The Conversationalist Podcast

"The Strange Hopefulness of Growing a Human While the World Burns" (w/ Anna Lind-Guzik)

For our season finale, our founder and podcast host Anna Lind-Guzik reads "The Strange Hopefulness of Growing a Human While the World Burns [https://conversationalist.org/2026/01/09/hope-week-pregnancy-motherhood-children-personal-essay/]", an essay reflecting on her experience as a first-time expectant mother, and the surprising surge of hopefulness she experienced while pregnant with her daughter. You can read Anna's original essay—a part of our Hope Week series—on the site here: https://conversationalist.org/2026/01/09/hope-week-pregnancy-motherhood-children-personal-essay/ Brought to you by The Anti-Nihilist Foundation, a 501(c)3 and publisher of The Conversationalist [http://conversationalist.org].  Host and Founder: Anna Lind-Guzik Executive Editor: Gina Mei Executive Director: Erin Zimmer Strenio Audio Engineer: Dan Thorn Cover Art: María Medem [https://www.instagram.com/mariamedem/?hl=en] Produced by: Cosmic Standard [http://www.cosmicstandard.fm] Producers: Aja Simpson and Jessica Glazer  Technical Director: Jacob Winik  Creative Lead: Eliza Smith conversationalist.org [http://conversationalist.org]

Food as a Form of Care (w/ Alicia Kennedy and Bettina Makalintal)

Conversationalist Contributing Editor Kovie Biakolo sits down with food writers Alicia Kennedy ("On Eating: The Making and Unmaking of My Appetites") and Bettina Makalintal (Senior Reporter at Eater.com) for a conversation on the ways we express care through food.  Brought to you by The Anti-Nihilist Foundation, a 501(c)3 and publisher of The Conversationalist [http://conversationalist.org].  Host and Founder: Anna Lind-Guzik Executive Editor: Gina Mei Executive Director: Erin Zimmer Strenio Audio Engineer: Dan Thorn Cover Art: María Medem [https://www.instagram.com/mariamedem/?hl=en] Produced by: Cosmic Standard [http://www.cosmicstandard.fm] Producers: Aja Simpson and Jessica Glazer  Technical Director: Jacob Winik  Creative Lead: Eliza Smith conversationalist.org [http://conversationalist.org]

"Who Throws a Shoe, Honestly?" (w/ Gina Mei)

Conversationalist Executive Editor Gina Mei reads "Who Throws a Shoe, Honestly? [https://conversationalist.org/2025/06/27/soapbox-shoe-throwing-shoeing-muntadhar-al-zaidi-george-w-bush-iraq-united-states-war-crimes-international-criminal-court-protest-opinion/]", an op-ed from our Soapbox column on why throwing shoes as a form of protest is due to make a comeback. You can read Gina's original story on the site here: https://conversationalist.org/2025/06/27/soapbox-shoe-throwing-shoeing-muntadhar-al-zaidi-george-w-bush-iraq-united-states-war-crimes-international-criminal-court-protest-opinion/ Brought to you by The Anti-Nihilist Foundation, a 501(c)3 and publisher of The Conversationalist [http://conversationalist.org].  Host and Founder: Anna Lind-Guzik Executive Editor: Gina Mei Executive Director: Erin Zimmer Strenio Audio Engineer: Dan Thorn Cover Art: María Medem [https://www.instagram.com/mariamedem/?hl=en] Produced by: Cosmic Standard [http://www.cosmicstandard.fm] Producers: Aja Simpson and Jessica Glazer  Technical Director: Jacob Winik  Creative Lead: Eliza Smith conversationalist.org [http://conversationalist.org]

An Ode to Our Aunties (w/ Prisca Dorcas Mojica Rodríguez and Lisa Sibbett)

Conversationalist Contributing Editor Kovie Biakolo speaks with educator and writer Lisa Sibbett (The Auntie Bulletin on Substack [https://theauntie.substack.com/]) and activist, speaker, and author Prisca Dorcas Mojica Rodríguez ("Tías and Primas: On Knowing and Loving the Women Who Raise Us [https://bookshop.org/a/79368/9781541603950]") about all things aunties, including who they are, how they show up, and why they're so important to our lives.  Brought to you by The Anti-Nihilist Foundation, a 501(c)3 and publisher of The Conversationalist [http://conversationalist.org].  Host and Founder: Anna Lind-Guzik Executive Editor: Gina Mei Executive Director: Erin Zimmer Strenio Audio Engineer: Dan Thorn Cover Art: María Medem [https://www.instagram.com/mariamedem/?hl=en] Produced by: Cosmic Standard [http://www.cosmicstandard.fm] Producers: Aja Simpson and Jessica Glazer  Technical Director: Jacob Winik  Creative Lead: Eliza Smith conversationalist.org [http://conversationalist.org]

"Emergency Contact" (w/ Ana María Betancourt Ovalle)

Writer Ana María Betancourt Ovalle reads her essay "Emergency Contact [https://conversationalist.org/2025/08/01/immigrant-friendships-migrant-friends-relationships-home-emergency-contacts-shared-language-culture-latin-america-immigration-personal-essay/]", exploring why friendships between immigrants often develop differently than friendships at home. You can read Ana María's original story on the site here: https://conversationalist.org/2025/08/01/immigrant-friendships-migrant-friends-relationships-home-emergency-contacts-shared-language-culture-latin-america-immigration-personal-essay/ Brought to you by The Anti-Nihilist Foundation, a 501(c)3 and publisher of The Conversationalist [http://conversationalist.org].  Host and Founder: Anna Lind-Guzik Executive Editor: Gina Mei Executive Director: Erin Zimmer Strenio Audio Engineer: Dan Thorn Cover Art: María Medem [https://www.instagram.com/mariamedem/?hl=en] Produced by: Cosmic Standard [http://www.cosmicstandard.fm] Producers: Aja Simpson and Jessica Glazer  Technical Director: Jacob Winik  Creative Lead: Eliza Smith conversationalist.org [http://conversationalist.org]