Ursa Story Company

Great lesson from writer T.E. Wilderson on the latest episode of Ursa Short Fiction. #writing #podcasts #storytelling

When you work with talented people, there are great ideas in every conversation. Sometimes you just need to follow where they lead you. Ursa Story Company cofounder Deesha Philyaw revealed to Dawnie Walton and me that she had once discussed doing a podcast with her friend and bestselling author, Kiese Laymon. That sounded like a hit show to us, so we went looking for collaborators. Given that they were writers originally from the South, we found a perfect partner in the news organization Reckon, led by Ryan Nave. This summer, Reckon True Stories launched — it was featured in Vanity Fair, it hit No. 8 on the Apple Podcasts charts (Arts), and Season One included an all-star roster of guests including Roxane Gay, Alexander Chee, Imani Perry, Minda Honey, Hanif Abdurraqib, and today’s guest for the season finale, the hilarious Samantha Irby. Some of my favorite episodes were Deesha and Kiese alone — two acclaimed writers digging into an essay or topic in ways that were thoughtful, candid, moving, and funny. To me, it represents the best of podcasting — experts with great chemistry, bringing listeners into a world they know intimately. Thanks to everyone at Ursa and Reckon who worked on this one, and to everyone who listened and shared.?There's a link in the comments if you'd like to catch up on the whole season. #podcasts #longreads

Discover our Spotlight podcast pick, Reckon True Stories Reckon True Stories?is a celebration of new and classic nonfiction – the essays, journalism, and memoirs that inspire us, that change the world, and help us connect with each other. Join hosts Deesha Philyaw and Kiese Laymon for in-depth discussions about the stories we tell and how they impact our culture.?This season’s guests include writers Roxane Gay, Imani Perry, Alexander Chee, Minda Honey, Hanif Abdurraqib, and Samantha Irby. https://lnkd.in/eUhCK3Na

Deesha Philyaw and Kiese Laymon, in Vanity Fair (!!), on what to expect during the first season of Reckon True Stories. Link in the comments.

Happy launch day to the brilliant Deesha Philyaw and Kiese Laymon, hosts of the newest Ursa Story Company podcast, Reckon True Stories! ?? It's all about the stories we tell and how they impact our culture. Guests for Season One include an all-star lineup: Roxane Gay, Alexander Chee, Minda Honey, Imani Perry, Hanif Abdurraqib, and Samantha Irby. The show is produced by Dawnie Walton and me, in partnership with the amazing team at Reckon, led by Ryan L. Nave. Thanks for listening: https://lnkd.in/gGu_8GBs #podcasts #writers #longreads #storytelling

More big news today from Ursa Story Company: A new podcast coming in July! Reckon True Stories will be hosted by acclaimed authors Deesha Philyaw and Kiese Laymon, in partnership with Reckon News. It's all about the stories we tell and how they impact our culture. We have an incredible guest list for Season One, including Roxane Gay, Alexander Chee, Minda Honey, Samantha Irby, plus more names to be announced soon. Full announcement from Kirkus Reviews in the comments. Sign up for email updates to be notified. As Ursa has grown as a company, Dawnie Walton, Deesha, and I have started working with publishers like Reckon, as well as individuals and brands, to help tell meaningful stories across both podcasting and social media. Get in touch if you'd like to work together: mark [at] ursastory [dot] com.