This hour, author and film critic Alissa Wilkinson joins us to talk about Joan Didion, Hollywood, and how we make sense of our politics.

GUEST:
Alissa Wilkinson: Movie critic at The New York Times. Her latest book is We Tell Ourselves Stories: Joan Didion and the American Dream Machine

This hour, author and film critic Alissa Wilkinson joins us to talk about Joan Didion, Hollywood, and how we make sense of our politics.
GUEST:
<ul>
<li>Alissa Wilkinson:&nbsp;Movie critic at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/by/alissa-wilkinson">The New York Times</a>. Her latest book is&nbsp;<a href="https://www.alissawilkinson.com/didion-we-tell-ourselves-stories">We Tell Ourselves Stories: Joan Didion and the American Dream Machine</a></li>
</ul>

The Colin McEnroe Show is public radio’s most eclectic, eccentric weekday program. The best way to understand us is through the subjects we tackle: Neanderthals, tambourines, handshakes, the Iliad, snacks, ringtones, punk rock, Occam’s razor, Rasputin, houseflies, zippers. Are you sensing a pattern? If so, you should probably be in treatment. On Fridays, we try to stop thinking about what kind of ringtones Neanderthals would want to have and convene a panel called The Nose for an informal roundtable about the week in culture.

<a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/show/the-colin-mcenroe-show/about">The Colin McEnroe Show</a> is public radio’s most eclectic, eccentric weekday program. The best way to understand us is through the subjects we tackle: Neanderthals, tambourines, handshakes, the Iliad, snacks, ringtones, punk rock, Occam’s razor, Rasputin, houseflies, zippers. Are you sensing a pattern? If so, you should probably be in treatment. On Fridays, we try to stop thinking about what kind of ringtones Neanderthals would want to have and convene a panel called <a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/tags/the-nose">The Nose</a> for an informal roundtable about the week in culture.

The Colin McEnroe Show

Alissa Wilkinson on Joan Didion, Hollywood, and American mythmaking

This hour, we look at what rights individuals and protesters have. And we ask: are our rights changing? And what can we do about that?

Plus, we take a look at what rights we have online, and what we should know about digital surveillance and privacy.

GUESTS:
Dan Barrett: American Civil Liberties Union of Connecticut's legal director
Dahlia Lithwick: Writes about the courts and the law for Slate and hosts the podcast "Amicus". She is the author of Lady Justice: Women, the Law, and the Battle to Save America
Cindy Cohn: Executive Director of the Electronic Frontier Foundation. Her forthcoming book is Privacy's Defender: My Thirty-Year Fight Against Digital Surveillance

MUSIC FEATURED (in order):
Cálice – Chico Buarque & Milton Nascimento
Student Demonstration Time – The Beach Boys
Is It Because I’m Black – Syl Johnson
What’s Goin’ On – Marvin Gaye
The People Have the Power – Patti Smith
The Veil – Peter Gabriel

This hour, we look at what rights individuals and protesters have. And we ask: are our rights changing? And what can we do about that?
Plus, we take a look at what rights we have online, and what we should know about digital surveillance and privacy.
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li>Dan Barrett:&nbsp;American Civil Liberties Union of Connecticut's legal director</li>
<li>Dahlia Lithwick:&nbsp;Writes about the courts and the law for&nbsp;<a href="https://slate.com/author/dahlia-lithwick">Slate</a>&nbsp;and hosts the podcast "<a href="https://slate.com/podcasts/amicus">Amicus</a>". She is the author of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/598207/lady-justice-by-dahlia-lithwick/">Lady Justice: Women, the Law, and the Battle to Save America</a></li>
<li>Cindy Cohn:&nbsp;Executive Director of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.eff.org/about/staff/cindy-cohn">Electronic Frontier Foundation</a>. Her forthcoming book is&nbsp;<a href="https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262051248/privacys-defender/">Privacy's Defender: My Thirty-Year Fight Against Digital Surveillance</a></li>
</ul>
MUSIC FEATURED (in order):
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzlniinsBeY">C&aacute;lice</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Chico Buarque &amp; Milton Nascimento</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gX_KAXT_60">Student Demonstration Time</a>&nbsp;&ndash; The Beach Boys</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZXNg4Z72f0">Is It Because I&rsquo;m Black</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Syl Johnson</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBvnBzjLJsc">What&rsquo;s Goin&rsquo; On</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Marvin Gaye</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6Wz3i_BYUc">The People Have the Power</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Patti Smith</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqFKjz4l9u0">The Veil</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Peter Gabriel</li>
</ul>

A refresher on your rights and why they’re worth fighting for

This hour, author and film critic Alissa Wilkinson joins us to talk about Joan Didion, Hollywood, and how we make sense of our politics.

GUEST: 


Alissa Wilkinson: Movie critic at The New York Times. Her latest book is We Tell Ourselves Stories: Joan Didion and the American Dream Machine

The Colin McEnroe Show is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode!

Subscribe to The Noseletter, an email compendium of merriment, secrets, and ancient wisdom brought to you by The Colin McEnroe Show.

Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter.

Colin McEnroe and Dylan Reyes contributed to this show, which originally aired on July 10, 2025.

This hour, author and film critic Alissa Wilkinson joins us to talk about Joan Didion, Hollywood, and how we make sense of our politics.
GUEST:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>
Alissa Wilkinson: Movie critic at <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/by/alissa-wilkinson">The New York Times</a>. Her latest book is <a href="https://www.alissawilkinson.com/didion-we-tell-ourselves-stories">We Tell Ourselves Stories: Joan Didion and the American Dream Machine</a>
</li>
</ul>
The Colin McEnroe Show is available as a podcast on&nbsp;<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-colin-mcenroe-show/id714179884">Apple Podcasts</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/0AXtqrzWounIoJyIqz003p">Spotify</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/9b6b3cee-f69b-4729-a78b-181f851d80e8/the-colin-mcenroe-show">Amazon Music</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://tunein.com/podcasts/News--Politics-Podcasts/The-Colin-McEnroe-Show-p1208473/">TuneIn</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/the-colin-mcenroe-show-connecticut-public-lXR08dxQSM5/">Listen Notes</a>, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode!
<a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/newsletters">Subscribe to&nbsp;The Noseletter</a>, an email compendium of merriment, secrets, and ancient wisdom brought to you by&nbsp;The Colin McEnroe Show.
Join the conversation on&nbsp;<a href="https://facebook.com/ColinMcShow">Facebook</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/colinmcshow">Twitter</a>.
Colin McEnroe and Dylan Reyes contributed to this show, which originally aired on July 10, 2025.

Is Wuthering Heights “the greatest love story of all time?” Or is it a tale of hate, violence, and vengeance? Or maybe a gothic satire?

This hour we look at Emily Brontë’s novel and how it was received when it was published in 1847.

Plus, a look at the highest-grossing movie of the year so far — Emerald Fennell’s loosely adapted “Wuthering Heights” — and how it stacks up against other retellings.

GUESTS:
Richard Brody: The movies editor for Goings On About Town at The New Yorker
Claire O’Callaghan: Editor-in-chief of Brontë Studies and the author of Emily Brontë Reappraised
Irene Papoulis: Taught writing for a long time at Trinity College

MUSIC FEATURED (in order):
Wuthering Heights – Cecile McLorin Salvant
Wuthering Heights – Kate Bush
I Am Stretched on Your Grave – Eithne Ni Uallachain
Out of Myself – Charli xcx
Chains of Love – Charli xcx
As Time Goes By – Julie London

The Colin McEnroe Show is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode!

Subscribe to The Noseletter, an email compendium of merriment, secrets, and ancient wisdom brought to you by The Colin McEnroe Show.

Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter.

Colin McEnroe and Dylan Reyes contributed to this show.

Is Wuthering Heights &ldquo;the greatest love story of all time?&rdquo; Or is it a tale of hate, violence, and vengeance? Or maybe a gothic satire?
This hour we look at Emily Bront&euml;&rsquo;s novel and how it was received when it was published in 1847.
Plus, a look at the highest-grossing movie of the year so far &mdash; Emerald Fennell&rsquo;s loosely adapted &ldquo;Wuthering Heights&rdquo; &mdash; and how it stacks up against other retellings.
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li>Richard Brody: The movies editor for&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/goings-on-about-town">Goings On About Town</a>&nbsp;at The New Yorker</li>
<li>Claire O&rsquo;Callaghan: Editor-in-chief of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/journals/ybst20">Bront&euml; Studies</a>&nbsp;and the author of&nbsp;<a href="https://saraband.net/sb-title/emily-bronte-reappraised/">Emily Bront&euml; Reappraised</a></li>
<li>Irene Papoulis: Taught writing for a long time at Trinity College</li>
</ul>
MUSIC FEATURED (in order):
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbM1yuJuWls">Wuthering Heights</a> &ndash; Cecile McLorin Salvant</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1pMMIe4hb4">Wuthering Heights</a> &ndash; Kate Bush</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wn5UM8xX8gk">I Am Stretched on Your Grave</a> &ndash; Eithne Ni Uallachain</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-GbSQRenZ4">Out of Myself</a> &ndash; Charli xcx</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tG1HKY6Jwas">Chains of Love</a> &ndash; Charli xcx</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AU10qLP5-xY">As Time Goes By</a> &ndash; Julie London</li>
</ul>
The Colin McEnroe Show is available as a podcast on <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-colin-mcenroe-show/id714179884">Apple Podcasts</a>, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/0AXtqrzWounIoJyIqz003p">Spotify</a>, <a href="https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/9b6b3cee-f69b-4729-a78b-181f851d80e8/the-colin-mcenroe-show">Amazon Music</a>, <a href="https://tunein.com/podcasts/News--Politics-Podcasts/The-Colin-McEnroe-Show-p1208473/">TuneIn</a>, <a href="https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/the-colin-mcenroe-show-connecticut-public-lXR08dxQSM5/">Listen Notes</a>, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode!
<a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/newsletters">Subscribe to The Noseletter</a>, an email compendium of merriment, secrets, and ancient wisdom brought to you by The Colin McEnroe Show.
Join the conversation on <a href="https://facebook.com/ColinMcShow">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/colinmcshow">Twitter</a>.
Colin McEnroe and Dylan Reyes contributed to this show.

Alissa Wilkinson on Joan Didion, Hollywood, and American mythmaking

In 1 playlist(s)

The Colin McEnroe Show

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips