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

William deBuys, TRAIL TO KANJIROBA & James Rebanks, PASTORAL SONG

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This week, two beautifully written memoirs that stir hope as we all confront the losses of our ecosystems in crisis.

First, we talk with William deBuys about The Trail To Kanjiroba: Rediscovering Earth in an Age of Loss. It’s about a medical expedition he went on to Upper Dolpo, a remote, ethnically Tibetan region of northwestern Nepal, and the pilgrimage it became.

Then, a moving memoir about ancient farming—and bringing it back. We talk with James Rebanks about his award-winning book, Pastoral Song: A Farmer’s Journey.

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

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Ray McGinnis UNANSWERED QUESTIONS: What the September Eleventh Families Asked and the 9/11 Commission Ignored

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This is a special edition of Writer’s Voice produced on the 20th anniversary of 9/11.

Many questions about the terror attacks remain unanswered for the families of the 9/11 victims. They remain unanswered for many other Americans, as well.

We talk with Ray McGinnis about his book, UNANSWERED QUESTIONS: What the September Eleventh Families Asked and the 9/11 Commission Ignored

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Podcast

Writer’s Voice: Migdalia Cruz, MACBETH & Michael Blanding NORTH BY SHAKESPEARE

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Shakespeare on the brain! We talk with Nuyorican playwright Migdalia Cruz about her adaptation of Shakespeare’s Macbeth for modern audiences.

Then, Michael Blanding tells the fascinating story of an amateur scholar who has built a compelling and controversial case about the source of Shakespeare’s work. The book is North By Shakespeare: A Rogue Scholar’s Quest For The Truth Behind The Bard’s Work.

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

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Julia Sweig, LADY BIRD JOHNSON & Michael Klare on the Pentagon, China and Climate

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We talk with Julia Sweig about her acclaimed book, Lady Bird Johnson: In Plain Sight.

Then, after exiting Afghanistan, President Biden is turning his attention to China, implying that China is a serious security threat that the US may have to meet with force. But security analyst Michael Klare disagrees. We talk with him about his recent post in the Nation magazine, The Real Existential Threat Is Our Overheating Planet.

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

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Honorée Fanonne Jeffers THE LOVE SONGS OF W.E.B. DuBOIS & The And I Thought Ladies

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We talk with Honorée Fanonne Jeffers, award-winning poet and now novelist, about The Love Songs of W.E.B. DuBois, just out from Harper Collins.

Then, two young women build a literary empire around poetry and life lessons. We talk with Jade Dee and Wilnona Marie, the And I Thought Ladies.

Writers Voice— in depth conversation with writers of all genres, on the air since 2004.
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Jennie Romer, CAN I RECYCLE THIS? & Catherine Raven, FOX AND I

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We talk with recycling maven Jennie Romer about making the right recycling choices. Her book is Can I Recycle This? A Guide To Better Recycling And How To Reduce Single Use Plastics.

Then, wildlife biologist Catherine Raven tells us about her bestselling memoir, Fox and I: An Uncommon Friendship.

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Elizabeth Hinton, AMERICA ON FIRE

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We talk with Elizabeth Hinton about her book, America on Fire: The Untold History Of Police Violence And Black Rebellion Since The 1960’s.

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Podcast

Ross Barkan, THE PRINCE & Chuck Collins, THE WEALTH HOARDERS

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We talk with Ross Barkan about his book, The Prince: Andrew Cuomo, The Coronavirus & The Fall of New York. We also get an update from him after the release of New York Attorney General Leticia James’ bombshell report about Cuomo’s sexual harassment of young female staffers and the toxic workplace environment that enabled it.

Then, how does it actually work that the superrich all too often pay little to no taxes? We talk with Chuck Collins about his book, The Wealth Hoarders: How Billionaires Pay Millions To Hide Trillions.

Writer’s Voice — in depth progressive conversation with writers of all genres. On the air since 2004. Rate us or leave us a review on your podcast app!

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Megha Majumdhar, A BURNING & Gigi Georges, DOWNEAST

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We talk with Megha Majumdhar about her breakout debut novel, A Burning. It follows three characters in today’s India: one, a young Muslim woman falsely accused of terrorism, and two others who must choose between justice and self-interest.

Then, rural America isn’t just poverty, opioid addiction and despair; it’s also community, resilience, and some remarkable young women.
We talk with Gigi Georges about Downeast: Five Maine Girls and the Unseen Story of Rural America.

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

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Podcast

Nina Burleigh, VIRUS & Celia Jeffries, BLUE DESERT

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We talk with journalist Nina Burleigh about Trump’s failure on Covid and what that says about our public health system—and capitalism. Her book is Virus: Vaccinations, the CDC, and The Hijacking Of America’s Response To The Pandemic.

Then, we shift gears to consider a remarkable debut novel by Celia Jeffries, Blue Desert. It’s about freedom and limits, secrets and what happens when a young British woman falls in love with the chieftain of a Tuareg tribe in Morocco in the early years of the 20th century.

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

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Podcast

Joseph Illidge on Diversity in Super Hero Comics

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Today we talk with DC Comics & Warner Brothers comic book editor Joseph Illidge about his career in comic books, bringing diverse voices to the super hero genre.

We also hear a sneak preview of our interview with recycling maven Jennie Romer about her book Can I Recycle This?

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!

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Podcast

Ann Armbrecht, THE BUSINESS OF BOTANICALS

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We spend the hour talking with Ann Armbrecht, first about her new book, The Business of Botanicals: Exploring the Healing Promise of Plant Medicines in a Global Industry. It’s the first book to explore the interconnected web of the global herb industry and its many stakeholders.

Then, we revisit part of our 2009 conversation with her about her memoir, Thin Places.

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!

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Web Extras

WEB EXTRA: Ann Armbrecht, THIN PLACES (full interview)

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In 2009, Writer’s Voice spoke with Ann Armbrecht about her memoir, THIN PLACES: A Pilgramage Home. Francesca Rheannon was joined on the interview by writer Christian MacEwen.

The original edited aired episode has been lost, so here is the unedited version of the conversation, pulled from our archives. The first few minutes have been lost, but we join her as Armbrecht is talking about how the people in the village in Nepal first received her.

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Podcast

Cal Flyn, ISLANDS OF ABANDONMENT & James Romm, THE SACRED BAND

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We talk with Cal Flyn about her book, Islands of Abandonment: Nature Rebounding in the Post-Human Landscape.

Then, just in time for Pride Month, James Romm tells us about his book The Sacred Band: Three Hundred Theban Lovers Fighting To Save Greek Freedom.

Writer’s Voice — in depth conversation with writers of all genres, on the air since 2004. If you subscribe to our podcast, give us some love on wherever you get your podcasts. It really helps others to find the show.

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Dr. Michael Okun, ENDING PARKINSON’S DISEASE & Lionel Shriver, SHOULD WE STAY OR SHOULD WE GO

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Parkinson’s disease. It’s an epidemic—and growing. We talk with Dr. Michael Okun about the book he co-authored, Ending Parkinson’s Disease: A Prescription for Action. He tells us about symptoms, causes, and new treatments.

But first, we talk with novelist Lionel Shriver about her latest foray into burning questions for our times. This one asks, as per its title, Should We Stay Or Should We Go. Should we cut our lives short before reaching possible decrepitude or should we stick around for come what may?

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!

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