The Man Who Became Big Bird
An interview with Caroll Spinney, who, at 81, has worked at “Sesame Street” as the puppeteer behind Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch for 45 years.
Celebrating Singlehood and Reclaiming the Word ‘Spinster’
An interview with Kate Bolick about the single women in history who helped her understand how she could live on her own terms.
Smearch, Fidgital, Skinjecture: Creating New Terms for the Modern World
Lizzie Skurnick on her new book of neologisms and why she’s republishing beloved young adult books from her youth.
The Twisted History of Your Favorite Board Game
An interview with Mary Pilon about her new book, The Monopolists, which uncovers the real story about how Monopoly became the game it is today.
A Conversation With Writer Colm Tóibín on the ‘Close Imagining’ of Fiction
Longreads spoke with Tóibín, who splits his time between Dublin and New York, by phone about the protagonists he’s compelled to write about and how he goes about creating their worlds.
Finding Stories in Familiar Territory: An Interview With Miranda July
We spoke recently by phone about her relationship with her characters, the evolution of her work, and where her novel came from.
Interview: Simon Rich on Guilt, Humor Writing, and Being the Worst Person Ever
An interview with humorist Simon Rich on comedy, writing stories for the New Yorker vs. writing sketches for SNL, and his new book Spoiled Brats.
Interview: Caitlin Moran on the Working Class, Masturbation, and Writing a Novel
An interview with journalist, critic, and essayist Caitlin Moran, who just published her debut novel, How to Build a Girl.