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Poetry in America
Mushrooms, Weakness and Doubt
Season 4
Episode 3
Poems by Sylvia Plath and Kay Ryan take the peripheral status of the fungal kingdom as an invitation to consider the scientific knowns and unknowns, and cultural significance, of mushrooms. Microbial ecologist Serita Frey, chef Gabrielle Hamilton, plant pathologist Barry Pryor, health advocate Dr. Andrew Weil, writers Maria Popova and Maria Pinto, and journalist Frank Bruni join host Elisa New.
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Explore Galway Kinnell's poem with E.O. Wilson, Robert Hass, Laura McPhee and other guests
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Explore Gwendolyn Brooks's poem with John McCain, Anna Deavere Smith, and other guests.
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Explore Hayden's poem with Joe Biden, Elizabeth Alexander, Angela Duckworth, and others.
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Can basketball be poetic? NBA players Shaq, Pau Gasol, and Shane Battier weigh in.
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Host Elisa New explores Emily Dickinson's poem with Cyntha Nixon, Yo-Yo Ma, and others.