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

Slippery Beast: Ellen Ruppel Shell on Eels, Ecology, and the Global Wildlife Trade

In this episode, we dive into the world of eels with Ellen Ruppel Shell, author of Slippery Beast: A True Crime Natural History with Eels. From ancient mysteries and ecological importance to international crime syndicates and sustainable farming, Ruppel Shell unravels the fascinating and complex story of one of nature’s most enigmatic creatures.

The conversation traces the mysterious lifecycle of eels, their pivotal role in ecosystems, and their entanglement in a global black market. Ruppel Shell also highlights efforts to sustainably farm eels and the cultural significance of these creatures to Native American communities.

From Aristotle to the international criminal trade in wildlife, this episode offers a riveting exploration of eels and their connection to humanity.

Writers Voice— in depth conversation with writers of all genres, on the air since 2004.

Connect with Us: Follow us on social media to stay up-to-date on the latest episodes and news. Find us on Facebook at Writers Voice with Francesca Rheannon, on Instagram and Threads @WritersVoicePodcast or find us on Bluesky @writersvoice.bsky.social. Read transcripts at the Writer’s Voice Substack

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Key Words: Ellen Ruppel Shell, Slippery Beast, eel lifecycle, global wildlife trade, freshwater eels, ecological importance of eels, eel farming, eel conservation, wildlife crime, ecosystems services

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Podcast

Petrina Engelke on Iconic American Cuisine 

In this special holiday edition of Writer’s Voice, journalist and author Petrina Engelke shares her journey exploring iconic American cuisine along Route 66, detailed in the book she co-wrote with food blogger Gabriele Frankemölle, Cook Across America: 66 Iconic Recipes Along the Legendary Route 66.

Engelke delves into the diverse cultural traditions that define American food, from maple syrup production in Illinois to fusion Tex-Mex dishes in Texas and barbecue’s African American roots. She also highlights the intersection of food, history, and climate change, discussing how environmental challenges threaten beloved traditions like winemaking and maple syrup harvesting.

“Barbecue is a testament to resilience, born from hard labor and innovation by enslaved African Americans.” — Petrina Engelke

Cook Across America is written for a German readership (Engelke reports on America for German news outlets) but our conversation is an engaging exploration of the many-splendored diversity that makes American food traditions so rich that any English-speaker can enjoy.

Writers Voice— in depth conversation with writers of all genres, on the air since 2004.

Connect with Us: Follow us on social media to stay up-to-date on the latest episodes and news. Find us on Facebook at Writers Voice with Francesca Rheannon, on Instagram and Threads @WritersVoicePodcast or find us on Bluesky @writersvoice.bsky.social. Read transcripts at the Writer’s Voice Substack

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Key Words: Petrina Engelke, American cuisine, climate change, Cook Across America

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Podcast

BY THE FIRE WE CARRY, Rebecca Nagle on Indigenous Sovereignty and Democracy

In this episode, Rebecca Nagle, journalist and author of By the Fire We Carry: The Generations’ Long Fight for Justice on Native Land, unpacks the history of the Cherokee Nation and broader Indigenous struggles for sovereignty.

Nagle intertwines personal family history with systemic injustices, tracing the consequences of the Trail of Tears, the Indian Removal Act, and the ongoing fight for Native land rights. She examines how these histories intersect with larger issues of capitalism, democracy, and climate justice.

The conversation also highlights recent landmark Supreme Court decisions and their implications for Indigenous sovereignty and U.S. democracy.

““If you think that lawlessness towards one group can’t eventually affect you, history tells us otherwise.” — Rebecca Nagle

Then, we continue our Thanksgiving week tradition of hearing Native American storyteller and ethnohistorian Marge Bruchac talk about the holiday from the Native point of view — and her re-telling of the Story of Corn.

Writers Voice— in depth conversation with writers of all genres, on the air since 2004.

Connect with Us: Follow us on social media to stay up-to-date on the latest episodes and news. Find us on Facebook at Writers Voice with Francesca Rheannon, on Instagram and Threads @WritersVoicePodcast or find us on Bluesky @writersvoice.bsky.social. Read transcripts at the Writer’s Voice Substack

Key Words: Rebecca Nagle, By the Fire We Carry, Indigenous sovereignty, Cherokee Nation, Supreme Court, Trail of Tears, McGirt v. Oklahoma, Native land rights, Indian Removal Act, democracy and genocide, environmental justice, Neil Gorsuch

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Podcast

LINGUAPHILE: Julie Sedivy on the Beauty, Complexity, and Mystery of Language

Summary

In this episode, Julie Sedivy, author of Linguaphile: A Life of Language Love, explores her profound relationship with language as both a scientist and a writer.

Sedivy shares her journey from a multilingual childhood to becoming a linguist, reflecting on the complexities of multilingualism, the emotional weight of language, and its profound ties to time, identity, and human connection.

She also delves into how language shapes our social interactions, cultural divides, and even our final moments.

“The last word my brother said was ‘love.’ And that’s what remains when everything else falls away.” — Julie Sedivy

Writers Voice— in depth conversation with writers of all genres, on the air since 2004.

Connect with Us: Follow us on social media to stay up-to-date on the latest episodes and news. Find us on Facebook at Writers Voice with Francesca Rheannon, on Instagram and Threads @WritersVoicePodcast or find us on Bluesky @writersvoice.bsky.social. Read transcripts at the Writer’s Voice Substack

Key Words: Julie Sedivy, Linguaphile, multilingualism, psycholinguistics, linguistics, aging and language,

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Podcast

Ann Patchett & Kathy Engel on Art, Love, and the Power of Poetry in Difficult Times

Summary

In this episode of Writer’s Voice, celebrated novelist Ann Patchett discusses the annotated release of her beloved novel Bel Canto, exploring how themes of love, art, and humanity resonate in times of crisis.

Patchett reflects on her writing process, the tenderness of her characters, and how art can provide solace in difficult times.

The, poet and activist Kathy Engel discusses her collection, Dear Inheritors, touching on the intersections of poetry, social justice, and the ongoing struggles against racism and privilege.

Engel’s work reflects on her life experiences and the contradictions of beauty and violence in society, emphasizing the importance of holding space for vulnerability, honesty, and collective healing. We last spoke with her in 2014.

Writers Voice— in depth conversation with writers of all genres, on the air since 2004.

Connect with Us: Follow us on social media to stay up-to-date on the latest episodes and news. Find us on Facebook at Writers Voice with Francesca Rheannon, on Instagram and Threads @WritersVoicePodcast or find us on Bluesky @writersvoice.bsky.social. Read transcripts at the Writer’s Voice Substack

Key words: Ann Patchett, Bel Canto annotated, Kathy Engel, Dear Inheritors, poetry, writing process, art and activism, podcast, Writer’s Voice

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Podcast

Gardening Utopia: Olivia Laing on THE GARDEN AGAINST TIME

In this thought-provoking episode, acclaimed author Olivia Laing shares insights from The Garden Against Time, exploring the concept of gardens as both physical spaces and metaphors for paradise, exclusion, and resistance.

Laing recounts restoring a historic garden and reflects on themes of ecological stewardship, historical gardens, and the philosophical tensions between control and collaboration with nature.

Their book juxtaposes the beauty of gardens with the historical darkness behind some, revealing how spaces of natural beauty have sometimes been exclusionary or rooted in colonial wealth.

We also replay our 2017 interview with Timothy Snyder about his book, On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century. The book was intended as a kind of vaccine to inoculate us against acquiescing to authoritarianism.

Writers Voice— in depth conversation with writers of all genres, on the air since 2004.

Connect with Us: Follow us on social media to stay up-to-date on the latest episodes and news. Find us on Facebook at Writers Voice with Francesca Rheannon, on Instagram and Threads @WritersVoicePodcast or on Bluesky.

READ TRANSCRIPTS ON OUR SUBSTACK

Key words: Olivia Laing, The Garden Against Time, historical gardens, utopian communities, ecological gardening, Paradise Lost, environmental stewardship, gardening and mental health, public gardens, Timothy Snyder, fascism, Donald Trump, authoritarianism, resistance.

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Podcast

CRISIS AVERTED: Caitlin Rivers on the Hidden Science of Fighting Outbreaks

In this episode, we speak with epidemiologist Caitlin Rivers about her book Crisis Averted. From the successful eradication of smallpox to navigating the COVID-19 pandemic, Rivers delves into public health challenges, funding gaps, and the “panic and neglect” cycle that threatens our preparedness for future outbreaks.

Host’s Note

We are less than a week away from the most consequential election in US history. A lot is at stake, including the fate of basic freedoms and democratic rights. But one huge matter life and death matter has gone largely ignored: the fate of our public health system.

Everything from access to clean water, life-saving vaccines, reproductive and maternal health, and so much more, is on the ballot — but few voters know that. That’s because public health — the infrastructure that keeps us safe and healthy — is the invisible half of our health care system. We only think about it when we are in danger, like during a pandemic, not when we are well.

The choices made for President and Congress in this election will determine whether we can meet challenges by strengthening our public health system — or whether we will fail because that public health system has been utterly dismantled.

The American Public Health Association has published a terrifying description of what would happen if Donald Trump is able to put Project 2025 into action — It was created by the most extreme members of his previous administration and widely considered to be the plans for his next, whatever he may deny. The report says, “while Project 2025 is aimed at the executive branch and intended as guidance for the next administration, many members of the U.S. House and Senate and those in state government support many of the policies proposed in Project 2025,” and are looking for ways to enact them.

Here’s just some of what the APHA warns about Project 2025:

  • It would politicize the Centers for Disease Control, replacing scientific experts with political loyalists to Donald Trump and MAGA ideology. Project 2025 would cripple the use of data collection on disease outbreaks and prohibit it from issuing health guidance on vaccines and masks.
  • Project 2025 would nationalize strict anti-abortion measures, including requiring states to report abortion data — meaning states would have to monitor women’s pregnancies. It also would limit or ban access to reproductive health care drugs like Mifepristone.
  • Project 2025 would limit access to Medicaid: adding work requirements and capping benefits, which would disproportionately affect those with chronic conditions or disabilities, affecting the poor and disproportionately people of color.
  • It would entirely privatize Medicare, skyrocketing costs — and profits to insurance companies — while limited access to seniors and people with disabilities
  • Project 2025 would cripple our response to the climate crisis, ending government research on climate, stripping away environmental protections and encouraging the use of oil and fracked gas, putting the dangerous impacts of climate change on human health on steroids.
  • And it would also privatize the weather service, so that Americans would have to pay to know if a hurricane or tornado was coming their way.

But we don’t have to speculate about the future impact of another Trump administration. Donald Trump already has a track record on public health, with his epic failures in responding to the Covid pandemic. He claimed the virus would go away “like magic.” He told Americans to drink bleach or take horse tranquilizers to cure it. He set governors of different states against each other competing for masks and medical supplies in a kind of Pandemic Hunger Games. He favored Red states over Blue states in providing funds.

If re-elected, Trump promises to put a purveyor of anti-vaccine lies—RFK Jr— in charge of the Health and Human Services and let him “go wild.” These are the stakes. Vote accordingly.

Episode Topics Covered

  • Personal story and the challenges of twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome
  • The eradication of smallpox and lessons learned
  • Underfunding of public health and its consequences
  • The “panic and neglect” cycle in public health
  • New threats: Mpox and H5N1
  • Public trust, transparency, and public health communication
  • The balance between public health mandates and individual autonomy
  • Advocacy for the creation of the CDC’s Center for Forecasting and Outbreak Analytics

Writers Voice— in depth conversation with writers of all genres, on the air since 2004.

Connect with Us: Follow us on social media to stay up-to-date on the latest episodes and news. Find us on Facebook at Writers Voice with Francesca Rheannon, on Instagram @WritersVoicePodcast or find us on X/Twitter@WritersVoice.

Key words: public health, pandemic preparedness, Caitlin Rivers, Crisis Averted, infectious disease, smallpox eradication, public health funding, CDC, public trust in health, Mpox, H5N1, health policy, epidemiology

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Podcast

Eiren Caffall THE MOURNER’S BESTIARY & Betsy McCully, AT THE GLACIER’S EDGE

In this episode of Writer’s Voice, we explore the intersections of personal and ecological narratives through two powerful interviews.

Francesca speaks with writer and musician Eiren Caffall about her memoir, The Mourner’s Bestiary, and naturalist Betsy McCully, author of At the Glacier’s Edge: A Natural History of Long Island from the Narrows to Montauk Point. These conversations explore the interconnectedness of environmental degradation and restoration, personal story, and the history of place.

Topics Covered:

  • Environmental Parallels: How personal narratives of illness can reflect larger environmental crises.
  • Climate Change and Coastal Resilience: Insights into Long Island’s history of glaciation and ongoing environmental restoration efforts.
  • Ecological Restoration and Community: The importance of grassroots efforts in restoring and protecting local ecosystems.
  • The Human Connection to Nature: How loss, grief, and recovery in our own lives can mirror those within the environment.

Writers Voice— in depth conversation with writers of all genres, on the air since 2004.

Connect with Us: Follow us on social media to stay up-to-date on the latest episodes and news. Find us on Facebook at Writers Voice with Francesca Rheannon, on Instagram @WritersVoicePodcast or find us on X/Twitter@WritersVoice.

Key words: marine ecology, Long Island Sound, Gulf of Maine, Eiren Caffall, Betsy McCully, global warming, climate change, PKD, Writer’s Voice, environmental memoir

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Podcast

World Wars: Robert Harris, PRECIPICE & Giles Milton, THE STALIN AFFAIR

Today, we explore two uncommon angles on the histories of World War I and World War II.

First, we’re joined by historical fiction writer Robert Harris, author of the recently released novel, Precipice. The novel explores a true story — the clandestine relationship between British Prime Minister Herbert Asquith and Venetia Stanley — set against the tumultuous events of World War I.

Later, Giles Milton tells us about his book,The Stalin Affair. It’s a gripping fly-on-the wall account of the uneasy alliance between Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin during WWII.

Today’s conversations weave together themes of political intrigue, unlikely alliances, and the personal connections that shape historical events. Both books reveal how pivotal relationships and secrets influence nations and change the course of history.

Writers Voice— in depth conversation with writers of all genres, on the air since 2004.

Connect with Us: Follow us on social media to stay up-to-date on the latest episodes and news. Find us on Facebook at Writers Voice with Francesca Rheannon, on Instagram @WritersVoicePodcast or find us on X/Twitter@WritersVoice.

Key words: Robert Harris, World War One, World War Two, WWI, WWII, Giles Milton, Stalin, Churchill, FDR, WWII history, WWI history, podcast, Writer’s Voice,

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Podcast

Louise Erdrich, THE MIGHTY RED & James Hansen (encore) STORMS OF MY GRANDCHILDREN

In this episode of Writer’s Voice, Host Francesca Rheannon welcomes acclaimed author Louise Erdrich to discuss her new novel, The Mighty Red.

Known for her deeply layered storytelling and themes centered on Native American life, Erdrich takes listeners on a journey into the heart of the Red River Valley in North Dakota. Here, she weaves a compelling tale about love, resilience, and the enduring relationship between people and land.

Then, in the wake of hurricanes that battered the Carolinas, Georgia and Florida, Francesca revisits her interview with Dr. James Hansen, a pioneering climate scientist and former head of NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies.

Dr. Hansen, known for his groundbreaking 1988 Congressional testimony on climate change, discusses the urgent warnings he presented in his 2010 book, Storms of My Grandchildren. This conversation addresses the intensifying climate crisis, with a focus on extreme weather events, the critical need for emissions reduction, and the global impacts of rising temperatures.

Read An Excerpt from The Mighty Red

Listen also to our 2013 interview with Erdrich about her novel, The Round House. And read about our 2008 interview with her about The Plague of Doves.


Writers Voice— in depth conversation with writers of all genres, on the air since 2004.

Connect with Us: Follow us on social media to stay up-to-date on the latest episodes and news. Find us on Facebook at Writers Voice with Francesca Rheannon, on Instagram @WritersVoicePodcast or find us on X/Twitter@WritersVoice.

Key words: Louise Erdrich, fiction, 2008 farm crisis, Francesca Rheannon podcast, Red River Valley North Dakota, climate change, global warming, James Hansen, hurricanes

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Podcast

Anna Zivarts, WHEN DRIVING IS NOT AN OPTION & Dan Piatkowski, BICYCLE CITY

In this episode of Writer’s Voice, we talk about changing urban transport to make it more people-centric, not car-centric. We welcome disability mobility advocate Anna Zivarts, author of When Driving Is Not An Option: Steering Away From Car Dependency.

Then, urban planner Dan Piatkowski tells us about how new developments in bike technology can make cities — and even suburbs — more people friendly. His book is Bicycle City: Riding the Bike Boom to a Brighter Future.


Writers Voice— in depth conversation with writers of all genres, on the air since 2004.

Connect with Us: Follow us on social media to stay up-to-date on the latest episodes and news. Find us on Facebook at Writers Voice with Francesca Rheannon, on Instagram @WritersVoicePodcast or find us on X/Twitter@WritersVoice.

Key words: transportation justice, car dependency, disability rights, e-bikes, sustainable cities, affordability, urban planning, climate change, Anna Zivarts, Dan Piatkowski

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Podcast

The Minds and Lives of Animals with Joe Shute and Brandon Keim

In this episode of Writer’s Voice, host Francesca Rheannon sits down with Joe Shute and Brandon Keim for two conversations about:

  • Animal intelligence and behavior
  • The human-animal connection
  • Ethical treatment of animals
  • Rethinking human dominion over nature

Joe Shute discusses his latest book, Stowaway: The Disreputable Exploits of the Rat, which dives into the history, biology, and misunderstood nature of rats.

Brandon Keim shares insights from his book Meet the Neighbors: Animal Minds and Life in a More-Than-Human World, exploring animal intelligence, personhood, and our complex relationships with the non-human creatures with whom we share the planet.


Writers Voice— in depth conversation with writers of all genres, on the air since 2004.

Connect with Us: Follow us on social media to stay up-to-date on the latest episodes and news. Find us on Facebook at Writers Voice with Francesca Rheannon, on Instagram @WritersVoicePodcast or find us on X/Twitter@WritersVoice.

Key words: Joe Shute, Brandon Keim, Stowaway, Meet the Neighbors, animal intelligence, rats, animal personhood, wildlife, nature, environmental crisis, rats and humans, animal democracy, Fiona Presley, rat behavior, Writer’s Voice podcast, Francesca Rheannon.

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Podcast

Jacob Mikanowski, GOODBYE EASTERN EUROPE & Michael Lerner Remembered

In this episode of Writer’s Voice, host Francesca Rheannon speaks with historian Jacob Mikanowski about his book Goodbye Eastern Europe: An Intimate History of a Divided Land.

Mikanowski explores the rich, complex, and often overlooked history of Eastern Europe—a region shaped by centuries of empires, revolutions, and diverse cultures. From the enduring impact of the Ottoman Empire to the shifting borders of Poland, Hungary, and the Baltics, Mikanowski sheds light on how these lands became the cradle of both cultural richness and conflict.

Then we remember activist, rabbi and champion of revolutionary love, Michael Lerner. He died August 28. We play our 2020 interview with Lerner about his book, Revolutionary Love: A Political Manifesto to Heal and Transform the World.

Writers Voice— in depth conversation with writers of all genres, on the air since 2004.

Connect with Us: Follow us on social media to stay up-to-date on the latest episodes and news. Find us on Facebook at Writers Voice with Francesca Rheannon, on Instagram @WritersVoicePodcast or find us on X/Twitter@WritersVoice.

Key words: Eastern Europe history, Jacob Mikanowski, Michael Lerner, Francesca Rheannon, podcast, history, politics

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Podcast

Clayton Page Aldern: Climate Change Is Messing with Our Brains

In this episode of Writer’s Voice, we talk with Clayton Page Aldern about The Weight of Nature, his groundbreaking new book on the impacts of climate change on our brains — from PSTD to brain-eating amoebas.

Aldern explains how climate-induced stressors are shaping our mental health — harming our judgment, leading to rises in neurodegenerative diseases, and even eroding our capacity to tell truth from lies.

Clayton Aldern is a neuroscientist turned environmental journalist and senior data reporter for Grist. His climate change data visualizations have appeared in a variety of forums, including on the US Senate floor in a speech by Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse.

Writers Voice— in depth conversation with writers of all genres, on the air since 2004.

Connect with Us: Follow us on social media to stay up-to-date on the latest episodes and news. Find us on Facebook at Writers Voice with Francesca Rheannon, on Instagram @WritersVoicePodcast or find us on X/Twitter@WritersVoice.

Key words: Clayton Aldern, neuroscience, brain science, climate change, global warming, book show, podcast, brain health, PTSD, climate anxiety, Clayton Page Aldern, The Weight of Nature, neurodegeneration, environmental stressors, ALS, Alzheimer’s

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Podcast

Edwidge Danticat on Haiti, Immigration, and Her New Essay Collection WE’RE ALONE

Episode Description:

In this episode, we talk with celebrated Haitian American writer Edwidge Danticat, author of Brother, I’m Dying and her latest essay collection, We’re Alone.

Danticat shares intimate insights into her writing process, the legacy of colonialism and the immigrant experience. She discusses Haiti’s ongoing struggles, her personal connection to the country, and how the global refugee crisis continues to impact marginalized communities.

Tune in to explore how Danticat bears witness to history through her poignant essays on family, resilience, and the power of storytelling.

We also play a portion of our 2010 interview with Tracy Kidder about his book Mountains Beyond Mountains. It’s about the late great doctor and humanitarian Paul Farmer’s work in Haiti.

Writers Voice— in depth conversation with writers of all genres, on the air since 2004.

Connect with Us: Follow us on social media to stay up-to-date on the latest episodes and news. Find us on Facebook at Writers Voice with Francesca Rheannon, on Instagram @WritersVoicePodcast or find us on X/Twitter@WritersVoice.

Key words: Edwidge Danticat, We’re Alone, Haitian American writer, Haiti, colonialism, immigration, refugee crisis, writing process, Tracy Kidder, Paul Farmer, book show, podcast.

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