R. Eric Thomas, an award-winning author, journalist and playwright, shared about growing up in Baltimore, writing for young adults and his latest book, "The Kings of B'More."   Margaret Killjoy and I talked anarchy, dealing with haters, great titles - A Country of Ghosts and The Lamb Will Slaughter the Lion -  and she endures my inability to pronounce Appalachia, which she calls home.    This podcast is presented in partnership with The Studios of Key West, a leading art institute in South Florida. For a list of events and more programming like this, visit Tskw.org  

New York City-based comedian Kristina Kelley and I talked standup shop, her days as a public school teacher in the South Bronx and her recent visit to Key West. Key West-based artist Kristyn LaMoia shared about how the island inspires her work and the challenges of preparing costumes for Fantasy Fest.    This podcast is presented by The Studios of Key West. 

Mark Kurlansky shared about this latest book, The Importance of Not Being Ernest: My Life With the Uninvited Hemingway. He also talked about being told he resembles the celebrated author, who left his mark on Key West, where he lived in the 1930s. Hemingway's former mansion is one of the island's most popular tourist attraction. Los Angeles-based comedian Jackie Monahan joined me to talk shop about comedy Twitch show -- the Jackie Mo Show, which airs at 5 p.m. every Saturday. Her comedy special is These Lips, available on Amazon and Spotify. 

Theresa Chiechi, an illustrator and cartoonist whose "Drawn to Key West" book documents the lives of the street performers at Key West's famous Mallory Square, joined me. We talked about making art while paying the bills, why sticker art is awesome, the courage to ask strangers for interviews and a dog named Cooper.   Belle Jampol, is a singer born and raised in Key West. We talked about why the Fabulous Spectrelles are so fabulous, learning music before she was even born, growing up in a musical family and what's next. 

Chloe Gray, a therapist turned dating consultant who created Advice By Chloe, shared an inspiring story about getting her start polishing up dating profiles. She gently suggested I not post gym photos on a profile. People might think I want to talk about arm day for an hour. "I probably would," I said. (Taking the advice.)   Mant Bares, a poet and writer of fiction and non-fiction, talked about being inspired by the X Files, growing up in Louisiana's Cajun community, and about moving to Germany. She read her poem, "Monster of the Week." Her poetry, under the name Samantha Bares, has been published by OxMag and Guesthouse.   Gwen Filosa is a Key West-based journalist covering the Keys for the Miami Herald. She also does standup comedy at Comedy Key West.    This podcast is presented in partnership with The Studios of Key West.   For a list of events and more programming like this, visit tskw.org.   We're Not Finished is produced by writer and artist Kevin Assam.

Author and screenwriter Hillary Jordan and I talked about her two novels, When She Woke and Mudbound, and Anonymous Sex, the new anthology of erotica stories she co-edited with Cheryl Lu-Lien Tan. Playwright Catherine Weingarten and I talked about her residency at The Studios of Key West and using humor to comment "upon societal pressures young women face to be impossibly good-looking as well as ridiculously humble."   For events and more programming at The Studios of Key West, visit Tskw.org. 

Ginny Hogan, a writer and comedian published in the New Yorker and McSweeney's, and I talked standup shop and why she left a career as a data scientist in the tech industry for comedy. Her latest book is, I'm More Dateable Than a Plate of Refried Beans. Kawana Staffney, the executive director of the Bahama Village Music Program, shared the history of the nonprofit that offers music lessons to local children at no cost.   Gwen Filosa is a Key West-based journalist covering the Keys for the Miami Herald. She's also a standup comic, appearing weekly at Comedy Key West.  For a list of events at The Studios of Key West, and more programming like this, visit Tskw.org.

New York Times Bestselling author Kristen Arnett and Key West singer-songwriter Sharese joined me on this episode. Kristen and I talked about her novels, With Teeth and Mostly Dead Things, and about whether Florida is the gayest state. Sharese shared her new single, "Fixer Upper," and we talked about making a living playing music in Key West.  Gwen Filosa is a Key West-based journalist covering the Keys for the Miami Herald. She also does standup, appearing weekly at Comedy Key West. 

Atlanta-based comedian and actor Lace Larrabee and I talked standup shop, her podcast about cheating on partners and whether I can take the place of her bff. She's headlining at Comedy Key West May 19-21. *profanity warning Playwright Neal Ruchman and actor Cassidy Timms and I talked about "The Pickpocket's Daughter," which is at The Studios of Key West starting May 18-28. I asked why some of us find ourselves rooting for the criminal in a story and how Ruchman's family inspired the story.    We're Not Finished is presented by The Studios of Key West, a leading arts institute in South Florida, located at 533 Eaton St. For a list of events and more programming like this, visit Tskw.org. Gwen Filosa is a journalist based in Key West, Florida, who covers the Keys for the Miami Herald. She also does standup at Comedy Key West and is a sought-after dog-sitter.  We're Not Finished is produced by Kevin Assam.        

Christiane Escobar is a video creator and photographer who has become a Tik Tok phenom. We talked about Tik Tok success, handling online critics and whether I should move to Austin, Texas, someday.  Emily Landis is a singer-songwriter who has become a regular at the Key West Songwriters Festival. We talked about writing big hit songs in Nashville, having a blast in Key West and she gave me tips on learning the guitar.   We're Not Finished is presented in partnership with The Studios of Key West and hosted by Gwen Filosa, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist who covers the Keys for the Miami Herald. New episodes are posted every Wednesday.   [email protected]