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When History Becomes Fiction: Frank S. Joseph on Race, Identity & Memory (Ep. 245)
About this Episode
In this episode, I broadcast live from the Asylum Studios in Eagle Pass, Texas, and welcome award-winning author and former AP journalist Frank S. Joseph. We trade icebreakers—from dream coffee chats with biblical figures to a simple billboard plea to “be kind”—then dive into Frank’s Chicago roots, his grandfather’s South Side theater, the city’s rigid mid-century segregation, and how those lived experiences shaped his acclaimed Chicago trilogy: To Love Mercy, To Walk Humbly, and To Do Justice.
Frank recounts formative years covering civil unrest for the Associated Press, including the Detroit riot, and how those frontline moments evolved into moral historical fiction exploring race, community, conflict, and forgiveness. We also touch on his journalism-to-publishing journey, the craft behind writing multiple first-person voices, and where readers can find his books and website.
Housekeeping includes our packed run of live shows and a note to connect with us via joerooz.com. We also preview Frank’s planned return for a deeper dive into the novels. If you’re into Chicago history, newsroom chaos, and character-driven stories that wrestle with America’s past and present, this conversation will hook you.
Guest:
Frank S. Joseph
https://frankjoseph.com/
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Special thanks to:
Executive Producer Wayne Rankin
Executive Producer Rosanna Rankin
Executive Producer Carolina Jimenez
Executive Producer Marisa Lee
Executive Producer Angela Wetuski
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(00:03:44) Cold open and Asylum Studios intro
(00:04:09) Joe Roos welcomes listeners from Eagle Pass
(00:04:58) Show lineup recap and TNM panel update
(00:06:21) Recent episode plug and channel housekeeping
(00:07:02) Why the show is live and "let it rip" ethos
(00:07:32) Housekeeping: platform and website notes
(00:11:08) Guest reveal: author and former AP journalist Frank S. Joseph
(00:11:57) Frank joins and warms up
(00:12:54) Icebreakers: misconceptions, languages, and Italy
(00:15:15) Coffee with Job and discussing the Book of Job
(00:18:55) Be kind: civility amid polarization
(00:19:22) Chicago South Side in mid‑century: neighborhoods and identity
(00:22:48) Segregation, Bronzeville, and Frank’s grandfather’s theater
(00:28:05) Writing in many voices: research and craft
(00:29:44) Moving to the suburbs and accents; baseball loyalties
(00:33:44) Shaping views on race: restrictive covenants and migration
(00:40:36) A White Sox night sparks the first novel’s inciting scene
(00:43:50) Backstage viewers and chat cameo
(00:43:52) AP years begin: newsroom chaos and mentorship
(00:45:42) Covering riots: first alerts and street reporting
(00:47:57) Detroit riot: on the ground accounts and being shot at
(00:53:18) Human moments amid unrest: voices, humor, tragedy
(00:53:22) From reporting to grad school to DC journalism
(00:56:58) Washington Post, newsletters, and publishing career
(00:59:15) Turning to novels and the Chicago trilogy
(01:00:32) Awards, titles from Micah, and where to buy
(01:01:58) Moral fiction and reflecting on leadership
(01:04:46) Author links, libraries, and community
(01:07:17) Wrapping the interview and thanks
(01:07:52) Show close: schedule, platforms, and sign‑off
- Wayne Rankin
- Rosanna Rankin
- Carolina Jimenez
Hosts & Guests
No transcript available for this episode.
