The New York Public Library

Library Talks

Join The New York Public Library and your favorite writers, artists, and thinkers for smart talks and provocative conversations from the nation's cultural capital.

Author

The New York Public Library

Category

Education

Podcast website

www.nypl.org

Latest episode

Apr 22, 2026

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Episodes

Celebrating Dr. Ruth K. Westheimer's 'The Joy of Connections' 19.11.2024

Celebrating The Joy of Connections, the last book of beloved icon (and long-time New Yorker) Dr. Ruth Westheimer. Co-authors Allison Gilbert and Pierre Lehu are joined by Dr. Ruth's children, Dr. Miriam Westheimer and Dr. Joel Westheimer, in a conversation moderated by WABC-TV's Bill Ritter.

Glory Edim with Aminatou Sow: Gather Me 12.11.2024

Glory Edim, the founder of Well-Read Black Girl , discusses her new memoir, Gather Me , an ode to the power reading has had on her life and to books' ability to help us understand ourselves.

Clara Bingham with Farai Chideya: Revolutionary Foremothers 05.11.2024

Clara Bingham discusses her new book, The Movement , the first oral history of the decade that built the modern feminist movement.

Ayana Elizabeth Johnson with Steve Connell: What If We Get It Right? 29.10.2024

Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, the beloved marine biologist and policy expert imagines an inspiring landscape of possible climate futures.

Ada Limón and Peter Sís: In Praise of Mystery 22.10.2024

The U.S. Poet Laureate and Caldecott honoree Illustrator discuss their transcendent picture book featuring a poem that will travel into space aboard NASA's Europa Clipper.

Richard Powers with Marlon James: Playground 15.10.2024

Author Richard Powers discusses his latest novel, Playground, which intertwines tales of technology, race, friendships, and the environment.

Library Talks: Eliza Griswold, Hahrie Han with Andrea Elliott: 'Circle of Hope' and 'Undivided' 08.10.2024

Not all evangelical churches fit the stereotypes. In their latest books, Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist Eliza Griswold and the Inaugural Director of the SNF Agora Institute, Hahrie Han, bear witness to two churches who break the mold. In Circle of Hope, Griswold chronicles the ravaging and ultimately destructive results to a group of progressive-leaning Philadelphia evangelicals who attempt a r...

Library Talks: DéLana R. A. Dameron with Renée Watson: Redwood Court 01.10.2024

DéLana R.A. Dameron is in conversation with author Renée Watson about her debut novel Redwood Court. 

Connie Chung with Walter Isaacson 25.09.2024

Connie Chung talks with Walter Isaacson about her new memoir, Connie . The book delves into her storied career as the first Asian woman to break into an overwhelmingly white, male-dominated television news industry. Chung is the first woman to co-anchor the CBS Evening News and the first Asian to anchor any news program in the U.S.

Taffy Brodesser-Akner: Long Island Compromise 19.09.2024

Brodesser-Akner, the author of Fleishman is in Trouble, came by the Library to talk about her latest novel, Long Island Compromise, the story of an American family and the dark moment that shatters the myth of their suburban paradise. She spoke with New York Times Magazine editor-in-chief, Jake Silverstein.

Protecting Reproductive Freedoms: Lourdes Rivera, Meera Shah, Reva Siegel, and Jessica Bruder 03.09.2024

Two years after the U.S. Supreme Court effectively overturned Roe v. Wade with its decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization , the future of abortion access, reproductive rights, and women's healthcare is murkier than ever. In this episode of Library Talks , a panel of experts examines the impact of the Supreme Court's decision, including what they're seeing on the ground and where...

Jamaica Kincaid & Kara Walker with Hilton Als: An Encyclopedia of Gardening for Colored Children 20.08.2024

The renowned novelist and the revered artist discuss their new book, An Encyclopedia of Gardening for Colored Children , a unique collaboration that explores the hidden history of the plant world. 

Michael Stipe with Taryn Simon: Portraits of Now 06.08.2024

Artist, producer, and former R.E.M. frontman Michael Stipe recently published his fourth book of photography, Even the birds gave pause , which features a series of works-in-progress in plaster, concrete, rotocast plastics, ceramics, bookmaking, and darkroom photographic printing. On this episode of Library Talks, Stipe sits down with artist Taryn Simon to discuss his book and creative practice.

Neel Mukherjee with Hanya Yanagihara: Choice 23.07.2024

Neel Mukherjee speaks with fellow author Hanya Yanagihara about his latest book, an explosive novel about the ramifications of choice.

Justice Stephen Breyer: Choosing Pragmatism Over Textualism 09.07.2024

In this episode of Library Talks, Stephen Breyer, retired Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, delivers the annual Robert B. Silvers Lecture. Breyer's talk is inspired by his most recent book, Reading the Constitution: Why I Chose Pragmatism, Not Textualism , which examines some of the most important cases in the nation's history.

Tom Steyer with David Wallace-Wells: Winning the Climate War 25.06.2024

In this episode of Library Talks, investor and climate champion Tom Steyer sits down with New York Times columnist David Wallace-Wells to discuss his new book, Cheaper, Faster, Better: How We'll Win the Climate War .

Colm Tóibín with Caoilinn Hughes: Long Island 11.06.2024

In this episode of Library Talks, Colm Tóibín sits down with Irish writer Caoilinn Hughes to discuss his latest book, Long Island , which takes place twenty years after the events of his bestselling and beloved novel Brooklyn .

Emily Wilson: Reading The Iliad 28.05.2024

The groundbreaking translator and professor of classics reads from and discusses her masterful new English version of the greatest literary landmark of antiquity. Actors Ben Shenkman and Morgan Spector will read selections from Wilson's translation.

Ruha Benjamin with Rujeko Hockley: Imagination 14.05.2024

Social and technology critic Ruha Benjamin examines the power of our imagination to challenge systems of oppression and to create a world in which everyone can thrive.

Marilynne Robinson with Ayana Mathis: Reading Genesis 30.04.2024

Legendary novelist and essayist Marilynne Robinson discusses her new book, Reading Genesis, with author Ayana Mathis. Often overlooked as a piece of literature, Robinson reconsiders The Book of Genesis and its exploration of themes that resonate throughout the Old and New Testaments.

Hillary Rodham Clinton with Jennifer Weiner 16.04.2024

Hillary Rodham Clinton sits down with author Jennifer Weiner to discuss books, politics, and much more.

Sasha Issenberg with Maggie Haberman: The Lie Detectives 02.04.2024

Journalist and the author Sasha Issenberg sits down with the New York Times' senior political correspondent Maggie Haberman to discuss his latest book, The Lie Detectives .

Lyn Slater and Chloé Cooper Jones 19.03.2024

The Accidental Icon Lyn Slater, a fashion and culture influencer, talks about her new book, How to Be Old , and reflects on life in her 60s. She speaks with Chloé Cooper Jones, author of the bestselling memoir Easy Beauty.

Chasing Bruno Schulz: Benjamin Balint with Joshua Cohen 05.03.2024

Author and journalist Benjamin Balint sits down with Pulitzer Prize–winning novelist Joshua Cohen to discuss Balint's latest book Bruno Schulz , a fresh portrait of the Polish-Jewish writer and artist that draws on extensive new reporting and archival research.

Álvaro Enrigue with Marie Arana: You Dreamed of Empires 21.02.2024

The author of Sudden Death returns with a new novel that reimagines the destinies of Tenochtitlan.

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