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Episode 366 — Ryan O'Connell

Episode 366 — Ryan O'Connell

FromOtherppl with Brad Listi


Episode 366 — Ryan O'Connell

FromOtherppl with Brad Listi

ratings:
Length:
83 minutes
Released:
Jun 24, 2015
Format:
Podcast episode

Description

Ryan O'Connell is the guest. His new memoir, I'm Special, is available now from Simon & Schuster.
This one was easy. It's always great when a guest is funny and forthcoming, and Ryan is both of these things in spades. His new book deals with, among other things, his experiences with cerebral palsy, homosexuality, addiction, and more—all or most of it delivered with dark humor. 
In addition to book stuff, Ryan has written for Awkward and is also working on getting I'm Special adapted for television with executive producer Jim Parsons. He's got a lot going on and has achieved an unusual amount of success for someone so young. Fun to catch him now, as his star is on the rise. 
In the monologue I talk about existential stuff related to the impending birth of my second child.  I also talk about death, which came up recently in an impromptu question-and-answer session with my 4-year-old daughter. She's starting to wrap her head around some stuff, namely the reality of having a baby brother and what it means to get older and, well, eventually die. I fielded her questions, or tried to. 
Hope you enjoy.
 
 
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Released:
Jun 24, 2015
Format:
Podcast episode

Titles in the series (100)

Otherppl with Brad Listi is a weekly literary podcast featuring in-depth conversations with today's leading writers.    Books, literature, writing, authors, screenwriters, art, life, conversation.    PRAISE FOR THE OTHERPPL PODCAST:   “…[an] excellent literary podcast." -The Paris Review    “Fabulously smart.” -The Rumpus   “…fun, quirky, in-depth…” -NPR   “The perfect way to get the story behind your stories.” -Buzzfeed   “…the preplanned responses of NPR personalities sound somewhat counterfeit when stacked against the largely, if not completely, unscripted monologues that open rawer podcasts, such as Marc Maron’s ‘WTF’ and Brad Listi’s literary ‘Otherppl’ podcast. Mr. Listi, for instance, frequently allows for lengthy pauses in between sentences that convey, without stage directions, the process of someone thinking aloud.” -New York Times   “Good from the word ‘go.’…funny, pointed, thought-provoking. If there’s any justice in the world, this will become huge.” -McSweeney's    “Always engaging and often revelatory…one more cog in a burgeoning literary media empire.” -Filmmaker Magazine   “Listi’s interviews are somehow both more relaxed and more personal than the typical author conversation.” -The Millions   “In a world full of distractions — where almost everything I encounter is practically begging me not to write — Brad Listi’s podcast has made me hit the pause button on my iTunes, blow off social obligations, and sit my ass down in a chair and write. The show is funny, insightful, entertaining, affirming, and, more than anything — inspiring. It’s easily one of the best podcasts on the web.” -Electric Literature   “What’s awesome here is the personal questions, the open quality of the interviews…Listi is a damn good interviewer with an ability to discuss just about anything. His discussions of religion in particular make for an awesomely intimate environment that many other interview podcasts just don’t have.” -Book Riot   “The writers and book-relevant folks [Listi has] chosen to feature range from the up-and-coming to well-established. Indie presses and their authors are abundant, so it’s a great spot to hear about off-the-radar talent. I feel like I’ve gone into some of the episodes barely knowing a name, and I come out with a better understanding of the creative life and, usually, a new book on my to-read list.” -Bustle   ***   otherppl.com    @otherppl   Instagram   Support the show on Patreon   Proud Bookshop affiliate. Buy books here!