Audio

Making Democracy Fun

Correction: This interview refers to a survey finding that only 22% of Americans trust government at all levels. The actual survey was limited to trust in the federal government, and found that 22% of Americans trusted the government in Washington "almost always or most of the time".

We all know it's important to be involved in local government, but can political participation also be fun? Josh Lerner thinks so. He believes local governments could boost the fun factor in the political process by borrowing a few ideas from game design.

Richard Hell - Punk

Sometimes when musicians break the mold, they end up creating new genres. Richard Hell didn't study music as a kid, but he loved how rock and roll let him experiment with self-expression.

Jimi FlorCruz on Journalism in China

Jimi FlorCruz tells Steve Paulson that political events in the Philippines made it impossible for him to return from what was supposed to be a three week visit to China.

PEN World Voices Festival Chairman on Charlie Hebdo Controversy

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.

Mario Vargas Llosa on the dictator Trujillo

Mario Vargas Llosa is one of the godfathers of Latin American fiction. He won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2010. He also once ran for president of his native country, Peru. Politics and literature are the driving forces in his life.

Michael Lewis on the Global Recession

If you think the American middle class has it bad, consider life in debt-ridden Italy or Greece. Best-selling financial writer Michael Lewis portrays the downfall of several European countries with his usual verve, in Boomerang: Travels in the New Third World.

John Leland on Hip & Race

According to John Leland, the hipster is an outsider who crosses boundaries and challenges the mainstream. He also talks about the overlap between being hip and using drugs.

Philosopher and Wolf - Mark Rowlands

When he was a young professor, philosopher Mark Rowlands adopted a wolf named Brenin, who turned into his constant companion. He reflects on the life lessons he learned from Brenin.

Intelligent. Optimistic. Curious.