Josh Dean on The Impossible Factory

Josh Dean on The Impossible Factory

Josh Dean is a journalist and the author of The Impossible Factory, a sweeping history of Kelly Johnson, Lockheed’s legendary Skunk Works division, and the engineers who reshaped aviation during the Cold War. Before The Impossible Factory [https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/609710/the-impossible-factory-by-josh-dean/], Dean wrote The Taking of K-129 [https://www.amazon.com/Taking-K-129-Russian-Operation-History/dp/1101984430] and co-founded Campside Media [https://www.campsidemedia.com/]. In this episode, he talks to Matthew about the origins of the Skunk Works, why Kelly Johnson’s philosophy of small teams and minimal bureaucracy still shapes Silicon Valley today, and the challenge of turning deeply technical research into compelling narrative. He also reflects on the realities of historical reporting, organizing massive archives, living inside years of research, and why writing a book often becomes an all-consuming process. “The most time-intensive part of writing a book is the reporting,” he says. “The writing part you can do at night. You can do on weekends. You can squeeze it around the edges.” To connect with the team and gain access to behind the scenes content, join our community at ⁠joincampside.com⁠ [https://join.campsidemedia.com/]. You can also find us on ⁠Instagram⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/originstoriespod?igsh=NnlqanphNW4xNHo0], ⁠TikTok⁠ [https://www.tiktok.com/@originstoriespod] & ⁠Youtube⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/@OriginStoriesPod]. Have a question, guest recommendation or just want to say hi? Email us at Originstories@campsidemedia.com See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy [https://art19.com/privacy] and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info [https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info].

Ben Bradford on Are We Doomed?

Ben Bradford is a journalist and the creator of Are We Doomed?, a narrative podcast that explores existential threats through the lens of systems, history, science, and human decision-making. Before launching Are We Doomed? [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/are-we-doomed/id1893359212], Bradford worked as a reporter at Marketplace and produced narrative podcasts including Landslide [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/landslide/id1730567912] and Of the People [https://www.audible.com/podcast/Of-The-People/B09KW2Q476?srsltid=AfmBOorrTrHQKnahK0AbXvnqvPC9PnbKoeCjVGVhD3STKD1OlaACRWTJ]. In this episode, he talks to Matthew about the changing economics of podcasting, why heavily produced narrative limited series have become harder to sustain, and how those realities shaped the creation of Are We Doomed?. Along the way, he reflects on the practical realities of independent journalism, his approach to structuring episodes around narrative tension, and the challenge of balancing ambition, sustainability, and time when making narrative audio. “The story is never done,” he says. “You just run out of time.” See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy [https://art19.com/privacy] and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info [https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info].

Introducing: No Such Thing

We’re excited to share a preview of a new podcast we think you’d enjoy: No Such Thing No Such Thing is a show where three best friends and journalists settle their dumb arguments — and yours — by actually doing the research. Hosts Manny Fidel, Noah Friedman, and Devan Joseph start each episode with an argument using just their gut feelings. Then they go out into the world, investigate, talk to experts, and conduct some experiments. Finally, the guys bring their findings back to the group to see if they can change minds, enlighten each other, and move past their emotional truths. Find No Such Thing on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get podcasts. New episodes out Wednesdays Listen here: No Such Thing [http://swap.fm/l/pOflsfOlWWiwgHY6IlKF] See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy [https://art19.com/privacy] and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info [https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info].

Helena de Groot on Creation Myth

Helena de Groot is a writer, audio producer, and the host of Creation Myth, a deeply personal podcast about love, uncertainty, and the terrifying difficulty of knowing what kind of life you actually want. Before Creation Myth [https://www.cbc.ca/listen/cbc-podcasts/1340-run-hide-repeat], she worked on The Paris Review Podcast [https://www.theparisreview.org/podcast] and hosted Poetry Off the Shelf [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/poetry-off-the-shelf/id138752347]. In this episode, she talks to Matthew about the breakup that set Creation Myth in motion, and the deeper question at the center of the series: why she has never wanted children, and whether that feeling might one day change. She describes how the project evolved once editors pushed her to focus more deeply on her own story, the challenge of turning unresolved parts of her life into narrative, and the collaborative process that helped shape the final show. “I needed the answer,” she says. “I just thought for myself, there must be some kind of lack inside me. Can I get to the bottom of it?”  To connect with the team and gain access to behind the scenes content, join our community at ⁠joincampside.com⁠ [https://join.campsidemedia.com/]. You can also find us on ⁠Instagram⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/originstoriespod?igsh=NnlqanphNW4xNHo0], ⁠TikTok⁠ [https://www.tiktok.com/@originstoriespod] & ⁠Youtube⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/@OriginStoriesPod]. Have a question, guest recommendation or just want to say hi? Email us at Originstories@campsidemedia.com See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy [https://art19.com/privacy] and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info [https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info].

Jordan Ritter Conn on American Men

Jordan Ritter Conn is a journalist, a senior staff writer at The Ringer, and the author of American Men, a reported book that follows four men over the course of several years as they grapple, in different ways, with the same question: what does it mean to be a man in America today. In this episode, he talks to Matthew about how American Men [https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/jordan-ritter-conn/american-men/9781538709092/] came together, from reaching out to dozens of potential subjects to narrowing in on the four men at the center of the book. He describes the level of access required to tell stories that are both deeply personal and broadly representative, the challenge of getting people to open up over long periods of time, and the process of shaping a large body of material into something cohesive. He also reflects on how his approach to writing has evolved, and what it means to better understand what he’s actually good at. “I do think with any kind of talent there’s a ceiling. I know that I have a ceiling on my talent,"" he says. ""But I do think I’m getting a little bit better at maximizing that.” See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy [https://art19.com/privacy] and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info [https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info].