DiscoverFinding the Throughline with Kate Hanley[Beth Macy: What’s coming up]: Her advice for folks who are worried about talking to their family at the Thanksgiving table Ep 1238
[Beth Macy: What’s coming up]: Her advice for folks who are worried about talking to their family at the Thanksgiving table Ep 1238

[Beth Macy: What’s coming up]: Her advice for folks who are worried about talking to their family at the Thanksgiving table Ep 1238

Update: 2025-11-14
Share

Description

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

Comments 
In Channel
Love Yourself: Don’t Talk to My Friend That Way EP: 283

Love Yourself: Don’t Talk to My Friend That Way EP: 283

2020-09-2905:40

[Debbie Urbanski, inner stuff]: Embracing wrong turns as a key part of the creative process Ep 1240

[Debbie Urbanski, inner stuff]: Embracing wrong turns as a key part of the creative process Ep 1240

2025-11-2620:59

[Debbie Urbanski, practical matters]: The slow, important, sometimes painful work of weaning yourself off of external validation Ep 1239

[Debbie Urbanski, practical matters]: The slow, important, sometimes painful work of weaning yourself off of external validation Ep 1239

2025-11-2421:39

[Beth Macy: What’s coming up]: Her advice for folks who are worried about talking to their family at the Thanksgiving table Ep 1238

[Beth Macy: What’s coming up]: Her advice for folks who are worried about talking to their family at the Thanksgiving table Ep 1238

2025-11-1413:25

[Beth Macy, inner stuff]: Inserting humor, asking for help, and the interview question she stole from Denzel Washington Ep 1237

[Beth Macy, inner stuff]: Inserting humor, asking for help, and the interview question she stole from Denzel Washington Ep 1237

2025-11-1216:43

[Beth Macy, practical matters]: How to figure out the kind of storyteller you are Ep 1236

[Beth Macy, practical matters]: How to figure out the kind of storyteller you are Ep 1236

2025-11-1023:44

[Eric Jay Dolin, part 3: what's next]: Why his kids hate going to museums with him Ep 1235

[Eric Jay Dolin, part 3: what's next]: Why his kids hate going to museums with him Ep 1235

2025-10-3118:13

[Eric Jay Dolin, part 2: inner stuff]: Taking aim at the belief that if you work hard, everything will work out Ep 1234

[Eric Jay Dolin, part 2: inner stuff]: Taking aim at the belief that if you work hard, everything will work out Ep 1234

2025-10-2921:28

[Eric Jay Dolin, part 1: practical matters]: Making the leap from marine biologist to author Ep 1233

[Eric Jay Dolin, part 1: practical matters]: Making the leap from marine biologist to author Ep 1233

2025-10-2729:21

[Alma Katsu: what’s coming up]: Drawing creative inspiration from the news cycle Ep 1232

[Alma Katsu: what’s coming up]: Drawing creative inspiration from the news cycle Ep 1232

2025-10-1717:16

[Alma Katsu, inner stuff]: Navigating the crosshairs of ageism and sexism Ep 1231

[Alma Katsu, inner stuff]: Navigating the crosshairs of ageism and sexism Ep 1231

2025-10-1532:52

[Alma Katsu, practical matters]: Using fiction to change minds Ep 1230

[Alma Katsu, practical matters]: Using fiction to change minds Ep 1230

2025-10-1323:43

[Dolen Perkins-Valdez: What’s coming up]: Thinking carefully about how to use time more wisely Ep 1229

[Dolen Perkins-Valdez: What’s coming up]: Thinking carefully about how to use time more wisely Ep 1229

2025-10-0315:53

[Dolen Perkins-Valdez, inner stuff]: Writing what’s in your heart, not what you think will sell Ep 1228

[Dolen Perkins-Valdez, inner stuff]: Writing what’s in your heart, not what you think will sell Ep 1228

2025-10-0122:43

[Dolen Perkins-Valdez, practical matters]: Teasing out–and trusting–your process Ep 1227

[Dolen Perkins-Valdez, practical matters]: Teasing out–and trusting–your process Ep 1227

2025-09-2920:38

[Ann Tashi Slater, what’s coming up]: How looking at the sky can help us be more creative Ep 1226

[Ann Tashi Slater, what’s coming up]: How looking at the sky can help us be more creative Ep 1226

2025-09-1919:50

[Ann Tashi Slater, inner stuff]: How acknowledging the pain of NOT writing can help you commit to your creative work Ep 1225

[Ann Tashi Slater, inner stuff]: How acknowledging the pain of NOT writing can help you commit to your creative work Ep 1225

2025-09-1724:42

[Ann Tashi Slater practical matters]: On listening, following your obsessions, and knowing when to set the pen down Ep 1224

[Ann Tashi Slater practical matters]: On listening, following your obsessions, and knowing when to set the pen down Ep 1224

2025-09-1521:04

[Nancy Johnson: what’s coming up]: An inside peek at Nancy’s vision board Ep 1223

[Nancy Johnson: what’s coming up]: An inside peek at Nancy’s vision board Ep 1223

2025-09-0516:40

[Nancy Johnson, inner stuff]: Developing the faith that you are on the right path at the right time Ep 1222

[Nancy Johnson, inner stuff]: Developing the faith that you are on the right path at the right time Ep 1222

2025-09-0325:05

loading
Google Play
Download from Google Play
Castbox
Download from App Store
usUnited States
00:00
00:00
x

0.5x

0.8x

1.0x

1.25x

1.5x

2.0x

3.0x

Sleep Timer

Off

End of Episode

5 Minutes

10 Minutes

15 Minutes

30 Minutes

45 Minutes

60 Minutes

120 Minutes

[Beth Macy: What’s coming up]: Her advice for folks who are worried about talking to their family at the Thanksgiving table Ep 1238

[Beth Macy: What’s coming up]: Her advice for folks who are worried about talking to their family at the Thanksgiving table Ep 1238

Kate Hanley