Presented By: Institute for the Humanities
The Stories We Carry
Writer Colum McCann in Conversation with Michigan Public's April Baer
Novelist Colum McCann joins Michigan Public's April Baer for a conversation on storytelling as an act of empathy and why listening matters now more than ever.
Stories have the power not only to entertain or inform, but to help us imagine lives beyond our own. In this special Jill S. Harris Memorial Lecture, internationally acclaimed novelist Colum McCann joins Michigan Public's April Baer for a conversation about storytelling as an act of empathy, curiosity, and human connection. Drawing on McCann's celebrated fiction and his work as co-founder of Narrative 4, the discussion will explore how stories invite us to listen more deeply, understand one another across differences, and expand our sense of what it means to be human. At a time when genuine listening can feel increasingly rare, this conversation will consider the unique role that literature and storytelling can play in helping us encounter one another with greater openness, compassion, and imagination.
Join us after the conversation for a Community Story Exchange led by Narrative 4 at 7pm! More details at
Colum McCann is the author of eight novels, three collections of stories and two works of non-fiction. Born and raised in Dublin, Ireland, he has been the recipient of many international honours, including the U.S National Book Award, the International Dublin Literary Prize, a Chevalier des Arts et Lettres from the French government, election to the Irish arts academy, several European awards, the 2010 Best Foreign Novel Award in China, and an Oscar nomination. In 2017 he was elected to the American Academy of Arts. He is the President and co-founder of the non-profit global story exchange organisation, Narrative 4. He lives in New York with his wife Allison and their family. His 2009 novel Let the Great World Spin has sold a million copies in the United States alone, and was voted on the New York Times Readers List, “100 Best Books of the 21st Century.”
April Baer is the host of Michigan Public’s Stateside talk show. Prior to her arrival in Michigan, April was the host of the weekly show State of Wonder on Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB) for the past six years. Before that, she was the Morning Edition host and a reporter at OPB, covering beats including government and legal affairs, changing demographics and the arts.
Hosting Stateside brings April back to her Midwest roots. She is originally from Ohio and worked as the Morning Edition host and Public Affairs Director at WCPN Ideastream (Cleveland) and WYSO (Yellow Springs). Her husband Ryan grew up in Ann Arbor, and she has spent time in the state every year for the past 13 years, visiting places from Detroit to Marquette.
April has been the recipient of a number of awards including the 2006 New York Festivals – Bronze Medal for podcast; The Ohio Society of Professional Journalists Best Social Justice Reporting Award; and a Finalist in the 2007 Public Radio Talent Quest, a nationwide competition to select new public radio hosts and shows.
Stories have the power not only to entertain or inform, but to help us imagine lives beyond our own. In this special Jill S. Harris Memorial Lecture, internationally acclaimed novelist Colum McCann joins Michigan Public's April Baer for a conversation about storytelling as an act of empathy, curiosity, and human connection. Drawing on McCann's celebrated fiction and his work as co-founder of Narrative 4, the discussion will explore how stories invite us to listen more deeply, understand one another across differences, and expand our sense of what it means to be human. At a time when genuine listening can feel increasingly rare, this conversation will consider the unique role that literature and storytelling can play in helping us encounter one another with greater openness, compassion, and imagination.
Join us after the conversation for a Community Story Exchange led by Narrative 4 at 7pm! More details at
Colum McCann is the author of eight novels, three collections of stories and two works of non-fiction. Born and raised in Dublin, Ireland, he has been the recipient of many international honours, including the U.S National Book Award, the International Dublin Literary Prize, a Chevalier des Arts et Lettres from the French government, election to the Irish arts academy, several European awards, the 2010 Best Foreign Novel Award in China, and an Oscar nomination. In 2017 he was elected to the American Academy of Arts. He is the President and co-founder of the non-profit global story exchange organisation, Narrative 4. He lives in New York with his wife Allison and their family. His 2009 novel Let the Great World Spin has sold a million copies in the United States alone, and was voted on the New York Times Readers List, “100 Best Books of the 21st Century.”
April Baer is the host of Michigan Public’s Stateside talk show. Prior to her arrival in Michigan, April was the host of the weekly show State of Wonder on Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB) for the past six years. Before that, she was the Morning Edition host and a reporter at OPB, covering beats including government and legal affairs, changing demographics and the arts.
Hosting Stateside brings April back to her Midwest roots. She is originally from Ohio and worked as the Morning Edition host and Public Affairs Director at WCPN Ideastream (Cleveland) and WYSO (Yellow Springs). Her husband Ryan grew up in Ann Arbor, and she has spent time in the state every year for the past 13 years, visiting places from Detroit to Marquette.
April has been the recipient of a number of awards including the 2006 New York Festivals – Bronze Medal for podcast; The Ohio Society of Professional Journalists Best Social Justice Reporting Award; and a Finalist in the 2007 Public Radio Talent Quest, a nationwide competition to select new public radio hosts and shows.
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