Originally posted by Grady College, written by Moni Basu, monibasu@uga.edu and Sarah Freeman, freemans@uga.edu

The intersection between investigative reporting and narrative writing almost always delivers powerhouse journalism. And that’s what alumnus Max Blau (MFA ’18) discussed with Jacob Feldman, host and co-founder of The Sunday Long Read Podcast. The national podcast episode is set to air Sept. 26, 2025.

Blau and Feldman explored an investigative feature that Blau wrote for ProPublica about mental health. The feature, “‘I Don’t Want to Die’: Needing Mental Health Care, He Got Trapped in His Insurer’s Ghost Network,” told the story of Ravi Coutinho and his desperate attempts to navigate an invisible maze in the insurance system while seeking help for his mental health. The feature was named a Pulitzer Prize finalist this year for explanatory writing.

“I think it was my duty in writing about Ravi to help people understand the system as well as a person on their journey through that story,” Blau said during the episode which was recorded live in front of students attending the MFA Narrative Nonfiction residency, a program from which Blau graduated.

Blau talked about his effort to show, rather than tell, readers Coutinho’s story through examples.

“I had an editor once tell me that if someone’s going to take the time to read a 30-minute story, it better be worth it,” Blau told the students. “And, I think the first five to 10 minutes of that are everything. Having narrative be a driver, or a force, to carry someone through the story to the point that they’re so convinced that they want to read it to the end is the most challenging part of writing a story like this.”

The feature was part of ProPublica’s series, “America’s Mental Barrier.”

“On the front end of the story is the question ‘why are we reading this?,’” Blau explained. “As an organization that is focused on public interest and accountability, we try to design stories around having impact.”

Feldman and Blau dissected the story in their conversation, taking listeners through the eight-month process reporting and writing, and what Blau’s findings revealed about the systemic failures hiding in plain sight. It’s a chilling exploration of how bureaucracy, corporate neglect and policy silence can become life-or-death barriers. And it’s a shining example of why journalism matters. 

Blau equated the process to that of being a sculptor as he helped shape the character of Coutinho. He also discussed the importance of researching countless records of phone logs with insurance companies and doctor’s offices, and the balance needed between the narrative and the numbers.

“I am thrilled The Sunday Long Read is featuring Max on its podcast,” said Moni Basu, director of the MFA in Narrative Nonfiction. “Max’s telling of Ravi’s story is heartbreaking and sheds light on the human cost of a broken mental health system. It’s the kind of empathetic journalism our students strive to achieve. We need those kinds of stories now more than ever.”

The MFA in Narrative Nonfiction gathers in Athens for a week at the start of each semester. The program, founded by the late author and UGA professor Valerie Boyd, is celebrating its 10th year. Over the last decade, MFA students have published myriad nonfiction books and stories in national magazines and news outlets including The New York Times, The Guardian, CNN Digital, National Geographic, The Oxford American, Garden & Gun and The Bitter Southerner. 

Each week on The Sunday Long Read Podcast, Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter Don Van Natta Jr. and journalist Jacob Feldman chat with writers and editors from across the industry. In addition to the podcast, The Sunday Long Read features a weekly online newsletter and website highlighting the best of narrative longform journalism.

Authors: Moni Basu, monibasu@uga.edu and Sarah Freeman, freemans@uga.edu