November 27, 2012

Poet Ravi Shankar: The interview

Poet Ravi Shankar joined me at 4:30 PM ET on November 29, 2012 on Rare Bird Radio to discuss his poetry, the process of creating art and his extraordinary support of the arts. Listen here.

Join the Goodreads book club to leave a comment or question for Ravi and to hear all the interviews I’ve done with the famous, the fascinating and the emerging: risk takers all—and be encouraged, find your next read, join the conversation.

Ravi Shankar is the author of Instrumentality, Seamless Matter Thirty Stills, and most recently Deepening Groove.

He supports the work of others in extraordinary ways that we will discuss.

You gotta listen in!

November 18, 2012

Pre-Thanksgiving: FILM! The Third Man and Déjà Vu: A love story

On my radio show, 11/21/12, 4 pm ET: I discussed the critically acclaimed films The Third Man, starring Orson Welles with superb screenplay by Graham Greene along with the film Déjà Vu: A Love Story, written and directed by Henry Jaglom. It may seem like an odd pairing, but listen in to my show on Rare Bird Radio and find out why the pairing is not so odd.

Amateur actor, professional journalist and PhD psychologist Harvey Black joined me to discuss these two critically acclaimed films. This time I didn't do an interview, my usual preference, but instead exchanged views about the films and about the creative process with Mr. Black.

Find the links to all my radio interviews and the books I have discussed, including the screenplay Greene collaborated on with the director Carol Reed, Pauline Kael’s review in 5001 Nights at the Movies and more at my click and join Goodreads Book Club.



November 17, 2012

Save the date: The Third Man and Déjà Vu: A Love Story


Discuss the critically acclaimed films The Third Man, starring Orson Wells and based on Graham Greene’s novel, and the film Déjà Vu: A Love Story, written and directed by Henry Jaglom.

Amateur actor, professional journalist and PhD psychologist Harvey Black will join me to discuss these two critically acclaimed films.

Save the date: Wednesday November 21 at 4 p.m. eastern time for a live, call-in radio show on Rare Bird Radio.

Find the links to all my radio interviews and the books we will be discussing, including the Graham Greene novel and the screenplay Greene collaborated on with the director Carol Reed, Pauline Kael’s review in 5001 Nights at the Movies and more at my click and join Goodreads Book Club.



November 13, 2012

Dana Gioia: The Interview

Photo by Lynda Koolish
Gioia in person: I had the pleasure of interviewing Dana Gioia, poet and literary force. He was a delight. Our conversation covered his extraordinary career that ain't over yet, by any means, and moved into questions about his new job as the Judge Widney Professor of Poetry and Public Culture at the University of Southern California, Dana's candid discussion of self-actualization and Maslow's Pyramid, his views on American culture, his love of film and the poems that appear in films both high-brow and low and all the in-between.

Here's a footnote on our discussion of poetry in film and, do expect an essay on this subject from Gioia in the near future: I saw the record breaking James Bond film Skyfall this past weekend, when it broke a few records, I suspect. And guess what? Judi Dench as the marvelous "M" quoted Tennyson:


We are not now that strength which in old days
Moved earth and heaven; that which we are, we are;
One equal temper of heroic hearts,
Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield. —the closing lines of Tennyson's "Ulysses"


On the show, Gioia hypnotized us with his reading of "Pity the Beautiful" from his new book by that title.

Listen to the live interview by clicking on Rare Bird Radio, my show that I do weekly and where I talk with the famous, the emerging and the fascinating and where literature, narrative, the stories of our lives and culture are my focus. The topic on the table is creativity. Do join the conversation.

I hope that all who visit here will join my Goodreads Book Club where all the interviews can be heard and where the book shelf is filled with the author's books. You will find there Dana's new book of poems and his groundbreaking essays Can Poetry Matter?  

More on Dana can be found on his richly linked website.

My thanks to the incredible, joyful and whip-smart Gioia!

November 06, 2012

Save the date: Live Call-in Radio with Dana Gioia

Dear Readers, I am reposting this because the message went out garbled to those who subscribe. Do forgive the duplication and save the date:


November 7 at 4 p.m. ET/ 1 pm PT, Dana Gioia, renowned poet, former head of the National Endowment of the Arts, author of Pity the Beautiful, his long awaited new collection of poems and author of the controversial essays Can Poetry Matter? will be my guest on Rare Bird Radio.

Listen live or later by clicking on the link. If you listen live, we will take calls at 626-414-3413.

Post a question ahead of time for Dana Gioia or me on Goodreads.

Check out Gioia’s extraordinary literary career and lifelong support for the arts on his website.

Join the Goodreads book club where you'll find links to all the books I've discussed with the authors and links to all the interviews with the famed, the emerging and the fascinating. Add your thoughts on the authors, the books and the continuing conversation on creativity.

Let us cast light on the arts!

November 05, 2012

Save the Date: Live Call-in Radio With Dana Gioia


Dana Gioia
November 7 at 4 p.m. ET/ 1 pm PT, Dana Gioia, renowned poet, former head of the National Endowment of the Arts, author of Pity the Beautiful, his long awaited new collection of poems and author of the controversial essays Can Poetry Matter? will be my guest on Rare Bird Radio.

Listen live or later by clicking on the link. If you listen live, we will take calls at 626-414-3413.

Post a question ahead of time for Dana Gioia or me on Goodreads.

Check out Gioia’s extraordinary literary career and lifelong support for the arts on his website.

Join the Goodreads book club where you'll find links to all the books I've discussed with the authors and links to all the interviews with the famed, the emerging and the fascinating. Add your thoughts on the authors, the books and the continuing conversation on creativity.

Let us cast light on the arts!





November 03, 2012

Eduardo Santiago: The Interview

Eduardo Santiago is the author of the much-loved novel Tomorrow They Will Kiss. Santiago tells the story of three Cuban women who immigrated to New Jersey USA in the 60s. Each is remaking her life, recalling and dreaming of love while struggling to make ends meet.

Santiago’s short stories have appeared in Zyzzyva among other notable literary magazines and he’s been named a PEN Emerging Voices Rosenthal Fellow.

Santiago is the force behind the Idyllwild Author Series at INK Bookstore in Idyllwild, California. Visit his website for more info.

Click on Rare Bird Radio to hear the interview.

Santiago was born in Cuba.

I had the good fortune to visit that beleaguered land in December 2003. 

Some of my photos from that trip augment the interview and Eduardo's comments on the land, its folk and Fidel Castro.
Cuba aerial view
Cubans outside the airport, awaiting arrivals
Wedding in Sancti Spiritus
A land of paradoxes.
Dancers in the street




Inhabited apartment building in Havana
School childen
Cigar box