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

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

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | RSS

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

Sinéad Gleeson, CONSTELLATIONS & Therese Anne Fowler, A GOOD NEIGHBORHOOD

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | RSS

We talk with Irish writer Sinéad 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

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | RSS

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

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | RSS

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.

Continue reading →

Podcast

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

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | RSS

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!

Continue reading →

Podcast

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

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | RSS

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

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | RSS

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

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | RSS

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

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | RSS

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

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | RSS

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.”

 

Podcast

Michael Klare, ALL HELL BREAKING LOOSE, Christian Parenti, Tropic Of Chaos & Review of new Hilary Davidson thriller

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | RSS

Michael Klare talks about his new book, All Hell Breaking Loose: The Pentagon’s Perspective On Climate Change.

Then we air a clip from our 2011 interview with Christian Parenti about his book, Tropic Of Chaos: Climate Change and the New Geography of Violence.

We also review a terrific new thriller from Hilary Davidson, Don’t Look Down.

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!

Continue reading →

Podcast

Sara Matthiesen on Bernie’s Feminism & Helaine Olen on Joe Biden’s Record on Social Security

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | RSS

Critics have tried to tar Bernie Sanders with the brush of sexism, implied if not explicit. But gender studies scholar Sara Matthiesen says Bernie could be the first feminist president. We talk with her about her article in the Nation, “Bernie Could be America’s First Feminist President.”

Then, with all its importance to the lives of most Americans, Social Security doesn’t often make it into the headlines. That changed this week when the Sanders campaign charged that Joe Biden’s record on Social Security is flawed, suggesting it could weaken him against Trump in the general election. We spoke with Washington Post columnist Helaine Olen about her recent post, “Sanders is right: Biden is Vulnerable to Trump on Social Security.”

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

Continue reading →

Podcast

Alyss Thomas, THE JOURNAL WRITER’S COMPANION & Gareth St. John Thomas, FINDING TRUE CONNECTIONS

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | RSS

We talk with Alyss Thomas about her guide to journaling: The Journal Writer’s Companion. Then, we check in with Thomas’ brother Gareth St. John Thomas about his terrific guide to learning and writing about a family member’s history. It’s called Finding True Connections.

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. And if you are listening to our podcast, give us some love on iTunes or whatever podcast app you use.

Continue reading →

Podcast

An Hour With WWII Spymaster Fiction Master Alan Furst

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | RSS

Today, we talk with spy fiction writer Alan Furst about his latest book, Under Occupation. Then we air excerpts from interviews we did with him about his previous novels, Spies of the Balkans and The Foreign Correspondent.

We also play a recording of a poem by the Greek poet C.P. Cavafy, Waiting for the Barbarians, translated from the Greek by Edmund Keeley.

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. And if you are listening to our podcast, give us some love on iTunes or whatever podcast app you use.

Continue reading →

Podcast

New Year’s Looks Back: William Greider, Harold Bloom, Peter Yarrow, Rev. William Barber

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | RSS

Episode #573

We remember two authors we interviewed in years past who died in 2019. First, we re-play our 2009 interview with William Greider about his book, Come Home America. Greider passed away on Christmas Day 2019. We also hear from my 2011 interview with Harold Bloom, who also passed away in 2019.

Then, we dip into Francesca’s audio archive for an interview she did with Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul & Mary in 2017 at an event honoring the Reverend Dr. William Barber — and we hear from Barber, as well, talking about his Poor People’s Campaign.

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

Continue reading →