The PEN Pod

This week on The PEN Pod, a special edition focusing on the scourge of online abuse. PEN America is out with a new report on the impacts of online hate—and how platforms like Facebook and Twitter can do more to help blunt its worst effects. Then, on our weekly Tough Questions segment, PEN America CEO Suzanne Nossel explores why the platforms haven't worked harder to stop online hatred; the ongoing crisis in Myanmar; and anti-trans and anti-LGBTQIA+ legislation moving through state legislatures.

On this week's edition, we get to the bottom of Thursday's big tech CEO hearing on Capitol Hill, discuss the police's mishandling of last summer's demonstrations, and examine a death threat issued by a top Saudi diplomat. Then, PEN America's Jonathan Friedman speaks with children's book author and lawyer Jessica Bohrer whose new book, YOUR VOICE IS YOUR SUPERPOWER, is designed to get kids excited about free speech.

For this week's episode, PEN America CEO Suzanne Nossel recounts the human rights situation in Saudi Arabia, the global crackdown on protest, and vaccine hesitancy among Republicans. Then, PEN America's Jonathan Friedman speaks to academic Lora Burnett, effectively fired from her job for speaking out.

On this edition of The PEN Pod, our Jared Jackson interviews author Imbolo Mbue, who's new novel HOW BEAUTIFUL WE WERE reckons with big corporations and the fight for a cleaner world. Then, PEN America CEO Suzanne Nossel on potential antitrust moves against the big tech companies, reforming liability laws, and the Supreme Court's decision about a student handing out religious literature on campus.

On this edition for March 5, PEN America CEO Suzanne Nossel fields tough questions on Facebook lifting its political ad ban, an inflated controversy around Dr. Seuss, and the ongoing crackdown against free expression in Myanmar. Then, author and PEN America Dallas chapter leader Sanderia Faye talks about a terrifying police encounter that inspired her to put pen to paper, and how her city is becoming a center of literary activism.

On this week's edition of The PEN Pod, we talk to author Fatima Shaik about her latest book Economy Hall, which tells the intricate tale of a free Black community that spanned the 19th and 20th centuries. Then, PEN America CEO Suzanne Nossel fields tough questions on the continuation of the "big lie," so-called cancel culture in the media, and the case of Alexei Navalny.

On this celebratory edition of The PEN Pod, PEN America CEO Suzanne Nossel walks us through the organization's legal victory in its settlement with the U.S. government over former President Trump's attacks on the press; she also covers Facebook's decision to disallow the posting of news stories in Australia, and she delves into debates on cancel culture. Then, journalist and critic Abraham Riesman on his new book TRUE BELIEVER: THE RISE AND FALL OF STAN LEE.

On this edition of The PEN Pod, PEN America's Jane Marchant joins award-winning author Sandra Cisneros to talk about the release of our Literary Award Finalists, announced this week. Then in our weekly Tough Questions segment, PEN America CEO Suzanne Nossel discusses the resignation of a New York Times reporter, the story of the impeachment, and the release of Saudi women's rights activist Loujain Al-Hathloul.

Memoirist Nadia Owusu joins The PEN Pod this week to talk her new memoir AFTERSHOCKS, about her life on the fault lines after a global childhood and her own battles with mental illness. Then we go global with PEN America CEO Suzanne Nossel, who talks about the demonstrations in Russia, the blow to democracy in Myanmar, and what to watch in next week's impeachment hearings.

On this week's edition of The PEN Pod, we hear from a pair of debut Brazilian YA authors Lucas Rocha, author of WHERE WE GO FROM HERE and Vitor Martins, author of HERE THE WHOLE TIME, both exploring the experience of young queer people in Brazil. Then, PEN America CEO examines allegations that Sen. Josh Hawley is being silenced, plus the new Facebook oversight body's critical moment.