The PEN Pod

The PEN Pod

By PEN AmericaArtsBooks
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The PEN Pod episodes

  • Episode 72: Tough Questions Plus Renewed Calls to Support Writers

    On today's edition of The PEN Pod, we discuss rescinded college admissions for students who use hate speech; the dismissal of multiple leaders from U.S.-funded broadcasters; and how disinformation might impact the election—that's all part of our Tough Questions segment with PEN America CEO Suzanne Nossel. Then, a group of literary organizations petitions the mayor to support writers and the literary community.

    23 min
  • Episode 67: Juneteenth in Tulsa with Quraysh Ali Lansana, Plus Tough Questions with Suzanne Nossel

    Today, we mark this Juneteenth with a conversation with historian Quraysh Ali Lansana. The Tulsa-based writer discusses the weekend's planned Trump rally, the legacies of anti-Black racism in Oklahoma, and how writers are coming together in solidarity. Then, we turn to free expression threats amid the election, liability for social platforms, and John Bolton's book with our CEO Suzanne Nossel for our Friday TOUGH QUESTIONS segment. 

    32 min
  • Episode 66: Poets and the Pandemic with Vincent Bristow

    On today's episode, we talk to poet Vincent Bristow, part of the Open Doors arts and justice collaborative here in New York City that works mainly with people impacted by street violence. He speaks about how COVID has impacted his community and shares an original poem. Then, we listen in on a conversation from our These Truths podcast between writers Alexis Okeowo and Ishmael Beah.

    14 min
  • Episode 65: The Importance of Memory with Jaquira Diaz
    On this edition of The PEN Pod, we talk with author of ORDINARY GIRLS: A MEMOIR Jaquira Diaz. She highlights how the stories of Black and Brown girls, especially those of color, were so hard to come by in her childhood, and the erasure of Black Puerto Ricans in the historical memory. Then, John Bolton is sued by the White House.
    15 min
  • Episode 64: Putting Tech Under The Microscope with Ainissa Ramirez

    We talk to writer and scientist Ainissa Ramirez about how eight inventions have shaped humanity, which she explores in her book THE ALCHEMY OF US. We talk about the often unheralded women and people of color who are part of the story of technology in recent centuries and how tech is influenced by our own biases.

    11 min
  • Episode 63: Honoring Literary Excellence with Ruben Quesada and Clarisse Rosaz Shariyf

    Today we open submissions for the 2021 PEN America Literary Awards, one of the most diverse literary award lineups in the country. But how do awards help shape and diversify the literary canon? And how can we view awards in the context of all the crises happening across the country. PEN America's own Clarisse Rosaz Shariyf and poet Ruben Quesada help us understand all of it, plus Quesada shares an original poem

    19 min

About The PEN Pod

From the publisher's feed

As an organization that's all about the literary community, PEN America knows that the ongoing health crisis is hitting our Members and friends particularly hard. The PEN Pod is meant to provide regular updates and conversations about literature and free expression, and provide an outlet for literary celebration as in-person events remain few and far between.