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The PEN Pod episodes
- Episode 52: Magical Thinking with Wayetu Moore, Plus Trump's Twitter Meltdown with Suzanne Nossel
On today's edition of The PEN Pod, we talk to Liberian American author Wayetu Moore about her memoir The Dragons, The Giant, The Women, and how magical thinking helped her and her family persevere through war. Then, Suzanne Nossel walks us through the president's executive order targeting social media companies.
26 min - Episode 51: Poetry and Protest with Nora Benavidez and Ann Kjellberg
On this edition of The PEN Pod, we explore how protest is increasingly being criminalized on the state level with our own Nora Benavidez. Then, this week would've been poet Joseph Brodsky's 80th birthday. We talk about a new collection of his work and why it still resonates with Ann Kjellberg.
24 min - Episode 50: Imagining a Time Beyond with Helen Zia
Today, as PEN America and the Asian American Writers' Workshop host a day of solidarity, we talk about the spike in anti-Asian sentiment with longtime activist and author Helen Zia. Also, it's our 50th episode. Let us know how we're doing, what you're reading, and what we can do to make the next 50 episodes even better.
21 min - Episode 49: Tulsa's Busiest Bookseller, Plus Fighting Anti-Asian Sentiment
On this edition of The PEN Pod, we connect with Tulsa's Jeff Martin, who runs Magic City Books and leads PEN America's Tulsa chapter. He talks about how he's keeping the community there connected and what might change about bookselling after the crisis. Then we discuss anti-Asian racism amid the pandemic.
18 min - Episode 48: Tough Questions with Suzanne Nossel, Plus How a Dallas Bookseller Keeps Going
On this episode, our CEO Suzanne Nossel addresses questions about government surveillance, White House retaliation against journalism, and imprisoned writers globally in our weekly TOUGH QUESTIONS segment. Then, Will Evans and Cristina Rodriguez from bookseller Deep Vellum in Dallas talk about how they are keeping the literary community in Texas vibrant
21 min - Episode 47: Questioning Everything More with Carmen Boullosa
On this edition, we speak with poet and author Carmen Boullosa about her new text, The Book of Anna, and urges readers to more fully dive into the books they pick up. Then, we cover the Senate's move to support global journalism.
13 min - Episode 46: A Life Sentence with Jewher Ilham
As part of our ongoing interviews about writers detained globally, today we speak with Jewher Ilham, whose father, Uyghur economist, writer, and professor Ilham Tohti, was sentenced to life in a Chinese prison. She discusses the last day she saw her father and why she and those who support him will never relent until he is released.
16 min - Episode 45: The Freedom to Write with Karin Deutsch Karlekar and Ahmed NajiToday, a special edition of The PEN Pod, as we launch our global Freedom to Write Index of imprisoned writers and public intellectuals globally. First, we speak with PEN America's own Karin Deutsch Karlekar about the countries that imprisoned the most writers in 2019. And then, an essay from novelist Ahmed Naji about his own time in an Egyptian prison and the global campaign for his freedom.17 min
- Episode 44: Crimean Tatars Under Threat with Myroslava Gongadze
Today on The PEN Pod, we mark the 76th anniversary of the deportation of Crimean Tatars by speaking with VOA reporter Myroslava Gongadze, who walks us through how Crimea's indigenous people are facing severe repression under Russian occupation. Plus, we check out writers who cook.
13 min - Episode 43: Crisis, Opportunity, and the Vitality of Literature with Rebecca Makkai; Plus Tough Questions with Suzanne Nossel
On this Friday's edition of The PEN Pod, we talk to acclaimed author Rebecca Makkai about working amid a crisis, parallels between her work and our experience now, and the need for art and literature. Plus, in our weekly TOUGH QUESTIONS segment with Suzanne Nossel, how Plandemic made waves and the president's attacks on journalists.
21 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.
Join the conversation online at pen.org and on our social channels @PENAmerica. Thanks for tuning in.