The Getting Lit Podcast

This week, Sini is joined by Amir Naaman and Pierre d'Alancaisez, editors of the new anthology Inversion, a book of essays about the current state of the homosexual. We talk about the sexual revolution's aftermath, gay vs queer culture, the lack of "telos" in homosexual, as well as why gays, once bearers of art and culture, seem to be flopping hard in that regard.Buy Inversion here: https://verdur.in/inversion/Follow Amir: https://x.com/amir_naamanFollow Pierre: https://x.com/verdur_inVerdurin: https://verdur.in/

We talk about the essay in the Independent about the mythical David Foster Wallace "lit bro", a famous Western Australian young adult writer getting charged with young non-adult material, Meanjin journal getting a new lease on life after being shut down, Australian literary culture's frequent "Main Charactering" of a pretty mediocre Palestinian-Australian author, and much more!You can read Sini's essay on the Meanjin drama here: https://open.substack.com/pub/newmythologies/p/current-thing-writing-killed-the?utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web

To get all episodes, access to companion show Back Matter, and the full archive, go to https://www.patreon.com/GettingLitWe chat about Sidney Lumet's last film, Before the Devil Knows You're Dead (2007), which stars Ethan Hawke, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Marisa Tomei.

Send us a textThis week, we're joined by J David Osborne to talk about his new book, Berserker Club. Set in an Oklahoma backwoods militia compound, the novel is one crazy mutant set piece after another. A lot of fun On this episode, we chat about having a fellow writer as spouse, story as a literal living thing, inspirations for the book, thinking about length and duration when writing books, what writers should be doing to take on the future, and much more.Order the book direct from JDO's store: https://jdobooks.bigcartel.com/product/berserker-clubor on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Berserker-Club-J-David-Osborne/dp/1940885744Listen to Agitator: https://www.patreon.com/cw/agitatorMusic: Murder Suicide by Stu SpasmSupport the show

Send us a textThis week, we're joined by Andrew Edwards, the author of the new psychedelic noir thriller, Crowbar. We had a great conversation ranging over the book's many interesting contours, from conspiracy culture, the influence of James Ellroy and Cormac McCarthy, and much much more.Buy Andrew's book here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FZ93M9GBMusic: Part Cherokee by Nudge SquidfishSupport the show

Send us a textSini and Fresta go through their best reads, watches, and listens of 2025 (mostly things they didn't cover for the show).Support the show

Send us a textHere is a sneak peek of our series on Fyodor Dostoyevsky's classic novel of revolutionary violence, Demons. All three parts are available in full on Patreon.Go to https://www.patreon.com/c/GettingLit to listen.Support the show

Send us a textJosh from the Dionysian Dream joins me once more to discuss Wicked! This time, we are looking at the sequel to the 2024 movie, Wicked: For Good. We chat about the film, the changes between the stage show and the movie version, the new songs, and why Wicked isn't just for the girls and gays.Follow Josh on X: https://x.com/tragic_fruitInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/tragic_fruit/Substack: https://thedionysiandream.substack.com/Music: Wicked - No Good Deed (Cynthia Erivo and Idina Menzel remix), Pure Re-imaginationSupport the show

Send us a textThis is part 2 of our Philip K. Dick collaboration with the Rare Candy podcast. Head over to their feed for part 1 (https://open.spotify.com/show/2cXVcvC3G13PGUuYMVLGZb), where we cover The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch (1965), before joining us here for the continuation of "Dick Week" as we discuss Flow My Tears, the Policeman Said (1974).In this novel, Jason Taverner, a genetically engineered celebrity talk-show host, wakes up one morning to discover he has been erased from the world. His identification records vanish, no one recognises him, and in a hyper-surveilled police-state America—where IDs are everything—this is effectively a death sentence. This noirish typically Dickian story goes in unexpected places. Just like this discussion!Also, as an extra treat for our paid subscribers, we have a mini-episode on Patreon where we horse around with Glen and Psi. Go to patreon.com/gettinglit to listen.Support the show

Send us a textPaul Dalla Rosa returns to talk about Gary Indiana's fabulous pastiche of the Menendez Brothers trial, Resentment. We chat about vicious gay wit, the media circus around the trial, comparing the mediatised social life of television and the internet, Indiana's distinctive style, and much more.Go to the Patreon for a continuation of this discussion on Back Matter, where we talk about Ryan Murphy's Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story: https://www.patreon.com/c/GettingLitBuy Paul's book here:https://www.amazon.com.au/Exciting-Vivid-Inner-Life/dp/1800810121Music: We're Living in Violent Times, The BarracudasWho Shot Ya? The Notorious B.I.G.Support the show

Send us a textOn this week's episode, we dive into Ryu Murakami's Popular Hits of the Showa Era, where a group of disaffected men find themselves in an absurdly violent war with a rival society of older women (Oba-sans) after a deadly encounter. We talk about the book's mix of ultra-violence, satirical humor, escalating absurdity, and much more!This a teaser. For the full episode, and access to our complete archive and bonus content, subscribe at patreon.com/gettinglitSupport the show

Send us a textIn this week's episode, the legendary Bruce Wagner joins us to discuss his new novel Amputation, inspired by the 2025 Los Angeles fires. The conversation moves from the book’s genesis in anger at bureaucratic incompetence to Wagner’s reflections on art, rage, and the sacred. We discuss how indignation can be transformed into creative energy without devolving into polemic, his long-standing use of real public figures in fiction, and his resistance to censorship and “cultural bureaucrats.” The discussion broadens into questions of artistic integrity, nihilism, and compassion; the corrosion of civic responsibility; and how modern fame, selfhood, and delusion intertwine. We also meditate on impermanence, artificial intelligence, and the dissolution of self in art, positioning AI as both a creative threat and a spiritual mirror. And much more. Join us for one of our favorite episodes ever!Buy Amputation here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1648211615?&tag=skyhorsepub-20Music:Because We Built It, John MausSupport the show

Send us a textAustralian-American writer Lucas Smith joins us to discuss his collection of wonderful short fiction, Spare Us Yet. We discuss the elements of faith in his fiction, the pandemic, lockdowns, literary culture in Australia, as well as his experience running an independent publishing company, Bonfire Books.This is a special crossover event with Sini's New Mythologies Substack, which you should check out: https://newmythologies.substack.com/If you'd like full episodes of the Getting Lit Podcast, and access to the full archive and aftershows, go to https://www.patreon.com/c/GettingLitBuy Spare Us Yet: https://www.wisebloodbooks.com/store/p159/Spare_Us_Yet_and_Other_Stories%2C_by_Lucas_Smith.htmlFollow Lucas on Substack: https://lucassmith.substack.com/Follow Bonfire Books on X: https://x.com/BooksBonfireMusic: Celtic Ballad, The SaintsSupport the show

Send us a text*this is a PREVIEW. To listen to the full episode, go to patreon.com/GettingLitThis episode, Fresta and Sini riff on Fresta's Sydney trip, thrift shop book finds, Bret Easton Ellis, the fantastic Australian crime show Mr Inbetween, ABC Radio National's Top 100 books of the 21st Century, and much more. To find out why this episode has this title, you will have to wait until the end.Support the show

Send us a textThis week, we're looking at Gustav Meyrink's The Golem, a strange novel of occultism, Kabbalah and psychological terror in early 20th century Prague's Jewish ghetto. Joining us on this journey is none other than Brad Kelly, host of the wonderful Method and Madness podcast.Follow Brad on X: https://x.com/bradkelly?lang=enMethod and Madness pod: https://open.spotify.com/show/4AQR8tram18P2PBYdhKiQNMusic: Danse Macabre, Op. 40, R. 171, Pittsburgh Symphony OrchestraSupport the show

Send us a textThis week, a big episode discussing a slim novel. We're joined by a couple of our favourite Southerners (Kalob Petty and Banjer Jack) and our favourite Montanan (Ryan Simón) to chat about Carson McCullers' classic Southern Gothic novel about repressed eros and dark desires, Reflections in a Golden Eye. We talk about the Southern Gothic tradition, why Southerners are so chill, why Carson McCullers was likely a f@g hag, horse girls, music, and much more.This episode quickly turns into a rollicking bull session, full of hilarious tales, forbidden confessions, and...banjo. Lots of banjo.Music:Southern Blood, Kalob PettySammie Where You Been So Long, Banjer JackLinks to Kalob's music: https://linktr.ee/kalobdpettyRyan's American Vulgaria: https://americanvulgaria.com/Support the show

Send us a textJasper Ceylon, author of the hoax poetry journal Echolalia Review, has been unmasked as Aaron Barry. Aaron joins us to talk about what's been happening in his life since he revealed himself in The Free Press, his new novel "£, flesh", the internet novel, writing under pseudonyms and much more.Listen to Jasper/Aaron's previous episode with us here:Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/poetic-license-feat-jasper-ceylon/id1571854866?i=1000708925885Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1P4B3h4tBfuHPq5UGrWIXiOrder Aaron's novel here: https://mcbussypublishing.org/product/flesh-by-aaron-barry-ebook/Read more about Jasper/Aaron's hoax here: https://www.thefp.com/p/white-man-who-pretended-to-be-black-poetOutro: The Pest, John Cooper ClarkeSupport the show

Send us a textJack Norman is the author of the new short story collection Sleep Capricorn, coming in October from Bonfire Books. Like Fresta and Sini, he also grew up in North Queensland. This episode features three northerners yarning about Jack's fiction, as well as fatherhood, Australian fiction in general, The Honourable Member for Kennedy Bob Katter, craft discussions on narration, and writing literary fiction as a gamer/Tolkien fan.Pre-order Jack incredible collection from Bonfire Books here: https://bonfirebooks.org/product/sleep-capricorn-by-jack-norman-pre-order/Follow Jack on X: https://x.com/Thingol2006Music: The N.W.R.A (Live), The FallSupport the show

Send a textWe talk about The Independent article about men "performatively reading", as well as Fresta's realisation that he is "Unc" now after a night out.https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/performative-male-trends-books-matcha-pilates-attention-b2811124.html?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1756101761Music:To Die Among Strangers - RomeCan't Fight The Moonlight - LeAnn RimesSupport the show

Send us a textThis episode, we are joined by the best book YouTuber around, Mr Cliff Sargent. Cliff hosts the popular channel "Better Than Food," where he reviews everything from classics to difficult postmodern tomes and sci fi. Truly a great discussion from one of the best in the game right now. We talk about how he makes his book content, developing a reading practice, filmmaking, as well as a long digression on black metal. Run it up!Follow Cliff's channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@BetterThanFoodBookReviewsMusic: Beholding the Throne of Might, DarkthroneSupport the show