Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast Sophia Chang Show: Books. Biceps. No BS.
| Titre | Date | Durée | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 81. Character Sheets Are Ruining Your Characters — Here's When to Actually Use Them | 25 Jun 2026 | 00:06:07 | |
I hate character sheets. Okay, I hate this writing advice. Character sheets as step one is dead wrong and I’m going to tell you what Hollywood actors actually do to find the heart of a character fast. *No character sheets were harmed in the making of this episode. If your characters feel flat, sound the same, or read like a Tindr dating profile—it's time to build from the inside out. Best Quotes: "No one’s going to be moved to tears in the audition room because I wrote down the astrological sign of a character on a character sheet." "You can list the character's wounds all you want. You can list the character's needs. But until you fully dig into that and understand what it really means, it’s just going to be a Tinder profile. And we know how much we like those." "I hate this advice not because character sheets are bad. I think that they're very useful, but only if you do it at the right time. You should not be filling out a character sheet as your step one." IN THIS EPISODE:
⏰ Timestamps: 00:00 Worst Writing Advice on Character 00:25 Why I Hate Character Sheets 01:42 Why Hollywood Actors Do Character So Well 02:58 Lights, Camera, Character! 03:48 When SHOULD You Use Character Sheets? 🎬 BOOK FINISHER SUMMIT — STARTS NOW! My talk "Lights, Camera, Character! The Actor's Guide to Writing Unforgettable Characters" drops Thur Jun 25 at 8 AM Eastern. FREE for 24 hours. Comes with a cheat sheet with two Hollywood-tested exercises you can keep forever. SIGN UP for FREE: link.sophiachang.com/bookfinishers 📬 No social media! Newsletter is the ONLY way to stay connected. Subscribe: thesophiachang.substack.com Sophia Chang is a Reese's Book Club LitUp fellow, disabled dancer, and extroverted writer. She hosts The Sophia Chang Show podcast where she shares No B.S. publishing stories and advice she wishes she'd known. Subscribe if you don't want to cry alone. Learn more at: www.sophiachang.com I edit and produce everything myself, no team. Help me keep creating: ☕ BUY ME A BOBA https://ko-fi.com/sophiachang TOPICS: character development, character sheets, writing advice, writing craft, Hollywood acting techniques, character motivation, Book Finisher Summit, inside-out character building, Asian American author, traditional publishing, writing community | |||
| 80. Writers, Don't Follow Your Bliss — Follow Your Anger Instead | 12 Jun 2026 | 00:27:33 | |
Are your parents right and you should have been an accountant, not a writer? Find out with this FREE Decision Tree: https://www.sophiachang.com/freebie You know what's more motivating than following your bliss? Spite and envy. This is Part 2 of my conversation with Kevin Chung on Substack LIVE and it went places. I talk about my 100% query request rate and how dropping out of grad school—TWICE—kickstarted a new career. And for the No B.S. portion, I skewer the entire "redefine success" mantra, and how this advice will keep writers poor. If you've ever experienced the exquisite fury of being told to "follow your bliss" while staring at a medical bill, this one's for you. It's worth watching on video for the Suck Timer alone... Missed Part 1? Start here: https://www.sophiachang.com/podcast/going-blind-fanfiction-reeses-book-club Best Quotes: “This whole "redefine success"—I'm happy for you if that works, but we still live in an actual world where we need to feed ourselves. I'm a child of immigrants and war refugees—I'm just trying to eat here.” “The people making six figures off Substack paid subscribers are going, "Follow your bliss, redefine success, stay in your own lane." And I just want to be like, You are so privileged.” “I'm working on my seventh novel. I have celebrity book club backing. My last query was 100% request rate. There is no doubt I am at the top of my game and only getting better. But I still ask myself, how do I suck and how can I fix that suck?” “It used to be good writing was enough to get you in. It isn't anymore.” IN THIS EPISODE:
TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Embracing the Suck Counter 00:33 How I Got a 100% Query Letter Request Rate from Literary Agents 01:17 Dropping out of Grad School Twice Launched a New Career 03:43 Trap of Overfocusing on the Query 05:35 Does Writing to Market Actually Work in Traditional Publishing? 08:45 Follow Your Bliss is Privileged B.S. 12:41 If it Won't Sustain You, It Will Make You Resentful 14:14 Balancing Platform with Finding Time to Write 21:34 Best Advice for Authors Starting Over from Scratch 23:25 How Anger, Envy, and "Bad" Emotions Make You a Better Writer 25:58 1-Minute Writing Challenge: Write the Most Honest Thing You've Ever Written ⏰ HAPPENING NOW — FREE SUMMIT WORKSHOP I'm speaking at the Book Finishers Summit on June 25 — Day 1 (available at 8am ET)! My talk: Lights, Camera, Character! The Actor's Guide to Writing Unforgettable Characters. An on-demand workshop with FREE cheatsheet. SIGN UP for FREE: https://link.sophiachang.com/bookfinishers 📬 STAY CONNECTED I edit and produce everything myself, no team. Help me keep creating! BUY ME A BOBA: https://ko-fi.com/sophiachang No social media! Newsletter is the ONLY way to stay connected. Plus, you get my FREE workbook: 3 Hollywood Secrets to Unforgettable Author Voice at www.sophiachang.com/hollywood On Substack? Subscribe, don’t follow: https://thesophiachang.substack.com/ Sophia Chang is a Reese's Book Club LitUp fellow, disabled dancer, and extroverted writer. She hosts The Sophia Chang Show podcast where she shares No B.S. publishing stories and advice she wishes she'd known. Subscribe if you don't want to cry alone. Learn more at: www.sophiachang.com TOPICS: traditional publishing, query letter tips, literary agent rejection, writing to market, author platform, career reinvention, chronic illness and writing, writing craft, toxic positivity, honest writing, digital minimalism, AAPI Heritage Month, Asian American author | |||
| Ep 71: 2025 Spotify Wrapped Podcast Review: Taylor Swift v Joe Rogan?! | 23 Dec 2025 | 00:11:48 | |
FREE Are You Ready for Traditional Publishing decision tree: https://sophiachang.com/freebie My Spotify Wrapped for Creators just exposed ALL of you. Taylor Swift lovers, K-pop Demon Hunters fans, Drake apologists (boo!) and apparently... a Minnesota Vikings superfan who also loves books and biceps. We need to talk. This is my 2025 podcast year in review: 12 episodes, 6 incredible guests, hilarious Spotify Wrapped data that makes no sense. What I learned from restarting this show after a multi-year hiatus and why the real treasure was the friends we made along the way. Best Quotes: "I'm Joe Rogan stuck inside a tiny Asian body. One day a publicist is going to ask why I said that sentence." "This year, my show's growth outpaced 80% of other shows. That's kind of amazing considering I only pumped out three month’s worth of podcast episodes." IN THIS EPISODE:
Sign up for my newsletter: to see all the hilarious Spotify Wrapped screenshots from this episode. Plus you'll get a FREE flowchart: Are You Ready for Traditional Publishing? and access to Ask Sophia Q&A! https://thesophiachang.substack.com/ No social media! Newsletter is the ONLY way to stay connected Sophia Chang is a Reese’s Book Club LitUp fellow, disabled dancer, and extroverted writer. She hosts The Sophia Chang Show podcast, teaches Character First writing with Daniel David Wallace, and believes deadlifts can change your life. She will make out with your dog. Learn more at: www.sophiachang.com TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 The Most Wonderful and Heinous Time of the Year 01:51 I See You Swifties 03:28 Who is My Minnesota Vikings Fan? 05:27 Proud to be your 2025 Joe Rogan 07:53 2025 Spotify Awards 08:57 Unexpected Best Part of Restarting my Podcast KEYWORDS: Spotify Wrapped 2025, podcast year in review, Spotify podcast recap, podcast growth tips, Asian American author, traditional publishing, writing community, podcast behind the scenes, year end podcast episode, books and fitness podcast | |||
| Ep 70: 6-Year Digital Minimalism Update: The Commodification of Going Offline | 25 Nov 2025 | 00:09:57 | |
Ah yes, hellworld, give us the rise of Digital Minimalism Influencer. Six years after crowning Cal Newport's Digital Minimalism my 2019 book of the year, I return with a solo episode to report on the state of digital detoxing in a world where anything that promises peace and deep work will eventually become a product. In this episode:
Quote of the Week: "There is something deeply ironic about building an entire online business around helping people get offline." Timestamps: 00:00 The Rise of the Digital Minimalism Influencer 04:45 Parents, You're the Problem 06:27 Am I Still a Digital Minimalist? 08:15 Will I Go Full Recluse in the Future? If you’ve been flirting with quitting social media, but skeptical of the influencers using attention economy to sell digital detoxes, this episode is my side-eye with you. Subscribe to my newsletter: https://thesophiachang.substack.com/ No social media. No Discord. Just my voice and your inbox. As it should be. Sophia Chang is a Reese’s Book Club LitUp fellow, disabled dancer, and extroverted writer. She coaches new podcasters, teaches Character First writing with Daniel David Wallace, and believes deadlifts can change your life. She will make out with your dog. Learn more at: www.sophiachang.com If you enjoyed this episode, please give it a 5-star review so others can find it, too! | |||
| Ep 69: Writing Native Americans in Fiction Authentically | 11 Nov 2025 | 00:22:31 | |
Should authors write other races and cultures in their books? People have become sensitized to the point of fear of asking--but WE want you to ask us about race and culture! Sarah Elisabeth Sawyer, queen of dictation from Episode 66, is back on the show to celebrate Native American Heritage Month. From Choctaw code talkers to Chinese cheerleaders, Sarah and I share candid stories about my childhood in NY and her mother’s experience of Forth Worth in the 70’s. We laugh about growing up as Other in different parts of the country (spoiler: I could have been a CHEERLEADER if I’d been born on a different coast), get emotional about honoring Sarah’s mother in a blanket ceremony, and talk frankly about when it's better to just leave a culture out of your book versus doing the hard work to get it right. Tune in to watch: • Sarah introduce herself in Choctaw and me butcher my people’s language • The terminology debate: Native American vs. American Indian vs. First American • Are sensitivity readers helpful? • Seeing 7 original Choctaw treaties in the National Archives vault • And answer the question: is it okay to write other ethnicities in our books? These are the big questions Sarah breaks down into bite-size, easily digestible pieces in her upcoming free Master Class: How to Earn Readers’ Trust Through Accurately Portraying Native American Characters Without the Fear of Getting It Wrong November 18, 2025 at 12 p.m. CST. Timestamps: 00:00 You Mean I Could Have Been a Cheerleader?! 00:13 Choctaw Intro 01:04 Native American? First Nations? Which should we say? 03:49 Chinese? Taiwanese? What is Sophia now? 04:52 The Problem with Sensitivity Readers 06:58 If Only We Were the Borg 08:35 2 Cherokees, 3 Opinions 09:48 LA v NY Asians 10:25 Race in Forth Worth in the 70's 11:16 Momma Said Help You Out...with a Course 12:33 The Blanket Ceremony: Honoring Mom for the Choctaw Code Talkers Book 14:01 Shared History: 7 Original Treaties and the American Constitution 16:20 Bonus Content: Writing American Indians Course 17:14 Should authors write other races/cultures? 19:59 That Monolithic Native American Character SIGN UP for Sarah’s FREE MASTERCLASS https://sophiachang--fictioncourses.thrivecart.com/earn-readers-trust/?ref=podcast It’s free to sign up, and if you purchase the digital course afterwards, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Sarah Elisabeth Sawyer is a Choctaw author of 19 books, teacher, and the creator of Fiction Writing: American Indians digital course. She's been featured on Joanna Penn's The Creative Penn Podcast, Jane Friedman's blog, and Writer's Digest. Find her at: www.fictioncourses.com Sophia Chang is a Reese’s Book Club LitUp fellow, disabled dancer, and extroverted writer. She hosts The Sophia Chang Show podcast, teaches Character First writing with Daniel David Wallace, and believes deadlifts can change your life. She will make out with your dog. Learn more at: www.sophiachang.com Subscribe to my Newsletter: Get more publishing real talk and behind-the-scenes content every Tuesday Follow this podcast for more great interviews! Like what you saw/heard? Rate 5 stars & Review: Help other book lovers find us! | |||
| Ep 68: No One Knows How to Sell Books: Amran Gowani on the Harsh Truths of Publishing | 28 Oct 2025 | 00:39:57 | |
Your ears do not deceive—I actually put a man on my show. Former chemist and Wall Street analyst, Amran brought his insider knowledge of the financial industry's wildest excesses to his satirical thriller Leverage, published by Atria Books in August 2025. It’s a fun, fast, biting read about Ali Jafar (yes, two names from Aladdin), a hedge fund analyst who loses $300 million in a single day and must find increasingly unethical ways to make it back. In what is my most No BS conversation yet, Amran breaks down the economics of why debut novels fail, how the “1,000 true fans” model is BS, and why we should stop with the false humility and own the arrogance of being a writer. And he used to lift! Just some of the juicy tidbits we lay bare: • Getting ghosted by your publisher happens more than you think • Why both Amran and I are the Dogecoin of traditional publishing—“to the moon!” • Amran’s catastrophic BookScan data • Rich authors buying their own books to hit bestseller lists • Why traditional publishing is "one big tiger mom" • The "debut flop" is now the industry norm • Why Amran still believes in traditional publishing • The GOOD news we can take from this—and some inspiring words for all writers Top quotes: "It would take me 200 years to earn back my advance at the rate the books are selling." "There's about 100 authors that make a ton of money. And then there's about 25,000 other authors that make no money. You are the 25,000." "It's good to have realistic expectations and know exactly the business you're in, because otherwise you can psych yourself out and then find yourself asking, ‘Do I even do art at all?’ And that's a really unfortunate place to end up because you should make art because you're an artist at the end of the day." TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Amran, my DEI guest 01:09 Do you even lift, bro? 02:50 The Asian Squat: key to longevity? 03:18 White like Obama 03:59 Was Sophia an investment banker?! 04:46 What illegal activities has Amran seen? 06:09 Cali, the richest country in America 06:58 Naming Ali Jafar after Aladdin 08:39 The High-achieving Losers Club 09:32 Ghosted by your publisher: Impact of Sales on Future Book Deals 16:39 Should we write to market? 19:55 Is Traditional Publishing Still Worth It? 26:33 You are the 25,000 27:57 The arrogance of writing a book, the futility of selling it 30:23 Is 1,000 True Fans BS? 33:58 The False Humility BS 36:51 The Creative Process and Artistic Integrity Find Amran • Website & Newsletter: amrangowani.com • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amrangowani/ Buy his book: Leverage Hardcover https://amzn.to/4nph1kM Ebook https://amzn.to/4hzLrzE Audible (you can use your credit) https://amzn.to/43GRPzc Follow this podcast for more great interviews! Subscribe to my Newsletter: Get more publishing real talk and behind-the-scenes content every Tuesday Like what you saw/heard? Rate 5 stars & Review: Help other book lovers find us! (Amazon affiliate links may provide me 10 much-needed cents.) | |||
| Ep 67: 5-Minute Easy Mobility for Desk Jobs with Alex Ellis | 14 Oct 2025 | 00:34:29 | |
If your back sounds like bubble wrap when you finish writing, gaming, or working at the computer—this episode is your rescue plan. Mobility coach and Body Nerd Show host Alex Ellis joins us to talk repetitive strain, and how a few minutes a day can change everything. No yoga mat, gym, or guilt required. I also introduce a new segment where I ask my guests a very important question… You’ll learn: • Quick 1-5 minute fixes • Why flexibility ≠ mobility (and what to do instead) • How to hack your dopamine addiction to build habits • The only hard-and-fast fitness rule you need Whether you write books or emails all day, this episode will help you move smarter, write longer, and feel human again. Timestamps: 00:00 — Your Text Neck Is Saved — Alex Is Here! 01:55 — Every Story Starts With Injury 03:55 — “Core Strength”? What Even Is That? 05:11 — Why Yoga Didn’t Fix It 06:17 —What If I Get in the Flow and Can’t Stop? 11:18 — The Whole, Human Writer 12:42 — Live Demo: Do This Right Now 15:41 — Variety Is the Key 17:57 — Hack Your Phone-Addicted Brain for Good 19:30 — Which One of Us Gets Our Electronics Taken Away Like a Toddler? 21:23 — Tiny Habits, Big Results 22:49 — Love Is Blind vs. Sleep: Which One Wins? 24:29 — How Alex Actually Works With Clients (Hint: No Boring Handouts) 27:49 — “Do You Even Lift, Sis?” 31:04 — Fitness Influencers vs. Real-Life Sustainability Find Alex: www.aewellness.com Video Vault: https://www.aewellness.com/vault/ Bodywork Starter Guide: https://www.aewellness.com/op/bodywork-starter-guide/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@aewellness Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hollaformala/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/aewellness Follow this podcast for more great interviews! Subscribe to my Newsletter: Get more publishing real talk, writer health tips, and behind-the-scenes content Like what you saw/heard? Rate 5 stars & Review: Help other book lovers find us! #WritingLife #MobilityCoach #AlexEllis #SophiaChang #WritersHealth #TextNeck #WriterWrist #BodyNerdShow #CreativeWellness #AuthorLife #WritingPodcast | |||
| Ep 66: 14 Books Using Only Her Voice? I Took Dictation Bootcamp with Sarah Elisabeth Sawyer | 07 Oct 2025 | 00:24:27 | |
All right, let’s get the Napoleon jokes out of the way. I’m short, flamboyant, and I love to dictate—my novels, that is. I first started dictating text messages when I went blind in 2017, and what started as a necessity has turned into the only way I’m able to complete seven novels. This week I’m chatting with Sarah Elisabeth Sawyer, author of 19 books—and counting, host of The Confident Fiction Author podcast, and the queen of dictation. One dishwashing session changed her life: she spoke 1,500 words in 20 minutes, and she’s been dictating every first draft since. For the record—I still mutter one sentence at a time. Yes, I’ll be taking her Dictation Bootcamp next week for the SECOND time, and if you know what’s good for your wrists, I’ll see you there too. Dictating isn’t just about writing faster. It’s about writing LONGER. Having a sustainable writing career that won’t wreck your body. Whether you’re navigating chronic illness and disability like me, or you just want to dodge the carpal tunnel coming for every writer, dictation might be as vital as your next deadlift. We cover: • Why you don’t need fancy equipment or expensive software—the phone in your hand is enough • Quick tips for getting started and overcoming the awkwardness of speaking fiction aloud • The huge difference between dictating nonfiction, texts, and full-on story worlds • How dictation isn’t just faster—it’s a lifeline for writer health and longevity • What really happens inside Dictation Bootcamp (hint: it’s equal parts training and Hamlet soliloquy) Sign up HERE for Sarah’s last Dictation Boot Camp of the year—I’ll be there! Timestamps: 00:00 Dictating…Cuz I Was Blind 02:21 Dictating Was Epic! (Epic Failure…) 05:12 7 Years of False Starts 06:15 Fiction vs. Nonfiction Dictation 07:53 Small Steps to Start Dictation 08:35 Doing Dishes Changed Everything 11:19 Tips for New Dictators (uh, Authors) 13:56 Sophia’s Going Back to Bootcamp 14:56 Dictation: Not Just a Luxury for Writers’ Health 17:41 Low-Tech Ways to Begin 19:55 The Dictation Bootcamp Experience 22:57 Where to Find Sarah If you’ve ever said “I don’t have time to write” or felt your hands ache after a long session at the keyboard, this episode is your sign to give dictation a try. Note: that's my affiliate link, click to feed a hungry Asian Follow this podcast for more great interviews! Subscribe to my Newsletter: Get more publishing real talk and behind-the-scenes content Like what you saw/heard? Rate 5 stars & Review: Help other book lovers find us! | |||
| Ep 65: Traditional Publishing is Harder than Hollywood?! Top 3 Publishing Myths Busted with Author Mara Williams | 30 Sep 2025 | 00:32:37 | |
If you need one reason to watch this interview on video: Mara’s disobedient dog. I didn’t think The Sophia Chang Show could get any more honest, but this week with author Mara Williams we crank the No BS to high gear—busting three of the biggest myths about traditional publishing. Mara writes contemporary fiction about strong, messy women, and together we trace our own winding journeys from dance floors to life getting in the way to finally finding our voices—and how age became our secret weapon. My favorite myth we smash? That finishing your first book is the hardest part. Nope. That’s just the prologue. Mara on reclaiming identity: “Sometimes when you get to a certain age, as a woman especially, you have to get back to yourself. You have to let all the constraints of society and everything everybody's told you about what you should be doing fall away and figure out who you've always been and find your way back to that.” Me on the sobering reality of trad publishing: “I went through Hollywood and I had an easier time making money there than I do in traditional publishing.” Buy Mara's Books: Debut: The Truth is in the Detours Audible (you can use your credit!) Pre-order: The Epicenter of Forever Audible (you can use your credit!) Where to Find Mara: Timestamps: 00:00 Mara's Dog Steals the Show 00:07 Intro 01:54 Practicality gets in the way 04:32 Overcoming Perfectionism and Fear 06:25 Hollywood is easier than trad publishing 07:15 Myth #1: My First, I Mean Sixth Book 10:10 Finishing the book is just the prologue 14:50 When I Went Blind I Thought My Dream Was Over 17:26 Keeping Your Sense of Self 21:48 Myth #2: I'm rich! 27:06 Myth #3: Trad v. Indie Marketing 29:29 Will TikTok get me published? 32:24 I thank Leigh Bardugo every day Follow this podcast for more great interviews! Subscribe to my Newsletter for more publishing real talk and behind-the-scenes content. Like what you saw/heard? Rate 5 stars & Review: Help other book lovers find us! (Amazon affiliate links may provide me 10 much-needed cents.) | |||
| Ep 64: Life After Book Debut? YA Romance Author Chatham Greenfield on Second Books, Author Envy, and Being an Extroverted Writer | 23 Sep 2025 | 00:27:04 | |
Launch Day Special—and we get deep on this one! Celebrating the release of Try Your Worst with fellow Reese's Book Club LitUp Fellow and Stonewall Honor winner Chatham Greenfield. In this follow-up episode to last week, we dive into life one year post-publication, billionaire-on-billionaire romance tropes, and discovering your hero David Levithan knows your book (!!) We also talk about the taboo topic of jealousy and envy in the writing community, feeling like a failure, and what a group of white writers once said to me . Quotes: On writer stereotypes: "I think there is this sort of idea that because we're writers, we're sitting alone every day and we have no social needs." On creative authenticity: "I kind of spread my personal life in my books like confetti—there's little pieces here and there, but there's not enough that you can tangibly pick it all up and hold it." On managing publishing expectations: "It feels like the goalpost is always moving... I'm trying as much as I can to not expect anything and be pleasantly surprised." Try Your Worst Details • Genre: Cozy mystery + lesbian YA romance • Plot: Rivals forced to team up to solve who's framing them for petty crimes (Enemies to lovers, anyone?) Buy the Book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/48gswah Audible: you can use your credit! https://amzn.to/47Hl1Jl Or your favorite retailer including B&N, Bookshop, and more: https://chatgreenfield.com/tyw Where to Find Chatham • Website: ChatGreenfield.com • Social Media: @ChatGreenfield (all platforms) Timestamps: 00:00 The Extroverted Writer Experience 03:02 Women apologizing for existing—let’s stop doing that 04:43 Writing opposites attract and introvert characters when you’re an extrovert 05:06 Marginalized authors can make things up too 10:00 Why we gravitate toward shy kids at the party 11:13 What nobody tells you about your debut vs. your second book 17:42 How to celebrate the small wins when you have big dreams 21:18 Embracing the reality of jealousy in the Writing Community Follow this podcast for more great interviews! Subscribe to my Newsletter: Get more publishing real talk and behind-the-scenes content at https://thesophiachang.substack.com/ Like what you saw/heard? Rate 5 stars & Review: Help other book lovers find us! (Amazon affiliate links may provide me 10 much-needed cents.) | |||
| Ep 63: Reese's Book Club Fellow Chatham Greenfield on Writing Disability & Lesbian YA Romance | 16 Sep 2025 | 00:21:15 | |
We're finally three-quarters gay this episode! My first-ever video guest is Chatham Greenfield, Reese’s Book Club inaugural LitUp fellow, Stonewall Honor recipient, Lambda Literary nominee, and author of the unputdownable lesbian YA romance TIME AND TIME AGAIN. Or, as I have dubbed them: Gay of the Year. Watch our candid conversation on writing while disabled, the guilt that comes with chronic illness, and why Chatham is honored to be your next favorite bathroom read. We dive into: • How disability shapes our creative and practical writing process • Why Chatham sleeps 18 hours and I don't sleep at all—and neither is enviable • The physical reality of being a writer: wrist braces, shoulder pain, and eye strain • Learning to pace vs. riding the creative wave until you crash • Authentic disability rep: Why Chatham doesn't write magical cure endings • New book alert: TRY YOUR WORST drops September 23rd with dual narrator audiobook Best Quotes from our talk: "I always say I'm Jewish and Catholic, so I'm like a perfect storm of guilt." "People think our pain is on a scale of 0 to 10. Our pain is on a scale of 5 to 10." "I try to make my endings hopeful, but still with the hint of realism of like, you don't know what's gonna happen. And sometimes the only certainty is the pain." Pre-order TRY YOUR WORST and get exclusive access to the alternate ending of TIME AND TIME AGAIN: on Amazon https://amzn.to/48gswah Audible: you can use your credit on the pre-order! https://amzn.to/47Hl1Jl Or your favorite retailer including B&N, Bookshop, and more: https://chatgreenfield.com/tyw Follow Chatham: @ChatGreenfield (all platforms) WATCH the Video of today's episode: https://bit.ly/chathaminterview Timestamps: 00:08 Meet Chatham Greenfield: Author and fellow LitUp Fellow 03:05 Writing While Disabled 07:32 Pushing our bodies past our limits 11:37 Writer's Guilt, Jewish Guilt, Asian Guilt, We all get a guilt 14:05 Writing About Bathroom Woes While Running for the Toilet 17:27 Aspirational Writing and Open-Ended Endings 19:24 Pre-Order Information Follow this podcast for a bonus episode next week with more Chatham goodness! Subscribe to my Newsletter: Get more overly honest and behind-the-scenes content at https://thesophiachang.substack.com/ Like what you saw/heard? Rate 5 stars & Leave a Positive Review: Help other book lovers find us! (Amazon affiliate links may provide me 10 much-needed cents.) | |||
| Ep 62: The Extrovert with No Friends: Loneliness, Chronic Illness, and a Love Letter | 09 Sep 2025 | 00:10:17 | |
What does it mean to be a lonely extrovert with limited energy? Sophia talks friendship, popularity, and the impact of chronic illness on finding and keeping connections.
00:00 The Extrovert Paradox 02:57 The Introverts Doth Protest Too Much 04:34 Chronic Illness as a Great Filter 05:25 California vs. New York Friend Culture 06:39 I Want To be...Popular! 07:44 Lessons Chronic Illness Teaches about Friendship 09:01 Embracing Unimportance If you’ve ever Googled “extrovert with no friends” or wondered why extroverts feel so acutely lonely , this episode is for you. Sign up for my Substack newsletter and be tortured weekly by my written witticisms: https://thesophiachang.substack.com/ | |||
| Going Blind: From Fanfiction to Reese’s Book Club (VIDEO) | How to Reinvent Yourself as a Writer | Ep 79 | 27 May 2026 | 00:18:44 | |
For AAPI Month, do yourself a favor and ask:Are your Asian parents right and you should have been an accountant, not a writer? FREE Decision Tree: https://www.sophiachang.com/freebie Madonna. Babs Bunny. Sophia Chang. The trifecta of reinvention. (In my childhood dreams, at least.) Kevin Chung from Standout Creatives interviewed me on Substack LIVE and this is Part 1: my origin story about reinvention as a survival mechanism. Find out how losing my eyesight led to extremely smutty Harry Potter fan fiction—and the launch of my writing career including a Reese's Book Club fellowship. We talk about social media destroying your ability to think for yourself and the Ronny Chieng lesson I try to embody every time I pick up the mic. IN THIS EPISODE:
Timestamps: 00:00 When I Grow Up, I Want to be Famous... 01:01 Madonna and Babs Bunny: My Reinvention Idols 02:19 How Can A Silhouette Be Racist? 03:02 Reinvention as Survival, Not a Self-Help Meme 05:50 Going Blind and Wheelchair-bound: A Forced Reinvention 08:16 Harry Potter Fanfiction Smut 12:09 Is Social Media Destroying Your Voice? 15:18 Creative Advice on Bravery from Ronny Chieng 18:06 Summits, Unsubscribes, and Your Author Voice Subscribe to this podcast for Part 2: pitching your book, selling yourself, and my 100% request rate querying agents; why "follow your bliss" is a privileged lie; and how radical acceptance of your darkest feelings makes you a better writer. For AAPI Month, do yourself a favor and ask: are you actually ready for traditional publishing or are your Asian parents right and you should have been an accountant? Find out with my FREE flowchart — plus get access to Ask Sophia Q&A where you can submit a question for me to answer on the podcast. https://www.sophiachang.com/freebie Sophia Chang is a Reese's Book Club LitUp fellow, disabled dancer, and extroverted writer. She hosts The Sophia Chang Show podcast where her honest traditional publishing stories will make you scream in your sleep. Subscribe to find out why deadlifts will save your writing life. TOPICS: reinvention, author voice, disability and writing, digital minimalism, Harry Potter fan fiction, social media detox, Asian American author, traditional publishing, writing community, podcast for writers, MOG antibody disease, extroverted writers | |||
| Ep 61: How Deadlifts Saved My Writing Career | 02 Sep 2025 | 00:11:22 | |
Little known fact: Sophia was completely bedridden when she got her Reese's Book Club fellowship AND her agent. After a year and a half of typing, college admissions coaching, and suffering in pain on my back, I was finally saved by the power of the deadlift. This is the story of how I became a lifting bro not to get swoll, but to write. 00:00 Writing with chronic pain 03:10 The Pain Industry Racket 04:09 Rediscovering Strength Training for Pain Relief 08:01 The Importance of Lifting for Women, and for Creativity 10:50 Starting Small GET YOUR FREE GUIDE 5 Daily Desk Habits That Ended 8 Years of Chronic Pain https://www.sophiachang.com/desk Disclaimer: I am NOT a medical expert or personal trainer or nutritionist. This is my personal story for entertainment , not medical or fitness advice. Sign up for my Substack newsletter and be tortured weekly by my written witticisms: https://thesophiachang.substack.com/ | |||
| Ep 60: Five-Year Digital Minimalism Update (8 Months Belated) | 26 Aug 2025 | 00:12:56 | |
I'm BACK! Author and extrovert Sophia Chang returns from the land of the analog to give a 5 Year (+8 Month) Update on digital minimalism and life without social media. What has changed? What has not? And can you actually build a platform offline? (spoiler: she's back for a reason...) And most importantly--will there ever be any more bathtub episodes??? 00:00 Where Have I Been? 01:31 What Has Changed? 03:13 Phone-free schools 06:33 What does this mean and why am I podcasting? Sign up for my Substack newsletter and be tortured weekly by my written witticisms: https://thesophiachang.substack.com/ | |||
| Ep 59: Four-Year Digital Minimalism Update: Rich Enough for Cal Newport | 29 Nov 2023 | 00:19:41 | |
The social media hate has turned to horror. This episode covers:
Algorithms Hijacked My Generation. I Fear For Gen Alpha. by India Freya | |||
| Ep 58: The One Thing to Get into Harvard—or Anywhere—2023 Parents Edition | 13 Feb 2023 | 00:13:21 | |
The one education epidemic that is harming kids from early childhood education on—and why you need to address it before you even think of college. Sold A Story: How Teaching Kids to Read Went So Wrong on American Public Media Wise Child Coaching Work with Sophia Share your reading education wins and mishaps with Sophia in an audio message Requisite Disclaimer: this podcast and episode do not constitute official or personalized consultation | |||
| Ep 57: Three Year Digital Minimalism Update | 31 Dec 2022 | 00:07:42 | |
Sophia‘s one and only 2022 episode— a belated update on three years of digital minimalism and whether deleting social media makes you better than everyone else. The answer is yes, you addict. Also, liberal tears and Republican boats. | |||
| Ep 56: John Lloyd Young, You Were Supposed to be Aladdin | 24 Dec 2021 | 00:24:46 | |
Sophia's recent Jersey Boys obsession finally resolves itself after a John Lloyd Young concert, when she finally realizes they had the same agent 16 years ago in New York--and he may be the catalyst for Sophia leaving the biz! (Kidding...maybe.) In this episode:
Mentioned in episode: The Ballad of Dante Basco Sophia's 20-year cycle with the king of the Lost Boys | |||
| Ep 55: Two-Year Update on Digital Minimalism: Am I Still on the Wagon? | 04 Oct 2021 | 00:14:57 | |
Exhausted pit bull foster mom Sophia discusses what upkeep is needed to maintain Digital Minimalism— especially for the disabled and homebound.
Mentioned in episode: Ep 50: A Year Into Digital Minimalism -- From the Tub! https://bit.ly/digitalminimal1year
Ep 37: 2019 Book of the Year: Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport http://bit.ly/2019bookoftheyear
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| Ep 54: Hogwarts 2021: Still a Gryffindor, Now Terrified of Ravenclaw | 11 Sep 2021 | 00:15:28 | |
Fresh from another round of chemo, bedridden Sophia rants about Ravenclaws, heaps praise on Hufflepuffs, and examines why Chad of Alpha Gamma Epsilon is her listener demographic. Also: a millennial at 40–my sciatica!
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| Ep 53: 3 Reasons Making Friends is Hard—Because You Make it That Way | 23 Feb 2021 | 00:27:44 | |
Insomniac Sophia records at 3 AM and ends up with this well-organized ramblefap:
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| Ep 52: 2020 Was the Best Year of My Life and I'm Dreading 2021 | 01 Jan 2021 | 00:11:27 | |
Sophia opens up about her shit disease, why 2020 was a year of wins for a disabled/homebound person, and what scares her most about 2021. Plus; the kindest thing to say about this issue. Referred to in episode - Ep 44: Social Isolation? Welcome to My Life with Chronic Illness https://bit.ly/isolationismynorm | |||
| Ep 78: Hasan Hates Ronny | 3 Must-Watch Shows for AAPI Heritage Month | 13 May 2026 | 00:10:46 | |
For AAPI Month, do yourself a favor and ask: Are your Asian parents right and you should have been an accountant, not a writer? FREE Decision Tree: https://www.sophiachang.com/freebie Happy Asian American Month! We’re 12 days in because THIS Asian was taken out by an immunosuppressed spoonie’s worst nightmare: the common cold. Stop coughing with your mouth open, people. But I’m here! Wearing lucky red, and I have three pieces of Asian media that hit me so hard I had to drag myself to the mic. One preaches hatred as the answer (trust me, you’ll laugh). One is 49 episodes of your Japan bucket list. And one made me want to write plays again after months of creative burnout. Also: boba of the week. Obviously. And! A surprise BIG RED guest. Best Quotes: "Autoimmune diseases hate Asians and the Asian it hates the most is me. Happy Asian American month, everybody." "Comedians are the hardest audience. Once you do some standup, nothing else will phase you." "I wrote plays because there weren't any parts for Asians. You had to create your own. Things aren’t different now." IN THIS EPISODE: • Hasan Hates Ronny, Ronny Hates Hasan: who’s most Asian?! The rivalry show that proves Asians will save America • Why female comedians can only say certain things privately (both sides would come for me) • 49 episodes of Terrace House and why I need to visit a hockey player's dad's soba shop in Japan • Love is Blind France is high-key a Vietnamese show and beating America in diversity • Kim's Convenience the PLAY (before Simu Liu, there was a stage) • The 24-hour play-a-thon that became a peak life moment and made me mic-drop out of LA • Boba of the week: the older I get, the more Asian my stomach gets Timestamps: 00:00 12 Days Late for AAPI Month Because Autoimmune Disease Hates Asians 00:50 Comedy Show #1 Hasan Hates Ronny, Ronny Hates Hasan: Hatred is the Answer 03:33 TV Show #2 49 Episodes of Terrace House 07:10 Stage #3 Before Simu, Kim's Convenience Was a Play 09:19 Surprise Guest Appearance (Red Pandas Anyone?) 09:43 Boba of the Week: My Perfume Drink Obsession 10:28 Subscribe So We Can Be AZN Friends! For AAPI Month, do yourself a favor and ask: are you actually ready for traditional publishing or are your Asian parents right and you should have been an accountant? Find out with my FREE flowchart — plus get access to Ask Sophia Q&A where you can submit a question for me to answer on the podcast. https://www.sophiachang.com/freebie Sophia Chang is a Reese's Book Club LitUp fellow, disabled dancer, and extroverted writer. She hosts The Sophia Chang Show podcast where her honest traditional publishing stories will make you scream in your sleep. Subscribe to find out why deadlifts will save your writing life. http://sophiachang.com/ TOPICS: AAPI Heritage Month, Asian American media, Asian American author, Hasan Minhaj, Ronny Chieng, Terrace House, Kim's Convenience, Turning Red, Asian representation, comedy, Asian American culture, traditional publishing, writing community, boba tea, podcast for writers | |||
| Ep 51: Americans Ruin Audiobooks...and Alexa Accessibility Saves Them? | 12 Nov 2020 | 00:11:14 | |
Why do Americans try to sound as stupid as possible? Is it the Kardashians' fault? In this episode, Sophia does the 2 irritating YA voices and finally resolves her beef with Alexa, thanks to an accessibility feature that eschews annoying audiobook narrators. Now Amazon needs to pay her for the free publicity. Mentioned in this episode - Ep 26: I Hate Your Voice: 5 Reasons Your Podcast is Unlistenable LINK: http://bit.ly/yourvoicehurtsmyears | |||
| Ep 50: A Year Into Digital Minimalism -- From the Tub! | 24 Oct 2020 | 00:12:17 | |
One year after going Digital Minimalist, Sophia gets naked in a hot bath to review the biggest lessons from a year with an empty phone and barely any social media. What is Digital Minimalism? LISTEN TO: Ep 37: 2019 Book of the Year: Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport Also in this episode:
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| Ep 49: Losing 'Me': Daisy Ridley Stars in Love Island's Literary Twist | 24 Sep 2020 | 00:12:00 | |
Fan of pretentious experimental theatre AND trashy reality TV? Me too! Star Wars' Daisy Ridley narrates the Audible original Islanders by Elinor Cook, a subversive, rehumanizing take on the UK hit reality show Love Island. It confused listeners so much they rated it an instant 1 star. Sophia answers an insightful Goodreads question from Lily with an impassioned crash course on the infamous "pronoun game". Don't get pied off, babes! | |||
| Ep 48: Invisible No More: Kamala Harris Made Me Weep | 20 Aug 2020 | 00:12:28 | |
Recorded fresh off Night 3 of the Democratic National Convention: Sophia describes a lifetime from college activism - including fighting rich white feminists - to decades of being silenced to survive in white America. Plus strong words for "woke" millennials and zoomers who need to respect those of us who sacrificed for their privilege. | |||
| Ep 47: Harry Potter and Millennials Are Turning 40: Apocalypse is Here | 01 Aug 2020 | 00:05:50 | |
Harry Potter, Boy Wizard and world's first millennial turns 40 today. Why this is the apocalypse.
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| Ep 46: Anti-Maskers Are My Personal Nightmare: I Take Stupid Personally | 05 Jul 2020 | 00:10:45 | |
Why stupid feels like a personal attack, and why anti-maskers and anti-vaxxers are a chemo-survivor's worst enemies. A new episode because Warren asked for "More podcasts!"
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| Ep 45: Hollywood Stole the Asian Penis | 21 May 2020 | 00:09:12 | |
May is Asian Pacific Islander American Month! Sophia interviews Lip Ho, who holds a degree in Asian American studies from UCLA. From Long Duk Dong to sexy Sung Kang, we talk about what it’s like to be erased, HAPAs who don’t claim their ethnicity and where we are now.
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| Ep 44: Social Isolation? Welcome to My Life with Chronic Illness | 21 Mar 2020 | 00:09:05 | |
Bored and lonely while you wait out coronavirus? Try living this way for the rest of your life. MOG Awareness Month continues.
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| Ep 43: I Am Not Your Noble Cripple: the Truth About antiMOG | 15 Mar 2020 | 00:13:15 | |
March is MOG Awareness Month. Sophia tells the incredibly unpretty reality of being disabled by this terrible disease. This episode is for everybody sick of the glossy Instagram BS about chronic illness and disability. MSAA: https://mymsaa.org/ | |||
| Ep 42: The A-Spot: That's Not Your Cervix, Dumbass | 28 Feb 2020 | 00:07:43 | |
If you haven't experienced your A-spot yet, you haven't been living! For this Sex Month episode, Sophia introduces the person living under the rock to the one spot to rule them all - not the G, and certainly not the cervix that gets idiotically misrepresented in erotic literature. Also - why you're doing a disservice to all womankind by leaving a crappy lover crappy. | |||
| Ep 77: Do I Sound Like AI? Author Voice, Boring Writing & Pseudonyms | 21 Apr 2026 | 00:16:36 | |
FREE 3 Hollywood Secrets to Author Voice workbook: https://www.sophiachang.com/hollywood Part 2 where I answer your questions from my 3 Hollywood Secrets to Unforgettable Author Voice presentation including:
TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Question 1: Is My Writing Voice Boring? 00:47 What If I Sound Like AI? 02:08 Question 2: What If I Naturally Use Minimizing Words? 03:35 Question 3: Which Voice to Use in a Query Letter? 06:45 Question 4: Same Voice, Different Pseudonym? 07:53 Question 5: Can I Say No to My Editor? 09:57 Unsubscribes and Rejection: You Can't Control People Leaving Your Party 12:28 Question 6: Short Story Collections—Art or Marketing? 14:24 Question 7-ish: Do You Really Want Behind the Scenes?
Sign up for my newsletter Books. Biceps. No BS. to get the FREE Are You Ready for Traditional Publishing Flowchart and access to Ask Sophia Q&A, plus more writing craft tips and publishing advice! https://thesophiachang.substack.com/ No social media! Newsletter is the ONLY way to stay connected. Sophia Chang is a Reese's Book Club LitUp fellow, disabled dancer, and extroverted writer. She hosts The Sophia Chang Show podcast, teaches Character First writing with Daniel David Wallace, and believes deadlifts can change your life. She will make out with your dog. Learn more at: www.sophiachang.com TOPICS: author voice, writing voice, query letter tips, writing Q&A, author branding, pseudonym writing, self-editing tips, writing craft, Asian American author, traditional publishing, writing community, podcast for writers, finding your voice, digital minimalism | |||
| Ep 41: Coming to America: Meeting Keni Styles, First Asian Adult Film Star | 24 Feb 2020 | 00:13:14 | |
Sex month continues as Sophia meets Keni Styles, first straight Asian male in mainstream American porn — and the elected official who also wanted to meet him...
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| Ep 40: Lessons from a Sex Coach: You Suck in Bed | 31 Jan 2020 | 00:09:12 | |
Time to take the stick out of your butt - it's Sex Month! (unless that's what you like; you do you, man)
Sophia draws on her days of being a sex and relationship coach for women to bring you the shouldn't-be-secrets to enjoying your life more. It starts with more orgasm. Just a hint.
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| Ep 39: 2019 Podcast in Review: Best, Overlooked and Snape | 09 Jan 2020 | 00:07:10 | |
Welcome to 2020! In this episode:
LISTEN TO Ep 30: Back to Hogwarts: Why I Am a Gryffindor http://bit.ly/whyIGryffindor | |||
| Ep 38: 2019 Boycott List: Top 5 Worst Customer Service | 16 Dec 2019 | 00:13:41 | |
Which companies suck most? According to 2016 NYT article, the purposefully bad practices of customer service cause real psychological harm. Nothing we didn't already know! Here are the Top 5 companies Sophia has been boycotting to save her health. Losers include: a pet care retailer, a pizza company, and a movie chain. | |||
| Ep 37: 2019 Book of the Year: Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport | 29 Nov 2019 | 00:13:51 | |
Want to get rid of all your friends? Sophia crowns her king of books against heavyweight contenders including Cursed Child and a slew of Obama and SNL memoirs. Why this treatise against iPhones and social media will change your life - and show you who your real friends are. Episode easter eggs:
First in 2019 in Review Month | |||
| Ep 36: Size Matters, Says Science! | 22 Nov 2019 | 00:12:34 | |
Science has spoken once and for all! Sophia reviews two seminal (#LongLiveButthead) studies on women's penis preferences, and gives kudos to the best use of a 3D printer. Turns out bags of dicks is old hat for science.
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| Ep 35: The Penis Game | 12 Nov 2019 | 00:04:46 | |
"A true gem among pastimes" says Sophia Chang Daily "The best white nerd college game since ultimate frisbee" names The Sophia Chang "What did you spend your college years doing - studying?" says Sophia Chang on Show Penis month continues on The Sophia Chang Show | |||
| Ep 34: Bag of Dicks Day | 05 Nov 2019 | 00:04:34 | |
Sophia is having a very bad day. A Bag of Dicks Day. A day fit for kicking off Penis Month at the Sophia Chang Show.
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| Ep 33: I Read Snape Fanfiction | 30 Sep 2019 | 00:08:48 | |
Harry Potter Month comes to a steamy end with sexy, sexy Severus Snape. Sophia paints a canonical picture of this loyal, long-suffering paragon of the strong and silent type. | |||
| Ep 32: The Harry Potter ReRead | 21 Sep 2019 | 00:07:03 | |
It’s been 18 years since Sophia first read Philosopher’s Stone and she’s finally ready to Dobby again. Harry Potter Month continues!
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| Ep 76: Narrator vs Char vs Author Voice?! 3 Writing Voices Every Fiction Writer Needs (LIVE) | 07 Apr 2026 | 00:09:12 | |
Author voice, character voice, narrator voice…what even is the difference?! And do I really need to know all three? This was the question blowing up the chat during my presentation 3 Hollywood Secrets to Unforgettable Author Voice at last month’s Perfect Your Process Summit. There were so many good questions and not enough time, that I am now answering them in a Substack LIVE. This is your no-stress guide to the three different types of voice in novel writing, why you're accidentally leaking into your characters, and my deranged pantser method of using voice to draft my fiction books before I even have a character (or any story structure at all!) Quotes: “You want to be very careful about imparting your voice into your characters because that's how all your characters tend to sound the same." "I could have the hookiest of hooks. But if I don't have a voice in my head, I can't get started. I don't even know how to get started." In this episode:
I answer the summit's biggest voice fears—boring voice, AI voice, query letter voice, and saying no to your editor—in Part 2. Subscribe to this show to catch the rest! FREE Are You Ready for Traditional Publishing decision tree: https://bit.ly/freeflowchart Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction to Author Voice 00:49 Question #1: How do you impart your voice into your characters while still making them distinct? 01:34 When should I worry about these 3 voices? 02:32 Question #2: Should you make yourself the character? 04:22 Question #3: Do I have an author voice if my writing is character-driven? 05:22 Definitions: What is character, narrator and author voice? 06:55 Get it in revision! 07:28 Beginning a story on voice alone?! 08:57 In Part 2: Voice examples, application + short story question Sophia Chang is a Reese's Book Club LitUp fellow, disabled dancer, and extroverted writer. She hosts The Sophia Chang Show podcast, teaches Character First writing with Daniel David Wallace, and believes deadlifts can change your life. She will make out with your dog. Learn more at: www.sophiachang.com TOPICS: author voice, character voice, narrator voice, writing voice tips, how to find your writing voice, pantser writing process, writing craft, first person writing, Asian American author, traditional publishing, writing community, podcast for writers, books and fitness podcast | |||
| Ep 31: The Hot Guy in Fantastic Beasts | 11 Sep 2019 | 00:08:55 | |
...is not young gay hunk Dumbledore. Sophia expounds on the sex appeal of fat guys, and why the bridge-and-tunnel accent gets me every time.
Harry Potter Month continues with a special recut of Ep 19: Why Jacob Kowalski is My Ideal Husband while Sophia recuperates from chemo.
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| Ep 30: Back to Hogwarts: Why I Am a Gryffindor | 02 Sep 2019 | 00:06:25 | |
Happy Sorting Day! Why Harvard, I mean Gryffindor is the House for me #YuckFale. Kickoff episode to Harry Potter Month here at The Sophia Chang Show.
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| Ep 29: NaNoWriMo Wrecked My Life (As Usual) | 07 Aug 2019 | 00:07:16 | |
Staggering over the finish line for camp NaNoWriMo 2019 - when it comes to my writing I don’t eat or sleep. http://nanowrimo.org
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| Ep 28: Moby Dick: the White Episode | 18 Jul 2019 | 00:08:35 | |
Sophia goes Ahab on white books, white whales, and white people expertly figuring out Asian food - so exotic! Big Book Club Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/big-book-clubs-what-the-whale/id1394208783 | |||