Podcasts about MFA

We are diving deep into wealth, class, and privilege with Sanibel, author of the novel To Have and Have More and an expert on the subtle—and not-so-subtle—ways the ultra-wealthy wield their status. If you've ever been curious about the behaviors and dynamics that go beyond “quiet luxury” or the “nepo baby” conversation, you'll enjoy this conversation. Sanibel breaks down concepts like stealth privilege, coattail riders, and what she calls the rich person's “cheat code.” We'll also unpack the history of our cultural obsession with wealth in the U.S., why some believe wealth is a poison to our culture and explore why being “too rich” might just make you less empathetic.More about Sanibel: She is a writer based in NYC. She grew up in Princeton, NJ and studied Classics at the University of Pennsylvania before getting her MFA at The New School. Her essays appear in New York, Air Mail, ELLE, and Lit Hub. You can follow Sanibel on TikTok and Instagram.

A dash of mystery, a sparkle of magic, and all things cozy! Elle interviews fellow cozy authors in this bookish podcast from Authors on the Air. Today on the podcast, meet Rachael Herron, author of the upcoming The Seven Miracles of Beatrix Holland and many other great books, both fiction and memoir! Elle and Rachael discuss literally-found family, using tarot for inspiration, and the balance of being highly organized vs. trusting intuition. Enjoy! Rachael Herron's Bio: Rachael Herron is the internationally bestselling author of more than two dozen books, including thrillers (under R.H. Herron), mainstream fiction, feminist romance, memoir, and nonfiction about writing. She received her MFA in writing from Mills College, Oakland, and she's taught writing extension workshops at both UC Berkeley and Stanford. A dual New Zealand and American citizen, she lives in Wellington, New Zealand with her banjo-playing wife and brick-eating dog. Find Rachael's Website and Books Here: https://rachaelherron.com/ And Find Rachael's Podcast Here: https://rachaelherron.com/category/podcast/ ~~~ Elle Hartford's Bio: Elle Hartford writes cozy mystery with a fairy tale twist. The award-winning first book in her Alchemical Tales series, Beauty and the Alchemist, finds amateur sleuth Red mixed up with murderous beasts and moody beauties, and a set of missing books besides! Elle has also written two spin-off series, the cozy fantasy-goes-to-the-beach Marine Magic series as well as Pomegranate Cafe Romance. For other writers and authors looking into “wide” indie publishing, Elle offers coaching as well as the Beyond Writing blog (ellehartford.substack.com) with how-tos and resources. Find Elle Hartford Online: https://ellehartford.com/

Linda Trinh joins Let's Talk Memoir for a conversation about her personal spiritual journey, opening a memoir with a question, sparks of creativity even when we're not actively writing, focusing on voice, owning our many identities and communities, making meaning from experience, paying attention to both the external and internal search, memoir as a time capsule, being okay with the version of ourselves as it is on the page, being gentle with ourselves, recognizing we are works in progress, Buddhism and world mythology, becoming comfortable with the unknown, and her new memoir Seeking Spirit.    Also in this episode: -book promotion -owning our identities -paying attention to the nudge   Books mentioned in this episode: The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion Blue Nights by Joan Didion Embers by Richard Wagamese Body and Soul: Stories for Skeptics and Seeker by Susan Scott Perspehones Children by Rowan McCandless   Linda Trinh is a Vietnamese Canadian author of nonfiction and fiction for adults and children. Her creative nonfiction has appeared in literary magazines such as The Fiddlehead, Room, and Prairie Fire. She has been nominated for two National Magazine Awards. Seeking Spirit: A Vietnamese (Non) Buddhist Memoir is her first book for adults. Her award-winning early chapter book series, The Nguyen Kids, explores Vietnamese culture and identity with elements of the supernatural, spirituality, and social justice woven in. She lives with her family in Winnipeg, Canada. Connect with Linda: Website: https://lindaytrinh.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/LindaYTrinh Get her book: https://guernicaeditions.com/products/seeking-spirit?srsltid=AfmBOor-knwnqu9qqq7QBvtBJYsWYRYebw3JrIr9cV-rjFzEwe2oP2nL – Ronit's writing has appeared in The Atlantic, The Rumpus, The New York Times, Poets & Writers, The Iowa Review, Hippocampus, The Washington Post, Writer's Digest, American Literary Review, and elsewhere. Her memoir WHEN SHE COMES BACK about the loss of her mother to the guru Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh and their eventual reconciliation was named Finalist in the 2021 Housatonic Awards Awards, the 2021 Indie Excellence Awards, and was a 2021 Book Riot Best True Crime Book. Her short story collection HOME IS A MADE-UP PLACE won Hidden River Arts' 2020 Eludia Award and the 2023 Page Turner Awards for Short Stories.  She earned an MFA in Nonfiction Writing at Pacific University, is Creative Nonfiction Editor at The Citron Review, and teaches memoir through the University of Washington's Online Continuum Program and also independently. She launched Let's Talk Memoir in 2022, lives in Seattle with her family of people and dogs, and is at work on her next book. More about Ronit: https://ronitplank.com Subscribe to Ronit's Substack: https://substack.com/@ronitplank Follow Ronit: https://www.instagram.com/ronitplank/ https://www.facebook.com/RonitPlank https://bsky.app/profile/ronitplank.bsky.social   Background photo credit: Photo by Patrick Tomasso on Unsplash Headshot photo credit: Sarah Anne Photography Theme music: Isaac Joel, Dead Moll's Fingers

Mee Ok Icaro (pronounced “Mee Oak Ee-car-oh”), is a unique and powerful voice in the world of visionary medicine and personal growth. As a Sacred Medicine Advisor and Integration Specialist, Life Purpose Coach and Guide, Writer and Book Doula Mee Ok is dedicated to helping individuals heal and find their path in life. She integrates many teachings from a variety of traditions, from ancient to modern. With a passion for writing and a talent for prose, Mee Ok is an award-winning stylist and poet. Her work has appeared in notable publications like the LA Times, Boston Globe Magazine, and Michael Pollan's Trips Worth Telling anthology. She was even featured in Gabor Maté's New York Times bestseller The Myth of Normal and the Netflix docuseries [Un]Well. With over a decade of experience working with ayahuasca and dieting seven master plants, Mee Ok is curing a near-fatal autoimmune disease, scleroderma, and is dedicated to helping others heal and recover their birthright of authenticity and truth. Mee Ok holds a BA in Philosophy from Boston University and an MFA in Creative Nonfiction, and has studied the history of sexuality and medicine at Harvard. She currently partners with Shipibo healers to offer ayahuasca retreats in Peru. With a diverse set of passions, including racial and disability equity, adoptee advocacy, social justice, film, literature, doggies, and drag, Mee Ok is a curious soul with a wealth of knowledge and experience she loves to share. HoldingCompassionate.space Mee Ok (pronounced "Mee Oak") Stay Current: Substack Newsletter Professional Offerings: HoldingCompassionate.space Personal Writing: Mee-ok.com Season 11: Adoptee Memoirs - books in order: Practically Still a Virgin by Monica Hall You Can't Get Rid of Me by Jesse Scott and Keri Ault Unspoken by Liz Harvie Sign up for our mailing list to get updates and the Eventbrite for our September 12th & 13th Washington, D.C. Event! This episode of the Making of Me Podcast is brought to you by the Adoptee Mentoring Society - a virtual community built by adoptees, for adoptees. They offer adoptee-centric mentorship for adopted persons 12 and up, led by trained adoptee mentors. Whether you're navigating identity, searching for the words, or simply wondering how adoption has shaped you, they get it. Listeners of The Making of Me Pod get 25% off their first session with code: PRO-TMMPOD AMS offers free mentorship to adoptees in Washington State and Oregon, as well as scholarships for those facing financial barriers. Learn more at adopteementorship.org or email them at: info@adopteementorship.org Thank you to our Patreons! Join at the $10 level and be part of our monthly ADOPTEE CAFE community. The next meeting will be determined in September (we are working around our live event and travel). RESOURCES for Adoptees: Adoptees Connect Gregory Luce and Adoptee Rights Law Fireside Adoptees Facebook Group Dr. Liz Debetta: Migrating Toward Wholeness Movement Moses Farrow - Trauma therapist and advocate National Suicide Prevention Lifeline – 1-800-273-8255 OR Dial or Text 988. Kristal Parke Because She Is Adopted Reckoning With The Primal Wound Support The Show

Creativity through the lens of an Author and Actor"Creativity feels like a life line, like another vein in my body."Tim Cummings is the author of the multiple-award-winning coming-of-age novel, Alice the Cat, published by Fitzroy Books. It was chosen as an American Book Awards 'Best Book' Finalist for 2023, received a Bronze Medal in the 2024 Feathered Quill Book Awards, and is a Finalist in both the 2024 National Indies Excellence Awards for Teen Fiction and the Independent Author Network's Book of the Year Awards. He holds an MFA in Creative Writing from Antioch University Los Angeles and a BFA from NYU/Tisch School of the Arts. Since 1984, he has appeared in over 200 projects across theatre, film, television, voice-over, and new media. Recent publications of short fiction, essays, and poetry include F(r)iction, Scare Street, Lunch Ticket, MeowMeow PowPow, From Whispers to Roars, Drunk Monkeys, Hare's Paw, Lit Angels, and Critical Read/RAFT, for which he won the ‘Origins' contest for his essay, “You Have Changed Me Forever.” He teaches writing for UCLA Extension Writers' Program, The Townies Inc in Ojai, runs private workshops, and coaches authors. He lives in Los Angeles with his partner of 19 years and their dog. Website: timcummings.ink  InstagramSend us a text

What does it actually look like to stop living on autopilot and start dancing through life? In this follow-up to their emotional first episode, Nadine welcomes back Marya Sherron, author, advocate, and founder of KI Productions, for a conversation packed with encouragement and practical tools. Marya shares how dance became a metaphor for living fully and how to rediscover the dreams you buried long ago. From journaling to surrendering control to simply doing the next right thing, she offers heartfelt wisdom for women who are tired of striving and ready to live with joy, freedom, and intention. This episode is an invitation: to give yourself permission to explore, to let go of what no longer fits, and to take one bold step forward, even if you have to do it scared. About Marya Sherron: Marya Patrice Sherron, MFA is a writer, advocate, and community leader devoted to amplifying marginalized voices and building inclusive communities. As founder of KI Productions, she has authored four children's books and launched initiatives that uplift neurodivergent families and underrepresented storytellers. She also serves as a caregiver advocate and community organizer across Indiana. Connect with Marya: IG: @KI.Productions928 FB: KI Productions time2dance.org Special Guest: Marya Sherron.

Monique Crawford is our next guest on The Yay. Monique is an actress who has worked with Crowded Fire, ACT, Sacramento Theatre Company and Central Works - She talks about her upbringing, her work in bay area theatre and where she sees herself in the future. Monique is traveling to England to continue her MFA theatre studies – and she has a GoFundMe page, where all of us can support her. Please make a donation by using this link: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-monique-study-acting-in-england?_gl=1*1qxgx50*_up*MQ..*_gs*MQ..&gbraid=0AAAAADj5gICJ_iPNpUBqZxhW-vwodwXSo Monique can be reached directly via Instagram: @monique.c.rawford Jameelah Rose has her own business selling healthy drinks - MelanA☥D is a black owned business that specializes in alkaline elixirs used to heal the mind and body. It's currently being sold at the Mandela Shopping Mart and you can find more info on MelanA☥D on this Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/melanaid We also want to thank Charles Blades Barbershop for sponsoring The Yay! Charles Blades Barbershop is located at 180 Second Street in downtown Oakland. It's a very cool, relaxing place where you can get your cuts and they'll even serve you a complimentary drink. Book an appointment online here: https://www.charlesblades.com Kehinde Koyejo (Episodes 214 and 262) has been a friend of mine since 2005, when I stage managed her for the Ray of Light musical, Bat Boy. She's an amazing actress, model and creative artist. She's also an incredible entrepreneur – and I want to introduce you to her business, Kalm Korner. Kalm Korner is an online boutique that specializes in aromatherapy gifts – love rubs, moisturizers, sprays, tea blends and candles. Kalm Korner also sells Choc'late Mama cookies – she brought some over the last time we interviewed her and it was fantastic. Let's support a black female-owned business, a local business and make your first order by going to this website: https://kalmkorner.com/ SHOWS: Queer as Fuck VII: Resistance and Rebellion (Bindlestiff Studios) August 8 - 16 Jessica Fong (Episode 289) is one of the directors of the show https://www.bindlestiffstudio.org/qaf7resistandrebel Two Trains Running (Lower Bottom Playaz) Aug 8 – 31 Reg Wilkins (Episode 276) is in the show Dr. Ayodele Nzinga (Episode 257) is the director https://www.onthestage.tickets/show/the-lower-bottom-playaz/67be8abea24e940f61dd4990 Mac Both (Eclectic Box SF) Aug 14 – 16 Alan Coyne (Episodes 29 & 233) is in the show https://www.eclecticboxsf.com/event-calendar The Return (Golden Thread) August 7 – 24 Wynne Chan (Episode 327) is a part of the production company https://goldenthread.org/productions/the-return/ Man of Tomorrow (part of Free Play Festival) August 15 (6pm), August 17 (8pm) Zoe Chien (Episode 285), Jake & Jessica Fong (Episode 289), Tom Reilly (Episode 40), Tony Daniel (Episode 240), Sylvia Kratins (Episode 141) are in the show Reg Clay wrote and directed the show; Neil Harkins (Episode 222) is the assistant director https://playground-sf.org/freeplay/ The Day The Sky Turned Orange (SF BATCO) Sept 5 – Oct 5 Julius Rea is a part of the writing team https://www.sfbatco.org/orange?_gl=1*hw20cb*_gcl_au*MTM3MjExODcyMi4xNzQ2ODkxNzQ0*_ga*MTQ1MDQyNzIxNS4xNzQ2ODkxNzQ0*_ga_J4D8M8TLG0*czE3NDY4OTE3NDQkbzEkZzAkdDE3NDY4OTE3NDQkajYwJGwwJGgw Dracula: a Comedy of Terror (City Lights Theatre) Sept 25 – Oct 19 Nick Mandracchia (Episode 43) is in the show https://cltc.org/event/dracula/ The Wisdom of Eve (Altarena Playhouse) Oct 24 – Nov 23 Kimberly Ridgeway (Episodes 155 and 251) directs the play https://www.altarena.org/2025-season-announcement/the-wisdom-of-eve-2025/ Follow us on Facebook and Bluesky (TheYayPodcast)

Shannon Sky is a poet, author, photographer, publisher, and activist born in Chicago. She received her MFA in Creative Writing from the Jack Kerouac School of Disembodied Poetics at Naropa University.  Shannon is an off the radar, gender queer, underground poet. She previously worked in electoral politics, successfully advocated for juvenile justice reform laws in Chicago, lobbied Congress to fund public health care, and currently consults on green environmental projects.  She is the founder of Latter-day Beat Books. A world traveler, Shannon has explored all 50 states and 35 countries on four continents.

Alea Peister reads her poem "Thoughts upon Reading On Beauty and Being Just at the Oncologist's Office."Alea's writing has been featured in Relief, Solum, Ekstasis, The Curator, Whale Road Review, and Art for the Isolated, among others. In 2025, she will graduate with an MFA in Spiritual Writing from Seattle Pacific University. Alea is passionate about the relationship between creativity and prayer, which she explores in ministry at her church. She daylights as a copywriter at a marketing firm. You can follow her writerly escapades on Instagram at @alea_peister and Substack at aleapeister.substack.com.

In this episode of Visual Intonation, we sit down with cinematographer Allysa Lisbon, a compelling visual storyteller whose work is grounded in both intellectual rigor and emotional depth. Based in Los Angeles and originally from Kansas City, Missouri, Allysa holds degrees from Georgetown University and the American Film Institute, where she earned her MFA in cinematography. Her visual language is thoughtful and precise, shaped by a commitment to telling nuanced stories across film, media, and commercial spaces.Allysa's work explores themes of heritage, memory, diaspora, and gender/sexuality, often through a lens that prioritizes empathy and complexity. Her films have been featured at Imagine This Women's Film Festival and Marina del Rey Film Festival and have received accolades from the Telly Awards and the Webby Awards. Her projects have also appeared in The Washington Post and at the Smithsonian Institution, underscoring a career that is both critically recognized and culturally resonant.In our conversation, Allysa discusses her journey as a cinematographer and founder of Saturn Studios, a forward-thinking production collective dedicated to building a more inclusive and collaborative media landscape. She reflects on the responsibilities of representation behind the camera, the challenges of independent filmmaking, and how visual storytelling can act as both documentation and resistance.Join us for a thoughtful dialogue on the power of image-making, where Allysa Lisbon shares her approach to crafting stories that are visually rich and emotionally grounded. This episode is a tribute to the craft of cinematography as a language—one that speaks across time, identity, and experience. Allysa Lisbon's Website: http://allysalisbon.com/ Allysa Lisbon's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allysagram/?hl=en Allysa Lisbon's IMDB: https://m.imdb.com/name/nm13878452/ Allysa Lisbon's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allysa-lisbon-5a5a25163Support the showVisual Intonation Website: https://www.visualintonations.com/Visual Intonation Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/visualintonation/Vante Gregory's Website: vantegregory.comVante Gregory's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/directedbyvante/ To support me on Patreon (thank you): patreon.com/visualintonations Tiktok: www.tiktok.com/@visualintonation Tiktok: www.tiktok.com/@directedbyvante

On September 30th Microsoft will only support a new unified multi-factor authentication control configuration. What does this mean for your nonprofit?In March 2023 Microsoft announced that after September 30th, 2025, they would no longer automatically support “legacy” multi-factor authentication controls in the Microsoft 365 Entra ID and General Admin administration portals. The methods your staff are using now will not automatically roll over to be allowed via the new admin dashboard after that date. Steve Longenecker, Community IT's Director of IT Consulting, explains to Carolyn the implications for nonprofits of this change and the Microsoft unified security administration deadline.The takeaways: The new unified authentication dashboard is available now to Microsoft 365 admins.The new Authentication Methods page does not inherit methods allowed in the legacy controls. An administrator needs to manually enable the MFA methods your organization wants to allow. Old MFA options your staff are using now will not roll over automatically to the new dashboard.Microsoft and Community IT are pushing admins to use this opportunity to to exclude less secure MFA methods. Community IT advises against allowing SMS texting and one-time codes sent to personal email addresses as MFA methods. You can upgrade and implement the new MFA and password reset options at any time, and we advise you to do this before September 30, whether or not Microsoft grants an extension of the deadline.If you just started using Microsoft 365 for Nonprofits, you don't need to worry about the deadline because your initial configuration would already be using the new Authentication Methods page. If you haven't made the change or don't know, you need to check before September 30, 2025.This change is visible only to Microsoft administrators, who should be making the change and informing staff where appropriate. If you are a nonprofit leader or board member and have not heard from your IT Director or outsourced IT, check with them to understand the plan for your organization. If you are a nonprofit staffer, pay attention to directions on using the safest MFA to protect your nonprofit.While not directly impacted by this deadline from Microsoft, Carolyn and Steve discuss the importance of “phish-resistant” MFA, preventing Attacker-in-the-Middle (AitM) attacks, for executives and staff working in finance, IT and other highly targeted areas of your operations. NOTE: The timelines on Microsoft changes do sometimes shift, and we are working to keep you updated. Please check for the most recent blog or podcast from us to ensure you have the most recent update. _______________________________Start a conversation :) Register to attend a webinar in real time, and find all past transcripts at https://communityit.com/webinars/ email Carolyn at cwoodard@communityit.com on LinkedIn Thanks for listening.

Episode 486 / Mathew Zefeldt Mathew Zefeldt (b. 1987, California) is Associate Professor of Painting and Drawing at the University of Minnesota. He received his MFA in studio art from UC Davis in 2011 and received his BA in Art at UC Santa Cruz in 2009. He has had solo exhibitions at The Hole, NY; Celaya Brothers, Mexico City; Hair + Nails, Minneapolis; Big Pictures, Los Angeles; 5-50 Gallery, Long Island City; The Soap Factory, Minneapolis; Circuit 12, Dallas; Verge Center for the Arts, Sacramento; Minneapolis Institute of Art, Minneapolis; Hap Gallery, Portland; and Santa Monica Museum of Art, Santa Monica. He has exhibited in group exhibitions at Lisa Cooley, NY; The Hole, Los Angeles; Better Go South, Berlin; Night Club, Minneapolis; MOHS Exhibit, Copenhagen; Galerie Fran Reus, Palma de Mallorca; Dreamsong, Minneapolis; Joshua Liner Gallery, NY; Left Field, San Luis Obispo; The Minnesota Museum of American Art, Saint Paul; Akron Art Museum, Ohio; Currier Art Museum, New Hampshire, and The Oklahoma Contemporary, Oklahoma City. In 2022, Zefeldt was an international resident at the Cob x Plop Residency in London, UK, and in 2023 was an artists in residence at the Moosey Residency in Norwich, UK. Mathew has a forthcoming book titled Mathew Zefeldt: Painting Constructed Virtual Worlds, and currently has a solo exhibition titled Reflections at The Hole in New York City. 

Chris and Hector break down the ransomware attack on Ingram Micro, exposing how a missing MFA on a VPN led to a massive breach. They also dig into the Department of Defense's new CMMC rules and sound off on Microsoft's $30 charge for Windows 10 security updates. Join our new Patreon! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/c/hackerandthefed⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Send HATF your questions at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠questions@hackerandthefed.com

Amber Rae joins Let's Talk Memoir for a conversation about meeting her soulmate while already married, living a story as you write it, allowing a book to show you what it needs to be, writing for our own growth and delight, slowing scenes down to put readers in our lived experience, holding onto the larger intention of the book, wounds we're afraid to look at, facing both old and new shame, compassionate understanding, learning how to mother ourselves, revealing intimate details of our lives in public forums, authentically inserting our voice into our chosen medium, healing through the process of writing, choosing to be as brave as possible on the page, and her new memoir Loveable: One Woman's Path from Good to Free.   Also in this episode: -setting boundaries -tracing original patterns -bringing readers  into our interior world   Books mentioned in this episode: -Untamed by Glennon Doyle -You Could Make this Place Beautiful by Maggie Smith -Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth GIlbert   Amber is the international bestselling author of Choose Wonder Over Worry (translated into 8 languages), The Answers Are Within You, and The Feelings Journal. Her writing and illustrations reach millions of people per month in nearly 200 countries, and she's been featured in The New York Times, NYMag, TODAY, SELF, Forbes, and Entrepreneur. She's a sought-after keynote speaker and workshop facilitator who's worked with Kate Spade, Meta, Microsoft, Merrill Lynch, Lululemon, Unilever, TED, SAP, and more. A Seth Godin alum, Amber helped launch his publishing company with Amazon and supported authors like Steven Pressfield and Derek Sivers. She's also mentored over 1,000 writers and helped more than a dozen land six-figure book deals. As a creative entrepreneur, Amber has launched global journaling challenges, art movements, life accelerators, and book birthing workshops. Her personal journaling practice spans 30 years, forming the foundation of her inner work and creative clarity. Her new memoir is Loveable: One Woman's Path from Good to Free.   Connect with Amber:  Website: https://www.amberrae.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heyamberrae/   – Ronit's writing has appeared in The Atlantic, The Rumpus, The New York Times, Poets & Writers, The Iowa Review, Hippocampus, The Washington Post, Writer's Digest, American Literary Review, and elsewhere. Her memoir WHEN SHE COMES BACK about the loss of her mother to the guru Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh and their eventual reconciliation was named Finalist in the 2021 Housatonic Awards Awards, the 2021 Indie Excellence Awards, and was a 2021 Book Riot Best True Crime Book. Her short story collection HOME IS A MADE-UP PLACE won Hidden River Arts' 2020 Eludia Award and the 2023 Page Turner Awards for Short Stories.  She earned an MFA in Nonfiction Writing at Pacific University, is Creative Nonfiction Editor at The Citron Review, and teaches memoir through the University of Washington's Online Continuum Program and also independently. She launched Let's Talk Memoir in 2022, lives in Seattle with her family of people and dogs, and is at work on her next book. More about Ronit: https://ronitplank.com Subscribe to Ronit's Substack: https://substack.com/@ronitplank Follow Ronit: https://www.instagram.com/ronitplank/ https://www.facebook.com/RonitPlank https://bsky.app/profile/ronitplank.bsky.social   Background photo credit: Photo by Patrick Tomasso on Unsplash Headshot photo credit: Sarah Anne Photography Theme music: Isaac Joel, Dead Moll's Fingers

In this solo episode of Life of a CISO, Dr. Eric Cole returns to the mic after a series of interviews to dive deep into the #1 foundational skill every Chief Information Security Officer must master—securing internet-facing servers. With the rising wave of breaches hitting not just Fortune 50 giants but small and mid-size companies, Dr. Cole walks through the exact steps you must take to go back to basics and become a world-class CISO. From identifying forgotten assets to hardening authentication and revamping your patching strategy, this episode is your blueprint to stop attacks before they start. Dr. Cole also shares real-world breach examples, discusses the risks of relying solely on IT, and explains why a functioning change control board and MFA implementation for admins are non-negotiable. 

A weekly magazine-style radio show featuring the voices and stories of Asians and Pacific Islanders from all corners of our community. The show is produced by a collective of media makers, deejays, and activists. On tonight's edition of Obbligato on APEX Express, which focuses on AAPI artists, musicians, and composers in the classical music world, host Isabel Li is joined by LA based performer and composer Richard An, who plays and creates new avant-garde music, usually with the ensemble House on Fire, and his music has been performed by the LA Phil and the Calder Quartet to name a few. Join us in our conversation, exploring the possibilities of avant-garde music, raising questions regarding Asian identities in the classical music world, and Richard's insights on art making during a time when Trump's cuts to the NEA are affecting artists and institutions nationwide. Featured Music: Sonatrinas: https://richardan.bandcamp.com/album/sonatrinas i got the electroshock blues: https://rasprecords.bandcamp.com/album/i-got-the-electroshock-blues   RICHARD AN (b.1995) is a performer and composer, born and raised in Los Angeles. Richard plays new music – usually with House on Fire – co-founded the tiny backpack new music series, and has performed with Monday Evening Concerts' Echoi Ensemble, Piano Spheres, The Industry and on Bang on a Can's LOUD Weekend. Richard plays piano and percussion, and has been known to sing, conduct, and teach. Richard's music has been performed by the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, Calder Quartet, HOCKET, C3LA, and more. His music has been released on CMNTX Records. Richard has a BM in Composition from USC and an MFA from CalArts. He is on faculty at the Pasadena Waldorf School, Glendale Community College and Harvard-Westlake. He plays taiko and tabla, and makes YouTube videos. Learn more about Richard's work on his website: https://richardanmusic.com/ Richard's social media: https://www.instagram.com/richardanmusic/ If you are in LA and want hear Richard's work, he's playing with House on Fire at the Sierra Madre Playhouse on August 17! https://www.sierramadreplayhouse.org/event/richardan2025   Transcript Opening: [00:00:00] APEX Express. Asian Pacific expression. Community and cultural coverage, music and calendar, new visions and voices, coming to you with an Asian Pacific Islander point of view. It's time to get on board the APEX Express. 00:00:46 Isabel Li Good evening and welcome back to a new episode of Apex Express on KPFA, 94.1 FM. We are bringing you an Asian and Asian American view from the Bay and around the world. I'm your host, Isabel Li, and tonight is a new edition of Obbligato, which explores AAPI identities and classical music. Tonight I'm joined by LA based performer and composer Richard An, who plays and creates new avant-garde music, usually with the ensemble House on Fire, and his music has been performed by the LA Phil and the Calder Quartet to name a few. Join us in our conversation, exploring the possibilities of avant-garde music, raising questions regarding Asian identities in the classical music world, and Richard's insights on art making during a time when Trump's cuts to the NEA are affecting artists and institutions nationwide. 00:01:41 Isabel Li Welcome to the show. Welcome to APEX Express, Richard. My first question for you is how do you identify and what communities would you say that you're a part of? 00:01:50 Richard An My name is Richard An I use he/him pronouns and I'm a second generation Korean American. My parents are both Korean. My dad came from Busan, which is a large city in South Korea, and my mom was born in Seoul and then moved to South America and then made her way up to Los Angeles where they met. And as for identity, like, I think Korean American would be the most accurate one. This is and I think an ever evolving part of first of all my identity and the way that it intersects with my practice and also I think that's the case with many Asian American artists, I mean artists from immigrant families, you know, the the matter of your identity, especially if you feel more distanced from it for one reason or another, is like an unsolved question for everyone like there is no one answer. That works for people and that's a thing that me people like myself I think will be exploring for our entire lives. When I introduce myself to people, I say that I'm a classical musician. And at the very core of it, that is true. That's not a lie. And I am, you know, a part of the classical music community in Los Angeles. But as time goes on, I have noticed and realized. That I tend to align myself more with like the avant-garde and experimental contemporary music communities of Los Angeles, which has certainly an overlap with the classical community, both in practice and historically, but yeah, I I would say those are the sort of two biggest ones, classical musicians and experimental avant-garde, contemporary musicians, whatever label you want to use for that. 00:03:47 Isabel Li Yeah. Some of our listeners might not know what avant-garde music entails. Can you — how would you describe avant-garde music to someone who might not be as familiar with this particular movement? 00:03:57 Richard An Yeah. So avant-garde music, a sort of flippant and joking way to to talk about it is ugly music or music. You know, my dad, for example, wouldn't like, but I think. It's music that either interfaces with elements or confronts facets or issues in music that aren't typical of other kinds of music. The music that you might hear that is labeled of on guard might be noisy or dissonant or uncomfortable, or any kind of, you know, adjectives that are synonyms for noisy or ugly, but I have come to love that kind of music, you know 1. Because of the the kind of questions that they might ask about our perceptions of music and two, because I guess one way to put it is that to be a classical musician, you need to be in a practice room for many hours a day for many years and go to what is unfortunately a college, which is usually very expensive and I guess for lack of a better term, paywalled for like you need to have the kind of resources that allow you to attend a four year undergrad and then a two year masters and then a three-year doctorate. But avant-garde music, contemporary music, experimental music doesn't necessitate that kind of thing. Often those musicians do have a background that gives them some amount of, you know, virtuosity or facility in an instrument. But like some of the best experimental musicians. Alive and some of the best ones that I know have no, like extensive training in a particular instrument and some may not have a degree in music at all. And that's one thing that I in like that separates it from classical music is that. 00:05:44 Richard An Classical music can be, unfortunately a little bit exclusionary. I don't think by any one specific design, but the fact that you need so many hours and very specific instructions from a mentor that necessitate that kind of relationship. But experimental music, I think does a little bit better job of diversifying or making it feel more equitable. 00:06:12 Isabel Li That's a great point, actually. One of my questions following up with that was what do you think is possible with this genre, which you kind of mentioned earlier with perhaps how this genre makes classical music a little bit more equitable for those who are interested in this field. In your experience, composing, what do you think makes the genre special, and how do you go about it? 00:06:35 Richard An One thing that I've noticed about being involved in the sort of contemporary experimental avant-garde music sphere is that it makes me a better listener, and I think other people who attend these concerts will agree. Like for example a large part of this kind of music is drone or repetition or, you know, like long spans of unchanging sound. And if the the sound that is being produced at face value is not changing, well then what do you notice about it? What do you grab on to and one of the most, I think, gratifying experiences is listening deeper and realizing that, ohh, even though you know for example this piano playing two notes for 30 minutes might not like the instructions will say to do the same thing for 30 minutes, but your experience as a human being will certainly change over those 30 minutes, even if the the notes are not like you will notice the slight fluctuations in the way that someone is playing, you will notice the beating patterns in the pitches on an instrument that may not be perfectly in tune, you will note other ambient sounds, you will note like you will notice so much more about the world when you are confronted with the kind of music that you know. You can say it forces you to listen to these sounds but also invites you to listen to these things. And I think that's really, really special. That's not to say that that can't happen with other kinds of music. Or even with classical music. Surely you know there are many, many ways to listen to everything. But I've noticed this within myself. When I listen to long, repetitive drone based music that it really opens my ears and makes me a more active participant as a listener. 00:08:30 Isabel Li It's a great point actually. Part of my work– because I studied music, history and theory in college– was how music can engage various listeners to participate. Have you composed anything that perhaps engages the listener in this more of a participatory setting? 00:08:47 Richard An Yeah. So I guess in order the some of the stuff that I've done to engage the audience, I guess both literally, and maybe more figuratively is, I wrote a piece last year for the Dog Star festival, which is a a contemporary and experimental music festival that is actually happening right now, at the time of this recording. It's a multi week long festival that focuses on music of this type that was founded by people in the sort of CalArts music world. But I wrote a piece for that last year for three melodicas, which are these basically toy instruments that look like keyboards, but you blow into them and you blowing air through these makes the sound happen. It's basically like if you cross a harmonica and a piano together. But I I wrote a piece for three of these, playing essentially the same notes. And because these instruments are pretty cheap, and they're often considered toys or, you know, instruments for children, they're not tuned to the exact way that, like a piano or a vibraphone or an expensive instrument might be. But I wanted to use that for my advantage. For example, if I play an F# on one melodica the same F# on another melodica will not be exactly the same and playing those two pitches together will produce what's known as a a beat or beat frequency. Which is, you know, a complicated, you know, mathematic physics thing, but basically 2 notes that are really, really close, but not quite together will create a kind of third rhythm because the the pitches are so close. Like, for example, if if I play an A at 4:40 and another A at 441, you will notice that difference of 1 Hertz inside of your ears. And that's a really cool phenomenon that happens explicitly because you were there listening to the piece. They don't happen necessarily, you know, like in, in recorded formats like, it's a very difficult thing to capture unless you are in the room with these instruments. And the fact that we had this audience of, let's say, 40 people meant that all forty of these people were experiencing these beat frequencies and another really cool factor of this is depending on where you are located in the room. With the way that the beats will sound in your ears are different and purely by the fact of acoustics like a wave bouncing off of the wall over on your left, will feel really different if you are closer or further from that wall. So not only do the audiences ears themselves, you know, invite these this this participation, but the pure physicality of each listener means that they will have a very slightly different experience of what the piece is, and again like this will happen in any concert. If you're at a classical show, if you're at a rock show if, if you're further from the stage, if you're further to the left or right, you will get a slightly different position in the stereo field that the musicians are playing in, but pieces like what I wrote and many others that exist emphasize this kind of like acoustic phenomena. That is really, really fascinating to listen to. 00:12:23 Isabel Li That's fascinating. And to get a sense of Richard's work, we'll be hearing coming up next. The short excerpt from his album Sonatrinas. This is the duo excerpt performed by Wells Leng, Katie Aikam, Kevin Good and composer Richard An himself. [COMP MUSIC: Sonatrinas (Excerpt: Duo)] 00:17:38 Richard An And so the back story for this piece is this was written for one of my recitals at CalArts. I was planning on playing this piece by Michael Gordon called Sonatra, which is a really, really beautiful and difficult piece for solo piano that I gave myself as an assignment, which I was not able to do with the amount of time. And, you know, like I just didn't give myself enough time to do this thing, so I still had this program of several pieces written with the idea of having this Michael Gordon Sonatra in the middle, but now that that sort of middle part was gone, there was a bunch of pieces about a piece that didn't exist. So in order to fill that hole, I wrote this piece called Sonatrinas which is a cheeky nod to the Michael Gordon Sonatra, but also to the fact that each part of this is kind of a diminutive Sonata form. Everything has a sort of ABA– here's some idea. Here's a different idea, and now we go back to that first idea. Every single part of this has a little bit of that in it. 00:18:51 Isabel Li Yeah, that's fascinating. Even the name itself reminds me of Sonata form in classical music, where it's kind of like an ABA section. As you sort of talked about earlier. And it's really cool that you're adapting this in a more avant-garde context. This is a reminder you're listening to Apex Express. Today we are interviewing composer and musician Richard An. 00:19:12 Isabel Li I think the general question that I have next is can you tell me a bit about what drew you to music and how you got your start in music, how you got introduced to it and what things have inspired you over the years? 00:19:24 Richard An Yeah. So a real quick sort of, I guess, history of my involvement with music is that I started piano lessons when I was pretty young, either three or four years old. I continued that until I was 12 or 13. I decided I really wanted to become a musician. I started taking composition lessons with this composer, AJ McCaffrey, who is really responsible for a lot of what I know and my successes, if you can call it that. He got me into a lot of the music that I am into now and set the foundation for what I would study and what I would write he was one of the instructors for this program called the LA Phil Composer Fellowship program, which back when I was a participant from 2011 to 2013, was a program hosted by the Los Angeles Philharmonic that took 4 high school age students every two years. And you know, they they taught us, you know, everything. How a young composer needs to know how instruments work, how to write a score, how to talk to musicians, how to do everything that a that a composer needs to learn how to do and at the end of this program, after the two years the young composers write a piece for the at the LA Philharmonic. So I was extremely lucky that by the age of 17 I was able to write a piece for orchestra and get that played and not just any orchestra, with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, you know, undisputedly one of the best orchestras in the world. Right. And then after that I I went to USC for my undergrad and then went to CalArts for my masters. And then here we are now. And that those are sort of the like, you know if someone writes a biography about me, that's what we'll be, you know, involved in the thing. But I really started to develop my love for music in my freshman and sophomore year. In high school I I started to get into more and more modern composers. I started to get into more and more noisy things and a lot of this coincided actually with the passing of my mother. She died when I was 14 and you know that in any human the death of a parent will cause you to reevaluate and rethink aspects of your life. Things that you thought were certainties will not be there anymore. So for me, I stopped taking piano lessons and I sort of went headfirst into composition and which is why my degrees are specifically in composition and not piano. Had my mother's passing not happened, you know, who knows what I would be doing now? Maybe I'm not a composer at all. Maybe I'm not into avant-garde music at all, but because things happen the way that they did, I suddenly took a quick turn into avant-garde music and my involvement there only grew more and more and more. Until you know where I am today, I'm almost 30 years old, so I've been listening to and a participant of this music for maybe 15 years or so and I'm quite happy. 00:22:43 Isabel Li That's awesome to hear. 00:22:45 Isabel Li And perhaps a testament to Richard one's very versatile compositional style and avant-garde music coming up next are three pieces from his album i got the electroshock blues. There are five pieces in the album in total, but we will be hearing three of them. The first one called “feeling, scared today,” the second one, “pink pill,” and the fifth one, “la la.” [COMP MUSIC: i got the electroshock blues: 1. “feeling, scared today”, 2. “pink pill”, 3. “la la”.] 00:36:41 Richard An Earlier last year, I released a collection of live recordings under the title of I got the Electroshock Blues. Electroshock Blues is a song by the band Eels I encountered at a pivotal moment in my life. This was right around the time that my mother passed and this record and this song is heavily centered in grief. The main musician in the Eels, Mark Oliver Everett, was dealing with the passing of multiple family members and people who were close to him so it hit me in just the right way at just the right time. And because of that, this song specifically has stayed with me for many, many years. I found myself coming back to the contents of this song as I was composing and all the pieces on this album, of which there are 5 heavily take material from this song, whether that's words, chords, the melody. I really, you know, take it apart, dissect it and use those as ingredients in the pieces that I have written here and all of these are live recordings except for the first piece which was recorded in my studio. I just sort of overdubbed the parts myself, and there are credits in the liner notes for this album, but I just want to say that. The first piece which is called “feeling, scared today,” was originally written for the Hockett piano duo, which is a duo comprised of Thomas Kotcheff and Sarah Gibson. Sarah Gibson was a really close friend of mine who passed away last year and now this piece which in some way came out of a feeling of grief now has renewed meaning and another facet or aspect of this piece is centered in grief now. Because this was dedicated to Thomas and Sarah. Yeah. So these pieces are all derived from this one song. 00:38:57 Isabel Li That's a beautiful response. Thank you so much. Kind of following along your background and how you got to where you are. How do you think your identity has informed your work as a composer and musician? And this could be– you can interpret this in any way that you wish. 00:39:11 Richard An Yeah, this is a really interesting question. The question of how my identity interfaces with my music. In my art, particularly because no person's answer is quite the same, and I don't necessarily have this figured out either. So for a little bit of I guess for a little bit of context on me, I'm second generation Korean American, but I've never been to Korea and I never went to Korean school. My parents never really emphasize that part of my education. You could call it assimilation. You can call it whatever, but I think they valued other aspects of my growth than my explicit tie to Koreanness or, you know my specific identity as a Korean or Korean American, and because of that, I've always felt a little bit awkwardly distanced from that part of my identity, which is something that I will never be completely rid of. So in in a world and the field where whiteness is sort of the default part you know, particularly because you know, classical music does come from Europe, you know, for hundreds of years, like all of the development in this particular kind of music did happen in a place where everyone was white. So because of that background of where I come from and where my musical activity comes from, whiteness has been the default and still feels like it is. So me looking the way that I do as, an obvious not white person, as a person of color will always have a little bit of an outsider status to the thing. And with that comes the question of what are you bringing to classical music? What do you bring to the kind of music that you're creating? Like for example, the most I think the most well known East Asian composers are people like Toru Takemitsu or Tan Dun, people who will interface with their Asianness, in many different ways, but that often involves bringing, for example, a Japanese scale into your classical composition, or bringing a Japanese instrument into your classical composition. Those are, you know, examples of of of pieces by Toru Takemitsu, and other, you know, very successful. Asian American composers now may do similarly. Texu Kim is maybe someone who can also give insight into this, but nothing about me feels explicitly Korean, maybe besides the way that I look. And besides, the way that I grew up a little bit like I've never been to Korea. What right does that give me as a Korean, to for example, use a Korean instrument or use a Korean scale? I've never studied that music. I've never studied that culture. I in in some arguments I would be guilty of cultural appropriation, because I, you know, have not done the work to study and to properly represent. And for example, like Pansori, if I were to use that in any of my music. 00:42:46 Richard An But then the the the difficult question is well, then who does have the right? Does being Korean give me all the license that I need to incorporate aspects of my identity? And if I am not Korean, does that, does that bar my access to that kind of music forever? Another way of looking at this is, I've studied North Indian Classical Hindustani music for a while. I've played tabla and and studied that music at CalArts and I really, really love playing tabla. It's it doesn't make its way into my composition so much, but it is certainly a big part of my musicianship and who I am and, like, but am I barred from using ideas or aspects of that music and culture and my music because simply for the fact that I am not Indian? Many musicians would say no. Of course you've done your homework, you've done your research. You're doing due diligence. You're you're representing it properly. And many people who study this music will say music cannot go forward if it's not like the innervated and continued and studied by people like me who are not explicitly South Asian or Indian. That's an example of the flip side of this of me using or representing the music from a culture that I am not a part of, but again, am I really Korean? I've never been there. I wasn't born there. I speak the language conversationally. But this is an extremely long winded way of saying that I feel a tenuous connection to my Korean this my Korean American identity that hasn't been solved, that isn't solved and probably will never be completely solved. But I think that's exciting. I think that's an evolving aspect of my music and will continue to be that way as long as I continue to be involved in music and as as long as I continue to write. 00:45:05 Isabel Li Yeah, absolutely. That's a wonderful response. Actually. I was, as I was studying different types of world music and learning how people kind of borrow from different cultures. There is this always, this kind of question like ohh, like which types of musical elements from which cultures can I incorporate and obviously the aspects of personal identity definitely play into that a little bit. And part of my senior thesis in college was studying AAPI artists in classical music, and specifically that there are a lot of Asian-identifying musicians in the classical music world. But as you kind of mentioned earlier, I think classical music is very much still like grounded in whiteness and has this kind of air of elitism to it just because of its roots. How do you think this kind of identity intersects with the classical music world? And forgive me if you've already kind of talked about it before, but it's an interesting juxtaposition between like, for example, musicians who identify as AAPI or Asian in this kind of genre that is very– it's very associated with whiteness. Could you kind of talk about the dynamics of how these two aspects of like culture kind of interplay with one another? 00:46:26 Richard An Yeah, absolutely. So, you know, there are ways that I personally feel like I intersect with classical music with reference to my identity, and that also plays with the sort of cultural expectations, like there are stereotypes of Asian musicians, of Asian classical musicians. But there are not necessarily the same the same kind of stereotypes with white classical musicians. A very dominant like stereotype that you'll run into is the young Asian prodigy who practices 10 hours a day and may therefore be labeled as mechanical or unfeeling or, you know, are involved in in this a lot. So much so to the fact to the to the point where to excel an Asian American classical musician or as an Asian classical musician, in general, seems to always carry that stereotype. Like you know, Seong-Jin Cho's success as a pianist may not necessarily be attributed to his musicianship or his skill as a pianist. Because he is an Asian person, an Asian guy. Like how much of his success is because of the perceived tiger mom-ness that he might have existed under? How much of it is attributed to the same type of stereotypes that are labeled like that that label the five year old pianist on YouTube that that is clearly better than I am? Like some of these stereotypes help and some of these don't, but the I think it's undeniable that they exist in a way that doesn't in a way that doesn't carry for white people in the classical music sphere. And I think part of that is that classical music is still rooted in its Eurological identity. I think I'm using that correctly. That's an idea from George Lewis. Eurological versus Afrological. The context that I'm using Eurological right now is specifically in reference to George Lewis, who is a composer, trombonist, and musicologist who, I think coined the two terms to differentiate the roots of different styles of music, and you know, I haven't read enough to confidently say, but classical music is Eurological by example and like jazz would be Afrological by an example and the contexts in which they develop and exist and grew up are fundamentally different, which is what makes them different from each other. And again like this needs a little bit more research on my part. 00:49:23 Richard An Yeah, and because the classical music is so rooted in this thing, I don't believe that the stereotypes that exist for Asian classical musicians exist for white people. And I think that is something that will naturally dissipate with time, like after another 100 years of Asians, and, you know, people of color in, you know, every country in the world, with their continued involvement and innova otypes will disappear like this. You know, it may require certain concerted efforts from certain people, but I do believe that after a while these things will not exist. They'll sort of equalize right in the same way. That the divisions that we make between a Russian pianist and a French pianist and a German pianist, though you know people still do study those things like those aren't really dividing lines quite as strong as an Asian composer or an Indian composer might be. 00:50:27 Isabel Li Thank you for that perspective. I think it's, I think these are conversations that people don't kind of bring up as much in the classical music world and it's great that, you know, we're kind of thinking about these and probably possibly like opening some conversations up to our listeners hopefully. And so my next kind of pivot here is as you know with our current administration, Trump has canceled millions of dollars in National Endowment of the Arts grants, and it's been affecting arts organizations all over the nation. And I was kind of wondering, have you been affected by these cuts to arts programs and what kinds of advice would give upcoming musicians or composers in this era? 00:51:07 Richard An Yeah, that's a yeah, that's a big thing. And like, you know, changing day by day, right. So the Trump administration's effects on my life as a musician is simultaneously huge and also not really that much. So in one way these grant cuts have not affected my personal musical life because I haven't ever received a government grant for any of my arts making. So in one way like my life is the same, but in many, many, many other ways it has changed. Like I am involved with and I work with concert series and organizations and nonprofits that do rely on NEA funding and other government arts based funding. And if they have less money to fund their next season, that means certain projects have to be cut. That means certain musicians have to be paid less. That means certain programs have to change, especially if these funding cuts are aimed towards DEI or quote and quote, woke programming like that is, you know this that will by design disproportionately affect people of color in this field, which already you know, like is in a Eurocentric urological tradition like this is already something that people of color don't have a head start in if the funding cuts are aimed at certain types of programming that will disadvantage already disadvantaged groups of people, well then I don't know, that's even–we're starting even later than other people might be, and you know, like, if a musicians, if a person's reaction to this is despair, I think that's reasonable. I think that is an absolutely, like that's an appropriate reaction to what is fundamentally an attack on your voice as an artist. But I I have for as long as I can, you know, I have always worked under the impression that I will have to do the thing myself, and that's in the piece of advice that I give for a lot of people. You shouldn't necessarily wait for this ensemble to come pick you to play or or to to, you know, commission you to write a piece if you want to write the piece, you should do it and figure out how to put it on yourself. If you want to perform you know music by a certain composer, you should do it and then figure out how to do it yourself. That certainly comes from a place of privilege, like I can do this because I have enough work as a musician to be able to pay for the the passion projects it comes from a place of privilege, because I live in Los Angeles and the resources and musicians and other people who I would like to collaborate with live here, so you know, completely acknowledging and understanding that I I do believe that it's better to ask for forgiveness than to ask for permission. I think if you're a young musician and are feeling some despair about these funding cuts and you know the many, many, many other transgressions against humanity by this current administration. 00:54:38 Richard An I recommend you just go out and do it yourself. You find your people, you find your community, you pull favors, you work long nights and you do it and the reward will firstly be the good you're putting out into the world and then the the art you're making. But also this will be paid in kind by the community you're building, the musicians you're working with. And the the connections you make like you know I I have, I am currently conducting this interview from a studio space that I am renting out in Pasadena that I have built over the last two years that I do all of my rehearsals and my performances in, and that I, you know, host rehearsals and performances for other people, and this cannot happen and could not have happened without the goodwill and help and contribution from other people. When I say go out and do it yourself, I'm not saying that you as a human being are alone. I'm saying you don't need to wait for institutional approval or permission to go out and do these things. Get your friends and do them themselves. And my optimistic belief is that the support and the work will follow. 00:55:53 Isabel Li Richard, thank you so much for sharing your perspectives and your voice on this show today. And thank you to our many listeners of KPFA on tonight's episode of Obbligato on Apex Express. Which focuses on the AAPI community of the classical music world. There were some inspirational words on arts and arts making by Richard An musician and composer based in Los Angeles. 00:56:18 Isabel Li Please check our website kpfa.org to find out more about Richard An and his work as well as the state of the arts during this period of funding cuts. 00:56:29 Isabel Li We thank all of you listeners out there. Keep resisting, keep organizing, keep creating and sharing your visions with the world, your voices and your art are important. 00:56:41 Isabel Li APEX Express is produced by Ayame Keane-Lee, Anuj Vaidya, Cheryl Truong, Jalena Keane-Lee, Miko Lee, Preeti Mangala Shekar and Swati Rayasam. Tonight's show was produced by Isabel Li. Have a great evening. The post APEX Express – 8.7.25 – Obbligato with Richard An appeared first on KPFA.

Two Chinese nationals are arrested for allegedly exporting sensitive Nvidia AI chips. A critical security flaw has been discovered in Microsoft's new NLWeb protocol. Vulnerabilities in Dell laptop firmware could let attackers bypass Windows logins and install malware. Trend Micro warns of an actively exploited remote code execution flaw in its endpoint security platform. Google confirms a data breach involving one of its Salesforce databases. A lack of MFA leaves a Canadian city on the hook for ransomware recovery costs. Nvidia's CSO denies the need for backdoors or kill switches in the company's GPUs. CISA flags multiple critical vulnerabilities in Tigo Energy's Cloud Connect Advanced (CCA) platform. DHS grants funding cuts off the MS-ISAC. Helicopter parenting officially hits the footwear aisle. Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and review in your favorite podcast app. Miss an episode? Sign-up for our daily intelligence roundup, Daily Briefing, and you'll never miss a beat. And be sure to follow CyberWire Daily on LinkedIn. CyberWire Guest Today we are joined by Sarah Powazek from UC Berkeley's Center for Long-Term Cybersecurity (CLTC) discussing her proposed nationwide roadmap to scale cyber defense for community organizations. Black Hat Women on the street Live from Black Hat USA 2025, it's a special “Women on the Street” segment with Halcyon's Cynthia Kaiser, SVP Ransomware Research Center, and CISO Stacey Cameron. Hear what's happening on the ground and what's top of mind in cybersecurity this year. Selected Reading Two Arrested in the US for Illegally Exporting Microchips Used in AI Applications to China (TechNadu) Microsoft's plan to fix the web with AI has already hit an embarrassing security flaw  (The Verge) ReVault flaws let hackers bypass Windows login on Dell laptops (Bleeping Computer) Trend Micro warns of Apex One zero-day exploited in attacks (Bleeping Computer) Google says hackers stole its customers' data in a breach of its Salesforce database (TechCrunch) Hamilton taxpayers on the hook for full $18.3M cyberattack repair bill after insurance claim denied (CP24) Nvidia rejects US demand for backdoors in AI chips (The Verge) Critical vulnerabilities reported in Tigo Energy Cloud connect advanced solar management platform (Beyond Machines) New state, local cyber grant rules prohibit spending on MS-ISAC (StateScoop) Skechers skewered for adding secret Apple AirTag compartment to kids' sneakers — have we reached peak obsessive parenting? (NY Post) Audience Survey Complete our annual audience survey before August 31. Want to hear your company in the show? You too can reach the most influential leaders and operators in the industry. Here's our media kit. Contact us at cyberwire@n2k.com to request more info. The CyberWire is a production of N2K Networks, your source for strategic workforce intelligence. © N2K Networks, Inc. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Visit our Substack for bonus content and more: https://designbetterpodcast.com/p/matt-raw Matt Raw, Interim VP of Design at The New York Times, and his team have a tough job. Their work is seen by millions every day who come to the Times website and apps for information they can trust, presented clearly, across platforms, striking a stylistic balance between tradition and innovation. Somehow they approach the pressure of their work with grace. n this episode, we talk with Matt about what it means to design for a mission-driven organization in a time of profound technological and cultural change. Matt shares how his team is navigating the tension between tradition and evolution, how they balance experimentation with editorial integrity, and why even the smallest interface details can carry the weight of institutional trust. We also explore how the Times is adapting to new reader habits, the impact of generative AI on journalism and design, and why listening deeply to colleagues and readers remains a superpower for their team. If you missed it earlier this month, Matt also interviewed us for an AMA at the Times' headquarters in Manhattan. Also, stay tuned after our conversation with Matt (or listen to the embedded audio below) for a special with the Australian design agency Noize uses Wix Studio to create amazing sites for top brands. Bio Matt Raw is a product design leader with over 15 years of experience creating user-centered digital products and services. As interim Vice President of Product Design Culture and Operations at The New York Times, he helps product designers thrive, runs design operations, and oversees the shared design studio. He has built and led teams of designers, managers, and leaders who deliver exceptional work spanning strategy to execution. Raw also teaches advanced UX fundamentals to MFA students at the School of Visual Arts, focusing on insight-centered problem definition and rapid validation through lightweight prototyping. His mission is empowering product designers to craft meaningful experiences for millions of users worldwide. *** Premium Episodes on Design Better This ad-supported episode is available to everyone. If you'd like to hear it ad-free, upgrade to our premium subscription, where you'll get an additional 2 ad-free episodes per month (4 total). Premium subscribers also get access to the documentary Design Disruptors and our growing library of books: You'll also get access to our monthly AMAs with former guests, ad-free episodes, discounts and early access to workshops, and our monthly newsletter The Brief that compiles salient insights, quotes, readings, and creative processes uncovered in the show. Upgrade to paid ***

On today's podcast I welcome photographer Wesaam Al Badry an Investigative photojournalist based in Nebraska. Wesaam studied photography at the San Francisco Art Institute and received his MFA from UC Berkeley. In this interview I speak to Wesaam about his documentary work documenting farmworkers as well as covering politics. I also speak to Wesaam about his experience living in a refugee camp in Saudi Arabia during the Gulf war and how that experience influences the work he does today. Sign up for Picdrop and get 2 months free at : https://www.picdrop.com/go/banter promo code : Banter Peep Wesaam's work : www.wesaamalbadry.com IG - @wesaamalbadry

We feel braver and a little bit wiser after our glorious chat with the absolute king that is Brad Riew. We're so grateful Brad made the time to chat with us this week even though he wasn't feeling the best and know his heartfelt words will touch many. We can't wait for you all to tune in, but first, more about Brad:Brad Riew is an MFA candidate in Fiction at New York University's creative writing program. He graduated from Harvard College in 2018 with a degree in Psychology, where he won the Ecker Short Story Prize. The Last Tiger, co-written with his younger sister Julia Riew, is his first novel. Brad lives in Brooklyn, New York.About THE LAST TIGER:Inspired by true stories from the authors' grandparents' lives during one of the darkest periods in Korean history,The Last Tiger is a debut young adult fantasy novel about the power of love to give voice to a silenced people.In a colonized land where tigers are being hunted to extinction and ancient magic stirs, two star-crossed teens from opposite worlds—Lee Seung, a servant yearning for freedom, and Choi Eunji, a noble girl defying tradition—join forces to try and reshape their respective fates.But their relationship evolves from begrudging accomplices to bitter adversaries as they soon find themselves on opposite sides of a battle over the last tiger, a symbol of their people's lost freedom and key to the liberation of their country. As the ties between Seung and Eunji are complicated by their conflicting loyalties, tensions rise—especially when a charming princeling of the empire begins to rival for Eunji's affection.In this friends-to-enemies-to-lovers story of forbidden romance, antagonists turned allies, oppression and liberation, neither Seung nor Eunji can abandon their mission—or each other. And as they embark on separate quests to find the elusive creature, each must also find the power within themselves to make their own destiny.

Send us a textAngelica Cheri swung by Playwright's Spotlight after leaving the rehearsals of her Broadway play Wanted only to jump into the rehearsals for the West Coast Premiere of her play Burta Burta. She was wiling to share her insights of the craft. We delve into the rehearsal process, approaching rewrites and the importance of dramatic truth, finding opportunities and landing an agent, changes to pieces from a thesis to premieres to publication. We also touch on the trick of raising stakes, the structure of a song in musical theatre, magical realism and laying breadcrumbs, achieving foreshadowing, playwriting vs musical theatre, and how analytics can rename a play. We wrap it up discussing the struggles with the business of playwriting as well as with the craft itself, the differences between structure vs form, approaching character and the math in human emotion, and, finally, creative license. It's a talk chock full of nuggets of theatrical knowledge that I took a lot from. Enjoy.For tickets to the West Coast premiere of her play Berta Berta that which runs through August 25th at the Echo Theater Company in Los Angeles, visit https://www.echotheatercompany.com/berta-berta.Angelica Chéri is a playwright, bookwriter, lyricist, screenwriter and poet. Her plays include Phenomenal Woman, Maya Angelou; The Seeds of Abraham; The Sting of White Roses; Crowndation; and The Wiring & the Switches. She and collaborator Ross Baum received the Richard Rodgers Award for their musical Wanted (formerly titled Gun & Powder), which is heading to Broadway next season. She received her BA in Theater from UCLA, MFA in Playwriting from Columbia University and MFA in Musical Theater Writing from NYU.To watch the video format of this episode, visit https://youtu.be/ul3ThJixBRkLinks to resources mentioned in this episode - Playwright's Bill of Rights - https://www.dramatistsguild.com/rightsThe Richard Rogers Award - https://www.artsandletters.org/rodgers-awardThe O'Neill - https://www.theoneill.org/monte-cristo-awardNational Alliance for Musical Theatre - https://namt.orgCleveland Arts Prize - https://clevelandartsprize.orgTheatrical Works Worldwide - https://www.theatricalrights.comWebsite and Socials for Angelica Cheri -www.angelicacheri.comIG - @angleicacheriFB - https://www.facebook.com/angelicacheriWebsites and socials for James Elden, Punk Monkey Productions and Playwright's SpotlightPunk Monkey Productions - www.punkmonkeyproductions.comPLAY Noir -www.playnoir.comPLAY Noir Anthology –www.punkmonkeyproductions.com/contact.htmlJames Elden -Twitter - @jameseldensauerIG - @alakardrakeFB - fb.com/jameseldensauerPunk Monkey Productions and PLAY Noir - Twitter - @punkmonkeyprods              - @playnoirla IG - @punkmonkeyprods      - @playnoir_la FB - fb.com/playnoir      - fb.com/punkmonkeyproductionsPlaywright's Spotlight -Twitter - @wrightlightpod IG - @playwrights_spotlightPlaywriting services through LACPFest - www.lacpfest.comSupport the show

In this tough economic environment, does it still make sense to invest in technology?

Amy Mackin joins Let's Talk Memoir for a conversation about the disability landscape and advocating for our children, special education and early intervention, struggling to get kids the help they need, parental guilt and shame, mom rage,  flexible education programs, balancing how we write about loved ones, changing names for privacy, showing the parts of us that are really cranky, wondering if we're getting it wrong, beginning a memoir in MFA program, using a hybrid memoir form, placing work in literary journals, trusting our intuition and voice, staying true to our own style and vision, and her new memoir Henry's Classroom: A “Special” Education in American Motherhood.   Also in this episode: -family and gender roles -feeling as if we don't fit in -conflicting feedback from agents   Books mentioned in this episode: The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion Lit by Mary Karr Mom Rage by Minna Dubin Screaming on the Inside by Jessica Grose books by Barbara Ehrenreich books by Nora Ephron   Amy Mackin writes at the intersection of education, cultural history, public health, and social equity. Her essays have been featured in The Atlantic, Chalkbeat, The Washington Post, Literary Mama, The Writers Chronicle, The Shriver Report, and elsewhere. She earned her MA in American Studies from the University of Massachusetts and her MFA in Creative Writing from Vermont College of Fine Arts. Her new memoir is Henry's Classroom: A “Special” Education in American Motherhood from Apprentice House/Loyola University Press.    Connect with Amy: Website: www.amymackin.com Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/AmyMackinWriter/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amymackin/ X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/mackinwriting Get the book: https://bookshop.org/p/books/henry-s-classroom-a-special-education-in-american-motherhood-a-memoir-amy-mackin/22134318?ean=9781627205726&next=t&affiliate=109363   – Ronit's writing has appeared in The Atlantic, The Rumpus, The New York Times, Poets & Writers, The Iowa Review, Hippocampus, The Washington Post, Writer's Digest, American Literary Review, and elsewhere. Her memoir WHEN SHE COMES BACK about the loss of her mother to the guru Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh and their eventual reconciliation was named Finalist in the 2021 Housatonic Awards Awards, the 2021 Indie Excellence Awards, and was a 2021 Book Riot Best True Crime Book. Her short story collection HOME IS A MADE-UP PLACE won Hidden River Arts' 2020 Eludia Award and the 2023 Page Turner Awards for Short Stories.  She earned an MFA in Nonfiction Writing at Pacific University, is Creative Nonfiction Editor at The Citron Review, and teaches memoir through the University of Washington's Online Continuum Program and also independently. She launched Let's Talk Memoir in 2022, lives in Seattle with her family of people and dogs, and is at work on her next book. More about Ronit: https://ronitplank.com Subscribe to Ronit's Substack: https://substack.com/@ronitplank Follow Ronit: https://www.instagram.com/ronitplank/ https://www.facebook.com/RonitPlank https://bsky.app/profile/ronitplank.bsky.social   Background photo credit: Photo by Patrick Tomasso on Unsplash Headshot photo credit: Sarah Anne Photography Theme music: Isaac Joel, Dead Moll's Fingers

Welcome to Art is Awesome, the show where we talk with an artist or art worker with a connection to the San Francisco Bay Area. In this week's Episode, Emily features a discussion with artist Pao Houa Her. Pao's exhibit, 'The Imaginative Landscape,' showcases her exploration of the Hmong community's history and culture through photography and art. The artist details her inspiration from family stories, her travels back to Laos, and her work's focus on themes like home, community, and deception. They also discuss Pao's background, including her education and achievements, and her desire to tell visual stories that resonate with the Hmong community. About Artist Pao Houa Her:Pao Houa Her was born somewhere in the northern jungles of Laos. She fled Laos with her family when she was a baby, crossed the Mekong on her mother's back, was fed opium to keep from crying, lived in the refugee camps in Thailand and landed in America on a silver metal bird in the mid 1980s. She is a visual artist in Minnesota who works within multiple genres of photography. Her received her BFA from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design and her MFA from Yale University. Visit Pao's Website:  PaoHHer.comFollow Pao on Instagram:  @PaoHouaHerFor more about Pao's Exhibit: "The Imaginitive Landscape" - San Jose Museum of Art  and John Michael Kohler Arts Center--About Podcast Host Emily Wilson:Emily a writer in San Francisco, with work in outlets including Hyperallergic, Artforum, 48 Hills, the Daily Beast, California Magazine, Latino USA, and Women's Media Center. She often writes about the arts. For years, she taught adults getting their high school diplomas at City College of San Francisco.Follow Emily on Instagram: @PureEWilFollow Art Is Awesome on Instagram: @ArtIsAwesome_Podcast--CREDITS:Art Is Awesome is Hosted, Created & Executive Produced by Emily Wilson. Theme Music "Loopster" Courtesy of Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 LicenseThe Podcast is Co-Produced, Developed & Edited by Charlene Goto of @GoToProductions. For more info, visit Go-ToProductions.com

What happens when Christian faith gets filtered through purity rings, YA fiction, and pop-punk soundtracks? In this episode, co-host Martha Tatarnic welcomes writer and journalist Joelle Kidd to discuss her new book, Jesusland. Joelle shares her experiences growing up in a conservative Christian school and how the teachings she received influenced her understanding of faith, identity, and culture. This candid conversation explores the complexities of navigating a religious upbringing marked by purity culture, shame, and the impact of Christian pop culture on personal and political landscapes. Joelle reflects on the positives and negatives of her faith journey, the importance of self-ownership, and the need for a more inclusive and compassionate Christianity. Whether you were steeped in youth group culture or always felt on the outside looking in, this episode invites reflection on the messages that shaped us, and what kind of faith might lead us forward.   Topics Covered: What “Christian pop culture” really means and how it shaped Joelle's youth The collision of capitalism, conservatism, and evangelical media How shame, purity culture, and literalist theology distort identity and faith The rise of Christian influencers, tradwives, and mega-pastor empires What the church can do differently—especially for young people today   Joelle Kidd is a writer, award-winning journalist, and editor who lives in a book-filled basement apartment in Tkaronto/Toronto. Her work has appeared in outlets such as The Walrus, This Magazine, Lit Hub, The Rumpus, and Xtra Magazine. She holds an MFA in creative writing from the University of Guelph. Jesusland is her first book.        Mentioned Resources:

Identity thieves work extra hard to trick us into giving over our personal information. But there are ways for us to implement effective tactics to safeguard our identities and stop thieves in their tracks. In this tip, we're sharing five ways to take steps you can take to make it harder for identity thieves to steal your information.  Links: Explore the identity protecting benefits of a Better Checking account IRS Taxpayer Guide to Identity Theft Check out TCU University for financial education tips and resources! Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter! Learn more about Triangle Credit Union   Transcript: Welcome to Money Tip Tuesday from the Making Money Personal podcast.   Identity theft continues to be more than just a costly headache. Fraud scams and identity theft reports continued to top the list of scams reported to the FTC in 2024. In fact, nearly 6.5 million incidents were reported to the FTC last year, and over 1 million of those incidents included an instance of identity theft. These numbers prove that while scams and identity theft continue to evolve, so do the tactics that criminals use to commit these crimes. In this tip we'll share some lesser-known steps you can take to help avoid becoming the next victim of identity theft and fraud.  Use fake answers for your security questions One simple way to add a layer of protection to your accounts is to choose wrong or nonsense answers to security questions. If at age 16, you drove a green SUV, the security answer to “What was your first car?” might be “big avocado” rather than “green Ford Explorer.” The idea is to choose an answer that only has meaning to you and cannot be easily guessed. Real answers to your security questions may have been published in the past if you have ever participated in social media quizzes, polls, and challenges. Avoid using your real information, especially information typically found in security questions, like your mother's maiden name or the name of the street you grew up on, in any situation, no matter how seemingly harmless it may seem. A moment of fun could lead to many lost hours spent repairing damage to your identity.  Opt in for multi-factor authentication When available, enable multi-factor authentication ("MFA") to your online accounts. MFA is a type of authentication that adds two or more layers of security beyond a password. If only two factors are used, it is sometimes referred to as two-factor authentication or 2FA. While passwords should always be difficult to guess, and you can work to protect the answers to your security questions, adding another step to the login process decreases the chance that a hacker can gain access to your accounts. MFA typically works by sending a verification code by SMS text, by email, or by voice to a phone number listed on your profile. You must enter the provided code before being allowed to complete the login process. MFA should always be added when available. To know whether your account provider offers MFA, you may need to investigate your online options or give the company a call to ask, as it is not always offered proactively.  File your taxes early As this IRS Taxpayer Guide to Identity Theft website states, "tax-related identity theft occurs when someone uses your stolen personal information, including your Social Security number, to file a tax return claiming a fraudulent refund." One simple way to avoid scammers getting a hold of your tax refund is to file before they do! Surprisingly, this type of fraud affects an estimated hundreds of thousands of Americans every year. Often, the scam isn't uncovered until an individual tries to file their own return and their refund is rejected because it has already been claimed. When tax season comes around, get everything in order ` and file early. This way you can both mark the chore off your list and avoid leaving your refund out there for someone else to claim.  Be smart and stay private on social media Two ways people put themselves at risk on social media are by disclosing their location and engaging with strangers. It's incredibly rare to truly need to share your location with a large group of friends and followers, yet location sharing is often an app's default setting. Some social media platforms keep location sharing on all of the time in the background, so you can always see another user's location. This allows ill-meaning individuals to access your home and work address, your travel routines, when you might be out of town, and your favorite vacation destination. Mobile location settings are often lifesavers when navigating in a new city or avoiding traffic jams, but allowing the social media universe to know where you are at all times is never necessary and can be detrimental to the security of both your identity and your possessions. While most people know to limit the information they share with those they meet online, there are still thousands of cases each year of people losing their money or identity information to a romantic interest or a new friend who wasn't who they claimed to be. Remember to keep your personal information private if you make connections online.  Routinely check your "in-app" privacy settings Occasionally, posts, articles, or notifications will remind us to review our privacy information, and for a time after doing a reassessment, our settings will remain locked down. However, sharing a public post from a business (to qualify for a prize, for instance) can reset your privacy preferences for future posts. Creating an intentionally public post, like when you have an item to sell or need to find a missing pet, can also change privacy settings on a future update that you intend to be more personal. On a regular basis, check your privacy settings in the apps where you are active, and take an extra second to check each social post before publishing to ensure that it is reaching only who you intend. Consider culling your friends list to those in your inner circle, or set most of your updates to only reach a select number of friends and family. Games and shopping apps are often checking your background in the same way to show you more relevant and personal ads. Locking down what you are sharing will help you protect your information while also using the internet to stay connected with friends and family in the way that you intend.  Add an annual task to your calendar to check in on these security measures and get started now. Also verify that your account passwords aren't reused or easy to guess (especially on banking, mortgage, and investment accounts).  And remember, if you suspect that your identity has been compromised, you have access to an Identity Theft Recovery Advocate as a benefit of your Triangle Better Checking account. These professionals are trained and ready to help you reverse the damage and get back on track quickly. They're experienced advocates who know how to spot identity theft and, when necessary, will support you through the process of repairing any damages.  If there are any other tips or topics you would like us to cover, let us know at tcupodcast@trianglecu.org. Like and follow our Making Money Personal FB and IG page and look for our sponsor, Triangle Credit Union on social media to share your thoughts.   Thanks for listening to today's Money Tip Tuesday and check out our other tips and episodes on the Making Money Personal podcast.   Have a great day! 

Nat Ward lives in Queens, NY. His work is collected by the Museum of Modern Art, the Guggenheim Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Parrish Art Museum, and the Museum of Fine Arts Houston. His previous book of photographs and poetry, Big Throat, was published by +KGP in 2020. Ward founded the collaborative photographic project space A New Nothing with Ben Alper in 2014 and has had features on his photographic work published in Aperture, Interview, Collector Daily, Photobook Journal, Photography & Culture, C4, The British Journal of Photography, Unseen, Vogue, Vogue Italia, Vice, and Juxtapoz. He has exhibited photographic and text-based installations at Nathalie Karg Gallery, New York Live Arts, Hampshire College, and The Jewish Museum. Ward has been awarded residencies and fellowships from Yaddo, The Cooper Union Professional Development Fund, the Edward F. Albee Foundation, and The Sharpe-Walentas Studio Program. His poetry and critical writing have appeared in publications from Wendy's Subway, 1080Press, The Brooklyn Review, and Beautiful Days Press. Ward's poems appear alongside photographs by Sara J. Winson and Aaron Canopy in Shades, published by Push Pull Editions (2024). Ward holds an MFA in Visual Art from Columbia University and an MFA in Poetry from Brooklyn College. https://nat-ward.com https://www.instagram.com/mrnatward/ https://powerhousebooks.com/books/ditch-montauk-new-york-11954/ This podcast is sponsored by the Charcoal Book Club Begin Building your dream photobook library today at https://charcoalbookclub.com

Planet Poet-Words in Space – NEW PODCAST!  LISTEN to my WIOX show (originally aired July l, 2025) featuring two poets of the West:  Tim Hunt and Gerald Wagoner.  Tim and Gerald will read from their work and discuss their journeys in poetry. Visit: Sharon Israel, Tim Hunt, Gerald Wagoner, Broadstone Books Tim Hunt is the author of six collections of poetry, most recently Western Where (Broadstone Books). Recognitions include the Main Street Rag Poetry Book Award for his 2018 collection Ticket Stubs & Liner Notes, six Pushcart Prize Nominations, and the Chester H. Jones National Poetry Award for “Lake County Diamond” from his first collection Fault Lines (The Backwaters Press). His critical work includes two studies of Jack Kerouac (Kerouac's Crooked Road: Development of a Fiction and The Textuality of Soulwork: Kerouac's Quest for Spontaneous Prose) and The Collected Poetry of Robinson Jeffers. Originally from the hill country of northern California, he was educated at Cornell University and concluded his teaching career at Illinois State University where he was University Professor of English. He and his wife, Susan, live in Normal, Illinois. Gerald Wagoner is the author of When Nothing Wild Remains, (Broadstone Books,September 2023), and A Month of Someday, (Indolent Books, March 2023) . Gerald's childhood was divided between Eastern Oregon and Montana where he was raised under the doctrine of benign neglect. With a BA in Creative Writing from the University of Montana, Gerald pursued the art of sculpture, and left the Northwest to study with Richard Stankiewicz. In 1982, after earning an MFA in sculpture, Gerald moved to Brooklyn, NY In New York Gerald exhibited regularly, then taught Art and English for the NYC Department of Education until 2017, at which time he choose to pursue the art of poetry. Selected Publications: Beltway Quarterly, BigCityLit, Blue Mountain Review, Cathexis Northwest Press, Night Heron Barks, Ocotillo Review, Right Hand Pointing, Misfits, Maryland Literary Review, Burningword, The Umbrella Factory, Bangalore Review. Praise for Tim Hunt and Gerald Wagoner  Tim Hunt's elegy for a vanished America, Western Where, takes us on an evocative road trip where we discover the last picture show, a played-out silver mine, a hand-me-down fiddle, silver-screen cowboys, and more. His wistful word paintings leave us yearning.—Holly George-Warren, author of Janis: Her Life and Music & Public Cowboy #1: The Life and Times of Gene AutryGerald Wagoner is a poet of uncanny particulars: “The child, as man, remembers the tang and texture of warm / summer apricots picked from / a tree that was never there.” The poems in When Nothing Wild Remains are “on speaking terms with the wind,” rich in imagery of a rural America he knows intimately....Wagoner's graphic poetry is cinematic and sobering in its frank depictions of what's missing, the wildness of a remembered past as seen in the light of an ongoing present.—Elaine Sexton, author of Drive

Even the age of automation and artificial intelligence, businesses still need good people to serve customers.

In this episode of 'Cybersecurity Today,' host David Chipley discusses several major security incidents and threats. Hamilton, Ontario faces a $5 million insurance denial following a ransomware attack due to incomplete deployment of Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA). The episode also highlights a severe vulnerability, CVE-2025-54135, in the AI-powered Code Editor 'Cursor', which could allow prompt injection attacks. Further topics include a new ransomware attack exploiting Microsoft SharePoint vulnerabilities investigated by Palo Alto Networks, and a campaign leveraging fake OAuth apps to compromise Microsoft 365 accounts. The episode underscores the importance of robust security measures, emphasizing MFA, OAuth hygiene, and prompt patching. 00:00 Introduction and Headlines 00:38 Hamilton's Ransomware Attack and Insurance Denial 02:52 AI-Powered Code Editor Vulnerability 04:57 Palo Alto Networks Investigates SharePoint Exploitation 06:51 Fake OAuth Apps and Microsoft 365 Breaches 08:48 Conclusion and Upcoming Events

In this candid and moving conversation, host Javier Proenza sits down with Los Angeles-based artist Dena Novak, whose sculptural paintings and ceramics challenge the rigid codes of minimalism through what she calls “aggressive feminism.” Drawing from a rich personal archive of experience—one shaped by Orthodox Judaism, motherhood, neurodivergence, and trauma—Novak's work reimagines historically male-dominated art historical tropes with unapologetic sensuality and material intensity. A recent recipient of the Simon Gad Foundation Award and an MFA candidate at Otis College of Art and Design, Novak shares how a life-altering diagnosis of autism at age 50 reshaped her understanding of herself, her past, and her artistic practice. Her tactile impasto paintings, often described as “candy-colored” and “irresistibly edible,” subvert the pristine aesthetic of artists like John McCracken, replacing “fetish finish” with riotous layers of piped oil paint. As she explains, “The first response people say when they see my work is, ‘I want to touch it. I want to smell it. I want to eat it.'” The conversation traces Novak's evolution from a punk activist in Chicago to a ceramicist “boxing with Pollock,” and unpacks her years spent in Orthodox communities in Israel and Los Angeles, where gendered restrictions collided with a creative urgency that could not be contained. Today, her practice is a full-throated reclamation of space—for herself, for disabled artists, and for queer, neurodivergent joy. Upcoming exhibitions include her MFA thesis show at Otis College (September 2025) and a group exhibition will support the Simon Gad Foundation's work with disabled artists. Explore more:

Stories aren't just entertainment - they're how we make sense of who we are, what we value, and where we're headed. In this episode, writer and professor Sean Gaffney invites us to see story as a sacred thread woven through culture, theology, and discipleship. We talk about the shape of the meta story that undergirds all great narratives, how stories can form us spiritually, and why even blockbuster films can point us toward God. From the pitfalls of message-driven Christian media to the redemptive echoes in Marvel movies, this conversation is an invitation to engage story with both discernment and wonder.Sean Gaffney has authored thirty produced plays, three feature films, four commissioned television pilots, two published chapter books, as well as over two hundred produced videos, animation projects, YouTube series episodes and short films (including for Big Idea and SuperBook). Other publications include contributing to Bigger on the Inside: Christianity and Doctor Who, It Was Good: Performing Arts to the Glory of God, and The Routledge Handbook of the Bible and Film . He was the Story Administrator for Warner Bros. Features, editor of Drama Ministry Magazine, the Managing Director of Taproot Theatre (Seattle) and General Manager of Lamb's Theatre Company (New York). Gaffney currently is a Professor in Media Communication and Screenwriting at Asbury University, as well as Associate Dean of the School of Communication Arts. He received his BFA from Drake University, his MFA from Columbia University, and studied with Act One: Writing for Hollywood. He released a new book on the intersection of scriptwriting and theology: Meta Story: What Marvel & the Messiah Can Teach Us about Great Storytelling. More information at www.gaffneyinkwell.com and IMDb.Sean's Book:Meta StorySean's Recommendation:The God of StorySubscribe to Our Substack: Shifting CultureConnect with Joshua: jjohnson@allnations.usGo to www.shiftingculturepodcast.com to interact and donate. Every donation helps to produce more podcasts for you to enjoy.Follow on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Threads, Bluesky or YouTubeConsider Giving to the podcast and to the ministry that my wife and I do around the world. Just click on the support the show link belowSubscribe today at shiftingculture.substack.com for early, ad-free episodes and more! Support the show

As agriculture evolves, so do the tools that help farmers and ag retailers manage their businesses more easily.

Storm Humbert is a science fiction and fantasy writer from a small town called Fayette (literally a one stoplight town) in northwest Ohio near the Michigan border. He did his undergraduate studies at The Ohio State University, where he earned a degree in English literature with minors in creative writing and theater. For two years after he finished his bachelor's degree, Storm worked odd jobs ranging from newspaper editing to creating animated digital advertisements (and basically anything in between). Storm later earned an MFA from Temple University in Philadelphia, where he had the opportunity to study under Samuel R. Delany, Don Lee, and other great instructors. He has taught a variety of writing classes at Temple University and Sienna Heights University in Adrian, Michigan. He currently lives in Michigan with his wife, Casey, son, Sylas, and cats: Chicken Nugget (Nugget for short) and Honey Mustard, and is a professional legal writer, while he continues his own writing. In addition to his own writing, Storm is also the Managing Member of the Calendar of Fools small press (found here). Their first anthology, “Inner Workings” released in 2023, and their second, “Intergalactic Rejects,” which Storm edited, was released in June 2025. Both are available anywhere books are sold. Additionally, Storm was a Silver Honorable Mention in The Writers of the Future Contest in 2016 and a finalist in the same contest in 2018. In the Third Quarter of the 2019 Writers of the Future Contest, Storm won Third Place with his “Stolen Sky”. Danny Hankner began penning stories about himself and his idiot friends as a teenager. Now, masquerading as an adult, he lives in Davenport, Iowa with his wife and kids, working as a master electrician for his own company. In his spare time, Dan rides and builds mountain bike trails, scrapes infinitely spawning cat hurl off the basement floor, and runs Story Unlikely, an award-winning literary magazine where he floats around self-important titles like Benevolent Dictator and Literary Spirit Guide. His written material has been consumed by hundreds of thousands of people from all four corners of the globe.

Gloria Blizzard is an award-winning writer and poet, and a Black Canadian woman of multiple heritages. She holds an MFA from the University of King's College. Her work explores spaces where music, dance, spirit, and culture collide. Her work has won the Malahat Review Creative Nonfiction Prize and has been nominated for the Pushcart prize. Her essays, reviews, and poems have been published by the CBC, The Globe and Mail, The Humber Review, Wasafiri International Contemporary Writing, and World Literature Today. Her first book of essays, called Black Cake, Turtle Soup, and Other Dilemmas, was released by Dundurn Press in 2024. Gloria lives in Toronto, and she dances daily.Instagram @gloriawritesBluesky ‪@gloriablizzard.bsky.socialWebsite: www.gloriablizzard.comLinks to buy: https://linktr.ee/blackcaketurtlesoupSubstack newsletter: https://carnivalesque.substack.com/

Echolocation is a road trip musical in the dark. A teenage love story without a map. Echolocation is a musical performed in pitch blackness.Ethan and Sadie are best friends, but they have little else in common. He's serious, she's goofy. He works after-school jobs, she has a rooftop hot tub. He's sighted, and she's completely blind. One thing they share is that they're totally sick of life in safe, suburban Las Vegas. And so, to enjoy a last gasp of freedom before their SAT scores come back, they lie to their parents and set off on a secret road trip up to Yellowstone National Park – going on some unexpected misadventures along the way. Featuring skinny-dipping, wacky science, an environmentalist twist and a fizzing score, Echolocation is a podcast musical about Gen Z friendship, love, and disability. Eliza Randall is a composer, pianist, and music director from Boulder City, NV, currently based in New York City. She began playing the piano and composing music when she was six years old and has been hooked ever since!Her short musical THE YELLOW WALLPAPER, written with Sam Norman, was a finalist for the Mazumdar Short Play Prize and has been performed all over the country by Harp Theatricals, Irvington Theatre, Alleyway Theatre, and Blank Conversations. Her new musical THE DEBUTANTES was recently workshopped and performed at the 2022 Leeds Conservatoire Musical Workshop. Eliza's various other stand-alone compositions have been showcased at the Broadway Future Songbook at Lincoln Center, the Rattlestick Playwrights Theatre off-Broadway, and the Hackney Empire (nominated for the 2021 Stiles and Drewe Best New Song Prize). As a music director, Eliza especially loves directing new works, and most recently she has been MD/Keys 1 for multiple shows at Pace University, NYU's New Studio on Broadway, Dixon Place, the Scranton Fringe, and the Two Rivers Theatre with Joe Iconis and Sara Schlesinger. Education: BM in Piano Performance from BYU, MFA in Musical Theatre Writing from NYU Tisch.Hi, I'm Sam — an award-winning (but more often award-losing) rhymester who bounces between the UK and US.I mostly write lyrics and libretti for musicals and operas. Sometimes I write screenplays and light verse.Recently… Echolocation (winner of the 2025 MTI Stiles & Drewe Mentorship Award), The Shadow, Come Dine With Me: The Musical.You might have seen my work produced and/or developed off-West End, off-Broadway and regionally, at venues including the Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, Turbine Theatre, Rattlestick Playwrights Theater, and the Edinburgh Fringe.I'm currently a Resident Artist at the American Lyric Theater. In the past I've been a Johnny Mercer Foundation Songwriter, an American Opera Initiative Fellow, a winner of the Stephen Spender Prize for Poetry in Translation, a Lincoln Center Broadway Future Songbook writer and a three-time finalist for the Stiles & Drewe Best New Song Prize. I'm a proud member of Mercury Musical Developments, the BMI Musical Theatre Librettists Workshop and the Dramatists Guild.

Today, we're diving into a condition that's as fascinating as it is complex: Achalasia—where the esophagus stops playing nice, and swallowing becomes a daily challenge. We're breaking down the latest evidence, comparing POEM, pneumatic dilation, and Heller myotomy, and digging into what actually matters when deciding how to treat each achalasia subtype. Join show hosts Drs. Jake Greenberg, Dana Portenier, Zach Weitzner, and Joey Lew as they discuss the past, present, and future of Achalasia management. Whether you're a medical student or a seasoned attending, this episode will arm you with the tools to think critically about diagnosis, tailor your treatment strategy, and stay ahead of the curve on the future of achalasia care. Hosts:  ·      Jacob Greenberg, MD, EdM, MIS Division Chief and Vice Chair for Education, Duke University ·      Dana Portenier, MD, MIS Fellowship Director, Duke University ·      Zachary Weitzner, MD, Minimally Invasive and Bariatric Surgery Fellow, Duke University, @ZachWeitznerMD ·      Joey Lew, MD, MFA, Surgical resident PGY-3, Duke University, @lew__actually Learning Goals:  By the end of this episode, listeners will be able to: ·      Describe the pathophysiology and key diagnostic criteria for achalasia, including the role of manometry, EGD, and esophagram. ·      Differentiate between the three subtypes of achalasia based on the Chicago Classification and understand the clinical significance of each. ·      Compare treatment options for achalasia—pneumatic dilation, Lap Heller myotomy, and POEM—including indications, efficacy, and long-term outcomes. ·      Interpret landmark studies (e.g., European Achalasia Trial, JAMA POEM trial) and their impact on treatment decision-making. ·      Recognize patient-specific factors (age, comorbidities, achalasia subtype) that influence the choice of therapy. ·      Discuss evolving technologies and future directions in achalasia management, including endoluminal robotics, ARMS, and combined anti-reflux strategies. ·      Outline a basic treatment algorithm for newly diagnosed achalasia, incorporating diagnostic steps and tailored interventions. ·      Appreciate the multidisciplinary approach to achalasia care, including the roles of MIS surgeons, gastroenterologists, and emerging procedural skillsets. References: ·      Boeckxstaens G, Elsen S, Belmans A, Annese V, Bredenoord AJ, Busch OR, Costantini M, Fumagalli U, Smout AJPM, Tack J, Vanuytsel T, Zaninotto G, Salvador R; European Achalasia Trial Investigators. 10‑year follow-up results of the European Achalasia Trial: a multicentre randomised controlled trial comparing pneumatic dilation with laparoscopic Heller myotomy. Gut. 2024 Mar;73(4):582‑589. doi: 10.1136/gutjnl‑2023‑331374. PMID: 38050085 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38050085/ ·      He J, Yin Y, Tang W, Jiang J, Gu L, Yi J, Yan L, Chen S, Wu Y, Liu X. Objective Outcomes of an Extended Anti‑reflux Mucosectomy in the Treatment of PPI‑Dependent Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (with Video). J Gastrointest Surg. 2022 Aug;26(8):1566–1574. doi:10.1007/s11605‑022‑05396‑9. PMID: 35776296 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35776296/ ·      Modayil RJ, Zhang X, Rothberg B, et al. Peroral endoscopic myotomy: 10-year outcomes from a large, single-center U.S. series with high follow-up completion and comprehensive analysis of long-term efficacy, safety, objective GERD, and endoscopic functional luminal assessment. Gastrointest Endosc. 2021;94(5):930-942. doi:10.1016/j.gie.2021.05.014. PMID: 33989646. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33989646/ ·      Ponds FA, Fockens P, Lei A, Neuhaus H, Beyna T, Kandler J, Frieling T, Chiu PWY, Wu JCY, Wong VWY, Costamagna G, Familiari P, Kahrilas PJ, Pandolfino JE, Smout AJPM, Bredenoord AJ. Effect of peroral endoscopic myotomy vs pneumatic dilation on symptom severity and treatment outcomes among treatment-naive patients with achalasia: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA. 2019 Jul 9;322(2):134–144. doi:10.1001/jama.2019.8859. PMID: 31287522. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31287522/ ·      Vaezi MF, Pandolfino JE, Yadlapati RH, Greer KB, Kavitt RT; ACG Clinical Guidelines Committee. ACG clinical guidelines: Diagnosis and management of achalasia. Am J Gastroenterol. 2020 Sep;115(9):1393–1411. doi:10.14309/ajg.0000000000000731. PMID: 32773454; PMCID: PMC9896940 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32773454/ ·      West RL, Hirsch DP, Bartelsman JF, de Borst J, Ferwerda G, Tytgat GN, Boeckxstaens GE. Long term results of pneumatic dilation in achalasia followed for more than 5 years. Am J Gastroenterol. 2002;97(6):1346-1351. doi:10.1111/j.1572-0241.2002.05771.x. PMID:12094848. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12094848/ Please visit https://behindtheknife.org to access other high-yield surgical education podcasts, videos and more.   If you liked this episode, check out our recent episodes here: https://app.behindtheknife.org/listen

Episode 485 / Estefania Velez RodriguezEstefania Velez Rodriguez is an artist born in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. She received her BFA from the University of South Florida (painting)and her MFA from Brooklyn College (painting).Solo shows: Auxiliary Projects (brooklyn), Praxis Gallery (chelsea), Fordham University (midtown), Other notable shows (group shows): Marc Strauss (Manhattan), Elizabeth Foundation for the arts (manhattan), Field of Play (brooklyn), Below Grand (manhattan), Soil Gallery (seattle), University of Arkansas, Cuntshaus (tampa), Queens College, Norte Maar (brooklyn), Paradise Palace, Praxis Gallery (manhattan), Art Fair Miami (during basel, satellite location fair).She's participated in residencies at: Hidrante (puerto rico), Ucross (Wyoming), Goldeyhouse (New York), and the Vermont Studio Center. Mural Project with Norte Maar Organization & more. Her work has been covered by:Two Coats of Paint , Brooklyn Rail, Revista Marvin (mexico), Art as Form, Epicenter NYC, Centro Puerto Rico (Hunter college center for puerto rican studies artists spotlight and book cover), I like your work podcast, and Interlocutor magazine. She has taught at:Rutgers University, Pratt Institute, and Montclair State University. She has a current Group Exhibition at Marc Straus Gallery (Lower East side location), "Past Tense / Future Perfect" up until August 8th. 

Natasha Williams joins Let's Talk Memoir for a conversation about caring for her schizophrenic father and the jeopardy of being in his life, narcissism and her mother's limited parenting resources, handling misbehaving parents and reckoning with the toll they took on her childhood, precocious and feral kids, getting clarity on family through writing, re-understanding childhood stories and our parents' stories, finding an entry point to our narrative, balancing the character and narrator in memoir, beta readers, staying in relationship with loved ones living with mental illness, and her new memoir The Parts of Him I Kept: The Gifts of My Father's Madness.   Also in this episode: -setting boundaries -the heritability of mental illness -checking in with our kids before writing about them   Books mentioned in this episode: The Men We Reaped by Jesmyn Ward Hurry Down Sunshine by Michael Greenberg We the Animals by Justin Torres   Author Bio- Natasha Williams has worked as an adjunct biology professor at SUNY Ulster in the Hudson Valley of New York and as a consultant for the International Public-School Network, coaching science teachers. She has an MA from the University of Pennsylvania. In the summer of 2020, she continued working on the manuscript summers at the Bread Loaf School of English and at the Bread Loaf Writers Conference in 2023. Excerpts of The Parts of Him I Kept, forthcoming April 2025 from Apprentice House Press, have been published in the Bread Loaf Journal, Change Seven, LIT, Memoir Magazine, Onion River Review, Writers Read, Post Road, and South Dakota Review. Connect with Natasha: Website: Natashawilliamswriter.com Get the book: https://www.natashawilliamswriter.com/memoir/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natasha-williams-5998949/ X: https://x.com/NatashaW_writes – Ronit's writing has appeared in The Atlantic, The Rumpus, The New York Times, Poets & Writers, The Iowa Review, Hippocampus, The Washington Post, Writer's Digest, American Literary Review, and elsewhere. Her memoir WHEN SHE COMES BACK about the loss of her mother to the guru Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh and their eventual reconciliation was named Finalist in the 2021 Housatonic Awards Awards, the 2021 Indie Excellence Awards, and was a 2021 Book Riot Best True Crime Book. Her short story collection HOME IS A MADE-UP PLACE won Hidden River Arts' 2020 Eludia Award and the 2023 Page Turner Awards for Short Stories.  She earned an MFA in Nonfiction Writing at Pacific University, is Creative Nonfiction Editor at The Citron Review, and teaches memoir through the University of Washington's Online Continuum Program and also independently. She launched Let's Talk Memoir in 2022, lives in Seattle with her family of people and dogs, and is at work on her next book. More about Ronit: https://ronitplank.com Subscribe to Ronit's Substack: https://substack.com/@ronitplank Follow Ronit: https://www.instagram.com/ronitplank/ https://www.facebook.com/RonitPlank https://bsky.app/profile/ronitplank.bsky.social   Background photo credit: Photo by Patrick Tomasso on Unsplash Headshot photo credit: Sarah Anne Photography Theme music: Isaac Joel, Dead Moll's Fingers

This episode was produced in partnership With AgVend: https://www.agvend.com/MFA, Inc: https://mfa-inc.com/ FoA 269: [Tech-Enabled Advisor Series] Cooperatives Embrace Digital Tools with KC Graner of Central Farm ServiceI'm bringing back the Tech-Enabled Advisor Series to better understand agtech through the lens of the BUYER of that technology rather than just the entrepreneurs or investors. By talking to the buyers rather than the sellers of the tech, we got an unfiltered introduction to the technology and more importantly got to see how its used and the VALUE that it provides users. To do this, I partner with a company and together we invite one of their customers onto the show. The catch is that they're not allowed to script these individuals or dictate what to say or edit it after it is recorded - it has to be real and unfiltered. So today's episode featuring Jason Weirich of MFA was produced in partnership with AgVend. Since launching their first platform in 2020, AgVend's technology is used by more than 35% of the North American ag retail market. Today you'll hear how one of those retailers, MFA, launched a digital platform called MFA Connect with AgVend.Jason Weirich is the executive vice president of operations at MFA, which has around 45,000 member owners. They are one of the largest ag retailers in the country, consistently in the top 10 of the CropLife 100. Jason oversees the retail operations located throughout Missouri and surrounding states including Southern IA, Eastern KS, Northeast AR and Northwest Oklahoma. He also oversees the wholesale operations which span the entire midwest from the rocky mountains to Ohio. Prior to joining MFA 15 years ago, Jason was the state extension weed specialist with the University of Missouri. He joined the cooperative as the director of agronomy and says he walked a lot of fields for nine years before eventually moving into his current role. Our conversation today touches on the the relevance of the cooperative model, how he's making difficult decisions in this tough farm economy, why they implemented MFA Connect and the results they are seeing from this digital platform and customer portal, the role of the ag retailer in the changing farmer demographic, and how he goes about implementing change in a big industry and a large organization. About AgVend:AgVend is the leading provider of digital enablement solutions that transform the way agribusinesses operate their organizations and engage with their customers. AgVend's white-labeled system of action streamlines workflows from field to office, enabling frontline teams to offer more efficient and differentiated customer interactions. Since launching their first platform in 2020, AgVend's technology is used by more than 35% of the North American ag retail market.

The NightSide News Update features information and expertise from local and global innovators and leaders. Listen in as Dan speaks with: Charles Liao, Director-General of Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Boston, about U.S.-Taiwan relations and U.S.-China dynamics.Christina Keim, M Ed, MFA, award-winning equestrian journalist and author of “Unwanted: The Causes and Effects of America's Horse Population Crisis.”  Every year, tens of thousands of horses (racehorses past their prime, foals who didn't meet expectations, elderly Amish cart horses, and backyard companions) become “unwanted.” Keim takes readers to the front lines of the crisis.  Mary Bach, AARP Pennsylvania Volunteer and Chair of the Consumer Issues Task Force, on why scammers want your resume and how they get them! Krissie Kelleher, the new CEO of the Boston nonprofit Team IMPACT, about the work of Team IMPACT that matches children facing serious illness and disability with college sports teams, creating a long-term, life-changing experience for everyone involved.You can hear NightSide with Dan Rea, Live! Weeknights From 8PM-12AM on WBZ - Boston's News Radio.

Ed Latimore joins Let's Talk Memoir for a conversation about growing up in an urban warzone and surviving domestic violence, poverty, and limited resources, life in the boxing ring, writing about alcoholism and sobriety, building up the muscle of sharing and being vulnerable, when an agent tells you your approach to your book is all wrong, giving ourselves time to process, sharing our stories to help others, rebalancing the cosmic scales, the difference between gratitude and entitlement, coping with resentment, betting on ourselves, risking ostracism, using our life to teach, forgiving ourselves and forgiving others, and his new memoir Hard Lessons from the Hurt Business: Boxing and the Art of Life.   Also in this episode: -building platforms -making new connection with our connections  -embracing new version of ourselves   Books mentioned in this episode: Can't Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds by David Goggins The Art of Learning by Josh Whiteskin Travels by Michael Crichton   Ed Latimore is an author, former professional American heavyweight boxer, competitive chess player, and the founder of Stoic Street-Smarts. He holds a degree in physics and is a veteran of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard. He lives and works in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Connect with Ed: Website: edlatimore.com X: https://x.com/edlatimore Instagram: https://instagram.com/edlatimoore Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edlatimore/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@EdLatimore1   – Ronit's writing has appeared in The Atlantic, The Rumpus, The New York Times, Poets & Writers, The Iowa Review, Hippocampus, The Washington Post, Writer's Digest, American Literary Review, and elsewhere. Her memoir WHEN SHE COMES BACK about the loss of her mother to the guru Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh and their eventual reconciliation was named Finalist in the 2021 Housatonic Awards Awards, the 2021 Indie Excellence Awards, and was a 2021 Book Riot Best True Crime Book. Her short story collection HOME IS A MADE-UP PLACE won Hidden River Arts' 2020 Eludia Award and the 2023 Page Turner Awards for Short Stories.  She earned an MFA in Nonfiction Writing at Pacific University, is Creative Nonfiction Editor at The Citron Review, and teaches memoir through the University of Washington's Online Continuum Program and also independently. She launched Let's Talk Memoir in 2022, lives in Seattle with her family of people and dogs, and is at work on her next book. More about Ronit: https://ronitplank.com Subscribe to Ronit's Substack: https://substack.com/@ronitplank Follow Ronit: https://www.instagram.com/ronitplank/ https://www.facebook.com/RonitPlank https://bsky.app/profile/ronitplank.bsky.social   Background photo credit: Photo by Patrick Tomasso on Unsplash Headshot photo credit: Sarah Anne Photography Theme music: Isaac Joel, Dead Moll's Fingers

Aaron Bartz brings a grounded, thoughtful energy to the role of Draco Malfoy in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, and in this conversation, he shares just how much life and imagination go into keeping the magic alive night after night. From flying and fire to illusions and high-stakes contingencies, Aaron walks us through what it's like to debut on Broadway in one of the most technically demanding plays out there—and why so many actors in the production come from classical Shakespeare backgrounds. We also explore Aaron's journey from Great Falls, Montana to the Lyric Theatre in NYC, including a pivotal classroom moment that set him on the path to acting, and how a love of storytelling (and a little persistence) helped him land gigs that ultimately led to an MFA from Yale. Now a father of two, Aaron reflects on how playing Draco as a parent has shifted his own understanding of growth, vulnerability, and legacy. Aaron Bartz is an actor and writer currently starring as Draco Malfoy in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child on Broadway. He earned his MFA from the Yale School of Drama and began his career with regional Shakespeare productions across the country. He toured nationally with the Montana Repertory Theatre in To Kill a Mockingbird, and his previous work includes Loves Labour's Lost, Macbeth, and other classical works. This episode is brought to you by WelcomeToTimesSquare.com, the billboard where you can be a star for a day. Connect with Aaron: Instagram: @aaronbartz Connect with The Theatre Podcast: Support the podcast on Patreon and watch video versions of the episodes: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon.com/TheTheatrePodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Twitter & Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@theatre_podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook.com/OfficialTheatrePodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TheTheatrePodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Alan's personal Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@alanseales⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email me at feedback@thetheatrepodcast.com. I want to know what you think. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the season finale of Gays Reading, host Jason Blitman reconnects with author and former college classmate J.R. Dawson to discuss her new novel, The Lighthouse at the Edge of the World. Their conversation explores the book's themes of grief, memory, and navigating life's inevitable transitions—while also diving into debates about ketchup, Chicago-style pizza, and music in their first chat in fifteen years. Later, Jason welcomes Guest Gay Reader Jonathan Capehart, the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author of Yet Here I Am, who opens up about his lifelong relationship with books and reading.J.R. Dawson (she/they) is the Golden Crown award-winning author of The First Bright Thing. Her shorter works can be found in places such as F&SF, Lightspeed, and Rich Horton's Year's Best. Dawson currently lives in Minnesota with her loving wife. She teaches at Drexel University's MFA program for Creative Writing, and fills her free time with keeping her three chaotic dogs out of trouble.Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Jonathan Capehart is a co-host of the morning edition of The Weekend on MSNBC. From 2020 until 2025, he was anchor of The Saturday Show and The Sunday Show on MSNBC. Capehart is Associate Editor at the Washington Post, where he is also an opinion writer. He is also an analyst on The PBS News Hour. Capehart was deputy editorial page editor of the New York Daily News (2002-2004) and served on its editorial board (1993-2000). His editorial campaign in 1999 to save the Apollo Theater earned the board the Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Writing. His memoir Yet Here I Am was published in May 2025.BOOK CLUB!Sign up for the Gays Reading Book Club HERE August Book: No Body No Crime by Nicci Cloke SUBSTACK!https://gaysreading.substack.com/ MERCH!http://gaysreading.printful.me WATCH!https://youtube.com/@gaysreading FOLLOW!Instagram: @gaysreading | @jasonblitmanBluesky: @gaysreading | @jasonblitmanCONTACT!hello@gaysreading.com

On this episode, Sam Herschel Wein tells Jared about their path to finding poetry outside of academia, co-founding and editing Underblong, and their approach to collaboration and humor in their writing. Plus, they discuss the nuances of MFA program decisions (Two or three years? English or Art departments?) and whether creative writing should live within institutions of higher education at all.Sam Herschel Wein (he/they) is a lollygagging plum of a poet who specializes in perpetual frolicking. They have an MFA from the University of Tennessee (2021-2023) and were the recipient of a 2022 Pushcart Prize. They have published 3 chapbooks, most recently Butt Stuff Flower Bush from Porkbelly Press, and are the co-founder and editor of Underblong Journal. They have recent work in American Poetry Review, The Cincinnati Review, and Gulf Coast, among others. Find them on social media @samforbreakfast and at their website, samherschelwein.com.MFA Writers is hosted by Jared McCormack and produced by Jared McCormack and Hanamori Skoblow. New episodes are released every two weeks. You can find more MFA Writers at MFAwriters.com.BE PART OF THE SHOWDonate to the show at Buy Me a Coffee.Leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts.Submit an episode request. If there's a program you'd like to learn more about, contact us and we'll do our very best to find a guest who can speak to their experience.Apply to be a guest on the show by filling out our application.STAY CONNECTEDTwitter: @MFAwriterspodInstagram: @MFAwriterspodcastFacebook: MFA WritersEmail: mfawriterspodcast@gmail.com

391 Stories and Connection It is vital to our own communities that we remember our stories and share them with one another, not to dwell on regrets and what ifs, but to reach out and connect with one another so that we all can learn and grow together, and hopefully create more grand stories on the paths we walk together. In this revisited episode, Sarah Elkins and Lee Keylock discuss their own stories and how they have healed through sharing stories and listening to the stories that others share with us.   Highlights Connecting with people through sharing stories. Healing from trauma through stories and the community that sharing those stories creates. The changing paths our decisions create and how we should live in the moment and not dwell on what ifs. Greet the world and the challenges offered with open minds and a willingness to learn.   Quotes “No regrets. Life is sliding doors right? If it's meant to be, it's meant to be.” “We're perpetual students, right? I've never approached anything I've ever done as an authority on anything.” “It's not enough to just hear stories. That can be brilliant and beautiful and life changing and you can have those moments, but when we work with youth we want them to think about how they can use stories to think about themselves, their communities, and the world and their place in it, and how they can become agents of change.”   About Lee Lee Keylock is Director of Global Programs at Narrative 4 and oversees the coordination and administration of all aspects of N4's ongoing programmatic development. Originally from Britain, Lee immigrated to the United States in 1989 and taught English at Newtown High School in Connecticut for thirteen years. He has served as an adjunct professor teaching Creative Writing and Composition at Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven, where he also earned his MFA in Creative Writing.  Connect with Lee on LinkedIn, Facebook, or Instagram! And make sure you check out his website Narrative 4!   About Sarah "Uncovering the right stories for the right audiences so executives, leaders, public speakers, and job seekers can clearly and actively demonstrate their character, values, and vision." In my work with coaching clients, I guide people to improve their communication using storytelling as the foundation of our work together. What I've realized over years of coaching and podcasting is that the majority of people don't realize the impact of the stories they share - on their internal messages, and on the people they're sharing them with. My work with leaders and people who aspire to be leaders follows a similar path to the interviews on my podcast, uncovering pivotal moments in their lives and learning how to share them to connect more authentically with others, to make their presentations and speaking more engaging, to reveal patterns that have kept them stuck or moved them forward, and to improve their relationships at work and at home. The audiobook, Your Stories Don't Define You, How You Tell Them Will is now available! Included with your purchase are two bonus tracks, songs recorded by Sarah's band, Spare Change, in her living room in Montana. Be sure to check out the Storytelling For Professionals Course as well to make sure you nail that next interview!

Ivy Pochoda is the author of the critically-acclaimed novels Visitation Street, These Women, Sing Her Down, and the just-published Ecstasy, a reimagined contemporary feminist horror story hailed by the Washington Post as a “stiletto-sharp remake of Euripides.”  She is also the co-author of The New York Times best-selling middle-grade Epoca fantasy series, created by the late basketball legend Kobe Bryant and written under the name Ivy Claire. Her books have been awarded the L.A. Times Book Prize, the 2018 Strand Critics Award for Best Novel and the Prix Page America in France, and she has been a finalist for the prestigious Edgar Award. A former collegiate and professional squash player, Ivy has led a creative writing workshop in Skid Row, Los Angeles, and is currently a professor of creative writing at the University of California Riverside-Palm Desert low-residency MFA program.  Writing fiction and playing squash are a lot alike, she says. “Both teach self-reliance and self-motivation. And both practice deception.” Learn more about Ivy Pochoda: Website Facebook Twitter Pochoda's appearance on Writer's Bone Please support the sponsors who support our show: Gotham Ghostwriters' Gathering of the Ghosts Ritani Jewelers Daniel Paisner's Balloon Dog Daniel Paisner's SHOW: The Making and Unmaking of a Network Television Pilot Heaven Help Us by John Kasich Unforgiving: Lessons from the Fall by Lindsey Jacobellis Film Movement Plus (PODCAST) | 30% discount Libro.fm (ASTOLDTO) | 2 audiobooks for the price of 1 when you start your membership Film Freaks Forever! podcast, hosted by Mark Jordan Legan and Phoef Sutton Everyday Shakespeare podcast A Mighty Blaze podcast The Writer's Bone Podcast Network Misfits Market (WRITERSBONE) | $15 off your first order  Film Movement Plus (PODCAST) | 30% discount Wizard Pins (WRITERSBONE) | 20% discount

In our first story, Mark Schoenfeld dives into a captivating story of a college sophomore’s unexpected adventure abroad, from a covert mission to buy bootleg DVDs to an even more clandestine identity as an undercover evangelical Christian missionary. What happens when a spontaneous prank involving a Matt Damon look-alike turns serious, forcing a confrontation with an organization that calls itself “the company” and challenges the very meaning of faith? Mark calls his story “What Would Jed Do?” photo by kmr studios Mark Schoenfeld has been a lot of things: a window washer, a screen printer, a public radio host, a middle school teacher, and an adjunct professor to name a few. One thing he’s always been is a writer—of stories, songs, and poems—which led him to earn his MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Montana. A disgruntled Texan, Mark and his family now call western Montana home. His work has appeared in print, online, and on-air, which you can find at markscho.com In our next story, join Tess Sneeringer, a high school junior on Halloween night 2009, as she navigates an exclusive party, a ninja-clad twin brother, and a sudden police raid that turns into a chaotic scramble for escape. What happens when a misplaced car and a nosy Officer Becky make this unpopular attendee the unlikely culprit for the entire bust? Tess calls her story “A Chance to be Popular”. Thanks for listening. photo by kmr studios Tess Sneeringer has lived in Missoula for six years and landed here after spending the first half of her twenties as an outdoor educator across the American West, far away from her childhood home in Washington, DC. Telling a story for Tell Us Something became a Missoula bucket list item after she saw her first show in 2019. So she told a story in 2021. But then she stayed in Missoula longer than she thought she would so figured she'd do it again. Her first appearance featured a survival story set in the Utah desert, and she's back on this episode of the podcast with another survival tale – this time of high school social life. In our next story, Kelley Provost shares her raw and honest journey of self-acceptance and defiance, beginning with a lifelong struggle against body image that culminates in a breast reduction. But just as newfound confidence blossoms on a dream European vacation, a phone call in London’s West End, moments before The Lion King, delivers a life-altering diagnosis that changes everything. Kelley calls her story “Careful Whatchya Wish For”. Thanks for listening. photo by kmr studios Kelley Provost Kelley Provost  is a survivor, a thriver, a liver, and a lover. She loves Duran Duran, fashion, laughing, and dancing. Watching people be proud of themselves is her favorite thing ever. Her goal is to create a community of people who love themselves so much that they inspire others to do the same. A life coach, a life lover, a life LIVER. Closing out this episode of the Tell Us Something podcast, Jeff Ducklow embarks on an “adventure wish”. A seminary graduate turned sea kayak guide, Jeff recounts the incredibly dangerous decision to paddle toward and touch a Tidewater glacier in Alaska. What began as a bold pursuit of a memorable death could quickly become a fight for survival against one of nature’s most unpredictable forces. Jeff calls his story “A Terrible Idea”. Thanks for listening. photo by kmr studios Jeff Ducklow has always loved nature. As a youngster, he spent most of his free time playing in the woods and felt more at home there than he did anywhere indoors. He considered nature his friend even into adulthood when he decided to turn his passion for nature into a career as an adventure guide. Yes, Jeff felt he and nature were buddies. A belief he wholeheartedly embraced until the events in his story that you just heard shook his faith and gave him more insight into the nature of nature.

Welcome to this week's episode of the PEBCAK Podcast!  We've got four amazing stories this week so sit back, relax, and keep being awesome!  Be sure to stick around for our Dad Joke of the Week. (DJOW) Follow us on Instagram @pebcakpodcast   Please share this podcast with someone you know!  It helps us grow the podcast and we really appreciate it!   Ring database error shows unauthorized logins https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/ring-denies-breach-after-users-report-suspicious-logins/    UK to ban public sector ransomware payments https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/uk-to-ban-public-sector-orgs-from-paying-ransomware-gangs/   MFA downgrade attack bypasses FIDO2 https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/threat-actors-downgrade-fido2-mfa-auth-in-poisonseed-phishing-attack/   World Emoji Day 2025 https://www.macrumors.com/2025/07/17/top-10-emoji-us-2025/ https://emojitracker.com/   Dad Joke of the Week (DJOW)   Find the hosts on LinkedIn: Chris - https://www.linkedin.com/in/chlouie/ Brian - https://www.linkedin.com/in/briandeitch-sase/ Scott - https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottmsavage/ Ben - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-k-b7196831/