Shows / fiction/non/fiction
fiction/non/fiction
Hosted by Whitney Terrell and V.V. Ganeshananthan, fiction/non/fiction interprets current events through the lens of literature, and features conversations with writers of all stripes, from novelists and poets to journalists and essayists.
Episodes
- fiction/non/fiction
S10 ep. 2 Ten Years of Fiction/Non/Fiction: An Anniversary Episode
Co-hosts Whitney Terrell, V.V. Ganeshananthan, and Jennifer Maritza McCauley are joined by poet and essayist Kathryn Nuernberger, a frequent guest and longtime…
- fiction/non/fiction
S10 Ep. 1 Nicole Bedera on the Cornell 7, Title IX, and How Universities Betray Survivors of Sexual Violence
Sociologist Nicole Bedera joins co-hosts V.V Ganeshananthan and Whitney Terrell to talk about the Cornell 7 and her book, On the Wrong Side: How Universites…
- fiction/non/fiction
S9 Ep. 52 Yiyun Li on Art, Fame, History, and Music Against the Night
Acclaimed writer Yiyun Li returns to the show to talk about her new novel, Music Against the Night, with co-hosts V.V. Ganeshananthan and Whitney Terrell. Li…
- fiction/non/fiction
S9 Ep. 51 T. Geronimo Johnson on Atlanta, White Supremacy, and The Occidental Book of the Dead
Award-winning fiction writer T. Geronimo Johnson joins co-hosts V.V. Ganeshananthan and Whitney Terrell to talk about his new novel, The Occidental Book of the…
- fiction/non/fiction
S9 Ep. 50 James Richardson on Within the Hour: Poems and Aphorisms, 1971-2026
Poet James Richardson joins co-hosts Whitney Terrell and Christian Barter to talk about his collection of new and selected poetry, Within the Hour. Richardson…
- fiction/non/fiction
S9 Ep. 49 Sam A. Miller on YouTube Storytelling and Choosing Science Fiction
Fiction writer and popular YouTuber Sam A. Miller joins co-hosts Christian Barter and V.V. Ganeshananthan to talk about his debut story collection, Still Lost…
- fiction/non/fiction
S9 Ep. 48 Emily McBride on Maternal Mental Health and the Lindsay Clancy Trial
Fiction writer Emily McBride joins co-hosts V.V. Ganeshananthan and Whitney Terrell to discuss her debut novel, Queen Mab, and maternal mental health. McBride…
- fiction/non/fiction
S9 Ep. 47 Robert Moor on Rethinking Environmentalism Tree by Tree
Nonfiction writer Robert Moor joins co-hosts Christian Barter and Jennifer Maritza McCauley to talk about his new book, In Trees, and the power of “tree…
- fiction/non/fiction
S9 Ep. 46 G’Ra Asim on 99 Problems Finding the 1
Nonfiction writer G’Ra Asim joins co-hosts V.V. Ganeshananthan and Whitney Terrell to talk about his new book, 99 Problems Finding the 1: a love story (sort…
- fiction/non/fiction
S9 Ep. 45 Aruni Kashyap on India’s Cockroach Youth Movement
Novelist Aruni Kashyap joins co-hosts V.V. Ganeshananthan and Jennifer Maritza McCauley to talk about the surprising surge of a new youth movement in India…
- fiction/non/fiction
S9 Ep. 44 Claudia Rankine on Triage, Antigone, and Collapse
Poet, essayist, and playwright Claudia Rankine joins co-hosts Christian Barter, Jennifer Maritza McCauley and Whitney Terrell to talk about her new book…
- fiction/non/fiction
S9 Ep. 43 Dino Martins on Cyclospora, Screwworms, and Our Lives with Parasites
Entomologist Dino Martins joins co-host V.V. Ganeshananthan and Whitney Terrell to talk about the Cyclospora outbreak that has sickened thousands of people…
- fiction/non/fiction
S9 Ep. 42 Joshua Jelly-Schapiro on Harry Belafonte’s Extraordinary Art & Activism
Non-fiction writer Joshua Jelly-Schapiro joins co-hosts V.V. Ganeshananthan and Christian Barter to talk about the life of performer and activist Harry…
- fiction/non/fiction
S9 Ep. 41 Lupe Mendez on Texas Politics and the Killing of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo
Houston-based poet Lupe Mendez joins co-hosts Whitney Terrell and Jennifer Maritza McCauley to discuss ICE raids, the killing of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, and…
- fiction/non/fiction
S9, Ep. 40 Molly Crabapple on the Jewish Bund and Here Where We Live Is Our Country
Artist and writer Molly Crabapple joins co-hosts Whitney Terrell and V.V. Ganeshananthan to talk about the Jewish Labor Bund and its socialist, secular…
- fiction/non/fiction
S9 Ep. 39 Nate Bukaty on World Cup 2026 and the Heart of American Soccer
MLS commentator Nate Bukaty joins co-hosts Whitney Terrell and V.V. Ganeshananthan to talk about Kansas City’s influence on American soccer and how the city…
- fiction/non/fiction
S9 Ep. 38 Peter Hessler on the Implications of a Chinese Education
Acclaimed nonfiction writer Peter Hessler joins co-hosts Whitney Terrell and V.V. Ganeshananthan to talk about his new memoir, Other Rivers: A Chinese…
- fiction/non/fiction
S9 Ep. 37 Soman Chainani on the Dream of a Young President
Young adult novelist Soman Chainani joins co-hosts Christian Barter and V.V. Ganeshananthan to discuss the impact of age on politics. Chainani, the author of a…
- fiction/non/fiction
S9 Ep. 36 Matthew Wolfe on the Secret History of Radical Environmentalism
Journalist Matthew Wolfe joins co-hosts Whitney Terrell and V.V. Ganeshananthan to discuss his new book Fires in the Night: The Earth Liberation Front, the…
- fiction/non/fiction
S9 Ep. 35 Deb Olin Unferth on Our Apocalypse Now World
Writer Deb Olin Unferth joins co-hosts Whitney Terrell and Christian Barter to discuss the enduring power of apocalyptic narratives and her new novel Earth 7…
- fiction/non/fiction
S9 Ep. 34 Ben Fountain on Rasputin and Trump’s Coming Third Term
Novelist Ben Fountain joins co-hosts Whitney Terrell and V.V. Ganeshananthan to discuss his new book, Rasputin Swims the Potomac. Fountain's satire, set in the…
- fiction/non/fiction
S9 Ep. 33 Sarah Pearsall on the Worldwide Scope of the American Revolution
Historian Sarah Pearsall joins co-hosts Jennifer Maritza McCauley and Whitney Terrell to discuss her new book, Freedom Round the Globe: a World History of the…
- fiction/non/fiction
S9 Ep. 32 Barry Walters on LGBTQ Music 1969-2000
Music critic Barry Walters joins co-hosts Whitney Terrell and Christian Barter to discuss his new book, Mighty Real: A History of LGBTQ Music 1969-2000…
- fiction/non/fiction
S9 Ep. 31 Christian B. Miller on The Honesty Crisis
Wake Forest University Professor of Philosophy Christian B. Miller joins co-hosts Whitney Terrell and Jennifer Maritza McCauley to discuss his newest work of…
- fiction/non/fiction
S9 Ep. 30 Rebecca Lehmann on Anne Boleyn, Trump, and Treason
Writer Rebecca Lehmann joins co-hosts Whitney Terrell and V.V. Ganeshananthan to discuss her debut novel, The Beheading Game, a work of speculative historical…
- fiction/non/fiction
S9 Ep. 29 Scott Anderson on the Iranian Revolution
Veteran war correspondent and Kirkus Prize winner Scott Anderson joins co-hosts Whitney Terrell and Jennifer Maritza McCauley to discuss his new nonfiction…
- fiction/non/fiction
S9 Ep. 28: Liam Callanan on Trump Vs. the Pope
Acclaimed novelist Liam Callanan joins co-hosts V.V. Ganeshananthan and Whitney Terrell to discuss American-born Pope Leo XIV’s recent conflicts with the Trump…
- fiction/non/fiction
S9 Ep. 27: Caroline Bicks on Stephen King’s Archives of Horror
Writer and scholar Caroline Bicks, the Stephen E. King Chair in Literature at the University of Maine, joins co-hosts Jennifer Maritza McCauley and V.V…
- fiction/non/fiction
S9 Ep. 26 Chris Hadfield on Final Orbit, Artemis II, and the Future of Space
Retired astronaut and novelist Chris Hadfield joins co-hosts Whitney Terrell and V.V. Ganeshananthan to discuss space exploration, geopolitics, and his new…
- fiction/non/fiction
S9 Ep. 25 Kathryn Paige Harden on Behavior, Genetics, and Blame
Psychologist, behavioral geneticist and writer Kathryn Paige Harden joins co-hosts Jennifer Maritza McCauley and Whitney Terrell to discuss her new book…
- fiction/non/fiction
S9 Ep. 24 Ana Gavrilovska on Pynchon’s Prescient Technofascism
Writer Ana Gavrilovska joins co-hosts V.V. Ganeshananthan and Whitney Terrell to talk about her recent article for Current Affairs, "Thomas Pynchon Saw…
- fiction/non/fiction
S9 Ep. 23 Ellie Roscher on Fair Game and the Future for Trans Athletes
Author Ellie Roscher joins co-hosts V.V. Ganeshananthan and Jennifer Maritza McCauley to talk about her recent book, Fair Game: Trans Athletes and the Future…
- fiction/non/fiction
S9 Ep. 22 Jeff Boyd on Cops, Teachers, and Chicago
Novelist Jeff Boyd joins co-hosts V.V. Ganeshananthan and Whitney Terrell to talk about his new work of literary crime fiction, Hard Times, which is set in…
- fiction/non/fiction
S9 Ep. 21 Daisy Hernandez on the Myth of Citizenship
Award-winning author Daisy Hernández joins co-hosts Jennifer Maritza McCauley and Whitney Terrell to talk about her new book, Citizenship: Notes on an American…
- fiction/non/fiction
S9 Ep. 20 James Sullivan on the Power of Protest Music
Pop culture critic James Sullivan joins co-hosts V.V. Ganeshananthan and Whitney Terrell to discuss the history of American protest music. Sullivan, the author…
- fiction/non/fiction
S9 Ep.19 Brian Platzer on the Complex Ties Between Teachers and Students
Novelist, essayist, and educator Brian Platzer joins co-hosts Whitney Terrell and V.V. Ganeshananthan to discuss his new novel, The Optimists, which follows…
- fiction/non/fiction
S9 Ep. 18: Yi-Ling Liu on Internet Censorship in China and the U.S.
Writer and editor Yi-Ling Liu joins co-hosts Whitney Terrell and Jennifer Maritza McCauley to talk about state-controlled censorship. Liu, the author of a new…
- fiction/non/fiction
S9 Ep. 17 Eleanor Shearer on Migrants in Hiding and a Caribbean History of Canada
Novelist Eleanor Shearer joins co-hosts V.V. Ganeshananthan and Whitney Terrell to discuss her new novel, Fireflies in Winter, which depicts the little-known…
- fiction/non/fiction
S9 Ep. 16 Anjali Enjeti on Ballots and How Trump Wants to Steal Them
Award-winning journalist, activist, poll worker, and former attorney Anjali Enjeti discusses her new book, Ballot, which considers the real and metaphorical…
- fiction/non/fiction
S9 Ep. 15 Joe Jackson on the Spanish-American War and Trump’s Imperial Ambitions
Award-winning nonfiction writer and former investigative journalist Joe Jackson joins co-hosts Whitney Terrell and V.V. Ganeshananthan to talk about President…
- fiction/non/fiction
S9, Ep. 14 Jessica Lopez Lyman on the History of State Violence in Minnesota
Interdisciplinary performance artist and Xicana feminist scholar Jessica Lopez Lyman joins co-hosts Whitney Terrell and V.V. Ganeshananthan to talk about…
- fiction/non/fiction
S9 Ep. 13: Vauhini Vara with Karan Mahajan on “What If Readers Like A.I.-Generated Fiction?”
Award-winning writers and longtime friends Vauhini Vara and Karan Mahajan join co-hosts Whitney Terrell and V. V. Ganeshananthan to discuss Vara’s recent New…
- fiction/non/fiction
S9 Ep. 12: Matthew Pearl on What We’ll Do For the Prize
Bestselling and award-winning writer Matthew Pearl joins co-hosts Whitney Terrell and V.V. Ganeshananthan to discuss his new novel The Award. Pearl explores…
- fiction/non/fiction
S9 Ep. 11: Elizabeth McCracken on Writing About Writing, At Last
Acclaimed fiction writer and long-time creative writing professor Elizabeth McCracken joins co-hosts Whitney Terrell and V. V. Ganeshananthan to discuss her…
- fiction/non/fiction
S9 Ep. 10: Maya Angelou Book Award Winner Alison C. Rollins on the Poetics of Sound, Space, and Image
2025 Maya Angelou Book Award winner Alison C. Rollins joins co-hosts Whitney Terrell and V. V. Ganeshananthan to discuss her 2024 poetry collection Black Bell…
- fiction/non/fiction
S9 Ep. 9: Sven Beckert on the Global History of Capitalism
Pulitzer Prize finalist Sven Beckert joins co-hosts Whitney Terrell and V.V. Ganeshananthan to talk about his new book, Capitalism: A Global History. Beckert…
fiction/non/fictionS9 Ep. 8: Jacob Silverman on the Tech Bros’ Gilded Rage
Journalist Jacob Silverman joins co-hosts Whitney Terrell and V.V. Ganeshananthan to talk about his new book, Gilded Rage: Elon Musk and the Radicalization of…
fiction/non/fictionS9 Ep. 7: Kathryn Nuernberger on Mutualism, Climate, and Finding Family at the End of the World
Poet and essayist Kathryn Nuernberger joins co-hosts Whitney Terrell and V.V. Ganeshananthan to talk about her new collection of lyric essays, Held: Essays in…
fiction/non/fictionS9 Ep. 6: Ottilie Mulzet on Translating Hungarian Nobel Prize Winner László Krasznahorkai
Translator Ottilie Mulzet joins co-hosts Whitney Terrell and V.V. Ganeshananthan to talk about her award-winning translations of Nobel Prize winner László…
fiction/non/fictionS9 Ep. 5: Max Delsohn on the Importance of Portraying Trans Men
Fiction writer Max Delsohn joins co-hosts Whitney Terrell and V.V. Ganeshananthan to discuss his debut short story collection, Crawl, which features a number…
fiction/non/fictionS9 Ep. 4: Ben Passmore on the History of Black Resistance
Graphic novelist Ben Passmore joins co-hosts Whitney Terrell and V.V. Ganeshananthan to discuss his new graphic novel Black Arms To Hold You Up: A History of…
fiction/non/fictionS9 Ep. 3: Jelani Cobb on Race, Politics and the ‘Trayvon Martin Generation’
New Yorker staff writer Jelani Cobb joins co-hosts Whitney Terrell and V.V. Ganeshananthan to discuss his new essay collection, Three or More is a Riot: Notes…
fiction/non/fictionS9 Ep. 2: Edwidge Danticat on Haiti and Trump, Past and Present
Acclaimed fiction writer and essayist Edwidge Danticat joins co-hosts Whitney Terrell and V.V. Ganeshananthan to discuss her new essay collection We’re Alone…
fiction/non/fictionS9 Ep 1: Yiming Ma on the Future of Censorship
Fiction writer Yiming Ma joins co-hosts Whitney Terrell and V.V. Ganeshananthan to discuss his new novel These Memories Do Not Belong To Us. Ma, who was born…
fiction/non/fictionS8 Ep 52: Caleb Gayle on Black Settlers in the American West
Journalist Caleb Gayle joins co-hosts Whitney Terrell and V.V. Ganeshananthan to discuss his new book Black Moses: A Saga of Ambition and the Fight for a Black…
fiction/non/fictionS8 Ep. 51: Omar El Akkad on Gaza and Western Empire
Writer Omar El Akkad joins co-hosts Whitney Terrell and V.V. Ganeshananthan to discuss his recent nonfiction book, One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been…
fiction/non/fictionS8 Ep. 50: Jessica Francis Kane on Penelope Fitzgerald in Mexico
Novelist Jessica Francis Kane joins co-hosts Whitney Terrell and V.V. Ganeshananthan to discuss her new novel Fonseca, which fictionalizes writer Penelope…
fiction/non/fictionS8 Ep. 49: Patrick Ryan on ‘The Good Heart’ of Buckeye
Fiction writer and editor Patrick Ryan joins co-hosts Whitney Terrell and V.V. Ganeshananthan to discuss his debut novel, Buckeye, which traces two generations…
fiction/non/fictionS8 Ep. 48: Jennifer Szalai and Alexandra Jacobs on Great American Road Trip Books
New York Times book critics Jennifer Szalai and Alexandra Jacobs join co-hosts Whitney Terrell and V.V. Ganeshananthan to discuss their recent article, “Love…
fiction/non/fictionS8 Ep. 47: Nicholas Boggs on James Baldwin’s Love Stories
Biographer Nicholas Boggs joins co-hosts Whitney Terrell and V.V. Ganeshananthan to discuss his groundbreaking new book, Baldwin: A Love Story, the first major…