Staying Human with Marc Porter Zasada
Staying Human with Marc Porter Zasadaas heard on KXLU 88.9FM Los AngelesA search for the mystery, poetry, and sometimes beautiful conundrums of modern life. You can learn more and find more work by Marc at www.stayinghuman.netDive into the poetic intricacies of modern life with Marc Porter Zasada, the voice behind the acclaimed "Urban Man" essays on NPR's KCRW-LA, and now on KXLU FM 88.9 in Los Angeles, in conjunction with the Mystic Pete Chronicles. "Staying Human" offers essays and interviews stitched together with Marc's incisive wit and gorgeous prose."Staying Human" seeks to inspire and entertain, all while peeling...
Rethinking Success & Failure in the Modern World - Interview of Marc on KXLU July 7 2025
I was interviewed on July 6, 2025 on KXLU about my work on an upcoming book to be entitled, "Quests, Ladders, Rivers, and Beads: Rethinking Success and Failure in the Modern World." Peter Ludwig, also known as Mystic Pete, helps me dive into the very modern obsession with a "successful" or "failed" life, and the weird physics we all live with in that realm. For the book, I am developing a vocubulary to help people step back and see their own motives, and from where they are derived. This is the first of two parts. The second interview will take...
Wrestling With Neverland
In recent times, "childhood" has become valued as never before. Along with, of course, childish fantasy. So much so that it has become commonplace for adults to do cosplay, gather for fantasy boardgames...well, the list is endless. Something very serious started in 1904 with Peter Pan. It will, no doubt, continue with AI.
The Purpose of Music
An essay about the way our relationship to music has changed of late -- and how fearfully important it has become
Stalins Master Class: an Interview with Ron Sossi
An interview with Ron Sossi, artistic director of the Odyssey Theatre about the encounter between Stalin, Prokofiev, and Shostakovich in "Stalin's Master Class." First appeared on KXLU Radio in L.A.
The Celebration of Chaos - Essay - Marc Porter Zasada
An essay about the remarkable popularity of chaos...and it's deeper meaning. Listen in!
The Allure of the Ordinary: Kevin Flynn's Journey
In this poignant episode of "Staying Human," host Marc Porter Zasada delves into the contrast between the glamorous allure of fame and the grounded dignity of the everyday. Inspired by the striking portraits of Irving Penn, Marc explores the subtle vanishing of pride and certainty among the working class, an aspect he finds mirrored in the life of actor and comedian Kevin Flynn.
Featured Guest: Kevin Flynn, a multifaceted talent who has traversed the realms of professional sports, stand-up comedy, and television, offers a compelling narrative of self-discovery and introspection. His one-man show, "Fear of Heights," which plays...
The Problem of the One Versus the Many
In this inaugural episode of "Staying Human," Marc delves into a thought-provoking topic: the complex relationship between singular and multiple experiences and how they impact our perception and valuation of things. From a single, beautiful flower in a neighbor’s garden to a sea of similar blooms outside an office tower, Marc dissects the essence of why ‘one’ can sometimes hold more weight than ‘many’ in our eyes.
Key Discussion Points:
The discovery of a singular beautiful flower and its immediate impact on the observerHow seeing many of the same flowers outside an office tower may dimini...
