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City Arts & Lectures

City Arts & Lectures
San Francisco
Climate Change
Literature
Feminism
Supreme Court
Poverty
Grief
Racism
Angela Davis
Social Justice
Activism
Covid-19
Adoption
Mortality
Abortion
Werner Herzog
Spirituality
Homelessness
Music
Bridging

Since 1980, City Arts & Lectures has presented onstage conversations with outstanding figures in literature, politics, criticism, science, and the performing arts, offering the most diverse perspectives about ideas and values. City Arts & Lectures programs can be heard on more than 130 public radio stations across the country and wherever you get your podcasts. The broadcasts are co-produced with ... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes408Founded8 years ago
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Arts

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Latest Episodes

Emma Straub plays many roles as a leader in the literary world: independent bookstore owner, award-winning novelist, and children’s book author, to name a few. Straub is a Guggenheim Fellow, a New York Times best-seller, and the owner of Brooklyn’s B... more

Over the past forty years, Gina Gershon has remained a beloved actress while constantly pushing herself as an artist, adding to her astonishing and diverse resumé. Since her small, breakout performance in Pretty in Pink, Gershon has been best known f... more

This program originally aired in 2022.  Lauren Groff is a two-time National Book Award finalist and the author of four novels and two collections of short stories.   Her 2022 novel, Matrix, imagines the life of Marie du France, a medieval writer who ... more

This program was originally aired in June 2023. 

Abraham Verghese is a best-selling novelist, and a physician whose focus on healing and empathy stands out in an era when technology often overwhelms the human side of medicine. His novel Cutting for ... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
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Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
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Recent Guests

Emma Straub
Author and bookstore owner (Books Are Magic)
Books Are Magic
Episode: Emma Straub
Gina Gershon
Actor and author
Episode: Gina Gershon
Lauren Groff
Author of Matrix, Fates and Furies, and other works
Author
Episode: Encore - Lauren Groff
Abraham Verghese
Physician and writer, author of Cutting for Stone and The Covenant of Water
Stanford School of Medicine / Author
Episode: Encore - Abraham Verghese with Michael Krasny
Michael Pollan
Author and journalist known for The Omnivore's Dilemma, How to Change Your Mind
Author/Researcher
Episode: Michael Pollan
Judith Butler
Pioneering scholar on gender and sexuality
Author of Gender Trouble; Professor
Episode: Encore - Judith Butler
Yuval Noah Harari
Author and public intellectual, author of Sapiens, Homo Deus, Nexus
Harari Institute / author of Nexus
Episode: Encore - Yuval Harari
Sally Mann
Significant American photographer known for work with memory, mortality, and time
Episode: Sally Mann
Carmen Maria Machado
Author of the best-selling memoir In the Dream House and graphic novelist
Transit Books
Episode: Carmen Maria Machado on "I Who Have Never Known Men"

Host

City Arts & Lectures Hosts
Collective of onstage interviewers and moderators across episodes, with a mix of literary, design, and journalism-oriented expertise.

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 496 ratings
  • Roz Chast

    Listening to a podcast of a slide show is like a Roz Chast cartoon. Absurdly funny.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    writemor
    United States2 years ago
  • Zamora great.

    Liked this interview a lot. Look forward to A. Davis, R. Reich and (fingers crossed) Patti Smith interviews…..so far enjoyable and timely.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Love theVibe
    United States3 years ago
  • Authors

    Why are all the authors female?

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    gentle julia
    Canada4 years ago
  • Thiebaud - Lesser 2005 replay

    Splendid interview, a wide roaming, good personal insights on painters and painting.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Linkin Steff
    United States4 years ago
  • Miranda July!

    Great in-depth interview!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    riribex
    United States4 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Generally praised for in-depth, high-quality conversations and diverse guests.
Positive feedback often highlights the documentary-like depth and cross-disciplinary insights, with some comments noting strong value for fans of literature and the arts.
Listeners appreciate on-demand availability and thoughtful discussions, though a few episodes attract critiques about pacing or guest fit.

Top Arts Podcasts

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The MothThe Moth
Boozy Bookgasms
Boozy BookgasmsJenLynnKim
99% Invisible
99% InvisibleRoman Mars
Spooked
SpookedKQED and Snap Studios
Snap Judgment
Snap JudgmentSnap Judgment and PRX
The Book Club
The Book ClubGoalhanger

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Gina Gershon
Q: What was the first indication you had a gift for performing?
I didn't see it as a guaranteed gift; I simply loved performing, felt drawn to acting from a young age after seeing magic on stage, and realized I could do it better than some peers, which pushed me to pursue it.
Sally Mann
Q: Did being a mother make you a better artist or a worse artist?
She believes motherhood made her more observant and helped her see opportunities for pictures she might have otherwise missed, while acknowledging the practical challenges it imposed on time and energy.
Encore - Yuval Harari
Q: Hi, there was a line in Sapiens about cognitive dissonance being a vital asset, which challenged me. Have you updated your view on this given political experiences in the United States?
The idea is that contradictions within cultures and ideologies are natural and necessary for cultural evolution; acknowledging them can fuel continued thinking, while fanaticism that insists on a single truth is dangerous.
Tourmaline - "The Joy and Defiance of Marsha P. Johnson"
Q: How did Marsha's spirituality shape her life's work?
Marsha believed in the unendingness of life, emphasizing the importance of attending to both material and immaterial conditions in advocacy.
Tourmaline - "The Joy and Defiance of Marsha P. Johnson"
Q: What surprised you in your research about Marsha?
The idea that joy can be a strategy to navigate harsh conditions, which empowered Marsha to live freely despite societal limitations.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About City Arts & Lectures

What is City Arts & Lectures about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A culture-forward interview series that centers on conversations with leading writers, artists, designers, and thinkers, exploring literature, art, design, social issues, and cultural themes. Episodes commonly tackle creative process, identity, politics, and the role of art in society, often featuring deep dives into a guest's body of work, influencing ideas, and historical context. A notable strength is the breadth of perspectives—from novelists and poets to architects and activists—delivered in intimate, stage-based conversations that feel both scholarly and personal. The format frequently balances literary analysis with personal storytelling, making it appealing to listeners who enjoy thoughtful, idea-driven dialogue and a sense of intel... more

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Which podcasts are similar to City Arts & Lectures?

These podcasts share a similar audience with City Arts & Lectures:

1. The New Yorker Radio Hour
2. KQED's Forum
3. Fresh Air
4. Talk Easy with Sam Fragoso
5. The Book Review

How many episodes of City Arts & Lectures are there?

City Arts & Lectures launched 8 years ago and published 408 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on City Arts & Lectures?

Recent guests on City Arts & Lectures include:

1. Emma Straub
2. Gina Gershon
3. Lauren Groff
4. Abraham Verghese
5. Michael Pollan
6. Judith Butler
7. Yuval Noah Harari
8. Sally Mann

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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