1A

While Shakespeare is long gone, but theater – and thus playwriting – is very much alive.

Theater, in contrast to television or film, offers a unique chance for audiences to come together and experience a one-of-a-kind production. Playwrights, in collaboration with actors, directors, and stage crew work, are chiefly responsible for bringing that magic to life.

For this installment of our "Ask A" series – where we talk to interesting people about what they do and why it matters – we speak to a group of playwrights about the power of storytelling on stage.

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Before we leave 2023 behind, we're looking back on the movies it gave us.

We got blockbuster moments like Barbenheimer, a showdown between two very different but highly anticipated movies releasing in theaters on the same day.

There were also moments of original content that might make you laugh like "Bottoms," and ones that might make you cry like "The Holdovers" or "Past Lives."

And the other historical moment: new contracts for the Writers Guild and Screen Actors Guild after historic months of striking. That pushed some other highly anticipated movies like "Dune: Part 2" and "Challengers" to 2024.

Before we look forward to them — we look back on 2023 with the 1A Movie Club.

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We're wrapping up the year in music.

It was a big year for boygenius, an indie supergroup made up of Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers, and Lucy Dacus. Their album "The Record" was nominated for album of the year. And they received five Grammy nods altogether.

Another first this year – the song "Ella Baila Sola" by Eslabon Armado and Peso Pluma became the first regional Mexican song to ever reach the top 10 of the U.S. Billboard charts after going viral on TikTok.

And what's old is new again. Tracy Chapman's 1988 hit "Fast Car" had a resurgence after a cover by country singer Luke Combs went platinum in July.

We'll discuss some of the biggest music stories, songs, and maybe some hits you missed, from the last year.

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By 2030, the Census Bureau estimates that the nation's population will consist of more adults over 65 than children.

As the youngest of the baby boomers enter their sixties, and younger adults are having children later in life, many Americans – from Gen Z to Gen X – are finding themselves sandwiched between taking care of elderly parents and young kids at the same time.

Today's 65-year-olds have a 70 percent likelihood of needing long-term care in the future, all while the supply of home health aides is dwindling.

Nursing homes are also increasingly costly and inaccessible for families of low and moderate incomes.

We discuss what it's like to balance caring for young kids and aging adults simultaneously and managing your money or time as a family caregiver.

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Everyday, we're being asked to trust in something. We trust that our jobs will pay us on time. We trust that our partners will come home in the evening. We trust that our apartment won't suddenly collapse on us, that our neighbors won't steal our mail, and that our kids will be safe at school.

But what happens when that trust is broken?

According to one 2013 study from the Journal of Couple and Family Psychology, 60 percent of couples cited a partner's unfaithfulness as the reason for their divorce.

Trust isn't just an issue in relationships. A 2022 Gallup poll found that Americans' trust in major institutions like the Supreme Court and Congress is at a historic low.

How can trust be repaired once it's broken? And why is often so easy to lose in the first place?

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Marcus du Sautoy is a mathematician who loves games, travel, and, unsurprisingly, math. His new book is titled "Around the World in 80 Games: A Mathematician Unlocks the Secrets of the Greatest Games."

In it, du Sautoy tours the world's games, exploring how they are built around (and can be won using) mathematics.

We discuss how math and games are interwoven worldwide, and learn the history of some of our favorite games.

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Christmas comes but once a year. But Christmas music? Well, that seems to come earlier and earlier each year.

Brenda Lee made headlines this month when her 1958 tune, "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree," made the Billboard's Hot 100 chart for the first time. That's 65 years after the original was recorded, proving some classics never go out of style.

But the world of Christmas songs isn't always good times and cheer. For decades, Christmas music in America reflected the country's mood – happy and not so happy.

Some can be right down sobering like Nat King Cole's version of "The Little Boy That Santa Claus Forgot," while others stay forgotten under the tree.

We dive into the world of Christmas music, and discuss what makes a great Christmas song. We also revisit the documentary "Jingle Bell Rocks!" as it celebrates its 10th anniversary.

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2023 was a big year in games.

"The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom" brought a new installment to a beloved series, six years after the last game. It broke sales records and became the best-selling Zelda game to date.

And it wasn't the only blockbuster game this year. Marvel's "Spider-man 2," "Final Fantasy 16," "Diablo 4," and "Super Mario Wonder" were released this year as well.

But at the 2023 Game Awards, the big winner was "Baldur's Gate 3" — scoring five awards, including game of the year.

We recap the year in video games and check in with Adam Smith, lead writer on "Baldur's Gate 3." Later we revisit our Legend of Zelda conversation from earlier this year.

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The Colorado Supreme Court disqualified former President Donald Trump from their primary ballot for the 2024 election this week.

Congress is in gridlock again over funding for the war in Ukraine. House Republicans held a bill passed by the Senate that would send money to Ukrainian Volodymyr Zelenskyy's troops hostage over immigration restrictions.

Meanwhile, a Hamas political chief was in Egypt this week for discussions with Israeli officials who proposed a pause of violence in exchange for around 40 hostages. Talks were reportedly less than fruitful.

Pope Francis cleared the way this week for Catholic priests to give blessings to same-sex couples, angering conservative officials in the Vatican.

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Complaints against U.S. airlines hit a record high in 2022. And it's not getting any better. Consumer complaints nearly doubled in the first three months of this year, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation.

With only four major airlines in the U.S., there's little choice for consumers in the market. And with air travel expected to reach a record high this holiday season, many will be subjected to the worst of travel: long lines, high prices, and of course, awful airplane food.

But why does our time in flight have to be riddled with anguish? And what can be done to make the skies friendly again?

For that, we're turning to Ganesh Sitaraman, a professor at Vanderbilt University Law School and director of the Vanderbilt Policy Accelerator. He's also out with the new book, "Why Flying is Miserable: And How to Fix It."

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