Hot Seat: Media Monday Writer William Welch “Doubly Mad Journal” and comedian Rob Fish 3-17-25

This episode of Hot Seat: Media Monday features writer William Welch, author of Adding Saffron and publisher of Doubly Mad: An Independent Journal of Arts & Ideas, and Rob Fish, a comedian who has been doing shows throughout the Northeast for the past 8 years. His new podcast, Small Town Shithead, debuts this week. We discuss poetry, comedy, and the creative process in our conversation. Welch shares insights into his semi-autobiographical poetry book, Adding Saffron, which explores his life experiences and the journey of observation while searching for a sense of home. He also talks about the challenges of being present as an artist and being mindful when experiencing the emotional depths required for impactful writing. Fish shares his experiences in comedy and the importance of putting in the time and work and finding the truth in performance and storytelling. 

The episode concludes with a discussion about the importance of observation and empathy. Comedy and poetry aim to assure that vulnerabilities and struggles are universal, with performers exposing their insecurity while delivering relatable material. Artists get people to "stop and look," finding humor in pain, taboos, and embarrassing moments, as comedy and tragedy coexist in great art. Trusting one's creative impulse and intuition to create a unique world, rather than following cultural norms, allows writers to share their vision despite vulnerability to rejection.