Joining Mary Anne and Ben on this episode is Anya Johanna DeNiro, a trans woman and writer who recently published her novel, OKPsyche. The book follows the story of an unnamed trans woman on an epic journey to find the place where she belongs.

"Landlords and Classless Societies"

Nov 20th, 2023 1h 57m

This episode was inspired by a meme Mary Anne came across concerning landlords, and their somewhat... unpopular reputations in society. The hosts of MRAH contemplate the positions of power and influence that people like landlords and property o

Ep. 61 "On Israel and Palestine"

Nov 13th, 2023 2h 1m

In this episode, Mary Anne Mohanraj and Benjamin Rosenbaum take some time to share their grief and complicated feelings about the devastating conflict occurring between Israel and Palestine. They discuss the ideas of isomorphism and symbiosis,

"The Creativity Fallacy" from Our Opinions Are Correct

Oct 16th, 2023 50m 22s

Today we bring you episode 137 of the podcast Our Opinions Are Correct, graciously shared with us by hosts Annalee Newitz and Charlie Jane Anders. The episode features Mary Anne Mohanraj, who was very excited to be invited on the show, to talk

"Cosmic Empathy With Ruthanna Emrys"

Oct 9th, 2023 1h 29m

Coming on the show is Ruthanna Emrys, author of the recently released sci-fi novel, A Half Built Garden, as well as The Innsmouth Legacy series. In the first half of the episode, Mary Anne and Ben talk about Emrys' latest book and the writing o

Ep. 59 "Be a River, Not a Pipe"

Oct 2nd, 2023 1h 57m

In this episode of MRAH, Mary Anne and Ben talk about the complexities, wonders, and difficulties of living communally. They explore the systems we put in place to make decisions amongst our own groups, and to deal with potential bad actors in

Ep. 58 "Walter Jon Williams"

Sep 25th, 2023 20m 52s

In this Deep Dive, Mary Anne Mohanraj and Walter Jon Williams cover the three R's of writing craft: Raising the stakes, Reveals, and Reversals. This interview is a part of the Portolan Project, an initiative to provide a wealth of exceptional c

"In the Infinite Forest With Jonathan Strahan and Gary Wolfe"

Sep 18th, 2023 2h 2m

In this episode, Mary Anne and Ben explore the infinite forest of science fiction and other genre work with Jonathan Strahan and Gary Wolfe, the hosts of The Coode Street Podcast. The four podcast hosts explore the ethical responsibilities of r

Ep. 56 "Nicola Griffith"

Sep 11th, 2023 44m 40s

Mary Anne Mohanraj takes a Deep Dive with author Nicola Griffith on her work in Hild, So Lucky, and Spear, covering pacing, disability, and historical research. This interview is a part of the Portolan Project, an initiative to provide a wealth

"Sheila Williams"

Sep 4th, 2023 39m 1s

In this Deep Dive former SLF staff member, Meghan Lamb, talks with the editor of Asimov's Science Fiction magazine, Sheila Williams. They discuss Williams' most influential childhood reads, the importance of editorial letters in magazines, and

"Transgressing Authentically"

Aug 28th, 2023 2h 40m

In this episode, Mary Anne recounts a recent trip she took to Pakistan to teach science fiction writing at the Lahore University of Management Sciences. The two discuss her experiences of gender in Pakistan, as well as the broader cultural, rel

"Jo Walton"

Aug 21st, 2023 1h 23m

Dragons and alternate history; the research process; writing with particularity, and courage; character work; and more on this Deep Dive with author Jo Walton about her work across multiple genres. This interview is a part of the Portolan Proje

"Shaun Duke and Brandon O'Brien"

Aug 14th, 2023 1h 51m

Shaun Duke and Brandon O'Brien are the hosts of the four time Hugo-finalist Skiffy and Fanty Show, a science fiction and fantasy based podcast that covers major topics in the field and interviews with authors and creators. Mary Anne and Ben inv

"A. M. Dellamonica and Kelly Robson"

Aug 7th, 2023 1h

Mary Anne Mohanraj takes a deep dive with authors A. M. Dellamonica and Kelly Robson on their writing, dealing with impostor syndrome, how to provide compelling characterization, setting fantasy in North America, and the writer's life. This int

Ep. 50 "The Secret to Becoming Slime Mold Gods (or Writers?)"

Jul 31st, 2023 1h 41m

This time around, Mary Anne and Ben are okay with being slime mold gods, (or perhaps writers?) The two divinely intelligent molds of slime examine how they organize their lives around their shared passion of writing and how they fit in other ho

Ep. 49 "Ursula Vernon"

Jul 24th, 2023 41m 1s

Mary Anne interviews Ursula Vernon, a.k.a. T. Kingfisher, about her work, with an interest in how Vernon pivots from writing for adults, to creating children's fiction. Is writing for certain ages really all that different? Mary Anne is also in

Ep. 48 "In the Theater of Magic With Andrea Hairston"

Jul 17th, 2023 1h 23m

This week, Mary Anne and Ben explore the magic of theater, discuss the importance of representation and research, and address the difficulty in working with dark and difficult material in speculative fiction with author Andrea Hairston. They di

"Snaring New Suns"

Jul 10th, 2023 1h 21m

Mary Anne interviews editors Tom Gammarino, Bryan Kamaoli Kuwada, D. Kealiʻi MacKenzie, and Lyz Soto about their anthology of speculative works of literature, poetry, and art from Hawai'i and beyond: "Snaring New Suns." Together, they discuss t

"Anticipatory Nest Grief"

Jul 3rd, 2023 1h 50m

Mary Anne and Ben find themselves feeling a particular sort of grief: the anticipation of the empty nest kind of grief. Both hosts have children that will one day leave the nest to become individuals of their own in the world, and they're not q

Ep. 45 "Hollyhock: A TTRPG Q & A"

Jun 26th, 2023 1h 52m

On this episode of MRAH, a high number of humans joins Ben to discuss a table top role playing game in the making: Hollyhock. This TTRPG is set in the surreal and theatrical world of the Fae, during an infamous holiday known as the mysterious a

Ep. 44 "Nisi Shawl"

Jun 19th, 2023 51m 40s

The host of MRAH, Mary Anne Mohanraj, interviews African-American writer, editor, and journalist Nisi Shawl, best known for her 2016 novel, Everfair. Mohanraj and Shawl take a Deep Dive into the violent realities of history in relation to their

"Lesson Planning"

Jun 12th, 2023 1h 53m

Mary Anne and Ben have been invited to teach in the first week of the famous writing workshop, Clarion West! Drawing from their past experience as students of the writing workshop, the hosts of MRAH take some time in this episode to brainstorm

"Afro-Surrealism With Yvette Lisa Ndlovu"

Jun 5th, 2023 1h 53m

Humans Mary Anne and Ben interview Yvette Lisa Ndlovu, (also human), as well as a Zimbabwean sarungano (storyteller), about her work in her recently published short story collection "Drinking from Graveyard Wells." The hosts of MRAH explore wha

Ep. 41 "On the Magic of Ritual With K. Tempest Bradford"

May 31st, 2023 35m 28s

Mary Anne Mohanraj takes a Deep Dive with author K. Tempest Bradford on her work, themes of ritual magic, and travel research. This interview is a part of the Portolan Project, an initiative to provide a wealth of exceptional creative writing c

"Welcome to Season 2"

May 22nd, 2023 1h 53m

The hosts of Mohanraj and Rosenbaum Are Humans return for season 2! Mary Anne and Ben ease back into podcast mode by reflecting on the first season of the show, as well as the kinds of guests they should invite and topics they should explore in