The Lowdown - Ira Wood, Intelligent conversation, one interview at a time

In The Least of Us National Book Award winner Sam Quinones talks about the new meth which makes users schizophrenic and is contributing to the chaos of homeless tent camps all across America.

Ira WoodJanuary 22, 2022Comment

So, You Want to Be a Children's Book Writer?

Bestselling children’s book writer Peter H. Reynolds talks about how to get published, how one of his books created an international movement, and what it’s like to illustrate a book with Cat Stevens.

Ira WoodDecember 27, 2021Comment

Death by Plastic

Only 13% of our plastic gets recycled. The rest of it, says science journalist Erica Cirino in Thicker Than Water breaks down into nano particles that show up in our food, our water, our bodies, and prenatal children.

Ira WoodDecember 20, 2021Comment

The Housing Crisis Sweeping America

Working two jobs and earning barely enough to make the rent in a flea bag motel. In Sunbelt Blues NYU professor Andrew Ross talks about the failure of American housing.

Ira WoodDecember 20, 2021Comment

The Secret Lives of the Pilgrims

Sex, murder, genocide, capital punishment…In Beheld novelist Tarashea Nesbit shines a light on Plymouth Colony unearthing crimes pious William Bradford definitely didn’t want us to see.

Ira WoodNovember 30, 2021Comment

Six Years in the Arctic Tundra

Divorced. Unemployed. Estranged from family. People are moved to do some odd things when their lives hit a wall. Laura Galloway went to live with the reindeer.

Ira WoodNovember 22, 2021Comment

The Philip Roth We Don't Know

In light of the #MeToo movement, shouldn’t we finally cancel America’s most controversial literary sexist bigot? A scholar delves into every book Roth ever wrote and says, Not so fast.

Ira WoodNovember 22, 2021Comment