Interviews & Features
PEN America produces a breadth of interviews and features throughout the year.
The PEN Pod: Literature as a Meditative COVID Companion with Lulu Miller
“The intensity of the moment is making ideas gurgle up and also just making reading and listening, when there is time, just so soothing.” More
The PEN Pod: Tough Questions with Suzanne Nossel
“When you speak, you need to think through where your words are going to land. . . [and] who might. . . interpret them in a very different way.” More
The PEN Pod: Claiming Ourselves Through Language with Jose Antonio Vargas
“There’s an emerging narrative around what it means to claim ourselves as people. . . Writing, for me, as an undocumented person was the only place where I was… More
The PEN Ten: An Interview with Samanta Schweblin, Translated by Megan McDowell
“There is no other technology as effective as literature to test ourselves, to confront our worst fears and try out reactions, survival methods, and thoughts.” More
The PEN Pod: Letting Go of Our Illusions with Charles Yu
“This moment and what I think will be the aftermath of it for a long time, is to actually make very real what has felt real for a long… More
Local Journalist Heroes: Vincent Schilling
“I feel inspired by the outreach of Native communities coming together and trying to protect their fellow community members.” More
Local Journalist Heroes: Christine Chung
“The way that people are responding to what they see as inadequacies in support from local government has been really uplifting. . . these kinds of positive stories are… More
Local Journalist Heroes: John Corley
“Cover COVID-19, but do not forget those condemned to a slow death by perpetual incarceration who have so much to offer the human family.” More
Local Journalist Heroes: Zainab Iqbal
“As long as people keep reading, we won’t stop reporting. It’s not always easy, but our immense love for the communities we cover keeps us going.” More
Local Journalist Heroes: Jeffrey Young
“Just as this epidemic has brought attention to healthcare disparities among Blacks and Latinos, I would like to see coverage on the lack of quality prison healthcare.” More