Nick Flynn Writer Nick Flynn discusses the heartbreaking inspiration behind his first memoir, which was recently adapted into the film, Being Flynn. [2:56]
Zooey Deschanel Actress and musician Zooey Deschanel reads a monologue from Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. This was recorded for the An Introduction to Shakespeare CD, part of the NEA's Shakespeare in American Communities program. [1:58]
Bayard Rustin Here's a rare recording of the great civil rights leader Bayard Rustin singing an old spiritual in a live concert. Used courtesy of the Bayard Rustin Foundation.
Christopher Paul Curtis Christopher Paul Curtis explains his journey from factory worker to the award-winning author of The Watson's Go to Birmingham and Bud Not Buddy.
Andy Shallal, who the Washington Post called the city's "most successful entrepreneur-artist-activist," is the owner of Busboys and Poets , a unique combination of bookstore, restaurant, gallery, and gathering space. Here he talks about how art and entrepreneurship are a natural fit.
Historian Geoffrey Ward has co-written both the scripts and companion books for a number of Ken Burns' projects, including The War; An Intimate History, 1941-1945. Here he explains how they went about choosing photographs for the both the documentary and the book. [2:45]
Louise Erdrich —whose novel Love Medicine is a Big Read selection–discusses how her Native American background in the Dakota plains inspired her writing. [2:57]
Kay Ryan One of the 2011 MacArthur "Geniuses" and former National Poet Laureate Kay Ryan discusses her ambivalence about becoming a poet.v Hear complete podcast with Kay Ryan.
Del McCoury At the Greyfox Bluegrass Music Festival, 2010 National Heritage Fellow talks to the NEA's Jo Reed about his cross-over into the world of rock and roll. Hear our complete podcast with Del McCoury.
Randy Weston on Melba Liston Jazz Master Randy Weston discusses his long-time arranger, composer, trombonist, and an NEA master herself, Melba Liston. Hear our complete podcast with Randy Weston.
2009 Poetry Out Loud Texas State Champion In this poem by Paul Laurence Dunbar, Stanley Jackson shows us why he was named the 2009 State Poetry Out Loud Champion from Texas.
Edward Albee talks about Wilder's influence on his career Not every talented writer is born to be a poet, as a very young Edward Albee once learned from playwright and novelist Thornton Wilder.
Yu Ming Is Ainm Dom (My Name is Yu Ming) Yu Ming moves from his native China to Dublin, Ireland. He's worked hard at mastering the Irish language only to find Dubliners can't understand a word he says. [3:02]
Hamill is a coming-of-age drama about the first deaf National Collegiate Wrestling Champion. We recently spoke with Hamill Director Oren Kaplan and Co-Producer Catherine MacKinnon. [1:54]
