Conversations @ The Salt Line

What happens to an artist's work after they're gone, and who helps uncover it? Jennifer DeVere Brody '87, professor of theater and performance studies at Stanford University, has been doing exactly this for the last 30 years—piecing together the life and work of Edmonia Lewis, an Afro-Native neoclassical sculptor and the subject of Brody's new book, "Moving Stones: The Art of Edmonia Lewis."

Brody and host Wesley Dixon discuss Lewis' life, work, and legacy, as well as the process of creating an unconventional biography of a truly singular sculptor.

Sigrid Nunez, who The New York Times recently called "one of our best writers," has always followed her curiosity wherever it leads–even if that means exploring grief, aging, and death with an unflinching gaze. In this episode, Nunez and host Wesley Dixon discuss how friendship, loss, and memory make us who we are.

In this episode of Conversations at the Salt Line, host Wesley Dixon talks to Shirley Ecker Boskey, Professor of History at Vassar, Robert "Bob" Brigham. Dixon and Brigham discuss Brigham's new book, This Is A True War Story, which details Brigham's complicated personal and professional relationship to the Vietnam War. Dixon and Brigham explore the intersection of feelings of belonging and "completeness," especially among adopted children.

In this episode of Conversations at the Salt Line, host Wesley Dixon sits down with three guests: actress and comedian Lisa Kudrow '85, actor Dan Bucatinsky '87, and writer and director Michael Patrick King, who all served as Executive Producers on the HBO Series The Comeback. During the conversation, Wesley asks these close friends and long-time collaborators to reflect on the nature of their friendship and creative collaborations in a way that sheds light on how Hollywood productions really emerge and evolve.

In this episode of Conversations at the Salt Line, host Wesley Dixon talks to writer and novelist Mike Gillis, one of the head writers for satirical newspaper The Onion. Gillis and Dixon discuss the role of satire and comedy in modern-day American society, and explore the far-reaching influence the newspaper has on pop culture and the law, including how The Onion encourages readers to engage in more honest conversations about the world around them.

In this episode of Conversations at the Salt Line, host Wesley Dixon sits down with Ethan Slater '14, the Tony-nominated star of Spongebob Squarepants: The Broadway Musical. In this conversation, Slater reminisces on his experience as a Vassar student and his path to Broadway, and more recently, starring as Boq Woodsman in Wicked and Wicked: For Good. Slater and Dixon also reflect on the intersection of personal identity and performance in the current media and entertainment ecosystem.

In this episode of Conversations @ the Salt Line, host Wesley Dixon talks to Dr. Mildred Johnson '03. Dr. Johnson discusses her fascinating educational journey from seeking a nursing degree at community college to joining to participating in Vassar's Exploring Transfer Program, and ultimately enrolling at Vassar as a full-time student. Dr. Johnson reflects on her dynamic educational and interpersonal experience at Vassar and emphasizes the importance of a liberal arts education in her life.

In this episode of Conversations @ the Salt Line, host Wesley Dixon chats with Eddie Gamarra '94 and Damon Ross '94, who were the keynote speakers for the 2026 Sophomore Career Connections. Dixon engages Gamarra and Ross in a conversation about their careers as entertainment executives and producers of animated films, specifically highlighting projects such as The Bad Guys and Stargirl. Dixon also delves into a conversation about friendship as creative technology, exploring how Gamarra and Ross's deep personal friendship animated their creative pursuits.

In this episode of Conversations @ the Salt Line, host Wesley Dixon sits down with Vassar alum Jonathan Karl '90, chief Washington correspondent for ABC News, co-anchor of This Week with George Stephanopoulos, and author. Dixon and Karl discuss "Retribution," Karl's latest book chronicling the 2024 Presidential campaign, which he calls the most consequential election of his lifetime, and the access he gained to an extraordinary cast of current political figures while reporting on a moment that could reshape American democracy. Karl also reflects on his time at Vassar and the values that shaped his career in political journalism, before diving into the challenges of covering politics in an era defined by polarization, misinformation, and mounting pressure on the press.