Since 1982, the American Library Association has sponsored Banned Books Week the third week of September to provide schools, colleges, universities, and public libraries resources “to bring together the entire book community in shared support of the freedom to read.” In fact, a Pittsburgh Librarian and First Amendment activist named Judith Krug came up with the idea!

We recently hosted CMU Associate Professor of English Kathy Newman on Forbes Avenue for a conversation about censorship, free speech, cancel culture, and her English Department course about Banned Books (76210). A fascinating conversation about a timely subject! (For more information: CMU’s Banned Books Project)

Listen to the Interview: Prof. Kathy Newman

Credits:
Riona Duncan, host, audio editor, audio engineer, researcher
Recorded August 26, 2024; WRCT debut September 24, 2024

On WRCT’s Forbes Avenue this week, long-time community radio hosts Steve Auterman and Richard Gordon stopped by to talk about the importance of independent stations like WRCT to a community.

Steve, host of WRCT’s The Deep Blues Hour, and Richard, host of WRCT’s Whiskey Before Breakfast & The Black Diamond Show, talked about their decades of experience at community radio stations, the importance of independent stations and programming to listeners and musicians, and how independent stations help build community. They also talked about trends in commercial and government-sponsored broadcasting, (e.g., NPR) and about an FCC initiative to grant low-power broadcast licenses to community groups.

Listen to the interview: Steve Auterman and Richard Gordon

Credits:
Riona Duncan, host, audio editor, audio engineer, researcher
Recorded May 4, 2024; WRCT debut September 17, 2024

Michelle Stoner and Lisa Alexander of Pittsburgh’s Madwomen In The Attic writing collective joined us for the debut episode of a new WRCT-produced public affairs show, Forbes Avenue.

Michelle and Lisa are both published poets, and in addition to their day jobs — CMU’s Tepper School of Business for Michelle, and Calliope House for Lisa, actively teach writing and poetry here in Pittsburgh. In fact, both shared interesting insights into how poetry and work fit together.

During our conversation, both shared some of their poetry — Michelle some of her writing from the past 10 years, and Lisa some of the poems in throttlebody, her most recent book published by Get Fresh Books on June 1, 2024. It was an engaging and thought-provoking conversation!

Listen to the interview: Michelle Stoner and Lisa Alexander

Credits:
Riona Duncan, co-host, audio editor, researcher
Richard Gordon, co-host, audio engineer, researcher
Recorded May 7, 2024; WRCT debut September 10, 2024