Midday

Today Tom speaks with one of the most original and compelling voices on the literary scene today. Mohsin Hamid has written five novels and a collection of essays. Two of his previous novels, Exit West and The Reluctant Fundamentalist, were New York Times best sellers and finalists for the Booker Prize.

His latest book explores the dynamics of race, and the notion of transformation. It is spare and powerful; ingenious, touching, and completely engrossing. It’s called The Last White Man. 

Mohsin Hamid joined us on Zoom from Lahore, Pakistan.

Email us at [email protected], tweet us: @MiddayWYPR, or call us at 410-662-8780.

Midday theater critic J. Wynn Rousuck joins us each week with her reviews of the mid-Atlantic regional stage. This week, we discuss "A Doll's House." The play continues at Everyman Theatre through September 28, 2023.

Email us at [email protected], tweet us: @MiddayWYPR, or call us at 410-662-8780.

Tom speaks with two local authors who took a path to publishing that many writers and aspiring writers are pursuing: the self-publishing path. Traditional publishers release almost one million books each year and in 2021 self-published authors accounted for nearly 2.3 million more, as reported by Publishers Weekly.

Susan Dormady Eisenberg is an arts journalist who has recently published her second novel, One More Seat at the Round Table: A Novel of Broadway’s Camelot. H.C. Helfand is a retired attorney and judge who has published two novels in a series called The Arcadia Chronicles.  The most recent installment in that series is Clear and Convincing Evidence.

Email us at [email protected], tweet us: @MiddayWYPR, or call us at 410-662-8780.

Tom speaks with R. Eric Thomas, a best-selling author and his latest book is a funny collection of essays called Congratulations, the Best is Over!  The book is about love and marriage and family and home, and it is an insightful exploration of what happens when plans change.

Email us at [email protected], tweet us: @MiddayWYPR, or call us at 410-662-8780.

Death penalty lawyer Stephen Bright joins Midday to discuss his new book, "The Fear of Too Much Justice: Race, Poverty and the Persistence of Inequality in the Criminal Courts." He, along with co-author James Kwak, has written a persuasive and disturbing book that is packed with real life examples of people who have been treated unfairly, incarcerated unjustly, and in some cases, put to death inexcusably.

Email us at [email protected], tweet us: @MiddayWYPR, or call us at 410-662-8780.

With the school year underway, two journalists share their recent reporting about education issues in Baltimore and beyond including the Howard County school bus problems.

Bri Hatch is the education reporter for WYPR and Lillian Reed reports for our news partner, The Baltimore Banner.

Email us at [email protected], tweet us: @MiddayWYPR, or call us at 410-662-8780.

Serena McIlwain, the Maryland Secretary of the Environment, joins Midday.

Gov. Wes Moore has set ambitious goals for the state to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, care for the Chesapeake Bay, and assure environmental justice. We will ask Sec. McIlwain about the state's plans to meet those lofty goals.

Email us at [email protected], tweet us: @MiddayWYPR, or call us at 410-662-8780.

Now, we turn to two experts who work with the first responders during an emergency: the people who take the calls that come into 911 call centers around the country.

Brian Fontes is the CEO of the National Emergency Number Association, a nonprofit group that has recently published a report that surveyed 911 call center personnel to see how they are dealing with the pressures of their pressure-filled jobs. The short answer: not well.

Karima Holmes is the Vice President of Public Safety for Carbyne, a technology company that co-produced the report.

Email us at [email protected], tweet us: @MiddayWYPR, or call us at 410-662-8780.

Congressman John Sarbanes joins Midday. Can Congress avoid a government shutdown? Will Speaker Kevin McCarthy be able to appease his right flank and the Senate?

Email us at [email protected], tweet us: @MiddayWYPR, or call us at 410-662-8780.

It is time for another visit with Midday theater critic J. Wynn Rousuck, who joins us each week with her reviews of the Maryland, DC and Virginia regional stage.

We preview what’s ahead for the new theater season.

(Photo by VSDavis Photography)

Email us at [email protected], tweet us: @MiddayWYPR, or call us at 410-662-8780.