Aaron Lammer
Co-founder, Longform
Discussion
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Aaron Lammer
@aaronlammer · Co-founder, Longform
Hi, I'm of the host of the Longform Podcast. We interview non-fiction writers about how they do their jobs. We try to cover a broad swath of different kinds of writing happening on the internet, from the bigger magazine writers to editors and people building new publications.
I'm curious as to what people would like to hear about from the writers they read online.
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Corley
@corleyh · COO @ Product Hunt
@aaronlammer thanks for joining. Given your focus on non-fiction who are your favorite authors? And what are a few of your favorite biographies? Finally, do you also use video as a source of inspiration for Longform? (Thinking of Ken Burns)
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Aaron Lammer
@aaronlammer · Co-founder, Longform
@corleyh Wow, tough question. I'm not sure there is anyone alive who does magazine writing better than David Grann.
I recently read a biography of Cortes called "Conquistador" that I would recommend. But I actually read so much non-fiction for work that I tilt more towards fiction in my civilian life.
I watch a lot of documentaries (the Frontline piece "My Brother's Bomber, which I watched recently, is brilliant) and I would like to represent video more on Longform sometime.
The divisions between telling stories with text, audio, and video are eroding. The same publishers are doing all three, and I expect artists of the future will be fluent in them all.
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Aaron Lammer
@aaronlammer · Co-founder, Longform
How long do these things go? Do yal serve sandwiches?
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Aaron Lammer
@aaronlammer · Co-founder, Longform
@aaronlammer Here's a link to the Longform Podcast for anyone now curious http://longform.org/podcast
Alex Carter
@alexcartaz · Operations @ 60dB. Ex-PH Podcasts 😻
@aaronlammer if you do the LIVE Chat from our HQ in San Fran! =)
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Aaron Lammer
@aaronlammer · Co-founder, Longform
@alexcartaz fax me a sandwich Carter
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Aaron Lammer
@aaronlammer · Co-founder, Longform
@russfrushtick Rukmini Callimachi, who covers ISIS for the New York Times https://longform.org/posts/longf...
Her job is endlessly complex and brings up some of the most difficult ethical issues in reporting today. She's brilliant and has thought a lot about what she does for a living.
Will Roper
@wwr228
@aaronlammer @russfrushtick Awesome. I am going to have to give this a listen. I heard her on Reply All and have been looking for more info.
Emily Hodgins
@ems_hodge · Community and Marketing, Product Hunt
Hi Aaron who would you most like to interview - that you haven't already and why?
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Aaron Lammer
@aaronlammer · Co-founder, Longform
@ems_hodge Very curious about John McPhee. His Princeton writing seminar has turned out everyone from Tim Ferriss to John Seabrook.
Whatever he teaches (or, taught) is the secret sauce.
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Aaron Lammer
@aaronlammer · Co-founder, Longform
@ems_hodge John McPhee. His Princeton seminar churns out the best writers in America. He has (or had, before he retired) the special sauce.
Alex Carter
@alexcartaz · Operations @ 60dB. Ex-PH Podcasts 😻
@aaronlammer @ems_hodge is anything stopping you? I feel like there are a lot of fascinating people who haven't surfaced on podcast episodes who would make excellent guests, like John.
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Aaron Lammer
@aaronlammer · Co-founder, Longform
@alexcartaz @ems_hodge We're working on it. He's in his late eighties so it's tricky.
Emily Hodgins
@ems_hodge · Community and Marketing, Product Hunt
What has been the best / funniest and most surprising moment for whilst hosting the Longform Podcast (they can be three separate incidences). Thanks!
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Aaron Lammer
@aaronlammer · Co-founder, Longform
@ems_hodge
Best moment: Post-taping dinner with Gay Talese
Funniest moment: There is an episode where handjobs are being discussed and I spontaneously spilled a drink all over myself.
Brent Summers
@brentsum · Founder, Code-Free Startup
How do you approach the writing process personally?
Alex Carter
@alexcartaz · Operations @ 60dB. Ex-PH Podcasts 😻
Thanks for joining us today Aaron! What is most exciting to you about podcasts right now? The most frustrating?
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Aaron Lammer
@aaronlammer · Co-founder, Longform
@alexcartaz I think the most exciting part is how wide open the format is. It feels like the Wild West.
There are so many things that haven't been done with audio yet.
The most frustrating part for me is how poorly audio interacts with the rest of the web. Sharing is a drag, it's hard for it to exist socially. And it's hard for someone like my parents to even listen to my show. They can't figure it out.
But maybe that's also what makes it special? That it's a bit of an island?
Alex Carter
@alexcartaz · Operations @ 60dB. Ex-PH Podcasts 😻
@aaronlammer totally agree, very well said!
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Aaron Lammer
@aaronlammer · Co-founder, Longform
@alexcartaz that's what makes things like your podcast tab exciting
Alex Carter
@alexcartaz · Operations @ 60dB. Ex-PH Podcasts 😻
@aaronlammer absolutely! hoping to ramp up recommendations from podcast hosts soon too =)
Ben Tossell
@bentossell · Community Lead, Product Hunt
@aaronlammer Hey what would the you of 3 years ago think of you right now?
Ben Tossell
@bentossell · Community Lead, Product Hunt
@aaronlammer @bentossell likewise :( haha
Melissa Joy Kong
@melissajoykong · Content, Product Hunt
If you could change any one thing to make the world a better place to live today, what would it be and why?
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Aaron Lammer
@aaronlammer · Co-founder, Longform
@melissajoykong I guess I'd shift the US to a more democratic socialist political framework?
Erik Torenberg
@eriktorenberg · Former Product Hunt
@aaronlammer @melissajoykong elaborate please!!!