On today's episode I talk to playwright and TV writer Sofia Alvarez. Originally from Baltimore, Sofia graduated from Juilliard for playwriting. She is a member of the Ars Nova Playgroup and Primary Stages Dorothy Streslin New American Writer’s Group, and her work has been seen everywhere from Primary Stages to Ars Nova to The Rattlestick. As a TV writer, Sofia has written for USA's Sirens, and currently, she writes for the FX comedy Man Seeking Woman. This is the website for Beginnings, subscribe on iTunes, follow me on Twitter.

On today's episode I talk to Suki Kim, a novelist, investigative journalist and the only writer ever to go live undercover in North Korea to investigate and write a book from the inside. In 2002, she travelled to North Korea, where she witnessed both Kim Jong-il’s 60th Birthday celebrations as well as his death, and she later wrote a number of pieces for Harper's about the country. Suki is a recipient of a Guggenheim, a Fulbright, and a George Soros Foundation Open Society fellowship. As well, her first novel, The Interpreter, was a finalist for a PEN Hemingway Prize, and her aforementioned book of investigative literary nonfiction, Without You, There Is No Us: Undercover Among the Sons of North Korea's Elite is a  New York Times bestseller. This is the website for Beginnings, subscribe on iTunes, follow me on Twitter.

On today's episode I talk to musician Barbara Manning. Barbara is prolific songwriter originally from California, where she spent part of her childhood on a commune. While attending Chico State University in 1983, Manning played bass with the seminal jangle-pop band 28th Day, and since then she's recorded a number of albums under her own name and has played with and fronted a number of amazing bands including World of Pooh, SF Seals, The Go-Luckys!. She's collaborated with everyone from Jon Langford of The Mekons to The Magnetic Fields' Stephen Merritt, and her albums have been released by some of the best indie labels around including SubPop, K Records, Matador and Teenbeat. This is the website for Beginnings, subscribe on iTunes, follow me on Twitter.

On today's episode I talk to Cole Escola. Cole is a comedian, actor, and writer; one of the 2014 OUT 100; as well as one of Time Out New York's Top Ten Downtown Cabaret Performers. He was the co-creator, writer, and star of the lo-fi cult-hit TV show Jeffery & Cole Casserole, which ran on Logo for two seasons, and also originated the role of Bridget Everett's fetus in Rock Bottom. Cole currently plays Billy Eichner's nemesis Matthew on Hulu's Difficult People, which is now in it's second season! This is the website for Beginnings, subscribe on iTunes, follow me on Twitter.

On today's episode I talk to storyteller Adam Wade. For the past thirteen years, Adam has been a fixture in both the New York City storytelling and comedy scenes. He is the winner of 20 SLAMS at The Moth, including two GrandSLAM Championships, and has toured across North America with The Moth Main Stage. In addition, Adam's Time Out Critic's pick solo show The Adam Wade from NH Show has been running since 2010, and his first album Adam Wade: The Human Comedy was just released last year! This is the website for Beginnings, subscribe on iTunes, follow me on Twitter.

On today's episode I talk to writer/directors Charles Rogers and Sarah-Violet Bliss. Charles and SV broke out with their film Fort Tilden, a satire of Millennial Brooklyn, which won the Grand Jury Award at SXSW 2014. Since then, they've written on the first season of Netflix's Wet Hot American Summer revival, and are the co-creators of the forthcoming TBS series Search Party starring Alia Shawkat. This is the website for Beginnings, subscribe on iTunes, follow me on Twitter.

On today's episode I talk to Wes Miles of the indie rock band Ra Ra Riot. Originally from New Jersey, Wes has been playing music for most of his life. Ra Ra Riot formed in January 2006, playing at houses and venues around the Syracuse University campus. After recording a demo, they started to attract attention, eventually getting signed to Barsuk Records, who's released all four of their albums The Rhumb Line, The Orchard, Beta Love, and their latest Need Your Light (all are very worth your time!). On the side, Wes has released an album with former-Vampire Weekend-er Rostam Batmanglij under the name Discovery. It is also awesome! This is the website for Beginnings, subscribe on iTunes, follow me on Twitter.

On today's episode I talk to avant-garde violin duo String Noise. For over half a decade, Conrad Harris and Pauline Kim, the husband/wife violin duo comprising String Noise, have built a reputation as relentless contemporary music advocates with a punk sensibility. They've done this through their covers of bands like Deerhoof, Bad Brains, Black Flag and Minutemen and through their classical performances, the two having premiered works by composers like Christian Wolff, John King, Phill Niblock, and John Zorn. String Noise has released an EP on Northern Spy Records called The Book of Strange Positions and are currently recording a full-length album. This is the website for Beginnings, subscribe on iTunes, follow me on Twitter.

On today's episode I talk to musician Oli Chang. Originally from Australia, Oli is one-half, along with Jack Milas, of the celebrated ambient dream-pop band High Highs. Since 2011, they've released a self-titled EP and two albums Open Season and Cascades. All of them are wonderful. In addition, Oli also has his own solo project called Animal Feelings! This is the website for Beginnings, subscribe on iTunes, follow me on Twitter.