Being human is hard. Luckily we've got the biggest names and brightest minds of today's society to help us out. Join us as we sneak you into can't-miss special events and once in a lifetime conversations direct from the live Chicago Humanities experience. You'll hear fresh interviews along with previously unreleased audio from our 30+ year archive on entertainment, politics, literature, and technology. New episodes drop every other Tuesday. Listen on your favorite podcast platform.
Want to be the first to know about upcoming events so you can see your favorite speaker live and in person? Head to chicagohumanities.org to join our email list.
Margaret Atwood is joined in conversation with author Elif Batuman to unfold the story of her life, linking seminal moments to the books that have shaped our literary landscape, from the cruel year that spawned Cat's Eye to the Orwellian 1980s Berlin where she wrote The Handmaid's Tale.
As we travel with her along the course of her life, more and more is revealed about her writing, the connections between real life and art, and the workings of one of our greatest imaginations.
Podcast Credits:
Live event programmed by Michael Green
Live event produced by Nikki Konomos
Live event stage managed by Kait Samuels
Live event produced and mixed by Jeff Kolar
Production assistance by Rebecca Dose
Podcast edited and mixed by Katherine Kermgard
Voiceover by Anthony Fleming III
Transcription assistance by Micquela Washington
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25 Nov 2025
Ron Chernow on the Humorous Life of Mark Twain
Acclaimed author Ron Chernow, of Hamilton fame, is one of the most renowned voices in history and politics. Recipient of the 2015 National Humanities Medal, Chernow has dedicated his life to telling the stories of some of the most notable figures in history. Chernow joins The Interview Show host Mark Bazer to discuss his newest work, Mark Twain, a nuanced portrait of "the father of American literature." Drawing on thousands of letters and hundreds of unpublished manuscripts, Chernow captures the exuberant genius whose career reflected the country's westward expansion, industrialization and foreign wars, and became the white author of his generation who grappled most fully with the legacy of slavery. Hear from Chernow as he sheds light on the life of Mark Twain — from his start as a brash journalist to his days as the most notable political pundit in the U.S.
[Podcast Credits]
Live event programmed by Mark Bazer
Live event produced by Jesse Swanson
Live event stage managed by Rebecca Dose
Live event produced and mixed by Dan Glomski
Production assistance by Aaron Stephenson / Micquela Washington
Podcast edited and mixed by Katherine Kermgard
Voiceover by Anthony Fleming III
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Instagram • YouTube • TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@chicagohumanities) • Twitter (https://twitter.com/chihumanities) • Facebook • LinkedIn
25 Sept 2025
Ed Helms on the World’s Biggest SNAFUs
Actor, comedian, writer, and producer Ed Helms joins us in conversation with podcast host and producer Greta Johnsen to discuss his new book SNAFU, which brings you an absurdly entertaining look at history’s greatest screwups. Helms steps in as unofficial history teacher diving into each decade’s craziest SNAFUs like planting nukes on the moon to training felines as CIA spies to weaponizing the weather.
SHOW NOTES:
Read the podcast transcript
CW: Mature language and subject matter
Photo: Ed Helms (right) and Greta Johnsen (left) on stage at First United Methodist Church at the Chicago Temple at the Chicago Humanities Spring Festival in May 2025.
Live event programmed by Michael Green
Live event produced by Jesse Swanson
Live event stage managed by Kait Samuels
Live event produced and mixed by Dan Glomski
Production assistance by Carl Herzog / Hope Mignini
Podcast edited and mixed by Katherine Kermgard
Voiceover by Anthony Fleming III
Subscribe
Donate now to support programs like this.
Explore upcoming events.
Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/chihumanities/) • YouTube • TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@chicagohumanities) • Twitter (https://twitter.com/chihumanities) • Facebook • LinkedIn
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
31,071,101
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Apple Podcasts (US)
4.9 / 5
14 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
9 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 62 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
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