UGA’s Low-Residency MFA in Narrative Media Writing program launched its very own podcast in February, 2020. Called Hear-Tell, the podcast focuses on telling true stories, and each episode dives deep into well researched and reported narrative writing by current UGA students, alumni, faculty and visiting lecturers in Grady’s MFA program.

Host, producer, and MFA alum André Gallant collects these stories, and inquires into each author’s process and purpose. Split into equal parts entertainment and education—or story plus craft—the podcast explores the literary and journalistic aims of narrative nonfiction from featured writers. Listeners hear about the behind-the-scenes adventures, reporting and intentions each writer experienced in crafting their nonfiction stories.

New episodes are released monthly, and are available for streaming on Google Play, Apple Music, Spotify, and Stitcher.

In the introductory episode, Valerie Boyd, Nonfiction MFA program director,  joins Gallant to help define narrative nonfiction and discuss the importance of storytelling.

“Storytelling is an opportunity for us to frame the world in which we live, to understand what’s going on in our lives and the life of the world, the life of the universe, through ordering events and making meaning,” says Valerie Boyd.

In Episode 1, Dorothy Lennon, a 2019 MFA graduate, reads from her essay “Coming Out.” The piece is about Lennon’s relationship with her mother, and how her sexuality affected her family. In this episode, Lennon shares her  journey to unlocking an authentic voice as she discusses how her theatre background impacted her writing.

Podcast host Andre Gallant says, “I find that every time I apply the narrative trade that we will talk about in depth on this podcast, that I learn something about humanity. It changes me at the emotional DNA level, and it’s something I am constantly asking my peers about.”

To learn more about narrative nonfiction writing, listen to the podcast and visit UGA’s Online Low-Residency MFA in Narrative Nonfiction. Additional episodes will be released on a monthly basis, so follow Hear-Tell at @heartellpodcast on Instagram and Twitter to stay up to date.