NOVEL · AUTHOR
The Average American Male
The debut novel that introduced Kultgen’s deliberately provocative fiction. Listed in his official bibliography.
CHAD KULTGEN / THE WRITER’S STUDIO
More than
one medium.
Novels on the shelf. A pilot in the drawer.
A microphone that’s rarely far away.
BOOKS / PODCASTSPILOTS / FILMS / FICTION
01 / THE BOOKSHELF
Pick a spine.
Find another side.
Seven books from his official portfolio, with their original covers. Pull one forward to find out more. The author’s bibliography ↗
ON THE DESK
01 / 07
NOVEL · AUTHOR
01 / 07
NOVEL · AUTHOR
The Average American Male
The debut novel that introduced Kultgen’s deliberately provocative fiction. Listed in his official bibliography.
Covers from Chad’s official portfolio; artwork belongs to the respective publishers. Fiction may contain explicit adult material.
THE PERSON AT THE DESK
A writer.
A host.
A son.
Chad Kultgen is Mary-Lou and Bob’s son, and Haley’s brother. On The Necessary Conversation, he and Haley bring liberal perspectives to exchanges with their pro-Trump parents. The show’s introduction ↗
His career ranges across fiction, television, film and podcasts. His publisher lists five novels, identifies him as the creator of NBC’s Bad Judge, and connects his Bachelor analysis to Game of Roses. Publisher biography ↗
In his own account, jobs as an entertainment-industry assistant led to selling his writing, followed by a growing interest in podcasting. He describes that work as a continuing creative practice across formats. Hear him trace the path ↗
02 / THE WORK INDEX
Follow the work.
Across formats.
Books, podcast projects, a pilot, screen credits, and original fiction. Each entry names his role and links to a source.
All documented projects in this index · 16 entries
NOVEL · AUTHOR
The Lie
A college story told through three characters caught in a love triangle. Published by Harper Perennial.
NOVEL · AUTHOR
Men, Women & Children
The novel that became Jason Reitman’s 2014 film. Explore the screen adaptation further down the work index.
NOVEL · AUTHOR
The Average American Marriage
Another entry in Kultgen’s fiction bibliography, turning from the American male to married life.
NOVEL · AUTHOR
Strange Animals
One of the five novels listed alongside Kultgen’s work in television, film, and podcasts.
GRAPHIC NOVEL · WRITER
Darklight
A science-fiction graphic novel from BOOM! Studios: three rival civilizations face a threat to their universe.
NONFICTION · WITH LIZZY PACE
How to Win The Bachelor
Kultgen and Lizzy Pace bring their Game of Roses analysis to a guide that treats The Bachelor as a competition.
CO-HOST · WITH MARY-LOU, BOB & HALEY
The Necessary Conversation
The family table at the center of this site. Parents and adult children debate politics from sharply different perspectives.
CO-HOST · WITH LIZZY PACE
Game of Roses
The Bachelor franchise through the lens of gameplay, strategy, and the pursuit of the crown.
CO-HOST · WITH WILL SASSO
Dudesy
Kultgen and Will Sasso’s comedy podcast project. Follow the official channel to explore its available archive.
CO-HOST · A LATER ITERATION
Ten Minute Podcast
Kultgen describes joining Will Sasso and Tommy Blacha for an iteration of the show that helped draw him into podcasting.
ABC PILOT · WRITER · 2010
Southern Discomfort
A family sitcom pilot about a father whose adult children move back home. Kultgen describes the project as family-inspired; it did not become a series.
NBC SERIES · CREATOR / PILOT WRITER
Bad Judge
Kultgen’s television work includes the NBC comedy starring Kate Walsh. His publisher biography identifies him as its creator.
FILM · STORY CO-CREDIT · 2013
The Incredible Burt Wonderstone
Kultgen shares a story credit on the comedy. The screenplay is credited to Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley.
FILM · BASED ON HIS NOVEL · 2014
Men, Women & Children
Jason Reitman directed this adaptation about families and technology. Kultgen’s credit is the source novel; the screenplay is by Reitman and Erin Cressida Wilson.
ORIGINAL FICTION · AUTHOR
The Probable God
A speculative story published on Kultgen’s own site, imagining an artificial intelligence announcing a new future for humanity.
A source-linked public work index, not a list of every private, unproduced, or uncredited project. Pilot, story, screenplay, and source-novel credits are different roles.
A FEW THINGS FOR LATER
Your next rabbit hole.
Your queue is empty. Save a book, podcast, or screen project as you explore.
Saved on this device. Nothing is sent anywhere.
03 / ON MIC
And then there’s
that familiar voice.
THE ORIGINAL VOICE01 / 06
“Welcome. You all right? What do we got going on over there?”
Chad opens the show while trying to get the family’s attention.
Full exchange & timestamp ↗Sound starts only when you press Play. Some clips contain strong language.
Sources & further reading
- Chad Kultgen — official portfolio ↗
Chad Kultgen · Bibliography, podcast projects, original book and podcast artwork.
- Author biography ↗
Simon & Schuster · Novels, screen work, and Game of Roses context.
- Darklight ↗
BOOM! Studios / Penguin Random House · Graphic-novel publication and story description.
- How to Win The Bachelor ↗
Simon & Schuster · Book premise and co-author Lizzy Pace.
- Southern Discomfort pilot order ↗
TheWrap · Josef Adalian · February 24, 2010 · Contemporary reporting on the ABC pilot, distinct from a series order.
- The Incredible Burt Wonderstone ↗
American Film Institute Catalog · Story co-credit and screenplay credits.
- Men, Women & Children ↗
Paramount Pictures · 2014 film, director, screenwriters, and source-novel credit.
- Sunday Night Live — career account ↗
The Necessary Conversation · December 1, 2025 · Chad describes his writing and his route into podcasting.