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.
Oscar Hijuelos (1951-2013), Pulitzer Prize winning author of “The Mambo Kings Sing Songs of Love,” and other novels, in conversation with Richard Wolinsky. The interview was first aired August 18, 2011 following the publication of “Thoughts Without Cigarettes,” a memoir, and “Beautiful Maria of My Soul,” a sequel to “Mambo Kings.”
Paul Mazursky (1930-2014) was a major film director during the 1970s and 1980s. Among his films were Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice, Harry & Tonto, An Unmarried Woman, Enemies: A Love Story, and Down and Out in Beverly Hills. On June 8, 1999, he was interviewed by Richard Wolinsky and Richard A. Lupoff in the KPFA studios while on tour for his memoir, “Show Me The Magic.”
Tess Gerritsen, author of the best-selling Rizzoli & Isles series of novels, discusses her latest thriller, “Choose Me,” written in collaboration with mystery author Gary Braver. She also talks about how the pandemic affected her writing, her views on working as an Asian American author, and her history working in films and television. Hosted by Richard Wolinsky.
In 2013, New Yorker staff writer George Packer’s book, “The Unwinding: An Inner History of the New America,” closely examined the changes in American society and politics that led to the political turmoil of the Obama years and in a way predicted the outcomes we’ve seen since the book was published. “The Unwinding” went on to win the National Book Award for non-fiction. This interview was recorded on June 4, 2013. Hosted by Richard Wolinsky.
A conversation with Jim Obergefell, co-author of Love Wins: The Lovers and Lawyers Who Fought the Landmark Case for Marriage Equality. Hosted by Richard Wolinsky. In June 2015 in the case Obergefell v Hodges, the Supreme Court made gay marriage the law of the land. Since then he has become a spokesperson for gay rights around the country. The book Love Wins, co-written by journalilst Debbie Cenziper, tells the story of the marriage equality case against the backdrop of Jim and John’s relationship, and the relationships of others who also joined the case.
In honor of Pride Month, an interview with Armistead Maupin, recorded in January 2015 with host Richard Wolinsky, following the trade paper publication of the last Tales of the City book, “The Days of Anna Madrigal.” The musical “Tales of the City” is streaming June 21 – June 27, 2021 through the ACT website.
Paul Rudnick discusses his new novel, “Playing the Palace,” the film “Coastal Elites,” and his career as a playwright and screenwriter with host Richard Wolinsky. Among Paul Rudnick’s screenplays are “In and Out,” “Sister Act” and “Addams Family Values.” His plays include “Jeffrey” and “The Most Fabulous Story Ever Told.”
An interview with legendary author J. G. Ballard (1930-2009), conducted for KPFA’s Probabilities radio program in 1988, digitized and re-edited in 2016 by Richard Wolinsky. J. G. Ballard, who died in 2009 at the age of 78, was one of the greatest of all British speculative fiction writers, and one of the major writers of the period known as the British New Wave. On May 8th, 1988, KPFA’s Probabilities crew (Lawrence Davidson, Richard A. Lupoff and Richard Wolinsky) had a chance to sit down with J. G. Ballard while he was on tour for his novel, The Day of Creation. It turned into a fascinating career retrospective.
Kate MacKay, curator of the Eric Rohmer retrospective, Tales of the Four Seasons, streaming on the Berkeley Art Museum/Pacific Film Archive, talks about the great French New Wave director, these films, and BAM/PFA during the Covid shut-down. Hosted by Richard Wolinsky. (photo from “Summer Tale,” Janus films)
Novelist Richard Powers discusses his acclaimed novel, “The Time of Our Singing,” with host Richard Wolinsky.. Recorded in the KPFA studios, February 14, 2003.
