Martha Cinader welcomes playwright Kim McMillon. “Black Heaven” explores blackness through a fictional lecture series in heaven, featuring a host of living and unliving characters sucha as W.E.B. Du Bois, August Wilson, Alice Walker and Bertold Brecht. McMillon discusses the play’s theme of blackness, sometimes even if you’re not black in this life, the importance of black representation in theater, and the enduring impact of our shared human history.

Tony Robles speaks with Joel Beverly about his memoir, “In the Absence of Belief,” at the Literature and Public Lands Celebration in Flatrock, NC. His memoir recounts his travels through North America, Europe, and Egypt. He reflects on the impact of poverty and societal beliefs on his life and the potential for freedom beyond those constraints. Beverly also compares the experiences of eastern Kentucky and western North Carolina, highlighting the differences in industry and their effects on the regions.

Our high school intern Javier Famania, shares his thoughts on a poetry collection by Pedro Pietri. Javier highlights Pietri’s exploration of Puerto Rican identity, New York City life, and activism, exemplified in the poem “Traffic Misdirector,” which he reads for us.

Hernán Ramiro shares another live recording that you won’t hear anywhere else. This time he plays Slipping into Darkness, with Widespread Panic, and a little snippet as well of Judy Bady at the Blue Note.

Hernán also talks with Bato Aydelotte about the Bowery Jazz Messengers, a jazz band performing for the homeless at the Bowery Mission. The band, which he formed in 2020, while attending Laguardia High School, adapted to the pandemic by performing outdoors during meal times. Bato has graduated but the program continues.