Big Books & Bold Ideas with Kerri Miller

Losing a parent at a young age shapes a person. In her debut memoir, “Seeing Ghosts,” Kat Chow pours her grief onto the page and examines how the loss of her mother when she was only 13 both marked her and made her into who she is today.

She also looks back at past generations of her family to examine how their journey from China and Hong Kong to Cuba and America both marked and made them.

Her book asks what it means to reclaim and tell your family story. Is it a form of exorcism? Or is it a way to hold on to those we loved and lost?

Listen to Kerri Miller’s fascinating conversation about big books and bold ideas, as she talks with Chow about her new book and family identity.

Host Kerri Miller kicks off the fall season of Talking Volumes with a conversation with novelist Lauren Groff, whose latest book is “Matrix.”

Host Kerri Miller kicks off the fall season of Talking Volumes with a conversation with novelist Lauren Groff, whose latest book is “Matrix.”

When she was still in training, Dr. Leana Wen led a student organization whose motto was, “It takes more than medical school to make a physician.” It also takes more than “M.D.” after your name to be the kind of courageous, unflagging, ethical public health leader that this country needs.

Dr. Wen’s memoir, "Lifelines: A Doctor's Journey in the Fight for Public Health,” shows why. She has lived the advice from a mentor and close friend: “Turn your pain into passion, your passion into purpose.”

Dr. Wen joined host Kerri Miller for a conversation about her memoir and how her personal story has shaped the public health leader she has become.

Guest:

• Dr. Leana Wen is an emergency room doctor and professor of public health at George Washington University and a former health commissioner for the city of Baltimore.

When she was still in training, Dr. Leana Wen led a student organization whose motto was, “It takes more than medical school to make a physician.” It also takes more than “M.D.” after your name to be the kind of courageous, unflagging, ethical public health leader that this country needs.

Dr. Wen’s memoir, "Lifelines: A Doctor's Journey in the Fight for Public Health,” shows why. She has lived the advice from a mentor and close friend: “Turn your pain into passion, your passion into purpose.”

Dr. Wen joined host Kerri Miller for a conversation about her memoir and how her personal story has shaped the public health leader she has become.

Guest:

• Dr. Leana Wen is an emergency room doctor and professor of public health at George Washington University and a former health commissioner for the city of Baltimore.

On Friday morning, we talked books — and we received plenty of your recommendations.

On Friday morning, we talked books — and we received plenty of your recommendations.

As the delta variant surged last month, more Americans got vaccinated against COVID-19. But one in four Minnesota adults is still unvaccinated against the virus, and their reasons for turning down the shots are varied and personal.

Guest host Catharine Richert talked with a family doctor and a family therapist about what’s behind vaccine hesitancy and how to have conversations with people who are vaccine hesitant.She also spoke with a community organizer about the reasons why he hasn’t gotten a vaccine shot.

Guests:

• Dr. Eduardo Medina is a family physician at HealthPartners Park Nicollet Clinic in Minneapolis.

• Bill Doherty is a family therapist and professor of family social science at the University of Minnesota. He’s co-founder of Braver Angels, an organization that brings together reds and blues to try to depolarize America.

• Tommy McBrayer Jr. is a community organizer in south Minneapolis and vaccine hesitant.

Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.

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During the pandemic, Minnesota’s theater companies lived their industry’s credo: The show must go on. Some worked outdoors, others offered livestreams and virtual performances and some went deep with pandemic-specific programming.

Now that Broadway has reopened and many local venues are returning with masks and social distancing, theater companies are applying what they learned during the quarantine to their futures.

Guest host Euan Kerr checked in with Minnesota theater directors on life during the pandemic and returning to the stage in all its forms.

Guests:

• Joseph Haj is the artistic director of the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis

• Kevin West is general manager, artistic associate and director of the Capri After School Theater in Minneapolis

• Lily Tung Crystal is the artistic director of Theater Mu in St. Paul

Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.

Subscribe to the MPR News with Kerri Miller podcast onApple Podcasts,Google Podcasts,SpotifyorRSS.

As a Black girl adopted by Scottish communists, growing up in Glasgow in the 1970s, poet Jackie Kay developed a passion for Bessie Smith. Her father introduced her to the blues, and Bessie Smith was the wild spirit who helped her find her true self. She tells the story in her new book, “Bessie Smith, A Poet’s Biography of a Blues Legend.”

Writer Jason Mott grew up Black in the American south. When he went on book tour for “The Returned,” it was so odd and hilarious that he wrote about it for his next novel. But when the news filled up with the chaos and violence of Black men being killed by the police, he changed that story. His new book, “Hell of a Book,” is part comedy, part tragedy, all truth about America.

Both authors joined guest host Euan Kerr to talk about their new work, reading, writing and keeping on.

Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.