Episode 400
with Mo Rocca, Heather Christle, and Jimmie Herrod
Host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello riff on the ways they cheer themselves up; humorist, journalist, and actor Mo Rocca explains select chapters from his new book "Mobituaries: Great Lives Worth Reliving," in which he memorializes fascinating people (and objects) from history who didn't receive the send-off they deserved; poet and writer Heather Christle takes a deep dive into the art and act of crying – why we do it and even how tears reflect systems of power; and jazz vocalist Jimmie Herrod performs “Anything at All” from his new album "Falling in Love and Learning to Love Myself."
Mo Rocca
Humorist & Journalist
Mo Rocca is into examining the dead. The TV correspondent and writer has long been fascinated with obituaries, and with Mobituaries: Great Lives Worth Living, (the book companion to his podcast of the same name) he dives deep into examining the lives of dead people we should know on a deeper level. This journalist, humorist, and history buff is an Emmy winner, the author of “All the Presidents’ Pets,” a correspondent for “CBS Sunday Morning,” and a frequent panelist on NPR’s “Wait, Wait…Don’t Tell Me!” Twitter
Heather Christle
Author
Heather Christle’s new book is a guaranteed tearjerker. Why? Because it’s called The Crying Book, and it researches the act of crying – what it is, why we do it, and how grief and joy are intertwined throughout our lives. Her investigation gets into science, history, and her own lived experiences as she explores how tears and what’s behind them can shape our choices and lives. This is Christle’s first book of nonfiction; she’s the author of the poetry collections The Difficult Farm; The Trees The Trees, which won the Believer Poetry Award; What Is Amazing; and Heliopause. Website • Twitter
Jimmie Herrod
Jazz Vocalist
When you listen to Jimmie Herrod sing, you know you’re hearing a master. The Pacific Northwest-based artist, who now splits time between Portland and Paris, has toured throughout the US, Canada, and Europe, and is a regular guest vocalist with legendary superband Pink Martini. He recorded “Exodus,” his first single with Pink Martini, in 2018, along with a solo album of original works, “Falling in Love and Learning to Love Myself.” Herrod’s soaring voice and masterful command of the stage is something to experience for yourself. Listen
