The Pulp Scribbler meets the Capsized Ship

Flower in the River: A Family Tale Finally Told

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In this episode, I open with a poignant story about my mother’s friend Donna—a moment of compassion that left an indelible mark on my life. It’s a small, tender memory, but one that unlocks a much bigger story—one of the most compelling and overlooked accounts I’ve come across in my research on the Eastland disaster.

Now, picture this: Chicago, July 1915. A young writer, already living on the edge of convention, leans against a bridge railing, lost in thought. Suddenly, chaos erupts. The Eastland, a ship loaded with unsuspecting passengers, capsizes right before his eyes. Jack Woodford—writer, observer, dreamer—is frozen in time. What he witnesses changes him forever, but it’s not just the event itself that leaves a mark. It’s how he chooses to capture it. His words are raw, immediate, philosophical—striking in a way no other account of the disaster dares to be.

And yet, history tucked his testimony away, like a forgotten page in an old book. Why? That question gnawed at me, pulling me deeper into Jack’s life. He wasn’t just an eyewitness; he was a man who lived boldly. From churning out pulp novels to crafting how-to writing guides, from brushes with Hollywood’s glamour to clashes with the law, Jack Woodford was a force to be reckoned with.

In this episode, we unravel Jack’s story—his life, his work, his haunting connection to the Eastland disaster. We’ll dive into the immediate chaos he captured so vividly and the philosophical musings that followed. Along the way, we’ll confront some uncomfortable truths: who gets to decide which stories matter? Why do some voices echo through time, while others disappear?

Join me as we bridge the gap between past and present, exploring not just the disaster but the lasting ripples it sends through all our lives. This is about more than a tragedy. It’s about memory, resilience, and the power of storytelling to shape how we see ourselves and the world around us.
Resources

• Trial and error : a key to the secret of writing and selling (Internet Archive)
• Rakuten Kobo (Kobo Books)

• Book website: https://www.flowerintheriver.com/
• LinkTree: @zettnatalie | Linktree
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalie-z-87092b15/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zettnatalie/
• YouTube: Flower in the River - A Family Tale Finally Told - YouTube
• Medium: Natalie Zett – Medium
• The opening/closing song is Twilight by 8opus
• Other music. Artlist

فصول

1. The Pulp Scribbler meets the Capsized Ship (00:00:00)

2. The Enigma of Jack Woodford (00:00:07)

3. Tragic Disaster on the Eastland (00:13:35)

4. Jack Woodford's Life and Legacy (00:31:14)