Chicago Humanities Tapes

Margaret Atwood is joined in conversation with author Elif Batuman to unfold the story of her life, linking seminal moments to the books that have shaped our literary landscape, from the cruel year that spawned Cat's Eye to the Orwellian 1980s Berlin where she wrote The Handmaid's Tale. As we travel with her along the course of her life, more and more is revealed about her writing, the connections...

Acclaimed author Ron Chernow, of Hamilton fame, is one of the most renowned voices in history and politics. Recipient of the 2015 National Humanities Medal, Chernow has dedicated his life to telling the stories of some of the most notable figures in history. Chernow joins The Interview Show host Mark Bazer to discuss his newest work, Mark Twain, a nuanced portrait of "the father of American litera...

Actor, comedian, writer, and producer Ed Helms joins us in conversation with podcast host and producer Greta Johnsen to discuss his new book SNAFU , which brings you an absurdly entertaining look at history's greatest screwups. Helms steps in as unofficial history teacher diving into each decade's craziest SNAFUs like planting nukes on the moon to training felines as CIA spies to weaponizing the w...

Beloved novelist, poet, and educator Ocean Vuong joins his friend and colleague Adrian Matejka, editor of Poetry magazine, for a hilarious, heartbreaking, and affirming conversation about the power of the sentence. SHOW NOTES: Read the podcast transcript . CW: Discussion of drug addiction PHOTO: Ocean Vuong and Adrian Matejka on stage at the Athenaeum Center for Thought & Culture at the Chicago Hu...

Originator of the role Aaron Burr in the Broadway smash hit Hamiliton , Leslie Odom, Jr. reflects on his Tony and Grammy Award-winning, Oscar and Emmy Award-nominated career. With a loving eye toward his own creative practice and collaborative spirit, he gabs with NBC's Matthew Rodrigues on self-care, fame, and might just bring us a little Christmas in June by the end. SHOW NOTES: Read the podcast...

Our goal at Chicago Humanities Tapes is to help you get closer to the answers to life's biggest questions with the brightest minds the world offers. And we'll get those answers eventually according to philosopher Agnes Callard, though it might take another 10,000 years of humanity. So, how do we live our lives knowing we'll never know the answers to life's biggest questions such as: is there a God...

Bestselling authors and popular podcasters Ezra Klein ( The New York Times ) and Derek Thompson ( The Atlantic ) are interested in societal abundance – how do we get closer to equality when it seems like we're getting farther from having enough resources for everyone? Joined by historian and science fiction writer Ada Palmer, these three brilliant minds joyfully dig into everything from futurism t...

Join fine art painters turned sign designers turned book publishers Andrew and Kelsey McClellan of Heavy Pages Press on a lovingly nerdy investigation through the signs of Chicago's small businesses of yesteryear. A chance encounter with a perfectly preserved "ghost sign" by the Beverly Design Co. from the 1930s led them to uncover previously lost sign design sketches. They sit down with podcast h...

In support of Chicago-based klezmer band Upshtat Zingerai bringing Yiddish tunes and dancing to the Chicago Humanities Spring Festival, the creative partners behind the Jewish Museum of Chicago sat down with podcast host Alisa Rosenthal to preview the upcoming event. They chat artistic process, visions for having a future physical space, and how the museum project was started to fill a void in the...

Bronzeville native and preeminent Black pop artist Hebru Brantley joins visual artist and MacArthur Fellow Amanda Williams for a life-affirming conversation that spans the power of unbridled creativity, his inviting marketing strategy, and naturally, a little bit of Chicago vs. LA discourse. This program was recorded live at the Illinois Institute of Technology in May 2024. Subscribe to the podcas...

Comedian, Emmy Award-nominated actor, screenwriter, #1 New York Times bestselling author and musician Paul Reiser reflects on stand-up in the '80s, Mad About You , his writing, and his renaissance with roles on Stranger Things and The Kominsky Method . He chats with friend of the fest Mark Bazer, contributing writing to Chicago Magazine and host and executive producer of The Interview Show . Subsc...

Political commentator and New York Times best-selling author Joy Reid is joined by veteran reporter April Ryan for a conversation around Reid's book "Medgar and Myrlie: A Love Story That Awakened America." Representing Delta Sigma Theta, Reid and Ryan's friendship is electric, recorded live in April 2024 at a full house at the First United Methodist Church at the Chicago Temple. Reid and Ryan disc...

Today's mini episode is the best of Ali Barthwell ( Last Week Tonight with John Oliver ) from October 2024's Writing on Eggshells: Political Comedy Cracked Up panel, featuring Peter Grosz ( The Colbert Report , Late Night with Seth Meyers ) and John Lutz ( Late Night with Seth Meyers , Saturday Night Live ), moderated by Second City's Kelly Leonard. Chicago's own Barthwell shares war stories from...

Four experts discuss the politicization of immigration alongside the normalcy of human migration. Topics include Chicago as a sanctuary city, the need to address root causes, and the importance of centering the humanity of migrants. Northwestern history professor and contributing writer for The New Yorker Geraldo Cadava moderates the panel with UIC professors and immigration experts Dr. Ivón Padil...

Adrianne Black has an incredible story along with a profound evolution. Her father was a former Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan, and she was raised as a frequent spokesperson for the white nationalist movement as a child. Her memoir "The Klansman's Son" details the shift from spreading hate on TV to attending weekly Shabbat dinners. In today's program, she's joined at her alma mater the Universit...

Linguist Anne Curzan has thoughts on your language pet peeves, including "these ones," "dilly-dally," and "sneaked" versus "snuck" (or would it be sneaked "versing" snuck?). She looks into historical examples of language changes that were once controversial and now are no bigs – and how we can be more kind by celebrating diversity in language rather than judging it. SHOW NOTES: Read the podcast tr...

MacArthur Genius Grant winner Dylan C. Penningroth explores the lesser known history of Black legal engagement and activism prior to the modern civil rights era. Through thorough research including combing through deeds, licenses, and his own family history, he sits down for a riveting chat with Aldon Morris, Professor of Sociology and African American Studies at Northwestern University. SHOW NOTE...

Edward Burns ( The Brothers McMullen , Saving Private Ryan , 27 Dresses ) stops by Chicagoland's long running live talk show The Interview Show with Mark Bazer for a special partnership episode with Chicago Humanities. Recorded live at Fitzgerald's in Berwyn, Burns chats with Bazer on topics including acting opposite Tom Hanks, his Irish Catholic Long Island upbringing, and how he got his own movi...

Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson invites the public into her world in this inspiring conversation with Valerie Jarrett, Chief Executive Officer of the Barack Obama Foundation. Tracing her family's journey from segregation to her Supreme Court confirmation, topics include overcoming self-doubt, gratitude for family, and an enduring commitment to democracy. SHOW NOTES: Read the podcast tr...

Best-selling children's author R.L. Stine shares all the devious dirt on his over 30 years of writing Goosebumps , plus hauntingly hilarious stories from his inadvertent rise to becoming the king of middle grade horror. Chatting with the Chicago Tribune 's Chris Borrelli at the historic Music Box Theatre, Stine reminisces on his Ohio childhood and favorite comedians of the '50s, then looks ahead b...

Iranian-American author Kaveh Akbar joins us in the Chicago Humanities Tapes studio for an exclusive conversation about his debut novel Martyr! , which was recently shortlisted for the 2024 National Book Award. He chats with podcast host Alisa Rosenthal about his poetry background as a novelist, the multitudes we hold during times of tragedy, his love of Chicago, and '90s nostalgia. Plus, a brief...

In her latest book,  The Art of Architectural Grafting , architect and MacArthur Fellow Jeanne Gang digs into how the horticultural practice of "grafting" — joining a new plant to an older one so they can grow and thrive as one — inspires a fresh paradigm for sustainable design. As the founding partner of architecture and urban design practice Studio Gang, Jeanne and her firm are known for designi...

Chicago-based artist and educator Alberto Aguilar is known for his powerful and off-the-wall juxtapositions, from coiling water hoses in gardens to arranging donated shoes in front of the Centro Romero immigration aid center, or sneakily propping open a side door of the Art Institute, inviting other troublemakers inside… Aguilar joins podcast host Alisa Rosenthal for an exclusive interview at his...

Public radio and podcasting icon Greta Johnsen brings her consummate hypewoman energy to the Chicago Humanities Tapes studio. Topics include community building from her WBEZ podcast Nerdette days, her newsletter era, and being the co-host of The Official Game of Thrones Podcast . She chats with host Alisa Rosenthal on her love of curating as they discuss her upcoming Fall 2024 Chicago Humanities e...

Frank Costanza of Seinfeld made "the airing of grievances" into a holiday. Renowned New York Times columnist Frank Bruni has elevated it to an art. Bruni brings his signature thoughtfulness to examining America's obsession with the joy of taking offense. Joined by Interfaith America's Eboo Patel , topics include Fox News, the success of LGBTQIA+ activism, and how unity is essential to a well-funct...