Joshua Stephens on Being a Nomadic Writer: Reflections on Dislocation, World Travel, and James Baldwin (Ep 158)

Learn why he weaves politics into unexpected stories and the techniques he uses to write tighter, more powerful prose. ============================ Get the Monday Minute my weekly email with 3 personal recs for travel, culture, and living beyond borders you can read in 60 seconds. ============================ ON THIS EPISODE Joshua Stephens discusses his writing techniques and shares his rationale for interweaving politics into long-form prose pieces that he publishes in some of the world’s top journals on seemingly apolitical topics, like coffee or football. He reflects on his life as a nomadic writer and discusses how the theme of “dislocation” has shaped his perspective and impacted his writing.  Joshua then shares some of his influences and discusses how his style of prose has evolved over the years.  He gives specific tips for honing the craft, writing more tightly wound prose, and becoming a better writer over time.  Joshua also discusses the influence of James Baldwin’s work on his life, politics, and writing.  He then reflects on what travel means to him, tells a story about almost getting kidnapped in the Sinai, and shares how that moment profoundly impacted him.  He then recommends some of his favorite books, his favorite coffee shops around the world, and his favorite travel destinations. → Full show notes with direct links to everything discussed are available here. ============================ FIND YOUR NEXT EPISODE Explore The Maverick Show Starter Packs — some of my favorite conversations curated by theme so you can easily find the episodes that match your interests. ============================ FREE RESOURCES FOR YOU See my Top 10 Travel Apps See my Top 10 Books that Shaped the Way I Travel See my 7 Keys For Building A Remote Business (Even in a space that’s not traditionally virtual) Watch my Video Training on Stylish Minimalist Packing so you can join #TeamCarryOn See the Travel Gear I Use and Recommend See How I Produce The Maverick Show Podcast (The equipment, services & vendors I use) ============================ ENJOYING THE SHOW? Follow The Maverick Show on Instagram and DM Matt to continue the conversation Please leave a rating and review — it really helps the show and I read each one personally Support the show by buying me a coffee — espressos help me produce significantly better podcast episodes!