What's Happening Around Here?

Retreats, courses, coed opportunities, YouTube, and gratitude.

Here’s a rundown of the latest.

A view from Dripping Springs, TX

Between The Unspeakable Podcast, The Unspeakeasy, the YouTube channel, A Special Place In Hell, and countless other things I feel like I’m constantly behind on, a lot is happening these days. So I thought I’d put everything in a post to keep you up to date. 

First, Thank You

First, though, I want to thank you for your ongoing support. As you may know, the expansion to video came with the decision to remove the paywall to the weekly Unspeakable episodes, making them free to everyone both on the main feed and on YouTube. Paying subscribers will get two additional bonus (full-length, just as good if not better) episodes every month. 

Podcasts and Paywalls

I want as many people as possible to hear the podcast, so I believe no-paywall is the way to go. That said, I knew revenue would drop as soon as I lifted it and, sure enough, my earnings fell almost instantly. It’s okay; the show will go on. But I want to extend an extra big thanks to my paying subscribers for staying with me. Your support means more than ever. 

For those who aren’t yet paying subscribers but have been thinking of making the leap, it’s never been a better time because I’ve never needed you more. (See, I admitted I have needs. #RadicalVulnerability)

Meanwhile, subscribing to the YouTube channel for free helps me out a lot. Even just going in there and clicking around gives it a boost.

Retreats (Including One That Allows Guys!)

We have officially announced FOUR Unspeakeasy retreats for 2025 and one is a co-ed retreat! We may add a fifth (bear with us; these are hard to organize) but here’s what’s happening for now.

March 17-19: Dripping Springs, TX (approx 20 miles outside of Austin)

April 5-6: Los Angeles, CA

October 6-9: Catskill Mountains, NY 

October 11-12": New York City exact location TBA. CO-ED (i.e. not just for the ladies)

To learn about what happens at retreats and to view a sample discussion schedule, go here. This page contains lots of answers to FAQs, so make sure you scroll all the way down.

Note: You do not have to belong to the Unspeakeasy online community to attend a retreat. But if you do belong, you have the chance to attend lower frills, member-hosted “community retreats” throughout the year. We’ll announce these as they come up. (And speaking of the online community, we have amazing guest speakers Zooming in this fall, including Julie Bindel, Jennifer Block, and Andrew Hartz. They’ll be talking with us privately and off the record.) 

Writing Workshops (Including One Taught By Me)

Finally, the Unspeakeasy School of Thought is offering FOUR writing workshops beginning at the end of October. Fiction with Caeli Widger, humor with Neal Pollack,  memoir with yours truly, and a one-session webinar with Leigh Stein called How To Get A Book Deal The Easy Way. (I’ll be taking that one myself.) 

Visit those links for application info. Leigh’s webinar doesn’t require an application. Just register!

That’s it for now. Thank you again for coming along with me on this ever-evolving escapade.