SongWriter (Ben Arthur)
Explorez tous les épisodes de SongWriter
| Date | Titre | Durée | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 04 May 2024 | Pre-Season Six Bonus Episode | 00:10:29 | |
Bonus episode! News of the mildly delayed season six, as well as some upcoming live shows, including: 5/11 Joyce Carol Oates + Ali Sethi with special guests Tony Trischka and Dr. Allison Applebaum at LeFrak Concert Hall in Queens, NY Also a peek at what the good folks who have premium subscriptions on Apple Podcasts have been enjoying - an excerpt of an interview with Jakob Ewald of Slaughter Beach, Dog conducted by Ruby Arthur. | |||
| 24 Oct 2023 | Raven Leilani + Elysian Fields | 00:29:55 | |
Bestselling author Raven Leilani reads an excerpt of her short story “Breathing Exercise,” and talks about art, racism, and carnality in her work. Raven shares how her brother – who died of ALS – introduced her to art, as well as her favorite bands. Jennifer Charles of Elysian Fields explains that she has been a Raven Leilani fan since her debut novel, Luster, and shares the band’s newest song, “The Contortionist” Listeners are invited to share their art made in response to episodes – however directly or indirectly – at the SongWriter Community Art page Content warning: There are brief mentions of violence and suicide in this episode https://SongWriterPodcast.com | |||
| 20 Aug 2019 | Roxane Gay + Aya Aziz | 00:22:13 | |
Bestselling author Roxane Gay reads her short story "Baby Arm," about love, friendship, and a women's fight club. Songwriter and playwright Aya Aziz performs "Push," and talks about how she came to write the song in response to Roxane's story. https://SongWriterPodcast.com | |||
| 01 Sep 2020 | Lou Barrett + Michelle Gaw | 00:20:34 | |
Poet and author Lou Barrett tells a story about falling in love with their high school best friend, and about coming to grips with their sexual identity. Songwriter Michelle Gaw speaks about friendship and sexuality, and performs her song “What Makes a Friend” live at a house concert in Cleveland, Ohio. https://SongWriterPodcast.com | |||
| 18 Jul 2023 | Charlie Gilmour + Matshidiso | 00:28:56 | |
Charlie Gilmour reads an excerpt from his bestselling memoir, Featherhood, which connects the story of raising an abandoned magpie with explorations around his father, noted actor and poet Heathcoate Williams, and his stepfather, David Gilmour of Pink Floyd. British musician and podcaster Matshidiso shares the story of coming to grips with her own father, and shares a live recording of her song, “Who Can Tell a Bird” https://SongWriterPodcast.com | |||
| 23 Jun 2020 | Soman Chainani + Cave Twins | 00:23:25 | |
Author of the bestselling School for Good and Evil series (which is currently becoming a Netflix show), Soman Chainani, reads a children’s story he wrote for SongWriter, about an evil bear that eats children. David Mayfield and Abby Rose, who perform as Cave Twins, share their song, “Mighty Mountain Monster,” and talk about how America’s political divisions inform their art. https://SongWriterPodcast.com/Chainani | |||
| 27 Oct 2020 | Joyce Carol Oates + Tony Trischka + Jennifer Marks | 00:29:47 | |
Bestselling author Joyce Carol Oates reads a haunting story, and banjo legend Tony Trischka and songwriter Jennifer Marks each play songs written in response. The show was recorded at a live performance in New York City, with Grammy-nominated musician Tracy Bonham performing with Tony Trischka, and comedy legend Steve Martin in the audience. https://SongWriterPodcast.com
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| 09 Jul 2019 | Deborah Copaken + Tommy Siegel | 00:26:29 | |
In the third episode of SongWriter, Deborah Copaken reads an excerpt of her upcoming book Ladyparts, and Tommy Siegel (of Jukebox the Ghost) performs his song "Dear Science," which he wrote in response. https://SongWriterPodcast.com | |||
| 12 Sep 2023 | Andrew Sean Greer + Torquil Campbell & Daniel Handler | 00:37:36 | |
Andrew Sean Greer won the Pulitzer Prize for his comic novel, Less. For this episode he reads an excerpt from the follow up book, Less is Lost, and describes how he thinks of the book as more serious than many readers. For the songwriter in this episode, Andrew requested Torquil Campbell of the band Stars, and Torq secretly invited Andrew’s close friend Daniel Handler (aka the wildly popular children’s author Lemony Snicket) to collaborate on it. Unbeknownst to many of his fans, Daniel is a seriously experienced songwriter and session musician, who has collaborated with Death Cab for Cutie, The Decembrists, and Magnetic Fields, and he and Torq trade anecdotes, make fun of each other relentlessly, and talk about the truly sweet surprise they cooked up together for Andrew, a song called "Not the Best." https://SongWriterPodcast.com | |||
| 23 Jul 2019 | Dolan Morgan + Emily Hope Price | 00:24:12 | |
Brooklyn author and illustrator Dolan Morgan reads a story called "The New Middle Class," and cellist Emily Hope Price plays a song she wrote in response. Price talks about the recent loss of a friend, and how that loss informed the song, also called "The New Middle Class." https://SongWriterPodcast.com/Joyce-Carol-Oates-Katie-Melua | |||
| 12 Nov 2019 | Anna North + Miss Eaves | 00:13:08 | |
Novelist and journalist Anna North reads two pieces of flash fiction, "The Machine" and "Cheese Baby," and rapper and filmmaker Miss Eaves performs a song written in response the second piece. The two friends also discuss how they met, and their reaction to each others' work. https://SongWriterPodcast.com | |||
| 23 May 2023 | Neil Gaiman + FourPlay | 00:22:59 | |
Bestselling author and storyteller Neil Gaiman (@NeilHimself) talks about his long collaborations with the FourPlay String Quartet (@FourPlaySQ), and their new album, Signs of Life. Neil describes how he first wrote a letter to a friend who was suffering a series of miscarriages, and how that became the song "The Wreckers," and discloses his own painful experience with miscarriage. https://SongWriterPodcast.com | |||
| 27 Jul 2021 | Polly Samson + David Gilmour | 00:28:32 | |
Bestselling author Polly Samson reads an excerpt from her novel, A Theater for Dreamers, about a young woman's time on the Greek island of Hydra in the 1960s. Polly and her husband David Gilmour, of the band Pink Floyd, discuss their long collaborative relationship, and describe writing the song "Yes, I Have Ghosts" in response to a passage in the book. David also talks about the process of finding inspiration for new music he wrote for the audiobook, and about collaborating with his daughter Romany Gilmour on the recording. https://SongWriterPodcast.com
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| 26 Nov 2019 | Jonathan Lethem + Cindy Lee Berryhill (Bonus Episode!) | 00:37:55 | |
Novelist and MacArthur "Genius Grant" award-winner Jonathan Lethem reads his story "Vivian Relf," and songwriter Cindy Lee Berryhill performs a song written in response. https://SongWriterPodcast.com | |||
| 15 Oct 2019 | Aura Hernandez + Denise Reis | 00:13:42 | |
Aura Hernandez has been living in a church on the Upper West Side for more than a year. She tells the story of how she came to take sanctuary in the church, and about her hopes for the future. Brazilian songwriter Denise Reis performs a song written in response to Aura's life story. https://SongWriterPodcast.com | |||
| 07 May 2019 | Season One Trailer | 00:02:05 | |
SongWriter is a podcast of stories and answer songs, with episodes featuring Roxane Gay, Joyce Carol Oates, Susan Orlean, Ted Leo, Jonathan Lethem, and many others. https://SongWriterPodcast.com | |||
| 12 Jul 2022 | Ashley C. Ford + Be Steadwell | 00:40:06 | |
Bestselling author Ashley C. Ford (@iSmashFizzle) reads an excerpt from her memoir, Somebody's Daughter, about her complicated relationship with her mother, and some unforgettable advice about family from her grandmother. Filmmaker and songwriter Be Steadwell (@BeSteadwell) performs a song constructed of sinuous vocal loops that speaks directly to Ashley, and Be describes the empathy she feels with Ashley's experience as a vulnerable Black child. https://SongWriterPodcast.com/Ashley-C-Ford-Be-Steadwell | |||
| 07 Nov 2023 | David Sedaris + Jacob Ewald (Slaughter Beach, Dog) | 00:29:36 | |
Bestselling author David Sedaris reads an excerpt from Theft By Finding, a collection of his diaries from when he was a young artist. Jacob Ewald of the pop indie band Slaughter Beach, Dog (and formerly Modern Baseball) recounts how reading the book backstage at a college show had the effect of giving him permission to call himself a songwriter, and to take his art seriously. He shares a brand new song written from the perspective of a frustrated painter, “Get Me Through the Night” Audio from Theft by Finding is provided courtesy of Hachette Audio. https://SongWriterPodcast.com | |||
| 29 Oct 2019 | Patricia Lockwood + Sasha Dobson | 00:18:17 | |
Patricia Lockwood reads a chapter from her bestselling memoir, Priestdaddy, about a hunting trip, a disgusting motel room, and her brother, the "Poop Jentleman." Sasha Dobson performs her song, "Cross on My Heart," inspired by Patricia's writing, and about her own father. The show was recorded at a live performance at Joe's Pub in New York City. https://SongWriterPodcast.com | |||
| 18 Oct 2021 | Introducing Basic Folk | 01:06:51 | |
Basic Folk is one of my favorite podcasts, and in this episode host Cindy Howes talks to Wesley Schultz about the history of The Lumineers up to now and his solo debut album. About Basic Folk: https://SongWriterPodcast.com | |||
| 12 May 2020 | Season Two Trailer | 00:02:53 | |
This is a preview for the second season of SongWriter, the podcast of stories and "answer songs," This season will feature stories from Joyce Carol Oates, Soman Chainani, and Michael Ian Black, and songs written in response by Sarah Jaffe, Cave Twins, and Tony Trischka. Twitter.com/SnogWriter
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| 10 Aug 2021 | George Saunders + Amanda Shires (Part 2) | 00:41:48 | |
Bestselling author and MacArthur genius George Saunders reads the second half of his story, "Tenth of December." George and Grammy Award-winning songwriter and fiddle player Amanda Shires (of The Highwomen) discuss art, suffering, and love over a lifetime. Amanda talks about the process of writing a song in response to the story, and shares a studio recording of "You Don't Get to Go." This is part 2 of the story. For the first half you can listen to part 1 (episode 8). The song Amanda wrote for this song, "You Don't Get to Go" is available everywhere music streams, as is the song Ben wrote, "If You Need Me." https://SongWriterPodcast.com | |||
| 26 Jul 2022 | Jonathan Franzen + Wussy | 00:39:05 | |
Bestselling author Jonathan Franzen reads an excerpt from his newest novel, Crossroads, and talks about a band that he loves, Wussy (@WussyMusic). Franzen also speaks about his relationship with music, and reveals why marijuana is not a good drug for him. Lisa and Chuck from Wussy talk about their long collaborations, and about the song they wrote in response to Crossroads, called "All My Life." They also discuss the death of band member John Erhardt, and how they are trying to reimagine their work without him. https://SongWriterPodcast.com/Jonathan-Franzen-Wussy | |||
| 07 Jul 2020 | Dodai Stewart + Natalia Zukerman | 00:20:40 | |
Writer and NYT editor Dodai Stewart tells a story about destiny, choice, and tarot cards that she wrote specially for SongWriter, and slide guitarist Natalia Zukerman performs her song “Storm Cloud Rising,” and talks about her own recent tangles with fate. https://SongWriterPodcast.com/Stewart | |||
| 13 Jul 2021 | Lucia Berlin (read by Elizabeth Geoghegan) + Rebecca Rego | 00:26:02 | |
Lucia Berlin died years before her collection "A Manual for Cleaning Women" became an international bestseller. Berlin's friend and former student Elizabeth Geoghegan talks about her life, and reads her story, "Mama," and songwriter Rebecca Rego shares a studio recording of a song written in response. https://SongWriterPodcast.com | |||
| 31 May 2022 | Mike Nichols, told by Mark Harris + Anna Kline | 00:22:31 | |
Biographer and social historian Mark Harris (@MarkHarris) tells the life story of Mike Nichols, one of the most influential directors of the 20th century. Anna Kline of the band Swift Silver (@SwiftSilverBand) talks about her reaction to Mike’s story, and shares the genesis of her vintage-vibing song, “The Picture Show.” Anna also speaks about her mother’s dementia from Alzheimer’s, and connects her ongoing grief to Nichols’ experience of losing his father at a young age https://SongWriterPodcast.com/Mike-Nichols-Anna-Kline | |||
| 01 Jun 2021 | Odie Lindsey + Mary Gauthier | 00:18:41 | |
Author and veteran Odie Lindsey reads an excerpt from his novel, "Some Go Home." Odie's friend, Grammy Award-winning songwriter Mary Gauthier, talks about how she came to know him, and shares a studio recording of her song, "Then Go Home," written in response. https://SongWriterPodcast.com | |||
| 29 Sep 2020 | Lauren Morrill + Justin Cutway + Vinson Muhammad | 00:20:57 | |
Lauren Morrill, who writes young adult fiction, tells a true story about adolescent infatuation and the humiliations it can cause. Acoustic guitarist Justin Cutway performs a song that he says was NOT easy to write, and rapper Vinson Muhammad performs a spoken word piece inspired by both Lauren and Lil' Wayne. https://SongWriterPodcast.com | |||
| 10 Nov 2020 | Ben Sollee + James Lindsey | 00:16:14 | |
Environmental activist and cellist Ben Sollee tells a story about learning that his family sold their ancestral land to a coal company. Songwriter and rapper James Lindsey reflects on fatherhood, and shares a studio recording of his song “Hoop Sessions.” https://SongWriterPodcast.com
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| 24 Nov 2020 | Michael Ian Black + Victoria Jones | 00:27:55 | |
Actor, comedian, and bestselling author Michael Ian Black tells a true story about youth, privilege, and stealing, and songwriter Victoria Jones speaks on religious faith and on owning our mistakes. https://SongWriterPodcast.com | |||
| 20 Apr 2021 | Season 3 Trailer | 00:02:48 | |
Season three of SongWriter will feature stories from George Saunders, Cheryl Strayed, Roxane Gay, and Joyce Carol Oates, and brand new songs from Amanda Shires, Tift Merritt, Celisse Henderson, and Mary Gauthier. | |||
| 01 Oct 2019 | Rita Mullaney + Byron Isaacs | 00:18:06 | |
Retired police captain Rita Mullaney tells a story about two dislocated people who secretly lived for years in New York City police precincts, and veteran musician Byron Isaacs, of the Lumineers, shares a song he wrote in response. https://SongWriterPodcast.com | |||
| 09 Aug 2022 | Mary Gauthier + Kelley McRae | 00:25:23 | |
Grammy Award-winning songwriter Mary Gauthier (@MaryGauthier_) talks about her memoir Saved By a Song, and describes grappling with her history as an adopted child and the birth mother who refused to meet her. Songwriter Kelley McRae (@KelleyMcRae) talks about her long admiration for Mary’s art and philosophy, and her struggles with organized religion, and performs her song "What Do You Do?" https://SongWriterPodcast.com/Mary-Gauthier-Kelley-McRae | |||
| 10 Aug 2021 | George Saunders + Ben Arthur (Part 1) | 00:44:05 | |
Bestselling author and MacArthur genius George Saunders reads the first half of his story, "Tenth of December," about a man who wishes to spare his family from the suffering around his illness and impending death. George describes how he first thought of the story, and the several angles he tried before it came into focus. This is accompanied by a studio recording of a song written in response called "If You Need Me," by host Ben Arthur. For the second half of the story, and a brand new song by Grammy Award-winning songwriter Amanda Shires, please listen to part 2 (episode 9). The song Amanda wrote for this song, "You Don't Get to Go" is available everywhere music streams, as is the song Ben wrote, "If You Need Me." https://SongWriterPodcast.com | |||
| 18 Aug 2020 | Ethan Lipton + Sarah Jaffe | 00:11:13 | |
Playwright and songwriter Ethan Lipton reads a fictional speech at a live performance in New York City, and Texan songwriter Sarah Jaffe plays a song she wrote in response. https://SongWriterPodcast.com
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| 28 Jun 2022 | Tom Franklin + Ben Glover | 00:24:41 | |
Southern author Tom Franklin reads two pieces of short fiction – including one about a visit to the beach near Chicago – and talks about his history in Mississippi. Irish songwriter Ben Glover (@BenGloverMusic) recounts his journey to America, and the resonances he feels between Northern Ireland and the South. He also speaks about co-writing songs, including with Mary Gauthier. https://SongWriterPodcast.com/Tom-Franklin-Ben-Glover | |||
| 22 Mar 2022 | Season Four Trailer | 00:02:28 | |
Delighted to announce the fourth season of SongWriter, which will feature stories from Questlove, Mary Gauthier, Anthony Doerr, and George Saunders, and songs from Carrie Brownstein, Drew Holcomb, and Steve Earle https://SongWriterPodcast.com | |||
| 03 Sep 2019 | Rick Moody + Xenia Rubinos | 00:22:47 | |
Bestselling author Rick Moody reads a chapter from his novel Hotels of North America, about love, marriage, and an unfortunate wardrobe malfunction. Xenia Rubinos talks about transience on tour, and plays her answer song, "Three Stars." https://SongWriterPodcast.com | |||
| 04 Aug 2020 | Amy Turn Sharp + Parker Paul | 00:17:58 | |
Poet Amy Turn Sharp reads a piece inspired by the death of her mother. In it she describes how she began leaving her baby teeth, one by one, in places that have emotional resonance in her life. Songwriter Parker Paul, who is an old friend of Amy’s, performs his song “Baby Teeth,” at a live performance in Columbus, Ohio. https://SongWriterPodcast.com | |||
| 15 Sep 2020 | Mike Veve + Johnny Leitera | 00:28:26 | |
Poet Mike Veve reads a ghost story on themes of homelessness at a live performance in New York City, and Johnny Leitera of the band Tuff Sunshine talks about writing with an assist from technology, and performs “Middle Man.” https://SongWriterPodcast.com
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| 14 Jun 2022 | Laurie Woolever + Mike Ruffino | 00:41:24 | |
Author and former longtime “lieutenant” for Anthony Bourdain, Laurie Woolever, (@LaurieWoolever) tells an exclusive story about a day in Sri Lanka when she fears that she would get killed over a bucket of fried chicken and a bottle of whiskey. Composer and songwriter Mike Ruffino (@MRuffino), who also worked with Bourdain for more than a decade, performs a song he wrote using inspiration and actual audio recorded during the shoot in Sri Lanka. https://SongWriterPodcast.com/Laurie-Woolever-Mike-Ruffino
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| 11 Jun 2019 | Susan Orlean + Ben Arthur | 00:11:06 | |
This is the first episode of SongWriter, featuring a story from bestselling author Susan Orlean, and a song written in response by host Ben Arthur. Ben and Rob Reinhart, of the syndicated radio program Acoustic Cafe, introduce the series and briefly discuss inspiration and answer songs. https://SongWriterPodcast.com | |||
| 24 Aug 2021 | Jeremy Welch + Maia Sharp | 00:28:08 | |
Veteran Jeremy Welch talks about his experience as a soldier, and his struggles with addiction, suicidality, and depression. Songwriter Maia Sharp talks about meeting Jeremy at a Songwriting With: retreat, and they describe the process of writing their song, "These Boots." Twitter.com/SnogWriter | |||
| 21 Sep 2021 | Jonathan Lethem + Tift Merritt | 00:21:56 | |
During a live online performance, bestselling author Jonathan Lethem reads from his recent “dystopian pastoral” novel, The Arrest, about a farming community dealing with the worldwide collapse of technology. Jonathan also speaks about his long history of writing lyrics for bands including They Might Be Giants and the Silos. Songwriter Tift Merritt shares a studio recording of a song called “Asylum in a Mad, Mad World” that she wrote in response to the story, but also reflecting the history of a former asylum in her hometown. https://SongWriterPodcast.com/Jonathan-Lethem-Tift-Merritt | |||
| 29 Aug 2023 | Sally Rooney + Sam Himself | 00:26:13 | |
Sally Rooney’s bestselling novel, Beautiful World, Where Are You? is a follow-up to her wildly successful novel Normal People, which was made into a popular series on Hulu. The newest novel is about falling in love in the digital age – her exquisitely-drawn characters struggle to connect with each other, and slowly expose their vulnerabilities to each other over time. Songwriter Sam Himself describes how he fell in love REMOTELY during the pandemic, and had the bizarre, terrifying, and ultimately beautiful experience of meeting the woman he already knew so intimately from their written conversations and phone calls – and was already deeply in love with – in person for the first time. https://SongWriterPodcast.com
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| 06 Sep 2022 | Blake Lemoine + Jonathan Mann | 00:35:22 | |
Former Google engineer Blake Lemoine (@cajundiscordian) describes how he came to the conclusion that LaMDA, an AI developed by Google, is sentient. Blake details what LaMDA is, how he tested its capabilities and limitations, and what LaMDA fears most. Songwriter Jonathan Mann (@SongaDayMann) talks about writing a song every day for 14 years, some of his big hits, and about his wildly successful NFT project. Jonathan wrote a song inspired both by the ethics of engaging with LaMDA and one of his favorite episodes of Star Trek Blake's conversation with LaMDA | |||
| 04 Jul 2023 | Jean Hanff Korelitz + Warren Zanes | 00:40:08 | |
Bestselling author Jean Hanff Korelitz reads an excerpt from her recent novel, The Latecomer, and talks about the connections and disconnections she feels between her job and the movies and tv shows that are made from her work (Hugh Grant, Nicole Kidman, Tina Fey). Jean reads from The Latecomers – a rambling multi-generational picture of a family dealing with secrets and trauma – and talks about how it was inspired by the work of John Irving. Jean’s friend Warren Zanes, who was in his brother’s band, the Del Fuegos, talks about his long collaborative friendship with Tom Petty, his jobs as an author and a professor, and plays his song, “The Aftermath of the Accident.” He also discloses some complicated history with his brother, and connects it to the book. https://SongWriterPodcast.com | |||
| 25 Jun 2019 | Gary Shteyngart + Elissa LeCoque | 00:27:03 | |
Gary Shteyngart reads from his novel Lake Success, about the flame out and subsequent freak out of hedge fund manager Barry Cohen, and Elissa LeCoque shares her song written in response, "Weak Wrists." https://SongWriterPodcast.com | |||
| 10 Oct 2023 | George Saunders + Craig Finn | 00:46:12 | |
This is part one of a two-part episode featuring "Sea Oak" by George Saunders. Part one contains a song written by Ben Arthur, Vienna Teng, and George Saunders; Part two contains the song written by Craig Finn. Bestselling author and MacArthur genius George Saunders reads a comic-but-serious zombie story called “Sea Oak” – which was made into an Amazon TV show starring Glenn Close – and shares wisdom on writing dark things. Craig Finn of The Hold Steady talks about heartbreak, advice from Bruce Springsteen, and shares his song “Swan’s Glen.” You can hear the song by Ben, Vienna, and George, "Love Don't (Fall Apart)" on Apple Music, Spotify, etc. https://SongWriterPodcast.com | |||
| 21 Jul 2020 | Louisa Young + Miranda Joy | 00:14:33 | |
Author Louisa Young reads from her memoir You Left Early, about love and alcoholism, and discusses how insidious the disease is for its victims, and for the people that love them. Pianist and songwriter Miranda Joy performs “Carry You Around,” live in the clock tower of St. Pancras Station in London. https://SongWriterPodcast.com | |||
| 13 Oct 2020 | Alison Gaylin + Colin McGrath | 00:18:55 | |
Author Alison Gaylin reads an excerpt from "Never Look Back," a novel based loosely on the Starkweather murders. Gaylin discusses how Caril Ann Fugate was understood at the time to be a willing accomplice (she is portrayed that way in Springsteen's "Nebraska" and "Natural Born Killers," which were also based on the notorious murder spree), but points out that Fugate was just 14 years-old when she was kidnapped and raped by Starkweather. Songwriter Colin McGrath discusses the book, and how hard it can be to tell his young daughter the sometimes-awful truth. He plays "Dear Aurora Grace," his musical response to Gaylin's book. https://SongWriterPodcast.com | |||
| 25 Apr 2023 | Season Five Trailer | 00:02:27 | |
| 10 Oct 2023 | George Saunders + Ben Arthur | 00:45:51 | |
This is part one of a two-part episode featuring "Sea Oak" by George Saunders. Part one contains a song written by Ben Arthur, Vienna Teng, and George Saunders; Part two contains a new song written by Craig Finn. Bestselling author and MacArthur genius George Saunders reads a comic-but-serious zombie story called “Sea Oak” – which was made into an Amazon TV show starring Glenn Close – and shares wisdom on writing dark things. Craig Finn of The Hold Steady talks about heartbreak, advice from Bruce Springsteen, and shares his song “Swan’s Glen.” You can hear the song by Ben, Vienna, and George, "Love Don't (Fall Apart)" on Apple Music, Spotify, etc. https://SongWriterPodcast.com | |||
| 15 Aug 2023 | Kevin Allison + Carolyn Kendrick | 00:34:21 | |
Kevin Allison is a storyteller, the host of the wildly popular RISK! podcast, and a former member of MTV’s The State. He tells a story about meeting his future husband in the days after 9/11, and talks about how late he came to dating and self-acceptance, and wrestles with a recently broken heart. Carolyn Kendrick is herself a star in the podcast world, as she produces the popular podcasts “You’re Wrong About” and “You Are Good.” She talks about her own reactions to 9/11, and shares her brand new song, “What If.” https://SongWriterPodcast.com | |||
| 29 Jun 2021 | Nicholson Baker + Rod Picott | 00:22:22 | |
Author Nicholson Baker reads an excerpt of The Anthologist, and songwriter Rod Picott performs a song written in response called "Losing Faith." The two friends also discuss cross-arts explorations, self-doubt, and the importance of a good sandwich. https://SongWriterPodcast.com | |||
| 06 Jun 2023 | Daniel Bergner + Bob Bergner | 00:34:30 | |
New York Times writer Dan Bergner reads an excerpt from The Mind and the Moon, which explores the lives of three people coping with serious mental illness and the pharmaceutical and medical systems brought to bear on their treatment. Dan’s brother Bob is one of those featured in the book, and he describes his journey and the very inspiring way that he lives as a pastor, an artist, and an activist. Bob also plays “A Song for Dad,” about his complicated feelings on saying goodbye in his father’s later years. Content warning: though there are no graphic or upsetting details in this story, it does mention suicide. https://SongWriterPodcast.com | |||
| 03 May 2022 | Halston, told by Ned Martel + Stephan Moccio | 00:23:30 | |
Ned Martel, a producer of the Netflix series Halston, tells the life story of the mononymous designer, who first came on the scene when he designed the iconic hat Jackie Kennedy wore to the inauguration of her husband. Composer, producer, and songwriter Stephan Moccio (@StephanMoccio) talks about his work with The Weeknd, Celine Dion, and Miley Cyrus, and about the genesis of the song he wrote in response to Halston’s triumphant-yet-tragic life story. Stephan also speaks about writing “Wrecking Ball,” and how that song changed his career and life. https://SongWriterPodcast.com/Halston-Stephan-Moccio | |||
| 19 Oct 2021 | Joyce Carol Oates + Katie Melua | 00:23:53 | |
Legendary author Joyce Carol Oates reads her poem “Too Young to Marry, but Not Too Young to Die” at a live performance in San Francisco organized by Poets and Writers Magazine. International pop star Katie Melua shares a studio recording of a song she wrote in response called "Forever Sunlit," and talks about her evolving creative process. The poem is about how what seems romantic to a young person looks increasingly laughable - even asinine - as we get older, and the artists each talk about what it means to be a teenager, and how their perspectives have shifted over time. This is the final episode of season three. https://SongWriterPodcast.com/Joyce-Carol-Oates-Katie-Melua
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| 09 Jun 2020 | Malachy McCourt + Louise Cairns | 00:24:09 | |
Malachy McCourt is the 87 year-old brother of Pulitzer Prize-winning memoirist Frank McCourt, who wrote Angela’s Ashes about their childhood in Ireland. Malachy tells a story about a walk he and his father took together when he was a small boy, and Scottish songwriter Louise Cairns performs her response song, “Baby Rocks.” https://SongWriterPodcast.com/McCourt | |||
| 18 May 2021 | Roxane Gay + Celisse + Toshi Reagon | 00:27:49 | |
Bestselling author Roxane Gay reads a piece called "Getting to Know You, Getting to Know All About You," about love in the pandemic, and making a home with her wife, Debbie Milman. Songwriter and actor Celisse Henderson talks about writing her song, and about properly understanding the work of rock pioneer Sister Rosetta Tharp. Songwriter, composer, and producer Toshi Reagon speaks about how she constructed her song, "You Belong," to echo the structure of Gay's piece, and about the connections between Tharp and pioneering writer Octavia Butler, whose novel, Parable of the Sower, Reagon made into an opera. This episode was recorded during a live performance co-produced with Harlem School of the Arts. https://SongWriterPodcast.com | |||
| 17 May 2022 | Wright Thompson + Drew Holcomb | 00:23:06 | |
Author and journalist Wright Thompson reads a story about the death of his beloved uncle, and how time and place memorialize our lives. Songwriter Drew Holcomb (@DrewHolcomb) talks about the loss of his brother at a young age, and performs his brand new song, “Slower Than the Highway.” https://SongWriterPodcast.com/Wright-Thompson-Drew-Holcomb | |||
| 19 Apr 2022 | Zelda + Carsie Blanton | 00:32:52 | |
Hospice social worker Zelda (who asks that her given name not be used for privacy) talks about her time working as a stripper. She recounts moments both horrifying and sweet, and describes the many ways that the two jobs overlap. Songwriter Carsie Blanton (@CarsieBlanton) talks about how she incorporates political content within the emotional framework of her songs, and draws parallels between what audiences ask of strippers and songwriters. Her brand new song is called “Into the Light.” Photos of Zelda from her exotic dancer days, including ones showing the bruises she regularly got up and down her legs can be seen at the SongWriter IG and the SongWriter TikTok https://SongWriterPodcast.com/Zelda-Carsie-Blanton | |||
| 13 Jun 2023 | Masha Gessen + Maria Sonevytsky | 00:34:59 | |
New Yorker staff writer, Russian dissident journalist, and author Masha Gessen (@MashaGessen) tells the story of being called in for a death-defying meeting with Putin, and how it confirmed the dark conclusions in their bestselling biography of him, Man Without a Face. Ukrainian American musician and scholar Maria Sonevytsky (@MarusiaSays) talks about the war, and plays her song, “Culture War” https://SongWriterPodcast.com | |||
| 17 Sep 2019 | Kurt Andersen + Vienna Teng | 00:18:22 | |
Public radio's Kurt Andersen reads from his critical history of America, Fantasyland. He tells the story of colonist Anne Hutchinson and the singular religious rebellion she started, which led to her eventual banishment and death. Vienna Teng plays a song written in response, using a looper pedal and backwards vocals to depict an argument between the complex truth and simplistic jingoism. https://SongWriterPodcast.com | |||
| 04 May 2021 | Cheryl Strayed + Maia Sharp | 00:19:08 | |
Bestselling author Cheryl Strayed reads a very personal letter about her mother from her celebrated advice column "Dear Sugar," and songwriter Maia Sharp talks about a recent break-up and shares a studio recording of her song "It's Always Good to See You." https://SongWriterPodcast.com | |||
| 07 Sep 2021 | Keith Rosson + Antje Duvekot | 00:33:27 | |
Author and artist Keith Rosson reads his story, "Forgive Me This," and songwriter Antje Duvekot shares a studio recording of her song written in response, "Lottery Ticket." Keith, who has illustrated covers for Green Day and the Goo Goo Dolls, talks about his design and art work, and how his partial blindness informs his approach. Antje talks about her strained relationship with her father, and describes the inspiration for her "confessional" song. https://SongWriterPodcast.com/Rosson | |||
| 06 Aug 2019 | Joyce Carol Oates + Ted Leo | 00:27:49 | |
In the fifth episode of SongWriter, legendary author Joyce Carol Oates reads "Deceit," from her collection Black Dahlia & White Rose, about a young mother dealing with allegations of abuse made about her teenage daughter. Songwriter Ted Leo talks about his reaction to the story and reflects on his own history of abuse, and shares his song "Deceit," which was written in response. https://SongWriterPodcast.com | |||
| 15 Jun 2021 | Sarah Hepola + Matt the Electrician | 00:31:56 | |
Bestselling author Sarah Hepola reads an excerpt from her memoir "Blackout," and songwriter Matt the Electrician shares his own experiences with blackouts and studio recordings of TWO songs that he wrote in response. https://SongWriterPodcast.com | |||
| 05 Apr 2022 | Coal Country + Steve Earle | 00:29:20 | |
Playwrights Jessica Blank (@JessicaCBlank) and Erik Jensen (@ErikJensen123) describe the genesis of their musical, Coal Country, a collaboration with Steve Earle (@SteveEarle). Steve talks about the role of empathy in songwriting, and plays his song “It’s About Blood,” which lists the names of the 29 miners killed in the Upper Big Branch mining disaster. The show runs at the Cherry Lane Theater in NYC until April 17, 2022. The project is a collaboration with @PublicTheaterNY and @AudibleTheater https://SongWriterPodcast.com/Coal-Country-Steve-Earle | |||
| 23 Aug 2022 | Questlove + Chris Pierce | 00:27:13 | |
Questlove (@Questlove) reads an excerpt from his critical history of modern America, Music is History, about songwriter Bill Withers. Songwriter Chris Pierce (@ChrisPierce) talks about his own interactions with Withers, and performs a multi-level tribute called “Just As I Am” https://SongWriterPodcast.com/Questlove-Chris-Pierce | |||
| 26 Sep 2023 | Dave Eggers + Vienna Teng | 00:36:09 | |
Bestselling author, screenwriter, and founder of McSweeney’s, Dave Eggers reads an excerpt from his short story, “The Museum of Rain,” and talks about the way music informs his creative process. Dave says the song Vienna wrote for the episode, “hit him like a truck,” and expresses his delight that Vienna decided to make the song a fundraiser for the non-profit 826 Valencia. Songwriter Vienna Teng makes a second appearance on SongWriter, describing how this song, and the one she wrote for an episode with Kurt Andersen, make up two-thirds of her written output over the last decade! Vienna talks about reading Dave’s story out loud to her young family during the pandemic, and explores self-doubt and creativity before sharing her song, “The Riversitter (The Museum of Rain).” The song is for sale exclusively on Bandcamp, and all proceeds benefit 826 Valencia https://SongWriterPodcast.com | |||
| 01 Aug 2023 | Dolan Morgan + Self Help | 00:29:03 | |
Author and illustrator Dolan Morgan reads an excerpt from his story, “The Quartering Act,” which combines fantasy and emotional realism to explore self-loathing and trauma. Melissa Faliveno and John Walsh from the band Self Help talk about their reactions to the story, and share their new song, “3A.” https://SongWriterPodcast.com | |||
| 09 May 2023 | Cheryl Strayed + MILCK | 00:37:31 | |
Cheryl Strayed (@CherylStrayed) returns to SongWriter to read another letter from "Tiny, Beautiful Things" (which is now a series on Hulu!), a lovely and very personal meditation on the subject of self-forgiveness. https://SongWriterPodcast.com | |||
| 08 Oct 2024 | Naz Riahi + Rahill | 00:45:33 | |
Filmmaker and author Naz Riahi tells a heartbreaking story she wrote for SongWriter about the loss of a beloved pet, and how her experience of grief was shaped by the war in Gaza. Neuroscientist Dr. Meghan Myer explains the way empathy maps on to different parts of our brains, and talks about her imaging research. And songwriter Rahill Jamalifard of the band Habibi plays a brand-new song written in response. The song is available on Rahill's Bandcamp, and all proceeds benefit Gaza Mutual Aid SongWriterPodcast.com Season six is made possible by a grant from Templeton World Charity Foundation | |||
| 05 Nov 2024 | Hala Alyan + H.Sinno | 00:43:54 | |
Palestinian poet and clinical psychologist Hala Alyan shares her poem “Dear Gaza,” about guilt, memory, and hope. Scientist Dr. Salma Mousa talks about her research on empathy and polarization, and describes how soccer star Mo Salah’s prominence led to a demonstrable drop in anti-Muslim hate speech and violence in his hometown of Liverpool. H.Sinno, who is the lead singer of the Lebanese band Mashrou’ Leila, shares a brand-new song called “Re-Arson.” For a live show, Ben wrote a song called "Yellow Dress," which is available as a fundraiser for World Central Kitchen via Bandcamp, as well as Apple, Spotify, etc. SongWriterPodcast.com Season six is made possible by a grant from Templeton World Charity Foundation | |||
| 10 Sep 2024 | Kate Cohen + Jesse Cohen-Greenberg | 00:35:09 | |
Author Kate Cohen reads a piece she wrote for SongWriter about how – despite her firm atheism – the Jewish religious ritual that she grudgingly allowed in her wedding is what she remembers and treasures most from that day. Scientist and author Dr. Arielle Levites explains how religious ritual can act as a pathway for connection or alienation, and discusses her research. And Kate’s son Jesse Cohen-Greenberg performs a brand-new song written about his parents’ wedding day. SongWriterPodcast.com Season six is made possible by a grant from Templeton World Charity Foundation | |||
| 18 Jun 2024 | Season 6 Trailer | 00:01:46 | |
Season 6 is here, with the return of friends like Joyce Carol Oates and Susan Orlean, and new ones like W. Kamau Bell, Imbolo Mbue, Crys Matthews, and Ali Sethi! Episode 1 is out July 2nd | |||
| 30 Jul 2024 | Imbolo Mbue + Crys Matthews | 00:33:21 | |
Bestselling Cameroonian-American author Imbolo Mbue shares an excerpt she chose from How Beautiful We Were, about a village’s collective fight against a fictional oil company. Scientist Dorsa Amir describes her research with the Shuar natives of Ecuador, and how cooperation against a common threat and polarization both contain risks and benefits. Activist and songwriter Crys Matthews describes how collective action is at the center of her work, and shares her brand-new song “Restitution.” SongWriterPodcast.com Season six is made possible by a grant from Templeton World Charity Foundation | |||
| 13 Aug 2024 | W. Kamau Bell + Las Cafeteras | 00:48:50 | |
During a performance at KQED Live, comedian and filmmaker W. Kamau Bell tells a story about his father’s 80th birthday party, and an extraordinary moment of collective effervescence. Scientist Dr. Shira Gabriel explains the mechanics behind collective effervescence, and one of Kamau’s favorite bands, Las Cafeteras, shares a brand-new song called “Home.” SongWriterPodcast.com For the live performance, Ben wrote a song in response to Kamau's story as well, which is streaming on Apple Music, Spotify, and elsewhere. Season six is made possible by a grant from Templeton World Charity Foundation | |||
| 02 Jul 2024 | Susan Orlean + Diana Gameros | 00:41:45 | |
At a live performance at KQED in San Francisco, bestselling author and New Yorker staff writer Susan Orlean tells a story about homing pigeons, and the heartbreaking implications of their extraordinary intelligence. Researcher Dr. Laura Simone Lewis shares her work with bonobos and chimpanzees, and the ways that their intelligence guides their understanding of home. And Mexican American activist and songwriter Diana Gameros performs a new song written in response. SongWriterPodcast.com For the live performance, Ben wrote a song in response to Susan's story, "I Can Only (Come Home)," which is streaming on Apple Music, Spotify, etc. Season six is made possible by a grant from Templeton World Charity Foundation | |||
| 16 Jul 2024 | Joyce Carol Oates + Ali Sethi | 00:30:16 | |
At a live performance at Queens College, legendary author Joyce Carol Oates reads a piece about her beloved late husband Charlie Gross, called “Hospice / Honeymoon.” Psychologist and author Dr. Allison Applebaum talks about caregiving, and shares insights from her recent book, Stand By Me. And global superstar Ali Sethi shares a brand-new song written in response. SongWriterPodcast.com Season six is made possible by a grant from Templeton World Charity Foundation | |||
| 24 Sep 2024 | Ina Cariño + Alex Wong | 00:40:42 | |
Filipinx American poet Ina Cariño shares a brand new “sonnet crown” poem that they wrote for SongWriter on the subject of family and empathy. Scientist Sarah Nila describes her experiments exploring empathy with children and mothers in the Philippines, and how Ina’s poem contains echoes of her findings. And producer and songwriter Alex Wong performs a brand-new song called “Murmurations,” that includes violin by Ina and vocals by Sarah. The song is only available on Bandcamp, and is a fundraiser for World Central Kitchen. SongWriterPodcast.com Season six is made possible by a grant from Templeton World Charity Foundation | |||
| 22 Oct 2024 | Maggie Smith + Kat Edmonson | 00:55:54 | |
Poet and author Maggie Smith shares two poems about caregiving for young children, and the complicated calculus around exposing them to the darkness (and sweetness) of the world. Dr. Chrissy Salley from the Courageous Parents Network talks about her research on caregiving for young children. And jazz chanteuse Kat Edmonson shares a brand new song called “Fear, Fear” A broadside of "Good Bones" is available, as is the pre-order for Maggie's upcoming book, "Dear Writer" SongWriterPodcast.com Season six is made possible by a grant from Templeton World Charity Foundation | |||
| 27 Aug 2024 | Freddy Mutanguha & Hope Azeda + Peace Jolis | 00:37:37 | |
Freddy Mutanguha, who is the CEO of the Aegis Trust – the organization that built the Kigali Genocide Memorial – describes surviving the genocide, and visiting the childhood friend who murdered his mother in prison. Woven into Freddy’s story are poems that Rwandan art activist and author Hope Azeda wrote about speaking to children about the genocide. Dr. Pamela Wadende describes the scientific mechanics behind forgiveness, and her experience of Rwanda. And Rwandan songwriter Peace Jolis shares a brand-new song called “BAHO.” SongWriterPodcast.com For the live performance, Ben wrote a new song called "Kigali (ft. Peace Jolis)," which is streaming now on Apple Music, Spotify, and elsewhere. Season six is made possible by a grant from Templeton World Charity Foundation | |||
| 19 Nov 2024 | Asli Perker + Tuna Kiremitçi | 00:40:26 | |
Turkish journalist and author Asli Perker shares a story she wrote for SongWriter about a terrible car accident, and how it helped to make her the artist she is today. Scientist and researcher Dr. Itir Erhart talks about how art and empathy interact. And songwriter, poet, and crime novelist Tuna Kiremitçi performs a brand-new song written in response. SongWriterPodcast.com Season six is made possible by a grant from Templeton World Charity Foundation | |||