Born during the Qing Dynasty in China, Wang Zhenyi defied the gender stereotypes of her era to become an acclaimed astronomer and renowned poet. Despite never receiving a formal education, Zhenyi tore through the volumes of books in her grandfather’s library, journeyed across China with her father, and learned about poetry from her grandmother. Aware of the ... Show More
Jan 22
Get to Know DJ Switch Ghana
Meet Erica Tandoh, aka DJ Switch Ghana: a creative force from Ghana, West Africa, who uses music to express herself and speak up for what she believes in. Discover how she learned to DJ in just five days (!!!), the sweet story behind her stage name, and what it felt like to play ... Show More
9m 34s
Jan 21
Get to Know Tatiana Calderón
We sat down with pro race car driver Tatiana Calderón to talk speed, discipline, and speaking up when something doesn’t work. Tatiana is the first and only woman to compete in modern Formula 2, and she shares how being “different” helped her think outside the box—and push for cha ... Show More
9m 11s
Jan 20
Nina Simone: The High Priestess of Soul
Nina Simone used her piano playing, brilliant songwriting, and one-of-a-kind voice to inspire audiences, challenge injustice, and create music that became the soundtrack of the Civil Rights Era and beyond. From iconic songs to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Nina Simone’s voice s ... Show More
18m 13s
Mar 2021
Jayla Makes Flying Dogs a Dream Come True!
<p>In this episode, Jayla, a Big Life Kid from Georgia in the United States, tells us about her dreams of becoming a published author, and how she took small steps towards her BIG goal. Meanwhile, Zara and Leo tackle a rare and deadly species... their carpet.</p><br><p>In this ep ... Show More
7m 17s
Jan 2022
378 Liu Xinwu and the "Scar Literature" of China (with Jeremy Tiang) | Bharati Sneak Preview (with Mira Sundara Rajan)
In this episode, Jacke talks to Jeremy Tiang about his new translation of The Wedding Party, a Chinese classic contemporary novel written in the early 1980s by Liu Xinwu, one of the originators of what has been termed "scar literature." PLUS we feature a sneak preview of our conv ... Show More
49m 26s
Oct 2022
452 Charles and Mary Lamb | A Letter To My Transgender Daughter (with Carolyn Hays)
In this episode, Jacke takes a look at two topics. First, the story of Charles and Mary Lamb, whose children's book Tales from Shakespeare (1807) was published more than two hundred years ago and has never been out of print. Part of the literary circle that included Romantic-era ... Show More
59m 50s
May 2022
Somebody, Sing a Black Girl’s Song
An intergenerational meditation on Ntozake Shange’s iconic Broadway play, For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow Is Enuf. First, host Kai Wright and producer speak with the director and choreographer of the current Broadway Revival, Camille A. Brown. Then, ... Show More
49m 32s
Jul 2021
A Heartbreaking Novel About Mothers, Daughters and Secrets
<p>The latest pick for Group Text, our monthly column for readers and book clubs, is Esther Freud's <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/13/books/i-couldnt-love-you-more-esther-freud-group-text.html" target="_blank">“I Couldn’t Love You More,”</a> a novel about three generati ... Show More
56m 44s
Aug 2023
Folk Heroes: Annie Christmas
Annie Christmas (c. 1900s) was a fantastical figure based on a real person, but stories about her were passed down through oral tradition, old timey radio shows, collections of folklore and children’s tales. This brawny and brave keelboat captain has been hailed as the queen of t ... Show More
6m 39s