Originally aired March 30, 2021
Ian starts off the show, joined by writer John Medieros, by diving into a conversation about the pandemic that swept the world before COVID: the HIV-AIDS crisis. Medeiros and his identical twin brother participated in a gene therapy study in which the HIV-positive twin was infused with billions of genes from the HIV-negative twin, as detailed in his memoir, Self, Divided.
After the break, Liz brings out her music chops and welcomes Bill Schnee on air to discuss his fascinating experiences doing audio production and engineering for such brilliant minds as John Lennon and Ringo, Whitney Houston, Barbara Streisand, and many more. These magic yarns and more can be found in his new book Chairman at the Board.
Write On! Radio – John Medieros + Bill Schnee
Write On! Radio
In the first half of the hour, Ian Graham Leask brings Minnesota’s own Lin Enger on air to discuss his new novel, American Gospel, a 1970s-set novel about waiting for the rapture to end the world in rural Minnesota.
After the break, Marissa King, writer and professor at the Yale School of Management, joins to chat about her new book Social Chemistry, which comes full of insights about building more meaningful and productive relationships, all based on neuroscience and psychology.
Write On! Radio – Lin Enger + Marissa King
Write On! Radio
In the first half of the hour, Annie interviews author, former MN state representative, and mental illness advocate Mindy Greiling about her nonfiction book Fix What You Can. Greiling’s work is based largely on her experience with her son’s schizoaffective disorder, and the conversation includes the collaborative writing process with him, as well as her work as a lawmaker and National Alliance on Mental Illness board member striving to decriminalize mental illness in Minnesota and build better lives for those living with a mental illness.
In the second half of the hour, Josh and Ian whip out good ol’ James Joyce for a celebration of Twelfth Night, including a reading!
Write On! Radio – Mindy Greiling & Twelfth Night
Write On! Radio
First, Liz brings S. C. Gwynne onto the show to discuss Hymns of the Republic: The Story of the Final Year of the Civil War, bringing immediacy and new insight to Civil War history and the people who made it happen.
In the second half of the hour, a legacy interview from Ian makes a reappearance! Enjoy this opportunity to join Ian’s conversation with Hanne Ørstavik about her novel Love, translated into English by Martin Aitken.
Write On! Radio – S. C. Gwynne & Hanne Ørstavik
Write On! Radio
What do 90.3 KFAI and the Jason Bourne thrillers have in common? Minnesota, now that NYT-Bestselling suspense author (and Minnesotan) Brian Freeman is the official successor to Robert Ludlum in penning the Bourne saga. Longtime KFAI host Ian Graham Leask catches up with Freeman live on air, and the pair discuss keeping the Bourne saga going with a spectrum of *thrilling* projects, the trajectory of Freeman’s career, connecting widely with readers over COVID-era virtual events, and more.
In the second half of the hour, Annie and Liz take a guest’s no-show as a serendipitous opportunity to catch up about their creative endeavors, including Liz’s soon-to-launch Broadway history podcast and the beginning of musicals about social issues, Annie’s renewed proliferation of book review drafts (and refusal to write a slam review), how a WO!R show gets made, reading unpublished memoirs, and the value of creating a consistent personal writing schedule.
Write On! Radio – Brian Freeman + Liz and Annie
Write On! Radio
Dave talks with Wang Ping about her recently released poetry collection My Name is Immigrant. This book of poetry is a song for the plight and pride of immigrants around the globe.
Then, Ian speaks with Peter Geye about his forthcoming novel Northernmost. Braiding together two remarkable stories of love and survival, Northernmost celebrates the remarkable ability of humans to endure nearly unimaginable trials.
Write On! Radio – Wang Ping / Peter Geye
Write On! Radio
Tom Weber discusses Minneapolis: An Urban Biography.
In the last half hour we discuss the value of KFAI to encourage joining as a member.
Write On! Radio –Tom Weber / Pledge Drive
Write On! Radio
Professor, lawyer, and author Bart Kosko discusses his new book available on Kindle called Cool Earth, a hard-edged science-fiction thriller about the catastrophic unintended consequences of a geoengineering attempt to fix global warming.
Sue Leaf joins us to discuss
Write On! Radio – Bart Kosko / Sue Leaf
Write On! Radio
