What Makes the “Lion Whisperer” Roar?

Susan Orlean profiles “Lion Whisperer” Kevin Richardson, who has dedicated his life to the ethical conservation of lions.

Source: Smithsonian
Published: May 26, 2015
Length: 18 minutes (4,507 words)

How to Be Aca-Awesome

An interview with Kay Cannon, Pitch Perfect screenwriter, on how her a cappella comedy might be changing the definition of cool.

Source: Longreads
Published: May 27, 2015
Length: 13 minutes (3,345 words)

How Ford Models Changed the Face of Beauty

The story of Eileen and Jerry Ford, the two young newlyweds who launched Ford Models in post–World War II Manhattan.

Source: Vanity Fair
Published: Jun 1, 2015
Length: 24 minutes (6,200 words)

The Secret History of Ultimate Marvel, the Experiment That Changed Superheroes Forever

“Ultimate Marvel” was a modern, successful reboot of popular Marvel titles like “Spider-Man,” “X-Men,” and the “The Avengers,”—the latter of which proved to be a box office smash after the series was loosely adapted for the big screen. But after a decade, it became a victim of its own success.

Published: May 25, 2015
Length: 23 minutes (5,950 words)

The $295 Million Mall Taxpayers Bought Kansas City

Downtowns have become profitable again—so why are cities still subsidizing urban development?

Source: Next City
Published: May 18, 2015
Length: 16 minutes (4,110 words)

Why Won’t Twitter Forgive Suey Park?

Twitter brawler and internet activist Suey Park became famous for creating #cancelcolbert, a hashtag that evoked an enormous amount of online outrage. This profile looks at Park’s life (both before and after the #cancelcolbert incident) as well as the larger phenomenon of internet shaming.

Published: May 20, 2015
Length: 12 minutes (3,080 words)

The Art of Running from the Police

A young man concerned that the police will take him into custody comes to see danger and risk in the mundane doings of everyday life. To survive outside prison, he learns to hesitate when others walk casually forward, to see what others fail to notice, to fear what others trust or take for granted.

Source: Longreads
Published: May 26, 2015
Length: 49 minutes (12,478 words)

The Last Stand in Africa’s Most Dangerous Park

Can a Belgian prince save Africa’s oldest national park from poaching and Big Oil?

Source: Men’s Journal
Published: May 30, 2015
Length: 25 minutes (6,320 words)

The Mountain Carver

Sculpture has always been a controversial art form in Iran, but that is where Parviz Tanavoli has found his greatest inspiration. A new Longreads Exclusive from Maisonneuve magazine.

Source: Maisonneuve
Published: May 25, 2015
Length: 11 minutes (2,885 words)

The Art of the Con: Four Stories About Scams

There are lots of well-told stories about con men, Craigslist hoaxes and financial scams—here are a few of my favori

Source: Longreads
Published: May 24, 2015