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.
Harlan Coben is the author of several best-selling novels. In this interview recorded in 2016 at Book Passage Bookstore in Corte Madera, he discusses his career to that point, and his most recent novel at that time, “Fool Me Once.” Encore podcast originally posted April 21, 2016.
Susan Faludi talks with host Richard Wolinsky about her book, In The Darkroom, winner of the 2016 Kirkus Prize and a finalist for the 2017 Pulitzer Prize. This encore podcast was first posted on October 5, 2016. In The Darkroom remains Susan Faludi’s most recent book to date.
Peter Brook (1925-2022) visionary director, in conversation with Richard Wolinsky. Peter Brook, who died on July 2, 2022 at the age of 97 was one of the greatest theatrical directors of the twentieth century. Artistic director of the Royal Shakespeare Company for twenty years from 1962-1982, he transformed how the English speaking world looked at the plays of William Shakespeare. This interview was recorded while he was in San Francisco, working with his collaborator Marie Helene Estienne on “Battlefield,” a short theatrical piece based on themes from The Mahabarata. The interview was recorded April 24, 2017. Included in the podcast is a brief commentary on Peter Brook by actor and director Simon McBurney.
Garry Marshall (1934-2016) was a television producer (“Happy Days”) and film director (“Pretty Woman”). In this interview hosted by Richard Wolinsky conducted in 2012 while he was on tour for his memoir, he discusses his entire career, starting with writing for men’s magazines in the 1950s. Encore podcast first posted July 20, 2016. Recorded at Book Passage Bookstore in Corte Madera.
David Sedaris, whose latest collection of essays is titled “Happy Go Lucky,” is interviewed by Richard Wolinsky. Recorded June 9, 2022 at Book Passage Bookstore in Corte Madera, California. David Sedaris is author of thirteen books, including Me Talk Pretty One Day, A Carnival of Snackery, The Best of Me, Calypso, Let’s Explore Diabetes with Owls and others. He has been a commentator on NPR and CBS.
Christine Dwyer, who plays “Mother,” along with characters in the ensemble, in the current production of the musical “Ragtime” at TheatreWorks Mountain View Center for the Arts, in conversation with host Richard Wolinsky. Christine Dwyer performed as Elphaba in the Broadway and touring productions of “Wicked,” and has appeared on tour in both “Finding Neverland” and “Waitress.”
James Salter (1925-2015) was what’s known as a writer’s writer. Author of several novels, screenplays collections of essays and short fiction and travel works, he came on tour to Berkeley for his memoir, Burning the Days, which discussed his life as an army pilot and as a writer. He was interviewed at KPFA on October 7, 1997 by Richard Wolinsky and Richard A. Lupoff.
KJ Sanchez, director and co-adapter (with Karen Zacarias) of “Romeo y Juliet” at Cal Shakes, California Shakespeare Theatre, in conversation with Richard Wolinsky. in the interview she discusses the play and her work as a director, and teaching directing. She is also an Associate Professor at the University of Texas in Austin, and discusses the current political situation in Texas.
Jasson Minadakis, Artistic Director of Marin Theatre Company and director of “The Sound Inside,” by Adam Rapp, which runs May 26 – June 19, 2022, in conversation with host Richard Wolinsky. A comprehensive interview about how Covid impacted Marin Theatre Company, and how it continues to impact the company, including a look at “The Sound Inside” and the challenges of directing under unusual circumstances.
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. Originally posted May 13, 2016.
