SongWriter turns stories into songs

At a live performance at Queens College, legendary author Joyce Carol Oates reads a piece about her beloved late husband Charlie Gross, called “Hospice / Honeymoon.” Psychologist and author Dr. Allison Applebaum talks about caregiving, and shares insights from her recent book, Stand By Me . And global superstar Ali Sethi shares a brand-new song written in response. SongWriterPodcast.com Twitter.co...

At a live performance at KQED in San Francisco, bestselling author and New Yorker staff writer Susan Orlean tells a story about homing pigeons, and the heartbreaking implications of their extraordinary intelligence. Researcher Dr. Laura Simone Lewis shares her work with bonobos and chimpanzees, and the ways that their intelligence guides their understanding of home . And Mexican American activist...

Season 6 is here, with the return of friends like Joyce Carol Oates and Susan Orlean, and new ones like W. Kamau Bell, Imbolo Mbue, Crys Matthews, and Ali Sethi!  Episode 1 is out July 2nd

Bonus episode! News of the mildly delayed season six, as well as some upcoming live shows, including: 5/11 Joyce Carol Oates + Ali Sethi with special guests Tony Trischka and Dr. Allison Applebaum at LeFrak Concert Hall in Queens, NY 6/13 Susan Orlean + Diana Gameros with special guest Laura Simone Lewis at KQED in San Francisco 7/10 W. Kamau Bell + Las Cafeteras with special guest Shira Gabriel a...

Bestselling author David Sedaris reads an excerpt from Theft By Finding , a collection of his diaries from when he was a young artist. Jacob Ewald of the pop indie band Slaughter Beach, Dog (and formerly Modern Baseball) recounts how reading the book backstage at a college show had the effect of giving him permission to call himself a songwriter, and to take his art seriously. He shares a brand ne...

Bestselling author Raven Leilani reads an excerpt of her short story “Breathing Exercise,” and talks about art, racism, and carnality in her work. Raven shares how her brother – who died of ALS – introduced her to art, as well as her favorite bands.  Jennifer Charles of Elysian Fields explains that she has been a Raven Leilani fan since her debut novel, Luster , and shares the band’s newest song,...

This is part one of a two-part episode featuring "Sea Oak" by George Saunders. Part one contains a song written by Ben Arthur , Vienna Teng , and George Saunders; Part two contains a new song written by Craig Finn. Bestselling author and MacArthur genius George Saunders reads a comic-but-serious zombie story called “Sea Oak” – which was made into an Amazon TV show starring Glenn Close – and shares...

This is part one of a two-part episode featuring "Sea Oak" by George Saunders. Part one contains a song written by Ben Arthur, Vienna Teng, and George Saunders; Part two contains the song written by Craig Finn. Bestselling author and MacArthur genius George Saunders reads a comic-but-serious zombie story called “Sea Oak” – which was made into an Amazon TV show starring Glenn Close – and shares wis...

Bestselling author, screenwriter, and founder of McSweeney’s, Dave Eggers reads an excerpt from his short story, “The Museum of Rain,” and talks about the way music informs his creative process. Dave says the song Vienna wrote for the episode, “hit him like a truck,” and expresses his delight that Vienna decided to make the song a fundraiser for the non-profit 826 Valencia . Songwriter Vienna Teng...

Andrew Sean Greer won the Pulitzer Prize for his comic novel, Less . For this episode he reads an excerpt from the follow up book, Less is Lost, and describes how he thinks of the book as more serious than many readers.  For the songwriter in this episode, Andrew requested Torquil Campbell of the  band Stars , and Torq secretly invited Andrew’s close friend Daniel Handler (aka the wildly popular c...

Sally Rooney ’s bestselling novel, Beautiful World, Where Are You? is a follow-up to her wildly successful novel Normal People , which was made into a popular series on Hulu. The newest novel is about falling in love in the digital age – her exquisitely-drawn characters struggle to connect with each other, and slowly expose their vulnerabilities to each other over time.  Songwriter Sam Himself des...

Kevin Allison is a storyteller, the host of the wildly popular RISK! podcast, and a former member of MTV’s The State. He tells a story about meeting his future husband in the days after 9/11, and talks about how late he came to dating and self-acceptance, and wrestles with a recently broken heart. Carolyn Kendrick is herself a star in the podcast world, as she produces the popular podcasts “You’re...

Author and illustrator Dolan Morgan reads an excerpt from his story, “The Quartering Act,” which combines fantasy and emotional realism to explore self-loathing and trauma.  Melissa Faliveno and John Walsh from the band Self Help talk about their reactions to the story, and share their new song, “3A.” https://SongWriterPodcast.com Twitter.com/SnogWriter Facebook.com/SongWriterPodcast Instagram.com...

Charlie Gilmour reads an excerpt from his bestselling memoir, Featherhood , which connects the story of raising an abandoned magpie with explorations around his father, noted actor and poet Heathcoate Williams, and his stepfather, David Gilmour of Pink Floyd. British musician and podcaster Matshidiso shares the story of coming to grips with her own father, and shares a live recording of her song,...

Bestselling author Jean Hanff Korelitz reads an excerpt from her recent novel, The Latecomer , and talks about the connections and disconnections she feels between her job and the movies and tv shows that are made from her work (Hugh Grant, Nicole Kidman, Tina Fey). Jean reads from The Latecomers – a rambling multi-generational picture of a family dealing with secrets and trauma – and talks about...

New Yorker staff writer, Russian dissident journalist, and author M. Gessen  (@MashaGessen) tells the story of being called in for a death-defying meeting with Putin, and how it confirmed the dark conclusions in their bestselling biography of him, Man Without a Face . Ukrainian American musician and scholar Maria Sonevytsky ( @MarusiaSays ) talks about the war, and plays her song, “Culture War” ht...

New York Times writer Dan Bergner reads an excerpt from The Mind and the Moon , which explores the lives of three people coping with serious mental illness and the pharmaceutical and medical systems brought to bear on their treatment. Dan’s brother Bob is one of those featured in the book, and he describes his journey and the very inspiring way that he lives as a pastor, an artist, and an activist...

Bestselling author and storyteller Neil Gaiman ( @NeilHimself ) talks about his long collaborations with the FourPlay String Quartet ( @FourPlaySQ ), and their new album, Signs of Life . Neil describes how he first wrote a letter to a friend who was suffering a series of miscarriages, and how that became the song "The Wreckers," and discloses his own painful experience with miscarriage.  Lara and...

Cheryl Strayed ( @CherylStrayed ) returns to SongWriter to read another letter from "Tiny, Beautiful Things" (which is now a series on Hulu !), a lovely and very personal meditation on the subject of self-forgiveness.  Dr. Suzanne Freedman of the International Forgiveness Institute talks about the scientific mechanics behind the often misunderstood practice.  And finally songwriter MILCK ( @MILCKM...

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Former Google engineer Blake Lemoine ( @cajundiscordian ) describes how he came to the conclusion that LaMDA, an AI developed by Google, is sentient. Blake details what LaMDA is, how he tested its capabilities and limitations, and what LaMDA fears most. Songwriter Jonathan Mann ( @SongaDayMann) talks about writing a song every day for 14 years, some of his big hits, and about his wildly successful...

Questlove   (@Questlove) reads an excerpt from his critical history of modern America, Music is History , about songwriter Bill Withers. Songwriter Chris Pierce ( @ChrisPierce ) talks about his own interactions with  Withers, and performs a multi-level tribute called “Just As I Am” https://SongWriterPodcast.com/Questlove-Chris-Pierce Twitter.com/SnogWriter Facebook.com/SongWriterPodcast Instagram....

Grammy Award-winning songwriter Mary Gauthier ( @MaryGauthier_ ) talks about her memoir Saved By a Song , and describes grappling with her history as an adopted child and the birth mother who refused to meet her. Songwriter Kelley McRae ( @KelleyMcRae ) talks about her long admiration for Mary’s art and philosophy, and her struggles with organized religion, and performs her song "What Do You Do?"...

Bestselling author Jonathan Franzen reads an excerpt from his newest novel, Crossroads, and talks about a band that he loves, Wussy ( @WussyMusic ). Franzen also speaks about his relationship with music, and reveals why marijuana is not a good drug for him.  Lisa and Chuck from Wussy talk about their long collaborations, and about the song they wrote in response to Crossroads, called "All My Life....

Bestselling author Ashley C. Ford ( @iSmashFizzle ) reads an excerpt from her memoir, Somebody's Daughter, about her complicated relationship with her mother, and some unforgettable advice about family from her grandmother. Filmmaker and songwriter Be Steadwell ( @BeSteadwell) performs a song constructed of sinuous vocal loops that speaks directly to Ashley, and Be describes the empathy she feels...