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.
An in-depth interview with Stephen Sondheim, who died at the age of 91 on November 26, 2021. In the interview he discusses a wide variety of topics, including his early career before Broadway, elements of several of his shows, his view of movie musicals, and much more. Hosted by Richard Wolinsky.
Robert Jordan (1948-2007) discusses his epic fantasy series “The Wheel of Time” and his writing process with Richard Wolinsky. Recorded January 13, 2003 in the KPFA studios. This interview has never been heard in its entirety.
Robert B. Parker (1932-2010) was the creator of novels featuring Spenser, the wise-cracking Boston detective, his sidekick Hawk, and girlfriend Susan Silverman through 41 novels, plus the TV series “Spenser for Hire” and a series of television film adaptations. In this interview recorded for “Probabilities” in 1981, he discusses his earlier life as a professor, the origins of his characters, and his love of noir fiction. The interview was conducted by Lawrence Davidson and Richard Wolinsky. Digitized, remastered, edited and with an introduction in 2021 by Richard Wolinsky.
Vanessa Veselka discusses her novels “Zazen” and “The Great Offshore Grounds” and her work as a health workers union organizer during the Covid era in this interview with host Richard Wolinsky.
The great British mystery novelist P.D. James (1920-2014) interviewed on February 1, 1990 by Richard Wolinsky nd Richard A. Lupoff while she was on tour for her Adam Dalgliesh mystery, “Devices and Desires.” Digitized, remastered and re-edited by Richard Wolinsky.
Richard Powers discusses his latest novel, “Bewilderment” with host Richard Wolinsky. A winner of the Pulitzer, the National Book Award and the Booker Prize, Richard Powers is one of America’s greatest authors.
George Saunders, author of the novel “Lincoln in the Bardo,” in conversation with Richard Wolinsky. George Saunders is the highly acclaimed author of several short story collections, including “Tenth of December,” “CivilWarLand in Bad Decline,” “In Persuasion Nation” and others, along with political commentary that recently appeared in The New Yorker and other magazines. This podcast was first posted Feb. 26, 2017,
Daniel Handler discusses his latest novel, “Poison for Breakfast by Lemony Snicket” and other topics, in this wide-ranging interview with host Richard Wolinsky.
Mary Roach talks about her latest book, “Fuzz: When Nature Breaks the Law,” which examines the way mankind interacts with animals living in nature, from bear burglary to how to avoid hitting a camel. Hosted by Richard Wolinsky.
Frank Herbert (1920-1986), in a recently unearthed interview from 1981 for the “Probabilities” radio program, discusses his early career, his work with pulp magazine editors, the original publication story of “Dune” as well as some of the concepts in the story.
