Here's the Podcast: Peter Hedges Comes Home

When I opened the conversation with author, director, and filmmaker Peter Hedges on Monday’s Potluck Zoom call, I could’ve led with the obvious: the big Hollywood names orbiting his life. But instead of clickbait, I chose to bring him home—beginning not with stardom, but with the recent passing of his former Valley High School drama teacher, the man who helped shape the storyteller he became.Mr. Lamson wasn’t just a teacher. For a young, insecure kid like Peter, he was the one who offered a spotlight off the scoreboard—a stage where everyone had a role, where storytelling mattered, and where even the quietest kids could shine.And oh, did Mr. Lamson’s message click. The body of work Peter Hedges has built is remarkable—full of emotional truth, shaped by an unconventional childhood and a lifelong empathy for complicated families.Thank you, Mr. Lamson, for seeing the genius in Peter—especially when he probably couldn’t yet see it in himself.Decades later, Peter is making plans to return to Iowa on Sunday, June 29, to honor Mr. Lamson at a memorial service. Fittingly, just before our call, he’d filed a column reflecting on Jim Lamson and his wife, Cindy—two people who showed him what enduring love looks like. You can read that heartfelt tribute here.The Zoom call ran long (and nobody minded). It was packed with insight, humor, and breadcrumbs he hinted might become future columns. Personally, I can’t wait to hear more about the time he was in a writers’ group with Aaron Sorkin. (Having watched The American President over 20 times and the entire The West Wing six times, I’m dying to know what Sorkin was like in his early days as a writer.)Peter also reflected on the arc of his film career—from What’s Eating Gilbert Grape and Dan in Real Life to Ben Is Back. That last one? Deeply personal. A raw, compassionate portrayal of a family navigating addiction, made all the more powerful with his son, Lucas Hedges, in the title role.Peter has a gift for tackling enormous issues—like addiction—through the lens of a single, messy, human day in one family’s life.And here’s something to watch for: What’s Eating Gilbert Grape is becoming a musical, headed off-Broadway in the next two years. Road trip, anyone? Any travel agents in the house? Let’s go.Now, Peter’s diving into Substack. My hunch? He’s going to thrive in this space. No need to birth an entire film or novel just to tell a story—he only needs this platform, created by a writer, for writers, to share what’s on his mind. And we’ll all be the better for it.I hope you listen to the podcast. There is too much there to miss. You’ll find Peter Hedges to be charming, open, vulnerable, self-effacing—very much the boy next door who earned fame and fortune without getting a big head. There’s a lot to love about Peter Hedges—and in some ways, we’re only just beginning to learn why.Peter Hedges Joins the Iowa Writers’ CollaborativeAlso on the call were several of his new colleagues with the Iowa Writers’ Collaborative. You’ll find snippets of these exchanges when you watch or listen to the podcast: Laura Belin responding to Peter’s childhood memories, shared:“You made me cry just a few minutes ago when you were talking about how you came from a broken home but had beautiful moments in your childhood. That really resonated with me… Losing my mother at a young age affected my life dramatically. It didn’t ruin my life. We still had those beautiful moments as a family.”Rekha Basu, connecting Peter’s artistic voice to personal history, added:“There’s so many levels on which I can really connect to what you’re saying… I wonder if having to ask deep, probing questions of yourself and your family about the past helped you find your voice.”Douglas Burns revisited a critical moment from Iowa’s censorship battles, when What’s Eating Gilbert Grape was banned in a local school district:“We got [Gilbert Grape] reinstated after it was banned in Carroll schools… I don’t think we would prevail today.”Peter replied:“No… But that’s not the end of the story… The more we can hold the complex, painful truth of our history and humanity, the better. That’s the world I want to live in.”Together, these exchanges reveal what makes Peter’s storytelling so resonant—and why his voice is a powerful addition to our Collaborative.Here’s what Art Cullen says about The Iowa Writers’ Collaborative: The Iowa Writers’ CollaborativeHave you explored the variety of writers, plus Letters from Iowans, in the Iowa Writers’ Collaborative? They are from around the state and contribute commentary and feature stories of interest to those who care about Iowa. Please consider a paid subscription. It helps keep them going, and it keeps you in the know.Okoboji Each of the past four years when the Okoboji Writers’ and (now) Songwriters’ Retreat has taken place, I’ve declared it to probably be the very last one. Why? It’s a lot of work and most organizers of retreats with this scope and complexity charge three times the $895 enrollment fee. For good reason. Now through July 15th you can enroll for just $795 and Peter Hedges is one of 50 some speakers you can choose to learn from. We also offer scholarships, and 1/3 of attendees are emerging writers that meet the criteria. I encourage you to take advantage of this. You’ll probably regret it if you don’t. This really might be the last one. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit okobojiwriters.substack.com/subscribe