Butterfly Wings

Days of Their Lives

On this episode of Articulate Experience—three writers examine how they write about the world is informed by how they see it.    Marina Benjamin’s works combine deep research with deep reflection. It’s by looking outwards that the British author salves her own inner turmoil.  Scottish novelist Douglas Stuart didn’t expect his background as a fashion designer to help his writing. Now, he considers his visual skill an essential part of his secret sauce.   Best-selling author and New Yorker staff writer Susan Orlean is driven by curiosity. To stop learning, she believes, is to stop living.  * [01:49] Marina Benjamin [https://marina-benjamin.com/] * [15:30] Douglas Stuart [https://www.douglasdstuart.com/] * [28:38] Susan Orlean [https://www.susanorlean.com/author/] Articulate Experience examines stories of humanity, resilience, and wisdom through the words of some of today’s greatest writers. Articulate Experience is a production of the Articulate Foundation. [https://articulateshow.org/donate/?gclid=CjwKCAiAzp6eBhByEiwA_gGq5PCaAp0qO1lU9fYezaHDWf5GzkohukoxHCcew45b7xX6T0FK_9SrYhoCM5cQAvD_BwE] More at articulateshow.org [http://articulateshow.org/]

Mother Darling

On this episode of Articulate Experience—three writers explore how moms and motherhood have impacted their life and work.  Chip Delany is considered a “Grandmaster” of science fiction– but he wasn’t born that way. Maternal influences shaped him at every turn. Karen Russell is a Macarthur “genius” and a mother of two. Both roles changed the way she saw herself, and the world. Elizabeth Acevedo dominated spoken word poetry competitions before becoming a best-selling young adult author. And though they haven’t always seen eye to eye, her mom has always been her biggest fan.  * [01:19 ] Samuel "Chip" Delany https://www.samueldelany.com [https://www.samueldelany.com] * [11:18 ] Karen Russell https://karenrussellauthor.com [https://karenrussellauthor.com] * [27:24 ] Elizabeth Acevedo http://www.acevedowrites.com [http://www.acevedowrites.com] Articulate Experience examines stories of humanity, resilience, and wisdom through the words of some of today’s greatest writers. Articulate Experience is a production of the Articulate Foundation. [https://articulateshow.org/donate/?gclid=CjwKCAiAzp6eBhByEiwA_gGq5PCaAp0qO1lU9fYezaHDWf5GzkohukoxHCcew45b7xX6T0FK_9SrYhoCM5cQAvD_BwE] More at articulateshow.org [http://articulateshow.org/]

Higher Power

On this episode of Articulate Experience—four writers discuss the role of God in how they think, and live.  Now in his 80s, the poet Billy Collins isn’t waiting for the afterlife to find joy— his heaven is here on earth.  John Darnielle left Catholicism more than two decades ago, but the Church’s shortcomings haven’t short-changed his faith.  Though Vikram Paralkar maintains a cultural connection to Hinduism, he looks to existentialist philosophers and modern scientists to shape his understanding of the universe.   Carmen Machado was raised in what she describes as “a chill Methodist” household. Today, she’s an atheist, but along the way, explored evangelism. * [01:35 ] Billy Collins  [https://billycollinspoetry.com/] * [16:08 ] John Darnielle [ http://www.johndarnielle.com/] * [27:51 ] Vikram Paralkar [ https://www.vikramparalkar.com/] * [37:00 ] Carmen Machado [ https://carmenmariamachado.com/] Articulate Experience examines stories of humanity, resilience, and wisdom through the words of some of today’s greatest writers. Articulate Experience is a production of the Articulate Foundation. [https://articulateshow.org/donate/?gclid=CjwKCAiAzp6eBhByEiwA_gGq5PCaAp0qO1lU9fYezaHDWf5GzkohukoxHCcew45b7xX6T0FK_9SrYhoCM5cQAvD_BwE] More at articulateshow.org [http://articulateshow.org/]

Butterfly Wings

On this episode of Articulate Experience—three writers reflect on pivotal moments that had life-altering consequences. At 18, Darin Strauss was the driver in a fatal traffic accident. Though he wasn’t at fault, guilt defined his work and worldview for years after.  Sarah Ruhl was on her way to see a production of her first play when she was knocked unconscious in a car crash. She emerged without a concussion, but with a clear sense of her destiny.  When her mother was murdered, Natasha Trethewey looked to poetry to help sooth her unhealable wound.  * [01:24 ] Darin Strauss  [https://www.theshipmanagency.com/darin-strauss] * [13:57 ] Sarah Ruhl  [https://www.sarahruhlplaywright.com/] * [31:16 ] Natasha Trethewey  [https://natashatrethewey.com/] Articulate Experience examines stories of humanity, resilience, and wisdom through the words of some of today’s greatest writers. Articulate Experience is a production of the Articulate Foundation. [https://articulateshow.org/donate/?gclid=CjwKCAiAzp6eBhByEiwA_gGq5PCaAp0qO1lU9fYezaHDWf5GzkohukoxHCcew45b7xX6T0FK_9SrYhoCM5cQAvD_BwE] More at articulateshow.org [http://articulateshow.org/]

Made in America

On this episode of Articulate Experience—three writers who grew up with distinct vantage points on American identity. Gish Jen was raised in the 1960s by Chinese immigrants living in New York. It took decades of learning, reflecting, and writing, for her to embrace the full complexity of her bi-cultural identity—but looking back, she wouldn’t change a thing.  The sci-fi/fantasy writer Tochi Onyebuchi has always been fascinated by other people and their perspectives. But it was only after he started writing about his own experiences as a Nigerian-American in his mid-twenties that his speculative fiction began to take off. Today, he’s earned some of the genre’s highest honors. Deborah Eisenberg came of age with the so-called, “peace and love generation” —educated young Americans who believed that the world was changing for the better. Over four decades, her short stories have formed a record of her evolving understanding of her native country, and of herself.  * [1:38] Gish Jen [ https://www.gishjen.com/] * [17:25] Tochi Onyebuchi [https://www.tochionyebuchi.com/]  * [34:12] Deborah Eisenberg [https://us.macmillan.com/author/deboraheisenberg ] Articulate Experience examines stories of humanity, resilience, and wisdom through the words of some of today’s greatest writers. Articulate Experience is a production of the Articulate Foundation. [https://articulateshow.org/donate/?gclid=CjwKCAiAzp6eBhByEiwA_gGq5PCaAp0qO1lU9fYezaHDWf5GzkohukoxHCcew45b7xX6T0FK_9SrYhoCM5cQAvD_BwE] More at articulateshow.org [http://articulateshow.org/]