The Small Bow Podcast
Episodes
Petty Resentments and Righteous Anger: A Conversation with Cord Jefferson
25 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
When I found out my old colleague Cord Jefferson was writing a TV show about our time together at Gawker, I got pissed. I think I called him an "a**fa...
Amanda de Cadenet on Facing "Dire" Loneliness and Loving Alcoholics
18 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Amanda de Cadenet lost control at an early age. As a teenager, she was on TV, married to a rockstar and all over the tabloids, but she had a deep lone...
Joe Buck on How to Look Into the Camera When You're Deeply Insecure
11 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
People love to dunk on Joe Buck. They think one of the most accomplished play-by-play guys in the history of sports is robotic, elitist or boring. Wha...
Why Does Jenn Sterger Still Talk To Me?
04 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
I never expected that Jenn Sterger would become such a big part of my recovery. Jenn is a comedian and former sports commentator and in 2010, I ruined...
The Small Bow Podcast | New Season Trailer
25 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The Small Bow Podcast with A.J. Daulerio is re-launching on March 4, with new episodes dropping every Wednesday. The Small Bow is a show about exp...
The Wind Blows High w/ Trey Anastasio
20 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this very special episode, Phish's Trey Anastasio talks to us about how his 2006 drug arrest and the court-ordered treatment he received afterward ...
The Persistence of Time w/Sari Botton
10 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Oldster Magazine’s Sari Botton talks to us about what she’s learned from her readership, and some of the anxiety she feels about turning 60. Sh...
If It's Not Going Perfectly, Keep Trying w/Joe Schrank
26 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Social worker/Interventionist/advocate returns to The Small Bow to talk about Recovery Month, which happens every September, but is still being widely...
Also Hit By a Truck w/Molly Johnsen
11 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
After a car accident left her with catastrophic injuries, writer/teacher/poet Molly Johnsen had to physically and mentally recover. Through EMDR and p...
Hit By a Truck (Classic) w/Emma Carmichael
29 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
After a car accident left her with catastrophic injuries, writer/editor Emma Carmichael had to physically and mentally recover, but mainly she had to ...
Let's Let the Healing Begin w/ Sean Clements
08 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Actor/Writer/Podcaster Sean Clements tells us about his early recovery -- from an uncomfortable amends to his former employer, at a dry cleaners, to o...
Go On, Giddyup w/ Luke Pelletier
18 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Musician and artist Luke Pelletier comes on TSB and tells us about his incredible manic episode when he attempted to prove his love to his girlfriend ...
Fear of a 'Stack Planet w/Delia Cai
09 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Do you like inside baseball? Editor Delia Cai joins TSB to discuss the state of independent media and if a career crisis is even a thing anymore. We...
How to Build Your Body Without Losing Your Mind w/ Casey Johnston
20 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Writer/author Casey Johsnton returns to the pod to discuss her new book, "A Physical Education." We talk about lifting heavy things, when you know you...
Days of Our Second Lives w/ Amanda Hess
06 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
New York Times writer and author of "Second Life" Amanda Hess talks to us about motherhood, writing a book, quitting drinking while writing a book, be...
Our National Anthem w/ Amanda Petrusich
23 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
New Yorker writer Amanda Petrusich talks to us about all the complicated and gnarly feelings she's working through since the sudden death of her husb...
How to Survive a Nightmare w/Joe Lynskey
09 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Last New Year's Eve, Joe Lynskey was headed home from lunch and stepped onto an empty platform at 18th Street and 1st Avenue when he was violently pus...
Mind Reels in America w/Freddie deBoer
24 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Writer/Novelist Freddie deBoer tells us his experience with bipolar disorder and the six times he entered (or was placed) into a facility. Show No...
You Did It, Man! w/Cord Jefferson
11 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
American Fiction Writer/Director Cord Jefferson returns to the pod to discuss winning at the Oscars, losing the Golden Globes, and how he plans to ...
The Last Decent Man on Earth
28 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Joey McIntyre from New Kids on the Block tells us all the ways he's kept himself in check throughout his career and dazzles us with his grace and humi...
There Are Murderers Here
14 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Journalist and mental health counselor Jayson Blair tells us all about how his plagiarism scandal at The New York Times gave him the opportunity to ge...
The Weight Loss
28 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Writer and director Cory Reeder shares about his life-long quest for inner peace from a family tragedy that haunted him for more than 30 years. Trigge...
Defective Character Limits
14 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
NYT’s writer and author Kate Conger lets us know how she’s holding up since her once humble beat covering a billionaire troll who builds rockets a...
Joy as an Act of Defiance
07 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Writer Heather Havrilesky comes on to discuss her creative process and how doing super-vulnerable activities like her Zoom singing lessons helps her g...
Joan As Human Woman
23 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Joan Wasser, AKA Joan As Policewoman walks us through her 20 years of sobriety, how her creativity has evolved, what defects remain, and the path of p...
All Meat Rots
17 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Peaceful John returns to the pod just in time for the new year and we discuss how vanity and ego never go away, personal needs, and are friendships yo...
You Are F*cking Amazing!
10 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This is a super Dopey episode of The Small Bow, where we speak with Dave Manheim about whether heroin addicts celebrate Dry January, our future ambiti...
It’s Okay If You’re Not Ready
01 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We revisit an old Small Bow essay about my first New Year’s Eve sober—all the feelings of self-pity and loneliness almost drove me to a very bizar...
The Fleeting Joys of Parenthood with George Bilgere
15 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
I talk to my version of Taylor Swift, Cleveland poet George Bilgere, whose writing and distinctive voice have influenced my post-sobriety writing (and...
Notes from the American Schoolyard with John Devore
08 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Today we talk about how a lack of personal safety as little boys taught us how to be drunk, angry, impotent men. It’s about bullying and Bukowski an...
The State of the State of the State
01 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We pause to introduce a new segment, and talk shop about some big plans in the works for the new year. The Small Bow universe is growing in exciting w...
How to Tame Your Monster with Claire Dederer
18 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The acclaimed and wonderful author of Monsters: A Fan’s Dilemma helps us sift through the ugliness of monstrous behavior and the guilty feelings ass...
This is Supposed to Be a Children’s Story with Kerry Madden-Lunsford
04 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Today we talk with writer Kerry Madden-Lunsford about how Al-Anon has helped her deal with the pain of having a child who’s treatment-resistant and ...
Why Does No One Care About Recovery Month? with Joe Schrank
06 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
For the past five years, TSB’s in-house social worker, Joe Schrank, has tried to get someone other than us (and Andy Cohen) to acknowledge Recovery ...
Take this Pod and Shove It
30 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We talk to each other about the state of the podcast, and whether A.J.'s workaholic tendencies torpedoed the chance for a second season with iHeartRad...
Some Kind of Ambition Monster with Jennifer Romolini
16 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We talk with writer Jennifer Romolini about Philly shit, her book "Ambition Monster," her relapse into workaholism while promoting the book, and how t...
Main Character Defects with Josh Radnor
02 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Josh Radnor joins TSB pod to discuss the spiritual life he acquired while navigating the pitfalls of becoming internationally famous for his role as T...
Go Say Hello with Mary HK Choi
26 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Mary HK Choi returns to the pod to discuss her extremely popular NY Mag essay about her adult autism diagnosis. We also discuss social anxiety, self-f...
Connection Junkie with Peaceful John
12 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The inimitable Peaceful John returns for our new season for another round of soothing lessons in reparenting ourselves. Today we talk about the differ...
Dead Inside with Megan Koester
28 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We reconnect with comedian Megan Koester and learn all about her (new) sobriety and how she’s finally excavating some long-buried family trauma. Aft...
Nothing Will Ever Be Boring Again, with Emily Gould
14 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Emily Gould is a writer from New York Magazine. This Valentine's Day, The Cut published Emily's essay "The Lure of Divorce." Between the two, Emily wa...
Guess What
21 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We've got some news.
Everything You’ll Ever Need
08 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Our last episode of Season 1, with our guest Swamp Dogg. Swamp’s the musical and spiritual inspiration for RGS. Today we talk about success, friends...
Reply Maw
18 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This episode is about the internet, specifically “Emotional Sobriety and the Internet,” which is something I’ve struggled with for close to 20 y...
Just a Sucker With Low Self-Esteem
03 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Today we talk with Dave Holmes, former MTV VJ and host of Waiting for Impact, about what it’s like to get your dream job but still struggle with all...
Bring the Noise
20 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Today we talk with with meditation teacher James Baraz about the benefits of sitting one hour per day. But how is possible to do that when the world i...
Peace and Quiet
13 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
COVID, dinos, meditation... A little update. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener fo...
It’s Okay If You’re Not Ready
30 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Is this your first New Year’s Eve sober? Amazing! Nice job! But…you may feel lousy, too. This is an episode dedicated to you. Keep going–it gets...
Suffer the Adult Children
23 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
What does it mean to detach? And how can you do it without cruelty—when parents are dying? Today we interview Mary H.K. Choi about how she’s navig...
The Lift Up
09 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
What is strength anyway? How do you be new? Today we talk with journalist and strong person Casey Johnston about some of the hang-ups many of us have ...
PGS with Peaceful John: Life Is Not a Punishment
25 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Don’t spend this Thanksgiving dwelling on the past. Gratitude is possible – even if you’re haunted. Peaceful John gives a master class on how to...
PGS with Claudia Lonow: Personal Inventories
18 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
On our second Pretty Good Shares, we talk to writer, producer Claudia Lonow. We challenged ourselves to do a nightly inventory of our great and not-so...
The Rescue
04 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Jenn Sterger had a promising career in sports media until her life was blown up by an NFL sexting scandal she never wanted public. This is the story o...
Pretty Good Shares with Holly Whitaker: Coffee Dad
29 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Holly Whitaker guests on the first Pretty Good Shares, a series of B-side conversations about whatever's been on our minds. This time it's Coffee Dad,...
Earthquakes
21 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Today we talk with writer and philosophy professor Clancy Martin about what to do about those damn suicidal thoughts. Who to call. How to act – how ...
Drawn Out
07 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Edith Zimmerman was a successful writer and blog editor who quit everything and dropped off the internet for three years while she figured out what sh...
You've Changed, Man
23 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Steve Wilson’s heart-tugging sobriety story begins in the bowels of Brooklyn’s bar scene and takes a sharp U-turn into the swamps of Florida. Stev...
Laugh Tracks
09 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
As a sober companion, Joe Schrank has worked with countless clients – infamous and wealthy – but he became closest to comedian Greg Giraldo. For y...
Sorry I’m Like This
26 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Writer and comedian Megan Koester lowers us into her deep dark well – from being an LA lab rat to pay for booze to debilitating depression, to finan...
Big Bird Nods Out
12 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Dave from Dopey regales us with a twisted tale of depravity and redemption, where our hairy-legged heroin hero dresses as Big Bird for a children’s...
Stunting Growth
05 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Writer Cord Jefferson enters therapy, looks inside, doesn’t like it, sticks with it, gets some relief, and wins an Emmy. Then he freaks out during h...
A Really Bad Day
29 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Author James Frey walks us through the ashes of A Million Little Pieces, Oprah’s concerned phone call, and wisdom from the Hells Angels, in the sear...
Hit By A Truck
22 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Writer & former Jezebel editor Emma Carmichael talks about how we got here after the year everything bad happened – the trial, the job, the bridges....
Introducing: Really Good Shares
12 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Really Good Shares is a show about people talking about how they made it through hard things and got better because of it. Maybe some of this will hel...