Black Mountain Institute Podcast

In this episode, the Beverly Rogers, Carol C. Harter Black Mountain Institute hosts a tenth anniversary celebration. It features a number of prominent speakers including Cheryl Strayed, Charles Bock, Tom Bissell, Olivia Clare, and Vu Tran. The event was held November 21, 2016 in the Student Union Ballroom at UNLV.

In this episode, the Beverly Rogers, Carol C. Harter Black Mountain Institute hosts an evening of readings and conversations with three acclaimed authors: Katherine Boo, Geoff Dyer, Adam Johnson, and Jen Kramer. The event was held October 15, 2016 at the Inspire Theater in Las Vegas, NV.

Black Mountain Institute welcomes three extraordinary writers who explore the myths and untruths of society and culture through the stories of silenced women. The stories of female truthtellers is the key to understanding a society’s (often corrupt) power structure. Maggie Nelson is an American poet, critic, and author of five non-fiction books, including the recent bestselling The Argonauts. Eliza Griswold is a poet, journalist and non-fiction author who writes for The New Yorker. Sally Denton is a journalist and author of eight books of narrative history, including The Profiteers: Bechtel and the Men Who Built the World that will be published in March. Moderator Carol C. Harter is UNLV president emerita and founder of BMI.

In this episode, the Beverly Rogers, Carol C. Harter Black Mountain Institute hosts a panel discussion entitled "The Spectacle of Violence: Why We Need to Watch." It features William Vollmann, Kerry Howley, Jonathan Gottschall, and Brian Villmoare. Joshua Wolf Shenk moderates. The event was held September 29, 2016 in the Si Redd Room in the Thomas & Mack Center at UNLV.

In this episode, the Beverly Rogers, Carol C. Harter Black Mountain Institute hosts a panel discussion entitled "Echoes of Homer." It features George Packer, Brian Turner, Siobhan Fallon, and Phil Klay: four writers who've had first-hand experience with the intersection of war and literature. The event was held May 5, 2016 in the UNLV Student Union Theatre.

In this episode, the Beverly Rogers, Carol C. Harter Black Mountain Institute hosts a panel discussion entitled "Stroke of Genius: What Brain Injury Reveals about Creativity, Consciousness, and the Mind-Body Connection." Sience writers Sandra Blakeselee and George Johnson, neurologist Dr. Bruce Miller, and fiction writer and memoirist Floyd Skloot discuss the brain, specifically how the experience of brain injury or dysfunction allows a glimpse into the mysterious neurological components of creativity, empathy, personality, and the boundaries of the self. The event was held November 12, 2015 in the Salon Ballroom in the Stan Fulton Building at UNLV and was moderated by BMI Executive Director Joshua Wolf Shenk.

Who owns the land? This question has dominated the history of the American West, where the interests and ambitions of governments and agencies, of capitalists and environmentalists, of new arrivals and old stakeholders often collide. Can there be common ground on issues so contentious that they have led to armed standoff? To discuss this important issue, Black Mountain Institute is proud to welcome a panel of extraordinary writers of diverse backgrounds and views. One of America’s most revered poets, Gary Snyder is a committed environmentalist and has been dubbed the "poet laureate of deep ecology." Timothy Egan is a New York Times columnist and author of the National Book Award-winning The Worst Hard Time, a history of the Dust Bowl. Economist and writer Terry L. Anderson, who coined the term "enviro-capitalism," is one of the foremost advocates of free market environmentalism. Moderator Virginia Scharff is a distinguished Western historian, author, and director of the Center for the Southwest at the University of New Mexico. Presented with the support of the Eleanor Kagi Foundation: A Lynn M. Bennett Legacy.

In this episode, writer Walter Mosley delivers the inaugural Jim Rogers Contrarian Lecture. Presented every other year, this series invites a celebrated writer and intellectual to offer a “contrarian” view on an issue of contemporary importance. This year, Walter Mosley will address the subject of higher education. Mosley appeared May 7, 2015 at UNLV's Student Union Ballroom in Las Vegas, NV.

In this episode, writers and professors Jamaica Kincaid and Caryl Phillips discuss their lives and work at an event titled "Crossing the Black Atlantic." The event was held March 19, 2015 in the UNLV Student Union Theatre in Las Vegas, NV and was moderated by UNLV English professor Julia Lee.

In this episode, Black Mountain Institute welcomes two of the most celebrated writers working at the crossroads of literature and history. Preeminent literary historian Stephen Greenblatt and best-selling historical novelist Geraldine Brooks will join us to discuss how our literature shapes and is shaped by our understanding of the past. The event was held November 13, 2014 in the UNLV Student Union Theatre in Las Vegas, NV and was moderated by BMI Executive Director, and UNLV President Emerita, Carol Harter.

In this episode, fiction writer Aimee Bender discusses her life and career. The keynote speaker, Bender appeared October 18, 2014 at the Vegas Valley Book Festival, which was held at the historic Fifth Street School in Las Vegas, NV.

In this episode, writers and political dissidents Wole Soyinka and Azar Nafisi discuss their lives and work at an event titled "Blood, Sweat & Tears: Life on the Front Lines of the Human Rights Struggle in Russia, Nigeria, and Iran." The event was held September 11, 2014 in the UNLV Student Union Theatre in Las Vegas, NV and was moderated by UNLV history professor Michelle Tusan.

In this episode, Black Mountain Institute presents the debut performance of the verse drama O, Heart by celebrated poet and UNLV English professor Claudia Keelan. The dramatic reading by a cast of actors tells the story of a woman's quest to understand the human heart through her encounters with such diverse characters as Emily Dickinson, Jane Bowles, and the father of modern cardiology, William Harvey. The event was held April 24, 2014 in UNLV's Greenspun Hall Auditorium in Las Vegas, NV.

In this episode, fiction writer Robert Coover discusses his life and career and reads from his new novel The Brunists' Day of Wrath. Coover appeared April 17, 2014 at UNLV's Greenspun Hall Auditorium in Las Vegas, NV and served as the 2014 Elias Ghanem Chair in Creative Writing at UNLV.

In this episode, fiction writer Robert Coover discussers his new novel, The Brunists' Day of Wrath, on the April 17, 2014 edition of KNPR's "State of Nevada." Coover read from his work at a BMI event later that night and also served as the 2014 Elias Ghanem Chair in Creative Writing at UNLV.

In this episode, fiction writer Leni Zumas discussers her new novel The Listeners. Zumas read from her work at a BMI Emerging Writers Series event the next night. This audio segment is used with the gracious permission of KNPR's "State of Nevada" which podcasts many segments of its programs. See knpr.org/son/feeds for more information.

In this episode, professors and Biblical scholars Karen King, Bart Ehrman, and Mark Jordan discuss recent investigations into the life of Jesus in a panel discussion titled "Does It Matter If Jesus Was Married?" The event was held January 23, 2014 in UNLV's Doc Rando Hall in Las Vegas, NV.

In this episode, Bart Ehrman discussers recent scholarship about the life of Jesus on the January 23, 2014 edition of KNPR's "State of Nevada." Ehrman is a distinguished professor of religious studies at UNC - Chapel Hill and the author of "Forgery and Counterforgery: The Use of Literary Deceit in Early Christianity." He appeared later that night, with Karen King and Mark Jordan, at BMI's "Does It Matter If Jesus Was Married?" panel discussion. This audio segment is used with the gracious permission of KNPR's "State of Nevada" which podcasts many segments of its programs. See knpr.org/son/feeds for more information.

In this episode, fiction writer Luis Alberto Urrea discusses his life and career with UNLV associate professor of English Vincent Pérez. The 2013 Vegas Valley Book Festival keynote speaker, Urrea appeared November 2, 2013 at the historic Fifth Street School in Las Vegas, NV.

In this episode, fiction writers George Saunders, Douglas Unger, and Maile Chapman discuss their work and interconnected lives at an event titled "Three Generations of American Writers." The event was held October 15, 2013 in the UNLV Student Union Theatre in Las Vegas, NV.

In this episode, fiction writer George Saunders discusses his life and work on the October 9, 2013 edition of KNPR's "State of Nevada." Saunders appears with Douglas Unger and Maile Chapman at BMI's "Three Generations of American Writers" event on October 15, 2013. This audio segment is used with the gracious permission of KNPR's "State of Nevada" which podcasts many segments of its programs. See knpr.org/son/feeds for more information.

In this episode, founder of Sunbelt Communications and former Nevada System of Higher Education chancellor James E. Rogers discusses his $10 million commitment to BMI's programs budget. Rogers is introduced by BMI Executive Director, and UNLV President Emerita, Carol Harter.

In this episode, Richard Wiley discusses his new novel, The Book of Important Moments, on the September 24, 2013 edition of KNPR's "State of Nevada." Wiley is the associate director of the Black Mountain Institute and professor and director of creative writing at UNLV, and he read from and discussed his new novel at a BMI event later that night.

In this episode, Richard Wiley reads from and discusses his new novel The Book of Important Moments. Wiley is the associate director of the Black Mountain Institute and professor and director of creative writing at UNLV.

In this episode, writer and Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka discusses his life and career and delivers a lecture titled "Writing in an Untenable World." The event took place February 12, 2013 at the UNLV Student Union Theatre in Las Vegas, NV.

In this episode, writers and professors John Entelis, Hamadi Redissi, Sophie Bessis, and Mustapha Marrouchi discuss the popular uprisings that swept across North Africa and the Middle East in 2011 and the prospects for the future of the Arab Spring. The event was held March 6, 2013 in the UNLV Student Union Ballroom in Las Vegas, NV.

In this episode, Professors John Entelis and Hamdan Radissi discuss the future of the Arab Spring on the March 5, 2013 edition of KNPR's "State of Nevada." The next night, Entelis and Radissi appeared, along with Mustapha Marrouchi and Sophie Bessis, as part of BMI's panel discussion "The Arab Spring: Between Hopes and Impediments."

In this episode, writer and Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka discusses his life and career on the February 11, 2013 edition of KNPR's "State of Nevada." An emeritus BMI board member and former Elias Ghanem Chair in Creative Writing at UNLV, Soyinka appeared the next night at a BMI event titled "Writing in an Untenable World."

In this episode, poet Peter Covino discusses his life and work on the November 27, 2012 edition of KNPR's "State of Nevada." Later that night, Covino appeared as part of BMI's Emerging Writers Series, which is made possible by a Nevada Humanities Grant.

In this episode, novelist Jennifer Egan reads from her work and discusses her life and career with BMI Executive Director, and UNLV President Emerita, Carol Harter. The author keynote at the 2012 Vegas Valley Book Festival, Egan appeared November 3, 2012 at the Fifth Street School Auditorium in Las Vegas, NV.

In this episode, novelist Jennifer Egan discusses her life and career on the November 2, 2012 edition of KNPR's "State of Nevada." This audio segment is used with the gracious permission of KNPR's "State of Nevada" which podcasts many segments of its programs. See knpr.org/son/feeds for more information.

In this episode, poet and critic James Longenbach reads from his work. Part of the fourteenth Modernist Studies Association conference, the event was held October 18, 2012 at the Flamingo Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, NV. Longenbach is introduced by poet and UNLV English Professor Donald Revell.

In this episode, writers and medical ethicists Harriet Washington, David Ewing Duncan, and Jacob Appel discuss the ethics, politics, and morality of contemporary medical practice, research, and pharmacology. The event was held September 19, 2010 in the UNLV Student Union Ballroom in Las Vegas, NV.

In this episode, fiction writer Melinda Moustakis discusses her life and work on the September 11, 2012 edition of KNPR's "State of Nevada." Later that night, Moustakis appeared as part of BMI's Emerging Writers Series, which is made possible by a Nevada Humanities Grant.

In this episode, writer and 2012-13 Bennett Fellow Oksana Marafioti discusses her life and work on the July 2, 2012 edition of KNPR's "State of Nevada." This audio segment is used with the gracious permission of KNPR's "State of Nevada" which podcasts many segments of its programs. See knpr.org/son/feeds for more information.

In this episode, Juan Williams, Norman J. Ornstein, and Kathleen Parker discuss the question "Is Moderation Possible in American Politics?" Moderated by radio host Patricia Cunningham, the event was held March 22, 2012 in the UNLV Stan Fulton Ballroom in Las Vegas, NV.

In this episode, fiction writer and multimedia artist Kris Saknussemm reads, and presents corresponding video excerpts, from his novel Reverend America. Tenor saxophonist Eric Wyatt joins Saknussemm during the event, which was held March 13, 2012 in the UNLV Greenspun Hall Auditorium in Las Vegas, NV.

In this episode, fiction writers Mary Gaitskill, Sarah Shun-lien Bynum, and Cheryl Strayed discuss "Female Novelists in the 21st Century." Moderated by novelist and UNLV Assistant Professor of English Maile Chapman, the event was held February 22nd, 2012 in the UNLV Student Union Ballroom in Las Vegas, NV.

In this episode, fiction writer Sarah Shun-lien Bynum discusses her life and work on the February 22, 2012 edition of KNPR's "State of Nevada." Later that night, Bynum appeared as part of BMI's panel "Female Novelists in the 21st Century." This audio segment is used with the gracious permission of KNPR's "State of Nevada" which podcasts many segments of its programs. See knpr.org/son/feeds for more information.

In this episode, fiction writer and memoirist Cheryl Strayed discusses her life and work on the February 21, 2012 edition of KNPR's "State of Nevada." The next night, Strayed appeared as part of BMI's panel "Female Novelists in the 21st Century." This audio segment is used with the gracious permission of KNPR's "State of Nevada" which podcasts many segments of its programs. See knpr.org/son/feeds for more information.

In this episode, fiction writer Mary Gaitskill discusses her life and work on the February 17, 2012 edition of KNPR's "State of Nevada." On February 22nd, Gaitskill will appear, along with Cheryl Strayed, Sarah Shun-lien Bynum, and Maile Chapman, as part of BMI's panel discussion "Female Novelists in the 21st Century." This audio segment is used with the gracious permission of KNPRs "State of Nevada" which podcasts many segments of its programs. See knpr.org/son/feeds for more information.

In this episode, fiction writer Blake Butler discusses his life and work on the February 8, 2012 edition of KNPR's "State of Nevada." Later that night, Butler appeared as part of BMI's Nevada Emerging Writers Series. This audio segment is used with the gracious permission of KNPRs "State of Nevada" which podcasts many segments of its programs. See knpr.org/son/feeds for more information.

In this episode, editor and fiction writer Andrew Kiraly reads from his novel Crit and discusses his life and career. The event was held November 29, 2011 in the Barrick Auditorium at UNLV in Las Vegas, NV.

In this episode, Nevada Humanities Executive Director Christina Barr presents the Vegas Valley Book Festival's 2011 Crystal Bookmark Awards. Barr presented awards to philanthropist, and Black Mountain Institute board member, Glenn Schaeffer and Vegas PBS's "Ready to Learn" program. The ceremony took place November 5, 2011 in the 5th Street School Auditorium in Las Vegas, NV.

In this episode, novelist Jane Smiley reads from her work and discusses her life and career with BMI Executive Director Carol Harter. The joint BMI/Vegas Valley Book Festival event was held November 5, 2011 in the 5th Street School Auditorium in Las Vegas, NV.

In this episode, novelist Jane Smiley discusses her life and work on the November 4, 2011 edition of KNPR's "State of Nevada." The next night, Smiley read from her work at a joint BMI/Vegas Valley Book Festival event. This audio segment is used with the gracious permission of KNPRs "State of Nevada" which podcasts many segments of its programs. See knpr.org/son/feeds for more information.

In this episode, fiction writer Laura van den Berg discusses her life and work on the October 19, 2011 edition of KNPR's "State of Nevada." The next night, van den Berg appeared as part of BMI's Nevada Emerging Writers Series. This audio segment is used with the gracious permission of KNPRs "State of Nevada" which podcasts many segments of its programs. See knpr.org/son/feeds for more information.

In this episode, prominent atheist Susan Jacoby, Harvard Divinity professor Karen King, and Islamist activist and writer Reza Aslan discuss "Theism/Atheism: Belief and Unbelief in America." Moderated by BMI Executive Director Carol Harter, the event was held October 13th, 2011 in the UNLV Student Union Ballroom in Las Vegas, NV.

In this episode, Harvard Divinity professor Karen King discusses her life and work on the October 13, 2011 edition of KNPR's "State of Nevada." King appeared, along with Susan Jacoby and Reza Aslan, at the BMI "Theism/Atheism" event later that night. This audio segment is used with the gracious permission of KNPRs "State of Nevada" which podcasts many segments of its programs. See knpr.org/son/feeds for more information.

In this episode, Islamist activist and writer Reza Aslan discusses his life and work on the October 13, 2011 edition of KNPR's "State of Nevada." Aslan appeared, along with Susan Jacoby and Karen King, at the BMI "Theism/Atheism" event later that night. This audio segment is used with the gracious permission of KNPRs "State of Nevada" which podcasts many segments of its programs. See knpr.org/son/feeds for more information.

In this episode, prominent atheist Susan Jacoby discusses her life and work on the October 12, 2011 edition of KNPR's "State of Nevada." Jacoby appeared, along with Karen King and Reza Aslan, at the BMI "Theism/Atheism" event the next night. This audio segment is used with the gracious permission of KNPRs "State of Nevada" which podcasts many segments of its programs. See knpr.org/son/feeds for more information.