ArtsBooks

Apology

Jesse Pearson

Sprawling interviews that are mainly about books and reading.

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20 episodes
Avg 1 hr 20 min
English

Episodes 20

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Nov 12, 2025 · 1 hr 51 min
Henry Rollins
The Apology podcast is back, and with such a guest! Henry Rollins, the musician, author, radio DJ, and actor, is here to speak with your host Jesse Pearson about many book-related topics such as his yearly re-reading of The Stooges history, obscure Stalin-era Russian writers, seeking solace in libraries as a youth, and managing his reading and writing time as mortality looms ever on the horizon. An inspiring and uplifting episode, and one we are sure you'll savor. Thanks for listening!
Apr 17, 2024 · 1 hr 13 min
Kurt Vile
On this episode of Apology, host Jesse Pearson speaks with the musician Kurt Vile about his favorite biographies of fellow musical artists, his love for Denis Johnson and Flannery O'Connor, his writing process, copying vs. stealing, and more. This episode is sponsored by Sci-Fi Fantasy.
Feb 9, 2024 · 1 hr 13 min
Jonathan Lethem
On this episode of the Apology podcast, host Jesse Pearson welcomes the author Jonathan Lethem to discuss many topics including (but not limited to): Julio Cortázar; animals in literature; paths of entry to the works of Norman Mailer, Philip K. Dick, and Stanisław Lem; Lethem's latest book, Brooklyn Crime Novel; and the class-based, Marxist underpinnings to the creation of literary genres. And more! Much more! Special thanks to this episode's sponsor, Sci-Fi Fantasy.
Jul 18, 2023 · 1 hr 58 min
Jamieson Webster on Freud
The psychoanalyst and author Jamieson Webster returns to Apology today to go deep on Sigmund Freud and his writing. From the case histories to the Interpretation of Dreams and beyond, we touch on the libido, hysteria, transference, the death drive and more. Curious about Freud? Conflicted about Freud? Hopefully we can help you make up your mind with this episode.
Jul 13, 2023 · 1 hr
Eileen Myles on Pathetic Literature
On this episode, Apology's first return guest, the poet Eileen Myles, talks with Jesse Pearson about Pathetic Literature (the recent anthology they edited), what is pathetic and what is not, their theyness, Moby-Dick, masculinity, and many different writers. Welcome back, Eileen!
Jul 1, 2023 · 1 hr 9 min
Richard Hell
On this episode of Apology, Jesse Pearson speaks with the writer and former musician Richard Hell about physics, the blank page, his new book of poetry, a bad writer who writes great books, crying at his own readings, and much more.
Jun 23, 2023 · 53 min
Andre Gregory
On this episode of Apology, Jesse Pearson talks with Andre Gregory, the theater director, writer, painter, actor, and co-star of the classic film My Dinner with Andre. Topics include Proust, Freud, trance states, and Andre's "iceberg" theory of acting.
Feb 15, 2023 · 50 min
Angel Olsen
On this episode of the Apology podcast, Jesse Pearson welcomes Angel Olsen. The conversation goes from dating a narcissist to true crime to Emily Dickinson, with many recommendations in between. Angel is a perceptive reader who came prepared with a list, so keep a pencil and paper close at hand.
Dec 18, 2022 · 1 hr 2 min
Jarvis Cocker
On this episode of Apology, founder and editor Jesse Pearson speaks with the musician and author Jarvis Cocker about so many things including but not limited to: J.D. Salinger, Sheffield, his new book Good Pop Bad Pop, Harold Pinter, and so much more. Thanks for listening!
S3 · E3
Dec 5, 2022 · 1 hr 31 min
Tom Scharpling
On this episode of Apology, the radio host/podcaster, writer, voice actor, and director Tom Scharpling speaks with Jesse Pearson about books, yes, but also mental health, New Jersey, sportswriting, and much more.
S3 · E2
Nov 11, 2022 · 1 hr 5 min
David Means
On this episode, Apology editor and founder Jesse Pearson speaks with the writer David Means about his process; his new collection Two Nurses, Smoking; reading while watching football, the best story in James Joyce's Dubliners; and more.
S3 · E1
Oct 26, 2022 · 57 min
Cosey Fanni Tutti
On this episode, Apology editor Jesse Pearson speaks with the artist, musician, and author Cosey Fanni Tutti about her new book Re-Sisters, medieval times, looking at a Dali book while tripping, ghosts, and more.
S2 · E11
May 4, 2022 · 1 hr 9 min
Lucy Sante
On this episode of Apology, the writer Lucy Sante talks with Jesse Pearson about many things including—but not limited to—Belgian vs. French surrealists, learning from the Jesuits, trans literature, Edmund Wilson, Elizabeth Hardwick, working at The Strand bookstore with various No Wave stars, and more! more! more!
S1 · E10
Apr 26, 2022 · 1 hr 56 min
Ed Templeton
On this episode of Apology, the artist and skateboarder Ed Templeton talks with Jesse Pearson about a lot of things including but not limited to: all the books he's got on his nightstand right now, patriotism, atheism, the Ghent Altarpiece, his family history, and his hometown of Huntington Beach, CA.
S2 · E9
Apr 6, 2022 · 1 hr 44 min
Daniel Arnold
On this episode the photographer Daniel Arnold speaks with Apology's Jesse Pearson about the ethics of street photography, his intimate connection to New York City, and dodging a felony charge.
S2 · E8
Feb 21, 2022 · 59 min
Naomi Fry
On this episode, the New Yorker staff writer Naomi Fry talks about Martin Amis, Émile Zola, the '90s heyday of cultural studies, classic New Yorker stories, and more.
S2 · E7
Jan 14, 2022 · 1 hr 44 min
Simon Critchley
On this episode of the Apology podcast, the philosopher, teacher, and author Simon Critchley talks with Apology’s Jesse Pearson about mysticism, krautrock, the Marx Brothers, and his up-and-down history with the work of T.S. Eliot.
S2 · E5
Dec 31, 2021 · 1 hr 10 min
Dennis Cooper
On this episode of the Apology podcast, the writer Dennis Cooper talks about finding inspiration in the Jesus and Mary Chain, his teenage reading of the Marquis de Sade, his legendary punk literary fanzine Little Caesar, the kind of writing that crystal meth begets, and the George Miles cycle (a.k.a. his magnum opus).
S2 · E5
Dec 2, 2021 · 1 hr 22 min
Kelefa Sanneh
On this episode Apology editor Jesse Pearson talks with the writer Kelefa Sanneh about his new book Major Labels: A History of Popular Music in Seven Genres, being in the storied lineage of the New Yorker, and his punk rock bona fides.
S2 · E4
Oct 24, 2021 · 1 hr 43 min
Warren Ellis
On this episode, Apology founder and editor Jesse Pearson speaks with the musician and composer Warren Ellis about his new book Nina Simone’s Gum (which is actually about a piece of Nina Simone’s gum, but also about the nature of holy relics), Warren’s experiences with the supernatural in the form of Beethoven and a troupe of clowns, the wildlife sanctuary he recently started in Sumatra, and much more

Showing 1–20 of 20 episodes