One Big Question

A Conversation with Kevin Young

Kevin Young has authored 12 books of poetry and is the Andrew W. Mellon Director of the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture. 
He is an acclaimed poet, who produces era-defining work that is moving, lyrical, and often deeply innovative, with bold juxtapositions and unexpected deconstructions of form and style. He is poetry editor of The New Yorker, where he hosts the Poetry Podcast. 
From 2005 to 2016, Young was curator of Emory's Raymond Danowski Poetry Library. He also served as Emory's curator of literary collections, making tremendous contributions in growing the collections at Emory's Stuart A. Rose Manuscript, Archives, and Rare Book Library. 
In this episode, Emory President Gregory L. Fenves talks with Young about his multifaceted career and the life-changing power of museums. 
Related Media 
"Poet Kevin Young Transforms Memories, Grief into Beauty" (Atlanta Journal Constitution, 9/27/21) 
"Lyrical Leadership: Kevin Young, a Poet Is Now Running the African American Museum"(Washington Post, 5/20/21) 
Video: Kevin Young Poetry Reading (Emory University, 2019) 
Related Resources 
Kevin Young Bio 
New Yorker Poetry Podcast 
National Museum of African American History and Culture 

A Conversation with Ada Limón

Ada Limón is United States Poet Laureate and the author of six books of poetry, which have earned her many prestigious awards, including the National Book Critics Circle Award for Poetry and a Guggenheim Fellowship.
Her poetry vividly explores the majesty of the natural world, the frailty of human memory and relationships, the destruction wrought by modern society, love, joy, humor, pain, awe, and numerous ethereal qualities with startling lyrical strength. As poet laureate, she has engaged in many projects and events to support poetic expression including a collaboration with NASA and the Library of Congress that will send a new poem 1.8 billion miles to the Jupiter system via the Europa Clipper spacecraft.
In this episode, Emory President  Gregory L. Fenves  talks with Limón about the mystery and majesty of poetry, her experiences as poet laureate, and the importance of human artistic expression in the age of AI.
Related links:
"U.S. Poet Laureate Ada Limón reading at Emory University" (YouTube, 2/28/23)
"'12th Night Revel' hosts guest poet laureate Ada Limón, celebrates power of poetry" (Emory Wheel, 2/21/23)
"Jumping fences with U.S. Poet Laureate Ada Limón" (Emory News, 2/15/23)
"24th Poet Laureate Ada Limón explores human connection at Emory reading" (Emory Wheel, 2/25/23)
Ada Limon (official web site)

Carol Anderson: An Acclaimed Scholar and Author Defines “History”

Carol Anderson is the Charles Howard Candler Professor of African American Studies at Emory University. With scholarly precision as well as an undeniable urgency, she has authored acclaimed and bestselling books that have transformed perceptions by focusing boldly on systemic racism and its influence on voter suppression, gun rights, and much more.
As a historian, she has shed light on episodes of injustice that had been hidden in darkness; amplified voices that had long been silenced; and rewritten chapters on discrimination, disenfranchisement, and destruction that had been torn out of the historical record.
In this episode, Emory University President Gregory L. Fenves talks with Dr. Anderson about history—who writes it, how we understand it, and the ways in which it shapes our society today.
Related Articles
"Anderson explores country's racial past, present in 'White Rage'" (5/31/16)
"Civic engagement focus of new Mellon Foundation grant awarded to Emory College" (2/28/23)
"Emory's Carol Anderson honored for contributions to social justice by Brandeis University" (2/3/22)
"'I, too, am America': Carol Anderson's journey to become a documentary filmmaker" (1/3/23)
"New book explores history of voter suppression in America" (9/24/18)
Related Resources
Carol Anderson Official Web Site
Faculty Bio: Carol Anderson 

Rick Rieder: A World-Class Investment Manager Explains a Volatile Banking Sector

Rick Rieder 83B is the chief investment officer of global fixed income at BlackRock and one of the nation's leading minds in finance and economics. He received his BBA from Emory's Goizueta Business School and is a current member of the university's Board of Trustees. For his accomplishments in investment management, Rieder has received numerous accolades, including being named the 2023 Outstanding Portfolio Manager by Morningstar.
Aside from his immense responsibilities at BlackRock, leadership roles on investment advisory boards, and many philanthropic engagements, Rieder is also an in-demand commentator for financial media networks, shows, podcasts, and publications including CNBC, Yahoo Finance, Bloomberg, and Barron's.
In this episode, Emory University President Gregory L. Fenves talks with Rick about recent economic events such as volatility in the banking sector as well as his views on the importance of financial literacy and education.
Related Articles
“Fed Might Not Need to Hike Rates in May as Economy Slows, Says BlackRock” (US News & World Report, 4/10/23)
“5 Reasons to Call an Investment Time-Out” (BlackRock, 3/31/23)
“BlackRock's Rick Rieder Learned the Value of Moderation from 1980s Bond Blowup” (Wall Street Journal, 5/16/21)
Related Resources
BlackRock: Rick Rieder
Rick Rieder on Twitter

Christopher Mims: A Tech Columnist Takes on the Global Supply Chain

Emory alumnus Christopher Mims is a technology columnist for the Wall Street Journal whose column, "Keywords," is an absolute must read. With swift and exacting prose, Christopher unpacks the complexities of the technology sector—explaining everything from Ultra-wideband and EV batteries to NFTs and much more. He's also written a book, Arriving Today: From Factory To Front Door, Why Everything Has Changed About How And What We Buy on one of the biggest issues facing our world today, the global supply chain. 
In this episode, Emory University President Gregory L. Fenves talks with Christopher about the supply chain issues that are disrupting the global economy; automation and the complexity of international shipping; the effects of the pandemic on business; and his time as an Emory student studying neuroscience and behavioral biology. 
Related Articles
"How Our Online Shopping Obsession Choked the Supply Chain" (GQ, 11/11/21)
"The global supply chain is amazingly efficient. So why did it break down?" (NPR, 1/5/22)
"The Thought Leader Interview: Christopher Mims" (strategy+business, Spring 2022)
Related Resources
Christopher Mims on LinkedIn
Christopher Mims on Twitter
HarperCollins: Arriving Today
Wall Street Journal: Christopher Mims

Tayari Jones: A Best-selling Novelist Teaches Creativity

Tayari Jones is a best-selling author, whose acclaimed novels explore the human condition with depth and compassion. Her works ask fundamental questions about identity, family, and America, and they have riveted readers around the world. Tayari is the Charles Howard Candler Professor of Creative Writing at Emory University, where since 2018, she has taught and mentored undergraduate students of all skill levels. In this episode, Emory University President Greg Fenves talks with Tayari about teaching, and why, of the many options available to her, she finds that working with undergraduate students and unlocking their creativity allows her to have the greatest impact as a professor. 
Related Articles
"Atlanta native, author Tayari Jones joins faculty of Emory University" (Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 4/15/2018)
'SisterWriters' Tayari Jones, Pearl Cleage share their literary friendship in Emory talk (Emory News, 10/2/2018)
"Emory professor, novelist Tayari Jones wins NAACP Image Award" (Emory News, 4/1/2019)
"Tayari Jones' 'Exquisitely Intimate' Novel Wins Women's Prize For Fiction" (NPR, 6/5/2019)
Related Resources
Creative Writing Program at Emory University
Georgia Writers Hall of Fame: Tayari Jones
Tayari Jones Official Web Site
TIME: Article by Tayari Jones
Women's Prize for Fiction 2019: An American Marriage (Tayari Jones)
 

Laurel Bristow: A Science Hero Rises on Instagram

Laurel Bristow is an infectious disease researcher at Emory University, and since the pandemic started, she's become a social media phenomenon. She's been posting videos on Instagram and answering questions about COVID-19 and the connections she's built with her audience are truly one of a kind. At last check, she's amassed close to 450,000 followers. In recent years we've unfortunately seen how social media can be used to spread conspiracy theories, misinformation, and disinformation. But what about the truth? In this episode, Emory University President Gregory L. Fenves talks with Laurel about how social media, with all of its eccentricities, can also be a powerful medium for truth telling and myth-busting. Related Articles
"An Atlanta Researcher Looks For a COVID-19 Treatment" (MTV Impact, 6/27/20)
"Instagram's Favorite Infectious Disease Researcher on Our Nightmare Year" (VICE, 12/23/20)
"Teaching People How to Spot Bad Science Is a Public Health Tool" (Mother Jones, 7/20/20)
"This Infectious Disease Specialist Is Answering Your COVID-19 Questions On Instagram" (Science Friday, 3/19/21)
Related Resources
Hope Clinic of Emory Vaccine Center: Lauren Bristow
Lauren Bristow on Instagram
Lauren Bristow on Twitter