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On "Great Man" History and My Grandfather
What a Brooklyn plumber might say about the next phase of the American story
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John Tessitore
5
Be True, Episode 70: Why Isn’t Your Book Funny?
John reads from his novella Jigsaw Men. He also discusses the falseness of seriousness and the importance of humor in writing about big themes and…
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John Tessitore
7:57
Incident on Route 20
a poem
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John Tessitore
Be True, Episode 69: The Prophecies of Harry Partch
John reads his poem “Mazda Marimba” from his chapbook Parchment: A Prayer Quintet. He also discusses art on the margins; world-changing ambition; and…
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John Tessitore
8:52

November 2024

It’s Time for Grassroots Creatives
Our discomfort in the digital age may turn out to be our greatest asset
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John Tessitore
3
Be True, Episode 68: When Buddha Chooses Resistance
John reads his poem “Containment.” He discusses the struggle inherent in personal relationships, the danger of (American) attachments, how the personal…
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John Tessitore
2
10:06
A Tiny Bit of Joy in the Creeping Darkness
As we prepare for whatever comes next, I recommend a crazy, hopeful diversion
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John Tessitore
Be True, Episode 67: If We Can Make It There
John reads his poem “Vagabond Shoes.” He also discusses the New York of Frank Sinatra and Walt Whitman, the big dreams of the American past, and what…
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John Tessitore
5
14:01
What It Means to "Trust the Process"
Not the political process, but the process of creating and preserving knowledge
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John Tessitore
4
Be True, Episode 66: We’re Finally On Our Own
John reads a section of his poem “For a minute there, it seemed like something was happening.” He discusses the importance of “useless” poems, the…
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John Tessitore
2
8:56
Something We Can Do Today
Since we're finally on our own...again
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John Tessitore
1
Be True, Episode 65: What It Means To Be True
John reads a poem from his chapbook All the Lonely American Roads. He also discusses impractical pursuits (like writing), the trouble with “bias,” and…
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John Tessitore
11:36
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