Patricia Smith is an African American who's the four-time champion of the National Poetry Slam.
Intelligent. Optimistic. Curious.
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Lee Ernst has played John Barrymore several times in a play about the actor by William Luce.
Josh Rushing spent 14 years as a Marine and was the spokesman for the U.S. Central Command to the entire Arab world. He now works for Al Jazeera's English language service.
Mawi Asgedom fled the civil war in Ethiopia and spent part of his childhood in a refugee camp in Sudan, but ended up giving the commencement address at his Harvard graduation.
Jayne Anne Phillips is the author of several novels and two collections of widely anthologized short stories...
Novelist Jane Hamilton talks with Steve Paulson about the role of nostalgia in literary fiction.
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.
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.
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