Best Writing Post Apocalyptic Podcasts (2025)

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Heather and Arizona O'Neill find a bit of magic on the Montreal Metro 27:14

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9h ago27:14

27:14

Heather and Arizona O'Neill are more than just mother and daughter — they're creative partners, storytellers and travel companions. Their latest collaboration, a novel called “Valentine in Montreal,” is already an instant bestseller. Heather wrote the book, which was first published in weekly installments in the Montreal Gazette, and Arizona illust…

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How Brian Tyree Henry overcame his imposter syndrome 24:27

10m ago24:27

24:27

Brian Tyree Henry (Atlanta, Causeway, The Book of Mormon) has become one of Hollywood's busiest actors. On the new series “Dope Thief,” he plays Ray Driscoll — a complex character who’s dealing with generational trauma, addiction and grief. Back in April, Brian joined Tom Power to talk about the role, the epiphany he had that reframed the way he lo…

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The pressure of being a Palestinian American comedian 40:56

7h ago40:56

40:56

Mo Amer's comedy career couldn't be going any better right now. His semi-autobiographical TV show “Mo” is a big success and he’s currently on a massive stand-up tour. But even though his professional life is thriving, certain things in his personal life are a bit more complicated. Mo joins Tom Power to talk about the pressure he’s feeling as a Pale…

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Angélique Kidjo’s life and work is defined by one thing: freedom 30:14

3d ago30:14

30:14

Multi-Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Angélique Kidjo is now the first Black African performer to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. This past March, she joined Tom Power from our Montreal studio to talk about her incredible career in music. Angélique reflected on her childhood in Benin, how she fled to France to escape her home country…

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Thriller writer Ruth Ware has never done a sequel — until now 23:09

4d ago23:09

23:09

Bestselling author Ruth Ware doesn’t do sequels, or so she’s said. After nine standalone psychological thrillers, the British novelist has released “The Woman in Suite 11,” which is a follow-up to her hit 2016 book, “The Woman in Cabin 10.” Ruth sits down with guest host Ali Hassan to tell us how her readers persuaded her to take another look at he…

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Robby Hoffman’s unconventional path to comedy 33:33

4d ago33:33

33:33

Comedian Robby Hoffman is having a big year. She was just nominated for an Emmy for her role in the hit HBO show “Hacks,” where she plays a character based on her own experiences. Plus, her Just For Laughs show in Montreal this summer is sold out. But Robby hasn’t had a conventional path into comedy. From leaving an ultra-Orthodox Hasidic community…

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Yves Jarvis gave himself a concussion making music 15:41

4d ago15:41

15:41

The Montreal musician Yves Jarvis spent a year listening only to Frank Sinatra when he wrote his sixth and latest album, “All Cylinders.” He says it’s the least contrived thing he’s ever done. Not only did he produce the record, but he also plays every instrument on it, blending genres like bluegrass, jazz, folk and even yacht-rock in unexpected wa…

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Spirit in the Post-Exilic Prophets, Apocalyptic Literature, and the Torah 18:08

5d ago18:08

18:08

Dr. Schreck talks about how Haggai, Zechariah, and Nehemiah encouraged the people to rely on the power of the Spirit to rebuild the temple after their return from exile in Babylon. He also explores how apocalyptic writings speak of God's plan and the Spirit's work in the "last days." With the decline of prophecy, rabbis in the late Old Testament an…

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3.22 Post-Apocalyptic: The Last of Us 44:46

5d ago44:46

44:46

In this episode, we're talking about writing and worldbuilding in the post-apocalyptic with zombies TV show (based on the video game series of the same name), The Last of Us. Proprietor's Pick: The Girl with All the Gifts by M.R. Carey (Disclosure: we are a Bookshop.org affiliate, so if you purchase through these links, we will earn a small commiss…

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Remembering Ozzy Osbourne 22:13

5d ago22:13

22:13

Yesterday, Ozzy Osbourne passed away at age 76. The Black Sabbath frontman will be remembered for his music, his antics on stage and his family’s reality television show, “The Osbournes.” In 2022, Tom Power sat down with the Prince of Darkness himself to discuss his new album at the time, “Patient Number 9.” But they also spoke about the legacy tha…

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Joseph Kahn on Ick, music videos and the magic of '80s horror flicks 25:39

5d ago25:39

25:39

Acclaimed music video director Joseph Kahn has worked with everyone from the Backstreet Boys to Taylor Swift, but in 2004, he expanded into feature films. His latest creature feature “Ick” is a horror-comedy that just had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival. Back in September, Joseph joined Tom to talk about the movie, wha…

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Blake Shelton fell back in love with music, all thanks to Post Malone 35:29

6d ago35:29

35:29

Blake Shelton is back with his first new album in nearly four years, “For Recreational Use Only.” The country star joins Tom Power to talk about retiring from the hit TV show “The Voice” after 23 seasons, feeling burned out, and being unsure about whether he would ever release a new record. Plus, Blake shares how an unexpected collaboration with Po…

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Saya Gray on her debut album and gigging as a teen with a fake ID 13:52

6d ago13:52

13:52

Saya Gray might have just released her debut album earlier this year, but it’s far from her first foray into music. She’s been gigging since she was a teen, performing alongside much older musicians at Toronto jazz clubs where she had to use a fake ID to get in. Eventually, she started touring with the likes of Daniel Caesar and Willow Smith. Now, …

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Why Rhys Darby thinks robots can’t do stand-up comedy 25:21

7d ago25:21

25:21

When Rhys Darby (Flight of the Conchords, Our Flag Means Death) started to notice the way AI had sunk its teeth into Hollywood, he decided to speak up. In his new stand-up show, “The Legend Returns,” the New Zealand actor and comedian sets out to prove that robots could never do what he’s doing live on stage. Rhys joins Tom Power to tell us what’s …

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Jessica B. Hill’s childhood dream came true 23:44

7d ago23:44

23:44

When Jessica B. Hill was a kid, she saw a play at the Stratford Festival that she found so inspirational she wrote the word “Stratford” on a piece of paper and put it on her ceiling. Now, she’s an award-winning actor and playwright who’s appearing in three plays at Stratford this season: “As You Like It,” “Sense and Sensibility” and “Dangerous Liai…

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Zarna Garg treats comedy as a business, not an art form 24:50

10d ago24:50

24:50

After 16 years as a stay-at-home mom, Zarna Garg felt like she needed to reinvent herself. She tried a few different business ventures (disposable toothbrushes, vegan chilli and matchmaking), but none of them stuck. Then she decided to give comedy a go and everything changed. Now, Zarna has released a new stand-up special, "Practical People Win,” w…

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Why Josh Homme wanted to perform inside the Paris Catacombs 18:48

10d ago18:48

18:48

Last summer, Queens of the Stone Age became the first-ever band to perform inside the Catacombs of Paris, where the remains of six million people are kept. That performance was captured in a new concert film and live five-song EP, “Alive in the Catacombs.” Queens of the Stone Age frontman Josh Homme joins Tom Power to talk about the project, his li…

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Little Simz split with her producer. Now she’s unstoppable 25:09

11d ago25:09

25:09

Little Simz is one of the most acclaimed rappers in the world right now. In 2022, she won the prestigious Mercury Prize for her album “Sometimes I Might Be Introvert.” But after falling out with her longtime producer and collaborator, the British rapper started thinking maybe music wasn’t for her anymore. Little Simz joins Tom Power to tell us why …

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How Stratford’s Richard Manuel became a rock and roll legend 27:53

11d ago27:53

27:53

In his new book, “Richard Manuel: His Life and Music, from the Hawks and Bob Dylan to The Band,” renowned music archivist and podcaster Stephen T. Lewis explores the life and legacy of Richard Manuel, one of Canada’s most talented and influential musicians. Stephen joins Tom Power to tell why he was so enthralled by the story of a self-taught music…

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The Spirit in the Old Testament's Wisdom Writings 17:50

13d ago17:50

17:50

Among the later writings of the Old Testament are the Wisdom books, including Proverbs, Job, Sirach (Ecclesiasticus), and the book of Wisdom. In this episode, Dr. Schreck discusses how the Spirit is presented in these writings. Listen to more The Spirit and The Bride episodes and discover other Catholic podcasts, videos, and resources at Faith and …

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Nathan Fillion was a shy comic book kid. Now he stars in Superman 32:14

12d ago32:14

32:14

When actor Nathan Fillion (Firefly, Castle, The Rookie) was growing up as a quiet comic book kid in Edmonton, he never imagined he would one day be up on the big screen with Superman. Now, he’s living out his childhood dream with his latest role as Guy Gardner — one of the characters known as Green Lantern — in the new “Superman” movie. Nathan join…

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Why PIQSIQ wrote a song about Mahaha, the Inuit tickling demon 17:55

12d ago17:55

17:55

What if the bad guy in your nightmare didn’t chase you, but tried to tickle you to death? That’s just one of the Inuit legends reimagined by the Inuit throat singing duo PIQSIQ on their haunting new album, “Legends.” Sisters Tiffany Ayalik and Inuksuk Mackay of PIQSIQ join Tom Power to talk about the record and why they’re embracing Inuit tradition…

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Simple Plan was both loved and hated for being pop-punk 35:40

13d ago35:40

35:40

For nearly three decades, Simple Plan has been one of the most successful bands to come out of Canada, selling more than 10 million albums worldwide. Now, a new documentary, “Simple Plan: The Kids in the Crowd” offers a look into the band's journey from playing basement shows in Montreal to achieving global stardom. Simple Plan’s Pierre Bouvier and…

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How Tarralik Duffy uses pop art to show her memories of Nunavut 16:49

13d ago16:49

16:49

Jerry cans, bottles of soy sauce and canned meats — these are just some of the everyday objects portrayed in Tarralik Duffy’s exhibit, “Gasoline Rainbows.” Back in 2023, the multidisciplinary Inuk artist joined guest host Saroja Coelho to talk about finding beauty in everyday objects, the unexpected ways we remember home, and how her art connects h…

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46. Sinners (Coogler, 2025) Vampire Lord of the Dance 2:13:57

13d ago2:13:57

2:13:57

Cultists, because you demanded it (and because it became available to stream) your Horror Hosts are finally putting Ryan Coogler's Sinners on the exam table. This genre defying Vampire film has held online film discourse by the jugular since its release in April and continues to do so. Please join us for the Dissection. #sinners, #ryancoogler, #mic…

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Steph Tolev wants to make farting less shameful for women 23:08

14d ago23:08

23:08

Toronto-born comedian Steph Tolev has been described as "gross,” "dirty” and "painfully real.” She’s built an entire career on raunchy jokes about everything from bad dates to bathroom humour. Now, she’s releasing her first Netflix special, "Filth Queen.” Steph joins guest host Talia Schlanger to tell us how she developed her niche, why she had to …

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The forgotten history of classical music among the Labrador Inuit 28:09

15d ago28:09

28:09

Deantha Edmunds is Canada’s first Inuk professional opera singer. Last year, she was appointed to the Order of Canada, and earlier this month, she was honoured at the Canada Day ceremony in Ottawa. In this conversation with Tom Power from 2024, Deantha talks about the forgotten classical music tradition of the Labrador Inuit, as well as her own jou…

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How Emma Donoghue’s new musical stands up for immigrants then and now 25:22

19d ago25:22

25:22

Award-winning Irish Canadian novelist, screenwriter and playwright Emma Donoghue (Room, The Wonder) is back with her first musical, “The Wind Coming Over The Sea.” It’s based on the true story of Henry and Jane Johnson, a young married couple who left Ireland in the 1840s in search of a better life in Canada. Emma joins Tom Power to talk about what…

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The dark side of writing a life-changing hit 21:48

17d ago21:48

21:48

Twenty years ago, Canadian singer-songwriter Daniel Powter wrote the song “Bad Day,” which quickly became one of the biggest hits of 2005. It earned him a Grammy nomination, sold millions of copies and launched his career as an artist. But when “Bad Day” got bigger than anyone could have ever imagined, Daniel’s mental health started to decline, lea…

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Finn Wolfhard's childhood 10-year plan worked out 44:09

18d ago44:09

44:09

At age 12, Canadian actor Finn Wolfhard shot to fame after landing the role of a lifetime on “Stranger Things.” But growing up in the spotlight wasn’t always easy. Finn often felt like he didn’t have control over his public identity or his artistic life. Now, as his tenure on “Stranger Things” comes to a close, he’s launched a music career with the…

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The Spirit in the Prophets Jeremiah and Ezekiel 21:30

20d ago21:30

21:30

Dr. Schreck continues looking at the spirit in the Old Testament with the prophets Jeremiah and Ezekiel. Although Jeremiah has a negative view of prophecy because of false prophets’ claims, he himself prophesies God establishing a “new covenant.” Ezekiel speaks frequently and positively about the spirit of God and also prophesies a “new covenant,” …

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3.21 Paranormal Romance: Twilight 54:52

19d ago54:52

54:52

In this episode, we're talking about writing and worldbuilding in the paranormal romance novel Twilight by Stephanie Meyer. Proprietor's Pick: Immortal Dark by Tigest Girma (Disclosure: we are a Bookshop.org affiliate, so if you purchase through these links, we will earn a small commission AND you will support an indie bookstore!) Intro and outro m…

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Jason Mantzoukas wants to be the ugly American villain 32:08

19d ago32:08

32:08

When actor and comedian Jason Mantzoukas (The Good Place, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Parks and Recreation) finally got the chance to appear on his favourite TV show — the weird and hilarious British game show “Taskmaster” — he didn’t want to play along normally. He wanted to be the ugly American villain who creates chaos. Jason joins Tom Power to tell us …

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Evan Redsky is exploring the cosmos 17:03

19d ago17:03

17:03

When Evan Redsky sat down to write a song about his culture, he thought about three things: the movie “Interstellar,” the movie “Contact” with Jodie Foster, and the Ojibwe word that essentially means "see you later" (because there is no word for goodbye in Ojibwe). In this chat with guest host Talia Schlanger, Evan tells us how these elements make …

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Atsuko Okatsuka was technically kidnapped by her grandma 25:14

20d ago25:14

25:14

Comedian Atsuko Okatsuka is able to make the most difficult life experiences seem funny. In her new stand-up special, “Father,” she takes a look at her complex childhood growing up undocumented in the U.S. (she was technically kidnapped by her own grandma, though she doesn’t see it that way). Atsuko joins guest host Talia Schlanger to talk about tu…

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This play is an adaptation of the longest poem ever written 24:09

20d ago24:09

24:09

The longest poem ever written is a 4,000-year-old Sanskrit epic called the “Mahabharata,” which clocks in at roughly 1.8 million words. But the poem’s daunting length didn’t stop Toronto’s Why Not Theatre from adapting it into a large-scale play of the same name. A few months ago, Miriam Fernandes, the co-creator and star of the show, joined Tom Po…

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How The Young and the Restless led to more Black women becoming doctors 34:29

21d ago34:29

34:29

Canadian actor Tonya Williams spent two decades playing Dr. Olivia Winters on “The Young and the Restless,” which made her one of the first Black actors to star on a soap opera. In 2001, she founded the Reelworld Film Festival, which champions diverse Canadian talent in the TV and film industry. Now, she’s been named an Officer of the Order of Cana…

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The Bear's Liza Colón-Zayas on the “cult” that tried to brainwash her 17:43

21d ago17:43

17:43

On the hit series “The Bear,” Liza Colón-Zayas plays a middle-aged line cook named Tina who’s challenged by her mentors to learn new skills as a sous-chef. In some ways, her character’s story mirrors her own journey as an actor. With Season 4 of “The Bear” out now, we revisit Liza’s conversation with Tom Power about the scarcity and struggle she ha…

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For George Takei, coming out has been a lifelong process 32:32

24d ago32:32

32:32

George Takei is one of America’s most beloved actors and activists, known best for playing Hikaru Sulu in the “Star Trek” franchise. In 2019, he released a graphic memoir, “They Called Us Enemy,” which detailed his childhood experience at internment camps during the Second World War. Now, he’s released a follow-up book, “It Rhymes with Takei.” The …

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Phil Rosenthal is the luckiest person in the world 32:49

25d ago32:49

32:49

Phil Rosenthal is the creator, writer and executive producer of “Everybody Loves Raymond,” one of the most successful sitcoms of all time. But after the show wrapped in 2005, it took nearly 10 years for him to get his next dream project off the ground. Now, Phil’s food and travel show “Somebody Feed Phil” is in its eighth season on Netflix. He join…

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This post-apocalyptic thriller is a love letter to the director’s mom 20:46

25d ago20:46

20:46

In R.T. Thorne's directorial debut, “40 Acres,” the Canadian filmmaker imagines a post-apocalyptic world where food is scarce, society is in ruins and your family is under threat. It’s an intense movie about fighting for survival, but it also explores the complicated relationship between a mother and a son. R.T. joins Tom Power to share how his mot…

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Spirit in Isaiah and the Psalms 15:32

27d ago15:32

15:32

Dr. Schreck explores how the spirit is an attribute of the servant of God in the messianic texts of the prophet Isaiah, where people can even “grieve” the spirit by rejecting his work. The Psalms also speak of the work of God’s spirit and appeal to God not to hide his face nor remove his spirit but to send forth the spirit to “renew the face of the…

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Why Stephan James is “at risk of being great” 41:15

26d ago41:15

41:15

Born and raised in Scarborough, actor Stephan James has defied the odds and climbed the ranks in Hollywood. He’s made a name for himself by playing major historical figures like runner Jesse Owens in “Race,” and civil rights activist John Lewis in Ava DuVernay’s film “Selma.” After working with legends like Julia Roberts and Laurence Fishburne, Ste…

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How Jully Black uses her singing “superpower” to advocate for others 24:53

27d ago24:53

24:53

Jully Black is a powerhouse singer-songwriter from Toronto who’s often called Canada's queen of R&B soul. Earlier this year, Jully sat down with Tom Power to tell us how singing in church at age six put her on her artistic path, why she feels speaking out is always the right thing to do, and why her mother is her biggest influence.…

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Don’t call Jan Lisiecki a child prodigy 20:39

28d ago20:39

20:39

Calgary’s Jan Lisiecki was only nine when made his orchestral debut as a classical pianist. While most of us were still figuring out cursive, he was playing sold-out recitals — so, of course, he was called a child prodigy. But Jan has complicated feelings about that term. A few months ago, he joined guest host Talia Schlanger to talk about his new …

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45. 28 Years Later (Boyle, 2025) Post-Apocalyptic Grief Counseling 1:49:53

27d ago1:49:53

1:49:53

Cultists, hopefully we're not disappointing the hardcore 28 Weeks Later fans but your Horror Hosts have opted to skip that splatter fest, and jump directly to Boyle and Garland’s return to the franchise: 28 Years Later. Taking place nearly three decades after the original film, it's an ambitious follow-up that makes some big tonal shifts and big th…

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How Sorry, Baby takes a nuanced look at sexual assault 25:55

29d ago25:55

25:55

In just under five years, Eva Victor went from being a viral video comedian to writing, directing and starring in their own feature film, “Sorry, Baby.” The film tells the story of Agnes, a grad school student turned professor whose life was altered by an incident they refer to as “the bad thing.” What follows is a sensitive, fraught and often funn…

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Stephen Graham Jones is reinventing the vampire 28:15

28d ago28:15

28:15

According to bestselling horror author Stephen Graham Jones, good stories don’t happen in heaven — they happen in hell. His latest novel, “The Buffalo Hunter Hunter,” is a chilling historical vampire story based on real events that happened to the Blackfeet Nation in the United States. Stephen joins guest host Talia Schlanger to discuss the metapho…

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Small(ish) Podcast Pause 0:32

29d ago0:32

0:32

Short medical pause, but will be back. Send us a text Support the show If you enjoy this podcast and would like to help support the creation of this work or would like access to unique membership perks, you can do this and more at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/writingruralwithalley.By Alley

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Weekend Listen: Ocean Vuong finds beauty in a fast food shift 37:22

1M ago37:22

37:22

Long before he became a bestselling writer, Ocean Vuong sold rotisserie chickens at Boston Market. In his latest novel, The Emperor of Gladness, he explores the meaning that can be found in the daily grind of a fast food restaurant. The book follows a young addict named Hai as he unexpectedly becomes caretaker to an elderly woman and makes unlikely…