Faraaz Abdool is a birder, author, guide, and environmentalist. In this interview we talk about how he developed an interest in birding; finding a community of people interested in the natural world; making a major career shift; the pros and cons of ecotourism; and more. Find Faraaz online via his website and on Instagram. Patreon…
A Brief Chat #223: Hester Blum takes a fresh look at Moby-Dick
Hester Blum is a professor of English at Penn State. She recently edited, and wrote the introduction for, the new Oxford World’s Classics edition of Moby-Dick. In this interview, we talk about new ways to interpret Melville’s classic through our modern lens; polar exploration; our responsibility to cultures other than our own; and more.
A Brief Chat #222: Richard Biever on theater as a tool for social change
Richard Biever is an assistant professor of musical theatre at the School of Performing Arts at Wichita State University. In this interview, we talk about using the stage as a way to spark community conversations on difficult issues. We also discuss the performance of older plays and musicals in the modern era. And we talk…
A Brief Chat #221: Clint Carrick on visiting small town skateparks
Clint Carrick is the author of the book Small Town Skateparks, which chronicles his journey from Vermont to California, visiting skateparks in out-of-the-way places across the country. The book is a mix of memoir and travelogue, and it examines the activities that knit people together and what happens when they drift away from them.
A Brief Chat #220: Alice Teeple on photographing homelessness in NYC
Alice Teeple is, among other things, a documentary photographer. Her photo essay on homelessness in New York City was recently featured on the website Interlocutor. In this interview, Alice talks about the photo series, her own experience of homelessness, and the other projects she’s working on. See more of Alice’s work on Instagram.
A Brief Chat #219: Albert Goldbarth on poetry and ’50s sci-fi
Albert Goldbarth has been publishing poetry for five decades. Albert’s newest collection, Everybody, is available from Lynx House Press or your local bookseller. Please support this podcast by becoming a member at https://patreon.com/abriefchat. Thanks!
ABC Travelogue #1: Providence, Bristol and Newport (TEASER)
In which I travel to various places in Rhode Island and tell you what I see. Get the entire episode and many more bonus shows (plus a whole lot more) at patreon.com/abriefchat.
A Brief Chat #218: Michael Schiavo on poetry and observation
A conversation with poet Michael Schiavo about: random Instagram photography daily writing vs inspiration the creation of his book The Mad Song Emerson and transcendentalism his current projects You can get early access to every episode plus bonus episodes, travels essays and more at https://patreon.com/abriefchat.
A Brief Chat #217: Annalisa Barron on being a visual artist
Annalisa Barron is an interdisciplinary artist. In this interview, she talks about how gutting an apartment led her to become an art major; how she acquires the skills she needs for particular types of art making; the artist as entrepreneur; her work as an adjunct professor at the Rochester Institute of Technology; and more. Find…
A Brief Chat #216: Rick Schober of Tough Poets Press
Tough Poets Press started in 2015 to publish “new and rediscovered unconventional and neglected literary fiction, poetry, and non-fiction.” In this interview, founder Rick Schober talks about how he came up with the idea for the press; how he finds the books and authors he features; designing the covers; and more. Learn more at https://toughpoets.com/….
A Brief Chat #215: Hannah Bingman on songwriting
Hannah Bingman is a singer-songwriter based in central Pennsylvania. In this interview she talks about the craft of songwriting; her spiritual journey; the inspiration of Sister Rosetta Tharpe; and more. Learn more about Hannah at https://www.hannahbingman.com/. — This show is only possible because of people like you. Visit https://www.patreon.com/vanarchism and become a supporting member today….
A Brief Chat: November 2021 Bonus Show (Unlocked!)
This episode struck a chord with a lot of my subscribers, so I thought I’d unlock it for everyone. In it I talk about my continued attempts to find my place in the world. If you’d like to hear more of these monthly bonus shows, become a member at patreon.com/vanarchism.