Suzanne Akbari is an American who has just now

returned to the United States after almost a quarter of a century in Canada.She’s a professor of Medieval Studies, and for a long time she was based atthe University of Toronto, but has recently relocated to the Institute forAdvanced Studies in Princeton, NJ. Suzanne has written books on medievalhistory and literature, including several collaborative works—most recently, abook called How We Read: Tales, Fury, Nothing,

Sound.She also co-hosts a literature podcast with Chris

Piuma, called The Spouter-Inn. She has four kids and three cats.

Suzanne and Michael chat about the corporeal experience of music, discovering

self confidence, converting to Islam as an adult, the appeal of strength, andthe capacious and joyful embodiment of Missy Elliott's music.

Suzanne’s Five Songs.

• Where Do the Children
  Play? by Cat Stevens.
• One Way or Another by
  Blondie.
• Forbidden Colours by David
  Sylvian with Ryuichi Sakamoto.
• Work It by Missy Elliott.
• XXXO by M.I.A.

Show Notes.

How We Read: Tales, Fury, Nothing,

Sound.(Free PDF!)

The Spouter-Inn, Suzanne’s podcast about

“great books”, hosted with former guest Chris

Piuma.

The Scene of the Scene:

Matangi/Maya/M.I.A.

Suzanne and Michael both answered “deep questions” on a recent episode of The

Opposite Of Lonely.

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