Podcast appearances and mentions of stephanie elizondo griest

Notes and Links to Stephanie Elizondo Griest's Work *Content Warning: Please be aware that the book discusses sexual assault   Stephanie Elizondo Griest is a globetrotting author from the Texas/Mexico borderlands. Her six books include Around the Bloc: My Life in Moscow, Beijing, and Havana; Mexican Enough; All the Agents and Saints; and Art Above Everything: One Woman's Global Exploration of the Joys and Torments of a Creative Life. She has also written for the New York Times, Washington Post, VQR, The Believer, BBC, Orion, Lit Hub, and Oxford American. Her work has been supported by the Lannan Foundation, Henry Luce Foundation, Princeton University, and the Institute for Arts and Humanities, and she has won a Margolis Award, an International Latino Book Award, a PEN Southwest Book Award, and two Lowell Thomas Travel Journalism prizes. Currently Professor of Creative Nonfiction at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Elizondo Griest has performed in capacities ranging from a Moth storyteller to a literary ambassador for the U.S. State Department. Wanderlust has led her to 50 countries and 49 states. Her hardest journey was to Planet Cancer in 2017, but she's officially in remission now. She recently endowed Testimonios Fronterizos, a research grant for student journalists from the borderlands enrolled at her alma mater, the University of Texas at Austin's School of Journalism. Buy Art Above Everything   Stephanie's Website   Review of Art Above Everything in Southern Review At about 3:40 Stephanie expands on her creative background and family connections to music and language  At about 10:15, Stephanie talks about formative and transformative texts, including work by and her relationship with her “spiritual madrina,” Sandra Cisneros At about 11:30, Stephanie discusses similarities and differences in some Mexican Spanish and Tejano Spanish At about 13:30, Stephanie provides seeds for her book At about 16:50, The two discuss a dearth of publicity and respect for female travel writers, and generally females writing about art At about 18:15, Stephanie talks about the formative artist residency in 2014 in India, at Nrityagram  At about 20:30, Stephanie responds to Pete's question about Sheryl Oring's inspiration for Stephanie's creative life  At about 24:45, the two discuss “Art as Reconciliation” and Stephanie's experiences in Rwanda with therapeutic theater and hard and painful and moving conversations and reconciliations  At about 29:05, Pete and Stephanie discuss post-dictatorship and art done in response to the House of the People in Romania At about 34:20, Stephanie and Pete discuss similarities between female artists around the world, as seen in Stephanie's research and travels, regardless of economic status and country of origin; Stephanie cites “callings” at young ages At about 38:30, Wendy Whelan and her absolute “devotion” to art is discussed, as well as the ways in which domineering males have often abused and defamed artistic women At about 44:00, Bjork and Iceland's masterful director Vilborg Davíðsdóttir and “Art as Revenge” are discussed  At about 48:55, Stephanie talks about the process of writing so personally At about 50:45, “Art as Medicine” and Stephanie's journey with cancer and ideas of humor and sustenance are discussed, along with Stephanie being “revived” by sharing stories on a mini book tour At about 54:20, Havana Habibi and its resonance are discussed  At about 56:40, Sandra Cisneros as a “spiritual madrina” to Stephanie and so many others is discussed  At about 1:00:40, Stephanie expands on the “force” that is Mama Mihirangi and her connection to Maori and female liberation  At about 1:04:10, Ayana Evans and her performance and her subverting expectations of Black women are discussed, including the Loophole of Retreat At about 1:09:00, The two discuss “Art as Immoratality” and ideas of legacy and passing on creativity and art as so meaningful  At about 1:11:20, Stephanie reflects on the book's 10 year span and its meanings       You can now subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, and leave me a five-star review. You can also ask for the podcast by name using Alexa, and find the pod on Stitcher, Spotify, and on Amazon Music. Follow Pete on IG, where he is @chillsatwillpodcast, or on Twitter, where he is @chillsatwillpo1. You can watch other episodes on YouTube-watch and subscribe to The Chills at Will Podcast Channel. Please subscribe to both the YouTube Channel and the podcast while you're checking out this episode.       Pete is very excited to have one or two podcast episodes per month featured on the website of Chicago Review of Books. The audio will be posted, along with a written interview culled from the audio. His conversation with Hannah Pittard, a recent guest, is up at Chicago Review.     Sign up now for The Chills at Will Podcast Patreon: it can be found at patreon.com/chillsatwillpodcastpeterriehl      Check out the page that describes the benefits of a Patreon membership, including cool swag and bonus episodes. Thanks in advance for supporting Pete's one-man show, DIY podcast and extensive reading, research, editing, and promoting to keep this independent podcast pumping out high-quality content! This month's Patreon bonus episode features an exploration of flawed characters, protagonists who are too real in their actions, and horror and noir as being where so much good and realistic writing takes place. Pete has added a $1 a month tier for “Well-Wishers” and Cheerleaders of the Show.     This is a passion project, a DIY operation, and Pete would love for your help in promoting what he's convinced is a unique and spirited look at an often-ignored art form.    The intro song for The Chills at Will Podcast is “Wind Down” (Instrumental Version), and the other song played on this episode was “Hoops” (Instrumental)” by Matt Weidauer, and both songs are used through ArchesAudio.com.     Please tune in for Episode 311 with Kurt Baumeister, whose writing has appeared in Salon, Electric Literature, The Brooklyn Rail, The Rumpus, and other outlets. An acquisitions editor with 7.13 Books, Baumeister is a member of The National Book Critics Circle and The Authors Guild, and 2025's Twilight of the Gods is his second novel.    Please go to ceasefiretoday.org, and/or https://act.uscpr.org/a/letaidin to call your congresspeople and demand an end to the forced famine and destruction of Gaza and the Gazan people.

Notes and Links to Kaila Yu's Work       Kaila Yu is a singer, songwriter, former model, and freelance journalist for Rolling Stone, CNN, Glamour, and more.    She was formerly the lead singer for the all-Asian-American, female rock band Nylon Pink. Yu is also one of the founders of the jewelry/fashion line "Hello Drama" which is affiliated with the Nylon Pink band and style. Buy Fetishized: A Reckoning With Yellow Fever, Feminism, and Beauty   Kaila's Instagram   Review of Fetishized for The New York Times   At about 1:10, Kaila responds to Pete's questions about feedback she has gotten on the book, and how she sees the book now, post-publication  At about 3:15, Pete asks Kaila to share background information on her reading and language life At about 4:45, Kaila talks about how writing as a profession developed and shouts out Minor Feelings by Cathy Park Hong and Melissa Febos and Roxane Gay's greatness At about 7:05, Kaila talks about the catalysts for her writing her book, largely around the beginning of the Covid pandemic At about 10:20, Kaila talks about distinctions, or lack thereof, between “fetish” and preference  At about 11:45, Kaila and Pete discuss the book's opening and hurtful and harmful comments towards Kaila, some in recent years  At about 13:20, Kaila reflects on “mainstreamed objectification” and an observation from the book that “objectification was better than invisibility” At about 16:35, the two discuss halting attempts at Asian representation in the 90s and early 2000s At about 18:10, Kaila discusses the evolution of Asian and Asian-American stars and their ability to “make their own lane” At about 19:05, Kaila talks about ideas of personal “diminish[ment]” growing up in comparison to media portrayals  At about 20:30, Kaila responds to Pete's questions about the effects of Memoirs of a Geisha and perpetuation of harmful tropes At about 22:30, more examples of problematic representation of Asian women in pop culture and in Kaila's schooling are discussed At about 23:00, Kaila talks about the evolution of “ABGs” At about 25:30, Kaila talks about the “groundbreaking” Joy Luck Club and also ways that it could have been better in minimizing stereotypes At about 26:30, Kaila gives background on the start of her pinup model, as well as how rife the industry is with sexualization and sexual crimes At about 27:45, Kaila gives background on a contemporary San Diego “modeling gig” agency that led to sexual crimes, showing how her experience was sadly not unique  At about 30:05, Kaila responds to Pete's question about online and in-person hateful and misogynistic comments and how she and bandmates  At about 31:50, Kaila talks about she didn't connect at the time, but does now, about how she dealt with traumas  At about 33:00, Shoutout to Allen Carr and his anti-smoking books At about 33:45, Pete asks Kaila about the pitfalls of fame, and her ceaseless battle to remove a defamatory video At about 35:35, Kaila talks about ideas of a "separation" and the impetus for her name change At about 36:40, The two discuss ideas of interchangeability and the history of blepharoplasty At about 38:50, Afong Moy and other exoticism and inhumane conditions for Asian women are discussed, and how this led to a sexualization of these women  At about 41:15, Kaila and Pete discuss some acting and entertainment highlights and struggles; included is some reminiscing about MySpace! At about 43:50, Kaila responds to Pete's questions about the end of her music career and performing in multiple ways At about 45:15, Kaila talks about recent iterations of KPop and patriarchal and feminism in more current music  At about 46:55, Kaila reflects on positive feedback and the legacy involving Nylon Pink At about 47:10, Kaila talks Guns n Roses and “classic” songs and concerts At about 49:15, Kaila forecasts what she will be writing about in the future       You can now subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, and leave me a five-star review. You can also ask for the podcast by name using Alexa, and find the pod on Stitcher, Spotify, and on Amazon Music. Follow Pete on IG, where he is @chillsatwillpodcast, or on Twitter, where he is @chillsatwillpo1. You can watch other episodes on YouTube-watch and subscribe to The Chills at Will Podcast Channel. Please subscribe to both the YouTube Channel and the podcast while you're checking out this episode.       Pete is very excited to have one or two podcast episodes per month featured on the website of Chicago Review of Books. The audio will be posted, along with a written interview culled from the audio. His conversation with Hannah Pittard, a recent guest, is up at Chicago Review.     Sign up now for The Chills at Will Podcast Patreon: it can be found at patreon.com/chillsatwillpodcastpeterriehl      Check out the page that describes the benefits of a Patreon membership, including cool swag and bonus episodes. Thanks in advance for supporting Pete's one-man show, DIY podcast and extensive reading, research, editing, and promoting to keep this independent podcast pumping out high-quality content! This month's Patreon bonus episode features an exploration of flawed characters, protagonists who are too real in their actions, and horror and noir as being where so much good and realistic writing takes place. Pete has added a $1 a month tier for “Well-Wishers” and Cheerleaders of the Show.     This is a passion project, a DIY operation, and Pete would love for your help in promoting what he's convinced is a unique and spirited look at an often-ignored art form.    The intro song for The Chills at Will Podcast is “Wind Down” (Instrumental Version), and the other song played on this episode was “Hoops” (Instrumental)” by Matt Weidauer, and both songs are used through ArchesAudio.com.     Please tune in for Episode 310 with Stephanie Elizondo Griest, a globetrotting author from the Texas/Mexico borderlands. Her six books include Around the Bloc: My Life in Moscow, Beijing, and Havana; Mexican Enough; All the Agents and Saints; and Art Above Everything: One Woman's Global Exploration of the Joys and Torments of a Creative Life. The latter will be the main conversation piece. This episode airs on November 20. Please go to ceasefiretoday.org, and/or https://act.uscpr.org/a/letaidin to call your congresspeople and demand an end to the forced famine and destruction of Gaza and the Gazan people.  

On this episode of Words on a Wire, host Daniel Chacón welcomes award-winning author Stephanie Elizondo Griest, whose adventurous spirit has carried her from the Texas/Mexico borderlands to 50 countries and 49 states. A celebrated writer of six books—including Around the Bloc, Mexican Enough, All the Agents and Saints, and her latest, Art Above Everything: One Woman's Global Exploration of the Joys and Torments of a Creative Life—Griest brings a lifetime of stories that bridge cultures, geographies, and personal journeys.Her work, featured in the New York Times, Washington Post, VQR, The Believer, and Oxford American, explores identity, creativity, and resilience. In this conversation, she and Daniel reflect on the joys and challenges of a writer's life, the power of storytelling across borders, and what it means to turn even life's hardest journeys—such as her fight with cancer—into art.Tune in for an inspiring and deeply personal exchange with one of today's most dynamic voices in creative nonfiction.

Building a life as an artist is an uphill climb. After decades of hustling to make it work, writer Stephanie Elizondo Griest had one big question: How do you determine if art is worth all the sacrifice it requires? Stephanie tells Anita about traveling the world for answers and what she learned about what it takes to build a life as a female artist.Meet the guest:- Stephanie Elizondo Griest is a professor of creative nonfiction at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the author of “Art Above Everything: One Woman's Global Exploration of the Joys and Torments of a Creative Life”Read the transcript | Review the podcast on your preferred platformFollow Embodied on Instagram Leave a message for Embodied

Dennis is joined via Zoom by author Stephanie Elizondo Griest to discuss her latest book Art Above Everything: One Woman's Global Exploration of the Joys and Torments of a Creative Life, which is so up Dennis's alley. (Actually, a listener reached out to Dennis and said, "You need to check out this book. It's what you talk about all the time.") Stephanie talks about the through line that many of the women she profiled share, how the big things that happened in world while she was working on the book--COVID, her own cancer diagnosis, the #metoo movement, Trumpism--impacted her work and the question for artists that lies at the heart of the book; Is it worth it? Stephanie also talks about the alternative paths she could have chosen, how even the safe roads in life aren't safe anymore and what she's observed about young people since she started working as a writing professor in North Carolina. Other topics include: the boyfriend she had when she was living in Russia who was given an offer to kill someone for money, her complicated relationship to belly dancing, getting to spend time with one of her heroes. author Sandra Cisneros, the Ugandan playwright she interviewed who saw where Trumpism was heading way back in 2015, how various foreign countries support their artists and how American's Karen-esque sense of entitlement may be what ends up saving us all. https://stephanieelizondogriest.com

In this episode of the Story Works Round Table, Alida and Kathryn talk with Stephanie Elizondo Griest, author of Art Above Everything. In this perspective changing conversation, we talk all about centering your life on art. We talk about the sometimes painful journey of being an art monk, and what it means to dedicate yourself to art creation. Join us as we talk about the journey Stephanie has taken to realizing that Art is Enough. And what Enough even means in this capitalistic culture we live in.The Question: is Art Enough?The answer: Yes.Join us as we talk about why!Get Alida's musings on life, writing, and the writing life in A Room Full of Books & Pencils and stay up to date on book launches, special offers, and more at booksandpencils.substack.com Are you ready to get more out of your writing, grow your writing skills, and get that book written? Do you want community, feedback, and the mentoring of an expert story craft coach? Check out group coaching for novelists and memoirists. A new session is beginning soon. Get details & schedule your free discovery call today at www.wordessential.com/fictioncoaching Are you ready to work with a developmental editor or writing coach? Alida works with fiction and nonfiction writers on all kinds of writing projects. Email or schedule a discovery call. www.wordessential.com. Show notes, links, & more at www.StoryWorksPodcast.com.

Today we are joined by Stephanie Elizondo Griest as we discuss her up upcoming book "Art Above Everything: One Woman's Global Exploration of the Joys and Torments of a Creative Life" releasing on June 10th. We discuss her background as a writer, the process of the book, the struggles that come with being a women and an artist, and of course, the overarching question "is art worth everything we give up for it?" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today we are joined by Stephanie Elizondo Griest as we discuss her up upcoming book "Art Above Everything: One Woman's Global Exploration of the Joys and Torments of a Creative Life" releasing on June 10th. We discuss her background as a writer, the process of the book, the struggles that come with being a women and an artist, and of course, the overarching question "is art worth everything we give up for it?" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we're joined by globe-trotting author and professor Stephanie Elizondo Griest to talk about her latest book, Art Above Everything. Stephanie spent the past decade traveling across a dozen countries, interviewing women she calls “art monks,” creatives who have made profound sacrifices in the name of their work.As a longtime writer, educator, and advocate for the arts, she shares what these stories taught her about devotion, discipline, and the transformative power of art. Tune in for an inspiring conversation that explores creativity as a calling—and what it truly means to put art first.Check out Stephanie's website to learn more about her books and essays.  Follow Stephanie on Instagram for updates on her journey and pre-order Art Above Everything (on sale June 10) wherever books are sold!THE HIGH-EARNING WOMEN PODCASTThis podcast empowers high-earning women to make informed financial decisions and thrive.Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifySupport the showIf you would like to get involved with Focus On Women, you can review sponsorship and contribution options here, as well as become a member here.Remember to stay safe and keep your creative juices flowing!---Tech/Project Management Tools (*these are affiliate links)Buzzsprout*Airtable*17hats*ZoomPodcast Mic*

In the United States, contemporary discourse concerning “the border” almost always centers around the country's southern boundary shared with Mexico. Rarely, in conversations public or private among Americans is there any discussion of the nation's northern border with Canada. Whatever the reason (ignorance, indifference, or both) all this changes with the publication of All the Agents and Saints: Dispatches from the U.S. Borderlands (UNC Press, 2017). In this stunning comparison of life along the U.S.-Mexico and U.S.-Canada borderlands, Stephanie Elizondo Griest, the award-winning travel writer and Professor of Creative Non-fiction at UNC Chapel Hill, busts the conceptual block that views “the border” as a place of exceptionality. Focusing on the modern-day experiences of Tejanos/as, Mexican nationals, and Akwesasne Mohawks, Griest uncovers startling similarities between people and places separated by nearly 2,000 miles. Whether the issue is drug trafficking, confrontations with the Border Patrol, assimilation, environmental pollution, or health epidemics, Griest records the echoing testimonies of northern and southern border dwellers. Yet, amidst the harrowing tales of struggle and loss, Griest finds another commonality…transcendence! In both the northern and southern borderlands, residents, artists, and people of faith stand their ground by staging individual and collective battles against the forces that threaten communities and livelihoods. Beautifully written with force, empathy, and passion, All the Agents and Saints is required reading for those wishing to transcend the ignorance and indifference that drives so much of the social and political divisions of our day. David-James Gonzales (DJ) is Assistant Professor of History at Brigham Young University. He is a historian of the U.S.-Mexico Borderlands, the development of multi-ethnic/racial cities, and the evolution of Latina/o identity and politics. His research centers on the relationship between Latina/o politics and the metropolitan development of Orange County, CA throughout the 20th century. You may follow him on Twitter @djgonzoPhD.

In the United States, contemporary discourse concerning “the border” almost always centers around the country's southern boundary shared with Mexico. Rarely, in conversations public or private among Americans is there any discussion of the nation's northern border with Canada. Whatever the reason (ignorance, indifference, or both) all this changes with the publication of All the Agents and Saints: Dispatches from the U.S. Borderlands (UNC Press, 2017). In this stunning comparison of life along the U.S.-Mexico and U.S.-Canada borderlands, Stephanie Elizondo Griest, the award-winning travel writer and Professor of Creative Non-fiction at UNC Chapel Hill, busts the conceptual block that views “the border” as a place of exceptionality. Focusing on the modern-day experiences of Tejanos/as, Mexican nationals, and Akwesasne Mohawks, Griest uncovers startling similarities between people and places separated by nearly 2,000 miles. Whether the issue is drug trafficking, confrontations with the Border Patrol, assimilation, environmental pollution, or health epidemics, Griest records the echoing testimonies of northern and southern border dwellers. Yet, amidst the harrowing tales of struggle and loss, Griest finds another commonality…transcendence! In both the northern and southern borderlands, residents, artists, and people of faith stand their ground by staging individual and collective battles against the forces that threaten communities and livelihoods. Beautifully written with force, empathy, and passion, All the Agents and Saints is required reading for those wishing to transcend the ignorance and indifference that drives so much of the social and political divisions of our day. David-James Gonzales (DJ) is Assistant Professor of History at Brigham Young University. He is a historian of the U.S.-Mexico Borderlands, the development of multi-ethnic/racial cities, and the evolution of Latina/o identity and politics. His research centers on the relationship between Latina/o politics and the metropolitan development of Orange County, CA throughout the 20th century. You may follow him on Twitter @djgonzoPhD. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the United States, contemporary discourse concerning “the border” almost always centers around the country’s southern boundary shared with Mexico. Rarely, in conversations public or private among Americans is there any discussion of the nation’s northern border with Canada. Whatever the reason (ignorance, indifference, or both) all this changes with the publication of All the Agents and Saints: Dispatches from the U.S. Borderlands (UNC Press, 2017). In this stunning comparison of life along the U.S.-Mexico and U.S.-Canada borderlands, Stephanie Elizondo Griest, the award-winning travel writer and Professor of Creative Non-fiction at UNC Chapel Hill, busts the conceptual block that views “the border” as a place of exceptionality. Focusing on the modern-day experiences of Tejanos/as, Mexican nationals, and Akwesasne Mohawks, Griest uncovers startling similarities between people and places separated by nearly 2,000 miles. Whether the issue is drug trafficking, confrontations with the Border Patrol, assimilation, environmental pollution, or health epidemics, Griest records the echoing testimonies of northern and southern border dwellers. Yet, amidst the harrowing tales of struggle and loss, Griest finds another commonality…transcendence! In both the northern and southern borderlands, residents, artists, and people of faith stand their ground by staging individual and collective battles against the forces that threaten communities and livelihoods. Beautifully written with force, empathy, and passion, All the Agents and Saints is required reading for those wishing to transcend the ignorance and indifference that drives so much of the social and political divisions of our day. David-James Gonzales (DJ) is Assistant Professor of History at Brigham Young University. He is a historian of the U.S.-Mexico Borderlands, the development of multi-ethnic/racial cities, and the evolution of Latina/o identity and politics. His research centers on the relationship between Latina/o politics and the metropolitan development of Orange County, CA throughout the 20th century. You may follow him on Twitter @djgonzoPhD. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the United States, contemporary discourse concerning “the border” almost always centers around the country’s southern boundary shared with Mexico. Rarely, in conversations public or private among Americans is there any discussion of the nation’s northern border with Canada. Whatever the reason (ignorance, indifference, or both) all this changes with the publication of All the Agents and Saints: Dispatches from the U.S. Borderlands (UNC Press, 2017). In this stunning comparison of life along the U.S.-Mexico and U.S.-Canada borderlands, Stephanie Elizondo Griest, the award-winning travel writer and Professor of Creative Non-fiction at UNC Chapel Hill, busts the conceptual block that views “the border” as a place of exceptionality. Focusing on the modern-day experiences of Tejanos/as, Mexican nationals, and Akwesasne Mohawks, Griest uncovers startling similarities between people and places separated by nearly 2,000 miles. Whether the issue is drug trafficking, confrontations with the Border Patrol, assimilation, environmental pollution, or health epidemics, Griest records the echoing testimonies of northern and southern border dwellers. Yet, amidst the harrowing tales of struggle and loss, Griest finds another commonality…transcendence! In both the northern and southern borderlands, residents, artists, and people of faith stand their ground by staging individual and collective battles against the forces that threaten communities and livelihoods. Beautifully written with force, empathy, and passion, All the Agents and Saints is required reading for those wishing to transcend the ignorance and indifference that drives so much of the social and political divisions of our day. David-James Gonzales (DJ) is Assistant Professor of History at Brigham Young University. He is a historian of the U.S.-Mexico Borderlands, the development of multi-ethnic/racial cities, and the evolution of Latina/o identity and politics. His research centers on the relationship between Latina/o politics and the metropolitan development of Orange County, CA throughout the 20th century. You may follow him on Twitter @djgonzoPhD. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the United States, contemporary discourse concerning “the border” almost always centers around the country's southern boundary shared with Mexico. Rarely, in conversations public or private among Americans is there any discussion of the nation's northern border with Canada. Whatever the reason (ignorance, indifference, or both) all this changes with the publication of All the Agents and Saints: Dispatches from the U.S. Borderlands (UNC Press, 2017). In this stunning comparison of life along the U.S.-Mexico and U.S.-Canada borderlands, Stephanie Elizondo Griest, the award-winning travel writer and Professor of Creative Non-fiction at UNC Chapel Hill, busts the conceptual block that views “the border” as a place of exceptionality. Focusing on the modern-day experiences of Tejanos/as, Mexican nationals, and Akwesasne Mohawks, Griest uncovers startling similarities between people and places separated by nearly 2,000 miles. Whether the issue is drug trafficking, confrontations with the Border Patrol, assimilation, environmental pollution, or health epidemics, Griest records the echoing testimonies of northern and southern border dwellers. Yet, amidst the harrowing tales of struggle and loss, Griest finds another commonality…transcendence! In both the northern and southern borderlands, residents, artists, and people of faith stand their ground by staging individual and collective battles against the forces that threaten communities and livelihoods. Beautifully written with force, empathy, and passion, All the Agents and Saints is required reading for those wishing to transcend the ignorance and indifference that drives so much of the social and political divisions of our day. David-James Gonzales (DJ) is Assistant Professor of History at Brigham Young University. He is a historian of the U.S.-Mexico Borderlands, the development of multi-ethnic/racial cities, and the evolution of Latina/o identity and politics. His research centers on the relationship between Latina/o politics and the metropolitan development of Orange County, CA throughout the 20th century. You may follow him on Twitter @djgonzoPhD. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/drugs-addiction-and-recovery

In the United States, contemporary discourse concerning “the border” almost always centers around the country’s southern boundary shared with Mexico. Rarely, in conversations public or private among Americans is there any discussion of the nation’s northern border with Canada. Whatever the reason (ignorance, indifference, or both) all this changes with the publication of All the Agents and Saints: Dispatches from the U.S. Borderlands (UNC Press, 2017). In this stunning comparison of life along the U.S.-Mexico and U.S.-Canada borderlands, Stephanie Elizondo Griest, the award-winning travel writer and Professor of Creative Non-fiction at UNC Chapel Hill, busts the conceptual block that views “the border” as a place of exceptionality. Focusing on the modern-day experiences of Tejanos/as, Mexican nationals, and Akwesasne Mohawks, Griest uncovers startling similarities between people and places separated by nearly 2,000 miles. Whether the issue is drug trafficking, confrontations with the Border Patrol, assimilation, environmental pollution, or health epidemics, Griest records the echoing testimonies of northern and southern border dwellers. Yet, amidst the harrowing tales of struggle and loss, Griest finds another commonality…transcendence! In both the northern and southern borderlands, residents, artists, and people of faith stand their ground by staging individual and collective battles against the forces that threaten communities and livelihoods. Beautifully written with force, empathy, and passion, All the Agents and Saints is required reading for those wishing to transcend the ignorance and indifference that drives so much of the social and political divisions of our day. David-James Gonzales (DJ) is Assistant Professor of History at Brigham Young University. He is a historian of the U.S.-Mexico Borderlands, the development of multi-ethnic/racial cities, and the evolution of Latina/o identity and politics. His research centers on the relationship between Latina/o politics and the metropolitan development of Orange County, CA throughout the 20th century. You may follow him on Twitter @djgonzoPhD. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the United States, contemporary discourse concerning “the border” almost always centers around the country’s southern boundary shared with Mexico. Rarely, in conversations public or private among Americans is there any discussion of the nation’s northern border with Canada. Whatever the reason (ignorance, indifference, or both) all this changes with the publication of All the Agents and Saints: Dispatches from the U.S. Borderlands (UNC Press, 2017). In this stunning comparison of life along the U.S.-Mexico and U.S.-Canada borderlands, Stephanie Elizondo Griest, the award-winning travel writer and Professor of Creative Non-fiction at UNC Chapel Hill, busts the conceptual block that views “the border” as a place of exceptionality. Focusing on the modern-day experiences of Tejanos/as, Mexican nationals, and Akwesasne Mohawks, Griest uncovers startling similarities between people and places separated by nearly 2,000 miles. Whether the issue is drug trafficking, confrontations with the Border Patrol, assimilation, environmental pollution, or health epidemics, Griest records the echoing testimonies of northern and southern border dwellers. Yet, amidst the harrowing tales of struggle and loss, Griest finds another commonality…transcendence! In both the northern and southern borderlands, residents, artists, and people of faith stand their ground by staging individual and collective battles against the forces that threaten communities and livelihoods. Beautifully written with force, empathy, and passion, All the Agents and Saints is required reading for those wishing to transcend the ignorance and indifference that drives so much of the social and political divisions of our day. David-James Gonzales (DJ) is Assistant Professor of History at Brigham Young University. He is a historian of the U.S.-Mexico Borderlands, the development of multi-ethnic/racial cities, and the evolution of Latina/o identity and politics. His research centers on the relationship between Latina/o politics and the metropolitan development of Orange County, CA throughout the 20th century. You may follow him on Twitter @djgonzoPhD. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the United States, contemporary discourse concerning “the border” almost always centers around the country’s southern boundary shared with Mexico. Rarely, in conversations public or private among Americans is there any discussion of the nation’s northern border with Canada. Whatever the reason (ignorance, indifference, or both) all this changes with the publication of All the Agents and Saints: Dispatches from the U.S. Borderlands (UNC Press, 2017). In this stunning comparison of life along the U.S.-Mexico and U.S.-Canada borderlands, Stephanie Elizondo Griest, the award-winning travel writer and Professor of Creative Non-fiction at UNC Chapel Hill, busts the conceptual block that views “the border” as a place of exceptionality. Focusing on the modern-day experiences of Tejanos/as, Mexican nationals, and Akwesasne Mohawks, Griest uncovers startling similarities between people and places separated by nearly 2,000 miles. Whether the issue is drug trafficking, confrontations with the Border Patrol, assimilation, environmental pollution, or health epidemics, Griest records the echoing testimonies of northern and southern border dwellers. Yet, amidst the harrowing tales of struggle and loss, Griest finds another commonality…transcendence! In both the northern and southern borderlands, residents, artists, and people of faith stand their ground by staging individual and collective battles against the forces that threaten communities and livelihoods. Beautifully written with force, empathy, and passion, All the Agents and Saints is required reading for those wishing to transcend the ignorance and indifference that drives so much of the social and political divisions of our day. David-James Gonzales (DJ) is Assistant Professor of History at Brigham Young University. He is a historian of the U.S.-Mexico Borderlands, the development of multi-ethnic/racial cities, and the evolution of Latina/o identity and politics. His research centers on the relationship between Latina/o politics and the metropolitan development of Orange County, CA throughout the 20th century. You may follow him on Twitter @djgonzoPhD. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Co-hosts Tony Diaz, El Librotraficante & Lupe Mendez-Librotraficante Lips Mendez and Dr. Estevan Azcon tells us about the play "Misa Fronteriza" at hte Alley Theatre. .talks with Chicana photographer Delilah Montoya about her new exhibition and catalog published by Arte Publico Press "Contemporary Casta Portraiture: Nuestra 'Calidad'". Stephanie Elizondo Griest discusses her new book All the Agents & Saints: Dispatches from the U.S. Borderlands. Currently Assistant Professor of Creative Nonfiction at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, she has lectured on five continents, including as a U.S. State Department literary ambassador to Venezuela. The show kicks off with an excerpt from the new TV show "The Other Side" hosted by our own Tony Diaz. Board operators: Leti Lopez and Jack Regan. Producer: Marlen Treviño. NP Radio airs live Tuesdays 6pm-7pm cst 90.1 FM KPFT Houston, TX. Livestream www.KPFT.org. More podcasts at www.NuestraPalabra.org.

Tony Diaz, El Librotraficante talks with Chicana photographer Delilah Montoya about her new exhibition and catalog published by Arte Publico Press "Contemporary Casta Portraiture: Nuestra 'Calidad'". Stephanie Elizondo Griest discusses her new book All the Agents & Saints: Dispatches from the U.S. Borderlands. Currently Assistant Professor of Creative Nonfiction at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, she has lectured on five continents, including as a U.S. State Department literary ambassador to Venezuela. The show kicks off with an excerpt from the new TV show "The Other Side" hosted by our own Tony Diaz. Board operators: Leti Lopez and Jack Regan. Producer: Marlen Treviño. Co-host Lupe Mendez-Librotraficante Lips Mendez. NP Radio airs live Tuesdays 6pm-7pm cst 90.1 FM KPFT Houston, TX. Livestream www.KPFT.org. More podcasts at www.NuestraPalabra.org.

Clay speaks with Stephanie Elizondo Griest, Assistant Professor of Creative Nonfiction. She discusses her new book All the Agents and Saints: Dispatches from the US Borderlands. http://stephanieelizondogriest.com/ @SElizondoGriest http://iah.unc.edu @iah_unc

Stephanie Elizondo Griest discusses her new book “All the Agents and Saints”

Stephanie Elizondo Griest discusses her new book “All the Agents and Saints”

ALL THE AGENTS AND SAINTS DISPATCHES FROM THE U.S. BORDERLANDS University of North Carolina Press July 2017 After a decade of chasing stories around the globe, intrepid travel writer Stephanie Elizondo Griest followed the magnetic pull home–only to discover that her native South Texas had been radically transformed in her absence. Ravaged by drug wars and barricaded by an eighteen-foot steel wall, her ancestral land had become the nation’s foremost crossing ground for undocumented workers, many of whom perished along the way. Before Elizondo Griest moved to the New York/Canada borderlands, the frequency of these tragedies seemed like a terrible coincidence. Once she began to meet Mohawks from the Akwesasne Nation, however, she recognized striking parallels to life on the southern border. Having lost their land through devious treaties, their mother tongues at English-only schools, and their traditional occupations through capitalist ventures, Tejanos and Mohawks alike struggle under the legacy of colonialism. Toxic industries surround their neighborhoods while the U.S. Border Patrol militarizes them. Combating these forces are legions of artists and activists devoted to preserving their indigenous cultures. Complex belief systems, meanwhile, conjure miracles. In ALL THE AGENTS AND SAINTS, Elizondo Griest weaves seven years of stories into a meditation on the existential impact of international borderlines by illuminating the spaces in between.

Reading about the origins of my Native heritage in my estranged father's obituary gave me a way to confront my relationship with him—or the lack thereof.Special thanks to my family for letting me record them and my friends for putting up with my anxieties and being my greatest editors, and also thanks to two of my professors from UNC, Stephanie Elizondo Griest and Joy Goodwin, for helping me flesh out this idea.Subscribe on iTunes or wherever else you listen to podcasts.Music: "Deuce" by Indian Wells. "Rain on Glass" by Podington Bear. "Roulette" by The Plastic Jazz Orchestra. Narration recorded at Duke University's Center for Documentary Studies.