Christian Austin on Rewriting Life, One Note at a Time

Writing Memories with Matthew Kiell

In this episode of *For Love of Memoir*, Erin Swanson is joined by memoirist Matthew Kiell for a conversation about the fascinating challenge of writing from memory.Together, they explore the relationship between memory and truth, why memoir doesn't require perfect recall, and how writers can faithfully reconstruct the past while remaining honest about what they know, what they don't know, and what memory leaves behind.Matthew shares his approach to memoir structure, the role of scene and reflection, and the important distinction between fictionalizing events and writing authentically from lived experience. Whether you're writing your own memoir or simply curious about how memory shapes the stories we tell, this conversation offers thoughtful insights into the craft of transforming life into literature.Purchase a copy of A Memory Mosaic here:https://a.co/d/039JI3mX

Mindset, Mushrooms, and Meaning with John Borden

This week, I’m joined by John Borden, author of *Your Mindset Is Your Reality*, a memoir exploring the profound impact a psilocybin experience had on his understanding of himself and the world around him.John shares the winding path that led him through addiction, entrepreneurship, personal loss, and ultimately a moment that challenged many of the beliefs he had carried for decades. What followed was a deeper examination of identity, happiness, purpose, and the stories we tell ourselves about who we are.In our conversation, we explore self-awareness, personal responsibility, and the relationship between the narratives we create and the lives we live.Buy Johns book here:https://a.co/d/007j49MG

Beyond the Surface with Christie Green

In this episode of *For Love of Memoir*, Christie Green joins me to discuss her memoir *Moonlit Elk*.Part memoir, part exploration of instinct, identity, and the natural world, *Moonlit Elk* follows Christie’s movement into hunting, solitude, and a way of living that challenged many of the expectations she once carried about herself and the world around her.Guided in part by her dreams, Christie reflects on learning to trust a different kind of knowing and what happened when she began paying closer attention to instinct, the natural world, and the parts of herself that didn’t fit neatly into modern life.In our conversation, we talk about writing from the body instead of the intellect, stepping into spaces traditionally dominated by men, the relationship between humans and animals, and the search for a more honest way of being alive.Follow Christie and learn more about her work at:christiegreen.net

The Power of Story

In this episode of For Love of Memoir, Dan Williams joins me for a conversation about storytelling, memory, and the stories that shape identity across generations. We talk about the role of oral storytelling in family life, the memories that stay with us, and why certain stories continue to matter long after the moment itself has passed. Dan reflects on the people who taught him how to tell a story, the meaning carried inside family narratives, and what gets preserved when stories are shared instead of forgotten. This conversation explores memory not just as recollection, but as inheritance.

Finding Your Inner Glow with Angie Hawkins

In this episode of For Love of Memoir, Angie Hawkins, author of Running in Slippers, shares the story behind her book and the experiences that shaped it.Running in Slippers traces what it looks like to keep moving through life when things don’t unfold the way you expected. In our conversation, Angie talks about the moments that forced her to keep going, what it meant to live through those experiences in real time, and how writing the book changed the way she understands them now.This is a conversation about endurance, perspective, and what it takes to keep showing up to your own life.