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The Deerfield Public Library Podcast

Thoughtful, in-depth conversations with authors of all genres and other notable people from Chicagoland and around the world. A monthly program from the Deerfield Public Library in Deerfield, IL, hosted by Dylan Zavagno. Our archives include episodes from the Library's John Cotton Dana Award-winning series, The Fight to Integrate Deerfield: 60 Year Reflection; our Pride Month series, Queer Poem-a-Day; and our local history audio tours.
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Now displaying: 2018
Nov 8, 2018

William Hazelgrove is a Chicago author of many novels and nonfiction books, and is a frequent and popular speaker here at the Library. Bill is currently working on a movie for PBS based his book, Madame President: The Secret Presidency of Edith Wilson.  

Join us to hear about the downfall of Al Capone and the 1933 Chicago Fair, Edith Wilson as the first female president, and Bill’s upcoming book, Wright Brothers, Wrong Story, about the Wright Brothers, out December 4th.

Find out more about Bill though his website, williamhazelgrove.com, or check out his books here at the Library. And join us for Bill’s next presentation at the Library on January 24th, 7:00 pm.  He will be talking about his new book, Wright Brothers, Wrong Story. Registration for this program (and all our Winter programs) opens on Wednesday, November 14th.

We welcome your comments and feedback--please send to: podcast@deerfieldlibrary.org. More info at: http://deerfieldlibrary.org/podcast

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Oct 11, 2018

On this episode of the Deerfield Public Library Podcast, we celebrate the Center for Enriched Living, a local non-profit organization serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The Center for Enriched Living (CEL) is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. In honor of this achievement, Executive Director Harriet Levy joined us to talk about the history, present, and future of this unique organization.

Hear moving stories of how CEL impacts the lives of its members through their many programs that focus on social, post-school, and work life. As Harriet tells us, society has changed greatly since 1968, but there is still a long way to go towards integration for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

You’ll also learn how the Deerfield Public Library and other local groups partner with CEL. Find out more information on the Center for Enriched Living website.. You can learn more about accessibility at the Deerfield Public Library on our new accessibility page.

We welcome your comments and feedback--please send to: podcast@deerfieldlibrary.org. More info at: http://deerfieldlibrary.org/podcast

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Sep 13, 2018

Dinosaurs in Deerfield? Endangered turtles? 300 year old trees? Yes! 

On this episode of the Deerfield Public Library Podcast, we learn about the plant and animal life around us with with Nan Buckardt, Director of Education at the Lake County Forest Preserves. Hear how, in Nan’s words, “the land shapes the people and the people shape the land.” You’ll also learn what makes each of the preserves around Deerfield unique: Ryerson Woods, Prairie Wolf Forest Preserve and Dog Park, and Berkeley Prairie Forest Preserve.

Find out more more about the the Lake County Forest Preserves, the Dunn Museum in Libertyville or the Hike Lake County program, on their website LCFPD.org.

Aug 9, 2018

Author of “books with a Bollywood beat,"  Sonali Dev tells us about her most recent novel, A Distant Heart, which tells the story of Kimi, whose childhood illness leaves her stuck in a kind of Rapunzel-style, over-protected ivory tower. 

Sonali Dev tells us about writing about the Mumbai suburb in which she grew up and how she identifies with her main character’s optimism. Our conversation goes deep into how women are represented in romance, how illness and wellness are used as metaphors in Sonali’s stories, and issues of representation and diversity in the romance industry.

You can check out A Distant Heart and Sonali Dev’s other books here at the Deerfield Public Library. Or learn more about her work at sonalidev.com.

We welcome your comments and feedback--please send to: podcast@deerfieldlibrary.org. More info at: http://deerfieldlibrary.org/podcast

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Jul 12, 2018

Herb Berman, MJ Gabrielsen, and Jacqueline Nicole Harris. They are all members of the Library Poets group, which meets every Tuesday evening at the Library for a poetry workshop.

You’ll hear a wide variety of poems, covering nighttime walks through Deerfield, the drama of wild horses, and the politics of Beyoncé. We also discuss the inspirations and stories behind the poems.

Meet the poets

First up is Herb Berman, a retired labor lawyer, arbiter and mediator, and a co-founder of the Library Poets group. Herb reads his poems “Ugly Poets” (nominated for a Pushcart prize) and “Twilight.”

MJ Gabrielsen, another co-founder, is our second poet. MJ reads “Egret” and “After Wildfires,” the latter of which appears in her forthcoming chapbook Watching Earth, available from Redbird Chapbooks this summer.

Closing our show is Jacqueline Nicole Harris, whose most recent book On Life won the 2017 Black Caucus of the American Library Association Self-Publishing Literary Award for Poetry. Jacqueline reads “America (Why You Mad?)” and "The Open Wound in My Heart.”  You can check out her books On Life and 7 Random Things at the library.

 

If you’d like more information about the Library Poets group or how to join, email deerfieldworkshop@gmail.com.

We hope you enjoy 18th episode! Each month we’ll be releasing an episode featuring a conversation with a dynamic guest with a Deerfield connection. Learn more about the podcast on our podcast page.

You can listen to all of our episodes in the player below or on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Google Play, or anywhere else you listen to podcasts. We welcome your comments and feedback—please send to podcast@deerfieldlibrary.org.

Jun 14, 2018

Wrestler Colt Cabana is our guest. AKA Scott Colton, Colt grew up in Deerfield dreaming of one day becoming a professional wrestler. Colt has amassed a huge following through his infectious comedic stage persona and his popular behind-the-scenes podcast The Art of Wrestling. We talk about his career and the wonderfully weird world of professional wrestling. 

Colt also has a recent autobiographical children’s book, Wrestling Dreams, written with author and illustrator Erica Weisz. Erica, herself a Deerfield resident, joins Colt at the end of the show to talk about the writing process and the message they hope to impart to young readers. You can check out Wrestling Dreams from the library in print and digital formats.

You can learn more about Erica’s writing and illustrating at mrsweiszbooks.com and find the book and more from Colt Cabana at coltcabana.com.

We welcome your comments and feedback--please send to: podcast@deerfieldlibrary.org. More info at: http://deerfieldlibrary.org/podcast

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May 10, 2018

We talk all things cybersecurity with the inspiring Kyla Guru. Kyla is the founder of Bits N’ Bytes Cybersecurity Education, an educational and advocacy organization focused on spreading cybersecurity awareness and best practices to our community and beyond. She's also a student at Deerfield High School! Listen for Kyla’s cybersecurity tips on everything from passwords, phishing emails, and two-factor authentication to online activism.

Kyla tweets about cybersecurity education @GuruDetective. Kyla recommendations cybersecurity-related movies (WarGames, The Circle, The Imitation Game) and magazines to stay up to date on cybersecurity issues (Time, PC World, PC Online). You can find these in various formats at the library. Finally, Kyla also recommends the recent documentary, Do You Trust This Computer?

We welcome your comments and feedback--please send to: podcast@deerfieldlibrary.org. More info at: http://deerfieldlibrary.org/podcast

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Apr 12, 2018

Opioid abuse prevention and treatment with Martin Clancy, the Project Coordinator for Drug Overdose Prevention Programs at the Lake County Health Department. Martin gives us specific, local advice on where to go for help, tells us how this crisis came about, and tips on working with doctors and how to get Naloxone.

Illinois’ opioid and substance abuse help hotline, available 24/7: (833) 2FINDHELP--that's (833) 234 6343.

Lake County has adopted a program called A Way Out”: http://awayoutlc.org/. This lists police stations where people seeking treatment can get help for drug abuse without being charged with a crime. The Deerfield Police Department is part of this program.

The Lake County Opioid Initiative and Community the Anti-Drug (CTAD) are local advocacy and awareness organizations. For learning more about the history of the crisis, Martin recommends Dreamland by Sam Quinones, available at the library.

You can contact Martin Clancy at mclancy@lakecountyil.gov or his cell: (224) 651-3442.

We welcome your comments and feedback--please send to: podcast@deerfieldlibrary.org. More info at: http://deerfieldlibrary.org/podcast

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Mar 15, 2018

J.R. Jones, film critic and author of The Lives of Robert Ryan, tells us about what it's like to work as a movie reviewer today. Find his reviews and other writing for the Chicago Reader here.

Robert Ryan was known for his bigoted, violent characters in movies like The Wild Bunch, The Dirty Dozen, and Bad Day at Black Rock, but off the screen Ryan was a civil rights activist and pacifist, a fascinating dichotomy that Jones brings to life in his book and in our conversation. 

Finally, I ask J.R. Jones to share some of his memories of the novelist and short story writer Richard Yates. Jones also grew up in Deerfield, so we hear a bit about how the Deerfield library and community inspired his early interest in film.

You can check out The Lives of Robert Ryan or explore the work of Robert Ryan or Richard Yates here at the library.

We welcome your comments and feedback--please send to: podcast@deerfieldlibrary.org. More info at: http://deerfieldlibrary.org/podcast

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Feb 8, 2018

Known for Darth Vader and Son and the Jedi Academy series as well as Clumsy, Funny Misshapen Body, & A Matter of Life, Jeffrey Brown has been a prolific cartoonist and author. We discuss why the Village of Deerfield is in every one of his books, some of the themes of his adult graphic memoirs, how his Star Wars books came about, why it's difficult to make jokes about R2-D2 and C-3PO, and how he gets all the science into his Lucy & Andy Neanderthal series. 

His website is jeffreybrowncomics.com or check out his books through the library. You can also find My Favorite Thing is Monsters by Emil Ferris at the library, which Jeff recommends.

Library News: Learn more about, Read Without Boundaries, our year-long adult reading program.

We welcome your comments and feedback--please send to: podcast@deerfieldlibrary.org. More info at: http://deerfieldlibrary.org/podcast

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Jan 11, 2018

Legendary photographer and writer Art Shay’s work has appeared in LIFE, Time, Sports Illustrated, and many other publications. Our conversation is full of first-hand accounts of some of the most the famous people and events of the 20th century--and local Deerfield history. We learn that Nelson Algren and Billy Corgan often visited Shay in Deerfield and Eleanor Roosevelt and James Baldwin were in town to support a proposed integrated housing development in the late 1950s and early 60s. Shay was part of the Deerfield Citizens for Human Rights, a group supporting integration.

We also hear about Shay’s interactions with Ernest Hemingway, Elizabeth Taylor, Judy Garland, John F. Kennedy and more! At 95, Shay was recently honored with a lifetime achievement award from the Lucie Foundation and has a current exhibit at the American Writers Museum, Capturing Stories, which features his photographs of authors (through Spring 2018).

Just a note that Shay does use a bit of colorful language in this interview--you might want to preview it before sharing with young listeners.

We welcome your comments and feedback--please send to: podcast@deerfieldlibrary.org. More info at: http://deerfieldlibrary.org/podcast

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