The Bat Segundo Show was a long-running cultural radio program devoted to quirky and very thorough long-form interviews with contemporary authors, idiosyncratic thinkers, and other assorted artists. Guests included David Lynch, Octavia Butler, John Waters, John Updike, Stephen Fry, Marilynne Robinson, Karen Russell, Weird Al Yankovic, Robert A. Caro, and more than 500 others. There was also a program called Follow Your Ears, which was a thematic investigative counterpart, in which I pursued a specific subject through several angles. The entire archive of what I did from 2005 to 2014 is included here.
Michelle Goldberg is most recently the author of The Means of Reproduction. Condition of Mr. Segundo: Wondering if there’s any fate in what we make. Author: Michelle Goldberg Subjects Discussed: Paul Ehrlich’s The Population Bomb, the proper response to reproductive rights issues, the damage of hyperbolic predictions, European birth rates, parental leave and working mothers, […]
Listen: Play in new window | Download (Running Time: 49:12 — 45.1MB)
MoreNelson George is most recently the author of City Kid. Condition of Mr. Segundo: Drowning in the inevitable tide of gentrification. Author: Nelson George Subjects Discussed: George’s thoughts on Fort Greene, gentrification, black artists and real estate, the inevitable nature of change, finding a balance between the personal and the artistic, artistic arrogance, on not […]
Listen: Play in new window | Download (Running Time: 41:20 — 37.8MB)
MoreCarl Wilson is the author of Let’s Talk About Love and reports indicate that he is loved, in turn, by the actor James Franco. Condition of Mr. Segundo: Evading the pomp and circumstance of cultural taxonomies. Author: Carl Wilson Subjects Discussed: Celine Dion and incompatible tastes, Elliott Smith, the questioning of canonical knowledge, Paul Valery’s […]
Listen: Play in new window | Download (Running Time: 44:38 — 40.9MB)
MoreNeil deGrasse Tyson is most recently the author of The Pluto Files. Condition of Mr. Segundo: Reconfiguring his planetary paradigm, with the aid of minatory electrodes. Author: Neil deGrasse Tyson Subjects Discussed: The Great Planet Debate, sensible classification systems, “reorganizing” the solar system, why the International Astronomical Union wasn’t approached before the Rose Center display […]
Listen: Play in new window | Download (Running Time: 26:39 — 24.4MB)
MoreRobert G. Kaiser has worked at the Washington Post since 1963. He is most recently the author of So Damn Much Money: The Triumph of Lobbying and the Corrosion of American Government. Condition of Mr. Segundo: Still waiting for the lobbyists to work out a deal with him. Author: Robert G. Kaiser Subjects Discussed: Obama’s […]
Listen: Play in new window | Download (Running Time: 34:00 — 31.1MB)
MoreShauna Reid is most recently the author of The Amazing Adventures of Dietgirl. Condition of Mr. Segundo: Still stinging from his measly memoir efforts. Author: Shauna Reid Subjects Discussed: Whether the pursuit of truth is more natural through an anonymous journal, writing as “burdening people,” compartmentalizing online identities, self-esteem, contending with the permanent nature of […]
Listen: Play in new window | Download (Running Time: 39:27 — 36.1MB)
MoreDavid Denby is most recently the author of Snark. Please also see our lengthy essay, in response to Adam Sternbergh’s review. This conversation represents an effort to get Denby to answer questions raised by both pieces. Condition of Mr. Segundo: Ordered against using a snarky tone. Author: David Denby Subjects Discussed: Whether or not Denby […]
Listen: Play in new window | Download (Running Time: 51:23 — 47.1MB)
MoreAzar Nafisi is most recently the author of Things I’ve Been Silent About, as well as Reading Lolita in Tehran. Condition of Mr. Segundo: Reliving transcendent memories. Author: Azar Nafisi Subjects Discussed: Authenticity, W.G. Sebald, photographs and text, Iranian birth certificates, being true to the story when writing a memoir, accuracy and memoirs, the extraordinary […]
Listen: Play in new window | Download (Running Time: 40:04 — 36.7MB)
MoreNorah Vincent is most recently the author of Voluntary Madness. Condition of Mr. Segundo: Challenging pseudonymous authorities about his voluntary commitment. Author: Norah Vincent Subjects Discussed: The Lanterman-Petris-Short Act, homelessness and mental health care, the revolving door of mental institutions, Marvin Olasky and community responsibility, the bureaucratic process of mental health care, why Vincent didn’t […]
Listen: Play in new window | Download (Running Time: 27:26 — 25.1MB)
MoreAlex Beckstead is the filmmaker behind Paperback Dreams, a documentary on independent bookstores. The documentary is now touring around the nation and is making appearances on PBS. Condition of Mr. Segundo: Surrendering to hard-boiled journalists. Guest: Alex Beckstead Subjects Discussed: Why Beckstead singled out Cody’s and Kepler’s over other Bay Area bookstores, Kepler’s as a […]
Listen: Play in new window | Download (Running Time: 46:10 — 42.3MB)
MoreAlison Bechdel is most recently the author of The Essential Dykes to Watch Out For. To listen to our previous interview with Bechdel, check out The Bat Segundo Show #63. Condition of Mr. Segundo: Overly concerned with modifiers attached to artists. Author: Alison Bechdel Subjects Discussed: The relationship between visual developments and storyline developments, how […]
Listen: Play in new window | Download (Running Time: 39:51 — 36.5MB)
MoreJust in time for Election Day! David Rees is most recently the author of Get Your War On: The Definitive Account of the War on Terror: 2001-2008. Condition of Mr. Segundo: Struggling to cast his vote. Author: David Rees Subjects Discussed: Why red was selected for the Get Your War On backgrounds, My New Filing […]
Listen: Play in new window | Download (Running Time: 31:40 — 29.0MB)
More