Episode 451
with Matthew Gavin Frank, Davy Rothbart & Cheryl Sanford, Andrew Bird & Jimbo Mathus
Host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello talk birds of all kinds this week; writer Matthew Gavin Frank discusses the controversial world of diamond-smuggling pigeons; filmmaker Davy Rothbart and his subject Cheryl Sanford unpack 20 years of filming her family in their documentary 17 Blocks; and musicians Andrew Bird & Jimbo Mathus, former bandmates of Squirrel Nut Zippers, perform "Sweet Oblivion" from their new collaborative album These 13.
Matthew Gavin Frank
Writer
Matthew Gavin Frank is an American writer and poet. Matthew’s most recent book Flight of the Diamond Smugglers discuses the ways in which carrier pigeons were used by diamond smuggling rings in coastal South Africa. His previous works include, The Mad Feast: An Ecstatic Tour Through America’s Food, Preparing the Ghost: An Essay Concerning the Giant Squid and Its First Photographer, Pot Farm, and Barolo. His poetry books include, The Morrow Plots , Warranty in Zulu, and Sagittarius Agitprop.
Davy Rothbart & Cheryl Sanford
Filmmakers
Davy Rothbart is a bestselling author and Emmy Award-winning filmmaker. In addition to filmmaking and authoring numerous books, Davy is a contributor to This American Life, and the editor/publisher of Found Magazine. He recently directed the documentary 17 Blocks, which focuses on four generations of the Sanford Family over 20 years — including mother, activist, and executive producer Cheryl Sanford — as they struggle with addiction and gun violence before coming through to the other side.
Andrew Bird & Jimbo Mathus
Musicians
Andrew Bird is a multi-instrumentalist known for his virtuosic violin skills and his meticulously crafted songs. Since 1996, he has released 16 studio albums spanning various genres — including swing, indie rock, and folk — while combining wistful melodies and hyper-literate lyrics. His most recent album, My Finest Work Yet, earned him a Grammy nomination for Best Folk Album. In the 1990s, Bird sang and played violin in several jazz ensembles, including revival band Squirrel Nut Zippers, where he met frontman and guitarist Jimbo Mathus. Their personal and musical friendship has culminated in the new album These 13, written collaboratively over two years.
