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Hey People,
Welcome to Kurt Vonnegut Radio #30. Today Iâm super excited because we've gone an amazing writer on the show, Alex Dobrenko`, who writes the Substack, Both Are True . Alex writes about his life as a new father and being a sorta hopeful Millennial in a dying empire. His work is hilarious, but itâs also shot through with real grace and vulnerability. In Vonnegutspeak, his writing is nice nice very nice.
On the page, Alexâs heart is frequently in conflict with itself. Thus the title of his Substack, Both Are True. Alexâs conflicted heart is the engine that drives his stories. He desperately wants to be a good father, a good husband, a good friend, and heâs really really trying: but letâs just say itâs a journey. Heâs like a millennial David Sedaris, or Larry David.
Before we get into my convo with the fabulous Alex Dobrenko, some quick announcements:
New Regular Publishing Schedule: weâll publish new KVR episode every Tuesday morning. Future guests: Maggie Smith, Dave Eggers, Mike Snoden, A.M. Homes + more
I want to thank our newest paid subscribers to Kurt Vonnegut Radio, because the paid subscribers let me buy groceries. These people are my heroes: Rebecca Sherman Akhil Sharma , Lynn Crawford, christopher rhodes Erin Khar, Leah Eichler You all are my ride or die peeps.
ALSO: I want thank our newest Founding Member subscriber, Julia Whitehead. After quick Google search, I learned Julia Whitehead is a former Marine and the founder and CEO of the Kurt Vonnegut Museum and Library in Indianapolis. (Iâm a former Marine and the humble founder of Kurt Vonnegut Radio. So that practically makes us sister and brother.)
I havenât corresponded with with Julia Whitehead, but Iâve known about the Kurt Vonnegut Museum and Library forever. (I was born in Muncie, Indiana.) The Kurt Vonnegut Museum and Libraryâs mission is to champion the legacy of Kurt Vonnegut and the values of free expression and common decency.
Kurt Vonnegut wrote some of the most banned books in America. Julia Whitehead and her colleagues at the Kurt Vonnegut Museum and Library are on the front lines of the book banning battles across America. THIS is truly the lordâs work. And we at Kurt Vonnegut Radio, humbly salute you Julia Whitehead. And we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
Now letâs dive into my interview with the amazing Alex Dobrenko.
What writing on Substack has in common with stand-up comedy
Alex: I decided, What if I just do stand-up on Substack? And I started and something clicked, Oh, I'm not censoring nearly as much as I used to. Then I looked at a lot of my older standup that I had written. And I was like, Oh no, that was an essay. I've been doing this. I just didn't know it. It's all there already.
Gabe: What I love about standup is you have to listen to the audience. Because they tell you who you are. I do think there's something special about writing on Substack. Because we get the quick response and we can engage with readers.
Alex: You need feedback as a comedian. These people are really reading it. And they gave me the confidence to do more.
On using using improv rules for writing
Alex: It is the âyes, andâ thing of improv. I just started saying âyes, andâ to a lot more of what came out onto the page. I've always been such a critic of my own stuff. And so the hardest work for me is to minimize the gap between when I have an idea and when I put it out there.
On being paid for your writing on Substack
Alex: I'm thinking a lot about paid strategy. Because this is my job this is how I make money. And people do it. People on Substack make a living.
Gabe: They really do. I'm still so new at this when people sign up for a paid subscriptionâŚI might have to edit this out. But I'm like, Damn, that was cool. Didnât see that coming.
Alex: Why would you edit that?
Gabe: No. You're right. It incentivizes you to work harder.
Alex recommends 3 writers on Substack
Alex: The first is Anne Kadet who writes CAFĂ ANNE . She is just so funny. It's gonzo reporting on New York. But with a really good heart.
The second is Michael Estrin. He writes Situation Normal. We both exist in the personal humorous memoir universe. I was like, Oh man I'm so jealous of how good he is.
The last one is Jane Ratcliffe. So she writes Beyond. And it's interviews with writers. I just love her writing. I think she was friends with Ram Dass. I'm just like, Wait, what? Jane, you're very fucking cool.
Then probably my favorite writer on Substack, Heather Havrilesky. She writes ASK MOLLY and Ask Polly. That's the epitome of comedy. Pathos.
*Thanks for questions: Pamela Ross Mike Sowden Michael Estrin
Hi, Iâm Gabe Hudson, and this is Kurt Vonnegut Radio, my Substack. Itâs free and for the people, but itâs also how I buy groceries. So please consider upgrading to a paid subscription: just $5/month or $50/year. You can also receive my eternal love by becoming a Lifetime Member at $150.
Show Notes
Subscribe to Alex Dobrenko`âs Substack Both Are True
Read Alexâs i think my son hates me
Read Alexâs Beautiful Disasters
Read Alexâs First to die
Follow Alex on Twitter and Instagram
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