Writer's Voice with Francesca Rheannon

Writer's Voice with Francesca Rheannon

Francesca Rheannon

Writer's Voice features author interviews and readings, as well as news, commentary and tips related to writing and publishing. We also talk with editors, agents, publicists and others about issues of interest to writers. Francesca Rheannon is producer and host of Writer's Voice. She is a writer, an independent radio producer and a broadcast journalist.

BLACK HISTORY MONTH: Aran Shetterly on The Greensboro Massacre, MORNINGSIDE & Jonathan Eig, KING, A LIFE

BLACK HISTORY MONTH: Aran Shetterly on The Greensboro Massacre, MORNINGSIDE & Jonathan Eig, KING, A LIFE

In this episode, we welcome Aran Shetterly to discuss his powerful new book, Morningside: The 1979 Greensboro Massacre and the Struggle for an American City’s Soul. Shetterly unearths the long-overlooked history of the Greensboro Massacre, a brutal attack in which members of the Ku Klux Klan and neo-Nazis murdered five labor and civil rights activists in broad daylight—while law enforcement stood by. “The most vicious repression in America happens when Black and white workers unite. Greensboro

Feb 20, • 57:48

Black History Month: Victoria Christopher Murray on HARLEM RHAPSODY & Reviving Forgotten Women Writers

Black History Month: Victoria Christopher Murray on HARLEM RHAPSODY & Reviving Forgotten Women Writers

We sit down with award-winning author Victoria Christopher Murray to talk about Harlem Rhapsody, her novel about the Harlem Renaissance and the woman who made it possible. This gripping novel brings to life Jessie Redmon Fauset, a pioneering literary editor, mentor, and novelist who played a pivotal role in shaping the Harlem Renaissance—yet remains largely forgotten today. “W.E.B. Du Bois and Jessie were always together. I tried to write the story without their affair, but there were too many

Feb 15, • 59:00

Black History Month: Aaron Robertson, THE BLACK UTOPIANS. Also, Cory Doctorow, PICKS AND SHOVELS

Black History Month: Aaron Robertson, THE BLACK UTOPIANS. Also, Cory Doctorow, PICKS AND SHOVELS

In this episode of Writer’s Voice, we talk with Aaron Robertson about his fascinating book, The Black Utopians: Searching for Paradise and the Promised Land in America. It’s about the hidden legacies of Black utopian experiments and what they teach us about the power of community today. Then, we talk with best-selling novelist, journalist and activist Cory Doctorow about his new crime thriller, the latest installment in the Martin Hench series, Picks and Shovels. It tells the origin stories of

Feb 7, • 1:16:01

From the Amazon to the Chinese Diaspora: Rowan Jacobsen on WILD CHOCOLATE & Karissa Chen on HOMESEEKING

From the Amazon to the Chinese Diaspora: Rowan Jacobsen on WILD CHOCOLATE & Karissa Chen on HOMESEEKING

In this episode of Writer’s Voice, we explore two fascinating books. Rowan Jacobsen takes us deep into the Amazon in Wild Chocolate, uncovering the origins of cacao and the ethical challenges of the chocolate industry. Then, Karissa Chen discusses Homeseeking, her powerful novel tracing the Chinese diaspora through generations of displacement, love, and longing for home. “We’ve been eating a shadow of what chocolate once was— and wild chocolate is bringing back its soul.”* — Rowan Jacobsen Co

Jan 31, • 1:02:37

Utopias, Pipelines, and Political Art: Karen Joy Fowler, Charlotte Dennett, and Jules Feiffer

Utopias, Pipelines, and Political Art: Karen Joy Fowler, Charlotte Dennett, and Jules Feiffer

This week on Writer’s Voice we feature three great conversations. Karen Joy Fowler reflects on the relevance of Ursula K. Le Guin’s The Dispossessed and its vision of utopia on the occasion of the 50th anniversary re-issue of that classic work of speculative fiction. She wrote the introduction. Listen to our 2012 interview with Ursulla K. Le Guin Then, Charlotte Dennett gives us a timely update on the geopolitics of the Middle East, connecting current conflicts to her

Jan 23, • 58:21

How Insects Shape Our Culture & Stewarding Wildness

How Insects Shape Our Culture & Stewarding Wildness

In this episode of Writer’s Voice, entomologist and author Barrett Klein discusses his book, The Insect Epiphany: How Our Six-Legged Allies Shape Human Culture. From the crucial roles insects play in ecosystems to their influence on art, architecture, and medicine, Klein unpacks the deep connections between humans and these often misunderstood creatures. [Image above by Barrett Klein.] “We’d be knee-deep in dung and heaps of cadavers and corpses if it weren’t for insects.” — Barrett K

Jan 11, • 1:03:26

Nico Lang On Trans Youth & Lily Tuck On Her New Novel

Nico Lang On Trans Youth & Lily Tuck On Her New Novel

In this week’s episode of WV, nonbinary journalist and author Nico Lang takes us inside the lives of trans and nonbinary youth across America. Their book is AMERICAN TEENAGER: How Trans Kids Are Surviving Hate And Finding Joy In A Turbulent Era. “These kids are just trying to live their lives, but they’re forced to fight politically motivated hatred at every turn.” –Nico Lang Then, we talk with National Book Award winner Lily Tuck about her new novel, The Rest Is Memory. Ins

Jan 2, • 57:19

ILLEGALIZED: Rafael Martinez on Undocumented Youth Movements

ILLEGALIZED: Rafael Martinez on Undocumented Youth Movements

Rafael A. Martinez discusses the lived experiences of undocumented youth in America. He’s Assistant Professor of Southwest Borderlands at Arizona State University and author of Illegalized: Undocumented Youth Movements in the United States. He details how activism and organizing led to gains such as in-state tuition and DACA, but also the precariousness of these advancements under changing political climates. Martinez emphasizes the resilience and creativity of undocumented communi

Dec 27, 2024 • 59:08

SIN PADRES NI PAPELES: Stephanie Canizales on the Lives of Unaccompanied Migrant Youth

SIN PADRES NI PAPELES: Stephanie Canizales on the Lives of Unaccompanied Migrant Youth

Sociologist Stephanie Canizales examines the lives of unaccompanied migrant youth in her groundbreaking book, Sin Padres Ni Papeles. Drawing from years of immersive research in the Pico-Union neighborhood of Los Angeles, Canizales sheds light on the systemic challenges these young people face, from exploitative labor conditions to emotional isolation. She connects their experiences to historical U.S. policies in Central America and Mexico, revealing the deep ties between migration, policy, a

Dec 20, 2024 • 54:46

Threat Multiplier: Sherri Goodman on Climate Change, Security, and Global Resilience

Threat Multiplier: Sherri Goodman on Climate Change, Security, and Global Resilience

Sherri Goodman, a leading voice in climate security, discusses her book Threat Multiplier: Climate, Military Leadership, and the Fight for Global Security. Goodman explores how climate change amplifies instability, from the Middle East’s water crises, to migration in Latin America, to potential conflicts over emerging shipping routes in the melting Arctic. Goodman also shares insights on geopolitical dynamics involving Russia, China and the Indo-Pacific. “Climate change is a threa

Dec 14, 2024 • 45:42

Mind and Rhythm: Daniel Fryer on Hypnotherapy & Nikki Giovanni on Hip Hop Poetry

Mind and Rhythm: Daniel Fryer on Hypnotherapy & Nikki Giovanni on Hip Hop Poetry

In this episode of Writer’s Voice, we speak with Daniel Fryer, author of How to Cope with Almost Anything with Hypnotherapy, about the science and uses of hypnotherapy in mental health and well-being. Then, we honor the late Nikki Giovanni with a replay of our 2009 conversation about Hip Hop Speaks to Children, celebrating poetry’s rhythm and its deep cultural roots. “Hip hop is the vernacular turned into art—it’s gossip, rhythm, and rebellion rolled into one.” —Nikki Giovanni Write

Dec 13, 2024 • 57:10

Slippery Beast: Ellen Ruppel Shell on Eels, Ecology, and the Global Wildlife Trade

Slippery Beast: Ellen Ruppel Shell on Eels, Ecology, and the Global Wildlife Trade

In this episode, we dive into the world of eels with Ellen Ruppel Shell, author of Slippery Beast: A True Crime Natural History with Eels. From ancient mysteries and ecological importance to international crime syndicates and sustainable farming, Ruppel Shell unravels the fascinating and complex story of one of nature’s most enigmatic creatures. The conversation traces the mysterious lifecycle of eels, their pivotal role in ecosystems, and their entanglement in a global black market. R

Dec 7, 2024 • 29:17

Petrina Engelke on Iconic American Cuisine 

Petrina Engelke on Iconic American Cuisine 

In this special holiday edition of Writer’s Voice, journalist and author Petrina Engelke shares her journey exploring iconic American cuisine along Route 66, detailed in the book she co-wrote with food blogger Gabriele Frankemölle, Cook Across America: 66 Iconic Recipes Along the Legendary Route 66. Engelke delves into the diverse cultural traditions that define American food, from maple syrup production in Illinois to fusion Tex-Mex dishes in Texas and barbecue’s African America

Nov 30, 2024 • 32:37

BY THE FIRE WE CARRY, Rebecca Nagle on Indigenous Sovereignty and Democracy

BY THE FIRE WE CARRY, Rebecca Nagle on Indigenous Sovereignty and Democracy

In this episode, Rebecca Nagle, journalist and author of By the Fire We Carry: The Generations’ Long Fight for Justice on Native Land, unpacks the history of the Cherokee Nation and broader Indigenous struggles for sovereignty. Nagle intertwines personal family history with systemic injustices, tracing the consequences of the Trail of Tears, the Indian Removal Act, and the ongoing fight for Native land rights. She examines how these histories intersect with larger issues of capitalism,

Nov 27, 2024 • 59:04

LINGUAPHILE: Julie Sedivy on the Beauty, Complexity, and Mystery of Language

LINGUAPHILE: Julie Sedivy on the Beauty, Complexity, and Mystery of Language

Summary In this episode, Julie Sedivy, author of Linguaphile: A Life of Language Love, explores her profound relationship with language as both a scientist and a writer. Sedivy shares her journey from a multilingual childhood to becoming a linguist, reflecting on the complexities of multilingualism, the emotional weight of language, and its profound ties to time, identity, and human connection. She also delves into how language shapes our social interactions, cultural divides, and ev

Nov 21, 2024 • 57:29

Ann Patchett & Kathy Engel on Art, Love, and the Power of Poetry in Difficult Times

Ann Patchett & Kathy Engel on Art, Love, and the Power of Poetry in Difficult Times

Summary In this episode of Writer’s Voice, celebrated novelist Ann Patchett discusses the annotated release of her beloved novel Bel Canto, exploring how themes of love, art, and humanity resonate in times of crisis. Patchett reflects on her writing process, the tenderness of her characters, and how art can provide solace in difficult times. The, poet and activist Kathy Engel discusses her collection, Dear Inheritors, touching on the intersections of poetry, social justice, and

Nov 14, 2024 • 57:48

Gardening Utopia: Olivia Laing on THE GARDEN AGAINST TIME

Gardening Utopia: Olivia Laing on THE GARDEN AGAINST TIME

In this thought-provoking episode, acclaimed author Olivia Laing shares insights from The Garden Against Time, exploring the concept of gardens as both physical spaces and metaphors for paradise, exclusion, and resistance. Laing recounts restoring a historic garden and reflects on themes of ecological stewardship, historical gardens, and the philosophical tensions between control and collaboration with nature. Their book juxtaposes the beauty of gardens with the historical darkness behi

Nov 8, 2024 • 58:38

CRISIS AVERTED: Caitlin Rivers on the Hidden Science of Fighting Outbreaks

CRISIS AVERTED: Caitlin Rivers on the Hidden Science of Fighting Outbreaks

In this episode, we speak with epidemiologist Caitlin Rivers about her book Crisis Averted. From the successful eradication of smallpox to navigating the COVID-19 pandemic, Rivers delves into public health challenges, funding gaps, and the “panic and neglect” cycle that threatens our preparedness for future outbreaks. Host’s Note We are less than a week away from the most consequential election in US history. A lot is at stake, including the fate of basic freedoms and democratic rig

Oct 31, 2024 • 57:12

Eiren Caffall THE MOURNER’S BESTIARY & Betsy McCully, AT THE GLACIER’S EDGE

Eiren Caffall THE MOURNER’S BESTIARY & Betsy McCully, AT THE GLACIER’S EDGE

In this episode of Writer’s Voice, we explore the intersections of personal and ecological narratives through two powerful interviews. Francesca speaks with writer and musician Eiren Caffall about her memoir, The Mourner’s Bestiary, and naturalist Betsy McCully, author of At the Glacier’s Edge: A Natural History of Long Island from the Narrows to Montauk Point. These conversations explore the interconnectedness of environmental degradation and restoration, personal story, and the histo

Oct 28, 2024 • 1:00:31

World Wars: Robert Harris, PRECIPICE & Giles Milton, THE STALIN AFFAIR

World Wars: Robert Harris, PRECIPICE & Giles Milton, THE STALIN AFFAIR

Today, we explore two uncommon angles on the histories of World War I and World War II. First, we’re joined by historical fiction writer Robert Harris, author of the recently released novel, Precipice. The novel explores a true story — the clandestine relationship between British Prime Minister Herbert Asquith and Venetia Stanley — set against the tumultuous events of World War I. Later, Giles Milton tells us about his book,The Stalin Affair. It’s a gripping fly-on-the wall account of th

Oct 24, 2024 • 1:00:33

Louise Erdrich, THE MIGHTY RED & James Hansen (encore) STORMS OF MY GRANDCHILDREN

Louise Erdrich, THE MIGHTY RED & James Hansen (encore) STORMS OF MY GRANDCHILDREN

In this episode of Writer’s Voice, Host Francesca Rheannon welcomes acclaimed author Louise Erdrich to discuss her new novel, The Mighty Red. Known for her deeply layered storytelling and themes centered on Native American life, Erdrich takes listeners on a journey into the heart of the Red River Valley in North Dakota. Here, she weaves a compelling tale about love, resilience, and the enduring relationship between people and land. Then, in the wake of hurricanes that battered the

Oct 18, 2024 • 58:08

Anna Zivarts, WHEN DRIVING IS NOT AN OPTION & Dan Piatkowski, BICYCLE CITY

Anna Zivarts, WHEN DRIVING IS NOT AN OPTION & Dan Piatkowski, BICYCLE CITY

In this episode of Writer’s Voice, we talk about changing urban transport to make it more people-centric, not car-centric. We welcome disability mobility advocate Anna Zivarts, author of When Driving Is Not An Option: Steering Away From Car Dependency. Then, urban planner Dan Piatkowski tells us about how new developments in bike technology can make cities — and even suburbs — more people friendly. His book is Bicycle City: Riding the Bike Boom to a Brighter Future. Writers Voi

Oct 6, 2024 • 57:22

The Minds and Lives of Animals with Joe Shute and Brandon Keim

The Minds and Lives of Animals with Joe Shute and Brandon Keim

In this episode of Writer’s Voice, host Francesca Rheannon sits down with Joe Shute and Brandon Keim for two conversations about: Animal intelligence and behavior The human-animal connection Ethical treatment of animals Rethinking human dominion over nature Joe Shute discusses his latest book, Stowaway: The Disreputable Exploits of the Rat, which dives into the history, biology, and misunderstood nature of rats. Brandon Keim shares insights from his book Meet th

Sep 28, 2024 • 56:37

Jacob Mikanowski, GOODBYE EASTERN EUROPE & Michael Lerner Remembered

Jacob Mikanowski, GOODBYE EASTERN EUROPE & Michael Lerner Remembered

In this episode of Writer’s Voice, host Francesca Rheannon speaks with historian Jacob Mikanowski about his book Goodbye Eastern Europe: An Intimate History of a Divided Land. Mikanowski explores the rich, complex, and often overlooked history of Eastern Europe—a region shaped by centuries of empires, revolutions, and diverse cultures. From the enduring impact of the Ottoman Empire to the shifting borders of Poland, Hungary, and the Baltics, Mikanowski sheds light on how these lands became

Sep 22, 2024 • 56:36

Clayton Page Aldern: Climate Change Is Messing with Our Brains

Clayton Page Aldern: Climate Change Is Messing with Our Brains

In this episode of Writer’s Voice, we talk with Clayton Page Aldern about The Weight of Nature, his groundbreaking new book on the impacts of climate change on our brains — from PSTD to brain-eating amoebas. Aldern explains how climate-induced stressors are shaping our mental health — harming our judgment, leading to rises in neurodegenerative diseases, and even eroding our capacity to tell truth from lies. Clayton Aldern is a neuroscientist turned environmental journalist and senior data repor

Sep 14, 2024 • 56:29

Edwidge Danticat on Haiti, Immigration, and Her New Essay Collection WE’RE ALONE

Edwidge Danticat on Haiti, Immigration, and Her New Essay Collection WE’RE ALONE

Episode Description: In this episode, we talk with celebrated Haitian American writer Edwidge Danticat, author of Brother, I’m Dying and her latest essay collection, We’re Alone. Danticat shares intimate insights into her writing process, the legacy of colonialism and the immigrant experience. She discusses Haiti’s ongoing struggles, her personal connection to the country, and how the global refugee crisis continues to impact marginalized communities. Tune in to explore how Danticat

Sep 8, 2024 • 58:33

Living on Earth: How Life Shapes Our Planet with Peter Godfrey-Smith

Living on Earth: How Life Shapes Our Planet with Peter Godfrey-Smith

Episode Description: In this episode, host Francesca Rheannon sits down with philosopher Peter Godfrey-Smith to discuss his latest book, Living on Earth: Forests, Corals, Consciousness, and the Making of the World. Godfrey-Smith offers a fresh perspective on how life forms, from the simplest bacteria to complex animals, have actively shaped our planet. This episode dives deep into the evolutionary history of choice and how understanding our impact on the world can guide better decisions for th

Aug 29, 2024 • 50:38

GROUP LIVING AND OTHER RECIPES & (encore) Chuck Collins, ALTAR TO AN ERUPTING SUN

GROUP LIVING AND OTHER RECIPES & (encore) Chuck Collins, ALTAR TO AN ERUPTING SUN

Episode Summary In this episode of Writer’s Voice, host Francesca Rheannon explores the intricate dynamics of giving, receiving, and creating community with food entrepreneur and activist Lola Milholland. She shares insights from her memoir, Group Living and Other Recipes, which reflects on her upbringing in a communal household, the lessons of shared living, and the profound role that food plays in connecting people. We also revisit our conversation with Chuck Collins about his novel, Altar to

Aug 23, 2024 • 57:08

Ken Krimstein, EINSTEIN IN KAFKALAND & Harry Abrams, LET’S DO LAUNCH

Ken Krimstein, EINSTEIN IN KAFKALAND & Harry Abrams, LET’S DO LAUNCH

We talk with cartoonist Ken Krimstein about the remarkable meeting of the minds between Albert Einstein and Franz Kafka in Prague, before either man was famous. His new graphic book is Einstein in Kafkaland: How Albert Fell Down The Rabbit Hole And Came Up With The Universe. Join us as we explore how two seemingly disparate fields—physics and literature—intertwined in the lives of Einstein and Kafka, leading to some of the most profound and surreal discoveries of the modern age. Then, we talk

Aug 16, 2024 • 58:41

Exploring Apartheid: Venice’s Jewish Ghetto and the West Bank

Exploring Apartheid: Venice’s Jewish Ghetto and the West Bank

Today, two stories of what in the modern world we’ve come to call “apartheid”—the practice of segregating a subjugated population and imposing oppressive laws on it. First, we talk with UK historian Harry Freedman about his history of the first Jewish ghetto—that of Venice, Italy. It’s called Shylock’s Venice: The Remarkable History of Venice’s Jews and the Ghetto. Then, we revisit our conversation with novelist Rebecca Sacks about her powerful novel, City of Thousand Gates. Its depiction of I

Aug 9, 2024 • 58:24

Seema Yasmin, UNBECOMING + Jordan Elgrably, STORIES FROM THE CENTER OF THE WORLD

Seema Yasmin, UNBECOMING + Jordan Elgrably, STORIES FROM THE CENTER OF THE WORLD

In this episode of Writer’s Voice, we sit down with Dr. Seema Yasmin to discuss her prescient YA novel, Unbecoming. Dr. Yasmin, a physician, journalist, and director of the Stanford Health Communication Initiative, brings her multifaceted expertise to the conversation. Her new book, set in a dystopian near-future America, explores the challenges faced by two teenage girls, Leila and Noor, as they navigate a society where abortion has been heavily restricted. Then, we talk with Jordan Elgra

Aug 6, 2024 • 58:38

Ending Institutional America: William Bronston, PUBLIC HOSTAGE, PUBLIC RANSOM

Ending Institutional America: William Bronston, PUBLIC HOSTAGE, PUBLIC RANSOM

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. William Bronston, a renowned advocate for disability rights and social justice. Dr. Bronston shares his incredible journey from a young medical student to a leading figure in the fight to protect the rights of people with disabilities. He discusses his experiences working at the Willowbrook State School, his efforts in the deinstitutionalization movement, and the transformative impact of the landmark Willowbrook case. His book is Public Hostage: Pub

Jul 27, 2024 • 57:53

Brad Wolf, A MINISTRY OF RISK, Noel Hernandez, SIMPATÍA, William Bronston on Willowbrook State School

Brad Wolf, A MINISTRY OF RISK, Noel Hernandez, SIMPATÍA, William Bronston on Willowbrook State School

In this episode of Writer’s Voice, we dive into the worlds of peace activism and literary translation through conversations with Brad Wolf and Noel Hernández-Gonzalez. Also, William Bronston, the doctor who brought instiionalization of the developmentally disabled to an end, reads from his book, Public Hostage, Public Ransom. Brad Wolf discusses his work on Ministry of Risk, a collection of Philip Berrigan’s writings exploring themes of nonviolent resistance and liberation. Noel Hernández-Gonza

Jul 19, 2024 • 57:48

Audrea Lim, FREE THE LAND & Carleen Madigan, THE BACKYARD HOMESTEAD

Audrea Lim, FREE THE LAND & Carleen Madigan, THE BACKYARD HOMESTEAD

In this episode, we sit down with Audrea Lim, author of Free the Land: How We Can Fight Poverty and Climate Chaos. Audrea traces the connections between land commodification and many of America’s most pressing issues: ecological collapse, climate change, systemic racism, gentrification and economic inequality. Through powerful examples and thoughtful analysis, she shows how land ownership and control are key to understanding and addressing these problems. Then we re-broadcast our 2009 intervie

Jul 12, 2024 • 56:18

July 4 Special: Danielle Allen, OUR DECLARATION

July 4 Special: Danielle Allen, OUR DECLARATION

In this conversation with Writer’s Voice host Francesca Rheannon, political theorist Danielle Allen talks about two core ideas at the heart of our nation’s Declaration of Independence: freedom and liberty. How are they aligned? How are they different? And can they contradict each other? We re-air our 2014 interview with Danielle Allen about her book, Our Declaration: A Reading of the Declaration of Independence in Defense of Equality Connect with Us: Follow us on social media to stay up-to-date

Jul 5, 2024 • 33:49

Two Memoirs: Francine Prose, 1974 & Gail Godwin, GETTING TO KNOW DEATH

Two Memoirs: Francine Prose, 1974 & Gail Godwin, GETTING TO KNOW DEATH

In this episode of Writer’s Voice, Francesca Rheannon welcomes back acclaimed novelist, essayist, and now memoirist, Francine Prose. They dive into Prose’s latest work, 1974, a memoir that revisits her time in San Francisco during a pivotal year in American history. Then, In a deeply introspective conversation, Gail Godwin opens up about the pivotal moment that sparked her memoir, Getting to Know Death. Following a life-altering accident where she broke her neck, Godwin found herself confronting

Jun 29, 2024 • 0:00

Uncovering Hidden Histories: Claire Wills on Family Secrets and National Scandals

Uncovering Hidden Histories: Claire Wills on Family Secrets and National Scandals

Episode Description In this episode of Writer’s Voice, host Francesca Rheannon sits down with acclaimed author Claire Wills to discuss her deeply personal and historically insightful book, Missing Persons or My Grandmother’s Secrets. Wills shares her journey of uncovering family secrets surrounding an “illegitimate” pregnancy in 1950s Ireland and exploring the broader national scandal of mother and baby homes. Through a blend of memoir and historical analysis, Wills illuminates the complex soc

Jun 21, 2024 • 57:43

How To Stop A Pipeline: Jonathan Mingle, GASLIGHT

How To Stop A Pipeline: Jonathan Mingle, GASLIGHT

What did a group of ordinary citizens find out when they managed to stop a huge gas pipeline from being built? We spend the hour with Jonathan Mingle talking about his book, Gaslight: The Atlantic Coast Pipeline And The Fight For America’s Energy Future. It’s the story of how a diverse group of citizens came together to fight a pipeline proposed by one of America’s biggest corporations — and won. Connect with Us: Follow us on social media to stay up-to-date on the latest episodes and news. Find

Jun 13, 2024 • 55:18

Two Great Beach Novels: Victor Lodato, HONEY & Kimberly Belle, THE PARIS WIDOW

Two Great Beach Novels: Victor Lodato, HONEY & Kimberly Belle, THE PARIS WIDOW

We talk with Victor Lodato about his terrific new novel, Honey. It’s about an octogenarian who is trying to come to terms with her life — her childhood growing up in a Mafia family in New Jersey and her adulthood trying to escape it. Then, we talk with Kimberly Belle about her new thriller, The Paris Widow. The novel takes a look at the illicit trade in blood antiquities. Connect with Us: Follow us on social media to stay up-to-date on the latest episodes and news. Find us on Facebook at Writers

Jun 8, 2024 • 57:03

Kelly Fong, INVESTIGATING FAMILIES & Emi Nietfield, ACCEPTANCE

Kelly Fong, INVESTIGATING FAMILIES & Emi Nietfield, ACCEPTANCE

Are child protection service (CPS) agencies doing more harm than good? Join us for an in-depth conversation with sociologist Kelly Fong about her book, Investigating Families: Motherhood in the Shadow of Child Protective Services. We explore the inner workings of Child Protection Services (CPS), the impact on families, and the need for systemic change. Plus, we replay a segment from our 2022 interview with Emi Nietfield, author of the memoir Acceptance, about overcoming childhood trauma and th

May 31, 2024 • 59:17

Abrahm Lustgarten, ON THE MOVE & Ross Barkan on Jamaal Bowman’s Challenge

Abrahm Lustgarten, ON THE MOVE & Ross Barkan on Jamaal Bowman’s Challenge

We talk with Abrahm Lustgarten about his book, On The Move: The Overheating Earth and the Uprooting of America. It’s about how climate chaos means a humanity on the move. Then, we catch up with journalist and author Ross Barkan about his recent article in New York Magazine, “The Most Endangered Democrat in America: Jamaal Bowman might lose his job over Israel.” Writers Voice— in depth conversation with writers of all genres, on the air since 2004. Find us on Facebook at Writers Voice with Franc

May 24, 2024 • 57:21

Eric Klinenberg: 2020

Eric Klinenberg: 2020

Was 2020 the year Americans finally lost faith in their government? We talk with Eric Klinenberg about his acclaimed new book, 2020: One City, Seven People, And The Year Everything Changed. The book follows seven New Yorkers as they try to cope with the pandemic. Among them, a transit worker, a bar owner, a retired lawyer who organizes a mutual aid network and a Black Lives Matter protester. Their stories and those of the others illustrate how our leaders and institutions failed us — and how so

May 17, 2024 • 59:15

Two Biographies by Larry Tye: THE JAZZMEN & DEMAGOGUE

Two Biographies by Larry Tye: THE JAZZMEN & DEMAGOGUE

Larry Tye tells us about his new book, The Jazzmen: How Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, and Count Basie Transformed America. It’s a fresh look at three titans of the Jazz Age. Then, we re-air our 2020 interview with Larry Tye about his biography of Senator Joe McCarthy, Demagogue. Writers Voice— in depth conversation with writers of all genres, on the air since 2004. Find us on Facebook at Writers Voice with Francesca Rheannon, on Instagram @WritersVoicePodcast or find us on X/Twitter @Writers

May 10, 2024 • 59:08

Adelle Waldman, HELP WANTED & Remembering Paul Auster

Adelle Waldman, HELP WANTED & Remembering Paul Auster

A bestselling novelist took a job at a big box store, was shocked by what she found, and decided to write a novel about it. We talk with Adelle Waldman about her new novel, Help Wanted. It’s about what happens when a group of workers at a big box store scheme to get their overbearing manager promoted out of their department. Along the way, it reveals what work life is really like for millions of low wage workers in today’s economy. Then, we remember novelist Paul Auster, who died on April 30 at

May 3, 2024 • 58:34

Greg Wrenn, MOTHERSHIP & Elizabeth Kolbert, H IS FOR HOPE

Greg Wrenn, MOTHERSHIP & Elizabeth Kolbert, H IS FOR HOPE

We talk with Greg Wrenn about his book Mothership: A Memoir of Wonder and Crisis. It’s about healing the maladaptive imprinting of childhood trauma with Nature — and psychedelics. Then, a climate journalist tries a new tack to craft a narrative about the climate emergency. We talk with Elizabeth Kolbert about her illustrated alphabet book, H Is For Hope: Climate Change From A To Z. Writers Voice— in depth conversation with writers of all genres, on the air since 2004. Find us on Facebook at Wri

Apr 27, 2024 • 58:55

Howard Mansfield, I WILL TELL NO WAR STORIES & Sasha Vasilyuk, YOUR PRESENCE IS MANDATORY

Howard Mansfield, I WILL TELL NO WAR STORIES & Sasha Vasilyuk, YOUR PRESENCE IS MANDATORY

In this episode of Writer’s Voice, we feature two stories about war and secrets. First, we talk with Howard Mansfield about his book, I Will Tell No War Stories: What Our Fathers Left Unsaid About World War II. The book uncovers the truth about the terrible toll that war took on American airmen like Mansfield’s father—revealing the real story behind the much touted “glory.” Then we talk with journalist Sasha Vasilyuk about her terrific debut novel, Your Presence Is Mandatory (publication date

Apr 18, 2024 • 58:38

Brad Gooch on The Radiant Life of Keith Haring & more

Brad Gooch on The Radiant Life of Keith Haring & more

We talk with Brad Gooch about his acclaimed new biography of Keith Haring, RADIANT: The Life and Line of Keith Haring. Then we listen back to a clip of Gooch talking with us in 2017 about his biography, Rumi’s Secret: The Life of the Sufi Poet of Love. Writers Voice— in depth conversation with writers of all genres, on the air since 2004. Find us on Facebook at Writers Voice with Francesca Rheannon, on Instagram and Threads @WritersVoicePodcast or find us on X/Twitter @WritersVoice.Love Writer’

Apr 12, 2024 • 58:49

Tessa Hulls, FEEDING GHOSTS & Remembering Frans de Waal

Tessa Hulls, FEEDING GHOSTS & Remembering Frans de Waal

A grandmother’s traumatic history reverberates through three generations… We talk with Tessa Hulls about her powerful graphic memoir, Feeding Ghosts. It tells the story of three generations of women — her Chinese grandmother, Sun Yi; her mother, Rose; and herself —and how, in the process of writing and drawing their stories, she was able to heal the trauma that haunted them. Then, we remember the great primatologist Frans de Waal, who passed away March 14. We re-air our 2022 interview with him

Apr 5, 2024 • 1:08:19

Michael Zweig, CLASS, RACE & GENDER + A Story for Spring

Michael Zweig, CLASS, RACE & GENDER + A Story for Spring

Is identity politics keeping us divided? And how can activists build solidarity with others while fighting for their own rights? We talk with activist, educator and organizer Michael Zweig about his book, Class, Race and Gender: Challenging the Injuries and Divisions of Capitalism. Then in honor of Spring, Host Francesca Rheannon reads her story, The Sheep’s Blessing. It’s about an encounter in the backcountry of Provence that illuminated the sacred bond between a flock of sheep, a dog and a sh

Mar 29, 2024 • 57:59

Bonnie Jo Campbell, THE WATERS & Jenny Frost, THE EXTINCTION OF IRINA REY

Bonnie Jo Campbell, THE WATERS & Jenny Frost, THE EXTINCTION OF IRINA REY

This week we talk about two novels that explore connections: between men and women, people and nature, the young and the old. National Book Award finalist Bonnie Jo Campbell tells us about her wonderful new novel, The Waters and translator and novelist Jennifer Croft discusses her acclaimed new novel, The Extinction of Irina Rey. Writers Voice— in depth conversation with writers of all genres, on the air since 2004. Find us on Facebook at Writers Voice with Francesca Rheannon, on Instagram @Wr

Mar 22, 2024 • 57:28

St. Pat’s Day Special: Rue Matthiessen, CASTLES AND RUINS & Claire Coughlan, WHERE THEY LIE

St. Pat’s Day Special: Rue Matthiessen, CASTLES AND RUINS & Claire Coughlan, WHERE THEY LIE

We talk with Rue Matthiessen, daughter of the famed writer Peter Mathiessen about her family memoir, Castles And Ruins: Unraveling, Family Mysteries, And Literary Legacy In The Irish Countryside. Then, Claire Coughlan tells us about her twisty-turny whodunit, Where They Lie. It’s a murder mystery set in 1968 Dublin, where the detective isn’t a policeman, but a young female news reporter on the make. And finally we air a short clip from our conversation with Fintan O’Toole last St. Patrick’s Day

Mar 14, 2024 • 57:28

Amitav Ghosh, SMOKE AND ASHES & Manjula Martin, THE LAST FIRE SEASON

Amitav Ghosh, SMOKE AND ASHES & Manjula Martin, THE LAST FIRE SEASON

We talk with Amitav Ghosh about his masterful history of the opium trade, Smoke and Ashes: Opium’s Hidden Histories. Then, Manjula Martin tells us about her personal and “pyro-natural” history of California wildfires — the ones she lived through in 2020 and the ones Indigenous people lived with before white settlers moved in and took their land. Her book is The Last Fire Season. And finally, we read a poem from Mosab Abu Toha’s book Things You May Find Hidden In My Ear. Writers Voice— in depth

Mar 8, 2024 • 57:14

Charles Derber, DYING FOR CAPITALISM & Andy Lee Roth, STATE OF THE FREE PRESS 2024

Charles Derber, DYING FOR CAPITALISM & Andy Lee Roth, STATE OF THE FREE PRESS 2024

We talk with Charles Derber about the book he co-wrote with Suren Moodliar, Dying For Capitalism, How Big Money Fuels Extinction And What We Can Do About It. Then we talk with Andy Lee Roth about Project Censored’s yearbook, State of the Free Press 2024: The Top Censored Stories and Media Analysis of 2022–23. And finally, we read a poem from Mosab Abu Toha’s book Things You May Find Hidden In My Ear. Writers Voice— in depth conversation with writers of all genres, on the air since 2004. Find u

Feb 29, 2024 • 1:10:41

Les Leopold, WALL STREET’S WAR ON WORKERS

Les Leopold, WALL STREET’S WAR ON WORKERS

We talk with Les Leopold of the Labor Institute about his groundbreaking study of the political cost of mass layoffs. His book is Wall Street’s War on Workers: How Mass Layoffs and Greed Are Destroying the Working Class and What to Do About It. Then we re-air a clip from our 2013 interview with Les Leopold about his book, How To Make A Million Dollars An Hour: Why Hedge Funds Get Away with Siphoning Off America’s Wealth. And finally, we read some poems from Mosab Abu Toha’s book Things You May

Feb 22, 2024 • 58:55

A Jazz-Age Murder That Toppled Gotham’s Mayor

A Jazz-Age Murder That Toppled Gotham’s Mayor

The Rundown We talk with Michael Wolraich about his book, The Bishop And The Butterfly: Murder, Politics, And The End Of The Jazz Age. Then, we re-air part of our conversation with Paul Kix about You Have To Be Prepared To Die Before You Can Begin To Live: Ten Weeks In Birmingham That Changed America.  And we read a poem by Palestinian poet Mosab Abu Toha, who was abducted by the IDF and brutally beaten before a global outcry resulted in his release. Writers Voice— in depth conversation with w

Feb 16, 2024 • 1:09:45

Women, Vengeance, and Justice: Elizabeth Flock, THE FURIES. Plus, Stephen Robert Miller, OVER THE SEAWALL

Women, Vengeance, and Justice: Elizabeth Flock, THE FURIES. Plus, Stephen Robert Miller, OVER THE SEAWALL

We talk with Elizabeth Flock about her book, The Furies. It follows three remarkable women — in the US, in India and in Syria — who took justice into their own hands to defend themselves, other women and their communities against abuse. Then, environmental journalist Stephen Robert Miller tells us about his book, Over The Seawall: Tsunamis, Cyclones, Drought, And The Delusion Of Controlling Nature. He dives into the deep end of disaster mitigation gone wrong. From Arizona’s drought dilemmas to

Feb 8, 2024 • 1:17:35

Adam Shatz, THE REBEL’S CLINIC & Vanessa Lillie, BLOOD SISTERS

Adam Shatz, THE REBEL’S CLINIC & Vanessa Lillie, BLOOD SISTERS

Mind & Liberation: Unveiling Frantz Fanon’s Revolutionary Psychiatry and Post-Colonial Vision. Also, a Cherokee murder mystery. We talk with Adam Shatz about his acclaimed biography, The Rebel’s Clinic: The Revolutionary Lives of Frantz Fanon. Then, a Cherokee murder mystery based on two very real crises affecting Indigenous communities: missing and murdered women and environmental racism. We talk with Cherokee author Vanessa Lillie about her suspense novel, Blood Sisters. Writers Voice— in de

Feb 1, 2024 • 1:04:35

Hope For The Climate Crisis: Michael Mann, OUR FRAGILE MOMENT

Hope For The Climate Crisis: Michael Mann, OUR FRAGILE MOMENT

We talk with world-renowned climate scientist Michael Mann about climate, past, present and future. His book is Our Fragile Moment: How Lessons from Earth’s Past Can Help Us Survive the Climate Crisis. The world is largely past climate denialism (except for the Republican Party and its fascist leader Donald Trump.) But what has replaced it is climate doomism — the notion that it’s just too late to do anything about climate disruption, so we might as well continue with business as usual. But a

Jan 25, 2024 • 56:51

Douglas Preston & Emma Donnoghue, FOURTEEN DAYS

Douglas Preston & Emma Donnoghue, FOURTEEN DAYS

We talk with authors Douglas Preston and Emma Donoghue about a collaborative novel whose characters — and their stories — are each written by a different, major literary voice: Fourteen Days: An Unauthorized Gathering. Then, we remember Martin Luther King Jr’s birthday by airing some of our conversation with Jonathan Eig, about his biography, King: A Life. Listen to the whole interview here. Writers Voice— in depth conversation with writers of all genres, on the air since 2004. Find us on Fac

Jan 18, 2024 • 57:46

Cory Doctorow, THE LOST CAUSE

Cory Doctorow, THE LOST CAUSE

We talk with Cory Doctorow about his new novel The Lost Cause, “a solarpunk science fiction novel of hope amidst the climate emergency.” It imagines an America where another better world is possible, while confronting the evils of today. Writers Voice— in depth conversation with writers of all genres, on the air since 2004. Find us on Facebook at Writers Voice with Francesca Rheannon, on Instagram and Threads @WritersVoicePodcast or find us on X/Twitter. Love Writer’s Voice? Please rate us on y

Jan 11, 2024 • 57:36

Adam Goodheart, THE LAST ISLAND & Jennifer Jewell, WHAT WE SOW

Adam Goodheart, THE LAST ISLAND & Jennifer Jewell, WHAT WE SOW

We explore the people of North Sentinel Island, who are thought to be the last un-contacted tribe on Earth. Our guest is historian, essayist, and author Adam Goodheart and his book is The Last Island: Discovery, Defiance, and the Most Elusive Tribe on Earth. Read The Interview Transcript Then, we talk with author, gardener and radio host Jennifer Jewell about her book, What We Sow: On The Personal, Ecological And Cultural Significance Of Seeds. Read The Interview Transcript Key Words: Adam Good

Jan 4, 2024 • 1:02:38

Sy Montgomery & Matthew Patterson, OF TIME AND TURTLES

Sy Montgomery & Matthew Patterson, OF TIME AND TURTLES

Turtles are jaw-droppingly amazing. Some can run faster than a 10-year-old; some can climb trees; others have shells that glow in the dark. We talk with The Soul of An Octopus author Sy Montgomery and illustrator Matthew Patterson about this and more amazing things about turtles. Their acclaimed book is Of Time And Turtles: Mending the World, Shell By Shattered Shell. We also share our list of Ten Best Shows of 2023 Writers Voice— in depth conversation with writers of all genres, on the air sin

Dec 29, 2023 • 59:02

Mike Rothschild, JEWISH SPACE LASERS & Adam Hart, DEADLY BALANCE

Mike Rothschild, JEWISH SPACE LASERS & Adam Hart, DEADLY BALANCE

Antisemitism and conspiracy theories. Also, how to protect wildlife by protecting people. First, we talk with Mike Rothschild about his book: Jewish Space Lasers: The Rothschilds and 200 Years of Conspiracy Theories. It’s about the persistence of rightwing antisemitism and its link to conspiracy theories. Then, scientist Adam Hart tells us about how people become prey for wild animals and why conservation to preserve wildlife needs to take human needs into account to succeed. His book is The

Dec 22, 2023 • 58:20

Steve Babson, THE FORGOTTEN POPULISTS & Lesléa Newman, ALWAYS MATT

Steve Babson, THE FORGOTTEN POPULISTS & Lesléa Newman, ALWAYS MATT

We talk with labor educator and activist Steve Babson. His book is The Forgotten Populists: When Farmers Turned Left to Save Democracy. Then, Heather Has Two Mommies author Lesléa Newman tell us about the enduring legacy of Matthew Shepard. Her new book is Always Matt: A Tribute to Matthew Shepard. Writer’s Voice — in depth conversation with writers of all genres, on the air since 2004. Rate us on your favorite podcast app! It really helps others find our show. Like us on Facebook at Writers

Dec 15, 2023 • 57:48

Corban Addison WASTELANDS

Corban Addison WASTELANDS

What happened when a poor African-American community went up against the biggest meatpacking company in the world? We spend the hour with Corban Addison talking about his spell-binding legal thriller, WASTELANDS: The True Story of Farm Country on Trial. Writers Voice— in depth conversation with writers of all genres, on the air since 2004. Find us on Facebook at Writers Voice with Francesca Rheannon, on Instagram and Threads @WritersVoicePodcast or find us on X/Twitter @WritersVoice. Read t

Dec 8, 2023 • 58:58

Can we achieve 100% clean power by 2030? John Berger, SOLVING THE CLIMATE CRISIS

Can we achieve 100% clean power by 2030? John Berger, SOLVING THE CLIMATE CRISIS

Can we achieve 100% clean power by 2030? “It would be economically efficient and technologically possible to produce all of our power and all of our energy needs through clean power sources. It’s basically as simple as that.” John J. Berger We spend the hour with John Berger talking about his inspiring new book, Solving The Climate Crisis: Frontier Reports From The Race To Save The Earth. Writers Voice— in depth conversation with writers of all genres, on the air since 2004. Find us on Fac

Nov 30, 2023 • 59:00

Scott Chaskey, SOIL & SPIRIT, Ravinder Bhogal, COMFORT & JOY

Scott Chaskey, SOIL & SPIRIT, Ravinder Bhogal, COMFORT & JOY

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 Voice— in depth conversation with writers of all genres, on the air since 2004. Find us on Facebook at Writers Voice with Francesca Rheannon, on I

Nov 23, 2023 • 57:44

A True Romeo and Juliet Story in Hitler’s Paris: STARCROSSED. Also, Margaret Renkl, THE COMFORT OF CROWS

A True Romeo and Juliet Story in Hitler’s Paris: STARCROSSED. Also, Margaret Renkl, THE COMFORT OF CROWS

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. Writers Voice— in depth conversation with writers of all genres, on the air since 2004. Find us on Facebook at Writers Voice with Francesca Rhea

Nov 17, 2023 • 1:06:44

Perilous Medicine: The Struggle To Protect Health Care From The Violence of War (encore)

Perilous Medicine: The Struggle To Protect Health Care From The Violence of War (encore)

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 Medicine. It’s about the development of international law and conventions to protect health care workers and facilities from military attack — con

Nov 14, 2023 • 33:54

Carl Safina, ALFIE AND ME & Charlotte Dennett, FOLLOW THE PIPELINES

Carl Safina, ALFIE AND ME & Charlotte Dennett, FOLLOW THE PIPELINES

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 endless wars around oil include the current Israeli-Palestinian conflict? Charlotte Dennett’s book Follow The Pipelines is about the deadly politics of

Nov 2, 2023 • 58:40

Brant MacDuff, THE SHOTGUN CONSERVATIONIST

Brant MacDuff, THE SHOTGUN CONSERVATIONIST

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’s Voice Substack  Love Writer’s Voice? Please rate us on your podcast app. It really helps to get the word out about our show. Key words: hunting, con

Oct 27, 2023 • 57:53

Bears & Wolves, Oh My! Gloria Dickie, EIGHT BEARS & Sonja Swift, ECHO LOBA, LOBA ECHO

Bears & Wolves, Oh My! Gloria Dickie, EIGHT BEARS & Sonja Swift, ECHO LOBA, LOBA ECHO

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 of all genres, on the air since 2004. Find us on Facebook at Writers Voice with Francesca Rheannon, on Instagram and Threads @WritersVoicePodcast or

Oct 12, 2023 • 57:26

Tan Twan Eng, THE HOUSE OF DOORS & Kerri Maher, ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS CALL

Tan Twan Eng, THE HOUSE OF DOORS & Kerri Maher, ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS CALL

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. Writers Voice— in depth conversation with writers of all genres, on the air since 2004. Find us on Facebook at Writers Voice with Francesca Rheannon, o

Oct 5, 2023 • 58:49

David Lipsky, THE PARROT AND THE IGLOO

David Lipsky, THE PARROT AND THE IGLOO

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 genres, on the air since 2004. Find us on Facebook at Writers Voice with Francesca Rheannon, on Instagram and Threads @WritersVoicePodcast or find us on

Sep 28, 2023 • 57:34

Tania James, LOOT, Vauhini Vara, THIS IS SALVAGED + more

Tania James, LOOT, Vauhini Vara, THIS IS SALVAGED + more

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 mini-review of a stunning new book for gardeners, Planting for Pollinators. Writers Voice— in depth conversation with writers of all genres, on the air s

Sep 24, 2023 • 57:45

Andrew Boyd, I WANT A BETTER CATASTROPHE & Chuck Collins, ALTAR TO AN ERUPTING SUN

Andrew Boyd, I WANT A BETTER CATASTROPHE & Chuck Collins, ALTAR TO AN ERUPTING SUN

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 on the history of social activism and it’s future. We talk with Chuck Collins, author of numerous non fiction books, about his terrific debut novel, A

Sep 14, 2023 • 56:23

Clare Carlisle, THE MARRIAGE QUESTION  & Norman Solomon, WAR MADE INVISIBLE

Clare Carlisle, THE MARRIAGE QUESTION & Norman Solomon, WAR MADE INVISIBLE

The US military is one of the biggest engines driving private profits in the world. But whats 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 Clare Carlisle about her book, The Marriage Question: George Eliot’s Double Life. Writers Voice— in depth conversation with writers of all genres, on the

Sep 7, 2023 • 1:04:27

Ahmed White, UNDER THE IRON HEEL & Nikhil Goyal, LIVE TO SEE THE DAY

Ahmed White, UNDER THE IRON HEEL & Nikhil Goyal, LIVE TO SEE THE DAY

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 in America. Writers Voice— in depth conversation with writers of all genres, on the air since 2004. Find us on Facebook at Writers Voice with Frances

Aug 31, 2023 • 57:08

David Goodman, AN AMERICAN CANNABIS STORY & Carl Hart, DRUG USE FOR GROWNUPS

David Goodman, AN AMERICAN CANNABIS STORY & Carl Hart, DRUG USE FOR GROWNUPS

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 writers of all genres, on the air since 2004. Find us on Facebook at Writers Voice with Francesca Rheannon, on Instagram and Threads @WritersVoicePodcast

Aug 24, 2023 • 56:58

Martha Hodes, MY HIJACKING & Adam Bessie, GOING REMOTE

Martha Hodes, MY HIJACKING & Adam Bessie, GOING REMOTE

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 graphic pandemic memoir is Going Remote: A Teacher’s Journey. It’s illustrated by Peter Glanting. Writers Voice— in depth conversation with writers of

Aug 18, 2023 • 1:05:52

Paul Kix: YOU HAVE TO BE PREPARED TO DIE BEFORE YOU CAN BEGIN TO LIVE

Paul Kix: YOU HAVE TO BE PREPARED TO DIE BEFORE YOU CAN BEGIN TO LIVE

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 Writers Voice— in depth conversation with writers of all genres, on the air since 2004. Find us on Facebook at Writers Voice with Francesca Rheannon, on

Aug 10, 2023 • 57:25

Buzzy Jackson, TO DIE BEAUTIFUL & A Story from Province of the Heart

Buzzy Jackson, TO DIE BEAUTIFUL & A Story from Province of the Heart

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 genres, on the air since 2004. Like us on Facebook at Writers Voice with Francesca Rheannon, on Instagram and Threads @WritersVoicePodcast or find us on

Aug 3, 2023 • 59:35

Ava Chin, MOTT STREET & Tanis Rideout, THE SEA BETWEEN TWO SHORES

Ava Chin, MOTT STREET & Tanis Rideout, THE SEA BETWEEN TWO SHORES

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 legacy of colonialism in the South Pacific and the responsibilities they have to each other. Writers Voice— in depth conversation with writers of al

Jul 21, 2023 • 1:00:00

Jeff Goodell, THE HEAT WILL KILL YOU FIRST & Climate Lawsuits

Jeff Goodell, THE HEAT WILL KILL YOU FIRST & Climate Lawsuits

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 scorching our planet. We play an excerpt from our 2017 interview with Lynn Zinser of Climate Liability News that is still relevant now, five years later. Wri

Jul 6, 2023 • 58:32

Talking the Trumpocene with Jeff Sharlet & A Review of Dennis LeHane's Small Mercies

Talking the Trumpocene with Jeff Sharlet & A Review of Dennis LeHane's Small Mercies

We talk with Jeff Sharlet about his new book, The Undertow: Scenes From A Slow Civil War. Then we air part of an interview we did with Sharlet in 2009 about the increasing influence of rightwing extremism into the US military. And finally, a review of Dennis Lehane’s new novel Small Mercies. Writers Voice— in depth conversation with writers of all genres, on the air since 2004. Like us on Facebook at Writers Voice with Francesca Rheannon, on Instagram @WritersVoicePodcast or find us on Twitter @

Jun 30, 2023 • 55:55

Sylvia Rodriguez-Vega, DRAWING DEPORTATION & Amy Beutens, YOU ARE THE UNIVERSE

Sylvia Rodriguez-Vega, DRAWING DEPORTATION & Amy Beutens, YOU ARE THE UNIVERSE

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. We talk with Sylvia Rodriguez-Vega in this pod’s first segment. Then we talk with Amy Beutens about You Are The Universe: Ram Dass Maps The Journey, which  brings to life the profoun

Jun 22, 2023 • 58:28

Writer, Humanist and Physician Abraham Verghese, THE COVENANT OF WATER & CUTTING FOR STONE

Writer, Humanist and Physician Abraham Verghese, THE COVENANT OF WATER & CUTTING FOR STONE

A profoundly humanist novel tackles the tragedies of life: As a physician I’m perhaps more aware than most people of how perilous our everyday lives are and how quickly they could transition to something quite disastrous. And I think in America especially we exist in a sort of denial of our mortality…As a result we are very shocked when any hint of tragedy comes our way. — Abraham Verghese We spend the hour speaking with Abraham Verghese, first about his latest novel, The Covenant of Water. Then

Jun 16, 2023 • 58:39

Jane Marshall, SEARCHING FOR HAPPY VALLEY & A Story from Francesca

Jane Marshall, SEARCHING FOR HAPPY VALLEY & A Story from Francesca

Travel writer Jane Marshall takes us on her modern quest for Shangri La; her book is Searching for Happy Valley. Then, Francesca shares a story from her own journey to a Happy Valley in the foothills of the Maritime Alps of Haute Provence, where a market vendor of medicinal herbs taught her something about true vocation. “I feel like if we can spend time in a place like one of these Happy Valleys that still holds these wisdom cultures that had these technologies and these systems that survived t

Jun 8, 2023 • 58:16

Peggy Orenstein, UNRAVELING & Katy Simpson Smith, THE WEEDS

Peggy Orenstein, UNRAVELING & Katy Simpson Smith, THE WEEDS

We talk with Peggy Orenstein about her book, Unraveling: What I Learned About Life While Shearing Sheep, Dyeing Wool, and Making the World’s Ugliest Sweater. But first, Katy Simpson Smith tells us about her new novel, The Weeds. It weaves history, botany, feminism and the climate crisis together into a compelling and sharply funny tale. Writers Voice— in depth conversation with writers of all genres, on the air since 2004. Like us on Facebook at Writers Voice with Francesca Rheannon, on Instagra

Jun 1, 2023 • 1:01:10

Media Literacy: Allison Butler’s MEDIA & ME. Also, EGG with Lizzie Stark

Media Literacy: Allison Butler’s MEDIA & ME. Also, EGG with Lizzie Stark

Today on Writer’s Voice, an eclectic offering. Later in the show, we talk about eggs: actual, mythological and artistic. Author Lizzie Stark tells us about her book, Egg. But first, we talk about media literacy, something that is vital if we are to preserve and strengthen democracy. We speak with Allison Butler about the book she co-wrote for Project Censored, THE MEDIA AND ME: A Guide To Critical Media Literacy For Young People. Writers Voice— in depth conversation with writers of all genres, o

May 25, 2023 • 0:00

An Intimate Portrait of MLK, Jr.: Jonathan Eig, KING

An Intimate Portrait of MLK, Jr.: Jonathan Eig, KING

Writer’s Voice spends the hour with Jonathan Eig talking about his acclaimed new biography, KING: A Life. It’s a captivating portrait of the renowned civil rights leader, unveiling new material and providing an intimate perspective. “He suffered tremendously from doubt. And he suffered terribly from the effects of the FBI assault on him. He kept doing his work. He kept marching forward. He kept going more and more boldly into the breach. But it had an impact. He was hospitalized several times, m

May 19, 2023 • 55:58

Americans and the English Language with Ilan Stavans, THE PEOPLE’S TONGUE

Americans and the English Language with Ilan Stavans, THE PEOPLE’S TONGUE

Did you know that American English (not British English) is one of the very few languages that has no dialects? No matter where you are from in this big country, you can easily understand the speech of anyone else. That’s true, even with having different regional accents or ethnic differences such as Black English. That’s one of the many fascinating things one learns from reading Ilan Stavans’ anthology of writings in American English, spanning 450 years of our history as a nation. We talk with

May 11, 2023 • 59:00

The Case For Climate Hope: Joëlle  Gergis, HUMANITY'S MOMENT

The Case For Climate Hope: Joëlle Gergis, HUMANITY'S MOMENT

I’ve been thinking about climate change lately in really simple terms: that it’s really about the people and the places we love. It isn’t actually any more complex than that. So, yes, we talk a lot about parts per million and all these degrees of warming and all these complex things. And they are indeed metrics that scientists use to talk about climate change. But if you just strip it all the way back, it is really about protecting those places that we love and the beautiful planet that we live

May 4, 2023 • 59:00

What’s Happening To Our Microbiome: THE INVISIBLE EXTINCTION with Sarah Schenck and Steven Lawrence

What’s Happening To Our Microbiome: THE INVISIBLE EXTINCTION with Sarah Schenck and Steven Lawrence

Our Miraculous Microbiome Is Under Threat Our microbiome, the collection of microbes that live in and on our bodies, is under threat. Antibiotics, processed foods, and even stress can disrupt the delicate balance of our gut bacteria, leading to a range of health problems. Problems with our gut microbiome could be factors in the rise of diabetes, obesity, food allergies and even developmental disorders like autism. We talk with  filmmakers Sarah Schenck and Steven Lawrence about their film The In

Apr 27, 2023 • 58:32

Stephen Markley, DELUGE, plus Peter Kalmus & Darr Reilly

Stephen Markley, DELUGE, plus Peter Kalmus & Darr Reilly

How can we make the change we need to save our future? I spent a lot of time studying how we as collective agents of history have helped foment enormous change and also how we have failed at it. That was another important element, to look at the revolutions that did not work. Because unlike basically every one of those revolutions, this is something we can’t miss on. We’re not going to get a do-over on this. It’s now or never.  — Stephen Markley We talk with Stephen Markley about his acclaimed n

Apr 20, 2023 • 59:00

Nancy Lawson, WILDSCAPE & Susan Stokes Chapman, PANDORA

Nancy Lawson, WILDSCAPE & Susan Stokes Chapman, PANDORA

Spring is here and the birds are returning. But the roar of the leaf blowers is a big turn-off to our feathered friends: Right now they’re starting to migrate back in from Central and South America and either coming through or stopping to stay and breed. And if they’re going to a spot where there’s this constant noise, well, why are they going to want to nest there? We talk with Nancy Lawson about her book, Wildscape: Trilling Chipmunks, Beckoning Blooms, Salty Butterflies, And Other Sensory Won

Apr 14, 2023 • 57:43

Leila Philip, BEAVER LAND plus Mimi LeMay, WHAT WE WILL BECOME

Leila Philip, BEAVER LAND plus Mimi LeMay, WHAT WE WILL BECOME

Oh, those pesky beavers, Interfering with our property values! Right? Wrong. We talk with Leila Philip about beavers, a keystone species that we need to protect as we face the challenges of climate chaos. Her book is Beaver Land: How One Weird Rodent Made America. Then, we missed it last week: the Day of Transgender Visibility. But with all the vicious rightwing attacks on transgender people and the fascist laws being passed against them, we thought “better late than never.” So, we bring you a p

Apr 7, 2023 • 58:47

Elsa Panciroli, BEASTS BEFORE US & Maggie Stuckey, THE CONTAINER VICTORY GARDEN

Elsa Panciroli, BEASTS BEFORE US & Maggie Stuckey, THE CONTAINER VICTORY GARDEN

We talk with Elsa Panciroli about her book, BEASTS BEFORE US: The Untold Story of Mammal Origins and Evolution. Delving into the fascinating and little-known history of mammal evolution, she provides a fascinating and uplifting look at the resilience of life on this planet, through the lens of how mammals came to be. Then, motivated by the pandemic lockdown, many people renewed a gardening tradition that was all the rage during WWII, the Victory garden. We kick off the gardening season talking w

Mar 30, 2023 • 57:35

How The Democrats Lost Their Soul & The End of the American Dream: Ed Burmila & Alissa Quart

How The Democrats Lost Their Soul & The End of the American Dream: Ed Burmila & Alissa Quart

Why does the Democratic Party struggle so much to win elections by comfortable margins (when it isn’t losing them) despite the fact that the Republicans are so extreme? Could there be a hint in the fact that so many ordinary Americans keep losing ground economically, no matter who holds the reins of power? Clearly, the myth of the American Dream isn’t working. In this episode, we talk first with Ed Burmila about his book, Chaotic Neutral: How the Democrats Lost Their Soul in the Center. Then, Al

Mar 23, 2023 • 1:05:17

A Personal History of Modern Ireland with Fintan O’Toole

A Personal History of Modern Ireland with Fintan O’Toole

We talk with Fintan O’Toole about his scathing — and tender — personal history of modern Ireland, We Don’t Know Ourselves. Then we hear Seamus Heaney reading a poem and a rare recording of storyteller Susan Porter reading from the Irish legend of Cuchulain. Writers Voice— in depth conversation with writers of all genres, on the air since 2004. Like us on Facebook at Writers Voice with Francesca Rheannon, on Instagram @WritersVoicePodcast or find us on Twitter @WritersVoice. Love Writer’s Voice?

Mar 17, 2023 • 59:01

Celebrating Reproductive Choice: Felicia Kornbluh, A WOMAN'S LIFE IS A HUMAN LIFE & Dolen Perkins-Valdez, TAKE MY HAND

Celebrating Reproductive Choice: Felicia Kornbluh, A WOMAN'S LIFE IS A HUMAN LIFE & Dolen Perkins-Valdez, TAKE MY HAND

We talk with historian Felicia Kornbluh about her book, A Woman’s Life Is a Human Life: My Mother, Our Neighbor, and the Journey from Reproductive Rights to Reproductive Justice. Then we re-air a clip from our conversation with Dolen Perkins-Valdez about the famous reproductive justice case that inspired her novel Take My Hand. Writers Voice— in depth conversation with writers of all genres, on the air since 2004. Like us on Facebook at Writers Voice with Francesca Rheannon, on Instagram @Writer

Mar 10, 2023 • 58:50

Stewart Udall and The Politics of Beauty with John de Graaf. Also Tony Mazzochi, Labor Leader And Environmentalist

Stewart Udall and The Politics of Beauty with John de Graaf. Also Tony Mazzochi, Labor Leader And Environmentalist

We talk with John de Graaf about his new film, Stewart Udall, The Politics of Beauty. It takes an in-depth look at the life and work of Stewart Udall, a man who played a pivotal role in shaping America’s conservation and environmental policies. Then we listen back to our 2007 interview with Les Leopold about his biography of labor leader and environmentalist Tony Mazzochi. Key Words: environment, conservation, labor, OSHA, biography, documentary film Writers Voice— in depth conversation with wri

Mar 2, 2023 • 59:00

Black History Month: The Life of Ethel Payne, First Lady Of The Black Press

Black History Month: The Life of Ethel Payne, First Lady Of The Black Press

To celebrate Black History Month, we re-air our 2015 interview with acclaimed biographer James McGrath Morris about his biography, Eye on The Struggle: Ethel Payne, First Lady Of The Black Press. Description Black History Month honors the vital contributions made by African Americans throughout history, including the important role they played in the civil rights movement. One of the unsung heroes of this movement was Ethel Payne. In this special podcast episode, acclaimed biographer James McGra

Feb 24, 2023 • 59:00

Grief, Sisterhood & Becoming an Athlete: Chetna Maroo, WESTERN LANE & Black History Month: Ta-Nahisi Coates, THE BEAUTIFUL STRUGGLE

Grief, Sisterhood & Becoming an Athlete: Chetna Maroo, WESTERN LANE & Black History Month: Ta-Nahisi Coates, THE BEAUTIFUL STRUGGLE

We speak with Chetna Maroo about her debut novel, Western Lane. It’s a beautifully written coming of age story about a young girl and her British Indian family who are trying to come to terms with the recent death of the family matriarch. Then, for Black History Month, we hear my 2008 interview with Ta-Nahisi Coates about his first book, The Beautiful Struggle: Between the World and Me. Writers Voice— in depth conversation with writers of all genres, on the air since 2004. Like us on Facebook at

Feb 16, 2023 • 56:35

How To Reckon With Patriarchy: V, RECKONING & Black History Month: DaMaris Hill, A BOUND WOMAN IS A DANGEROUS THING

How To Reckon With Patriarchy: V, RECKONING & Black History Month: DaMaris Hill, A BOUND WOMAN IS A DANGEROUS THING

We talk with V, formerly known as Eve Ensler about her collection of essays and poems, Reckoning. Then in honor of Black History Month, we listen back to my 2019 interview with DaMaris Hill about her narrative in verse, A Bound Woman Is A Dangerous Thing: The Incarceration Of African-American Women From Harriet Tubman To Sandra Bland. Writers Voice— in depth conversation with writers of all genres, on the air since 2004. Like us on Facebook at Writers Voice with Francesca Rheannon, on Instagram

Feb 9, 2023 • 58:07

Heinz Insu Fenkl, SKULL WATER & Stephanie Wear, EAT UGLY

Heinz Insu Fenkl, SKULL WATER & Stephanie Wear, EAT UGLY

We talk with Korean American writer Heinz Insu Fenkl about his autobiographical novel Skull Water. It’s about his youth in Korea as the son of a Korean mother and German-American father, the trauma of war and the dizzying transformation of Korea from the old ways to modern life. Then, jelly fish, bugs and garbage, oh my! We talk with marine scientist Dr. Stephanie Wear about the importance—and the joys — of “eating ugly.” She hosts the new documentary series Eating Ugly, on Discovery+. Writers V

Feb 2, 2023 • 57:11

Ray Nayler, THE MOUNTAIN AND THE SEA & Victor Navasky Remembered

Ray Nayler, THE MOUNTAIN AND THE SEA & Victor Navasky Remembered

We talk with Ray Nayler about his novel of speculative fiction, The Mountain In The Sea. It was named by Slate Book Review as one of the Best Books of 2022. Then, we remember Victor Navasky, the long time editor of the Nation magazine. He died January 24 at the age of 90. We listen back to my 2006 interview with him about his memoir, A Matter of Opinion. Writers Voice— in depth conversation with writers of all genres, on the air since 2004. Like us on Facebook at Writers Voice with Francesca Rhe

Jan 26, 2023 • 1:12:10

Maya K. van Rossum, THE GREEN AMENDMENT & David Margolick on MLK, Jr.

Maya K. van Rossum, THE GREEN AMENDMENT & David Margolick on MLK, Jr.

A landmark win under Pennsylvania’s Green Amendment to its constitution led Maya van Rossum to imagine much, much more. We talk with her about her book The Green Amendment: The Peoples Fight For A Clean, Safe, And Healthy Environment. Then, in honor of Martin Luther King’s birthday this week, we re-air our 2018 interview with David Margolick about his book The Promise and the Dream. It’s about the connection between Martin Luther King, Jr. and Bobby Kennedy in the fight for civil rights. Writers

Jan 20, 2023 • 57:25

Switch to the Fountain App