Rick Kirkman, the artist of “Baby Blues,” which is in over 1200 papers, joins me for a talk on his art, working with his old friend and colleague Jerry Scott, and their interesting and frustrating journey into television animation! It’s quite an honor to have someone of his experience and talent on the show, so help me celebrate 20 years of “Baby Blues” with him!

Writer, journalist, advertising maven and “Southern-Fried Iconoclast” Kimberly Krautter, classes up the joint the Nth degree. She writes for the Huffington Post, the Atlanta Journal, is a blogger and Twitter-er extraordinaire, and is currently writing and researching a book entitled “Foreclosure on the Fourth Estate: How ’spin-fluence’ and ‘info-tainment’ killed the American Newspaper.”  This is a subject I’ve covered with cartoonists, writers, editors and syndicate folk, but Kimberly is full of amazing insight and information, and is easily the most knowlegable person I’ve ever talked to on the subject. She’s got over 20 years of journalism and advertising in her blood, and brings a very unique viewpoint and objective eye to the debate.

This was definitely one of my favorite interviews, and I hope I asked her some thought-provoking questions. I’m used to goofball cartoonists, not actual writers! I think you’ll find this very informative, and hopeful, despite the title.

HUGE kudos go out to Steve Ogden, he of “Moon Town” and other amazing projects. Steve is a big supporter of Tall Tale Radio, and was on the show with “Marooned” genius Tom Dell’Aringa, which you can listen to here.  Steve blogs and podcasts his brain drippings on a regular basis and is a great guy, not to mention one of my favorite  artists/writers!

Stephan Pastis, Keith Knight and Richard Thompson held a panel at the San Diego Comic Con entitled “Syndication is Dead; Long Live Syndication.”  They talked a lot about the state of the newspaper industry and the web world, and I was hoping the whole panel might be about that, but they started getting questions about getting syndicated and such from the fans, so they got a little off topic…but it’s still full of great information and candid talk from three experienced pros.  Stephan is the moderator, so his is the first voice you hear.  After the panel, Lucas Turnbloom and I talk a little bit about it from the floor of the convention, and then we’re joined by Brock Heasley, who was unexpectedly offered a badge to the Con and was there with his lovely wife Erin.  We talk about his and Lucas’s experiences at the Con, the “Lost” panel, and writing in general.  Enjoy!

Rus Wornom, a freelance writer with many years of experience in the newspaper industry, joins me to talk about the grim state of newspapers today.  It’s something that is affecting anyone who works in print as a cartoonist or writer, as we’re in a very unstable and changing time. Rus brings his vaulable insight to the table, having written for newspapers, magazines, blogs, and several published novels. He’s been right in the middle of the editorial/business end of things, and what he has to say is truly illuminating. We try to see what the future holds, and it’s not all doom and gloom!

Also, I announce the very first sponsor for Tall Tale Radio, the mighty KeenSpot. I’m proud to have them on board, so check out their amazing comics, and if you’re a creator, you’ll want to look at their free comics hosting site, Comics Genesis.

All that and Tall Tale Features news, too!