Author Bushra Rehman discusses her novel, Roses in the Mouth of a Lion, which is loosely based on her own girlhood growing up in a tightly knit Pakistani American community in Corona, Queens, and slowly opening up to her own queer identity. Rehman talks about her own upbringing and her desire to celebrate that community and show its many facets, her … [Read more...] about Bushra Rehman’s novel celebrates the Pakistani-American community in Queens
Choreographer Kyle Abraham Creates Dance for the 21st Century
Kyle Abraham is an acclaimed choreographer and company director who is the recipient of many awards including a Doris Duke Performing Artist Award and a MacArthur Fellowship. In this podcast, he talks about growing up in Pittsburgh in a home that encouraged music and art, his life-changing experience when he first saw professional dance at the age of … [Read more...] about Choreographer Kyle Abraham Creates Dance for the 21st Century
Maria Rosario Jackson Discusses Her First Year as Chair of the National Endowment for the Arts
Chair Maria Rosario Jackson looks back at her first year leading the Arts Endowment and shares her ideas, plans, and initiatives for the year ahead. She discusses the philosophy that guides her vision for the NEA: "artful lives" and "arts In all" and reflects upon her travel throughout the country meeting with artists and arts administrators as well as local and civic … [Read more...] about Maria Rosario Jackson Discusses Her First Year as Chair of the National Endowment for the Arts
MIT physicist and novelist Alan Lightman looks for meaning in the age of science
Author and physicist Dr Alan Lightman is the co-writer and host of the new PBS series “Searching: Our Quest for Meaning in the Age of Science.” In this podcast, Dr. Lightman discusses the experience that led to him to write the book Searching for Stars on an Island in Maine, why he agreed to develop the book into a series, his explorations with scientists, philosophers, and … [Read more...] about MIT physicist and novelist Alan Lightman looks for meaning in the age of science
Novelist Kevin Wilson tackles serious issues through an outrageous premise
Kevin Wilson, the author of the NEA Big Read title Nothing to See Here, explains his long-time obsession with spontaneous human combustion—a condition that figures prominently in the novel. In a nutshell, 28-year-old Lillian is tasked with minding the stepchildren of a wealthy old school friend whose politician husband has two kids who literally burst into flames … [Read more...] about Novelist Kevin Wilson tackles serious issues through an outrageous premise