Libros Schmibros: Recent Episodes
David Kipen
Libros Schmibros is a podcast exploring the people, books, movies and ideas that Californians care about, in a thoughtful way that even New Yorkers can understand. We're coming to you from Libros Schmibros, our bilingual nonprofit lending library in Boyle Heights, on the west coast of the country and the east bank of the mighty Los Angeles River.
New on the Libros Schmibros Podcast, the Carribean Fragoza Interview.
Vickie Vertiz in conversation with Carribean Fragoza, writer and artist from South El Monte. Her debut collection of stories Eat the Mouth That Feeds You was recently published by City Lights.
Vickie Vertiz is a poet, educator, and frequently collaborates with Carribean Fragoza.
Learn more about Ms. Fragoza, and purchase her books here:
- Buy Eat the Mouth That Feeds You
- Buy K-12, at Eohippus Labs
- Buy East of East: The Making of Greater El Monte
David Kipen in conversation with writer and literary critic John Freeman. Freeman is the editor of The Penguin Book of the Modern American Short Story, a selection of short fiction
The Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs presents David Kipen in conversation with Rick West, President and CEO of the Autry Museum, who will be retiring from his position at the end of the month. Rick is also the founding director of the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian. This (admittedly loooong) interview appears as part of the Cultural Affairs department's Big Read of Louise Erdrich's novel The Roundhouse.
David Kipen and Colleen Jaurretche have a conversation with Kendra Atleework about her memoir, Miracle Country. Her new book draws on personal stories as well as the environmental history of her place of birth, the Eastern Sierra.
David Kipen has a conversation with Kim Stanley Robinson about his work and the work of poet Kenneth Rexroth.
His new book is Ministry for the Future, a science fiction novel set in the near future, about coping with the effects of climate change in the next 30 years.
David Kipen speaks with Jon Wiener, author of the revised and newly timely Conspiracy in the Streets: The Extraordinary Trial of the Chicago Seven and host of radio’s Trump Watch -- recently re-christened, courtesy of Libros Schmibros’ expert naming service, Hey Joe.
Artist Shizu Saldamando talks with Cuauhtemoc Hernandez about her art and inspirations, her recent exhibition "L.A. Intersections" at Occidental College, her personal and educational background, collaborations with other artists and much more.
Film producer and entrepreneur Daniel Desure talks with Cuauhtemoc Hernandez about Total Luxury Spa, Commonwealth Projects collaborative network and the idea that streetwear can be a vehicle for positive change.
Cuauhtemoc Hernandez speaks with renowned Los Angeles native graffiti artist Gajin Fujita about art, growing up in Boyle Heights, historical references in his work and where we are now.
Cuauhtemoc Hernandez speaks with Sandra de la Loza about guerrilla art, politics, and her book, "the The Pocho Research Society Field Guide to L.A.: Monuments and Murals of Erased and Invisible Histories". Hernandez and de la Loza talk about an upcoming project to do with Sleepy Lagoon.
Libros' own Cuauhtemoc Hernandez talks with author and journalist Walter Thompson-Hernandez (no relation) his recent book The Compton Cowboys, growing up in Los Angeles, influences and more.
David Kipen speaks with John Logan, the Oscar-winning screenwriter and creator of Penny Dreadful: City of Angels, which takes place in 1938 in an L.A. barrio called, ahem, "Belvedere Heights."
Alexa Karolinski interviewed by Colleen Jaurretche, co-founder of Libros Schmibros Lending Library. Karolinski and Jaurretche discuss 'Unorthodox', the new Netflix series. Karolinski was one of the writers and producers of Unorthodox. Recorded in Los Angeles, May 2020.
Stephanie Burt and David Kipen discuss things she likes to read, fandom and the selection of her book, Advice from the Lights, by the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs as its Big Read book for 2020.
Mike Davis and David Kipen discuss Los Angeles, City of Quartz and other writings which appear to be almost prophetic, viewed through the lens of COVID-19 and the current pandemic. Full interview, recorded April 2020.