Advertise on podcast: Town Hall Seattle Arts & Culture Series

You put effort into crafting a skill set, you're recognized for your talents, maybe you even become well-known for those skills and achievements- who wouldn't love that? But is that where we should stay – in the lanes we're expected to fall into? Join award-winning literary and creative figures Charles Johnson and David Horsey for an evening discussing their storied careers and the lessons they've learned along the way about challenging expectations and reaching for more. Charles Johnson is best known as a prolific author; David Horsey as a political cartoonist. However, the two have more in common than extensive bibliographies and a mutual admiration of each other's work. Horsey just published his debut novel, Beach of Stars, and Johnson has recently released a collection of his own early cartoons about the Black Power movement titled All Your Racial Problems Will Soon End. Both creators have years of experience in pushing industry boundaries and showing the importance of continually giving creative minds room to grow. Between the two, they display that yes, writers can be cartoonists and cartoonists can be writers – as well as essayists, columnists, philosophers, musicians, and more. Follow Johnson and Horsey on a tour through their wide-ranging careers, with abundant on-screen examples, and a conversation highlighting their shared belief that creative minds should never be confined to narrow definitions of what they're expected to do. Charles Johnson is an acclaimed scholar, essayist, educator, and author of numerous books spanning fiction, short stories, and non-fiction. He is the recipient of a MacArthur Fellowship, NEA and Guggenheim Fellowships, and the National Book Award for his novel Middle Passage. He previously acted as fiction reviewer for the Seattle Review for twenty years and as Pollock Endowed Professor of English at the University of Washington. David Horsey is a two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning political cartoonist. He acted as editorial cartoonist for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer for thirty years, as a political commentator for the Los Angeles Times, and his work has appeared in newspapers nationwide, including the New York Times, the Washington Post, and The Chicago Tribune. Buy Book All Your Racial Problems Will Soon End: The Cartoons of Charles Johnson Elliott Bay Book Company

Author and podcaster Sona Movsesian never meant to become the World's Worst Assistant. But with Conan O'Brien as a boss, what else did we expect? Sona Movsesian never thought she'd be the World's Worst Mom, either. But when her twin sons, Charlie and Mikey, arrived, she realized she had been totally naive to all the ways even loving and devoted parents can feel like they fall short at raising kids these days. Life as the carefree, worry-free, stress-free person she was ended, and her reign as The World's Worst Mom had begun. In this new book, Sona regales her fans with stories from the trenches, with hilarious how-tos (like how to escape from a WebMD vortex of symptom searching), comics and illustrations throughout (like one where Sona time travels to show off her minivan to her younger self), and behind-the-scenes stories with comedy legend Conan O'Brien (and how being the world's worst assistant prepared for her being the world's worst mom). Ever feared you're the worst parent in the world? Do you feel like the parent you are and the parent you thought you would be are two completely different people? Take comfort in these stories that prove absolutely no one has this figured out, and if you don't find a way to laugh through the chaos, well, you may be missing the point entirely. Sona Movsesian is the New York Times bestselling author of The World's Worst Assistant. After over fifteen years of working with Conan O'Brien, Sona has become a regular feature of all things Conan and a fan favorite. Now, she cohosts Conan's podcast, Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend. Sona lives in LA with her husband and twin sons. Sara K. Runnels is a humorist and writer living in Seattle, WA. Her best work can be found in The New Yorker, McSweeney's, ELLE, Cosmopolitan, intermittent Substacks and exclusive group chats. She's earned a substantial following for her viral witticisms and sharp social commentary under the handle @omgskr. Sara's humorous & heartfelt memoir about dating, desire, and doing what feels good instead of what's expected, The Last One at the Party, will be published by St. Martin's Press in spring 2028. Buy the Book The World's Worst Mom (Hardcover) Elliott Bay Book Company

In her inspirational new memoir, Working Class to Breaking Glass: One Woman's Fight to Belong and to Lead, Wanda J. Herndon chronicles her journey from humble beginnings to executive leadership and influence at Starbucks. Throughout her memoir, Herndon interweaves personal storytelling with reflections on identity, mentorship, resilience, and purpose. She explores how systemic barriers shape opportunity and how determination, preparation, and community support can positively change lives. Whether she's navigating corporate culture or confronting moments of personal loss and reinvention, her story demonstrates that leadership is not a destination but an evolving journey. Herndon's story begins in Flint, Michigan. Her father, who dropped out of school in the eighth grade to help financially support his family in the Jim Crow South, took a life-changing bus ride North in search of freedom and a living wage. He found both at General Motors, but his dream for Herndon was different: "You should get an office job," he insisted. Herndon took that directive to avoid the assembly line and became one of the first in her family to graduate from college. Navigating racial barriers, economic limitations, and self-doubt, she confronted the realities faced by many Black students in America during the 1960s and 1970s. At Michigan State University, Herndon pursued journalism and entered the workforce in the mid-1970s. With each new opportunity, she refined her leadership voice and reinforced her commitment to inclusion. A turning point came when she joined Starbucks during a period of rapid transformation and expansion. At the company's Seattle headquarters, Herndon rose through the ranks, earning a seat at decision-making tables where demographic representation had historically been absent. Her leadership extended beyond business operations-she became a cultural advocate and bridge-builder, committed to increasing opportunities for all people. In sharing her journey, Herndon honors the sacrifices of her ancestors and parents while encouraging future generations to claim their own place at the table. Wanda J. Herndon, president and CEO of W Communications, LLC, is an award-winning corporate communications trailblazer, author, speaker, mentor, entrepreneur, Broadway producer, and the first senior vice president of global communications for Starbucks Coffee Company, from 1995 to 2006. Howard Schultz, Starbucks founder and CEO, asked her to return to the role in 2008 for a one-year engagement to help execute the company's turnaround strategy. Raised in Flint, Michigan in a working-class family shaped by the Great Migration, she became one of the first in her family to attend college, earning bachelor's and master's degrees in journalism as well as an honorary doctor of Humanities degree from Michigan State University. She built a groundbreaking career at Dow Chemical, DuPont, and Starbucks. Her memoir, Working Class to Breaking Glass, chronicles her journey  from Flint to corporate leadership, exploring race, gender, class, family legacy, belonging, and the courage to lead without compromising one's true self while opening doors for others. Angela Poe Russell is a veteran journalist and storyteller whose work has earned her a Gracie Award and a Northwest Emmy Award. During her 25-year career, she has taken her craft across multiple platforms including television, radio, and film – covering news in Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, and Seattle; writing for Lifetime Movie Network; and interviewing figures ranging from President Barack Obama to cultural icons like Halle Berry and Lin-Manuel Miranda. Most recently, Angela brought her storytelling instincts to the theatrical stage with the sold-out debut of the musical Aviatrix at Seattle Public Theater, which added extra performances to meet demand during its four-week run. As the book writer and co-lyricist, Angela shined a light on the story of Bessie Coleman, the first Black and Native American woman to earn an international pilot's license. Angela is a contributor on KIRO Newsradio and is grateful to be sharing life with her husband Victor and their blended family of two sons and two daughters. Buy the Book Working Class to Breaking Glass: One Woman's Fight to Belong and to Lead W Communications

"It's a difficult thing, to separate legend from story from memory from fact." Folklore and legend are critical components to any culture, passing tidbits of local history and lessons learned through generations. The idea of the folk hero in particular plays an important role in creating this legacy, rooted in the idea of benevolence and a direct connection to the people themselves. As a child, author Isaac Fitzgerald was always captivated by the tales of Johnny Appleseed, drawn in by family ties to the legend. Spurred on by his father's larger-than-life stories and a shared restlessness to leave home and discover what lies beyond, Fitzgerald found himself compelled to go on a new adventure. In American Rambler: Walking the Trail of Johnny Appleseed, Fitzgerald sets out on a particularly ambitious hike: walk from Massachusetts to Indiana, following Appleseed's path and turning a childhood fascination into a year-long personal journey. American Rambler recounts both the tangible and emotional trails Fitzgerald uncovered along the way, littered with explorations of loss and grief, ritual and faith. Fitzgerald invites readers to meander beside him–  stopping everywhere from grimy gas-station bathrooms to scenic apple picking destinations– with reflection, humor, and humility. Blending memoir, history, and travelogue through the American heartland, American Rambler presents a welcome step away from the breakneck pace of modern life and a return to the roots of connection. Isaac Fitzgerald is the New York Times bestselling author of Dirtbag, Massachusetts. He is also the author of the bestselling children's book How to Be a Pirate as well as the co-author of Pen & Ink: Tattoos and the Stories Behind Them and Knives & Ink: Chefs and the Stories Behind Their Tattoos (winner of an IACP Award). He appears frequently on The Today Show, and his writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Atlantic, Esquire, GQ, The Guardian, The Best American Nonrequired Reading, and numerous other publications. He lives with his wife on the North Fork of Long Island. Jon Mooallem is the author of three books, Wild Ones, This is Chance! and the essay collection Serious Face. He lives on Bainbridge Island. Buy the Book American Rambler: Walking the Trail of Johnny Appleseed Elliott Bay Book Company

Renowned picture book creators, Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen, want people of all ages to understand and appreciate children's stories and how this art form enriches our individual lives and our culture. Speaking on the process of creating their latest collaboration, a board book series called Now I See, Barnett and Klassen have insights into what makes a great children's book using elements you can find both on and off the page. This multi-award winning, New York Times bestselling duo operates differently than a lot of children's book creators. Typically, an author and illustrator don't directly collaborate, and yet these two find success in close conversations with each other. Using their unique perspectives, Barnett and Klassen also write a newsletter for adults, Looking at Picture Books, which examines the picture book as a respected art form. Their Now I See board book collection applies that lens by celebrating the spare beauty and wonder of the changing seasons from the point of view of a child. A tree that has full green leaves in Now I See Summer sheds them in Now I See Fall. The snowy sky of Now I See Winter gives way to the rainy sky in Now I See Spring. And of course, the perfect hat changes with each season, too. Barnett and Klassen want to uplift the picture book as an art form, showing everyone of every age what goes into the making of great children's literature. They'll discuss the importance and value of picture books — and how they work. Kids are, of course, welcome, but the primary audience for these events is adults keen to learn more about picture books. Mac Barnett, the 2025-2026 National Ambassador for Young People's Literature, is a New York Times-bestselling author of stories for children. His work has been translated into more than 30 languages and has sold more than 5 million copies worldwide. Some of his books include The First Cat in Space graphic novel series, illustrated by Shawn Harris, Twenty Questions, illustrated by Christian Robinson, and Santa's First Christmas, illustrated by Sydney Smith. Jon Klassen is the New York Times-bestselling author and illustrator of numerous books, who was appointed to the Order of Canada in 2018 for his contributions to children's literature. His recent books include the Your Places board book series and The Skull, a #1 New York Times bestseller that earned six starred reviews and a piece in the New York Times Book Review in which Ransom Riggs refers to Jon as both "the dean of deadpan" and a "national treasure." Jon Mooallem is the author of three books, Wild Ones, This is Chance! and the essay collection Serious Face. He lives on Bainbridge Island. Buy the Book Make Believe: On Telling Stories to Children (Hardcover) Elliott Bay Book Company

Even the Good Girls Will Cry: A '90s Rock Memoir presents an intimate look behind the scenes of an iconic era through the ever-reflective lens of musician Melissa Auf der Maur. In this debut memoir, Auf der Maur chronicles her journey through alternative music — from staffing ticket windows at local venues to navigating era-defining triumphs and turmoil under global spotlights. A bohemian upbringing in Montreal and an early connection to music led her to put down roots in the local scene, working as a cassette DJ and showing up for bands like Nirvana, Jane's Addiction, Pavement, and Sonic Youth. A serendipitous sequence sets the stage for the next big step — a thrown beer bottle at a show, a long-shot fan letter to a PO Box, and before you know it Auf der Maur's band Tinker is opening for The Smashing Pumpkins and Billy Corgan is passing along a personal recommendation to Courtney Love. In a whirlwind of life-changing moments, Auf der Maur joins Hole for their 1994 Live Through This world tour just after the deaths of Kurt Cobain and Hole's previous bassist Kristen Pfaff. Auf der Maur is swiftly flung into the eye of a hurricane, becoming part of a band plowing through grief by way of art on a brutally global stage. Auf der Maur offers a backstage view to the raw reality of this tour, her relationship with Courtney Love in the wake of tragedy, and what kept Hole from spinning out of control. And the show goes on from there – messy and unwieldy, but bringing compassionate nuance to the nostalgia of the '90s alternative era and Auf der Maur's personal journey to the other side of it. Part rock memoir, part travel diary, part psychedelic scrapbook – Even the Good Girls Will Cry stacks rockstar stories of the last analog decade alongside the intensely intimate musings of an artist who lived through the chaos. Melissa Auf der Maur is an artist, producer, and musician known for her time as the bassist of the bands Hole and The Smashing Pumpkins. She is the co-founder and director of Basilica Hudson, a nonprofit multidisciplinary art center known for music festivals, film screenings, artist-in-residence programs, and community involvement. Her other projects include the solo albums Auf der Maur and Out of Our Minds, as well as photography collections shown by the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts and featured in publications including Spin, Elle, and Nylon. Gillian G. Gaar is an award-winning journalist and author of over 20 books. She was a senior editor at the legendary Northwest music publication The Rocket for fourteen years. She served as project consultant on Nirvana's 4 box set With the Lights Out and as editorial assistant on Krist Novoselic's memoir Of Grunge and Government: Let's Fix This Broken Democracy! Her books include She's a Rebel: The History of Women in Rock & Roll, Entertain Us: The Rise of Nirvana, Return of the King: Elvis Presley's Great Comeback, and World Domination: The Sub Pop Records Story.  Buy the Book Even the Good Girls Will Cry: A '90s Rock Memoir Third Place Books

News anchor Lori Matsukawa is an award-winning journalist, author, and speaker who spent nearly 40 years at KING TV in Seattle. A trusted voice in Northwest media, she reveals how her childhood in multi-racial Hawai'i and traveling the world as Miss Teenage America led to a career she couldn't imagine. Despite discrimination and disappointment along the way, Matsukawa became the role model she wished she'd had. She helped change what viewers saw on the newscasts that entered their homes. Matsukawa pursued her career at a time when society expected little from a person like her: a female of color from a working-class family who attended Hawai'i public schools. Yet, an astonishing series of events — highlighted by a year representing her country as Miss Teenage America during her senior year in high school — propelled her to keep breaking down stereotypes. Today, she continues to promote civic engagement and share stories to inspire the next generation of journalists. Lori Matsukawa is an award-winning broadcast journalist with more than 40 years in the industry. She retired after 36 years as an anchor and reporter at KING TV in Seattle. Matsukawa received two Northwest Regional Emmy Awards, one in 2017 for her series "Prisoners in Their Own Land" and another in 2018 for "Shane Sato: Portraits of Courage."  She is a co-founder of the Seattle Chapter of the Asian American Journalists Association and the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Washington. Matsukawa is also the author of Brave Mrs. Sato (2023), a contributor to Intersections: A Journalistic History of Asian Pacific America (2025), and Being There: Memoir of an Asian American Journalist, published in April 2026. Mimi Gan is a multiple Emmy Award–winning former KING 5 colleague of Lori's and a longtime reporter and host. She is now the founder of Mi2 Media, where she produces short‑form social‑impact documentaries. Mimi was recently recognized as one of Seattle Magazine's Most Influential People: Equity, received the Stanford University Asian American Alumni Award, and currently serves as a trustee for the Wing Luke Museum and Seattle Children's Theatre. Buy the Book Being There: Memoir of an Asian American Journalist Elliott Bay Book Company

Join Wendy Norman, End‑of‑Life Planning Consultant, and Steven Schindler, Estate Attorney, for a grounded, practical conversation about the essentials of legacy planning — something every adult needs, no matter their age or stage of life. Together, they'll break down what a Will actually does, when a Trust might be the better tool, and what really happens — financially and procedurally — if someone dies without either. You'll also learn how a Durable Power of Attorney works while you're alive, why its authority ends the moment you die (and what takes over afterward), and how the absence of planning can leave families facing court processes they never expected. Finally, Wendy and Steven will explore the part of planning that often gets overlooked: documenting and communicating your wishes. How you want your assets handled. Who do you want to receive what? Which charities or community organizations do you want to support? When you share these decisions ahead of time, you give your loved ones clarity, confidence, and one of the kindest gifts possible — peace of mind. Wendy Norman has been researching and engaging with end-of-life issues for over 15 years. Wendy's interest was sparked by her mother's diagnosis of early-onset Alzheimer's in 2006. This is when she learned how important it is to have a plan before becoming ill, especially when cognitive decline is involved. Wanting to help others understand the value of pre-planning, Wendy became an end-of-life planning consultant in 2017. In 2019, she left a 25-year career in marketing and program management to invest her time and energy toward end-of-life planning, education and awareness. In 2020, she helped create and lead a team of volunteers to launch an education and awareness program called End of Life Ready hosted by End of Life Washington. Building on that experience, Known Wishes was created to broaden and deepen end-of-life education. Steven J. Schindler is an estate attorney who helps individuals and families design comprehensive strategies to achieve their family, business, and charitable goals. His practice includes estate, will, trust, and tax planning and administration; planned charitable giving; nonjudicial dispute resolution; and the preparation of gift and estate tax returns. Known for his ability to tailor solutions to each client's unique circumstances, Steven guides clients through everything from optimizing tax advantages to developing meaningful charitable giving plans to navigating sensitive family dynamics with clarity and care. As an active member of the community, Steven serves as treasurer of the King County Cultural Development Authority (4Culture). He has also held leadership roles as president of the Estate Planning Council of Seattle, president of the Real Property, Probate and Trust Section of the King County Bar Association, and served as a board member at End‑of‑Life Washington. Presented by Town Hall Seattle and Known Wishes.

Join the team behind the popular podcast Planet Money and celebrate the publication of their new book, Planet Money: A Guide to the Economic Forces That Shape Your Life. Book author and longtime contributor Alex Mayyasi, Planet Money host Kenny Malone, and visual host Jack Corbett will bring Planet Money's signature brand of storytelling to the stage and discuss some highlights from the new book, including unlikely origin stories, revealing truths about human behavior, and insightful suggestions for navigating chaotic times drawn from the latest ideas in economics. Daryl Fairweather, Chief Economist at Redfin, will be the special guest this evening. Come prepared to engage with the silly and the sublime and ask some questions of your favorite Planet Money hosts and reporters. Alex Mayyasi is a longtime contributor to Planet Money. Previously he was the founding editor of Gastro Obscura, which earned two James Beard Awards, and published a bestselling travel book, and was also a writer and editor at Priceonomics. His writing on business and economics has appeared in publications such as Smithsonian, the Washington Post, and The Atlantic. Mayyasi also consults for the University of Chicago economics department. He's the co-author of You Are Under Arrest for Masterminding the Egyptian Revolution (a Memoir). Kenny Malone is a cohost for NPR's Planet Money podcast. Before that, he was a reporter for WNYC's Only Human podcast. Before that, he was a reporter for Miami's WLRN. And before that, he was a reporter for his friend T.C.'s homemade newspaper, Neighborhood News. Malone's stories have investigated everything from abuse in Florida's assisted living facilities to health hackers building their own pancreas to the origins of seemingly made-up holidays like National Raisin Day. Or National Golf Day. Or National Splurge Day. His work has won the National Edward R. Murrow Award for Use of Sound, the National Headliner Award, the Scripps Howard Award, and the Bronze Third Coast Festival Award. He studied mathematics at Xavier University in Cincinnati and proudly hails from Meadville, PA, where the zipper was invented. Daryl Fairweather is the chief economist of Redfin and author of Hate the Game: Economic Cheat Codes for Life, Love, and Work. Her insights have been featured on 60 Minutes, CBS Evening News, as well as in the New York Times and Washington Post. Prior to joining Redfin she was a senior economist at Amazon working on problems related to employee engagement and managing a team of analysts. Jack Corbett is the visual host of Planet Money's TikTok account. Corbett shot NPR's first TikTok about the stock market circuit breaker. His reporting style became a perfect fit for the pandemic and the new short-form world order it has left in its wake. Since then, Planet Money TikTok's unique style and sensibility have garnered a devoted, loyal fanbase of young and diverse audiences. Almost four years later, the channel has amassed a large, devoted following of almost 800,000. His TikToks have received almost 15 million likes. In 2023, Corbett's work on Planet Money's TikTok won an Edward R. Murrow award and he's also been recognized by the White House Press Photographers Association. Corbett studied experimental cinema at Ohio State University and started at NPR in 2019 as an intern on the Music team. In his first few weeks, Corbett pitched a documentary to Jazz Night in America, which went on to premiere as part of the Sundance Film Festival in 2021. Corbett lives, breathes and makes bread in The City of Angels, Los Angeles, California. Buy the Book Planet Money: A Guide to the Economic Forces That Shape Your Life Elliott Bay Book Company

Have you ever reinvented yourself — even unintentionally? Bestselling author Maria Semple's latest novel, Go Gentle, tells the story of one woman's midlife transformation. Adora Hazzard, a Stoic philosopher and divorcée living in New York City, believes that she has it all figured out. She's a working mom of a teenage daughter, she's relishing her freedom, and she regularly meets with a group of like-minded women she refers to her "coven" — a group she assembled herself and is working to expand. Adora's carefully curated life is going as planned until a chance meeting with a handsome stranger. She begins subverting people's expectations — perhaps most of all her own. Soon, her normally orderly existence is upended by adventure and risk: black-market art deals, secret rendezvous, and international intrigue. If that isn't enough, secrets from her past return to visit her in the present. Go Gentle's narrative raises that age-old question: In the battle between the mind and the heart, which one will win? Maria Semple is the bestselling author of Today Will Be Different, Where'd You Go, Bernadette, and This One Is Mine. Her novels have been translated into forty languages. Before writing fiction, Maria wrote for TV. She lives in New York. Ken Jennings is still the Jeopardy! record-holder for his 74-game streak on the beloved quiz show back in 2004. In 2020, he was named Jeopardy!'s "Greatest of All Time" and began hosting the show following the death of longtime host Alex Trebek later that year. Ken is the author of 14 books, most recently The Complete Kennections. Buy the Book Go Gentle: A Novel Elliott Bay Book Company

In a world so fraught with chaos and uncertainty, where can we find connection and hope? Author Terry Tempest Williams invites readers to learn about what she calls "The Glorians." In her latest work, The Glorians: Visitations from the Holy Ordinary, Williams explains that Glorians are not distant deities, but instead ordinary, often overlooked presences — animals, plants, memories, moments — that reveal our shared vulnerability and interconnectedness with the natural world. The Glorians can be as small as an ant or as commonplace as the night sky. Williams offers both personal and societal insight in her assertion that Glorians have much to teach and remind us about consciousness, connection, and courage. In pages that explore subjects like climate change, finding wonder in the unexpected, and turning to deep reflection and intention, The Glorians invites us to imagine a better and more beautiful future in a time of uncertainty. Terry Tempest Williams is the award-winning author of seventeen books of creative nonfiction, including the environmental classic, Refuge – An Unnatural History of Family and Place. Among her other books are Leap, Finding Beauty in a Broken World, When Women Were Birds, The Hour of Land – A Personal Topography of America's National Parks, and Erosion – Essays of Undoing. Her work has been translated and anthologized worldwide. She is a member of the American Academy of Arts & Letters and is currently the writer-in-residence at the Harvard Divinity School. She divides her time between Cambridge, Massachusetts and Castle Valley, Utah. Buy the Book The Glorians: Visitations from the Holy Ordinary Elliott Bay Book Company

In her new memoir, Adult Braces, Lindy West brings readers along on an uproarious cross-country road trip as she unpacks her last few tumultuous years, rediscovers herself, and reinvents her marriage. Through Shrill—the book and then the Hulu series—Lindy West became an inspiration. To this day, she is stopped on the street and hailed as a beacon of empowerment by women who felt badly for not conforming to a narrow set of societal norms—thin, straight, compliant. But behind the scenes, Lindy never felt like she was the self-actualized woman fans made her out to be. When she found herself in the throes of a deep depression, with her marriage and sense of self-worth hanging in the balance, she knew she needed to make a change. In Adult Braces, Lindy shares the story of her rock bottom and of the journey she took to claw her way out of it. With her trademark candor and sense of humor, she examines her post-Shrill emotional implosion, her shifting feelings about traditional marriage, and her search for her long-lost self. She also tracks the highs and lows of her journey, from eye-opening natural wonders and kitschy roadside attractions to lackluster tourist traps and campground epiphanies. The result is an engaging and laugh-out-loud narrative of becoming as Lindy transforms from a passenger into the active navigator of her own life. Lindy West is the author of three books: the New York Times bestselling memoir Shrill as well as the essay collections The Witches Are Coming and Shit, Actually. Lindy is a former contributing opinion writer for the New York Times and her work has appeared in This American Life, The Guardian, Cosmopolitan, GQ, Vulture, Jezebel, and others. She is the co-host of the comedy podcast Text Me Back and the author of the e-mail newsletter Butt News. Lindy was a writer and executive producer on Shrill, the Hulu comedy adapted from her memoir, and she co-wrote and produced the independent feature film Thin Skin. She lives on the Olympic Peninsula in rural Washington state. Buy the Book Adult Braces: Driving Myself Sane Elliott Bay Book Company

Layering classic tropes of the mystery genre with a clever modern satire of the publishing industry, The Ending Writes Itself is the debut novel of "Evelyn Clarke," a new writing collaboration between best-selling authors V.E. Schwab and Cat Clarke. Joined in conversation by local author and journalist Moira Macdonald, Schwab and Clarke explore their co-authoring venture and the twists and turns that await readers in their new take on a locked-room mystery thriller. How will the pages unfold for the six authors isolated with nothing but their own minds, a diabolical deadline, and a plot-driving incentive? Starting is often the hardest part. But getting to the end could be murder. World-renowned best-selling novelist Arthur Fletch is a reclusive genius who captivates readers with iconic protagonists and fiendish twists. So when six struggling authors of different genres receive an invitation to spend a weekend on his private island off the coast of Scotland, they pack their bags. But the twists have gone further than ever this time, and the authors are greeted with a shocking secret– Arthur Fletch is dead… and his highly-anticipated last novel remains unfinished. Desperate to publish, Fletch's agent and editor have summoned these writers hoping one of them can pen a worthy ending. To sweeten the deal, they pitch them the opportunity of a lifetime. Ghost write the final chapter and win an irresistible prize– a mind-boggling sum of money and a partnership that could relaunch their own careers and guarantee future bestsellers. And with that to motivate them, surely 72 hours is enough time to finish Fletch's magnus opus? All they have to do is write… V.E. Schwab is the critically acclaimed author of over 20 books spanning middle-grade, young adult, and adult fiction. Her previous publications include the Villains and Shades of Magic series, as well as standalone novels The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue and most recently, Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil. Her work has been featured by outlets including the New York Times, the Guardian, and Entertainment Weekly, and has been translated into more than a dozen languages. Cat Clarke is an author and screenwriter. She previously worked as an editor at Scholastic UK. Her previous writing projects include the novels Entangled, The Lost and Found, Girlhood, and We Are Young, as well as the film Something in the Water. Moira Macdonald is the longtime arts critic for The Seattle Times. Her debut novel, Storybook Ending, was published in May 2025 by Dutton/Penguin Random House, and is being released worldwide in 18 languages. Buy the Book The Ending Writes Itself: A Novel Third Place Books

Although the present ubiquity of Apple is well-known, how much do you know about its past? Just in time for Apple's 50th anniversary, author and CBS correspondent David Pogue tells the history of the iconic company: how it was born, nearly died, and was revived under the legendary Steve Jobs, and how it later became the most iconic brand in the world. On April 1, 1976, two men in their 20s, both named Steve, founded a modest startup. Their goal was to bring the power of computers to everyone. Over the next five decades, Apple revolutionized the tech landscape, introducing the public to many products that we use today and marrying technology with design. Marking this 50th anniversary milestone is Apple: The First 50 Years, a 600-page, definitive account of the tech giant. At this very special event, author David Pogue will share what he learned from interviewing 150 current and former Apple executives, designers, and engineers. He'll reveal, for the first time, some amazing origin stories (Apple II, iMac, iPod, iPhone). He'll draw some counterintuitive but powerful lessons from Apple's unlikely rise, fall, and rise. And he'll punctuate the evening with Apple song parodies at the piano (yes, really). David Pogue is a seven-time Emmy Award winner for his stories on CBS Sunday Morning, a five-time TED speaker, host of twenty NOVA specials on PBS, and a New York Times bestselling author. He's written about Apple for his entire career, including thirteen years as a Macworld columnist, thirteen more as tech columnist for The New York Times, and twenty years as the #1 bestselling author of books about Macs and iPhones . Buy the Book Apple: The First 50 Years Elliott Bay Book Company

From the mind of Brett Hamil, the cartoonist behind Doom Loop and co-producer of Joketellers Union, comes an utterly unique talk show. Starring Hamil's wistful handyman alter ego Burl Dirkman, Power Thru It! with Burl Dirkman will take the audience on a comedic journey of self-discovery, featuring interviews with local luminaries J. Kenji López-Alt and Tomo Nakayama, and cathartic activities designed to help you access your long-neglected emotional core. Prepare to cry real tears of joy! Brett Hamil is a cartoonist and comedian living in Seattle. He publishes a weekly political cartoon, Doom Loop, for the South Seattle Emerald, and produces a critically acclaimed live comedy show, Joketellers Union at the Clock-Out Lounge. He's also the author of 3 graphic novels. Tomo Nakayama has explored the lines between intimate indie folk, exuberant synth pop, and cinematic soundtracks for over two decades. His fourth album, Ocean, was released last year. Kenji López-Alt is a former restaurant cook, New York Times columnist, and author of the James Beard Award–winning and bestselling books The Food Lab and The Wok, as well as the children's book Every Night Is Pizza Night.