Joanna Sokol spent years as an EMT, including working as a wilderness EMT and a ski patroller. She also has worked in the desert in Reno and in the Tenderloin district of San Francisco. Now she chronicles 15 years of her experience as a paramedic in her new memoir, A Real Emergency: Stories from the Ambulance . Sokol discusses, and listeners call in to speak about their time working as an EMT....
Jun 23, 2025•19 min•Ep. 1345
This summer, from June 23rd to the end of Labor Day weekend, we are challenging YOU, our listeners, to complete our second summer reading challenge . Just like in school, but for fun! The deadline to register as a participant is July 1st! Click here to sign up! Participants will select and read at least one book in ALL FIVE of the following categories... A classic you’ve been meaning to get to A book about or set in New York City A memoir or biography A recent debut novel A book published in 202...
Jun 23, 2025•22 min•Ep. 1344
Earlier this month, the Recording Academy announced that next year's Grammy Awards will include a category for Best Album Cover . Joe Lynch , East Coast executive digital director at Billboard, explains the change, shares his thoughts on the role of album art in music, and take your calls for the best album covers of all time.
Jun 23, 2025•20 min•Ep. 1343
Bill Sherman wears many hats , including as the music director of "Sesame Street," orchestrating and arranging Broadway productions like "& Juliet," and "In The Heights," producing the "Hamilton" cast album, and also music director behind " Donkey Hodie ," a puppet music video series for preschoolers on PBS Kids. Sherman discuss his career in music, and previews the second season of "Donkey Hodie," streaming this summer on PBS Kids and YouTube....
Jun 23, 2025•30 min•Ep. 1342
[REBROADCAST from March 2023] For our Full Bio selection in March 2023, in honor of Women's History Month, we learned about political trailblazer, New York congresswoman and presidential candidate Shirley Chisholm with Anastasia C. Curwood , author of the new biography Shirley Chisholm: Champion of Black Feminist Power Politics .
Jun 20, 2025•50 min•Ep. 1341
[REBROADCAST from Nov. 2024] Our November 2024 Full Bio selection was John Lewis: A Life , written by author David Greenberg . Greenberg interviewed Lewis before his death as well as over 250 people for a comprehensive biography about the US Congressman, Civil Rights Activist, and preacher of getting into, as he called it, "good trouble."
Jun 20, 2025•52 min•Ep. 1340
[REBROADCAST FROM June 2023] On Juneteenth, listen to our special presentation of all six installments of a Full Bio conversation about King: A Life , the first comprehensive account of Martin Luther King Jr. in three decades, written by Jonathan Eig , in recognition of King's fight for rights a century after enslaved people were emancipated.
Jun 19, 2025•1 hr 41 min•Ep. 1339
Writer S.A. Cosby discusses his latest thriller, King of Ashes . It follows a man named Roman who returns home to try and save his family from the revenge of angry gang members. Cosby will discuss the book on June 18 at Barnes and Noble's Upper West Side location.
Jun 18, 2025•26 min•Ep. 1338
Romance novels are experiencing a surge in popularity, and the sales of LGBTQ+ novels in particular are taking off. Leah Koch is the owner of the Ripped Bodice , a romance bookstore in Brooklyn. She talks about her favorite queer romance novels, and takes listener's calls about theirs.
Jun 18, 2025•24 min•Ep. 1337
This summer, The Jewish Museum is examining the life and work of a local artist who dared to be different. Ben Shahn was born in present day Lithuania in 1898, but immigrated to Brooklyn as a boy after his father was exiled to Siberia. Shahn began a life of using his art to respond to historical moments with social realism, from the Great Depression to the Vietnam War. Dr. Laura Katzman , professor of art history at James Madison University, and Dr. Stephen Brown , curator at the Jewish Museum d...
Jun 18, 2025•17 min•Ep. 1336
This summer marks the 50th anniversary of when "Jaws" first terrorized a generation of children in the movie theater. Radiolab is commemorating the anniversary with a week of programming dedicated to sharks, from understanding our fears of sharks, to our recent shark-related scientific discoveries. Producer Rachael Cusick and Radiolab managing editor Pat Walters discuss Swimming With Shadows: A Radiolab Week of Sharks , and listeners share their memories of seeing "Jaws" or questions they have a...
Jun 18, 2025•35 min•Ep. 1335
20 years ago today, the IFC Center opened with a mission to play the best independent films from the United States, and around the world. Harris Dew , vice president and general manager of the IFC Center, discusses the last two decades of movies at the IFC Center, and previews the special programming happening this evening, and over the course of the next few months. Listeners call in to share their memories of the best movies they've seen at the IFC Center....
Jun 17, 2025•19 min•Ep. 1334
Tony Award-winner Renée Elise Goldsberry has released her debut album, Who I Really Am , coinciding with the tenth anniversary of "Hamilton" on Broadway. Goldsberry joins for a Listening Party, and discusses playing Angelica Schuyler a decade ago.
Jun 17, 2025•31 min•Ep. 1333
You know Toni Morrison the writer, but what about Toni the editor? As she rose in literary fame, Morrison also worked in publishing as a senior editor for Random House, the first black woman to hold such a title in the company. Dana A. Williams , professor of African American literature and dean of the Graduate School at Howard University, discusses her new book about Toni Morrison's career as an editor, Toni at Random: The Iconic Writer's Legendary Editorship , which includes stories about the ...
Jun 17, 2025•26 min•Ep. 1332
Marlee Matlin made history in 1987 as the first Deaf actor to win an Academy Award. After decades of advocacy within Hollywood and within the Deaf community, Matlin's film "CODA" took home the Oscar for Best Picture in 2022, and her co-star Troy Katsur became the second Deaf actor to win an Oscar. A new documentary follows Matlin's trailblazing life and career. Matlin and director Shoshannah Stern discuss " Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore ," in theaters June 20....
Jun 17, 2025•25 min•Ep. 1331
For the final installment of the ongoing series 100 Pieces of Art, Sarah Cho , assistant curator at the Queens Museum , recommends 10 pieces of art you should go see in New York City. Listeners share their thoughts on their favorite pieces of art in the city.
Jun 16, 2025•29 min•Ep. 1329
The new film from Celine Song , the writer and director of " Past Lives ," follows a New York City matchmaker who is torn between her ex-boyfriend and the man who is perfect on paper. Song talks about the film, " Materialists ," in theaters now.
Jun 16, 2025•31 min•Ep. 1327
Can you leave your dishes in the sink "to soak?" How much notice do you need to give before hosting an overnight guest? How much noise is too much after midnight? Comedian Michael Abber , host of the web series ' Roommate Court, ' discusses how he thinks about the issues that arise when two independent adults share a home, and listeners call in to have their roommate disputes mediated and adjudicated.
Jun 16, 2025•20 min•Ep. 1328
In his latest novel, author Jess Walter focuses on the ways conspiracy theories can tear a family apart. So Far Gone follows a grandfather living off the grid who re-enters his family's life to try and locate his daughter, who has gone missing and might be with a dangerous militia group. Walter talks about the book ahead of an event tonight at Symphony Space at 7 pm....
Jun 16, 2025•21 min•Ep. 1330
This month, the music world lost two giants: Sly Stone of Sly and the Family Stone, and Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys. Both died at the age of 82. Music journalist and former editor-in-chief of Vibe and Spin Magazines Alan Light discusses the life, careers, and legacies of Stone and Wilson. Plus, callers share their thoughts and memories for both icons.
Jun 13, 2025•23 min•Ep. 1326
