Episode 465

with Chris Gethard, Clint Smith, and Faye Webster

Host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello get excited to revive some summer traditions; comedian Chris Gethard chats about his new road-tripping comedy special Half My Life and why he made a pit stop at the dubious Gatorworld theme park; Clint Smith, staff writer at The Atlantic, unpacks his latest book How the Word Is Passed, which tours landmarks and monuments that have shaped the collective conversation around slavery; and indie folk artist Faye Webster performs "Better Distractions" from her new album I Know I'm Funny haha.

Clint Smith
Writer

Clint Smith is a staff writer at The Atlantic and the author of Counting Descent, which won the 2017 Literary Award for Best Poetry Book from the Black Caucus of the American Library Association and was a finalist for an NAACP Image Award. His debut book of nonfiction, How the Word Is Passed, was released in June of 2021 and explores the ways various historical sites reckon with their relationship to slavery. Clint has received fellowships from New America, the Art For Justice Fund, Cave Canem, and the National Science Foundation. His writing has been published in The New Yorker, The New York Times Magazine, Poetry Magazine, The Paris Review and elsewhere. He received his B.A. from Davidson College and his Ph.D. from Harvard University. Website • Twitter

Chris Gethard
Comedian

Chris Gethard is an actor, comedian, writer, and telephone call enthusiast. He was the host of The Chris Gethard Show, a New York City-based talk show that aired from 2011 to 2018, and currently hosts the podcast Beautiful Stories From Anonymous People. He is the author of three books: Weird New York (2005), A Bad Idea I’m About to Do (2012), and Lose Well (2018). Though he is based out of the great state of New Jersey, he can be seen performing all over the world. Tickets for his upcoming tour are available as of June 4, 2021. Website • Twitter

Faye Webster
Singer Songwriter

Faye Webster is an indie folk musician, singer, and photographer based in Atlanta, Georgia. She self-released her debut album, Run and Tell, in 2013 and has released two albums since: Faye Webster (2017) on Awful Records, and Atlanta Millionaires Club (2019) on Secretly Canadian. Her forthcoming album, I Know I’m Funny haha--which was partially recorded from Webster’s bedroom during the coronavirus pandemic--is scheduled to be released in June of 2021. Listen • Twitter