The Media Narrative

Solo: Looking for Positives

Rob Hochschild — Sun, 01 Nov 2020 11:34:00 -0500

A few quick ramblings with Election 2020 two days away.

Justice and Journalism with Linn Washington (Part Two)

Rob Hochschild — Sun, 30 Aug 2020 08:14:00 -0400

In the second part of a conversation with journalist and educator Linn Washington, an examination of the question of how the 1985 MOVE bombing in Philadelphia relates to racial injustice today. Toward the end of this episode, Washington talks about the importance of ethics in journalism.

Linn Washington has worked for news outlets from CNN to the Philadelphia Daily News and reported from all over the world. he teaches journalism at Temple Univeristy in Philadelphia. He has also covered the Mumia Abu-Jamal story for about 40 years.

When Philly Dropped the Bomb

Rob Hochschild — Wed, 19 Aug 2020 15:19:00 -0400

Just over 35 years ago, eleven people were killed and 61 homes destroyed in a West Philadelphia neighborhood after police dropped C-4 explosives on a building occupied by MOVE, a black liberation organization. Journalist Linn Washington was there on May 13, 1985, covering the mayhem for the Philadelphia Daily News.

This is the first of a two-part conversation with Washington. He'll talk about his work covering MOVE beginning in the mid-70s, police brutality under Philadelphia mayor Frank Rizzo, and his 21 hours of reporting from the scene of the bombing.

Covering the Killing of Ahmaud Arbery

Rob Hochschild — Sun, 02 Aug 2020 11:35:38 -0400

Although Ahmaud Arbery wasn't killed by police, the manner in which law enforcement officials have handled his case raises a number of questions about the role race may have played in his Feb. 23 death and the aftermath. The 25-year-old African American man was jogging in a coastal community in Georgia when three white men decided to attempt a citizen's arrest without having witnessed Arbery commit a crime.

Seventy-four days after his death—and two days after a video of the shooting went viral—two suspects were finally arrested.

In this episode, a local police reporter for the Brunswick News, Larry Hobbs, talks about his work to understand what happened that day. Hobbs, who has worked in community news for decades, discusses his effort to "hang on to the story" despite the scant information he uncovered in the days and weeks immediately afterward.

Land Grab Universities

Rob Hochschild — Fri, 17 Jul 2020 17:43:00 -0400

These are challenging times for American universities and colleges. But dozens of them would not exist without the financial benefit of land "seized or stolen or otherwise leveraged from indigenous tribes into US hands through violence-backed treaties," says historian Bobby Lee.

Earlier this year, Lee and Tristan Ahtone, an investigative journalist, published a High Country News article resulting from two years of deep research, analysis, and reportage.

In this episode they talk about how some schools have responded—or not and provide advice for how journalists and everyone else can use the research for further study.

Land Grab U website

High Country News article

Lede New Orleans: Newsroom Equity

Rob Hochschild — Sat, 11 Jul 2020 16:17:00 -0400

It was right in the middle of the 2019 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival when the staff of the Times-Picayune learned that their newsroom would be shutting down. At the time, Jennifer Larino was lead reporter at NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune, and within months of the layoffs, she had founded a community-based journalism nonprofit with New Orleans-born filmmaker and teacher E'Jaaz Mason.

Lede New Orleans works to build skills in young journalists and artists with the goal of increasing equity in the journalism industry in newsrooms and producing news coverage that more accurately reflects the authentic character of the people of New Orleans.

In our conversation, Larino and Mason talked about the Times-Picayune layoffs (2:00); inequity in media (7:00); how mainstream media miss the point of the Second Line (11:00); launching a journalism nonprofit in the middle of a pandemic (15:50); and the somewhat shaky future of New Orleans (22:00). After the interview you'll hear an excerpt of the song "Qiuck," by New Orleans band Tank and the Bangas, and the host's episode essay, focusing on contact tracing (27:45).

Julián Aguilar: Reporting from the Border

Rob Hochschild — Fri, 03 Jul 2020 16:43:41 -0400

Born in El Paso, Texas, Julián Aguilar is now based there as immigration and border security reporter for the Texas Tribune, a nonprofit digital media organization established in 2009. He also covers elections, politics, and drug trade, among other issues. All of his work for the Tribune requires a nuanced understanding of policy and the way it affects communities on either side of the border.

During the conversation, Aguilar described the tense atmosphere around covering a safehouse in Juarez, Mexico (0:52); detention centers in Texas and Covid-19 (9:20); Black Lives Matter in Texas (11:45); the murders at a Walmart in El Paso (14:30); and the state of journalism today (19:15). You'll also hear the host's thoughts on Independence Day (22:00).

Season 3 Trailer: Local News

Rob Hochschild — Fri, 26 Jun 2020 08:44:00 -0400

According to the American Journalism Project, 2,100 U.S. communities have lost their newspapers since 2004. In this third year of the podcast—what we're dubbing the third season—episodes will focus greatly on the work of local journalists.

After early shows traveling, virtually, to New Orleans and El Paso, Texas, I'll check in with reporters around the country to hear the most resonant stories from those places.

It's an election year, and we'll inevitably touch on some of those biggest issues—racism, Covid, voting, and politics, but if we do, it will be through the lens of community, nonprofit, and alternative news reporting.

New episodes every Friday throughout 2020.

Theme music: Matt Jenson

Jim Infantino: Sci-Fi, Music, and the Future

Rob Hochschild — Sat, 28 Dec 2019 12:53:00 -0500

He is a novelist, songwriter, bandleader, designer, web developer, and entrepreneur, among other things. It's likely that he's best known as a musician and the leader of the Boston-based band, Jim's Big Ego, but Jim Infantino's latest creation is his first novel, a work of science fiction that takes us about 80-90 years into the future. In The Wakeful Wanderer’s Guide to New New England, half the people have technology implanted in their brains that allows for thexting - communication that unfolds without the need for speech, and the other half avoid the implant and its trappings. That dynamic leads to a story that makes for an engaging confrontation with how we relate and live.

In this episode, Jim Infantino talks about the inspiration for his novel, how its central themes overlap with cyber hippie trends of the 60s and 70s, letting go of what had been his ultimate musical ambitions, and advice for living as a creative person in this world.

Pooja Agarwal: Strategies for Teaching

Rob Hochschild — Tue, 10 Dec 2019 07:45:00 -0500

Cognitive scientist and author Pooja K. Agarwal has spent a large portion of her career connecting education research and classroom teaching. For a long time, educators didn’t have access to relevant research, but Agarwal and Patrice Bain have co-authored a book—Powerful Teaching: Unleash the Science of Learning—that’s bridging that gap. The book is also packed with insights and exercises that will not only help teachers, but anyone who has any interest in learning as well.

Agarwal, a professor at Berklee College of Music, is the founder of RetrievalPractice.org, a research-based resource of teaching strategies used by educators around the world.

During our conversation, Agarwal talked about why the gap between the art of teaching and the science of learning exists (4:00); "purpose and product" in teaching (6:00); the power of "spacing" in the classroom (11:45); the benefits of reading Greg McKeown's book Essentialism (15:45); how musicians can use retrieval practice (20:00); using Google docs and other adventures in coauthoring a book (33:30).

Charles Giuliano: Chronicler of Counterculture

Rob Hochschild — Wed, 30 Oct 2019 09:31:00 -0400

The sixth book by Charles Giuliano, Counterculture in Boston: 1968–1980s, features new interviews with journalists, authors, radio hosts, producers, and other luminaries, such as George Wein, Jon Landau, Charles Laquidara, and Dexter Gordon. It’s an invaluable oral history of the work, culture, and arts that marked one of the most tumultous periods in U.S history. The book also features several of Giuliano’s photographs from that period, as well as vintage images by other photographers.

In this episode, Giuliano talks about his work as a jazz critic, alternative press editor and reporter, and online publisher. The conversation veers through a range of topics, including media, music, Facebook, and the cost of higher education.

Giuliano is a visual artist and art curator, and has published five books of “gonzo poetry. He coined the term “gonzo” in 1970, during a conversation with the Boston Globe’s Bill Carduso, who later passed the term to Hunter Thompson.

Related Links

Berkshire Fine Arts (Giuliano's online magazine)

Rona Elliot: Covering Rock for Network Media

Rob Hochschild — Fri, 04 Oct 2019 12:05:00 -0400

Rona Elliot has witnessed some of the biggest moments in rock history, including Bob Dylan plugging in at the Newport Folk Festival, the Beatles performing in 1966 at Chavez Ravine in Los Angeles, and everything that happened while she was working at the Woodstock Festival in 1969.

As a network radio reporter beginning in the 1970s, and then in the 1980s—as a music journalist for The Today Show—she interviewed greats such as Tina Turner, Ray Charles, George Harrison, Aretha Franklin, Paul McCartney, and Mick Jagger.

In this episode, Elliot talks about overcoming barriers she faced as a woman in media and battling network bosses who didn't believe network audiences were interested in interviews with rock stars.

She has written for national newspapers, edited a book by photographer Henry Diltz, and serves on the Board of Trustees at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. She has also served as visiting faculty at New York University and Berklee.

Related Links

Interview with Tina Turner (1986)

Media Pick of the Week

Author Robert Kuttner on Boston Public Radio (Sept. 25, 2019)

The Media Narrative Joins Climate Strike

Rob Hochschild — Fri, 20 Sep 2019 10:47:00 -0400

In this brief episode, we join striking students and citizens and hard-working media organizations to spread awareness of the growing climate crisis. You'll hear the voice of 16-year-old Swedish activist Greta Thunberg and your host reads an excerpt of a New York Times column by Jamie Margolin (Zero Hour). Additional audio provided by #Podstrike.

Jordan Rich: Voice, Radio, and the Art of the Interview

Rob Hochschild — Sat, 03 Aug 2019 16:48:00 -0400

As a kid growing up in Massachusetts, Jordan Rich had dreamed of being an actor. But he was just as passionate about the "theater of the mind," as radio is often called, and went full bore into that industry once his voice dropped.

He began his career as a weather reporter in the 70s, and thousands of interviews later, he continues to work in the field, not only in radio, but as a voice actor, producer, voice teacher, podcaster, speaker, and in several other roles.

During our interview, Jordan Rich talked about his years of hosting an overnight talk show on Boston radio giant WBZ-AM, how podcasting flowed naturally out of his radio work, and his approach to interviewing.

Learn more about Jordan Rich; his company, Chart Productions; and his podcast, On Mic with Jordan Rich at jordanrich.com.

Pod in the Summertime

Rob Hochschild — Fri, 26 Jul 2019 11:43:00 -0400

The host of the show asks for listener feedback, with some specific questions, provides some newsworthy updates on two past guests, and hints at upcoming episodes, one related to Woodstock, and one to the wide world of voice.

Listener Feedback Questions

Any favorite episodes of this podcast?
Any that didn’t work for you?
Any guests or subjects you’d like to suggest?
Is there anything not getting covered in the podcast universe that you think would fit with this podcast?

Please email any responses to rob@themedianarrative.com.

Susan Rogers: Music and Science

Rob Hochschild — Thu, 20 Jun 2019 14:03:19 -0400

In 1978, Susan Rogers sent $1.75 in postage to the U.S. army and received a box full of electronics manuals, just because she asked. She began teaching herself audio technology from these manuals, and a few years later, found herself at a recording console, capturing the tracks that would become Prince's monumental Purple Rain album. Rogers's resourcefulness emerges, at least in part, from a wide-ranging curiosity in many things, but she's particularly obsessed with music and science.

After four-plus years with Prince, Rogers went on to work with artists such as Davi Byrne, Barenaked Ladies, Laurie Anderson, and the Jacksons. Those experiences, combined with her subsequent earning of a Ph.D in psychology/neurocience have helped make Rogers a powerhouse college professor and thinker. She seeks to deepen our understanding of the science and psychology of music and is helping equip the next generation to make music that endures.

In our conversation, Susan talks about what makes for enduring popular music (2:30); her life as a non-musician who listens incredibly closely to music (15:45); working with Prince (24:20); turning toward a career in science (32:00); consonance, dissonance, and how we process music and sound (37:30); and why we care so much about music 46:45).

Joia Mukherjee: Global Health Delivery

Rob Hochschild — Thu, 23 May 2019 11:07:07 -0400

When Dr. Joia Mukherjee visited her father's hometown of Calcutta, India as a child in 1972, she observed for the first time how poverty and lack of healthcare wreaks havoc on quality of life. She went on to study medicine, volunteer in Africa, and ultimately—after becoming a doctor—join Partners in Health (PIH), a nonprofit that strives to improve access to health care in countries that are most in need.

She now serves as chief medical officer at PIH and teaches global health at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School. Her 2017 book, An Introduction to Global Health Delivery—featuring a foreword by PIH cofounder Paul Farmer—examines the interaction between social forces and healthcare access and proposes ways of addressing the problems.

During a conversation in her Boston office, Dr. Mukherjee talked about how slavery, colonialism, and neoliberalism have contributed to the crisis in global health care access (3:30); the impact of a childhood visit to India (7:00); how economic practices impact healthcare access (16:30); how diverging definitions of freedom illuminate global healthcare issues (22:30); an example of a success story in Haiti (26:30); and how the media has fallen short in covering global health (30:00).

Marcella Bombardieri: Affordability in Higher Education

Rob Hochschild — Tue, 30 Apr 2019 21:39:26 -0400

After years of award-winning work as a journalist and investigative reporter for The Boston Globe and other publications, Marcella Bombardieri took a bold left turn in 2016 and joined the Center for American Progress (CAP) as a policy analyst. But after years of newswriting on the subject of higher education, Bombardieri made a smooth transition to a progressive think tank where her focus would be on higher ed policy.

As associate director of postsecondary education at CAP, Bombardieri has spent the bulk of her time examining the operations of community colleges and other public colleges and universities. Poverty among college students is worsening, and it's one of the reasons that Bombardieri and her colleagues are aiming to help make all U.S secondary schools more affordable. At the same time, she continues to write for publications such as the Globe and the Atlantic, articulating arguments from the policy perspective, and relying heavily on her well-developed skills as a storyteller and scribe.

During our conversation, Bombardieri talked about the arc of her career as a journalist who transitioned to the policy side (2:30); a Texas community college with an innovative program for addressing student poverty (8:00); the challenge of a role at CAP where she plays a bifurcated role as writer and policy expert (15:30); CAP's Beyond Tuition affordability proposal (20:30); and the college admissions bribery scandal (33:00).

Van Morrison Revisited

Rob Hochschild — Fri, 12 Apr 2019 22:47:00 -0400

Meet three of the musicians who accompanied Van Morrison on the stage and in the studio in 1968, when Morrison was working on the songs that would appear on his classic second solo album, Astral Weeks.

Bassist Tom Kielbania, drummer Joey Bebo, and saxophonist/flutist John Payne spoke about their collaborations with Van Morrison at a panel and celebration in December 2018, right around the 50th anniversary of the album's release. Author Ryan H. Walsh also spoke during the day; his acclaimed book, Astral Weeks: A Secret History of 1968, had shed light fully on the story for the first time. Get more of the that story by reading Walsh's book and listening to his appearance on a June 2018 episode of this podcast.

In this episode, you'll learn about how the Boston band met Van (2:00); get the insider stories on the Astral Weeks recording sessions (8:00); hear why one of the musicians chose Berklee over Van Morrison (15:30); and from Walsh, on the making of the album: It was “like if you painted the Mona Lisa in the middle of a riot.”(17:15).

Brian Coleman: What Ads Teach

Rob Hochschild — Fri, 22 Mar 2019 18:06:00 -0400

Where many of us see advertisements as annoyances and interruptions, author and journalist Brian Coleman sees the arc of a place's history and the evolution of its artists, businesses, music scene, and social justice movements. In his fourth and newest book, Buy Me, Boston, Coleman curates and presents more than 400 print ads and flyers of 60s, 70s. and 80s Boston. It reveals the city's passions and ambitions, as well as its prejudices and challenges.

Coleman worked as a music journalist and publicist for years and established himself as a hip-hop historian and authority, with three nonfiction music books: Check the Technique Volume 1 and 2 and Rakim Told Me, all of which told the stories of classic rap albums.

During our conversation, Coleman talks about his early discoveries for Buy Me, Boston (5:30); being a hip-hop oral historian (10:00); an obsession with advertising (14:30); Flyers for Tom Waits, Bruce Springsteen, Jimi Hendrix and other musicians (18:15) his purposeful lack of organizational structure for the book (22:15) sexist ads of the 60s (26:00) ads as the pure voice of a business or organization (28:00); Buy Me, Boston Video loft (36:00); Business innovators and artist-entrepreneurs of the 1960s and 70s (42:30); his approach to interviewing hip-hop legends (47:30); and advice for aspiring archivists and interviewers (55:30).

Liz Linder: Image and Story

Rob Hochschild — Fri, 22 Feb 2019 08:16:00 -0500

Liz Linder is a talented and prolific photographer, but she is also a storyteller, artist, entrepreneur, mentor, and deep thinker about the ways contemporary society and technology shape the work of creative people. She has taken portraits of many celebrated figures, including Lou Reed, Esperanza Spalding, and Quincy Jones; shot for corporate clients such as MTV, Louis Vuitton and Takeda Pharmaceuticals; and published photographs in dozens of publications, including The New York Times, Wired, and Rolling Stone.

At the same time, she has developed and exhibited a wide range of acclaimed personal photography projects, ones that have focused on subjects such as family, aging, movement and metaphor, and responses to the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Much of her work focuses on narrative, and she has an uncanny ability to create story arcs by, in part, developing strong connections with the subjects of her images.

During our conversation, Linder talks about developing a passion for photography as a child (4:00); the analog-to-digital transition (6:45); how her artwork influences her commercial work and vice versa (12:00); how she prepares for and interacts with subjects of her portraits (16:30); the emotional challenge of a photo series focusing on her grandmother's memory loss (23:00); the call-and-response We Talk in Pictures series (28:00); the God Bless America project (36:00); developing and running her business (39:00); and advice for aspiring photographers (48:00).

Growing Up on Radio

Rob Hochschild — Mon, 11 Feb 2019 09:48:00 -0500

Your host, having just launched a music show on Boston's WUMB-FM, reflects back on a career of stumbles and steps on the way to finding a voice, literal and metaphorical, while working on the broadcast airwaves. It's a story that begins with a kid listening to baseball games while growing up near Philadelphia, before taking over a morning jazz show in college—one that revealed his lack of jazz knowledge and a weird desire to display a subtle Boston accent.

His professional radio journey took him to Cape Cod, then rural Pennsylvania, then to Boston. In this episode, you'll hear about this in a solo episode enhanced by some old radio clips recorded to cassette tapes between 1984 and 2000: WMUA jazz show (5:00); WCIB news program (7:00); WBUR station ID (12:30); and pre-race commentary on the Falmouth Road Race (15:10).

Duke Levine: Guitar Master

Rob Hochschild — Fri, 25 Jan 2019 11:30:00 -0500

It takes a very specific skill package to be an accomplished sideman, with musicianship and congeniality at the top of the list. Duke Levine brings those qualities in spades, but his versatility, humility, and self-awareness also play critical roles in a career rich with high-profile tours and notable recording projects.

Among the artists he's toured and/or recorded with are Peter Wolf, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Rosanne Cash, Aimee Mann, and Otis Rush, plus he's performed on a host of TV shows (Letterman, Conan, Fallon, Austin City Limits), and many other projects. Levine has also recorded six albums as a leader, with a new one in the works that provides a fresh take on several chestnuts from the 1970s.

During this episode, you'll learn more, plus you'll hear a lot of his music—from his recordings, and played live on his Fender Telecaster in his studio during the conversation.

Related Links

Duke Levine's website

Video for Whispering Pines (originally recorded by the Band)

New Orleans Travel Tips

Rob Hochschild — Fri, 18 Jan 2019 19:03:00 -0500

Podcasts providing travel advice can be a great help to first-time travelers. On a trip last week to New Orleans, I relied heavily on an episode of the Beyond Bourbon Street podcast, hosted by Mark Bologna. It was an incredibly helpful hour-long guide to planning a few days in New Orleans.

And then, in discussing that podcast and my trip, I realized I had created a travel tips podcast of mine own. Oops.

In the process, however, I forgot to reveal what question I forgot to ask my last guest, José Massó. Next time I see him I'll ask what advice he has as I prepare to launch my WUMB show.

Next week's episode: an interview with guitarist Duke Levine.

There's a few related links below; the rest you'll find on the episode page.

WWOZ-FM Music Calendar

Cochon (grilled redfish)

Buffa's Bar and Restaurant

Cherry Coffee Roasters

Loretta's Authentic Pralines

BYWATER NEIGHBORHOOD

José Massó: Latin Music Radio Legend

Rob Hochschild — Fri, 11 Jan 2019 07:00:00 -0500

José Massó is host of the longest-running music show in Boston's radio market, on WBUR. As host of Con Salsa, Massó not only brings a range of Latin music and interviews to listeners all around the world, he works tirelessly to make his show—and his life—about addressing social issues. He's a fascinating and well-spoken person who has also worked as a school teacher, sports agent, and liaison on U.S. presidential campaigns.

During our conversation, he talks about being inspired by musician and radio host Felipe Luciano (3:00); how teaching led him to radio (4:50); immigration and the evolution of the Latino community in Boston and in the U.S. (10:30); a dialogue between him and incarcerated men who listened to Con Salsa (14:00); his approach to interviewing people such as Dizzy Gillespie, Tito Puente, and Ruben Blades (37:00); how composing a post about his father on Facebook led to him start writing a book (43:00); and his thoughts on the question of Puerto Rico independence (46:30).

Stream Jose Masso's weekly show, 10:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m. EST every Saturday night at WBUR.org.

New Year, New Plan

Rob Hochschild — Fri, 04 Jan 2019 17:21:00 -0500

Everyone scoffs at New Year's Resolutions these days, but who doesn't think about the year ahead in early January? Your host reflects as such on this year's first episode, touching on some developments for the Media Narrative in 2019, including:

Changes to the podcast relating to music theme and frequency and format of episodes,
Creating video content and other new material for various channels, and
The next guest, radio host Jose Masso.

2018 Year-End Solo Wrap-Up

Rob Hochschild — Mon, 31 Dec 2018 17:41:00 -0500

In this quick end-of-the-year solo show, your host runs down the year and expresses gratitude. You'll also hear some news about the podcast, some recommendations for other shows to listen to, and the big media question of 2019. Subscribe at themedianarrative.com.

Chris Faraone: Alternative Press Champion

Rob Hochschild — Fri, 21 Dec 2018 09:06:00 -0500

Journalist Chris Faraone began his career covering the hip-hop scene for local and national publications. By the time he joined the Boston Phoenix in 2008, he was spending most of his time covering political and civic news. Faraone went on to become editor of alternative weekly Dig Boston and found the Boston Institute for Nonprofit Journalism.

Matt Jenson: Roots, Reggae, and Activism

Rob Hochschild — Sat, 08 Dec 2018 08:38:00 -0500

Keyboardist, composer, vocalist, and educator Matt Jenson creates music intended to inform and inspire as much as it entertains. Embedded in everything he does—such as his scholarship and teaching of the work of reggae great Bob Marley—is a goal to address social injustice and connect people through music and activism.

He recently took a short break from his Boston-based life as a bandleader and faculty member at Berklee College of Music to go on a European tour with Groundation.

During this conversation, Jenson talks about how he prepared for a 2018 tour with Groundation (5:00); teaching the music and life of Bob Marley (19:00); his band Liquid Revolution (26:20); writers and political issues that inspire him (29:00); his construction of—and an excerpt from—Liquid Revolution's "Drop the Line" (34:30); his Art of Reggae educational project, which features Jamaican musicians such as drummer Sly Dunbar and bassist Robbie Shakespeare (37:30); and his ultimate goal in music making (45:00).

Hillary Wright: Healthy Eating and Attitudes

Rob Hochschild — Wed, 21 Nov 2018 10:50:00 -0500

Hillary Wright’s skills as a nutrition expert go far beyond understanding the science of healthy diet and exercise. She also writes and communicates about complex ideas in easy-to-understand ways. Her two books provide critical information to people seeking guidance around conditions such as prediabetes and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). She is the director for nutrition counseling for the Domar Center for Mind Body Health (Waltham, Mass.) and a senior nutritionist for Boston’s legendary Dana Farber Cancer Institute.

During our conversation, Wright discusses the challenges faced by women with PCOS (3:00); how having two brothers with diabetes helped inspire her career in nutrition (9:00); understanding and preventing diabetes (13:00); strategies for healthy eating and why she’s not a fan of ketogenic diets (24:00); Rob’s gruel recipe (26:30); how modern life increases the risk of diet-related illness (28:00); Wright’s development as a writer and working with publishers (34:45); maintaining a productive writing discipline (39:30); the power of finding “enlightened” readers (41:30); and Thanksgiving eating and attitudes (44:00).

This episode is presented in partnership with Quizzella. Test your knowledge of words with one question per day delivered to your in-box. Sign up at Quizzella.com.

Pre-Midterm Ramblings

Rob Hochschild — Sun, 04 Nov 2018 12:45:00 -0500

Your host goes solo in an episode recorded about two days before the Midterms. It's a quick one, mostly to share several great stories, columns, and radio or podcast work by people who are focused on the ways that media and politics interact in America under Trump. Listen and visit the website for a list of links to that work, along with a suggestion for music at times when you need a break from politics.

Related Links

New York Magazine article on young people likely to not vote

Longform interview with Elizabeth Kolbert on the state of environmental policy

Ezra Klein interview with Jay Rosen on how the media might be damaging politics

Politico Column by Jack Shafer on hitting the mute on the "president's boombox"

Yochai Benkler's Network Propaganda and how it was Fox, not Russia that turned the 2016 election

On the Media examines mid-term coverage examines mid-term coverage

Nels Cline's Musical Life in Five Guitar Riffs

Rachel and Vilray "Do Friends Fall in Love" featuring Rachael Price of Lake Street Dive

Gretchen Rubin: Habits and Happiness

Rob Hochschild — Sat, 13 Oct 2018 09:53:00 -0400

Gretchen Rubin is a one-woman media empire. She has published several books, many of which have been New York Times bestsellers. Her award-winning podcast has been downloaded more than 40 million times. She’s also conquered several other new media spheres, ranging from her blog and buzzing, video-rich Facebook presence to a new online course. In addition, she’s been interviewed by Oprah Winfrey and hung out with the Dalai Lama.

All of these accomplishments prove the value readers and consumers have found in Rubin’s work. Her last four books—and the rest of her output—have focused on habits, human nature, and happiness. She combines scientific research with observations of others’ lives and her own in an approach that is accessible and actionable. Rubin’s most recent book, The Four Tendencies, proposes that everyone fits into one of four personality profiles and that understanding this can open possibilities for self-improvement.

In our conversation, Rubin talks about the evolution of her writing career (5:30); how she responds to happiness skeptics (8:30); her own productivity habits and practices (12:45); the four personality tendencies (18:30); and the benefit of non-digital news consumption (26:00).

Rick Berlin: Music, Memoir, and Building Community

Rob Hochschild — Sat, 29 Sep 2018 10:34:00 -0400

Boston-based pianist and songwriter Rick Berlin recently published The Paragraphs, a revealing and funny memoir of a life's journey that included dropping acid at Yale in the 1960s and encounters with the likes of Meat Loaf, Frank Zappa, and Patti Smith. But rather than dwell on his brushes with fame, Berlin focuses his series of linked essays on self-knowledge, making art, and a life devoted to the power of friendship and community.

In our conversation, in addition to mentioning some of the legends who have inspired him, such as Spalding Gray, R.D. Laing, and Nick Cave, Berlin discusses his process for writing, editing, and publishing his book (5:00); the connection between writing poetry and writing songs (15:00); abandoning full scholarships from two Ivy League graduate programs (17:00); his early career releasing music on major labels (21:30); rediscovering his musical spark later in his career (26:30); the Jamaica Plain Music Festival (30:00); and his reflections on love and relationships (34:00).

You'll also hear excerpts from two of his songs, Berlin Airlift's "Hunger Strikes," and a song from one of his solo albums, "I Think I'm Fallin'."

Mu-Chieh Yun and Iliana Panameño: Elevating Women of Color

Rob Hochschild — Fri, 14 Sep 2018 10:56:00 -0400

Mu-Chieh Yun and Iliana Panameño founded We, Ceremony in 2015, years after they met in Boston as elementary school students. As women of color who had experienced marginalization and prejudice, they wanted to create a digital storytelling platform that celebrates and empowers other women of color.

Since launching, We Ceremony has featured dozens of women through profiles and interviews, fostered a robust social media presence, published an ebook, and hosted a series of public forums. Yun studied art history and social and cultural analysis at New York University and Panameño, who earned a master’s in social work at Boston University, works as a community organizer in Everett, Massachusetts.

During our conversation, they talk about the We, Ceremony origin story and its aims (1:30); provide a few highlights from their Spotlight interview series (8:10); their answer to an overloaded question about fixing the world’s problems (14:00); their preferred media sources, which include Quartz, The Nation, and the podcasts Still Processing and Code Switch (20:30); and the future of We, Ceremony (24:20).

Hal Brooks: Guiding New Plays

Rob Hochschild — Fri, 31 Aug 2018 13:24:00 -0400

Brooklyn-based theater director Hal Brooks has long had a focus on stewarding new plays. In this episode, Brooks talks about working with playwrights such as Don Delillo, involving audiences in the development of new plays, and Rachel Maddow's storytelling rabbinical qualities.

Brooks has been artistic director of the Cape Cod Theatre Project since 2012 and associate artistic director of the Ojai Playwrights Conference since 2010. Among the plays he has directed on and off Broadway are Delillo's Valparaiso and Chekhov's Uncle Vanya. He was the Artistic Director of the Obie Award-Winning Pearl Theatre Company. He is a lecturer in theater studies at Yale University.

Nona Hendryx: Music and the Modern Pencil

Rob Hochschild — Fri, 17 Aug 2018 12:45:00 -0400

The songwriter, performer, and multifaceted artist Nona Hendryx refers to herself as a "grazer." She says this because her wide-ranging interests in music taste and technology are also characteristic of her approach to art and life in general.

Hendryx's open-minded ethic comes through during this interview, as she talks about her work in music, education, radio, activism, and other spheres. She uses the term "modern pencil" to stress the importance of analog thinking in a world filled with advanced technology, and as she touches on these topics, she mentions important influences and figures such as Alan Watts, Hank Shockley, Laurie Anderson, and Shakespeare.

As a member of and songwriter for LaBelle, Hendryx captivated listeners with hit songs like "Lady Marmelade" in the 1970s. In her career, Hendryx has collaborated not only with Patti LaBelle and Sarah Dash (originally as Patti LaBelle and Bluebells), but also with artists such as David Byrne, Prince, and Keith Richards. At the same time, Hendryx has been productive in a several other fields, including theater, dance, and children's literature.

We begin the conversation by talking about the way that art and science interact and end it by talking about and listening to one of Hendryx's originals, "Temple of Heaven." (Thanks to Nona Hendryx and Righteous Babe Records for permission to use the song in this podcast.)

Family Questions, Podcast Movement

Rob Hochschild — Mon, 30 Jul 2018 16:00:00 -0400

In this solo podcast episode, your host, Rob Hochschild, talks about the Podcast Movement conference, his goals for podcasting, and a personal story that led directly to a career path of journalism, communications, and podcasting. There's also a number of podcast recommendations in the show—and additional ones listed below—for all of you who are hungry to discover great audio content.

In this episode, you'll learn about some highlights and takeaways from PM18, in Philadelphia, and hear how your host's childhood memory of learning about the Holocaust led to a lifetime of asking questions.

The following are a selection of shows represented at Podcast Movement 2018:

Worth Listening (Athletes and personal finance; Lauryn Williams, host)
The Derek Diamond Experience (Film, art, music, sports, and more; Derek Diamond, host)
Happier (Advice and conversation; Gretchen Rubin, host)
7 Days a Geek (Comedy, pop culture; Jason the Angry Ginger, host)
Lore (Nonfiction storytelling on the "darker side of history"; Aaron Mahnke, host)
On the Schmooze (Leadership and networking; Robbie Samuels, host)
The Dear Mattie Show (Advice, humor, storytelling; Matt Mahr, host)
The Upgrade (from Lifehacker; hosts: Melissa Kirsch and Alice Bradley)
School of Podcasting (Just what it sounds like; Dave Jackson, host)
Read to Lead (Business book author interviews; Jeff Brown, host)
Sounds of Berklee (Music and interviews; hosts: Kim Ashton and Bryan Parys)

Carolyn Wilkins: Telling an African American Family’s Hidden Story

Rob Hochschild — Fri, 13 Jul 2018 09:40:00 -0400

Musician Carolyn Wilkins has had an impressive career as a jazz pianist and bandleader, but she was compelled to apply her creative talents in a new direction—writing—after her family griot died. She not only learned why her grandfather left his high-ranking position in Eisenhower’s Labor Department, but uncovered a number of other revelatory stories about her family’s past and made connections to how these ancestors contributed to her own identity.

In this episode, Wilkins talks about beginning her family research (4:30); achievements by members of the Wilkins family (9:00); a great grandfather who was both “very brilliant” and a “serial womanizer” (12:00); discovering unknown relatives through ancestor research (17:30); identity through learning family history (22:30); the relationship between Wilkins’s music and writing (25:00); reasons for her grandfather’s resignation from the federal government (29:00); and J. Ernest Wilkins Sr. role on the first U.S. Civil Rights Commission (31:30).

Ryan Walsh: Van Morrison and Boston in 1968

Rob Hochschild — Fri, 29 Jun 2018 14:17:00 -0400

When historians talk about the importance of 1968 in U.S. history, Boston isn't necessarily the first city that they discuss. But thanks to a new book by Ryan H. Walsh, readers have a chance to learn about some of the ways the national tumult manifested in Massachusetts. Walsh's primary focus is on Van Morrison and how he spent several pivotal months of his young career working on a set of songs while living in Cambridge. But the book, Astral Weeks: A Secret History, also tells the story of a cult leader, a media scene that seemed as influenced by psychedelics as it was truth telling, and a long list of characters and strange events.

During our conversation, Walsh talked about the significance of Astral Weeks (1:30); reasons behind Van Morrison's decision to move to the Boston area (6:00); Mel Lynam and the Fort Hill Community (10:45); the flopping of the Bosstown Sound (19:00); Walsh's process of researching and writing the book (22:45); the Van Morrison Controversy (24:00); recording sessions in New York for Astral Weeks (26:00); the quest for the Catacombs live recordings (27:30); Boston's place in 1968 history (33:00); and Walsh's interviewing process (36:00).

Julio Ricardo Varela | Part 2: Puerto Rico Death Count

Rob Hochschild — Fri, 15 Jun 2018 11:19:00 -0400

In the second part of a conversation with journalist/editor/podcaster Julio Ricardo Varela, he talks about covering the controversy around estimates of deaths relating to Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico (1:00), challenges of being a journalist during the Trump era (15:00) media reports around the Junot Diaz sexual allegations (19:30); balancing hard news and humanity on the In the Thick podcast (25:00); and advice for the next generation of journalists (30:00).

Julio Ricardo Varela: News and Politics from the Latino Perspective

Rob Hochschild — Fri, 08 Jun 2018 17:03:00 -0400

Julio Ricardo Varela began his journalism career working alongside sportswriters like Bob Ryan, Leigh Montville, and Bud Collins but returned to the field years later as a news reporter and multi-media journalist. A Puerto Rico native, Varela was an early adopter of social media platforms and remembers that period as his version of J-school. After founding LatinoRebels.com, he began working with award-winning journalist, author, and PBS host Maria Hinojosa, for Latina USA and Futuro Media. Varela and Hinojosa are also cohosts of the In the Thick podcast, which he calls the "people of color complement to Pod Save America." He has written for the New York Times, ESPN, and The Guardian, among other outlets.

During our conversation, Varela talked about his evolution as a journalist, including such topics as sports reporting for the Boston Globe as a Harvard student (1:30); being an early adopter of Facebook and Twitter (6:45); starting the Latino Rebels news blog (10:00); the new journalism model (15:30); being acquired by Futuro Media (21:00); and a preview of Part 2, when Varela talks about Hurricane Maria and Junot Diaz (27:00).

Adam and Arlie Hochschild: Empathy in Nonfiction

Rob Hochschild — Fri, 01 Jun 2018 11:12:00 -0400

After meeting in 1960, Arlie and Adam Hochschild bonded around common ideals and activism, beginning a partnership that led to marriage, family, and, so far, a combined total of nearly 20 books. Their most recent—Arlie's Strangers in Their Own Land and Adam's Spain in Our Hearts—are must-reads for today's political watchers, focusing, respectively, on Tea Party voters in Louisiana and American journalists and fighters who chose to cover or join the Spanish Civil War.

During our conversation in Boston in 2017, about two months after the inauguration of Donald Trump, topics included supporting each other as writers (5:30); ways in which their 2016 books reflect on contemporary American political life (10:30); the importance of empathy in nonfiction writing (14:30); advice for aspiring writers (23:30); and thoughts on the kinds of journalists and writers needed today (25:00).

Steve Morse: Writing about Rock

Rob Hochschild — Fri, 18 May 2018 10:16:00 -0400

Steve Morse has interviewed and written about some of the biggest names in music, including Bob Marley, Bono, Madonna and Bruce Springsteen. In this episode, the Boston Globe rock critic talks about the highlights of his decades-long career.

During a conversation in his Cambridge, Massachusetts home, Morse talked about: Led Zeppelin, Rolling Stones, and London in 1969 (1:30); early days of rock criticism (5:00); writing on deadline (7:00); roster of interviewees (10:30); Bob Marley in NYC (12:30); interviewing strategies (16:00); climate for music journalism today (20:30); advice for aspiring music writers (24:30); and Bono and U2 (30:30.)

Beth Schwartzapfel: Covering Criminal Justice

Rob Hochschild — Fri, 11 May 2018 10:24:00 -0400

Journalist Beth Schwartzapfel has been covering the criminal justice system for more than a decade, with an emphasis on telling the human stories of prisoners that are often overlooked. She is an award-winning reporter and staff writer at the Marshall Project, and her work has also appeared in publications such as The American Prospect and the New York Times.

During our 2017 conversation, Schwartzapfel talked about her beginnings in journalism (4:00); a college-prison collaboration in Washington state (7:15); low pay for prisoner labor (12:00); moral complexity in covering prisons (18:00); her reporting process (20:30); felony disenfranchisement (23:30); advice for aspiring journalists (27:00); and how she consumes news (30:45).

Alexandria Marzano-Lesnevich: The Fact of a Body

Rob Hochschild — Fri, 04 May 2018 09:21:00 -0400

In a conversation about her book, The Fact of a Body: A Murder and a Memoir, Alexandria Marzano-Lesnevich discusses how writing about the case of a convicted pedophile and murderer compelled her to reexamine her assessments of the legal system and her memories of abuse in her family.

During the 2017 interview, Marzano-Lesnevich talks about connections between storytelling and the law (3:00); structuring and editing her book (8:00); embracing contradiction in the book's narratives and characters (15:30); the death penalty and the hazards of judgement (18:30); truth in nonfiction (23:00); and her newer work focusing on the Cambodian genocide (26:50).

The interview was conducted at The Village Works, in Brookline, Massachusetts.

Julie Shapiro: Radiotopia, Podcasting, and the Art of Creative Audio

Rob Hochschild — Fri, 27 Apr 2018 08:00:00 -0400

When Radiotopia executive producer Julie Shapiro talks about podcasting, you leave with the impression that we should all look at listening as a sacred act. Shapiro has long been one of the world’s most innovative leaders in the art of audio storytel...

Doug Glanville: Sports and Society

Rob Hochschild — Fri, 27 Apr 2018 08:00:00 -0400

Having studied engineering at an Ivy League school before becoming a major league baseball outfielder, Doug Glanville sometimes thought about angles, vectors, and ballistics between pitches. He’s taken the idea of the cerebral athlete to even greater levels, post-career, as a New York Times columnist and a sports commentator whose analysis touches on society, psychology, race, and other ideas.

During a conversation shortly after he left ESPN in 2017, Glanville talks about being an Ivy Leaguer in MLB (1:00); race and bias in sports and life (7:45); his approach to writing essays and columns (16:30); being inspired by other baseball writers (21:00); what he learned from manager Terry Francona 26:30).

Billy Bragg on Skiffle and Music as Resistance

Rob Hochschild — Fri, 27 Apr 2018 08:00:00 -0400

Influenced as much by punk as folk music, England’s great singer/songwriter Billy Bragg has always placed politics and social activism at the center of his creative life. Bragg has a new book out about the history and impact of skiffle: Roots, Radicals, and Rockers.

He paused during his book tour to talk about why he wrote the book (1:00); examples of genre mixing in music that don’t qualify as cultural appropriation (2:50); hip-hop as the musical language of today (5:15); music as revolution, citing the example of Beyonce (6:15); the importance of empathy in music (10:30); and why his best songs connect with audiences (13:00).

A New Podcast: The Media Narrative

Rob Hochschild — Wed, 25 Apr 2018 12:28:00 -0400

In this short introductory episode, you'll learn about the mission of The Media Narrative, a new interview podcast focusing on authors, artists, journalists and others who are shaping the public conversation. You'll also hear clips from a few upcoming episodes.

The Media Narrative

Solo: Looking for Positives

Justice and Journalism with Linn Washington (Part Two)

When Philly Dropped the Bomb

Covering the Killing of Ahmaud Arbery

Land Grab Universities

Lede New Orleans: Newsroom Equity

Julián Aguilar: Reporting from the Border

Season 3 Trailer: Local News

Jim Infantino: Sci-Fi, Music, and the Future

Related Links

Pooja Agarwal: Strategies for Teaching

Related Links

Charles Giuliano: Chronicler of Counterculture

Rona Elliot: Covering Rock for Network Media

The Media Narrative Joins Climate Strike

Jordan Rich: Voice, Radio, and the Art of the Interview

Pod in the Summertime

Susan Rogers: Music and Science

Joia Mukherjee: Global Health Delivery

RELATED LINKS

Marcella Bombardieri: Affordability in Higher Education

Van Morrison Revisited

RELATED LINKS

Brian Coleman: What Ads Teach

RELATED LINKS

Liz Linder: Image and Story

Growing Up on Radio

Duke Levine: Guitar Master

New Orleans Travel Tips

José Massó: Latin Music Radio Legend

RELATED LINKS

New Year, New Plan

Related Links

2018 Year-End Solo Wrap-Up

Chris Faraone: Alternative Press Champion

Matt Jenson: Roots, Reggae, and Activism

Hillary Wright: Healthy Eating and Attitudes

Pre-Midterm Ramblings

Gretchen Rubin: Habits and Happiness

Rick Berlin: Music, Memoir, and Building Community

Mu-Chieh Yun and Iliana Panameño: Elevating Women of Color

Hal Brooks: Guiding New Plays

Nona Hendryx: Music and the Modern Pencil

Family Questions, Podcast Movement

Carolyn Wilkins: Telling an African American Family’s Hidden Story

Ryan Walsh: Van Morrison and Boston in 1968

Julio Ricardo Varela | Part 2: Puerto Rico Death Count

Julio Ricardo Varela: News and Politics from the Latino Perspective

Adam and Arlie Hochschild: Empathy in Nonfiction

Steve Morse: Writing about Rock

Beth Schwartzapfel: Covering Criminal Justice

Alexandria Marzano-Lesnevich: The Fact of a Body

Julie Shapiro: Radiotopia, Podcasting, and the Art of Creative Audio

Doug Glanville: Sports and Society

Billy Bragg on Skiffle and Music as Resistance

A New Podcast: The Media Narrative