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In this episode, Sam Fragoso interviews author and critic Vincent Cunningham about his new autobiographical novel 'Great Expectations' and his experience working on Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign. They discuss the emergence of Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee for the 2024 election and the role of charisma and symbolism in politics.
Cunningham reflects on his upbringing in the church and how it shaped his understanding of faith, fate, and interpretation of events. He shares his skepticism about relying too heavily on political leaders for personal fulfillment and emphasizes the importance of individual agency in a democracy.
The conversation also touches on Cunningham's personal losses, including the recent passing of his wife, and how he has navigated grief through writing. He shares his hope that his daughters will look to each other and their own capabilities as models of possibility rather than solely relying on political figures.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- Cunningham's novel 'Great Expectations' draws from his experience working on Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign and explores the role of symbolism and charisma in politics.
- Cunningham expresses skepticism about relying too heavily on charismatic political figures and emphasizes the importance of maintaining individual agency and insisting on specific policies and actions.
- Cunningham reflects on his upbringing in the church and how it shaped his understanding of faith, fate, and interpretation of events, particularly in the context of politics.
- The conversation touches on Cunningham's personal journey navigating grief following the loss of his wife, and how he has found solace in writing and criticism as a means of interpretation and self-expression.
- Cunningham hopes that his daughters will look to each other and their own capabilities as models of possibility, rather than solely relying on political figures for inspiration and fulfillment.
- The rise of Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee for the 2024 election is discussed, with Cunningham exploring the potential symbolism and implications of her candidacy.
- Cunningham emphasizes the active and ongoing nature of democracy and citizenship, highlighting the need for individual agency and resilience in navigating the complexities of modern society.
- The intersection of faith and politics is explored, with Cunningham reflecting on the role of symbolism, interpretation, and the potential for synthesis or conflict between the two realms.
Top Episodes Quotes
“Charisma creates this fog, and that work does not get done. And I just hope that people don't forget that because they're happy and relieved to feel enthusiasm. Can we feel enthusiasm and also insist on things?“ by Vincent Cunningham
― This quote captures Cunningham's skepticism about relying too heavily on charismatic political figures and his emphasis on maintaining individual agency and insistence on specific policies and actions.“That democracy and citizenship are forms of fashioning processes, not destinations that open up new possibilities at every turn. Right. That Rafaelson was really good at talking about this. The blues man is the one who has dropped into the situation of chaos and has to tether it together. That style is the way through chaos. And that the citizen, the democratic citizen, is the one who walks that tightrope every day, walks the peril of chaos and order every day.“ by Vincent Cunningham
― This quote encapsulates Cunningham's perspective on the active and ongoing nature of democracy and citizenship, highlighting the need for individual agency and resilience in navigating the complexities of modern society.“I want to be able to look at, lose my little girl and point her toward Madison my other little girl and say, look at what your sister can do. If I had to choose between that sort of pointing and pointing towards somebody that none of us has ever met, who is there to fill a political function, is there to serve us, I want to point her toward Madison for personal possibility and toward Kamala Harris or whoever else, for somebody who they need to push to make the rest of their life the one that they know more easy and full of opportunity.“ by Vincent Cunningham
― This quote illustrates Cunningham's hope that his daughters will look to each other and their own capabilities as models of possibility, rather than solely relying on political figures, encapsulating his perspective on the relationship between the personal and the political.
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Episode Information
Talk Easy with Sam Fragoso
iHeartPodcasts and Pushkin Industries
8/11/24
Vinson Cunningham has been a staff writer at The New Yorker for the past eight years, covering theater, television, and politics. He joins us this week to unpack his personal debut novel Great Expectations.
At the top, we discuss the state of the US election (5:00), the emergence of the new Democratic ticket in Kamala Harris and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (10:00), and the fickleness of internet hype (15:00). Then, Cunningham explains how his new book dovetails with his time working on Barack Obama’s 2008 Presidential campaign (19:00), his process writing fiction (30:00), and his early memories of getting involved in politics (35:30).
On the back-half, we talk about Vinson’s upbringing in the church (38:00), the role of faith in his life (47:00), and his personal feelings about divine intervention (57:00), both in politics and on the heels of a tragic personal loss (1:01:40). To close, he shares a moving piece of his review of Hamlet (1:07:00), reflects on his growth over the past year (1:15:00), and reveals why this moment for Kamala Harris gives him hope for his daughters (1:22:00).
This conversation was recorded at Spotify Studios and Condé Nast. Thoughts or future guest ideas? Email us at sf@talkeasypod.com.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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