Sunday SubDays

Rachel Kramer Bussel - Featured Guest (Ep. 9)

This week on Sunday SubDays we’re joined by Rachel Kramer Bussel, founder and editor-in-chief of Open Secrets Magazine [https://substack.com/profile/140708831-open-secrets-magazine] , a publication devoted to the personal stories we’re often taught to keep tucked away. Watch or listen to us discuss: * the power of the personal essay * how quiet truth can form windows of recognition * how clutter holds memory and meaning * how writing can help bring out our authenticity We also dabble along the edges of what it’s like publishing & editing today. We chat about how she built Open Secrets Magazine, the fun & pressure of managing new challenges, and continuing to stay close to the heart of the work: championing good writing. Rachel’s just launched a fantastic new podcast, Finders and Keepers [https://opensecretsmagazine.com/s/finders-and-keepers-podcast?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email], [https://opensecretsmagazine.com/s/finders-and-keepers-podcast?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email] which explores the objects we collect, save, inherit, organize, and can’t quite throw away; from books and toys to memorabilia, miniatures, Lego sets, storage spaces, and the quiet emotional architecture of our stuff. Thank you for reading / listening / watching! Support Open Secrets, send in your writing, tell a friend, and until next week - Keep Curious ! Get full access to Quibble Lit at quibblelit.substack.com/subscribe [https://quibblelit.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

Ep. 8 - James Spencer (Featured Guest)

This week on Sunday SubDays, we have a bonus episode! — to pair alongside our Featured Voice spotlight on Jae Nichelle — Quibble Lit sits down with poet and voice coach James Spencer for a thoughtful conversation on performance, presence, vulnerability, and the living relationship between poetry and the human voice. Together, we talk about confidence in professional communication as an artist, creative modules like pitch and delivery, the value of intentional practice, and the ways language changes when it’s spoken aloud with purpose and care. It’s a warm, insightful conversation about voice and the ongoing process of learning how to inhabit your work more fully. Watch the full conversation below — and thank you again, James! Get full access to Quibble Lit at quibblelit.substack.com/subscribe [https://quibblelit.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

Featured Guest: Derrick C. Brown (Ep. 7)

This week’s Sunday SubDays’ Featured Guest is Derrick Brown [https://substack.com/profile/16962317-derrick-brown], poet, performer, comedian, and founder/president of Write Bloody Publishing [https://writebloody.com/]. Derrick has spent decades helping poetry escape the box some people try to keep it in. As the founder of Write Bloody, he has also helped shape a major lane for contemporary poets, giving touring writers and spoken-word artists a serious publishing home. He’s also a very funny, very generous person. Derrick was also one of our guest judges for Quibble’s inaugural Ps & Qs Audio Poem Contest [https://www.quibblelit.com/the-quippy-awards-winners-2026], which culminates tonight with our live reading party on Zoom from [https://zoom.us/meeting/register/it21VkTnRLCPsmgvfOdPMg]7:30–8:45 PM EST [https://zoom.us/meeting/register/it21VkTnRLCPsmgvfOdPMg] Watch or listen to the full episode to hear Derrick and I discuss the usefulness of stupidity, how to keep trying new, scary things, and why Bob’s Burgers is a great creative model (and why they oughta have Derrick on!) For more laughs and lovely poetic barbs and bits from Derrick, go follow his Substack [https://derrickbrown.substack.com/], check out his new poetry collection [https://www.amazon.com/LITTLE-GRIEF-BREAK-Collected-Poems/dp/1949342883/ref=sr_1_1?adgrpid=1333708168706659&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.DJrjIowYMAT4jsGBTQaKg9_prM2hf-zJcb05GLeS2E--kQtIlK6ERuippoQyAiguegKrqwHB-PGNblDskfqsRRp7xTC5MUg44Mr85CjEikK8t47D7fTYrnegsXT6wk2pwEHHFVaUgiesC577oaWDw0LQFy3D15diWbclPKzm5X6xA4U-c5LqwywM1FISA0SuwFKjzcRI_P13VsK_irz9iM28EqektPDUSdudBJaQF_c.80XYcOOOWqz67N10BA1UGgewAOJYixbzu8G8l-RTlQ8&dib_tag=se&hvadid=83356999530988&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=134948&hvnetw=o&hvqmt=e&hvtargid=kwd-83357103641059%3Aloc-190&hydadcr=22560_13494430&keywords=derrick+brown+poetry&mcid=e00235a78daf3c93b5fe8ff3a9806ba1&msclkid=b0e472cfa18f182c31c51b382a8e6b66&qid=1777830669&sr=8-1], or explore his comedy albums, children’s books, and other projects on his website. [https://brownpoetry.com/] Thank you to Derrick, for being such a kind and hilarious guest - and for his help with the Ps & Qs! And another thank you to Judy Seaman, our talented video editor, for further help with this episode! And a big sorry to all that my video quality is so, so poor on this one (it’s all my fault and solutions are in progress!) And a final, massive Thank You to everyone for listening, reading, and for supporting indie lit — tell a friend about us (if you dare) and we’ll be back next week with a new Featured Voice from the Ps & Qs. We hope to see you at the party tonight! [https://zoom.us/meeting/register/it21VkTnRLCPsmgvfOdPMg] Get full access to Quibble Lit at quibblelit.substack.com/subscribe [https://quibblelit.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

Featured Voice - Bri Gearhart Staton (Ep.6)

And we’re back! This Sunday with an inspiring conversation with Bri Gearhart Staton [https://www.instagram.com/bristaton.writes/], poet and the first-ever winner of our 1st Place Golden [https://www.quibblelit.com/portrait-of-a-hungover-woman-eating-a-tomato-sandwich-by-bri-gearheart-staton] Quippy Award [https://www.quibblelit.com/the-quippy-awards-winners-2026] from The 2026 Ps & Qs Audio Poetry Contest. [https://www.quibblelit.com/thepsandqs] Bri was truly a treat to connect with. I was amazed to hear how she discovered poetry, in a battle of resilience and season of transformation. The warmth, bravery, and sincerity of her spirit and outlook is capturing, inspiring, and infectious - watch out! Her poetry is something special, as well. Her award-winning poem, “Portrait of a Hungover Woman Eating a Tomato Sandwich” [https://www.quibblelit.com/portrait-of-a-hungover-woman-eating-a-tomato-sandwich-by-bri-gearheart-staton], was adored and unanimously applauded by the Ps & Qs contest panelists. Bri brought her poem to life during our April 19th Ps & Qs Showcase Reading Party - thank you to all participants! We’re very excited to grow this podcast and raise the stage for writers, editors, and publishers doing important work deserving attention. I want to give particular thanks to Judith Seaman, who gave a huge hand in editing this episode. You can explore her videography and memoir-documentary [https://videomemoircreations.com/] services here: https://videomemoircreations.com/ [https://videomemoircreations.com/] Check out : * The full interview above * Bri’s performance below, * And don’t forget to… Join us on May 3rd as we gather for another (free) night of poetry & community with the Ps & Qs Choice Awards Showcase Reading Party. [https://zoom.us/meeting/register/it21VkTnRLCPsmgvfOdPMg] Hear Bri’s wonderful performance of “Portrait of a Hungover Woman…” from the Ps & Qs 4.19.26 Reading Party: Next Sunday, we’ll be back with a conversation with Derrick C. Brown, President of Write Bloody Publishing - we can’t wait! Thank you for being here, and tell all your friends about us! Get full access to Quibble Lit at quibblelit.substack.com/subscribe [https://quibblelit.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

Featured Guest - La Piccioletta Barca (Ep. 5)

This Sunday on Sunday SubDays, we’re thrilled to feature La Piccioletta Barca co-editors-in-chief Eponine Howarth and Micaela Brinsley.  We talk literary community, editorial evolution, collaboration, independent publishing, and what it means to build a magazine that feels less like a platform and more like a living room full of artists, questions, and unfinished conversations.  Watch the interview, then go explore and support La Piccioletta Barca — a beautiful independent magazine and collective publishing poetry, fiction, essays, translations, interviews, and visual art. Get full access to Quibble Lit at quibblelit.substack.com/subscribe [https://quibblelit.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]