Ep. 8 Laura Hess '95

Here From There: Conversations with Burroughs Alums

Laura Hess graduated from Burroughs in 1995 and set a course to become an actor in New York, but when it did't work out, she began a journey that eventually found her working as an experience design strategist in Los Angeles. The story Laura has to tell about that journey gets right to the heart of what Here From There is all about: there is never one set path that leads to the future, and learning to embrace failure and grow from it is perhaps the most important lesson of them all.

To learn more about the world of experiential art, entertaiment, and commerce in which Laura works, check out her website and her substack.

During the episode, John and Laura talk about a particular image of the playwright Samuel Beckett. You can see that image here.

They also discuss a particular piece of writing in which Laura references the late Charlie Derleth, a Burroughs teacher who was a huge influence. You can read that piece here.

Coming up next month: the first ever Here From There Summer Reading Episode.

At the end of John's conversation with novelist Elizabeth Little in Episode 6, (go check it out, if you haven't already!) John assigned her latest novel, Pretty as a Picture, for summer reading. The summer is coming to a close, so it's time to finish an assignment you're really going to enjoy. Get a copy here or at your favorite bookstore or library and give it a read. Then check out next month's episode when John and EB talk about that book and her writing process.