The Writers Bleck Podcast

Stream with Aida Salazar

Best-selling author and poet Aida Salazar joins Greg to discuss her new novel-in-verse, Stream. They'll explore how poetry became Aida's storytelling superpower, the inspiration behind writing stories in verse, the growing impact of screen addiction and social media on young people, and the importance of reconnecting with nature, culture, and authentic identity. Plus, Aida shares the personal experiences that shaped Stream, her approach to writing for middle-grade readers, and the powerful message she hopes readers take away from the book. Support us directly at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.patreon.com/WritersBleckPod]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/WritersBleckPod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.patreon.com/WritersBleckPod⁠⁠⁠⁠] Find us on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBLvhNs-91-p_QQqJ0DCCdg]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBLvhNs-91-p_QQqJ0DCCdg⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBLvhNs-91-p_QQqJ0DCCdg⁠⁠⁠⁠] More From Greg: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqLP7Pea2xsi_SD9LW-D3Pg]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqLP7Pea2xsi_SD9LW-D3Pg⁠⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqLP7Pea2xsi_SD9LW-D3Pg⁠]

Be Yourself And Other Bad Advice with Meredith Walker

This week on The Writer's Bleck Podcast, Greg sits down with author, television producer, and co-founder of Amy Poehler's Smart Girls, Meredith Walker, to discuss her new book, Be Yourself and Other Bad Advice: A Teen Girl's Guide to Unlearning the Rules. She'll share lessons from her career at Nick News and Saturday Night Live, explore the challenges facing teen girls in today's online world, and offer practical advice on confidence, identity, and navigating adolescence with authenticity. Support us directly at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.patreon.com/WritersBleckPod]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/WritersBleckPod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.patreon.com/WritersBleckPod⁠⁠⁠⁠] Find us on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBLvhNs-91-p_QQqJ0DCCdg]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBLvhNs-91-p_QQqJ0DCCdg⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBLvhNs-91-p_QQqJ0DCCdg⁠⁠⁠⁠] More From Greg: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqLP7Pea2xsi_SD9LW-D3Pg]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqLP7Pea2xsi_SD9LW-D3Pg⁠⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqLP7Pea2xsi_SD9LW-D3Pg⁠]

Seek The Traitor's Son, The Sixth Faction, Divergent, and Starting Over with Veronica Roth

In this episode, Greg sits down with the best-selling author Veronica Roth to discuss her new dystopian fantasy, Seek the Traitor’s Son, as well as her upcoming turn to the Divergent series in The Sixth Faction. They'll discuss the different forms Seek the Traitor's Son took across its six years of development, blending sci-fi and fantasy, the pressure and negativity that came with the success of Divergent, and how she rediscovered creative freedom after years of trying to “prove herself” as a writer. Support us directly at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.patreon.com/WritersBleckPod]⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/WritersBleckPod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.patreon.com/WritersBleckPod⁠⁠⁠⁠] Find us on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBLvhNs-91-p_QQqJ0DCCdg]⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBLvhNs-91-p_QQqJ0DCCdg⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBLvhNs-91-p_QQqJ0DCCdg⁠⁠⁠⁠] More From Greg: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqLP7Pea2xsi_SD9LW-D3Pg]⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqLP7Pea2xsi_SD9LW-D3Pg⁠⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqLP7Pea2xsi_SD9LW-D3Pg⁠]

That Which Feeds Us: Hawaiian Gothic Horror with Keala Kendall

Greg sits down with Keala Kendall to talk about her new Hawaiian gothic thriller, That Which Feeds Us, a haunting story about family, folklore, colonialism, and the dark side of paradise. She'll share how homesickness and Hawaiian history shaped the novel, why gothic horror was the perfect genre for the story, and how Keala balances atmospheric horror with deeply personal themes. We also dive into her work writing for Disney’s Twisted Tales imprint, including How Far I'll Go and Nobody Gets Left Behind, adapting established characters, and bringing authentic cultural perspectives into major IPs. Support us directly at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.patreon.com/WritersBleckPod]⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/WritersBleckPod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.patreon.com/WritersBleckPod⁠⁠⁠⁠] Find us on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBLvhNs-91-p_QQqJ0DCCdg]⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBLvhNs-91-p_QQqJ0DCCdg⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBLvhNs-91-p_QQqJ0DCCdg⁠⁠⁠⁠] More From Greg: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqLP7Pea2xsi_SD9LW-D3Pg]⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqLP7Pea2xsi_SD9LW-D3Pg⁠⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqLP7Pea2xsi_SD9LW-D3Pg⁠]

Mama Says I'm Fine with Brittney Cooper

In this episode, Greg interviews bestselling author, professor, activist, and cultural critic Brittney Cooper about her debut children’s book, Mama Says I'm Fine. Brittney discusses the emotional meaning behind the phrase “I’m fine,” the influence of her childhood and late mother on the story, themes of Black motherhood, empowerment, vulnerability, mental health, and emotional resilience, and so much more. Support us directly at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.patreon.com/WritersBleckPod]⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/WritersBleckPod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.patreon.com/WritersBleckPod⁠⁠⁠⁠] Find us on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBLvhNs-91-p_QQqJ0DCCdg]⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBLvhNs-91-p_QQqJ0DCCdg⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBLvhNs-91-p_QQqJ0DCCdg⁠⁠⁠⁠] More From Greg: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqLP7Pea2xsi_SD9LW-D3Pg]⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqLP7Pea2xsi_SD9LW-D3Pg⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqLP7Pea2xsi_SD9LW-D3Pg⁠]