Episodes

There’s an old idea that explaining a joke is like dissecting a frog: you come away understanding how it works, but the joke dies in the process. Naturally, I decided that was worth spending an hour on. Jim Stallions is a Boston-based comedian you may know from the stage, from his TikTok account Great Face for Radio, or from being the guy in the room you can never quite predict. He joined me in the Dale Dorman Radio Studio at Massasoit Community College to talk about what makes people laugh, ...

Can writing be taught? It’s one of the oldest arguments in literary culture, and every year, thousands of writers bet their time, money, and creative confidence that the answer is yes. They enroll in MFA programs, bring their pages into classrooms, and submit themselves to a process called “workshop,” where their work gets dissected, debated, and handed back to them. Of course, MFA writing programs exist for more than just fiction writers. You can pursue an MFA in poetry, creative nonfiction,...

When I was a kid, one of my favorite TV shows was The Magic School Bus. In one episode, Ms. Frizzle shrinks the class down and takes them inside the human body to learn about the immune system. I’ve never forgotten it. For years, I knew I wanted to write a story about people miniaturizing themselves with advanced technology and venturing into the body on a mission. Last year, I finally gave it a shot. I imagined technology that reduces the space between subatomic particles, shrinking a person...

When we think of imagination, we assume it’s reserved for creatives: painters and poets, actors and musicians. But the truth is, we use our imagination almost constantly: anytime we reminisce, anticipate, plan, or daydream. Research suggests we spend between a quarter and half of our waking hours with our minds wandering elsewhere, away from what’s right in front of us. But why? And what’s actually happening in our brains when we drift? In this episode, I talk with Dr. Adam Zeman, author of T...