Keep the Channel Open

Photographer Jess T. Dugan is one of my favorite contemporary portrait artists, whose work explores issues of gender, sexuality, identity, and community. Jess's 2015 book Every Breath We Drew is a favorite of mine, and I was pleased to be able to discuss that book with her, as well as her recent series To Survive On This Shore, photographs and interviews with transgender and gender non-conforming people over the age of fifty. We had a great conversation about her artistic process, how she approaches making a portrait, and how her tools inform her work. For the second segment, Jess chose "golden hour" as her subject, the time just before sunset when the light is both striking and rapidly changing.

(Conversation recorded May 8, 2017. Originally aired June 21, 2017.)

Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | RadioPublic | Stitcher | Spotify | TuneIn | RSS

Support our Patreon | Leave a review

Tweet this episode | Share to Facebook

Email | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube

• Jess T. Dugan
• Jess T. Dugan and Vanessa Fabbre - To Survive on This Shore (book)
• Jess T. Dugan - Every Breath We Drew (book)
• Jess T. Dugan - Current and Upcoming Exhibitions
• Jess T. Dugan and Vanessa Fabbre - To Survive on this Shore (website)
• Jess T. Dugan - Every Breath We Drew (web gallery)
• Jess T. Dugan - "Colby, 2012"
• Jess T. Dugan - "Devotion"
• Dawoud Bey
• Catherine Opie
• Robert Mapplethorpe
• Rembrandt van Rijn
• Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio
• Richard Renaldi
• Strange Fire Collective
• Kerry James Marshall
• Deana Lawson

Ada Limón's latest book of poems, The Carrying, was just released this month by Milkweed Editions, and it's just beautiful. In this episode, Ada and I discuss the book, the power of naming, connection with the Earth, and her collaboration with poet Natalie Diaz. Then in the second segment, we talked about travel and artistic pilgrimages.

(Conversation recorded August 17, 2018.)

Bonus Reading: Subscribers to the KTCO Patreon campaign can hear Ada read her poem "Instructions on Not Giving Up."

Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | RadioPublic | Stitcher | Spotify | TuneIn | RSS

Support our Patreon | Leave a review

Tweet this episode | Share to Facebook

Newsletter | Email | Facebook | Twitter | Tumblr

• Ada Limón
• Ada Limón - The Carrying: Milkweed Editions | IndieBound | B&N | Goodreads
• Ada Limón - Bright Dead Things: Milkweed Editions | IndieBound | B&N | Goodreads
• Commonplace - Episode 76: Ada Limón
• Ada Limón - Calendar
• Magnificent frigatebird
• Robin Wall Kimmerer - Braiding Sweetgrass
• Ada Limón - "The Burying Beetle"
• Sorry to Bother You
• Ada Limón and Natalie Diaz - "Envelopes of Air"
• Natalie Diaz
• Ada Limón - "Full Gallop"
• John Ashbery
• Elizabeth Bishop
• Elizabeth Bishop - Geography III
• Pablo Neruda
• Isla Negra Museum House
• La Sebastian Museum House
• La Chascona Museum House
• Pablo Neruda - Ode to Common Things
• Jeffery Saddoris
• On Taking Pictures
• Gisele Firmino
• Frida Kahlo and the Ex-Voto Style Painting

Keah Brown is a journalist and essayist. Keah's debut essay collection The Pretty One is an honest and thoughtful look at what it means to be black and disabled in a culture that doesn't make space for marginalized bodies. In our conversation we talked about the importance of representation, the insidious nature of ableism, and compared notes on how each of us approaches an interview. Then for the second segment, we talked about the 24-hour news cycle.

(Conversation recorded October 17, 2019.)

Bonus Reading: Subscribers to the Likewise Media Patreon campaign can hear Keah read an excerpt from her book The Pretty One.

Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | RadioPublic | Stitcher | Spotify | TuneIn | RSS

Support our Patreon | Leave a review

Tweet this episode | Share to Facebook

Email | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube

• Keah Brown
• Keah Brown - The Pretty One
• #DisabledAndCute
• Keah Brown - "Brie Larson on superheroes, success and her Hollywood sisterhood"
• Keah's work at Cliché Mag
• Keah Brown - "Roxane Gay Wants You to See Fat People as Humans"
• Lyz Lenz - "How Many Personal Stories Must Women Share to Convince Others of Their Humanity?"
• StarTribune - "Viral photo captures power dynamic between Trump and Nancy Pelosi"
• Brandon Taylor - Real Life
• Charmed
• Almost Family
• Raising Dion

Marisa Crane is a writer based in San Diego, CA. What I love about Marisa's chapbook Our Debatable Bodies is how it moves from one emotion to another and another, both within a poem and throughout the collection—the poems juxtapose our society's casual misogyny and homophobia with the tenderness and intimacy of a moment between lovers. In our conversation, Marisa and I talked about her book, our "zig-zagging brains," and what it means to invite an audience into our private moments. Then for the second segment, we talked about the hit sitcom Schitt's Creek.

(Conversation recorded October 8, 2019.)

Bonus Reading: Subscribers to the Likewise Media Patreon campaign can hear Marisa read her poem "We Get To Talking About Dating Apps & I Remember How."

Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | RadioPublic | Stitcher | Spotify | TuneIn | RSS

Support our Patreon | Leave a review

Tweet this episode | Share to Facebook

Email | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube

• Marisa Crane
• Marisa Crane - Our Debatable Bodies
• Marisa Crane - "yapping dogs"
• Steven Universe
• Keep the Channel Open - Episode 98: Lyz Lenz
• Lyz Lenz - "How Many Personal Stories Must Women Share to Convince Others of Their Humanity?"
• Marisa Crane - "The Real Community Guidelines: How to Be a True Ally"
• Paige Lewis - "When I Tell My Husband I Miss the Sun, He Knows"
• Schitt's Creek
• Dan Levy
• Sarah Rose Etter - The Book of X
• Jenny Offill - Dept. of Speculation
• Mary Robison - Why Did I Ever

Introducing LikeWise Fiction!

I'm thrilled to announce the launch of my new diverse fiction podcast, LikeWise Fiction! I'm sharing the first episode as a bonus for KTCO listeners—enjoy!

Whale Fall, by Alvin Park. A whale washes ashore, a village loses its memories, and a relationship falls apart.

(This story first appeared in issue 60 of SmokeLong Quarterly.)

Bonus Interview: Subscribers to the Likewise Media Patreon campaign can hear an interview with author Alvin Park.

This episode is sponsored by the William Male Foundation.

Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | RadioPublic | Stitcher | Spotify | RSS

Support our Patreon | Donate via PayPal | Leave a review

Tweet this episode | Share to Facebook

Email | Newsletter | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Lyz Lenz is a writer based in Iowa. Part journalism and part memoir, Lyz's book God Land is a nuanced, insightful, and moving look at the role of faith in the culture of Middle America. In our conversation, Lyz and I talked about her book, belonging, false nostalgia, and the ways marginalized people are expected to share their pain. Then for the second segment, we talked about country music.

(Conversation recorded September 19, 2019.)

Bonus Reading: Subscribers to the Likewise Media Patreon campaign can hear Lyz read an excerpt from God Land.

Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | RadioPublic | Stitcher | Spotify | TuneIn | RSS

Support our Patreon | Leave a review

Tweet this episode | Share to Facebook

Email | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube

• Lyz Lenz
• Lyz Lenz - God Land
• Lyz Lenz - Men Yell At Me (newsletter)
• Lyz Lenz - "The Mystery of Tucker Carlson"
• Texas Book Festival - Schedule
• Jacob Wetterling
• Lyz Lenz - "How Many Personal Stories Must Women Share to Convince Others of Their Humanity?"
• The Highwomen
• Maren Morris - "My Church"
• Pistol Annies
• Angaleena Presley - "Bless My Heart"
• Wendy Davis
• Molly Ivins
• Raise Hell: The Life and Times of Molly Ivins
• Sarah McCammon
• Kenny Chesney - "Get Along"
• Runaway June - "Buy My Own Drinks"
• Carmen Maria Machado - In the Dream House
• Carmen Winant

Binh Danh is a photographer based in San Jose, CA. Using both historical photographic processes and his unique chlorophyll prints—using photosynthesis to embed images into leaves—Binh makes haunting and resonant images about war, aftermath, landscape, and memory. In our conversation, Binh and I talked about his creative process, his interest in history, and the deep connections between all things. Then in the second segment we took a moment to acknowledge the recent passing of legendary photographer Robert Frank, then talked about the aesthetics of smoke.

(Conversation recorded September 12, 2019.)

Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | RadioPublic | Stitcher | Spotify | TuneIn | RSS

Support our Patreon | Leave a review

Tweet this episode | Share to Facebook

Email | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube

• Binh Danh
• Haines Gallery - Binh Danh: After the Gold Rush
• Daguerrotype
• Binh Danh - The Crosses
• Robert Frank
• Robert Frank - The Americans
• New Topographics
• Mrs. Doubtfire
• William Eggleston - At Zenith
• Delaney Allen's Instagram
• GLOW

Helen Zaltzman is the host of the podcasts Answer Me This!, The Allusionist, and Veronica Mars Investigations. The Allusionist is one of my favorite podcasts, one that I never miss an episode of, an informative and entertaining and often deeply empathetic look at how we use language. In our conversation, Helen and I talked about her interest in language, her process in creating her shows, and the importance of the podcasting community. Then for the second segment, Helen and I talked about visible mending techniques.

(Conversation recorded August 12, 2019.)

Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | RadioPublic | Stitcher | Spotify | TuneIn | RSS

Support our Patreon | Leave a review

Tweet this episode | Share to Facebook

Email | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube

• Helen Zaltzman
• The Allusionist
• Answer Me This!
• Veronica Mars Investigations
• Allusionist Live Events
• Pop Culture Happy Hour
• The Allusionist - Survival part 2: Oot in the Open
• PRX - What Helen Zaltzman Learned Producing 100 Episodes of 'The Allusionist'
• The Allusionist - Survival part 1: Second Home
• Podcasters' Support Group
• Imaginary Advice
• Visible mending
• Celeste Ng - Everything I Never Told You
• Celeste Ng - Little Fires Everywhere

Robert Calafiore is a photographer based in West Hartford, CT. Robert's photographic practice involves building elaborate sets around male nudes or mid-century modern glassware, then photographing them using a hand-built pinhole camera. The resulting images are stunningly colorful and each print is one-of-a-kind. In our conversation, Robert and I talked about his creative process, the depiction of the male figure in art history, the place of vulnerability in masculinity, and the immigrant story behind his glass work. Then in the second segment, Robert and I talked about the phenomenon of de-skilling and what it might mean for the future of humanity.

(Conversation recorded July 23, 2019.)

Apple Podcasts | Google Play | RadioPublic | Stitcher | Spotify | TuneIn | RSS

Support our Patreon | Leave a review

Tweet this episode | Share to Facebook

Email | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube

• Robert Calafiore
• New Britain Museum of American Art - Expanded Field: Photography from the Collection of the NBMAA
• Hartford Art School - 2019 Faculty Exhibition
• Medium Festival of Photography
• Cindy Sherman
• Sandy Skoglund
• Jerry Uelsmann
• Duane Michals
• Doug Starn and Mike Starn
• Scene On Radio - MEN
• Foto Relevance - Robert Calafiore Artist Interview
• William Henry Fox Talbot - "Articles of Glass"
• Museum of Fine Arts Boston - Matisse in the Studio
• Ted Chiang - "The Truth of Fact, the Truth of Feeling"
• Jordan Wolfson - (Female Figure)

Rachel Zucker is a writer based in New York City. Rachel's podcast Commonplace: Conversations with Poets (and Other People) is one of my favorite literary shows, a show that has deeply influenced my approach to podcasting. In our conversation, Rachel and I talked about Commonplace and her 2014 book The Pedestrians, how each of us approach hosting a conversational podcast, and writing as a form of self-castigation.

(Conversation recorded July 18, 2019.)

Apple Podcasts | Google Play | RadioPublic | Stitcher | Spotify | TuneIn | RSS

Support our Patreon | Leave a review

Tweet this episode | Share to Facebook

Email | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube

• Rachel Zucker
• Commonplace: Conversations with Poets (and Other People)
• Rachel Zucker - The Pedestrians: Wave Books | IndieBound | B&N
• Rachel Zucker - SoundMachine (preorder)
• SoundMachine
• Rachel Zucker - MOTHERs: IndieBound | B&N
• Alice Notley
• Sharon Olds
• Wayne Koestenbaum
• Mike Sakasegawa - "The Lie Beneath the Story of My Family's Asian American Dream"
• Commonplace - Episode 50: Inside Commonplace
• The Turnaround
• Commonplace - Episode 71: Mira Jacob
• Between the Covers - Miriam Toews : Women Talking
• Commonplace - Episode 72: Ilya Kaminsky
• Darcey Steinke - Flash Count Diary
• Tina Chang - Hybrida