Dialogue with Marcia Franklin

For more than 25 years, Idaho Public Television host Marcia Franklin has recorded interviews with some of the world's most noted writers and thinkers for her series, "Dialogue." From historians to humorists, from politicians to pundits, from jurists to journalists, these illuminating "Conversations That Matter" help us better understand our world. Be sure to subscribe for the latest episode!

Robert MacNeil: Becoming an American 04/14/2024

Robert MacNeil: Becoming an American Marcia Franklin talks with Robert MacNeil, the veteran journalist, author, and former co-host of the NewsHour on PBS. MacNeil, who was born in Canada, talks about becoming an American, how the news profession changed over the course of his career, and his love for the English language. Don’t forget to subscribe, and visit the for more conversations that matter! Originally Aired: 12/08/2005 The interview is part of Dialogue’s series, . Since 1995, the conference has been bringing together some of the world’s most well-known and illuminating authors to discuss literature and life. This was the first year Marcia Franklin interviewed speakers there. /episode/index/show/dialoguewriters/id/30835308

Justice Stephen Breyer: Active Liberty 04/07/2024

Justice Stephen Breyer: Active Liberty In his book, Active Liberty: Interpreting Our Democratic Constitution, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer lays out his judicial philosophy, that judges should decide cases in a way that allows the public to maximize participation in government through what he calls "active liberty." Marcia Franklin talks with Justice Breyer about the precepts of "active liberty, why he wanted to write the book, the values that guide him in his judicial decisions, and why it's important for judges to write well. Don’t forget to subscribe, and visit the for more conversations that matter! Originally Aired: 12/21/2006 The interview is part of Dialogue’s series, . Since 1995, the conference has been bringing together some of the world’s most well-known and illuminating authors to discuss literature and life. This was the second year Marcia Franklin interviewed speakers there. /episode/index/show/dialoguewriters/id/30738673

Isabel Wilkerson: The Warmth of Other Suns 02/25/2024

Isabel Wilkerson: The Warmth of Other Suns Marcia Franklin interviews Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Isabel Wilkerson about her book, The Warmth of Other Suns. The work, about the Great Migration of African-Americans from the south to other parts of the country, took Wilkerson 15 years to research and write. They discuss the reasons for the migration, its influence on the country, and how the book's success has affected Wilkerson. Originally Aired: 10/16/14 /episode/index/show/dialoguewriters/id/29992463

Tayari Jones: An American Marriage 02/18/2024

Tayari Jones: An American Marriage Novelist Tayari Jones describes the process of writing “An American Marriage,” a novel that chronicles the trajectory of a marriage when one of the spouses is wrongfully convicted of a crime. Jones talks with Marcia about the serendipity that led to the book’s characters, as well as how her writing is informed by the experiences of her parents, who were both active in the civil rights movement. Don’t forget to subscribe, and visit the for more conversations that matter. Originally Aired: 1/7/2022 The interview is part of Dialogue’s series Since 1995, the conference has been bringing together some of the world’s most well-known and illuminating authors to discuss literature and life. /episode/index/show/dialoguewriters/id/29992408

Bob Edwards: The Birth of Broadcast Journalism 02/11/2024

Bob Edwards: The Birth of Broadcast Journalism Bob Edwards, National Public Radio senior correspondent and longtime host of “Morning Edition,” has died. His sonorous voice has kept millions of NPR listeners company for decades. Edwards talked with Marcia Franklin in 2004 about his career and his book “Edward R. Murrow and the Birth of Broadcast Journalism.” Originally aired: 07/22/2004 /episode/index/show/dialoguewriters/id/29972853

N. Scott Momaday: The West 02/04/2024

N. Scott Momaday: The West Pulitzer Prize-winning Kiowa author N. Scott Momaday has died. In this interview from 1996, host Marcia Franklin talks with Momaday about his role in commentating on Native American culture in the recently released Ken Burns documentary ‘The West.’ Momaday also talks about how to find your voice as an author, as well as the relationship between Native Americans and American society. Originally aired: 09/25/1996 /episode/index/show/dialoguewriters/id/29760178

David Epstein: The Sports Gene 01/28/2024

David Epstein: The Sports Gene Marcia Franklin talks with David Epstein, an award-winning sports journalist and author of the bestselling book The Sports Gene. It delves into the controversial research on what role genetics plays in the development of athletic talent. The book also takes on the so-called “10,000 Hour Rule,” which contends that 10,000 hours of practice can produce mastery in a field, including sports. Don’t forget to subscribe, and visit the for more conversations that matter. Originally Aired: 10/24/2014 The interview is part of Dialogue’s series Since 1995, the conference has been bringing together some of the world’s most well-known and illuminating authors to discuss literature and life. /episode/index/show/dialoguewriters/id/29578423

Ethan Watters: Found Families and Generational Change 01/21/2024

Ethan Watters: Found Families and Generational Change Writer Ethan Watters joins Marcia Franklin to discuss the themes in his book, Urban Tribes, which looks at the ways in which young, unmarried Americans create their own sense of family. Ethan Watters has written about psychiatry and social psychology for 20 years. He has also taught writing at Berkeley, Stanford, and California College of the Arts. In 1994 he co-founded the San Francisco Writers' Grotto. In addition to several books, he's written about social trends for publications from Esquire to the New York Times Magazine, among other national and regional publications. He has also created pieces for Public Radio International's This American Life. Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast and visit the for more conversations that matter! Originally Aired: 12/18/2008 The interview is part of Dialogue’s series, . Since 1995, the conference has been bringing together some of the world’s most well-known and illuminating authors to discuss literature and life. /episode/index/show/dialoguewriters/id/29578408

Rep. John Lewis: Last of the Big Six 01/14/2024

Rep. John Lewis: Last of the Big Six Marcia Franklin talks with Rep. John Lewis (D-GA), the last of the so-called "Big Six" leaders of the African-American civil rights movement. Lewis was the chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) from 1963 to 1966, and played a seminal role in some of the 56 most important activities of the movement, including the Freedom Rides, the march from Selma to Montgomery and the March on Washington (at which he was the youngest speaker). He became a United States Representative in 1986. During their conversation, Lewis and Franklin discussed his emotions on the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Civil Rights Act, the election of President Obama, what Lewis sees as current civil rights challenges, and his advice to the next generation. The two also discuss a trilogy of graphic novels called March that he and a staffer, Andrew Aydin, are writing. The series illustrates the congressman's life in the civil rights movement. The first book hit #1 on the New York Times Best Sellers List. Originally Aired: 11/14/2014 The interview is part of Dialogue’s series, . Since 1995, the conference has been bringing together some of the world’s most well-known and illuminating authors to discuss literature and life. Marcia Franklin has interviewed speakers there since 2005. /episode/index/show/dialoguewriters/id/29566338

Kurt Koontz: Walking ‘The Way’ 01/07/2024

Kurt Koontz: Walking ‘The Way’ Marcia Franklin talks with Boise resident Kurt Koontz about his book, “A Million Steps,” which chronicles his journey along the Camino de Santiago trail in northern Spain. The 500-mile route, known colloquially as ‘The Way,’ was originally a trek made by Catholic pilgrims to the Santiago de Compostela Cathedral, believed to be the burial place of St. James, an apostle of Jesus. Today, 200,000 seekers a year from all backgrounds traverse the path. Franklin talks with Koontz about why he decided to take the journey, what he learned along the way, and why he wanted to write a book about his experiences. In an Extra, Koontz shares tips for walking the Camino, and describes the process of writing and publishing his book. Originally aired: 07/24/14 /episode/index/show/dialoguewriters/id/29566308

Mohsin Hamid: The Last White Man 12/31/2023

Mohsin Hamid: The Last White Man Conversations From the Sun Valley Writers’ Conference is back for a 16th season! In this episode, host Marcia Franklin speaks with writer Mohsin Hamid about his latest novel, The Last White Man. The story follows the transformation of a man who wakes up one day to find that his skin color has changed. Hamid, who often incorporates his own multicultural background into his work, talks with Franklin about how his life changed after the terrorist attacks of 9/11, and how he aims with his writing to “imagine the world into a better place.” Originally Aired: 12/29/2023 The interview is part of the series . Since 1995, the conference has been bringing together some of the world’s most well-known and illuminating authors to discuss literature and life. /episode/index/show/dialoguewriters/id/29361493

Andrea Elliott: Invisible Child 12/24/2023

Andrea Elliott: Invisible Child Conversations From the Sun Valley Writers’ Conference is back for a 16th season! In this episode, journalist Andrea Elliott joins host Marcia Franklin to talk about her book, Invisible Child, which won the 2022 Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction. The book chronicles eight years in the life of Dasani Coates, a child in Brooklyn. Elliott shares what compelled her to spend that much time covering the story, and how Dasani’s life exemplifies the challenges of being poor in America. Elliott also discusses some of the ethical considerations involved in reporting this complex and personal story. Originally Aired: 12/22/2023 The interview is part of the series . Since 1995, the conference has been bringing together some of the world’s most well-known and illuminating authors to discuss literature and life. /episode/index/show/dialoguewriters/id/29361478

David Grann: The Wager 12/17/2023

David Grann: The Wager Conversations From the Sun Valley Writers’ Conference is back for a 16th season! In this episode, David Grann regales viewers with some of the amazing true stories surrounding the wreck of The Wager, a British ship that sank off the tip of South America in 1741. In his book The Wager, Grann uses rare primary source documents to reconstruct the harrowing experiences of the ship’s castaways and shows how the aftermath of the saga is still relevant today. The book will be adapted into a film directed by Martin Scorsese, as was another of Grann’s bestsellers, Killers of the Flower Moon. Originally Aired: 12/15/2023 The interview is part of the series . Since 1995, the conference has been bringing together some of the world’s most well-known and illuminating authors to discuss literature and life. /episode/index/show/dialoguewriters/id/29361443

Hernan Diaz: Trust 12/10/2023

Hernan Diaz: Trust Conversations From the Sun Valley Writers’ Conference is back for a 16th season! In this episode, Hernan Diaz joins Marcia Franklin to discuss his latest novel, Trust, which won the 2023 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. The intricately braided tale about characters in the world of high finance gives readers four different takes on the same story, playing with the idea of “truth.” Diaz explains why he constructed the novel using multiple voices, and what it was like to win the Pulitzer Prize. Originally Aired: 12/08/2023 The interview is part of the series . Since 1995, the conference has been bringing together some of the world’s most well-known and illuminating authors to discuss literature and life. /episode/index/show/dialoguewriters/id/29361363

Abraham Verghese: The Covenant of Water 12/03/2023

Abraham Verghese: The Covenant of Water Conversations From the Sun Valley Writers’ Conference is back for a 16th season! In this episode, host Marcia Franklin talks with Dr. Abraham Verghese about his latest blockbuster novel, The Covenant of Water. The epic, which includes a mystery at its core, covers more than 70 years in the intertwined lives of families in the Indian state of Kerala. Verghese discusses the ties the story has to his own family history and shares his joy of writing. Originally Aired: 12/01/2023 The interview is part of the series Since 1995, the conference has been bringing together some of the world’s most well-known and illuminating authors to discuss literature and life. /episode/index/show/dialoguewriters/id/28925428

Susan Orlean: True Story 11/26/2023

Susan Orlean: True Story Longtime New Yorker writer and author Susan Orlean joins host Marcia Franklin for a lively chat about her writing style and her work, including hundreds of magazine articles, “The Library Book,” and an upcoming memoir. Don’t forget to subscribe, and visit the for more conversations that matter. Originally Aired: 12/31/2021 The interview is part of Dialogue’s series Since 1995, the conference has been bringing together some of the world’s most well-known and illuminating authors to discuss literature and life. /episode/index/show/dialoguewriters/id/28695653

Naomi Shihab Nye: Making the Ordinary Extraordinary 11/19/2023

Naomi Shihab Nye: Making the Ordinary Extraordinary Known for elevating the “ordinary” with her keen observations, including life in Latino and Arab communities, Palestinian-American poet Naomi Shihab Nye is the author or editor of more than 30 works of poetry, fiction and essays. Her books include Words Under the Words; Red Suitcase; Fuel; You and Yours; Never in a Hurry; Habibi; A-maze Me; Honeybee; and 19 Varieties of Gazelle: Poems of the Middle East, which was nominated for the National Book Award. Nye, whose father was a journalist, gleans many of the subjects for her poems from the news, including writing about both the tensions and close relationships between Palestinians and Israelis. The promotion of cross-cultural understanding and peace is an important component of her work, as is teaching poetry to children, publishing their poems and writing children’s books. Marcia Franklin talks with Nye about her beginnings as a poet, the influences on her work, her tips for writing, the role of poetry in society and her thoughts on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Don’t forget to subscribe, and visit the for more conversations that matter. Originally Aired: 10/26/2012 The interview is part of Dialogue’s series Since 1995, the conference has been bringing together some of the world’s most well-known and illuminating authors to discuss literature and life. /episode/index/show/dialoguewriters/id/28695593

Tim O'Brien: The Things We Carry 11/12/2023

Tim O'Brien: The Things We Carry Host Marcia Franklin interviews one of the most esteemed writers of the Vietnam War era, Tim O’Brien. O’Brien, who served as an infantryman from 1969 to 1970, wrote a memoir in 1972 called “If I Die in a Combat Zone, Box Me Up and Ship Me Home.” It received excellent reviews, and in 1978, O’Brien won the National Book Award for “Going After Cacciato,” a novel about a soldier who goes AWOL and the squad that tries to find him. O’Brien’s most well-known book is “The Things They Carried,” a work of linked stories about soldiers in the Vietnam War, published in 1990. It was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize and National Book Critics Circle Award, and is required reading in many high school and college classes. Franklin talks with O’Brien about his style of writing, which often blurs fact with fiction, and about his new life as a first-time father later in life. The two also talk extensively about war in our culture, and O’Brien shares his thoughts on how he thinks Veterans Day and Memorial Day would be best observed. O’Brien was in Boise as the keynote speaker for the Idaho Humanities Council’s 2015 Distinguished Humanities Lecture. Originally aired: 11/13/2015 /episode/index/show/dialoguewriters/id/28006251

Anthony Doerr: Cloud Cuckoo Land 11/05/2023

Anthony Doerr: Cloud Cuckoo Land Host Marcia Franklin talks in-depth with author Anthony Doerr about his newest book, “Cloud Cuckoo Land,” and the Netflix adaptation of “All the Light We Cannot See,” his 2014 novel that won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. “Mr. Doerr’s been on Dialogue more times than any other author,” says Franklin. “But still, it had been eight years since we’d recorded an interview together. So it was a lot of fun to catch up with him.” The conversation was taped at the 2022 Sun Valley Writers’ Conference. /episode/index/show/dialoguewriters/id/28006227

Stacy Schiff: The Legacy of the Salem Witch Trials 10/29/2023

Stacy Schiff: The Legacy of the Salem Witch Trials Marcia Franklin talks with Pulitzer Prize–winning author Stacy Schiff about her work, The Witches. The book examines the Salem Witch Trials of 1692, delving into what precipitated them, and the participants involved. Franklin talks with Schiff about why she wanted to write the book, the challenges involved and the legacy of the trials. Don’t forget to subscribe, and visit the for more conversations that matter. Originally Aired: 10/29/2015 The interview is part of Dialogue’s series Since 1995, the conference has been bringing together some of the world’s most well-known and illuminating authors to discuss literature and life. /episode/index/show/dialoguewriters/id/28006161

Gretel Ehrlich: The Solace of Open Spaces 10/22/2023

Gretel Ehrlich: The Solace of Open Spaces Marcia Franklin talks with author Gretel Ehrlich about her works and passions. Perhaps best known for her memoirs about the American West, including The Solace of Open Spaces, Ehrlich has also spent extensive time in the Arctic, writing about the effects of climate change on the wildlife and culture there. Franklin talks to her about that issue, her writing style and her love for the West. Don’t forget to subscribe, and visit the for more conversations that matter. Originally Aired: 12/19/2014 The interview is part of Dialogue’s series Since 1995, the conference has been bringing together some of the world’s most well-known and illuminating authors to discuss literature and life. /episode/index/show/dialoguewriters/id/28006125

N. Scott Momaday: The West 10/15/2023

N. Scott Momaday: The West In this interview from 1996, Marcia Franklin talks with Pulitzer Prize winning author N. Scott Momaday about his role in commentating on Native American culture in the recently released Ken Burns documentary ‘The West.’ Momaday also talks about how to find your voice as an author and the relationship between Native Americans and American society. Originally aired: 09/25/1996 /episode/index/show/dialoguewriters/id/28006077

Heather Rae & Russ Friedenberg: Filmmaking in Idaho 10/08/2023

Heather Rae & Russ Friedenberg: Filmmaking in Idaho Marcia Franklin talks with Idaho filmmakers Heather Rae and Russell Friedenberg. The two produced and wrote “Trudell,” a documentary about Native American poet and activist John Trudell. The documentary aired on Idaho Public Television as part of the “Independent Lens” series. Rae and Friedenberg discuss their film, which premiered at Sundance and has been screened around the world. They also talk about their upcoming works, the state of documentary filmmaking, and their plans to buy a building in Boise that will be a filmmaking center. Originally aired: 06/22/2006 /episode/index/show/dialoguewriters/id/28006047

Andrew Solomon: The Secret We Share 10/01/2023

Andrew Solomon: The Secret We Share Author and professor Andrew Solomon relates how he went from being a bullied child suffering from depression to an award-winning journalist traveling the world. Solomon’s 2001 book, The Noonday Demon: An Atlas of Depression, won the National Book Award for Nonfiction. He has delivered popular TED Talks on culture and psychology. Don’t forget to subscribe, and visit the for more conversations that matter. Originally Aired: 9/29/2017 The interview is part of Dialogue’s series Since 1995, the conference has been bringing together some of the world’s most well-known and illuminating authors to discuss literature and life. /episode/index/show/dialoguewriters/id/28005993

Robert MacNeil: Becoming an American 09/24/2023

Richard Blanco: How to Love a Country 09/17/2023

Richard Blanco: How to Love a Country Marcia Franklin talks with poet Richard Blanco, the first LatinX and gay inaugural poet. Blanco wrote a poem for President Obama’s second inaugural and read it at the ceremony. He discusses the process of writing the inaugural poem, “One Today,” how the piece reflected his life and his philosophy of writing, the themes of his work, and the power of poetry to change lives. Mr. Blanco was the keynote speaker at the Idaho Humanities Council’s annual event in 2019. Originally aired: 12/20/19 /episode/index/show/dialoguewriters/id/28005930

Amy Waldman: Memorializing 9/11 09/10/2023

Amy Waldman: Memorializing 9/11 Amy Waldman, a former reporter for The New York Times, discusses her bestselling novel The Submission, which tells the fictional tale of Mohammad “Mo” Khan, a secular Muslim who wins a competition to design a memorial honoring the victims of a terrorist attack similar to 9/11. When the jury members discover who’ve they’ve selected, some try to change the result. But the decision is leaked to the press, resulting in outrage not over the selection of Khan, but over his entry, which includes a garden some think is an Islamic design to honor martyrs. The outcry is reminiscent of the 2010 controversy over Park51, a planned Islamic community center in New York City near the former Twin Towers. But Waldman had finished the first draft of her book before that story erupted. Don’t forget to subscribe, and visit the for more conversations that matter. Originally Aired: 10/12/2012 The interview is part of Dialogue’s series Since 1995, the conference has been bringing together some of the world’s most well-known and illuminating authors to discuss literature and life. /episode/index/show/dialoguewriters/id/27916305

Steve Coll: Journalism Under Fire 09/03/2023

Steve Coll: Journalism Under Fire Journalist Steve Coll talks with Marcia Franklin about his latest book, Directorate S, a follow-up to his Pulitzer Prize-winning book Ghost Wars. He discusses why he wanted to write the book and what he learned — including about Idahoan Bowe Bergdahl, who was imprisoned by the Taliban. Coll, who is also the dean of the Columbia University School of Journalism, discusses threats to journalism. Don’t forget to subscribe, and visit the for more conversations that matter. Originally Aired: 11/16/2018 The interview is part of Dialogue’s series Since 1995, the conference has been bringing together some of the world’s most well-known and illuminating authors to discuss literature and life. /episode/index/show/dialoguewriters/id/27916266

Gov. Cecil Andrus and Chris Carlson: A Mutual Respect 08/27/2023

Gov. Cecil Andrus and Chris Carlson: A Mutual Respect Marcia Franklin talks with four-term Idaho Governor Cecil D. Andrus and one of his former press secretaries, Chris Carlson. Carlson has written a book about his experiences working for the governor entitled Idaho's Greatest Governor. The two discuss Andrus' personal and political philosophies, as well as what they consider the highlights of his career. The governor also weighs in on current political issues, such as the partisanship in Congress, President Obama's performance, the Occupy movement, wilderness designation and salmon recovery. Cecil Andrus, a Democrat, began his political career in 1960 as a state senator from Orofino, ID. After three terms in the statehouse, he lost his first election for governor in 1966, but won an unprecedented four terms in 1970, 1974, 1986 and 1990, a record which still stands. From 1977 to 1981, Andrus served as Secretary of the Interior under President Jimmy Carter, the first Idahoan to serve in a presidential cabinet. In that position, he was known for helping pass the Alaska Lands Act, which set aside more than 100 million acres of land in that state as wilderness, including the Arctic national Wildlife Refuge. In 1995, Andrus founded the Andrus Center for Public Policy at Boise State University. A Kellogg native and former reporter, Chris Carlson served as Andrus' press secretary for more than eight years, from 1972 to the end of Andrus' tenure at the Department of Interior. He served on the Northwest Power and Conservation Council and as government affairs director for Kaiser Aluminum. Andrus and Carlson also worked together at Gallatin Public Affairs, a research and lobbying group of which Carlson is a co-founder. He is retired and lives in north Idaho. Originally aired: 11/17/2011 /episode/index/show/dialoguewriters/id/27554484

Gov. Phil Batt: "A Lucky Man" 08/20/2023

Gov. Phil Batt: "A Lucky Man" Marcia Franklin talks with former Idaho Governor Phil Batt, who passed away earlier this year. Originally aired: 01/2027/2000 /episode/index/show/dialoguewriters/id/27554583

Dialogue with Marcia Franklin

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