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.
Nora Ephron in conversation with Richard Wolinsky, recorded November 21, 2010, while on tour for her book, “I Remember Nothing.” Known as one of the finest screenplay writers Hollywood ever saw, she is best known for such films as Silkwood, When Harry Met Sally, and Sleepless in Seattle. Her final film was Julie & Julia, which she also directed. A playwright and essayist, her influence is still felt in the entertainment business.
Ann Beattie, author of the novel, A Wonderful Stroke of Luck, in conversation with Richard Wolinsky. Known primarily as one of the finest short story writers alive today, Ann Beattie also has a long and distinguished career as a novelist.
Nathan Englander, whose latest novel is “kaddish.com,” in conversation with host Richard Wolinsky. The author of two other novels, including “Ministry of Special Cases,” and two acclaimed short story collections, “For the Relief of Unbearable Urges” and “What We Talk About When We Talk About Anne Frank” talks about his latest book, which deals with the intersection of religion and technology
Susan Oxtoby, Senior Film Curator at BAMPFA, Pacific Film Archive, and curator of the “Against Authority: The Films of Masaki Kobayashi” series retrospective running in July and August 2019, in conversation with host Richard Wolinsky.
Susan Sontag (1933-2004) was an essayist, novelist, activist, film-maker, philosopher and teacher. On March 16, 2000, while on tour for what would be her final novel, “In America,” she was interviewed by Richard Wolinsky and Richard A. Lupoff in San Francisco.
National Book Award winning novelist Ha Jin discusses his latest book, “The Banished Immortal,” a biography of celebrated 8th Century Chinese poet Li Bai (also known as Li Po). Hosted by Richard Wolinsky.
Barry Lopez, whose latest book is “Horizon” in conversation with Richard Wolinsky. From the National Book Award-winning author of the now-classic “Arctic Dreams,” a vivid, poetic, capacious work that recollects the travels around the world and the encounters–human, animal, and natural–that have shaped an extraordinary life.
Armistead Maupin, author of the Tales of the City novels and other works, in conversation with Richard Wolinsky, recorded June 14, 2007 at KPFA following the publication of “Michael Tolliver Lives,” which features one of the key characters from the series. In the interview he discusses the origin of the series of books. A fourth series of Tales of the City was released on Netflix in June, 2019.
Patricia Marx and Roz Chast, co-authors of the humor book, “Why Don’t You Write My Eulogy Now So I Can Correct It?: A Mother’s Suggestions,” talk about their work and life with host Richard Wolinsky. Patricia Marx is a staff writer on the New Yorker magazine, and writes various comic pieces, and Roz Chast is a cartoonist whose work is recognizable to anyone who has looked through the New Yorker’s pages.
Tony Horwitz (1958 – May 27, 2019) discusses his most recent book, “Spying on the South” with host Richard Wolinsky. Recorded May 17, 2019 at the start of his book tour. The book follows the path of the creator of Central Park, Frederick Law Olmstead, down the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers to the Mexican border.
