Monday, August 13, 2012

Stone Street interview with Mischa Iossel


Episode III of Stone Street available now.  In this episode I spoke to Mikhail Iossel, writer, professor of American literature, and founder of the Summer Literary Seminar series, which this year was held in Vilnius.  Professor Iossel was born in St. Petersburg (then Leningrad) and left the Soviet Union for Boston in 1986.  He later received a master's degree from the University of New Hampshire, and a Stegner fellowship from Standford.  He has taught at the University of Minnesota, NYU, and St. Lawrence College, and now teaches at Concordia University in Montreal.

So have a listen.  Professor Iossel has terrific stories and insights about his experiences which he shares in the free mode of a natural storyteller.  His memories are alternately powerful and hilarious (and occasionally both at the same time).  His book of short stories is titled, Every Hunter Wants to Know.

Monday, August 6, 2012

Stone Street, Pt. II


The second installment of Stone Street is now available.  For this hour I spoke with Jeannine Oppewall, the Oscar-nominated production designer of such films as The Bridges of Madison County, L.A. Confidential, Catch Me if You Can, and Seabiscuit.  Jeanine is a wise, wise woman who has spent an amazing life thinking seriously about big questions, and I only hope our interview here offers some sense of her great insight, wit and passion.  Enjoy.

Also, we think we've gotten a few things ironed out re: subscribing to the podcast via iTunes, so if you were frustrated in your attempts to sign up the first time, do give it another go.

In our next Stone Street podcast, I'll talk with Mikhail Iossel, founder of the Summer Literary Seminar series, currently taking place in Vilnius, about language, literature, and leaving St. Petersburg in the 80s.