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Guest Yasha Levine and Host Joshua Turek discuss the complexities of California's agricultural landscape, the impact of media and technology on society, and the challenges of political engagement in a world overwhelmed by information, pseudo events and how they shape our understanding of reality, the struggle for meaningful engagement in a distracted world. They also get into literature that reflects dark themes and humor, discussing how these narratives resonate with the realities of contemporary life, the intersection of technology and society, emphasizing the paranoia and control that stem from historical events. Turek and Levine go on to explore the intricate history of California's water infrastructure, the myth of the rugged individual in American history, the centralization of power through technology, and the challenges of genuine political engagement in today's society. They discuss the influence of billionaires on public parks like Central Park, the dark side of philanthropy, and the ongoing legacy of genocide against Native Americans. The dialogue explores the myths shaping settler colonialism and how it influences contemporary society and its denial.
San Francisco! For tickets Nov 1 to see Yasha's new documentary at Roxie Theater with live Q&A hosted by Joshua Turek here
For Josh's poetry books and his weekend Zoom workshop on Nov 8 & 9 visit his site
Books Talked About Include
Society of the Spectacle - Guy Debord
Surveillance Valley - Yasha Levine
The Image - Daniel Boorstijn
Neil Postman - Amusing ourselves to death
Raven Rock
Dead Cities - Mike Davis
Moderan - David Bunch
Shadow of the torture - Gene Wolf
The Dying Earth Series - Jack Vance sci fi
Cadillac Desert
The American Genocide
The End of th Myth
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Recorded remotely from Bad Animal Books in Santa Cruz, CA. Joshua Turek and Maddy Power explore the impact of literature on identity, the challenges of modern communication, and the importance of curiosity in a technology-driven world. Maddy shares her personal experience of losing her home and books in the Eaton Canyon Fire in Alta Dena and the two books she grabbed before evacuating, prompting a deep reflection on the role of physical objects in shaping one's identity. They discuss the complexities of feminism, the power of language, and the necessity of being open to the world around us. The conversation emphasizes the value of walking, observing, and finding meaning in the mundane, while also addressing the societal pressures of performance and the impact of technology on human connection.
To sign up to Joshua's Zoom Poetry Weekend Workshop visit joshuaturek.com
Books talked about include:
Werener Herzog's Guide for the Perplexed
Agnes Varda interviews
David Sedaris “Theft and Finding”
bell hooks "The Will to Change"
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On a pit stop in Santa Cruz with family between dates on my comedy tour (Get your tickets to my San Diego show Friday and L.A., SF, Eureka, next week then Seattle and Portland) before heading up the west coast. I get into a little of what I'm reading, my favorite bookstores so far on this trip, and why I took this podcast off of Spotify (hint they're evil). Come to my shows if I'm in your city!
All my shows
7/11 San Diego
7/16 L.A.
7/18&19 SF
7/20 Eureka
7/25 Seattle
8/15 Portland
8/21-23 Boise
8/27 Tulsa
8/28 Kansas City
8/29 New Orleans
9/6 Tucson
Books Talked About:
The Bell Jar - Sylvia Plath
Meet Me in the Bathroom
Perfect Victims - Mohammed El Kurd
Our American Israel - Amy Kaplan
One Day Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This - Omar El Akkad
Blue Desert - Charles Bowden
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Officially on my comedy tour across the United States during particularly distressing times. It took six nights and five days but the morning after my first headlining show at Rodney's in Manhattan I managed some time to visit the staple bookstore of NYC "The Strand". CHICAGO my show at Zanies is tonight! Tickets are getting low. You can use discout code TUREK10 for $15.75 tickets here. The rest of my tour is here with more dates and cities to come so follow my bandsintown to get notified for when I come to yours. Tour dates below.
6/24 CHICAGO
6/27 PHILADELPHIA
6/29 DALLAS
7/11 SAN DIEGO
7/16 L.A.
7/18&19 SF
7/20 EUREKA
7/25 SEATTLE
8/15 PORTLAND
8/21-23 BOISE
8/27 TULSA
8/28 KANSAS CITY
8/29 NEW ORLEANS
9/6 TUCSON
9/18 TAMPA
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Comedian Cam George of Talking Talk Tuah now Talking Talk podcast discusses being mystified by Infinite Jest and encountering this red flag memed book with new eyes.
Joshua's U.S. comedy tour starts this Saturday in New York City. That's Saturday night June 21 at Rodney's on the Upper Eastside. Followed by Chicago on Tuesday June 24 at Zanies. Philadelphia June 27. Dallas June 29 and more. Get tickets now! For all things Joshua Turek go to joshuaturek.com
Books Talked About Include:
Infinite jest
sound and the fury
all the pretty horses
blood meridian
lonesome dove
confederacy of dunces
hunger games
girl with the dragon tattoo
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Catch Joshua on tour! New York City show is in two weeks at Rodney's on 6/21! Chicago at Zainies 6/24! Philly at Next in Line Comedy 6/27! And More....Just added New Orleans! Boise! Coming soon with more dates. Follow my Bandsintown to be notified! And order signed copies of my poetry book
EMT and Political Creator Hugo of Seize the Means Shirts talks reading 70 books a year with host Joshua Turek. Hard to stomach nonfiction and breezy science fiction.
Books talked about include
autobiography of malcom x
how to hide an empire
jakarta method
assada
The word for world is forest
the poppy fields
parable of the sower
parable of the talents
naomi klein shock doctrine
Washington Bullets
King Leopolds ghost
Cobalt Red
the rediscovery of america
the indigenous peoples history of the united states
black against empire
manufacturing consent
inventing reality
fight like hell
uprising by haddix
Braiding sweetgrass
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Catch Joshua Turek on comedy tour this summer of 2025. To get notified of cities and dates follow his bandsintown and to buy signed copies of his new poetry book "Of Dumb Importance" on joshuaturek.com
Writer and filmmaker Evgenia Kovda goes in depth with host Joshua Turek on sci-fi writer Philip K. Dick. Did this troubled man predict the future we are living in now or was he the architect of it for bad actors? Evgenia and Joshua discuss the writings of Dick as well as their own serendipitous interactions with each other in changing neighborhoods over the years as well as Josh's visit to her podcast with Yasha Levine "In Bed with the Russians". Check out Evgenia and Yasha's Substack it's a favorite of Turek Books!
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Josh's sister musician and author Britt Warner brings books that make her miss L.A. and her own novella "Swimming with Horses".
For tickets to Josh's Summer of Discontent Comedy Tour 2025 click here and to get a signed copy of the new poetry book "Of Dumb Importance" click here international friends who want to pay normal shipping for the book can get it here
Books talked about include:
Swimming with horses: Britt Warner
Slow Days and Fast Company : Eve Babitz
Didion vs Babitz book
Of Dumb Importance by Joshua Turek
James Gandolfini Bio : Jason Bailey
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Comedian and producer of Chatterbox comedy, Steve Hernandez, talks books about rich men seducing young women, polyamory, his own experiences with fatherhood, open relationships, comedy, and navigating his passions toward the shrinking prizes of industry. For even more on Steve check him out here
Joshua Turek is going on a 2025 summer comedy tour! New York City is first on June 21! Chicago, Philly, Dallas, San Diego, L.A., Eureka, Portland, Seattle, Tulsa, Kansas City, with more dates soon! Follow for tickets and new dates on his bandsintown or to buy tickets directly on his web site where his new poetry book "Of Dumb Importance" should be out any second now and is available for pre-order!
Books Talked About Include:
Careless People by Sarah Wynn Williams fb tell all book
My Life in Heavy Metal by Steve Almond
Wild by Cheryl Strayed
The Ethical Slut by Dossie Easton and Janet Hardy
Open by Rachel Krantz
More by Molly Roden Winter
Writers and Lovers by Lily King
Columbine by Dave Cullen
Zealot by Reza Aslan
The Bible the book of James
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Catch Joshua Turek on his comedy tour this summer! Tickets are up for shows in NYC, Chicago, Philadelphia, San Diego, L.A., Eureka, Seattle, Portland, Kansas City with more dates and cities coming soon at joshuaturek.com . First 3 in each city to send proof of tickets to acalmquietplace@gmail.com get a free copy of Josh's new poetry book after the corresponding show!
Musician and sign language interpreter Dominique Matelson joins host Joshua Turek to discuss the pleasures and pitfalls of fantasy and how books from I Spy to Clarice Lespecter have helped her integrate her well being and creativity. Check out Dominique here https://www.instagram.com/dominiquematelson/ also wait until the very end to hear the song of hers "When I Told a Lie" they reference at the beginning of the conversation (music video on YouTube).
Books Talked About Include:
Books talked about include
I SPY Fantasy/Mystery
Clarice lespecter’s Complete Stories
No One Belongs Here More Than You Miranda July
All Fours Miranda July
Crime and Punishment
Confederacy of Dunces
Dunce Mary Ruefle
Alex’s journal Alex Cleo Rouboud
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Catch Joshua Turek on comedy tour this summer! Tickets are up for shows in NYC, Chicago, Philadelphia, San Diego, L.A., Seattle, Portland, Kansas City with more dates and cities coming soon at joshuaturek.com
Author of "The Body is a Doorway", Sophie Strand talks with host Joshua Turek about her memoir, mycellial networks, books as guides to our psychic lives, and how both of them want to open bookstores. Check out Sophie's work here https://sophiestrand.com/
Books talked about include:
Plants in the imaginale realm
Ursula Leguin The Language of the Night
A Distant Mirror by Barbara Tuchman
Joan of Arc by herself and her witnesses
Red Rising Series by Pierce Brown
Lonesome Dove Larry McMurtry
Books by Larry Mcmurtry
the One Inside Sam Shepherd
Joseph Campbell myth books
Confederacy of Dunces
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Film Director Joe Carnahan (The Grey, Narc, RIP -new movie starring Ben Affleck and Matt Damon) and host Joshua Turek discuss a wide range of topics from the LA wildfires to never meeting your heroes. Joe brings a Noam Chomsky book and tells of why he can't read James Ellroy books anymore. They get into Trump and Biden and the U.S. imperial apparatus but also have a good time.
Want to see Joshua Turek performing live? Visit joshuaturek.com for summer comedy tour dates! So far, San Diego, Seattle, Kansas City tickets are available with L.A., New York and more coming soon!
Check out Joe Carnahan's new movie "Shadow Force" and upcoming after that "RIP" starring Matt Damon and Ben Affleck
Books Talked About Include:
The Myth of American Idealism noam chomsky
Martyr Kaveh Akbar
Jonathan Franzen The Corrections and Freedom
All The Shahs Men Stephen Kinzer
Books by Larry McMurtry
Some New Kind of Kick by Kid Congo Powers
Werner Herzog Every Man For Himself and God Against All
God Is Not Great Christophr Hitchens
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Host Joshua Turek sits down with Desert Scientist and Reptile Expert, Robert Villa, who is also in Community Outreach at the University of Arizona Desert Labs at Tumamoc Hill in Tucson. Their conversation spans, Sonoran Desert books, Pablo Neruda poems, and the interdependence of all life on Earth.
Joshua is going on comedy tour this summer! Check dates on his site joshuaturek.com so far tickets are already available for San Diego and Seattle.
Bestiary-Pablo Neruda
The Desert -John Van Dycke
Blue Desert - Charles Bowden
Killing the Hidden Waters - Charles Bowden
-ofelia Zepeda
Debt - David Graeber
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$5 from every poetry book sold on my website this week going to wildfire relief in la www.joshuaturek.com I sit in a park in Tucson and discuss this week’s events and my own strange unmoored evacuation and plans for the show. Thank you for listening and stay safe
books talked about include
Sam Shepard
larry mcmurtry
Jane Jacobs
my poetry book
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"Burden of Joy" author Lexi Kent-Monning joins host Joshua Turek to discuss her novel that Joshua loved. She talks about coming from a long line of book readers and writers and her Esalen hot springs adventures growing up in Central California. Lexi shares a wide ranging selection of books from the Divorce novel "Liars" to a YA novel that she hopes will make Josh fall in love with Los Angeles again. She also baked delicious coconut chocolate chip cookies.
For all things Lexi Kent-Monning visit https://www.lexikentmonning.com/ and her ig https://www.instagram.com/lexicola/?hl=en
For Joshua Turek's tour dates and poetry book check out joshuaturek.com but also for more of his writing its free on his new Substack https://joshuaturek.substack.com/
Books Talked About Include:
Liars by Sarah Manguso
All Fours by Miranda July
Bruha wendy c ortiz
The Burden of Joy
The Passion According to GH by Clarice Lespecter
A Fortune for Your Disaster by Hanif Abdurraqib
Richard Brautigan
His daughters book about him
Dan Fante’s memoir
Dangerous Angels by Francesca
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Poet Laureate of Pomona, CA, Ceasar K. Avelar joins Joshua to talk about reading poems on your lunch break and finding moments to be creative even when the world is encouraging the opposite. He and Joshua speak to the revolutionary act of reading and how the nerd stigma is only there to oppress the working class.
Bozeman, Montana! Joshua is headlining two shows this friday 11/22/2024 at the Last Best Comedy Club tix here https://www.lastbestcomedy.com/events/friday-night-stand-up-with-joshua-turek
For all things Ceasar K. Avelar visit here: https://www.instagram.com/ceasarkavelar/ and for his book: https://www.elmartillopress.com/product-page/god-of-the-air-hose
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Hollywood Talent Manager at Mosaic Entertainment and local journalist (@officialplayadelrey), Drew Shenfield talks with Joshua about becoming better men through reading books whose passages they can't remember, navigating a day and age ripe with conspiracy, and westerns. They discuss bell hooks "The Will to Change", the early 2000's book "Them" by Jon Ronson, and Adam Curtis documentaries. Also mentioned is their mutual love of public transit in Los Angeles and how they met playing beach volleyball.
for all things Joshua visit his site joshuaturek.com and check out his new substack for longer form thoughts and fragments https://substack.com/@joshuaturek its free!
Books talked about include:
The Will to Change by bell hooks
Them by Jon Ronson
Adam Curtis Documentaries “Bitter Lake”
Hate inc by Matt Taibi
Empire of Illusion by Chris Hedges
Society of the Spectacle by Guy
Welcome to Hard Times
Islands of Abandonment
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Author of new book "Country Fail" Irish comedian, Killian Sundermann joins Joshua to talk about Irish authors, how he learned parents are people too, In-N-Out Burger, his time living in New York City and the process of writing his first book for a legendary publisher.
To find Killian's work visit his instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/killersundy/?hl=en
Hosted by Joshua Turek
Books Talked About Include:
Country Fail by Killian Sundermann
Intermezzo by Sally Rooney
A Moveable Feast - Hemmingway
A Swim Two Birds - Flan O'Brien
A Tired Policeman
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