Patricia Smith is an African American who's the four-time champion of the National Poetry Slam.
Intelligent. Optimistic. Curious.
Audio
Jeannette Walls is a famous gossip columnist in New York on MSNBC, but she's the child of hippies who lived a nomadic life in cars and abandoned buildings always one step ahead of their creditors.
The French satirical magazine, Charlie Hebdo, was presented with a Freedom on Expression award from the PEN American Center this week. Six high-profile writers boycotted the awards ceremony at PEN's big annual gala. Hundreds more protested, while others gave the magazine's editors a standing ovation. The chariman of the PEN World Voices Festival is Colm Toibin, the celebrated Irish novelist. Toibin shares his thoughs on the controversy.
Pullman speaks with Steve Paulson about the fictional world he's created.
How did religion ever get started in the first place? We talked to renowned sociologist Robert Bellah shortly before he died. He said religion isn't about belief in God. Its origins go back to the rituals of our ancient ancestors, and ultimately to play.
Laurel Thatcher Ulrich says that Colonial American women showed their patriotism by learning how to weave. Making homespun meant they weren’t buying English cloth.
James McBride won the National Book Award for "The Good Lord Bird," his novel about the abolitionist John Brown. He explains why he doesn't like most fictional portraits of slavery and how he tried to tell a different story.
Rachel Naomi Remen tells Steve Paulson it’s important to treat the whole person, not just the disease and says she has no idea what happens at the end of life.
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