Best Truant Podcasts (2025)

1
The New Normal of an Author Career with Johnny B. Truant - #286 39:53

19d ago39:53

39:53

Matty Dalrymple talks with Johnny B. Truant about THE NEW NORMAL OF AN AUTHOR CAREER, including the evolving landscape of self-publishing, the dilemma of comparisonitis, the need to accept slow growth in one's author career as the new norm, the value of patience, and the warning signs when patience turns into a rut. Interview video at https://bit.l…

1
Patrick Stump Said 'Genre? I Don’t Know Her' (Revisiting his 2011 Truant Wave EP) 46:08

28d ago46:08

46:08

When Fall Out Boy hit pause, Patrick Stump hit play on something entirely different. In today’s episode, we dive into Truant Wave, the 2011 EP where he mixed hip-hop, R&B, funk, and electronic sounds into something nobody saw coming. We dive into the EP’s collabs (Om'Mas Keith, Idris Elba??), the near-misses (Childish Gambino! Nicki Minaj!), and ho…

1
Opening Acts & Old Friends: Interview w/ Tattoo Money 53:22

2d ago53:22

53:22

In this special episode, I reconnect with an old friend I met back in 2011, on a night that felt like a secret handshake between music eras. He was opening for Patrick Stump in NYC while Fall Out Boy was on hiatus, and the energy in that room was electric. We dive into what that era meant to both of us, what it was like to perform during such a tra…

1
Isabella La Rocca Gonzalez: Censored Landscapes 31:41

3d ago31:41

31:41

"The one that really surprised me was the organic humane Certified Egg Farm. I thought Humane Certified would at least mean that I would see some chickens running around somewhere, but it looked exactly the [00:00:30] same as any other egg facility. They were just big warehouses. You don't see a chicken anywhere in sight. And then I learned, of cou…

1
Decoding Storytelling Tropes with Jennifer Hilt - #288 39:21

5d ago39:21

39:21

Matty Dalrymple talks with Jennifer Hilt about DECODING STORYTELLING TROPES, including the universality of about 40 tropes that cross various genres, especially the tropes of found family, misdirection, secrets and scars, and the ticking time bomb. Jennifer shares insights about how tropes like these help shape narratives and character motivations,…

1
John Kinder: World War Zoos 42:33

9d ago42:33

42:33

John Kinder is the director of American studies and a professor of history at Oklahoma State University. And he is an author. His most recent book is called World War Zoos: Humans and Other Animals in the Deadliest Conflict of the Modern Age. John’s book tells a story most of us have never heard: what happened to the world’s zoos—and the animals in…

1
Managing Your Editorial Crew with Roz Morris - #287 41:31

12d ago41:31

41:31

Matty Dalrymple talks with Roz Morris about MANAGING YOUR EDITORIAL CREW, including how authors can effectively manage their editing process, the role beta readers play in the development of an author's work, what the needs are for editing before submitting a work to a traditional publisher or an agent, and tips for indie authors on making the most…

1
Richard (Kudo) Couto: The Hidden Horror Behind a Billion-Dollar Brand 42:18

25d ago42:18

42:18

“I used to be the largest dairy consumer on the planet. I used to eat so much dairy and meat. The more that I looked into the dairy industry, the more that I saw that it was the singular, most inhumane industry on the planet, that we've all been lied to, including myself, for years. I always believed that the picture on the milk carton, the cow sta…

1
Writing Short with Art Taylor - #285 40:49

26d ago40:49

40:49

Matty Dalrymple talks with Art Taylor about WRITING SHORT, including common challenges faced by novelists transitioning to short stories. Art emphasizes the importance of economy, efficiency, and focus; shares practical advice on trimming word count while maintaining narrative impact, such as eliminating redundant phrases and opting for active voic…

1
Meredith Blanchard: We’ve Cured Cancer in Mice for Decades 54:41

1M ago54:41

54:41

“There's a drug called vioxx that was found to be safe and effective in animal trials, so they moved it on to preclinical trials in humans. Once on the market, that drug caused 88,000 people to have heart attacks and killed 38,000 people.” Meredith Blanchard We have some big news at Species Unite. In January and February, our team traveled to Bainb…

1
Training the Brain for Fiction Dictation with Sarah Elisabeth Sawyer - #284 41:25

1M ago41:25

41:25

Matty Dalrymple talks with Sarah Elisabeth Sawyer about TRAINING THE BRAIN FOR FICTION DICTATION, including the differences in approach for fiction versus nonfiction. Sarah describes the challenges authors face when transitioning to dictating fiction and offers practical advice for overcoming mental blocks. Sarah also highlights the flexibility of …

1
Rob Read: When the Ocean Bleeds 48:55

1M ago48:55

48:55

“One year, we actually offered the Faroe Islanders One million pounds to stop the hunts. 1 million pounds, which would go to promoting whale and dolphin tourism to the islands and marine conservation education to Faroese kids in schools. And the Faroese response to our offer was the most emphatic no you've ever had in your life. They actually held …

1
Writing Pivots and the Power of Humility with Kevin Tumlinson - #283 44:23

1M ago44:23

44:23

Matty Dalrymple talks with Kevin Tumlinson about WRITING PIVOTS AND THE POWER OF HUMILITY, including Kevin's journey of moving from a pantser to an outliner. They discuss his reasons for adopting outlining, influenced by his co-authoring project with J.D. Barker, and the cognitive challenges he faced during the transition. Kevin also speaks candidl…

1
Andrew Stein: Living with Lions 46:39

2M ago46:39

46:39

“If we march into that village and we start trying to persecute people for using poison, something that's very illegal, nobody's going to talk to us. We're not going to find out where the poison came from. We're not going to be able to shut anything down. We should take the approach that people are using poison because they're desperate, because th…

1
Unlocking the Power of Book Reviews with Rossana Corniel - #282 41:31

2M ago41:31

41:31

Matty Dalrymple talks with Rossana Corniel about UNLOCKING THE POWER OF BOOK REVIEWS, including the importance of reviews in understanding reader expectations and forming effective marketing strategies. Rossana discusses the finding that research shows that reviews can significantly impact sales and reader trust; the importance of tailoring your bo…

1
Using Relevance to Save Your Darlings with Liesel Hill 33:53

2M ago33:53

33:53

Matty Dalrymple talks with Liesel Hill about USING RELEVANCE TO SAVE YOUR DARLINGS, including the importance of integrating emotional connection and subconscious storytelling to retain seemingly irrelevant scenes by making them essential. Topics include multi-tasking in scenes, pacing, evoking emotion, character arcs, purposeful character deaths, m…

1
Jaap de Roode: Doctors by Nature 43:08

2M ago43:08

43:08

"But it makes a lot of sense especially when you think about how traditional healers and shamans have worked, they haven't felt that separation from nature like Western medics do. And so to rely on the knowledge of other species actually makes a lot of sense. It's probably a lot more than we know at the moment." - Jaap de Roode Jaap de Roode is a b…

1
Interview: "Tired of Talk" Catbite Ft Patrick Stump 50:55

2M ago50:55

50:55

Scardi sits with Tim & Britt from Catbite on their newsest single featuring Patrick Stump! PREORDER DOOM GARDEN (out 5/9) FOLLOW CATBITE

1
Insider Tips from Writing Contest Judges with Clay Stafford - #280 52:13

2M ago52:13

52:13

Matty Dalrymple talks with Clay Stafford about INSIDER TIPS FROM WRITING CONTEST JUDGES, including what judges look for in submissions, such as originality, strong voice, and proper pacing. Clay shares insights into the judging process, highlighting the necessity of engaging the reader early, avoiding errors, and understanding the contest’s goals a…

1
Jonathan Birch: The Edge of Sentience 31:21

2M ago31:21

31:21

“I mean, organoids in general are very exciting replacements for animal research because you could model a kidney or a liver or a or a heart without taking them from a real animal, which it’s very important to support that kind of thing. But yes, when it's the brain, there's this fear that you might end up creating another sentient being. And then …

1
LinkedIn Strategies for Authors with Troy Lambert - #279 43:41

2M ago43:41

43:41

Matty Dalrymple talks with Troy Lambert about LINKEDIN STRATEGIES FOR AUTHORS, including the evolving role of LinkedIn for authors. We delve into strategies for optimizing LinkedIn profiles, engaging with peers, and understanding platform nuances to enhance professional presence, network effectively, and perhaps build a side hustle. Interview video…

1
24. Food & travel filmmakers, TOPJAW, talk on staying socially relevant, how to do authentic brand partnerships, and the celebrities they've interviewed. 58:33

2M ago58:33

58:33

TOPJAW have over 10 years in the food & travel recommendation world. They've spoken to hundreds of chefs, industry professionals and celebrities across the world about the most unique, hidden and authentic restaurants and bars. Starting off as a simple way to eat great food, their empire has now grown to over 1.3 Million fans on social platforms! I…

1
Elizabeth MeLampy: Forget the Camel 39:33

2M ago39:33

39:33

"The basic premise of the event is that hunters hunt rattlesnakes from the surrounding environment all across West Texas, and bring them into the roundup for the weekend. And during the roundup, these snakes are kept in a pit and then, one by one, beheaded and skinned in front of in front of audiences." - Elizabeth MeLampy Elizabeth MeLampy is a la…

1
The Perks and Pitfalls of Facebook Ads with Malorie Cooper - #278 47:05

3M ago47:05

47:05

Matty Dalrymple talks with Malorie Cooper about THE PERKS AND PITFALLS OF FACEBOOK ADS, including the significance of high-contrast images and textual elements in ad creatives, the benefits and drawbacks of Facebook's automated targeting suggestions, and the latest updates in Facebook's targeting mechanisms that can affect ad performance. Mal empha…

1
Season 2 Premiere! Fall Out Boy's Hiatus & Side Quests 28:42

3M ago28:42

28:42

Scardi is back with Season 2 of SWGI!

1
Tom Sciolla: Free the Animals 51:23

3M ago51:23

51:23

"When we arrived, we had no records, we had nothing. We had no documentation. And one of one of the first things that you have to actually prove to all of these international government parties and so on, you need to you need to say, where did you get this elephant? And we had no idea. We were actually government officials, and we had this elephant…

1
Book Promotion and How to Break through the Noise with Leah Paulos - #277 45:05

3M ago45:05

45:05

Matty Dalrymple talks with Leah Paulos about BOOK PROMOTION AND HOW TO BREAK THROUGH THE NOISE, including the importance of early marketing planning, crafting concise and compelling pitches, and understanding the specific needs of different recipients. Leah also delves into leveraging email lists, using AI tools for crafting pitches, building relat…

1
Lupe Fiasco, come on the show! SWGI SEASON 2 DROPS 3/7/25 7:08

3M ago7:08

7:08

She's baaaaaack! Scardi lands back on earth for Sugar, We're Going In season 2 on Friday, March 7th. ***AIRHORNS***

1
Andrianna Natsoulas: Don't Cage Our Oceans 40:50

3M ago40:50

40:50

“That's taxpayer’s money that is going to support research and development and pilot projects to develop a food system that is based on environmental destruction and greed and disregard for animals, fish, and any of the other marine mammals that might be around it.” - Andrianna Natsoulas Andrianna Natsoulas is the campaign director for Don't Cage O…

1
Navigating Legal Risk in Memoir with Kathryn Goldman - #276 47:07

3M ago47:07

47:07

Matty Dalrymple talks with Kathryn Goldman about NAVIGATING LEGAL RISK IN MEMOIR, including the delicate balance memoir writers must strike to avoid defamation, invasion of privacy, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Kathryn explains the legal definitions and elements of these terms and offers advice on minimizing risk, emphasizing t…

1
Jeff Sebo: The Moral Circle 46:04

3M ago46:04

46:04

“It is a little bit terrifying, because it means that AI systems are going to be entering this uncanny valley where we are not sure how to experience them in five or ten years. You might be talking to Siri on your phone, or ChatGPT on your laptop, or your Roomba, vacuuming your floor. You might be talking to these beings and genuinely be unsure whe…

1
Getting Unstuck in Book Marketing and Promotion with Michael La Ronn - #275 53:21

3M ago53:21

53:21

Matty Dalrymple talks with Michael La Ronn about GETTING UNSTUCK IN BOOK MARKETING AND PROMOTION, including how authors can get unstuck when traditional methods like ads and blogger reviews are not affordable or effective. He emphasizes the importance of having an email list and a reader magnet, using strategic pricing, updating book descriptions, …

1
John Jurko: Rhino Man 24:31

3M ago24:31

24:31

“I think it's really the amounts of money that they're able to offer people paired with the violence that they're willing to put on people. It's very much like the drug cartels in Mexico, just more focused on poaching of wildlife.” – John Jurko John Jurko is a director and producer of the film, Rhino Man, an award winning documentary which highligh…

1
Elevating Your Presence with Panel Appearances with Joanne McLaughlin - #274 30:51

3M ago30:51

30:51

Matty Dalrymple talks with Joanne McLaughlin about ELEVATING YOUR PRESENCE WITH PANEL APPEARANCES, including participating in panels as a way to build confidence, network, and promote one's work. We discuss the importance of contributing meaningfully during panels and the benefits of both genre-specific and non-genre-specific conferences, and we to…

1
Jason Edwards: From Icebergs to Iguanas 30:42

4M ago30:42

30:42

“I know that one day for me in Antarctica, one morning for me in Antarctica is a dream for someone who will never get there. Because it's hard to get to. So, I don't waste those opportunities. I don't sit there and go, ‘I'm in Antarctica again.’ No, my brain will not go to that space because I know that people would kill [to be there]. I am the por…

1
Showrunning Your Series Novels with Cheryl McKay - #273 45:57

4M ago45:57

45:57

Matty Dalrymple talks with Cheryl McKay about SHOWRUNNING YOUR SERIES NOVELS, including how to plan for standalone versus series formats; the role of episodic elements; the benefits of feeling inspired by and using real-world locations in storytelling; the importance of character development and story arcs; and the importance of making strong stand…

1
Ella Driever and Sneha Sharma: The Timberline Pack 26:17

4M ago26:17

26:17

“We don't want Idaho to have a bad reputation. This is our home state. We love our home state. It's beautiful. We pride ourselves on our nature. We pride ourselves on our wildlife. And instead, we are continuing to do things that are… that are sickening.” - Ella Driever In 1995, wolves were reintroduced to central Idaho, and in 2003 a Boise High sc…

1
The Evolving Author and Second Editions with Joanna Penn - #272 54:03

4M ago54:03

54:03

Matty Dalrymple talks with Joanna Penn about THE EVOLVING AUTHOR AND SECOND EDITIONS, including the release of the second edition of Joanna's book, HOW TO WRITE NON-FICTION. Joanna discusses the changes in nonfiction writing, including the importance of storytelling, which led her to apply some of the personal elements and insights she has used in …

1
Cheryl Martinez: Veginner Cooking 35:26

4M ago35:26

35:26

“I know that veganism can be a little daunting for some, and they feel like it's either you go fully vegan or you're not allowed in the club.” – Cheryl Martinez Because it's January and because a lot of people may have made some big resolutions a few weeks ago, we are going to talk about one of them – plant-based eating. Because, well I think it’s …

1
Patti Truant Anderson: Polling and the Surprising Results Around What People Really Think About the Food System 24:55

4M ago24:55

24:55

Text “Do people even want to know about some of these issues? Because I think some of the meat production concerns, it's kind of like people would rather in some cases, I think some people might not really want to know all the nitty gritty. They don't want to know how the sausage is made. That poses an interesting question and challenge about how y…

1
Tapping into Your Author Voice with Tiffany Yates Martin - #271 45:23

4M ago45:23

45:23

Matty Dalrymple talks with Tiffany Yates Martin about TAPPING INTO YOUR AUTHOR VOICE, including how many writers mistakenly view voice as an external element they need to find or impose on their work. Instead, she believes that true voice comes from genuinely accessing and expressing one's internal truths, a process that can feel quite daunting. Ti…

1
Author Assistants: Finding One or Being One with Kate Tilton - #270 38:55

5M ago38:55

38:55

Matty Dalrymple talks with Kate Tilton about AUTHOR ASSISTANTS: FINDING ONE OR BEING ONE, including the various types of support an author assistant can offer, from organizing emails and managing forums to handling newsletters and connecting with PR firms. We explore the complexities of finding the right assistant, balancing workload, and the impor…

1
The Discipline-Driven Path to Success with Dre Baldwin - #269 38:03

5M ago38:03

38:03

Matty Dalrymple talks with Dre Baldwin about THE DISCIPLINE-DRIVEN PATH TO SUCCESS, including the importance of having clear goals to maintain focus; the role of discipline, time management, execution, and planning in achieving goals; the value of seeking external perspectives and of sharing your goals only with those who can provide support to ach…

1
Tom Philpott: The Human Cost of Meatpacking 46:21

5M ago46:21

46:21

“People in the animal welfare world, I think, should broaden their purview to the human parts of it and sort of work in coalition. Like if you can really expose the labor conditions, you're weakening the industry, and if you can increase labor regulations, if you can make it to where workers don't routinely get repetitive stress injuries and they'r…

1
Keeve Nachman: A Masterclass in Persistence 35:19

5M ago35:19

35:19

“I remember during my training having professors tell me, ‘one day you might do something important and you'll tick off a vested interest, and they're going to come into a meeting with you, and they're going to bring a copy of your dissertation and slam it on the table and start challenging you.’ And that is exactly what happened.” – Keeve Nachman …

1
What Authors Should Not Learn from Movies with Rene Gutteridge - #268 44:23

5M ago44:23

44:23

Matty Dalrymple talks with Rene Gutteridge about WHAT AUTHORS SHOULD NOT LEARN FROM MOVIES, including how crucial point of view and inner monologue are in novel writing compared to the visual storytelling required in movies; how writers can mistakenly adopt a “director's” approach, leading to overly descriptive and less engaging prose; and delve th…

1
Scardi's On Break! Season 2 Coming Soon... 14:07

5M ago14:07

14:07

Happy holidays! It's Scardi just checking in on you- have you drank enough water today? Sugar, We're Going In is on break until Jan/Feb in 2025 but before then, I wanted to say THANK YOU and I love you. Hope you have a restful time as we gear up for a bigger, sweeter year. Let's Stay In Touch: @SugarWereGoinIn on X @SugarWereGoingIn on Instagram Su…

1
Brent Kim: From Farm to Fork and Beyond 33:32

5M ago33:32

33:32

“My colleague and I went out to Arizona because there was a community that was concerned about the expansion of an egg laying operation, essentially in their backyard. At full capacity, that operation was slated to house 12 million birds. 12 million birds. It's like New York City, but with chickens.” – Brent Kim We know that what we eat has an enor…

1
Using Romance to Write Stories with Heart with Jennifer Probst - #267 46:41

6M ago46:41

46:41

Matty Dalrymple talks with Jennifer Probst about USING ROMANCE TO WRITE STORIES WITH HEART, including the importance of emotional depth, character growth arcs, and the role of secondary characters in enhancing romantic storylines. Jennifer emphasizes the need for sexual tension and matching the type of romance with different characters to create co…

1
JG Collomb: Wildlife Conservation Network 17:57

6M ago17:57

17:57

"In the case of lions, they're not easy neighbors. They're also not the worst neighbors. I think in in most cases, it's a matter of learning how to live next to nature, next to other animals and animals that can potentially be dangerous." - JG Collomb JG Collomb is the CEO of Wildlife Conservation Network, an organization that connects global donor…

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