Shows
New Thinking for a New World - a Tallberg Foundation PodcastAncient Words, Modern WoundsBryan Doerries uses ancient texts to confront today’s challenges, showing how timeless art can heal, provoke, and connect us across time.
Great art is timeless because it provides insights into our souls, into how we think and why we do what we do. That's as true of Shakespeare's sonnets as it is of Michelangelo's frescoes, as it is of the Greek tragedies.
But what if those classics could be repurposed to shed light on the specific challenges facing us today? Would it be possible to understand the impact of racial discrimination, political corruption, war or flawed rel...2025-05-2244 min
The Ryan Tubridy ShowPaul Feig reminisces on Sabrina The Teenage Witch, Lindsey Burrow on grief and Genevieve O'Reilly talks Star Wars!This week Ryan spoke to Paul Feig about his new film, Another Simple Favour which stars Blake Lively & Anna Kendrick! Lindsey Burrow, wife of the late rugby player Rob Burrow, came in to discuss the release of her book, Take Care.Irish actress Genevieve O'Reilly popped by to chat about a galaxy far, far away, as she stars in the latest season of Andor on Disney+.Timmy Mallet dialled in to talk about his artistic tour of Ireland.Director Bryan Doerries came by to discuss Theatre of...2025-05-021h 30
Art Works PodcastNovember 12, 2024 Theater of War: Bridging Greek Tragedy and Veteran StoriesIn honor of Veterans’ Day, we’re revisiting an episode of Art Works that tells the origin story of the transformative project Theater of War Productions. Co-founded by classicist, translator, and director Bryan Doerries, Theater of War began with a simple yet profound concept: presenting staged readings of Sophocles' plays Ajax and Philoctetes to military communities as a means of addressing both the challenges veterans face and the lasting impact of war on families and relationships.In this episode, Doerries recounts how he was inspired to bring these ancient military tragedies to contemporary audiences, believing they would unloc...2024-11-1128 min
The History of Literature642 Theater and Democracy (with James Shapiro)It's hard to imagine now, but the United States government wasn't always hostile or indifferent to the arts. In fact, from 1935 to 1939, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's New Deal Government responded to the Great Depression by staging over a thousand theatrical productions in 29 states that were seen by thirty million (or nearly one in four) Americans, two thirds of whom had never seen a play before. How did Roosevelt's administration come to hire over twelve thousand struggling artists, including Orson Welles and Arthur Miller? How successful were the plays? And what ultimately shut them down? James Shapiro (The Playbook: A...2024-10-1456 min
The Clinic & The PersonIllness as Exile in the Greek Tragedy Philoctetes with Paul RanelliSend us a textGreek tragedies often concern identifiable and universal problems humans have confronted over the millennia. Among these problems are those illness and suffering create. In this episode we draw from Sophocles’ play, Philoctetes, and in particular, how it depicts illness as exile. With our guest, Professor Paul Ranelli, we first cover the characteristics of Greek tragedies that are applicable to illness and suffering (i.e., enduring relevance, catharsis, empathy). We then cover the play, Philoctetes, what it tells about illness as exile, and how it connects to more recent writings on the concept (e.g...2024-08-2949 min
SLC Performance LabJuliana Francis Kelly - Episode 05.04 SLC Performance LabContemporaryPerformance.com and the Sarah Lawrence College MFA Theatre Program produce the SLC Performance Lab. During the year, visiting artists to the MFA Theatre Program's Performance Lab are interviewed after leading a workshop with the students. Performance Lab is one of the program's core components, where graduate students work with guest artists and develop performance experiments.
Juliana Francis Kelly is interviewed by K Stanger (SLC'24) and produced by Julia Duffy (SLC'25)
Juliana Francis Kelly is an OBIE award-winning actor who has performed in the U.S., Europe, and Asia. She has worked for both emerging and legendary theater artists, including...2024-08-1541 min
Yeah, I Got a F#%*ing Job With a Liberal Arts DegreeEpisode 35: Mrinalini Wadhwa Shares Her Love for History and MathmaticsWelcome back to Yeah, I Got an F#%*ing Job With a Liberal Arts Degree! Join Cal Poly Humboldt Dean Jeff Crane as he interviews a range of guests about the value of the liberal arts and higher education as a personal and public good. As always, please subscribe to the show, and listen and share the podcast with your circles and beyond.
This week's episode features a conversation with Columbia student and Rhodes Scholar Mrinalini Wadhwa (class of '24). Mrinalini grew up in New Delhi and New York City and double majored in history and mathematics. W...2024-07-1630 min
XRNOW!Bryan Doerries & Marjolaine Goldsmith, Theater as ActivismOn the heels of a historic collaboration with XRNYC to stage Enemy of the People in Times Square, a wide-ranging conversation with the team behind Theater of War about participatory performance as a mode of engagement to improve communication across political divides.
2024-07-041h 10Yeah, I Got a F#%*ing Job With a Liberal Arts DegreeEpisode 33: Theater of War and Columbia University StudentsWelcome back to Yeah, I Got an F#%*ing Job With a Liberal Arts Degree!
Join Cal Poly Humboldt Dean Jeff Crane as he interviews a range of guests about the value of the liberal arts and higher education as a personal and public good.
Today's episode is a bit different than our usual format. During the first week of April, Jeff and Abigail (the producer of the show) spent time on the campus of Columbia University, interviewing current students, faculty and even alumnus about their experience with the humanities in the Core Curriculum at Co...2024-07-031h 21
Radio DiariesMy So-Called Lungs (Revisited)We’re revisiting one of our favorite stories from years ago — with a new twist. Laura Rothenberg spent most of her life knowing she would die young. She had cystic fibrosis, a genetic disorder that affects the lungs. She documented her life in an audio diary, showing her attempt to live the normal life of a nineteen year old college student. Laura died in 2003 — but her audio diary wasn’t all she left behind.
You can find Laura Rothenberg’s book of poetry, When Poetry Visits, at https://www.codhill.com/product/when-poetry-visits/#:\~:text=The%20poems%20in%20this%20coll...2024-03-0730 min
Ancient Rome RefocusedThe 24th Shitkickers Were Never the Same After the Peloponese (Epi5, S1)
Interview with Bryan Doerries, director for the THEATER OF WAR. This podcast follows a performance of AJAX translated by Bryan Dorries starring movie and TV stars who volunteered their time.
Theater of War Productions works with leading film, theater, and television actors to present dramatic readings of seminal plays—from classical Greek tragedies to modern and contemporary works—followed by town hall-style discussions designed to confront social issues by drawing out raw and personal reactions to themes highlighted in the plays. The guided discussions underscore how the plays resonate with contemporary audiences and invite audience membe...2023-10-071h 35
Nurse Dot PodcastNurse Dot Podcast - Nurse Antigone Part ICara engages in a discussion with Dr. Cynda Hylton Rushton and Bryan Doerries, Artistic Director of Theater of War Productions, as they delve into their collaboration on The Nurse Antigone. This innovative project, tailored for nurses, aims to facilitate guided discussions on the unique challenges they faced during the COVID-19 pandemic. Bryan shares the inception of Theater of War and its profound impact on audiences, which motivated him to partner with Cynda in creating a production that addresses the moral suffering endured by medical professionals. They emphasize the necessity of cultivating creative avenues for healthcare providers to process their...2023-07-0744 min
To Dine ForBryan DoerriesBryan Doerries is a self-described “evangelist for ancient stories”. He is a Founder and the Artistic Director of Theater of War Productions, a theatrical company which stages readings of groundbreaking plays followed by an audience conversation to confront major issues including the refugee crisis, addiction, and domestic violence.Through these performances featuring leading actors ranging from Bill Murray to Frances McDormand, Bryan and Theater of War Productions create a space for conversation where communities can heal together from traumatic experiences. During the pandemic Theater of War Productions’s Zoom performances united global audiences, reminding them that you ar...2023-05-2249 min
Bookish Flights: Books, Author Interviews & Must-Read RecommendationsHealing and Community for Combat Veterans with Jennifer Austring (E15)Send us a textIn today’s episode, I am chatting with Jen Austring. Jen is not only a lifelong reader, but is also the creative force behind our first Bookish Flights swag. You can see more of the amazing work from her and her husband at Helmworks Custom Creations. The topic of today’s show and book flight are incredibly important. These books that she chose for the book flight on Healing and Community for Combat Veterans are a must read for us all. Not only to those providing support but to gain empathy and understanding. I ho...2023-03-0850 min
The Commute with @SavannahOpinionThe Commute, December 15 (Bryan Doerries on bringing 'Antigone' to Savannah's former Calhoun Square)This episode is brought to you by National Office Systems Theater of War producer Bryan Doerries joins the Thursday episode of The Commute to talk about their upcoming production of 'Antigone' in Savannah, which will star Oscar-nominated actor Jesse Eisenberg and will take place in the formerly named Calhoun Square. Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts2022-12-1636 minThe History of Literature465 Greek Lit and Game Theory (with Professor Josiah Ober)Game theory as a mathematical discipline has been around since the Cold War, but as Professor Josiah Ober (The Greeks and the Rational: The Discovery of Practical Reason) points out, its roots stretch back to Socrates, if not before. In this episode, Jacke talks to Professor Ober about the Greek discovery of practical reason - and how literature plays a special role in helping us to understand what the Greeks thought, how they organized their society, and how we might apply those lessons today. Josiah Ober is Mitsotakis Professor of Political Science and Classics at Stanford University a...2022-12-0554 minThe History of Literature449 Method Acting and "Bad Hamlet" (with Isaac Butler)We all talk about actors who use the Method, but do we really understand what that means? And how exactly has the Method changed the way we take in drama? In this episode, Jacke talks to theater expert Isaac Butler about his book The Method: How the Twentieth Century Learned to Act. And in a special bonus, Isaac also tells Jacke about the Shakespeare variant known as "Bad Hamlet."Additional listening suggestions:
338 Finding Yourself in Hollywood (with Meg Tilly)
288 The Triumph of Broadway (with Michael Riedel)
374 Ancient Plays and Contemporary Theater - A New Version of...2022-10-1055 min
Stationed with StoriesDeployments are Like a Katy Perry Song...On this episode, host Kelicia Hollis Jessie reviews The Theater of War by Bryan Doerries, talks the topsy turvy life of deployments, and shares a flash fiction piece entitled "The Mail Carrier." You can skip around as long as you stick around! #bookreview 0:58, #topic 10:45, #story 19:08.2022-09-2624 minThe History of Literature392 Sigmund FreudAs the father of psychoanalysis, Sigmund Freud (1856-1939) was one of the most influential thinkers of the twentieth century. Although many of his claims and theories are still hotly debated, for decades his ideas dominated writers and thinkers around the world - and they continue to exert a major influence on how we view ourselves and our society. In this episode, we look at Freud's life and some of his most famous works, setting the stage for an analysis of Freud's impact on literature.Additional listening ideas:
Episode 112 - The Novelist and the Witch-Doctor: Unpacking Nabokov's...2022-03-211h 01
Real MindfulResponding to the Pandemic From the Heart with Cynda Rushton and Bryan DoerriesWhat can an ancient Greek play show modern audiences about the circumstances nurses have found themselves in over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic? That’s a question Theater of War Productions and Dr. Cynda Rushton, professor of nursing and bioethics at Johns Hopkins University, hope will be answered when The Nurse Antigone premieres to audiences around the world. A project by and for nurses, The Nurse Antigone presents dramatic readings of Sophocles’ Antigone on Zoom—featuring Taylor Schilling, Margaret Atwood, a chorus of nurses, and you. Mindful’s managing editor Stephanie Domet connected with the orga...2022-03-1739 minThe History of Literature375 The Power of Literature | PLUS Reading Boswell's Life of Johnson (with Margot Livesey)Jacke had big plans to make this episode all about the poetry of William Butler Yeats...and then listener feedback to the last episode overtook him. So instead of lazing about on the Lake Isle of Innisfree, he returns to the subject of Sophocles and the power of literature, as introduced in the conversation with Bryan Doerries, the Artistic Director of Theater of War Productions. After checking in with Friend of the Show Margot Livesey as she reads Boswell's Life of Johnson, Jacke turns to a special message from a longtime listener whose own life had been changed by...2022-01-2048 minThe History of Literature374 Ancient Plays and Contemporary Theater - A New Version of Sophocles' Oedipus Trilogy (with Bryan Doerries)As the Artistic Director of Theater of War Productions, Bryan Doerries has joined his colleagues in using dramatic readings and community conversations to confront topics such as combat-related psychological injury, end-of-life care, radicalized violence, incarceration, gun violence, domestic violence, sexual assault, the refugee crisis, and addiction. In this episode, he joins Jacke to talk about his new translation of Sophocles' Oedipus Trilogy, his vision for contemporary theater, and how classic texts and age-old approaches to literature can help individuals and communities heal from trauma and loss.Interested in Theater of War Productions? Want to learn more? Learn...2022-01-171h 10
Listen MoreEpisode 4B CHALLENGES-A continued conversation with Bryan Doerries about how letting our kids struggle with difficult choices and hard situations is the best gift we can give them on the road to a fulfilling adulthood.The Greeks understood that there is a lot to be gained from sharing stories of your own struggles and pain with other people. Young people need to be taught that this is part of the human experience, that this is normal-and even healthy. Parents and academic institutions need to create environments where negative and contrary thoughts are permitted. Without these, how will our kids learn to examine their attitudes and beliefs and ultimately develop their own individual value systems-which will guide their choices and decisions throughout their lives? Research shows-and the positive psychology movement confirms- that long-term w...2021-11-1835 minListen MoreEpisode 4A-STRUGGLE-A conversation with Bryan Doerries of Theater of War productions about how the ancient Greeks prepared adolescents for adult life and why we should be doing the same.The Greeks understood that adolescence is a time of infinite possibility. Does our current narrow definition of achievement truly enable our kids to access that wide variety of opportunities? Our guest is Bryan Doerries, founding and artistic director of Theater of War. Bryan explains how the Greeks trained their young people for the vicissitudes of life and empowered them to express themselves. And while they trained their youth for participation in either the military and/or civic affairs-they balanced this with encouraging and empowering their youth to explore the world and take risks, so that t...2021-11-1049 min
Book DreamsEp. 78 - “This Is You.” Finding Ourselves in Ancient Greek Plays, with Bryan DoerriesWhat if our experience of ancient Greek plays, rather than involving stultifying boredom, could instead evoke powerful emotions? Bryan Doerries–author of many books involving ancient Greek plays and Artistic Director of Theater of War Productions–talks with Julie and Eve about the tragic loss in his life that caused Greek plays to suddenly begin “sp[eaking] directly to me as if they've been written for me.” As a director, he has since sought “audience[s] that have experienced the extremities of life”--he’s performed at hospitals, for the military, in prisons, for addicts, and for the survivors of natural dis...2021-11-0439 min
The Art of ManlinessWhat the Labors of Hercules Can Teach You About Life and MasculinityYou're probably familiar with the mythological tale of Hercules (or "Heracles" as the hero was originally called) from books, comics, and movies. But while Hercules is often rendered as a kind of one-dimensional superhero in popular culture, my guest today argues that he's actually quite a complex character, and that the story of how he completed twelve epic labors has a lot to teach us about endurance, revenge, mental illness, violence, punishment, trauma, bereavement, friendship, love, and masculinity.
His name is Laurence Alison, and he's a forensic psychologist and an expert in interrogation, who's created a written...2021-09-2951 min
writing class radioHappy F*ing Mother's DayThis episode features an extreme mother story by Diana Kupershmit who is honest and vulnerable. Diana tells the truth about a very tough decision she and her husband made when their daughter Emma was born with a severe disability. Diana reads her story and then Andrea and Allison discuss the brilliant writing and why is it important to be gut wrenchingly honest.Diana’s essay was previously published in Still Standing Magazine, June 9, 2020.On this episode, we mention Krista Tippett’s On Being podcast episode with Bryan Doerries. Specifically his public health project, Theater of War...2021-05-0542 min
On Being with Krista Tippett | 5 minute podcast summaries5 min summary: Bryan Doerries — "You are not alone across time." | On Being with Krista TippetFor other podcast summaries, search 'podcast summaries' in any podcast apps.
Or if you're on Apple Podcasts: http://bit.ly/5-min-summaries
Original episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bryan-doerries-you-are-not-alone-across-time/id150892556?i=10005163221052021-04-2304 min
On Being with Krista TippettBryan Doerries — "You are not alone across time."“Remember,” Bryan Doerries likes to say in both physical and virtual gatherings, “you are not alone in this room — and you are not alone across time.” With his public health project, Theater of War, he is activating an old alchemy for our young century. Ancient stories, and texts that have stood the test of time, can be portals to honest and dignified grappling with present wounds and longings and callings that we aren’t able to muster in our official places now. It’s an embodiment of the good Greek word catharsis — releasing both insight and emotions that have had no place to...2021-04-0850 minOn Being with Krista Tippett[Unedited] Bryan Doerries with Krista Tippett“Remember,” Bryan Doerries likes to say in both physical and virtual gatherings, “you are not alone in this room — and you are not alone across time.” With his public health project, Theater of War, he is activating an old alchemy for our young century. Ancient stories, and texts that have stood the test of time, can be portals to honest and dignified grappling with present wounds and longings and callings that we aren’t able to muster in our official places now. It’s an embodiment of the good Greek word catharsis — releasing both insight and emotions that have had no place to...2021-04-081h 58
United Against SilenceWe Can All Respond to Stories with Bryan DoerriesBryan Doerries is a writer, director, and translator, who currently serves as Artistic Director of Theater of War Productions. A self-described evangelist for ancient stories and their relevance to our lives today, Doerries uses age-old approaches to help individuals and communities heal from trauma and loss.During his tenure at Theater of War Productions, the company has presented diverse projects across the United States and internationally. The company uses dramatic readings of seminal plays and community conversations to confront topics such as combat-related psychological injury, end-of-life care, police and community relations, prison reform, gun...2021-04-0719 min
Change Your Point Of ViewHST018: Theater of War with Brian Dorries RECORDEDBryan Doerries is a Brooklyn-based writer, director, and translator, who currently serves as Artistic Director of Theater of War Productions. A self-described evangelist for classical literature and its relevance to our lives today, Doerries uses age-old approaches to help individuals and communities heal from trauma and loss.
Doerries is a proud graduate of Kenyon College and serves as a board member of the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers and Friends of the Young Writers Workshop. Among his awards, Doerries has received an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Kenyon College, and in March 2017, he was named...2021-02-021h 09
Let's Talk IDTheater of War: A Focus on Physician Mental Health (Jan. 30, 2021)In this episode, we explore the Theater of War production and learn how it’s being used as a tool to help frontline healthcare workers cope with the dire realities of the COVID-19 pandemic and focus on better mental health. To discuss are Theater of War Productions Artistic Director, Bryan Doerries and American College of Emergency Physician members, Dr. Diane Birnbaumer of UCLA and Dr. Jay Kaplan of Louisiana State University. This episode is in partnership with the American College of Emergency Physicians.2021-01-3026 min
Top of Mind with Julie RoseStatin Nocebos, Hydrogen Fuel, Greek TragediesMost Statin Side-Effects People Complain of Also Happen with Placebo Pills (0:31)Guest: Matthew Shun-Shin, Clinical Lecturer, Cardiology, Imperial College LondonStatins for lowering cholesterol are among the most widely-prescribed drugs in America. But a lot of patients at risk for heart attack or stroke skip doses—or stop taking statins altogether—because of unpleasant side effects. Suppose it’s not the drug causing the side-effects, though? Researchers at Imperial College London did a clinical trial where they swapped the statins people were taking with just plain old placebo pills—and those people still reported the unpleasant side-effects. The...2020-11-241h 43
Road to ResilienceTheater of WarHow can Ancient Greek tragedies help communities build resilience in the face of stress and trauma? Since 2009, Theater of War Productions has used this “ancient technology” to break cultures of silence and spark cathartic conversations. They've performed for soldiers, prison guards, front-line health workers, and many other audiences. In this interview, artistic director Bryan Doerries explains how each performance, which consists of a reading by A-list actors followed by a candid audience discussion, can open a door to healing.Theater of War Productions: https://theaterofwar.comUpcoming shows: https://theaterofwar.com/scheduleIf you're enjo...2020-11-1842 min
The Art of Manliness#660: How Ancient Greek Tragedies Can Heal the SoulWhen you think about ancient Greek tragedies, you probably think about people in togas spouting stilted, archaic language -- stories written by stuffy playwrights to be watched by snooty audiences.
My guest today argues that this common conception of Greek tragedies misses the power of plays that were in fact created by warriors for warriors, and which represent a technology of healing that's just as relevant today as it was two millennia ago. His name is Bryan Doerries and he's the author of the book The Theater of War, as well as the artistic director of an organization of the same...2020-11-1154 min
The Art of Manliness#660: How Ancient Greek Tragedies Can Heal the SoulWhen you think about ancient Greek tragedies, you probably think about people in togas spouting stilted, archaic language -- stories written by stuffy playwrights to be watched by snooty audiences.
My guest today argues that this common conception of Greek tragedies misses the power of plays that were in fact created by warriors for warriors, and which represent a technology of healing that's just as relevant today as it was two millennia ago. His name is Bryan Doerries and he's the author of the book The Theater of War, as well as the artistic director of an...2020-11-1154 min
Music On Your Own TermsMusic On Your Own Terms 079 "Simone Dow - A Voyage To The Last Continent"Music On Your Own Terms 079 - Simone Dow - A Voyage To The Last Continent
This episode I'm stoked to be talking with Simone Dow, guitarist with the awesome prog band Voyager from Australia. Simone talks about her family's move from Scotland, getting a scholarship for classical guitar, and subsequently getting into metal and never looking back. We hear about life on the road, endorsement deals, and what it means to be signed to a record label in today's DIY world. In addition, Simone graciously shares her experiences with chronic migraines, and how she manages practicing and...2020-09-211h 05
De BalieTheatre director Bryan Doerries on his concept Theatre of War and the European premiere of The Suppliants.This week will finally see the European premiere of The Suppliants, after an concept by American theatre director Bryan Doerries and his company Theater of War. The American production used the classic tragedy of Aeschylos, and developed it in close cooperation with the Caribbean Garifuna community and performed it on location in The Bronx. What can words from more than two thousand years ago tell us about the fate of refugees and pressing topics such as xenophobia and integration? And also about the relationship between the new citizens and old inhabitants? Program editor Ianthe Mosselman speaks with...2020-09-1638 min
The Casually Mollie PodcastS5 EP7: Casually Creating Connection (Through Musical Expression) with Dr. Phil WoodmoreSt. Louis based acting/vocal coach, choir director, entrepreneur, & composer Dr. Philip A. Woodmore talks about his many accomplishments in the theatre & music, including his most recent endeavor of composing an original score for a version of the Greek tragedy, Antigone. Translated by Bryan Doerries called Antigone In Ferguson, the production premiered in St. Louis, in addition to New York (given accolades by the New York Times), & has even traveled internationally to Athens, Greece. More information about Phil can be found at www.philipawoodmore.com.
2020-08-311h 03
Maxamoo's New York City Theater PodcastDecember 2019 PreviewLiz, David, and Jack talk about what they’re excited to see in December and January! We talk about:
Virgo Star by Pioneers Go East Collective at La Mama (1:13)
Fefu and Her Friends by María Irene Fornés at Theatre for a New Audience (2:49)
The Thin Place by Lucas Hnath at Playwrights Horizon (9:37)
Conway by Rory McGregor at Theaterlab (16:16)
Greater Clements by Samuel D. Hunter at Lincoln Center Theater (19:29)
One in Two by Donja R. Love at The New Group (22:48)
King Lear Project by Will...2019-11-2100 min
Maxamoo Theater & Performance PodcastDecember 2019 PreviewLiz, David, and Jack talk about what they're excited to see in December and January! We talk about: Virgo Star by Pioneers Go East Collective at La Mama (1:13) Fefu and Her Friends by María Irene Fornés at Theatre for a New Audience (2:49) The Thin Place by Lucas Hnath at Playwrights Horizon (9:37) Conway by Rory McGregor at Theaterlab (16:16) Greater Clements by Samuel D. Hunter at Lincoln Center Theater (19:29) One in Two by Donja R. Love at The New Group (22:48) King Lear Project by William Shakespeare, adapted by Bryan Doerries at Theater of War (26:09) Sing Street - Book by En...2019-11-2144 min