Season 5

2019 · 26 episodes

Episodes

1Idealistic IconsIdealistic icons: Wilco frontman Jeff Tweedy and architect Frank Lloyd Wright.
2Living LegaciesThe 90-year old graphic designer Milton Glaser has spent a lifetime creating iconic brand identities. Camille Brown is known for integrating African American social dance traditions into uniquely modern choreography. The Pulitzer Prize-winner Julia Wolfe mines history to create her innovative experimental compositions.
3No FrontiersThe Carthy family has been at the vanguard of English folk for decades. The Israeli conceptual artist Oded Hirsch lives on the periphery- both philosophically and geographically. The rapper, singer and writer, Dessa Darling found peace with heartbreak, scientifically.
4TransformersThe world-renowned pianist, conductor and activist Daniel Barenboim is dedicated to making real change in the world through music. In the songs of Tift Merritt, the stuff of everyday life is ripe for the picking. For the interdisciplinary artist Vivek Shraya, creativity is at the heart of self-discovery.
5Pioneering Spirits?Daniel Libeskind believes that architecture is, fundamentally, an act of optimism and of selflessness. The composer Missy Mazzoli is a trailblazer- undeterred by obstacles, undaunted by the salacious. For more than seven decades, the photographer Elliott Erwitt has been lauded for his humor and visual wit.
6The StandoutsAni Liu melds art and science. Howard Jacobson is an unlikely pillar of English literature. Edgar Meyer innovates for the double bass.
7Andrew Bird: Whistling While He WorksFor the last 20 years, talent has allowed Andrew Bird to mostly write his own ticket. Now, he’s coming up with some of his finest work yet. Join us for a full-length episode of Articulate featuring new music by Andrew Bird and personal insights into his life...so far.
8The Right Left TurnsFor the past 40 years, Arthur Yorinks has been the power behind the throne for many of America’s most significant artists. But his work stands on its own. Karen Russell’s stories live in a space between the everyday and the surreal. Jason deCaires Taylor’s greatest assets are underwater. All of his sculptures are entrusted to the oceans.
9Seeking Deeper TruthsGregory Pardlo’s writing is informed both by his unconventional early life and his uncannily keen eye. If you’re looking for choreography that is as dense with emotion as it is with intense physicality, look no further than Sonya Tayeh. Bruce Adolphe believes that classical music has much to gain from other, far-reaching disciplines, including neuroscience!
10Staying the CourseBill T. Jones has lived through tragedy and triumph to become an elder statesman of dance. A decade on, the British pop star Lily Allen is still as forthright as ever- in her lyrics and her personal life. When companies need help refining or defining their identity, they call Michael Bierut.
11Self InventorsThomas Heatherwick is the wunderkind of large-scale 21st century design. The writings of Alice McDermott uniquely express a particular form of Irish-American identity. For more than 4 decades, Dean Friedman has been reinventing himself creatively. But at heart, he’s still a singer-songwriter.
12Of Page and StageThe works of playwright Sarah Ruhl rewrite history. Michelle Dorrance is an embodiment of the history of tap dance– a uniquely American art form. With his spindly, whimsical characters, illustrator Ralph Steadman created one of the most identifiable visual styles of the 20th century.
13Patricia Racette: Enchanting the MuseExplore the life and art of Patricia Racette, a supremely talented singer and storyteller.
14What Matters MostMarina Benjamin writes to parse the questions that loom largest in her life. It’s a self-examination, yes. But never self-obsession. Stefan Sagmeister has spent the past 40-odd years demonstrating how graphic design can make even the most abstract ideas tangible. Donald Nally, conductor of the groundbreaking chamber choir, The Crossing, wants audiences to listen, and think.
15Self, AsideSelf, Aside: Stephanie Blythe: Uncaged: One of the fastest rising stars in opera; Diana Al-Hadid: Excavating the Muse The story of Gradiva– a sculpture that came to life; (What’s So Funny About) Nick Lowe As a young singer-songwriter, Nick Lowe was preoccupied with looking cool and getting famous.
16Through the FireKT Tunstall: From the Ashes The Scottish singer-songwriter KT Tunstall realized she was becoming a pop music cliché– on top, but unhappy.; Pam Tanowitz: Out of the Shadows Pam Tanowitz is among the finest choreographers in modern dance. Natasha Trethewey’s Redemption Natasha Trethewey coped with the tragedies of her young life by turning them into exceptional poetry.
17The IncomparableCaroline Shaw is one of the most original new voices in contemporary music, who’s cooking up some very fine music across a wide swathe of genres.
18The HeadlinersAaron Sorkin’s Second Act - Aaron Sorkin is best known for his award-winning screenwriting- A Few Good Men, The West Wing, Moneyball, The Newsroom. But his first love is the theater. Rhiannon Giddens' Living History - Singer, instrumentalist and folk historian Rhiannon Giddens is on a musical mission, to remind us of what we all share. Regardless of who we are or where we're from.
19Power Through PurposeJohn Darnielle: From Self-Destruction to Self-Construction; Darnielle has excelled as a front-man, songwriter and author; Elizabeth Acevedo’s Literary Realizations: As a grownup, Elizabeth Acevedo realized that the books she had needed as a child still didn’t exist; Meg Saligman: The Big Picture The scale of Meg Saligman’s murals is difficult to grasp close-up.
20From the TopJonathan Safran Foer: Illuminating Everything-Best-selling author Jonathan Safran Foer writes to interrogate his own past, and all of our futures.; Nate Powell: Drawing on Experience-Superstar graphic novelist Nate Powell is known for beautifully rendered comics with a strong moral core; Gustavo Dudamel: Playing Nicely-Venezuelan-born conductor Gustavo Dudamel is on a mission to sew harmony.
21Life's WorkPerpetual Andrew Motion: Tori Marchiony profiles former U.K. Poet Laureate Sir Andrew Motion. He’s five decades in and still finding room to grow; Vijay Iyer-Key Changes: Among the most highly regarded jazz pianists of his time, Vijay Iyer has made his instrument of choice an instrument of discovery; Susan Choi-Interrogator of Truth: Susan Choi’s books reflect her skepticism of authority.
22The ExceptionalsBilly Collins: The People's Poet - Is one of the best-selling poets alive; Gemma New: In Name & In Nature - The conductor, Gemma New, has followed opportunity around the world; Ming Peiffer: Not A Usual Girl - Award-winning writer Ming Peiffer forges works for stage and screen that deconstruct her own observations and experiences of life today.
23Beyond the Status QuoEsperanza Spalding's Discipline(s) Highly distinguished musician, Esperanza Spalding does more than just make music: Lee Child: Not "The Man" Lee Child left his former life behind to author and unlikely hero - Jack Reacher, a vagrant vigilante who reaps justice for the underdog; and Nick Phan: Forging Connection: The award-winning tenor, Nicholas Phan explores the world in song.
24By the HornsTod Williams and Billie Tsien: Made to Last - World-renowned architects united in vision and practice. Carmen Maria Machado: Claiming Her Space - Carmen is self-assured and outspoken, often turning a mirror not only on herself but on society’s unchallenged biases to create immersive fiction.
25WayfindersElizabeth Strout: Steady As She Goes-author Elizabeth Strout, spent decades finessing her own unique narratives, often using her own upbringing as a touchstone; Pamela Frank: Fit As A Fiddle-celebrated violinist Pamela Frank was at the height of her career when she suffered a life-altering injury; The Very Moving Rennie Harris-pioneer of hip-hop dance theater, but it took a while...
26The Roots of CreativityMaaza Mengiste: Writing Home - The award-winning author Maaza Mengiste writes of an Ethiopian home she left behind; Dick Boak’s Eclectic Adventures - Boak followed his instincts and created a role in the evolution of the Martin Guitar company; Nicola Benedetti: A Great Scot - Internationally renowned Scottish violinist was cast into the spotlight at age 16.