New Letters on the Air

Now Streaming: The rigors and joys of work are celebrated in this special anthology program entitled Working Class Poets. B.H. Fairchild, Susan Gubernat, Robert Stewart, and Dorianne Laux read from their work and share how their working class jobs and roots inform their writing. Listen to the full show on our PRX page at: https://bit.ly/3es1AdW

NewLettersRadio on Twitter “Now : The rigors &joys of work are celebrated in this anthology program entitled Working Class Poets. B.H. Fairchild, Susan Gubernat, Robert Stewart & Dorianne Laux read from their work& discuss how their former jobs inform their writing. Listen@ https://t.co/hTrAnS18Rs”

Now Streaming: Fiction writer Ron Tanner, the author of the 2022 short story collection Far West, talks about the similarities between renovating a house and writing, which inspired his earlier memoir, From Animal House to Our House. Hear the love story behind fixing up an old frat house with his girlfriend led to their marriage and the recent founding of a writers retreat at Good Contrivance Farm in Maryland. The home has been featured in This Old House magazine and is also the subject of Ron Tanner's website www.houselove.org. He discusses how the renovations helped him to examine his relationships and his work as a writer. He also reads from his short story book, A Bed of Nails, winner of the G.S. Sharat Chandra Fiction Prize from BkMk Press. Listen to the full show on our PRX page at: https://bit.ly/3PFxG2U

NewLettersRadio on Twitter “Now : Fiction writer Ron Tanner, author of the 2022 short story collection Far West, talks about his memoir, From Animal House to Our House and also reads from his collection of award-winning short stories, A Bed of Nails from . Listen@ https://t.co/xUJhYU1DcO”

Award-winning poet Shin Yu Pai, who has been featured on New Letters on the Air, hosts this podcast "about commonplace objects and the people who transform them into something remarkable. From a Chinese-English dictionary passed from father to son to an old califone playing records left behind by Japanese Americans incarcerated during WWII, The Blue Suit will reexamine what gets elevated to heirloom status." Stream new episodes every Monday at: https://bit.ly/3zyxegV

Now Streaming: In July 2022, Ada Limón, a Californian who transplanted herself to NYC and now lives in Kentucky, was named the 24th U.S. Poet Laureate to take over the post in the fall from Joy Harjo. This seems appropriate, since she was already handed the torch for the Poetry Foundation's podcast The Slowdown by the 22nd U.S. Poet Laureate, Tracy K. Smith. Limón is the author of six poetry books, including The Hurting Kind in 2022. She talks about her first three collections in this 2011 interview that also reveals her early influences--from her first poetry teacher, Philip Levine (another U.S. Poet Laureate) to her job as a copy editor for magazines in New York. And you'll hear her views on how poetry can help and inspire people to reconnect and recommit to our world. Listen to the full show on our PRX page at: https://bit.ly/3OMul1t

NewLettersRadio on Twitter “Now : We revisit this 2011 interview with now US Poet Laureate Ada Limón. She talks about her first 3 collections & reveals her influences from her first poetry teacher, Philip Levine to her job as a copy editor for magazines in New York. Listen@ https://t.co/qzWu40Zti0”

Now streaming: With all the new telescope photos in the news, we revisit a classic reading from the 2012 Pulitzer Prize winning book Life on Mars by Tracy K. Smith, as she shares poems in tribute to her late father, a Hubble Telescope engineer. These works are also in the 2021 book, Such Color: New and Selected Poems by the U.S. Poet Laureate (2017-19) . Listen to the full show on our PRX page at: https://bit.ly/3OmwAs6

NewLettersRadio on Twitter “Now : U.S. Poet Laureate (2017-19) Tracy K. Smith reads from her 2012 Pulitzer Prize book, Life on Mars, a tribute to her late father, a Hubble Telescope engineer. Hear poems now also in her 2021 book, Such Color: New & Selected Poems on at: https://t.co/snjmaQpyvD”

Now Streaming: In this classic 2005 interview, the late E.L. Doctorow discusses his novel, The March, winner of both the National Book Critics Circle and PEN/Faulkner Awards. Listen to the full show on our PRX page at: https://bit.ly/3c84Z0v

NewLettersRadio on Twitter “Now : In this classic 2005 interview, the late E.L. Doctorow discusses his novel, The March, winner of both the National Book Critics Circle and PEN/Faulkner Awards. Listen to the full show on our page at: https://t.co/fS1x9bi6Og”

Now Streaming: The Augurs: Women of an Age, is a special public poetry reading, featuring a group of women poets, all over the age of 60, sharing their work and views on America. Eleanor Wilner, Alice Friman, Alicia Ostriker, Robin Becker, the late Michelle Boisseau, and others read from work that is both poignant and political. Listen to the full show on our PRX page at: https://bit.ly/3bKE22q

NewLettersRadio on Twitter “Now : This public poetry reading features a group of women poets, all over the age of 60, sharing their work and views on America. Listen to Eleanor Wilner, Alice Friman, Alicia Ostriker, Robin Becker & the late Michelle Boisseau on our PRX page@ https://t.co/E9F6SwyJHM”

Now Streaming: In this classic show, Leonard Pitts Jr. talks about race, family, and the process of writing his syndicated column which won him a Pulitzer Prize in 2004. Pitts also reads from his 2012 novel, Freeman, about former slaves and a return to the south after the Civil War in search of their scattered families. Listen to the full show on our PRX page at: https://bit.ly/3OF109z

NewLettersRadio on Twitter “Now : Leonard Pitts Jr. talks about race, family, and the process of writing his syndicated column which won him a Pulitzer Prize in 2004 and reads from his 2012 novel, Freeman. Listen to the full show on our page at: https://t.co/vhYBOXBLTT”

Now Streaming: For Pride Month we revisit this classic interview with Rigoberto González, winner of the 2015 Lifetime Achievement Award from Association of Le****ns and Gay Men in Publishing. He discusses his work in poetry, fiction, memoir and criticism. Listen to the full show on our PRX page at: https://bit.ly/3b8UqK1

NewLettersRadio on Twitter “Now : For we revisit this interview w/ Rigoberto González, winner of the Lifetime Achievement Award from Association of Le****ns and Gay Men in Publishing. He discusses his work in poetry, fiction, memoir & criticism. Listen at: https://t.co/KXlxWzvvS5”

Now Streaming: In this classic interview, acclaimed short story writer George Saunders talks about his creative process and how he approached the writing of his debut novel, Lincoln in the Bardo. Listen to the full show on our PRX page at: https://bit.ly/3NvcxrQ

NewLettersRadio on Twitter “Now : In this classic interview, acclaimed short story writer George Saunders talks about his creative process and how he approached the writing of his debut novel, Lincoln in the Bardo. Listen on our page at: https://t.co/4Kc5LQUuO2”

Now Streaming: We conclude Asian Heritage Month with this classic interview with novelist Lisa See. She talks about the real world inspiration for her novel China Dolls and discusses how her research shaped this book. Listen to the full show on PRX at: https://bit.ly/3x4vAU2

NewLettersRadio on Twitter “Now : We conclude with this classic interview with novelist Lisa See. She talks about the real world inspiration for her novel China Dolls and discusses how her research shaped this book. Listen to the full show on PRX at: https://t.co/8LITqHx8Nk”

Now Streaming: We continue Asian American Heritage Month with Taiwanese-American poet Shin Yu Pai. She reads from her seventh collection, Adamantine, and her earlier work, Sightings. Listen to the full show on our PRX page at: https://bit.ly/3NriEgw

NewLettersRadio on Twitter “Now : We continue with Taiwanese-American poet Shin Yu Pai. She reads from her seventh collection, Adamantine, and her earlier work, Sightings. Listen to the full show on our page at: https://t.co/hWcIbuG7Aw https://t.co/xjvYjXHVoc”

Now Streaming: Poet Beth Ann Fennelly discusses her roles as poet, teacher, mother and wife. She reads from her early poetry books and talks about her non-fiction collection, Great with Child: Letters to a Young Mother. Listen to the full show on our PRX page at: https://bit.ly/3wwi89W

NewLettersRadio on Twitter “Now : Poet Beth Ann Fennelly discusses her roles as poet, teacher, mother and wife. She reads from her early poetry books and talks about her non-fiction collection, Great with Child: Letters to a Young Mother. Listen at: https://t.co/GFCItia9q0 https://t.co/tqAWCc1CPo”

Now Streaming: For Asian American Heritage Month, we're revisiting this interview with Filipino poet Patrick Rosal. He talks about the impetus to capture break dancers & hip-hop artists in his poetry and reads from his award-winning books. Listen to the full show on our PRX page at: https://bit.ly/3kQimTU

NewLettersRadio on Twitter “Now : For we're revisiting this interview with Filipino poet Patrick Rosal. He talks about the impetus to capture break dancers & hip-hop artists in his poetry & reads from his award-winning books. Listen on our page at: https://t.co/tALRU49bTk https://t...

We're celebrating National Poetry Month with a nod to what Missouri-born poet T.S. Eliot called The Cruelest Month. Listen to ten poets, reflecting on love in all its forms, including U.S. Poets Laureate Billy Collins, Charles Simic, Kay Ryan, Juan Felipe Herrera, Rita Dove, and Donald Hall, along with other prize-winning poets along with Elizabeth Alexander,Randall Mann, Debra Marquart and Alberto Rios in this special anthology of New Letters on the Air. Listen to the full show on our PRX page at: https://bit.ly/3rEDK2b

NewLettersRadio on Twitter “Now : We continue with a group of poets reflecting on love including Billy Collins, Charles Simic, Kay Ryan, Juan Felipe Herrera, Rita Dove, Donald Hall, Elizabeth Alexander,Randall Mann, Debra Marquart& Alberto Rios. Listen@ https://t.co/ZYq6yCBcIz https://t.co...

Now Streaming: We're celebrating National Poetry Month with a look back at influential feminist poets who led the the next generations into the 21st century including Maxine Kumin, Audre Lorde, Adrienne Rich, and Carolyn Kizer. Listen to the full show on our PRX page at: https://bit.ly/3MbgrVT

NewLettersRadio on Twitter “Now : We're celebrating with a look back at influential feminist poets who led the the next generations into the 21st century including Maxine Kumin, Audre Lorde, Adrienne Rich, and Carolyn Kizer. Listen at: https://t.co/Cjtoq4xuGS https://t.co/GPYSORTUDz”

Now Streaming: We continue Women's History Month with this classic 2008 show featuring poet Victoria Chang. She talks about approaching poetry from the business world and the influence of her Taiwanese immigrant parents on her work. She reads from Salvinia Molesta and Circle. Listen to the full show on our PRX page at: https://bit.ly/3tzXy8v

NewLettersRadio on Twitter “Now : In this 2008 show, poet Victoria Chang talks about approaching poetry from the business world, and the influence of her Taiwanese immigrant parents on her work. She reads from Salvinia Molesta and Circle. Listen at: https://t.co/TAxuyzuUPm https://t.co/FRfQT4e7...

Now Streaming: We continue Women's History Month with Kathryn Nuernberger, who discusses how she once shied away from being a "woman writer" and why she now embraces it. She reads from her 2017 essay collection, Brief Interviews with the Romantic Past, and shares pieces from her three poetry books, including her third collection, Rue. Listen to the full show on our PRX page at: https://bit.ly/37rrWcs

NewLettersRadio on Twitter “Now : We continue w/ Kathryn Nuernberger who discusses how she once shied away from being a "woman writer" and why she now embraces it, as she reads from her three poetry books, including her third collection, Rue. Listen@ https://t.co/EDh1B7VzcC https://t.co/bbu...

Now Streaming: For Women's History Month, we revisit this interview with Belarusian poet Valzhyna Mort. She reads from her books Factory of Tears and Collected Body. Listen to the full show on our PRX page at: https://bit.ly/3pYXNb0

NewLettersRadio on Twitter “Now : For we revisit this interview with Belarusian poet Valzhyna Mort reading from her books Factory of Tears and Collected Body. Listen to the full show on our page at: https://t.co/TqkFW7nHZA https://t.co/sxWNHeFssI”

Now Streaming: We conclude Black History Month with more from poet Patricia Smith. She ruminates on her relationship with her parents, who were part of the Great Migration from the south to Chicago, and reads from her book Shoulda Been Jimi Savannah. Listen to the full show on our PRX page at: https://bit.ly/3HBLesg

NewLettersRadio on Twitter “Now : We conclude with more from poet Patricia Smith. She ruminates on her relationship with her parents who were part of the Great Migration from the south to Chicago and reads from her book Shoulda Been Jimi Savannah. Listen@ https://t.co/mB5pgweIhH https://t.co/wT8...

Now Streaming: For Black History Month, we'll hear from poet Patricia Smith, who reads from her collection Incendiary Art, the 2018 winner of an NAACP Image Award. She also discusses why she chose to write about the late Emmett Till as well as more recent traumas. Listen to the full show on our PRX page at: https://bit.ly/33OJy0D

NewLettersRadio on Twitter “Now : For we'll hear from poet Patricia Smith, who reads from Incendiary Art, the 2018 winner of an NAACP Image Award. She also discusses why she chose to write about the late Emmett Till as well as more recent traumas. Listen@ https://t.co/Kf8e3TrkUQ https://t.co/n2A...

Now Streaming: Georgia nature writer and poet Philip Lee Williams, author of the 2022 book Eden's Last Horizon: Poems for the Earth, discusses his earlier poetry books The Flower Seeker: An Epic Poem of William Bartram and The Color of All Things: 99 Love Poems. Listen to the full show on our PRX page at: https://bit.ly/3h8yUVD

NewLettersRadio on Twitter “Now : Georgia nature writer and poet Philip Lee Williams, author of the 2022 book Eden's Last Horizon: Poems for the Earth, discusses his earlier poetry books The Flower Seeker: An Epic Poem of William Bartram and The Color of All Things. Listen@ https://t.co/y1Mt83SnqF https://t.co/Ldl...

Now Streaming: In this classic episode, multi-award winning short story writer Amina Gautier shares excerpts from her 2018 PEN/Malamud Award-winning, The Loss of All Lost Things, as part of the Pleiades Visiting Writers Series at the University of Central Missouri. Listen the the full show on our PRX Page at: https://bit.ly/3oCjRr2

NewLettersRadio on Twitter “Now : Multi-award winning short story writer Amina Gautier shares excerpts from her 2018 PEN/Malamud Award-winning, The Loss of All Lost Things, as part of the Visiting Writers Series at the University of Central Missouri. Listen @ https://t.co/r62k6a9SlQ https://t.co/67Z4n...

Now Streaming: Fiction writer Charles Baxter reveals some of his motivations for writing and shares the real life inspiration for his 2008 novel, The Soul Thief as well as reads from his collection Gryphon: New and Selected Stories. Listen to the full show on our PRX page at: https://bit.ly/3HqYSz7

NewLettersRadio on Twitter “Now : Fiction writer Charles Baxter reveals some of his motivations for writing and shares the real life inspiration for his 2008 novel, The Soul Thief as well as reads from his collection Gryphon: New and Selected Stories. Listen to the show at: https://t.co/uL06hgIW2U https://t.co/0z0...

Now Streaming: Randall Freisinger talks about his collection Windthrow & Salvage and discusses some of his influencers--late New Letters magazine editor, Jim McKinley; former Missouri Poet Laureate William Trowbridge, and the late Bill Kloefkorn. Listen to the full show on our PRX page at: https://bit.ly/3rRAjED

NewLettersRadio on Twitter “Now : Randall Freisinger talks about his collection Windthrow & Salvage and discusses some of his influencers--late magazine editor, Jim McKinley; former Missouri Poet Laureate William Trowbridge, and the late Bill Kloefkorn. Listen@ https://t.co/B1gSAMzQuz https://t.co...

Now Streaming: For Martin Luther King Day we feature this classic interview with Anthony Grooms talking about his 2001 novel, Bombingham, a compelling tale intertwining Civil Rights era Birmingham with the war-torn rice fields of Vietnam. Listen to the full show on our PRX page at: https://bit.ly/3IauY1S

NewLettersRadio on Twitter “Now : For we feature this classic interview with Anthony Grooms talking about his 2001 novel, Bombingham, a compelling tale intertwining Civil Rights era Birmingham with the war-torn rice fields of Vietnam. Listen on our page at: https://t.co/bnCoQd0Tms https://t.co/Aojxu4J...

Now Streaming: Poet & translator Tony Barnstone reads from his book Tongue of War: From Pearl Harbor to Nagasaki, his collection of dramatic monologues that incorporates pulp fiction & pop culture to tell stories about historical events. Listen to the full show on our PRX page at: https://bit.ly/3qsny4d

NewLettersRadio on Twitter “Now : Poet & translator Tony Barnstone reads from his book Tongue of War: From Pearl Harbor to Nagasaki, his collection of dramatic monologues that incorporates pulp fiction & pop culture to tell stories about historical events. Listen at: https://t.co/OBPOccmA1S https://t.co/2b...

Now Streaming: In this classic episode, Annie Barrows talks about her novel The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. Set on the English Channel island after the N**i occupation during World War II, Barrows discusses how she inherited the writing of this story from her aunt. Listen to the full show on our PRX page at: https://bit.ly/3zIiCv2

NewLettersRadio on Twitter “Now : In this classic episode, Annie Barrows talks about co-authoring The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. Set on the English Channel island after WWII, Barrows discusses how she inherited the writing of it from her aunt. Listen@ https://t.co/0hsWzjieJA https://t.co/EIba9s...

Now Streaming: In this classic interview, playwright, screenwriter & novelist Ayad Akhtar talks about his novel American Dervish. A coming-of-age story set in his hometown of Milwaukee, it reveals much about Muslim-American culture & human nature. Listen to the full show on our PRX page at: https://bit.ly/32wUrnf

NewLettersRadio on Twitter “Now : In this classic interview, playwright, screenwriter & novelist Ayad Akhtar talks about his novel American Dervish. A coming-of-age story set in his hometown of Milwaukee, it reveals much about Muslim-American culture & human nature. Listen@ https://t.co/KJJ3KSHVq2 https://...

Now Streaming: In this holiday classic, Thomas Fox Averill discusses his award-winning novel, A Carol Dickens Christmas, that weaves the influences of Charles Dickens and traditional Victorian era cooking into a story about a modern Topeka, Kansas family during a tough holiday season. Listen to the full show on our PRX page at: https://bit.ly/3enUAvr

NewLettersRadio on Twitter “Now : Thomas Fox Averill discusses his award-winning novel, A Carol Dickens , that weaves the influences of Charles Dickens & Victorian era cooking into a story about a modern Topeka, Kansas family during a tough holiday season. Listen@ https://t.co/Lwzp5Fn4n3 https://t.co...