In this conversation, Zach sits down with acclaimed author Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah, the writer behind Chain-Gang All-Stars and Friday Black, to explore the uneasy relationship between violence, justice, and entertainment in modern culture. They discuss how violent spectacle, from gladiators to modern media, captures our attention and forces us to confront our own role as spectators.

Nana explains how Chain-Gang All-Stars uses brutal prison death matches as a lens to examine the American carceral system, state violence, and the moral contradictions around punishment. The conversation also dives into Nana’s writing process, including why he sometimes writes longhand, how Metroid Prime influenced the book’s unique footnote structure, and why humor can coexist with the darkest subject matter.

They also discuss Succession, the psychology of audiences misreading satire, and how growing up with a defense-attorney father shaped Nana’s views on crime and compassion. Ultimately, the episode wrestles with a bigger question: what stories about violence reveal about who we are, and who we’re becoming.

Guest bio: Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah is the acclaimed author of the bestselling novel Chain-Gang All-Stars and the award-winning short story collection Friday Black. A National Book Foundation “5 Under 35” honoree, his work has appeared in The New York Times, The New Yorker, and Esquire, exploring violence, justice, and the American imagination.

NANA KWAME ADJEI-BRENYAH LINKS:

Chain Gang All-Stars (Buy Local): https://bit.ly/4cqaXqz

Friday Black (Buy Local): https://bit.ly/4luPKyl

Website: https://www.nanakwameadjei-brenyah.com/

Spotify: https://bit.ly/4bblEuU

Substack (WISLY): https://nanakwame.substack.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/king_nk/

Stream All of Nana's Music: https://bit.ly/40MSD3G

THE ZACH SHOW LINKS:

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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/auxoro/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@zachshowpod

Website: https://www.auxoro.com/

Substack: https://thezachshow.substack.com/

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