Writer's Voice with Francesca Rheannon

Writer's Voice: compelling conversations with authors who challenge, inspire, and inform. Episode Summary This week: Grandmaster of crime fiction Laura Lippman joins us to talk about her delightful new mystery, Murder Takes a Vacation. The novel brings back Muriel “Mrs.” Blossom—now a wealthy, single woman in her sixties—on a river cruise where art theft, murder, … Continue reading Laura Lippman on MURDER TAKES A VACATION: Art, Age, and a Woman's Right to Reinvent Herself →

Writer's Voice: compelling conversations with authors who challenge, inspire, and inform. Episode Summary This week on Writer's Voice, two authors of speculative fiction explore what it means to be human in a world shaped by crisis, autocracy, and extinction. First, Ray Nayler discusses Where the Axe is Buried, a gripping novel that imagines a future … Continue reading AI, Autocracy, and Afterlife: Sci Fi Novelists Ray Nayler & Tim Weed →

Writer's Voice: compelling conversations with authors who challenge, inspire, and inform. Episode Summary In this episode of Writer's Voice, we explore how language shapes history—and how stories shape culture. We first speak with Laura Spinney, author of Proto: How One Ancient Language Went Global. She takes us into the world of Proto-Indo-European, a language spoken … Continue reading Laura Spinney & Tonya Todd on Language, Myth & Resistance →

Writer's Voice: compelling conversations with authors who challenge, inspire, and inform. Episode Summary This week: journalist Brian Goldstone joins us to talk about his powerful new book, There Is No Place For Us: Working and Homeless in America. It's an eye-opening, deeply reported portrait of families who work full-time yet are unhoused, navigating a system … Continue reading The New Face of Homelessness: Brian Goldstone on THERE IS NO PLACE FOR US →

Writer's Voice: compelling conversations with authors who challenge, inspire, and inform. Episode Summary Novelist Jennifer Haigh joins us to talk about Rabbit Moon, her atmospheric and emotionally complex novel set in Shanghai. It follows an estranged American family reuniting after a tragedy—and a daughter living a secret life abroad. “Writing is having a conversation with … Continue reading Jennifer Haigh on RABBIT MOON and L. Annette Binder on CHILD OF EARTH AND STARRY HEAVEN →

Writer's Voice: compelling conversations with authors who challenge, inspire, and inform. Episode Summary In this episode of Writer's Voice, we speak with two authors who excavate buried truths and challenge dominant cultural narratives. Dolen Perkins-Valdez discusses her historical novel Happy Land, inspired by a real African American community founded after the Civil War in North … Continue reading Kingdoms Lost & Myths Undone: Dolen Perkins-Valdez on HAPPY LAND and Nancy Reddy on THE GOOD MOTHER MYTH →

Writer's Voice: compelling conversations with authors who challenge, inspire, and inform. Episode Summary Mich​èle Gerber Klein discusses Surreal, her revelatory biography of Gala Dalí, the forceful and fascinating woman behind surrealist master Salvador Dalí. Gala emerges not just as a muse, but as a powerful shaper of modern art and identity. “She wasn't just a … Continue reading Muse, Myth & Murder: Mich​èle Gerber Klein on Gala Dalí and Anthony Horowitz on THE MARBLE HALL MURDERS →

Writer's Voice: compelling conversations with authors who challenge, inspire, and inform. Episode Summary Novelist Boris Fishman talks about The Unwanted, a novel of migration, betrayal, and survival set in an unnamed, war-torn country. Fishman explores how lies—meant to protect—can fracture a family even in the face of collective trauma. It’s a moving portrait of a … Continue reading Borders and Backlashes: Boris Fishman, THE UNWANTED & Sophie Gilbert, GIRL ON GIRL →

Writer's Voice: compelling conversations with authors who challenge, inspire, and inform. Episode Summary Today's episode brings together two extraordinary voices in literature—each grappling with the legacies of crisis, survival, and identity. First, we speak with Eiren Caffall about her novel, All the Water in the World, a haunting, hope-filled work of climate fiction set in … Continue reading Stories for Survival: Eiren Caffall, ALL THE WATER IN THE WORD and Ishion Hutchinson, FUGITIVE TILTS →

Writer's Voice: compelling conversations with authors who challenge, inspire, and inform. Episode Summary Two riveting accounts from the Siege of Leningrad during WWII: In the first half, Simon Parkin discusses The Forbidden Garden, the incredible true story of Soviet botanists who protected the world's first seed bank during the Nazi blockade—sacrificing their own lives to … Continue reading Seeds, Symphonies, and Survival: Leningrad's Resistance in Science and Music →

Writer's Voice: compelling conversations with authors who challenge, inspire, and inform. Episode Summary Earth Day is coming up this month, so we get a jump on environmental awareness. From visionary climate futures to the minds of our feathered friends, this episode reminds us that joy, attention, and imagination may be our greatest tools for survival. … Continue reading Sanjana Sekhar, METAMORPHOSIS & Sy Montgomery, WHAT THE CHICKEN KNOWS →

Episode Summary This is the first week of April and April is Poetry Month. So we are so pleased to feature two conversations with poets who use their genre as a vehicle for historical witness and spiritual transformation. First, we talk with poet, geologist and translator Forrest Gander about his novel in poetry Mojave Ghost. … Continue reading Poetry of Place and Freedom with Forrest Gander and DaMaris Hill →

Episode Summary We explore two speculative fiction novels that challenge our understanding of consciousness, communication and the human condition. First, we speak with Cary Groner about The Way, a post-pandemic road novel that blends adventure, Buddhist philosophy, and a hopeful vision of the future after our current civilization has been largely swept away. “It's not … Continue reading Speculative Futures: Cary Groner & Silvia Park on Survival, AI, and the Meaning of Being Human →

Episode Summary For Women’s History Month, we speak with Cassidy Randall about her book Thirty Below, which tells the gripping true story of the first all-women's ascent of Denali in 1970. Facing extreme sexism, brutal conditions, and life-threatening storms, this pioneering team of climbers defied expectations and set a precedent for future generations of women … Continue reading Breaking Barriers on Denali: Cassidy Randall on THIRTY BELOW & Omar El Akkad on Empire, Liberalism & Bearing Witness →

In this episode, we talk with journalist Amanda Becker about the impact of the Dobbs decision, the legal chaos that followed, and how the fight for abortion rights continues. Becker shares insights from her book You Must Stand Up, detailing the rollback of reproductive rights, the history of anti-abortion legislation, and the movement’s ongoing efforts to restore access … Continue reading Women’s History Month: The Fight for Abortion Rights After Dobbs →

Episode Summary We speak with two remarkable writers about two fascinating stories—one rooted in personal history, the other in literary imagination—both shedding light on the fight for justice and self-determination. First, Alice Rothchild tells us about Inspired and Outraged: The Making of a Feminist Physician. It's a powerful memoir in free verse exploring her journey … Continue reading Alice Rothchild & Grace Tiffany on Women’s History, Power, and Resistance  →

Episode Summary This episode of Writer's Voice features two urgent and thought-provoking conversations. First, we speak with Professor Bernadette Atuahene, author of Plundered: How Racist Policies Undermine Black Homeownership in America, about how predatory governance has systematically stripped Black homeowners of generational wealth—particularly in Detroit, where one in three homes has gone through property tax foreclosure since 2009. She explains how … Continue reading Bernadette Atuahene: Fighting Predatory Governance & Andrew Boyd: Overcoming Political Overwhelm →

In this episode, we welcome Aran Shetterly to discuss his powerful new book, Morningside: The 1979 Greensboro Massacre and the Struggle for an American City's Soul. Shetterly unearths the long-overlooked history of the Greensboro Massacre, a brutal attack in which members of the Ku Klux Klan and neo-Nazis murdered five labor and civil rights activists … Continue reading BLACK HISTORY MONTH: Aran Shetterly on The Greensboro Massacre, MORNINGSIDE & Jonathan Eig, KING, A LIFE →

We sit down with award-winning author Victoria Christopher Murray to talk about Harlem Rhapsody, her novel about the Harlem Renaissance and the woman who made it possible. This gripping novel brings to life Jessie Redmon Fauset, a pioneering literary editor, mentor, and novelist who played a pivotal role in shaping the Harlem Renaissance—yet remains largely … Continue reading Black History Month: Victoria Christopher Murray on HARLEM RHAPSODY & Reviving Forgotten Women Writers →

In this episode of Writer’s Voice, we talk with Aaron Robertson about his fascinating book, The Black Utopians: Searching for Paradise and the Promised Land in America. It's about the hidden legacies of Black utopian experiments and what they teach us about the power of community today. Then, we talk with best-selling novelist, journalist and … Continue reading Black History Month: Aaron Robertson, THE BLACK UTOPIANS. Also, Cory Doctorow, PICKS AND SHOVELS →

In this episode of Writer's Voice, we explore two fascinating books. Rowan Jacobsen takes us deep into the Amazon in Wild Chocolate, uncovering the origins of cacao and the ethical challenges of the chocolate industry. Then, Karissa Chen discusses Homeseeking, her powerful novel tracing the Chinese diaspora through generations of displacement, love, and longing for … Continue reading From the Amazon to the Chinese Diaspora: Rowan Jacobsen on WILD CHOCOLATE & Karissa Chen on HOMESEEKING →

This week on Writer's Voice we feature three great conversations. Karen Joy Fowler reflects on the relevance of Ursula K. Le Guin's The Dispossessed and its vision of utopia on the occasion of the 50th anniversary re-issue of that classic work of speculative fiction. She wrote the introduction. Listen to our 2012 interview with Ursulla … Continue reading Utopias, Pipelines, and Political Art: Karen Joy Fowler, Charlotte Dennett, and Jules Feiffer →

In this episode of Writer's Voice, entomologist and author Barrett Klein discusses his book, The Insect Epiphany: How Our Six-Legged Allies Shape Human Culture. From the crucial roles insects play in ecosystems to their influence on art, architecture, and medicine, Klein unpacks the deep connections between humans and these often misunderstood creatures. [Image above by … Continue reading How Insects Shape Our Culture & Stewarding Wildness →

In this week’s episode of WV, nonbinary journalist and author Nico Lang takes us inside the lives of trans and nonbinary youth across America. Their book is AMERICAN TEENAGER: How Trans Kids Are Surviving Hate And Finding Joy In A Turbulent Era. “These kids are just trying to live their lives, but they're forced to … Continue reading Nico Lang On Trans Youth & Lily Tuck On Her New Novel →

Rafael A. Martinez discusses the lived experiences of undocumented youth in America. He’s Assistant Professor of Southwest Borderlands at Arizona State University and author of Illegalized: Undocumented Youth Movements in the United States. He details how activism and organizing led to gains such as in-state tuition and DACA, but also the precariousness of these advancements … Continue reading ILLEGALIZED: Rafael Martinez on Undocumented Youth Movements →

Sociologist Stephanie Canizales examines the lives of unaccompanied migrant youth in her groundbreaking book, Sin Padres Ni Papeles. Drawing from years of immersive research in the Pico-Union neighborhood of Los Angeles, Canizales sheds light on the systemic challenges these young people face, from exploitative labor conditions to emotional isolation. She connects their experiences to historical … Continue reading SIN PADRES NI PAPELES: Stephanie Canizales on the Lives of Unaccompanied Migrant Youth →

Sherri Goodman, a leading voice in climate security, discusses her book Threat Multiplier: Climate, Military Leadership, and the Fight for Global Security. Goodman explores how climate change amplifies instability, from the Middle East’s water crises, to migration in Latin America, to potential conflicts over emerging shipping routes in the melting Arctic. Goodman also shares insights … Continue reading Threat Multiplier: Sherri Goodman on Climate Change, Security, and Global Resilience →

In this episode of Writer's Voice, we speak with Daniel Fryer, author of How to Cope with Almost Anything with Hypnotherapy, about the science and uses of hypnotherapy in mental health and well-being. Then, we honor the late Nikki Giovanni with a replay of our 2009 conversation about Hip Hop Speaks to Children, celebrating poetry's … Continue reading Mind and Rhythm: Daniel Fryer on Hypnotherapy & Nikki Giovanni on Hip Hop Poetry →

In this episode, we dive into the world of eels with Ellen Ruppel Shell, author of Slippery Beast: A True Crime Natural History with Eels. From ancient mysteries and ecological importance to international crime syndicates and sustainable farming, Ruppel Shell unravels the fascinating and complex story of one of nature’s most enigmatic creatures. The conversation … Continue reading Slippery Beast: Ellen Ruppel Shell on Eels, Ecology, and the Global Wildlife Trade →

In this special holiday edition of Writer’s Voice, journalist and author Petrina Engelke shares her journey exploring iconic American cuisine along Route 66, detailed in the book she co-wrote with food blogger Gabriele Frankemölle, Cook Across America: 66 Iconic Recipes Along the Legendary Route 66. Engelke delves into the diverse cultural traditions that define American food, … Continue reading Petrina Engelke on Iconic American Cuisine  →

In this episode, Rebecca Nagle, journalist and author of By the Fire We Carry: The Generations’ Long Fight for Justice on Native Land, unpacks the history of the Cherokee Nation and broader Indigenous struggles for sovereignty. Nagle intertwines personal family history with systemic injustices, tracing the consequences of the Trail of Tears, the Indian Removal … Continue reading BY THE FIRE WE CARRY, Rebecca Nagle on Indigenous Sovereignty and Democracy →

Summary In this episode, Julie Sedivy, author of Linguaphile: A Life of Language Love, explores her profound relationship with language as both a scientist and a writer. Sedivy shares her journey from a multilingual childhood to becoming a linguist, reflecting on the complexities of multilingualism, the emotional weight of language, and its profound ties to … Continue reading LINGUAPHILE: Julie Sedivy on the Beauty, Complexity, and Mystery of Language →

Summary In this episode of Writer’s Voice, celebrated novelist Ann Patchett discusses the annotated release of her beloved novel Bel Canto, exploring how themes of love, art, and humanity resonate in times of crisis. Patchett reflects on her writing process, the tenderness of her characters, and how art can provide solace in difficult times. The, … Continue reading Ann Patchett & Kathy Engel on Art, Love, and the Power of Poetry in Difficult Times →

In this thought-provoking episode, acclaimed author Olivia Laing shares insights from The Garden Against Time, exploring the concept of gardens as both physical spaces and metaphors for paradise, exclusion, and resistance. Laing recounts restoring a historic garden and reflects on themes of ecological stewardship, historical gardens, and the philosophical tensions between control and collaboration with … Continue reading Gardening Utopia: Olivia Laing on THE GARDEN AGAINST TIME →

In this episode, we speak with epidemiologist Caitlin Rivers about her book Crisis Averted. From the successful eradication of smallpox to navigating the COVID-19 pandemic, Rivers delves into public health challenges, funding gaps, and the “panic and neglect” cycle that threatens our preparedness for future outbreaks. Host’s Note We are less than a week away … Continue reading CRISIS AVERTED: Caitlin Rivers on the Hidden Science of Fighting Outbreaks →

In this episode of Writer's Voice, we explore the intersections of personal and ecological narratives through two powerful interviews. Francesca speaks with writer and musician Eiren Caffall about her memoir, The Mourner’s Bestiary, and naturalist Betsy McCully, author of At the Glacier's Edge: A Natural History of Long Island from the Narrows to Montauk Point. … Continue reading Eiren Caffall THE MOURNER'S BESTIARY & Betsy McCully, AT THE GLACIER'S EDGE →

Today, we explore two uncommon angles on the histories of World War I and World War II. First, we're joined by historical fiction writer Robert Harris, author of the recently released novel, Precipice. The novel explores a true story — the clandestine relationship between British Prime Minister Herbert Asquith and Venetia Stanley — set against … Continue reading World Wars: Robert Harris, PRECIPICE & Giles Milton, THE STALIN AFFAIR →

In this episode of Writer’s Voice, Host Francesca Rheannon welcomes acclaimed author Louise Erdrich to discuss her new novel, The Mighty Red. Known for her deeply layered storytelling and themes centered on Native American life, Erdrich takes listeners on a journey into the heart of the Red River Valley in North Dakota. Here, she weaves … Continue reading Louise Erdrich, THE MIGHTY RED & James Hansen (encore) STORMS OF MY GRANDCHILDREN →

In this episode of Writer’s Voice, we talk about changing urban transport to make it more people-centric, not car-centric. We welcome disability mobility advocate Anna Zivarts, author of When Driving Is Not An Option: Steering Away From Car Dependency. Then, urban planner Dan Piatkowski tells us about how new developments in bike technology can make … Continue reading Anna Zivarts, WHEN DRIVING IS NOT AN OPTION & Dan Piatkowski, BICYCLE CITY →

In this episode of Writer’s Voice, host Francesca Rheannon sits down with Joe Shute and Brandon Keim for two conversations about: Joe Shute discusses his latest book, Stowaway: The Disreputable Exploits of the Rat, which dives into the history, biology, and misunderstood nature of rats. Brandon Keim shares insights from his book Meet the Neighbors: … Continue reading The Minds and Lives of Animals with Joe Shute and Brandon Keim →

In this episode of Writer's Voice, host Francesca Rheannon speaks with historian Jacob Mikanowski about his book Goodbye Eastern Europe: An Intimate History of a Divided Land. Mikanowski explores the rich, complex, and often overlooked history of Eastern Europe—a region shaped by centuries of empires, revolutions, and diverse cultures. From the enduring impact of the … Continue reading Jacob Mikanowski, GOODBYE EASTERN EUROPE & Michael Lerner Remembered →

In this episode of Writer's Voice, we talk with Clayton Page Aldern about The Weight of Nature, his groundbreaking new book on the impacts of climate change on our brains — from PSTD to brain-eating amoebas. Aldern explains how climate-induced stressors are shaping our mental health — harming our judgment, leading to rises in neurodegenerative … Continue reading Clayton Page Aldern: Climate Change Is Messing with Our Brains →

Episode Description: In this episode, we talk with celebrated Haitian American writer Edwidge Danticat, author of Brother, I'm Dying and her latest essay collection, We're Alone. Danticat shares intimate insights into her writing process, the legacy of colonialism and the immigrant experience. She discusses Haiti's ongoing struggles, her personal connection to the country, and how … Continue reading Edwidge Danticat on Haiti, Immigration, and Her New Essay Collection WE’RE ALONE →

We talk with Peter Godfrey Smith about Living On Earth, Forests, Corals, Consciousness, And The Making Of The World. It combines natural history, ethics and philosophy to consider a new approach to our responsibility to life on this planet.

Episode Summary In this episode of Writer’s Voice, host Francesca Rheannon explores the intricate dynamics of giving, receiving, and creating community with food entrepreneur and activist Lola Milholland. She shares insights from her memoir, Group Living and Other Recipes, which reflects on her upbringing in a communal household, the lessons of shared living, and the … Continue reading Group Living: Lola Milholland & Chuck Collins →

We talk with cartoonist Ken Krimstein about the remarkable meeting of the minds between Albert Einstein and Franz Kafka in Prague, before either man was famous. His new graphic book is Einstein in Kafkaland: How Albert Fell Down The Rabbit Hole And Came Up With The Universe. Join us as we explore how two seemingly … Continue reading Ken Krimstein, EINSTEIN IN KAFKALAND & Harry Abrams, LET'S DO LAUNCH →

Today, two stories of what in the modern world we've come to call “apartheid”—the practice of segregating a subjugated population and imposing oppressive laws on it. First, we talk with UK historian Harry Freedman about his history of the first Jewish ghetto—that of Venice, Italy. It's called Shylock's Venice: The Remarkable History of Venice’s Jews … Continue reading Exploring Apartheid: Venice’s Jewish Ghetto and the West Bank →

In this episode of Writer’s Voice, we sit down with Dr. Seema Yasmin to discuss her prescient YA novel, Unbecoming. Dr. Yasmin, a physician, journalist, and director of the Stanford Health Communication Initiative, brings her multifaceted expertise to the conversation. Her new book, set in a dystopian near-future America, explores the challenges faced by two … Continue reading Policing Women's Bodies: Seema Yasmin, UNBECOMING + Jordan Elgrably, STORIES FROM THE CENTER OF THE WORLD →

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. William Bronston, a renowned advocate for disability rights and social justice. Dr. Bronston shares his incredible journey from a young medical student to a leading figure in the fight to protect the rights of people with disabilities. He discusses his experiences working at the Willowbrook State School, … Continue reading Ending Institutional America: William Bronston, PUBLIC HOSTAGE, PUBLIC RANSOM →

In this episode of Writer’s Voice, we dive into the worlds of peace activism and literary translation through conversations with Brad Wolf and Noel Hernández-Gonzalez. Also, William Bronston, the doctor who brought instiionalization of the developmentally disabled to an end, reads from his book, Public Hostage, Public Ransom. Brad Wolf discusses his work on Ministry … Continue reading Brad Wolf, A MINISTRY OF RISK, Noel Hernandez, SIMPATÍA, William Bronston on Willowbrook State School →

In this episode, we sit down with Audrea Lim, author of Free the Land: How We Can Fight Poverty and Climate Chaos. Audrea traces the connections between land commodification and many of America’s most pressing issues: ecological collapse, climate change, systemic racism, gentrification and economic inequality. Through powerful examples and thoughtful analysis, she shows how … Continue reading Audrea Lim, FREE THE LAND & Carleen Madigan, THE BACKYARD HOMESTEAD →