SongWriter

Bestselling Cameroonian-American author Imbolo Mbue shares an excerpt she chose from How Beautiful We Were, about a village’s collective fight against a fictional oil company. Scientist Dorsa Amir describes her research with the Shuar natives of Ecuador, and how cooperation against a common threat and polarization both contain risks and benefits. Activist and songwriter Crys Matthews describes how collective action is at the center of her work, and shares her brand-new song “Restitution.”SongWriterPodcast.comTwitter.com/SnogWriterFacebook.com/SongWriterPodcastInstagram.com/SongWriterPodcastTikTok.com/@SongWriterPodcastSeason six is made possible by a grant from Templeton World Charity Foundation

At a live performance at Queens College, legendary author Joyce Carol Oates reads a piece about her beloved late husband Charlie Gross, called “Hospice / Honeymoon.” Psychologist and author Dr. Allison Applebaum talks about caregiving, and shares insights from her recent book, Stand By Me. And global superstar Ali Sethi shares a brand-new song written in response.SongWriterPodcast.comTwitter.com/SnogWriterFacebook.com/SongWriterPodcastInstagram.com/SongWriterPodcastTikTok.com/@SongWriterPodcastSeason six is made possible by a grant from Templeton World Charity Foundation

At a live performance at KQED in San Francisco, bestselling author and New Yorker staff writer Susan Orlean tells a story about homing pigeons, and the heartbreaking implications of their extraordinary intelligence. Researcher Dr. Laura Simone Lewis shares her work with bonobos and chimpanzees, and the ways that their intelligence guides their understanding of home. And Mexican American activist and songwriter Diana Gameros performs a new song written in response.SongWriterPodcast.comTwitter.com/SnogWriterFacebook.com/SongWriterPodcastInstagram.com/SongWriterPodcastTikTok.com/@SongWriterPodcastFor the live performance, Ben wrote a song in response to Susan's story, "I Can Only (Come Home)," which is streaming on Apple Music, Spotify, etc.Season six is made possible by a grant from Templeton World Charity Foundation

Season 6 is here, with the return of friends like Joyce Carol Oates and Susan Orlean, and new ones like W. Kamau Bell, Imbolo Mbue, Crys Matthews, and Ali Sethi! Episode 1 is out July 2nd

Bonus episode! News of the mildly delayed season six, as well as some upcoming live shows, including:5/11 Joyce Carol Oates + Ali Sethi with special guests Tony Trischka and Dr. Allison Applebaum at LeFrak Concert Hall in Queens, NY6/13 Susan Orlean + Diana Gameros with special guest Laura Simone Lewis at KQED in San Francisco7/10 W. Kamau Bell + Las Cafeteras with special guest Shira Gabriel at KQED in San FranciscoAlso a peek at what the good folks who have premium subscriptions on Apple Podcasts have been enjoying - an excerpt of an interview with Jakob Ewald of Slaughter Beach, Dog conducted by Ruby Arthur.

Bestselling author David Sedaris reads an excerpt from Theft By Finding, a collection of his diaries from when he was a young artist. Jacob Ewald of the pop indie band Slaughter Beach, Dog (and formerly Modern Baseball) recounts how reading the book backstage at a college show had the effect of giving him permission to call himself a songwriter, and to take his art seriously. He shares a brand new song written from the perspective of a frustrated painter, “Get Me Through the Night”Audio from Theft by Finding is provided courtesy of Hachette Audio.https://SongWriterPodcast.comTwitter.com/SnogWriterFacebook.com/SongWriterPodcastInstagram.com/SongWriterPodcastTikTok.com/@SongWriterPodcast

Bestselling author Raven Leilani reads an excerpt of her short story “Breathing Exercise,” and talks about art, racism, and carnality in her work. Raven shares how her brother – who died of ALS – introduced her to art, as well as her favorite bands. Jennifer Charles of Elysian Fields explains that she has been a Raven Leilani fan since her debut novel, Luster, and shares the band’s newest song, “The Contortionist”Listeners are invited to share their art made in response to episodes – however directly or indirectly – at the SongWriter Community Art pageContent warning: There are brief mentions of violence and suicide in this episodehttps://SongWriterPodcast.comTwitter.com/SnogWriterFacebook.com/SongWriterPodcastInstagram.com/SongWriterPodcastTikTok.com/@SongWriterPodcast

This is part one of a two-part episode featuring "Sea Oak" by George Saunders. Part one contains a song written by Ben Arthur, Vienna Teng, and George Saunders; Part two contains a new song written by Craig Finn.Bestselling author and MacArthur genius George Saunders reads a comic-but-serious zombie story called “Sea Oak” – which was made into an Amazon TV show starring Glenn Close – and shares wisdom on writing dark things. Craig Finn of The Hold Steady talks about heartbreak, advice from Bruce Springsteen, and shares his song “Swan’s Glen.”You can hear the song by Ben, Vienna, and George, "Love Don't (Fall Apart)" on Apple Music, Spotify, etc.https://SongWriterPodcast.comTwitter.com/SnogWriterFacebook.com/SongWriterPodcastInstagram.com/SongWriterPodcastTikTok.com/@SongWriterPodcast

This is part one of a two-part episode featuring "Sea Oak" by George Saunders. Part one contains a song written by Ben Arthur, Vienna Teng, and George Saunders; Part two contains the song written by Craig Finn.Bestselling author and MacArthur genius George Saunders reads a comic-but-serious zombie story called “Sea Oak” – which was made into an Amazon TV show starring Glenn Close – and shares wisdom on writing dark things. Craig Finn of The Hold Steady talks about heartbreak, advice from Bruce Springsteen, and shares his song “Swan’s Glen.”You can hear the song by Ben, Vienna, and George, "Love Don't (Fall Apart)" on Apple Music, Spotify, etc.https://SongWriterPodcast.comTwitter.com/SnogWriterFacebook.com/SongWriterPodcastInstagram.com/SongWriterPodcastTikTok.com/@SongWriterPodcast

Bestselling author, screenwriter, and founder of McSweeney’s, Dave Eggers reads an excerpt from his short story, “The Museum of Rain,” and talks about the way music informs his creative process. Dave says the song Vienna wrote for the episode, “hit him like a truck,” and expresses his delight that Vienna decided to make the song a fundraiser for the non-profit 826 Valencia.Songwriter Vienna Teng makes a second appearance on SongWriter, describing how this song, and the one she wrote for an episode with Kurt Andersen, make up two-thirds of her written output over the last decade! Vienna talks about reading Dave’s story out loud to her young family during the pandemic, and explores self-doubt and creativity before sharing her song, “The Riversitter (The Museum of Rain).” The song is for sale exclusively on Bandcamp, and all proceeds benefit 826 Valenciahttps://SongWriterPodcast.comTwitter.com/SnogWriterFacebook.com/SongWriterPodcastInstagram.com/SongWriterPodcastTikTok.com/@SongWriterPodcast