Podcast appearances and mentions of Ben Lerner

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 27, 2026 is: oracular • aw-RAK-yuh-ler • adjective Oracular is a formal word that can describe something used to forecast or prophesize, or something that resembles or relates to something used for such purposes. Oracular can also describe something that resembles an oracle—a person (such as a priestess of ancient Greece) through whom a deity is believed to speak; in this sense, an oracular statement, voice, etc. conveys wisdom or solemnity. // A few recordings of the famous speaker still exist, and though his language is formal to the point of sounding almost foreign to the modern listener, the oracular quality of his speech remains effective. See the entry > Examples: "The conversation that unfolds is some of [writer Ben] Lerner's most brilliant and daring writing to date, a mad, oracular burst of speech—about technology, parenthood, and dreaming—that flits effortlessly between prose and poetry." — Kevin Lozano, Vulture, 3 Apr. 2026 Did you know? When the ancient Greeks had questions or problems, they would turn to the gods for answers by consulting an oracle, a person through whom the gods communicated, usually in the form of cryptic verse. Oracle also referred to the god's answer or to the shrine that worshippers approached when seeking advice; the word's root is the Latin verb orare, which means "to speak." English speakers today can use oracle to simply refer to an authoritative pronouncement or to a person who makes such pronouncements—for example, "a designer who is an oracle of fashion." And the related adjective oracular is used in similar contexts: "a designer who is an oracular voice of fashion."

Ben Lerner reads his story “The Readers,” from the June 29, 2026, issue of the magazine. Lerner is the author of nine books of poetry and fiction, including the novels “10:04,” “The Topeka School,” which was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in 2020, and “Transcription,” which came out earlier this year. He was awarded a MacArthur Fellowship in 2015. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

In writer and poet Ben Lerner's latest novel, “Transcription,” an unnamed narrator travels to interview his elderly mentor. But shortly after checking into his hotel, the narrator knocks his phone into water, ruining the only recording device he brought. What unfolds is an exploration of all of the mundane and profound ways technology intersects with our lives. There's the bad: the mental offloading and trust we place in our smartphones and the uncanny valley of glitchy Zoom calls. But there's also the good: how it can sometimes be easier to express ourselves through phone calls rather than in-person, or how ASMR videos can actually benefit some children. We'll talk with Lerner about novels' long history of documenting human relationships with technology, and his own expanding definition of fiction. Guests: Ben Lerner, author, “Leaving the Atocha Station,” “10:04,” and “The Topeka School,” which was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize; his latest novel is “Transcription.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ein Mann, der für ein letztes Interview zu seinem Mentor aufbricht. Ein Smartphone, das in einem Waschbecken landet. Ein groteskes Gespräch mit kafkaesken Zügen. Lerners Roman ist eine Parabel auf Technologien, die unser Handeln prägen.

Sandra Kegel, Anne-Dore Krohn und Denis Scheck feiern die Romane von Birgit Birnbacher, Heike Geißler, Christoph Peters und Ben Lerner. Detailkritik gab es trotzdem.

Ben Lerner's slender new novel, “Transcription,” is just 130 pages long, yet it cracks open some of our most colossal and enduring philosophical questions. The novel is told in three parts. We open with an unnamed narrator going to interview his mentor, Thomas — an acclaimed artist in his 90s who also happens to be the father of one of the narrator's friends, Max — for a magazine. Before the interview, however, the narrator's phone breaks and he has no way to record their conversation. Rather than reschedule, he proceeds with the interview and only pretends to record Thomas as they talk. The second section flashes to the future. Thomas has died, and the article that our narrator wrote has become enshrined as the final interview with the iconic artist. At a symposium in Madrid, the narrator confesses that his interview was reconstructed rather than transcribed — a revelation that dismays the other guests and infuriates Max. Then we flash again. In the final section, the narrator talks to Max, who discusses his own complicated relationship with Thomas and technology, including how the internet and other digital tools impacted his family during several crises. Through these scenes, “Transcription” asks a series of questions: How does technology mediate our lives? How does it bring us together or pull us apart? Is there a difference between what's real and what's true? It also becomes a potent and poignant study of fatherhood and what it means. On this episode, MJ Franklin discusses “Transcription” with fellow Book Review editors Gregory Cowles and Alexandra Jacobs. Other books mentioned in this episode: “Leaving the Atocha Station,” “10:04” and “The Topeka School,” by Ben Lerner “The Dance of Anger,” by Harriet Lerner “Reporting,” by Lillian Ross “Magic and Loss: The Internet as Art,” by Virginia Heffernan “In Love: A Memoir of Love and Loss,” by Amy Bloom “No One Here Is Talking About This,” by Patricia Lockwood “The Shallows” by Nicholas Carr “Universality,” by Natasha Brown “White Noise” and “The Body Artist,” by Don DeLillo “A Hunger Artist,” by Franz Kafka “A Visit From the Goon Squad,” by Jennifer Egan “Asymmetry,” by Lisa Halliday “Trust,” by Hernan Diaz “The Mezzanine” and “Vox,” by Nicholson Baker “Outline,” by Rachel Cusk The books of Virginia Woolf Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

For the second installment in our series on the three pieces of a book, we turn from beginnings to that more difficult territory: the middle. What happens in the middle of a book? Is it simply the space connecting a strong opening to a satisfying ending? In this episode we explore the experience of living inside a book: development, repetition, immersion, wandering, pressure, rhythm. This feels like the space where the book does its work. We discuss the middles of sprawling novels as well short stories, asking what middles do and why thinking about this has helped us become less reactive and more attentive readers.2026 Novella Book ClubWe have announced the four novellas we will be reading for The Mookse and Gripes Novella Book Club in 2026!* January: Daisy Miller, by Henry James* April: An Episode in the Life of a Landscape Painter, by César Aira* July: The Hour of the Star, by Clarice Lispector* September: Prelude, by Katherine MansfieldDiscussions will be hosted at The Mookse and the Gripes Discord (see below!).We've got some fantastic author-focused episodes lined up for the foreseeable future, and we want to give you plenty of time to dive in if you'd like to read along with us. These episodes come around every ten episodes, and with our bi-weekly release schedule, you'll have a few months to get ready for each. Here's what we have in store:* Episode 135: William Faulkner* Episode 145: Elizabeth Taylor* Episode 155: Naguib Mahfouz* Episode 165: Annie Ernaux* Episode 175: Henry JamesThere's no rush—take your time, and grab a book (or two, or three) so you're prepared for these as they come!Join the Mookse and the Gripes on DiscordWant to share your thoughts on these upcoming authors or anything else we're discussing? Join us over on Discord! It's the perfect place to dive deeper into the conversation—whether you're reading along with our author-focused episodes or just want to chat about the books that are on your mind.We're also just about to read the second novella book club book of 2026: An Episode in the Life of a Landscape Painter, by César Aira, translated by Chris Andrews. It's a fantastic book, and we'd love to have you join the discussion. It's a great space to engage with fellow listeners, share your insights, and discover new perspectives on the books you're reading.Shownotes* In Trees: An Exploration, by Robert Moor* On Trails: An Exploration, by Robert Moore* If This Be Magic: The Unlikely Art of Shakespeare in Translation, by Daniel Hahn* A General Theory of Oblivion, by José Eduardo Agualusa, translated by Daniel Hahn* Catching Fire: A Translation Diary, by Daniel Hahn* The Unconsoled, by Kazuo Ishiguro* 2666, by Roberto Bolaño, translated by Natasha Wimmer* In Search of Lost Time, by Marcel Proust* Middlemarch, by George Eliot* Lonesome Dove, by Larry McMurtry* First Love, by Ivan Turgenev* Giovanni's Room, by James Baldwin* The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, by Muriel Spark* Daisy Miller, by Henry James* An Episode in the Life of a Landscape Painter, by César Aira, translated by Chris Andrews* Train Dreams, by Denis Johnson* Effingers, by Gabriele Tergit, translated by Sophie Duvernoy* To the Lighthouse, by Virginia Woolf* “A Good Man Is Hard to Find,” by Flannery O'Connor* Reinhardt's Garden, by Mark Haber* Lesser Ruins, by Mark Haber* Ada, by Mark Haber* Ducks, Newburyport, by Lucy Ellmann* Moby-Dick: or, The Whale, by Herman Melville* If on a winter's night a traveler, by Italo Calvino, translated by William Weaver* Pale Fire, by Vladimir Nabokov* Cloud Atlas, by David Mitchell* House of Leaves, by Mark Z. Danielewski* Audition, by Katie Kitamura* Transcription, by Ben Lerner* 2666, by Roberto Bolaño, translated by Natasha Wimmer* Like a Cat Loves a Bird: The Nine Lives of Muriel Spark, by James Bailey* Absalom, Absalom!, by William Faulkner* The Sound and the Fury, by William Faulkner* Light in August, by William Faulkner* As I Lay Dying, by William Faulkner* The Hour of the Star, by Clarice LispectorThe Mookse and the Gripes Podcast is a bookish conversation hosted by Paul and Trevor. Every other week, we explore a bookish topic and celebrate our love of reading. We're glad you're here, and we hope you'll continue to join us on this literary journey!A huge thank you to those who help make this podcast possible! If you'd like to support us, you can do so via Substack or Patreon. Subscribers receive access to periodic bonus episodes and early access to all new episodes. Plus, each supporter gets their own dedicated feed, allowing them to download episodes a few days before they're released to the public. We'd love for you to check it out! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mookse.substack.com/subscribe

Een half jaar geleden al begonnen collega’s zich bij het bureau van Marja en Charlotte te verdringen: 'mogen wij over de nieuwe Ben Lerner schrijven?' Lerner bedrijft het soort fictie waar literair critici idolaat van zijn. In zijn nieuwe boek Transcriptie (vert. Arthur Wevers) is een verstrooide, naamloze verteller van plan zijn oude mentor te interviewen voor een literair tijdschrift. Deze Thomas was ooit een heel grote in zijn vak. Het wordt vermoedelijk zijn laatste interview. Maar in het hotel gaat het mis: de telefoon van de verteller belandt in de wasbak en begeeft het, waardoor hij geen mogelijkheid meer heeft het gesprek op te nemen. Het relaas blijft onopgetekend en wat volgt is een opeenstapeling van miscommunicatie en misverstanden. Waarom is Ben Lerner zo interessant voor critici om te bespreken? We hebben het ook over zijn essay over poëzie, The Hatred of Poetry. Hoe helpt Ben Lerner om Marja en Charlotte poëzie te laten lezen? Luisteraars vragen zich af: waarom gaat Nederlandse fictie eigenlijk niet over politiek? En wat zijn mooie, Engelstalige boeken over vechtsport? Boekentips over vechtsport (Engels) Charlotte: Ernest Hemingway - The Sun Also Rises Joost: Jan van Mersbergen - Morgen zijn we in Pamplona / Norman Mailer - The Fight Marja: David Szalay - Flesh / Rita Bullwinkel - HeadshotSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode, we review the latest novel by Ben Lerner. We discuss auto-fictions limitations and why we were left frustrated by this potentially thought provoking novel. And, finally, we discussed adding a beach read to our TBR, (since Lerner was so adamant that his latest novel was most definitely not a beach read)If you've read "Transcription" let us know your thoughts.As always, thanks for listening.Contact Us:Instagram @therewillbbooksTwitter @therewillbbooksEmail willbebooks@gmail.comGoodreads: Therewillbebooksko-fi.com/therewillbbookspatreon.com/therewillbbooks

Anna and Geoff react to the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction winner, ANGEL DOWN by Daniel Kraus, a World War 1 novel written in one sentence. We also discuss Dwight Garner's New York Times article about the lack of book critics and our views on book influencers and reviews that make news, such as the Harper's review of To Paradise by Hana Yanagihara.   Our book of the week is TRANSCRIPTION by Ben Lerner. This novel about a writer who writes an article about his mentor from his memory of their interview after dropping his phone in a sink tackles issues such as phone addiction, parenting and eating disorders. It was a Telegraph 'most anticipated book of 2026' and a New York Times 'book everyone will be talking about'. Recommended for book clubs.   We had to ask: Why did he not put his phone in a bowl of rice? Is this a book about tech addiction? How does it differ from an Ian McEwan novel? How many unreliable narrators do we have here? Read-alikes: AUDITION by Katie Kitamura LEAVING THE ATOCHA STATION by Ben Lerner   Coming up: LONDON FALLING by Patrick Radden Keefe Follow us! Email: Booksonthegopodcast@gmail.com Instagram: @abailliekaras  Substack: Books On The Go Credits Artwork: Sascha Wilkosz

This week Kelly and Katai read TRANSCRIPTION by Ben Lerner, a thoughtful meditation on memory, truth, technology, parenting, and the distance between people. They talk smart writing (in more ways than one), who is stealing from whom (if anyone), parallels and patterns, ARFID (Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder), parenting with social media, and more!EPISODE NOTE: Due to a family medical emergency, this episode and the next (and a number of Patreon episodes) had to be recorded remotely and there are unfortunately construction sounds in the background. This was out of our control. We respectfully request that you be chill about this.Support BROTHER MANOR, Kelly's gothic romance miniseries, on Kickstarter! INFO AND DONATE!SUBSCRIBE ON PATREON for ad free and video eps, bonus eps, & more.DiscordInstagramMERCH!TEEN CREEPS IS AN INDEPENDENT PODCAST.*All creepy opinions expressed are those of the hosts and guests. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Karches, Nora www.deutschlandfunk.de, Büchermarkt

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Slushies, you could be forgiven this week for thinking you've tuned in to a different podcast. One about gardening, maybe? Or perhaps you've stumbled across a punctuation pod? But it's just your usual team ranging wherever the poems might take us.    Today we're discussing poems by Annie Kantar. The first, “Wolf Peach,” has us pondering folklore, the toxicity of nightshades, and dreaming of our favorite shakshuka. We draw on Dagne's well of gardening knowledge. The second poem spurs our deep regard for an overlooked punctuation mark with charm and humor. How many ways can you appreciate an apostrophe, that little curve that lets us skip syllables? Lisa cracks open her copy of Edward Hirch's The Essential Poet's Glossary to share a definition. Kathy thinks PBQ readers are similarly language-obsessed and will appreciate the extent of our punctuation celebration.    We end the episode with a cliffhanger. You'll have to keep listening to hear how it all plays out. Sam signs off with a recommendation of the latest from Ben Lerner, Transcription. Join us in offering a big PBQ welcome to our newest co-op, Reese Pfunder! Thanks, as always, for listening.   At the table: Dagne Forrest, Tobi Kassim, Samantha Neugebauer, Reese Pfunder, Kathleen Volk Miller, Lisa Zerkle, Lillie Volpe (sound engineer) Author Bio: Annie Kantar is the author of Means to Be Lucky (Poets & Traitors Press), translator of the Book of Job (Koren), and of Leah Goldberg's collection of poems, With This Night (University of Texas Press), which was shortlisted for the ALTA Prize. Her work has appeared in journals such as The American Literary Review, Barrow Street, Bennington Review, Birmingham Poetry Review, Cincinnati Review, Forma, Gulf Coast, Literary Imagination, On the Seawall, Painted Bride Quarterly, Poetry Daily, Poetry International, Rattle, Smartish Pace, Tikkun and Verse Daily, and anthologized in Plume Anthology (Canisy Press), The Art of Poetry (Classical Academic Press), and elsewhere.   WOLF PEACH Once deemed capable  of turning people   into monsters, the inside    of the tomato is dark,  no matter how vivid,    how vitamin-rich.   Darkness is everywhere and they say if I open    my eyes to the shadow,    I'll see reality as it is. Even war has its beauty,   cruelty its place;    learn to live with it,  don't be fooled:   the Peach that bursts   in its own sugars, disappearing in cobblers and pies,   could beget a tomato,   and has made horrors of unsuspecting gardeners.    Know its fat blank face,    its bloodthirst, lest you end up like   the Good Egg,    conjurer of casseroles  for funerals and bedsides, that storybook apple   of everyone's eye. All the darkness in the world    surrounds her sunny inside,   but she loses every time. Still the peach is a peach, and the shakshuka shakshuka Mar. 2026, after Aharon Shabtai APOSTROPHE Shape of an ear in the corner  of a word, a speck  frequently misplaced;    signal of elision,  shortcut to what's been said  or couldn't have been   otherwise, a desire for cadence, synonym for address (don't forget where   you're headed), receptacle for a voice, oracle, or friend;  informal; a way of getting    to the point; a getting-of-drift, destination; a means an end a hand's    c'mon, teardrop, side eye;  infinite yet contained, say,  if God were part person    or sea; the sea; syllable skipper,  well-wisher, absent entity, substitute, metonymy    for knowing, a wild guess, an exclamation implicit for is and its opposite. OLD STORY  What was it, the word she loved, what she called the most important thing?  Incapable of saying   whether it continued through th- - - or ended    in a lisping omission,  her grandson my grandfather the doctor    learned to nod: yes, of course, it's all that matters.   She had soft hands, they walked beside it: sometimes it seems no more than a surface    you could walk across, but then you step in    and the water drops off, deeper than you imagined. . .  Whether he was talking about the lake or    her old world accent, I can't say; either way,    you know how it goes—soon it was too late to admit he didn't understand.   Their walks followed the entire circumference,    whose center was that one inscrutable truth  she'd put on repeat, blurred by an inaudible h or e   (or was it an i)? He was a big boy, and by the time       he had to go, as faith or fate would have it, he no longer needed to know.

Transcription by Ben Lerner, A Table For Fortune & Europe Central by William T Vollmann, The Great Gatsby, Helen of Nowhere, The Prince by Machiavelli, If an Egyptian Cannot Speak English by Noor Naga, and the Fascist suppression of the Human Spirit.

durée : 00:01:41 - Les 80'' - par : Ali Baddou - Pendant 80 secondes ce matin qu'Ali Baddou évoque du dernier roman de Ben Lerner - l'un des plus grands écrivains américains de sa génération selon "Le New York Times". Vous aimez ce podcast ? Pour écouter tous les épisodes sans limite, rendez-vous sur Radio France

Send us Fan MailDreams and LiesThis month Sam talks to Makenna Goodman about her latest novel Helen of Nowhere. Published by Fitzcarraldo and described by Jo Hamya as ‘the perfect fairytale for our times', it is the story of Man - an academic dogged by allusions of disgrace and a publicly failed marriage. He seeks to start again and live a ‘good life' far from the city and is drawn into the wilds to view a house which seems to offer him escape.Set over five acts, Man is first question by Realtor, the estate agent seeking to sell him his dream home and then the eponymous Helen, the house's former resident, whose ghost dextrously possesses the narrative as all pretence of reality falls away. Meanwhile, Lara meets with Ben Lerner to hear all about the quite superb Transcription. The writer, father of one and narrator of Ben's new novel has travelled to Providence where he went to college, and where he is to conduct what will be the final published interview with Thomas, his ninety year old mentor and father of his friend, Max. But after his narrator drops his smartphone in the hotel sink, he arrives at Thomas's house with no recording device, a fact he is mysteriously unable to confess. What unfolds from this dreamlike, nightmarish, circumstance is both a brilliant meditation on those technologies that enrich and impoverish our connections to each other, that store and obliterate the memories that make us who we are, and a moving exploration of the experience of being a son, of becoming a man and of trying to be a ‘good' father. Our own tape disintegration on this episode was entirely unintended but beautifully serendipitous. If you enjoy the episode, share it with friends, lovers, loved ones and book clubbers.Big love xHelen of Nowhere is published by FitzcarraldoTranscription is published by GrantaMusic used on this episode: Hermanos Gutierrez - Nuevo Mondo Ian Hawgood - Upwards Eyes EP@fieldzine www.fieldzine.comwww.patreon.com/fieldzine

Cynicism is widely considered a defining quality of our conspiracy-addled, irony-poisoned age. But audiences and creatives alike now seem ready to cast it aside in favor of an attitude that's long been out of style: earnestness. On this episode of Critics at Large, Vinson Cunningham, Naomi Fry, and Alexandra Schwartz trace this trend from the outer-space buddy comedy “Project Hail Mary” to the real-life Artemis II mission, whose crew has spoken movingly about Earth as a “lifeboat” in the middle of a vast, mysterious universe. The hosts also consider two buzzy new books—Lena Dunham's “Famesick,” and “Transcription,” by Ben Lerner—which find their authors turning to earnestness in midlife, after precocious beginnings. In this era of political, economic, and environmental precarity, younger generations, too, have come to celebrate big feelings, rather than living in fear of seeming cringe. “We've just seen too much awful stuff, and it's impossible to ironize,” Cunningham says. “The only sane response to that is to kind of sober up and say, ‘All right, what resources do humans still have?' ”Read, watch, and listen with the critics:“Project Hail Mary” (2026)“The Pitt” (2025-)“Love on the Spectrum” (2022-)“Heated Rivalry” (2025-)“Famesick,” by Lena Dunham“Girls” (2012-17)“Transcription,” by Ben Lerner“Climbing Cringe Mountain With Gen Z” (The New York Times)“Amos & Boris,” by William SteigLászló Krasznahorkai's Nobel Prize lectureNew episodes drop every Thursday. Follow Critics at Large wherever you get your podcasts.Critics at Large is a weekly discussion from The New Yorker which explores the latest trends in books, television, film, and more. Join us every Thursday as we make unexpected connections between classic texts and pop culture. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

A jam pack episode this week. We discuss the final Hemingway short story on our TBR, "The Snows of Kilimanjaro," a work that is powerful while being elusive. *Side note, Peter feels like he mispronounced this story the whole way through, he barely sleeps #Dadlife.And finally, we have a spirited discussion about Ben Lerner, where he sits in the literary world, and predicting our reactions to his latest work. Enjoy!Contact Us:Instagram @therewillbbooksTwitter @therewillbbooksEmail willbebooks@gmail.comGoodreads: Therewillbebooksko-fi.com/therewillbbookspatreon.com/therewillbbooks

Ben Lerner's new novel is all about how technology shapes memory and connection … and it kicks off when a guy breaks his phone. In Transcription, a man is conducting one final interview with his 90-year-old mentor and celebrated academic, Thomas. When the narrator accidentally breaks his phone before the interview, he can't bring himself to admit it to Thomas. He does the interview anyway, pretending that he's recording. Ben uses this premise to explore how technology can both store and destroy memory, and how the changing role of devices is altering our relationships with one another. This week, Ben joins Mattea Roach to talk about interrogating art and fatherhood, staying human in a world of devices and if technology can really capture true connection.Liked this conversation? Keep listening:1 marriage, 2 mid-life crises … and a guy named Gluten Nnedi Okorafor: Bringing a writer to life in Death of the Author Check us out on Instagram @cbcbooks and TikTok @cbcbooks

Lerner's new novel(la) is a revelation. One that deserves a LOT of our attention. It's a text that tests the limits and potentials of what fiction can do. Whether you loved it or came away wondering what the hell you just read, these ninety minutes should deepen your appreciation for this latest from one of my very favorite writers of all time.

Primavera, a new film about Vivaldi tells the story of his composing for pupils of an institution for abandoned girls. We speak to the film's director Damiano Michieletto, better known as an award-winning opera director, about his film and about Vivaldi himself. The Music is Black is the inaugural exhibition at London's new V&A East Museum and it celebrates 125 years of Black British music. Lead curator Jacqueline Springer joins us to discuss the show and wealth of music it showcases, from the early days of jazz via calypso, reggae, two-tone, pop and grime. Ben Lerner, the Pulitzer-nominated author of Leaving the Atocha Station and The Topeka School, discusses his latest novel Transcription; an exploration of loss, technology and “fiction”. The Schwarzman Centre for the Humanities in Oxford officially opens its doors next weekend. It combines seven academic faculties with performance spaces including the world's first ‘Passivhaus' concert hall, certifying its sustainability.Presenter: Tom Sutcliffe

Transcription by Ben Lerner is a poetic meditation on art, technology and what it really means to be alive. Ben joins us to talk about journalism, authenticity, language, voice, podcasts, connection, attention and more with cohost Chris Gillespie. This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Chris Gillespie and mixed by Harry Liang.                     New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app. Featured Books (Episode): Transcription by Ben Lerner The Topeka School by Ben Lerner 10:04 by Ben Lerner The Hatred of Poetry by Ben Lerner G. by John Berger Distant Star by Roberto Bolaño  

Environmental writer Gus Goswell provides the highlights from his Mallacoota walk that inspired his Walker's Journal piece; the team discuss the newest TikTok-trendy disease: goiters; comedian Chris Kent breaks down his MICF show Offline; book reviewer Sean O'Beirne talks us through Ben Lerner's novel Transcription and Mon is chuffed about her raffle winnings. With presenters Daniel Burt, Monique Sebire & Bronwyn Kuss.Website: https://www.rrr.org.au/explore/programs/breakfasters/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Breakfasters3RRRFM/Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/breakfasters/

Recorded live at Shakespeare and Company, Adam Biles speaks with Ben Lerner about his novel Transcription, a formally inventive meditation on technology, memory, and human connection.Beginning with the novel's deceptively simple premise (a writer loses his recording device and reconstructs an interview from memory) the conversation expands into questions of mediation, voice, and authenticity. Lerner explores how devices reshape attention and relationships, suggesting that humans themselves function as “media,” transmitting voices across time and between generations.The discussion moves between the philosophical and the intimate: from the limits of digital communication to the emotional power of disembodied voices, from intergenerational care to the fragile transmission of experience. Ultimately, Transcription emerges as a reflection on how stories, memories, and voices persist—less as fixed recordings than as living, shifting acts of interpretation.Buy Transcription: https://www.shakespeareandcompany.com/books/transcription-4Ben Lerner was born in Topeka, Kansas, in 1979. He has received fellowships from the Fulbright, Guggenheim, and MacArthur Foundations, and is the author of three other internationally acclaimed novels, Leaving the Atocha Station, 10:04 and The Topeka School. He has published the poetry collections The Lichtenberg Figures, Angle of Yaw (a finalist for the National Book Award), Mean Free Path and No Art as well as the essay The Hatred of Poetry. Lerner lives and teaches in Brooklyn.Adam Biles is Literary Director at Shakespeare and Company.Listen to Alex Freiman's latest EP, In The Beginning: https://open.spotify.com/album/5iZYPMCUnG7xiCtsFCBlVa?si=h5x3FK1URq6SwH9Kb_SO3w Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Drei Romane: kanadischer Klassiker neu übersetzt, kluger Digitalitätsroman und Liebesgeschichte in den Karpaten nach der Wende.

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 17:06:03 +0000 https://feed.neuezwanziger.de/link/21941/17316553/e01aa72e-ebd5-44a0-b01f-ec71e45af6f8 122584b759af0854a3ec7475b1921647 Stefan und Wolfgang treffen sich vor dem Salon Komm' in den Salon. Es gibt ihn via Webplayer & RSS-Feed (zum Hören im Podcatcher deiner Wahl, auch bei Apple Podcasts und Spotify). Alle Infos: neuezwanziger.de Shownotes Wolfgang und Stefan blicken auf die aktuelle Nachrichtenlage und diskutieren das Ausbleiben einer Positionierung der Bundesregierung zur US-Politik im Iran sowie zu Israels militärischem Vorgehen im Libanon. Stefan berichtet von einer Reise ins Saarland und zieht Parallelen zwischen den Kriegerdenkmälern der Schlacht bei Spichern und der gegenwärtigen geopolitischen Situation. Zudem ordnen sie die neu eingeführten Meldepflichten für wehrfähige Männer in Deutschland ein. Salon Zur vollständigen Ausgabe 00:28:27 Peter Sloterdijk: Der Fürst und seine Erben Wolfgang und Stefan diskutieren anhand von Peter Sloterdijks neuem Buch die Rückkehr autokratischer Führungsfiguren. Sie erläutern, wie Sloterdijk Parallelen zu Machiavellis „Der Fürst“ zieht, um Politiker wie Donald Trump oder Wladimir Putin einzuordnen. Stefan beleuchtet die These, dass moderne Politik zunehmend durch eine kalkulierte „Fernethik“ geprägt sei, während Wolfgang herausarbeitet, inwiefern der Autor ein fatalistisches Bild der gegenwärtigen Demokratie zeichnet. 02:22:53 Sloterdijk in 1 Minute Wolfgang und Stefan fassen die Kernargumente aus Peter Sloterdijks Buch „Der Fürst und seine Erben“ zusammen. Sie resümieren die Diskussion über das Verhältnis von Volk, Macht und autokratischen Tendenzen innerhalb liberaler Demokratien. 02:24:04 Adrian Daub: Was das Valley herrschen nennt Das Gespräch wendet sich Adrian Daubs Analyse der Machtstrukturen im Silicon Valley zu. Wolfgang skizziert, wie Technologie-Milliardäre ihre Plattformen nutzen, um gesellschaftliche Diskurse zu dominieren. Stefan erläutert Daubs Unterscheidung zwischen sogenannten „Caretakern“ und „Creeps“ und wendet diese auf Personen wie Elon Musk an. Gemeinsam betrachten sie die elitäre Abkapselung und die ideologischen Fundamente der Technologiebranche. 03:33:19 Daub in 1 Minute In einem kurzen Fazit bündeln Wolfgang und Stefan die Hauptargumente aus Adrian Daubs Buch. Sie rekapitulieren die vorgebrachte Kritik an der unregulierten Machtausübung und dem Demokratieverständnis der Silicon-Valley-Akteure. 03:34:29 Ben Lerner: Transkription Wolfgang stellt den Roman „Transkription“ von Ben Lerner vor, in dem ein fiktives Interview mit einem 90-jährigen Mentor namens Thomas im Zentrum steht. Er ordnet ein, dass diese Figur stark an den deutschen Autor Alexander Kluge angelehnt ist. Das Gespräch beleuchtet die erzählerischen Ebenen des Buches, insbesondere den Umgang mit Erinnerungen und das Verhältnis der Generationen zueinander. 03:42:13 Haberman, Swan: How Trump Took the U.S. to War With Iran Ausgehend von einem Artikel der New York Times rekonstruieren Wolfgang und Stefan die regierungsinternen Prozesse in den USA, die zum Krieg mit dem Iran führten. Stefan schildert die Treffen im Situation Room und die Dynamiken zwischen Donald Trump, Benjamin Netanjahu und Beratern wie Marco Rubio. Sie analysieren die Entscheidungsfindung der US-Administration und vergleichen diese Vorgänge mit der zuvor besprochenen Machtanalyse von Sloterdijk. 03:52:26 Jörg Baberowski: Am Volk vorbei Wolfgang präsentiert Jörg Baberowskis Buch „Am Volk vorbei zur Krise der liberalen Demokratie“ als Gegenentwurf zum gängigen Diskurs über den Schutz staatlicher Institutionen. Er gibt Baberowskis These wieder, dass liberale Institutionen und Gerichte den demokratischen Souverän zunehmend entmachten würden. Stefan und Wolfgang debattieren die Kritik des Autors, wonach sich die politische Klasse durch Verrechtlichung vor dem Volkswillen abschirme. 04:08:00 Timothy Snyder: The Next Coup Attempt – And How to Stop It Stefan analysiert einen Text des Historikers Timothy Snyder, der fünf mögliche Szenarien für einen erneuten Putschversuch von Donald Trump skizziert. Stefan bewertet Snyders Ansätze teilweise als realitätsfern, insbesondere im Kontext der parallelen US-Militärhandlungen im Iran. Wolfgang und Stefan vergleichen Snyders Fokus auf den Schutz der Institutionen abschließend mit der zuvor diskutierten Staatskritik von Baberowski. 04:17:28 Roman Widder: »War mir so nicht bewusst« Wolfgang bespricht einen Artikel von Roman Widder aus der Zeitschrift Merkur, der die mediale Rolle deutscher Militärexperten wie Carlo Masala thematisiert. Er referiert Widders Argument, dass der deutschen Öffentlichkeit die tatsächliche innenpolitische und gesellschaftliche Dynamik der Ukraine oftmals vorenthalten bleibe. Stefan und Wolfgang sprechen über die beschriebene Kluft zwischen westeuropäischen Projektionen und den Realitäten innerhalb der ukrainischen Gesellschaft. 04:27:13 Anna Holmes: The People Who Shun Super-Popular Pop Culture Stefan greift einen Text von Anna Holmes aus The Atlantic auf, in dem die Autorin ihre bewusste Vermeidung von Popkultur-Hypes beschreibt. Er erläutert Holmes' Argumentation, dass diese Aversion eine Reaktion auf den Verlust gemeinschaftlicher Seherlebnisse im Streaming-Zeitalter sei. Wolfgang ergänzt die Diskussion durch seine eigene Perspektive zur Allverfügbarkeit von Filmen und Serien. 04:32:33 Fanny Pigeaud: The DRC's security-for-minerals bargain Wolfgang fasst eine Reportage aus Le Monde Diplomatique über den Abbau von Mineralien in der Demokratischen Republik Kongo zusammen. Er beschreibt die marktbeherrschende Stellung Chinas bei Rohstoffen wie Kobalt und Lithium sowie die Versuche der USA, sich über private Initiativen Anteile zu sichern. Zudem verortet er die rohstoffpolitischen Interessen in dem anhaltenden bewaffneten Konflikt in der afrikanischen Region. 04:37:09 Alexander Malofeev: forgotten melodies Zum Abschluss verweist Wolfgang auf das Doppelalbum „Forgotten Melodies“ des Pianisten Alexander Malofeev. Er beschreibt die Werkauswahl, die Stücke von exilierten russischen Komponisten wie Nikolai Medtner und Sergej Rachmaninow umfasst. Zudem geht er kurz auf die musikalische Ausführung und die Hintergrundgeschichte der Kompositionen ein. Literatur Die Zeit der "großen" Männer ist keineswegs vorüber: Peter Sloterdijk schlägt für sein Buch "Der Fürst und seine Erben" Machiavellis "Der Fürst" auf und entdeckt deutliche Parallelen zu unserer Gegenwart mit Putin, Musk und Trump. https://www.suhrkamp.de/buch/peter-sloterdijk-der-fuerst-und-seine-erben-t-9783518001363 Peter Thiel, Jeff Bezos und Mark Zuckerberg sind die ungekrönten Könige des Silicon Valley. Der Literaturwissenschaftler Adrian Daub analysiert in "Was das Valley herrschen nennt" die Macht und die Ideologie der Tech-Milliardäre sowie den Vibe-Shift. https://www.suhrkamp.de/buch/adrian-daub-was-das-valley-herrschen-nennt-t-9783518128695 Kurz vor Alexander Kluges Tod hat ihn der Schriftsteller Ben Lerner in seinem Roman "Transkription" verewigt: https://www.suhrkamp.de/buch/ben-lerner-transkription-t-9783518432754 Die NYT-Reporter Jonathan Swan und Maggie Haberman rekonstruieren in einem Vorabdruck aus ihrem im Erscheinen begriffenen Buch "Regime Change: Inside the Imperial Presidency of Donald Trump", wie Donald Trump in drei Situation-Room-Sitzungen im Februar entschieden hat, sich Israels Iran-Schlag anzuschließen: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/07/us/politics/trump-iran-war.html Der Historiker und streitbare Geist Jörg Baberowski sieht die Demokratie nicht in Gefahr - und zwar nicht trotz, sondern wegen des Populismus. In seinem Buch "Am Volk vorbei" kritisiert er die liberale Demokratie und ihre Verfechter: https://www.chbeck.de/baberowski-volk-vorbei/product/40038683 Der Yale-Historiker Timothy Snyder buchstabiert in einem viel gelesenen Substack-Essay fünf historische Drehbücher durch, nach denen Trump im Schatten des Iran-Kriegs einen Putsch versuchen könnte - und was dagegen zu setzen wäre: https://snyder.substack.com/p/the-next-coup-attempt Der Schriftsteller Roman Widder rechnet mit den Ukraine-Experten in den deutschen Medien ab: https://www.merkur-zeitschrift.de/artikel/war-mir-nicht-so-bewusst-a-mr-80-3-54/ Die Atlantic-Autorin Anna Holmes wundert sich über ihre eigene Abneigung gegen alles, was gerade alle gucken müssen - "The Pitt", "Severance", "Slow Horses" - und kommt nach Gesprächen mit drei Sozialpsychologen zu einer überraschenden Diagnose: Nicht der Hype stört sie, sondern die einsame, asynchrone Rezeption, die das Streaming hinterlassen hat: https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/2026/03/pop-culture-hype-aversion/686312/ Fanny Pigeaud schreibt in "Le Monde diplomatique" über den Mineralienabbau im Kongo: https://mondediplo.com/2026/03/09DRC Der Pianist Alexander Malofeev widmet sich auf seinem Debütalbum "forgotten melodies" russischen Komponisten, die im Exil lebten: https://www.sonyclassical.com/releases/releases-details/forgotten-melodies full Stefan und Wolfgang treffen sich vor dem Salon no Stefan Schulz und Wolfgang M. Schmitt 1807

Bleutge, Nico www.deutschlandfunkkultur.de, Lesart

Bleutge, Nico www.deutschlandfunkkultur.de, Lesart

Bleutge, Nico www.deutschlandfunkkultur.de, Lesart

In dieser Folge mit Anika, Robin und Meike: „Gentlemen“ von Patricia Jozef (übersetzt von Dania Schüürmann), „Transkription“ von Ben Lerner (übersetzt von Nikolaus Stingl), „Wuthering Heights“ von Emily Brontë, „Heated Rivalry“ von Rachel Reid und „Box Hill“ von Adam Mars-Jones. Merkt ihr es auch? Der Frühling liegt in der Luft, und damit auch der Beginn unserer geliebten Preislistensaison! Wir schauen auf die Titelauswahl, die beim International Booker Prize sowie beim Women's Prize für Fiction an den Start gehen. Und wir widmen uns den Abneigungen und Vorlieben unseres Kulturstaatsministers Wolfram Weimer, der statt in linke Buchläden lieber mit Timothée Chalamet in die Oper gehen möchte.

Ein neues Buch von Ben Lerner - vorgestellt auf NDR Kultur.

Ben Lerner patří mezi nejuznávanější americké spisovatele současnosti. Začínal jako ceněný básník a exceloval také v rétorických soutěžích. Největšího věhlasu se ale dočkal až v momentě, kdy vstoupil na území prózy. V roce 2011 debutoval svou knihou Opouštění nádraží Atocha, kdy poprvé představil své alter-ego, mladého básníka a spisovatele Adama Gordona, z jehož perspektivy většinu svých románů vypráví.

Ben Lerner patří mezi nejuznávanější americké spisovatele současnosti. Začínal jako ceněný básník a exceloval také v rétorických soutěžích. Největšího věhlasu se ale dočkal až v momentě, kdy vstoupil na území prózy. V roce 2011 debutoval svou knihou Opouštění nádraží Atocha, kdy poprvé představil své alter-ego, mladého básníka a spisovatele Adama Gordona, z jehož perspektivy většinu svých románů vypráví.Všechny díly podcastu Ranní úvaha můžete pohodlně poslouchat v mobilní aplikaci mujRozhlas pro Android a iOS nebo na webu mujRozhlas.cz.

On this week's show, Dana, Steve, and Julia step into the gothic, visually rich world of Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein. It's been years in the making, gorgeously rendered, and stars the always compelling Oscar Isaac and Jacob Elordi, but it's up for debate if something like a soul emerges from del Toro's mad machinations. Next, author and journalist Stefan Fatsis joins the logophilic panel to talk about the uncertain fate of dictionaries as chronicled in his new book Unabridged: The Thrill of (and Threat To) the Modern Dictionary. Finally, the hosts talk about the sonically and narratively layered new podcast Fela Kuti: Fear No Man about the legendary Nigerian musician and activist— its acclaimed producer Jad Abumrad joins to discuss.   In an exclusive Slate Plus bonus episode, Jad sticks around to pepper the Gabfesters with questions about how we make our own podcast week after week. Email us your thoughts at culturefest@slate.com.  Podcast production by Benjamin Frisch. Production assistance by Daniel Hirsch. Endorsements Steve: Jad Abumrad's new podcast Fela Kuti: Fear No Man (yes, the one covered in this very episode— it's that good). Also, Ben Lerner's essay “Cardiography” in the New York Review of Books. Jad: The dark Macedonian fantasy You Won't Be Alone.  Julia: “Tense Present: Democracy, English, and the Wars over Usage,” David Foster Wallace's classic essay originally published in Harpers.Dana: Adam Gopnik's recent piece "What Do We Want from Our Child Stars?" in The New Yorker. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's show, Dana, Steve, and Julia step into the gothic, visually rich world of Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein. It's been years in the making, gorgeously rendered, and stars the always compelling Oscar Isaac and Jacob Elordi, but it's up for debate if something like a soul emerges from del Toro's mad machinations. Next, author and journalist Stefan Fatsis joins the logophilic panel to talk about the uncertain fate of dictionaries as chronicled in his new book Unabridged: The Thrill of (and Threat To) the Modern Dictionary. Finally, the hosts talk about the sonically and narratively layered new podcast Fela Kuti: Fear No Man about the legendary Nigerian musician and activist— its acclaimed producer Jad Abumrad joins to discuss.   In an exclusive Slate Plus bonus episode, Jad sticks around to pepper the Gabfesters with questions about how we make our own podcast week after week. Email us your thoughts at culturefest@slate.com.  Podcast production by Benjamin Frisch. Production assistance by Daniel Hirsch. Endorsements Steve: Jad Abumrad's new podcast Fela Kuti: Fear No Man (yes, the one covered in this very episode— it's that good). Also, Ben Lerner's essay “Cardiography” in the New York Review of Books. Jad: The dark Macedonian fantasy You Won't Be Alone.  Julia: “Tense Present: Democracy, English, and the Wars over Usage,” David Foster Wallace's classic essay originally published in Harpers.Dana: Adam Gopnik's recent piece "What Do We Want from Our Child Stars?" in The New Yorker. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lerner says, "Art has to offer more than stylized despair." 10:04 offers so much more! (With, also, some excellent stylized despair.) Kimberly low-key compares the work to Slaughterhouse Five, before diving in to a close look at why HUMOR adds so much to this incredible piece of auto-fiction. If you love Lerner, or WANT to love Lerner--listen in!

Ben Lerner was a fan of tech growing up, along side being into math and science. Right out of school, he joined a startup called Data Nitro, which attempted to integrate python into excel. Ever since then, he has been jamming in the tech and startup world. Outside of tech, he married to a computational biologist. He enjoys padel, which is kind of like Pickleball meets Tennis, and of course ping pong. Though, with his full time job as a CEO, he often finds his hobby is going home to write code.Ben realized that LLMs are really good at understanding code, leaps and bounds better than prior ML models. While he was at Google, he was also digging into how to apply LLMs to coding in general. Applying both of these things, he and his co-founders are seeing where this can be applied to the real world, starting with Snowflake compute.This is the creation story of Espresso AI.SponsorsPaddle.comSema SoftwarePropelAuthPostmanMeilisearchMailtrap.TECH Domains (https://get.tech/codestory)Linkshttps://espresso.ai/https://www.linkedin.com/in/espressoben/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/code-story/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

On this episode of the SLO County Real Estate Podcast with Hal Sweasey. we're diving into the wild ride of buying your first home with Ben Lerner from Certainty Home Lending—breaking down today's tough market, sharing pro tips on getting pre-qualified, and revealing game-changing programs like first-time buyer options, down payment assistance, and looser lending rules that are opening doors, and don't forget the fact that gifting exclusions have relaxed to help loved ones get into the American Dream. Find out why a local lender like Ben gives you the edge. Subscribe now on YouTube or your favorite podcast platform, and kickstart your home-buying journey with Team Sweasey Today! Text your questions to 805-244-1170 or call Team Sweasey at 805-781-3750. Subscribe to Team Sweasey on YouTube @halsweasey for quick tips and full episodes of the SLO County Real Estate Podcast with Hal Sweasey. A production of AGM Podcasts California DRE #01111911

On this episode of the SLO county Real Estate Podcast with Hal Sweasey the team discusses the recent fed announcement and what it means for the landscape of real estate in California, and what it will ultimately take for things to break through in a very stagnant market. Team Sweasey will also go over some historic statistics that show that despite the economic cycles in the US Economy there is one consistent that rings true... Like, subscribe, review and send your questions for Team Sweasey to tackle in future episodes. Text them in at 805-244-1170, Be Sure to Subscribe to Team Sweasey on YouTube @halsweasey for quick tips and full episodes of the SLO County Real Estate Podcast with Hal Sweasey. A production of AGM Podcasts California DRE #01111911

youtube.com/@ami1649

Join me as I chat with Ben Lerner, Managing Director of Lerner Associates, about M&A in the proptech industry. Ben shares his unique insights from his background in tech and real estate, focusing on the importance of licenses and the evolving dynamics of user licensing. We discuss the differences between M&A and venture capital markets, highlighting the active M&A scene despite tougher capital raising.Ben advises founders to prioritize metrics, build relationships with potential acquirers, and remain open to opportunities. He emphasizes customer retention and profitability as key for potential buyers and the importance of a clear scorecard that showcases business value. We also touch on balancing in-person and remote work, owning core technology, and the crucial role of human interaction in real estate. Tune in for Ben's expert advice on navigating the proptech M&A landscape.More about Ben and Lerner AssociatesLerner Associates is a purely proptech focused M&A advisory firm working with founders/owners/leaders of real estate tech companies looking to sell their company or to raise growth capital. We also work buy-side.Ben is the Managing Director of Lerner Associates, a London-based boutique M&A Advisory practice, he set up in 2019. Lerner Associates focuses purely on PropTech transactions, global and cross-border, across the spectrum of investment management, corporate, commercial, residential, multifamily, agency, workplace, facilities management, construction and real estate data solutions.Ben has over 20 years of experience working in the real estate software space, both strategically and operationally as a seasoned proptech executive, and more latterly within corporate development, M&A and investment. From prior to selling his family business, Qube Global Software, to MRI Software, and throughout his time with MRI and beyond, Ben has been actively involved in M&A on deal sourcing, structuring, due diligence and general advisory.Follow Ben on TwitterConnect with Ben on LinkedInFollow Lerner Associates on TwitterCheck out Lerner Associates

New The Pulse of AI Podcast! Season 6, Episode 143. Sign up for my newsletter at www.thepulseofai.com Join podcast host Jason Stoughton and special guest Ben Lerner, Co-Founder and CEO of Espresso AI, as they talk about key trends in the AI industry, how Espresso AI helps companies save serious money by using AI to optimize their Snowflake data warehouse, where Espresso AI goes from here and the types of people they are looking to hire.  If you use Snowflake, Espressor AI is the easiest way for you to save $100,000. Listen to the podcast to find out more.  

In June, writers Rachel Cusk and Ben Lerner joined Harper's Magazine editor Christopher Carroll for a conversation and Q&A in front of a live audience at the NYU Skirball Center in downtown Manhattan. Listen to Cusk and Lerner read from their recent Harper's essays and discuss the state of contemporary fiction, Cusk's use of artists' biographies in her newest novel Parade, reading in a second language, parenthood, the role of ego in writing, and much more. Subscribe to Harper's Magazine for only $16.97 per year: harpers.org/save. “The Hofmann Wobble” by Ben Lerner, from the December 2023 issue of Harper's “The Spy” by Rachel Cusk, from the October 2023 issue of Harper's 11:31: “You can't be both an encyclopedia and a news source without some kind of contamination.” —Ben Lerner 19:09: “First of all, I thought, God, if I'd never told anyone who I was, starting with my parents, if I hadn't accepted that containment in myself, what would I have created? What would my relationship to reality be?”  —Rachel Cusk 25:18: “I mean this as a total compliment, but I read your books with a lot of dread.” —Ben Lerner to Rachel Cusk 26:36: “What the novel has tried to do, kind of wrongly, I guess, in the end, is for the act of reading to also be an act of shared experience.” —Rachel Cusk 28:34: “Being a good parent in the moment of composition, if you're trying to take care of those imagined readers, can be deadly for the work – not always, but sometimes.” —Ben Lerner 28:49: “On the other hand, having kids for me, especially young kids, it does refresh your wonder before language.” —Ben Lerner 29:43: “If your work can change in the way you change, or people change, when you have children, I think that's a really powerful thing.” —Rachel Cusk 32:10: “I'm really into animal vocalization stuff.” —Ben Lerner 34:23: “French has completely changed my English.” —Rachel Cusk 40:24: “My dad told me never to learn to type because I would end up being someone's secretary, which was kind of feminist of him I guess, but typing is the thing I've done the best with in my whole life.” —Rachel Cusk 41:23: “I think there's a lot of ego involved in the claim to disavow ego in writing.” —Ben Lerner 42:45: “What is a shame is the idea that examination of self is egotistical.” —Rachel Cusk

Back in March, the US Environmental Protection Agency finalized a long in the works rule requiring automakers here to dramatically increase the number of battery-powered vehicles they're putting on the roads. The government has mandated that by 2032, more than half of new cars sold must be electric. There are some caveats, namely that plug-in hybrid cars will fulfill the federal requirements for what a “battery-powered” vehicle is. This has led to a flood of hybrid cars hitting the market. This week, we talk about what this means for people who are considering buying a new car now, or in the next few years. We explain the differences between plug-in hybrids, full hybrids, and electrics, and we tell you what your options are if you live in an apartment without a convenient place to plug in your car while it's parked. We are joined this week by WIRED staff writer Aarian Marshall, who breaks down the facts, shatters the myths, and turns us all into hybrid car experts.This episode originally aired on April 2, 2024. Read the transcript.Show Notes:Read Aarian's story about the new US emissions rules. Also read her story about automakers struggling to hit their US sales targets for electric cars.Recommendations:Aarian recommends going to one of those baseball games where you also bring your dog. (They let you run the bases!) Mike recommends The New York Trilogy by novelist Paul Auster, who died this week at 77. Lauren recommends The Lights, the newest book of poetry and prose by Ben Lerner.Aarian Marshall can be found on social media @aarianmarshall. Lauren Goode is @LaurenGoode. Michael Calore is @snackfight. Bling the main hotline at @GadgetLab. The show is produced by Boone Ashworth (@booneashworth). Our theme music is by Solar Keys.

Our "marriage plot" season continues, but with a twist: on this episode, novelist Peter Ho Davies introduces us to "the parent plot," which he argues is a contemporary successor to all those 19th-century novels about choosing a mate. For many, becoming a parent is not only one of life's biggest choices, but also a cultural marker of adult responsibility and growing up. As an example, we dive into Ben Lerner's 2014 novel, 10:04, about a writer trying to finish his next book and also decide whether to father a child with his platonic best friend. To learn more about Davies, and his many wonderful, widely-celebrated books, you can visit his website: http://peterhodavies.com/ If you like our podcast, and want to support it--plus get access to twice-monthly bonus episodes--please consider subscribing to our Patreon, for just $5 a month: https://www.patreon.com/BookFight Thanks for listening!

In this 100th episode of the SLO County Real Estate Podcast with Hal Sweasey the team sits down to discuss the current lending landscape with Ben Lerner from Certainty Home Lending. Home ownership is a marathon. If your house appreciates faster than you can save to get to 20% Down Payment have you really won the marathon if you get a loan that is just a point and a half lower? Lots of answers to lots of questions about lending in 2024 in the 100th episode of the SLO County Real Estate Podcast. For any Mortgage information feel free to reach out to Ben at Certainty Home Lending at 805-441-9486 or email him at ben.lerner@certaintyhomelending.com If you want to access some of the tools Ben uses in qualifying. Go to blerner.com You can always Contact Hal at hal@teamsweasey.com or by phone at 805-781-3750 CA DRE #01111911

There are six cities in SLO county where average home values have eclipsed the Million Dollar mark. In the May Market Report episode of the SLO County Real Estate Podcast you will find out which cities those are, and Ben Lerner from Certainty Home lending sits down with the team to discuss Mortgage Rates and the reason why they have not fallen yet. Plus Keller Williams Central Coast CEO Bobbie Kelly gives insight as to why the recent National Association of Realtors ruling means very little to California Real Estate Investors, teaching us once again that the Headlines don't always live up to the hype. For any Mortgage information feel free to reach out to Ben at Certainty Home Lending at 805-441-9486 or email him at ben.lerner@certaintyhomelending.com You can always Contact Hal at hal@teamsweasey.com or by phone at 805-781-3750 CA DRE #01111911

Back in March, the US Environmental Protection Agency finalized a long in the works rule requiring automakers here to dramatically increase the number of battery-powered vehicles they're putting on the roads. The government has mandated that by 2032, more than half of new cars sold must be electric. There are some caveats, namely that plug-in hybrid cars will fulfill the federal requirements for what a “battery-powered” vehicle is. This has led to a flood of hybrid cars hitting the market. This week, we talk about what this means for people who are considering buying a new car now, or in the next few years. We explain the differences between plug-in hybrids, full hybrids, and electrics, and we tell you what your options are if you live in an apartment without a convenient place to plug in your car while it's parked. We are joined this week by WIRED staff writer Aarian Marshall, who breaks down the facts, shatters the myths, and turns us all into hybrid car experts.Show Notes:Read Aarian's story about the new US emissions rules. Also read her story about automakers struggling to hit their US sales targets for electric cars.Recommendations:Aarian recommends going to one of those baseball games where you also bring your dog. (They let you run the bases!) Mike recommends The New York Trilogy by novelist Paul Auster, who died this week at 77. Lauren recommends The Lights, the newest book of poetry and prose by Ben Lerner.Aarian Marshall can be found on social media @aarianmarshall. Lauren Goode is @LaurenGoode. Michael Calore is @snackfight. Bling the main hotline at @GadgetLab. The show is produced by Boone Ashworth (@booneashworth). Our theme music is by Solar Keys.

White Americans are confronting their whiteness more than ever before, with political and social shifts ushering in a newfound racial awareness. And with white people increasingly seeing themselves as distinctly racialized (not simply as American or human), white writers are exposing a self-awareness of white racialized behavior-from staunch antiracism to virulent forms of xenophobic nationalism. Ugly White People: Writing Whiteness in Contemporary America (U Minnesota Press, 2023) explores representations of whiteness from twenty-first-century white American authors, revealing white recognition of the ugly forms whiteness can take. Stephanie Li argues that much of the twenty-first century has been defined by this rising consciousness of whiteness because of the imminent shift to a "majority minority" population and the growing diversification of America's political, social, and cultural institutions. The result is literature that more directly grapples with whiteness as its own construct rather than a wrongly assumed norm. Li contextualizes a series of literary novels as collectively influenced by changes in racial and political attitudes. Turning to works by Dave Eggers, Sarah Smarsh, J. D. Vance, Claire Messud, Ben Lerner, and others, she traces the responses to white consciousness that breed shared manifestations of ugliness. The tension between acknowledging whiteness as an identity built on domination and the failure to remedy inequalities that have proliferated from this founding injustice is often the source of the ugly whiteness portrayed through these narratives. The questions posed in Ugly White People about the nature and future of whiteness are vital to understanding contemporary race relations in America. From the election of Trump and the rise of white nationalism to Karen memes and the war against critical race theory to the pervasive pattern of behavior among largely liberal-leaning whites, Li elucidates truths about whiteness that challenge any hope of national unity and, most devastatingly, the basic humanity of others. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network