Best Tim Kowal Podcasts (2025)

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Pronouns at the Supreme Court & AI Arbitrators 36:49

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14h ago36:49

36:49

The California Supreme Court’s long-awaited "Taking Offense" decision on gender pronouns in elder care facilities introduces a new “captive audience” exception to the First Amendment. Tim worries this new judicial carve out may creep to other forums; Jeff is unperturbed. Tim also shares insights from the Federalist Society National Conference, befo…

1
'The Spindle of Necessity' by B.Pladek read by Arden Fitzroy 46:22

3h ago46:22

46:22

In this episode of the Strange Horizons Fiction podcast, editor Michael Ireland presents B. Pladek's 'The Spindle of Necessity' read by Arden Fitzroy. You can read the full text of the story, and more about B. Pladek ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠ Content Warning: Disregard for personal autonomy Dysphoria Sexism/gender discrimination Shami…

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Celebrating 25 Years - SH@25 Anniversary Issue Episode 1:51:24

2h ago1:51:24

1:51:24

Celebrating 25 Years with The Strange Horizons Editorial Collective In this special episode of Strange Horizons at 25, Senior Podcast Editor Kat Kourbeti and Editor Michael Ireland welcome current members of the Strange Horizons Editorial Collective for a series of interviews to give you a glimpse behind the curtain of each department and to celebr…

1
What’s on Judges’ Minds, with Jimmy Azadian: From Threats to Judges to the ‘Turn It Down’ Law 46:00

22h ago46:00

46:00

Jimmy Azadian is often in the room when federal judges get together to share their personal concerns about the job. When judges are asked to come speak to a group, Jimmy reports that top of mind are the recent threats to judges and the courts—whether from armed vigilantes, protesters, students, or senators. Jimmy, Tim, and Jeff then turn to some re…

1
Critical Friends Episode 17: On Imagining Hopefully 53:40

4d ago53:40

53:40

In this episode of Critical Friends, the Strange Horizons SFF criticism podcast, Dan Hartland is joined by the outgoing editor of Foundation, Paul March-Russell, and the founding editor of the Harare Review of Books, Jacqueline Nyathi. They discuss speculative fiction’s approach to hope and optimism. Where has it gone? How do writers express it? An…

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Skating to Where the AI Puck is Going: ClioCon 2025 Insights 34:58

13d ago34:58

34:58

AI Reshapes Legal Practice: ClioCon 2025 Delivers a Wake-Up Call Jeff Lewis reports from the 2025 Clio Cloud Conference in Boston. Day 1 was encouraging, but Jeff reports feeling Day 2 as a “gut punch”: within about 5-10 years, many fundamentals of legal practice will be unrecognizable. Here are a few ways legal industry leaders suggest you can ska…

1
Velociraptor Space Army (Writing While Disabled S2E4) 56:07

10d ago56:07

56:07

In this special episode of Writing While Disabled's second season, hosts Kristy Anne Cox and Kate Johnston speculate about the impact of a space army made up of various species of dinosaurs, and make connections to disability and accommodations as they relate to the real life of disabled people. If you prefer, you can watch the full episode with cl…

1
Don’t Boies Schiller your brief—”Read all your cases!” says AI Legal Writing Prof. Jayne Woods 42:39

14d ago42:39

42:39

Few lawyers and LRW instructors write and think more about AI than Professor Jane Woods of Mizzou Law, who offers this most important AI advice: If you haven’t read the case, don’t cite the case. The Boies Schiller Cautionary Tale: That would have saved Boies Schiller’s bacon. We discuss the high-profile Scientology/Masterson appeal, and whether th…

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A Masterclass in Writing (and Finding Love) with Tim Melody Pratt 46:42

17d ago46:42

46:42

In this episode of Strange Horizons at 25, Tim Melody Pratt walks Podcast Editor Kat Kourbeti through their extensive oeuvre in the SH archives, recounts meeting their life partner through the magazine, and explains how it all intertwined together into a life and career bursting with magic. Links and things: Want to leave us a happy birthday messag…

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'City Grown From Seed' by Diana Dima read by Emmie Christie 15:19

24d ago15:19

15:19

In this episode of the Strange Horizons Fiction podcast, editor Michael Ireland presents Diana Dima's 'City Grown From Seed' read by Emmie Christie. You can read the full text of the story, and more about Diana Dima ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠ Content Warning: Domestic violence / domestic abuse…

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Legal-tech guru Ernie Svenson on how attorneys should use AI 34:54

1M ago34:54

34:54

Just a couple years ago when we talked with Ernie Svenson, the attorney who talks tech fluently, AI was not even a thing. Now in late 2025, it’s the only thing. Ernie joins Tim and Jeff to discuss the rapidly evolving landscape of AI in legal practice, why AI gives small firms an advantage, and how attorneys can safely leverage these tools without …

1
Teaching Justices to Write: Cherise Bacalski 54:54

1M ago54:54

54:54

By Tim Kowal & Jeff Lewis

1
Critical Friends Episode 16: Length and Breadth with Redfern Jon Barrett and Nileena Sunil 48:56

1M ago48:56

48:56

In this episode of Critical Friends, the Strange Horizons SFF criticism podcast, Dan Hartland is joined by the novelist and critic Redfern Jon Barrett and the reader and reviewer Nileena Sunil. They discuss those novels that feel too short or not long enough: what's behind that feeling we have that a text is lacking something, or that it's overstre…

1
9th Circuit overrules the appeal-extension rule: 30 Days Means 30 Days 31:51

2M ago31:51

31:51

Appealing in the 9th Circuit? Your deadline is 30 days. Don’t let Rule 58’s “separate document” extension lead you astray. Appellate specialists Tim Kowal and Jeff Lewis also discuss ChatGPT 5 (a “market disruptor”), and sanctions strategies in federal court. Appeal Deadline Alert: The 9th Circuit in McNeil v. Guitare held that Rule 58's 150-day ex…

1
When Copy & Paste Gets Costly, & other recent cases 36:08

2M ago36:08

36:08

Failing to cite your secondary sources in briefs is poor form. But is it plagiarism? Jeff and Tim debate. And when the Supreme Court The publishes a case, should it explain itself? PJ Gilbert and Tim say yes, Supreme Court and Jeff disagree. Also in this episode: Can copying from a CLE article really get you sanctioned? Kelly v. Tao suggests… maybe…

1
'Of Flowing Stone, of Liquid Gold, of Justice, Ash, and Battle' by Malda Marlys read by Emmie Christie 27:32

2M ago27:32

27:32

In this episode of the Strange Horizons Fiction podcast, Michael Ireland presents Malda Marlys' 'Of Flowing Stone, of Liquid Gold, of Justice, Ash, and Battle' read by Emmie Christie. You can read the full text of the story, and more about Malda Marlys ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Subscribe to the Strange Horizons podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotif…

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Critical Friends Episode 15: On Time-Pass with Sneha Pathak and Tansy Gardam 54:59

2M ago54:59

54:59

In this episode of Critical Friends, the Strange Horizons SFF criticism podcast, Dan Hartland is joined by the literary reviewer Sneha Pathak and the host of the Going Rogue podcast, Tansy Gardam. They discuss the kinds of text which many don’t find worthy of criticism at all: books or movies or TikTok reels that might be termed popular, populist, …

1
Patrick Hagen’s legal writing tips for the LinkedIn masses 47:38

2M ago47:38

47:38

Patrick Hagen is a man of the people—he still proudly uses Times New Roman! But he also has the ear of LinkedIn’s legal-writing elite, with over 36,000 followers as of August 2025. Patrick sits down with Jeff and Tim to share the source and method behind his viral legal-writing tips, how his judicial clerkships shaped his voice, how to hone good wr…

1
Headless PAGA Claims, with Monte Grix 42:15

3M ago42:15

42:15

Unlike any other state, California effectively deputizes employees to act as “Private Attorney Generals” to sue employers for PAGA claims—both for themselves, and for their co-workers. But since the individual claims can get compelled to arbitration, employees started to file claims only on behalf of the “body” of co-workers, asserting no claim on …

1
Critical Friends Episode 14: Hard Times with Octavia Cade and M.L. Clark 59:29

3M ago59:29

59:29

In this episode of Critical Friends, the Strange Horizons SFF criticism podcast, Dan Hartland speaks with writers and critics Octavia Cade and M. L. Clark about writing in hard times. How and why is speculative friction written in contexts of defeat, despair, or decay? They discuss climate change and artificial intelligence, systems political, biol…

1
On Artistic Honesty with Debbie Urbanski (SH@25 Episode 15) 38:22

3M ago38:22

38:22

In this episode of Strange Horizons at 25, editor Kat Kourbeti chats to author Debbie Urbanski about her 2018 Strange Horizons publication and the 13 years of submissions it took to get accepted, writing in the gray areas between genres, and what it means to be artistically honest in your work. Links and things: Want to leave us a happy birthday me…

1
The John Eastman Disbarment Recommendation 45:54

4M ago45:54

45:54

Summarizing the extraordinary events surrounding the 2020 election, the California State Bar Court’s review decision issued a decision in June 2025 recommending that President Trump’s election attorney, John Eastman, be disbarred. Tim and Jeff unpack. Was Eastman merely theorizing, or actively advocating for a constitutional end-run? What is the di…

1
'Time is an Ocean' by Angela Liu read by Emmie Christie 26:27

4M ago26:27

26:27

In this episode of the Strange Horizons Fiction podcast, Michael Ireland presents Angela Liu's 'Time is an Ocean' read by Emmie Christie. You can read the full text of the story, and more about Angela Liu ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Subscribe to the Strange Horizons podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠…

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An Interview with Mary Robinette Kowal - SH@25 Ep13 43:16

4M ago43:16

43:16

In this episode of Strange Horizons at 25, editor Kat Kourbeti talks to Mary Robinette Kowal about the fractal nature of story structure, , and writing to please the teenaged version of you. Links and things: Want to leave us a happy birthday message? Click ⁠here to record an audio message⁠, and ⁠here for video⁠. Join our ⁠Patreon⁠ for early episod…

1
CALP - Interview – Adam Feldman on SCOTUS Term Roundup 46:09

4M ago46:09

46:09

SCOTUSblog contributor and EmpiricalSCOTUS analyst Adam Feldman joins us for a recap of the 2024–25 Supreme Court term. We dive into the end-of-term Stat Pack, ideological surprises, dissent patterns, and whether the Court is still a 6–3 conservative lock—or something more nuanced. We discuss: Headlines make an opinion a “blockbuster,” but what rea…

1
Judges maneuver around universal-injunction ban 43:05

4M ago43:05

43:05

Mere days after SCOTUS enjoins universal injunctions, judges find other way to afford “complete relief.” A big one: The Administrative Procedure Act allows courts to enjoin agency actions. Also: What if a defendant does not want a co-defendant dismissed and relieved of liability? The California Supreme Court says co-defendants can oppose each other…

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Critical Friends Episode 13: SF In Translation 55:27

4M ago55:27

55:27

In this episode of Critical Friends, the Strange Horizons SFF criticism podcast, Dan Hartland speaks with reviewers and critics Rachel Cordasco and Will McMahon about science fiction in translation (SFT), and specifically about those books appearing from small presses based in the US. They discuss recent news on NEA grants to these publishers, the …

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An Interview with Donyae Coles - Writing While Disabled S2E3 1:16:28

4M ago1:16:28

1:16:28

In the third episode of Writing While Disabled, Kristy Anne Cox and Kate Johnston sit down with author Donyae Coles for a frank and candid discussion around adjusting one's life and writing processes around one's disability, finding support to help with the tasks that become difficult, and how genre can lend itself to telling disabled stories authe…

1
So long, nationwide injunctions & 9th Cir. SLAPPs 39:53

4M ago39:53

39:53

No more nationwide injunctions, SCOTUS says Justice Barrett writing for the 6-3 majority in Trump v. CASA. District courts must limit their injunctions to the “case or controversy” before it. Justices Sotomayor and Jackson each wrote dissents urging that more judicial power was needed to check the executive. In response, Justice Barrett says that e…

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'Sister, Silkie, Siren, Shark' by Ariel Marken Jack read by Emmie Christie 25:09

5M ago25:09

25:09

In this episode of the Strange Horizons Fiction podcast, Michael Ireland presents Ariel Marken Jack's 'Sister, Silkie, Siren, Shark' read by Emmie Christie. You can read the full text of the story, and more about Ariel Marken Jack ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Subscribe to the Strange Horizons podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Content Warnings…

1
In re: LA Riots—Newsom v. Trump 39:02

5M ago39:02

39:02

Governor Newsom sued to enjoin President Trump’s deployment of the National Guard to quell the ongoing LA riots without Newsom’s consent. But first, we disclose our biases—about Trump, opportunistic political labeling of “rebellions” or “insurrections,” and how easily the thin veneer of civilization is pierced by masked cowards throwing rocks. Also…

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Trump tariffs enjoined by…which court? And SCOCA takes up appealability of dismissals 30:00

5M ago30:00

30:00

The Court of International Trade—whatever that is—enjoined Trump’s tariffs. But the Court of Appeal for the Federal Circuit imposed an administrative stay pending further briefing. We also cover: Defending a Zoom depo? If you refuse to go on camera and are accused of improper witness communication, you may be sanctioned. (Remote depos are a game-ch…

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'A City on It's Tentacles' by R.B. Lemberg read by Jenna Hanchey 33:59

5M ago33:59

33:59

In this episode of the Strange Horizons Fiction podcast, Michael Ireland presents R.B. Lemberg's A City on It's Tentacles' read by Jenna Hanchey. You can read the full text of the story, and more about R.B. Lemberg ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Subscribe to the Strange Horizons podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠ Content Warnings: Disregard for pers…

1
This is a District Court, not a Denny’s 21:46

6M ago21:46

21:46

The Supreme Court faulted the district judge in A.A.R.P. v. Trump for refusing to grant the Venezuelan alleged Tren de Aragua members’ injunction. But on remand, Judge Ho comes to the judge’s defense: after all, the judge only had 42 minutes’ notice. And to conclude that the judge had had some 14 hours, Judge Ho noted, the Supreme Court must have s…

1
SH@25 Episode 13: A Conversation with Nghi Vo 37:23

5M ago37:23

37:23

In this episode of Strange Horizons at 25, editor Kat Kourbeti talks to Nghi Vo about how Strange Horizons kickstarted her publishing journey, her weird and interesting life before writing took off, and the fearlessness it takes to make a writing career happen. Links and things: Want to leave us a happy birthday message? Click ⁠here to record an au…

1
Oral arguments on nationwide injunctions 28:19

6M ago28:19

28:19

SCOTUS spent two and a half hours hearing oral argument on Friday in the birthright-citizenship cases consolidated in Trump v. CASA—not about birthright citizenship, but about whether district courts should be issuing nationwide injunctions. Many justices, and commentators on both sides, have criticized nationwide injunctions as a judicial incursio…

1
'Half Sick of Shadows' by Elle Engel read by Emmie Christie 1:05:43

6M ago1:05:43

1:05:43

In this episode of the Strange Horizons Fiction podcast, Michael Ireland presents Elle Engel's 'Half Sick of Shadows' read by Emmie Christie You can read the full text of the story, and more about Elle Engel ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Subscribe to the Strange Horizons podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠ Content Warnings: Disregard for personal autonomy B…

1
SH@25 Episode 12: A Conversation with Naomi Kritzer 54:58

6M ago54:58

54:58

In this episode of Strange Horizons at 25, editor Kat Kourbeti talks to Naomi Kritzer about her non-linear writing journey, imagining positive futures, and how to deal with the world catching up to your near-future specfic. Links and things: Want to leave us a happy birthday message? Click ⁠here to record an audio message⁠, and ⁠here for video⁠. Jo…

1
The BigLaw EOs & Right to a Hearing 37:34

6M ago37:34

37:34

Trump’s executive order targeting Perkins Coie gets bench-slapped. Jeff recites the decision’s paean to the plight of lawyers. Tim wonders if Big Law was really hanging by such a slender thread. But on the law, neither is surprised by the result in Perkins Coie v. DOJ. Also this week: A motion to seal to protect privacy goes full Streisand Effect i…

1
Kidnapping, Pronouns & Dragons 28:24

7M ago28:24

28:24

A civil litigant, hit with $200,000 sanctions for plotting the kidnapping and murder of the defendant, gets the sanctions reversed. Next week the California Supreme Court will hear oral argument on whether the state can mandate long-term care facility employees to use residents’ preferred pronouns. If this is consistent with the First Amendment, co…

1
'By Salt, By Sea, By Light of Stars' by Premee Mohamed read by Kat Kourbeti 59:47

6M ago59:47

59:47

In this episode of the Strange Horizons Fiction podcast, Kat Kourbeti reads Premee Mohamed's Hugo Finalist Novelette 'By Salt, By Sea, By Light of Stars'. You can read the full text of the story, and more about Premee Mohamed ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Subscribe to the Strange Horizons podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠ Content Warnings: Blood Child abu…

1
SH@25 Episode 11: A Conversation with Charlie Jane Anders 36:15

7M ago36:15

36:15

In this episode of Strange Horizons at 25, editor Kat Kourbeti talks to Charlie Jane Anders about her Strange Horizons publications dating all the way back to 2002, charting her journey as a writer and her experience with the magazine over 20 years, as well as her love for community events and bringing people together. Links and things: Want to lea…

1
Wait, challenging a vaccine mandate is a SLAPP?? 34:21

7M ago34:21

34:21

Apple said no jab, no job. The actor sued. The Court of Appeal holds the jab policy is expressive conduct, and thus the suit was a SLAPP. Apple Studios dropped an actor from its Manhunt miniseries over a COVID vaccine mandate. The actor sued. Apple filed an anti-SLAPP motion—and won. Jeff and Tim break down Sexton v. Apple Studios and ask: Is a vac…

1
'BRIDE / BUTCHER / DOE' by Lowry Poletti read by Emmie Christie 50:57

7M ago50:57

50:57

In this episode of the Strange Horizons Fiction podcast, Michael Ireland presents Lowry Poletti's 'BRIDE / BUTCHER / DOE' read by Emmie Christie You can read the full text of the story, and more about Lowry Poletti ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Subscribe to the Strange Horizons podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠ Content Warnings: Abortion/miscarriage Animal c…

1
Does “Of Counsel” have Rule 11 duties? 29:33

8M ago29:33

29:33

Alan Dershowitz signed a complaint containing frivolous allegations in Kerri Lake v. Gates. But he’s only “of counsel” who reviewed one paragraph, containing nothing frivolous. So the panel reversed the Rule 11 sanctions—but warns that, going forward, “of counsel” is not a valid defense. Judge Bumatay writes separately to say it should be. Jeff agr…

1
Writing While Disabled S2E2: Farah Mendlesohn 58:52

7M ago58:52

58:52

In the second audio episode of Writing While Disabled, hosts Kristy Anne Cox and Kate Johnston welcome Farah Mendlesohn, acclaimed SFF scholar and con-runner, to talk all things hearing, dyslexia, and more ADHD adjustments, as well as what fandom could and should be doing better for accessibility at conventions, for both volunteers and attendees. S…

1
CALP-March Cases & Tidbits: Judge Van Dyke’s video dissent 27:12

8M ago27:12

27:12

Judge VanDyke made a YouTube video to accompany his dissent in Duncan v. Bonta, the Second Amendment case in which a Ninth Circuit en banc panel upheld California’s ban on handgun magazines over 10 bullets. Judge VanDyke’s video shows him disassembling a gun, comparing accessories, and using a portion of oral argument to claim his point wasn’t bein…

1
'Reprise' by Samantha Lane Murphy read by Emmie Christie 26:21

8M ago26:21

26:21

In this episode of the Strange Horizons Fiction podcast, Michael Ireland presents Samantha Lane Murphy's 'Reprise' read by Emmie Christie You can read the full text of the story, and more about Samantha Lane Murphy ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Subscribe to the Strange Horizons podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠ Content Warnings: Blood Death/dying Drug use Menta…

1
Did Trump Violate the Deportation Order? 34:55

8M ago34:55

34:55

A federal judge ordered the Trump administration not to deport five plaintiffs, alleged MS-13 and Tren de Aragua Venezuelan gang members. The administration complied, but then the judge verbally ordered the administration to turn around a plane and return 261 non-party alleged gang members. The administration didn’t do so, and appealed. Meanwhile, …

1
SH@25 Episode 10: An interview with Jordan Kurella, and a reading of his poem, 'this tree is a eulogy' 49:04

8M ago49:04

49:04

In this episode of Strange Horizons at 25, we present a soundscaped reading of Jordan Kurella's poem, 'this tree is a eulogy', and afterward Kat Kourbeti chats to Jordan about his writing process, the wonders of New Weird fiction, and the magic of writer friendships. Links and things: Want to leave us a happy birthday message? Click ⁠here to record…