“People often imagine that any kind of writing is cathartic. There’s something about discovering something in writing. Where do you finish it? Where does the essay begin, and where does it end? Every now and then, you write something that surprises you.”
-David Sedaris, episode 278 of Talk Easy with Sam Fragoso
This week we’re joined by beloved author David Sedaris! We begin with the timely opening essay from his latest collection, Happy-Go-Lucky (4:05). Then, David describes growing up in Raleigh, North Carolina (10:07), his mother’s “Group Therapy” sessions at the dinner table (11:03), the night his father heckled him during a live performance (16:02), and what he learned about writing at the Art Institute of Chicago (26:55).
On the back-half, David reads a tribute to his mother from Calypso (32:55). We also unpack the way his work has evolved (35:09), the transformation that occurred in his father’s final days (39:20), and why, after forty years, he continues to keep his daily diary (46:45).
- Purchase David’s latest essay collection, Happy-Go-Lucky.
- Order his previous books on his website.
- Read his essays in The New Yorker.
- For more talks, hear our conversations with writers: George Saunders, Margaret Atwood, Jennifer Egan, Roxane Gay, Nick Offerman, Ocean Vuong, Jhumpa Lahiri, Claudia Rankine, Michael Lewis, and Richard Powers.
- Order your Talk Easy mug in cream and navy or our vinyl record with Fran Lebowitz.
Illustrations by: Krishna Shenoi.
Subscribe, rate, and review: Apple Podcasts and Spotify.