Épisodes

  • In Lisa Smith’s ‘Jamaica Road,’ a young girl searches for belonging in 1980s London

    In Lisa Smith’s ‘Jamaica Road,’ a young girl searches for belonging in 1980s London
    Aug 6 2025
    Lisa Smith’s debut novel Jamaica Road is a coming of age story and romance set in 1980s London. The story follows Daphne, a young girl born to a Jamaican family, and her best friend Connie over the course of 12 years as they contend with love, hatred and some historical events in British history. In today’s episode, Smith talks with Here & Now’s Deborah Becker about growing up as “the posh Black girl,” writing patois, and a surprising character’s presence in the novel.


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    10 min
  • ‘Algospeak’ looks at algorithms' transformative impact on how we speak on and offline

    ‘Algospeak’ looks at algorithms' transformative impact on how we speak on and offline
    Aug 5 2025
    Words like "rizz" and "skibidi" didn’t exist just a few years ago, but now they’re used and understood by millions of people. In his new book, Algospeak, linguist and content creator Adam Aleksic argues our language is evolving at a rapid pace. And he says this is driven in large part by social media algorithms that amplify linguistic trends. In today’s episode, Aleksic speaks with NPR’s Adrian Ma about the engagement treadmill, influencer accents and why the word "skibidi" will be out of style within the year.


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    9 min
  • Katie Yee's 'Maggie' approaches a tough diagnosis - and a marriage's end - with humor

    Katie Yee's 'Maggie' approaches a tough diagnosis - and a marriage's end - with humor
    Aug 4 2025
    In Katie Yee's debut novel 'Maggie; Or, a Man and a Woman Walk Into a Bar,' the unnamed protagonist is contending with the end of her marriage and a breast cancer diagnosis. But these topics are approached with humor, which Yee says is essential to stay sane. In today's episode, the author joins Here & Now's Asma Khalid for a conversation about the relationship women have with their bodies, the affair at the center of the novel, and writing about race and identity.

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    11 min
  • New books by Irene Vega, Tim Weiner chronicle changes to federal agencies under Trump

    New books by Irene Vega, Tim Weiner chronicle changes to federal agencies under Trump
    Aug 1 2025
    Two new books add context to changes at federal agencies under the Trump administration. First, Irene Vega interviewed 90 ICE agents over a number of years for her book Bordering on Indifference. In today's episode, she speaks with NPR's A Martínez about the frequent tension between agents' professional and personal backgrounds. Then, Tim Weiner's new book The Mission considers how the CIA is reimagining the art of espionage in the modern era. In today's episode, he talks with NPR's Mary Louise Kelly about what he calls an "ideological purge" at the CIA under President Trump and how technology can make spying more difficult.

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    17 min
  • 'On Her Game' is Christine Brennan's portrait of basketball star Caitlin Clark

    'On Her Game' is Christine Brennan's portrait of basketball star Caitlin Clark
    Jul 31 2025
    In 2024, ratings for the NCAA women's basketball final topped the men's final by 4 million viewers – and Caitlin Clark was largely responsible. American sports fans fell in love with the athlete and Clark, now with the Indiana Fever, went on to become a star. Christine Brennan's new book On Her Game looks at the athlete's role in U.S. sports and culture. In today's episode, Brennan talks with NPR's Scott Simon about Clark's time playing on a boys' team, conversations about race surrounding her success, and pay disparities between the NBA and WNBA.

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    9 min
  • Short story collection 'Heart Lamp' is the winner of the International Booker Prize

    Short story collection 'Heart Lamp' is the winner of the International Booker Prize
    Jul 30 2025
    Heart Lamp, this year's International Booker Prize winner, is the first short story collection to receive the award. It is also the first time the prize has been awarded to an author writing in Kannada and a translator from India. The collection tells the stories of women living in southern India against a backdrop of poverty and patriarchal systems. In today's episode, author Banu Mushtaq and translator Deepa Bhasthi join Here & Now's Asma Khalid to discuss the collection and the impact of the prize.

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    12 min
  • In Sophie Elmhirst's 'A Marriage at Sea,' a couple tries to keep themselves afloat

    In Sophie Elmhirst's 'A Marriage at Sea,' a couple tries to keep themselves afloat
    Jul 29 2025
    In 1972, Maurice and Maralyn Bailey set out from England to sail around the world. Partway through the voyage, a whale knocked a hole in their boat, leaving the couple stranded at sea. A Marriage at Sea, a new book by Sophie Elmhirst, chronicles how the Baileys struggled to survive for months as they awaited rescue. In today's episode, the author speaks with NPR's Mary Louise Kelly about the Baileys' story.

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    9 min
  • Through politics, fiction and her latest novel, Stacey Abrams aims to inspire action

    Through politics, fiction and her latest novel, Stacey Abrams aims to inspire action
    Jul 28 2025
    Avery Keene has unraveled international conspiracies and investigated mysteries involving the Supreme Court, but now she's focused on what could be a deadly side of artificial intelligence. That's the setup for the novel Coded Justice, the latest legal thriller by Stacey Abrams, former Georgia State Representative and two-time gubernatorial candidate. In today's episode, Abrams joins NPR's Michel Martin for a conversation about the intersection of AI and healthcare, a GOP-led investigation into the New Georgia Project, and how Abrams views her role in politics today.

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    8 min