As editor of Poetry Magazine, Christian Wiman reads thousands of new poems a year. Who better to check in with on the state of English language poetry?
To hear Wiman talk about his own writing, listen here.
Intelligent. Optimistic. Curious.
Audio
So, there’s a serious proposal on the table. Should we genetically engineer disease-carrying species of mosquitoes out of existence? The technology exists and some pretty prominent scientists think we should.
Let’s check in with Sonia Shah. She’s a science journalist who writes about pandemics and pathogens and the social history of disease. She wrote one of the best histories of malaria – a book called “The Fever”, and she has a pretty different perspective on the kill or be killed debate.
Jonathan Cott describes what it was like to re-invent himself after E.C.T. (Electroconvulsive Therapy) treatments created a fifteen year gap in his memory.
Jay Parini is a poet, novelist and teacher. He's also the author of "Promised Land: Thirteen Books That Changed America." He tells Jim Fleming that his is not a list of "great books" but rather books that significantly changed the literary climate of American culture.
Lucy Jago tells Steve Paulson about the life and work of the Norwegian scientist who figured out what really causes the Northern Lights.
Poet and writer Kenneth Goldsmith talks about his "Uncreative Writing" course in which students are penalized for showing any originality and creativity. Goldsmith is the author of "Uncreative Writing: Managing Language in the Digital Age."
John Matthews talks with Anne Strainchamps about the sacred pre-Christian origins of many of our secular Christmas traditions.
Judy Blunt was born on a cattle ranch in Montana. She talks with Anne Strainchamps about her attitude towards animals, and why she finally had to walk away from ranch life.
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