Kari Bentley-Quinn is a

playwright based in New York City. Shegrew up in Connecticut, but adopted New York as home just in time to witnessthe September 11th attacks. Kari's plays have been produced and presented inNew York, Chicago and Dallas. She's a co-founder of Mission to

(dit)Mars, a theater company based in thebeautiful borough of Queens, championing new play development. Kari has an MFAin Playwriting from Hunter College. She's won the Rita and Burton GoldbergAward, and was a nominee for the Doric Wilson Playwriting Award. Kari andMichael discuss childhood optimism, musical improvisation, suicide, terrorism,polyrhythms, having a calling, why immigration is awesome, and making friendsin your thirties.

Kari’s Five Songs.

• I’m a Believer by the
  Monkees.
• Marianne by Tori Amos.
• Toxic by Britney
  Spears.
• Sawdust and Diamonds by
  Joanna Newsom.
• New York by St.
  Vincent.

Show Notes.

Youth Dew.

Kari's personal essay about the sudden passing of her grandmother.

Song Exploder 114: St. Vincent. St.

Vincent goes in depth on the writing and recording of “New York.”

Kari on Twitter,

Instagram, and theweb.

This Is Your

Playlist!A Spotify playlist of every song from every episode of This Is Your Mixtape[if it is on Spotify].