The Writers’ Block Episode 82 David and Phineas catch up on the last month and do a deep dive into college football. Then they discuss finishing up a writing project and play a game. Finally, Phineas and David challenge each other to name their favorite Christmas movies in a new Top Five. If you disagree with David or Phineas, let us know by tweeti…

The Writers’ Block Episode 81 It’s Halloween! David and Phineas catch up on the Halloween weekend and Phineas’ party and his new mustache. Then they discuss horror storytelling and the uncanny and play a game. Finally, Phineas and David challenge each other to name his favorite vampire movies in a new Top Five. If you disagree with David, let us kn…

The Writers’ Block Episode 80 David and Phineas catch up on the week and Phineas talks about his trip to Virginia to his brother and David reflects on the losses of Auburn football and USA National Team soccer. Then they discuss revision and play a game. Finally, David challenges Phineas to name the worst superhero movie in a new Quick Take. If you…

The Writers’ Block Episode 79 David and Phineas catch up on the week and Phineas talks about his trip to Atlanta to see comedian John Mulaney perform and to encourage people to see the new Netflix show American Vandal. Then they discuss rhetorical context and how it is shaped by the cultural moment. Finally, Phineas challenges David to name his fav…

The Writers’ Block Episode 78 David and Phineas catch up on the week and reflect on the Emmy’s. Then they discuss research strategies and play a game. Finally, David challenges Phineas to name his favorite teen movies in a new Top Five. If you disagree with Phineas, let us know by tweeting us at @auburnMWC with the hashtag #MWCTop5 or e-mail us at …

The Writers’ Block Episode 77 David and Phineas catch up on the summer after an unintended break and David shares stories about his daughter and Phineas tells the story of how he proposed to his girlfriend. Then they discuss the writing process and play a game. Finally, Phineas and David answer listener questions. If you have a question for The Wri…

The Writers’ Block Episode 76(a): The Fate of the Furious Guardians of the Galaxy With the radio station closed, David and Phineas saw some movies and wanted to talk about them. They saw The Fate of the Furious and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. If you disagree with our assessment of the films, you can tweet to us @auburnMWC with the hashtag #AskM…

The Writers’ Block Episode 76 David and Phineas catch up on the week and discuss white supremacist Richard Spencer’s anticlimactic visit to Auburn and David tells tales from his plague-ridden family. Then they discuss how to study for and tackle exams as finals week approaches. Finally, Phineas and David answer listener questions. If you have a que…

The Writers’ Block Episode 75 After some brief technical difficulties, David and Phineas sleepily catch up on the week and David shares his thoughts on the ending of Girls while Phineas shares his thoughts on the movie Get Out. Then they discuss the campus drama related to white-supremacist and alt-right face Richard Spencer’s visit to Auburn, befo…

The Writers’ Block Episode 74 David and Phineas catch up on the week and reflect on the resignation of former Governor Robert Bentley and David shares stories from his trip to Birmingham. Then they explore buddy comedies and play a game. Finally, David challenges Phineas to name his favorite buddy comedies in a new Top Five. If you disagree with Ph…

The Writers’ Block Episode 73 After an unexpected month off the air, David and Phineas catch up and David shares his PhD accomplishments and Phineas discusses the merits of the new film, Kong: Skull Island. Then they explore diegesis and play a game. Finally, Finally, Phineas challenges David to name the fictional universe he would want to live in …

The Writers’ Block Episode 72 David and Phineas catch up on the week and discuss Ben Carson’s odd statements about slavery and immigration, and David shares his thoughts on the series Hannibal. Then they explore reluctant action heroes and play a game. Finally, Phineas and David answer listener questions. If you have a question for The Writers’ Blo…

The Writers’ Block Episode 71 David and Phineas catch up on the week and the Oscars, and Phineas shares his thoughts on the Netflix original series, The OA. Then they explore video game design/mechanics and play a game. Finally, David challenges Phineas to name his favorite video games in a new Top Five. If you disagree with Phineas, let us know by…

The Writers’ Block Episode 70 David and Phineas catch up on the week and their trip to Ole Miss for SWCA, a writing center conference, and Phineas shares his thoughts on the new film John Wick Chapter 2. Then they explore video game storytelling and play a game. Finally, Phineas challenges David to name his favorite video games in a new Top Five. I…

The Writers’ Block Episode 69 It’s Valentine’s Day and David and Phineas reflect on the day and discuss the relevance of the Grammy Awards. Then they explore the death of print with the rise of media, and what is lost in that transition. Then Field Correspondent Jakob Geiger sits down with Auburn University’s Dr. Scott Simkins in a new Writer Spotl…

The Writers’ Block Episode 68 In the first live episode of the year, David and Phineas share stories from the past two months, including the Super Bowl, David’s baby’s first birthday, and Phineas’ thoughts on The Young Pope. Then they explore the rhetoric of social media in politics. Finally, Phineas and David answer listener questions. If you have…

The Writers’ Block Episode 67(d): A Christmas Carol, Part 4 It’s The Writers’ Block’s winter hiatus, but David and Phineas have some fresh content to bring you. It’s a non-denominational holiday miracle! The Writers’ Block proudly presents a fireside reading of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. Part four (of four): The Final Spirit. http://wp.a…

The Writers’ Block Episode 67(c): A Christmas Carol, Part 3 It’s The Writers’ Block’s winter hiatus, but David and Phineas have some fresh content to bring you. It’s a non-denominational holiday miracle! The Writers’ Block proudly presents a fireside reading of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. Part three (of four): The Second Spirit. http://wp…

The Writers’ Block Episode 67(b): A Christmas Carol, Part 2 It’s The Writers’ Block’s winter hiatus, but David and Phineas have some fresh content to bring you. It’s a non-denominational holiday miracle! The Writers’ Block proudly presents a fireside reading of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. Part two (of four): The First Spirit. http://wp.au…

The Writers’ Block Episode 67(a): A Christmas Carol, Part 1 It’s The Writers’ Block’s winter hiatus, but David and Phineas have some fresh content to bring you. It’s a non-denominational holiday miracle! The Writers’ Block proudly presents a fireside reading of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. Part one (of four): Marley’s Ghost. http://wp.aubu…

The Writers’ Block Episode 67 In the last live episode of the year, David and Phineas share stories from Thanksgiving and college football rivalry week, including the Iron Bowl. They also share their thoughts on the new movies Doctor Strange and Arrival. Then they offer some tips and tricks on writing for essay exams. Finally, Phineas and David ans…

The Writers’ Block Episode 66 David and Phineas express their disappointment with the election results share their thoughts on the election and in the campaign rhetoric that won. Then they talk about revision and offer some tips on how to do it. They also take another stab at a game to lighten the mood. Finally, Phineas and David ask each other to …

The Writers’ Block Episode 65 It’s election day! David and Phineas share their thoughts on the election and talk a bit of Auburn football. Then Phineas shares his thoughts on the new film The Accountant and David asks whether Ben Affleck is a good actor or not. Then they explore the rhetoric of the creation of a presidential candidate’s brand. Fina…

The Writers’ Block Episode 64 **Note: The sound quality is not up to our usual standard this week, so everything sounds a bit fuzzy. We apologize for the inconvenience!** David and Phineas share stories from Halloween and talk about college football. Then they explore the types of roles female characters are given in fiction, especially film. Then …

The Writers’ Block Episode 63 David and Phineas talk about Auburn football’s win over Arkansas and share their thoughts on Bob Dylan receiving the Nobel Prize for Literature. Then they explore the conventions behind horror storytelling and examine Stanley Kubrick’s 1980 adaptation of Stephen King’s The Shining in a new Writing Spotlight. Then David…

The Writers’ Block Episode 62 David and Phineas are joined by special guest Jakob Geiger and catch up on the past week, including stories of dumb cats and sneaky snakes. They also share their thoughts on the movie The Girl on the Train and Donald Trump’s inflammatory rhetoric about the election being “rigged.” Then they explore the myth of “standar…

The Writers’ Block Episode 61 David and Phineas catch up on the Auburn football, the Mets’ Wild Card Game loss, and the Presidential debates. Then they dive into the euphemistic rhetoric of politics, titles, and labels. Then Phineas and David attempt a new game with moderate success. Apologies to to the very talented Joan Cusack! Finally, Phineas c…

The Writers’ Block Episode 60 Phineas and David catch up on the past week and then explore the rhetoric of slogans, labels, and hashtags. Then Phineas sits down with poet Cecilia Llompart and writer Hali Felt in a new Reader Spotlight. Finally, David challenges Phineas to name his favorite TV characters in a new Top Five. If you disagree with Phine…

The Writers’ Block Episode 59 **Note: Apologies for the delay in posting this show. We experienced technical difficulties with our website.** Phineas and David talk about the Auburn victory over LSU, the firing of Les Miles, and the case of the fire at the rolling of the Toomer’s Oaks. Then they share some thoughts on good work habits before trying…

The Writers’ Block Episode 58 David and Phineas look back on the week and share their strange experience at the Auburn football game against Texas A&M and offer a PSA of sorts on the recent rash of clown sightings in the Southeast. Then field correspondent Jakob Geiger sits down with Dr. Diana Eidson of Auburn University in a new Writer Spotlight. …

The Writers’ Block Episode 57 The Writers’ Block is back on WEGL with all new live episodes! David and Phineas are joined by by friend-of-the-show Carson Williford and catch up on the past few weeks. They talk Auburn football, silly politics, and the terrors of having a child. Then the three revisit the writing process before taking another stab at…

The Writers’ Block Episode 56(d) In the last week of the live-episode hiatus, Phineas and David check in briefly before returning to live episodes Tuesdays at 3 CT starting Sept. 13. Have any questions about writing, life, love, or whatever that you want David and Phineas to answer on air? You can tweet to us @auburnMWC or e-mail us at askmwc@write…

The Writers’ Block Episode 56(c) In the third week of the live-episode hiatus, Phineas and David offer up a helpful guide to working on your writing assignments and working ahead. Hopefully these tips and suggestions will help you get off to a good start on your papers, whether you’re a freshman or a career student like the hosts! Have your own tip…

The Writers’ Block Episode 56(b) In the second week of the live-episode hiatus, Phineas and David offer up a helpful guide to getting a good start to the new semester. Hopefully these tips and suggestions will help you get off on the right foot this year, whether you’re a freshman or a career student like the hosts! Have your own tips or questions?…

The Writers’ Block Episode 56(a) In the first week of the live-episode hiatus, Phineas shares his thoughts on the new movie, Suicide Squad, and David and Phineas use it to launch into a conversation about some worrisome trends in big-budget film making. If you disagree with Phineas and David about Suicide Squad or the state of movies, or you want t…

The Writers’ Block Episode 56 David and Phineas catch up on the past week and Phineas shares his thoughts on the new movie Jason Bourne and David talks about his experiences with fatherhood and moving. Then they talk about the Bechdel Test and how it can be useful if reductive. Then they try out a new game, Who Said It: Kanye or God that Phineas ha…

The Writers’ Block Episode 55 David and Phineas share their thoughts on the new movie Star Trek Beyond and David talks about his experiences with fatherhood and moving. Then they explore the trope, Divorce is Temporary, where in movies or books a separated couple reunites over the course of the plot, in movies where that reunion is not the focus of…

The Writers’ Block Episode 54 Phineas and David catch up on the week, including Phineas’ trip to North Carolina to visit his father and their thoughts on the new shows, Vice Principals and The Night Of. Then David and Phineas talk about the work of Wes Anderson and go deeper with a Writing Spotlight on The Royal Tenebaums. Finally, Phineas challeng…

The Writers’ Block Episode 53 Despite the absence of planned guest, Keith Beard (keithbeardguitar.com), Phineas and David catch up on the week, including the Euro Championship finals and Phineas’ trip to Atlanta to see Flight of the Conchords perform. Then David and Phineas talk about the Villain figure before playing a new game, Lincoln or Villain…

The Writers’ Block Episode 52 Phineas and David catch up on the Euro Championship and some other sports news and Phineas shares his misadventures while replacing a kitchen faucet over the holiday weekend. Then David and Phineas talk about the hero figure before talking with poet Dan Albergotti and Emmy-winning sports reporter and ESPN NFL Insider J…

The Writers’ Block Episode 51 **Please note that there were some audio issues when this episode was played on mobile device speakers. This problem has been fixed, but you may need to delete and re-download the episode. There is no problem with the audio when played on desktops or using headphones, however. Sorry for the inconvenience!** After a wee…

The Writers’ Block Episode 50(a) With the radio station closed for maintenance, Phineas and David take a moment this week to do a deep dive on the nature of the summer blockbuster. If you want to share your opinion on blockbusters, let us know by tweeting us at @auburnMWC with the hashtag #ASkMWC or e-mail us at askmwc@writersblockradio.com with yo…

The Writers’ Block Episode 50 David and Phineas catch up on moving with an infant and getting a new kitten, respectively, and Phineas also shares his thoughts on Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping. Then they talk about TV endings and examine the ending to the “Jurassic Bark” episode of Futurama in a new Writing Spotlight. Finally, Phineas introduce…

The Writers’ Block Episode 49 After an unexpected break for station coverage of the Auburn Softball Women’s College World Series semi-finals, David and Phineas catch up on the WCWS results and the Copa America tournament. Phineas also shares his thoughts on X-Men: Apocalypse. Then they talk about movie endings and examine the ending to Rocky in a n…

The Writers’ Block Episode 48 Phineas and David talk about endings today after sharing their enthusiastic thoughts on the new movie The Nice Guys and some concert-going memories. Then Phineas sits down with poet Cecillia Llompart in a new Writer Spotlight. Finally, David and Phineas answer your questions in a new Ask the Writing Center segment. If …

The Writers’ Block Episode 47 David and Phineas are back and share their thoughts on Captain America: Civil War, Spotlight, and The Revenant. Then they turn their attention to movie comedies (and Bill Murray!) and talk about the hilarious movie Bridesmaids in the Writing Spotlight. Finally, David shares his favorite comedy movies in a new Top Five.…

The Writers’ Block Episode 46(a): Civil War Phineas and David share their thoughts on the new Marvel movie Captain America: Civil War in a new podcast-exclusive episode. Be alert to spoilers. If you disagree with Phineas and David or want to share your thoughts on the movie, let us know by tweeting us at @auburnMWC with the hashtag #askMWC or e-mai…

The Writers’ Block Episode 46 Phineas and David catch up on election politics, the CIA “live” tweeting the Bin Laden raid, and Leicester City’s improbable Premier League championship. Then they dive into the world of sports broadcasting and talk with Emmy-winner and ESPN NFL Insider Josina Anderson (@josinaanderson) in the Writer Spotlight. Finally…

The Writers’ Block Episode 45 Phineas and David mourn the passing of Prince before talking about Game of Thrones and trying to answer why it’s so popular. Then poet Dan Albergotti steps into the Writer Spotlight. Dan was in Auburn to read at the Third Thursday poetry series, a monthly event held on the third Thursday of every month at the Jule Coll…

The Writers’ Block Episode 44 Phineas and David talk about Kobe Bryant’s last game and the Warriors’ record-breaking win, and share their thoughts on the movie Trainwreck. Then they follow up on their conversation on children’s literature and explore Young Adult literature. Then poet Jennifer Chang and New York Times bestselling author Tim Dorsey s…