The Make Meaning Podcast

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Writers figure out what they believe and make sense of the world by putting words on the page.

How authors, writers and those in publishing go from idea to book-length story to published with a sought-after audience is the focus of this podcast!

The Make Meaning Podcast features authors, writers, and those who bring their words to the forefront. Host Lynne Golodner is a former journalist, multi-title author, award-winning marketing strategist and inspirational speaker who knows just how to ask the right questions to yield rich, inspiring responses. She also shares her own writing process and creative pursuits in lively conversations with stunning writers of great books, compelling stories, and life-changing articles.

Since our first episode on July 9, 2018, we have interviewed more than 100 visionaries. Among them…

A celebrated and well-published author and journalist originally from the U.K. and now an advisor to the leader of Kosovo

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And a New York Times-bestselling author whose Modern Love column became a book

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Not to mention a curator of local author events that highlight up-and-coming women’s voices while reinventing how we define community.

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Make Meaning Podcast Episodes

Episode 155 – Martha Anne Toll – Finely Crafted, Award-Winning Fiction

Martha Anne Toll is an author and former lawyer who has always been passionate about writing. She grew up in a secular Jewish family and was deeply influenced by the stories of Holocaust survivors. Martha’s debut novel, Three Muses, is a beautifully crafted story that combines her love for ballet and her exploration of the impact of the Holocaust on her own Jewish identity. She is currently working on her second novel, Duet for One, which delves into the world of classical music in Philadelphia. In the latest episode of the Make Meaning Podcast, host Lynne Golodner interviews Martha about […]

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Episode 154 – Dawn Chalker – Writing What You Know

Dawn Chalker wrote her first novel in fifth grade, finding inspiration from real life. That curiosity, creativity and imagination has continued throughout her life, drawing stories from journeys in nature. The northern Michigan-based writer based her recent novel, Bear Me in Mind, on a real-life encounter with a bear in Alaska and also her love for British detective shows. She also writes children’s books. In the latest episode of the Make Meaning Podcast, host Lynne Golodner interviews Dawn about the joys of writing, the importance of writing what you know, her publishing choices, and how she promotes her books. In […]

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Episode 153 – Jewish Books, Jewish Authors

In a special two-part episode, Lynne Golodner interviews people who curate and promote Jewish books and Jewish authors. The first part features representatives from America’s longest-running Jewish Book Fair — Lauren Johnson, a librarian and consultant at the J-Detroit, and Brenda Brook, the 2023 chair of the Detroit Jewish Book Fair. The second part is a conversation with Naomi Firestone-Teeter, executive director of the Jewish Book Council. Learn why Detroit is a hub for Jewish literature, and consider the role of Jewish books in shaping identity of and for diverse audiences. In the latest episode of the Make Meaning Podcast, […]

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Episode 152 – Ami Irmen – Character-Driven Narratives

Ami Irmen’s favorite storyteller was her grandfather, who set her on the path to becoming an educator and a writer. Her first traditionally-published novel is coming soon from Scarsdale Publishing, while she self-published another novel, Wherever Would I Be. Her short stories and poems have appeared in Sinister Wisdom, The Copperfield Review, and Glass: A Journal of Poetry. Ami teaches writing at Kishwaukee College. In the latest episode of the Make Meaning Podcast, host Lynne Golodner interviews Ami Irmen about her creative process, how to turn an idea into a book, which publishing route to take and how to fund […]

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Episode 151 – Rochelle Weinstein – Writing Best-Selling Novels

Rochelle Weinstein is a successful and talented author known for her emotionally charged novels. After leaving a career in the music industry in 2000, she started writing and has produced eight novels, with the latest coming out on Oct. 20th. Rochelle’s writing explores topical issues and draws inspiration from her own experiences and emotions. What’s more, she is a leading example of generosity, camaraderie and community in the world of women’s fiction! In the latest episode of the Make Meaning Podcast, host Lynne Golodner interviews Rochelle about how and why, after two wildly successful self-published books, she landed an agent […]

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Episode 150 – Lisa Peers – First Novels & Writing Friendships

As a child in Richmond, Virginia, Lisa Peers was introduced to writing by her mother, who was also a writer who invited her young daughter to play with her typewriter. Still, Lisa began her career in theater and only later pursued writing in a professional capacity. She shares how acting shapes her writing process and helps her build authentic dialogue, which is a strength of Lisa’s new novel, Love at 350°. This gorgeous story features 40something characters challenging the norms of the romantic comedy genre.  In the latest episode of the Make Meaning Podcast, host Lynne Golodner interviews Lisa about […]

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Episode 149 – Anne-Marie Oomen – Writing through Family

Lynne Golodner first met Anne-Marie Oomen at Goddard College, where Lynne was beginning her MFA in Writing and Anne-Marie was graduating. A fellow Michigan resident who calls the forests and hills of the Lake Michigan shores her home, Anne-Marie serves on the board of Michigan Writers where Lynne is now in charge of Marketing.  In this episode of the Make Meaning Podcast, host Lynne Golodner chats with Anne-Marie about teaching in the Solstice MFA program at LaSalle University and at Interlochen Center for the Arts, the backstory for As Long as I Know You: the Mom Book – which won the Sue William Silverman Prize for Creative Nonfiction – and honing your own voice. In […]

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Episode 148 – Woman of Valor – Katie Scott interviews Lynne about her debut novel!

A Super Special Episode: Lynne Golodner discusses her debut novel, Woman of Valor! Writer, Washtenaw County Commissioner, Nurse and Friend Extraordinaire Katie Scott takes the mic on this episode to interview Make Meaning host Lynne Golodner about the release of her ninth book and debut novel, Women of Valor. Lynne and Katie met in a writing course in the 1990s and are more like sisters than friends. In this episode of the Make Meaning Podcast, host Lynne Golodner finds herself on the other side of the interview as Katie asks about the journey behind Woman of Valor, which releases September 26, 2023.  In this episode, Lynne and Katie discuss: Links and Resources:  Find […]

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Episode 147 – Diane Gottlieb – Writing Short & Writing Well

Diane Gottlieb champions midlife women while telling her own provocative, riveting stories for publications like River Teeth, HuffPost, and SmokeLong Quarterly. Winner of the Tiferet 2021 Writing Contest and a finalist in SmokeLong Grand Micro Contest 2022, Diane has three master’s degrees and serves as editor of Awakenings: Stories of Body and Consciousness and prose/creative nonfiction editor of Emerge Literary Journal. In this episode of the Make Meaning Podcast, host Lynne Golodner chats with Diane about her passion for writing, her dedication to empowering the voices of midlife women and her journey to becoming known in the literary community. In this episode, Lynne and Diane discuss:  Links and Resources:  Find Diane Gottlieb: WebsiteFacebook  Twitter Instagram LinkedIn Blog If you enjoyed this episode, […]

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Episode 146 – Barbara Stark-Nemon – Tracing the Path of Historical Fiction

Barbara Stark-Nemon takes her time writing historical fiction, tracing the paths her characters walked and lived. The author of award-winning novels, Barbara turned to writing after retiring from a successful career. In this episode of the Make Meaning Podcast, host Lynne Golodner chats with Barbara about her passion for writing and her experiences speaking at conferences, literary events, libraries and book clubs. A University of Michigan alumnus, Barbara has two published novels – Even in Darkness and Hard Cider – and is at work on a coming-of-age refugee story set in the aftermath of the Inquisition.  In this episode, Lynne and Barbara discuss:  Links and Resources:  Find Barbara Stark-Nemon: WebsiteTwitter InstagramFacebookLinkedInBlog If you enjoyed […]

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Episode 145 – CL Walters – Young Adult & New Adult Fiction from Hawaii

Building an author career depends on writing book after book after book, which is something CL Walters knows well. From her home base in Hawai’i, she writes and publishes through Mixed Plate Press, the venture she runs with her husband. CL writes Young Adult and New Adult titles, and pens Romances under the name Maci Aurora. In this episode of the Make Meaning Podcast, host Lynne Golodner chats with CL Walters about her author journey, making a living as a writer, maintaining a steady flow of stories, and the resilience required when your first book doesn’t quite take off.  In […]

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Episode 144 – Danny Hankner – Founding Story Unlikely

Danny Hankner is an electrician by trade and a writer at heart as well as the founder of Story Unlikely. This online literary publication showcases incredible stories, focusing on non-fiction memoiristic pieces. As a publisher, Danny is passionate about discovering great authors and beautiful stories, providing a platform and audience to showcase worthy voices. In the latest episode of the Make Meaning Podcast, host Lynne Golodner interviews Danny Hankner about his literary journey. One of Lynne’s favorite of her original nonfiction writings, “The Roads We Travel,” was accepted by Danny not even 24 hours after she submitted it. She says […]

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