Plain Reading

Our first episode of season 2 features violist Kalindi Bellach and alto Kay White, who let us in on perfectionism in performance, writing and reading about music, and the for-fun books that everyone needs. Intro and outro music: " Your Love Hip Hop " courtesy Music_Unlimited on Pixabay Episode artwork: Photo Collage: Musician Playing Triangle, photo collage by Juan Pedro Chabalgoity (MET, 2017.68....

Poet and educator L. S. McKee tells us about poetry and personas, the joys of secret venues, writing across science and art curricula, and even relics. Intro and outro music: " Your Love Hip Hop " courtesy Music_Unlimited on Pixabay. Episode artwork: Joan Crawford holding mask of herself (cropped).  Photoplay , 1932. Public domain image courtesy Wikimedia Commons . Want to learn more about the boo...

Join us as we talk to professor of musicology and religion Dirk von der Horst about time, religion, activism, and more. Intro and outro music: " Your Love Hip Hop " courtesy Music_Unlimited on Pixabay Episode artwork: Aaron Willard, Banjo Clock MET (cropped). Public domain-dedicated image courtesy Wikimedia Commons . Want to learn more about the books—and shows!—we talked about on this episode? Ch...

Poet and teacher Lisa Dordal joins us to talk about memory, the imagination, clearing up misconceptions about poetry, and so much more! Intro and outro music: " Your Love Hip Hop " courtesy Music_Unlimited on Pixabay Episode artwork: Leon Kowalsi,  Nostalgia (cropped). Public domain image courtesy Wikimedia Commmons . Want to learn more about the books—and shows!—we talked about on this episode? C...

Artist, designer, and author Tiffany Gholar joins us to delve into the nature of art and creative production, fashion dolls, and even game show appearances. Intro and outro music: " Your Love Hip Hop " courtesy Music_Unlimited on Pixabay Episode artwork: Mopsy Modes, from Mopsy , 1(1), 1948 (cropped). Public domain image by Gladys Parker, courtesy Wikimedia Commons . Want to learn more about the b...

Molecular and cellular biologist Roya Huang joins us to talk about studying another language by discussing its poetry, reading in different disciplines, the benefits of small-group study, and more! Intro and outro music: " Your Love Hip Hop " courtesy Music_Unlimited on Pixabay Episode artwork: A leaf from a Farsi manuscript of poetry (cropped). Public domain image courtesy San Diego Museum of Art...

Hollis Phelps joins us to talk about the importance of exploration, pleasure, and taking a break—and tells us about psilocybin!  Episode artwork: Pestonji Bomanjee,  At Rest (cropped). Public domain image courtesy National Gallery of Modern Art (India) and  Wikimedia Commons . Intro and outro music: " Your Love Hip Hop " courtesy Music_Unlimited on Pixabay Want to learn more about the books—and sh...

Katy and Matt are joined by Kay White and Jovita Scrogin, who fill us in on reading while parenting, parenting while reading, the joys of audiobooks and fantasy, and so much more! Episode image: Amy Carter and Jimmy Carter participate in a speed reading course at the White House, 1977 (cropped). Public domain image courtesy National Archives and Records Administration and Wikimedia Commons . Intro...

Housing and tenants rights advocate Jay Forth comes on to talk about why reading both critical theory and poetry are so helpful in thinking about and interacting with the world around you. Intro and outro music: " Your Love Hip Hop " courtesy Music_Unlimited on Pixabay Episode artwork: Frantz Fanon at a press conference during a writers' conference in Tunis, 1959 (cropped). Public domain image cou...

We explore with writer and journalist Juan Carlos Hernández the nature of memoir, the connections made over cooking, and the importance of staying grounded. Episode artwork: Footballer André Roosenburg in Florence, 1953. Image with no known copyright restrictions courtesy Nationaal Archief and  Wikimedia Commons . Intro and outro music: " Your Love Hip Hop " courtesy Music_Unlimited on Pixabay Wan...

Scholar and philosopher Wesley Barker talks about living your life when you deal every day with complex thought—as well as the importance of getting out of your head and embracing being a beginner. Episode artwork: Władysław Czachórski, Zadumana (Deep in Thought), 1883. US public domain image courtesy The National Museum in Warsaw and Wikimedia Commons .  Intro and outro music: " Your Love Hip Hop...

Pastor and author Ben Dueholm drops by to talk about the value of bleak reading, the intrigue of magic, and even Lou Reed! Episode artwork: Magician Paul LePaul, 1937. Public domain image courtesy Wikimedia Commons . Intro and outro music: " Your Love Hip Hop " courtesy Music_Unlimited on Pixabay Want to learn more about the books, authors—and films!—we talked about on this episode? Check out the...

Evolutionary biologist Zachary Blount tells us why you have to read widely to be a good scientist, as well as what makes for good horror and great bookstores. Intro and outro music: " Your Love Hip Hop " courtesy Music_Unlimited on Pixabay Episode artwork: Kathleen Mary Drew-Baker, image with no known copyright restrictions courtesy Smithsonian Institution and Wikimedia Commons Want to learn more...

Journalist, writer, and podcaster Wes Ferguson talks to us about what makes a good story—and how in telling others' stories, you often have to reflect on your own. Episode artwork: CC BY-SA 4.0 DEED imagae courtesy Wikimedia Commons . Intro and outro music: " Your Love Hip Hop " courtesy Music_Unlimited on Pixabay Want to learn more about the books we talked about on this episode? Check out the li...

How does poetry help both writers and readers heal, and how does it build community? Ohio's poet laureate, Kari Gunter-Seymour , stops by with fellow Women of Appalachia Project member Kristi Stephens Walker to talk about how essential poetry is. Find Kari at https://www.karigunterseymourpoet.com/ . And the Women of Appalachia at  https://www.womenofappalachia.com/about . Kristi shared with us a l...

Before we get going with interviews, this introduction will let you get to know our hosts and learn what they're hoping to do here. How and why do we read—and why can't we stop talking about it all? Want to keep track of the books and authors we mentioned? Check out what comes close to a comprehensive list below! Intro and outro music: " Your Love Hip Hop " courtesy Music_Unlimited on Pixabay   Ga...