A History of Mayor LaGuardia on WNYC, Adapting 'Nickel Boys' for the Screen with RaMell Ross, Making Music for Fostered Dogs

As WNYC celebrates its centennial this year, All Of It presents a special on the life of one of New York City's most important mayors: Fiorello La Guardia. La Guardia was the first Italian-American Mayor of New York who led the city during the aftermath of the Great Depression, Hitler's rise to power, and World War II. He was a Republican mayor in a liberal city who wasn't afraid of speaking out for what he believed was right. His decisions also have a huge impact on how our city looks and moves today. He unified our subway system, created NYCHA, and also was Mayor during the rise of the controversial figure, his Parks Commissioner Robert Moses. La Guardia also had a significant presence on WNYC airwaves during his tenure. His weekly "Talks to the People" broadcasts averaged 2 million listeners. He spoke directly to New Yorkers about issues that affected them, from the price of groceries, to war defense training, to more light hearted moments like when he read the comics to children during a newspaper strike. Join us for Patience and Fortitude: A History of Mayor La Guardia on WNYC, where we'll dive into the WNYC archives and get to know Mayor La Guardia, his early life, triumphs and faults, along with Terry Golway, author of the book, I Never Did Like Politics: How Fiorello La Guardia Became America’s Mayor, And Why He Still Matters.

The Colson Whitehead novel The Nickel Boys is a brutal story of an abusive reform school in segregated South Florida. Filmmaker RaMell Ross discusses writing and directing the new film adaptation of the novel, "Nickel Boys," and shares how his background in documentary filmmaking helped him create a unique take on this novel. The film is in select theaters starting December 13.

On Wednesday evening, some strapphangers were stranded underground for about two hours before being evacuated on foot. One of those straphangers was All Of It producer Luke Green, who shared stories from the sometimes harrowing, sometimes humorous subway ride. 

Drummer and composer Dan Pugach has been fostering dogs for over a decade. His latest album is named after a pup he adopted and cared for until her death in 2018. Bianca Reimagined: Music for Paws and Persistence features Pugach's wife and Grammy-winning jazz vocalist Nicole Zuraitis and has earned itself a Grammy nod for Best Jazz Performance. Pugach and Zuraitis join us for a Listening Party and take your calls about dog fostering and adoption.