Podcast
The Song of Rowland: American Culture at Full Volume
Hosted by Russell Rowland · EN
Author Russell Rowland interviews creative people from all over America to discuss their creative process, and also explore how culture and the arts fits into today's America.
19episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Episode 28 - Suzi Ehtesham-Zadeh
Feb 2400:31:17Tap to summarizeSuzi Ehtesham-Zadeh is an Iranian-American writer, educator, and editor who lives in Woodstock, Georgia. Her work has appeared in The Georgia Review, Fiction International, Glassworks Magazine, Quiddity International Literary Journal, Hektoen International Journal, Narrative Northeast, Mobius Journal for Social Change, and elsewhere. Zan, a collection of her stories, was awarded the 2022 Dzanc Short Story Collection Prize and was released on June 11, 2024. Support the show
Transcribe →Episode 27 - Catherine O'Hara Retrospective
Feb 1500:32:16Tap to summarizeThe recent, unexpected death of Catherine O'Hara provided an important reminder of how important it is to appreciate those who provide a shining light while they're still around. O'Hara's career was a perfect example of how people can become an important part of American culture slowly, over time, with a solid catalogue of strong performances. Support the show
Transcribe →Episode 23 - Rob Reiner Retrospective
Jan 1500:30:15Tap to summarizeEver since the tragic death of Rob Reiner, I’ve been thinking a lot about how we can often take for granted someone who is such a steady presence in American culture. He never seemed like someone who was desperate for attention or praise, despite producing a solid body of work. So I wanted to talk about my ten favorite Rob Reiner projects.Support the show
Transcribe →Episode 21 - 20 Favorite Western Films
Jan 1500:48:28Tap to summarizeGrowing up in Montana during the '60s and '70s, I was a huge fan of Western films, although my attitude toward that genre changed a lot through the years. As I became more aware of how these films tended to show racist, sexist attitudes, I came to value the films that gave a more realistic and nuanced view of this part of the country, and my list shows that change in my viewpoint.Support the show
Transcribe →Episode 19 - Allen Morris Jones
Jan 1500:49:07Tap to summarizeAllen Morris Jones has published three novels, LAST YEAR’S RIVER, A BLOOM OF BONES, and SWEENEY ROCKS; he published a book of essays about hunting called A QUIET PLACE OF VIOLENCE, as well as three children’s books: MONTANA FOR KIDS, YELLOWSTONE FOR KIDS, and HUNTING FOR KIDS. But he has recently become known for his beautiful poetry, winning the High Plains Book Award for his debut collection, MUMBLECUSSER, and recently being named the Poet Laureate of Montana.Allen has also had a distinguished career as an editor, for the BIG SKY JOURNAL (twice), and for his own publishing imprint, Bangtail Press, which just happened to publish two of my books. He’s also an accomplished graphic designer, creating several wonderful book covers as well as the logo for this very podcast.Support the show
Transcribe →Episode 20 - Alan Grostephan
Jan 1500:38:38Tap to summarizeAlan Grostephan is the author of The Banana Wars, winner of the 2025 Georgia Author of the Year Award, and Bogotá, a novel chosen by the Wall Street Journal as one of the best ten books of fiction in 2013 and longlisted for the Pen/Robert W. Bingham Prize. He is also the editor and translator of Stories of Life and Death, a collection of writing by emerging Colombian writers. He holds an M.F.A. in creative writing from UC Irvine and is a professor at Agnes Scott College. He lived for years in Colombia where he travels extensively and is currently writing about work, dispossession, and land restitution in Latin America. He resides in Decatur, Georgia and is married to the visual artist María Korol. Please listen to my interview with Alan here:Support the show
Transcribe →Episode 22 - Lynn Stegner
Jan 1500:38:09Tap to summarizeWhen Lynn Stegner met her future husband Page, she had no idea that his father was one of the most famous writers in America, even though she was an aspiring writer. But the first time she met Wallace Stegner in person, they quickly discovered that they had both lived in the same orphanage when they were children, about 45 years apart. They became very close, and as Lynn's career developed, Wallace Stegner became her most valuable mentor. She has since published four novels, a collection of short stories, a tryptic, which is three short novellas, and an anthology that she and I edited together called WEST OF 98: Living and Writing the American West. I had a wonderful time talking to her about her latest novel, The Half-Life of Guilt.Support the show
Transcribe →Episode 18 - Larry Watson
Jan 1500:41:46Tap to summarizeLarry Watson is the author of ten novels, including Montana 1948, White Crosses, American Boy, and Let Him Go, which won the High Plains Book Award for fiction, and was made into a film starring Kevin Costner and Diane Lane. Watson taught at the University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point for many years, and eventually became a visiting professor at Marquette University. Watson, a native of North Dakota, has won numerous awards, and still lives in Wisconsin with his high school sweetheart, Susan, who he has been married to for 58 years.Support the show
Transcribe →
Episode Seventeen - John Englehardt
Oct 1000:38:18Tap to summarizeDzanc Books conducts a literary contest every year, and they publish the winner in several categories--fiction, poetry and short stories. In 2019, the winner of the Dzanc Award for fiction was a debut novel by John Englehardt called Bloomland, which is the story of a school shooting that takes place in Arkansas. The book is told from three separate points of view, including the shooter, and it's a masterwork of fine writing. I had the pleasure of talking to John about his debut novel, and the choices he made in how to structure this unique, powerful novel. Support the show
Transcribe →
Episode Fifteen - What Does it Mean to Be a Man?
Oct 100:05:44Tap to summarizeThe big production by Pete Hegseth and our president got me thinking about a question that someone asked me at one of my recent readings for my new book, BE A MAN: Raised in the Shadow of Cowboys. And I'm pretty sure my answer to that question is much different than Pete Hegseth or Donald Trump's answer would be.Support the show
Transcribe →