Kentucky Author Forum

The Kentucky Author Forum podcast has a new sound, and a new name: Great Podversations. This interview podcast will feature carefully matched pairs of nationally recognized writers in the kind of thoughtful and candid conversations you have come to expect from Kentucky Author Forum. Our guest authors and experts will discuss literature, politics, history, economics, science, and culture, and every episode will be introduced by NPR's Robert Siegel. Watch for our first new episode. which features MSNBC political analyst Chuck Rosenberg in conversation with The Atlantic columnist David Frum. These two experts will discuss politics and government during these challenging times, and much more.

Today's guest is Admiral James Stavridis, a retired four-star officer in the U.S. Navy. His book, Sailing True North, explores ten famous admirals and the profound influence on history through their leadership and character. Stavridis is interviewed by NPR special correspondent Melissa Block. This conversation was recorded on December 16, 2019 at the Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts.

Dani Shapiro, author of "Inheritance," at the University of Louisville Kentucky Author Forum on Sept 25, 2019; interviewed by NPR's Robert Siegel.

Pulitzer-winning author and presidential historian Doris Kearns Goodwin discusses her book, "Leadership in Turbulent Times," at the University of Louisville Kentucky Author Forum on Dec. 6, 2018. Interviewed by A. Scott Berg. +

Thomas Friedman, Pulitzer Prize winning author and columnist, interviewed by U.S. Rep. John Yarmuth at the University of Louisville Kentucky Author Forum on May 8, 2017.

Robert Wright, author of "Why Buddhism is True: The Science and Philosophy of Meditation and Enlightenment," at the University of Louisville Kentucky Author Forum on Nov. 27, 2017; interviewed by Jon Kabat-Zinn. (Photo credit: Barry Munger)

Charles Graeber discusses his book, "The Breakthrough: Immunotherapy and the Race to Cure Cancer," at the University of Louisville Kentucky Author Forum on Nov. 15, 2018. Interviewed by Thomas Gajewski, MD, PhD. Charles Graeber, New York Times bestselling author of The Good Nurse, details the astonishing scientific discovery of the code to unleashing the human immune system to fight — and possibly even cure — cancer. For decades, scientists have puzzled over one of medicine’s most confounding mysteries: Why doesn’t our immune system recognize and fight cancer the way it does other diseases, like the common cold? As it turns out, the answer to that question can be traced to a series of tricks that cancer has developed to turn off normal immune responses-tricks that scientists have only recently discovered and learned to defeat. The result is what many are calling cancer’s “penicillin moment,” a revolutionary discovery in our understanding of cancer and how to beat it.

Counter-terrorism expert Malcolm Nance, author of "The Plot to Hack America," at the University of Louisville Kentucky Author Forum on April 5, 2018. Interviewed by Ned Price of National Security Action.

Sports writer John Feinstein discusses his book, "The First Major: The Inside Story of the 2016 Ryder Cup" at the University of Louisville Kentucky Author Forum on Sept. 20, 2018. Interviewed by Mike Tirico of NBC Sports.

Casey Gerald discusses his memoir, "There Will Be No Miracles Here," at the University of Louisville Kentucky Author Forum on Oct. 25, 2018. Interviewed by CNN contributor Van Jones.

David Frum discusses his book, "Trumpocracy: The Corruption of the American Republic," at the University of Louisville Kentucky Author Forum on Jan. 31, 2018. Interviewed by David Jolly.

Alain De Botton: How Does News Shape our Thoughts and Lives? by Kentucky Author Forum

David McCraw, the deputy general counsel at the New York Times, talks about his book "Truth In Our Times: Inside the Fight for Press Freedom in the Age of Alternative Facts" where he recounts his experiences as a top newsroom lawyer during the most turbulent era for journalism in generations. He's interviewed by former DEA Administrator and current MSNBC legal analyst Chuck Rosenberg, in this conversation recorded on May 14, 2019.

Masha Gessen discusses her latest book, "The Future is History: How Totalitarianism Reclaimed Russia," at the University of Louisville Kentucky Author Forum on 12/19/17. Interviewed by Clarissa Ward.

Joseph Stiglitz, Nobel Prize winner in Economics, interviewed by Rana Foroohar at the University of Louisville Kentucky Author Forum on April 13, 2017.

P.J. O'Rourke discusses his book, "How the Hell Did This Happen? The 2016 Presidential Election," at the University of Louisville Kentucky Author Forum on March 20, 2017. Interviewed by Robert Siegel of National Public Radio.

Hour-long interview of Colson Whitehead at the University of Louisville Kentucky Author Forum on Dec. 5, 2016. Interviewed by Buzzfeed's Isaac Fitzgerald.

Sebastian Junger, author of War and The Perfect Storm, discusses his latest book Tribe: On Homecoming and Belonging, with journalist Joe Klein at the University of Louisville Kentucky Author Forum on Sept 21, 2016.

Joe Nocera at the University of Louisville Kentucky Author Forum on April 18, 2016. Interviewed by Buzz Bissinger.

Diane Rehm interviewed by Ann Patchett at the University of Louisville Kentucky Author Forum on March 23, 2016.