Idris Goodwin is a playwright and the (new) Artistic Director of StageOne Family Theatre in Louisville. Listen to find out what a breakbeat poet is, how a cookbook is like a play script, and his complicated relationship with Mary Shelley.

A dog, a houseplant, an old car for driving around town. These are the things valued by a busy touring musician-slash-restauranteur.

I first “met” writer Susan Piver when I read her book, “The Hard Questions: 100 Questions to Ask Before You Say ‘I Do’” which I recommend as an excellent guidebook for talking with your significant other before taking that big step. Later, I learned that she was a Buddhist and a meditation teacher, and I had the opportunity to spend some time with her in person at a retreat center. But don’t assume that her whole life has been blissful and super-chill -- she’s got some stories to tell.

Izio Rosenman is 83 years old, he was born in Poland, he spent his childhood in the Buchenwald concentration camp, and he has lived in Paris since the camp was liberated. Professionally, he was a physicist, a psychoanalyst, and an anthropologist. He 's got some thoughts on life.

Hey, it's Tara, here with a quick update. I know this feed has been quiet for the past little while, and I'm here to let you know that the next season of Five Things is coming up really soon! I've been working this summer on seeking out some extraordinary guests to interview, and I think you'll really enjoy hearing what I have in store. Starting September 6th, I'll have conversations with fascinating people including an 83-year-old Holocaust survivor, a drag queen, a lawyer who ran for Congress, a Buddhist meditation teacher who used to be part of the Guardian Angels -- and more. So, sit tight, thanks for listening, and I'll see you back here on September 6th.

Jesse Thorn, of NPR's "Bullseye" as well as "Jordan, Jesse, Go!" and "Judge John Hodgman," tells us about the highly idiosyncratic objects that sum up his highly idiosyncratic life. I recently learned that he is a devotee of "Antiques Roadshow," and I knew I needed to get him on Five Things. **Programming note: this is the last episode of the season! We're taking a break for the summer and will be back in the fall. In the meantime, might I suggest you peruse our archives? I bet your new favorite episode is just sitting there, unlistened. :)

This week’s guest is Angela Davis, a schoolteacher whose primary teaching tool is knitting needles. And this conversation between us arose from her first item -- I saw her at the theatre, wearing a gorgeous coat, and I had to ask her about it.

This week, we’ll hear from a woman whose job is to get kids psyched up about reading. And through that job, she met her hero.

Writer Leesa Cross-Smith is based in Louisville, and she’s just published her first novel, "Whiskey and Ribbons." Find out why she considered it a radical act to tell the story in the way she did, what’s her secret weapon when it comes to getting writing done, and the tweet so good… she put it on a coffee mug. http://www.leesacrosssmith.com/ https://www.oxfordamerican.org/magazine/item/1353-ain-t-half-bad

My guest this week is one of my very favorite musicians, Joe Henry. His brother Dave was one of my first guests on this show, and I was thrilled when Joe agreed to take part as well. He’s just released his fourteenth studio album, called “Thrum,” and he’s also produced records for a lot of amazing musicians, including Elvis Costello, Bonnie Raitt, Ani DiFranco, and Allen Toussaint. He’s co-written songs with Roseanne Cash and with Madonna -- who happens to be his sister-in-law.