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.
Bebe Moore Campbell (1950-2006), in conversation with Richard Wolinsky, recorded August 23, 2001 while on tour for her novel, “What You Owe Me.” Her novels focused on racism, and on its toll on minority mental health. Bebe Moore Campbell died of brain cancer on November 27, 2006 at the age of 56, and was on the verge of recognition as a major African American novelist and journalist at the time of her death.
With the World Series coming up, a look back at baseball with one of the great baseball writers of the Twentieth Century. Roger Kahn, who died on February 6, 2020 at the age of 92, was one of the icons in the world of baseball writing. In this 70-minute interview recorded on October 13, 1993, he discusses racism in baseball, his friendship with Jackie Robinson, the glory days of baseball in New York in the 1950s, and several other topics, and reads excerpts from his writing. He is interviewed by Richard Wolinsky and Richard A. Lupoff.
Edmund White (1940-2025), who died on June 3, 2025, in conversation with Richard Wolinsky, recorded while on tour for “The Farewell Symphony,” the third volume of his autobiographical trilogy, recorded September 15, 1997. Digitized, remastered and edited on October 10, 2025 and heard for the first time in over a quarter century. Photo: David Shankbone.
Acclaimed mysery author Thomas Perry (1947-2025), who died on September 15, 2025, had a long and vibrant career beginning with the Edgar Award winning first novel, “The Butcher’s Boy” in 1982. In this interview recorded in June, 2006, he talks about writing mysteries and his techniques with host Richard Wolinsky. Thomas Perry’s novel, “The Old Man,” published in 2017, became a two-season television series starring Jeff Bridges.
Tanith Lee (1947-2015) and Chelsea Quinn Yarbro (1942-2025). This podcast honors two master practitioners of horror, fantasy and science fiction, Chelsea Quinn Yarbro and Tanith Lee, with two interviews back to back. In the first, Chelsea Quinn Yarbro joins Richard A. Lupoff to speak with Tanith Lee, recorded in San Jose in 1983. In the second, Richard Wolinsky speaks with Chelsea Quinn Yarbro about her historical horror fiction, recorded in late 1978 or early 1979.
Hosted by Richard Wolinsky.
New Yorker staff writer Susan Orlean discusses her books “Rin Tin Tin” and “The Orchid Thief” in this interview from 2011. Hosted by Richard Wolinsky. (photo: Larry D. Moore, Wikimedia Commons).
Stephen Greenblatt, Shakespearean scholar and Professor of the Humanities at Harvard University, discusses his book “Dark Renaissance: The Dangerous Times and Fatal Genius of Shakespeare’s Greatest Rival,” along with thoughts on politics in America today, the destruction of American science, political violence and other themes. Hosted by Richard Wolinsky.
Robert Jay Lifton, who died on September 4, 2025 at the age of 99., was a psychiatrist and author who studied the psychological causes and effects of wars and political violence. In this interview recorded in 1999, he talks about cults, in partricular Aum Shinrikyo, the group that loosed sarin gas into the Tokyo subway system, snd about the nature of war and trauma. He was interviewed by Richard A. Lupoff and Richard Wolinsky. This interview was digitized, remastered and edited in September 2025 by Richard Wolinsky and is heard in its entirety for the first time. Hosted by Richard Wolinsky.
Carl Hiaasen is a novelist best known for writing humorous and satiric crime thrillers set in Florida. His latest novel, “Fever Beach,” satirizes the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers, corrupt nepo Florida Congress-critters, and rich right-wing geriatric billionaires. Until 2021, he was a regular columnist for The Miami Herald, appearing every Sunday to discuss political and social issues. He is interviewed by host Richard Wolinsky.
Frederik Pohl (1918-2013) was a Hugo winning novelist and short story writer, along with being a pulp magazine editor and agent who was one of the leaders of the left-wing Futurian group of fans and writers in the 1930s. He discusses his career in this interview recorded at the Octocon Science Fiction Convention, October 15-16, 1978. Interviewers: Richard Wolinsky, Richard A. Lupoff and Lawrence Davidson, for KPFA’s Probabilities radio program. Digitized, remastered and re-edited February, 2021 by Richard Wolinsky.
