As wildfires continue to rage in the western United States, we look at how these increasingly common events are affecting the people in the midst of them. Lucy Walker is a documentary filmmaker whose most recent work, "Bring Your Own Brigade," follows residents after the disastrous Camp Fire in California. She offers her Brief But Spectacular take on the power of documentary filmmaking. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

As long as he can remember, author Viet Thanh Nguyen has been interested in how stories about his home country of Vietnam are told in America. In his own works, including the Pulitzer-winning novel "The Sympathizer," he centers on the voices of refugees like himself. He offers his Brief But Spectacular take on writing and memory. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Roxane Gay has used writing as a means to untangle and communicate her own trauma since childhood. Now a successful author, professor and mentor to many, she advises young women and aspiring writers on how to harness their voices. Gay shares her Brief But Spectacular take on effective ways of being heard. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Columbia University professor Farah Jasmine Griffin was deeply troubled by the political turmoil happening across the U.S. during the 2016 presidential campaign. She began writing a literary memoir, "Read Until You Understand," which explores what democracy means for the lives and work of Black authors and activists, and herself. Here's her Brief But Spectacular take on Black life and literature. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Michelle Sugihara is the executive director at the Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment (CAPE) and has long been a champion for Asian representation both on and off the screen. As part of our arts and culture series, CANVAS, Sugihara shares her "brief but spectacular" take on changing the world through stories. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Muslim women in the U.S. experience discrimination in many aspects of their lives, including health care. Sahar Pirzada has made it the mission of her work at a national nonprofit to fight the medical mistreatment Muslim women experience. She gives her brief but spectacular take on why gendered Islamophobia matters in the larger conversation around reproductive justice. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

"Time Is a Mother" is Ocean Vuong's second collection of poems being released this week. A winner of major literary prizes and a MacArthur Fellowship, Vuong searches for life among the aftershocks of his mother's death. He shares his brief But Spectacular Take on "reclaiming language for joy" as part of our arts and culture series, "CANVAS." PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

At the Academy Awards this weekend, the film "CODA" was nominated for three awards including best picture. One of the main actors is Marlee Matlin, who has brought strong characters to the screen for 35 years. She shares her Brief But Spectacular take on uplifting deaf actors and others in the disability community in Hollywood. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Shawn Dunwoody is a local artist and activist born and raised in Rochester, New York. Early in his career he found success in galleries and at universities. But he's now returning his focus to his own neighborhood, hoping to ignite conversations through art to create changes in the community. He shares Brief But Spectacular take on bridging communities for our arts and culture series, "CANVAS." PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

When healthcare journalist and podcaster Max Lugavere's mother was diagnosed with a form of Parkinson's disease, he drew on medical studies to train himself on best practices for improving brain health through food. Lugavere is now releasing a cookbook entitled "Genius Kitchen," which uses brain-healthy recipes. He shares what he learned from his mother's battle with neurological illness. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders