Trafika Europe Radio

We are taking a step back from our typical programming this week to take a look back at Trafika Europe's evolution. July marks the first year of the loss of our director Andrew Singer. As we continue to move forward, we are excited to share a bit of our journey with everyone. This reading is the first-ever excerpt published in the first journal issue of Trafika Europe. Enjoy this reading of  The H...

In this episode, host Clayton McKee discusses the experimental detective fiction novel The Red Handler with Norwegian author Johan Harstad and translator of Norwegian David Smith. They discuss how  The Red Handler plays on the generic conventions of detective fiction by reducing it to its most basic parts. They also discuss the inclusion of the text's many academic footnotes and how the concept of...

In this episode, host Clayton McKee discusses "Mrs. Vogel Doesn't Need a Visa" by Ukrainian author Halyna Petrosanyak with Canadian-Swiss translator Jeff Kochan. Jeff also translated written questions/responses for Halyna, which are included in this episode. A special thanks to Jennifer Noji for voicing those responses. The interview focuses on ideas of language acquisition, relationship to langua...

In this episode, host Clayton McKee interviews Galician author Eva Moreda and translator of Galician Lindsay Semel. They discuss their creative practices and focus on the themes in Galician literature as well as Moreda's own writing.  You can find the story published in Trafika Europe's Spring 2024 issue Recrudescence here .  Interested in getting more content from Trafika Europe? Consider becomin...

In this episode, host Clayton McKee interviews Bulgarian translator Teodora Gandeva. They discuss various facets of the translation practice and how it differs through various media. Teodora also explains the translation process for Yordan Yovkov's story, "Through the Plague," including how she managed bringing the work from the early 1900s to the modern day.  You can find story published in Trafi...

In this episode, host Clayton McKee interviews Lithuanian-American poet and translator Rimas Uzgiris. Rimas has contributed translations to Trafika Europe in the past. This time, we focus on his creative work. Rimas explores his identity as a child to Lithuanian immigrants growing up in the United States before returning to Lithuania where he now lives with his family. He explains how this influen...

In this episode, host Clayton McKee interviews UK author John Saul about his forthcoming short fiction collection Book of Joys . John explains his writing process as well as how this amazing collection was put together with art by Albert Irvin. John's forthcoming work in Works in Progress will be found here .  You can pre-order a copy of the collection here . It will be officially published on Jul...

In this episode, host Clayton McKee interviews translator of French Lara Vergnaud about her translation of Joy Sorman's  Tenderloin . They discuss the ethics of translation, translation practices/approaches, as well as Joy Sorman's writing. Lara provides amazing insight into her creative practice as well as directly into the work of translating and publishing this extraordinary novel. A bilingual...

In this episode, host Clayton McKee interviews Hungarian author Miklós Vámos and translator of Hungarian Ági Bori. They discuss  Things to Do After My Death , a recent novel from Vámos translated by Bori. Hear about their working relationship as well as how they came into the arts of translation and writing.  Check out the original Hungarian excerpt as well as the English translation in our Spring...

In this episode, listen to host Clayton McKee interview Basque author Itxaro Borda. This is a trilingual episode including Itxaro Borda in French, Sabrina Kennelly voicing Itxaro in Clayton McKee's English translation, and a reading in Basque by the author. Clay and Itxaro discuss Basque language, literature, and Itxaro's writing of a 30-year series of detective fiction. Check out Itxaro Bordas's...

In this episode, listen to host Veronika Miskowiec interview Lemko author Olena Duć-Fajfer. They discuss Olena's relationship to Lemko language and culture, Lemko literature, and Olena's writing.  Check out Olena Duć-Fajfer's original Lemko poems and their English translation by Elaine Rusinko and Bodgan Horbal published in Trafika Europe's New Essential Literature of Lesser-Known Languages of Eur...

In this episode, listen to host Joe Williams interview Irish author Máire Zepf and Irish author/publisher Micheál Ó Conghaile. They discuss the YA-verse novel Noínin / Daisy, written in Irish and translated into English by Máire Zepf. Máire and Micheál give great insight into the world of Irish literature and publishing.  Check out Máire Zepf's original and translation of  Daisy  published in Traf...

In this episode, listen to Boris Sandler (voiced by Joe Williams) and translator of Yiddish Jordan Kutzik discuss Boris Sandler's life and their work on the short story "The Old Well Underneath the Old Walnut Tree." This is part two of a two-part episode. You can listen to part one of Jordan Sandler here . Check out Jordan Kutzik's translation of Boris Sandler's story "The Old Well Underneath the...

In this episode, listen to translator of Yiddish Jordan Kutzik discuss the Yiddish language, culture, and publishing. Jordan gives many details about how he and various people are keeping the Yiddish language and literature alive. This is part one of a two part episode. Tune in on March 1, 2024 to hear about Jordan's experience translating Boris Sandler's short story. You can also hear responses f...

In this episode, listen to an interview between Clayton McKee and Breton author Mich Beyer. Mich discusses her life, how she became an author, and why she writes in Breton. She also provides insight into the state of Breton language and culture in France.  Check out Mich Beyer's excerpt published in Trafika Europe's New Essential Literature of Lesser-Known Languages of Europe . The written intervi...

ELN took place in NYC on November 2, 2023 at the Ukrainian Institute of America in cooperation with Czech Center New York , EUNIC New York , the Ukrainian Institute of America, and PEN America . Part 2 begins with a tribute to Portuguese poets Natália Correia, Eugénio de Andrade and Mário Cesariny, performed by Pedro Henriques da Silva. The second panel focuses on the role of the past in the prese...

ELN took place in NYC on November 2, 2023 at the Ukrainian Institute of America in cooperation with Czech Center New York , EUNIC New York , the Ukrainian Institute of America, and PEN America . Part 1 includes the evening's opening by Andrew Horodysky and the first panel on the role of literature in times of global crisis features Kätlin Kaldmaa (EE), Anja Kampmann (DE), Andrey Kurkov (UA), Sanaë...

Reading of "Karoshi" from the work  Sabotage written by Jeff Schinker, in English translation by Alasdair Reinert. This is a teaser of the audio excerpts that will be reserved for AudioBook Listeners of Trafika Europe. Check out our Patreon page for information about tiers and benefits. All funds received from memberships go directly back into Trafika Europe to keep us operating.  Check out "Karos...

Listen to Faroese author Kim Simonsen discuss his poetry and creative process. Poems in this interview came from  What good does it do for a person to wake up this side of the new millennium and The biological composition of a drop of seawater in my veins . Poems are read first in Faroese by Kim Simonsen and then in English translation read by Randi Ward.  Check out Kim's poems and Randi's transla...

Listen to Latgalian author Ligija Purinaśa and translator Jayde Will discuss the poetry collection  Borderlands . They discuss their creative practices, provide insight into Latgalian, and share authors that inspire their work. This episode includes some poems being read in Latgalian by the author and in English by the translator.  Check out Ligija's poems and Jayde's translations in Essential New...