In Episode 46 of the Page One Podcast, we interview author Lissa Soep about what it took to write OTHER PEOPLE’S WORDS and discuss language, loss, and the voices that shape us long after people are gone. If you’ve ever kept an old voicemail just to hear someone’s voice again, or a series of text messages from someone no longer in your life, this episode is for you! Lissa’s book explores a profound idea: when we lose people, their words don’t disappear. They echo, evolve, and continue shaping our lives in unexpected ways. Grounded in her background in linguistic anthropology at Stanford, she weaves together memory and meaning with rare emotional precision. Inspired by Russian literary theorist Mikhail Bakhtin, she sees voices as living threads in the fabric of our relationships. Lissa’s journey from academic writing to literary nonfiction was anything but smooth. Stripping away the formal constraints of academia felt like losing a safety net, but it led her to a voice both raw and lyrical. She discovered that finding her voice was not about control—it was about trust. She admitted to the same doubts that haunt many writers: What if I can’t do this? But encouragement from loved ones, including the very friends she writes about, kept her going.This conversation left me reflecting on the voices that live within me—those I’ve lost, those I carry, and those I’m still learning from. Other People’s Words is more than a memoir; it’s a companion, a lyrical prayer, and a testament to the enduring power of language—to keep us connected with each other forever.
Page One, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.
About the guest author:
San Francisco author Lissa Soep is a senior editor for audio at Vox Media and special projects producer and senior scholar-in-residence at YR Media. Lissa earned a PhD from Stanford, where she studied education, social theory, and linguistic anthropology with leading Bakhtin scholars—which deeply influenced her memoir, Other People’s Words, published by Spiegel and Grau about how we carry within us the language of loved ones who are gone.
About the host:
Holly Lynn Payne is an award-winning novelist and writing coach, and the former CEO and founder of Booxby, a startup built to help authors succeed. She is an internationally published author of four historical fiction novels. Her debut, The Virgin's Knot, was a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers book. As an author and writing coach, she knows that the first page of any book has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. So she thought to ask your favorite master storytellers how they do their magic to hook you. Holly lives in Marin County with her family and two Labrador retrievers, and enjoys mountain biking, hiking, swimming and pretending to surf. To learn more about her books and writing coaching services, please follow her on IG + X @hollylynnpayne or visit hollylynnpayne.com.
Tune in and reach out:
If you're an aspiring writer or a book lover, this episode of Page One offers a treasure trove of inspiration and practical advice. I offer these conversations as a testament to the magic that happens when master storytellers share their secrets and experiences. We hope you are inspired to tune into the full episode for more insights. Keep writing, keep reading, and remember—the world needs your stories. If I can help you tell your own story, or help improve your first page, please reach out @hollylynnpayne or visit hollylynnpayne.com.
You can listen to Page One on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher and all your favorite podcast players. Hear past episodes. If you're interested in getting writing tips and the latest podcast episode updates with the world's beloved master storytellers, please sign up for my very short monthly newsletter at hollylynnpayne.com and follow me @hollylynnpayne on Instagram, Twitter, Goodreads, and Facebook. Your email address is always private and you can always unsubscribe anytime.
The Page One Podcast is created at the foot of a mountain in Marin County, California, and is a labor of love in service to writers and book lovers. My intention is to inspire, educate and celebrate. Thank you for being a part of my creative community! Be well and keep reading.
~Holly~