15 AUG 2017 · Today on The Easy Chair: “What’s Next,” a cryptic progressive tale brimming with intrigue and hilarity. After their beloved cat Ringo turns up decapitated on their front porch, Allison and Nick flee to a remote lake house. Allison dreams of a sparkly life of lakeside ease while Nick longs to ramp up their “business” in Chicago… or maybe he just wants to fulfill his dream of becoming a dentist. This story has it all: a pontoon boat full of twerking hot cops, champagne burps, and a coveted peanut butter and jelly sandwich. The story was written/read by the following folks on vacation in Nantucket in the following order: Me, spouse Sam, daughter Hannah, Hannah’s uber fabulous friend and business partner Melissa Stern, son Jake, daughters Rachael, Sarah, and Eliza, Jake’s stunner of a fiancée Jillian Vogel, and finally, baby of the family, son Micah. Words cannot express how deeply I adore this episode. Also: the first person to catch the crazy ad lib moment and correctly identify it gets a free batch of Jake’s Mom’s Cookies delivered to his/her doorstep. Email your answers to easychairpodcast@gmail.com and I will send cookies to the winner post haste. Today’s episode is brought to you by LOLA feminine products. Steph Spaulding literally insisted on stopping by to promote LOLA because it is THAT GOOD. To try out LOLA, go to MyLola .com and enter the promo code CHAIR for a whopping 60% off your order.

7 AUG 2017 · Steph Spaulding and I are back with another episode of the podcast for writers, Mightier Than the Sword! We discuss the disciplined practice of writing. Is it a labor of love, or more like pure labor? Writing on retreat is one thing, but integrating a writing practice into life on a regular basis presents a set of unique challenges. Steph and I talk about how to start, how to keep the writing flow going, when to push, when to be patient. Join us for this entertaining (and hopefully enlightening) episode. Writers: we encourage you to write to us with questions, tips, insights, you name it, at easychairpodcast@gmail.com with Mightier Than the Sword in the subject line. Next week: it’s a rare treat: a whimsical and slightly twisted Hurwitz progressive story, written whilst on our family vacation on Nantucket. It will possibly offend and definitely delight you. This week’s episode is brought to you by Squarespace. I chose Squarespace to create a fabulous website for Jake’s Mom’s Cookies, my side hustle chocolate chip cookie biz. (thanks to daughter Hannah for her gorgeous photography and web design). See what I mean: https://www.jakesmomscookies.com.

31 JUL 2017 · This week on The Easy Chair: Shoulda Swiped Left Episode 20. That’s right, 20 episodes, and still, after all that time, Hannah and Jake never fail to surprise me. They share the same strange phobia (you’ll never guess). They talk dating, travel, waterfalls, and legit old-school matchmaking. It’s a uniquely freewheeling and enlightening episode, even by Shoulda Swiped Left standards. In fact, it is one of my all-time favorites. It isn't often you can say audio file editing was a pleasure, but this time, it was. Tune in and you’ll see what I mean. Next week: Mightier Than the Sword with co-host Steph Spaulding returns, and the week after that, another Hurwitz family progressive story (remember Trouble in Paradise?). For writing questions or dating stories, email me and Steph or me, Jake, and Hannah at easychairpodcast@gmail.com. We want to hear from you!

25 JUL 2017 · This week: It’s a new episode of “Mightier Than the Sword” and Steph Spaulding and I process both the details and the aftermath of our DIY edit swap. Personally, it was a huge challenge to bring my newborn manuscript into the world and hold it out (even to a close and supremely competent pal) for a careful, honest inspection. Constructive criticism was what I sought, but dreaded. Steph is less of a head case and just wanted to make sure her about-to-be self-published collection of short stories was mechanically sound. Find out how we fared, serving as each other’s editor. Are we still speaking to each other? Is peer editing a solid or terrible idea? Tune in and find out. Okay, writers out there! Send us your questions and/or thoughts! If there’s any topic you’d like us to cover, let us know. Email us at easychairpodcast@gmail.com Next week: Shoulda Swiped Left with Hannah and Jake. I am not sure what this next episode will bring, but I can promise you it’s gonna be very interesting. Daters out there with stories to tell, send them our way at easychairpodcast@gmail.com.

17 JUL 2017 · This week on The Easy Chair: “Matricidal Maniac” by none other than Mightier Than the Sword co-host and gifted, ever-popular writer Stephanie Spaulding. In this tale, which we want you to note is 100% fictional, honest, Christine’s excruciatingly embarrassing mother travels to Manhattan to spend time with her daughter, and Christine’s annoyance explodes into an array of colorful death fantasies. Not that Christine wants to kill her mother- she knows where to draw the line- but maybe she wouldn’t mind if Mom was the victim of a bus crash, or an ice fishing accident, or a stroke. Parental relationships are complicated, and maybe, just maybe, what goes on in our heads is not the same as what goes on in our hearts. Stephanie’s deft story explores the interface between shock and hilarity. You will not want to miss one of my favorite Easy Chair episodes EVER. Next week: It’s Mightier Than the Sword, and Steph and I candidly share the results of our peer editing project swap. The week after that: Shoulda Swiped Left, with Hannah and Jake. Send writing questions/insights or dating stories to easychairpodcast@gmail.com. We want to hear from you!

10 JUL 2017 · This week, it’s Mightier Than the Sword. Co-host Steph Spaulding and I show by example the leap of faith and specific intentions of editing in general, and peer editing in particular. We have swapped manuscripts for editing purposes, with different editorial goals for our work, and we walk you through the process of editing. Aspiring writers and editors, pay attention! Speaking of editing, in editing this podcast, I realize how insecure I sound. I think many of you out there will empathize with my plight- seeking editorial help and constructive criticism, but also deathly afraid to actually receive it. Our next Mightier Than the Sword is the follow-up to what happened with this foray into peer editing. It’s an honest look at a sensitive subject, but just so you know- Steph and I remain the best of friends. Writers with questions/suggestions, daters with stories/insights, email us at easychairpodcast@gmail.com with the appropriate podcast (here’s a thought-use acronyms!- MTTS or SSL) in the subject line. Hannah and Jake and Steph and I want to hear from you!

3 JUL 2017 · This week, It's The Easy Chair episode 100!!! To mark this momentous podcasting milestone: Shoulda Swiped Left with Hannah and Jake. Of course there’s dating talk but also career talk, house talk, and a smattering of observations and opinions. My greatest joy as host and podcast editor is once a month, I get to appreciate the special dynamic between my two oldest kids. They might not always agree but they never fail to support each other. It’s a wide-ranging, relaxed, and largely unedited podcast. Celebrate with me by tuning in to this 100% genuine special anniversary episode. Next week, on Mightier Than the Sword: In preparation for sending our books out into the world, Steph Spaulding and I exchanged manuscripts to edit. We talk about the rules of engagement, when it comes to editing, and offer some advice to editors and those seeking editorial help. We also share our hopes and fears. As always, if writing advice is something you seek or would like to share, or if you have a dating story to tell, email us at easychairpodcast@gmail.com with Mightier Than the Sword or Shoulda Swiped Left in the subject line. We want to hear from you!

26 JUN 2017 · On The Easy Chair this week: Mightier Than the Sword is back, and Steph and I talk D.I.Y. writing retreats. Summer is the perfect season for writers both professional and aspiring to snag some time to work on their writing projects, and taking off to a remote, ideally idyllic location solo or with fellow writers is the best idea ever. Planning retreats takes some forethought and planning. Steph and I speak from our own fabulous writer’s retreat experience. We’re here to share strategies about retreating- how to get where you want to go, and what to do when you’re there. Hint: it’s NOT all work and no play! And FYI: S’mores are involved. Next week: Shoulda Swiped Left is back, with Hannah and Jake. In the meantime, we want to hear from you! If you are a writer seeking or sharing advice for Mightier Than the Sword, or a person with an on-line dating story to share on Shoulda Swiped Left, contact us at easychairpodcast@gmail.com.

19 JUN 2017 · This week on The Easy Chair: “P.R. Story” by Deborah Zervas. Yes, P.R. may be the acronym for Public Relations, but in this case the initials are for the island of Deborah’s grandparents’ birth, Puerto Rico. Steph Spaulding and I first heard Deborah read this at a coffee house in New Haven and were absolutely blown away. Deborah has woven a profoundly poignant narrative tracing what it means to return to the place you have always known by heart. She tells this memoir piece in two languages, English and Spanish, spanning three generations and two cultures. What emerges is a deeply personal account, lyrically expanded into a resonant human truth about longing and belonging. Listen. Escucha. Next week: it’s a return to Mightier Than the Sword! Steph and I discuss the pros and cons of writing retreats. Okay, fine, just the pros. The following week it’s Shoulda Siped Left. Hannah and Jake are back after a hiatus to talk about what’s up, on-line dating wise. News and insights abound! If you have questions/advice about writing, or a dating debacle you’d like to share, email us at easychairpodcast@gmail.com. Seriously. We want to hear from you!

12 JUN 2017 · This week: Mightier Than the Sword is back! Stephanie Spaulding and I discuss our post-teaching summer plans, which for me includes following my agent’s directive and revising two manuscripts. I admit I am daunted, but itching to get started. Stephanie is eager to begin the process of self-publishing her collection of short stories. It’s the perfect moment to discuss a topic of great importance to many aspiring writers, namely, how to best get written work out into the world. Does the traditional publishing route, with an agent, seem like the best fit, or is self-publishing the better option? It’s an enlightening glimpse into the rapidly expanding, increasingly agile world of publishing. Next week: Okay, I blew it. Hannah and Jake were together for their cousin’s wedding this weekend but things were too hectic for them to sit down and talk about dating stuff. Never fear; I have a gorgeously haunting short story for you by a gifted emerging author Deborah Zervas. And please, those with writing questions and/or insights, write to me and Steph at easychairpodcast@gmail.com. We want to hear from you!