News related to Decline of the Lawrence Welk Empire

by Poe Ballantine

Heartland Media of Chicago & the Live from the Heartland Radio Show: Readings from The Sun—featuring Sy Safransky, founder and editor of The Sun, along with contributors Poe Ballantine, Krista Bremer, and Cheryl Strayed.

02 Feb 2017|

Readings from The Sun—featuring Sy Safransky, founder and editor of The Sun, along with contributors Poe Ballantine, Krista Bremer, and Cheryl Strayed.

Poe Ballantine reads “The Irving” from his essay collection, 501 Minutes to Christ. This story details Poe’s diabolic plan to punch John Irving in the nose after he opens for him at the inaugural Wordstock Festival in Portland, Oregon. Why did Poe want to deck the famous author? Watch here to find out.

Poe Ballantine interviewed by Matt Dwyer at Feral Audio

08 Jan 2014|

“Poe Ballantine is easily one of my favorite writers so to have him on the show is a huge thrill. He joins me to talk about his twenty something years as a drifter, the deterioration of culture and how obscurity may be the best route to fame. Poe’s unique take on the world is thought provoking and challenging. This is one of my favorite conversations.”—Matt Dwyer


Matt Dwyer is a comedian, actor and writer who has been a staple in the alternative comedy scenes in Chicago, New York and LA....Forward

Poe Ballantine’s “Free Rent at the Totalitarian Hotel” included in Best American Essays 2013

18 Apr 2013|

Poe Ballantine’s “Free Rent at the Totalitarian Hotel” originally published in The Sun Magazine included in Best American Essays 2013, Cheryl Strayed, Editor, and Robert Atwan, Series Editor. (October, 2013.)

Selected and introduced by Cheryl Strayed, the New York Times best-selling author of Wild and the writer of the celebrated column “Dear Sugar,” this collection is a treasure trove of fine writing and thought-provoking essays.