Today, George Saunders returns! We discuss Liberation Day, his first short-story collection in nine years (3:40), the influence of Chekhov and Gogol (4:56), and a timely passage on democracy from “Love Letter” (8:35). Then, we unpack how he builds stories (13:30), a guiding philosophy from our first talk (14:58), and an excerpt from the titular story, “Liberation Day” (21:30).

On the back-half, we talk about the power of revision through “Elliott Spencer” (27:40), the seeds of the book’s moving final story, “My House” (36:34), the ‘failures in compassion’ it reveals (40:50), Saunders’ enduring relationship with his wife (45:08), and how he hopes to continue surprising himself as a writer, at 63 (48:40).

Today, George Saunders returns! We discuss Liberation Day, his first short-story collection in nine years (3:40), the influence of Chekhov and Gogol (4:56), and a timely passage on democracy from “Love Letter” (8:35). Then, we unpack how he builds stories (13:30), a guiding philosophy from our first talk (14:58), and an excerpt from the titular story, “Liberation Day” (21:30).
On the back-half, we talk about the power of revision through “Elliott Spencer” (27:40), the seeds of the book’s moving final story, “My House” (36:34), the ‘failures in compassion’ it reveals (40:50), Saunders’ enduring relationship with his wife (45:08), and how he hopes to continue surprising himself as a writer, at 63 (48:40).

Talk Easy with Sam Fragoso is a weekly series of intimate conversations with artists, activists, and politicians. Where people sound like people. Hosted by Sam Fragoso. New episodes every Sunday.

Where people sound like people, since 2016.

Talk Easy with Sam Fragoso

Writer George Saunders, Moment by Moment

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/b192ccdb-214f-404c-a859-af4500197df6/transcript

Today, in honor of National Poetry Month, we’re returning to our conversation with Rupi Kaur. Her debut collection, milk and honey, turns 10 this year.

At the top of our conversation, Kaur reflects on her international tour (4:44), her childhood in Canada (13:05), how she processes trauma through writing (22:13), her college photo series on menstruation that went viral (23:33), and the self-published poetry collection (milk and honey)that followed (29:20). In the aftermath of this unexpected attention, Rupi speaks candidly on the emotional toll of the last decade (30:43) and how she reckons with her critics today (32:35), before reading a poem written in response to their harassment (41:09).

On the back-half, Rupi describes her powerful connection to her heritage (42:41), understanding her mother’s sacrifices (43:15), which she recounts in Broken English (45:52), and the ways in which her work has evolved (54:08). To close, she performs two personal pieces from home body (56:17) and shares why she’s ready to get back on the stage, doing what she loves to do (58:43).

For questions, comments, or to join our mailing list, reach me at sf@talkeasypod.com.

Today, in honor of National Poetry Month, we’re returning to our conversation with Rupi Kaur. Her debut collection, <a href="https://rupikaur.com/pages/milk-and-honey-10th-anniversary-edition">milk and honey</a>, turns 10 this year.
At the top of our conversation, Kaur reflects on her international tour (4:44), her childhood in Canada (13:05), how she processes trauma through writing (22:13), her college photo series on menstruation that went viral (23:33), and the self-published poetry collection (milk and honey) that followed (29:20). In the aftermath of this unexpected attention, Rupi speaks candidly on the emotional toll of the last decade (30:43) and how she reckons with her critics today (32:35), before reading a poem written in response to their harassment (41:09).
On the back-half, Rupi describes her powerful connection to her heritage (42:41), understanding her mother’s sacrifices (43:15), which she recounts in Broken English (45:52), and the ways in which her work has evolved (54:08). To close, she performs two personal pieces from home body (56:17) and shares why she’s ready to get back on the stage, doing what she loves to do (58:43).
For questions, comments, or to join our mailing list, reach me at sf@talkeasypod.com.

Poet Rupi Kaur: 10 Years of 'Milk and Honey'

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/3491dd15-0a10-4aee-b04d-b1590075168e/transcript

Actor Jeff Daniels is always writing. Plays, songs, a script or two. Even in interviews you get the sense the Michigan native is trying to relay the stories of his life in a way he’d find compelling as a reader, or listener. Bystander — as a viewer. 

He joins us this week around the latest chapter of his crime series American Rust(12:30), reprising his role as Police Chief Del Harris. It’s a performance inspired by his midwestern upbringing in Chelsea, Michigan (16:06) and the formative teachings of theater director Marshall W. Mason (21:20). Then, Daniels reflects on his arrival to New York City in 1976 (24:06), performing in Lanford Wilson’s play Fifth of July (27:20), and his early on-screen roles in Jonathan Demme’s Something Wild (31:10), Woody Allen’s The Purple Rose of Cairo (34:20), and Noah Baumbach’s The Squid and the Whale (44:20).

On the back-half, we walk through his years making The Newsroom (51:48), working with screenwriter (and then playwright) Aaron Sorkin (53:20), and how the two of them reimagined Atticus Finch and To Kill a Mockingbird for both Broadway (59:49) and what he calls “a country at a crossroads” (1:05:33). To close, we sit with the utility of good writing in this fraught era (1:10:30), and a musical tribute to his late father, Robert (1:15:32).

For questions, comments, or to join our mailing list, reach me at sf@talkeasypod.com. 

Actor Jeff Daniels is always writing. Plays, songs, a script or two. Even in interviews you get the sense the Michigan native is trying to relay the stories of his life in a way he’d find compelling as a reader, or listener. Bystander — as a viewer. 
He joins us this week around the latest chapter of his crime series <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/amzn1.dv.gti.ed5c00e5-14c1-4c8a-b7fb-907f1a3872be?autoplay=0&amp;ref_=atv_cf_strg_wb">American Rust</a> (12:30), reprising his role as Police Chief Del Harris. It’s a performance inspired by his midwestern upbringing in Chelsea, Michigan (16:06) and the formative teachings of theater director Marshall W. Mason (21:20). Then, Daniels reflects on his arrival to New York City in 1976 (24:06), performing in Lanford Wilson’s play Fifth of July (27:20), and his early on-screen roles in Jonathan Demme’s Something Wild (31:10), Woody Allen’s The Purple Rose of Cairo (34:20), and Noah Baumbach’s The Squid and the Whale (44:20).
On the back-half, we walk through his years making The Newsroom (51:48), working with screenwriter (and then playwright) Aaron Sorkin (53:20), and how the two of them reimagined Atticus Finch and To Kill a Mockingbird for both Broadway (59:49) and what he calls “a country at a crossroads” (1:05:33). To close, we sit with the utility of good writing in this fraught era (1:10:30), and a musical tribute to his late father, Robert (1:15:32).
For questions, comments, or to join our mailing list, reach me at sf@talkeasypod.com.

The Stories of Actor Jeff Daniels

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/991fc592-db3c-43dd-981b-b15200576f82/transcript

Actor Dev Patel has pursued interesting, complex roles in Hollywood since his arrival in Slumdog Millionaire fifteen years ago. He joins us today to discuss Monkey Man, his directorial debut and most personal project to date.

At the top, we walk through the Hindu mythology that inspired the film (12:30), his decade-long fight to get the project greenlit (16:17), and the conditions of filming on an island during the pandemic (18:08). Then, Dev describes his intense creative process (27:02), how he landed his TV debut at sixteen as a sex-crazed teenager on Skins (28:33), and his life-changing role in Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire (35:40).

On the back-half, Patel reflects on his years in The Newsroom (47:24), the films that followed, including Garth Davis’ Lion (49:52) and David Lowery’s The Green Knight (51:30), and how director/producer Jordan Peele saved Monkey Man from oblivion (56:32).

For questions, comments, or to join our mailing list, reach me at sf@talkeasypod.com. 

Actor Dev Patel has pursued interesting, complex roles in Hollywood since his arrival in Slumdog Millionaire fifteen years ago. He joins us today to discuss <a href="https://www.monkeyman.movie/tickets/">Monkey Man</a>, his directorial debut and most personal project to date.
At the top, we walk through the Hindu mythology that inspired the film (12:30), his decade-long fight to get the project greenlit (16:17), and the conditions of filming on an island during the pandemic (18:08). Then, Dev describes his intense creative process (27:02), how he landed his TV debut at sixteen as a sex-crazed teenager on Skins (28:33), and his life-changing role in Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire (35:40).
On the back-half, Patel reflects on his years in The Newsroom (47:24), the films that followed, including Garth Davis’ Lion (49:52) and David Lowery’s The Green Knight (51:30), and how director/producer Jordan Peele saved Monkey Man from oblivion (56:32).
For questions, comments, or to join our mailing list, reach me at sf@talkeasypod.com.

Actor and Director Dev Patel is a Leading Man

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/7af15077-3a9e-42d9-b272-b14b004392fd/transcript

Writer George Saunders, Moment by Moment

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