Best Autobiographical Podcasts (2025)

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Episode 29: APL & Loons with Max Sun 13:22

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8h ago13:22

13:22

In this episode, Conor chats with Max Sun about his path to becoming an APL-er. Socials Tacit Talk YouTube Playlist Conor Hoekstra: Twitter | BlueSky | Mastodon About the Guests Max Sun is Senior APL Developer at InvestCloud, Inc. and was previously an APL developer at BCA Research. His interests include array programming, functional programming an…

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Patrick Ryan on his novel 'Buckeye' 29:20

2h ago29:20

29:20

This week on Marginalia, Beth Golay visits with author Patrick Ryan about his novel, "Buckeye."By Beth Golay

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Virginia Evans on 'The Correspondent' 29:20

5d ago29:20

29:20

This week on Marginalia, Beth Golay speaks with author Virginia Evans about her novel, The Correspondent.By Beth Golay

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Tracking a Rare Sefer: A Forensic Case Study Centered on the 1616 Chanukas HaBayis 1:14:56

6d ago1:14:56

1:14:56

In this episode, we trace the story of this sefer through bibliographic works and library collections, following the evidence used to piece together information about the work and its author. We look at who encountered the sefer, how it was cited, and what those references reveal about its circulation and use. We then explore why the Magen Avraham …

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L.M. Chilton on his satirical mystery, 'Everyone in the Group Chat Dies' 29:20

12d ago29:20

29:20

This week on Marginalia, Beth Golay speaks with author L.M. Chilton about his satirical murder mystery, Everyone in the Group Chat Dies; Suzanne Perez reviews I See You’ve Called In Dead by John Kenney; and Jan Weissmiller from Prairie Lights Books in Iowa City joins us with some book recommendations.…

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THT RADIO: Kevin Baekkel talks “Sever” part + 2025 Review with Shan, Jim and Jamie (#270) 2:59:54

14d ago2:59:54

2:59:54

Send us a text Pro skateboarder Kevin Baekkel jumps on the phone with Shan to talk about his standout part in the Creature Skateboards film Sever. Shan, Jim, and Jamie get into SOTY predictions, break down this year’s THT episodes, and debate why we lie to children about Santa. Happy New Year, y’all. Shan 🙏🖤 Support the show and get discounts! (Cli…

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Susan Orlean on her memoir, 'Joyride' 29:20

19d ago29:20

29:20

This week on Marginalia, Beth Golay speaks with author Susan Orlean about her memoir, Joyride.By Beth Golay

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Frode Grytten on 'The Ferryman and His Wife' 29:23

26d ago29:23

29:23

This week on Marginalia, Beth Golay speaks with the author and translator of “The Ferryman and His Wife,” Frode Grytten and Alison McCullough. And we're joined by Emma and Sam Kaas from The Norwich Bookstore in Norwich, Vermont, with some book recommendations.By Beth Golay

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#269 - Bob Burnquist: Ready to Receive. 1:04:04

29d ago1:04:04

1:04:04

Send us a text There is a full video production of this episode. Watch here. Bob Burnquist is one of the most influential skateboarders of all time. From his early roots street skating in Sao Paulo, Brazil to pioneering mega ramp skateboarding, he has literally reshaped what’s possible on a skateboard. In this episode, Bob opens up about his mindse…

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Sue Roe on the Six Women Who Shaped Picasso's Life 29:23

1M ago29:23

29:23

This week on Marginalia, Beth Golay speaks with Sue Roe about her new book, Hidden Portraits: Six Women Who Shaped Picasso’s Life, and Suzanne Perez reviews The Merge by Grace Walker.By Beth Golay

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Quiara Alegria Hudes on 'The White Hot' 29:23

1M ago29:23

29:23

This week on Marginalia, Beth Golay speaks with Quiara Alegria Hudes about her new novel, The White Hot, Suzanne Perez reviews The Correspondent by Virginia Evans, and Holland Saltsman from The Novel Neighbor in St. Louis, Missouri, joins us with some book recommendations.By Beth Golay

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Learning Ramban Al HaTorah: Techeles Mordechai to Keren Pnei Moshe -Tools Across the Ages 1:30:46

2M ago1:30:46

1:30:46

For centuries, many have turned to the Ramban’s commentary to uncover Torah’s deepest layers. This episode traces how Ramban was learned through the ages — from early manuscripts to modern editions. Deep diving into Rav Mordechai Gimpel Jaffe’s Techeles Mordechai and the new edition of Keren Pnei Moshe.…

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Oyinkan Braithwaite on her novel 'Cursed Daughters' 29:23

2M ago29:23

29:23

This week on Marginalia, Beth Golay speaks with My Sister, the Serial Killer author Oyinkan Braithwaite about her new novel, Cursed Daughters, Suzanne Perez reviews Lightbreakers by Aja Gabel, and Andrew Preston from Coffee Tree Books in Morehead, Kentucky, joins us with some book recommendations.

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Nicholas Thompson on 'The Running Ground: A Father, a Son, and the Simplest of Sports' 29:23

2M ago29:23

29:23

This week on Marginalia, Beth Golay speaks with Nicholas Thompson about his new book, The Running Ground, and Suzanne Perez reviews Wreck by Catherine Newman.By Beth Golay

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THT Radio (You Good?): Wade Mclaughlin - Anti Venom movie review. Sam Giles - Smoke Beer movie premier. And how to get better sleep (#268). 1:16:58

2M ago1:16:58

1:16:58

Send us a text I check-in with Santa Cruz Skateboards and Independent Trucks team manager Wade McLaughlin for a chat about the “Anti Venom” tour video release. Then I check in with Smoke Beer Skateboards team rider Sam Giles for a chat about the premier of their latest team video “Never on Time”. Then I finish the episode with some strategies for g…

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Noise: The Sound of Distraction 11:21

2M ago11:21

11:21

In this episode of the Anomalous RAP Podcast, I return to a place I’ve been visiting since I was a kid. It’s loud, chaotic, and somehow peaceful. I talk about distraction, attention, and the strange calm that exists inside the constant motion. What starts as simple observation becomes a reflection on how easily we mistake motion for meaning — and h…

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Gish Jen on her 'autobiographical' novel, 'Bad Bad Girl' 29:23

2M ago29:23

29:23

On the latest Marginalia, author Gish Jen describes how she blended fiction with nonfiction in her story of her mother’s life.By Beth Golay

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#267 - Simon Lyddiard: OG Energy. 1:21:48

2M ago1:21:48

1:21:48

Send us a text Simon Lyydiard is Newcastle street royalty. For decades he pushed boundaries, built spots, broke himself, and left a legacy that’s still rolling. In this week's episode, Simon talks Newy’s golden years, fixing cars, fixing motorbikes, riding for Foundation, riding for Amnesia, designing board graphics, and the story behind the legend…

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Energy Exchange 11:44

2M ago11:44

11:44

In this episode of the Anomalous RAP Podcast, I explore the parallels between electricity and emotion — how our energy moves through presence, attention, and connection. We talk about what fuels us, what drains us, and how to protect our power while still sharing it with others. Because just like electricity, emotional energy needs balance — awaren…

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Episode 28: Co-dfns & AI with Aaron Hsu 1:05:54

2M ago1:05:54

1:05:54

In this episode, Conor chats with Aaron Hsu live from Minnowbrook 2025 about Co-dfns, fonts, AI and more! Socials Tacit Talk YouTube Playlist Conor Hoekstra: Twitter | BlueSky | Mastodon About the Guests Aaron Hsu is the implementor of Co-dfns and an advocate for a terse and minimal array programming style. Hsu has a background in academic function…

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Megha Majumdar on 'A Guardian and A Thief' 29:23

2M ago29:23

29:23

Megha Majumdar on 'A Guardian and A Thief'

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Origin Story: Finding My Voice 14:38

2M ago14:38

14:38

In this episode of the Anomalous RAP Podcast, I trace the origin of my voice — the sound, the cadence, the energy people call passion. It didn’t come from training or public speaking. It came from the communities that embraced me and the music that raised me — from Jam On It to Straight Outta Compton, from Mac Dre to Gangsta Dre. 🎧 Listen in as I t…

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Joy Harjo on her new new collection of essays, "Girl Warrior: On Coming of Age" 29:23

3M ago29:23

29:23

Beth Golay speaks with three-term United States Poet Laureate Joy Harjo about her new collection of essays, "Girl Warrior: On Coming of Age."By Beth Golay

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Opportunity: The Game of Hide and Seek 7:48

3M ago7:48

7:48

In this episode of the Anomalous RAP Podcast, I explore two simple truths — opportunity doesn’t knock, it hides; and good things do not come to you, you have to make then happen. This one is about movement with intention — how to build your map, trust your compass, and know when it’s time to stop walking in circles and take a deliberate detour towa…

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Lily King on her new novel, 'Heart the Lover' 29:23

3M ago29:23

29:23

Beth Golay recently spoke with author Lily King about her new novel, "Heart the Lover."By Beth Golay

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Defining the Anomalous RAP Archive 5:11

3M ago5:11

5:11

In this episode of the Anomalous RAP Podcast, I break down the meaning behind the name Anomalous RAP Archive — why I chose each word, and what they represent in my work. I define what Anomalous means to me, how I reinterpret RAP as a code of conduct — Resilience Against Pressure, Rally Allied Protest, Reclaim All Power — and why I built an Archive …

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#19 - Split Second Music Judgments 24:09

3M ago24:09

24:09

What can we deduce from hearing less than 1 second of music? Learn how accurately listeners can identify music genres from excerpts that are less than a quarter of a second long, and see how your brain does in a mini version of the experimental task. Our takeaways include how these sophisticated, split-second associations to music sometimes work ag…

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Ian McEwan on his new novel, 'What We Can Know' 29:23

3M ago29:23

29:23

Ian McEwan is best known for his books On Chesil Beach and Atonement. Beth Golay spoke with McEwan about his 19th novel, What We Can Know.By Beth Golay

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Remembering R’ Dovid Kamenetsky: His generosity, Legacy, & Seforim 1:15:12

3M ago1:15:12

1:15:12

In this episode, I share a hesped for R’ Dovid Kamenetsky זצ״ל, a talmid chacham & prolific author. I reflect on my personal connection with him and the lessons we can learn from his life—especially his generosity and devotion to helping others. I also trace his legacy, highlighting his many significant works on the Vilna Gaon and his Beis Medrash,…

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#266 - Damo Kennedy: Words are Stupid. 1:56:12

3M ago1:56:12

1:56:12

Send us a text Damo Kennedy is a lifelong skateboarder, artist, writer and cultural contributor. Damo’s journey reflects both the grit and creativity that skateboarding demands. Known for his dedication, authenticity, and ability to capture raw moments via his art and writing, Damo's influence is subtle, yet profound. Enjoy, Shan Support the show a…

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Anomalous Verse: Mindset 14:17

3M ago14:17

14:17

In this episode of the Anomalous RAP Podcast, I take you back to Freedom Park in North Highlands — the place where I first wrote Mindset. I set the scene of that day, recite the verse acapella, and then open it up line by line to share what I was seeing, feeling, and realizing in that moment. Mindset was a turning point for me — shifting from negat…

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#18 - Music as Moral Evidence 28:39

3M ago28:39

28:39

Can music change our moral judgments of others? In this episode, we explore how knowing about someone's, or something's, musicality shifts our moral decision-making. This episode's research study includes four related experiments involving musical monkeys, anti-musical humans, dogs, babies, and robots. Then, we explore what the converging results s…

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The Quiet Pen of Torah: Reflections on R’ Eliyahu Greensweig 46:25

3M ago46:25

46:25

In this episode, I share a hesped for R’ Eliyahu Greensweig זצ״ל, a hidden talmid chacham, a prolific author — filling notebooks, and pages with his vast Torah knowledge. Though not a public figure, his quiet brilliance, meticulous exactitude in seforim, and endless written output made him truly unique. I reflect on my personal connection with him …

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Jane Hamilton on her new novel, 'The Phoebe Variations' 29:23

3M ago29:23

29:23

Beth Golay recently spoke with Jane Hamilton about "The Phoebe Variations."By Beth Golay

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From Songs to Story: The Birth of Rising Action Potential 7:52

3M ago7:52

7:52

In this episode of the Anomalous RAP Podcast, I talk about how Rising Action Potential came together — what it is, how it’s structured, and why it’s taken so much time to build. I also play the EP 1 Trailer and talk about what listeners can expect: a 25-minute hip-hop memoir designed to be experienced start to finish — not background noise, but a s…

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Instru(mental) Trailer 1:24

3M ago1:24

1:24

What if you didn’t have to be a scientist, or a musician, to use music in your everyday life? Hi there, I’m Brea, a board-certified music therapist and this is Instru(mental) – a podcast that explores the science of music and how it shapes your brain, your body, and your life. This podcast isn’t just about what music sounds like, it’s about what mu…

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John Boyne on his new novel, 'The Elements' 29:23

4M ago29:23

29:23

Beth Golay recently spoke with author John Boyne about his new novel, The Elements, which is a collection of four stories that examines sexual abuse from four perspectivesBy Beth Golay

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THT Radio (You Good?): Bevin Newton, Chad Caruso, and Leon Paxton - Event Recap, Documentary Launch, Gobbledok 2, and R U OK? (#265) 1:28:31

4M ago1:28:31

1:28:31

Send us a text In this episode: Bevin Newton calls in to recap the 10-Year Anniversary of the Kobbas/Bowl-a-nana/Koby Mitchell Classic skate fest in Coffs Harbour, NSW, celebrating a decade of grassroots skateboarding energy and community vibes. Chad Caruso joins live from the East Coast USA to talk about the release of his feature film documentary…

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#17 - The Best Wedding Music 33:37

4M ago33:37

33:37

What's the best music for a wedding? In this episode, I explain how I lightly manipulated my guests with music to make my wedding as fun, engaging, and memorable as possible. We'll cover research about the music and social bonding hypothesis, the brain's reward circuitry, and statistics about my own wedding playlists that explains how music contrib…

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Poet Kevin Young on his new collection, 'Night Watch' 29:23

4M ago29:23

29:23

Beth Golay recently spoke with “Night Watch” author Kevin Young about the themes of loss and memory in his latest poetry collection and the influences of Dante, African American spirituals and nature on his work.By Beth Golay

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Ep. 328 - Restarting the Local Maximum: Book Strategies for 2025 58:29

4M ago58:29

58:29

Returning after a Hiatus * Today is just going to be a hangout with me and Aaron if you’re into that.. And later, we’ll return to more specific topics * Give a little personal history & history of the show Full Move to NYC Teaching * Less time Hopscotch Labs * Working on that * Beebot - coming SOON!! * Internship Program Hope for The Local Maximum …

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Jessica Francis Kane on her new novel, 'Fonseca' 29:49

4M ago29:49

29:49

Beth Golay recently spoke with "Fonseca" author Jessica Francis Kane about her love for Penelope Fitzgerald and her real-life relationship with Fitzgerald’s grown children.By Beth Golay

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THT RADIO (You Good?): Weekend at Timmy's recap with Lachie Abbott / Tim Hazelton and Forgiveness is Rad (#264) 1:05:50

4M ago1:05:50

1:05:50

Send us a text In this week’s episode, I take you inside Weekend at Timmy’s - the tropical skate gathering of the year in Airlie Beach, North Queensland. Event organisers Lachie Abbott and Tim Hazelton join me via phone to share their reflections and insights about the unique event that it was. Alongside the stories from the weekend, I explore the …

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Janice Graham on her new spy novel, 'Red Lily' 23:40

4M ago23:40

23:40

Janice Graham's new novel, Red Lily, begins when her main character discovers that he's inherited an estate from his aunt's who just died. One problem, he thought she was already dead. And another problem, she's not dead at all. KMUW's Beth Golay spoke with Graham about her novel set in the world of espionage.…

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Emily Adrian on her new novel, 'Seduction Theory' 13:10

5M ago13:10

13:10

Beth Golay recently spoke with Emily Adrian about her book, Seduction Theory, which explores the limits of a marriage.By Beth Golay

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#263 - Andy MacKenzie: Kwala. 1:29:03

5M ago1:29:03

1:29:03

Send us a text In this episode, I sit down with Andy MacKenzie, the former owner of Kwala Distribution - a key player in shaping the scene throughout the golden era of 90s Australian skateboarding. We talk about the early days of Kwala, the brands it supported, the tours it facilitated, and how it helped feed the culture, both locally and internati…

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Ally Carter on 'The Blonde Who Came In from the Cold' 26:13

5M ago26:13

26:13

Beth Golay recently spoke with Ally Carter about her love of all things spy, how her books have evolved, and what’s next for her.By Beth Golay

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Short Episode 8: Why Jewish History Matters—Especially Now: Reading Shevet Yehudah & Yaven Metzulah 1:08:59

5M ago1:08:59

1:08:59

As summer rolls in and Tishah B’Av approaches, it’s the perfect moment to reconnect with Jewish history through two classic works: Shevet Yehudah and Yaven Metzulah. In this episode, we reflect on why Jewish historical awareness matters—especially now—and how these books can frame our memory, mourning, and meaning during the Nine Days. Information …

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Stephanie Wambugu on her debut novel, 'Lonely Crowds' 11:45

5M ago11:45

11:45

Beth Golay recently spoke with Stephanie Wambugu about her debut novel, Lonely Crowds, which follows a decades-long friendship between Ruth and Maria, from childhood to adulthood.By Beth Golay

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Elif Shafak on her novel, 'There Are Rivers In the Sky' 37:15

5M ago37:15

37:15

Beth Golay recently spoke with Elif Shafak about how "The Epic of Gilgamesh" in part inspired "There Are Rivers In the Sky," and the challenges of holding on to history.By Beth Golay