eMerge Unchained

Interview: Angela Mateus

In this episode of eMerge Unchained, host Aubrey Green sits down with Angela Mateus, director of the Writers’ Colony at Dairy Hollow, to talk about the magic that happens when writers get together with other writers. From unforgettable dinners to the deep connections that can form in just a few days, Angela reflects on why kindness—not competition—is the foundation of the colony experience. A neurodivergent poet who writes in multiple languages, Angela shares how her perspective has become an advantage both in her own work and in building community for others, many of whom also share a neurodivergent bent. Along the way, Aubrey gets excited about the possibilities from a partnership between the magazine and the colony to connecting with young writers from local universities and schools. Join Aubrey and Angela as they talk about artistic minds, the challenge of making space for the creative, and the places that leave a lasting mark. Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2411509/fan_mail/new] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2411509/support] emerge-magazine.com

Interview: Ken Hada

In this episode of eMerge Unchained, host Aubrey Green sits down with poet and longtime educator Ken Hada for a conversation shaped by four decades in the classroom. With a firm belief that there’s no such thing as passive learning, Ken reflects on the energy of an engaged audience—whether he’s teaching or reading his work—and what it means to “dance” with the audience. They talk about finding and owning your voice, not just in performance, but on the page, where it really matters. Ken shares how his early failed fiction fragments revealed themselves as poetry, and why writers don’t always need to know when something is good, but they need to recognize when it isn’t. He emphasizes knowing why you make the choices you do and creating layered work that transcends time, place, and even writer. So join Aubrey and Ken as they explore voice, craft, and the kind of writing that stays with you. Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2411509/fan_mail/new] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2411509/support] emerge-magazine.com

Interview: Michael Howarth

In this episode of eMerge Unchained, host Aubrey Green sits down with writer and academic Michael Howarth for a wide-ranging conversation about research, storytelling, and the unexpected places horror shows up. From using AI in the classroom (to expose its flaws) to tracing the gothic thread running through American history and children’s media, Michael brings both curiosity and humor to the craft of writing. Aubrey and Michael dig into the realities of research—why it takes time, but how it strengthens both critical texts and fiction. They explore why a flexible outline that can evolve along the way is better, the value of beta readers, and how to keep an audience on their toes by refusing to write the same old thing. Along the way, they even make space for zombies and explore why horror can be more nurturing for children than we might think. Join Aubrey and Michael for a conversation that blends craft, curiosity, and a love of sabbaticals.  Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2411509/fan_mail/new] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2411509/support] emerge-magazine.com

Interview: Hilka West-Irvin

In this episode of eMerge Unchained, host Aubrey Green sits down with poet and artist Hilka West-Irvin for a conversation about solitude, creativity, and the strange pull of place. From growing up feeling like an odd child to finding a home in the magic of Eureka Springs, Arkansas, Hilka reflects on the winding path that led her there. As a Minnesota transplant navigating recent events, she opens up about finding community and the freedom that comes with it—the kind that allows you to be fully yourself without apology. They explore how human behavior and the inner workings of the brain shape artistic expression, and why writing remains one of the best ways to make sense of it all. They also take a closer look at people watching, and how this simple act has changed in an age shaped by technology and social media. So join Aubrey and Hilka as they talk about the many sources of creative inspiration and the magic that happens when you find a place—and people—that let you belong. Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2411509/fan_mail/new] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2411509/support] emerge-magazine.com

Interview: Margaret Lee

In this episode of eMerge Unchained, host Aubrey Green sits down with Margaret Lee to talk about what happens when writing collides with the realities of publishing. From struggling through translations to arguing with a major publishing house and watching a project nearly derail just days before it's due, Margaret shares behind-the-scenes frustrations and what gives her the persistence to keep going. The conversation also wanders through the mystery and magic of storytelling. They discuss how some ideas naturally want to become poems while others demand prose, and how different art forms like poetry and painting can inform one another. Margaret reflects on the shift from academic writing to poetry, how writing can become a way to think through difficult experiences, and why she sees writing reviews not as critique, but as a way of celebrating other poets and exploring their work. Join Aubrey and Margaret as they talk about fueling the imagination by trying difficult things, the surprising importance of hobbies, and the creative courage it takes to trust the process—even when the path forward isn’t clear. Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2411509/fan_mail/new] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2411509/support] emerge-magazine.com