Episode 489

with Gary Shteyngart, Atsuko Okatsuka, and The Lowest Pair

Host Luke Burbank and Elena Passarello discuss the kindest things our friends have done; author Gary Shteyngart takes us into the world of fictionalized friendship in his latest book Our Country House, already lauded as the Great American Pandemic Novel; comedian Atsuko Okatska explains why getting married is more childlike than staying single; and indie folk duo The Lowest Pair perform their brand new tune "Mount Rainier."

Gary Shteyngart
Writer

Gary Shteyngart is a writer with an equally firm grasp of fantasy and reality. Dubbed "one of his generation's most original and exhilarating writers" by the New York Times, Shteyngart’s work is suffused with a satirical voice, relying on the invention of elaborately fictitious yet somehow familiar places and times. He has produced several acclaimed novels, including The Russian Debutante's Handbook which received the Stephen Crane Award for First Fiction and the National Jewish Book Award. Inspired by the sweeping epics of Chekhov, Shteyngart’s most recent work, Our Country Friends, trains a keen eye on the pandemic, reflecting on a time of isolation, upheaval, and connection through the relationships of an eclectic cast of characters. Info • Twitter

Atsuko Okatsuka
Comedian

Atsuko Okatsuka is a stand-up comedian, actress, and podcast/ game show host. She created and hosts Let's Go, Atsuko! A (woke) Japanese Game Show and OHAYO: Good Morning from Inside A Monster. Featured in Vulture as one of their “38 Comedians You Should and Will Know,” Okatsuka has also been named a top comedian to watch by TimeOut LA and performs for audiences across the nation, most recently on The Late Late Show with James Corden. Her comedy album, But I Control Me, was released in January of 2020, followed by They Call Me Stacy in 2021. Her new comedy tour, Hi, is slated to start January 2022, offering more glimpses into the creative mind of a comedian whose unique brand of observational comedy is as relatable as it is hilarious. Twitter • Instagram

The Lowest Pair
Band

The Lowest Pair comprises folk musicians and dual banjoists, Kendl Winter and Palmer T. Lee. The pair met on the Midwest festival circuit, combining their experiences in folk and punk to create a lively new sound. Since forming in 2013, The Lowest Pair have recorded and released five albums together, relentlessly toured North America, and ventured to the UK twice, playing over 500 live shows over the past five years. Their most recent release, The Perfect Plan, is a harmonious blend of two prolific talents. Clawhammer banjo and acoustic guitar center the album while its fleshed-out sound leans gently into Winter's punk past to set the band down a new path on their musical journey. Website • Listen