Jennifer Egan

Jennifer Egan is an author of novels and short stories. As a journalist, she frequently writes for the New York Times Magazine . Her novel A Visit from the Goon Squad won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction in 2011 and her most recent work Manhattan Beach won the Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction in 2018.

In Contrast #51: The Writer’s Craft - Jennifer Egan

Richard Russo

Richard Russo is the Pulitzer Prize winning author of Empire Falls . His most recent novel is Chances Are .

In Contrast #50: Toxic Masculinity – Richard Russo

Andri Snær Magnason is an Icelandic writer and environmental activist. His latest book is the young adult novel, The Casket of Time .

In Contrast #49: In Search of Heroes -  Andri Snær Magnason

In Contrast will return with a new episode on September 11th with author Andri Snær Magnason.

In Contrast Update 

Ken Rosenthal

Ken Rosenthal is one of the founders of Hampshire College in Amherst Massachusetts. Known for its innovative approach to education, Hampshire announced in 2018 that it was facing a financial crisis and that it was not going to admit a full-class in the fall of 2019. In April 2019, Rosenthal was appointed interim president. The future of Hampshire, like many small liberal arts colleges, is in question.

In Contrast #48: The Future of Hampshire College – Ken Rosenthal

Aaron Becker

Aaron Becker is an author and illustrator of children’s books. In 2014, Becker was a Caldecott honoree for “Journey,” part 1 of a trilogy of books that includes “Quest” and “Return.”

In Contrast #47 - Stories without Words - Aaron Becker

Carolyn Beeler

Carolyn Beeler is an environmental reporter for the Public Radio International program The World . She recently returned from Antarctica where she was on a scientific expedition to the Thwaites Glacier which many scientists believe is melting because of global climate change.

In Contrast Special: Thwaites Glacier - Carolyn Beeler

Jennifer Acker

A teacher at Amherst College, Jennifer Acker is the founder and editor of the literary magazine The Common . The Limits of the World is her debut novel.

In Contrast Episode #46 - The Limits of the World - Jennifer Acker

Barry Lopez

Barry Lopez is the author of sixteen books of both fiction and nonfiction. Regarded as one of the nation’s premier nature writers, Lopez won a National Book Award in 1986 for Arctic Dreams and was a finalist for Of Wolves and Men . Lopez has travelled extensively to remote regions of the world, an experience that he chronicles in his most recent book Horizon .

In Contrast Episode #45 - Horizon - Barry Lopez

Peter Cole

Peter Cole is a MacArthur winning poet and translator. He is the author of several books of his poetry and translations of medieval and contemporary Hebrew and Arabic poetry.

In Contrast Episode #44 - Writing on the Wall - Peter Cole

In Contrast, explores culture in the making with host Ilan Stavans. This 50 episode series explores creativity and the creative process through the eyes of artists, activists, translators, writers, politicians and musicians, in a space that encourages diverse perspectives and where divergent voices can be heard. From New England Public Media. Music heard on In Contrast is provided by the Fresh Cut Orchestra.

In Contrast with host Ilan Stavans is a precious local gem poised for global discovery. I tend toward podcasts produced at a distance, to broaden my mind and my world. I regularly consume news, politics, humor and alternative thinking via podcast. In Contrast enriches and rounds that mix of inputs for me by bringing art, collection, creation, imagination, reflection, transformation - all the wonders of the individual human, curated and shared to enrich the (my) collective human experience. I was stunned and thrilled to discover that In Contrast is produced in my own backyard - I even had the good fortune of meeting host Ilan Stavans and producer John Voci while volunteering at the fund drive for my NPR affiliate - they are as cool and curious as the In Contrast show suggests they would be. Too local? Heck no! This show takes me far and wide - love it!

Local Treasure

I love the podcast with Peter Sokolowski from Websters dictionary on words. Fascinating!

Such a fan!

In Contrast

Andre Dubus III

Andre Dubus III, author of the novels House of Sand and Fog and The Garden of Last Days and the memoir Townie , talks with Ilan Stavans about writing, reading and his latest novel Gone So Long .

In Contrast Episode #38 - The Truth of Fiction - Andre Dubus III

Martha Nussbaum

Martha Nussbaum is a philosopher known for her work in ancient Greek and Roman philosophy, political philosophy, feminism and ethics. A teacher at the University of Chicago, she is the author of numerous books, the latest being The Monarchy of Fear: A Philosopher Looks at Our Political Crisis .

In Contrast #39 - The Realm of Emotions - Martha Nussbaum

Christopher King

Epirus

Christopher King is a collector of 78 RPM records and a producer and author specializing in pre-war rural American music and music from Eastern Europe, the Balkans and the Mediterranean. He is the author of Lament from Epirus: An Odyssey into Europe’s Oldest Surviving Folk Music and the compiler of several recent recordings specializing in the music from northern Greece.

In Contrast Episode #40 - The Music of Epirus and the Collector’s Obsession - Christopher King

Grace Talusan

Born in the Philippines, Grace Talusan is the 2017 Restless Books Prize winner for New Immigrant Writing for Nonfiction. She is the author of the memoir, The Body Papers , a courageous memoir that explores immigration, the trauma of abuse and the female body.

In Contrast Episode #41 - Is Courage Measurable? - Grace Talusan

Stephanie Houtzeel

John Milbauer

Stephanie Houtzeel is a mezzo-soprano who is currently a member of the Vienna State Opera. Pianist John Milbauer is a Steinway artist and teacher at the University of Arizona.

# 37 - The Power of Voice - Stephanie Houtzeel & John Milbauer

Jarrett Krosoczka

Jarrett Krosoczka is an author and illustrator best known for his Lunch Lady Series of books. In 2018, he published Hey Kiddo , a graphic memoir about growing-up with his grandparents because his mother was a heroin addict.

In Contrast Episode #43 - Hey Kiddo – Jarrett Krosoczka

Marcelo Brodsky

Marcelo Brodsky is an Argentine photographer and human rights activist. His recent work has explored violence in Mexico, South Africa and the United States.

In Contrast Episode #42 - Photography as Testimony - Marcelo Brodsky

The best podcast episodes on physical health. Episodes talk about your diet, sleep, exercise and all the things that people do to improve their physical health and live a healthier life. This topic is for everyone, with applications in all of our everyday lives. Add episodes you're interested into your queue below!

Best Episodes on Physical Health & Your Body

The best podcasts about ourselves as well as the world through the lense of Science. Specific topics include things about our brain, emotions to biology, physics and more!