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The Drunken Odyssey with John King: A Podcast About the Writing Life

John King
Billy Collins
Eraserhead
Miami Book Fair
Opera
Writing Process
Fred Lambert
Water, Water
Plato
Emily Dickinson
Introduction To Poetry
A New Philosophy Of Opera
And Yet
Alphabet
Nanowrimo
AI In Writing
Poetry
Crimes Of the Future
David Lynch
Pink Flamingos
Desperate Living

Join author John King for eclectic interviews with writers from a variety of genres, including fiction writing, poetry, memoirs, and journalism. From literature to genre writing to the movies, all writing is up for discussion. In particular, The Drunken Odyssey features discussion of all aspects of the writing process—not just the published manuscript, pristinely presented to the entire literate w... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes700Founded13 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ArtsBooksSociety & Culture

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Artwork for The Drunken Odyssey

Latest Episodes

On this week's show, John speaks with Ivonne Lamazares about her new novel, The Tilting House.

At the end of Schloctoberfest 2025, Jeff Shuster and I discuss the 1968 horror masterpiece Night of the Living Dead because how could we not? Our foray into 1960s black and white films is now ended.

This time around, Jeff Shuster and John discuss John Frankenheimer's thriller Seconds from 1966.

On this week's show, Jeff Shuster and John King delve into an existentially strange antihero story that feels a bit crazy and not entirely complete.

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Eugenio Negro
Novelist and cartoonist, known for his book 'Despair Priorities'
Episode: 683: Eugenio Negro!
Sophia Ferrara
Intern at The Drunken Odyssey with a keen interest in classic literature
The Drunken Odyssey
Episode: 682: A Discussion of Charlotte Brontë's Tales of Angria, with Sophia Ferrara
Katharine Coldiron
Essayist and author known for her work on film and literature.
Autofocus Press
Episode: 680: Katharine Coldiron!
Keith MacKenzie
Fiction writer and author of The Faces That Don't Belong
Episode: 679: Keith Mackenzie!
Skye Jackson
Poet and author of 'Libre', and current resident of the Kerouac Project of Orlando.
Kerouac Project of Orlando
Episode: 676: Skye Jackson!
Jaquira Díaz
Writer and editor known for her work on '15 Views of Miami'.
Episode: Replay: Episode 130 with Jaquira Díaz
Peter Kuper
Comic book legend and author of 'Insectopolis'
Episode: 674: Peter Kuper!
Jeff Wilfong
Artist and friend of John King
Timucua Arts Foundation
Episode: 674: Peter Kuper!
Dan Reiter
Author of 'On a Rising Swell: Surf Stories from the Space Coast'
Episode: 672: Dan Reiter Event!

Host

John King
Author and host engaging in eclectic interviews with writers, exploring the nuances of the writing process and literature.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 79 ratings
  • Mind-numbingly pretentious

    I appreciate the discussion of an obscure set of poems I couldn’t find any other podcasts on, but found the tone unbearable.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    rcm18313
    Canadaa year ago
  • Smart, Fun, and Relevant

    Literary podcasts have a tendency toward dryness (which is why I don't often listen to them...), but this one doesn't -- like, at all. John King peppers his interviews with contemporary authors and poets (and the occasional graphic artist or screenwriter!) with wry humor, down-to-earth conversation about the writing life, and great music. The movie review shows and craft discussions on writing are special favorites. Comes highly recommended!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    IantheRoge
    United States4 years ago
  • Great Writers, Great Discussions

    Here’s a show featuring successful, working writers discussing what they do and how they do it. Come for the interesting people; stay for the nuggets of wisdom, ideas, and irreverent fun.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    steventhowell
    United States6 years ago
  • "And don't swallow the worm".

    I listen to dozens of shows about the writing life. Only 3 really excite me when I see a new episode has been uploaded. TDO is one of them. Specifically, I enjoy John's tone, the connections he makes with the guests, the "vibe" of the show, and the undercurrent of humor that comes from John not taking any of it too seriously. Cheers!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Colorado Carnivore
    United States7 years ago
  • Bingeworthy and useful

    I really like this podcaster's style (educated but accessible and conversational) -- it's a really great to listen to for motivation, and even just general writing advice. Some episodes I've listened to more than once; on days I've set aside for writing, I feel like I've been more efficient and inspired when I've let this podcast play in the background. Highly recommended

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    MWM1979
    United States7 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

The humor and warmth in John King's hosting style are frequently highlighted as key factors that enhance the listening experience.
Some listeners feel that while the topics are interesting, a few episodes might come off as overly pretentious or disconnected from common literary discussions.
Listeners praise the podcast for its engaging and insightful interviews with writers from various genres.
Many appreciate the personal anecdotes shared by guests, which make the discussions relatable and vibrant.
Overall, feedback indicates that it provides valuable insights into the writing life, which resonates well with aspiring and established writers alike.

Top Books Podcasts

The Book Review
The Book ReviewThe New York Times
Fantasy Fangirls
Fantasy FangirlsFantasy Fangirls
Myths and Legends
Myths and LegendsJason Weiser, Carissa Weiser, Nextpod
Selected Shorts
Selected ShortsSymphony Space
The New Yorker: Fiction
The New Yorker: FictionWNYC Studios and The New Yorker

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

683: Eugenio Negro!
Q: How do you approach character-driven narratives without relying heavily on plot?
Negro emphasizes the importance of letting character interactions organically generate the plot, focusing on the themes that emerge from their chaotic dialogues.
683: Eugenio Negro!
Q: What made you want to be a writer and what were those early impulses like?
Negro shares that he always wanted to be a rock star or a writer, and that his early experiences included writing comic strips for his fourth-grade teacher, which helped nurture his love for storytelling.
638: Jennifer Maonocherian!
Q: Can you talk a little bit about what Macy's is in Manhattan?
Jennifer describes her astonishment at the scale and layout of Macy's in Manhattan compared to other locations.
638: Jennifer Maonocherian!
Q: I wonder if you could tell me how you got into the writing habit or addiction and where this started?
Jennifer describes writing as a compulsion stemming from her family background and experiences across different careers.
675: Tom McAllister!
Q: Could you talk about the introduction? Like basically, can you rehash the introduction and explain why this project came about and why you felt like you needed something like this?
It came after a period where in like 14 months, you had two novels come out. But I haven't done a ton of events yet for the book, but a cool thing that has consistently happened already is that people immediately jump to a year that they want to write about.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Drunken Odyssey

What is The Drunken Odyssey about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Dedicated to the world of writing, this podcast features interviews with a diverse range of authors across genres, including fiction, poetry, memoirs, and journalism. Each episode provides an intimate look at writers' processes, exploring both the polished end results and the rough drafts that lead to them. Listeners can expect engaging discussions about writing techniques, the impact of literature on personal lives, and the exploration of the artistic journey. Unique segments include short memoir essays from guest writers about their treasured books and responses to listener inquiries, which adds a personal touch to the exploration of both writing and the complexities of daily life.

This show stands out by not only offering insights into ... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Drunken Odyssey?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Drunken Odyssey:

1. The Ezra Klein Show
2. The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart
3. Pod Save America
4. WTF with Marc Maron Podcast
5. The New Yorker: The Writer's Voice - New Fiction from The New Yorker

How many episodes of The Drunken Odyssey are there?

The Drunken Odyssey launched 13 years ago and published 700 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The Drunken Odyssey?

Recent guests on The Drunken Odyssey include:

1. Eugenio Negro
2. Sophia Ferrara
3. Katharine Coldiron
4. Keith MacKenzie
5. Skye Jackson
6. Jaquira Díaz
7. Peter Kuper
8. Jeff Wilfong

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