Library Talks

This week, the New York Public Library Podcast welcomes Thomas Struth, the world-famous and influential photographer best known for his family portraits and large-scale cityscapes. To celebrate the opening of NYPL’s new exhibition "Public Eye: 175 Years of Sharing Photography," Struth joins us to speak about cultural memory, photographing Queen Elizabeth, and reading the stories that images tell.

Direct download: 42_Struth_-_123014_3.31_PM.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:53pm EDT

Neil Gaiman Reads "A Christmas Carol"

Acclaimed author Neil Gaiman performs a memorable dramatic reading from the Library’s own rare copy of "A Christmas Carol," which includes edits and prompts Charles Dickens wrote in his own hand for his unique public readings 150 years ago. Dressed in full costume and joined by writer and BBC researcher Molly Oldfield, Gaiman performs the classic tale as its great author intended.

Direct download: 41_Gaiman_Christmas_-_121814_4.38_PM.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:00am EDT

Maira Kalman on Her Favorite Things

The illustrator and author of more than twenty books for both kids and adults sits down with us to talk about strong female characters, nonlinear storytelling, and drawing outside the lines.

Direct download: 40_Kailman_-_121114_2.28_PM.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:03pm EDT

Mark Strand on Artistic Imagination

This week, we honor Pulitzer Prize winner and former US poet laureate Mark Strand, who passed away over the weekend at the age of 80. The beloved poet and author joined us this October to discuss art, imagination, and the life of the mind.

Direct download: 39_Strand_-_12214_10.45_AM.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:05am EDT

This Thanksgiving week, we’re reaching back into the NYPL archives to bring you a story about food, family, and multicultural identity. Internationally acclaimed chef Marcus Samuelsson describes his remarkable journey from a humble kitchen in Sweden, to some of the most competitive and revered restaurants in the world — and, finally, to the opening of the beloved Red Rooster in Harlem.

Direct download: 38_Samuelsson_-_112414_3.47_PM.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:41pm EDT

Richard Ford on Becoming a Reader and Finding a Voice

This week, we welcome novelist Richard Ford, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of "The Sportswriter," "Independence Day," and "The Lay of the Land." Ford comes to NYPL to talk about his latest book, "Let Me Be Frank with You," a fourth installment in his bestselling Frank Bascombe series, which now finds its protagonist struggling to make sense of his past in the wake of Hurricane Sandy.

Direct download: 37_Ford_-_112014_4.12_PM.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:22pm EDT

This week, the NYPL Podcast welcomes George Clinton, the singular musical phenomenon who twisted soul music into funk. Clinton joins us to talk about his life's work, learning from his proteges, and pushing the boundaries of what music can do.

Direct download: 36_Clinton_-_111314_2.28_PM.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:07pm EDT

This week on the podcast, Neil Gaiman, the beloved bestselling author of "Coraline," "American Gods," and "The Graveyard Book," joins us on Halloween night for some scary stories and thrilling conversation. He speaks about disobedient adults, why he learned to read, and his own reimagining of "Hansel and Gretel."

Direct download: 35_Gaiman_-_11614_12.20_PM.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 1:34pm EDT

This week on the podcast, Sam Roberts joins us to discuss seeing history through objects, productive procrastination, and what he thinks the motto of New York City should be.

Direct download: 34_Roberts_-_103114_1.18_PM.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:38pm EDT

This week, the NYPL Podcast welcomes Marjane Satrapi, the graphic novelist, illustrator, film director, and children's book author who brought us Persepolis. She speaks to NYPL's Paul Holdengraber about the liabilities of learning English from American movies, the intelligence required for a sense of humor, and more.

Direct download: 33_Satrapi_-_102414_1.51_PM.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:27pm EDT