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Big Books & Bold Ideas with Kerri Miller

Minnesota Public Radio
Friendship
Climate Change
CIA
Literature
Identity
American Democracy
Civil War
Grief
Poetry
Mental Health
Empathy
Women In Intelligence
Because Of Winn-Dixie
Motherhood
Immigration
Haiti
Covid-19
Loneliness
Worthington
Trauma

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

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Latest Episodes

On the surface, the main characters in Kelly Yang’s new novel, “The Take,” have little in common.

Ingrid Parker is a rich, white, female movie producer who has paid her dues and scrapped her way to position of power in Hollywood.

Maggie Wang is a... more

Hans Christian Anderson hoped to find a household straight out of a Charles Dickens novel when he visited the Dickens family at their country home in the summer of 1857.

Instead, he found a marriage in shambles, a band of miserable and neglected ch... more

The theme for this spring member drive show is family. We mine the Big Books and Bold Ideas archives for the best conversations with authors who’ve used their own histories as inspiration.

They include:

* Luis Alberto Urrea, whose novel, “Good N... more

When Tara Menon describes the underwater world that surrounds an island off the coast of Thailand, her language is both restrained and lush.

“The reef is busy with color,” she writes, “Fiery scorpion fish, yellow frog-fish, red snappers, white-and-o... more

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Recent Guests

Francine Prose
Novelist and author of Five Weeks in the Country
Author
Episode: 'Five Weeks in the Country' with Charles Dickens and Hans Christian Anderson
Luis Alberto Urrea
Author of Good Night, Irene; discussed mother's wartime journals and family memory
Author
Episode: Family matters when it comes to books
Safiyia Sinclair
Poet and memoirist, discussed Rastafari in Jamaica and personal family history
Author/Poet
Episode: Family matters when it comes to books
Tara Menon
Novelist; Assistant Professor of English, Harvard University
Harvard University
Episode: Lush nature and fathomless loss coexist in 'Under Water'
Patmeena Sabit
Author of Good People; debut novel
Author
Episode: In 'Good People,' the story depends on who's telling it
Abby Jimenez
Minnesota-based romance novelist
Author, The Night We Met
Episode: Minnesota bestseller Abby Jimenez on the sweet and spicy genre of romance
Tayari Jones
Novelist, author of Kin
Episode: Tayari Jones on female friendships, divergent bonds and 'Kin'
Jeffrey Engel
Founding director of the Center for Presidential History at SMU in Dallas; historian and author
Southern Methodist University
Episode: Presidential historian Jeffrey Engel on executive power and the current state of democracy
Daisy Hernandez
Author and professor, teaches creative writing at Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Episode: Daisy Hernandez on the many layers of 'Citizenship'

Host

Kerri Miller
Host of Big Books & Bold Ideas, Kerri Miller engages with authors and experts to explore literature and deep societal themes.

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 222 ratings
  • Excellent podcast

    I miss Kerri Miller’s regular show, but this is excellent as well.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    podgirlfromtheblacklagoon
    United States4 months ago
  • Happy to have this podcast

    I miss hearing Kerri Miller more often. And Tom Weber too. I do like Angela Davis’ show but also miss the former hosts.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    e85gal
    United States2 years ago
  • A brilliant broadcaster

    I started listening to Kerri when I first moved to North Dakota in 2006. I continued to do so for all of my 10 years in the USA. When I retired back to Australia in 2016 I had to take Kerri with me. She is a consummate broadcaster. An amazingly beautiful voice with a wonderful intelligence. Essential listening and an ornament to public broadcasting.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    cetigne
    Australia3 years ago
  • Insightful and well read

    Thanks so much for the insightful questions and conversation which are based on the perceptions of well read and thoughtful readers

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    APFineday
    United States5 years ago
  • defund MPR

    biased leftist garbage, these democrat activists need to be defunded

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    MnReview
    United States5 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners appreciate the insightful and varied topics, noting the depth of conversations that often extend beyond book promotion to essential societal discussions.
The host is praised for her thoughtful style and ability to engage with guests on complex ideas, which many find enriching and insightful.
Some concerns have been raised about potential biases in discussions, particularly related to political topics, suggesting that certain audiences may feel underrepresented.

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Myths and LegendsJason Weiser, Carissa Weiser, Nextpod
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The Book ReviewThe New York Times
Selected Shorts
Selected ShortsSymphony Space

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Louise Erdrich seduces with 'Python's Kiss'
Q: Can you talk about the anonymous story in Anonymous Sex and why you chose to publish it without your name at first?
Louise explains the anonymity was a deliberate choice to test the piece's reception and later revealed authorship, reflecting on how AI and anonymity intersect with publication concepts.
Louise Erdrich seduces with 'Python's Kiss'
Q: What's interesting about the way you came back to these pieces over years, sometimes reworking them in indiscriminate ways?
Louise discusses how inspiration resurfaces from notes, drafts, and emotional core, with writing sometimes happening quickly once momentum builds.
Daisy Hernandez on the many layers of 'Citizenship'
Q: With the Supreme Court considering birthright citizenship, what concerns do you have about how the decision could redefine who belongs in the United States?
I worry that a ruling could construe a loophole in the 14th Amendment and cast doubt on the citizenship of children born to undocumented parents, which would destabilize lives and echo historical precedents where statelessness and exclusion were used as tools of policy.
Daisy Hernandez on the many layers of 'Citizenship'
Q: You describe social citizenship as a broader way to think about belonging. How did your family experience that, especially across generations and nations?
My family's experience shows that citizenship is not only about paperwork but also about access to work, housing, education, and safety. My mother's journey toward motherhood and stable life in union city illustrates how social citizenship can define everyday belonging even when formal status evolves.
Daisy Hernandez on the many layers of 'Citizenship'
Q: Daisy, it sounds like at least one of your friends thought writing a book about citizenship wasn't such a great idea. Why did you decide to proceed, given the political climate?
I decided to move forward because authoritarian tendencies thrive in silence, and my work aims to illuminate how citizenship has been shaped by power, race, and history, not simply by legal texts. The personal and historical stories provide a necessary context for understanding current debates.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Big Books & Bold Ideas

What is Big Books & Bold Ideas about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This podcast provides a space where literature and profound conversations intersect, focusing on relationships between authors and their works. It frequently engages in discussions that explore diverse themes like personal growth, identity, and societal challenges through the lens of literature, enabling listeners to reflect on deeper emotional truths. Episodes feature authors who share their personal narratives, with an emphasis on the intersection of their life experiences and their writings, creating a rich dialogue that goes beyond just book promotion to foster introspection and understanding of critical issues facing society today.

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Which podcasts are similar to Big Books & Bold Ideas?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Big Books & Bold Ideas:

1. Poured Over
2. The Book Review
3. On Being with Krista Tippett
4. NPR's Book of the Day
5. Fresh Air

How many episodes of Big Books & Bold Ideas are there?

Big Books & Bold Ideas launched 21 years ago and published 157 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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Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

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What guests have appeared on Big Books & Bold Ideas?

Recent guests on Big Books & Bold Ideas include:

1. Francine Prose
2. Luis Alberto Urrea
3. Safiyia Sinclair
4. Tara Menon
5. Patmeena Sabit
6. Abby Jimenez
7. Tayari Jones
8. Jeffrey Engel

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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