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

John King
Poetry
Miami Book Fair
William S. Burroughs
Writing Process
Billy Collins
Night Of the Living Dead
Eraserhead
Hannah Arendt
Insectopolis
Opera
Ewoks
Entomology
Zombies
Orlando
Sylvia Plath
Covid-19
Water, Water
Florida
Fred Lambert
Kerouac Project Of Orlando

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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes723Founded14 years ago
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Artwork for The Drunken Odyssey

Latest Episodes

In this week's episode, John speaks with fiction writer and editor Dave Housley about the joys of using writing prompts, the problem-solving of writing meaningfully improbable stories inspired by pop culture, and the limits of post-modern irony. His ... more

In this week's show, Rachael Tillman and I discuss The Bell Jar, in part 3 of our series on Sylvia Plath.

If you are keen, check out the previous installments: episodes 685 (The Colossus and Other Poems) and 693 (Emily Van Duyne's Loving Sylvia P... more

Sophia Ferrara returns to the secret HQ of TDO to chat about the pleasure-filled dystopia of Aldous Huxley's Brave New World, while John freaks out about the novel's structure or lack thereof.

In #710, Sophia Ferrara returns to the secret HQ of TDO to chat about the dystopia of Rollerball, as imagined in the film and the short story, which was called "Roller Ball Murder." Jonathan E and his pal Moonpie turn out to be a threat to The Corpor... more

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Recent Guests

Shawn Welcome
Poet laureate of Orlando and founding member of the Orlando Literary Arts Council
Orlando Literary Arts Council / City of Orlando
Episode: 707: Shawn Welcome!
Richard Blanco
Poet; former inaugural poet of the United States
Episode: 706: Richard Blanco!
Mamie Pound
Writer of flash fiction, micro fiction, and occasionally poetry
CareWreck Project of Orlando
Episode: 705: Mamie Pound!
Elliot Ackerman
Author and former Marine who served in the CIA/Marine Corps; co-author of 2034, 2054, 2084; author of Sheepdogs
Author of Sheepdogs; military and intelligence background
Episode: 704: Elliot Ackerman
Dianne Turgeon Richardson
Poet, discussant, author of loose lips and fire-by-fire-by-fire fame
Episode: 703: A Discussion of Anaïs Nin's Delta of Venus, with Dianne Turgeon Richardson!
Greg Proops
Legendary comedian and voice actor
Comedian and performer
Episode: 701: Greg Proops!
Chuck Klosterman
Author of Football and other works; SAS 10 novelist
Author, Journalist
Episode: 700: Chuck Klosterman!
Ayman Ismail
Author of Becoming Baba, a memoir about fatherhood, faith, and finding meaning in America
Author
Episode: 699: Aymann Ismail!
Descartes a Kant
Mexican art rock band
Descartes a Kant
Episode: 698: Descartes a Kant!

Host

John King
Host with a long-running focus on writers, craft discussions, and author interviews.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 80 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.

Listeners praise accessible, insightful craft discussions and a warm interview vibe.
Fans value the mix of writers, artists, and occasional cross-disciplinary guests with practical writing tips.
Some critics note occasional pretentious tone or heavy focus on literary culture; overall sentiment skews positive for depth and usefulness.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#232
India/Arts/Books

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

707: Shawn Welcome!
Q: What can you tell us about the big festival next year and its goals?
Shawn outlines the plan for the 34th Southern Fried Poetry Slam across five days, including Revive Zora in Eatonville, a kickoff event, multiple venues in downtown Orlando, and a finals show at the Orlando Museum of Art, emphasizing community engagement and cultural education.
707: Shawn Welcome!
Q: How did you get into poetry, and what drew you to this art form?
Shawn explains that his entry was largely through hip hop and rap during high school in Brooklyn, where he found a supportive environment in cipher circles and open mic settings that valued personal storytelling and cadence over formal instruction.
702: A Discussion of Lucasta Miller's The Brontë Myth, with Sophia Ferrara.
Q: John, are you going to talk or are you going to drink?
The host lightens the mood but then steers toward a serious exploration of how Miller's book reframes Brontë scholarship, emphasizing evidence and context over anecdote, and how the Brontës' works are best understood when their biographies are read with critical restraint.
697: Todd James Pierce!
Q: Can you discuss the challenges you faced in researching Mary Blair?
Mary Blair's history was difficult to piece together as her interviews were often overshadowed by her husband's experiences, making it hard to find her individual voice. I had to triangulate information from letters, diaries, and interviews with those who knew her.
697: Todd James Pierce!
Q: What is the process by which you produce the weekly podcast and how does that result in books of Disney history?
I write about 4 to 5,000 words each week and record it, then post it every Sunday, which helps me maintain discipline and produce long-form content that can be developed into books.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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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?

A thoughtful, craft-forward interview series that centers writers across fiction, poetry, memoir, and journalism, with long-form conversations that explore creative process, discipline, and the daily life of writing. Episodes routinely mix in-depth discussions of craft with personal storytelling, cultural observations, and occasional pop-culture crossover, all delivered with humor and approachable candor. Noteworthy is the show's willingness to tackle difficult topics (erotica, memoir ethics, literary mythmaking) through a writerly lens, plus regular short memoir essays from guests and listener Q&A that flesh out the writing life in accessible, human terms. The format often pairs seasoned authors with emerging voices, producing a broad, dro... more

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These podcasts share a similar audience with The Drunken Odyssey:

1. House of Strauss
2. The Watch
3. The Bill Simmons Podcast
4. The Press Box
5. Plain English with Derek Thompson

How many episodes of The Drunken Odyssey are there?

The Drunken Odyssey launched 14 years ago and published 723 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. Shawn Welcome
2. Richard Blanco
3. Mamie Pound
4. Elliot Ackerman
5. Dianne Turgeon Richardson
6. Greg Proops
7. Chuck Klosterman
8. Ayman Ismail

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