Library Talks (general)
Padma Lakshmi on NYC & the Greatest Gift

Padma Lakshmi, author and Emmy-nominated host of “Top Chef,” came to the Library to mark the release of her debut memoir, “Love, Loss, and What We Ate.” In this conversation with NYPL’s Jessica Strand, Lakshmi talks about food, family, and the importance of being raised by strong women.

Direct download: Lakshmi_v2_mixdown.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EST

Jill Leovy on Murder in America

This week, we bring you a conversation with the 2016 winner of The Helen Bernstein Book Award for Excellence in Journalism. Each year the award is given to journalists whose books have brought clarity and public attention to important issues, events, or policies. This year’s winner, Jill Leovy, explores the country’s murder epidemic and the long-standing plague of black homicide in her bestselling book, “Ghettoside: A True Story of Murder in America.” In this conversation with NYPL’s Jessica Strand, Leovy talks about race, violence, and the search for justice in the face of tragedy.

Direct download: 114_Leovy_mixdown.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EST

Maya Lin on Memorializing What Is Missing

Award-winning artist and designer Maya Lin first achieved fame at the age of 21 as the designer of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., and her work today encompasses large-scale environmental installations, intimate studio artworks, architectural works, and memorials. Her latest design project, “What is Missing?,” raises awareness about the crisis surrounding biodiversity and habitat loss. In this conversation with NYPL’s Paul Holdengraber, Lin talks about space, memory, and the incredible resilience of nature.

Direct download: 114_Lin_mixdown.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EST

Åsne Seierstad on the Deadliest Attack on Norway Since WWII

Award-winning Norwegian journalist Åsne Seierstad's book “One of Us: The Story of Anders Breivik and the Massacre in Norway” examines the incidents of July 22, 2011, when one man’s attacks left more than 70 people dead. In this conversation with NYPL’s Jessica Strand, Seierstad discusses violent extremism — and how a society copes with the reverberations of homegrown evil still felt today.

Direct download: 113_Seierstad_mixdown.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EST

The Bad Rap of Do-Gooders: Larissa MacFarquhar

“New Yorker” writer Larissa MacFarquhar's book “Strangers Drowning” examines the psychological roots and existential dilemmas motivating those rare individuals who are practicing lives of extreme ethical commitment. In this conversation with NYPL’s Jessica Strand, MacFarquhar tells the stories of people who devote themselves fully to bettering the lives of strangers—even when it comes at great personal cost.

Direct download: 112_MacFarquhar_mixdown.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EST

Helen Mirren on Women's Roles & Taking on Shakespeare

This week, we’re excited to welcome Oscar, Emmy, and Tony Award-winning actress Helen Mirren. Going back to her start with the Royal Shakespeare Company, Mirren’s career has been heavily influenced by the works of legendary poet and playwright William Shakespeare. In this conversation with NYPL’s Paul Holdengraber, to help mark the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's death, Mirren reflects on the legacy of the prolific playwright and his impact on her life.

Direct download: 111_Mirren_mixdown.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EST

Dan Ephron: When The Man Who Almost Changed Israel Met Bill Clinton

This week, we bring you the 2nd of five conversations with the2016 finalists for NYPL’s Helen Bernstein Book Award for Excellencein Journalism. Each year the award is given to journalists whosebooks have brought clarity and public attention to importantissues, events, or policies. In this episode, we’re thrilled towelcome renowned journalist Dan Ephron, who is nominated for hisbook “Killing a King: The Assassination of Yitzhak Rabin and theRemaking of Israel.” In this conversation with NYPL’s JessicaStrand, Ephron talks about the event that fundamentally altered thetrajectory for both Israel and the Palestinians, and continues tohave a significant impact on the situation in the Middle Easttoday.

Direct download: 110_Ephron_mixdown.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EST

Rosanne Cash on Shakespeare, Performing, & Poetry

Grammy Award-winning musician Rosanne Cash's many accomplishments include penning the bestselling 2010 book “Composed: A Memoir.” In this conversation with NYPL’s Paul Holdengraber, Cash talks about Shakespeare, songwriting, and her father, the great Johnny Cash.

Direct download: 109_Cash_mixdown.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EST

Dale Russakoff: When Facebook Tried to Save Newark

Journalist Dale Russakoff's new book, “The Prize: Who’s In Charge of America’s Schools,” investigates the state of public education in America’s underserved communities. In this conversation with NYPL’s Jessica Strand, Russakoff tells the story of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg’s $100 million quest to transform the debilitated school system of Newark, New Jersey — and spark educational change across the country.

Direct download: 108_Russakoff_mixdown.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EST

We’re bringing you a special talk with Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award-winning author Robert Caro, whose book “The Power Broker: Robert Moses and the Fall of New York” was hailed by Time magazine as one of the hundred top nonfiction books of all time, and is considered one of the most revealing biographies of the 20th century. In this conversation with essayist and columnist Frank Rich, Caro talks about power, corruption, and the men who shaped the urban landscape of modern-day New York City.

Direct download: 107_Caro__Rich_mixdown.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EST

Elizabeth Alexander & Hilton Als on Dreams & Obsession

We’re kicking off National Poetry Month with award-winning poet Elizabeth Alexander, who came to the Library to celebrate the release of her new memoir, “The Light of the World.” In this provocative conversation with “The New Yorker” writer Hilton Als, Alexander talks about dreams, obsession, and her dedication to social justice.

Direct download: 106_Alexander__Als_mixdown.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EST

Nathaniel Kahn & Matt Mountain on Outer Space & Weird Science

Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Nathaniel Kahn and renowned astrophysicist Matt Mountain give us a look at the state-of-the-art Webb Telescope, which will succeed the Hubble Telescope in 2018. Kahn and Mountain, both of whom have been deeply involved in the project, join NYPL’s Paul Holdengraber to discuss how this new telescope will enable us to look deeper into the universe than ever before.

Direct download: 105_Kahn__Mountain_mixdown_2.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EST

Dana Spiotta on Good People, Heroes, & Writing

Dana Spiotta is the National Book Award-nominated author of “Stone Arabia.” In this conversation with NYPL’s Jessica Strand, Spiotta talks about art, friendships, and her new novel, “Innocents and Others.”

Direct download: 104_Spiotta.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EST

Darryl Pinckney & Zadie Smith on Achievement & Beyoncé

This week, we welcome two award-winning authors: American writer Darryl Pinckney and popular English novelist Zadie Smith. In this wide-ranging conversation, Pinckney and Smith talk about race, class, and Pinckney’s new novel, “Black Deutschland.”

Direct download: 103_Pinckney__Smith.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EST

Jhumpa Lahiri on Language & Disorder

Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jhumpa Lahiri comes to the Library to celebrate the release of her new novel, “In Other Words.” In this conversation with NYPL’s Paul Holdengraber, Lahiri talks about nostalgia, expression, and her love of the Italian language.

Direct download: 102_Lahiri.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EST

Debbie Harry with Chris Stein on Beatniks, the Stillettoes, & Style

Debbie Harry and Chris Stein of Blondie came to NYPL’s Library for the Performing Arts in 2013 for a talk with Rolling Stone senior critic Will Hermes. In this rousing conversation, Harry and Stein discuss punk, photography, and the New York City music scene in the 1970s.

Direct download: 101_Blondie.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EST

The Future of Black History

Ta-Nehisi Coates, Toni Morrison, Jay-Z, and Zadie Smith are just a few among the black authors and creators we'll hear from this week. In our 100th episode, we present the men and women making black history today, from music moguls to authors, chefs to television stars. Please join us for a look at of some of the most incredible guests The New York Public Library and The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture have had the privilege to host.

In order of appearance:
Marcus Samuelsson
Ntozake Shange
Charles Blow
Tavis Smiley
George Clinton (with Paul Holdengraber)
Shaquille O'Neal
Timbaland (with William Jelani Cobb)
Ta-Nehisi Coates (with Khalil Gibran Muhammad)
RuPaul
Toni Morrison & Angela Davis
Zadie Smith & Chimamanda Adichie
Jay-Z (with Cornel West)
Jesmyn Ward (with William Jelani Cobb & Khalil Gibran Muhammad)
Toni Morrison
Zadie Smith

Music by: Blue Dot Sessions, Chris Zabriskie, and Hot Acid Alien Lust Bomb.

Direct download: 100_BHM_Super.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EST

Russell Simmons & Rick Rubin on Music & Meditation

We’re going back in the archives to bring you a conversation with the founders of record label Def Jam Recordings: music producers Russell Simmons and Rick Rubin. In this talk with NYPL’s Paul Holdengraber, Simmons and Rubin discuss hip hop, collaboration, and the importance of speaking your own truth.

Direct download: 99_Def_Jam.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EST

Yusef Komunyakaa on Politics, Imagery, & Memorizing Poetry

Pulitzer Prize-winning American poet Yusef Komunyakaa came to the Library last October to celebrate the release of his latest book, “The Emperor of Water Clocks.” In this engrossing conversation with NYPL’s Jessica Strand, Komunyakaa talks about music, Langston Hughes, and his literary coming of age.

Direct download: 98_Komunyakaa.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EST

Toni Morrison and Angela Davis on Connecting for Progress

We’re kicking off Black History Month with Pulitzer and Nobel Prize-winning author Toni Morrison, who came to NYPL in 2010 for a conversation with activist and author Angela Davis. In this wide-ranging talk, Morrison and Davis discuss Frederick Douglass, education, and liberation.

Direct download: 97_Morrison__Davis.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:06am EST

Francine Prose on YouTube, Sentences, & War

Award-winning author Francine Prose came to the Library to talk about her latest novel, “Lovers at the Chameleon Club, Paris 1932.” In this conversation with NYPL’s Jessica Strand, Prose discusses love, storytelling, and how to read like a writer.

Direct download: 96_Prose_-_12516_12.45_PM.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:30am EST

Junot Díaz on Intimacy & the Game of Fiction

Bestselling author Junot Díaz came to the Library in 2013 to mark the release of his book “This Is How You Lose Her.” In this conversation with NYPL’s Paul Holdengraber, Díaz talks about family, love, and the American immigrant experience.

Direct download: 95_Diaz.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:30am EST

Sharon Olds & Cynthia Nixon on Dickinson, First Drafts, & Selfhood

This week, we welcome two great artists: Pulitzer and T.S. Eliot Prize-winning poet Sharon Olds; and Tony, Emmy, and Grammy Award-winning actress Cynthia Nixon. In this entertaining conversation, co-presented by the Academy of American Poets, Olds and Nixon discuss theater, Emily Dickinson, and channeling their energy into art.

Direct download: 94_Olds__Nixon.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:30am EST

David Hare on Theater, Anticipation, & Hitchcock

English playwright and screenwriter David Hare's work includes the Academy Award-nominated screenplays for “The Hours” and “The Reader,” as well as three Tony Award-nominated plays on Broadway. In this conversation with NYPL’s Jessica Strand, Hare talks about love, the stage, and his new memoir, “The Blue Touch Paper.”

Direct download: 93_Hare.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:30am EST

Nico Muhly & Ira Glass on Composers & the Internet

Ira Glass, creator and host of “This American Life,” talks to composer Nico Muhly, who has composed a wide scope of work for ensembles, soloists, and organizations including the New York Philharmonic, the American Symphony Orchestra, and the Paris Opera Ballet. In this colorful conversation, Muhly and Glass discuss music, anxiety, and their image of the first Christmas.

Direct download: 92_Muhly__Glass.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:30am EST

Neil Gaiman Reads "A Christmas Carol" (Rebroadcast)

This week, we bring you a rebroadcast of a podcast favorite. Acclaimed author Neil Gaiman comes to the Library to present a memorable reading of A Christmas Carol from the Library’s own rare copy, which includes edits and prompts Charles Dickens wrote in his own hand for his unique readings 150 years ago. Dressed in full costume and joined by writer and BBC researcher Molly Oldfield, Gaiman performs the classic tale as the great author intended.

Direct download: 41b_Gaiman_Christmas_Rebroadcast.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:30am EST

Timbaland on Mantronix, Reinvention, & Kids

Renowned music producer Timbaland joins us to talk about his new memoir, “Emperor of Sound,” which provides a long-anticipated inside look at his extraordinary life and career. In this, his first public conversation about his new book, Timbaland sits down with author and educator Dr. Jelani Cobb at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture to discuss hip hop, creativity, and the passion that drives his artistic career.

Direct download: 91_Timbaland.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:00am EST

Edmund de Waal on Porcelain, Time Travel, & Sound

Celebrated artist Edmund de Waal's porcelain works can be found in major museum collections around the world. His new book, “The White Road,” chronicles the lure his chosen medium has held over the centuries, as well as its role in his own life and work. In this conversation with NYPL’s Paul Holdengraber, de Waal talks about obsession, history, and why a ceramicist needs literature.

Direct download: 90_de_Waal.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:00am EST

Gloria Steinem on Sex, Justice, & Magazines

World-renowned activist and writer Gloria Steinem's new book “My Life on the Road” was released in October to critical acclaim. She came to the Library this fall to talk with attorney Roberta Kaplan, who landed a major victory for the LGBTQ movement by successfully arguing for the repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act before the Supreme Court. In this enthralling conversation, Steinem and Kaplan discuss marriage, social justice, and the power of stories to shape our world.

Direct download: 89_Steinem.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:00am EST

Mary-Louise Parker on Relationships, Motherhood, & Religion

Emmy and Tony-award winning actress Mary-Louise Parker comes to the Library this fall to celebrate the release of her first book, “Dear Mr. You,” which has received advance acclaim from the New York Times and Publishers Weekly, among others. In this conversation with bestselling memoirist Mary Karr, Parker talks about relationships, forgiveness, and the invaluable lessons she learned from her father.

Direct download: 88_Parker.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:01pm EST

Elvis Costello on the Internet, Records, & Imitation

Grammy Award-winning musician Elvis Costello's prolific career as a singer-songwriter spans nearly four decades. This fall, he comes to NYPL to celebrate his new memoir, “Unfaithful Music & Disappearing Ink.” In this delightful conversation with Paul Holdengraber, Costello discusses memory, songwriting, and his life in rock and roll.

Direct download: 87_Costello.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:00am EST

Sloane Crosley on College, Jewelry, & Publicity

Writer Sloane Crosley is a frequent New York Times contributor and author of the bestselling books “How Did You Get This Number” and “I Was Told There’d Be Cake,” a Thurber Prize finalist. In this conversation with NYPL’s Jessica Strand, Crosley discusses humor, human nature, and her new novel, “The Clasp.”

Direct download: 86_Crosley.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:00am EST

The 2015 Library Lions on Truth & Inspiration

World-renowned activist and author Gloria Steinem, award-winning author and playwright Alan Bennett, heralded dancer and choreographer Judith A. Jamison, celebrated author and illustrator Maira Kalman, and groundbreaking novelist Karl Ove Knausgaard are this year’s Library Lions, five outstanding individuals recognized by NYPL for their achievements in the fields of art, culture, scholarship, and letters. We sat down with each of these incredible people to talk about libraries, the creative process, and much more.

Direct download: Lions_podcast_final.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:00am EST

Shaquille O'Neal on Germany, Rap, & Slam Dunks

Sports legend and businessman Shaquille O’Neal's nineteen-year basketball career made him a three-time Finals MVP, a four-time NBA champion, and a fifteen-time All-Star. This fall, he comes to NYPL to celebrate the release of his new children’s book, “Little Shaq.” In a fun and provocative conversation with NYPL’s Paul Holdengraber, Shaq discusses reading, dunking, and the value of having a sense of humor.

Direct download: 84_Shaq.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:00am EST

Ta-Nehisi Coates on Theft, Atheism, & History

Recent Macarthur Genius Grant winner Ta-Nehisi Coates is a national correspondent for “The Atlantic” whose latest book, “Between the World and Me,” is a nominee for the 2015 National Book Award. This fall, Coates sits down with Khalil Gibran Muhammad, Director of NYPL’s Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, for a conversation on race, writing, and more.

Direct download: 83_Coates.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:00am EST

Patti Smith on Authors She Loves

Musician, writer and artist Patti Smith returns to the podcast this fall to discuss her new memoir “M Train,” a follow-up to her 2010 National Book Award-winning debut memoir, “Just Kids.” In a conversation with NYPL’s Paul Holdengraber, Smith talks about art, the city, and the experiences she’s gained during her prolific and eclectic career.

Direct download: 82_Patti_Smith.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:00am EST

Erica Jong on Becoming a Poet & Favorite Authors

Award-winning author Erica Jong's prolific career has produced such bestsellers as “Fear of Flying,” “Seducing the Demon,” and her latest work, “Fear of Dying.” In this delightful conversation with NYPL’s Jessica Strand, Jong discusses feminism, early success, and why she’s never stopped writing over the course of her long and fruitful career.

Direct download: 81_Jong.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:30am EST

Ron Rash on Writer Survival & Place

A two-time winner of the O. Henry Prize, Ron Rash is the author of numerous novels, short stories and poetry collections, including New York Times bestseller “Serena,” and most recently, “Above the Waterfall.” In a conversation with NYPL’s Jessica Strand, Rash discusses narrative, Appalachia, and finding the universal in a particular setting.

Direct download: 80_Rash.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:00am EST

Alice Waters on the Pleasures of the Palate

Two stars of the culinary world join us for this week's podcast: Chez Panisse restaurateur Alice Waters and James Beard Award-winner and wine importer Kermit Lynch. Waters, a pioneer of the farm-to-table movement and recent winner of the National Humanities Medal, sat down with Lynch in 2013 to discuss their shared passions. In this delectable conversation, Waters and Lynch talk about fresh food, wine, and the culinary world’s impact on the environment.

Direct download: 79_Waters.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:00am EST

John Lithgow on Shakespeare & Bedtime Stories

On this week’s podcast, we’re reaching back in the archives to 2011, when NYPL welcomed John Lithgow, winner of numerous Emmys and Golden Globes and one of the most distinguished American actors of his generation. In a conversation with Peabody Award-winning journalist Bill Moyers, Lithgow talks about not only his acting career, but also his authorship of numerous children’s books, an anthology of poems, and most recently, his memoir, “Drama: An Actor’s Education.”

Direct download: 78_Lithgow.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:00am EST

Jack White on Music & Freedom

This week, we’re excited to welcome a panel of guests including musician Jack White and cofounder of Revenant Records, Dean Blackwood. Along with author Daphne A. Brooks, these lovers of music examine the rise and fall of Paramount Records, a label that existed from 1917 to 1931, and compiled a dizzying array of performers still unrivaled to this day — from Louis Armstrong to Ma Rainey and Ethel Waters. In this captivating panel discussion, our guests talk about the music business, the Great Migration, and how the legacy of Paramount Records lives on today.

Direct download: 76_Jack_White.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:00am EST

In Memoriam: Oliver Sacks on Hallucinations

This week, we’re honoring the memory of Oliver Sacks, esteemed neurologist and author of numerous bestselling books, including “Awakenings”, “The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat,” and, most recently, his autobiography “On the Move.” We’re reaching back in the archives to 2009, when Dr. Sacks delivered NYPL’s annual Robert B. Silvers lecture. In this fascinating talk, Dr. Sacks explores the musical hallucinations of the deaf, the visual hallucinations of the blind, and more strange behaviors of the human brain.

Direct download: 76_Sacks.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:07pm EST

Chimamanda Adichie & Zadie Smith on Race, Writing, & Relationships

On the heels of the blockbuster success of her latest novel, “Americanah,” Adichie sat down with Smith at NYPL’s Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture to discuss the critically acclaimed book and how it came to be. In their far-reaching conversation, Adichie and Smith talk about race, feminism, and finding one’s identity in a globalized world.

Direct download: 75_Adichie__Smith.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:00am EST

Colson Whitehead on Poker

The Macarthur Award-winning author joins us to celebrate the release of his latest book, “The Noble Hustle: Poker, Beef Jerky & Death,” which chronicles his experience as an amateur card player trying his hand at the World Series of Poker. In a conversation with NYPL’s Jessica Strand, Whitehead discusses his mediocre card skills, the grueling training regimen that prepared him for the tournament, and what he learned about the human condition in Las Vegas.

Direct download: 74_Whitehead.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:44pm EST

The Moth on the Power of Storytelling

Eighteen years ago, storytelling collective The Moth launched what has become a world-wide storytelling movement. In this captivating show, we join novelist and Moth Founder George Dawes Green, writer Andrew Solomon, and The Moth's long-time Artistic Director Catherine Burns for a performance and discussion with NYPL’s Paul Holdengräber about the craft of storytelling and its power to re-shape the world.

Direct download: 73_The_Moth.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:30am EST

Lou Reed on Playing Outside the Box

Lou Reed, Mo Tucker, and Doug Yule of the Velvet Underground reunited at the Library in 2009 for a discussion with Rolling Stone journalist David Fricke. In this provocative conversation, the three legendary musicians talk about strange performance venues, the energy of New York, and how it felt to go where no musician had gone before.

Direct download: 72_Reed.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:00am EST

The bestselling author's latest book, “The Odd Woman and the City,” was released this May to critical acclaim. In this conversation with NYPL’s Jessica Strand, Gornick talks about modern feminists, New York City, and the evolution of friendship over the past two centuries.

Direct download: 71_Gornick.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:13pm EST

Alan Rusbridger on Whistleblowers & Wikileaks

Former editor-in-chief of The Guardian and a keen amateur pianist, Alan Rusbridger's book “Play It Again” recounts how he learned Chopin’s Ballade No. 1 during a year bookended by Wikileaks and the News of the World phone-hacking scandal. Together with NYPL’s Paul Holdengraber, Rusbridger discusses music, the Pentagon Papers, and why he always carries a destroyed government hard drive in his breast pocket.

Direct download: 70_Rusbridger.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:00am EST

Patti Smith on Youth & Friendship

This week, we’re taking you back in the archives to a captivating conversation with Patti Smith, the beloved and critically acclaimed artist and performer. Smith came to the Library in 2010 to mark the release of her book “Just Kids,” which chronicles her relationship with photographer Robert Mapplethorpe in 1960s and 70s New York City. Joined by NYPL’s Paul Holdengraber, Patti Smith takes the stage to discuss friendship, youth, and her creative awakening — and maybe even sing a song or two.

Direct download: 69_Smith_01.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:00am EST

This week on the podcast, we welcome renowned photographer Sally Mann, whose works are included in the permanent collections at the Whitney Museum and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, among many others. Mann came to the Library this spring to celebrate the release of her latest book, “Hold Still: A Memoir With Photographs.” In this conversation with NYPL’s Jessica Strand, Mann discusses memory, mortality, and how she crafted a striking personal history through image and narrative.

Direct download: 68_Mann.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:00am EST

This week, we’re excited to welcome legendary filmmaker Werner Herzog, whose numerous, award-winning films have made him one of the most influential directors of New German Cinema and contemporary film around the world. In a conversation co-presented by the Onassis Cultural Center of New York, Herzog talks to NYPL’s Paul Holdengraber about Ancient Greek literature and its influence on his cinematic work over the past half-century.

Direct download: 67_Herzog.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:19pm EST

Dan Savage on Monogamy

This week, we’re celebrating Pride Month with popular writer and gay activist Dan Savage, author of the advice column "Savage Love" and creator of the Emmy-winning "It Gets Better" campaign. Along with fellow writer and political commentator Andrew Sullivan, Savage came to the Library back in 2013 to mark the release of his latest book, “American Savage.” In this entertaining and thought-provoking conversation, Sullivan and Savage talk about moralism, marriage, and monogamy.

Direct download: 66_Savage_v2.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:00am EST

Suzanne Farrell on George Balanchine

This week, we’re thrilled to welcome Suzanne Farrell, one of George Balanchine’s most celebrated muses and a legendary figure in the ballet world. The world-renowned dancer inspired some of Balanchine's finest choreography, and today, she helps maintain his legacy as founder of the Balanchine Preservation Initiative and her own ballet company at The Kennedy Center. In a thought-provoking conversation with NYPL’s Paul Holdengraber, Farrell reflects on Balanchine, ballet, and her influence on both.

Direct download: 65_Farrell.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:00am EST

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Bitcoin

This week, we’ll be hearing from a panel of writers and innovators on the often talked about, but rarely understood, Bitcoin. New York Times reporter Nathaniel Popper, whose book “Digital Gold” tells the story of this trail-blazing virtual currency, will be joined on stage by Gavin Andresen, the programmer who has been leading the Bitcoin project since 2010, and Fred Wilson, one of the biggest venture capitalists backing the project. In a conversation moderated by New York Times columnist and CNBC anchor Andrew Ross Sorkin, this group of powerful thinkers discusses virtual currency and the future of money in the digital age.

Direct download: 64_Bitcoin.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:22pm EST

Damien Echols on Hope & Death Row

This week, we’re excited to welcome Damien Echols, whose bestselling memoir “Life After Death” describes how he was falsely convicted of three murders and spent nearly eighteen years on death row. He’s joined by performer and activist Henry Rollins for a conversation about prison life, holding onto memories, and how to stay hopeful in the worst of times.

Direct download: 63_Echols.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:34am EST

Matthew Weiner on the End of "Mad Men"

In his first public discussion of the show from beginning to end, "Mad Men" creator Matthew Weiner sits down with writer A.M. Homes to talk about the show’s themes, the fates of its characters, and the enigmatic final episode.

Direct download: 62_Weiner.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:00am EST

He's written a memoir Not My Father's Son. He's Eli Gold on The Good Wife. He's been Nightcrawler in X-2: Men United and Hamlet and Mr. Elton in the film adaptation of Jane Austen's Emma. He's Alan Cumming, and we're so pleased to share his recent appearance at Books at Noon in this week's episode of the New York Public Library podcast.

Direct download: 61_Cumming_-_51815_1.53_PM.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:31pm EST

Internationally renowned fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg comes to NYPL for a conversation with Rhonda Garelick, award-winning scholar and author of “Mademoiselle: Coco Chanel and the Pulse of History.” Together, von Furstenberg and Garelick discuss success, women taking the lead, and what it means to be a fashion icon.

Direct download: 60_Von_Furstenberg.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:32am EST

In this inspiring conversation with NYPL President Tony Marx, Sotomayor talks about her early life in the Bronx, the importance of education, and her rise to becoming one of the most powerful women in America today.

 

Direct download: 59_Sotomayor_-_64_32000.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:16pm EST

Frank Bruni on College Admissions Mania

The author and popular op-ed columnist for the New York Times joins us to discuss his latest book, “Where You Go Is Not Who You’ll Be: An Antidote to the College Admissions Mania.” Talking to NYPL’s own Jessica Strand, Bruni reflects on modern anxieties, higher education, and what truly defines success.

Direct download: 58_Bruni.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:48am EST

T.C. Boyle on Finding Stories and Themes

Bestselling and prolific author T.C. Boyle comes to NYPL to discuss his twenty-fifth book, “The Harder They Come.” In this witty conversation with the Library’s Jessica Strand, Boyle talks about irony, black humor, and America’s obsession with image and materialism.

 

Direct download: 57_Boyle_-_42215_1.04_PM.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:15pm EST

Tavis Smiley on Maya Angelou

Joined by NYPL’s Jessica Strand, Tavis Smiley talks about his latest book, “My Journey with Maya,” which details his friendship with the late Maya Angelou. In this moving conversation, Tavis Smiley discusses the value of debate, his connection with the past, and how Angelou’s friendship transformed him into the man he is today.

Direct download: 56_Smiley.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:29pm EST

Azar Nafisi on the Freedom to Read

The bestselling author of “Reading Lolita in Tehran,” a portrayal of the Islamic Revolution in Iran and its effects on one university professor and her students, Azar Nafisi comes to NYPL to celebrate the success of her most recent book, “The Republic of Imagination.” Nafisi joins NYPL’s Paul Holdengraber for a conversation on the importance of literature, freedom, and originality in today’s global society.

Direct download: 55_Nafisi.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:29pm EST

Jeffrey Deitch on Art & Spectacle

Jeffrey Deitch, a celebrated art critic and curator, talks about his popular new book “Live the Art,” which details his decades of boundary-pushing work in the galleries and museums of New York, California, and beyond. In a fascinating conversation with Massimiliano Gioni, Artistic Director of New York’s New Museum, Deitch discusses innovation, creation, and his appreciation for spectacle.

Direct download: 54_Deitch_and_Gioni.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:59pm EST

RuPaul on Fantasy & Identity

The musician, performer, and host of "RuPaul's Drag Race" sashays onto our stage to celebrate the recent release of his seventh studio album, "Realness." In a wildly entertaining and thought-provoking conversation, the cultural icon talks to NYPL’s Paul Holdengräber about success, performance, all things drag and beyond.

Direct download: 53_RuPaul.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:05pm EST

Stay Tuned

Get ready for our upcoming spring season of exciting talks from very special guests at the Library, now released every Tuesday on iTunes, Stitcher, and SoundCloud.

Direct download: 52_1.2_Spring_Promo_-_31915_1.02_PM.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:23pm EST

Art historian and curator Sarah Lewis talks to award-winning actress Anna Deavere Smith about Lewis’s nonfiction debut, “The Rise: Creativity, the Gift of Failure, and the Search for Mastery,” which examines stories of innovation and discovery born from the unlikeliest of experiences. In a conversation that’s equal parts funny, moving, and thoughtful, the two women discuss how failure is crucial to true success.

Direct download: 52_Lewis_and_Smith.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:42pm EST

Ann Patchett & Elizabeth Gilbert on Writing

Ann Patchett, the award-winning author of numerous books including “Bel Canto” and “State of Wonder,” joins her good friend Elizabeth Gilbert, author of the hit bestseller “Eat, Pray, Love,” to talk about the challenges and joys of their craft. In this thrilling conversation, Patchett and Gilbert ask each other how and why they write, covering everything from grief, to frustration, to divine inspiration.

Direct download: 51_Gilbert_and_Patchett.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:11pm EST

Jay-Z on Hustling & Forgiveness

Grammy Award winning artist Jay-Z came to NYPL in 2010, when his long-awaited memoir, "Decoded," had just hit shelves. He’s joined by NYPL’s Paul Holdengraber and intellectual icon Cornel West for a conversation about his journey from a rough childhood to becoming an internationally renowned rap artist, philanthropist, and entrepreneur.

Direct download: 50_Jay-Z.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:06pm EST

New York Times columnist Charles M. Blow joins Khalil Muhammad, Director of NYPL’s Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, for a conversation about Blow’s new memoir, “Fire Shut Up in My Bones.” Through the lens of Blow’s powerful personal story, the two men discuss visual art, social justice, and the need for empathy in American culture.

Direct download: 49_Blow.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:56pm EST

On the heels of the success of his bestselling 2012 novel “Back to Blood,” Wolfe came to NYPL to discuss identity, beliefs, and the weaving together of journalism and fiction.

Direct download: 48_Wolfe_v3.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:35pm EST

Ntozake Shange on Inspiration & Harlem

The great American playwright and poet Ntozake Shange, creator of the Obie Award-winning play “for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf,” celebrates the 40th anniversary of her landmark work with a panel discussion about its inspiration, creation, and enduring legacy.

Direct download: 47_Shange.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:06pm EST

Joan Didion on Writing & Revising

The beloved writer talks to fellow bestselling author Sloane Crosley about the challenges of putting personal tragedy and illusory pleasure into words.

Direct download: 46_Didion_-_12915_5.11_PM.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:45pm EST

Before her memoir Wild become an oscar nominated film, Strayed joined NYPL to discuss the blockbuster memoir, measuring success, and good advice.

Direct download: 45_Strayed_-_12315_12.06_PM.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:41pm EST

The prolific and beloved writer talks about creativity, productivity, and the importance of living an inspired life.

Direct download: 44_Oates_-_11615_2.40_PM.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:57pm EST

The two great authors discuss experimental narrative, political turmoil, and blending believable fiction with the absurd truth.

Direct download: 43_James__Rushdie_-_1915_3.22_PM.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:52pm EST

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 EST

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 EST

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 EST

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 EST

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 EST

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 EST

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 EST

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 EST

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 EST

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 EST

This week, acclaimed author Jane Smiley joins us to discuss the origins of her new trilogy "The Last Hundred Years," the hard part about spending a century with her characters, and her middle school reading tastes.

Direct download: 32_Smiley_-_101714_2.53_PM.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:02pm EST

This week on the podcast, noted legal reformer Philip K. Howard discusses his latest work, "The Rule of Nobody: Saving America from Dead Laws and Broken Government."

Direct download: 31_Howard_-_101014_5.01_PM.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:11pm EST

This week, the New York Public Library Podcast welcomes Tom Perrotta, whose novels Little Children, Election, and The Leftovers have been adapted into highly-lauded films and television series. He joins us today to discuss his latest work, Nine Inches.

Direct download: 20_Perotta_-_10214_4.39_PM.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:34am EST

The award-winning poet and author of the novel Leaving the Atocha Station brings his masterful command of words from the page to the stage, celebrating the start of LIVE's Fall 2014 season and his new book, 10:04.

Direct download: 29_Lerner_-_92614_3.06_PM.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:24pm EST

This week on the podcast, acclaimed author Ayana Mathis comes to NYPL to talk about her latest work, The Twelve Tribes of Hattie.

Direct download: 27_Mathis_-_92214_3.36_PM.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:50pm EST

This week, The New York Public Library Podcast features personal stories from adult children who have lost their parents to AIDS, including Alysia Abbott, author of Fairyland: A Memoir of My Father.

Direct download: 27_AIDS_-_9514_3.41_PM.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:04pm EST

This week on The New York Public Library Podcast, internationally renowned artist Robert Morris discusses various aspects of his practice and some of the key themes—time, memory, language, medium, and process—of his work.

Direct download: 26_Morris_-_82214_12.46_PM.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:07pm EST

The Library for the Performing Arts presents an evening of songs—songs that were cut from this season’s new Broadway musicals, including The Bridges of Madison County, If/Then, and Rocky.

Direct download: 25_Broadway_Cut_-_8714_1.25_PM.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:40pm EST

This week, The New York Public Library Podcast welcomes Stephen Schlesinger, as he discusses his new book, The Letters of Arthur Schlesinger, Jr., a collection of his father’s vivid, witty correspondence influential political and cultural figures of his time.

Direct download: 24_Schlesinger_-_72414_4.45_PM.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:49pm EST

This week on The New York Public Library Podcast, acclaimed author George Prochnik discusses The Impossible Exile, his new book about the life and work of Stefan Zweig, an icon of the Viennese cultural renaissance.

Direct download: 23._Prochnik_-_71014_2.39_PM.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:41pm EST

In April 2014, Amazon and Hachette locked horns in what has become a very public, and still ongoing, battle over contract negotiations. After the online retailer removed the pre-order option, imposed shipping delays, and slashed discounts on the book publisher's titles, the reaction against Amazon was swift and fierce. But the story of the Amazon-Hachette dispute is anything but simple, and raises critical questions about the future of the book publishing industry. What is really at stake for the companies, authors and readers? What larger issues of free-market capitalism and free speech are at play? And what does the Amazon-Hachette dispute reveal about the future of the publishing industry in the age of e-books?

Direct download: 22._Amazon_-_7314_2.01_PM.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:20pm EST

When you've written biographies on Sophia Loren, Ernest Hemingway and Doris Day you're bound to have some pretty incredible stories. This week on the podcast we join editor, novelist, playwright, and biographer A. E. Hotchner as he reflects on some memorable moments from impressive career. 

Direct download: 21._Hotchner_-_62614_2.08_PM.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:25pm EST

On this episode of The New York Public Library Podcast, Norwegian author Karl Ove Knausgaard dissects the latest volume of his critically acclaimed autobiography, My Struggle—and the controversy that surrounds it—with Jeffrey Eugenides, author of The Virgin Suicides.

Direct download: 20._Knausgaard_Eugenides_-_62314_2.19_PM.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:38pm EST

This week on The New York Public Library Podcast, filmmaker John Waters comes to us with tales from his latest book, Carsick, which chronicles his adventures hitchhiking across the United States.

Direct download: 19._Waters_-_6514_1.58_PM.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:20pm EST