The Vonnecast

Musician Charlie Ballantine

Join us as we talk to musician Charlie Ballantine. We discuss capturing the mood of Vonnegut’s work through music, retaining childlike wonder, chicken wings in Canada, and failure as part of the process. 
 
Find out more about Charlie at charlieballantine.com. Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter @VonnegutLibrary. Audio mix and editing by Nick Corey. Cover Art by Arusyak Pivazyan @bamboleiyoo.

Artist Beatriz Vasquez

Join us as we talk to artist Beatriz Vasquez. We discuss how Kurt’s creative process has influenced Beatriz, what papel picado is, why being an artist in Indianapolis is important, and which planet Beartiz would fire from planet status. Originally aired on WQRT 99.1 FM Indianapolis. 
Find out more about Beatriz at beatrizvasquezart.com and follow her on social media at @beatrizdesignz. Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter @VonnegutLibrary. Audio mix and editing by Nick Corey. Cover Art by Arusyak Pivazyan @bamboleiyoo.

Robert Montgomery and Kevin Finch

Join us for a talk with musician Wes Montgomery’s son Robert Montgomery and filmmaker Kevin Finch. We discuss the Indianapolis roots of both Wes and Kurt, why Kevin wanted to make documentaries on these two legendary Hoosiers, and what growing up with an acclaimed jazz musician was like for Robert. 
Find out more about Wes Montgomery at Wes Montgomery Research Facebook. Follow Kevin Finch at jukeboxerpro.com and Robert Montgomery at @robert.a.montgomery.39 and Robert Anthony Montgomery Facebook. Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter @VonnegutLibrary. Audio mix and editing by Nick Corey. Cover Art by Arusyak Pivazyan @bamboleiyoo. Originally aired on WQRT 99.1 FM on July 16, 2022. 

Musician Jon Fishman

Join us as we talk to Phish’s Jon Fishman. We discuss the Vonnegut novel that destroyed religion for Jon, dealing with fame, playing the vacuum with Kurt, and Jon’s project Calypso inspired by Cat’s Cradle. Originally aired on June 11, 2022. 
Find out more about Jon by going to phish.com or following him at Jon Fishman on Facebook. Visit kvml.org for more information about KVML events and programs. Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter @VonnegutLibrary. Audio mix and editing by Nick Corey. Cover Art by Arusyak Pivazyan @bamboleiyoo.

Author Christina Jarvis

Join us as we talk to author and professor, Christina Jarvis. We discuss how Christina’s book stealing led to finding Vonnegut, the correct pronunciation of Bokononism, and researching Kurt’s planetary citizenship. The episode culminates in a Vonnegut trivia face-off between curator Chris and Christina! Originally aired on May 28th, 2022. 
 
Pre-order Christina’s book Lucky Mud and Other Foma: A Field Guide to Kurt Vonnegut’s Environmentalism and Planetary Citizenship at sevenstoriespress.com. Head to kvml.org/teaching-vonnegut to register for Christina’s workshop Vox Humana & Mary Hepburn: Making Vonnegut’s Planetary Citizenship Live! Visit kvml.org for more information about KVML events and programs. Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter @VonnegutLibrary. Audio mix and editing by Nick Corey. Cover Art by Arusyak Pivazyan @bamboleiyoo.

Author Ginger Strand

Join us as we talk to the author of The Brother’s Vonnegut, Ginger Strand. We discuss how she found Vonnegut through cloud seeding, what surprised and didn’t surprise Ginger in her research, coming up with progressive rock band names, and whether her writing is more Kurt Vonnegut or Kilgore Trout. Originally aired on 99.1 WQRT FM on May 14th, 2022. 
Find out more about Ginger by going to gingerstrand.com. Visit kvml.org for more information about KVML events and programs. Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter @VonnegutLibrary. Audio mix and editing by Nick Corey. Cover Art by Arusyak Pivazyan @bamboleiyoo.

Musician Rhett Miller

Join us as we talk to musician and lead singer of the Old 97’s, Rhett Miller. We discuss how Rhett has passed down Vonnegut’s work to his children, the banning of Rhett’s children's poetry book, finding meaning in life through music, and what Rhett said to Vonnegut that caused him to say “I guess I’m going to hell.” Originally aired on 99.1 WQRT FM on May 7, 2022. 
 
This episode contains mentions of suicide. Listener discretion is advised. If you or a loved one is in crisis, help is always available. Please reach out to nami.org/help, call 800-950-NAMI (6264) or text NAMI to 741-741.
 
Find out more about Rhett by going to rhettmiller.com or following him on social media @rhettmiller. Visit kvml.org for more information about KVML events and programs. Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter @VonnegutLibrary. Audio mix and editing by Nick Corey. Cover Art by Arusyak Pivazyan @bamboleiyoo.

Musicians Jared and Joshua Thompson

Join us as we talk to musicians Jared and Joshua Thompson. We discuss Vonnegut’s love for jazz, the ways writers influence music, Hoosier creativity, and the Thompson brothers being newly appointed as musical directors for KVML. Originally aired on 99.1 WQRT FM on April 30th, 2022. 
 
Find out more about Jared and Joshua by going to premiumblendindy.com and classicalmusicindy.org. Visit kvml.org for more information about KVML events and programs. Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter @VonnegutLibrary. Audio mix and editing by Nick Corey. Cover Art by Arusyak Pivazyan @bamboleiyoo. 
 

Comedian Lewis Black

Join us as we talk to comedian Lewis Black. We discuss how he discovered Vonnegut working at a parking lot, why he wanted to be KVML’s Chairperson of the Year, St. Elmo’s shrimp cocktail sauce, the benefits of writing longhand, his advice for the young, and more. Originally aired on 99.1 WQRT FM on April 8th, 2022. 
Find out more about Lewis by going to lewisblack.com or following him on social media @thelewisblack. Visit kvml.org for more information about KVML events and programs. Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter @VonnegutLibrary. Audio mix and editing by Nick Corey. Cover Art by Arusyak Pivazyan @bamboleiyoo.

Comedian Gary Gulman

Join us for the inaugural and ephemeral episode of The Vonnecast (whatever that means) with comedian Gary Gulman. We discuss how Gary found Vonnegut, Dutch uncles, lightning versus lightning bug words, technology’s impact on mental health, his upcoming performance at our annual Night of Vonnegut event, and more. Originally aired on 99.1 WQRT FM on April 2nd, 2022.
Find out more about Gary by going to garygulman.com or following him on social media @garygulman. Visit kvml.org for more information about KVML events and programs. Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter @/VonnegutLibrary. Audio mix and editing by Nick Corey. Cover Art by Arusyak Pivazyan @bamboleiyoo.