Tara Ison has amassed so many writing awards she should be talking to Charlie Rose, not us. After her Spillers No. 4 reading, the writer of everything from screenplays and essays to novels and short stories talks about embracing dark themes, how she drives her characters to their reckoning points, and why unreliable narrators are just the thing to keep readers turning pages. (Note: this episode is for mature audiences, only.)

Just because David Waid’s a talented writer doesn’t mean he can’t also whip up a punk band’s show poster or play a mean game of D&D or even sell $326 toothbrushes. After his Spillers No. 4 reading, David chats with us about the benefits of his creative upbringing, the delight he takes in historical obscene language, and how back in the day Dr. Woog’s PerioSystem had phones ringing off the hook.