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.
Justine Bateman, actress and director, author of “Fame: The Hijacking of Reality,” in conversation with host Richard Wolinsky, recorded at Green Apple Books on the Park on San Francisco on October 27, 2018. Justine Bateman’s first film as screenwriter/director, “Violet” (2021) can be found on the Kanopy library app and Paramount+/Showtime. She lived through television fame for six years as the character Mallory” on the hit TV series, Family Ties.
Donald Spoto (1941-2023), noted biographer, in conversation with Richard Wolinsky, recorded June 18, 1997 while on tour for “Notorious: The Life of Ingrid Bergman.” The legendary biographer Donald Spoto died on February 11th, 2023 at the age of 81. Among his works were biographies of Alfred Hitchcock, Marlene Dietrich, Lawrence Olivier, the House of Windsor, James Dean and several others.
Rebecca Makkai, whose latest novel is “I Have Some Questions for You,” in conversation with host Richard Wolinsky. In this fast-paced literary novel masquerading as a mystery, Rebecca Makkai takes on the Me Too movement, misogyny in high school, true crime podcasts, and hidden abuse.
John Sayles discusses his latest novel, “Jamie MacGillivray, The Renegade’s Journey,” along with his work as a writer and film-maker, with host Richard Wolinsky.
Joe Ngo, who plays the role of Chum, the father, in “Cambodian Rock Band,” by Lauren Yee, and won an Obie for his performance at the Signature Theatre in New York, in conversation with Richard Wolinsky. Joe Ngo is an actor and musician, and has been performing in “Cambodian Rock Band” since its origins at the Ground Floor, Berkeley Rep’s Center for the Creation and Development of New Work in 2016.
Robert Olen Butler, author of the novel “Perfume River,” in conversation with Richard Wolinsky, recorded in the KPFA studios, October 25, 2016. Robert Olen Butler is the author of several novels and short story collections. His collection, “A Good Scent from a Strange Mountain” won the 1993 Pulitzer Prize for fiction. Photo: Kelly Butler, Grove/Atlantic.
Paul Auster, author of several novels, screenplays, books of poetry and film director, in conversation with host Richard Wolinsky, recorded on February 14, 2017 in the KPFA studios while on tour for his still most recent novel, 4 3 2 1. First posted on April 1, 2017. (photo: 2007 Brooklyn Book Festival, creative commons)
Playwright Luis Alfaro discusses his latest play, “The Travelers,” at the Magic Theatre through March 15, with host Richard Wolinsky. A Chicano activist and performer, Luis Alfaro has established a career as one of this country’s leading playwrights. This interview focuses not only on his present work, but on his career and his views about the state of live theater today.
Fay Weldon (1931-2023) who died on January 4th, 2023 at the age of 91, published 31 novels during her lifetime, including The Life and Loves of a She Devil, one of four novels which later became films. She was also a playwright, short story writer, television writer and non-fiction author. Richard A. Lupoff and Richard Wolinsky interviewed her in the KPFA studios in March 1990 while she was on tour for her now classic novel, The Cloning of Joanna May.
Jane Smiley discusses her latest novel, “A Dangerous Business,” a mystery set in Monterey in the early 1850s, with host Richard Wolinsky. Jane Smiley is the Pulitzer Prize winning author of “A Thousand Acres,” and is the author of seventeen previous novels, including The Last Hundred Years trilogy.
