At a live performance at Joe's Pub in New York City, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jennifer Egan shares a chapter from her recent novel The Candy House. NYU’s Dr. Chris Barrie speaks about AI, and tries to disentangle its potential as a threat to, or a savior of, humanity. Songwriter Rhett Miller (The Old 97s), who is an old friend and an admirer of Jennifer’s, performs a brand new song in response.

Chapters
05:46
Jennifer Egan reads a chapter of The Candy House
16:28
A conversation about AI with Dr. Christopher Barrie
50:22
"Near Eureka" performed live by Rhett Miller

SongWriterPodcast.com
Instagram.com/SongWriterPodcast
Facebook.com/SongWriterPodcast
TikTok.com/@SongWriterPodcast
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SongWriter is a music and songwriting podcast that turns stories into songs. Host Ben Arthur invites writers, poets, and musicians to share a story or poem, then pairs it with an original song written in response. Along the way, the show explores the creative process through intimate conversations and performances. Guests have included Questlove, Susan Orlean, David Gilmour, Joyce Carol Oates, David Sedaris, and George Saunders. Distributed by PRX, SongWriter also appears on the syndicated radio program Acoustic Café and in Paste Magazine. Learn more at SongWriterPodcast.com.

Season seven is made possible by a grant from Templeton World Charity Foundation

Married couple Sonia Khan and Ian Lovatt tell the story of a near-death experience and the long journey of recovery. Caregiving researcher Dr. Brianna Morgan speaks about ageism and giving a voice to people living with compromised communication abilities through poetry. Composer and drummer Tom Marsh remembers life-altering advice Ian gave him, and shares a new song called "Illuminate."

Chapters:
01:02
Sonia begins the story
28:39
Dr. Brianna Marsh speaks about caregiving
48:57
Tom Marsh debuts "Illuminate"

SongWriterPodcast.com
Instagram.com/SongWriterPodcast
Facebook.com/SongWriterPodcast
TikTok.com/@SongWriterPodcast
YouTube.com/@SongwriterPodcast

SongWriter is a music and songwriting podcast that turns stories into songs. Host Ben Arthur invites writers, poets, and musicians to share a story or poem, then pairs it with an original song written in response. Along the way, the show explores the creative process through intimate conversations and performances. Guests have included Questlove, Susan Orlean, David Gilmour, Joyce Carol Oates, David Sedaris, and George Saunders. Distributed by PRX, SongWriter also appears on the syndicated radio program Acoustic Café and in Paste Magazine. Learn more at SongWriterPodcast.com.

Season seven is made possible by a grant from Templeton World Charity Foundation

Filmmaker and actress Isabella Rossellini describes the night she went to see Temple Grandin speak at Hunter College, and ended up enrolling in graduate school to study animal behavior at the age of 60. Isabella’s friend and professor Dr. Diana Reiss speaks about her research work with animals, and the importance of seeing them not just as species, but as individuals. Rock star Sharon Van Etten explains why this project meant the world to her, and performs a new song titled "for Isabella."

Chapters:
09:30
Isabella Rossellini describes how Darwin decoded animal intelligence using photography
24:11
Dr. Diana Reiss tells a story about a dolphin who turned her training methods back on her
38:39
Sharon Van Etten speaks about the catharsis of writing about intensity and darkness

SongWriterPodcast.com
Instagram.com/SongWriterPodcast
Facebook.com/SongWriterPodcast
TikTok.com/@SongWriterPodcast
YouTube.com/@SongwriterPodcast

SongWriter is a music and songwriting podcast that turns stories into songs. Host Ben Arthur invites writers, poets, and musicians to share a story or poem, then pairs it with an original song written in response. Along the way, the show explores the creative process through intimate conversations and performances. Guests have included Questlove, Susan Orlean, David Gilmour, Joyce Carol Oates, David Sedaris, and George Saunders. Distributed by PRX, SongWriter also appears on the syndicated radio program Acoustic Café and in Paste Magazine. Learn more at SongWriterPodcast.com.

Season seven is made possible by a grant from Templeton World Charity Foundation