<p>Today our podcast reconnects with Kevin Smokler, 2016 <a href="http://1888.center/tplp" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Plaza Literary Prize</a> Judge. Kevin is the author of “Practical Classics: 50 Reasons to Reread 50 Books you Haven’t Touched Since High School” (2013) and a forthcoming book on 80s movies. His cultural essays and criticism have appeared in <a href="http://salon.com/topic/vulture/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Salon Vulture</a>, <a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Buzzfeed</a>, <a href="http://www.latimes.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The LA Times</a>, <a href="http://www.fastcompany.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Fast Company</a> and on <a href="http://www.npr.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NPR</a>. He lives in San Francisco.   Producer: Jon-Barrett Ingels and Kevin Staniec Manager: Sarah Becker Host: Jon-Barrett Ingels Guest: Kevin Smokler</p>

Neelanjana Banerjee

Civics and culture, from the past, forward.

Past Forward is a national nonprofit dedicated to educational accessibility through broadcasting, publishing, and awarding creative work in service of civics and culture.