Writer, author and educator Samantha Dunn joins host Holly Hughes on today’s episode of The Holly Hughes Podcast.
Coming from a background in writing rooted in journalism, Samantha Dunn always writes with the idea that someone, somewhere will read what she’s writing. From that foundation, Samantha has authored numerous books, short stories, essays and memoirs, including Faith in Carlos Gomez: A Memoir of Salsa, Sex and Salvation. She is now the editor of PREMIUM Magazine for the Southern California News Group, and also teaches at Chapman University.
Samantha and Holly talk about their creative processes, the influence of journalism on her writing, her love of horses, and living with Parkinsons.
Find Samantha online at samanthadunnwriter.com.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Setting the Scene
03:03 The Creative Journey and Writing Process
06:00 The Role of Personal Narrative in Writing
08:59 Navigating the Challenges of Writing and Journalism
12:08 The Impact of Social Media on Storytelling
15:08 Defining Success and the Creative Identity
17:55 Finding Your Voice and Overcoming Obstacles
21:00 The Journey to Los Angeles and Personal Growth
23:31 Dancing Through Life
25:49 Creative Vulnerability and Transparency
27:06 Managing Challenging Personalities
29:06 The Burden of Teaching
30:31 Kintsugi - A Japanese art form using gold to repair broken pottery
32:22 The Art of Memoir
34:52 Cataloging Life Experiences
38:39 Facing Chronic Illness
40:08 Connection with Horses
46:38 Life-Changing Accidents
48:07 The Beauty of Scars and Friendship
49:04 The Art of Memoir: Truth vs. Fiction
50:11 Memory and Its Intricacies
52:30 Foundational Memories and Their Impact
54:44 Writing About Personal Experiences
57:19 The Process of Writing and Reflection
01:00:01 Transforming Material: From Memoir to Essays
01:02:34 The Challenge of Finding a Home for Writing
01:06:51 Embracing the Past: The Trailer Life
01:11:19 Caution: Frequent Stops Ahead