The Thoughtful Bro

The Thoughtful Bro, hosted by Mark Cecil, is a podcast for writers, readers, and anyone interested in a tale well told. Each episode features an author who's recently published a book, and we unpack how and why they wrote it. It's "Inside the Actors Studio"...but for storytellers.

The Thoughtful Bro is a arts podcast hosted by Mark Cecil, with 92 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Mark Cecil hosts The Thoughtful Bro, a arts show with 92 episodes published.

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  The Thoughtful Bro

  Episode 91: Matthew Quick

  Jul 30, 20261h 5m

  My talk with Silver Linings Playbook author Matthew Quick , discussing his poignant memoir, Dad, Love, Me . We covered, (1) his effort to end the cycle of generational abuse by caring for his father who now has dementia, (2) how trauma served as both a blessing and a curse, fueling a creative outpouring that carried Matthew to global fame, but also driving him to alcoholism, and (3) how true forgiveness is not a one-and-done conversation, but a lifelong, daily practice. Order Mark's novel Bunyan and Henry . All episodes of The Thoughtful Bro aired live originally on A Mighty Blaze . The Thoughtful Bro is proudly sponsored by Libro.fm and Writer's Bone .

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  The Thoughtful Bro

  Episode 90: Caroline Kepnes

  Jul 24, 202659 min

  My interview with Caroline Kepnes , creator of the You series , on her latest Joe Goldberg book, You First . We discussed (1) how she created a voice that's so electric and hypnotic, (2) what Joe Goldberg understands about people that allows him to manipulate them so well, and (3) the one thing that makes a character someone you root for, no matter how despicable they may be. Order Mark's novel Bunyan and Henry . All episodes of The Thoughtful Bro aired live originally on A Mighty Blaze . The Thoughtful Bro is proudly sponsored by Libro.fm and Writer's Bone .

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  The Thoughtful Bro

  Episode 89: Kimberly Hensle Lowrance

  Jul 9, 20261h 7m

  My talk with my good friend Kimberly Hensle Lowrance on her debut novel What Remains Of You . We covered: (1) the architecture of planting a "phat hook" in the first few pages to snag a reader good; (2) why she didn't give up on the nine-year road to getting her first book released; and (3) what happens when an ardent and outspoken supporter of indie bookstores gets her debut novel published by Amazon. Order Mark's novel Bunyan and Henry . All episodes of The Thoughtful Bro aired live originally on A Mighty Blaze . The Thoughtful Bro is proudly sponsored by Libro.fm and Writer's Bone .

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  The Thoughtful Bro

  Episode 88: Dane Bahr

  Jun 24, 20261h 1m

  My interview with Dane Bahr on his prohibition era thriller, one part David Mamet, one part Cormac McCarthy, The Dead Ringer . We discussed: (1) being a literary guy among diesel mechanics; (2) how he's activated to the highest expression by the darkest underbellies and hardest truths; and (3) being a typewriter guy in the age of the Interwebs. Order Mark's novel Bunyan and Henry . All episodes of The Thoughtful Bro aired live originally on A Mighty Blaze . The Thoughtful Bro is proudly sponsored by Libro.fm and Writer's Bone .

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  The Thoughtful Bro

  Episode 87: Courtney Maum

  Jun 5, 20261h 8mS0

  <p>My one-on-one with Courtney Maum, re her latest novel Alan Opts Out.</p> <p>We covered: (1) The longing for the better aspects of the pandemic, when the whole world, for one brief moment, opted out, (2) her lifelong struggles with plot, and (3) the most important rule for a writer: don't be ruled by envy.</p> <p>Order Mark's novel Bunyan and Henry.</p> <p>All episodes of The Thoughtful Bro aired live originally on A Mighty Blaze. The Thoughtful Bro is proudly sponsored by Libro.fm and Writer's Bone.</p>

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Recent guests on The Thoughtful Bro. Study who booked and why before you pitch.

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