Episode 463

with John Green and Dessa

Host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello share some controversial 1-star reviews submitted by listeners; bestselling author and vlogger John Green (The Fault in our Stars) discusses his new collection of essays, The Anthropocene Reviewed, which expands upon his podcast to review different aspects of our human-shaped world, from Diet Dr. Pepper to sunsets; and rapper Dessa chats about her new monthly singles project, IDES, before performing her pitch-perfect track "Terry Gross."

John Green
Author

John Green is the award-winning, #1 bestselling author of books including Looking for Alaska, The Fault in Our Stars, and Turtles All the Way Down. His most recent book, a collection of personal essays called The Anthropocene Reviewed, was released in May of 2021 from Penguin Random House. He is also the writer and host of a critically acclaimed podcast by the same name. John’s books have received many accolades, including a Printz Medal, a Printz Honor, and an Edgar Award. He has twice been a finalist for the LA Times Book Prize and was selected by TIME magazine as one of the 100 Most Influential People in the World. With his brother, Hank, John has co-created many online video projects, including Vlogbrothers and the educational channel Crash Course. Green’s books have been published in more than 55 languages and over 24 million copies are in print. Website • Twitter

Dessa
Rapper

Dessa is a singer, rapper, and writer who has made a career of bucking genres and defying expectations. Her résumé as a musician includes performances at Lollapalooza and Glastonbury, co-compositions for 100-voice choirs, performances with the Minnesota Orchestra, and top-200 entries on the Billboard charts. Her track “Congratulations,” part of the #1 album The Hamilton Mixtape, has over 16 million streams. She is the author of My Own Devices, a 2018 memoir-in-essays, and her writing has also appeared in publications including The New York Times and National Geographic Traveler. Dessa is highly sought after as a public speaker whose topics include art, science, entrepreneurship, and whether we can choose to fall out of love. She’s the host of Deeply Human, a podcast created by the BBC and American Public Media. On the stage and on the page, Dessa’s style is defined by ferocity, wit, tenderness, and candor. Website • Twitter