve bared the story of your heart, crafted it into an excellent novel, and presented it to the world? What h…

1
Poems by Linda Laderman & Ryan Harper 6:55

15d ago6:55

6:55

Linda Laderman reads her poem "How you go on about the other woman," and Ryan Harper reads his poems "Atonia, Eve of St. Mark" and "Early Easter." Linda Laderman is a Michigan poet. Her poetry has appeared in numerous literary journals, including The Burningword Literary Journal, MER, SWWIM, ONE ART, Rust & Moth, Minyan, and Action-Spectacle. She i…

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How to Buy a Rainbow by Alice Wyman 32:56

18d ago32:56

32:56

Alice Wyman reads her essay "How to Buy a Rainbow" from our Spring 2025 issue. Alice Wyman is an essayist and poet whose work explores the revelation of outlandish grace in small, daily things. Her work has appeared in Darling, The Washington Post, and other publications. She makes her home in the Carolinas with her husband and three children.…

1
Spring 2025 Trailer 5:37

23d ago5:37

5:37

Co-Editor Caroline Langston introduces our new Spring 2025 issue. Tune in for a preview of what's to come and listen to Caroline's editorial letter, "Or Does It Explode?"

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Think You Need a Line Editor? Try This First 27:44

25d ago27:44

27:44

Do you need to hire a line editor? Or should you line edit your manuscript yourself? After all, you want to write an excellent novel. You know that great writing takes shape in revision, and you don’t want to skimp on any layers of editing. Nor do you want to overestimate your writing skills and leave your book littered with clunky sentences that a…

1
How Surrealist Pantser A.S. King Revises Award-Winning Novels 1:29:34

1M ago1:29:34

1:29:34

“Revising is about making sure that you're saying what you want to say in the way you want to say it. . . . To me, revision is the sport. It's the impact. It's the reason we're writers.” Have you ever read a book and thought, Holy cow, this is amazing. How did this author DO this? Or, maybe you’ve read a book and thought, Wow, I wish I could write …

1
The Editor Life: 5 Days Behind the Scenes with Alice 46:54

2M ago46:54

46:54

Ever wondered what an editor actually does all day? What it looks like to spend all day supporting writers in their stories? Or what your editor’s doing in all that time when they’re not sharing their feedback with you? If those questions pique your curiosity, you’re in luck. I’m pulling back the curtain to share a week in my life as a developmenta…

1
How to Use Revision Tools Like the Story Authority You Already Are with Brannan Sirratt 57:36

2M ago57:36

57:36

When to use frameworks to solve your story problems—and when to trust yourself and lean on your own story authority. You’ve heard of Save the Cat! Story Grid. Blueprint for a Book. These are all frameworks designed to help you edit a novel. If you don’t know these names, I bet you know others—Hero’s Journey, Freytag’s Pyramid, 7 Point Story Structu…

1
Ask This Question When You’re Overwhelmed by Your Story 22:49

3M ago22:49

22:49

Escape analysis paralysis with one powerful question. It’s deceptively simple—and yet it unlocks everything. If you’re like most of the writers I work with, you’re pretty savvy about story structure. You know your Story Grid, your Save the Cat!, your Hero’s Journey. You’ve probably analyzed your story six ways to Sunday, and you’ve got the spreadsh…

1
How Multiple Layers of Editing Combine to Perfect Your Story (with Cathryn deVries and Kim Kessler) 1:32:05

3M ago1:32:05

1:32:05

The best novels combine rock-solid story structure with scenes that are unputdownable on every page. Here’s how one writer and two editors polished a story at every level. If you want to move your reader in every moment, keep them hooked on every page, you need to refine your scenes until each one is unputdownable. And that refinement? It’s SUCH a …

1
What Is a Manuscript Evaluation? (And Do You Need One?) 32:34

4M ago32:34

32:34

It’s the most common developmental editing service you’ll see. Know what to look for and when (or if) you need one. If you google “developmental editor” and start looking through editors’ websites, you’ll see a common service appear again and again: A manuscript evaluation. (Or assessment, or diagnostic, or critique. A rose by any other name, etc.)…

1
Poem by Sharon Dolin & Art by Timothy deVries 7:38

4M ago7:38

7:38

Sharon Dolin reads her poem, "Before," and Timothy deVries discusses his art in "When Art Eschews Theology." Sharon Dolin is the author of seven books of poetry, most recently Imperfect Present; a memoir entitled Hitchcock Blonde; and two books of translation, most recently Late to the House of Words: Selected Poems by Gemma Gorga. Dolin is associa…

1
The Practice of Leading Contemplative Prayer with Kevin Driedger 7:07

4M ago7:07

7:07

Sometimes after doing a practice for a while, you may be invited to lead others in that practice. And leading contemplatively is its own practice. In this meditation, Kevin Driedger offers his approach to "The Practice of Leading Contemplative Prayer." Kevin lives on the Canadian prairies with his lovely wife June. He tries to bring a contemplative…

1
Scene Workshop: Hook Your Readers in Chapter One with Cathryn deVries 1:38:37

4M ago1:38:37

1:38:37

You get one shot to grab their attention. Don’t waste it with characters staring off into space. You've put all this work into uncovering your character's internal arc. You know them SO WELL. When you step into a scene, you're giving your absolute all to uncovering the deep meaning and purpose behind it, the profound arc of character transformation…

1
Poems by Maya Bernstein & Douglas Thorton 6:56

4M ago6:56

6:56

Maya Bernstein reads her poem, "The Primordial Catastrophe in the Process of Creation," and Douglas Thornton reads his poem, "The Tantra of Abiding." Maya Bernstein’s writing has appeared or is forthcoming in By the Seawall, The Ekphrastic Review, Pensive: A Global Journal of Spirituality and the Arts, Tablet Magazine, and elsewhere. She is a recen…

1
A Brief Cooking Meditation from Samir Knego 10:57

4M ago10:57

10:57

In this contemplative practice, Samir Knego invites us to embrace the ordinary act of cooking as a time for contemplation. In "⁠It Shall Be Food for You: A Brief Cooking Meditation⁠," Samir guides us through the process of cooking dried black beans, prompting us to thoughtfully consider our actions in each step, and to use times of waiting to refle…

1
Poems by Riv Wren & Maxim D. Shrayer 9:02

4M ago9:02

9:02

Riv Wren reads his poem, "The Lead Pastor's Visit," and Maxim D. Shrayer reads his poem, "The Conductor from Zion Square." Riv Wren lives in Loveland, Ohio. That is a real place. Wren's most recent poems appear in Pensive Journal and Cathexis Northwest. Maxim D. Shrayer, a Professor of Russian, English, and Jewish Studies at Boston College and a bi…

1
Seeking Creative Freedom by Lory Widmer Hess 15:11

5M ago15:11

15:11

Lory Widmer Hess reads her book review, "Seeking Creative Freedom: A Review of The Release: Creativity and Freedom After the Writing Is Done by Elizabeth Jarrett Andrew." Lory Widmer Hess lives with her family in Switzerland, where she works with adults with developmental disabilities and recently completed a training in Spiritual Direction. She is…

1
The Unskippable Process to Create Unputdownable Books 25:57

5M ago25:57

25:57

It’s unpopular, but essential if you’re aiming to craft your best work. Picture this: one year from now, you’re holding your book in your hands. You see the gorgeous cover art, feel the slight resistance when you open the cover for the first time, run your hands over the soft, smooth paper, flip the pages and smell that delicious new book smell. Do…

1
Poems by Spencer Barnhill & Rachel Prizant Kotok 6:28

5M ago6:28

6:28

Spencer Barnhill reads his poem, "Hedge of Protection," and Rachel Prizant Kotok reads her poem, "Bat Mitzvah Dreams." Born and raised in Edmond, Oklahoma, Spencer is studying finance and English at Oklahoma Baptist University. He is an aspiring writer who loves long-distance running and meaningful storytelling, and will have poetry featured in Eks…

1
Artist Tasha Cathey & Poet Barbara Krasner 6:37

5M ago6:37

6:37

Tasha Cathey introduces her visual artwork, "God's Underpaintings," and Barbara Krasner reads her poem, "In the Shtetl, G-d Does Not Only." Tasha Cathey lives in Knoxville, Tennessee with her husband and two children. Her work is inspired heavily from her years spent living in Arizona and California at a young age and are either composed purely fro…

1
Poems by D.S. Martin & Tzivia Gover 7:40

5M ago7:40

7:40

D.S. Martin reads his poem, "Bloor-Danforth," and Tzivia Gover reads her poem, "Sacrifice." D.S. Martin is Poet-in-Residence at McMaster Divinity College, and Series Editor for the Poiema Poetry Series from Cascade Books. He has written five poetry collections including Angelicus (2021), Ampersand (2018), and Conspiracy of Light: Poems Inspired by …

1
Surrendering to the Kiln: Interview with Potter Sarah Wells Rolland 47:32

5M ago47:32

47:32

In this interview, "Surrendering to the Kiln," our Interviews Editor Emily Chambers Sharpe speaks with Sarah Wells Rolland, ceramic artist and founder of The Village Potters Clay Center in Asheville, NC. Sarah Wells Rolland is the owner and founder of The Village Potters Clay Center in The River Arts District in Asheville, NC. Sarah is an instructo…

1
Poems by Kathleen Hellen & Tommy Welty 5:30

5M ago5:30

5:30

Kathleen Hellen reads her poem, "the afterlife of mice," and Tommy Welty reads his poem, "What Will We Do the Day the World Ends?" Kathleen Hellen is the recipient of the James Still Award, the Thomas Merton Prize for Poetry of the Sacred, and prizes from the H.O.W. Journal and Washington Square Review. Her debut collection Umberto’s Night won the …

1
Kani ka ‘ōpala by Benjamin Fairfield 13:11

5M ago13:11

13:11

Benjamin Fairfield reads and performs music from his multimedia feature, "Kani ka ‘ōpala: A Musical Redemption of Rubbish." Benjamin Fairfield served as a Peace Corps volunteer in a Karen village in Chiang Mai, Thailand, and received his MA and PhD in ethnomusicology at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. He founded the Thai Ensemble at UH (MUS311)…

1
Poems by Steven Searcy & Lisa Rosinsky 7:27

6M ago7:27

7:27

Steven Searcy reads his poem, "Christ's Baptism," and Lisa Rosinsky reads her poem, "Yom Kippur." Steven Searcy is the author of Below the Brightness (Solum Literary Press, 2024). His poems have appeared in Southern Poetry Review, Commonweal, The Windhover, Ekstasis, Amethyst Review, and elsewhere. He lives with his wife and four sons in Georgia. L…

1
The Woman with Red Hair by Charles Sutphin 8:44

6M ago8:44

8:44

Charles Sutphin and his daughter, Sarah Sutphin, read his short story, "The Woman with Red Hair." Charles Sutphin has lived in Indianapolis for more than 60 years. His cobbled career includes editor, journalist, writer, attorney, professor and capitalist. Married for 35 years with two children, two dogs and a sense of humor, he recently published i…

1
Poems by Ryan Service & Alisha Goldblatt 5:52

6M ago5:52

5:52

Ryan Service reads his poem, "Lux," and Alisha Goldblatt reads her poem, "Guarding the Body." Ryan Service is a full-time priest and sometime-poet based in the Midlands (UK). His work has been published in Theology, The Sociological Review, and other journals. He received a prize for his entry in the Jack Clemo poetry competition, and before traini…

1
Obviously by Miriam Fried 10:51

6M ago10:51

10:51

Miriam Fried reads her essay, "Obviously," from the Autumn 2024 issue. Miriam Fried’s work has been published in The Threepenny Review, Scoundrel Time, Alaska Quarterly Review, Ambit, Crab Creek Review, and The Baltimore Review. She lives in Brooklyn.

1
Autumn 2024 Trailer 5:42

6M ago5:42

5:42

Co-Editor Caroline Langston introduces our new Autumn 2024 issue. Tune in for a preview of what's to come, and listen to Caroline's editorial letter, "In the Light of Eternity."

1
Poems by Richard Chess & D.E. Kern 7:49

9M ago7:49

7:49

Richard Chess reads his poem, "The Loneliest Monk: By the Book," and "Sight Unseen." Richard Chess is the author of four books, most recently Love Nailed to the Doorpost (University of Tampa Press 2017). He is professor emeritus from UNC Asheville where, among other things, he directed its Center for Jewish Studies for 30 years. He serves on the bo…

1
Poems by Megan Huwa & 6:40

9M ago6:40

6:40

Megan Huwa reads her poem, "Counting Stars," and Hannah Butcher-Stell reads her poem, "one body." Megan Huwa is a poet and writer in southern California. A rare health condition keeps her and her husband from living near her family’s five-generation farm in Colorado, so her writing reaches for home—both temporal and eternal. Her work has been publi…

1
How to Edit Your Novel When Disaster Strikes 17:28

9M ago17:28

17:28

Your book is important. But sometimes, worthy interruptions will delay it for a while. For the last few months, this podcast feed has been quiet. It went dark with no notice in mid-June. I didn’t mean to disappear on you. In fact, I didn’t plan to pause the podcast at all. But a family emergency struck, and all my best-laid plans for summer 2024 ch…

1
Poems by Jan Wiezorek & Megan McDermott 7:15

9M ago7:15

7:15

Jan Wiezorek reads his poem, "Suffering," and Megan McDermott reads her poem, "Ruth, on the Purity, or Impurity, of Attention." Jan Wiezorek's poetry appears, or is forthcoming, in The London Magazine, The Westchester Review, Lucky Jefferson, Loch Raven Review, and The Broadkill Review, among other journals. He taught writing at St. Augustine Colle…

1
Matthew J. Andrews's Review of Lacunae by Scott Cairns 8:16

9M ago8:16

8:16

Matthew J. Andrews reads his essay, "Never Yet an Emptiness," a review of Lacunae by Scott Cairns. Matthew J. Andrews is a private investigator and writer. He is the author of the chapbook I Close My Eyes and I Almost Remember and the forthcoming full-length collection, The Hours (Solum Press). He can be contacted at www.matthewjandrews.com.…

1
Poems by Brad Davis & Luke Usry 8:56

9M ago8:56

8:56

Brad Davis reads his poem, "Unanticipated," and Luke Usry reads his poem, "Leave Britney Alone." Brad Davis (MFA, Vermont College of Fine Arts) is a California-born Canadian living in northeastern Connecticut. Poems have appeared in Poetry magazine, The Paris Review, Vallum, JAMA, Puerto del Sol, Brilliant Corners, Image, and many other journals. H…

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Lory Widmer Hess's Review of Life After Doom by Brian McLaren 11:48

9M ago11:48

11:48

Lory Widmer Hess reads her essay, "Seeing into the Future," a review of Life After Doom: Wisdom and Courage for a World Falling Apart by Brian McLaren. Lory Widmer Hess lives with her family in Switzerland, where she works with adults with developmental disabilities and is completing a training in Spiritual Direction. She is the author of When Frag…

1
Two Poems by Elizabeth Poliner 7:05

10M ago7:05

7:05

Elizabeth Poliner reads her poems, "Welcome World" and "Bat Mitzvah Dress," from our Summer 2024 issue. Elizabeth Poliner’s books include the poetry collection, What You Know in Your Hands (David Robert Books), and the novel, As Close to Us as Breathing (Little, Brown & Co.), winner of the Janet Heidinger Kafka Prize in Fiction. A new novel, Spinni…

1
My Other Name Is Hagar by Heather M. Surls 30:48

10M ago30:48

30:48

Heather M. Surls reads her essay, "My Other Name Is Hagar." Heather M. Surls is an American writer and journalist who has lived in the Middle East for more than a decade. Her reporting has appeared in outlets like the Jordan News, Christianity Today, Hidden Compass, EthnoTraveler, and Anthrow Circus, while her creative nonfiction has been published…

1
Poems by Dominic Palmer & Arlene Tribbia 7:24

10M ago7:24

7:24

Dominic Palmer reads "Want Is My Shepherd," and Arlene Tribbia reads "Bolt Down the Universe." Dominic Palmer is a teacher, writer, and church musician living in Manchester. His poetry has been published or is forthcoming in journals including Blue Unicorn, Ekstasis, and EGG+FROG. Dominic and his wife have recently become parents for the first time…

1
Ave Maria by Grace Donovan 35:59

10M ago35:59

35:59

Grace Donovan reads her short story, "Ave Maria." Grace Donovan is a fiction writer from Northeast Ohio. She currently resides in the DMV area where she is getting her MFA in fiction writing at George Mason University. Grace loves ice cream, her cat Patsy, the fiber arts, and the Brontë sisters. She often writes about women, queerness, and childhoo…

1
Three Poems by David Allen Sullivan 10:26

10M ago10:26

10:26

David Allen Sullivan reads his three poems, "Wine Skin Slippages," "Tympanic Membranes," and "This body," from our current Summer issue. Former Santa Cruz county poet laureate David Allen Sullivan’s books include Strong-Armed Angels, Every Seed of the Pomegranate, a book of co-translation with Abbas Kadhim from the Arabic of Iraqi Adnan Al-Sayegh, …

1
Contemplation of Creation: A Nature Meditation Walk 42:00

10M ago42:00

42:00

Kolya Braun Greiner leads a nature meditation walk, "Contemplation of Creation." Take this episode with you out on a walk, hike, or simply to a quiet spot indoors by a window. This rich offering includes exercises to center your mind, body, and spirit before the walk, as well as seven individual "encounters" with beings in nature. Listen to the gui…

1
Pastor & Actor Rev. Lisa Cole Smith 43:29

10M ago43:29

43:29

The Artist as Prophet, the Church as Collective: Pastor & actor Rev. Lisa Cole Smith speaks with our Assistant Interviews Editor Darby Brown on art as a spiritual language, the church's role in supporting artists, and "equipping artists to serve as prophetic critics and imaginative visionaries in the world." Rev. Lisa Cole Smith is an actor, direct…

1
Summer 2024 Trailer 5:33

10M ago5:33

5:33

The Summer 2024 issue of the journal is here! Tune in for a preview of the new works we'll be featuring this podcast season.

1
How Taylor Jenkins Reid Crafts an Exceptional Opening Scene 30:24

11M ago30:24

30:24

Your reader experiences your story one scene at a time. Make every scene un-put-down-able. Great stories are made of great scenes. Sure, your novel has a clever plot with twists and turns from the first page to the last. But the way your readers will experience that plot is . . . . . . one scene at a time. Which means if you want your readers to fa…

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