Ep. 1 – Viet Thanh Nguyen Art and Politics
Viet Thanh Nguyen interviewed by Karen Tei Yamashita
This Pulitzer Prize winner and MacArthur awardee talks about the role of the writer in society, the importance of art to politics and the power of the written word. Sponsored by UC Berkeley Arts + Design.
Ep. 2 – Gary Snyder & Kim Stanley Robinson: Mt. Thoreau, Civil Disobedience, and Naming What Can’t Be Named
Gary Snyder, Kim Stanley Robinson, Laurie Glover, introduced by Jack Shoemaker
Pulitzer Prize winning poet Snyder and renowned science fiction writer and environmentalist Robinson climbed a mountain in the Sierras to christen it Mt. Thoreau. With their editor and publisher, they talk about civil disobedience, nature writing, the environmental movement, poetry and naming the unnameable. Sponsored by the Journal of Alta California.
Ep. 3 – Lidia Yuknavitch in Person: On Fearlessness, Truth, and Misfits
Lidia Yuknavitch, interviewed by Daphne Gottlieb
A call for authenticity in life and literature: The author of the award-winning speculative feminist novel “The Book of Joan” and the hypnotic memoir “The Chronology of Water” and self proclaimed “misfit” has penned a book, enhanced by interviews, called “The Misfit’s Manifesto.”
Ep. 4 – #MeToo & Beyond: Continuing to Tell the Truth
Saru Jayaraman, Winnie M. Li, T. Christian Miller, Bernice Yeung, moderated by Sandhya Dirks
Together these writers, who have plumbed the topic of sexual assault deeply (and personally), will deconstruct the movement and explore its future. Sponsored by Zoetic Press.
Ep. 5 – The Power of Literature to Create a Better World: Closing Keynote with Pico Iyer
Pico Iyer, John Freeman
Drawing upon his 32 years as a writer and his 44 years as a traveler, Iyer will close the festival with a keynote illuminating the power of literature to create a world beyond walls. Iyer will then be interviewed by renowned literary critic John Freeman.
Ep. 6 – Resisting Hate with Free Speech
Nadine Strossen interviewed by Erwin Chemerinsky
The former president of the American Civil Liberties Union presents her book “HATE: Why We Should Resist it With Free Speech, Not Censorship” — released for the first time at the festival in the home of the Free Speech Movement. Interviewed by the dean of UC Berkeley Law. Sponsored by UC Berkeley Arts + Design.
Ep. 7 – The Common Good with Robert Reich (Saturday Night Keynote)
Robert Reich
What has happened to civility and civic responsibility? What makes a good citizen in today’s America? Reich makes a heartfelt call to a nation on the brink as he shows us how to do our part in saving America’s soul.
Ep. 8 – Standing at the Edge: Finding Freedom Where Fear and Courage Meet
Joan Halifax interviewed by Dacher Keltner
Zen Roshi (teacher) and anthropologist Joan Halifax ventures to answer the enduring question: How do we live well for ourselves and others at the same time? Emotion expert and director of UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center Dacher Keltner will interview. Sponsored by UC Berkeley Arts + Design.
Ep. 9 – JCC East Bay Presents: Thriving Past Trauma — Holocaust Survivor Dr. Edith Eger with “The Choice”
Dr. Edith Eger interviewed by Elizabeth Rosner
Ninety-two year-old Auschwitz survivor and trauma psychologist comes to us to discuss one of the most compelling books we’ve read this year, which Desmond Tutu called “a gift to humanity.” Sponsored by the Jewish Community Center of the East Bay with the generous support of Eve Gordon-Ramek; in memory of Mayer Goldberg and Henry Ramek.
Ep. 10 – Wrestling with the Devil: Ngugi wa Thiong’o in Conversation
Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o interviewed by Namwali Serpell
Taken prisoner by the Kenyan government in 1977 because of artistic defiance of the regime, this Nobel Prize short-listed writer will recount this experience, its effect on his art and the freedom to write. Sponsored by UC Berkeley Arts + Design.
Ep. 11 – Alice Waters and Jonathan Kauffman: A Revolution in Food
Alice Waters, Jonathan Kauffman, interviewed by Tom Philpott
The purchase, preparation and experience of food are choices that profoundly shape not only our individual lives but social justice and our entire ecosystem. Alice Waters (“the most important figure in the culinary history of North America”) and San Francisco Chronicle food writer Jonathan Kauffman highlight the implications. Sponsored by Mother Jones.
Ep. 12 – Fierce Originality: Eimear McBride interviewed by Sylvia Brownrigg
Eimear McBride interviewed by Sylvia Brownrigg
Compared to a feminist James Joyce, McBride comes to us from Ireland to talk about writing, life, feminism and communicating consciousness through deconstructive writing. With the support of Culture Ireland.
Ep. 13 – Loaded: Guns in America
Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz interviewed by Adam Hochschild
After every mass shooting, calls for stricter gun regulations ring out on one side; on the other, an insistence on guns, even on campuses, in the name of protection. Famed activist and feminist Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz discusses her new book on the second amendment with Pulitzer Prize winner T.J. Stiles.
Ep. 14 – Murder and Survival: The Remarkable Story of Indian Rebirth in the Wake of Genocide
Benjamin Madley, Peter Cozzens, moderated by Greg Sarris
Two eminent historians and a tribal chairman discuss the trauma visited upon Native tribes and explore the challenges and opportunities of the current moment, including Native activism. With support from the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria.
Ep. 15 – Translating Trauma
Katherena Vermette, Winnie M. Li, moderated by Natasha Singh
These writers showcase the art of writing trauma — one focusing on Native women and the other inspired by her own experience as a survivor of assault. With the support of the Consulate General of Canada, San Francisco/Silicon Valley.
Ep. 16 – Income Inequality: A World Gone Mad, Mean and Immoral
Steven Clifford, Jeff Clements, Robert Reich, moderated by John Diaz
Disparity in wages and opportunity between the rich and the rest of us has grown rapidly in the U.S.; what are the causes and consequences? With support from the Stephen M. Silberstein Foundation.
Ep. 17 – Jabberwalking with Juan Felipe Herrera
Juan Felipe Herrera
This festival favorite and former U.S. Poet Laureate will teach you everything he knows about being a poet on the move. While his new book is technically for kids, anyone can learn to jabberwalk! With support from the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria.
Ep. 18 – Men and Boys 2018: Cultural and Personal Masculinities
Dacher Keltner, Michael Kimmel, moderated by Otis R. Taylor Jr.
As women across the world make their painful experiences visible, men have begun to grapple with how the masculine identity shapes the power imbalance.
Ep. 19 – Power Up: How Smart Women Win in the New Economy
Magdalena Yesil interviewed by Laura D. Tyson
This smart, compassionate woman — who arrived in this country as a near-penniless immigrant student and became one of the founding board members of Salesforce — gives other smart women the tools they need to win. Sponsored by Strong Legacy Planning.
Ep. 20 – Smart Activism: History and Hope, with L.A. Kauffman and Rebecca Solnit
L.A. Kauffman, Rebecca Solnit
One of the Bay Area’s most famous activists talks with a movement insider on the history and future of activism. How have past movements used disruptive tactics to catalyze change? Is there hope in the dark, and how do we act on it? Sponsored by UC Berkeley Arts + Design.
Ep. 21 – Murder She Writes: Catherine Coulter Talks with Laurie R. King
Catherine Coulter interviewed by Laurie R. King
The New York Times bestselling suspense writer will be interviewed by Mystery Writers of America NorCal President, a bestselling author of 25 novels. They’ll talk Coulter’s craft, art and life of writing. Sponsored by the Mystery Writers of America, Northern California Chapter.
Ep. 22 – The Empire and the Resistance of Sabaa Tahir
Sabaa Tahir interviewed by Ben Schwartz
Through her characters, Pakistani-American young adult fiction writer Sabaa Tahir shows us what’s right, what’s possible, and what sorts of governance need not be tolerated.
Ep. 23 – Melissa de la Cruz Writes It All: History, Fantasy, Modern Life
Melissa de la Cruz interviewed by Jessica Lee
This versatile author has written more than 45 chart-topping books — from the historical love story of Alex and Eliza Hamilton to the fantastical prequel to “The Descendants.” She talks the challenges of risky writing and how she finds her groove.
Ep. 24 – Timeless: Historical Fiction
Heather O’Neill, Linda Spalding, Adrienne Sharp, moderated by Terry Gamble
Great historical fiction rewards readers with entertainment and education at the same time. With the support of the Consulate General of Canada, San Francisco/Silicon Valley.
Ep. 25 – Resist: Unlocking the Political Power of a Novel
Margaret Wilkerson Sexton, Rodrigo Hasbún, Madeleine Thien, moderated by Mal Warwick
These talented novelists explain how the novel can illuminate political change in ways that no non-fiction account can. With the support of the Consulate General of Canada, San Francisco/Silicon Valley.
Ep. 26 – Viv Albertine, Formerly of The Slits, Sits Down with Greil Marcus
Viv Albertine interviewed by Greil Marcus
Post punk rocker (formerly of the feminist cult band The Slits) comes to us from the UK to confront questions of feminism, family and inevitable death with her trademark raw, intimate, vulnerable style.
Ep. 27 – Utter Fascination: The Art of the Exceptionally Complex Character
Åsa Avdic, Therese Bohman, Carl Frode Tiller, moderated by Laleh Khadivi
Come hear how writers dream up, and then capture on the page, entirely new people who are exceptionally complicated. With the support of the Norway House Foundation, NORLA – Norwegian Literature Abroad, the Barbro Osher Pro Suecia Foundation, and the Consulate General of Sweden in San Francisco.
Ep. 28 – The Art of Memoir: A Story That Must Be Heard
Francisco Cantu, Julie Lythcott-Haims, Elizabeth Rosner, moderated by Marie Mockett
Memoir writers have the especially challenging task of confronting their own past and creating themselves as a character. In their memoirs, these writers address the U.S. Border Patrol, the experience of Holocaust survivors and growing up mixed-race in America.
Ep. 29 – The Book Review: Top Reviewers Share How It’s Done
Lydia Kiesling, Paul Laity, John McMurtrie, Ismail Muhammad, moderated by Jane Ciabattari
These established reviewers take us inside the process: Lydia Kiesling, editor of The Millions; Paul Laity, non-fiction reviewer at The Guardian; Ismail Muhammad, reviewer for The Millions and contributor to Slate and the Paris Review; and Jane Ciabattari, BBC reviewer and former president of the National Book Critics Circle.
Ep. 30 – What Death Can Teach Us About Living Fully
Frank Ostaseski interviewed by Kate Campbell
World-renowned Buddhist teacher Frank Ostaseski will discuss the tenets of a life well lived and share simple suggestions everyone can practice. Sponsored by North Berkeley Investment Partners.
Ep. 31 – YES to Girls & Science!
Emily Calandrelli
The “SpaceGal” delivers a new character, Ada, who inspires young readers to ask questions and lean into their curiosity, showing them that scientists and engineers can look just like them!
Ep. 32 – Off the Map: Traveling, Self, and Other
Sylvia Brownrigg, Kerry Campbell, Geoff Dyer, John Freeman, Moderated by Olivia Sears
The best travel writing is about exploration of “the other” and an embrace of this new terrain into self and one’s understanding of the greater world. These writers explore the concept of “place” from very different perspectives.
Ep. 33 – Race and Racism in America
Edward L. Ayers, Khaled Beydoun, Julie Lythcott-Haims, moderated by Scott Shafer
These authors — an eminent historian, an attorney and critical race scholar and a mixed-race lawyer — explore race and the deep origins and expressions of racism in this country.
Ep. 34 – Women & Speculative Fiction: In the Footsteps of Atwood, Butler, and Le Guin
Åsa Avdic, Maggie Shen King, Lidia Yuknavitch, Meg Elison, moderated by Charlie Jane Anders
A new generation of female authors holds in their hands the future of speculative fiction. With the support of Zoetic Press, the Barbro Osher Pro Suecia Foundation and the Consulate General of Sweden in San Francisco.
Ep. 35 – Brenda Hillman and Geoffrey G. O’Brien: A Conversation
Brenda Hillman, Geoffrey G. O’Brien, introduced by Rachel Richardson
What is the role of creative political resistance in a time of ascendant fascism? From the elegy to the love poem, from the individual to the collective, these poets will explore how words give us strength.
Ep. 36 – Timeless Wisdom: Greg Sarris on Telling Tales and Native American Literary Tradition
Greg Sarris
Greg Sarris’s book, “How a Mountain Was Made,” mythologizes the Northern California landscape with Native stories — fables with universal resonance and beauty. Sponsored by the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria.
Ep. 37 – Nina LaCour Up Close and Personal
Nina LaCour interviewed by Regan McMahon
Nina LaCour’s characters look a lot like her readers. This awardwinning author has devoted her life to young adults: first as a teacher, then as a writer. Her new novel “We Are Okay” deals with trauma, isolation, coping and change.
Ep. 38 – The Imperative for Truth: Academy Award-Winning Documentarian Errol Morris in Conversation with Edward Frenkel
Errol Morris interviewed by Edward Frenkel
In a time when truth is ever more embattled, one of its greatest creative and intellectual practitioners releases his new book at the festival.
Ep. 39 – Pep Talk for Writers!
Grant Faulkner, Brooke Warner
A must-see for anyone who believes they have a book in them: National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) Executive Director Grant Faulkner appears in person with coach and publisher Brooke Warner to discuss turning inspiration into a tangible product.
Ep. 40 – What Makes a Life Worth Living? Powerful Memoirs of Love and Loss
Lucy Kalanithi, Rebecca Soffer, Elizabeth Percer, moderated by Elizabeth Scarboro
The widow of Paul Kalanithi, author of the bestselling “When Breath Becomes Air,” is joined by Rebecca Soffer, editor of the new anthology “Modern Loss,” and contributor Elizabeth Percer to discuss grief and meaning. Sponsored by SACHI – Society for Art & Cultural Heritage of India.
Ep. 41 – Beyond Borders: Powerful Writers on Immigration
Francisco Cantu, Hernan Diaz, Lauren Markham, moderated by Ian Gordon
This diverse panel — a former U.S. Border Patrol agent haunted by the job he quit, a novelisthistorian and a journalist — provides a sweeping perspective on this vital issue. Sponsored by Mother Jones.
Ep. 42 – The Modern Writer’s Practice, Presented by California College of the Arts
Faith Adiele, Tonya Foster, Aimee Phan, Leslie Carol Roberts, moderated by Tom Barbash
Writers shoulder a responsibility as voices for their time. Faculty members from CCA’s MFA in Writing program, spanning travel, memoir, fiction and poetry, interrogate the role of creative practice in the 21st century. Sponsored by the California College of Arts MFA in Writing Program.
Ep. 43 – The Future of Publishing
Emily Bell, Niels Hooper, Elaine Katzenberger, Avalon Radys, moderated by Brooke Warner
An informed, freewheeling discussion for aspiring and published authors and anyone curious about the state of book publishing. Panelists represent the many faces of publishing — from big house to small, university press to hybrid, traditional and non-traditional alike.
Ep. 44 – Native Voices Changing the Story
Tommy Orange, Katherena Vermette, moderated by Carolina De Robertis
These powerful rising voices are breaking new ground in Native literature. The first 100 attendees will receive an excerpt of Orange’s book, set to hit shelves in June. With support from the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria and the Consulate General of Canada, San Francisco/Silicon Valley.
Ep. 45 – Breaking Literary Ground: Ambitious Young Writers from Ireland
Eimear McBride, David Hayden, Liz Nugent, moderated by Rosemary Graham
The small country of Ireland has always had an outsize influence on world literature. For the third year in a row, the festival showcases some of today’s most powerful writers who come from this land of literary pioneers. With the support of Culture Ireland.
Ep. 46 – Barbara Ehrenreich on Wellness, the Certainty of Dying, and Killing Ourselves to Live Longer
Barbara Ehrenreich interviewed by Clara Jeffery
Ehrenreich has taken on the minimum wage, abortion rights, women’s lives, marijuana laws, and now, in her new book, death itself. She examines diet culture, disease screenings and all of the other practices humans engage in to ensure a long life. Sponsored by Mother Jones.
Ep. 47 – How Stories Make the World
Joyce Carol Oates, Scott Saul, Ismail Muhammad, Anthony Marra, moderated by Joe Di Prisco
These titans of storytelling discuss the power stories have to galvanize the world, create cultures and bind us all together. Sponsored by UC Berkeley Arts + Design and the Simpson Family Literary Project.
Ep. 48 – The Power of History: Turning Groundbreaking Scholarship into Page-Turning Prose
Edward L. Ayers, Peter Cozzens, Joel Richard Paul, T. J. Stiles, moderated by Steve Wasserman
Is best-selling history bad history? Does good history have to be dull reading? Award-winning historians and biographers reveal how they explore big questions of American history through captivating narratives that win esteem in the academy yet appeal to wide audiences. Sponsored by Reed Schmidt, with partial support from the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria.
Ep. 49 – Women Changing the World: How Phoebe Hearst, Jane Stanford, and Other Women Funded Feminism, Founded Universities, and Inspire Philanthropy Today
Joan Marie Johnson, Catherine Pyke, Alexandra Nickliss, Moderated by Julie Castro Abrams
Phoebe Hearst was the eclectic mother of the University of California at Berkeley, just as Jane Stanford co-founded her namesake university through hands-on activism. What lessons do the stories of these brilliant, empowered women hold today for any woman who wants to use financial resources to shape society? Sponsored by the Journal of Alta California.
Ep. 50 – Writing and Risk: A Conversation with Laleh Khadivi and Michael David Lukas, University of San Francisco MFA in Writing
Laleh Khadivi, Michael David Lukas, moderated by Bich Minh Nguyen
The process of writing something daring doesn’t end with publication — authors have to live with the consequences of taking these risks, personally and socially. These panelists invite audience members to ask their own risky questions. Sponsored by the University of San Francisco, MFA in Writing Program.
Ep. 51 – Muckraker: The Life and Times of Warren Hinckle
Pia Hinckle, Robert Scheer, Ron Turner, Steve Wasserman, moderated by Peter Richardson
Drawing on a new anthology dedicated to legendary writer and editor Warren Hinckle and his final book, these writers reflect on the life and work of a Bay Area original. Sponsored by the Journal of Alta California.