Episode 1 - George Saunders
Renowned writer George Saunders joins artist Chloe Aftel for the first episode of The Other Pod. The unlikely pair have been friends since 2012, and today, sit down for an in-depth conversation on Saunders' career and creative journey. Starting from his upbringing in Oak Forest, Illinois, the two explore the highs and lows that led him to his current status as an internationally beloved and highly awarded author.
Highlights:
How Saunders balances humor and absurdism to address serious issues in his writing;
His approach to crafting story: staying open to surprises and allowing the story to lead;
Handling praise, criticism, and ego while staying true to your voice;
His transition into writing from working full-time as an engineer and finding time to write while on transportation.
George Saunders is an American author known for his unique blend of dark humor, surrealism, and social commentary. Saunders gained widespread recognition with his collection Tenth of December (2013), which earned critical acclaim and numerous awards. His novel Lincoln in the Bardo (2017), a blend of historical fiction and the supernatural, won the Man Booker Prize. Known for his innovative narrative style, Saunders is also a respected teacher of creative writing at Syracuse University. His short stories have appeared regularly in The New Yorker since 1992, and in 2013, he was named one of the world’s 100 most influential people in the world by Time magazine.
Chloe Aftel has spent her career working in commercial photography, photojournalism, and film. She’s an established name in modern photography with work featured in The New York Times, Mother Jones, Playboy, Dazed & Confused, Vogue Germany, The Hollywood Reporter, The Wall Street Journal, Vogue Italia, Vanity Fair, Rolling Stone, Teen Vogue & more. Chloe has photographed victims of sexual violence, reported on Covid’s impact on the trans community, and gained access as the first reporter in the Covid wards of the West Coast’s hardest hit hospitals. She has covered underground abortion providers, the impact of gender pronouns on daily life, and clergy abuse. Her first book, “Outside and In Between,” is an award-winning anthology covering gender non-conforming people across America.
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