Butterfly Wings

02/10/23 • 46 min

On this episode of Articulate Experience—three writers reflect on pivotal moments that had life-altering consequences.
At 18, Darin Strauss was the driver in a fatal traffic accident. Though he wasn’t at fault, guilt defined his work and worldview for years after.
Sarah Ruhl was on her way to see a production of her first play when she was knocked unconscious in a car crash. She emerged without a concussion, but with a clear sense of her destiny.
When her mother was murdered, Natasha Trethewey looked to poetry to help sooth her unhealable wound.

[01:24 ] Darin Strauss
[13:57 ] Sarah Ruhl
[31:16 ] Natasha Trethewey

Articulate Experience examines stories of humanity, resilience, and wisdom through the words of some of today’s greatest writers.

Articulate Experience is a production of the Articulate Foundation.

More at articulateshow.org

[01:24 ] Darin Strauss
[13:57 ] Sarah Ruhl
[31:16 ] Natasha Trethewey

Articulate Experience examines stories of humanity, resilience, and wisdom through the words of some of today’s greatest writers.

Articulate Experience is a production of the Articulate Foundation.

More at articulateshow.org

Previous Episode

Made in America

On this episode of Articulate Experience—three writers who grew up with distinct vantage points on American identity.
Gish Jen was raised in the 1960s by Chinese immigrants living in New York. It took decades of learning, reflecting, and writing, for her to embrace the full complexity of her bi-cultural identity—but looking back, she wouldn’t change a thing.
The sci-fi/fantasy writer Tochi Onyebuchi has always been fascinated by other people and their perspectives. But it was only after he started writing about his own experiences as a Nigerian-American in his mid-twenties that his speculative fiction began to take off. Today, he’s earned some of the genre’s highest honors.
Deborah Eisenberg came of age with the so-called, “peace and love generation” —educated young Americans who believed that the world was changing for the better. Over four decades, her short stories have formed a record of her evolving understanding of her native country, and of herself.

Articulate Experience examines stories of humanity, resilience, and wisdom through the words of some of today’s greatest writers.

Articulate Experience is a production of the Articulate Foundation.

More at articulateshow.org

Next Episode

Higher Power

On this episode of Articulate Experience—four writers discuss the role of God in how they think, and live.
Now in his 80s, the poet Billy Collins isn’t waiting for the afterlife to find joy— his heaven is here on earth.
John Darnielle left Catholicism more than two decades ago, but the Church’s shortcomings haven’t short-changed his faith.
Though Vikram Paralkar maintains a cultural connection to Hinduism, he looks to existentialist philosophers and modern scientists to shape his understanding of the universe.
Carmen Machado was raised in what she describes as “a chill Methodist” household. Today, she’s an atheist, but along the way, explored evangelism.

[01:35 ] Billy Collins
[16:08 ] John Darnielle
[27:51 ] Vikram Paralkar
[37:00 ] Carmen Machado

Articulate Experience examines stories of humanity, resilience, and wisdom through the words of some of today’s greatest writers.

Articulate Experience is a production of the Articulate Foundation.

More at articulateshow.org

Articulate Experience - Butterfly Wings

Transcript

VO: Welcome to Articulate Experience, the show that examined stories of humanity, resilience, and wisdom through the words of some of today's greatest writers. I'm Jim Cotter. On this episode, three writers whose lives were changed by one fateful moment. Just before he started college, a fatal accident gave Darin Strauss permission to live the life he wanted.

DARIN STRAUSS: But then I had the accident. I think that was sort of the final push. Maybe it was just knowing that, uh, that lif