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.
Eric Kraft is most recently the author of Flying. This is the second of a three part conversation with Kraft about all of his Peter Leroy books, an epic of more than a million words which Our Young Roving Correspondent was insane enough to read. These podcasts tie in with a roundtable discussion of Flying […]
Listen: Play in new window | Download (Running Time: 40:31 — 37.1MB)
MoreEric Kraft is most recently the author of Flying. This is the first of a three part conversation with Kraft about all of his Peter Leroy books, an epic of more than a million words which Our Young Roving Correspondent was insane enough to read. These podcasts tie in with a roundtable discussion of Flying […]
Listen: Play in new window | Download (Running Time: 38:48 — 35.5MB)
MoreCharlie Huston is most recently the author of The Mystic Arts of Erasing All Signs of Death. To listen to our previous interview with Mr. Huston, check out The Bat Segundo Show #98. Condition of Mr. Segundo: Looking for an efficient and affordable cleanup service. Author: Charlie Huston Subjects Discussed: Huston’s concern for locative detail, […]
Listen: Play in new window | Download (Running Time: 38:51 — 35.6MB)
MoreCatherynne M. Valente is most recently the author of Palimpsest. Condition of Mr. Segundo: Looking for a way into a secret city. Author: Catherynne M. Valente Subjects Discussed: Writing a novel with four character perspectives, how structure influences perspective, the importance of numbers, color theory, thriving on restriction, Neal Stephenson, the importance of flow and […]
Listen: Play in new window | Download (Running Time: 45:18 — 41.5MB)
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 […]
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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)
MoreNick Antosca is most recently the author of Midnight Picnic. Condition of Mr. Segundo: Terrified about what his ex-wife does during a midnight picnic. Author: Nick Antosca Subjects Discussed: The lack of picnics in Midnight Picnic, Jackie Corley’s confusion with the title, Midnight Picnic vs. Midnight Panic, dream logic, mouth birth dogs, Mr. Antosca’s lifelong […]
Listen: Play in new window | Download (Running Time: 49:39 — 45.5MB)
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)
MoreChazz Palminteri is the star of Yonkers Joe. Robert Celestino is the writer and director of Yonkers Joe. The film opens in theaters on January 9, 2009. Condition of Mr. Segundo: Fleeing the scene to avoid “coming together” with the imposing Mr. Palminteri. Guests: Chazz Palminteri and Robert Celestino Subjects Discussed: Robert Mitchum’s theory of […]
Listen: Play in new window | Download (Running Time: 29:33 — 27.1MB)
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)
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