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.
Part One: Theatre Rhino Artistic Director discusses the company’s latest play, “Left Field,” which runs from February 19th to March 15th, as well as what’s happening in local theatre today.
Part Two: Award-winning filmmaker Todd Haynes discusses several of his films in this interview recorded in February 2025.
Also: Reviews of “They Orc Mountaintop” at Oakland Theatre Project and “The Cherry Orchard” at Marin Theatre.
Hosted by Richard Wolinsky.
John Sayles, author of the novel “Crucible” and director of eighteen independent films, including “Lone Star,” Eight Men Out” and “The Secret of Roan Inish” in conversation with Richard Wolinsky. They are joined by Maggie Renzi, John Sayles’ producer on fourteen of his eighteen films. Recorded January 20, 2026 in the KPFA studios. Also: A review of “How Shakespeare Saved My Life” at Berkeley Rep Peets Theatre through March 1, 2026. Credit: Richard Wolinsky
Part One: Actor/Pianist Hershey Felder discusses his world premiere stage show, “The PIano and Me,” playing at TheatreWorks Mountain View through February 8, Part Two: Oscar nominated actor and theatre director talks about his work directing August Wilson’s play “Joe Turner’s Come and Gone” in this interview recorded in November, 2008
Also: Review of “A Streetcar Named Desire” by Tennessee Williams, at ACT’s Tony Rembe Theatre through February 1, 2026.
Part One: Kurt Vonnegut (1922-2007), interviewed on September 23, 1991 by Richard Wolinsky and Richard A. Lupoff while on tour for his collection of essays, “Fates Worse Than Death,” recorded for the “Probabilities” radio program.
Part Two. Mavis Gallant (1922-2014, noted anti-Fascist short story writer for the New Yorker magazine, in conversation with Richard Wolinsky and Richard A. Lupoff on Ocrober 6, 1993 while on tour for her collection, Across The Bridge.
Hosted by Richard Wolinsky. (Photo: Jill Krementz, Delacorte Press)
Laura Truffaut, daughter of the great French New Wave film-maker Francois Truffaut (1932-1984) in conversation with host Richard Wolinsky, discussing her father’s films and her memories of his film shoots. Berkeley Art Museum & Pacifc Film Archive is presenting a retrospective of nine films of Francois Truffaut, beginning with his first film, “The 400 Blows” and continuing to his final film, “Confidentially Yours,” from January 17 to February 28th, all introduced by Laura Truffaut. Photo: Day for Night, Francois Truffaut, right. Courtesy BAMPFA.
John Varley (1947-2025), Hugo and Nebula award winning science fiction author, who died December 10, 2025 at the age of 78, in conversation with Richard Wolinsky on “Probabilities” on July 17, 1992. Alan Furst, noted spy novelist, talks about his book “Blood of Victory” and researching World War II in an interview recorded in 2002. Also: James Lapine discusses his career with Stephen Sondheim in a short excerpt. Hosted by Richard Wolinsky.
Jack Arnold, who died at the age of 75 in 1992, was the 1950s master of the science fiction film. Among the films he directed were It Came From Outer Space, The Creature from the Black Lagoon, Revenge of the Creature, Tarantula, and The Incredible Shrinking Man. The Probabilities crew – Richard A. Lupoff, Lawrence Davidson and Richard Wolinsky – received a small stipend from a science fiction convention and flew to Los Angeles to interview Jack Arnold in his office at Universal Studiosin 1980.
Prolific genre author Joe R. Lansdale, in conversation with Richard Wolinsky, recorded November 12, 2025, discussing his latest Hap & Leonard book, “Hatchet Girls,” his recent collections, and his life as a writer.
Stephen Greenblatt, in conversation with Richard Wolinsky about his book Dark Renaissance: The Dangerous Times and Fatal Genius o Shakespeare’s Greatest Rival, recorded September 11, 2025. Plus a review of “Sunday in the Park with George” at Shotgun Players Ashby Stage through January 31, 2026.
Playwright Lauren Gunderson discusses her latest work and their productions, including plays at TheatreWorks and the Pear Theatre on the SF Peninsula, along with a look at her forthcoming play, Muse of Fire, which will be at the Magic Theatre next fall. Also, excerpts from a 2002 interview with spy novelist Alan Furst. Hosted by Richard Wolinsky.
