All The World’s A Hype House

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Novelist, essayist, and publishing coach Leigh Stein returns to the podcast to talk about her new novel If You’re Seeing This, It’s Meant for You. Inspired by the Gothic tradition and set inside a Los Angeles “hype house,” the book follows a 39-year-old woman who has aged out of digital media (what a geriatric!) and finds herself managing a mansion full of TikTok influencers. In this conversation, Leigh explains how a Frank Lloyd Wright house, parasocial relationships, and even the controversies around Joan Didion’s private papers shaped the story. We also explore bigger questions about the creator economy, Substack’s uncertain future, fandom as a cultural force, and the thin line between art and content. Along the way, we touch on Coldplay-Gate, public shaming as a kind of modern scarlet letter, and what young writers should know about making a living while making art.

Guest Bio:

Leigh Stein is the author of six books, including the critically acclaimed satirical novel Self Care and a gothic novel titled If You’re Seeing This, It’s Meant for You. She has written culture pieces and personal essays for the New York Times, the Washington Post, the New Yorker online, Airmail, Allure, ELLE, BuzzFeed, The Cut, Salon, and Slate.

Leigh’s previous visits to the podcast.

Housekeeping

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