1:00 PM: Thursdays
Bookwaves/Artwaves presents in-depth interviews with authors of fiction and narrative non-fiction, delving deeply into political and social issues, literary technique, and the life of the author, along with interviews devoted to theatre and film, and archive interviews from Bookwaves and Probabilities. Hosted by Richard Wolinsky.
Pride Special: David Sedaris discusses his latest collection of essays, “The Land and Its People: and delves into how he writes his essays in this new interview. Edmund White (1940-2025) one of the foremost writers of gay literature, discusses his novel, “The Married Man” in this interview recorded June 10, 2000 and now heard for the first time in a quarter century.
For Pride Month, an interview with Michael Cunningham, Pulitzer Prize winning author of “The Hours,” recorded in 2005 and not heard in two decades. Then an interview with the great science fiction and horror author Dan Simmons (1948-2026), author of the Hyperion series and “The Terror,” who died this past February, interviewed by Richard Wolinsky and Richard A. Lupoff for Probabilities in 1991. Recently digitized, this interview has not aired in over thirty years. Hosted by Richard Wolinsky.
Jeff Griffith-Perham is the curator of a retrospective “A Complete Stanley Kubrick” at Berkeley Art Museum/Pacific Film Archive (BAMPFA), running from June 12 through August 30, 2026. He is interviewed by host Richard Wolinsky. In this interview, each of Kubrick’s films are discussed, along with ideas about Kubrick’s antiwar viewpoint, his working process and his place in film history. (Photo from The Shining courtesy BAMPFA).
Helen Benedict, Columbia Profesysor of Journalism and author of the novel, “The Soldier’s House,” about the lives of Iraqi refugees in America in 2010, in conversation with host Richard Wolinsky. Also: A review of “The Lunchbox” at Berkeley Rep through July 5, 2026.
British novelist and essayist John Lanchester discusses his latest novel, “Look What You Made Me Do,” a satirical psychological thriller, along with his essays on Artificial Intelligence and generation gaps. Also: Reviews of “Pictures from Home’ at Marin Theatre through May 31st and “Dracula, A Feminist Revenge Fantasy, Really” at San Francisco Playhouse through June 27th. Produced and hosted by Richard Wolinsky.
George Saunders, whose latest novel is Vigil, in conversation with Richard Wolinsky. This latest novel, Vigil, takes place in the in-between time before death, when an elderly oil oligarch lies dying, and an angel of mercy, a ghost, named Jill, is on hand to comfort him. The question at hand concerns forgiveness, accountability, grace and several other issues that become involved when someone whose actions were deleterious to humankind and the planet is forced to examine their actions on earth. Also: Review of “Come from Away” at TheatreWorks Mountain View through May 10, 2026.
Margaret Atwood discusses her Maddaddam trilogy and other topics in an interview recorded in 2013, which has not been aired in over a decade. Walter Mosley talks about his various series, focusing on Easy Rawlins and King Oliver, in an interview recorded in March, 2025. Hosted by Richard Wolinsky.
Patrick Dooley, Artistic Director of Shotgun Players theatre company, in conversation with host Richard Wolinsky. In the interview, Patrick discusses his own history with live theatre, the origins of Shotgun Players, his views on such issues as the age of the audience and the subscription model, as well as the rest of the 2026 theatrical season. Also: A review of “The Monsters” at Berkeley Rep’s Peets Theatre through May 3, 2026.
Mary Roach discusses “Gulp: Adventures in the Alimentary Canal” in this interview from 2013. Gemma Whelan discusses her novel “Painting in the Dark,” recorded in 2023. Also: Review of “Flex” at San Francisco Playhouse through May 2, 2026. Hosted by Richard Wolinsky.
Pulitzer Prize winning non-fiction author Tracy Kidder, who died on March 24, 2026 at the age of 80, is interviewed about his book “Strength in What Remains” and his career in this interview from 2009. Spy thriller author Joseph Kanon discusses his career and his novel “Defectors” in an interview from 2017. Also: Review of “The Goat or Who Is Sylvia?” at Shotgun Players Ashby Stage through April 28, 2026. Hosted by Richard Wolinsky.
E. Hoffman Price (1898-1988), fantasy and science fiction author who published in various pulp magazines from the 1920s into the 1950s, in conversation with Probabiliaties hosts Richard Wolinsky, Richard A. Lupoff and Lawrence Davidson, recorded in early 1979 at Price’s home in Redwood City, California. Price is known today for a collaboration with the great horror writer H.P. Lovecraft. Also, a brief interview with independent film maker Rob Nillson, and a review of “Assassins” at Oakland Theatre Project through April 5, 2026. Hosted by Richard Wolinsky.
