April 28, 2022
People from Bloomington: A Short Story Collection from Indonesia
In 1980, the Indonesian fiction writer Budi Darma published a book of short stories called People from Bloomington. The English translation came out this month. This week on Inner States, translator Tiffany Tsao on Indonesian literature, Budi Darma, and Twitter.
April 22, 2022
A Graphic Novel about the Medicalization of Death and Dying
The graphic novel Headland is about a woman in a hospital, the wilderness she visits in her mind, and the tortoise she meets there. It’s also about the medicalization of death and dying. This week, we talk with the author, Kate Schneider. Plus, Midwestern Movies, with Alicia Kozma.
April 15, 2022
Rock Opera and Other Border Crossings
Graham Reynolds has composed for film, ballet, theater. He also leads a band that puts on great live concerts. And he wrote a rock opera about Pancho Villa. This week, we talk about all that with Graham. Plus, poet Ross Gay, delighted.
April 8, 2022
Who Makes Decisions At Work
A lot of people who’ve quit jobs lately thought they were sticking it to the man. But their employers - and coworkers - apparently didn’t realize. This week, anthropologist Ilana Gershon on power in the workplace and what it means for democracy. Plus, a conversation with singer-songwriter Lucinda Williams.
April 1, 2022
Two Rivers, One Watershed
Indiana doesn’t touch the Mississippi River, but it’s still bound up with it. This week, we talk with Monique Verdin, Liz Brownlee, and others, about those connections. Plus, a review of Ian Woollen’s Sister City.
March 18, 2022
Serious Thoughts About Laughing Matters
A while back, political scientist Christopher DeSante tried to convince his fellow grad students to watch Dave Chappelle instead of reading for their qualifying exams. It didn’t work. This week on Inner States, we talk about the politics of humor.
March 11, 2022
Henry and Alice
Henry Gray is about to turn 100. This week, he reflects on the 70 years he had with his wife, Alice, on growing up in Indiana, and on getting old. And Kaity Radde visits the Bloomington Catholic Worker.
March 4, 2022
Felt Thoughts, Paper Gestures
A conversation with fiber artist Fafnir Adamites about textiles in political movements, and making space for intergenerational trauma. Also, a review of two debut novels by women.
February 25, 2022
Southern Rock, Midwestern Soul
This week on Inner States, music critic Stephen Deusner talks about the book he wrote about the Drive-By Truckers, the South, and more. Plus, a review of a local band that made President Obama’s best-of list.
February 18, 2022
Queer Embroidery
This week, artist Ileana Haberman talks about embroidery, queerness, and mental health. Plus, a review of Nancy Hiller’s book Shop Tails: The Animals Who Help Us Make Things Work.
February 11, 2022
Love and Citizenship in the Heartland
It was a summer day when Nancy and Kim found out they could get married. They both had other plans for lunch, so they waited till 3. Stories of love and citizenship, this week on Inner States.
February 4, 2022
Joyce Jeffries and the Cutters
Limestone work used to be quite dangerous. Joyce Jeffries remembers workers, including her grandfather, dying or getting injured. It’s gotten safer though. This week, Joyce, and others, on limestone.
January 21, 2022
Who and How to Remember
A walk among memorials and public art pieces last fall. We talk with creators, participants, and passers-by about the meaning of public art, about Native presence in a state named for Indians, about immigration, Christopher Columbus, Columbus, Indiana, who we choose to remember, and how.
January 14, 2022
Loving movies beyond all reason
The work of women in film has been overlooked since the beginning of movies. Alicia Kozma, incoming director of the IU Cinema, is working to change that.
January 7, 2022
Dreams of Regional Theater
Actress Diane Kondrat did not dream of a life in regional theater. That’s what she’s had, though, and it’s brought unexpected challenges and pleasures.
