The North Avenue Lounge is WREK’s interview show. Your hosts Charlie Bennett, Keren Landman, and Shannon M. Turner alternate weeks, talking with artists, writers, professors, students, scientists, engineers, musicians, and other fascinating people from the metro Atlanta area and beyond. Tune in eac…
We wrap up our Best-Of Shannon M. Turner Highlight Reelz with a retrospective on all of Shannon's explorations of the heart. Hear segments of her episodes with co-host Cris Gray and with Dee Wagner, author of Naked Online: The Dating Book, and ponder whether awkward vulnerability will ever win the game.
Our highlight reels continue with a collection of host Shannon M. Turner's best-loved episodes with some of Atlanta's funniest people. Listen in on clips from interviews with Gina Rickicki, Cris Gray, Kris Boltz, Topher Payne, Jon Carr (now of Second City!), and Nicole Kemper.
Our highlight reels continue with a collection of host Shannon M. Turner's best-loved episodes with Atlanta's dreamiest theatre makers. Hear segments with Kenny Leon, Suehyla El-Attar, Michael Haverty, Daniel Thomas May, Rachel May, and a whole crew of folx from 7 Stages from way back in Shannon's second episode in fall of 2013. We start out with a meditation on how theatre has been hit hard by the pandemic and why it's important to support it and find our way back into those dark spaces, sitting elbow-to-elbow with strangers as soon as we can feel safe to do so.
Pre-Show Treasure Maps Special! Please enjoy this immersive audio storytelling piece by Ricardo Aranda 'Ricardo's Race.' We're looking forward to seeing you at the Treasure Maps show! Audio direction, recording, soundscape design, editing by Amanda Plumb. Why is this appearing on the NAL feed? This is a North Avenue Lounge Special in collaboration with the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities. NAL co-host Shannon M. Turner is the Creative Director for the statewide Treasure Maps project, and NAL co-host Amanda Plumb created the piece together with Ricardo!
We begin a series of Shannon's best-loved themes and episodes with a highlight reel of shows featuring activists.
Guest: Tyson Duffy Charlie talks with his friend Tyson Duffy about the distinction in their politics made clear by the current presidential primary season. Host: Charlie Bennett
Guest: Alain Della Negra Charlie talks with French artist and filmmaker Alain Della Negra about Second Life, art, and his 2009 film "The Cat, the Reverend and the Slave." Host: Charlie Bennett
Guests: All the North Avenue Lounge hosts Charlie, Keren, and Shannon gather in the studio and interview each other with plenty of chatter, discussion, and sass. Host: All the North Avenue Lounge hosts
Guests: Doris Mukangu & Elise Witt Shannon talks with Doris Mukangu & Elise Witt about the Amani Women Center, Johari Africa Enterprise, and the Global Village Project. Find out about some of the amazing things that are happening in Clarkston and in the area with refugees who have been resettled in Metro Atlanta. From sewing to singing, you'll finish the hour with a renewed creative spirit--and definitely ready to attend All Singing: The Elise Witt Songbook release concert on Nov. 23 at Chosewood Arts Complex. Host: Shannon Turner
Guest: The actual podcast Hidden Voices, episode 1 & 2 This week, we showcase the podcast Hidden Voices after featuring the creators and producers in our last episode. Host: Charlie Bennett
Guests: Shannon M Turner, Irene Turner, Maria Pinkelton, Michelle Khouri Charlie talks with some of the team that has created the podcast Hidden Voices, part of the GCDD Storytelling Project, spotlighting the stories of people with developmental disabilities and their families. Host: Charlie Bennett
Guest: Oulimata Gueye Charlie talks with Oulimata Gueye, the critic, curator, and artists about electronic music, science fiction from Africa, and fireboats. Host: Charlie Bennett
Guests: All the North Avenue Lounge hosts Charlie, Keren, and Shannon gather in the studio and interview each other with plenty of chatter, discussion, and sass. Host: All the North Avenue Lounge hosts
Guests: Jessyca Holland & Audrey Gamez of C4 Atlanta; Eileen Lee & Martine Resznick of The Lola Shannon talks with the women who lead C4 Atlanta and The Lola about holding space for creative entrepreneurs and women professionals to grow their businesses. Host: Shannon M. Turner
Guest: Jason Ward, communications coordinator for National Audubon and host of Topic Video's "Birds of North America." Keren talks to naturalist Jason Ward about his love for birds, his conservation advocacy, and his efforts to engaging people of color in exploring the outdoors. Host: Keren Landman
Guest: Zachary Steele, founder and executive director of the Broadleaf Writers Association Charlie talks with Zach Steele about the writing life, writing fears, and the Broadleaf writing conference. Host: Charlie Bennett
Guests: Monica Campana, Executive Director of Living Walls, and artists/muralists Maite Nazario and Lisette Correa Keren talks to the director of urban mural powerhouse Living Walls and two of its collaborating artists about the organization's recent Start Talking, Stop HIV campaign, a series of community events culminating in the painting of an HIV mural in southwest Atlanta. Host: Keren Landman
Guests: Cody Turner and Brittany Wilson Charlie talks with the "Atlanta office" of Sofar Sounds about secret shows, booking acts, and creating community. Host: Charlie Bennett
Guest: Sean Dietrich Shannon speaks with prolific author, storyteller, blogger, and musician, Sean Dietrich, aka Sean of the South. Sean speaks about growing up as an underestimated kid, his early influencers, how community college change his life, and talks about writing process. In the final segments, Sean reads from his daily blog and we sample his podcast performances. Host: Shannon M. Turner
Guests: All the North Avenue Lounge hosts Charlie, Keren, and Shannon gather in the studio and interview each other with plenty of chatter, discussion, and sass. Host: All the North Avenue Lounge hosts
Guest: Meagan Jain Charlie speaks with artist and gerontologist Meagan Jain about age, art, and Atlanta. Host: Charlie Bennett
Guests: Kate Rope & Soniah Kamal Shannon talks with with two of Atlanta's most exciting authors. Kate Rope's new book, "Strong As a Mother," is a practical and compassionate guide to preparing for a smooth start to motherhood, both physically and emotionally. Soniah Kamal is returning to the show, this time with her new book, "Unmarriagable," a retelling of Jane Austen's "Pride & Prejudice" set in Pakistan. Host: Shannon M. Turner
Guest: Jake and Nina Elsas of The Patch Works, Cabbagetown's Art and History Center Keren talks to the founders of The Patch Works about their efforts to preserve and educate locals and visitors about the history of Cabbagetown, the role of hyperlocal preservation in reducing some of the negative impacts of gentrification, and the joys of reconnecting people to place. Host: Keren Landman
Guest: Dr. Karen Head of Georgia Tech Charlie talks with Dr. Karen Head, professor and associate chair of the School of Literature, Media, and Communication at Georgia Tech, about poetry, education, administration, and Bert's chili. Host: Charlie Bennett
Guest: Lacy Hodges Charlie talks with Dr. Lacy Hodges about how she came to Georgia Tech and the challenges and opportunities in running a first-year college orientation course at Georgia Tech. Host: Charlie Bennett
Guest: Jill Wener, MD of Conscious Health Meditation Keren talks to a physician and meditation instructor about how Vedic meditation techniques can help healthcare providers manage stress, avoid burnout, and improve bedside manner -- mountaintop and Om-face optional. Host: Keren Landman
Guests: Anne Collins Smith, Leatrice Ellzy, and Shantrelle Lewis Shannon talks with leaders from the Spelman Museum and Hammonds House about their history, the state of black art institutions, and the important exhibits they currently feature. Spelman Museum has two exhibits: Amy Sherald returns to her roots at the Atlanta University Center after rocketing to fame when she painted the now famous Michelle Obama portrait in the National Gallery. At the same time, our guest Anne Collins Smith curates "PRESENCE: Meditations on the Spelman College Collection." Hammonds House currently features "Dandy Lion: (Re) Articulating Black Masculine Identity." Host: Shannon M. Turner
Guests: Laura Levy and Clint Zeagler Charlie discusses the exhibit "Nostalgic Futures," examining the work of the GVU Center over 25 years, with its co-curators, Clint Zeagler and Laura Levy of Georgia Tech. Host: Charlie Bennett
Guest: Jon Carr, David Russell, Nicholas Tecosky, Charles Parrott, Maddie Fay, Benjamin Carr, Rita Nicole Leslie The North Avenue Lounge is pleased to showcase the Atlanta podcast "Atlanta Storytellers." Host: Charlie Bennett
Guests: Andrew Cannon and Mike Filler Charlie discusses the origin and ongoing run of the podcast Nanovation with the producers Mike Filler and Andrew Cannon. Host: Charlie Bennett
Guests: Topher Payne & Jon Carr Shannon talks with Jon Carr & Topher Payne about playwriting, improv comedy, Dad's Garage, the Hallmark Channel, Black Nerd, and chasing after your dreams in the supportive artist culture of Atlanta. Host: Shannon M. Turner
Guest: Pastor William Francis of The Black Church and HIV Keren talks to an ambassador of The Black Church and HIV, an organization that works to reduce the impact of HIV on black America through faith, about how and why faith communities can make a difference in the epidemic, and particular challenges of fighting the HIV epidemic in Atlanta. Host: Keren Landman
Guest: Mike Filler, Matt McDowell The North Avenue Lounge is pleased to showcase the Georgia Tech podcast "Nanovation." Host: Charlie Bennett
Guests: Jamie Allen, Stewart Haddock, and Sally Parham of the Squirrel Census Keren talks to the Atlanta-based members of the Squirrel Census team about blurring the lines between art and science in the squirrel-counting projects they've conducted in Atlanta's Inman Park neighborhood and New York City's Central Park. Host: Keren Landman
Guest: Hannah Pearman Charlie talks with artist Hannah Pearman about her art, her immigration to Atlanta from New Zealand, and about the creative process. Host: Charlie Bennett
Guests: All the North Avenue Lounge hosts Amanda, Charlie, Keren, and Shannon gather in the studio and interview each other with plenty of chatter, discussion, and sass. Host: All the North Avenue Lounge hosts
Guests: Oronike Odeleye and Allie Bashuk A very timely discussion about feminism, using the online realm for organizing, hashtag activism, and local grassroots philanthropy with Oronike Odeleye of the #MuteRKelly campaign & Idea Capital, and Allie Bashuk of many endeavors, including founder of the Dream Warriors Foundation. Host: Shannon M. Turner
Guest: Mike Filler, Bara Cola The North Avenue Lounge is pleased to showcase the Georgia Tech podcast "Nanovation." Host: Charlie Bennett
Guests: Julia Levy, Jeff Levy, Tiny Doors ATL, Monday Night Brewing, NOLA Brownies The North Avenue Lounge is pleased to showcase the Atlanta podcast "Peach and Prosperity." Host: Charlie Bennett
Guest: George Chidi Keren talks to the Social Impact Director at Central Atlanta Progress and the Atlanta Downtown Improvement District about Atlanta's approach to homelessness past, present, and future, and why homelessness in Atlanta is so deeply tied to race. Host: Keren Landman
Guest: Mike Filler, Ivan Oransky The North Avenue Lounge is pleased to showcase the Georgia Tech podcast "Nanovation." Host: Charlie Bennett
Guest: Kate Atwood Shannon talks with Kate Atwood, founder of Kate's Club and Executive Director of ChooseATL. They discuss transforming grief culture and helping to promote Atlanta as a great place to live. Host: Shannon M. Turner
Guest: Mike Filler, Eric Vogel The North Avenue Lounge is pleased to showcase the Georgia Tech podcast "Nanovation." Host: Charlie Bennett
Guest: David Joy Charlie talks with author David Joy about his new book, THE LINE THAT HELD US, writing as a profession, and the new media fascination with rural America. Host: Charlie Bennett
Guests: Lisa Yaszek and Ian Campbell Shannon talks to two writers about science fiction. Lisa Yaszek is a feminist writer & historian of science fiction. Ian Campbell has just published "Arabic Science Fiction", which traces the roots of Arabic science fiction through classical and medieval Arabic literature. They also talk about new tracks at DragonCon and unpacking what the #metoo movement has to offer this sci-fi multiverse. Host: Shannon M. Turner
Guests: All the North Avenue Lounge hosts Amanda, Charlie, Keren, and Shannon gather in the studio and interview each other with plenty of chatter, discussion, and sass. Host: All the North Avenue Lounge hosts
Guest: JD Koth Amanda interviews local sculptor JD Koth about his work. You can find JD's work along the Beltline and at the Fernbank. Host: Amanda Plumb
Guests: Tenisio Seanima, Abiodun Henderson, and Kwon Smith Shannon talks to two outstanding organizations that will have you thinking about how beautiful it is outside. Georgia Organics connects organic food from Georgia farms to Georgia families. The Come Up Project, especially through its program Gangstas to Growers, focuses on providing employment opportunities to formerly incarcerated persons in marginalized communities. Host: Shannon M. Turner
Guests: Andrea Swartzendruber, Jaime Winfree, Laura Anderson Keren talks to a public health expert and two Gwinnett County citizens about why so much of Georgia's school-based sex ed is dangerous to students, and how one community is trying to fix it. Host: Keren Landman
Guest: Evanye Lawson Amanda and Shannon talk with Evanye Lawson, a license psychotherapist, spiritual teacher, and coach, about her work teaching women to love themselves. Host: Amanda Plumb and Shannon Turner
Guest: Chloe Belangia Charlie talks with Chloe Belangia, Georgia Tech student and lead organizer of TEDx Georgia Tech, about ambition, success, and mindfulness. Host: Charlie Bennett