A podcast posted every Sunday featuring extended interviews and discussions from Bookwaves, Art-Waves, and Bookwaves Artwaves Hour programs on KPFA, and newly digitized and edited archive interviews from the pre-digital Probabilities series dating back to 1977. Literature, theater, film, the visual arts: in-depth interviews from a progressive and artistic viewpoint, with long-time KPFA/Pacifica host Richard Wolinsky.
Composer/lyricist William Finn, who died on April 7th, 2025 at the age of 73 and director/librettist James Lapine, in conversation with Richard Wolinsky, recorded March 20, 2019 at the Golden Gate Theater in San Francisco, discussing “Falsettos,” and their careers.
Walter Mosley in conversation with Richard Wolinsky, recorded March 5, 2025 discussing his two most recent novels, “Been Wrong So Long It Looks Like Right,” a Joe King Oliver novel, and “Farewell, Amethystine,” an Easy Rawlins novel. Complete 40-minute interview.
Richard Chamberlain, who died on March 29, 2025 two days before his 91st birthday, in conversation with host Richard Wolinsky, recorded June 10, 2003 while on tour for his memoir, “Shattered Love.” Originally a television heartthrob, he went on to a long and distinguished career as a leading man in various films as well as a stage actor on Broadway. In this interview he discusses his career and the people he worked with, and on American politics shortly after the invasion of Iraq, when the parallels to today are unmistakeable. (Photo: Richard Wolinsky and Richard Chamberlain, outside KPFA.
Michael Socrates Moran, Executive and Co-Artistic Director of Oakland Theater Project, in conversation with Richard Wolinsky. Michael Moran is one of the founders of Oakland Theater Project, formerly Ubuntu Theatre Project. He is also the director of “I Am My Own Wife” by Doug Wright, playing at Oakland Theater Project through April 6, 2025. In this interview he discusses the origins of the company, how it fared during the pandemic, and the upcoming season.
Anthony Lewis (1927-2013) discussing “Freedom for the Thought that We Hate: A Biography of the First Amendment,” with host Richard Wolinsky, recorded February 4, 2008 in the KPFA studios. In the first half of the interview, he discusses the history of free speech in America, and then discusses the unconstitutional excesses of the George W. Bush Administration.
Martin Amis (1949-2023), in conversation with Richard Wolinsky, recorded in the KPFA studio on a book tour for “Lionel Asbo, State of England,” September 20, 2012.
Chimananda Ngozi Adichie, Nigerian author of “Americanah” and four other novels, in conversation with host Richard Wolinsky, recorded in the KPFA studios, June 5, 2013. She is widely regarded as a central figure in postcolonial feminist literature.
Todd Haynes, noted independent film-maker, in conversation with host Richard Wolinsky. This interview was created in coordination with a retrospective of Todd Haynes films at Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive.
Margaret Atwood, in conversation with Richard Wolinsky, recorded in the KPFA studios in October 2009 while on tour for the novel “Year of the Flood.” One of the most distinguished authors writing today, Margaret Atwood is best known for her novel “The Handmaid’s Tale,” and well as several other novels, short stories, poems, essays and political commentary. This interview has never been heard in its entirety until now.
Tom Robbins (1932-2025), who died on February 9th, 2025 at the age of 92, was a mid-twentieth century literary master. In this interview recorded May 15, 2000, he talks about his career with Richard Wolinsky and Richard A. Lupoff.
