# Season 4 Ep 4 | Gregg Wilhelm | Telling Better Stories in Troubled Times

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/some-things-considered-with-sean-murphy-7026430/season-4-ep-4-gregg-wilhelm-telling-better-stories-in-troubled-times
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/some-things-considered-with-sean-murphy-7026430/season-4-ep-4-gregg-wilhelm-telling-better-stories-in-troubled-times.md
Podcast: [Some Things Considered with Sean Murphy](https://stenobird.com/podcast/some-things-considered-with-sean-murphy-7026430)
Published: 2025-08-12T12:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://murphlaw.substack.com/p/season-4-ep-4-gregg-wilhelm-telling
Audio file: https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/168886366/5c73a08aee7915e3c49f9b2affeff4dc.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/some-things-considered-with-sean-murphy-7026430/episodes/season-4-ep-4-gregg-wilhelm-telling-better-stories-in-troubled-times
Duration seconds: 4060

## Resource

Today on STC , I’m joined by someone I’ve had the pleasure of working with (and learning from) for years: Gregg Wilhelm , Director of Mason Creative Writing, co-founder of Watershed Lit, and long-time literary advocate and publishing pro. Gregg’s experience spans every corner of the literary world—from launching presses to running CityLit, mentoring students, and staying in the fray as the arts face new pressures and provocations. In this conversation, we go deep on: * The state of MFA programs and the future of English majors * Why fewer students are reading (and how to bring them back) * The collapse of public arts funding and what can (or can’t) replace it * How to maintain faith and focus when AI, apathy, and anti-humanities sentiment threaten to flatten everything we care about * The power of literary citizenship —not just as a concept, but as a lifeline for community and creative survival I’ve always admired Gregg for his tireless advocacy, his unshakable belief in writers and teachers, and his realism that never tips into resignation. He’s someone who doesn’t just talk about “resistance,” he builds platforms, creates programs, and helps train the next generation of literary citizens. This episode is especially relevant for: * Writing students and aspiring educators * Anyone navigating the literary world post-Covid / mid-AI * Advocates trying to make sense of a shrinking public square for the arts * Listeners who want to be reminded why stories still matter—and how we can keep telling them, even now If you dig it, please share with a teacher, student, or friend trying to do the good work. ABOUT GREGG WILHELM Instagram : @greggwilhelm Facebook : Gregg Wilhelm LinkedIn : Gregg Wilhelm Website : greggwilhelm.com CityLit Project : @citylitproject ABOUT SOME THINGS CO…

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