Shows / who you know
who you know
interviews/art talk/Russian poems from painter/writer Dmitry Samarov ——theme music by Bill MacKay ——a new one most Wednesdays.
Episodes
who you knowJoe Judd
A talk with Joe Judd about starting Myopic Books, moving away, then coming back and establishing Tangible Books in the Bridgeport neighborhood of Chicago. Read…
who you knowJohnny Sampson
A talk with illustrator/artist Johnny Sampson about the art racket, comics, music, and the whole kit and caboodle.
who you knowMark Turcotte
A talk with poet Mark Turcotte about his youth in North Dakota and Michigan, his various jobs, and ending up a professor of literature at DePaul University in…
who you knowHow to make a poppyseed roll according to my mother
My mom tells me the recipe for poppyseed roll that her mother-in-law taught her. (in Russian)
who you knowAlexander Samarov
A talk in Russian with my father about his childhood, his love of nature, and the roots of his interest in literature.
who you knowNora Samarov
A talk in Russian with my mother about her childhood, work in hospital, and early loves.
who you knowComfort Station
Practice readings for a performance at Comfort Station on 4/20/23 with music by Keefe Jackson, Aram Shelton, and Jeb Bishop. Background music by The Dwarfs of…
who you knowJasmon Drain
A talk with Chicago writer Jasmon Drain. Read my review of his book, which led to our becoming friends.
who you knowWendy Clinard
I talk with artist/dancer/choreographer/human Wendy Clinard about her circuitous route through the creative landscape.
who you knowJohn Salhus/Buena Vista Projects
A talk with painter John Salhus about his new art space, Buena Vista Projects, in the East Side neighborhood of Chicago.
who you knowNew Year’s Eve without Mama
I read another story from Alla Gorbunova's It's the End of the World, My Love in Russian.
who you knowMark Shippy
A long talk with musician/artist Mark Shippy about U.S. Maple and many other things under the sun.
who you knowKevin Hickey
A wide-ranging talk with Chef Kevin Hickey about his long history in the kitchen, his travels, plans to dot Europe with Duck Inn hotdog stands and more.
who you knowSunday @ Archie’s Cafe
A reading/concert by Westley Heine and Dmitry Samarov at Archie's Cafe in the Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago, 2/26/23.
who you knowIt’s the end of the world, my love
A reading from Alla Gorbunova's It's the End of the World, My Love. I found out about this book from a podcast called Polka. Apologies to any…
who you knowJessi Phillips
A talk with musician/writer Jessi Phillips about Michigan, California, New York, writing, music, relationships, and all the rest of it.
who you knowBen Terrall
A talk with writer Ben Terrall about Boston, San Francisco, and the state of the world.
who you knowJason Sanford
A talk with artist/musician Jason Sanford about Boston, Colorado, art, music, and more.
who you knowMike Reed
A talk with Mike Reed about playing music, starting the Pitchfork Music Festival, running Constellation and the Hungry Brain, and lots more.
who you knowDamian Rogers
A wide-ranging talk with Toronto-based writer Damian Rogers. Read my review of her great book about her mother here.
who you knowSoviet Stamps at Dominican
A talk about Soviet Stamps in Frank Spidale's freshman seminar at Dominican University, November 22, 2022.
who you knowChris Brokaw
A talk with Chris Brokaw about his bands past and present, touring, teaching, and more.
who you knowJames Marlon Magas
A talk with musician James Marlon Magas about leaving the Upper Peninsula of Michigan for Chicago and his journey through music, art, and even rideshare…
who you knowJanet Beveridge Bean
A talk with musician Janet Beveridge Bean about growing up in Kentucky, playing music as a child, her bands—Freakwater and Eleventh Dream Day—and current…
who you knowPilsen Community Books, 10/19/22
A book-release talk about paint-by-numbers with Annie Howard. Recorded at Pilsen Community Books in Chicago.
who you knowJohn Hodgman
A talk with writer/actor/humorist John Hodgman about Shopsin's, the future of capitalism, zines, and all the rest.
who you knowMallory Smart
A talk with writer, publisher, and my horror movie podcast cohost Mallory Smart. Check out Maudlin House and Textual Healing for what she's about.
who you knowElliot Dicks
A talk with musician and sound guy Elliot Dicks about growing up in Columbus, Ohio, moving to Chicago, and building a life in music. Check out his current band…
who you knowJake Austen
A talk with Jake Austen about growing up in the South Shore neighborhood of Chicago, art school, his lifelong fascination with masked singers and much more…
who you knowWestley Heine
A talk with writer/musician Westley Heine. Get his 12 Chicago Cabbies and Busking Blues and read my Reader article about him.
who you knowNancy Carey
A talk with Nancy Carey about writing, painting, baking, conflict-resolution, and more.
who you know“What else do you teach?”
A reading of chapter 12 of Don DeLillo's White Noise. Theme music, forever, by Bill MacKay.
who you knowJames Jankowiak
A talk with Chicago painter James Jankowiak about growing up in Back of the Yards, getting into graffiti writing, becoming an artist, a teacher, and a whole…
who you knowAzita Youssefi
A talk with musician Azita Youssefi about the transition from visual to musical art, the Chicago scene, and more. Listen to Azita’s music here. Theme music…
who you knowMax Samarov
A talk with Max Samarov about Israel, California, metal music, and other matters. Learn more about Max here. Theme music, forever, by Bill MacKay. Subscribe at…
who you knowAlicia Martinez
A talk with forensics student and former mixologist Alicia Martinez. Follow her on Instagram (if she lets you.) Music today, tomorrow, and the days after that…
who you knowKeefe Jackson
A talk with jazz musician Keefe Jackson. We discuss his youth in an Arkansas college town, the switch from cello to saxophone, his move to Chicago, and more…
who you knowSam Wagster
A talk with musician Sam Wagster about growing up in Texas, studying film and writing, and playing in bands. Listen to Mute Duo, The Father Costume, Anatomy of…
who you knowMick Collins
A talk with musician and aspiring linguist Mick Collins about the Dirtbombs, the Gories, the Wolfmanhattan Project, and inventing his own language. Follow…
who you knowBrian Case
A talk with musician and graphic designer Brian Case about coming from St. Louis to Chicago, getting into the music scene, and about just keeping going. Check…
who you knowScott McClanahan
A talk with writer Scott McClanahan about Robert Mitchum, writing, music, and more. Get his books here and here and read my review of The Sarah Book. Music now…
who you knowMatt Lux
A talk with bassist extraordinaire Matt Lux. Check out his Communication Arts Quartet, Isotope 217, and KVL. Theme music forever by Bill MacKay.
who you knowA Few Readings
I read excerpts from several books. 00:00 from The Little Prince by Antoine Saint-Exupery 02:37 chapter 57 of Moby Dick by Herman Melville 10:00 from I'm…
who you knowTom Shannon
A talk with musician Tom Shannon about Cheater Slicks, about Boston, Columbus, his long career in music, and much more. If you don’t know Cheater Slicks music…
who you knowLaura Park
A talk with cartoonist Laura Park about moving to France, living in Chicago, quitting art school, how everyone should love dogs, and a lot more. You can also…
who you knowLeor Galil
A talk with music writer Leor Galil about studying at Brandeis, getting into music, and ending up at the Chicago Reader. Theme music, now and always, by Bill…
who you knowThree by Denis Johnson
I read three chapters from Denis Johnson’s “The Largesse of the Sea Maiden”.
who you knowMarc Fischer
A talk with Marc Fischer about his many varied activities. For more, start here and here. Theme music, forever, by Bill MacKay.
who you knowTobias Carroll
A talk with the writer Tobias Carroll about the publication of his new novel, Ex-Members (Astrophil Press), New Jersey, punk bands, Vol.1 Brooklyn, et al…
who you knowLindsay Hunter
A talk with writer Lindsay Hunter about Florida, podcasting, being okay with not becoming Claire Danes, and more. Get her books and follow her on Twitter…
who you knowSonia Weiner
A talk with writer and professor Sonia Weiner. We discuss migratory literature, the time she wrote about me, her family’s move from the US to Israel, and more…
who you knowSam Pink
A talk with writer and artist Sam Pink. Before we talk, I read Pink’s story. “Move in With Me”. Follow Pink on Twitter and Instagram. Episode art by Sam Pink…
who you knowJonathan van Herik
A talk with musician Jonathan van Herik about Wicker Park in the 90s, being in bands like Joan of Arc, Boas, Disappears, and Facs, self-doubt, and a whole lot…