A Novel Idea

May 29, 2026

Heather Balogh Rochfort and Laurel Munson Boyers on A Novel Idea

Suzanne Lang is joined by author, hiker, and outdoors person Heather Balogh Rochfort with her book Women Who Hike National Parks, Walking with America’s Most Inspiring Adventurers. Also featured is Suzanne’s conversation with Laurel Munson Boyers on her life and book about it, Across Yosemite’s…
May 16, 2026

Jarrett Humphreys and Shannon Nering on A Novel Idea

Suzanne Lang talks with Jarrett Humphreys about moving to Alaska with his dog Abbey and his book Life with Abbey, Our adventures across the wilderness of Alaska and beyond. Also, Shannon Nering joins Suzanne to talk of her move to Kauai where she discovers the healing nature of plant medicines; her…
May 02, 2026

Zeeva Bukai, plus Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie on A Novel Idea

Suzanne Lang is joined by Zeeva Bukai with her book The World Between, the tale of an aging actress of the Yiddish Theatre who inexplicably finds herself in a Jaffa sanitorium run by nuns. Also featured are best-selling authors Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie with their book A Founding Mother, a…
April 18, 2026

Peter Coyote live on stage with Suzanne Lang on A Novel Idea

Peter Coyote — actor, author, influential thinker, and Zen Buddhist Priest joined Suzanne Lang on stage at the Tomales Town Hall for this ranging conversation on his life and work. A Novel Idea, Saturday at 5am and Sunday at 10am. Streaming and podcasting at krcb.org.
April 04, 2026

Dena Moes and Priya Hutner on A Novel Idea

This week Suzanne Lang is joined by Dena Moes, author of The Buddha Sat Right Here, A Family Odyssey Through India and Nepal. Also on the show, Priya Hutner with her book, Chasing Nirvana: A Seeker’s Story of Love, Loss and Liberation. Both authors talk about their journey’s toward enlightenment,…
March 21, 2026

Caroline Paul and Cecilia Aragon on A Novel Idea

Longtime adventurer Caroline Paul joins Suzanne Lang in conversation on her latest book Why We Fly: Seeking Awe, Healing, and Our True Selves in the Sky. Scientist and aerobatic flyer Cecilia Aragon joins Suzanne to talk about her book Flying Free: My Victory Over Fear to Become the First Latina…
Feb 21, 2026

Carla Kaplan on A Novel Idea

Prize-winning biographer Carla Kaplan talks with host Suzanne Lang about her definitive new book, Trouble Maker: The Fierce, Unruly Life of Jessica…
Mar 02, 2025

CJ Cook on A Novel Idea

CJ Cook is an art collector, historian, publisher, rescuer of lost artists, and lover of the South Pacific. Suzanne Lang talks with CJ Cook on Edithe…
Oct 20, 2024

Iris Jamal Dunkle on A Novel Idea

Voices of writers, voices of creative, accomplished women have gotten lost in the fog of other people’s fame, and mostly by the conventions and…
Mar 03, 2019

Michael Morey – March 3, 2019

Author and independent historian Michael Morey’s book, Fagen: An African American Renegade in the Philippine-American War, unpacks American…
Default Image
Dec 02, 2018

Thomas E. Cochrane – December 2, 2018

Oil makes the world go round and geologist Thomas E. Cochrane delivers candid and lively remembrances of his life and experience in the American…
Default Image
Oct 24, 2018

Susan Hand Shetterly – October 7, 2018

Seaweed. It plays a vital role in ocean ecology, and also in our health and diet, and in our local and global economies. Seaweed Chronicles: A World…
Default Image
Sep 30, 2018

Gregory Couch – October 1, 2018

Gregory Crouch joins Suzanne M. Lang in conversation on his epic western history of California wealth and the Comstock Lode, bringing focus to one of…
Default Image
Jul 29, 2018

Bruce Holbert – July 30, 2018

San Francisco’s City Lights Bookstore, the landmark independent bookstore founded in 1953 by poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti and Peter D. Martin, recently…
Default Image
Jul 01, 2018

Brad Herzog – July 1, 2018

A timely encore presentation of Rosemary Manchester in conversation with Brad Herzog, collaborator on Carolyn Goodman’s memoir, My Mantelpiece: a…
Default Image
Apr 01, 2018

Bruce Holbert – April 1, 2018

To celebrate the release of Bruce Holbert’s third novel, Whiskey, here is a reprise of two previous conversations between Bruce and Suzanne M Lang on…
Default Image
Nov 13, 2017

Jeffrey Miller – January 31, 2016

This episode of KRCB’s A Novel Idea is an “encore” presentation of a favorite broadcast, originally broadcast in 2010, featuring Andre Codrescu and…
Default Image
Nov 13, 2017

Eva Rutland – March 6, 2016

To honor Black History Month and International Women’s Day (March 8th) we present Rosemary Manchester with an encore presentation of a show featuring…
Default Image
Nov 13, 2017

Abby Geni, Lewis deSoto – April 3, 2016

Big Nature, Big California The Farallon Islands, remote and mysterious, is the setting of Abby Geni’s novel of nature and mystery, The Lightkeepers.…
Default Image
Nov 13, 2017

Wendy E. Simmons – July 4, 2016

Wendy E. Simmons is a world traveler. Not a novice. Not a pushover. Her trip to North Korea challenged every bit of her perceptions of herself and…
Default Image
Nov 13, 2017

Kenneth Wishnia – August 7, 2016

Mystery writer Kenneth Wishnia joins Suzanne Lang in conversation on his latest novel, The Fifth Servant, which is set in 1592 Prague, where a young…
Default Image
Nov 13, 2017

William Luvaas – September 4, 2016

William Luvaas, NEA grant recipient who has been recognized for his short stories and novels alike, joins Suzanne Lang in conversation on his third…
Default Image
Nov 13, 2017

Meg Waite Clayton – October 2, 2016

New York Time’s bestselling author Meg Waite Clayton joins Suzanne M. Lang in conversation about The Race for Paris, Clayton’s compelling novel of…
Default Image
Nov 13, 2017

Heather Lyn Mann – April 3, 2017

15,000 nautical miles, six years, and a world of insight ….Heather Lyn Mann joins Suzanne Lang in conversation about Heather’s journey as expressed…
Default Image
Nov 13, 2017

Peter Afrasiabi – October 1, 2017

Top intellectual property and entertainment lawyer Peter Afrasiabi joins Suzanne Lang in conversation on his recent book Burning Bridges, America’s…
Default Image
Oct 29, 2017

J. Jaye Gold on A Novel Idea

J. Jaye Gold has been a hustler and gambler in his life, but sought a new way of being in his that lead him on a journey around the globe, and
Default Image

Northern California
Public Media Newsletter

Get the latest updates on programs and events.