May 17, 2013 Guest of Honor

Rising literary star Taiye Selasi on making novels…and dresses

In 2005, Taiye Selasi‘s essay “Bye-Bye Babar (Or: What is an Afropolitan?)” introduced her to the world… and the world to her generation of well-off, well-educated, well-traveled African immigrants. Taiye grew up in Boston but she is of Ghanaian and Nigerian descent. Her short story “The Sex Lives of African Girls” was included in the “Best Short Stories of 2012.” And her debut novel “Ghana Must Go” came out this month. Brendan chats with Taiye about shutting out one’s audience (in a good way), probable causes, and deceptive dresses.

Abbi Jacobson Finds Inspiration From Great Art and Self-Confident Artists

Abbi Jacobson and her co-writer and co-star Ilana Glaser created the Comedy Central hit "Broad City." She’s also an artist and merges that training with her comic sensibilities on her podcast, "A Piece of Work" -- produced in conjunction with New York's Museum of Modern Art. She talks to Brendan about doing an audio show about a visual medium, how her life has changed since “Broad City” (and how it hasn’t), and more.

Willem Dafoe: Not Just ‘The Bad Guy’

Willem Dafoe has lit up the big screen for three decades, from his Oscar-nominated performance in "Platoon," to playing Jesus in "The Last Temptation of Christ," to great character roles in "Wild At Heart" and "The Grand Budapest Hotel." His latest is "The Florida Project," directed by Sean Baker. Willem talks with Brendan about working alongside screen newbies in the film, the moment when an actor becomes creative artist and not just an interpreter, and maybe reveals a little too much answering one of our standard questions.

Abbi Jacobson Finds Inspiration From Great Art and Self-Confident Artists

Willem Dafoe: Not Just ‘The Bad Guy’

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