PODCAST · education
Write to the Point
by UF Writing Program
Hosted by the University of Florida’s Writing Program, “Write to the Point” features conversations with writing experts about the secrets to great communication. Guests on the show recognize that writing “to the point” means connecting with audiences and building knowledge bases in order to transform their communities.Available on Apple, Spotify, Audible, and Deezer. UF University Writing Program: https://writing.ufl.edu/Questions? Contact host Tony Manganaro at [email protected]
Episodes
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Why "Difficult Conversation" is Necessary
In this episode, Dr. Benjamin Gaddis discusses communication strategies for a world that seemingly wants to avoid having difficult conversations. In topics ranging from toxic workplaces to relationship advice to the effects of screens and the state of education today, he and Tony do what most...
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The Art of Discovery in Stand-Up Comedy and Writing: A Convo with Amy Silverberg
"Don't be cleverer than your reader," says stand-up comic and writer Amy Silverberg– meaning, always try surprising yourself when creating your art! In this amusing and intelligent conversation, Tony and Amy discuss the short story and stand-up forms in tandem. Silverberg's stories have been...
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How to Write a Novel That Actually Gets Published
In this conversation, first-time novelist Jennifer Mandula gets frank about the joys and challenges – the adventure, really – of not just writing but selling a novel. She and Tony (an aspiring novelist himself) debate everything from hosting Feedback Dinner Parties to mapping outlines to using...
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The Dying Art of Public Speaking and Why It's Essential to Master It
Why does the fear of public speaking feel like the fear of death? In this conversation, Dustin Hall answers that and more. Despite public speaking's many challenges, young people today actually crave the civic engagement that public speaking affords; they want to develop empathy in live…
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Science for the People! Media Literacy and Project-Based Learning in Scientific Communication
In this conversation, Dr. Jamie Loizzo makes a strong pitch for all scientists to communicate to the public in a variety of mediums: podcasts, photo essays, virtual reality tours, and more. Scientists have a social responsibility to strengthen public understanding and trust. Among other topics…
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Science Fiction as Emotional Metaphor: Writing a Novel as a Way of Thinking
In this conversation, Tony is joined by Albertine Clarke, whose first novel, The Body Builders, is being published by Bloomsbury Press in February 2026. In addition to exploring the mind-bendingly original novel itself, Albertine and Tony discuss what makes the science fiction genre so special…
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Getting Over Imposter's Syndrome: The Material Dimension of Writing, Tackling Writer's Block, and Writing Alongside AI
In this episode, Cydney Alexis and Tony have a wide-ranging conversation about tackling writer's block, the ways our material surroundings help define our writing processes, and how to approach chatbot use in universities today. Alexis is an Associate Professor of English at Kansas State…
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Communication as Key to Preventing Medical Error
Tony interviews Amy Blue about the University of Florida's innovative "Putting Families First," a unique program that gathers first-year students across the health professions together to assist families (with the goal of improving the students' interpersonal skills). Blue is the associate vice...
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Making Data Meaningful: Constructing a Flight Simulator for Nurses
In this episode, Dr. Shannon Butts (Senior Learning Designer at Elsevier) explains the fascinating science behind Elsevier's Shadow Health simulations– an interactive learning experience for nurses. Tony and Shannon cover a range of topics within a dense conversation, as Shannon elucidates why...
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Writing History: Storytelling in the Environmental Humanities
Tony interviews Pulitzer-winning historian Jack E. Davis (author of W.W. Norton's The Gulf, The Bald Eagle, and others). They discuss the creative process behind composing academic scholarship: how using a varied vocabulary and sentence structure is essential; why researching and writing...
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What's the Deal with Air Conditioning?
Eric Dean Wilson – author of After Cooling (Simon & Schuster, 2021) – shares his journey in tackling climate range by focusing on a single molecule and telling a gripping 400-page story about America. In this conversation about the writing process, Eric and Tony discuss the merits of everyday...
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Writing for the U.S. Government
In this conversation, Tony interviews Jamie Lee Marks (Senior Analyst in the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation's Office of Tribal and Indigenous Peoples) about her agency's efforts to advise the U.S. President and Congress on national preservation policy and more. Marks describes the…
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Pitch It: How Academics Can Find Mega Audiences for Their Research
Want to transform your article, dissertation, or book into a text that's actually read by tens of thousands? In this conversation, Sean Trainor advises academics on how to map one's idea into a public venue through developing a pitch and working with editors of high-profile presses. In a world…
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So You Want to Be a Doctor? Learn to Write
Evan Maroun advises future med students about the unspoken communication rules for health professionals. He and Tony discuss challenges and tips for various forms of medical communication–from the patient interview to research papers–and explore why lucid communication is so foundational to…
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ChatGPT: Friend or Foe?
Six educators share their insight into teaching writing alongside AI. With varying attitudes–from enthusiasm to skepticism–these university teachers offer perspectives that cut beyond the obvious on facilitating the use of ChatGPT in the classroom. 0:46– Dr. Zea Miller (University of Florida)...
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BS: How Meaning is Made and Shared
Dennis McCarty explains how "bullshit" operates in public communication and why it's integral to identify its strategies. He also gives advice on public speaking as he and Tony discuss the errors of pre-canned speeches; the underrated usefulness of audience analysis and humor; what celebrities...
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Grant Writing in the Arts
Stevi Costa, Grants Manager of Seattle Rep – the Pacific Northwest's largest nonprofit theatre – describes the exciting challenges of writing donors to help her nonprofit grow, offering tips for navigating the particular hurdles involved in the grant writing process.
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The Art of Competitive Listening: How Debate Radically Improves Communication Skills
Award-winning debater Kendall Lindsay explains the myriad skills that are developed by engaging in competitive debate tournaments. Tony and Kendall also discuss why practicing debate is an "ethically responsible" thing to do in an increasingly polarized world inundated with social media.
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Tips for Writing in Environmental Science
UF Associate Professor David Kaplan (Dept. of Environmental Engineering Sciences) reflects on writing to audiences ranging from colleagues to the U.S. Supreme Court. He and Tony discuss the many surprising keys to complex yet accessible communication in the sciences.
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Hosted by the University of Florida’s Writing Program, “Write to the Point” features conversations with writing experts about the secrets to great communication. Guests on the show recognize that writing “to the point” means connecting with audiences and building knowledge bases in order to transform their communities.Available on Apple, Spotify, Audible, and Deezer. UF University Writing Program: https://writing.ufl.edu/Questions? Contact host Tony Manganaro at [email protected]
HOSTED BY
UF Writing Program
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Write to the Point have?
Write to the Point currently has 19 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Write to the Point about?
Hosted by the University of Florida’s Writing Program, “Write to the Point” features conversations with writing experts about the secrets to great communication. Guests on the show recognize that writing “to the point” means connecting with audiences and building knowledge bases in order to...
How often does Write to the Point release new episodes?
Write to the Point has 19 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Write to the Point?
You can listen to Write to the Point on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Write to the Point?
Write to the Point is created and hosted by UF Writing Program.
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