The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and Neuroscience
Episodes
Living the Dream with Jeff Goins
21 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Bestselling author, podcaster, blogger, speaker, and my friend Jeff Goins, recently brought me along on a creative journey called Hey, Creator! and it...
How Bestselling Author Fred Waitzkin Writes
14 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Bestselling author, Fred Waitzkin, spoke with me about journalism, Searching for Bobby Fischer, the thin veil between fiction and non-fiction, and the...
How NY Times Bestselling Author Jami Attenberg Writes: Redux
07 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
NOTE: This is an updated replay of my amazing chat with New York Times bestselling author, Jami Attenberg, in honor of the start of #1000WordsofSummer...
On Mixtapes, or Curation vs. Creation with Jeff Goins
31 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Bestselling author, podcaster, blogger, speaker, and my friend Jeff Goins, recently brought me along on a creative journey called Hey, Creator! and it...
How to Plan, Write & Publish Nonfiction with Hungry Authors Hosts Ariel Curry & Liz Morrow: Part One
24 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Writers, publishing experts, and hosts of the Hungry Authors podcast, Liz Morrow and Ariel Curry, spoke with me about the biggest mistake you can make...
How NY Times Bestselling Author April Henry Writes
17 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Award-winning, New York Times bestselling author April Henry, spoke with me about winning the Edgar Award, killing people on paper, and researching he...
How to Finish the First Draft of Anything with Jeff Goins
10 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Bestselling author, podcaster, blogger, speaker, and my friend Jeff Goins, brought me along on a creative journey not too long ago called Hey, Creator...
How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Mark Sullivan Writes
03 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
#1 New York Times bestselling author, Mark Sullivan, spoke to me about the story that saved his life, how to write history’s darkest chapters, and h...
How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Tom Straw Writes
26 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
#1 New York Times bestselling author and TV producer, Tom Straw, spoke to me about breaking into television, the Gordian knot of ghostwriting, and his...
How CNN Chief Climate Correspondent Bill Weir Writes
19 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Emmy-winning TV journalist and CNN Chief Climate Correspondent, Bill Weir, spoke to me about finding his beat, seeking “hope in a changing world,”...
How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Tomi Adeyemi Writes
12 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
#1 New York Times bestselling author, Tomi Adeyemi, spoke to me about the film adaptation of Children of Blood and Bone, her evolution as a writer, an...
How Stanford Prof. & Comms Expert Matt Abrahams Writes
05 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Stanford Professor, communications expert, and author, Matt Abrahams, spoke with me about tips and tricks to hone your communication skills as a write...
How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Ernest Cline Writes: Part Two
29 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
#1 New York Times bestselling novelist and screenwriter, Ernest Cline, spoke to me about what inspired him to become a novelist, the success of Ready ...
How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Ernest Cline Writes: Part One
22 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
#1 New York Times bestselling novelist and screenwriter, Ernest Cline, spoke to me about what inspired him to become a novelist, the success of Ready ...
How NY Times Bestselling Author Garrard Conley Writes
15 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
New York Times bestselling memoirist turned novelist, Garrard Conley, spoke with me about going from activist to fictionist, the isolation of being an...
Book Publicity Crash Course with Dir. of PR & Founder Leah Paulos
08 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Director of Publicity and Press Shop PR Founder, Leah Paulos, spoke with me about how authors can cut through the noise in a challenging news cycle, w...
How Oscar-Nominated Scribe & Novelist Iris Yamashita Writes: Part Two
01 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Oscar-nominated screenwriter turned novelist, Iris Yamashita, returns to chat with me about the difference between writing for the ear and the screen,...
How Bestselling Author Adelle Waldman Writes
23 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Bestselling author, Adelle Waldman, spoke with me about her former life as a journalist, writerly wish fulfillment, and going undercover for her lates...
How Acclaimed Newbery Honor-Winning Author Veera Hiranandani Writes
16 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Newbery Honor-winning children’s author, Veera Hiranandani, spoke with me about her former life in publishing, why no word is ever wasted, and her a...
How NY Times Bestselling Author Emma Straub Writes: Redux
02 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
NOTE: This is an updated replay of my amazing chat with Emma Straub, the New York Times bestselling author of six books for adults, including her nove...
How to Land a Book Deal with Agent & Author Lucinda Halpern: Part Two
26 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
President of Manhattan-based literary agency Lucinda Literary turned author, Lucinda Halpern, returns to chat with me about how to crack the code of p...
How NY Times Bestselling Author Ann Napolitano Writes
19 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
New York Times bestselling author, Ann Napolitano, spoke with me about overcoming rejection early on, how grief transformed her writing process, and g...
How NY Times Bestselling Author Jami Attenberg Writes
12 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
New York Times bestselling author, Jami Attenberg, spoke with me about documenting the process of being a writer online and off, building a global lit...
Best of 2023 - Hot Takes and Shootin’ the Breeze with Adam Skolnick: Part Two
05 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This is the second part of a year-end retrospective with award-winning indie journalist and author, Adam Skolnick, who returns to rap with me about sh...
Best of 2023 - Hot Takes and Shootin’ the Breeze with Adam Skolnick: Part One
29 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This is the first part of a year-end retrospective with award-winning indie journalist and author, Adam Skolnick, who returns to rap with me about sho...
Myth-Busting Book Publishing with Agent Lucinda Halpern: Redux
22 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
NOTE: This is an updated replay of an amazing chat I had with Lucinda Halpern, Founder and President of Manhattan-based literary agency Lucinda Litera...
How Acclaimed Debut Novelist Jo Segura Writes
15 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Acclaimed debut novelist, Jo Segura, spoke with me about her love of the romance writing community, why natural history and archaeology are her jam, a...
The Art and Craft of TV Drama with Aaron Tracy: Part Two
08 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Yale educator and TV writer/producer, Aaron Tracy, returns to chat with me about surviving the WGA writer’s strike, finally teaching the podcast at ...
How National Book Award Winner & Bestselling Author James McBride Writes: Redux
01 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
NOTE: This is an updated replay of an amazing chat I had with New York Times bestselling author and National Book Award winner, James McBride. His lat...
How Publishing Legend Charles Scribner III Writes
22 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Publishing legend, art historian, and author, Charles Scribner III, spoke with me about growing up surrounded by publishing, Hemingway’s Three Rules...
How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Jim Butcher Writes
17 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
#1 New York Times bestselling author, Jim Butcher, spoke with me about how he outlined a hit 20-novel series (years before he had an agent), why all s...
How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Susan Wiggs Writes: Part Two
10 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
#1 New York Times bestselling author, Susan Wiggs, returns to chat with me about her island writing hideout, rescuing two puppies at the same time, ho...
How Literary Critic & Publishing Insider Bethanne Patrick Writes: Part Two
03 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Longtime literary critic and publishing insider, Bethanne Patrick, is back to chat with me about the return of her hit podcast Missing Pages, her fron...
How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Andrew Child Writes
27 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
#1 NY Times bestselling author, Andrew Child, spoke to me about his lifelong obsession with storytelling, working with Jack Reacher co-author and brot...
How Acclaimed Debut Novelist Molly McGhee Writes
20 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Critically acclaimed debut novelist, Molly McGhee, spoke with me about the best day of her life, her part in The Great Publishing Resignation, losing ...
How Award-Winning Climate Journalist Amy Westervelt Writes
18 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Bonus Episode – Climate Edition: Award-winning investigative journalist and Executive Podcast Producer, Amy Westervelt, spoke to me about her accide...
How Acclaimed Debut Novelist Isa Arsén Writes
13 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Critically acclaimed debut novelist, Isa Arsén, spoke with me about humanizing machines and the creative process, how to write soft sci-fi, and her g...
How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Laurell K. Hamilton Writes: Part Two
06 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
#1 New York Times bestselling author, Laurell K. Hamilton, returns to talk about how her writing process has evolved over the last 30 years, how to fi...
How Booker Prize-Winning Author Anne Enright Writes
29 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Bestselling, Booker Prize-winning author, Anne Enright, spoke to me about eagles and moles, the interior engineering of a novel, her love of Irish poe...
How Bestselling Author & TV Producer Dwain Worrell Writes
22 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Bestselling author and award-winning screenwriter, Dwain Worrell, spoke to me about making the move from the writers' room to the cafe, the art and sc...
How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Jennifer Lynn Barnes Writes: Part One
15 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
#1 New York Times bestselling author, Jennifer Lynn Barnes, spoke to me about how to write seven novels in 18 months, the psychology of fiction and fa...
How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author James Rollins Writes
08 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
#1 New York Times bestselling author, James Rollins, spoke to me about his alter ego, veterinarian Dr. Jim, how to write two staccato-paced novels a y...
How Internationally Bestselling Author Lucy Clarke Writes
01 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Internationally bestselling author, Lucy Clarke, spoke to me about how her love of travel morphed into a destination thriller, building your readershi...
How to Write with ADHD and Coach Skye Waterson
30 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Bonus Episode: ADHD Coach, researcher, and Doctoral Candidate, Skye Waterson, spoke to me about writing a dissertation with neurodiversity, conquering...
How Acclaimed TV Writer/Producer Adam Lorenzo Writes
25 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Acclaimed TV and movie writer, Adam Lorenzo, spoke to me about owning a college bar … while still in college, his work ethic and what keeps him hust...
How National Book Award Winner & Bestselling Author James McBride Writes
18 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
New York Times bestselling author and National Book Award winner, James McBride, spoke to me about eschewing literary fame, his friendship with Spike ...
How Critically Acclaimed Memoirist Melissa Bond Writes
11 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Critically acclaimed memoirist, Melissa Bond, spoke to me about her dark night of the soul, crowd-funding her lauded memoir, and the paperback release...
How NY Times Bestselling Author Tracey Lange Writes
04 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
New York Times bestselling author, Tracey Lange, spoke to me about finding literary success later in life, her past life working with inner-city gang ...
How Critically Acclaimed Author Hilary Leichter Writes
28 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Critically acclaimed author, Hilary Leichter, spoke to me about why she thinks of herself as a realist, how her life imitates art, finding a novel hid...
How NY Times Bestselling Author Andrea Bartz Writes
21 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
New York Times bestselling author and journalist, Andrea Bartz, spoke to me about her previous life as a magazine editor, how to write feminist psycho...
How Critically Acclaimed Author Andrew Lipstein Writes
14 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Critically acclaimed author, Andrew Lipstein, spoke to me about failure as an MFA, how he sold his first novel, why time spent not writing is also imp...
How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Susan Wiggs Writes: Part One
07 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
#1 New York Times bestselling author, Susan Wiggs, spoke to me about why writers need to follow their bliss, how her stories come together like patchw...
How NY Times Bestselling Author Helen Schulman Writes
30 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
New York Times bestselling author and educator, Helen Schulman, spoke to me about her winding path to bestseller, why a writing career is 90% sweat an...
How NY Times Bestselling Author James Swallow Writes: Part Two
23 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
New York Times bestselling author, James Swallow, returns to chat with me about the solitary life of a writer, his undying love of ‘80s and ‘90s c...
How NY Times Bestselling Author Ashley Audrain Writes
16 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
New York Times bestselling author, Ashley Audrain, spoke to me about giving herself permission to write sh*tty first drafts, writing in public, and he...
How Internationally Bestselling Author Liv Constantine Writes
09 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Internationally bestselling authors, Lynne & Valerie Constantine – AKA Liv Constantine – spoke to me about the importance of writers’ conference...
How NY Times Bestselling Author Fiona Barton Writes
02 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
New York Times bestselling author, Fiona Barton, spoke to me about why so many famous journalists have turned to crime fiction, the power of the deadl...
How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Carley Fortune Writes
26 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
#1 New York Times bestselling author, Carley Fortune, spoke to me about her storied career as a journalist, writing a breakout hit in just four months...
How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Emily Henry Writes: Part Two
19 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
#1 New York Times bestselling author, Emily Henry, returns to chat with me about depressing first drafts, what it's like to be a genre-bending, commer...
How Pulitzer Prize-Winning Author Hernan Diaz Writes: Redux
12 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
NOTE: This is an updated replay of an amazing chat I had with Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist, Hernan Diaz, who spoke to me exactly one year ago about...
How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Ruta Sepetys Writes
05 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
#1 New York Times bestselling author, Ruta Sepetys, spoke to me about what she learned in the music industry, the secrets to strong, vivid writing, an...
How NY Times Bestselling Author J. Ryan Stradal Writes
28 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
New York Times bestselling author, J. Ryan Stradal, spoke to me about the unsurpassed passive aggressiveness of Midwesterners, writing about the resta...
How NY Times Bestselling Author Chanel Cleeton Writes
21 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
New York Times bestselling author, Chanel Cleeton, spoke to me about her passion for exploring Cuban-American identity via women's perspectives throug...
How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Bonnie Garmus Writes
14 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
#1 New York Times bestselling author, Bonnie Garmus, spoke to me about the evolution of her craft, how her protagonist changed her life, getting blurb...
How NY Times Bestselling Author Gregg Hurwitz Writes
07 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
New York Times and #1 internationally bestselling author, Gregg Hurwitz, spoke with me about why all writing is a process of self-discovery, how to hu...
How Critically Acclaimed Author Margot Douaihy Writes
31 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Critically acclaimed debut crime novelist and poet, Margot Douaihy, spoke with me about what she learned from Gillian Flynn, subverting the hard-boile...
How to Write a Bestselling Audio Drama with Writer/Producer Aaron Tracy: Part One
24 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Yale educator and TV writer/producer, Aaron Tracy, spoke with me about what it takes to make it as a TV writer, breaking into the audio drama space, p...
How Award-Winning Author, Artist & Filmmaker Leopoldo Gout Writes
17 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Award-winning author, visual artist, and filmmaker, Leopoldo Gout, spoke with me about making music videos for David Byrne, going from homeless auteur...
How NY Times Bestselling Author Jill Santopolo Writes
10 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
New York Times and internationally bestselling author, Jill Santopolo, spoke with me about finding balance as a writer/publisher, writing as therapy, ...
How NY Times Bestselling Author Rebecca Makkai Writes
03 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
New York Times bestselling author and Pulitzer finalist, Rebecca Makkai, spoke with me about her love of the short story, the true crime industrial co...
How NY Times Bestselling Author William Landay Writes
24 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Award-winning and New York Times bestselling novelist, William Landay, spoke with me about how former lawyers get pigeonholed in publishing, why we ca...
‘On Writing and Failure’ with Author Stephen Marche
17 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Former Shakespeare professor and author, Stephen Marche, spoke with me about how to roll with the punches, finding comfort in the history of writerly ...
How NY Times Bestselling Author Deepti Kapoor Writes
10 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
New York Times bestselling novelist, Deepti Kapoor, spoke with me about plumbing her subconscious for stories, a changing India and the trifecta of bi...
How NY Times Bestselling Debut Novelist Ana Reyes Writes
03 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
New York Times bestselling debut author, Ana Reyes, spoke with me about the importance of the writing community, the evolution of a haunting tale from...
How NY Times Bestselling Horror Writer Grady Hendrix Writes
27 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Award-winning, New York Times bestselling author and screenwriter, Grady Hendrix, spoke with me about getting serious about horror, turning genre trop...
How Academy Award-Nominated Screenwriter & Novelist Iris Yamashita Writes
20 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Academy Award-nominated screenwriter and debut novelist, Iris Yamashita, spoke to me about working with Clint Eastwood, her journey from Hollywood to ...
How Acclaimed Debut Novelist Kai Thomas Writes
13 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Acclaimed debut novelist, Kai Thomas, spoke to me about writing historical fiction that interweaves Black and Indigenous cultures, the power of storyt...
How NY Times Bestselling Author Jayne Ann Krentz Writes: Part One
06 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Award-winning and NY Times bestselling author, Jayne Ann Krentz, spoke to me about how persistence has defined her career, why you need to describe yo...
How to Ghostwrite a Bestseller with Author Adam Skolnick: Part Three
23 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Award-winning indie journalist and author, Adam Skolnick, returns to discuss the “virus of dissatisfaction,” writing for modern-day samurai David ...
How to Ghostwrite a Bestseller with Author Adam Skolnick: Part Two - Redux
16 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In Part Two of this file, we return with an exclusive look into the process behind not only how a writer gets paid to ghostwrite a title for a celebri...
How to Ghostwrite a Bestseller with Author Adam Skolnick: Part One - Redux
09 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
We are rebroadcasting this incredible look into the process behind not only how a writer gets paid to ghostwrite a title for a celebrity, but also the...
How Acclaimed Debut Novelist Brendan Slocumb Writes
02 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
#PodcastersForJustice Violinist and lauded debut novelist, Brendan Slocumb, spoke to me about how both music and writing saved his life, the darker si...
How NY Times Bestselling Thriller Writer Jeffery Deaver Writes: Part Two
25 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
#PodcastersForJustice #1 international bestselling author of over 40 novels, Jeffery Deaver, returns to rap about his prolific output, an award-winnin...
How NY Times Bestselling Thriller Writer Jeffery Deaver Writes: Part One - Redux
18 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
A quick note that this week we're resurfacing Part One of an enlightening chat I had with #1 internationally bestselling author Jeffery Deaver about h...
How Award-Winning Author & Filmmaker Priyanka Kumar Writes
11 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
#PodcastersForJustice Award-winning author and filmmaker, Priyanka Kumar, spoke to me about the language of cinema, her Zen leanings, returning to the...
How Hemingway Wrote with Prof. Mark Cirino
04 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
#PodcastersForJustice "Writing, at its best, is a lonely life." – Ernest Hemingway Ernest Hemingway scholar and author, Professor Mark Cirino, spoke...
How #1 New York Times Bestselling Author Robert Crais Writes: Part One
28 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
#PodcastersForJustice Award-winning and #1 NY Times bestselling author, Robert Crais, spoke to me about breathing life into the ur detective novel, th...
How NY Times Bestselling Mystery Writer Tana French Writes: Redux
21 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
#PodcastersForJustice Note: Hey, just a quick note that the podcast is on hiatus this week but we’re bringing back a fan favorite. Here is my interv...
How Award-Winning Debut Memoirist Prince Shakur Writes
14 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
#PodcastersForJustice Award-winning, queer, Jamaican-American writer, videographer, activist, and debut memoirist, Prince Shakur, spoke to me about Ja...
How Award-Winning NY Times Bestselling Author Deanna Raybourn Writes
07 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Award-winning and New York Times bestselling author, Deanna Raybourn, spoke to me about how she still feels like a debut author, why she doesn't read ...
How Acclaimed Debut Novelist and Podcaster Bobby Finger Writes
30 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Journalist, hit entertainment podcaster, and debut novelist, Bobby Finger, spoke to me about writing for Jezebel, turning a screenplay into a novel, a...
How Award-Winning & Bestselling Author A.M. Homes Writes
23 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Bestselling, award-winning author A.M. Homes, spoke to me about getting sued by J.D. Salinger, the irony of winning the Women's Prize for Fiction, and...
How Award-Winning & Bestselling Author Candice Carty-Williams Writes
16 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
#PodcastersForJustice Bestselling, award-winning author Candice Carty-Williams, spoke to me about the tragicomic nature of being, winning "Book of the...
How Award-Winning Journalist & Debut Memoirist Casey Parks Writes
09 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
#PodcastersForJustice Award-winning journalist and debut memoirist, Casey Parks, spoke to me about her lifelong reverence for journalism, the emotiona...
How Nobel Prize-Winning Author Abdulrazak Gurnah Writes
02 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
#PodcastersForJustice 2021 winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature, Abdulrazak Gurnah, spoke to me about life after becoming a laureate, the differenc...
How Award-Winning Debut Novelist LaToya Watkins Writes
26 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
#PodcastersForJustice Pushcart Prize-winning short story writer and debut novelist, LaToya Watkins, spoke to me about landing the cover of Publishers ...
How Literary Critic & Publishing Insider Bethanne Patrick (AKA TheBookMaven) Writes: Part One
19 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
#PodcastersForJustice Longtime literary critic and publishing insider, Bethanne Patrick, spoke to me about how she became a famed reviewer, where she ...
How #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Mark Greaney Writes: Part Two
12 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
#PodcastersForJustice #1 New York Times bestselling author, Mark Greaney, returned to talk about hanging out on the red carpet with Netflix "The Gray...
How NY Times Bestselling Author Sarah Pearse Writes
05 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
#PodcastersForJustice New York Times and #1 Sunday Times bestselling author, Sarah Pearse, spoke to me about Agatha Christie's legacy, how to write pl...
How National Book Award Winner & Bestselling Author Jason Mott Writes [Redux]
29 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
#PodcastersForJustice Addendum: Hey just a quick addendum on this week's redux, I am out of town this week and enjoying the sweatiest summer of all ti...