Originally aired June 15, 2021.
Dave brings Ramsey County librarian Tami Lee for a return appearance, thoughtful book recommendations for civil and social justice, and great analysis of why a book club isn’t advocacy on its own.
After the break, Annie and Maggie Shipstead discuss novel research, women’s stories in aviation, and sexism’s alterations over time, viewed through the lens of Shipstead’s new novel, Great Circle.
Originally aired May 4, 2021.
In the first half of the hour, Annie connects with Kao Kalia Yang to discuss Yang’s new children’s storybook Yang Warriors, along with the real-life refugee camp experience that inspired it, what it means to be a real-life hero, using questions to build meaningful person-to-person connections, cross-diaspora creativity, and talking about justice with your kids.
After the break, Josh rolls out a Legacy Episode and the group revisits a conversation with James Rollins, author of the Sigma Force adventure novels.
Originally aired April 27, 2021.
The first half of the show is a blast from the past as we revisit WO!R’s conversation with Adam Makos, discussing his book Devotion.
After the break (23:21), Sophie Lewis calls Annie from London to discuss her translation from French of Noémi Lefebvre’s Poetics of Work, delving into what “work” means inside and outside of a monetary context, translating insults and rhythms, police violence in the US and France, and why societies may want to pay their poets more.
Originally aired April 13, 2021.
Dave starts the show strong by welcoming Jana Larson, author of Reel Bay: A Cinematic Essay on air to discuss her genre-bending story, that of a struggling film student who becomes engrossed in a story that bridges life and death.
After the break, Liz connects with Joshua M. Greene, author of Unstoppable, the incredible true story of Siggi B. Wilzig, an Auschwitz survivor whose journey of luck, strength, and courage brought him out of the lethal camp to the US Army, then to New York’s sweatshops, before ascending to greatness on Wall Street.
Originally aired April 6, 2021
Liz opens the show by welcoming Eric M. Johnson on air to discuss his new novel, Whenever a Happy Thing Falls, which follows a young literature student forced by his father into the seedy world of elite investment banking.
After the break, the Write On Gang revisits a favorite legacy interview with Tana French, Dublin’s internationally legendary thriller author.
Originally aired March 23, 2021
WOR’s poetry powerhouse, Dave, opens the show by bringing Patrick Cabello Hansel to discuss his newest collection, Quitting Time, which delivers a meaningful family story spanning from the Great Depression through the World Wars and beyond in powerful verse.
After the break, Liz re-connects with local music-writing legend Jim Walsh to discuss his newest work of nonfiction, Fear and Loving in South Minneapolis, reflecting on life in the wake of loss, Minnesota music and culture, and the infinite simple joy of a warm afternoon at the Harriet Rose Garden.
This week Sam talks with Melissa Allman, the Advocacy and Government Relations specialist at Seeing Eye School for Guide Dog Training. Also we hear a clip from a previous show on Affordable Housing with the Assistant Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Human Services, Gertrude Matemba-Mutasa, and Deputy Commissioner for Minnesota Housing, Rachel Robinson.
