Deesha Philyaw and Kiese Laymon chat with the hilarious and multitalented Samantha Irby, author of multiple wickedly funny essay collections, as well as writer for multiple television series.

Samantha talks about her own confidence and how she’s able to write guiltless memoir pieces. She distinguishes between the experiences of watching what she’s written versus reading what she’s written. Has she bougie-ed out of her past? And, of course, what are the ins and outs of comedy-writing? Can it be taught? What are the industry-wide issues with gatekeeping? And who do you write to? 

Reading List: Authors, Stories, and Books Mentioned

• bitches gotta eat! (Samantha Irby blog)
• “My Mother, My Daughter” (Samantha Irby, The Rumpus 2012)
• We Are Never Meeting In Real Life (Samantha Irby)
• Meaty (Samantha Irby)
• New Year, Same Trash (Samantha Irby)\
• Wow, No Thank You (Samantha Irby)
• Quietly Hostile (Samantha Irby)

Watch List:

• Shrill
• And Just Like That: Sex and the City
• Tuca and Bertie
• Atlanta
• Mea Culpa
• Paul Mooney
• Mike Epps
• Mo’Nique
• Shirley Hemphill
• Nell Carter

Listening List:

• “Upgrade U” (Beyoncé)

More from Deesha Philyaw and Kiese Laymon: 

• The Secret Lives of Church Ladies (Deesha Philyaw)
• Heavy (Kiese Laymon)
• Long Division (Kiese Laymon)
• How to Slowly Kill Yourself and Others in America: Essays (Kiese Laymon)
• Ursa Short Fiction podcast (Deesha Philyaw and Dawnie Walton)

Produced by Ursa Story Company in partnership with Reckon. 

Hosted by Deesha Philyaw & Kiese Laymon

Show Producers: Dawnie Walton & Mark Armstrong

Associate Producer: Marina Leigh

Episode Editor: Kelly Araja

Reckon Editor In Chief: R.L. Nave

Reckon Deputy Editor: Michelle Zenarosa

Audience Director: Katie Johnston

Creative Strategist: Abbey Crain

Sr. Social Producer: Sid Espinosa

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