Finding the Throughline with Kate Hanley

If someone is constantly saying mean, disparaging, discouraging things about you, would that make it feel like they loved you? Yeah. No. But that’s what we often do to ourselves. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to the final installment of my interview with Cynthia Weiner, author of “A Gorgeous Excitement,” a coming of age novel set in 1980s New York City that was named a best book of 2025 by The New Yorker, Kirkus Reviews, and Oprah Daily and is freshly out in paperback.Cynthia is also the assistant director of the writer's studio in New York City and her short fiction has been published in “Open City,” “Ploughshares,” and “The Sun,” has earned a Pushcart Prize and been anthologized in Coolest American Stories 2024.In this fun episode, we covered:- The 90s soundtrack that’s helping Cynthia get into her next project- The three writers whose examples inspire Cynthia on her own path- Her burning desire to have a house with a yard and, most importantly, a tree- The Max show she’s bingeing, her elaborate daily diet soda ritual, the best day of the week, and the fast food meal she’s cravingConnect with Cynthia on Instagram at @cynthiaweinerThere are new Finding the Throughline episodes roughly every other week–hit “subscribe” so you know when the next ones drop!For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit ⁠katehanley.substack.com⁠.Thank you for listening! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to part two of my interview (a replay) with Cynthia Weiner, author of “A Gorgeous Excitement,” which, since these episodes first aired, has just come out in paperback and was named a best book of the year for 2025 by The New Yorker, Kirkus Reviews, and Oprah Daily.In today's episode, we unpack:- Learning how to tolerate the discomfort of sharing your work- And how to ignore the voice that tells you nobody cares what you have to say- How she came to imagine that inner critical voice as a “shit bird”- Why she could work on one sentence for years- Why she’d rather stay home than travel some place new- How getting older has made her a better writer (and a worse sleeper)- How she’s re-wired the idea that it’s bad to draw attention to yourselfConnect with Cynthia on Instagram at @cynthiaweinerThere are new Finding the Throughline episodes roughly every other week–hit “subscribe” so you know when the next ones drop!For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit ⁠katehanley.substack.com⁠.Thank you for listening! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week I'm replaying my interview with Cynthia Weiner, whose amazing coming of age novel set in 1980s New York City, “A Gorgeous Excitement,” is just out in paperback.“A Gorgeous Excitement” is inspired by Cynthia's own 80s upbringing on the Upper East Side of New York, as well as the infamous Preppy Killer, a former prep school student who killed a girl in Central Park in the summer of 1986 and who frequented a bar called Dorian's, where Cynthia spent many nights drinking with friends.Cynthia's work has won the Pushcart Prize and been anthologized in the Coolest American Stories. Cynthia is also the assistant director of The Writer's Studio in New York City where, fun fact, I took classes with her in the early 2000s.We covered:- The award she won in second grade that hooked her on the writing life- How she stumbled into teaching writing- Writing as a “weird compulsion”- The plus sides of working on a novel for nearly 10 years- The daily rituals that help her write- The time management technique that helps her get unstuck- Why catching up with a friend helps her write- How living a boring life leaves more space for the workConnect with Cynthia on Instagram at @cynthiaweinerThere are new Finding the Throughline episodes roughly every other week–hit “subscribe” so you know when the next ones drop!For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit ⁠katehanley.substack.com⁠.Thank you for listening! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to the final portion of my interview with Lauren Kessler an award-winning author of 15 books including her brand new and most personal by far, Everything Changes Everything, which covers how she moved forward after losing her husband and her daughter within eight months of each other by walking 500 miles across Spain on a solo pilgrimage along the famed Camino de Santiago.In addition to being a writer, Lauren is a backyard farmer, a backcountry hiker, a tent-camper, and a quadruple Aries–if you know, you know.Today we get a peek at where Lauren is headed next, as well as what she’s been reading, watching, drinking, and fantasizing about eating.We covered:- Looking for pockets of inspiration amid a sea of upsetting headlines- A suffragist whose story inspires Lauren in her own life- How her current throughline is creating work that helps people move through loss- Starting to ponder the possibility of pursuing a partnership now that she’s five years past losing her beloved husband–or really, how she’s avoiding said pondering but still, the possibility lingers- Thoughts on maintaining the stamina for maintaining a writing career as long as possible- The novella by Norman McLean she reads three times a year, and why- Why, when she drinks alcohol, she drinks tequila (such a sweet story)Connect with Lauren at laurenkessler.com or laurenjkess.substack.com.For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com.Thank you for listening! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In part two of my interview with award-winning author and (semi) fearless immersion reporter Lauren Kessler, who brand-new book "Everything Changes Everything" is getting great reviews for being an affective portrait of moving through the kinds of loss we all hope to avoid but few can avoid.In today’s interview we dive into the interior side of writing–dealing with resistance, doubts, aging, and unhelpful beliefs.We covered:- The part of the writing process she always conducts while sitting on the floor- A really great peek inside the book proposal process- The one question her inner critic asks over and over again- What her inner supporter tells her when she gets stuck in a loop of doubt- Two very insightful reasons why she doesn’t share her age- How she pushes back against the aging process- Making a living as a mid-list writer (i.e., not a mega bestseller)- The “woo woo” disciplines that appeal to herConnect with Lauren at laurenkessler.com or laurenjkess.substack.com.For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com.Thank you for listening! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

My guest today is Lauren Kessler, a multi-award-winning author of eleven works of narrative nonfiction, three biographies, an oral history, and four books on writing and reporting.A gutsy immersion journalist, Lauren has explored life inside a maximum-security prison, the grueling world of professional ballet, the anti-aging movement, and the hidden world of Alzheimer’s sufferers. Her brand new book, "Everything Changes Everything" is her most personal by far, detailing how she processed the loss of both her husband and her daughter by setting out alone to walk the Camino de Santiago across Spain.We covered:- How she landed on narrative nonfiction as her genre of choice, even though she had a degree in journalism- The woman Lauren wrote her first feature story about, who died by suicide shortly after the story came out, and the effect that had on Lauren- How writing feels in her body- The work she’s had to do to accept that writing is a business as well as an art- The part of the writing process that makes her brain sweat- How she taught full time, wrote a deeply researched book every three years, and raised three kids–and how she’s been able to move away from working that hard, that consistently- The breakthrough that helped her work smarter, not harder- Her hack for making writing a little less sedentary- A genius trick for making it easier to get your writing brain going in the morningConnect with Lauren at laurenkessler.com or laurenjkess.substack.com.For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com.Thank you for listening! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Welcome back to part two of my interview with Elizabeth Gonzalez-James, screenwriter and bestselling author of the novels, “The Bullet Swallower” and “Mona at Sea,” as well as the chapbook, “Five Conversations About Peter Sellers.” Elizabeth was featured on the MSNBC documentary, “My Generation,” representing the millennials. And she has taught fiction writing at Grub Street, Pioneer Valley Writers Workshop, Story Studio and elsewhere.In today's interview, we're diving into the mindset side of writing, dealing with resistance and doubts, the passage of time–all things that might make this episode sound like a bummer, but things we all face. So let's talk about how to work with them so that we can feel better about them.We talked about:- The many ways she avoids doing the actual writing- The type of feedback that motivates her to get writing (sneak preview: it’s not the positive kind of feedback)- Making the transition from debut author to “established writer”- Acknowledging and working through her resistance to the act of writing- Being a geriatric millennial- How giving fewer Fs has eased her judgement of other people- Unlearning the things she was taught as a kid from her immigrant dad about how you can never trust other people or ask for helpConnect with Elizabeth on Instagram @unefemmejames.For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com.Thank you for listening! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to the final installment of my interview with Crystal King, bestselling author of In the Garden of Monsters, Feast of Sorrow, The Chef's Secret, and the brand new The Happiness Collector. Crystal's writing is fueled by a love of history and a passion for the food, language, and culture of Italy. So if you're ever looking to take a mental escape to another culture, a delicious one and a fascinating one at that, definitely check out her books.Today we get a peek at what's currently inspiring Crystal and I'll ask her my fast final five questions about what she's been reading, watching, listening to, drinking and eating lately.We cover:- Her new novel, which combines Nathaniel Hawthorne and the punk scene in Rome in the early 80s- The book by an Italian author she wants everyone to read- The authors who inspire her- Why her husband doesn’t read her books until they’re published- Why she’s applying for Italian citizenship- Her very specific vision of where she’s headed that involves being in a room with 5,000 copies of her book- Two novels by other authors coming out this spring we should all be on the lookout for- The Italian singer-songwriter and rapper whose social media posts make her happyVisit Crystal at crystalking.com or on Substack @crystalking.For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com.Thank you for listening! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week's guest is Elizabeth Gonzales James, screenwriter and bestselling author of the novels, “The Bullet Swallower” and “Mona at Sea,” as well as the chapbook, “Five Conversations About Peter Sellers.”“The Bullet Swallower” is based on mostly true events from her own family lore, a magical realism Western that was named a best book of 2024 by NPR and Esquire.“Mona at Sea,” is a darkly funny coming of age story set against the backdrop of the Great Recession that was inspired by her own experience of long-term unemployment.And “Five Conversations About Peter Sellers” is the result of Elizabeth attempting to sit down and write a reported piece on how the actor Peter Sellers derailed the production of a 1960s movie, “Casino Royale.” That’s when the book spins into its own chaos as five different narrators share their point of view about what the original essay is really about.We covered:- How she went from MBA graduate prepping for a career in finance to an unemployed stay at home mom living in her in-law’s basement- The one, unfleshed-out idea for a short story that set her on the writing path (with a nudge from the creator of The Perfect Push-up, a made for TV fitness product)- How writing books is like dating- A detailed accounting of the financials for each of her book–and how she knew “The Bullet Swallower” would be her “put-my-kids-through-college” book- Making the jump from writing books to writing screenplays- Why, sometimes, all the tips in the world can’t help you write more–and how to give yourself grace during those times- Knowing when to push and be disciplined, and when to back off- Her current productivity hack that involves handicraftsConnect with Elizabeth on Instagram @unefemmejames.For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com.Thank you for listening! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to part two of my interview with Crystal King, author of the bestselling food-laden novels, “In the Garden of Monsters,” “The Chef’s Secret,” and “Feast of Sorrow.” Her newest novel, “The Happiness Collector,” is a contemporary fantasy novel about an American historian who lands a dream job in Rome--and may or may not be an unwitting pawn in battle of the gods.In today’s interview we cover:- How she comforts herself when impostor syndrome kicks in- The inner critic narrative that’s unique to mystery writers (I hadn’t considered this one before)- The uncanny experience of listening to the audiobook version of your book- How a brush with breast cancer has changed her writing–and life–goals- The gender norms she’s done with- The tools she’s learned from reading the StoicsVisit Crystal at crystalking.com or on Substack @crystalking.For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com.Thank you for listening! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

My guest this week is Crystal King, author of the novels “In the Garden of Monsters”--a retelling of the Hades and Persephone myth–“Feast of Sorrow”--about an ancient Roman gourmand–”The Chef’s Secret”--about the pope’s private chef during the Renaissance--and the brand new “The Happiness Collector,” about a modern-day history professor who lands her dream job in Rome where it slowly becomes apparent that ancient forces are still very much in play.Crystal is a Pushcart Prize–nominated poet and former co-editor of the (now defunct) online literary arts journal Plum Ruby Review. She has taught writing, creativity and social media at UMass Boston, Boston University, Mass College of Art, Harvard Extension School, and Grub Street.In today’s episode, we cover:- Why she’s obsessed with Italy- Her master’s degree in the coolest subject I never realized was an area of study: critical and creative thinking- The master’s thesis she was sure could be a book (until agents told her, no actually, it can’t)- How teaching writing led to her writing her first novel- The two ways to make it in publishing (and the path she’s chosen)- Her one regret in life- How her day job in marketing, social media, and AI helps her as a writer- A frank talk about the financial side of being an author- The cool ways she comes up with ideas- How she writes a book in six months, with a full-time day job- Her plug for writing every dayVisit Crystal at crystalking.com or on Substack @crystalking.For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com.Thank you for listening! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

My guest this week is journalist and author Susannah Cahalan. Susannah’s first book, "Brain on Fire," about her experiences with a very rare autoimmune disease that was misdiagnosed as mental illness, was a #1 NY Times bestseller, sold over a million copies, and was made into a Netflix original movie. Her second book, "The Great Pretender," was named a best book of 2020 by Time, The Guardian and The Sunday Times. And her newest book is "The Acid Queen," which tells the fascinating story of Rosemary Woodruff Leary, who is best known as the wife of LSD pioneer Timothy Leary, but who played a major role in bringing psychedelics into the mainstream.NPR called Susannah "one of America's most courageous young journalists." She’s been profiled in the New York Times, featured as an answer on Jeopardy!, and appeared as a guest on The Today Show and Fresh Air, among many others.What I loved most in this episode was hearing about how Susannah’s process has evolved from something that was very structured, even rigid, into something that’s way on the other end of the spectrum, that involves candles made by witches and doing what it takes to open up a “magical circle” where you can engage with the work on a deeper level.We covered:- The side effects of growing up in a house where the grown-ups read newspapers- The gossip column she started for her high school paper- Interning at The New York Post as a 17-year-old- The rare autoimmune disease she experienced in her 20s that was initially misdiagnosed as mental illness, and the fascination with consciousness it fostered- Adapting to the large amounts of time you spend alone as a writer- Resisting the lure of spending too much time alone and in your head- The mix of speaking, ghostwriting, and side projects that supplement the income she makes writing books- Her biggest speaking fail- Her transition from structured–even rigid–writing routines to something way more woo woo- The steps she takes to open up a “magical circle” when it’s time to write- The shop in New York City that she gets to create special candles for each project (I’m so in–check the show notes on Substack for a link)- Why writing in the mornings and interviewing and editing in the afternoons works for herVisit Susannah on Instagram @susannahcahalan or at susannhacahalan.com.For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com.Thank you for listening! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to the final installment of my interview with Debbie Urbanski, author of the novel “Afterworld,” in which an AI witnesses the last days of the last person on earth, and the story collection “Portalmania,” which combines sci-fi, horror, fantasy, and realism to explore a long list of juicy topics, including betrayal, revenge, parenthood, open marriages, asexuality, neurodiversity, and second chances.We covered:- Why she’s learning everything she can about caves, the deep ocean, and whales- Exploring the things that scare her in her writing- Looking to writers who let themselves experiment and change over time as role models- The book she’s read multiple times that gives her the courage to keep experimenting- Sensing that the themes she wants to explore are changing as she enters a new life stage- The series she’s re-watching and the graphic novel that was so beautiful, she had to force herself to slow down while reading- The YouTube video that captures the creative process in real time and gets her fired up to write- Why Fridays are the best dayFollow Debbie on Instagram and/or Substack @debbieurbanskiFor full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com.Thank you for listening! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

My guest this week is Debbie Urbanski, whose writing focuses on the intersections of horror, fantasy, science fiction, memoir, and often the planet. Her debut novel, “Afterworld,” narrates the last days of the last human on Earth's life, as told by an AI. It was named a best book of the year by the San Francisco Chronicle and the Los Angeles Times. Her newest book is “Portal Mania”, a collection of short stories that use a combination of sci-fi, fantasy, horror, and realism to ask, If you could go anywhere, where would you go? And what happens to the people you leave behind?We covered:- The literary journal acceptance that made Debbie feel like, “I think I could do this [whole writing thing]”- Figuring out what to do after you meet your writing goals- How Instagram has been a useful tool for building a community of writers- Figuring out which social media platforms are helpful for you- How studying poetry makes writing novels harder–and marketing easier- The business she and her husband run that provides steady income- What she’s learning about writing from Alfred Hitchcock- The daily schedule she tries to stick to- The genres she’s reading for inspiration- The standing desk, stacks of print outs, and nap strategy she uses to get her writing doneFollow Debbie on Instagram and/or Substack @debbieurbanskiFor full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com.Thank you for listening! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

My guest this week is Debbie Urbanski, whose writing focuses on the intersections of horror, fantasy, science fiction, memoir, and often the planet. Her debut novel, “Afterworld,” narrates the last days of the last human on Earth's life, as told by an AI. It was named a best book of the year by the San Francisco Chronicle and the Los Angeles Times. Her newest book is “Portal Mania”, a collection of short stories that use a combination of sci-fi, fantasy, horror, and realism to ask, If you could go anywhere, where would you go? And what happens to the people you leave behind?We covered:- The literary journal acceptance that made Debbie feel like, “I think I could do this [whole writing thing]”- Figuring out what to do after you meet your writing goals- How Instagram has been a useful tool for building a community of writers- Figuring out which social media platforms are helpful for you- How studying poetry makes writing novels harder–and marketing easier- The business she and her husband run that provides steady income- What she’s learning about writing from Alfred Hitchcock- The daily schedule she tries to stick to- The genres she’s reading for inspiration- The standing desk, stacks of print outs, and nap strategy she uses to get her writing doneFollow Debbie on Instagram and/or Substack @debbieurbanskiFor full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com.Thank you for listening! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to the final installment of my interview with Beth Macy, award-winning and New York Times bestselling author of “Factory Man,” “Dopesick,” and her newest book, “Paper Girl,” which uses a blend of memoir and reporting to examine the rural-urban divide through the lens of her hometown of Urbana, Ohio.Beth was the first in her family to go to college, an event that drastically changed and maybe even saved her life. She's gone on to become a Guggenheim fellow and a Nieman fellow for journalism at Harvard.In today’s episode we find out what Beth knows at this moment about where her personal throughline is leading her next. And I ask her my fast final five questions about what she's reading, watching, listening to, and fantasizing about eating.We cover:- Why she’s feeling called to activism- How she patched things up with her brother, who’s on the other end of the political divide- Robert Guy, the Kentucky writer whom Beth considers her “Appalachian sensei”- The Netflix show “about England before it was England” her hairdresser told her about that she loved- Palmyra, her younger son’s band that’s touring–keep an eye out!Connect with Beth on Bluesky and/or Instagram @bethmacy.For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com.Thank you for listening!And thanks to this week’s sponsor, Air Doctor Pro. Visit airdoctorpro.com and use code KATE to save 30% off an amazing indoor air filter *and* receive a free three-year warranty (an $84 value). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to the second part of my interview with award-winning journalist Beth Macy, author of the brand new book “Paper Girl: A Memoir of Home and Family in a Fractured America” about how politics has divided her hometown of Urbana, Ohio and even her own family. It’s a hard, heart-stirring read for anyone who wonders, “How did we get here? And how can we come back together.”Beth is also the author of “Dopesick” about the about the opioid crisis–which was also turned into an Emmy-award winning Hulu series–and “Factory Man” about how the effects of globalization have taken a toll on small rural communities.In this episode, we get into some of the thornier questions about writing, especially writing about polarizing topics–including family.We cover:- Why she makes it a point to include humor even in the darkest stories she tells (like babies being born addicted to opiates)- Keeping her mom’s spirit alive by writing about her in “Paper Girl”- How interviewing her ex-boyfriend for “Paper Girl” flew right past awkward and into threatening–and how she dealt with it- What she does to get through those “what do I do now??” moments- How her husband helped her find the opening scene to “Dopesick”- Her recently acquired skill of consulting “future Beth” when anxiety starts creeping in- Her best interviewing question that she got from Denzel Washingon- The one rule of newspaper reporting she thinks is total B.S.--and how she got around it without breaking it, directly, when she was on staff at the Roanoke TimesConnect with Beth on Bluesky and/or Instagram @bethmacy.For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com.Thank you for listening!And thanks to this week’s sponsor, Air Doctor Pro. Visit airdoctorpro.com and use code KATE to save 30% off an amazing indoor air filter *and* receive a free three-year warranty (an $84 value). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

My guest this week is Beth Macy, the award-winning author of three New York Times bestselling books that examine rural communities left behind by corporate greed and political indifference.Beth's first book, “Factory Man”, explored the aftermath of globalization on rural communities and won a J. Anthony Lucas Prize. “Dopesick,” her investigation of the opioid crisis, won an LA Times Book Prize and was described as “a masterwork of narrative nonfiction” by the New York Times. (It was also made into a Peabody- and Emmy-award winning Hulu series starring Michael Keaton.)Her newest book, “Paper Girl,” has just been released and is a combination of memoir and reported analysis of the rural-urban divide told through the lenses of backward mobility, political polarization, and the decimation of local news. Beth lives in Roanoke, Virginia.We covered:- How politics divided her family, and the skills she used to write a book about it- How a Pell grant helped Beth out of poverty, into college, and ultimately into a career in journalism- Publishing her first book at age fifty- Why writing books is easier than writing for a newspaper- Her telltale signs for when she’s stumbled on a good story- Getting through the big-city gatekeepers to tell stories of small towns- Why the collapse of local news and public education are playing such a huge role in making us so polarized- How policy changes shape our everyday reality- Using personal deadlines as an “anxiety-management tool”- How clustering tasks–such as reporting, interviewing, writing, and editing helps give structure to a long-term deadlineConnect with Beth on Bluesky and/or Instagram @bethmacy.For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com.Thank you for listening!And thanks to this week’s sponsor, Aqua Tru. Visit aquatru.com and use code KATE to save 20% off a great countertop reverse osmosis water filter that I have been using and loving for years now. Comes with a 1-year warranty and a 30-day money back guarantee. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices