With our first-ever All Of It Summer Reading Challenge coming to a close, we open the phones to our readers-- what's the best book you read for the Challenge? We're joined by producer Jordan Lauf who will share some of the responses we've gotten from readers already, plus take some of your recommendations. Finished the Challenge? Click here to record your reads and receive a prize!

This segment is guest-hosted by Kousha Navidar

Acclaimed poet Danez Smith joins us to discuss their new collection, Bluff, which uses poetry and mixed-media art to reflect on their experience of 2020 in Minneapolis in the wake of the murder of George Floyd.

This segment is guest-hosted by Kousha Navidar

[REBROADCAST FROM JULY 7, 2023] "BAMA RUSH" follows students at the University of Alabama as they rush sororities, a legendary and rigorous process. The film looks at the lengths people will go to fit in, including director Rachel Fleit's own story as a woman with alopecia. 

When Joy Neumeyer was a graduate student at Berkeley, she found herself in a physically abusive romantic relationship with a fellow student. That relationship leads her to leave campus, and attempt to pursue a Title IX case against her ex. But many felt that it was her boyfriend who was the real victim. Neumeyer recounts her experience, and the pitfalls of Title IX, in her new memoir A Survivor's Education: Women, Violence, and the Stories We Don't Tell.

As college students head back to campus, we take some time to revisit a difficult moment in the history of higher education--- COVID-19 and the closure of many college campuses. We're joined by Anthony Abraham Jack, faculty director of the Boston University Newbury Center and associate professor of higher education leadership at the Boston University Wheelock College of Education & Human Development, to discuss his new book Class Dismissed: When Colleges Ignore Inequality and Students Pay the Price. He spoke with former college students about their experience during the pandemic, and how they feel their education was affected by COVID era policies. Plus, we take calls from former students and their parents about their experience of higher education in 2020 and 2021.

This month, WQXR released the final episode of its new podcast, If This Hall Could Talk, about the history of Carnegie Hall. Hosted by Broadway actress and singer Jessica Vosk, the podcast dives into different famous nights in Carnegie Hall history, from the opening performance in 1891 to Ella Fitzgerald's performances to a Civil Rights benefit concert. Vosk discusses the podcast alongside Kathleen Sabogal, director of Carnegie Hall's Rose Archives and Museum, and we take your calls.

A desperate and damaged woman played by Naomi Harris seeks revenge on her cheating husband by recruiting an old friend (played by Natalie Dormer) in a murder plot. However, things don't turn out as planned. Or do they? Both actors join to discuss the new psychological thriller, "The Wasp."

Two years ago Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck got married, more than a decade after dating and splitting up once before. Their smiles and PDA were contagious and rooting for their romance to last. But this week J.Lo filed for divorce, leaving many to wonder, what happened? The Atlantic staff writer Faith Hill interviewed couples who reunited a few years ago when "Bennifer" got back together, and she joins to share her reporting on her piece "What Second Chance Couples Can Share about Love." We also take calls from listeners who've rekindled romances.

Author Julia Phillips joins us to discuss her latest novel, Bear, which tells the story of two sisters whose lives are upended by the arrival of a bear on the remote island they call home. Julia will be speaking tonight at MyBiblioteka at 7 pm.

Grammy award-winning vocalist and native New Yorker Catherine Russell has just released her new album, My Ideal, a duet release with pianist Sean Mason. Ahead of her residency at Birdland next week, Russell joins us for a Listening Party.