0:00: Intro
1:25: Portland Cello Project’s new album adapts the songs of Elliott Smith.
12:00: Photographer Richard Mosse and cinematographer Trevor Tweeten bring their surreal war photography and video to Portland Art Museum.
27:20: Writer Tom Spanbauer describes living with AIDS.
35:55: Broken Bells share their collaborative songwriting process.
41:10: Pulitzer-winning novelist Richard Ford tackles race and other social issues on a micro level.
46:45: Saul Bellow blasts political correctness

Image credit: Richard Mosse

PCP Artistic Director Douglas Jenkins and Larry Crane (Jackpot Recording Studios/Tape Op Magazine) talk to us about the new record they co-produced. "to e.s." includes both covers of and original music inspired by Elliott Smith compositions.

Beloved cult filmmaker John Waters is coming to Portland to perform his Christmas live show. We'll talk to him about the holidays, and hear about his legacy as he approaches 70.

0:00: Intro
1:20: John Waters talks about his schlocky — and acclaimed — career and tells us what to expect from A John Waters Christmas, which he's bringing to Portland's Aladdin Theater on Dec. 8.
34:10: Abraham Verghese recalls the experience that made him want to be a writer.
44:10: We hear about Reed College's efforts to preserve the art of calligraphy, even amongst post-Millennial elementary schoolers.

Kill Rock Stars Records' co-founder Slim Moon has a new career in the ministry. He talks to us about finding his calling, and what skills translate from Saturday night to Sunday morning.

-0:00: Intro
-1:30: Slim Moon talks about his career transition from punk rock godfather to Unitarian minister.
-9:15: Horse Feathers break out with an energetic new record.
-20:45: Ursula Le Guin tears into the publishing industry at the National Book Awards
-24:45: Margaret Atwood reflects on writing women in fiction after second wave feminism.
-35:30: Las Cafeteras conducts a clinic at Portland State fusing politics with Son Jarocho sounds.
-40:05: David Ackerman gets on the bad side of Charles Mingus...then back on his good side again.
-47:40: The Oregon Jewish Museum exhibits Shirley Gittelsohn's paintings in a celebration of her life’s work.

Last week, prominent Native American artists from around the country gathered at Union/Pine — a gallery in southeast Portland. They were here for a gallery showing of contemporary design curated by Native(X).

0:00: Intro
1:00: Revolution Hall will open in February
1:40: Portland Opera becomes a summer festival with smaller shows.
6:30: Cellist-in-residence Nancy Ives brings Oregon Symphony pals Greg Ewer and Joe Berger along for a conversation about innovation and classicism in music.
18:45: Iranian comics author Marjane Satrapi remembers her path to her chosen medium.
25:50: Portland musician Laura Gibson moves east to try her hand at short fiction.
29:30: Native American design is featured by Native(X).
33:30: The Confluence Project searches for sounds of Celilo Falls.
36:55: Artists Repertory Theatre helps build a musical from scratch.
42:30: Elizabeth Pitcairn walks us through adventures with The Red Violin.
45:55: Lowriders in Space brings lowrider culture to young adult literature.

Portland Actor Ben Buckley took his own life in early September. Vin Shambry, who'd known Ben since high school, delivered a version of this story at a Backfence PDX event for Day of the Dead. Special thanks to Vin and to Backfence for helping us bring this story to State of Wonder.

Jenny Conlee, the accordionist, pianist, and keyboard player for the Decemberists and Black Prairie talks about her experience going through treatment and coming out the other side.