Interview with WAMC’s Joe Donahue for The Book Show

My local NPR affiliate, WAMC Northeast Public Radio, is special in many ways. They provide more original content—more intelligent talk—than any other NPR station I’ve had the pleasure of listening to regularly. Every morning from 9 to noon, Joe Donahue and Sarah LaDuke produce The Roundtable, a show that covers local and national politics as well as art, music, theater, and literature from around the listening region. Sometimes they talk food and drink. (Those are some of my favorite segments. One time, they had Jane’s Ice Cream on and talked about all the flavors they were trying—it sounded sooooo good.) In addition to speaking with authors of interest, Joe talks to independent booksellers each week to find out what new books intrigue them; and once per week, he does The Book Show, a more in-depth interview with an author. I am thrilled that The Book of Esther is Joe’s Book Show pick for this week. He’s one of my radio idols and a great force for good—he brings civility, intelligence, enthusiasm, and a lively sense of inquiry to our region’s public discourse. Thanks again for having me on, Joe, as well as for just being you; and if you’d like to have a listen, the segment will air again this Thursday evening, 7/28, at 8:30, or you can listen online here.