Arts May 06 Viet Thanh Nguyen’s Brief But Spectacular take on writing and memory As long as he can remember, author Viet Thanh Nguyen has been interested in how stories about his home country of Vietnam are told in America. In his own works, including the Pulitzer-winning novel "The Sympathizer," he centers on the…
Arts May 04 Roxane Gay’s Brief But Spectacular take on effective ways of being heard Roxane Gay has used writing as a means to untangle and communicate her own trauma since childhood. Now a successful author, professor and mentor to many, she advises young women and aspiring writers on how to harness their voices. Gay…
Poetry Mar 11 Kara Jackson’s Brief But Spectacular take on honoring her lineage Kara Jackson is known for being the 2019-2020 National Youth Poet Laureate from Oak Park, Illinois. But her art is not limited to one medium or one place. She writes poems but also essays and music that explore her family…
Nation Feb 04 A physician’s Brief But Spectacular take on living with ALS For 30 years, Dr. Joel Shamaskin was a primary care physician in Rochester, New York. When he received a life-changing ALS diagnosis in 2016, he channeled his energy into what mattered most -- his family and his community. He offers…
Arts Jan 21 A photographer’s Brief But Spectacular take on representation and the power of portraiture Since childhood, Jess T. Dugan has recognized the power of photography in documenting the world around them. As they grew into their gender identity, they began using photography and portraits to capture not only their own life, but the lives…
Nation Jan 18 A Brief But Spectacular take on living in a world based on love Tania Maree Giordani founded NourishNYC, an organization that began with the goal of providing support to Black Lives Matter protests, and has grown to provide broader grassroots services to her community year-round. Tonight, she shares her Brief But Spectacular take…
Arts Jan 12 Rebecca Hall’s Brief But Spectacular take on ‘Passing’ and racial identity Rebecca Hall has been on-screen since age 10, but in her new film "Passing" she steps into the director role for the first time. It is based on a novel that was written in 1929 by Nella Lawson at the…
Nation Dec 21 A chef’s Brief But Spectacular take on using food to create hope after disasters As founder of Mercy Chefs, Gary LeBlanc and his team have served more than 18 million meals to people affected by disasters, including to those impacted by the tornadoes that tore through the South and Midwest United States earlier this…
Arts Dec 03 Actor André De Shields’s Brief But Spectacular take on living his most authentic life For more than five decades, actor André De Shields has shared his talents with New York theater audiences. With Tony, Grammy, and Emmy awards already under his belt, De Shields is still looking forward to what’s ahead. He shares his…
Education Dec 02 A Brief But Spectacular take on talking to children about sex For more than 25 years, Peggy Orenstein has broken new ground with her intimate explorations of adolescence. In her bestselling books “Girls and Sex” and “Boys and Sex,” she dives into the lives of young people to unravel the hidden…