Episode 2-12

An examination of culturally conscious lyrics with Steven Wilson—singer, songwriter, and guitarist for the British rock band Porcupine Tree—and hip-hop artist A.D. Carson.

Episode 2-11

Episode Highlights

A conversation with Brock Clarke, about his novel, An Arsonist's Guide to Writers' Homes in New England (Includes updates from the original broadcast in September 2008)

Episode 2-10

Episode Highlights

Poetry and Wellness — a conversation with Torsten Caeners and poetry from Wendy Vardaman, Bill Garvey, Truth Thomas, Peter Funk, and Lewis Dimmick (Original broadcast May 7, 2008)

Episode 2-9

Episode Highlights

A conversation with Pulitzer Prize-winning author Robert Olen Butler about flash fiction; also features short prose from Roy William Scranton, winner of the 2009 Teresa A. White Literary Award

Episode 2-8

Episode Highlights

Episode 2-7

Episode Highlights

Episode 2-6

Episode Highlights

Quiddity’s Poetry of War episode turns its attention to the soldier-poets of war and what their words reveal about the essence of honor and memory as well as shame and slaughter. The episode features James A. Winn, author of The Poetry of War (Cambridge University Press). Winn’s book is grounded in the belief that “poetry tells the deepest truths about war.” The episode also features original poetry ("The War Speaks") from National Poetry Series Winner Tyehimba Jess and original fiction ("Vietnam Visits Uncle Bill") from Asha Vose; each piece is performed by the artist.

Episode 2-5

A conversation with Nigerian poet, proverb scholar, and novelist J.O.J. Nwachukwu-Agbada (Prayer Beads of the Silent Supplicant) and new fiction from Lewis Schrager (“The Songbird of Sidi Bou Said”)

Episode 2-4

Sex and the Desiderous Soul - For centuries, poets have written about the yearnings of the human heart and body. In his newest book, Heaven's Song: Sexual Love As It Was Meant To Be, theologian Christopher West discusses this longing through an examination of the Song of Songs. West discusses the erotic Biblical work in relation to the Theology of the Body and how society's Puritan tendencies have led to sexual dissatisfaction and disaffection. The program also features an original musical score by contributing artist Mike Mangione.

Episode 2-3

Earth and Body—What we know and don't know about the intersection of environmental and human health, featuring conversations with Elizabeth Kolbert, author of Field Notes from a Catastrophe, and Barbara Italia Mendez, as well as commentary on works by Alan Weisman (The World Without Us) and Susan Casey ("Our Oceans Are Turning into Plastic...Are We?")

Episode 2-2

Quiddity's Lincoln Legacy Bicentennial Celebration programming~

Abraham Lincoln through Fiction—a conversation with professor and novelist Adam Braver, whose work includes Mr. Lincoln's Wars; also, poetry from David Wright and Jim Tolan

Episode 2-1

Quiddity's Lincoln Legacy Bicentennial Celebration programming~

Abraham Lincoln as Poet and through Poetry—a conversation with professor and poet Dan Guillory, whose works include Living with Lincoln and The Lincoln Poems