Tom Shippey, author of “Tolkien: Author of the Century,” talks with Steve Paulson about the great fantasy writer’s life, the origins of hobbits, and Tolkien’s motivation for writing fantasy.
Intelligent. Optimistic. Curious.
Audio
Stacy Holman Jones is the author of "Torch Singing." She loves the music, but as an avowed feminist.
Celebrated jazz pianist Vijay Iyer has a Ph.D in music cognition and a penchant for asking big questions - like, what is music? And what does it do for us? Steve Paulson caught up with Vijay backstage before a recent concert, where they talked about improvisation and the parallels between jazz and basketball.
Ziauddin Sardar, a London based scholar and cultural critic, tells Steve what’s needed now is “an Islamic science” and explains what that is.
Outdoor journalist James Mills is tired of being the only African-American on the mountain, or the rock face, or hiking in a national park. In an effort to increase diversity in outdoor recreation, he helped organize Expedition Denali -- the first all-African-American team to attempt America's highest peak, Denali.
What's the best way to fight the homogenization of America?
Writer Suketu Mehta tells Jim Fleming about Bombay's archaic rent laws, the gang violence of the ‘90s and the sectarian riots and their aftermath.
Retired US Air Force pilot Bruce Black talks about his experience flying drones in places like Iraq and Afghanistan.
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