Speaking & Teaching

I give talks and lead workshops on writing, storytelling, and cultural criticism—especially where the personal meets the political. Whether I’m speaking about butts in art history, how to bring academic research to public audiences, or the craft of hybrid nonfiction, I aim to make complex ideas feel alive, grounded, and fun.

Recent talks and workshops include:

• “The Case for the Small” : On how close observation and everyday details can reveal large cultural truths, drawing from both personal essays and audio storytelling.

• “From Research to Radiolab”: A workshop and talk for academics on how to translate scholarly work for public audiences, including pitching, structure, and voice.

• “Butts in Art History” : A cultural and visual exploration of how the butt has been represented across art movements and what those depictions reveal about beauty, race, power, and desire.

• “Writing the Hybrid Memoir”: A conversation about blending research, memory, and analysis in personal nonfiction.

I’ve spoken at Case Western Reserve University, Oberlin College, Washington University in St. Louis, Columbia University, the University of Pittsburgh, the University of Michigan, the AWP Conference, and the American Alliance of Museums Conference. I’ve also given public talks at the Jane Addams Hull-House Museum and will speak at the Arts Club of Chicago in summer 2025.

In addition to public talks, I teach creative nonfiction at Columbia University, where I’ve led workshops and seminars on personal narrative, essay structure, and the ethics of nonfiction storytelling. My courses have included Small Potatoes (on writing about seemingly minor subjects), Truth and Fact in Nonfiction, and multiple levels of introductory and advanced nonfiction workshops.

If you’re interested in having me speak or lead a workshop at your institution, conference, or event, feel free to get in touch. I’m always glad to hear from folks organizing thoughtful programs.