Today’s episode features a first: two programs from the same speaker at different moments in history - Patti Smith: as interviewed by Jessica Hopper in 2019, and back again in 2022, telling stories and singing live with guitar accompaniment from her son Jackson.

SHOW NOTES:

Watch the full conversations from 2019 here and from 2022 here.

Read the podcast transcript.

CW: Light profanity.

Photo: Patti Smith at the Chicago Humanities Fall Festival at the Symphony Center.

Photo: Patti Smith at the Music Box Theatre with a photo of Maryam Mirzakhani.

Photo: Patti Smith at the Music Box Theatre with a photo of a porcelain bird.

Patti Smith, Year of the Monkey

Patti Smith, A Book of Days

Jessica Hopper, The First Collection of Criticism By A Living Female Rock Critic

Episode photo by Steven Sebring

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Today’s episode features two programs from multi-talented Black women on how to capture what it is to be human in two different art forms. We’ll hear from best selling author, voting rights advocate, and history making Stacey Abrams in conversation with CNN’s Jake Tapper on her latest thriller novel Rogue Justice, followed by the inspiring Oscar winning costume designer Ruth E. Carter as she looks back on her career as depicted in Art of Ruth E. Carter: Costuming Black History and the Afrofuture, from Do the Right Thing to Black Panther.

SHOW NOTES:

Watch the full conversation of Stacey Abrams with Jake Tapper here. 

Read the podcast transcript.

Photo: Stacey Abrams at the Vic Theatre and Ruth E. Carter at the Music Box Theatre as part of the Chicago Humanities 2023 Spring Festival.

Rogue Justice: a Thriller, Stacey Abrams

All the Demons are Here: a Thriller, Jake Tapper

Art of Ruth E. Carter: Costuming Black History and the Afrofuture, from Do the Right Thing to Black Panther, Ruth E. Carter

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Join legendary singer/songwriter Joan Baez at Chicago’s historic Old Town School of Folk Music for an intimate chat on music, art, activism, and the kind of insider musician stories you can only get from the ‘60s folk revival scene icon. Interviewed live on stage by Justin Richmond of the music podcast Broken Record.

SHOW NOTES:

Read the podcast transcript.

CW: Profanity

PHOTO: Joan Baez author photo

PHOTO: A page of upside down drawings from Joan Baez’s book Am I Pretty When I Fly?

Joan Baez, Am I Pretty When I Fly?: An Album of Upside Down Drawings

Joan Baez I Am a Noise trailer

Joan Baez, “Diamonds and Rust”, “A Song for David”, “Sweet Sir Galahad”

Tina Turner, “Steel Claw” live

Bill Lee

Harry Belafonte, “Day O (Banana Boat Song)”

The Kingston Trio

“Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me ‘Round”

Albert Grossman

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Bayard Rustin 

Ira Sandperl

Justin Jones, The People’s Plaza

Joan Baez’s “What can I do?” recommended organizations Facebook post

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Happy Pride Month! YouTube star and transgender activist Gigi Gorgeous chats with her bff Gottmik, the drag performer, makeup artist, and first transgender male to compete on RuPaul’s Drag Race, about friendship, sex, and all things trans. Actor and Miss Gay USofA pageant winner Aurora Sexton interviews the two icons with thoughtful humor and plenty of tea.

SHOW NOTES:

Read the podcast transcript.

CW: Profanity, consensual deadnaming and discussion of hate crimes. Get into it!

PHOTO: Gigi Gorgeous, Aurora Sexton, and Gottmik at the Chop Shop at the Chicago Humanities Spring Festival in 2023.

PHOTO: Gottmik and Gigi Gorgeous at the Chicago Humanities Spring Festival post-event book signing and photo op at the Chop Shop in 2023.

Gigi Gorgeous & Gottmik, The T Guide: Our Trans Experiences and a Celebration of Gender Expression―Man, Woman, Nonbinary, and Beyond

Learn more about the many trans/queer icons that were name dropped:

Courtney Act, Laith Ashley, David Bowie, Lina Bradford, Candis Cayne, Sasha Colby, Divine, Jazz Jennings, Hayley Kiyoko, Adam Lambert, Amanda Lepore, Sarah McBride, Kim Petras, Alok Vaid-Menon, John Waters

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Join actress Selma Blair (Legally Blonde, Cruel Intentions) and filmmaker Rachel Fleit (Bama Rush) for an inspiring and honest conversation about living with multiple sclerosis, crafting your story into a writing, and those funny and defining moments from childhood such as Blair’s “Parmesan Cheese Incident.”

SHOW NOTES:

Watch the full conversation here.

Read the podcast transcript.

CW: Language, references to self-harm and sexual assault, alcoholism, and a very good dog on stage.

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat 988 lifeline.org.

Photo: Selma Blair and her security dog work the book signing and photo op line after her event at the Chicago Humanities Spring Festival at the Field Museum in 2022.

Photo: Rachel Fleit, Selma Blair, and her security dog on stage at the Chicago Humanities Spring Festival at the Field Museum in 2022. 

Selma Blair, Mean Baby: A Memoir of Growing Up

Watch Introducing, Selma Blair

Keah Brown, The Pretty One: On Life, Pop Culture, Disability, and Other Reasons to Fall in Love with Me

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Learn cooking tips and fresh insight from James Beard Award-winning chef and Top Chef judge and contestant Kwame Onwuachi, interviewed by Chicago comedians Dario Durham and Sara Faddah of the podcast 77 Flavors of Chicago. Topics also include the history of collard greens, what his mom makes for him when he's home, and the coolest person he's ever cooked for.

SHOW NOTES:

Watch the full conversation here.

Read the podcast transcript.

CW: Profanity.

Photo: Dario Durham, Sara Faddah, and Kwame Onwuachi at the Chicago Humanities Spring Festival in 2022.

Photo: Kwame Onwuachi at the Chicago Humanities Spring Festival in 2022.

My America: Recipes From a Young Black Chef (2022)

Notes From a Young Black Chef: A Memoir (2019)

Jerk chicken recipe

Nail polish line

77 Flavors of Chicago podcast

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Academy Award winning actress Jessica Lange joins Chicago theater critic Chris Jones for a lovely and inspiring chat about her stunning black and white street photography, acting in the golden age of ‘70s cinema, and that time she was roommates with Grace Jones.

SHOW NOTES:

Watch the full conversation here.

Read the podcast transcript.

CW: Gentle profanity (she’s a New Yorker)

Learn more: Jessica Lange, Dérive

Photo: Jessica Lange at the Chicago Humanities Fall Festival 

Photo: Jessica Lange, cover image Dérive

Photo: Jessica Lange, Hudson River Pier from Dérive

Photo: Jessica Lange, vow renewal from Dérive

Photo: Henri Cartier-Bresson, Behind the Gare St Lazare (1932)

Photo: Sam Shepard and Jessica Lange (1984)

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Gain intimate access to the sold out evening with Simu Liu, the star of Marvel's first ever Asian superhero movie Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. Join Liu, who you may also know from the very bingeable Kim’s Convenience, for a conversation with Joanne Molinaro (aka “The Korean Vegan") at Chicago’s historic movie theater the Music Box, where topics include being an Abercrombie model, inspirational tips to keep going in your pursuit as an actor, and a thoughtful perspective on a difficult early family dynamic.

SHOW NOTES:

Watch the full conversation here.

Read the podcast transcript.

CW: Playfully PG.

Photo: Simu Liu and Joanne Molinaro on stage at the Music Box Theatre.

Simu Liu, We Were Dreamers: An Immigrant Superhero Origin Story

Joanne Molinaro, TheKoreanVegan.com

TikTok @thekoreanvegan

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If you’ve been up at night wondering how to save democracy and communicate effectively with people on the opposite side of the political spectrum, tune into MSNBC on-air political correspondent Anand Giridharadas in conversation with Washington DC Bureau Chief for Mother Jones David Corn for a powerfully hopeful chat on the state of American and effective organizing.

SHOW NOTES:

Watch the full conversation here.

Read the podcast transcript.

CW: Strong language, in the name of democracy.

Photo: Anand Giridharadas and David Corn on stage at Northwestern University.

Anand Giridharadas, The Persuaders: At the Front Lines of the Fight for Hearts, Minds, and Democracy

Newsletter The.Ink

David Corn, American Psychosis: A Historical Investigation of How the Republican Party Went Crazy

Newsletter Our Land

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What do you do if you’re too weird for stand-up, dream of being an action star, and are all around nice to be around? You have an incredible career in show biz like Bob Odenkirk. Opening up about the highs and lows of Hollywood with fellow SNL alum Tim Meadows, join two legends for a fun night out where topics include the ‘90s Chicago comedy scene, dads, and writing for Chris Farley.

SHOW NOTES:

Watch the full conversation here.

Read the podcast transcript.

CW: A light peppering of f-bombs throughout.

Photo: Bob Odenkirk with Tim Meadows on stage at the Music Box Theatre.

Bob Odenkirk, Comedy Comedy Comedy Drama: A Memoir

Bob Odenkirk, A Load of Hooey

Matt Foley sketch on SNL

Original Matt Foley sketch at Second City with Chris Farley, Bob Odenkirk, and Tim Meadows

Photo: The Second City cast 1989.

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