Chris Crutcher is an award-winning author, former family therapist, and lifelong advocate for intellectual freedom. Raised in Cascade, Idaho, he found his way to storytelling through an unconventional path—from reading Playboy for the articles to working as a teacher and director at an alternative school in Oakland and later as a family therapist specializing in child abuse and neglect. His real-world experiences directly shaped his raw, unflinching novels, tackling abuse, trauma, identity, and resilience with brutal honesty and humor.
In this conversation, Crutcher shares how his life as a therapist shaped his storytelling, how humor balances darkness, and why censorship harms young readers more than it protects them. He explores the difference between innocence and ignorance, urging parents to engage in discussions rather than banning books.
He also discusses his upcoming nonfiction project, Stotanic Verses, which highlights real-life stories of resilience. A recipient of the Margaret A. Edwards Lifetime Achievement Award and two Intellectual Freedom awards, Crutcher’s works, including Whale Talk and Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes, have frequently been challenged for their honesty but continue to inspire and empower young readers. Watch now as he dives into storytelling, truth, and the fight to keep books in the hands of readers.
visit his website: http://www.chriscrutcher.com/
Popular Podcasts
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show
The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show. Clay Travis and Buck Sexton tackle the biggest stories in news, politics and current events with intelligence and humor. From the border crisis, to the madness of cancel culture and far-left missteps, Clay and Buck guide listeners through the latest headlines and hot topics with fun and entertaining conversations and opinions.