In this episode, Peter and Orlando explore Kin by Tayari Jones. They discuss how the friendship between Annie and Nisi anchors the novel, along with Jones’ ideas about story “budget,” point of view, and why the first pages of a novel are the most valuable real estate. Plus, Author Tayari Jones shares practical creative writing advice about storytelling, character building, and narrative structure. If you love literary fiction or want insight into how great novels are crafted, this conversation offers both.

Author Ace Atkins joins us to discuss Everybody Wants to Rule the World, a Cold War spy novel set in 1985 Atlanta. We explore how real espionage history, including the story of KGB defector Vitaly Yurchenko, inspired this coming-of-age thriller about a teenager who believes his mother’s boyfriend is a Russian spy. If you love spy fiction, 1980s nostalgia, and Atlanta history, this episode reveals the surprising secrets behind the novel.

In this episode, Peter and Orlando explore The Pain Brokers by Elizabeth Chamblee Burch, a gripping investigation into how call centers, lenders, lawyers, and doctors exploited women harmed by pelvic mesh implants. The book uncovers a scheme fueled by mass tort litigation, high-interest loans, and unnecessary surgeries that left victims financially and medically devastated. If you want to understand how America’s lawsuit industry can be manipulated, this conversation brings clarity and outrage in equal measure.