Ocean Vuong Uses the Sentence as a Tool to Understand Deep Mystery
Chicago Humanities Tapes
Beloved novelist, poet, and educator Ocean Vuong joins his friend and colleague Adrian Matejka, editor of Poetry magazine, for a hilarious, heartbreaking, and affirming conversation about the power of the sentence. SHOW NOTES: Read the . CW: Discussion of drug addiction PHOTO: Read: Ocean Vuong, Ocean Vuong, Magazine Explore: Djuna Barnes, Theresa Hak Kyung Cha's, Lady Murasaki, André Breton, Aimé Césaire, Live event programmed by Michael Green Live event produced by Jesse Swanson Live event stage managed by Danny Fender Live event produced...
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Leslie Odom, Jr. on Learning that Love is Being Kind to Yourself
Chicago Humanities Tapes
Originator of the role Aaron Burr in the Broadway smash hit Hamiliton, Leslie Odom, Jr. reflects on his Tony and Grammy Award-winning, Oscar and Emmy Award-nominated career. With a loving eye toward his own creative practice and collaborative spirit, he gabs with NBC’s Matthew Rodrigues on self-care, fame, and might just bring us a little Christmas in June by the end. SHOW NOTES: Read the . PHOTO: Read: Leslie Odom, Jr., Watch: trailer PBS Great Performances Explore: Live event programmed by Kaity O’Reilly Live event produced by Jesse Swanson Live event...
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Philosopher Agnes Callard Has Some Questions About Questions
Chicago Humanities Tapes
Our goal at Chicago Humanities Tapes is to help you get closer to the answers to life’s biggest questions with the brightest minds the world offers. And we’ll get those answers eventually according to philosopher Agnes Callard, though it might take another 10,000 years of humanity. So, how do we live our lives knowing we’ll never know the answers to life’s biggest questions such as: is there a God? What makes a good parent? Should I have gone into academia? Her and University of Chicago constitutional law professor William Baude think the answer is in the Socratic method – asking...
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Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson Wonder What You Will Build for the Future
Chicago Humanities Tapes
Bestselling authors and popular podcasters Ezra Klein (The New York Times) and Derek Thompson (The Atlantic) are interested in societal abundance – how do we get closer to equality when it seems like we’re getting farther from having enough resources for everyone? Joined by historian and science fiction writer Ada Palmer, these three brilliant minds joyfully dig into everything from futurism to Shakespeare, encouraging listeners to combat daily despair with progressive action. to the podcast. SHOW NOTES Watch the full program . Read the . PHOTO: Read: , Ezra Klein and Derek...
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How Classic Painted Signs Help Us Time Travel with Heavy Pages Press
Chicago Humanities Tapes
Join fine art painters turned sign designers turned book publishers Andrew and Kelsey McClellan of Heavy Pages Press on a lovingly nerdy investigation through the signs of Chicago’s small businesses of yesteryear. A chance encounter with a perfectly preserved “ghost sign” by the Beverly Design Co. from the 1930s led them to uncover previously lost sign design sketches. They sit down with podcast host Alisa Rosenthal to discuss their book The Golden Era of Sign Design: The Rediscovered Sketches of Beverly Sign Co., what it was like to interview tough talking old timer painters, and their...
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Mini Tapes: The Journey is the Destination for the Jewish Museum of Chicago
Chicago Humanities Tapes
In support of Chicago-based klezmer band Upshtat Zingerai bringing Yiddish tunes and dancing to the Chicago Humanities Spring Festival, the creative partners behind the Jewish Museum of Chicago sat down with podcast host Alisa Rosenthal to preview the upcoming event. They chat artistic process, visions for having a future physical space, and how the museum project was started to fill a void in the Chicago arts scene as a hub for Jewish artists and community members. Explore the rest of the Lakeview Day 2025 events . to the podcast • Let us know what you think by taking the ...
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Hebru Brantley on His Chicago Murals, Fine Art, and Everything in Between
Chicago Humanities Tapes
Bronzeville native and preeminent Black pop artist Hebru Brantley joins visual artist and MacArthur Fellow Amanda Williams for a life-affirming conversation that spans the power of unbridled creativity, his inviting marketing strategy, and naturally, a little bit of Chicago vs. LA discourse. This program was recorded live at the Illinois Institute of Technology in May 2024. to the podcast • Let us know what you think by taking the SHOW NOTES: Watch the full conversation . Read the . PHOTO: Read: Hebru Brantley, Explore: Find near you Amanda Williams, Live...
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Paul Reiser's Comedy Evolution
Chicago Humanities Tapes
Comedian, Emmy Award-nominated actor, screenwriter, #1 New York Times bestselling author and musician Paul Reiser reflects on stand-up in the ‘80s, Mad About You, his writing, and his renaissance with roles on Stranger Things and The Kominsky Method. He chats with friend of the fest Mark Bazer, contributing writing to Chicago Magazine and host and executive producer of The Interview Show. to the podcast • Let us know what you think by taking the SHOW NOTES: Read the . PHOTO: Read: Paul Reiser, Paul Reiser, Watch: Mad About You, Explore: Live event...
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Joy Reid Shares and Makes History
Chicago Humanities Tapes
Political commentator and New York Times best-selling author Joy Reid is joined by veteran reporter April Ryan for a conversation around Reid’s book "Medgar and Myrlie: A Love Story That Awakened America." Representing Delta Sigma Theta, Reid and Ryan’s friendship is electric, recorded live in April 2024 at a full house at the First United Methodist Church at the Chicago Temple. Reid and Ryan discuss “Medgar and Myrlie,” which chronicles the lives and love story of civil rights icons Medgar Evers and Myrlie Evers-Williams and the crucial groundwork they laid for Black Americans that...
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Mini Tapes: Last Week Tonight's Ali Barthwell on Chicago, Comedy, and Playing to the Top of the Audience’s Intelligence
Chicago Humanities Tapes
Today’s mini episode is the best of Ali Barthwell (Last Week Tonight with John Oliver) from October 2024’s Writing on Eggshells: Political Comedy Cracked Up panel, featuring Peter Grosz (The Colbert Report, Late Night with Seth Meyers) and John Lutz (Late Night with Seth Meyers, Saturday Night Live), moderated by Second City's Kelly Leonard. Chicago’s own Barthwell shares war stories from the front lines of touring the country with Second City and the experience of being a Black voice in comedy writers’ rooms. to the podcast • Let us know what you think by taking the ...
info_outlineAcclaimed writer Roxane Gay totally called what this week in politics would look like, in a mind-blowingly prescient conversation from November 2023. She’s joined by Chicago author Lindsay Hunter for a chat on culture both high and low as represented in her recent book of essays “Opinions: A Decade of Arguments, Criticism, and Minding Other People’s Business.” Topics range from Biden dropping out of the 2024 election, identity politics, and meaningful civic engagement beyond social media… to Taylor Swift, 2am writing sessions, and which famous authors would make up the best cast of Real Housewives.
SHOW NOTES:
Read the podcast transcript.
CW: Light profanity
Roxane Gay, Opinions: A Decade of Arguments, Criticism, and Minding Other People's Business
Lindsay Hunter, Hot Springs Drive
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