The Elmore Leonard Podcast

Alex R. Johnson is an author and filmmaker. His debut novel Brooklyn Motto was published this year and his film Two Step, premiered at the SXSW Film Festival. He joins the podcast to talk Elmore and tell us what it's like to jump between film and books, learn from Jonathan Demme, and grow up in a house of spies.  https://haciendafilmsinc.com Guest: Alex R. Johnson Hosted By: Judd Rubin and Alex Leonard Music by: Greg Ahee Produced and Edited by: Judd Rubin Executive Producer: Peter Leonard Let's talk: www.elmoreleonardofficial.com X: @elmorepodcast IG: @ElmoreLeonardInc hello@theelmoreleonardpodcast.com

Walter Mosley is one of our great writers. He's written over 60 books, including mysteries, science fiction, short stories and non-fiction. His books have been adapted into films and television shows such as Devil in a Blue Dress, starring Denzel Washington, Jennifer Beals, and Don Cheadle; The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey starring Samuel L. Jackson (Apple TV); The Man in my Basement starring Corey Hawkins and Willem Dafoe (Hulu), and many more.   He is also incredibly prolific in television, having written on shows such as FX's Snowfall, Justified: City Primeval and The Lowdown.  He has won the Edgar Award, the O. Henry Award, The Mystery Writers of America's Grand Master Award, a Grammy®, several NAACP Image awards, and PEN America's Lifetime Achievement Award. We discuss the foibles of right and wrong, how being a computer programmer is like being a cowboy, what happens if he doesn't write for 3 days in a row, and so much more.  https://www.waltermosley.com Guest: Walter Mosley Hosted By: Judd Rubin and Alex Leonard Music by: Greg Ahee Produced and Edited by: Judd Rubin Executive Producer: Peter Leonard Let's talk: www.elmoreleonardofficial.com X: @elmorepodcast IG: @ElmoreLeonardInc hello@theelmoreleonardpodcast.com

Danny Cosmo is a world-record holding high diver and stunt man who has worked on over 170 movies. Cosmo met Elmore during the research phase of TISHOMINGO BLUES, and Elmore based much of his character Dennis on Cosmo's exploits.  Cosmo joins us to share what it's like to dive from 96 feet in the air, getting shot at in Puerto Rico, transmitting subliminal messages on The Tonight Show, and how he got to be such good friends with Elmore.  See Danny in action here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2d0MrlWhLYc Danny's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@FishingwithCosmo Guest: Danny Cosmo Hosted By: Judd Rubin and Alex Leonard Music by: Greg Ahee Produced and Edited by: Judd Rubin Executive Producer: Peter Leonard Let's talk: www.elmoreleonardofficial.com X: @elmorepodcast IG: @ElmoreLeonardInc hello@theelmoreleonardpodcast.com

Graham Yost has written or produced some of the best television ever. His work includes Band of Brothers, Boomtown, John Adams, The Pacific, Masters of the Air, The Americans, Slow Horses, and Silo. He is also the Executive Producer and Showrunner of FX's Justified, based on Elmore Leonard's short story "Fire in the Hole." Justified, starring Timothy Olyphant, Walton Goggins, Joelle Carter, and Nick Searcy among many other amazing actors, is considered one of the very best adaptations of Elmore's work.  While Graham refused to share his childhood nickname with us, he did share great stories about Elmore, being mercilessly taunted by Walton Goggins, whether or not there will be more Justified, and much, much more.   Guest: Graham Yost Hosted By: Judd Rubin and Alex Leonard Music by: Greg Ahee Produced and Edited by: Judd Rubin Executive Producer: Peter Leonard Let's talk: www.elmoreleonardofficial.com X: @elmorepodcast IG: @ElmoreLeonardInc hello@theelmoreleonardpodcast.com

Before Elmore Leonard died in 2013 he decided that he wanted his archives to live at The Irvin Department of Rare Books and Special Collections at the University of South Carolina.  This fall, the first Elmore Leonard Exhibit opened and we got to meet two of the people responsible for preserving the archives, Michael Weisenburg and Elizabeth Sudduth. Michael is the current director of the Collection and oversaw the exhibit, and Elizabeth was the director when Elmore decided that he wanted his papers, notes, and letters to be preserved alongside those of Fitzgerald, Hemingway, Hammett, and George V. Higgins.  We spoke with Elizabeth and Michael about what made Elmore choose the University of South Carolina, how the Collection will continue to evolve, and about the value of crime fiction.  Learn more about the exhibit by clicking on the link below. It runs until mid-January 2026.  Special Thanks to: Elizabeth Sudduth, Michael Weisenburg, Jeffrey Makkala, and Matt Hodge.  https://sc.edu/about/offices_and_divisions/university_libraries/exhibits_events_news/news/2025/100_years_of_elmore_leonard.php Hosted By: Judd Rubin and Alex Leonard Music by: Greg Ahee Produced and Edited by: Judd Rubin Executive Producer: Peter Leonard Let's talk: www.elmoreleonardofficial.com X: @elmorepodcast IG: @ElmoreLeonardInc hello@theelmoreleonardpodcast.com

Alex gets an audience with the one and only Otto Penzler, a dear friend of Elmore's and the proprietor of The Mysterious Bookshop in New York City - the oldest mystery specialist book store in America. Having been featured in Comfort to the Enemy and Up In Honey's Room, Otto is also the first character of Elmore's to join ust on the podcast.  Otto tells us about getting to know Elmore, the importance of not showing off all that you know, and why it's good to be the first to ask.  This episode is dedicated to Raffles, the German Shepherd.  https://www.mysteriousbookshop.com Hosted By: Judd Rubin and Alex Leonard Music by: Greg Ahee Produced and Edited by: Judd Rubin Executive Producer: Peter Leonard Let's talk: www.elmoreleonardofficial.com X: @elmorepodcast IG: @ElmoreLeonardInc hello@theelmoreleonardpodcast.com

Elmore Leonard has been referred to as the "Dickens of Detroit" but his books are set all over the world. Some of our favorite books of Elmore's, like Split Images, Cat Chaser, La Brava, Maximum Bob, or Rum Punch are set in the great State of Florida.  This podcast features conversations with two people with very unique connections to Florida and Elmore. In the first half of the podast, we speak with Kristy Lowman an actual Weeki Wachee mermaid, just like the ones featured in Maximum Bob. We also get to speak with one of Elmore's five children, Bill Leonard, who shares some great stories about the family vacations that first brought Elmore to Florida.  https://weekiwachee.com Hosted By: Judd Rubin and Alex Leonard Music by: Greg Ahee Produced and Edited by: Judd Rubin Executive Producer: Peter Leonard Let's talk: www.elmoreleonardofficial.com https://x.com/elmorepodcast hello@theelmoreleonardpodcast.com

Alex and Judd throw on their cashmere sweaters, plant machetes, and taunt the homicide detectives as they dive deep into Elmore Leonard's SPLIT IMAGES.  From ElmoreLeonardOfficial.com:  Wealthy industrialist Robbie Daniels has discovered something that gives him even a bigger kick than his palatial homes in Detroit and Palm Beach: homicide. He's tried it, he likes it, and he'd like to keep doing it—as often as possible—with the help of a really bad ex-cop who quit the force one step away from prison stripes. Motown Detective Bryan Hurd strongly suspects that Daniels has been getting away with murder and figures a little Florida R&R might be an ideal way to keep a close eye on the slippery millionaire reptile. But Daniels has money, power, no fear, and an awesome collection of guns—and Hurd might be getting a little too close to the action. . . It is a nasty (and nifty) little crime book, and it was so much fun to revisit it.  Hosted By: Judd Rubin and Alex Leonard Music by: Greg Ahee Produced and Edited by: Judd Rubin Executive Producer: Peter Leonard Let's talk: www.elmoreleonardofficial.com https://x.com/elmorepodcast hello@theelmoreleonardpodcast.com

Stacey Sher is one of our great producers of film and television. In addition to having produced two of what many consider to be the three best feature film adaptations of Elmore's work - GET SHORTY and OUT OF SIGHT, she has also produced Erin Brockovich, Contagion, Gattaca, How High, Django Unchained, Reno 911!: Miami, Man on the Moon, and Heretic, to name just a few.  She was also an Executive Producer of Pulp Fiction.  She joins us to share her perspective on Elmore, working with Danny DeVito and Michael Shamberg at Jersey Films, and to reflect on Get Shorty, Out of Sight, Be Cool, and so much more.   Deleted Get Shorty Scene: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKlH6_xZo6c Interview with Jay Weston: https://labusinessjournal.com/retail/restaurants/table-reads/ Much Appreciation to Katie Aquino and Jake Pace. Guest: Stacey Sher Hosted By: Judd Rubin and Alex Leonard Music by: Greg Ahee Produced and Edited by: Judd Rubin Executive Producer: Peter Leonard Let's talk: www.elmoreleonardofficial.com https://x.com/elmorepodcast hello@theelmoreleonardpodcast.com

Ace Atkins is the best selling author of 30 novels including WICKED CITY, WHITE SHADOW, DON'T LET THE DEVIL RIDE, the upcoming EVERYBODY WANTS TO RULE THE WORLD, the Quinn Colson series, the Nick Travers series, and several books in Robert B. Parker's Spenser series. He is also our first guest to have appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated. He is a huge admirer of Elmore's and he shares some fantastic stories with us today about getting feedback from and traveling with Elmore, working as a crime reporter in Tampa Bay, choosing crime fiction over sports, and so much more.  https://www.aceatkins.com https://www.outsideonline.com/culture/books-media/spy-who-scammed-us/ Guest: Ace Atkins Hosted By: Judd Rubin and Alex Leonard Music by: Greg Ahee Produced and Edited by: Judd Rubin Executive Producer: Peter Leonard Let's talk: www.elmoreleonardofficial.com https://x.com/elmorepodcast hello@theelmoreleonardpodcast.com

Alex and Judd get out of prison, sneak into the Ricks Mansion and hide dynamite all over 1980s Detroit as they dive deep into what some have called Elmore Leonard's greatest book, FREAKY DEAKY.  In Part Two, we sink even deeper into the gray areas, argue about Chris, and hear about the book that Elmore almost wrote featuring some of his greatest characters.  Learn more about Freaky Deaky here: https://www.elmoreleonardofficial.com/books/freaky-deaky Hosted By: Judd Rubin and Alex Leonard Music by: Greg Ahee Produced and Edited by: Judd Rubin Executive Producer: Peter Leonard Let's talk: www.elmoreleonardofficial.com https://x.com/elmorepodcast hello@theelmoreleonardpodcast.com

Alex and Judd get out of prison, sneak into the Ricks Mansion and hide dynamite all over 1980s Detroit as they dive deep into what some have called Elmore Leonard's greatest book, FREAKY DEAKY.  In Part One, we meet our second favorite novelist Nicole Robinette, try not to mix dynamite and LSD, and learn some of the facts of life from Elmore.  Learn more about Freaky Deaky here: https://www.elmoreleonardofficial.com/books/freaky-deaky Hosted By: Judd Rubin and Alex Leonard Music by: Greg Ahee Produced and Edited by: Judd Rubin Executive Producer: Peter Leonard Let's talk: www.elmoreleonardofficial.com https://x.com/elmorepodcast hello@theelmoreleonardpodcast.com

Tom Scharpling is just the greatest. He's an accomplished TV writer/producer (Monk, What We Do in the Shadows, Steven Universe) and the host of the legendary The Best Show. He joins Alex and Judd in Chris's dad's Cadillac to talk FREAKY DEAKY, and what he appreciates most about Elmore. Also, Judd pitches him an idea for a novel.  https://www.patreon.com/cw/TheBestShow Guest: Tom Scharpling Hosted By: Judd Rubin and Alex Leonard Music by: Greg Ahee Produced and Edited by: Judd Rubin Executive Producer: Peter Leonard Let's talk: www.elmoreleonardofficial.com https://x.com/elmorepodcast hello@theelmoreleonardpodcast.com

From the bowels of Morro Prison on Havana Bay, Alex and Judd dive deep into CUBA LIBRE, Elmore Leonard's masterful epic set at the height of tensions that led to The Spanish American War. In Part Two, they get shot by snipers, concoct Elmore Bingo, and Alex shares his thoughts on the Coen Brothers' screenplay of Cuba Libre that, alas, never got made. Stephen Crane's The Open Boat: https://americanliterature.com/author/stephen-crane/short-story/the-open-boat/ Richard Harding Davis' Death of Rodriguez: https://www.online-literature.com/richard-davis/cuba/3/ Hosted By: Judd Rubin and Alex Leonard Music by: Greg Ahee Produced and Edited by: Judd Rubin Executive Producer: Peter Leonard Let's talk: www.elmoreleonardofficial.com https://x.com/elmorepodcast hello@theelmoreleonardpodcast.com

From the bowels of Morro Prison on Havana Bay, Alex and Judd dive deep into CUBA LIBRE, Elmore Leonard's masterful epic set at the height of tensions that led to The Spanish American War. In Part 1 they enjoy fine cigars, sort out whether it's better to be a fop or a dandy, all while trying to avoid being hacked to pieces by machetes.  Stephen Crane's The Open Boat: https://americanliterature.com/author/stephen-crane/short-story/the-open-boat/ Richard Harding Davis' Death of Rodriguez: https://www.online-literature.com/richard-davis/cuba/3/ Hosted By: Judd Rubin and Alex Leonard Music by: Greg Ahee Produced and Edited by: Judd Rubin Executive Producer: Peter Leonard www.elmoreleonardofficial.com Let's talk: https://x.com/elmorepodcast hello@theelmoreleonardpodcast.com

S.A. COSBY - the best-selling and award winning author of My Darkest Prayer, Razorblade Tears, All the Sinners Bleed, The Rhythm of Time (with Questlove!), joins us to talk Elmore, what's special about Viriginia, Walter Mosely, the greatest 11th grade teacher ever, and his new book, King of Ashes.  Buy King of Ashes here:  https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250832078/kingofashes/ Guest: S.A. Cosby Hosted By: Judd Rubin and Alex Leonard Music by: Greg Ahee Produced and Edited by: Judd Rubin Executive Producer: Peter Leonard www.elmoreleonardofficial.com Let's talk: https://x.com/elmorepodcast hello@theelmoreleonardpodcast.com  

MEGAN ABBOTT - bestselling author of Dare Me, the Edgar Award-winning Queenpin, Die a Little, and the upcoming El Dorado Drive (a New York Times Summer Book Pick) joins The Elmore Leonard Podcast to discuss carrying on the American hard boiled tradition, tells us what Elmore freed her to do in her own writing, and shares what we can learn from Kafka's cleaning lady.  Find some of Megan's essays here Enjoy Megan's interview with Elmore here https://www.meganabbott.com Guest: Megan Abbott Hosted By: Judd Rubin and Alex Leonard Music by: Greg Ahee Produced and Edited by: Judd Rubin Executive Producer: Peter Leonard www.elmoreleonardofficial.com Let's talk: @ElmorePodcast hello@theelmoreleonardpodcast.com      

From deep within the kitchen of a rotating restaurant in beautiful downtown Detroit, Alex and Judd revisit OUT OF SIGHT - an all time Elmore Leonard classic. They dive deep into the book, discuss Stockholm Syndrome, share some of their own bad life choices, and more in the latest episode of The Elmore Leonard Podcast.  Hosted By: Judd Rubin and Alex Leonard Music by: Greg Ahee Produced and Edited by: Judd Rubin Executive Producer: Peter Leonard www.elmoreleonardofficial.com @ElmorePodcast Let's talk: hello@theelmoreleonardpodcast.com

Scott Frank is one of the great screenwriters and storytellers of the modern age. Films he has written include Minority Report, Marley & Me, Logan, The Interpreter, and, of course, GET SHORTY and OUT OF SIGHT. Scott wrote and directed The Lookout and A Walk Among the Tombstones, based on the classic Lawrence Block novel. He's also created some of the most well regarded television shows in recent years, including Godless, Queen's Gambit, Monsieur Spade and the upcoming Department Q on Netlflix.  We were thrilled to get to speak with him in this wide ranging conversation. Scott shares his experience working working with Jersey Films on Get Shorty and Out of Sight, getting advice from Elmore (some terrifying, some perhaps unintended), how writing the novel Shaker helped him as a screenwriter, and why sometimes you just need a good Wilford Brimely scene. https://youtu.be/bLeWVq7tQgQ Guest: Scott Frank Hosted By: Judd Rubin and Alex Leonard Music by: Greg Ahee Produced and Edited by: Judd Rubin Executive Producer: Peter Leonard www.elmoreleonardofficial.com Let's talk: hello@theelmoreleonardpodcast.com  

Revisiting what many consider to be Elmore Leonard's most unusual novel, TOUCH is a revelatory experience for Alex and Judd. Written in 1977 but not published until almost ten years later, it stands out for so many reasons. Hear why it's one of Judd's favorite novels and what Alex thinks Elmore got right about the music business.  Hosted By: Judd Rubin and Alex Leonard Music by: Greg Ahee Produced and Edited by: Judd Rubin Executive Producer: Peter Leonard Links mentioned in the show:  Tom Arnold vs Peter Criss on Donahue https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zExVd0xUH0g www.elmoreleonardofficial.com Let's talk: hello@theelmoreleonardpodcast.com