SongWriter
Ben Arthur
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SongWriter turns stories into songs, ft. Questlove, Joyce Carol Oates, David Gilmour (Pink Floyd), Roxane Gay, Amanda Shires (The Highwomen), Susan Orlean, Steve Earle & Katie Melua
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May 23, 2023
Neil Gaiman + FourPlay
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.
Lara and Tim from FourPlay talk about the anxieties and joys of working with Neil, and how they composed the beautifully spare and delicate music to accompany Neil's performance. All music in this episode is by, and courtesy of, FourPlay.
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May 9, 2023
Cheryl Strayed + MILCK
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.
Dr. Suzanne Freedman of the International Forgiveness Institute talks about the scientific mechanics behind the often misunderstood practice.
And finally songwriter MILCK (@MILCKMusic) - whose song "Quiet" became the unofficial anthem of the women's march - plays a song written in response, "I'm Alright, You're Alright."
This episode was made possible by a grant from the Templeton World Charity Foundation, and parts of this content first appeared at the 2022 Global Scientific Conference on Human Flourishing. For more, go to HumanFlourishing.org
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Apr 25, 2023
Season Five Trailer
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Sep 6, 2022
Blake Lemoine + Jonathan Mann
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
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Aug 23, 2022
Questlove + Chris Pierce
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”
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Aug 9, 2022
Mary Gauthier + Kelley McRae
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?"
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Jul 26, 2022
Jonathan Franzen + Wussy
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.
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Jul 12, 2022
Ashley C. Ford + Be Steadwell
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.
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Jun 28, 2022
Tom Franklin + Ben Glover
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.
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Jun 14, 2022
Laurie Woolever + Mike Ruffino
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.
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May 31, 2022
Mike Nichols, told by Mark Harris + Anna Kline
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
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May 17, 2022
Wright Thompson + Drew Holcomb
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.”
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May 3, 2022
Halston, told by Ned Martel + Stephan Moccio
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.
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Apr 19, 2022
Zelda + Carsie Blanton
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
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Apr 5, 2022
Coal Country + Steve Earle
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
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Mar 22, 2022
Season Four Trailer
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
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Oct 19, 2021
Joyce Carol Oates + Katie Melua
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.
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Oct 18, 2021
Introducing Basic Folk
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:
Basic Folk is a podcast with honest conversations between musicians and Cindy Howes, a well-versed public radio host and music curator, and guest host Lizzie No, a talented singer/songwriter. Basic Folk approaches interviews with warmth, humor and insightful questions. This podcast fosters the folk community and showcases a genre that is often misunderstood. Basic Folk features complex conversations about the human experience witnessed from an artistic angle. Our definition of “folk” is extremely broad, so you’ll hear interviews from Amythyst Kiah , John Hiatt, The Lumineers and many more.
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Sep 21, 2021
Jonathan Lethem + Tift Merritt
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.
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Sep 7, 2021
Keith Rosson + Antje Duvekot
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.
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Aug 24, 2021
Jeremy Welch + Maia Sharp
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."
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Aug 10, 2021
George Saunders + Ben Arthur (Part 1)
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).
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Aug 10, 2021
George Saunders + Amanda Shires (Part 2)
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).
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Jul 27, 2021
Polly Samson + David Gilmour
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.
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Jul 13, 2021
Lucia Berlin (read by Elizabeth Geoghegan) + Rebecca Rego
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.
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Jun 29, 2021
Nicholson Baker + Rod Picott
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.
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Jun 15, 2021
Sarah Hepola + Matt the Electrician
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.
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Jun 1, 2021
Odie Lindsey + Mary Gauthier
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.
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May 18, 2021
Roxane Gay + Celisse + Toshi Reagon
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.
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May 4, 2021
Cheryl Strayed + Maia Sharp
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."
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Apr 20, 2021
Season 3 Trailer
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.
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Nov 24, 2020
Michael Ian Black + Victoria Jones
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.
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Nov 10, 2020
Ben Sollee + James Lindsey
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.”
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Oct 27, 2020
Joyce Carol Oates + Tony Trischka + Jennifer Marks
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.
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Oct 13, 2020
Alison Gaylin + Colin McGrath
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.
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Sep 29, 2020
Lauren Morrill + Justin Cutway + Vinson Muhammad
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.
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Sep 15, 2020
Mike Veve + Johnny Leitera
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.”
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Sep 1, 2020
Lou Barrett + Michelle Gaw
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.
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Aug 18, 2020
Ethan Lipton + Sarah Jaffe
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.
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Aug 4, 2020
Amy Turn Sharp + Parker Paul
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.
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Jul 21, 2020
Louisa Young + Miranda Joy
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.
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Jul 7, 2020
Dodai Stewart + Natalia Zukerman
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.
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Jun 23, 2020
Soman Chainani + Cave Twins
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.
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Jun 9, 2020
Malachy McCourt + Louise Cairns
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.”
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May 12, 2020
Season Two Trailer
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.
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Nov 26, 2019
Jonathan Lethem + Cindy Lee Berryhill (Bonus Episode!)
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.
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Nov 12, 2019
Anna North + Miss Eaves
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.
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Oct 29, 2019
Patricia Lockwood + Sasha Dobson
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.
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Oct 15, 2019
Aura Hernandez + Denise Reis
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.
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Oct 1, 2019
Rita Mullaney + Byron Isaacs
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.
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Sep 17, 2019
Kurt Andersen + Vienna Teng
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.
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Sep 3, 2019
Rick Moody + Xenia Rubinos
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."
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Aug 20, 2019
Roxane Gay + Aya Aziz
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.
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Aug 6, 2019
Joyce Carol Oates + Ted Leo
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.
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Jul 23, 2019
Dolan Morgan + Emily Hope Price
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."
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Jul 9, 2019
Deborah Copaken + Tommy Siegel
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.
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Jun 25, 2019
Gary Shteyngart + Elissa LeCoque
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."
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Jun 11, 2019
Susan Orlean + Ben Arthur
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.
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May 7, 2019
Season One Trailer
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.
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