Episode 363
with Hanif Abdurraqib, Beth Stelling, Dr. Mary Zelinski, and John Craigie
Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello talk personal “breakthrough” moments, including the Jimmy Buffet lyric that has eluded them both; poet and music writer Hanif Abdurraqib discusses essays from his critically acclaimed book They Can’t Kill Us Until They Kill Us and why he's no longer willing to suffer for his art; Portland scientist Mary Zelinski shares the breakthrough research on male contraceptives; comedian Beth Stelling spins stories on childhood guinea pigs and skin conditions; and folk humorist John Craigie performs, “Let’s Talk This Over When We’re Sober and Not at Burning Man.”
Hanif Abdurraqib
Writer
Hanif Abdurraqib is a poet, essayist, and cultural critic from Columbus, Ohio. His poetry has been published in Muzzle, Vinyl, PEN American, and various other journals. His essays and music criticism have been published in The FADER, Pitchfork, The New Yorker, and The New York Times. His first full length poetry collection, The Crown Ain't Worth Much, was released in June 2016 from Button Poetry. It was named a finalist for the Eric Hoffer Book Prize, and was nominated for a Hurston-Wright Legacy Award. With Big Lucks, he released a limited edition chapbook, Vintage Sadness, in summer 2017 (you cannot get it anymore and he is very sorry.) His first collection of essays, They Can't Kill Us Until They Kill Us, was released in winter 2017 by Two Dollar Radio and was named a book of the year by Buzzfeed, Esquire, NPR, Oprah Magazine, Paste, CBC, The Los Angeles Review, Pitchfork, and The Chicago Tribune, among others. Website • Twitter
Mary Zelinski
Scientist
Mary Zelinski’s research centers on understanding the development and function of primate ovarian follicles. Her experience with nonhuman primates as pre-clinical models for infertility and contraception related to women’s reproductive health spans three decades. Her research has been continuously funded by the NIH since 1998. She received a perfect score on her NIH grant for continued development of ovarian tissue vitrification and follicle culture as novel options for female fertility preservation. She was recently named a Senior Scholar of the Global Consortium on Reproductive Longevity and Equality, Buck Institute, to study interventions for ovarian aging.
Beth Stelling
Comedian
As a comedian, Beth Stelling’s skill lies in taking everyday topics such as biking, social media and the TSA and suddenly flipping them upside down by applying her hilarious point of view. Her delightful and relatable comedic takes are in high demand by HBO (as a writer for Pete Holmes’ Crashing), Netflix (her half-hour special is featured in season one of The Standups) and Comedy Central (she’s a guest star on Corporate). Delivered in her signature arch deadpan, Stelling’s precision-constructed jokes combine a “winking gruffness” (The New York Times) with familiar touchstones – and hilarity ensues. Website • Twitter
John Craigie
Humorist
John Craigie will take you on an unexpected journey. Known for his Americana style and clever observations, Craigie carries on the legacy of classic singer-songwriters – with his own twist. A Portland local who The Stranger called “the lovechild of John Prine and Mitch Hedberg,” he’s toured with Jack Johnson and received fan mail from Chuck Norris. Craigie’s most recent studio album is 2017’s No Rain, No Rose, and he’s releasing a live album later this year. So hop on board – we’re going wherever he takes us. Listen • Insta
