Francesca Rheannon Podcasts

We talk with poet, farmer and author Scott Chaskey about his new book, Soil and Spirit: Cultivation and Kinship In The Web of Life. It’s about poetry, soil, farming and community. Then, Chef Ravinder Bhogal introduces us to the comfort and joy of immigrant food. Her book is Comfort and Joy: Irresistible Pleasures from a Vegetarian Kitchen. Writers …

We talk with poet, farmer and author Scott Chaskey about his new book, Soil and Spirit: Cultivation and Kinship In The Web of Life. It’s about poetry, soil, farming and community. Then, Chef Ravinder Bhogal introduces us to the comfort and joy of immigrant food. Her book is Comfort and Joy: Irresistible Pleasures from a Vegetarian Kitchen. Writers …

We talk with Simon Worrall and Heather Dune-Macadam. About the fascinating and tragic story of a young Jewish artist in Nazi-occupied Paris. Their book is STAR CROSSED: A True Romeo and Juliet Story in Hitler’s Paris. Then, New York Times columnist and author Margaret Renkl tells us about her acclaimed new book THE COMFORT OF CROWS: A Backyard Year…

We talk with Simon Worrall and Heather Dune-Macadam. About the fascinating and tragic story of a young Jewish artist in Nazi-occupied Paris. Their book is STAR CROSSED: A True Romeo and Juliet Story in Hitler’s Paris. Then, New York Times columnist and author Margaret Renkl tells us about her acclaimed new book THE COMFORT OF CROWS: A Backyard Year…

Military violence against hospitals, patients, and health workers has become a common feature of modern war. Israel’s current bombardment of hospitals, ambulances and medical personnel in Gaza is a textbook example of this disturbing trend. That’s why Writer’s Voice is re-posting our 2019 interview with Leonard Rubenstein about his book, Perilous M…

Military violence against hospitals, patients, and health workers has become a common feature of modern war. Israel’s current bombardment of hospitals, ambulances and medical personnel in Gaza is a textbook example of this disturbing trend. That’s why Writer’s Voice is re-posting our 2019 interview with Leonard Rubenstein about his book, Perilous M…

What an owl taught a famed ecologist about a deadly human misconception. Also, the role of oil in the Israel/Palestine conflict. We talk with ecologist Carl Safina about his book, Alfie and Me: What Owls Know, What Humans Believe. It’s about how a tiny ragged ball of fluff taught a famed ecologist about a deadly human misconception. Then, do the en…

What an owl taught a famed ecologist about a deadly human misconception. Also, the role of oil in the Israel/Palestine conflict. We talk with ecologist Carl Safina about his book, Alfie and Me: What Owls Know, What Humans Believe. It’s about how a tiny ragged ball of fluff taught a famed ecologist about a deadly human misconception. Then, do the en…

Is hunting actually good for the environment? That’s what conservationist Brant MacDuff says. We spend the hour with him talking about his book, The Shotgun Conservationist: Why Environmentalists Should Love Hunting. Writers Voice— in depth conversation with writers of all genres, on the air since 2004. Read transcripts and subscribe at the Writer’…

Is hunting actually good for the environment? That’s what conservationist Brant MacDuff says. We spend the hour with him talking about his book, The Shotgun Conservationist: Why Environmentalists Should Love Hunting. Writers Voice— in depth conversation with writers of all genres, on the air since 2004. Read transcripts and subscribe at the Writer’…

We talk with Gloria Dickie about bears and how people relate to them, for good and for ill. Her book is Eight Bears: Mythic Past and Imperiled Future. Then, we talk about another iconic imperiled species: wolves. Sonja Swift tells us about her book: Echo Loba, Loba Echo: Of Wisdom, Wolves and Women. Writers Voice— in depth conversation with writers…

We talk with Gloria Dickie about bears and how people relate to them, for good and for ill. Her book is Eight Bears: Mythic Past and Imperiled Future. Then, we talk about another iconic imperiled species: wolves. Sonja Swift tells us about her book: Echo Loba, Loba Echo: Of Wisdom, Wolves and Women. Writers Voice— in depth conversation with writers…

We talk with celebrated Malaysian author Tan Twan Eng about House of Doors, his spellbinding new novel about love and betrayal, colonialism and revolution, storytelling and redemption. Then, novelist Kerri Maher tells us about her novel, All You Have To Do Is Call. It’s about the Jane Collective, the 1970s clandestine abortion service in Chicago. W…

We talk with celebrated Malaysian author Tan Twan Eng about House of Doors, his spellbinding new novel about love and betrayal, colonialism and revolution, storytelling and redemption. Then, novelist Kerri Maher tells us about her novel, All You Have To Do Is Call. It’s about the Jane Collective, the 1970s clandestine abortion service in Chicago. W…

We spend the hour with David Lipsky talking about his new book, The Parrot and The Igloo: Climate and the Science of Denial. It’s about the sordid history of climate denialism, its deep roots in the industry of tobacco denialism, and its pernicious impact on the public’s trust in science. Writers Voice— in depth conversation with writers of all gen…

We spend the hour with David Lipsky talking about his new book, The Parrot and The Igloo: Climate and the Science of Denial. It’s about the sordid history of climate denialism, its deep roots in the industry of tobacco denialism, and its pernicious impact on the public’s trust in science. Writers Voice— in depth conversation with writers of all gen…

We talk with Tania James about her acclaimed new novel, Loot. It’s about a boy on a quest, a girl determined to make her way in a man’s world and a mechanical construction — an automaton — that exemplifies the Indian resistance to British colonialism. Then, Vauhini Vara tells us about her new collection of stories, This Is Salvaged. And we do a min…

We talk with Tania James about her acclaimed new novel, Loot. It’s about a boy on a quest, a girl determined to make her way in a man’s world and a mechanical construction — an automaton — that exemplifies the Indian resistance to British colonialism. Then, Vauhini Vara tells us about her new collection of stories, This Is Salvaged. And we do a min…

We’re celebrating the upcoming Climate Week by featuring two books that tackle the crisis from different perspectives. We take a journey into the heart of climate grief and out the other side with Andrew Boyd. His book is I Want A Better Catastrophe: Navigating the Climate Crisis with Grief, Hope and Gallows Humor. Then, a new novel shines a light …

We’re celebrating the upcoming Climate Week by featuring two books that tackle the crisis from different perspectives. We take a journey into the heart of climate grief and out the other side with Andrew Boyd. His book is I Want A Better Catastrophe: Navigating the Climate Crisis with Grief, Hope and Gallows Humor. Then, a new novel shines a light …

The US military is one of the biggest engines driving private profits in the world. But what’s the cost to the rest of us? We talk with Norman Solomon about his new book, War Made Invisible: How America Hides the Human Toll of Its Military Machine. But first, we explore George Eliot’s scandalous solution to “the marriage question.” We talk with Cla…

We talk with Clare Carlisle about her book The Marriage Question: George Eliot's Double Life and with Norman Solomon about his new book, War Made Invisible.By Francesca Rheannon

We talk with historian Ahmed White about the Wobblies and the capitalist war on radical workers. His award-winning book is Under the Iron Heel. Then Nikhil Goyal tells us about his book, Live to See the Day: Coming of Age in American Poverty. It follows three children as they struggle to survive in the poorest neighborhood of the poorest large city…

Ahmed White talks about his history of the Wobblies, Under the Iron Heel. Then Nikhil Goyal tells us about his book, Live to See the Day: Coming of Age in American Poverty.By Francesca Rheannon

We talk with David Goodman about his book, An American Cannabis Story. Illustrated with stunning photos, it’s about a pioneering cannabis farm in Washington State. Then we replay our 2021 interview with neuroscientist Carl Hart about his book, Drug Use For Grownups: Chasing Liberty In The Land of Fear. Writers Voice— in depth conversation with writ…

David Goodman talks about his book, An American Cannabis Story about Puffin Farm in Washington State. And Carl Hart discusses Drug Use For Grownups: Chasing Liberty In The Land of Fear.By Francesca Rheannon

We talk with historian Martha Hodes about her memoir My Hijacking: A Personal History of Forgetting and Remembering. In 1970, she survived six days as a hostage on a hijacked plane when she was twelve years old. Then, teacher Adam Bessie tells us about his take on how the pandemic has driven us apart—and what it will take to bring us together. His …

We talk with historian Martha Hodes about her memoir My Hijacking: A Personal History of Forgetting and Remembering. In 1970, she survived six days as a hostage on a hijacked plane when she was twelve years old. Then, teacher Adam Bessie tells us about his take on how the pandemic has driven us apart—and what it will take to bring us together. His …

Paul Kix tells us the thrilling story of the fight to end Jim Crow, led by the greatest figures of the Civil Rights Movement—and won by children. His book is You Have To Be Prepared To Die Before You Can Begin To Live.By Francesca Rheannon

Paul Kix tells us the thrilling story of the fight to end Jim Crow, led by the greatest figures of the Civil Rights Movement—and won by children. We spend the hour with Kix talking about his book, You Have To Be Prepared To Die Before You Can Begin To Live: Ten Weeks In Birmingham That Changed America. Read Transcript of Interview with Paul Kix Wri…

Buzzy Jackson tells us the story of the anti-Nazi saboteur, Hannie Schaft and the lessons it holds for us as we confront fascism today. Her novel based on true events is To Die Beautiful. Then Francesca reads a short excerpt from her own father’s story of resistance in the same war.By Francesca Rheannon

Buzzy Jackson tells us the story of the Dutch anti-Nazi saboteur, Hannie Schaft and the lessons it holds for us as we confront fascism today. Her novel based on true events is To Die Beautiful. Then Francesca reads a short excerpt from her own father’s story of resistance in the same war. Writers Voice— in depth conversation with writers of all gen…

Ava Chin tells us about her stunning family memoir/history of the Chinese Exclusion Act in America, Mott Street: A Chinese American Family’s Story of Exclusion and Homecoming. Then we talk with Tanis Rideout about her new novel The Sea Between Two Shores. It’s about two families, one Canadian and one from an island in Vanuatu, who must deal with th…

Ava Chin tells us about her stunning family memoir/history of the Chinese Exclusion Act in America, Mott Street: A Chinese American Family’s Story of Exclusion and Homecoming.Then we talk with Tanis Rideout about her new novel The Sea Between Two Shores. It’s about two families, one Canadian and one from an island in Vanuatu, who must deal with the…

We talk with Jeff Goodell about how climate change is causing extreme heat that is pushing Planet Earth beyond habitable boundaries. Also, Lynn Zinser talks about climate liability lawsuits.By Francesca Rheannon

July 4, 2023 was the hottest day ever recorded on Earth. Are we exceeding the “Goldilocks zone” of a habitable planet? We ask that question of climate journalist and author Jeff Goodell. His new book is THE HEAT WILL KILL YOU FIRST: Life and Death on a Scorched Planet. We also revisit a conversation about suing the fossil fuel companies for scorchi…

We talk about the rise of mass fascism in America with Jeff Sharlet. His book is The Undertow. Also, a review of Dennis LeHane's new novel, Small Mercies.By Francesca Rheannon

Family separation continues to devastate the lives of children, as explored in Sylvia Rodriguez-Vega's book, Drawing Deportation: Art and Resistance among Immigrant Children. This poignant work delves into the traumatic experiences faced by immigrant children and showcases the healing power of art in their recovery. In another thought-provoking boo…