Mysterious Goings On with Alex Greenwood
Explore the world of creativity and writing with Mysterious Goings On with J. Alexander Greenwood. Named a 2022 Top 5 Literature Podcast by CrowdUltra and a "New & Noteworthy" show by Apple Podcasts in 2016, this show is a magnet for top-selling authors and creative minds. Subscribe to embark on an enthralling journey through the world of creativity and literature. Website: https://mgopod.com/ Become a Paid Subscriber: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/j-alexander-greenwood/subscribe
Episodes
Welcome to Season 16 of Mysterious Goings On.
Sometimes it takes a hard knock to the head to change how you see time.
After a simple workplace accident led to an ER visit, Alex Greenwood found himself staring at a very different kind of threshold—one marked by uncertainty, health scares, and the quiet reckoning that comes when life reminds you it’s not a dress rehearsal.
In this deeply personal premiere episode, Alex reflects on what ...
In our Season 15 finale, Alex talks about how, in the late Robert Redford’s All Is Lost, survival looks less like fireworks and more like grit, silence, and finally, a single reaching hand.
In this episode, Alex Greenwood reflects on the film’s ending and what it teaches us about endurance, despair, and the ways hope shows up in real life.
***Spoiler alert: If you haven’t seen Robert Redford’s 2013 film All Is Lost, we discuss the ...
What does Edith Piaf have to teach us about surviving chaos in 2025? From La Vie en Rose to Marvel blockbusters, I explore why old voices still matter when today’s culture feels hollow.
Plus, a special announcement: get 50% off your first year as a paid subscriber to All the Fits That’s News .
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In 2006, Mike Judge’s Idiocracy was satire. In 2025, it looks like the nightly news. Alex unpacks how anti-intellectualism, corporate dominance, politics as spectacle, and meme-economics echo Judge’s dystopia—and why the joke is starting to feel real.
Plus, a special announcement: get 50% off your first year as a paid subscriber to All the Fits That’s News .
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Is the social media era finally losing its grip on us?
In this episode, Alex reads his essay “Peak Social Media: When the Craze Becomes a Chore,” examining platform fatigue, expert perspectives on digital burnout, and the quiet rise of slower, more intentional spaces like Reddit and Substack.
Plus, a special announcement: get 50% off your first year as a paid subscriber to All the Fits That’s News .
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Join host Alex Greenwood for a conversation with Colonel Ralph R. “Rick” Steinke (U.S. Army, Ret.)—West Point graduate, U.S. Army veteran, and author of the award-winning Jake Fortina military thriller series.
Steinke draws on 28 years in the Army and 14 with the Department of Defense to bring high-stakes realism to his novels.
His latest, Vital Mission—releasing August 26, (note: there will be no pre-orders)—tackles the harrowing ...
What happens when one person wears the hats of author, illustrator, AND designer? You get a book like The Mystery of A Nubbins—a richly imagined adventure that feels like it stepped straight out of the Golden Age of Illustration.
In this episode, I sit down with W.S. Wiist, who brings three decades of creative experience to his dream project. We talk about:
✅ How childhood wonder shaped The Mystery of A Nubbins
✅ The Brandywine Schoo...
What happens when you ask Starfleet’s most logical mind to make sense of modern America? From politics to conspiracy theories, climate denial to social media chaos, Commander Spock doesn’t pull punches.
He even offers his thoughts on the current state of Star Trek—and yes, he has opinions about blowing up the Enterprise, killing off Kirk, and the eyebrow-raising “young Spock.”
No emotion. No spin. Just reason.
🖖 Listen now for a con...
On this special Independence Day episode, Alex steps away from fiction and into the present-day reality of a nation at a crossroads.
Dispirit of ’76 (also published on Substack) is a personal roadtrip through American optimism—what it was, what it’s become, and whether we still have the will to pursue the “beautiful world” promised in Donald Fagen’s 1982 track “I.G.Y.”
Along the way, Alex revisits key moments in U.S. history—from 1...
In this episode, we explore the power of imperfection.
From fictional characters who’ve survived trauma, addiction, grief, and self-sabotage, to real-life reflections on what it means to show up anyway—this is a tribute to the flawed, the functional, and the quietly heroic.
✅ Why competence is its own kind of courage
✅ How storytelling helps us reframe resilience
✅ The link between emotional wounds and meaningful work
✅ ...
Host J. Alex Greenwood riffs on Harlan Ellison’s legendary “Pay the Writer” rant and explains why writing for “exposure” often ends in creative bankruptcy.
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What can a scrappy Little League C team teach us about courage, accountability, and democracy?
In this episode, Alex steps back into right field—the place where misfit ballplayers and underdogs get benched—only to discover it’s where some of life’s toughest (and truest) lessons are learned.
From a coach who looked more Grateful Dead than gridiron, to a ground ball that literally knocked the wind out of him, Alex unpacks why standing...
In this heartfelt Father's Day reflection, Alex Greenwood shares his evolving role as a father, emphasizing the importance of boundaries, protection, and trust in parenting.
Through personal anecdotes, he illustrates the challenges and rewards of fatherhood, ultimately highlighting the goal of fostering a strong, trusting relationship with his daughter as she grows into her own person.
Alex Greenwood explores the multifaceted nature of persuasion, particularly in writing and storytelling. He discusses how writers use persuasion to create believable narratives, the ethical implications of persuasion in various fields, and the importance of trust in the writer-reader relationship.
Through examples from fiction, public relations, and law, he highlights the thin line between persuasion and manipulation, urging listen...
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The survey closes once we hit our target number...
Alex explores the decline of a shared sense of purpose in America, emphasizing the importance of civic understanding, empathy, and community. He discusses how societal divisions have been exacerbated by misinformation and a lack of civic education, leading to a fragmented democracy.
He advocates for a return to the American ideal of unity and cooperation, urging listeners to engage in meaningful dialogue and support civics educatio...
Alex shares personal anecdotes and real-life examples illustrating the theme that good intentions often lead to unexpected and ungrateful consequences. Through stories from his student government days and various historical examples, he reflects on the challenges faced by those who try to do good in the world, emphasizing the importance of perseverance despite the potential for backlash.
So, do your good deed for the day and listen ...
From “loosing” your keys to earning “money” in your “spare” time, we explore the accidental sarcasm of grammar gone rogue. If you’ve ever been personally victimized by a misused apostrophe or ironic quotation marks, this one’s for you.
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It's graduation season!
In his version of a commencement speech, Alex Greenwood shares candid insights and life lessons for graduates, emphasizing the importance of embracing luck, learning from failure, and building meaningful relationships. He encourages listeners to cultivate emotional intelligence, set boundaries, and live fully by appreciating life's seasons.
With a blend of humor and sincerity, Greenwood offers practic...
What if I told you that America’s real divide isn’t red vs. blue—but rule followers vs. reflexive rebels?
That we’ve mistaken rebellion for personality, and defiance for strength?
In today’s episode, we’re unpacking the rise of oppositional behavior as a dominant cultural force—why being told “no” is the new national trauma, and how it’s reshaping everything from politics to the office break room.
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