Bay Area Book Festival Podcast

Bestselling author David Talbot has written an illness memoir with a twist. His lauded Between Heaven and Hell: The Story of My Stroke intimately chronicles the life-changing year following his massive stroke. From the remarkable care he received in Davies Hospital to daily life in recovery, this Type-A journalist was forced to slow down radically, depend on the kindness of others, and learn the value of what truly matters. David will share his experience and new plans with Sir Michael Moritz.

Brooke Warner and Grant Faulkner interview Courtney Maum about her indispensable new book, Before and After the Book Deal, for the Write-minded podcast. This conversation delves into everything aspiring authors want and need to know but might be afraid to ask, and doesn’t shy away from scary and taboo topics like rejection, money, and how much you really need to be on social media if you want to be successful. It’s sure to empower any writer to tackle the important journey to publication.

At a time when we all rely on technology more than ever to work, connect, and even relax, filmmaker and author Tiffany Shlain instituted a “Tech Shabbat” for her family, and it changed their lives. In 24/6, Shlain shares the story of how her family tuned out in order to tune in, and offers lessons for how you can follow their example, delving into fascinating philosophical and psychological justifications for the benefits of logging off. Shlain will be joined by KQED reporter Chloe Veltman.

In this enlightening and truly comforting discussion, four remarkable experts show how to take a clear-eyed, compassionate approach to mortality. These authors shed light on how medical providers and patients alike can reshape the mentality of fear around the process of dying and create an experience that can be transformative and extremely meaningful. This conversation features journalist Shoshana Berger, palliative care physician BJ Miller, and bestselling writer Katy Butler. Moderated by Dr. Sunita Puri.

Carol Anderson is one of our nation’s leading voices on racial justice. In One Person, No Vote, she zeros in on the fallout from the 2013 Supreme Court ruling that gutted the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Anderson will be in conversation with Congresswoman Barbara Lee, one of the most well-regarded and outspoken members of the U.S. House of Representatives. Generously supported by the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria, Stephen M. Silberstein Foundation, Guy & Jeanine Saperstein, & Mal Warwick Donordigital.

Best-selling novelist R.O. Kwon’s New York Times essay about grief in times of uncertainty was the inspiration for this conversation. In an emotionally profound exchange, she is joined by Pulitzer Prize winners Anthony Doerr, whose novel All the Light We Cannot See illuminates the ways people try to be good to one another; and Viet Thanh Nguyen, whose The Sympathizer captures the ambivalence and humanity of “a man of two minds.” Moderated by Danielle Evans.  

The past few years have been infused with political engagement from a diverse electorate. For every victory, however, there’s an equally coordinated attempt to disenfranchise these citizens. Bestselling authors Steve Phillips and David Daley will teach us how to unrig the rules to ensure everyone’s vote is counted. Moderated by Rebecca Nagle (Cherokee). Generously supported by the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria, Stephen M. Silberstein Foundation, Guy & Jeanine Saperstein, & Mal Warwick Donordigital.

Listen to these two leading ladies of suspense as they crack the case of how to write spine-tingling, sophisticated thrillers. Meg Gardiner specializes in heroines with big brains, from FBI agents to forensic psychiatrists to firecracker. And Rachel Howzell Hall, author of the Detective Elouise Norton series, has created an unforgettable protagonist. Moderated by Edgar Award winner Laurie King.

How much can we rely on our courts as the last line of defense in our right to vote? Experts lead us through the role of the courts in ensuring access to absentee ballots and early voting, and show us how citizens can shape the judiciary. Featuring Richard Hasen, Alan Hirsch, and ACLU of Northern California director Abdi Soltani. Moderated by Lala Wu. Generously supported by the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria, Stephen M. Silberstein Foundation, Guy & Jeanine Saperstein, & Mal Warwick Donordigital.

Eimear McBride’s career is an underdog’s dream: she spent six months writing her debut novel, A Girl is a Half-Formed Thing, and nine years trying to sell it, only to take the literary scene by storm when it was finally published in 2013 to an avalanche of acclaim, awards, and rapturous comparisons to James Joyce and Samuel Beckett. Now, McBride joins Brooke Warner in celebration of her eagerly awaited new novel, Strange Hotel, which further cements her singular place in the contemporary canon.