The Next Big Thing Archive

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October 2005

"... But I insisted..."

Friday, October 28, 2005

A conversation with conceptual artist Sophie Calle, who has made an art of following other people's dictates. Also, something between documentary and fiction about homes large and small, from Australian radio producer Natalie Kestecher; a street medley from Walkman Buster Gideon D'Arcangelo; and fierce competition among adults playing Dodgeball.

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Thanks

Friday, October 21, 2005

A retired park ranger remembers falling in love with his second wife, in an award-winning radio documentary by Bente Birkeland. A reporter draws us into the complicated relations among Côte d’Ivoirians living in West Philadelphia. We draw on the expertise of reference librarians and record sellers. Also, comedy from Jonathan Katz and company, and something approaching a roundtable – among singers, writers, philosophers and people on the street – about prayer.

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Speak for Yourself

Friday, October 14, 2005

Conversations with two men for whom conversation is rarely a simple proposition. One’s a well-known nature writer. The other is a young man from rural Pennsylvania. Both have struggled to overcome or make peace with a stutter. Also, Rick Moody’s short story, “Boys,” adapted for radio in collaboration with composer and performer Meredith Monk.

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Do-It-Yourself

Friday, October 07, 2005

It takes a certain amount of chutzpah to “do it yourself” - to build a rollercoaster in the backyard, persuade Billy Joel to share the stage, or rewrite the lyrics to a Cole Porter song. On the other hand, it also takes chutzpah to submit completely to someone else’s vision – for instance, by living in a Frank Lloyd Wright house that cannot be altered in any way. This week, we meet people who have done all these things, and more. Guest appearances by cognitive scientist Douglas Hofstadter, writer John Haskell, and yes, Billy Joel.