Podcasts by Big Books

From the archives: Tayari Jones on 'An American Marriage' from 2022-03-03T15:09:42

What happens to a marriage when two people are forced to live apart?

In Tayari Jones' 2018 novel, "Listen

From the archives: Author Dina Nayeri on breaking down refugee stereotypes from 2022-03-01T16:00

Dina Nayeri fled the Iran revolution with her family when she was 8. We’re revisiting Nayeri’s 2019 book, "The Ungrateful Refugee: What Immigrants Never Tell You,” and the conversation host...

Marlon James on the power of witches and women from 2022-02-25T17:57

Marlon James once described his 2019 novel “Black Leopard, Red Wolf” as an African “Game of Thrones” — grimdark fantasy fiction that was Listen

From the archives: Marlon James on 'Black Leopard, Red Wolf' from 2022-02-22T14:01:22

Novelist Marlon James is out with the second novel in his fantastical trilogy. It’s called “Moon Witch, Spider King,” and host Kerri Miller will talk to him about it at noon Friday as part of Bi...

'The Violin Conspiracy' is a musical who-done-it with deep notes from 2022-02-15T18:10:16

Like the protagonist of his new, breakaway novel, author Brendan Slocumb is a Black violinist. He knows the monotony of daily practice punctuated by the occasional thrill of performance. He’s ex...

The pain of breaking up through the lens of science from 2022-02-10T22:00

After her husband of 25 years left her, Florence Williams channeled her pain into a new book that looks at how broken hearts affect us, body and soul.

Why power entices the wrong kind of people from 2022-02-03T14:59:53

The adage, “absolute power corrupts absolutely,” feels relevant today. Listen

The golden age of animation from 2022-01-27T15:30

Steamboat Willie might be the first thing that springs to mind when you think of early cartoons. But the golden age of animation was far from simple and saccharine. Join Kerri Miller for a conve...

Booker Prize finalist Nadifa Mohamed's novel revisits Somali seaman's fate in '50s Wales from 2022-01-21T19:40

It took many decades after Mahmood Mattan’s execution at Cardiff Prison in Wales for his name to be cleared over a killing he did not commit.

Booker Prize finalist Nadifa Mohamed remembe...

In an emotional memoir, a sports writer reflects on the loss of his son from 2022-01-12T19:30

When celebrated ESPN writer Ivan Maisel’s son died by suicide in 2015, he channeled his grief into words. His deeply personal and moving book, “I Keep Trying to Catch His Eye: A Memoir of Loss,...

How civil wars start and why Barbara F. Walter says it could happen again in America from 2022-01-07T20:00

When Barbara F. Walter started researching her book, “How Civil Wars Start, and How t...

The best books of 2021 from three authors who also own bookstores from 2021-12-31T19:00

For our final Big Books and Bold Ideas show of the year, host Kerri Miller talks with three writers who also own bookstores and invites them to share the titles from 2021 they loved and were mos...

Author Ann Patchett on friendship, time and the idea of 'enoughness' from 2021-12-14T18:00

Ann Patchett is out with a new collection of essays. Join Kerri Miller for a wide-ranging conversation with Patchett about being present, the gift of friendship, and how the pandemic can reveal ...

Author Ann Patchett on friendship, time and the idea of 'enoughness' from 2021-12-14T18:00

Ann Patchett is out with a new collection of essays. Join Kerri Miller for a wide-ranging conversation with Patchett about being present, the gift of friendship, and how the pandemic can reveal ...

Phil Klay's new book examines the globalization of violence from 2021-12-10T19:25

Marine Corps veteran Phil Klay won the National Book Award in 2014 for his first book, “Redeployment,” a collective of stories that emerged from his service in the Iraq War.

His much-ant...

A political thriller about sexual misconduct in the #MeToo era from 2021-12-01T17:00

On this week’s show about big books and bold ideas — what a lawyer who investigates sex crimes says about the state of #MeToo and writing a novel about his experience. 

Kate Bowler on how to be fully, imperfectly, gloriously human from 2021-11-26T18:00

Kate Bowler is back with another bestseller. In her new book, “No Cure for Being Human,” she asks: How do you move forward with a life you didn’t choose? Bowler talks with host Kerri Miller abou...

N. West Moss' new memoir centers on infertility and legacy from 2021-11-17T16:30

What does it mean to leave a legacy if you can’t have kids?

That’s the core question N. West Moss wrestles with in her new memoir, “Flesh & Blood.” Honest, wise and filled with momen...

Louise Erdrich's 'The Sentence' explores ghosts and grief, joy and intimacy from 2021-11-12T18:00

In Louise Erdrich’s new novel, “The Sentence,” a bookseller with a fervent love of reading reads a page in a book that a ghost has been reading. She discovers that one of the sentences on that p...

Talking Volumes: William Kent Krueger on 'Lightning Strike' from 2021-11-04T17:00

The New York Times bestselling author of “This Tender Land” joined host Kerri Miller at the Fitzgerald Theater for the finale of this season’s Talking Volumes.

How much do you really know about Daniel Boone? from 2021-10-29T16:00

There’s more to Daniel Boone than the stereotype of an explorer wearing deerskin and a raccoon hat.

On her Friday book show, MPR News host Kerri Miller sorted fact from fiction with the ...

Talking Volumes: Amor Towles on 'The Lincoln Highway' from 2021-10-21T20:10

Host Kerri Miller’s third Talking Volumes event of the season took place on Wednesday, Oct. 13, with Amor Towles, whose latest book is “The Lincoln Highway.”

Climate scientist Katharine Hayhoe says all is not lost from 2021-10-15T16:00

Dealing with climate change can feel overwhelming. Efforts to address it can feel futile.

But climate scientist Katharine Hayhoe insists all is not lost. In this week’s conversation about...

Talking Volumes: Kate DiCamillo on 'The Beatryce Prophecy' from 2021-10-04T19:34

Host Kerri Miller’s second Talking Volumes event of the season took place on Thursday, Sept. 30, with Kate DiCamillo, whose latest book is “The Beatryce Prophecy.”

Pulitzer Prize-winning author Richard Powers discusses his new novel 'Bewilderment' from 2021-10-01T12:01

In his new novel, award-winning author Richard Powers probes an essential question: How can we tell our children the truth about this beautiful, imperiled planet?

Called an “ecological pa...

Kat Chow chronicles her loss to help us navigate our own from 2021-09-22T14:28:56

Losing a parent at a young age shapes a person. In her debut memoir, “Seeing Ghosts,” Kat Chow pours her grief onto the page and examines how the loss of her mother when she was only 13 both mar...

Talking Volumes: Lauren Groff on 'Matrix' from 2021-09-15T14:00:03

Host Kerri Miller kicks off the fall season of Talking Volumes with a conversation with novelist Lauren Groff, whose latest book is “Matrix.”

Dr. Leana Wen reflects on her memoir and the importance of public health from 2021-09-10T18:30

When she was still in training, Dr. Leana Wen led a student organization whose motto was, “It takes more than medical school to make a physician.” It also takes more than “M.D.” after your name ...

Summer reading with Minnesota’s beloved booksellers from 2021-09-07T16:15

On Friday morning, we talked books — and we received plenty of your recommendations.

Reaching out to people who are unvaccinated for COVID from 2021-09-02T19:56

As the delta variant surged last month, more Americans got v...

Exploring the future of Minnesota’s live theater scene from 2021-08-31T21:54

During the pandemic, Minnesota’s theater companies lived their industry’s credo: The show must go on. Some worked outdoors, others offered livestreams and virtual performances and some went deep...

Bessie Smith and 'Hell of a Book' from 2021-08-30T17:42

As a Black girl adopted by Scottish communists, growing up in Glasgow in the 1970s, poet Jackie Kay developed a passion for Bessie Smith. Her father introduced her to the blues, and Bessie Smith...

Gov. Walz joins MPR News to reflect on governing through pandemic from 2021-08-27T21:12

It has been a challenging year and a half for Gov. Tim Walz. He joined host Mike Mulcahy to talk about governing during a pandemic, social upheaval and climate change.

Plus, in the seco...

Electric cars are revving up in Minnesota from 2021-08-26T20:41

Electric cars are still rare in Minnesota — representing less than one percent of all cars sold each year. But we’ll be seeing more of them soon.

Gov. Tim Walz signed Minnesota rules that...

Violent crime has risen in cities across the nation. What about rural areas? from 2021-08-25T17:42

According to the Uniform Crime Report released last month by the ...

What’s your song of the summer? from 2021-08-24T17:38

What is your summer song for 2021? What does it mean to you?

Every summer has a song that defines it — the song that seems inescapable, that’s always playing in the background of your sum...

How the climate crisis affects our mental health from 2021-08-23T21:39

Earlier this month, the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reported that “Listen

How do we make more affordable housing? from 2021-08-20T16:00

What are the possible solutions for the lack of affordable housing? Friday at 9 a.m., host Chris Farrell will talk with an academic who studies housing policy and a real estate agent dealing wit...

Minneapolis Fed President Neel Kashkari on the labor market from 2021-08-19T16:30

The labor market is tight, with many employers desperate for workers. But there are signs it’s starting to stabilize.

Job openings rose to a new record high in June, but hiring also incre...

How agriculture is coping with this summer’s drought from 2021-08-18T18:52

Minnesota farmers have been hit hard by the summer’s hot, dry conditions. Seventy-eight percent of the state is currently experiencing extreme drought conditions, and Listen

The #FreeBritney effect: Conservatorships under scrutiny from 2021-08-17T16:54

The #FreeBritney movement has highlighted the immense power that court-ordered guardians wield over their wards and raised alarms about the potential for abuse. Guest host Chris Farrell will exa...

Tackling inequality with basic income initiatives from 2021-08-16T16:20

Universal basic income and many of its derivatives have gained traction over the last few years. Guest host Chris Farrell will talk with two experts about the benefits of these programs, challen...

As COVID surges once again, how are you making decisions about safety? from 2021-08-13T20:01

The highly contagious delta variant is spr...

Speeding and reckless driving have increased since the pandemic. Why? from 2021-08-12T21:20

Speeding and reckless driving have skyrocketed during the pandemic. Public...

Can the BWCA survive its own popularity? from 2021-08-11T22:30

The quiet lakes of the Boundary Water Canoe Area Wilderness in northern Minnesota have been bustling with visitors, even as fires, development and international relations threaten the fragile ar...

Returning land to Native Americans from 2021-08-11T04:02

Roughly 50 million acres of land in the United States is considered reservation land — held by the government in trust for Native tribes. That’s about 2 percent of the country, but that’s a lot ...

Should Minnesota prepare for climate migration?  from 2021-08-09T18:00

Where will people go when home becomes unpleasant or unbearable because of climate change? 

One answer is … maybe Minnesota. In fact, climate migration to the state is already happening. ...

Anatoly Liberman on the origin of familiar words and phrases from 2021-08-06T15:22

Is there a word or phrase that you grew up with, something you felt was unique to your family? Maybe it was an expression your parents or grandparents used to show affection or describe frustrat...

A data-driven approach to parenting from 2021-08-05T17:20

Emily Oster is driven by data. An economics professor who often applies a risk-analysis lens to things like parenting, she wants to give you the numbers and let you decide.

Her new book, ...

Delta variant spreads worry as school reopenings near from 2021-08-04T16:42

The COVID-19 delta variant is leading a new surge of infections nationwide leaving families and school officials to face a complicated reopening of classrooms. Host Kerri Miller was joined by tw...

Examining violent crime in American cities from 2021-08-03T19:18

A rise in homicides and other violent crimes in 2020 and 2021 have made headlines in major American cities across the country, but what or who is to blame is up for debate. 

Guests:

The latest on COVID-19 and the delta variant from 2021-08-02T16:25

The CDC issued revised masking guidelines Tuesday after a re...

What to expect from the Jan. 6 insurrection hearings from 2021-07-30T16:35

The House select committee investigating the January 6 attack held its first hearing on Tuesday. Host Kerri Miller will talk about Tuesday’s emotional testimony, what we learned, and what’s ahea...

How to help your pandemic pets adjust to post-pandemic life from 2021-07-29T15:30

It could be a rough fall for Fido.

With animal owners working and often schooling at home during the pandemic, many pets have gotten used to having their humans around all the time. Now t...

Chronicling Trump’s chaotic last year in office from 2021-07-28T15:30

When Washington Post reporters Carol Leonnig and Philip Rucker asked to speak to former President Donald Trump about his last year in office, he agreed, surprising them all. HeListen

Are vaccine mandates on the horizon? from 2021-07-26T16:00

Businesses are preparing to call workers back to the office, and universities are ready to welcome students back to campus — in the midst of a resurgent wave of COVID-19 infections.

Roch...

Free your home and the rest will follow from 2021-07-23T18:00

Shocking fact: The average American home has more than 300,000 items in it. And that was before the pandemic, when many of us used Amazon asListen

In six words, tell us your thoughts on race from 2021-07-22T15:30

Before George Floyd was killed, before there was a national reckoning on race, there was The Race Card Project.

I...

The pandemic isn’t over from 2021-07-21T16:15

We’re going backward.

Instead of climbing out of the pit of the pandemic, the U.S. is seeing a new surge. The highly contagious COVID-19 delta variant is causing new infections, new hosp...

How the richest Americans avoid paying taxes from 2021-07-20T18:00

While most Americans have access to some kind of retirement savings, about twenty-five percent of workers have nothing saved at all. Meanwhile, America’s top earners are raking in millions, even...

Breaking up is hard to do. But that doesn’t stop many states from trying. from 2021-07-19T16:00

It’s a headline that could be ripped from the past: Shocking poll fin...

The science —  and joy  — of sweat  from 2021-07-16T15:30

Why do we sweat? The science behind this primal bodily function is complicated, fascinating  and often just plain weird. 

In her delightful new book, “The Joy of Sweat,” science journalis...

Future faith: How the pandemic is changing the ways we worship from 2021-07-15T16:30

Most churches, mosques and synagogues are meeting in person again. But faith leaders see signs that spiritual communities will not return to pre-pandemic norms.

Physical church attendance...

The lingering side effects of COVID-19 from 2021-07-14T15:54

Thousands of people across the U.S. have reported a range of symptoms months after recovering from COVID-19. For many long-COVID patients, an accurate diagnosis can be a difficult task and getti...

Concerned about children and COVID variants? Your questions, answered from 2021-07-14T09:00

Updated: 3:35 p.m.

While Minnesotans begin to leave behind the face masks and emerge from more than a year of public health restrictions, many families ar...

Ask MDH: The COVID-19 delta variant, CDC’s new school rules and vaccine boosters from 2021-07-13T19:00

The delta variant is now the dominant COVID-19 strain in the U.S.

Many ...

COVID-19 vaccines are just the beginning for mRNA innovations from 2021-07-12T16:55

Both the Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines were built using new mRNA research, to astounding success. What’s the next big thing mRNA science could tackle?

Guests:

America’s post-pandemic return to the movies from 2021-07-09T18:47

Crowds of people will watch movies on a big screen this summer. But the pandemic fundamentally changed the industry. How will movie theaters, and the movie-going public, adapt?

Gu...