You're Too Sensitive

You’re Too Sensitive – Episode 41, “They’re Killing theHelpers” is out now.After another extrajudicial, state-sanctioned murder ofan American citizen and a resident of Minneapolis at the hands of federal law enforcement, the creative community is needed now more than ever; to articulate the shared pain, to envision the hope for a better future, and to speak truthto unjust, undemocratic, and un-American power.

In this week's episode, writer, poet and creative HJ Hennen updates on life in the bowels of occupied South Minneapolis and dealing with 3000 uninvited visitors, how the greatest writers have a well-honed and practiced knack of the talent of observation, and borrowing from Toni Morrison’s toolbox to write the – a – any story you could conjure.

You’re Too Sensitive – Episode 39, “Just Leave Us Alone”is out now. Didn't intend for the first podcast back after a break to be a venting session about living in an occupied city in the United States during the year 2026....(in dramatic voiceover) but here we are.In an episode with no script, no bullet points, and no real plan other than to try and put words to devastation and disbelief, HJ Hennen reads a poem titled "On Learning to Dissect Fetal Pigs," written by South Minneapolis resident Renee Nicole Good, who was murdered yesterday in Minneapolis by a Federal Law Enforcement officer. This poem by Good won the prestigious Academy of American Poets prize in 2020.

You’re Too Sensitive – Episode 38, “I Wish I’d Written That” is out now. I discuss the go-to phrase showing admiration for a creation that leaves me speechless, why storytelling is the most important survival skill humans can possess, and why arguing with Maya Angelou isn’t it.

You’re Too Sensitive – Episode 37, “Banned Books Week 2025” is out now. After a brief sidebar to express disappointment about the cringe that is “The Life of a Showgirl,” we tackle Banned Books Week 2025. Up for discussion; some of the banned books by great American authors, how those book bans steal a child’s right to think, feel, and seek self-actualization, and what we can all do this week to fight back those who want to silence everyone who cares about the ability to think for oneself.

After a break, You’re Too Sensitive – Episode 36, “Jimmy Kimmel” is out now. Writer HJ Hennen discusses an unplanned break, the original poem that resulted and names depression to tame it, and why creative voices are needed now more than ever to fight authoritarian censorship of First Amendment rights.

You’re Too Sensitive – Episode 35, “Why Do I Do This?” is out now. (Ignore what I about this being Episode 34. Numbers have never been my thing.) The key to answering the important question “Why do I write?”  is to know that, despite layered intentions and manifestations, the most honest answer is the first one that comes to mind, and is the always the easiest to explain.

You’re Too Sensitive – Episode 34, “It's Not a Career, It's a Terminal Hobby" makes its triumphant return after a week away. Writer and creative H.J. Hennen discusses why preparing a manuscript for publishing should feel like the most terrifying amusement park ride ever, why having writer friends makes writers even better at their craft, and how working with an agent feels like such a grown-up thing to do.You can find the new episode on @spotifypodcasts or directly from the HJH Creative Solutions website – hjhcreativesolutions.com/podcast – or visit the linktree in my bio.

You’re Too Sensitive – Episode 33, “The ‘Wet Banana Method’ of Drafting” is out now and takes the dry practice of draft writing and makes it wildly titillating. Writer and creative H.J. Hennen discusses why the practice of drafting is vital to creating, especially for those of us flight of thought, how every good artist gets better using the revision process, and my red flag/bull chase into a submission of drafts for an inaugural issue.

You’re Too Sensitive – Episode 32, “Random, Useless, Beautiful and Irreverent” features a writer who self-identifies as a comedic genius yet has never written anything specifically in a comedy format or genre. Writer and creative H.J. Hennen discusses a conversation with an actual comedic writing genius, how understanding British humour (and how using the extra “U” liberally can go a long way to wooing foreign-born bae-types) can help level set comedy writers, and, most importantly, how writing doesn’t always have to change the world.

You’re Too Sensitive – Episode 31, “Toughest Damn Chicken inthe World” is available and yes, a literary chicken is referenced. Writer and creative H.J. Hennen discusses how to use Fall Out Boy song titles as compliments, how every good writer must first be a great reader, and two books that created a better writer, and more importantly, made the writer an even better human being.

You’re Too Sensitive – Episode 30 “Longing Last Lines ThatLinger” is out now and has nothing to do with alliteration. Writer and creative HJ Hennen discusses how last lines of poetry should wound or awaken and a new original’s attempt to do the same, how poets' love of words sometimes lead to overdoing their final salvo, and famous poets that excel in writing the parting shot.

You’re Too Sensitive – Episode 29 “Risk It for the Biscuit” is fresh out the oven. Writer and creative HJ Hennen discusses the value of risk as a writer, different methods writers can use to take risks in their writing, and how Kraft Macaroni and Cheese can be the great risk equalizer.CW: unwanted sexual touch, drug use

You’re Too Sensitive – Episode 28 “Shatter Your Own Rules” is the first-ever 100% smartphone-produced episode of this series. Writer and creative HJ Hennen discusses the conviction behind socks with sandals, why poetry must be both seen and heard with a reading of a brand new piece, and why breaking all the rules, especially your own rules, is the best possible way to extend your lifespan.

You’re Too Sensitive – Episode 27 “Flying Too Close to the Sun” where I address my absence (my bad), differentiating accountability from motivation, and flying back and forth between my Sun of leisure and my North Star of purpose. As a prologue, I also get really pissed off about the Big Bullshit Bill – fyi, please call your electeds, either way they fall, and stand up for humanity.

CW: deathYou’re Too Sensitive – Episode 26 “’ OH NO YOU DON’TCOCK-CHEEK’” tackles everyone’s companion that no one wants to talk about; death, grief and loss. I discuss growing up with anxiety dreams, the challenges of writing about and through death, and trying to make the deeply uncomfortable a little less lonely.

You’re Too Sensitive – Episode 25 “What Will Your Verse Be?” is inspired by a wretched internal body clock and Uncle Walt Whitman. I discuss how my love of poetry was borne of The Bard himself, Shakespeare’s close relation in the form of slam poetry competitions, and the foolishness of one J. Evans Pritchard in trying to "understand" poetry.

You’re Too Sensitive – Episode 24 “Not Perfect Enough to be a Perfectionist” is ready for your deeply-researched critiques. I discuss how to survive if the coffee is a couple hours late, my professional and personal struggles with perfectionism, and how fixing my mindset around perfectionism was the key to jump-starting my writing career and just plain being a happier human.

You’re Too Sensitive – Episode 23 “Let’s Get It Started” comes to you amid a Minneapolis-come-Seattle rainy night, ripe for creating with good words and other stuff. I discuss why starting a novel is harder than it seems, why prologues are stupid and a waste of time, and the writer’s ripple effect. Find the new episode on @spotifypodcasts or directly from the HJH Creative Solutions website –hjhcreativesolutions.com/podcast – or visit the linktree in my bio.#writer #writerlife #podcast #podcaster #writersrippleeffect #firstchapters #prologuessuck #floridasuckstoo

You’re Too Sensitive – Episode 22 “Poets and Marketers in Arms” comes to you on a Monday after the Executive Board’s careful consideration of a schedule change. I discuss using being deeply unqualified to teach creative writing, highlighting the work of someone deeply qualified to teach creative writing, and that despite outward differences, poetry and marketing are cut from the same cloth.p.s. - fuck I.C.E.

You’re Too Sensitive – Episode 21 “Don’t Let the BastardsGrind You Down” is brought to you by a pissed-off Minneapolis resident that wants NIMBYism to die in a fire. I discuss writing as activism, and how to turn words into activism writing, serving as a powerful tool to help the people who need your help the most.

You’re Too Sensitive - Episode 20  “The Two Rules of Writer’s Club” is ready for your Air Conditioning-aided listening enjoyment. I discuss the Big Chill (ironically), a painful experience that launched my writing career, and what helps me write fiction while staying true to writing what I know.

You’re Too Sensitive – Episode 19 “A Perfect Day for aShort Story” dives into my personal favorite genre of literature that’s the hardest to write, in my humble, somewhat informed, expert opinion. I discuss the seeminglydull yet ultra-sexy concept of word efficiency, the world’s most perfect short story, and the super, easy peasy steps anyone can take to become a certified bad-assedstoryteller.

You're Too Sensitive - Episode 18 "The Space Between" (thanks, Dave) is the love child of a long holiday weekend filled with craft beer, tales of fishing whilst catching no fish, and leftover feelings about grief resulting from too much Aughts emo alt-rock. Thus the writer/creator's Substack account was launched.

You’re Too Sensitive – Episode 17 “Just Stop Writing” drops on a Tuesday because schedules are made to be broken, especially when writer’s block has it’s firehose focused on your forehead (hello alliteration; maybe not as blocked as I thought). Today’s all about addressing writer’s block through writing-adjacent activities, what works for me sometimes but not always, and finding the solution to writer’s block at the bottom of your rum chaser at a bar in Havana.

You’re Too Sensitive – Episode 16 “Let Me Be Mad” comes to you wrapped up in a special Thursday edition because life. On the agenda; satisfying temper tantrums as a requirement, reframing rejection, and smashing through the invisible walls around unspoken industry rules with the rambunctious energy of the Kool-Aid Man.(PS - Bonus points if you remember where the Episode title comes from. I know I saw it in a movie recently, and it's been stuck in my head, but I cannot remember which movie I saw it in.)

You’re Too Sensitive – Episode 15 “Tennis Moms and the Eggs They Love” is the podcast’s open love letter to Thee Mom, and all other moms and mom-type figures that we ride or die for. On the table for discussion are open-to-interpretation Mother’s Day gifts, Tennis moms, and suburban chickens; *literal* suburban chickens, not pseudo-mallrat tough guys.

You’re Too Sensitive – Episode 14 “Apologies to the Hemingway Family” brings you the literary exploration of Flash Fiction fueled by an afternoon caffeine intervention, why heatwaves are the worst, and why there’s nosuch thing as too much Walton Goggins.

From You’re Too Sensitive, it's lucky episode number 13; "Just Be a Baby. " Melanin-challenged writer, creator and mini-golf dominator HJ Hennen discusses the fear of writing poetry, creativity in STEM, and the enchantment of seeing the world for the first time.

From You're Too Sensitive, Episode 12 "Duck, Duck, Grey Duck," creative and duck aficionado HJ Hennen discusses golf etiquette, using filmmaker John Hughes as a tool to eventually land the gorgeous, tall girl you always wanted, and fostering creativity in all kids, even the “problem kids.”

You’re Too Sensitive – Episode 11 “Don't Let the Robots Win” is fresh and on the shelves for you. Writer, creative and tortured Minnesota sports fan HJ Hennen discusses hockey fights, self-care for writers, and why you can't let the robots win.

Writer, podcaster and sleepy hockey fanatic HJ Hennen discusses writing with ferality, why everyone can have a little rejection as a treat, and when to be dragged headfirst, fearless. (thank you Taylor).

Today, writer and elite podcaster HJ Hennen explores the balancing act between a protagonist's who they are and why they do what they do, how books can re-ignite curiosities once believed to be burned out forever, and the key to teaching Japanese to a chimp in 46 hours.

We're on the road in Madison, Wisconsin, reliving my beer-soaked years without being beer-soaked. I discuss the business of writing, why writing your mom or mom-ish figure still matters, and Ray Liotta as Henry Hill's universally applicable and indispensable advice.

Content Warning: Eating disorders, binging, restrictingHJ Hennen speaks to the transferable talents of frisbee and pinball, one of the angels who saved a life, and the ride or dies who really do stick, through chicken salad & chicken shit.

I discuss my first attempt at a novel (science fiction, no less), what it means to write from a specific point-of-view and common pitfalls that occur when those point-of-view narratives get mixed up.

Doggies, coffee, Long COVID; we have all the words today! Admittedly, some are forgotten like sand in the winds of time. We discuss how a writer survives on the days where the Word Superpower is on hiatus.

I'm not tone deaf, it's just you. I discuss Taylor Swift's songwriting, Kinesiology, and why I've never forgiven U2.

Depression, Anxiety, the creative process, and the coping skill that puts your data at risk with China.

Who is Lester Bangs and, unrelated, did school kids in Japan hate math the way I did? I discuss Potter's Point, my award-winning, ninth-grade poem.

Pushing off on the virgin voyage of publishing a book, creating a podcast, and answering every unanswered question since 1985, foolishly join writer H.J. Hennen through the creative process.First, "The Title" - subtitled, "What Am I Really Doing Here?"