Endings: Flash Fiction with Christopher Gonzalez

·1 hr 25 min·5 clips

Mike asks Tom which long-running show's retirement would make him feel old, sparking a conversation about The Simpsons and KEXP's John Richards.

The episode begins with hosts Mike Ingram and Tom McAllister introducing the season's theme of endings, prompting a discussion about which long-running shows or public figures retiring would make them feel old, citing examples like The Simpsons and KEXP DJ John Richards. Guest Christopher Gonzalez, author of 'I'm Not Hungry but I Could Eat,' joins and contributes examples like Trisha Paytas. The hosts then shift to the main topic: analyzing endings in flash fiction. Gonzalez assigned four flash pieces for discussion: 'How Filipino of Us' by Andy Lopez, an Amy Stuber story, 'Love 1992: A Catechism in Park' by Disha, and 'Cartoons' by Julian Martinez. They examine how these stories use compression, voice, and surprise, debating the line between effective twists and gimmicks. The conversation explores the distinction between flash fiction and prose poetry, the use of time jumps, and how character reactions ground unexpected events. Later, the episode diverges into a humorous segment on summer fashion, covering trends like micro-shorts and bubble shorts. The lightning round features questions about memorable job quits, ideal retirements, and pop culture finales, with Gonzalez sharing a detailed vision of retirement supported by a wealthy spouse. The episode wraps with reminders about Patreon and a joke rating system of gold watches.

As heard by us

A craft-minded conversation about endings, student writing, and whether repetition works as structure or gimmick.

Book Fight opens with a clear link between endings and the way long-running shows make time feel visible, using The Simpsons as the touchstone.

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Why you'd press play

You want a craft chat about endings, and Tom reaches for The Simpsons as the kind of long-running show that can make you feel time passing.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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