Episode #1: Xochitl Gonzalez

In this episode, Lisette Nieves is joined by bestselling author Xochitl Gonzalez for a candid and thought-provoking conversation on voice, power, and creative purpose. Xochitl reflects on her unconventional path to writing, her commitment to telling fuller, more honest stories about identity and class, and the responsibility that comes with visibility. Together, they explore what it means to create space, not just within existing systems, but by building new ones. The conversation also offers a glimpse into her upcoming novel Last Night in Brooklyn and the evolving journey of her work.

Xochitl Gonzalez is the New York Times bestselling author of the award-winning novel Olga Dies Dreaming, the Reese’s Book Club Pick Anita de Monte Laughs Last, and Last Night in Brooklyn (out 4-21-26). She is a contributor to The Atlantic, where she was recognized as a 2023 Pulitzer Prize finalist in Commentary. A native Brooklynite and proud public school graduate, Gonzalez holds a BA from Brown University and an MFA from the Iowa Writers’ Workshop.