Show for Dec 26, 2010: Voices from Juvenile Hall (Rebroadcast)
A year ago, I paid a visit to Santa Cruz Juvenile Hall just before Christmas to learn about a writing program and publication for incarcerated youths called The Beat Within. I recorded interviews with some of the kids who participate, as well as Beat Within workshop leaders Dennis Morton and Jill Wolfson. While some of the kids I talked to have since moved on, all the other details remain completely current. That includes the fact that The Beat Within still needs financial support (more than ever, in fact) to keep going. Go here to donate to the Santa Cruz chapter or here for the main Beat Within website.
Click the “play” arrow above to listen to the show, or download the MP3 here.
Show for July 18, 2010. Lives in Art: Harvey Pekar and Jonathan Ames.
In part 1, a 2006 interview with Harvey Pekar, who died this past week on July 12. We talked about his brawling youth, his autobiographical comics American Splendor and The Quitter, the impact of fame, his run-ins with David Letterman and other topics. In part 2, a 2009 interview with Jonathan Ames, discussing his own semi-autobiographical graphic novel The Alcoholic, the movie adaptation of his novel The Extra Man and his HBO comedy series Bored to Death.
Click the arrow above to listen. If you don’t have Flash player or have other playback problems, click this link for the MP3.
Show for Jan 3, 2010. Voices from Juvie
“The Beat Within” is a weekly magazine that collects writings by teens in California juvenile halls. I talked to kids in the Santa Cruz Juvenile Hall who participate in the program, and who told me about their lives, hopes and writing. Also: Beat Within workshop leaders Jill Wolfson and Dennis Morton.
Click the arrow above to listen. If you don’t have Flash player or have other playback problems, click this link for the MP3.
