Big Books & Bold Ideas With Kerri Miller podcast

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In 1910, Dorothy Arnold—a wealthy, educated socialite from New York City—left her home for a shopping trip and never returned.

Big Books & Bold Ideas with Kerri Miller

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Where Readers Meet Writers. Conversations on books and ideas, Fridays at 11 a.m.

425 епізодів

Big Books & Bold Ideas with Kerri Miller

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updated 15 годин тому

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Where Readers Meet Writers. Conversations on books and ideas, Fridays at 11 a.m.

425 епізодів

#News and Entertainment #Entertainment #Minnesota #Tom Weber #Kerri Miller #Minnesota Public Radio #Arts #Books #News

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1
'Behind the Red Velvet Curtain' 55:25

15 hours тому55:25

55:25

Joy Womack made history when she became the first American to join Russia’s famed Bolshoi Ballet Theater. But getting there was a journey that took a grueling physical and emotional toll. Her new memoir, “Behind the Velvet Red Curtain,” written with MPR News journalist Elizabeth Shockman, is an intimate retelling of what happened when Womack moved to Moscow at age 15 to train under Russian greats and immersed herself in ruthless competition, obsessive training and tenacity in the face of challenge. She talks about what it took to be an American ballerina in Russia with Kerri Miller on this week’s Big Books and Bold Ideas. Guest: Joy Womack is a ballet dancer and choreographer, currently based in Paris. Her new memoir, as told to Elizabeth Shockman , is “ Behind The Red Velvet Curtain .” Subscribe to Big Books and Bold Ideas with Kerri Miller podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , RSS or anywhere you get your podcasts. Subscribe to the Thread newsletter for the latest book and author news and must-read recommendations.…

1
In ‘Sleep,’ Honor Jones examines the paradox of parenthood 50:48

8 днів тому50:48

50:48

Honor Jones’ debut novel, “ Sleep ,” begins in the damp undergrowth of a blackberry bush, where main character Margaret is playing a game. It’s a quintessential childhood moment that ends with trauma that marks her forever. But like many kids, Margaret doesn’t quite know how to hold this painful thing, and the adults in her life are no help. So she stuffs it and believes it will stay buried, where it can harm no one. And then she becomes a mother. Jones asks many psychological questions in “Sleep.” Maybe the most poignant: How does a parent keep their own trauma from hurting their kids? How do you raise a child to be safe without infecting them with a sense of fear? This week, on Big Books and Bold Ideas, Jones joins host Kerri Miller to talk about that, as well as the power of secrets, the complexities of mother-daughter relationships and the tenuous balance between protection and hypervigilance. Guest: Honor Jones is a senior editor at The Atlantic and a writer. Her debut novel, “ Sleep ,” was named “one of the best summer reads of 2025” by the Oprah Book Club. Subscribe to Big Books and Bold Ideas with Kerri Miller podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , RSS or anywhere you get your podcasts. Subscribe to the Thread newsletter for the latest book and author news and must-read recommendations.…

1
Neuroscientist Emily Falk links choice to change in ‘What We Value’ 51:34

15 днів тому51:34

51:34

If you’ve spent time this week doomscrolling on your phone — even though you know it’s not good for you , that it ramps up anxiety and you’d be better off taking a walk or just going to bed — Emily Falk’s new book is for you. “ What We Value ” is a peek behind the mental curtain. Why do our brains intend one thing and do another? Why is lasting change, even desired change, so hard? Neuroscientist Falk says it’s because our gray matter is silently making value calculations, which don’t always benefit us. If we can identify those calculations, she writes, we can harness them to make more meaningful choices. Falk joins Kerri Miller on this week’s Big Books and Bold Ideas to explain her thesis. Along the way, they touch on the addictiveness of Minecraft, why habits — both good and bad — are so hard to change, and how a book about Benedict Cumberbatch impacted Falk’s research and life. Guest: Emily Falk is a neuroscientist and a professor of communications at the University of Pennsylvania. She also directs the Communication Neuroscience Lab and the Climate Communication Division at the Annenberg Public Policy Center. “ What We Value: The Neuroscience of Choice and Change ” is her first book. Subscribe to Big Books and Bold Ideas with Kerri Miller podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , RSS or anywhere you get your podcasts. Subscribe to the Thread newsletter for the latest book and author news and must-read recommendations.…

1
Amanda Nguyen shares how her sexual assault propelled her to activism in new book 51:18

22 дні тому51:18

51:18

Amanda Nguyen was aiming for the stars when she was accepted as a student at Harvard. She dreamed of becoming an astronaut. But in her senior year of college, she was raped. That propelled her into a public role as activist to change an infuriating gap in the law when it comes to rape survivors. “When I found out that my rape kit could be destroyed, untested, in six months — even if the statue of limitations was 15 years — I felt like that was against everything I was taught about the criminal justice system,” she told Kerri Miller on this week’s Big Books and Bold Ideas. “It was [at] that moment that I decided I would actually be fighting the criminal justice system to reform it, because that was my definition of justice — to make sure that no one else would go through what I had to go through.” Nguyen’s new memoir, “Saving Five,” is an inspiring, infuriating and ultimately hopeful testament to how one courageous woman fought the system and won. Guest: Amanda Nguyen is an astronaut for Blue Origin and an activist. Her new memoir is “ Saving Five: A Memoir of Hope .” Subscribe to Big Books and Bold Ideas with Kerri Miller podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , RSS or anywhere you get your podcasts. Subscribe to the Thread newsletter for the latest book and author news and must-read recommendations.…

1
‘Walk Softly on This Heart of Mine’ talks about bars, the blues and belonging 51:51

29 днів тому51:51

51:51

A neighborhood bar is a peculiar thing. The people who frequent it develop a rapport, a kind of familiarity that makes them feel ownership. But time rolls on, and no place is untouched by the changes it brings — not the bar nor the people in it. Texas native Callie Collins knows a thing or two about bars. That’s why she set her newest novel, “ Walk Softly on This Heart of Mine ,” in an Austin saloon, circa 1970s Texas. The story unfolds from three different viewpoints: the lead guitarist of the new house band; the bar owner trying to help the establishment and herself find a future; and a kid from East Texas desperate for direction and kinship. Collins talks bars, the blues and belonging with host Kerri Miller on this week’s Big Books and Bold Ideas. Guest: Callie Collins is a writer and editor from Texas. “ Walk Softly on This Heart of Mine ” is her first novel. Subscribe to Big Books and Bold Ideas with Kerri Miller podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , RSS or anywhere you get your podcasts. Subscribe to the Thread newsletter for the latest book and author news and must-read recommendations.…

1
Karen Russell blends history and fantasy in her new novel 55:15

5 weeks тому55:15

55:15

How do you carry someone else’s memory — both in body and in mind? The prairie witch in Karen Russell’s fantastical new novel, “ The Antidote ,” describes it as a pressure and a weight. She has the ability to receive the memories of her fellow citizens in a small failing town in Nebraska, which offers relief to anyone who feels like their pasts are too heavy to bear. “Whatever they can’t stand to know,” she says, “the memories that make them chase impossible dreams, that make them sick with regret and grief. Whatever cargo unbalances the cart, I can hold on to anything for anyone.” But when a Dust Bowl-era storm blows through, the deposited memories likewise rush away. What happens when the past is forgotten? Russell’s long-awaited novel contains epic calamity, deep friendship and just enough magic to stir the pot as she reckons with the consequence of collective forgetting. Guest: Karen Russell is the author of many books, including the Pulitzer Prize finalist, “ Swamplandia .” Her new novel is “ The Antidote .” Subscribe to Big Books and Bold Ideas with Kerri Miller podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , RSS or anywhere you get your podcasts. Subscribe to the Thread newsletter for the latest book and author news and must-read recommendations.…

1
Shigehiro Oishi says a ‘psychologically rich life’ is important to consider in his new book 37:00

6 weeks тому37:00

37:00

For many people, a good life is a stable life — a life that’s predictable and filled with purpose. For others, happiness the point. They embrace moments of bliss and satisfaction. But what about a life that’s focused on curiosity, exploration and a variety of experiences that broaden our world? University of Chicago psychology professor Shigehiro Oishi says that’s a psychologically rich life — and in his new book, “ Life in Three Dimensions ,” he argues that a psychological rich life is just as important as a life filled with happiness and meaning. Professor Oishi joined Kerri Miller on this week’s Big Books and Bold Ideas to discuss the markers of a good life. They talk about the value of risk, the importance of awe and how the American individualism can hinder a good life. Guest: Shigehiro Oishi is a celebrated professor of psychology at the University of Chicago. His latest book is “ Life in Three Dimensions: How Curiosity, Exploration, and Experience Make a Fuller, Better Life .” Subscribe to Big Books and Bold Ideas with Kerri Miller podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , RSS or anywhere you get your podcasts. Subscribe to the Thread newsletter for the latest book and author news and must-read recommendations.…

1
Talking Volumes: Peter Geye on ‘A Lesser Light’ 1:29:16

7 weeks тому1:29:16

1:29:16

“ A Lesser Light ” is Minnesota writer Peter Geye ’s sixth novel, and he says he couldn’t have written it earlier in life. The story revolves around a cold and often hostile marriage. It’s 1910, and husband Theodulf is the newly commissioned caretaker of a grand lighthouse situated on the treacherous shore of Lake Superior. His new bride, Willa, has been forced into the marriage by her scheming mother after a family tragedy. The terrain is brooding, the climate unforgiving. Maybe no surprise, the new relationship is equally harsh. But Geye says the complexity of Theodulf and Willa are what make them human, and as he’s gotten older, he appreciates the “many shades” of their rocky marriage. “Of all the institutions in our culture, marriage and parenthood are two of the most fraught,” Geye tells host Kerri Miller. “They can be the most beautiful, the most wonderful, the most amazing — and I don’t know a whole lot of people who end up together like Theodulf and Willa do. But it’s more interesting to me when people like that do.” Talking Volumes: Peter Geye Geye joined Miller on stage at The College of St. Scholastica in Duluth on May 1 for a special “on the road” edition of Talking Volumes. They discussed the complications of marriage and family life, why Geye chose to tell this story from many different points of view, and how his many years spent traveling to Lake Superior influenced his book. Music for the evening was provided by Superior Siren . Subscribe to Big Books and Bold Ideas with Kerri Miller podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , RSS or anywhere you get your podcasts. Subscribe to the Thread newsletter for the latest book and author news and must-read recommendations.…

1
What our 'good boys' can teach us about living a good life 52:57

8 weeks тому52:57

52:57

We could learn a lot from the good boys (and girls) in our life. That’s the main thesis of philosopher Mark Rowlands new book, “ The Word of Dog .” He says out loud what many dog owners secretly wonder: Is my dog a better person than me? And while Rowlands certainly agrees that humans remain top of the intellectual pyramid, he does theorize that our canine companions inhabit the world in a uniquely uncomplicated way. “Although dogs have no idea what philosophy is,” he writes, “they live the big questions.” Join Rowlands and fellow dog lover Kerri Miller for this week’s Big Books and Bold Ideas to be enlightened and inspired by the dogs in your life. Guest: Mark Rowlands is a professor of philosophy at the University. His new book is “ The Word of Dog: What our Canine Companions Can Teach Us about Living a Good Life .” Subscribe to Big Books and Bold Ideas with Kerri Miller podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , RSS or anywhere you get your podcasts. Subscribe to the Thread newsletter for the latest book and author news and must-read recommendations.…

1
‘Fewer Rules, Better People: The Case for Discretion’ 51:45

9 weeks тому51:45

51:45

Rules are good. Discretion is better. So argues philosophy professor Barry Lam in his new book, “ Fewer Rules, Better People .” While Lam acknowledges law as the backbone of society, he says America has forgotten the good of discretion. Be it a sports referee, a parent, a police officer or a prosecutor, decision makers need the freedom to exercise discernment about how the rules get applied. Lam joins Kerri Miller on this week’s Big Books and Bold Ideas for a philosophical and practical discussion about how discretion greases the wheels of our culture and why removing it creates a lumbering bureaucracy. Guest: Barry Lam is a professor of philosophy at UC Riverside and host of the podcast Hi-Phi Nation . His new book is “ Fewer Rules, Better People: The Case for Discretion .” Subscribe to Big Books and Bold Ideas with Kerri Miller podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , RSS or anywhere you get your podcasts. Subscribe to the Thread newsletter for the latest book and author news and must-read recommendations.…

1
Derek Thompson and Ezra Klein’s new book looks at ‘failed liberal policies‘ 53:40

10 weeks тому53:40

53:40

“The story of America in the 21st century is the story of chosen scarcities.” So begins “ Abundance ,” the new book by Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson that has politicos abuzz . In it, they argue that progressives have created a culture of scarcity the last few decades, especially when it comes to solving America’s thorniest problem, like homelessness, housing affordability and green energy. The solution, they say, is to face up to the failures of liberal policies, no matter how well intended, and renew a politics of plenty. “If you look back in American history, America used to built things — proudly,” Thompson tells Kerri Miller on this week’s Big Books and Bold Ideas. “And then at some point over the last 50 years, liberalism — which was once defined as the politics of building — became defined as the politics of blocking. [In the book], we’re trying to execute a bit of a paradigm shift here: We want to marry the politics of building with modern progressivism.” Guest: Derek Thompson is a staff writer at The Atlantic. He is the co-author of the new book, “ Abundance ,” along with the New York Times’ Ezra Klein . Subscribe to Big Books and Bold Ideas with Kerri Miller podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , RSS or anywhere you get your podcasts. Subscribe to the Thread newsletter for the latest book and author news and must-read recommendations.…

1
Eric Puchner’s new novel circles around a love triangle that spans a lifetime 51:23

11 weeks тому51:23

51:23

Can one decision be the fulcrum of a life? Or is destiny really millions of tiny choices swirled with events out of our control? That’s one of the many questions at the heart of Eric Puchner’s gorgeous new novel, “Dream State.” It’s received a dizzying amount of praise since it was released in February — making the New York Times best seller list, becoming an Oprah Book Club pick. But despite the buzz, the novel is deceptively hard to pin down. Set in rural Montana, the book begins with two college buddies, as one of them, Charlie, prepares to marry the love of his life. But when Cece heads to the family cabin early to prepare for the wedding and meets no-nonsense best friend Garrett, her world wobbles. What happens next — amidst a wedding besieged by norovirus — launches the next 50 years, as the three friends remain intertwined by regrets and grief, possibilities and love. Puchner joins host Kerri Miller for a wide-ranging conversation on this week’s Big Books and Bold Ideas. Among topics of discussion: why so few authors write about male friendship, why meeting friends from your beloved’s past can be so perilous and why setting “Dream State” in a Montana cabin was so crucial to the plot. Guest: Eric Puchner is an associate professor in the Writing Seminars at Johns Hopkins University and the author of the novel “Model Home,” as well as several short stories. His new book is “Dream State.” Subscribe to Big Books and Bold Ideas with Kerri Miller podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , RSS or anywhere you get your podcasts. Subscribe to the Thread newsletter for the latest book and author news and must-read recommendations.…

1
Chris Bohjalian's new novel about the Civil War sees the humanity in our enemies 52:10

12 weeks тому52:10

52:10

For more than 20 years, author Chris Bohjalian carried the seed of a Civil War story in his imagination. It was inspired by the true story of a Southern woman who nursed a Union soldier back to health after he was injured on the battlefield. But the idea didn’t grow roots until the racial uprisings after the murder of George Floyd, when Confederate statues came tumbling down. “Years ago, Tony Horowitz wrote a remarkable book called ‘ Confederates in the Attic ,’ wondering why so much of the South was still fighting the Civil War,” Bohjalian tells host Kerri Miller on this week’s Big Books and Bold Ideas. “Horowitz journeyed through the (region) to understand why the Lost Cause still existed in the minds of so many Southerners. I thought about that book a lot in 2020, as the statues came down on Monument Avenue in Richmond. That’s when it really clicked in my mind.” Bohjalian and Miller also talk about the delicate dance of writing historical fiction — when facts must be accurate but the story enticing — and how the current day echoes our nation’s past. Guest: Chris Bohjalian is the author of many books including “ The Flight Attendant ,” which was turned into a streaming series. His 25th novel is “ The Jackal’s Mistress .” Subscribe to Big Books and Bold Ideas with Kerri Miller podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , RSS or anywhere you get your podcasts. Subscribe to the Thread newsletter for the latest book and author news and must-read recommendations.…

1
When the world is underwater, what will we save? A new dystopian novel explores the answer 57:43

13 weeks тому57:43

57:43

When superstorm Sandy wreaked havoc on Eiren Caffall’s childhood home of New York City, her first thought was: What about the museums? That distressing question provoked her first novel, “ All the Water in the World .” In this futuristic dystopia, climate change is unchecked. Cities are drowned, people are adrift. But already, some are thinking of the after by looking to the past. The former curators and researchers at the American Natural History Museum have taken up residence on the museum’s roof, forming a new sort of family and thinking about how to preserve the artifacts still in their power. “Museums are … the repositories of our collective understandings, evidence of discoveries, warehouses of materials that will fuel discoveries in the future,” writes Caffall. “They hold the past in trust for the future.” This week, Caffall joins host Kerri Miller to talk about the hope she wants to see in dystopian fiction. “The narratives we have in the popular culture about what disasters do to people are mostly incorrect,” she says. “There isn’t usually vast looting or mass violence. There’s usually a coming together of people trying to remake community, trying to support each other, trying to think about what happens in the aftermath.” “To me, that’s a more interesting, more important, maybe more feminine story about what it takes to rebuild.” Guest: Eiren Caffall is a musician, writer and researcher. Her first novel is “ All the Water in the World .” Subscribe to Big Books and Bold Ideas with Kerri Miller podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , RSS or anywhere you get your podcasts. Subscribe to the Thread newsletter for the latest book and author news and must-read recommendations.…

1
This author witnessed South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation hearings. Years later, she wrote about it 1:00:49

14 weeks тому1:00:49