BPL Podcast

Between Home and Here: Ghanaian-American Poets on Identity and Voice

Fri, 29 Aug 2025 00:00:00 -0300

In this episode, WIR Cynthia Amoah sits down with Ghanaian-American poets Claudia Owusu and Tasha Lomo for a layered conversation about language, place, and what it means to write and create from the in-between. Together, they explore how heritage shapes creative voice, the role of poetry as both resistance and refuge, and the ways they each build community through art—from spoken word albums to filmmaking to advocacy for Black women.

Special thanks to fo/mo/deep for lending us their song, "Bourbon Neat" for the podcast!

Find out about upcoming Bexley Public Library events at https://www.bexleylibrary.org

Follow Bexley Public Library across platforms @bexleylibrary

Host/Guest Bios

Cynthia Amoah is a Ghanaian-American poet, national speaker, and teaching artist. She received her MFA from The New School, where she was cited for Excellence in Poetry. Cynthia has been featured on three TEDx stages, The Lincoln Theatre, and the United Nations Information Center in Accra, among others. She is currently serving as the 2025 Inaugural Writer-in-Residence at the Bexley Public Library and the 'Arts in the Parks' Coordinator with Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Her writing and performances often explore questions of identity, belonging, displacement, migration, and uprootedness. Cynthia’s chapbook 'Handrails' was published by Akashic Books in Fall 2021. She resides in Columbus, OH with her family and facilitates workshops in poetry, positive thinking, confidence-building, and using our voice as instruments for strength and social change. Learn more at www.cynthiaamoah.com.

Tasha Lomo is a Ghanaian American poet, writer, and community advocate. She currently serves as the Program Manager for The Giovanni Collective; a collective dedicated to the advancement of Black women writers and poets, and has performed her work across the central Ohio community. She has received training through the Lincoln Artist Incubation Program, the Wexner Center for the Arts, and Writerz and Scribez based in London, England. She uses her work as a platform to explore themes of identity, culture, and self actualization.

Claudia Owusu is a Ghana girl through and through. As a writer and filmmaker, her work divulges the nuance of Black girlhood through a personal and collective lens. Her writing has appeared or is forthcoming in Ninth Letter, Bellingham Review, Indianapolis Review, Vogue, Narrative Northwest, Akoroko, and Brittle Paper. Her films have screened internationally at Aesthetica, the New York African Film Festival, Urbanworld, and Blackstar Fest. She is the author of the chapbook, In These Bones I Am Shifting, by Akashic Books. Her documentary film in progress "This is the House: If I Don't See You, I Love You" is the winner of the 2025 Julia Reichart award. She holds an MFA in Creative Nonfiction from The Ohio State University.

Four Women with Dr Jack Marchbanks and Gamal Brown

Fri, 28 Feb 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Dr Jack Marchbanks and Gamal Brown sit down with us to talk about the legacies of Four Women: Maya Angelou, Lorraine Hansberry, Abbey Lincoln, and Nina Simone. These icons of African American artistic achievement, activism, courage and vision will be highlighted at the Lincoln Theatre’s Community Conversation on March 6th at 6pm!

Special thanks to fo/mo/deep for lending us their song, "Bourbon Neat" for the podcast!

Find out about upcoming Bexley Public Library events at https://www.bexleylibrary.org

Follow Bexley Public Library across platforms @bexleylibrary

Y2K Twenty Five Years Later with Directors Brian Becker and Marley McDonald

Tue, 31 Dec 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Happy New Year!

Explore the Y2K scare with technology librarian, Josh, as he interviews Marley Mcdonald and Brian Becker, directors of the HBO documentary Time Bomb Y2K. We'll revisit the global panic, technological fears, and lessons learned from the turn of the millennium.

More about Time Bomb Y2K

As the clock counted down to the 21st century, the world faced a potential technological disaster: a bug that could cause computers to misinterpret the year 2000 as 1900. Crafted entirely from archival footage and featuring first-hand accounts from computer experts, survivalists, scholars, militia groups, conservative Christians, and pop icons, Time Bomb Y2K is a prescient and often humorous tale about the power and vulnerabilities of technology.

Hanif Abdurraqib on Basketball and Ascension

Fri, 10 May 2024 00:00:00 -0300

We are excited to invite Hanif Abdurraqib back to the podcast to discuss writing, building community around art, and basketball! Hanif is a poet, essayist, and cultural critic from Columbus, Ohio whose new book "There's Always This Year: On Basketball and Ascension" is both an Indie and New York Times bestseller.

Hanif will return to the library on June 6th, in conversation with poet and essayist Franny Choi, as a part of Bexley Centennial Author Series. We hope to see you there!

Special thanks to fo/mo/deep for lending us their song, "Bourbon Neat" for the podcast!

Find out about upcoming Bexley Public Library events at https://www.bexleylibrary.org

Follow Bexley Public Library across platforms @bexleylibrary

The Space Episode!

Fri, 29 Mar 2024 00:00:00 -0300

The first part of this episode is an interview with Dr. Wayne Schlingman and Dr. Stephan Frank from the OSU Astronomy Department to talk about the eclipse: the science, the history, and general coolness of having a eclipse past through our backyard!

The second part is a discussion between BPL Director Ben Heckman and the first American woman to conduct a spacewalk, Astronaut Kathy Sullivan. She discusses her new children's book, How to Spacewalk: Step-by-Step with Shuttle Astronauts and being the "the world's most vertical woman!"

Special thanks to fo/mo/deep for lending us their song, "Bourbon Neat" for the podcast!

Find out about upcoming Bexley Public Library events at https://www.bexleylibrary.org

Follow Bexley Public Library across platforms @bexleylibrary

Best of 2023!

Wed, 20 Dec 2023 00:00:00 -0400

The best of 2023!

Timestamps

Adult Fiction (:24)

The Hexologists by Josiah Bancroft
Bookshops and Bonedust by Travis Baldtree
System Collapse by Martha Wells
Even though I knew the End by C. L. Polk

Adult Non-Fiction (7:38)

Birth: Three Mothers, Nine Months and Pregnancy in America by Rebecca Grant
Cobalt Red: How the Blood of the Congo Powers Our Lives by Siddharth Kara

Youth (14:11)

Just Because by Matthew McConaughey and Renée Kurilla
The Moonwind Mysteries series by Johan Rundberg
Four Eyes: A Graphic Novel by Rex Ogle and Dave Valeza
Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross

Movies (19:44)

Past Lives
A Thousand and One
Shortcomings
You Hurt My Feelings
Persian Version
Joy Ride

Video Games (25:31)

Honorable Mentions:
- Dead Space
- Resident Evil 4 Remake
- Star Wars: Jedi Survivor
- Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Titles discussed:
- Baldur's Gate III
- Alan Wake II
- Dredge
- The Last Clockwinder

Music (33:42)

Nickel Creek - Celebrants
Noname - Sundial
Mitski - The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We

Special thanks to fo/mo/deep for lending us their song, "Bourbon Neat" for the podcast!

Find out about upcoming Bexley Public Library events at https://www.bexleylibrary.org

Follow Bexley Public Library across platforms @bexleylibrary

Book Banning and Censorship in America with Grace Ellis and Sabrina Baêta

Mon, 18 Sep 2023 00:01:00 -0300

Banned Books Week is an annual celebration of the freedom to read. The theme for Banned Books Week 2023 is “Let Freedom Read” and it’s being celebrated from October 1-7. A PEN America report for the first half of the 2022-2023 school year tracked 1,477 instances of individual book bans that have affected 874 unique titles. Book bans disproportionately target authors of color, LGBTQ+ authors, and other marginalized groups. Books about racism, sexuality, gender, and history have been removed from library shelves across America. In today’s episode, we talk to Sabrina Baêta from PEN America and author Grace Ellis about the current state of book banning in America, the impact that book bans have on creators, libraries, and young readers, and what we can do to stand up against book bans and protect the freedom to write, read, and access information. Grace Ellis will be at the Bexley Public Library on Wednesday, October 4 at 7:00 PM for a Conversation on Censorship to celebrate Banned Books Week.

Grace Ellis is a New York Times-bestselling, GLAAD Media Award–winning author and script writer. Born and raised in Ohio, she studied theater and journalism at The Ohio State University. Her graphic novels include the much-lauded "Lumberjanes," the long-running "Moonstruck," and several pieces for DC Comics. Her latest book, "Flung Out of Space: Inspired by the Indecent Adventures of Patricia Highsmith," was a New York Times Notable Book of 2022 and won the 2023 Eisner Award for Best Reality-Based Work. In 2022, Grace was given an Ohio Individual Excellence Award in playwriting for "Holding It Together," a site-specific play for high schools. Her next DC book, DIANA AND THE HERO’S JOURNEY, is out this fall. In 2023, she wrote the play “EXPLICIT CONTENT FOR TEENS,” about the fall out of a play’s censorship in a public highschool. Grace lives in Columbus, Ohio, where she can often be found eating ice cream or petting a cat.

Sabrina Baêta is a Program Consultant with Freedom to Read at PEN America. She engages in research and awareness-building around censorship attacks on public K-12 education, especially as it relates to literature accessibility in libraries and classrooms. Sabrina graduated from the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Arts in English and a Bachelor of Music in Voice. She earned her Masters from the University of Central Florida in Nonprofit Management. She is a poet, essayist, and writer and prior to PEN America, worked in educational publishing and in a variety of performing arts and education nonprofits.

Special thanks to fo/mo/deep for lending us their song, "Bourbon Neat" for the podcast!

Find out about upcoming Bexley Public Library events at BexleyLibrary.org

Follow Bexley Public Library across social media platforms @bexleylibrary

Understanding Artificial Intelligence - a conversation with Dr. Ness B. Shroff

Fri, 30 Jun 2023 00:00:00 -0300

Ohio State Electrical and Computer Engineering Professor, Ness B. Shroff, and BPL Technology Librarian, Josh Bryant, discuss the fascinating world of artificial intelligence (AI), including its history, applications, ethics, and future implications. Whether you are a complete newcomer to the world of AI or a seasoned expert, there will be something for everyone in this enlightening and informative discussion.

Watch Dr. Shroff take the AI quiz here!

Special thanks to fo/mo/deep for lending us their song, "Bourbon Neat" for the podcast!

Find out about upcoming Bexley Public Library events at BexleyLibrary.org

Follow Bexley Public Library across social media platforms @bexleylibrary

Elizabeth Petuchowski - Where From and Where To

Tue, 18 Apr 2023 00:00:00 -0300

For Holocaust Remembrance Day we pulled an episode from one of our most recent author events with Elizabeth Petuchowski.

Elizabeth Petuchowski shares her life story growing up as a young Jewish girl in Germany amidst the rise of Nazism and mandatory antisemitism. She reflects on the effects these universally known events had on her life and read from her memoir, Where From and Where To: One of the Last Self-Told German Jewish Life Stories. She is joined by Robin Judd, Associate Professor in The OSU Department of History with expertise in Jewish History and Immigration History, who facilitated the conversation.

Special thanks to fo/mo/deep for lending us their song, "Bourbon Neat" for the podcast!

Find out about upcoming Bexley Public Library events at BexleyLibrary.org

Follow Bexley Public Library across social media platforms @bexleylibrary

Celebrating Toni Morrison with Hanif Abdurraqib and Dionne Custer Edwards

Mon, 20 Feb 2023 17:22:27 -0400

A celebration of Toni Morrison with two of Ohio’s most revered poets and authors as Hanif Abdurraqib and Dionne Custer Edwards discuss the influences of Toni Morrison’s work on their own and celebrate the importance of her legacy as writers and Ohioans.

Toni Morrison Day is celebrated on February 18th in Ohio, commemorating the birth of the literary giant and possibly “the greatest Ohioan we’ve ever had,” as Hanif Abdurraqib remembers her. Morrison often used Ohio as a setting for her novels, from examining the influences and disparities of White and Black families living in post-Depression era Lorain in The Bluest Eye to exploring the insidious reach of slavery over the Ohio River in Beloved. Toni Morrison’s writing shed the white gaze and centered stories that explored the terrors, hopes, and dreams of Black lives and communities.

Hanif Abdurraqib - a 2021 MacArthur Genius' Grant Recipient - is a poet, essayist, and cultural critic from Columbus, Ohio. His poetry has been published in Muzzle, Vinyl, PEN American, and various other journals. His essays and music criticism have been published in The FADER, Pitchfork, The New Yorker, and The New York Times. He is the author of the poetry collections The Crown Ain't Worth Much, a finalist for the Eric Hoffer Book Prize, and A Fortune For Your Disaster, which won the 2020 Lenore Marshall Prize, and the essay collections They Can't Kill Us Until They Kill Us, named a best book of the year by Buzzfeed, Esquire, NPR, Oprah Magazine, Paste, CBC, The Los Angeles Review, Pitchfork, and The Chicago Tribune, among others; Go Ahead In The Rain: Notes To A Tribe Called Quest, a New York Times Bestseller, a finalist for the Kirkus Prize, and longlisted for the National Book Award; and A Little Devil In America: Notes in Praise of Black Performance, which was shortlisted for the National Book Award. He is a graduate of Beechcroft High School.

Dionne Custer Edwards is a writer, educator, and the Director of Learning & Public Practice at the Wexner Center for the Arts. Her work in the arts and education spans 25 years, including nearly two decades at the Wex where she pioneered several groundbreaking education programs that include Pages, an art and writing program serving hundreds of high school students a year from across central Ohio. Dionne has received acknowledgments and awards that include professional fellowships with Americans for the Arts, the Jefferson Center for the Arts, and a GCAC Arts Educator of the Year. Dionne is co-editor of a forthcoming book series by Ohio State University Press, On Possibility: Social Change and the Arts + Humanities, with the first issue due out in 2023.

Special thanks to fo/mo/deep for lending us their song, "Bourbon Neat" for the podcast!

Find out about upcoming Bexley Public Library events at BexleyLibrary.org

Follow Bexley Public Library across social media platforms @bexleylibrary

Best of 2022!

Fri, 25 Nov 2022 11:39:36 -0400

The best of 2022!

Special thanks to fo/mo/deep for lending us their song, "Bourbon Neat" for the podcast!

Find out about upcoming Bexley Public Library events at https://www.bexleylibrary.org

Follow Bexley Public Library across platforms @bexleylibrary

Here is the list of highlighted items from the BPL staff:

Fiction Books

Olga Dies Dreaming - Xochitl Gonzalez
Flung Out of Space - Grace Ellis
The Fervor - Alma Katsu
You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty - Akwaeke Emezi
This Time Tomorrow - Emma Straub

Non-Fiction Books

I’m Glad My Mom Died - Jeanette McCurdy
Wastelands: The True Story of Farm Country on Trial - Corban Addison
Unmask Alice: LSD, Satanic Panic, and the Imposter Behind the World's Most Notorious Diaries - Rick Emerson

Youth

0-3 yrs
- The Hair Book - LaTonya Yvette and Amanda Jane Jones
3-6 yrs
- My Parents Won’t Stop Talking! - Emma Hunsinger and Tillie Walden
- Mermaid Kenzie: Protector of the Deeps - Charlotte Sherman and Geneva Bowers
- Sports Heroes: Inspiring Tales of Athletes Who Stood Up and Out - Mia Cassany and Iker Ayestaran
Middle graders
- A Taste of Magic - J. Elle
- A Duet for Home - Karina Yan Glaser
- Shinji Takahashi and the Mark of the Coatl - Julie Kagawa
Teen
- Iron Widow - Xiran Jay Zhao
Honorable Mentions
- We Made It All Up - Margot Harrison
- Once Upon a K-Prom - Kat Cho
- Loveless - Alice Oseman
Board Games
- Builders & Biomes
- Draftosaurus

Movies

The Batman
Everything Everywhere All at Once
Top Gun: Maverick
Nope

Video Games

Elden Ring
Raft
Stray

Music

Madison Cunningham - Revealer
Wilco - Cruel Country
Natalia Lafourcade - De Todas las Flores
Julian Lage - View with a Room

Vampire Week!

Fri, 21 Oct 2022 00:00:00 -0300

Vampire Week is here! Plucked from our blog, Julianna tells us about her favorite vampire movies and everything the library has to offer this week.

Julianna mentions some of her favorite vampire movies. Here’s a list of them:

Interview with the Vampire
Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust
The Lost Boys
A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night
Nosferatu
Only Lovers Left Alive
Let the Right One In
Hotel Transylvania
Bram Stoker’s Dracula
Let the Right One In

Special thanks to fo/mo/deep for lending us their song, "Bourbon Neat" for the podcast!

Find out about upcoming Bexley Public Library events at BexleyLibrary.org

Follow Bexley Public Library across social media platforms @bexleylibrary

Banned Books - A History

Thu, 13 Oct 2022 10:07:08 -0300

Owen dives into the history of banning books, reasons books are challenged, and he even recommends his favorite challenged title. Here is a list of all the books Owen mentions:

Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
Looking for Alaska by John Green
Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi

Special thanks to fo/mo/deep for lending us their song, "Bourbon Neat" for the podcast!

Find out about upcoming Bexley Public Library events at BexleyLibrary.org

Follow Bexley Public Library across social media platforms @bexleylibrary

Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month

Sat, 01 Oct 2022 15:45:30 -0300

Pamela Espinosa de los Monteros, Assistant Professor and the Latin American, Iberian, and Latino/a Studies Librarian at The OSU University Libraries, and Patti Vocal, The OSU Center for Latin American Studies (CLAS) Outreach Coordinator, discuss the importance of bringing authentic Latinx and Latin American stories into K-12 classrooms through children's literature. Pamela and Patti talk to us about the CLAS BookBox project and share tips on how we can all celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month which is celebrated annually from September 15 - October 15.

Discover more Hispanic Heritage Month resources here.

Special thanks to fo/mo/deep for lending us their song, "Bourbon Neat" for the podcast!

Find out about upcoming Bexley Public Library events at https://www.bexleylibrary.org

Follow Bexley Public Library across social media platforms @bexleylibrary

Celebrating Black Poetry Past and Present

Sat, 18 Jun 2022 14:09:05 -0300

Jack Marchbanks sits down with Dionne Custer Edwards, Scott Woods, and Is Said for a discussion about Black poetry using James Weldon Johnson's groundbreaking anthology The Book of American Negro Poetry as a springboard.

Dionne Custer Edwards is a writer, educator, and the Director of Learning & Public Practice at the Wexner Center for the Arts, Scott Woods is a poet, writer, and the founder and director of the performing arts organization Streetlight Guild, and Columbus poetry legend Is Said, has received the King Arts Complex Legends & Legacies Award and was inducted into the Lincoln Theater Hall of Fame.

This program is generously funded by Jack Marchbanks and The Kridler Family Fund at The Columbus Foundation.

Special thanks to fo/mo/deep for lending us their song, "Bourbon Neat" for the podcast!

Find out about upcoming Bexley Public Library events at https://www.bexleylibrary.org

Follow Bexley Public Library across platforms @bexleylibrary

The Current: The Russian Invasion of Ukraine

Sat, 05 Mar 2022 13:33:34 -0400

Ohio State University Eastern European experts, Theodora Dragostinova, Marianna Klochko, and Mykyta Tyshchenko, to try and make sense of the evolving crisis in Ukraine following the Russian invasion.

The panel discussed the history and progression of the conflict, the ensuing humanitarian crisis, and the international repercussions of the events.

Find out about upcoming Bexley Public Library events at https://www.bexleylibrary.org

Follow Bexley Public Library across platforms @bexleylibrary

Best of 2021!

Fri, 26 Nov 2021 00:00:00 -0400

The best of 2021!

Special thanks to fo/mo/deep for lending us their song, "Bourbon Neat" for the podcast!

Find out about upcoming Bexley Public Library events at https://www.bexleylibrary.org

Follow Bexley Public Library across platforms @bexleylibrary

Here is the list of highlighted items from the BPL staff:

Books

American Made: What Happens to People When Work Disappears by Farah Stockman
Damnation Spring by Ash Davidson
Gastro Obscura: A Food Adventurer's Guide by Cecily Wong and Dylan Thuras
Great Circle by Maggie Shipstead
Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead
The Guncle by Stephen Rowley
The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois By Honorée Fanonne Jeffers

Youth/Teen Books

Woodland Dance by Sandra Boynton
B is for Bison! by Greg Paprocki
Aaron Slater, Illustrator by Andrea Beaty
Every Little Kindness by Marta Bartolj
Outside, Inside by LeUyen Pham
Dog Man: Mothering Heights by Dav Pilkey
Max and the Midnights by Lincoln Peirce
Super Sidekicks by Gavin Than
Jonna and the Unpossible Monsters, by Chris and Laura Samnee
Lotería by Karla Arenas Valenti
Pahua and the Soul Stealer by Lori Lee
Tristan Strong Keeps Punching by Kwame Mbalia
Look Both Ways by Jason Reynolds
The Infinite by Patience Agbabi
Don’t Breathe a Word by Jordyn Taylor
The Nobleman's Guide to Scandal and Shipwrecks by Mackenzie Lee
Defy the Night by Brigid Kemmerer

Movies

Loki
Falcon and the Winter Soldier
Wandavision
Black Widow
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
Eternals
Jungle Cruise
Cruella
Suicide Squad
Godzilla vs Kong
Army of the Dead
Red Notice
The Harder They Fall
Malignant
Quiet Place Part Two
Candyman
Halloween Kills
Luca
Mitchells vs The Machines
Space Jam: A New Legacy
No Time To Die
Roadrunner
Judas and the Black Messiah
Minari
Cry Macho
Dune
Green Knight

Music

Moontype - Bodies of Water
Sarah Jaroz - Blue Heron Suite
Genesis Owusu - Smiling with No Teeth
Aaron Frazer - Introducing…

NYT Best Selling Author Natalie D Richards

Fri, 05 Nov 2021 00:00:00 -0300

New York Times best seller, Natalie D Richards, sat down with Josh to talk about Five Total Strangers becoming a Big Library Read, her book Seven Dirty Secrets coming out this month, and the inspiration for her writing. Visit her website, instagram, and twitter for up-to-date information about her work.

Special thanks to fo/mo/deep for lending us their song, "Bourbon Neat" for the podcast!

Find out about upcoming Bexley Public Library events at https://www.bexleylibrary.org

Follow Bexley Public Library across platforms @bexleylibrary

Tomorrow and Tomorrow

Fri, 29 Oct 2021 00:00:00 -0300

Kristopher and Gretchen Armstrong sit down with Josh to talk about their literary journal Tomorrow and Tomorrow, how it highlights artists from Bexley, the importance of mixtapes, and ghost stories that are too unsettling for the campfire.

Join writers and artists highlighted in Tomorrow and Tomorrow's "Ghosts" issue at Austen & Company (or virtually!) on November 4th for an evening of readings and conversation!

Special thanks to fo/mo/deep for lending us their song, "Bourbon Neat" for the podcast!

Find out about upcoming Bexley Public Library events at https://www.bexleylibrary.org

Follow Bexley Public Library across platforms @bexleylibrary

Leading Through Uncertainty w/ LC Johnson

Fri, 24 Sep 2021 00:00:00 -0300

LC Johnson, founder and CEO of Zora's House, shares her journey from the dream (literally!) of a co-working-community-space for women of color in Columbus to the bright future ahead for Zora's House. LC talks about how she, with the support of community, made it through one of the most challenging and uncertain times of her life.

Follow Zora's House across platforms @zorashouse614 and at https://zorashouse.com/

Follow LC Johnson @no1doesitlikeLC

Find out about upcoming Bexley Public Library events at https://www.bexleylibrary.orgFollow Bexley Public Library across platforms @bexleylibrary

fo/mo/deep

Fri, 10 Sep 2021 00:00:00 -0300

Ron Holmes of fo/mo/deep talked to Josh about the ever-evolving sound of the band, expressing emotion instrumentally, and the beauty of 70s music. They listen to the songs "Bourbon Neat" and "Maple St" from their latest record Syzygy. Visit their website, instagram, and facebook for up-to-date information about the band.

Find out about upcoming Bexley Public Library events at https://www.bexleylibrary.org

Follow Bexley Public Library across platforms @bexleylibrary

Largemouth Brass Band

Fri, 27 Aug 2021 00:00:00 -0300

Seth Alexander and Frankie Wantuch of the Largemouth Brass Band sat down with Josh to talk about traditional New Orleans Jazz, working in a band with eight members, and deep listening. They listen to the songs "Night Lightning" and "Taracula" from their latest record Repilot. Visit their website, instagram, and facebook for up-to-date information about the band.

Find out about upcoming Bexley Public Library events at https://www.bexleylibrary.org

Follow Bexley Public Library across platforms @bexleylibrary

Dave Buker and the Historians

Fri, 13 Aug 2021 00:00:00 -0300

Dave and Leanna Buker, of Dave Buker and the Historians, talk with Josh about the evolution of their band, what makes a good cover song, and Ringo's biggest strength as a Beatle. They listen to the songs "It Moves in the Dark" and "Joanna" from their latest record, It Moves in the Dark. Visit www.davebukerhistorians.com for up-to-date information about the band and follow them on their social media platforms at the handles below: facebook: @davebukerhistorians instagram: @dbukerhistorians twitter: @davebukermusic Check out Dave's podcast, Hour of Our Time Podcast, too!

Find out about upcoming Bexley Public Library events at https://www.bexleylibrary.org

Follow Bexley Public Library across platforms @bexleylibrary

Graphic Novels and Comics w/ Grace Ellis

Fri, 06 Aug 2021 00:00:00 -0300

Grace Ellis, a New York Times-bestselling comic book writer of The Lumberjanes, Moonstruck, Batwoman, and more, talks with Leann about writing comics for and featuring girls, how living in Ohio influences her work (she's not moving to LA), and her upcoming first foray into writing a graphic novel for adults. The Babysitter's Club also gets a special mention.

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Follow Grace Ellis across platforms @gracecellis on Twitter and check out her website: http://www.ohheygraceellis.com/

Find out about upcoming Bexley Public Library events at https://www.bexleylibrary.org

Follow Bexley Public Library across platforms @bexleylibrary

Writing & Living Purposefully w/ Connie Schultz

Fri, 04 Jun 2021 00:00:00 -0300

Pulitzer Prize Winner Connie Schultz joins Leann for a discussion of her work as a journalist and columnist for over twenty years, the transition to fiction writing, and what it's like to be a living Ohio icon. After this episode the BPL Podcast will be on a brief hiatus for the summer! Join the BPL Virtual Book Club in discussing Connie Schultz's The Daughters of Erietown (out in paperback now) on Wednesday, July 7, 2021. https://bexley.libnet.info/event/5102269

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Follow Connie Schultz across platforms @connieschultz on Twitter and @schultz_connie on Instagram.

Find out about upcoming Bexley Public Library events at https://www.bexleylibrary.org

Follow Bexley Public Library across platforms @bexleylibrary

Garden Education w/ Tisa Watts

Fri, 28 May 2021 00:00:00 -0300

Tisa Watts, the founder of the Columbus Garden School and Master Gardener with over 20 years of experience in landscaping and horticulture, talks to Leann about moving back to Ohio to start a gardening school, native plants, her passion for teaching others, and shares tips for gardeners of any skill level.

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Learn more about Tisa Watts and the Columbus Garden School at https://www.columbusgardenschool.com/

Follow CSG on Facebook.

Find out about upcoming Bexley Public Library events at https://www.bexleylibrary.org

Follow Bexley Public Library across platforms @bexleylibrary

Poetry, Mentorship, and Faith w/ Barbara Fant

Fri, 23 Apr 2021 00:00:00 -0300

Columbus poet Barbara Fant discusses her current work with the Harmony Project, Transit Arts, and Paging Columbus, as well as her experience on the slam poetry scene and the role faith plays in her writing.

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Learn more about Barbara at https://www.barbarafant.com/

Follow Barbara on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram

Be sure to check out Barbara at MTSO's The Art of Justice event on April 30th, 2021.

Find out about upcoming Bexley Public Library events at https://www.bexleylibrary.org

Follow Bexley Public Library across platforms @bexleylibrary

Getting Inspired w/ Susan Orlean

Fri, 09 Apr 2021 18:30:46 -0300

Prolific journalist and bestselling author Susan Orlean joins Jeff and Leann for a special podcast episode in anticipation of her upcoming Bexley Community Author Series virtual event on April 27th, 2021. Orlean discusses how her unpretentious Midwestern roots shaped her as a writer (she’s from Ohio!) and then dives deep on her inspirations for The Library Book & The Orchid Thief. Plus, she talks about her new book, On Animals, due to be released in Fall 2021.

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Register for the 2021 Bexley Community Author Series Virtual Event with Susan Orlean on April 27th at 7pm here: https://bexley.libnet.info/event/4903433

Find out about upcoming Bexley Public Library events at https://www.bexleylibrary.org

Follow Bexley Public Library across platforms @bexleylibrary

Creating Support Systems for Diverse Students w/ Sharon Udoh

Fri, 02 Apr 2021 00:00:00 -0300

Sharon Udoh discusses her work as Enrollment Coordinator at the Arts & College Preparatory Academy, a model charter school combining academics and interdisciplinary arts instruction in Columbus. Sharon talks about the importance of diversity in education, creating support systems for first-generation Americans, and accepting the experiences and narratives of students. We also discuss her collaboration with Chamber Brews (led by recent BPL Podcast guest Devin Copfer) to create Udoh's original composition, Dig.

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Learn more about the Arts & College Preparatory Academy at https://artcollegeprep.org/

Find Sharon Udoh's work as Counterfeit Madison at https://counterfeitmadison.com/

View Chamber Brews performing Dig and other original compositions at https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=3956905920998011

Arts Entrepreneurship & Collaboration w/ Devin Copfer

Fri, 26 Mar 2021 00:00:00 -0300

Musician, registered Suzuki teacher, and arts entrepreneur Devin Copfer discusses her multitude of music projects as well as her experience with virtual music instruction during the pandemic. Devin describes how she has continued to collaborate with other artists and organizations in a virtual format and her recent work with Chamber Brews, a chamber music project that she co-founded and directs.

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Learn more about Devin Copfer's work at https://devinmariemusic.com/

Investing In Women w/ Kelley Griesmer

Fri, 12 Mar 2021 00:00:00 -0400

To honor Women's History Month, in this episode, Leann sits down with Kelley Griesmer, CEO of the Women's Fund of Central Ohio, to talk about the wealth gap, the importance of investing financially in women, and the new Enduring Progress Initiative focused on breaking down barriers to racial and gender equity. After listening to our podcast, check out this event with Kelley and author of Girlhood Melissa Febos happening at Gramercy Books.

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Article from Philanthropy Women where Kelley and LC Johnson were interviewed: Women of Color-led Nonprofits Struggle for Survival Funding: Why?

Ms. Foundation Research referenced: Pocket Change: How Women and Girls of Color Do More with Less

Learn more about The Women's Fund of Central Ohio at: https://www.womensfundcentralohio.org/

Learn more about the work of Zora's House at: https://zorashouse.com/

Find out about upcoming Bexley Public Library events at https://www.bexleylibrary.org

Follow Bexley Public Library across platforms @bexleylibrary

Printmaking, Family, & Community w/ Christine D'Epiro Abbott

Fri, 26 Feb 2021 00:00:00 -0400

In this two-part series, guest host Leann Schneider Webb, discusses the Bexley Art Library and interviews one of the artists featured in the collection, Christine D'Epiro Abbott. A core member at Phoenix Rising Printmaking Cooperative in Columbus, D'Epiro Abbott talks about her multilayered works, what inspires her series of interior scenes, and life as a working artist and mom.

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Find Christine D'Epiro Abbott's art at: http://www.christinedepiroabbott.com/ and follow her on Instagram @cdepiroabbott

Visit the Bexley Art Library at: www.bexleylibrary.org/ArtLibrary

Follow Bexley Public Library across platforms @bexleylibrary

Storytelling Through Art w/ Beverly Whiteside

Fri, 12 Feb 2021 00:00:00 -0400

In this two-part series, guest host Leann Schneider Webb, discusses the Bexley Art Library and interviews one of the artists featured in the collection, Beverly Whiteside. Known for her large, vibrant mixed-media works depicting imagery of African American life, Whiteside talks about her relationship with the late Columbus-based artist Aminah Lynn Robinson, her love for dance and movement, and how her years as a dance instructor fundamentally influence her work.

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Find Beverly Whiteside's art at: https://www.studiosonhigh.com/beverly-whiteside

Visit the Bexley Art Library at: www.bexleylibrary.org/ArtLibrary

Follow Bexley Public Library across platforms @bexleylibrary

40+ Years of Bexley Pizza Plus w/ Brad Rocco

Fri, 05 Feb 2021 09:00:00 -0400

Brad Rocco, owner of Bexley Pizza Plus, discusses the highs and lows of owning one of Bexley's favorite pizza shops, from being featured on the Food Network and competing in international pizza competitions to relocating and trying to stay afloat during the Covid-19 pandemic.

All Things Newfangled w/ Eric Dennison

Fri, 15 Jan 2021 09:00:00 -0400

Eric Dennison, co-owner of Newfangled Kitchen in Bexley, discusses his inspiration for opening Newfangled, what his 30+ years in the industry have taught him, and how Newfangled has fared during the pandemic. We also discuss Eric’s own podcast, This Newfangled Life.

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Check out Newfangled Kitchen

Listen to This Newfangled Life

The Past, Present, and Future of The Columbus Foundation w/ Dan Sharpe

Fri, 04 Dec 2020 09:00:00 -0400

Jeff is joined by Dan Sharpe, Vice President of Community Research and Grants Management at The Columbus Foundation, one of the top 10 largest community foundations in the United States. Dan details how The Columbus Foundation is responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the four key areas the foundation is focusing on for 2020-2021.

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Learn more about The Columbus Foundation

Watch the Songs for the Community videos and more

Celebrating 10 Years of the Bexley Community Foundation w/ Hallie Raskin

Wed, 18 Nov 2020 09:00:00 -0400

Hallie Raskin, Executive Director of the Bexley Community Foundation, discusses the significant impact the Bexley Community Foundation has had during its ten years of existence. Learn about the various projects BCF has funded, totaling over 3.3 million dollars, including the exciting new expansions to Jeffrey Mansion.

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Bexley Community Foundation Homepage

BCF 10 Year Anniversary Virtual Event Page

Fostering Empathy & Kindness w/ Seeds of Caring and Faith Mission

Mon, 02 Nov 2020 09:00:00 -0400

On this special episode of the podcast, Jeff is joined by three guests: Brandy Jemczura, Founder & Director of Seeds of Caring; Stephanie Vulhop, author of Imagine If: A Homeless Experience; and Lauren Wilson, Executive Director of LSS Faith Mission. They discuss the invaluable work they are doing to cultivate empathy in our communities and the resources they provide to people experiencing homelessness in Columbus.

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Learn more about Seeds of Caring: https://www.seedsofcaring.org/

Purchase Imagine If: https://www.seedsofcaring.org/our-book

Learn more about Faith Mission: https://lssnetworkofhope.org/faithmission/

Building Columbus Culture w/ Scott Woods

Fri, 23 Oct 2020 09:00:00 -0300

Local writer, poet, and community organizer Scott Woods discusses Streetlight Guild, a Columbus cultural venue he founded in 2019, as well as his work on the New Black Eastside Songbook project. Scott also offers his insights on the arts scene, public libraries, and more.

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Find more information about Streetlight Guild here: https://streetlightguild.wpcomstaging.com/

Inspecting Grief & Exploring Heritage w/ Ruth Awad

Fri, 09 Oct 2020 09:00:00 -0300

Award-winning Lebanese-American poet Ruth Awad discusses the anthology she co-edited with Rachel Mennies, The Familiar Wild: On Dogs & Poetry, which explores the multi-faceted relationships writers have with their dogs. We also discuss Ruth's 2016 collection, Set to Music a Wildfire, which stemmed from interviews she did with her father, largely about his experiences during the Lebanese Civil War.

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Get a copy of The Familiar Wild: On Dogs & Poetry

Read In the gloaming, in the roiling night

Being Resilient & Finding Joy w/ Maggie Smith

Thu, 24 Sep 2020 15:13:57 -0300

Local poet Maggie Smith discusses her new book, Keep Moving: Notes on Loss, Creativity, and Change, due out October 6th. Originating from Smith's tweets during the most difficult period of her life, we discuss how the collection might be received during a global pandemic, and also what it's like to release new material these days.

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Be sure to check out Maggie's virtual event presented by Gramercy Books with fellow acclaimed local poet Saeed Jones on Thursday, October 15th at 7 PM. Learn more here.

Being a First-Generation American, Writer, Bookseller, and More w/ Linda Kass

Mon, 31 Aug 2020 14:06:19 -0300

Linda Kass discusses her new novel A Ritchie Boy, which draws heavily on her father's unique experiences in World War II. She also talks about the many interesting twists her career has taken, including being a journalist, working in broadcasting, and owning Gramercy Books.

Gorillas, The Columbus Zoo, and Conservation w/ Beth Armstrong

Tue, 12 May 2020 16:28:04 -0300

Beth Armstrong, author of Voices from the Ape House, discusses her illustrious career working with gorillas, including groundbreaking work in gorilla care and pioneering conservation efforts with worldwide impact. Learn about what made the Columbus Zoo special in the '80s & '90s, the fascinating social lives of gorillas, and more.

Well Wishes & Staff Picks From BPL

Mon, 27 Apr 2020 13:44:04 -0300

BPL staff members discuss the media they've been enjoying during this unusual time, as well as a few special messages for our patrons.

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Follow these links to find our picks digitally:

Ultraista by Ultraista

The Heartbeat of Wounded Knee by David Treuer

A Manual for Cleaning Women by Lucia Berlin

Becoming by Michelle Obama

Murder on Black Swan Lane by Andrea Penrose

Wilde Life by Pascalle Lepas

The Third Hotel by Laura van Den Berg

Intergenerational Reflections w/ Melissa Michal & Juile Swarstad Johnson

Mon, 09 Mar 2020 14:07:42 -0300

Melissa Michal & Julie Swarstad Johnson discuss the intricacies of their work and life as writers. Melissa delves into her newest book, Living On The Borderlines, which reflects on the intergenerational trauma of Haudenosaunee people and how it impacts relationships while also fostering a unique resilience. Julie discusses the multiple viewpoints of her new book, Pennsylvania Furnace, and how time has shifted our perspective toward the environment.

Prohibition 100 Years Later w/ Nina Thomas

Thu, 06 Feb 2020 13:45:50 -0400

When it comes to Prohibition in the U.S., you probably immediately think of NASCAR, income tax, and Caribbean cruises, right? Nina Thomas, Manager of the Westerville History Center & Museum, discusses how these things are connected to Prohibition, as well as the local roots of the Anti-Saloon League and more.

Housing Discrimination in the U.S. w/ Jason Reece

Wed, 22 Jan 2020 13:54:55 -0400

Dr. Jason Reece, assistant professor of city and regional planning at the Knowlton School of Architecture at OSU, discusses the history of housing discrimination both in Columbus and the U.S. as a whole. Learn how factors such as redlining, restrictive covenants, and highway construction resulted in unequal development and shaped the neighborhoods we see today.

Staff Picks 2019

Tue, 17 Dec 2019 16:48:04 -0400

BPL staff members share their favorite books, films, and albums of 2019. Follow the links below to find our picks in the library's catalog:

The Movies of 1939 w/ Johnny DiLoretto

Thu, 24 Oct 2019 17:22:00 -0300

WCBE's Cinema Classics co-host and local personality Johnny DiLoretto discusses his career in media, the significance of the year 1939 in American cinema, and his favorite horror films- including his take on the perpetual CGI vs. practical effects debate.

Stories of Opioids and Ohio w/ Daniel Skinner

Wed, 02 Oct 2019 16:22:42 -0300

Daniel Skinner is a political scientist, Associate Professor of Health Policy at Ohio University, and co-editor of Not Far From Me: Stories of Opioids and Ohio. We discuss the gripping stories contained in Not Far From Me, the impact of local government on the opioid epidemic, and the outlook of the crisis going forward.

Woodstock & Altamont w/ Michael Flamm

Wed, 21 Aug 2019 15:30:23 -0300

Ohio Wesleyan University Professor and historian Michael Flamm discusses the legacy of Woodstock and Altamont, two music festivals that serve as symbols of the hope and despair generated by the 1960s counterculture.

The Gay Rights Movement w/ Clayton Howard

Mon, 08 Jul 2019 17:07:38 -0300

Ohio State University historian Clayton Howard discusses the history of the Gay Rights Movement from the '50s to present day, including the impact of the Stonewall Riots and the effects of federal legislation such as the G.I. Bill and the legalization of same-sex marriage.

The United States of Ohio w/ David E. Rohr

Fri, 31 May 2019 15:20:53 -0300

What makes Ohio significant? Is it the outsized agricultural production, its commercial impact during the Industrial Revolution, or perhaps being the birthplace of the National Football League? David E. Rohr, author of The United States of Ohio: One American State and its Impact on the Other Forty-Nine, discusses the multitude of ways the Buckeye State has impacted the U.S. throughout history.

Solving Political Polarization w/ Michael Tomasky

Mon, 08 Apr 2019 16:11:23 -0300

Michael Tomasky, author of If We Can Keep It: How the Republic Collapsed and How it Might Be Saved, discusses how we arrived at our current state of political polarization and how we might fix it. Learn about how an obscure court case, as well as Martin Van Buren, helped lead us to where we are today.

Being Writers and Entrepreneurs w/ Eloisa Amezcua & Leila Chatti

Sat, 16 Mar 2019 17:30:41 -0300

Poets Eloisa Amezcua and Leila Chatti discuss their work, favorite writers, Costura Creative, and more.

Staff Picks 2018

Thu, 20 Dec 2018 11:04:48 -0400

BPL staff members reflect on their favorite books and albums from 2018. Follow the links below to find our picks in the library's catalog:

Horror Films w/ MaddWolf

Mon, 29 Oct 2018 13:45:20 -0300

Film critics Hope Madden and George Wolf offer insights and interesting takes on recent horror hits such as A Quiet Place and Hereditary, as well as overlooked gems such as Mandy and Mom and Dad.

What Horror Says About Our Culture w/ Dr. Ivonne M. Garcia

Thu, 18 Oct 2018 13:33:14 -0300

Dr. Ivonne M. Garcia, Associate Professor of English & Literature at Kenyon College, discusses how horror is portrayed in American cinema and what it says about our culture. Dr. Garcia offers insightful viewpoints regarding the depiction of race and gender in films such as The Witch, Get Out, and Signs.

The Writing Process w/ Jody Casella & Natalie Richards

Thu, 13 Sep 2018 17:48:52 -0300

Authors Jody Casella and Natalie Richards discuss the realities of being a writer, the creative process, and a host of exciting new Young Adult and Middle Grade books.

The Story of Ohio Rock and Roll w/ Garin Pirnia

Mon, 09 Jul 2018 01:00:00 -0300

Author and journalist Garin Pirnia discusses her new book, Rebels and Underdogs: The Story of Ohio Rock and Roll, including stories about Devo, Richard Patrick, and more.

States and the Making of American Constitutional Law w/ Jeffrey Sutton

Wed, 20 Jun 2018 01:00:00 -0300

Judge Jeffrey Sutton discusses his career, the balance of state and federal legislation, and his new book, 51 Imperfect Solutions: States and the Making of American Constitutional Law.

Teaching American Slavery w/ Dr. Hasan Jeffries

Sun, 22 Apr 2018 01:00:00 -0300

OSU Associate Professor Dr. Hasan Jeffries discusses his projects, including Teaching Hard History: American Slavery, a resource for teachers and communities who are eager to help their students better understand slavery.

Music & Basketball w/ Hanif Abdurraqib

Mon, 19 Mar 2018 01:00:00 -0300

Poet, essayist, and cultural critic Hanif Abdurraqib discusses life in Columbus, memorable concerts, the NBA playoffs, and more.

The Amazing Untold Story of African-American Women in the Ring w/ Chris Bournea

Tue, 13 Feb 2018 00:00:00 -0400

Local journalist, author, and filmmaker Chris Bournea discusses his new documentary Lady Wrestler: The Amazing Untold Story of African-American Women in the Ring, as well as other projects.

Graphic Novels & Hoopla

Wed, 20 Dec 2017 00:00:00 -0400

Jordan and Jeff discuss graphic novels, including recommendations, how to access them on Hoopla, and more.

Creation Station/Our Favorite Podcasts

Mon, 09 Oct 2017 01:00:00 -0300

In the first episode of the BPL Podcast, staff members Bryan and Leann join Jeff to discuss the library's Creation Station as well as their favorite podcasts.