The PEN Pod

On this episode of The PEN Pod, we're joined by Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya just as authorities in that country have given notice that they intend to dissolve our sister organization PEN Belarus. PEN America's own Matt Bailey dissects the Pegasus spyware revelations. And then our Summer Lopez covers the threats spyware poses to free expression, as well as tough questions on Olympic protests and vaccine disinformation.

On this edition of The PEN Pod, we talk to writer and cartoonist Amy Kurzweil, who is leading a campaign to free her cousin Danny Fenster, a journalist detained in Myanmar earlier this spring. She discusses his urgent plight and what others can do to demand his freedom. Then, Summer Lopez of PEN America explores the tough questions about free expression this week. We outline how Iran attempted to kidnap an American journalist critical of the regime; and she explores Belarus' crackdown on NGOs and media outlets this week.

On this week's edition of The PEN Pod, New York state Senator Brad Hoylman joins us to discuss his bill that would help track hate crimes in New York. Then, Suzanne Nossel discusses how policymakers are waking up to the censorship threat emanating from the Chinese government; how a tenure decision for Nikole Hannah-Jones is a win for academic freedom; and how hate speech and hate crimes are interrelated. We'll be on break next week but will return with new episodes July 16.

On this episode of The PEN Pod, we talk to podcast hosts Lisa Hiton and Dylan Zavagno who produce Queer Poem a Day, a podcast series of contemporary LGBTQ+ poetry. Then, Suzanne Nossel of PEN America talks about media crackdowns in Belarus and Hong Kong, plus a cheerleader has her First Amendment rights upheld by the Supreme Court.

On this special edition of The PEN Pod, we introduce a weeklong town hall series called The M Word, centering American Muslim voices through live, in-person, and virtual conversations that bring together writers, artists, and thought leaders across a range of genres, expertise, and platforms. Our Clarisse Rosaz Shariyf speaks with our M Word panel of advisors: oral historian Zaheer Ali, artistic director of Performing Arts Mosaic Adam Gagan, organizer Ayah Eldosougi, and director of MPAC’s Hollywood Bureau Sue Obeidi.

Today on The PEN Pod, we discuss the state of free expression in Iran, digital sovereignty and the splintering of a free internet, and the teaching of divisive topics as part of our weekly Tough Questions segment. Then, Ukraine's First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Emine Dzheppar on the state of play on the Crimean peninsula seven years after the Russian occupation.

On this week's edition, we're back with breakout debut novelist Zakiya Dalila Harris discussing her novel THE OTHER BLACK GIRL with PEN America's Jared Jackson. Then, a new installment of tough questions, where we pore through hard questions about free speech and free expression with our CEO Suzanne Nossel. This week, we discuss CNN reporters and the battle over emails, conspiracy theories over the origins of COVID, and critical race theory and laws attempting to ban it.

On this edition of The PEN Pod, we discuss with human rights leader Jeri Laber her new work of fiction, The Russian Key, a Cold War tale of intrigue with lessons for today's global crises. And Suzanne Nossel, CEO of PEN America, joins to wade through the week's tough questions about Belarus, internet content takedowns, and CNN and AP's latest personnel moves.