Arun Venugopal is a reporter and the host of Micropolis, WNYC's ongoing examination of race, sexuality and identity. The series has explored such issues as the global skin-lightening market, the problems with ethnic sitcoms and the meaning of turbans.
Arun is a regular contributor to NPR's Morning Edition and All Things Considered. He has appeared on PBS Newshour, Countdown with Keith Olbermann, On the Media and Studio 360, and has been published in The Guardian, The Wall Street Journal and Salon. His commentary on Indian-American issues has appeared in the New York Times, the New York Post and the Associated Press. He also frequently serves as an emcee and moderator of panel discussions on race, religion and identity issues.
Previously, Venugopal wrote for India Abroad, and served as an editor at the multi-faith website Beliefnet. He lives with his family in Queens.
Arun Venugopal appears in the following:
As Presidential Debate Comes to Campus, Hofstra Students Weigh in on Election
Friday, September 23, 2016
To get a sense of how young people feel about voting for the first time, WNYC's Arun Venugopal sat down with three Hofstra students.
Episode 1: How Did We Get Here and Where Are We Going?
Thursday, September 22, 2016
Join us as we take our first steps into Long Island to find out if America has truly lost its mind.
Are Artists Abandoning NYC?
Friday, June 17, 2016
Artists are increasingly worried that the nation's capital for art and culture is no longer for them.
Orlando Attacks Force Muslims to Confront Homophobia
Wednesday, June 15, 2016
Increasingly, Muslim leaders are ending their silence on LGBT issues.
A Month Into a Strike, Verizon Workers Are Discouraged
Wednesday, May 11, 2016
Union chief Joan Rodriguez is one of thousands of Verizon workers who are on strike, and struggling to stay optimistic.
Landlord Faces Felony Charges and Civil Suit
Monday, May 09, 2016
Landlord Steven Croman — a mainstay on lists of "Worst Landlords" — has been charged with 20 felonies.
New York Sees Spike in Diversity on Theater Stages
Monday, May 02, 2016
Stage productions saw a major increase in Asian American representation, but on Broadway, African American and Latino actors languished.
Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar and the Power of Black Protest Music
Tuesday, April 26, 2016
Pop music is making it increasingly difficult to ignore issues of segregation, policing and life in black America.
Honoring Prince's Life With a Party
Friday, April 22, 2016
WNYC's Arun Venugopal wanted to be with other grieving Prince fans. Instead, he found a celebration.
Charting Migration Through Art and Geography
Thursday, April 21, 2016
Bouchra Khalili is telling the story of Europe's migrant crisis at a new exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art.
New York Artists React to the Primary, and Trump
Friday, April 15, 2016
As Tuesday's primary approaches, voters are trying to make sense of the presidential race. Some local artists want to do more than just understand, they want to influence the outcome.
Cruz, Trump and the Islamophobia Network
Monday, April 11, 2016
The suspicions voiced by leading Republican politicians against Muslims and Islam got their start in New York.
Video Webcast: Ayad Akhtar, Rozina Ali and Haroon Moghul Talk Being Muslim in America
Monday, February 29, 2016
Mon, Feb 29, watch a live video stream of our conversation on Muslim identity, faith and culture in America and abroad. WNYC's Arun Venugopal hosts.
Is Political Correctness Destroying America?
Monday, February 29, 2016
Republican presidential candidates have taken aim at political correctness this campaign season. We look at what "PC" means, and why so many people are bothered by it.
More Than Statuettes, #OscarsSoWhite is About Redefining Power
Friday, February 26, 2016
At its heart, the campaign challenges the enormous wealth and cultural clout that's concentrated in Hollywood's most exclusive preserves.
Why Political Correctness is So Annoying...and Why it Works
Tuesday, February 16, 2016
It's been a punchline for decades, but among some politicians, political correctness is now Public Enemy #1, and not entirely without reason.
The Cultural Appropriation Debate, Starring Beyoncé & Coldplay
Tuesday, February 02, 2016
When is it okay to borrow from another culture, and when does the simple act of, say, wearing a kimono or Indian tribal clothing become offensive, a sort of identity theft?
New York City is Diverse. Its Culture Sector is Not: Report
Wednesday, January 27, 2016
The report, commissioned by the city's Department of Cultural Affairs, concludes that the cultural sector is much less diverse than the city itself.
Rape Reports and The Cosby Effect
Tuesday, December 29, 2015
Outreach and destigmatization, as well as accusations against Bill Cosby, have prompted more rape victims to come forward.
Crime Continues to Inch Downward: NYPD
Sunday, December 27, 2015
Overall, major crime dropped slightly, even as policing tactics evolve. Some New Yorkers are welcoming one big difference: a decrease in the number of summonses.
