All posts by Francesca Rheannon

About Francesca Rheannon

Francesca Rheannon is an award-winning independent radio producer. In addition to hosting Writer's Voice, she's a freelance reporter for National Public Radio and its affiliates. Recipient of the prestigious Nancy Dickerson Whitehead Award for reporting on substance abuse issues for her news series, VOICES OF HIV, produced for 88.5 WFCR public radio in western Massachusetts. She is also finishing a book on Provence (PROVINCE OF THE HEART) and working on a memoir of her father, THE ARGONAUTS.

Podcast

Deborah Paredez, YEAR OF THE DOG & Vincent Emanuele, The New Normal

We talk with poet Deborah Paredez about her new volume of poetry, Year of the Dog. It bears powerful witness to the legacy of war, violence and the struggle for social justice.

Then, whither the Left in a moment of institutional meltdown? We talk with writer, activist and Iraq War veteran Vincent Emanuele about his article in Counterpunch, The New Normal: Cascading and Multilayered Crises.

Writer’s Voice — in depth progressive conversation with writers of all genres. On the air since 2004. Rate us on iTunes or whatever podcast app you use!

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Web Extras

What Happens After Bernie? A Conversation with Micah Uetricht

Bernie Sanders suspended his campaign two days ago. The suspension left many grassroots organizations that had endorsed him wondering where to go from here. Francesca speaks with Micah Uetricht, co-author of Bigger Than Bernie, about it. Continue reading

Podcast

Helen Fremont, The Escape Artist & Branko Marcetic on Tara Reade & Joe Biden

We talk with Helen Fremont about her stunning new memoir, The Escape Artist. It’s about the toxic influence of closely held secrets on the glue that should hold families together — and about how trauma echoes down the generations.

Then, Bernie Sanders ended his presidential run this week, leaving Joe Biden the only remaining candidate in the race. We air an interview we did last week with Branko Marcetic about how the Democratic Party is handling allegations of sexual assault against Biden. (It was also published on the WV website as a Web Only Extra.)

Writer’s Voice — in depth progressive conversation with writers of all genres. On the air since 2004. Rate us on iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts. And like us on Facebook at Writers Voice with Francesca Rheannon or find us on twitter @WritersVoice.

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Branko Marcetic: Joe Biden Is No Al Franken

We talk with Branko Marcetic about his recent article in Jacobin, For Top Democrats, Joe Biden Is No Al Franken.

It’s about the differing ways prominent Senators treated sexual harassment claims made against Al Franken, who was pressured to resign his Senate seat, and the sexual assault claim made against Biden by former staffer Tara Reade. Continue reading

Podcast

Barry McCallion, Book Artist of The Oarsman & Matthew Rose, A Book About Death

We’re all used to narrative that’s told with words. But what about narrative that’s told through art? Book art?

We talk with book artist Barry McCallion about book art, including his series The Oarsman, which he’s been creating now for fifty years. Then, we replay excerpts from my 2009 interview with Matthew Rose about A Book About Death, the exhibition he curated of art postcards mailed in from around the world.

Writer’s Voice — in depth conversation with writers of all genres, on the air since 2004. Like us on Facebook at Writers Voice with Francesca Rheannon or find us on twitter @WritersVoice.

Rate us on iTunes or whatever podcast app you use!

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Podcast

Branko Marcetic, YESTERDAY’S MAN & Wendell Potter on Medicare For All

Unless the unexpected happens, it looks like Joe Biden may very well be the Democratic Party nominee for president. But can he beat Trump? And even if he does, will that really end Trumpism? We talk with Branko Marcetic about his just released book about Joe Biden, Yesterday’s Man: The Case Against Joe Biden.

Then we air an interview from last year and posted to the Writers Voice website with Wendell Potter about the full court press against Medicare For All by industry and the politicians it funds. Continue reading

Podcast

SinÁ©ad Gleeson, CONSTELLATIONS & Therese Anne Fowler, A GOOD NEIGHBORHOOD

We talk with Irish writer SinÁ©ad Gleeson about her award-winning collection of essays, Constellations: Reflections From Life.

Then, they say the road to Hell is paved with good intentions; that makes for a rich vein for fiction Therese Anne Fowler mines in her new novel, A Good Neighborhood. Continue reading

Web Extras

Robert Pollin on the COVID19 Stimulus Bill

Yesterday, the Senate passed a $2 trillion stimulus package to deal with the COVID19 pandemic in the US.

Already, it has come under some withering criticism from New York Mayor Bill De Blasio, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders.

Some economists are blasting it, as well.

Writer’s Voice host Francesca Rheannon spoke with economist Robert Pollin of the Political Economy Research Center at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst about what the bill does, what it doesn’t do and what an adequate bill should do.

Podcast

Peter Heller, THE RIVER & Timothy Snyder, On Tyranny

We talk with Peter Heller about his terrific new novel, a thriller set on a river above the Arctic Circle. It’s called The River.

Then, we re-air our 2017 interview with historian Timothy Snyder about his cautionary tale about the descent into authoritarianism. The book is On Tyranny.

Writer’s Voice — in depth conversation with writers of all genres, on the air since 2004. Rate us on iTunes or whatever podcast app you use!

Like us on Facebook at Writers Voice with Francesca Rheannon or find us on twitter @WritersVoice.

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Podcast

Judy Foreman, EXERCISE IS MEDICINE & Michael Zapata, THE LOST BOOK OF ADANA MOREAU

We talk with Judy Foreman about her book Exercise is Medicine: How Physical Activity Boosts Health and Slows Aging. (Oxford University Press.)
Then, we talk with Michael Zapata about his acclaimed novel, The Lost Book of Adana Moreau (Hanover Square Press).

Writer’s Voice — in depth progressive conversation with writers of all genres. On the air since 2004. Rate us on iTunes!

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Podcast

John Nichols on Billionaire Candidacies & Lucy Hughes-Hallet, FABULOUS

We talk with John Nichols about his recent article for the Nation magazine, “Democrats Must Reject Not Just a Billionaire but the Billionaire Class“.

Then, we switch gears to talk with novelist, biographer and now short story writer Lucy Hughes-Hallet about her new collection of stories based on myths and fables. It’s called Fabulous.

Like us on Facebook at Writers Voice with Francesca Rheannon or find us on twitter @WritersVoice. And if you are listening to our podcast, give us some love on iTunes or whatever podcast app you use. Continue reading

Web Extras

Greg Palast (full interview) on Court Victory in Georgia Voting Case

Investigative reporter Greg Palast recently won a groundbreaking judgement from a federal court judge in Georgia that promises to open up to public scrutiny the massive 2018 purge of the voter rolls conducted by Georgia Governor Brian Kemp when he was Georgia’s Secretary  of State — and his work with voter suppression impresario Kris Kobach to disenfranchise voters in other states, as well.

WV called Palast up for an in-depth look at that ruling, as well as voter suppression (or, as Palast calls it, “voter theft”) in other states. Continue reading

Podcast

Deborah Shaffer & Rachel Reichman on QUEEN OF HEARTS, plus Greg Palast on his court victory

We talk with filmmaker Deborah Shaffer and film editor Rachel Reichman about Queen Of Hearts, their wonderful documentary about the life and work of Audrey Flack.

Then we talk with investigative journalist Greg Palast about the important victory he just won in court to force the Governor of Georgia to release the details of a huge purge of mostly African American voters in the 2018 Georgia election. Continue reading

Podcast

Writers Voice: Isabella Tree, WILDING & Jeet Heer on Iowa and Beyond

This week’s episode gives us a sorely-needed message of hope. If we just simply let nature take its course, we can restore the Earth. We talk with Isabella Tree about her book Wilding – the Return of Nature to a British Farm. It’s out from Picador Press.

Then, we talk with Nation magazine contributor Jeet Heer about the Iowa caucus debacle, the progressive wing of the Democratic presidential campaign, and Michael Bloomberg, on its billionaire wing.

Like us on Facebook at Writers Voice with Francesca Rheannon or find us on twitter @WritersVoice. And if you are listening to our podcast, give us some love on iTunes or whatever podcast app you use. Continue reading

Podcast

Web Only Extra: Daniel Judt on Australia’s Wildfires

Remember the Australian wildfires? The ones that killed some one billion animals and torched millions of acres of land? Well, Australia is still in fire season, and, as late as yesterday, February 5, they were still going on. There’s a temporary reprieve, as Australia braces for torrential rainfall, but they will no doubt be back.

A few days ago, Francesca spoke by Skype with journalist Daniel Judt about his recent piece in the Nation, “Australia’s Devastating Wildfires Were Not Inevitable.” It is the second in a three-part series on climate by Judt; the first in the series is “In Senegal, Climate Change is Robbing Thousands of Their Homes.”