The PEN Pod

Tough Questions About 2021; Plus, That's a Wrap

24 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

On this very final episode of The PEN Pod, PEN America CEO Suzanne Nossel talks about free speech in 2021, from the Capitol Hill insurrection to calls...

Artistic Freedom in Myanmar; Plus, Tough Questions on Disinformation, Trump Texts, and Free Speech Battles Ahead

17 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

On this edition of The PEN Pod, we speak to two experts on the situation for free expression in Myanmar nearly one year since the coup. Then, Suzanne ...

The Perils of Self-Censorship; Plus, Tough Questions on Fighting Book Bans and What Democracy Really Means

10 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

On this week's episode of The PEN Pod, we bring you a conversation about self-censorship among PEN America's own Ayad Akhtar, Suzanne Nossel, and Jenn...

Tough Questions: Peng Shuai, 'Simpsons' and Censorship, and Critical Race Theory Taboos

03 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

On this edition of The PEN Pod, PEN America CEO Suzanne Nossel answers tough questions about a silenced Chinese tennis star; how Disney self-censored ...

The Perishing with Natashia Deón; Plus, Tough Questions on Biden and China, Myanmar, and a Free Speech University

19 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of The PEN Pod, author, attorney, and activist Natashia Deón on her new book THE PERISHING, as well as themes of redemption and immor...

Book Banning and Educational Gag Orders; Plus, Anthony Doerr and Cloud Cuckoo Land

12 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

On today's episode of The PEN Pod, award-winning author Anthony Doerr talks to PEN America's Jane Marchant about his latest work CLOUD CUCKOO LAND. Ge...

Wild Tongues Can't Be Tamed with Saraciea J. Fennell; Plus, Tough Questions on Facial Recognition, NSO Group, and Local News

05 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

On this edition of The PEN Pod, PEN America's Jared Jackson interviews The Bronx Is Reading founder Saraciea J. Fennell on her debut anthology Wild To...

Dreaming of You with Melissa Lozada-Oliva

29 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

On this week's episode of The PEN Pod, our own Jared Jackson speaks to poet and podcaster Melissa Lozada-Oliva about her work in verse, Dreaming of Yo...

When High School Students Defeat a Book Ban

22 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

On this special edition of The PEN Pod, we hear the voices of three students and a teacher who helped overturn a pernicious book ban in their home tow...

Subway Book Review with Uli Beutter Cohen; Plus, Tough Questions on Dave Chapelle, Protecting Journalists, and Facebook Revelations

15 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of The PEN Pod Jared Jackson, PEN America’s manager of literary programs, speaks with Uli Beutter Cohen, creator of Subway Book Revi...

The Legacy of Hurricane Maria; Plus, Tough Questions on Campus Speakers, Facebook Whistleblowers, and the Freedom to Write

08 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

On this edition of The PEN Pod, we explore the legacy of Hurricane Maria, which is subject of a new book called Mi María: Surviving the Storm. We tal...

Dan O'Brien on Writing, Trauma, and Optimism; Plus, Tough Questions with Suzanne Nossel

24 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

On this week's episode of The PEN Pod, playwright and poet Dan O'Brien is out with a new essay collection and a new collection of poetry, that togethe...

A BBC Reporter Expelled from Russia: Then, Tough Questions on Book Bans, a Texas Abortion Law, and Supporting Exiles Worldwide

17 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

On this week's episode of The PEN Pod, BBC journalist Sarah Rainsford joins to discuss her abrupt expulsion from Russia, what it means for free expres...

The Promise of a Robust Public Defense; Plus, Dallas' Literary Community

10 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This week on The PEN Pod, we catch up with attorney and author Jonathan Rapping, author of GIDEON'S PROMISE and leader of an organization charged with...

Renewing New Orleans Through Literature with Maurice Carlos Ruffin; Plus, the War on Terror with Spencer Ackerman

03 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

On this week's extended edition of The PEN Pod, we get the latest on Hurricane Ida and its impact on the New Orleans literary community from author Ma...

Leaving Behind a Deadly Digital Trail in Afghanistan

27 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

On this edition of The PEN Pod, we have an in-depth interview with PEN America's own Matt Bailey, who walks us through the perils facing Afghans who'v...

Navigating the Debacle in Afghanistan: George Packer and Ayad Akhtar, Plus the Future for Afghan Women

20 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

On this special edition of The PEN Pod, we focus on the fall of the US-backed government in Afghanistan. First, we have a conversation between PEN Ame...

Attacking Racism Through National Solidarity; Plus, Tough Questions on Belarus, Misinformation, and a Texas Book Ban

13 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Former Navy commander and scholar Theodore Johnson's new book When the Stars Begin to Fall lays out the case for how a new form of national solidarity...

Queering an Epic Tale; Plus, Tough Questions on the Olympics, Facebook Shutting Down Research, and Protest Laws

06 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

On this week's episode, we bring you a second conversation with one of the contributors to DREAMing Out Loud, our annual anthology of writings from mi...

DREAMing Out Loud; Plus, Tough Questions on the Insurrection Hearings, COVID Vaccines, and Russia's Vendetta Against the Press

30 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This week's PEN Pod focuses on DREAMing Out Loud, the anthology of written works from young migrant writers here in New York City. We talk to one of t...

Belarus Opposition Leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya; the Pegasus Spyware Scandal; Tough Question on the Olympics and Vaccine Disinformation

23 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of The PEN Pod, we're joined by Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya just as authorities in that country have given n...

Bring Danny Home; Plus, Iran Attempts to Arrest an American Writer

16 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

On this edition of The PEN Pod, we talk to writer and cartoonist Amy Kurzweil, who is leading a campaign to free her cousin Danny Fenster, a journalis...

Fighting Back Against Hate with Brad Hoylman; Plus Tough Questions about Censorship, Academic Freedom, and Hate Speech

02 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

On this week's edition of The PEN Pod, New York state Senator Brad Hoylman joins us to discuss his bill that would help track hate crimes in New York....

Queer Poem a Day; Plus, Tough Questions on Belarus, a Cussing Cheerleader, and Hong Kong

25 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of The PEN Pod, we talk to podcast hosts Lisa Hiton and Dylan Zavagno who produce Queer Poem a Day, a podcast series of contemporary L...

The M Word: Centering Muslim American Voices

22 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

On this special edition of The PEN Pod, we introduce a weeklong town hall series called The M Word, centering American Muslim voices through live, in-...

Tough Questions on Iran, Digital Sovereignty, and Divisive Topics; Plus, Crimea Seven Years After the Occupation

18 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Today on The PEN Pod, we discuss the state of free expression in Iran, digital sovereignty and the splintering of a free internet, and the teaching of...

Zakiya Dalila Harris and The Other Black Girl; Plus, Tough Questions on COVID, Reporters' Emails, and Critical Race Theory

11 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

On this week's edition, we're back with breakout debut novelist Zakiya Dalila Harris discussing her novel THE OTHER BLACK GIRL with PEN America's Jare...

The Russian Key; Plus, Tough Questions on Belarus, Content Takedowns, and Media Personnel Decisions

28 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

On this edition of The PEN Pod, we discuss with human rights leader Jeri Laber her new work of fiction, The Russian Key, a Cold War tale of intrigue w...

Festival Day Five: Brian Broome and Unapologetic Memoir

22 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

On this final day of the 2021 PEN World Voices Festival of International Literature, our Jared Jackson sits down with Brian Broome to discuss his debu...

Festival Day Four: Kawai Strong Washburn and Magical Storytelling

21 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

As we enter the penultimate day of the PEN World Voices Festival, we hear from PEN/Hemingway Award winner Kawai Strong Washburn about myth-making, mag...

Festival Day Three: Torrey Peters and Liberation Literature

20 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

On today's special edition of The PEN Pod, we bring you a conversation with author of Detransition, Baby Torrey Peters—featured in this week's PEN W...

Festival Day Two: Allison Markin Powell and Gabriella Page-Fort, and Bringing Translated Literature to Vast Audiences

19 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

On this special edition of The PEN Pod, our Nancy Vitale talks to Allison Markin Powell and Gabriella Page-Fort about bringing translated literature t...

Festival Day One: Masha Gessen, Ayad Akhtar, and the PEN World Voices Festival

18 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

As we dive into the first day of the 2021 PEN World Voices Festival, we talk to virtual co-hosts Ayad Akhtar and Masha Gessen, who share their thought...

Special: Previewing the PEN World Voices Festival with Clarisse Rosaz Shariyf

17 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

On this special edition of The PEN Pod, we look ahead to this week's PEN World Voices Festival of International literature, a global convening of writ...

Love Letters Across Los Angeles; Plus, Tough Questions on Protest Rights, Iran, and Local News

14 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

On this week's edition of The PEN Pod, Leila Hamidi, Jerry Quickly, and Yesika Salgado discuss "Love Letters in Light," a scrolling display of short l...

Tough Questions on Facebook and Free Speech; Plus, an English Professor Fired for Speaking Out

07 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

What does the Oversight Board's decision say about free speech on Facebook? How is adherence to disinformation becoming a litmus test in the Republica...

Tough Questions on the Tough Calls in Publishing; Plus, Teens for Press Freedom

30 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

PEN America's CEO Suzanne Nossel talks about the pressures facing publishing, especially when it comes to a Philip Roth biography and a Mike Pence boo...

The Freedom to Write; Plus, Tough Questions on Imprisoned Writers, Mike Pence, and the George Floyd Verdict

23 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

On this week's episode, we explore the latest Freedom to Write Index from PEN America, outlining the number of writers imprisoned around the world; we...

Futureproof with Kevin Roose; Plus, Tough Questions on AI, Turkey, and Protest Rights

16 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

On this edition of The PEN Pod, we talk to New York Times journalist Kevin Roose about his new book FUTUREPROOF. Then, PEN America CEO Suzanne Nossel ...

Libertie with Kaitlyn Greenidge; Then, Tough Questions on Beijing, Corporate Free Speech, and Acts of Courage

09 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

On this edition of The PEN Pod, our Jared Jackson talks to Kaitlyn Greenidge about her second novel, LIBERTIE. Then, PEN America CEO Suzanne Nossel on...

No Excuse for Online Abuse; Then, Tough Questions on Myanmar, Anti-Trans Legislation, and Fighting Hatred Online

02 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This week on The PEN Pod, a special edition focusing on the scourge of online abuse. PEN America is out with a new report on the impacts of online hat...

Your Voice Is Your Superpower; Then, Tough Questions on Social Media, Police and Protests, and Saudi Accountability

26 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

On this week's edition, we get to the bottom of Thursday's big tech CEO hearing on Capitol Hill, discuss the police's mishandling of last summer's dem...

A Texas Professor Puts It All on the Line; Plus, Tough Questions on Saudi Arabia, Protest Rights, and Vaccine Hesitancy

19 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

For this week's episode, PEN America CEO Suzanne Nossel recounts the human rights situation in Saudi Arabia, the global crackdown on protest, and vacc...

How Beautiful We Were with Imbolo Mbue; Plus, Tough Questions on Big Tech, Antitrust, and the Supreme Court

12 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

On this edition of The PEN Pod, our Jared Jackson interviews author Imbolo Mbue, who's new novel HOW BEAUTIFUL WE WERE reckons with big corporations a...

Facebook Lifts Its Political Ad Ban, Dr. Seuss, and Bloodshed in Myanmar; Plus, Author Sanderia Faye on Literary Activism

05 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

On this edition for March 5, PEN America CEO Suzanne Nossel fields tough questions on Facebook lifting its political ad ban, an inflated controversy a...

Economy Hall and Black History with Fatima Shaik; Plus, Tough Questions on the Big Lie, Cancel Culture, and Alexei Navalny

26 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

On this week's edition of The PEN Pod, we talk to author Fatima Shaik about her latest book Economy Hall, which tells the intricate tale of a free Bla...

PEN America Settles Its Landmark Trump Lawsuit; Facebook and Cancel Culture; Plus Abraham Riseman's Take on the Life of Stan Lee

19 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

On this celebratory edition of The PEN Pod, PEN America CEO Suzanne Nossel walks us through the organization's legal victory in its settlement with th...

PEN America Literary Award Finalists; Plus, Tough Questions about a New York Times Reporter, the Impeachment, and a Saudi Activist Released

12 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

On this edition of The PEN Pod, PEN America's Jane Marchant joins award-winning author Sandra Cisneros to talk about the release of our Literary Award...

Aftershocks with Nadia Owusu; and Tough Questions on Russia, Myanmar, and Impeachment

05 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Memoirist Nadia Owusu joins The PEN Pod this week to talk her new memoir AFTERSHOCKS, about her life on the fault lines after a global childhood and h...

Two Debut Queer Brazilian YA Novelists; Plus, Suzanne Nossel on Muzzling, Facebook, and a Free Press

29 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

On this week's edition of The PEN Pod, we hear from a pair of debut Brazilian YA authors Lucas Rocha, author of WHERE WE GO FROM HERE and Vitor Martin...

Defending Free Expression in the Biden Era; Plus, Koa Beck on White Feminism

22 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

On this week's PEN Pod, Suzanne Nossel explores how free expression defense will change under a Biden administration and where writers and readers wil...

George Saunders on the Craft of Short Fiction; Plus, Suzanne Nossel on the Impeachment and Incitement

15 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of The PEN Pod, bestselling author George Saunders on his new book A Swim in a Pond in the Rain, the art of short fiction, and what we...

Tough Questions about Wednesday's Insurrection on Capitol Hill with Suzanne Nossel

08 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

On this edition of The PEN Pod, we unpack Wednesday's horrific attack on the Capitol by Trump-led supporters with PEN America CEO Suzanne Nossel. In o...

Tough Questions About Truth, TikTok, and Tehran with Suzanne Nossel

18 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

On this last installment of Tough Questions for 2020, Suzanne Nossel reflects on how disinformation about the election may hobble the efforts of the n...

Sandy Mui and COVID-19's Toll on Journalism

15 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

On this edition of The PEN Pod, we explore the impact COVID-19 has had on journalists and journalism, particularly when it comes to local news. In a n...

Barack Obama and the Freedom to Write; Plus, Tough Questions with Suzanne Nossel

11 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

We kick off this gala week episode with our weekly TOUGH QUESTIONS segment, where PEN America CEO Suzanne Nossel unpacks the tricky free speech questi...

Black Futures with Jenna Wortham and Kimberly Drew; Plus, Tough Questions with Suzanne Nossel

04 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

On this Friday edition of The PEN Pod, we discuss the vanguard of Black art and creativity with Jenna Wortham and Kimberly Drew, out this month with t...

Micheline Aharonian Marcom and The New American; Plus, Tough Questions with Suzanne Nossel

20 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Micheline Aharonian Marcom discusses her latest novel, The New American, telling the story of a young immigrant forced to leave the home he knows. The...

Nova Ren Suma, Emily X.R. Pan, and Foreshadow

17 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Young adult bestselling writers Nova Ren Suma and Emily X.R. Pan join this edition of The PEN Pod to discuss their new YA anthology Foreshadow, as wel...

Tough Questions About a Petulant President; Plus, Ruby Hamad and White Tears/Brown Scars

13 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

As the president continues his campaign of disinformation, our CEO Suzanne Nossel discusses how he's damaging our information infrastructure, but also...

Julia Rose Kraut and Threat of Dissent

10 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The United States has long heralded itself as a place where dissenters are welcome.  But the country has a long history of ideological exclusion ...

Tough Questions About Election Week; Plus, Rhonda Mitchell and Writing the Now

06 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

It's been a heckuva an election week. We turn to free speech expert and PEN America CEO Suzanne Nossel to discuss the tough questions this campaign ha...

Special: Election Day with PEN America featuring Nora Benavidez, Natalie Diaz, and Alice Randall

03 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

On this special edition for Election Day 2020, we have a conversation with PEN America expert Nora Benavidez on what to expect in the coming hours and...

Tough Questions on What to Expect in the Coming Days; Plus, Kevin Young on Poetry, Museums, and Our Shared History

30 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

On this Friday edition of The PEN Pod, PEN America CEO Suzanne Nossel discusses what to expect as we head into the final stretch of the campaign seaso...

We Will Emerge: Laila Lalami

29 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In this special edition of The PEN Pod, we share one in a series of essays from writers across the country sharing their hopes and anxieties in advanc...

We Will Emerge: Jean Guerrero

28 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In this special edition of The PEN Pod, we share one in a series of essays from writers across the country sharing their hopes and anxieties in advanc...

Tami Charles and All Because You Matter

27 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

On this edition of The PEN Pod, our Gina Chung speaks with bestselling children's and young adult writer Tami Charles about her new book, All Because ...

Tough Questions on the Election, Disinformation, and Social Media; Plus, Yun Ko-eun and The Disaster Tourist

23 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

On this edition for Friday, October 23, we talk tough questions with PEN America CEO Suzanne Nossel, focusing on the  days of disinformation ahea...

David Heska Wanbli Weiden and Winter Counts; Plus, Matt Bailey on Facebook, Twitter, and the New York Post

20 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

On this Tuesday edition of The PEN Pod, we bring you an interview with debut novelist David Heska Wanbli Weiden, whose new book Winter Counts is a thr...

Michi Trota and Storytelling; Plus, Suzanne Nossel on Facebook, the New York Post, and China's Higher Ed Influence

16 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode, PEN America's Gina Chung talks storytelling, representation, and elevating new voices with writer and editor Michi Trota. Then, CEO S...

Behind the Decision Desk: A Conversation with AP, CNN, and Fox News

15 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

On this special edition, we bring you a conversation among the top decision desk editors from AP, CNN, and Fox News. Ray Suarez moderates our #WhatToE...

Lisa Jewell and Invisible Girl

13 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Author Lisa Jewell joins The PEN Pod today to discuss her latest thriller Invisible Girl, out in the U.S. today. The novel explores the disappearance ...

Fredrik Backman and Anxious People; Plus, Suzanne Nossel on Trump's Diagnosis, the Debates, and Campus Speech

09 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode, our Gina Chung talks to award-winning bestseller Fredrik Backman about his latest book Anxious People and how he blends mystery and c...

Bill Konigsberg and The Bridge

06 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

On this edition of The PEN Pod, our Gina Chung in conversation with young adult author Bill Konigsberg. He reflects on his latest novel, what it means...

Eddie Cole and The Campus Color Line; Plus, Tough Questions About the Debate and #WhatToExpect2020

02 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

On this Friday episode, our Jonathan Friedman interviews scholar Eddie Cole about his new book exploring the role college presidents have played in sh...

K-Ming Chang and Bestiary

29 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Writer and recently named "Five Under 35" author K-Ming Chang talks about her debut novel BESTIARY with PEN America's Gina Chung. They dive into the b...

Belarus Breakdown with Hanna Komar; Plus, Tough Questions About Trump, Journalists, and the Oscars

25 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

On this edition of The PEN Pod, we get a sense of the situation on the ground in Minsk with our PEN Belarus colleague Hanna Komar, arrested earlier th...

Tina Vasquez and Movement Journalism

22 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Today's episode of The PEN Pod explores movement journalism, which seeks to center the people, places, and ideas often left out of mainstream coverage...

Emily Ramshaw and THE 19TH; Plus Tough Questions About Disinformation, Campus Speech, and John Bolton

18 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

On this Friday edition of The PEN Pod, we talk to Emily Ramshaw at the new reporting outlet The 19th, reporting on gender and policy at a time when th...

Homeland Elegies and Ayad Akhtar; Plus Resistance in Belarus

15 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

It's publication day for Pulitzer winner and incoming PEN America president Ayad Akhtar. He talks about his new book, Homeland Elegies, which launches...

Jean Guerrero and Hatemonger; Plus Suzanne Nossel Fields Tough Questions

11 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Jean Guerrero is author of the new book Hatemonger: Stephen Miller, Donald Trump, and the White Nationalist Agenda. She joins us to talk about how Mil...

Maaza Mengiste and The Shadow King

08 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

We're back for an all-new season and an interview with Maaza Mengiste, whose book The Shadow King is now out in paperback — and has been l...

Encore: This Moment Will Change Literally Everything with Franklin Leonard

04 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

On this encore episode, we talk to film executive and PEN America board member Franklin Leonard on the coronavirus crisis' impact on screenwriters and...

BONUS: Faith and Science, A Conversation with Yaa Gyasi

01 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Author Yaa Gyasi's new book TRANSCENDENT KINGDOM publishes today, and tonight she joins PEN America for PEN OUT LOUD, our hallmark conversation series...

Encore: Mental Health and the Outbreak With Andrew Solomon

28 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

As the national debate over balancing the risks of social isolation heats up, author and clinical psychologist Andrew Solomon discusses the consequenc...

Encore: The Magic of Writing with Bernardine Evaristo

25 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

On this edition, we talk to British author Bernardine Evaristo about her latest novel and how she was able to assemble its incredible assortment of ch...

Encore: The Spiritual Urgency of Poetry with Carolyn Forché

21 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

On today's episode, poet and activist Carolyn Forché shares insights on the power of poetry, the concepts of migration and movement during a lockdown...

Encore: Cities and Our Future with N.K. Jemisin

18 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode, we talk to Hugo Award winning author N.K. Jemisin about reckoning with real themes in a fantasy world.

Encore: Jennifer Egan on Recovering From Coronavirus, Shaping Opportunity From Cataclysm

14 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode, PEN America president Jennifer Egan discusses her own bout with a suspected case of coronavirus and how we can pull together as a lit...

Encore: Unorthodox with Deborah Feldman

11 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

We speak to author of UNORTHODOX Deborah Feldman, whose hit memoir about leaving an ultra-religious Jewish community in Brooklyn is now the basis of a...

Episode 101: Tough Question, Young Adult Literature, A Brief Hiatus

07 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, we speak to PEN America CEO Suzanne Nossel about Trump, social media, and news deserts for our weekly TOUGH QUESTIONS segment. Then, ...

Episode 100: Present in Courage with Nikky Finney

06 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

On this 100th episode of The PEN Pod, we talk to poet Nikky Finney, an award-winning writer and teacher. She reflects on how literary celebrations hav...

Episode 99: Censorship in Hollywood with James Tager

05 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

On this edition of The PEN Pod, we discuss how Chinese government censorship has reached into Hollywood and the U.S. filmmaking industry. PEN America ...

Episode 98: Building World in Memoir with David Adjmi

04 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

On this edition of The PEN Pod, we talk to playwright David Adjmi whose first foray into nonfiction is out now, a memoir called LOT SIX. The book cont...

Episode 97: A Time To Be More Fearless with Sholeh Wolpe and Nathalie Handal

03 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Two poets and writers discuss the power of literature at a moment like ours; how writing about diaspora and dislocation are powerful tools in the lite...

Episode 96: Portland, Breaking Up the Social Media Giants, and Disinformation with Suzanne Nossel

31 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

This week, PEN America CEO Suzanne Nossel is out with her new book Dare to Speak: Defending Free Speech for All. Even so, she makes time to parse thro...

Episode 95: Memorial Drive with Natasha Trethewey

30 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

On this extended edition of The PEN Pod, we talk to Pulitzer winner and two-time U.S. Poet Laureate Natasha Trethewey about her new memoir MEMORIAL DR...

Episode 94: Allying Against Online Harassment with Viktorya Vilk and Emily May

29 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

PEN America is launching a series of webinars teaching you how to support friends or colleagues who are enduring online harassment. PEN America is tea...

Episode 93: Dare to Speak with Suzanne Nossel

28 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Today is publication day for PEN America's Suzanne Nossel. Her new book DARE TO SPEAK: DEFENDING FREE SPEECH FOR ALL goes on sale today, and her natio...

Episode 92: Mentorship Remotely with Shannon Gatewood and Rachel M. Harper

27 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Today we continue our series of conversations between PEN America Emerging Voices Fellows and their mentors. We speak with Shannon Gatewood and her me...