Typecast: A Show About Writing

Episodes

1. 14

   Typecast: Steve Padilla 2

   Los Angeles Times editor Steve Padilla returns with our most practical episode yet: A sentence-level writing seminar, covering topics from verbs and physical descriptions to leads and endings. This episode will be useful to anyone who puts pen to paper — for school, for fun, or for a living.

   May 17, 2016

   47m
2. 13

   Typecast: Jeff Barker

   Jeff Barker began his career as a newspaper reporter in his hometown San Diego. In 2006, he left journalism to join the re-election campaign for California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, eventually becoming his head speechwriter. Today, Barker leads his own writing consultancy, penning speeches and...

   Jul 27, 2015

   35m
3. 12

   Typecast: Dan Wilson

   In the late '90s, Dan Wilson found success with his alternative rock band Semisonic and their radio hit "Closing Time." He's since become one of music's most sought-after songwriters, composing for Adele, Dixie Chicks and Taylor Swift. The Grammy Award-winning musician joins us to discuss his...

   Nov 26, 2014

   49m
4. 11

   Typecast: Ricky Gervais

   Ricky Gervais is the writer, director and star of the seminal British comedy The Office. He also created Extras, Life's Too Short, and his latest television series is Derek, now streaming on Netflix. Ricky joins Kevin to talk about his comedy writing process.

   Jul 2, 2014

   37m
5. 10

   Typecast: Buzz Bissinger

   Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Buzz Bissinger is the author of Friday Night Lights, named one of the best sports books ever written by Sports Illustrated. He's a contributor to Vanity Fair, The Daily Beast, and his new book is Father's Day. Buzz joins Kevin in studio to talk about the…

   more
   Jun 12, 2012

   40m
6. 9

   Typecast: Steve Padilla

   In 2006, Los Angeles Times editor Steve Padilla gave a brownbag lunch writing workshop at the Chicago Tribune newsroom. That session, called "Writing Diagnostics," was so well-received that the recording continues to be requested by Tribune journalists today. Steve has graciously allowed us to…

   more
   Apr 17, 2012

   1h 01m
7. 8

   Typecast: Sarah Vowell

   Sarah Vowell is a humorist, historian and animated superhero. She's the author of "Assassination Vacation," "The Partly Cloudy Patriot" and a longtime contributor to public radio's "This American Life." You may recognize her voice as Violet Parr from Pixar's "The Incredibles." Sarah joins Kevin...

   Mar 23, 2012

   31m
8. 7

   Typecast: Susan Orlean

   Susan Orlean writes about taxidermists, bullfighters, hairdressers, clowns, animals, famous people and suburban 10-year-old kids. A staff writer for The New Yorker, Orlean is the author of The Orchid Thief, Saturday Night, her latest book, Rin Tin Tin: The Life and the Legend. Susan and Kevin…

   more
   Feb 28, 2012

   48m
9. 6

   Typecast: Ben Montgomery & Michael Kruse

   Ben Montgomery and Michael Kruse are the one-two punch of narrative journalism at the Tampa Bay Times. Between the two, they've been honored as Pulitzer finalists and American Society of Newspaper Editors Awards winners. They are founding members of Gangrey.com, a website devoted to good writing...

   Feb 22, 2012

   31m
10. 5

    Typecast: Joshua Jay

    Joshua Jay is one of magic's most-innovative thinkers and acclaimed performers. He's a columnist for MAGIC magazine and the author of "Magic: The Complete Course" and "Joshua Jay's Amazing Book of Cards." Joshua joins us in studio to talk about the parallels between creating magic tricks and the...

    Jan 31, 2012

    31m
11. 4

    Typecast: Shawn Ryan

    Shawn Ryan is the man behind the TV series Terriers, The Chicago Code, but he's best known as the creator of the Golden Globe-winning FX show, The Shield. Shawn joins Kevin to share his process, and tells how an economics major who "hated writing" became one of Hollywood's most-acclaimed...

    Jan 2, 2012

    45m
12. 3

    Typecast: Colin Quinn

    Colin Quinn recently finished a Broadway run of his critically-acclaimed one-man show "Long Story Short," but he's best known as an anchor on Saturday Night Live's Weekend Update. He joins us in studio to discuss the fine art of writing comedy.

    Dec 17, 2011

    31m
13. 2

    Typecast: Chris Jones

    At Esquire, Chris Jones follows in the footsteps of Gay Talese and Richard Ben Cramer, and is regarded as one of our finest magazine writers today. He's a National Magazine Award winner and contributes to ESPN the Magazine. Listen to Chris and Kevin chat about profile writing.

    Dec 17, 2011

    42m
14. 1

    Typecast: Anthony Bourdain

    Memoirist, globetrotter, television host and foodie demigod Anthony Bourdain joins us in our series premiere to talk about his writing process. He is the author of "Kitchen Confidential" and a staff writer on HBO's "Treme."

    Dec 17, 2011

    35m