Morgan Talty's "Burn," which you can read for free right here, packs a lot of punch into just over 1,200 words. Ben and Matthew try to emulate the story's concentrated sting with an equally succinct podcast, going into place, belongingness, friendship and the truth behind frozen hair.

In this episode, Matthew explains what it was like attending two writing conferences this summer, Community of Writers and Bread Loaf, and Ben talks about a summer of writing on the road. Plus, a quick preview of what's awaiting you on the Dogg this fall.

In this episode, Ben and Matthew get into Geetha Iyer's short story "Continental Drift," speculative fiction, getting the reader "to question the [allegorical] element [brought] into question" and what the summer has in store.

This time Ben and Matthew speak with MM De Voe. Among other things, she is a writer of fiction and nonfiction and the founder of Pen Parentis, a nonprofit devoted to keeping the creative flame burning for writer parents. She and the guys discuss the pitfalls of pigeonholing, why writing gets no respect, the absurdity of being and of course her creative output as well as the outreach she does for writers.

After a long time off, Matthew surprises Ben with the topic of top-three short stories. Each then list their favorite three short stories, and are taken adrift to other places, like pocket universes.

Ben and Matthew speak with writer Shannon Sanders. Shannon is the author of Company, a short story collection that came out in October of last year. Apart from her new book, the conversation hits on the writing process, character connections and literary worlds in collections and the dynamics of being a host and being a guest. Plus, at the end Matthew and Ben pick their favorite stories in the collection.

After hibernating all January and most of February, Ben and Matthew return with winter reading recommendations and writing resolutions for the new year.

In this episode, Ben and Matthew each list five small literary magazines that they're reading right now.