Best Dialogue on Idaho Public Television Podcasts (2024)

1
Lois Leveen: A Spy in the Confederate White House 28:30

15h ago28:30

28:30

Dialogue host Marcia Franklin talks with historical novelist Lois Leveen about two of her works: The Secrets of Mary Bowser, about a former slave who was a spy in the Confederate White House, and Juliet's Nurse, which imagines the life of the nurse in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. Franklin asks Leveen about how she researches her ideas and what s…

1
Eric Liu: Citizen Power 29:04

1d ago29:04

29:04

As the United States heads for what portends to be a raucous convention season, Dialogue host Marcia Franklin talks with Eric Liu, the founder of Citizen University in Seattle, about whether it’s even possible in a seemingly fractured society to have a civil discussion about politics. Liu, also the executive director of the Citizenship and American…

1
Richard Ford: Language, Love and Life in America 29:11

9d ago29:11

29:11

Marcia Franklin talks with author Richard Ford, who won a Pulitzer Prize for Independence Day, a book in his Frank Bascombe series, and who was nominated for a Pulitzer for his most recent book in the series Let Me Be Frank With You. Ford talks with Franklin about his themes, his writing style, his muse and his thoughts on race relations. Don’t for…

1
Kevin Powers: The Yellow Birds 29:12

22d ago29:12

29:12

Marcia Franklin interviews author Kevin Powers, a veteran of the war in Iraq. His first work, "The Yellow Birds," was a finalist for the National Book Award. The novel depicts the friendship between two American soldiers in Iraq trying to keep each other alive, and the emotional journey of one of them as he returns home. Powers, who was a speaker a…

1
Michael Lanza: How to Enjoy the Big Outside, Part Two 29:04

20d ago29:04

29:04

Marcia Franklin continues her conversation with Boise-based outdoor writer Michael Lanza, focusing on tips for hiking and camping, including some of the best gear and small essentials to pack. The two also talk about ways to keep safe in the backcountry. Lanza, the former Northwest editor for Backpacker magazine, has written three books about hikin…

1
Michael Lanza: How to Enjoy the Big Outside, Part One 29:05

27d ago29:05

29:05

Marcia Franklin talks with Idaho outdoor writer and photographer Michael Lanza about some of the best backcountry trips in our region. Lanza, the former Northwest editor for Backpacker magazine, has written three books about hiking, as well as many articles chronicling his worldwide adventures backpacking, climbing, skiing and paddling. “Before The…

1
Richard Blanco: How to Love a Country 29:12

1M ago29:12

29:12

Marcia Franklin talks with poet Richard Blanco, the first LatinX and gay inaugural poet. Blanco wrote a poem for President Obama’s second inaugural and read it at the ceremony. He discusses the process of writing the inaugural poem, “One Today,” how the piece reflected his life and his philosophy of writing, the themes of his work, and the power of…

1
Jill Dougherty: Decoding Putin 29:05

1M ago29:05

29:05

As Russia’s dominance on the international stage increases, along with its presence in the American presidential election, Dialogue host Marcia Franklin talks with journalist Jill Dougherty about Russian President Vladimir Putin. Dougherty, who reported for CNN for 30 years, most recently as its Foreign Affairs Correspondent, was also the network’s…

1
Dave Barry: Idaho - A Whole Lotta Rocks! 28:58

2M ago28:58

28:58

Pulitzer Prize-winning humorist Dave Barry hams it up with host Marcia Franklin at the 2014 Sun Valley Writers’ Conference. The two talk about Barry’s various misadventures in the Gem State, including tree-climbing, snowmobiling and trout fishing—and what he thinks the new motto for Idaho should be. They also discuss Barry’s partnership with Ridley…

1
Robert MacNeil: Becoming an American 28:59

2M ago28:59

28:59

Marcia Franklin talks with Robert MacNeil, the veteran journalist, author, and former co-host of the NewsHour on PBS. MacNeil, who was born in Canada, talks about becoming an American, how the news profession changed over the course of his career, and his love for the English language. Don’t forget to subscribe, and visit the Dialogue website for m…

1
Justice Stephen Breyer: Active Liberty 29:54

2M ago29:54

29:54

In his book, Active Liberty: Interpreting Our Democratic Constitution, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer lays out his judicial philosophy, that judges should decide cases in a way that allows the public to maximize participation in government through what he calls "active liberty." Marcia Franklin talks with Justice Breyer about the precept…

1
Isabel Wilkerson: The Warmth of Other Suns 29:15

4M ago29:15

29:15

Marcia Franklin interviews Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Isabel Wilkerson about her book, The Warmth of Other Suns. The work, about the Great Migration of African-Americans from the south to other parts of the country, took Wilkerson 15 years to research and write. They discuss the reasons for the migration, its influence on the country, and ho…

1
Tayari Jones: An American Marriage 29:40

4M ago29:40

29:40

Novelist Tayari Jones describes the process of writing “An American Marriage,” a novel that chronicles the trajectory of a marriage when one of the spouses is wrongfully convicted of a crime. Jones talks with Marcia about the serendipity that led to the book’s characters, as well as how her writing is informed by the experiences of her parents, who…

1
Bob Edwards: The Birth of Broadcast Journalism 29:30

4M ago29:30

29:30

Bob Edwards, National Public Radio senior correspondent and longtime host of “Morning Edition,” has died. His sonorous voice has kept millions of NPR listeners company for decades. Edwards talked with Marcia Franklin in 2004 about his career and his book “Edward R. Murrow and the Birth of Broadcast Journalism.” Originally aired: 07/22/2004…

1
N. Scott Momaday: The West 29:19

4M ago29:19

29:19

Pulitzer Prize-winning Kiowa author N. Scott Momaday has died. In this interview from 1996, host Marcia Franklin talks with Momaday about his role in commentating on Native American culture in the recently released Ken Burns documentary ‘The West.’ Momaday also talks about how to find your voice as an author, as well as the relationship between Nat…

1
David Epstein: The Sports Gene 29:02

4M ago29:02

29:02

Marcia Franklin talks with David Epstein, an award-winning sports journalist and author of the bestselling book The Sports Gene. It delves into the controversial research on what role genetics plays in the development of athletic talent. The book also takes on the so-called “10,000 Hour Rule,” which contends that 10,000 hours of practice can produc…

1
Ethan Watters: Found Families and Generational Change 28:59

5M ago28:59

28:59

Writer Ethan Watters joins Marcia Franklin to discuss the themes in his book, Urban Tribes, which looks at the ways in which young, unmarried Americans create their own sense of family. Ethan Watters has written about psychiatry and social psychology for 20 years. He has also taught writing at Berkeley, Stanford, and California College of the Arts.…

1
Rep. John Lewis: Last of the Big Six 45:52

5M ago45:52

45:52

Marcia Franklin talks with Rep. John Lewis (D-GA), the last of the so-called "Big Six" leaders of the African-American civil rights movement. Lewis was the chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) from 1963 to 1966, and played a seminal role in some of the 56 most important activities of the movement, including the Freedom R…

1
Kurt Koontz: Walking ‘The Way’ 29:12

5M ago29:12

29:12

Marcia Franklin talks with Boise resident Kurt Koontz about his book, “A Million Steps,” which chronicles his journey along the Camino de Santiago trail in northern Spain. The 500-mile route, known colloquially as ‘The Way,’ was originally a trek made by Catholic pilgrims to the Santiago de Compostela Cathedral, believed to be the burial place of S…

1
Mohsin Hamid: The Last White Man 28:48

5M ago28:48

28:48

Conversations From the Sun Valley Writers’ Conference is back for a 16th season! In this episode, host Marcia Franklin speaks with writer Mohsin Hamid about his latest novel, The Last White Man. The story follows the transformation of a man who wakes up one day to find that his skin color has changed. Hamid, who often incorporates his own multicult…

1
Andrea Elliott: Invisible Child 28:48

6M ago28:48

28:48

Conversations From the Sun Valley Writers’ Conference is back for a 16th season! In this episode, journalist Andrea Elliott joins host Marcia Franklin to talk about her book, Invisible Child, which won the 2022 Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction. The book chronicles eight years in the life of Dasani Coates, a child in Brooklyn. Elliott shares wh…

1
David Grann: The Wager 28:48

6M ago28:48

28:48

Conversations From the Sun Valley Writers’ Conference is back for a 16th season! In this episode, David Grann regales viewers with some of the amazing true stories surrounding the wreck of The Wager, a British ship that sank off the tip of South America in 1741. In his book The Wager, Grann uses rare primary source documents to reconstruct the harr…

1
Hernan Diaz: Trust 28:48

6M ago28:48

28:48

Conversations From the Sun Valley Writers’ Conference is back for a 16th season! In this episode, Hernan Diaz joins Marcia Franklin to discuss his latest novel, Trust, which won the 2023 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. The intricately braided tale about characters in the world of high finance gives readers four different takes on the same story, playin…

1
Abraham Verghese: The Covenant of Water 28:48

6M ago28:48

28:48

Conversations From the Sun Valley Writers’ Conference is back for a 16th season! In this episode, host Marcia Franklin talks with Dr. Abraham Verghese about his latest blockbuster novel, The Covenant of Water. The epic, which includes a mystery at its core, covers more than 70 years in the intertwined lives of families in the Indian state of Kerala…

1
Susan Orlean: True Story 29:40

7M ago29:40

29:40

Longtime New Yorker writer and author Susan Orlean joins host Marcia Franklin for a lively chat about her writing style and her work, including hundreds of magazine articles, “The Library Book,” and an upcoming memoir. Don’t forget to subscribe, and visit the Dialogue website for more conversations that matter. Originally Aired: 12/31/2021 The inte…

1
Naomi Shihab Nye: Making the Ordinary Extraordinary 29:11

7M ago29:11

29:11

Known for elevating the “ordinary” with her keen observations, including life in Latino and Arab communities, Palestinian-American poet Naomi Shihab Nye is the author or editor of more than 30 works of poetry, fiction and essays. Her books include Words Under the Words; Red Suitcase; Fuel; You and Yours; Never in a Hurry; Habibi; A-maze Me; Honeybe…

1
Tim O'Brien: The Things We Carry 29:27

7M ago29:27

29:27

Host Marcia Franklin interviews one of the most esteemed writers of the Vietnam War era, Tim O’Brien. O’Brien, who served as an infantryman from 1969 to 1970, wrote a memoir in 1972 called “If I Die in a Combat Zone, Box Me Up and Ship Me Home.” It received excellent reviews, and in 1978, O’Brien won the National Book Award for “Going After Cacciat…

1
Anthony Doerr: Cloud Cuckoo Land 40:04

7M ago40:04

40:04

Host Marcia Franklin talks in-depth with author Anthony Doerr about his newest book, “Cloud Cuckoo Land,” and the Netflix adaptation of “All the Light We Cannot See,” his 2014 novel that won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. “Mr. Doerr’s been on Dialogue more times than any other author,” says Franklin. “But still, it had been eight years since we’d …

1
Stacy Schiff: The Legacy of the Salem Witch Trials 29:12

7M ago29:12

29:12

Marcia Franklin talks with Pulitzer Prize–winning author Stacy Schiff about her work, The Witches. The book examines the Salem Witch Trials of 1692, delving into what precipitated them, and the participants involved. Franklin talks with Schiff about why she wanted to write the book, the challenges involved and the legacy of the trials. Don’t forget…

1
Gretel Ehrlich: The Solace of Open Spaces 28:57

8M ago28:57

28:57

Marcia Franklin talks with author Gretel Ehrlich about her works and passions. Perhaps best known for her memoirs about the American West, including The Solace of Open Spaces, Ehrlich has also spent extensive time in the Arctic, writing about the effects of climate change on the wildlife and culture there. Franklin talks to her about that issue, he…

1
Heather Rae & Russ Friedenberg: Filmmaking in Idaho 29:35

8M ago29:35

29:35

Marcia Franklin talks with Idaho filmmakers Heather Rae and Russell Friedenberg. The two produced and wrote “Trudell,” a documentary about Native American poet and activist John Trudell. The documentary aired on Idaho Public Television as part of the “Independent Lens” series. Rae and Friedenberg discuss their film, which premiered at Sundance and …

1
Andrew Solomon: The Secret We Share 29:09

8M ago29:09

29:09

Author and professor Andrew Solomon relates how he went from being a bullied child suffering from depression to an award-winning journalist traveling the world. Solomon’s 2001 book, The Noonday Demon: An Atlas of Depression, won the National Book Award for Nonfiction. He has delivered popular TED Talks on culture and psychology. Don’t forget to sub…

1
Amy Waldman: Memorializing 9/11 28:58

9M ago28:58

28:58

Amy Waldman, a former reporter for The New York Times, discusses her bestselling novel The Submission, which tells the fictional tale of Mohammad “Mo” Khan, a secular Muslim who wins a competition to design a memorial honoring the victims of a terrorist attack similar to 9/11. When the jury members discover who’ve they’ve selected, some try to chan…

1
Steve Coll: Journalism Under Fire 29:03

9M ago29:03

29:03

Journalist Steve Coll talks with Marcia Franklin about his latest book, Directorate S, a follow-up to his Pulitzer Prize-winning book Ghost Wars. He discusses why he wanted to write the book and what he learned — including about Idahoan Bowe Bergdahl, who was imprisoned by the Taliban. Coll, who is also the dean of the Columbia University School of…

1
Gov. Cecil Andrus and Chris Carlson: A Mutual Respect 29:14

10M ago29:14

29:14

Marcia Franklin talks with four-term Idaho Governor Cecil D. Andrus and one of his former press secretaries, Chris Carlson. Carlson has written a book about his experiences working for the governor entitled Idaho's Greatest Governor. The two discuss Andrus' personal and political philosophies, as well as what they consider the highlights of his car…

1
Gov. Phil Batt: "A Lucky Man" 28:12

10M ago28:12

28:12

Marcia Franklin talks with former Idaho Governor Phil Batt, who passed away earlier this year. Originally aired: 01/2027/2000

1
Historian Robert Dallek: Hail to the Chief 28:51

10M ago28:51

28:51

Marcia Franklin interviews presidential historian Robert Dallek about the upcoming election and the qualities he believes are important in order to lead a country. Dallek, the author of more than a half dozen books, including a two-volume biography of President Lyndon Johnson, is a professor of history at Boston University. He is a frequent comment…

1
Novelist Tim O'Brien: The Things We Carry 29:27

11M ago29:27

29:27

Host Marcia Franklin interviews one of the most esteemed writers of the Vietnam War era, Tim O'Brien. O'Brien, who served as an infantryman from 1969 to 1970, wrote a memoir in 1972 called "If I Die in a Combat Zone, Box Me Up and Ship Me Home." It received excellent reviews, and in 1978, O'Brien won the National Book Award for "Going After Cacciat…

1
Attorney Kenneth Feinberg: In the Wake of Tragedy 28:48

10M ago28:48

28:48

Marcia Franklin talks with attorney Kenneth Feinberg, the special master of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund and the administrator of the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Trust and the Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund at Virginia Tech. Mr. Feinberg also has served as special master in the Agent Orange, TARP executive compensation, asbestos perso…

1
Filmmaker Michael Hoffman: The Tolstoys 29:29

11M ago29:29

29:29

Marcia Franklin talks with Idaho filmmaker Michael Hoffman, whose movie The Last Station has been nominated for two Academy Awards. Based on a novel by Jay Parini of the same name, The Last Station chronicles the final year in the life of Russian writer and philosopher Leo Tolstoy, who was locked in a battle with his wife Sophia about the rights to…

1
Journalist Jere Van Dyk: A Prisoner of the Taliban 29:22

11M ago29:22

29:22

Journalist Jere Van Dyk talks with Marcia Franklin about the 45 days he spent as a captive of the Taliban in Afghanistan in 2008. An experienced international reporter who had traveled to Afghanistan many times since the 1970s, Van Dyk was captured trying to find some of his original Mujahideen contacts from the 1980s. His account of his experience…

1
Author Patricia Nelson Limerick: The Legacy of Conquest 29:01

11M ago29:01

29:01

Marcia Franklin talks with author Patricia Nelson Limerick about her books about the American West. Limerick shares her views that the West has been overly romanticized and that history has ignored the contributions of women and people of color in settling the West. Originally aired: 04/17/1997

1
Ernest Hemingway: His Life and Work 59:07

12M ago59:07

59:07

Ernest Hemingway spent the last years of his life in Ketchum, where he died in 1961. To commemorate his life and writing on the 100th anniversary of his birth, the Idaho Humanities Council in 1999 invited several noted Hemingway scholars to Sun Valley to work with Idaho teachers. Marcia Franklin talks with four scholars about Hemingway; the discuss…

1
Filmmaker Michael Hoffman: The Emperor's Club 29:05

12M ago29:05

29:05

Director Michael Hoffman and author Ethan Canin join Marcia Franklin for a conversation about Hoffman's film "The Emperor’s Club." The movie is based on Canin's short story, "The Palace Thief." Hoffman, an Idaho native, shares the reasons he wanted to direct "The Emperor's Club," his thoughts on the film's themes, and his experiences working with C…

1
Filmmaker Michael Hoffman: Shakespeare on Screen 28:48

12M ago28:48

28:48

Marcia Franklin talks with Idaho filmmaker Michael Hoffman about the inspiration for his movies, including Promised Land, One Fine Day, A Midsummer's Night Dream, and Restoration, which won two Academy Awards. The two also discuss his work with the Idaho Shakespeare Festival, which he co-founded, and how growing up in Idaho and going to Boise State…

1
Historian Nathaniel Philbrick: A City, A Siege, A Revolution 29:04

1y ago29:04

29:04

Marcia Franklin talks with maritime writer and historian Nathaniel Philbrick, the speaker at the 2013 Idaho Humanities Council Distinguished Humanities Lecture. Philbrick is the author of numerous books, including most recently "Bunker Hill: A City, a Siege, a Revolution," which looks at the deadliest battle of the American Revolution and how it in…

1
Ken & Betty Rodgers: The Making of Bravo! 27:53

1y ago27:53

27:53

Marcia Franklin continues her conversation with Ken and Betty Rodgers about their documentary, "Bravo! Common Men, Uncommon Valor," which chronicles the experiences of the member of Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 26th Marines in the Siege of Khe Sanh in Vietnam. She focuses on how the couple produced the film. She also talks with Steve Wiese, a vete…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Dialogue On Idaho Public Television Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Quick Reference Guide