Staying Human with Marc Porter Zasada

A deep discussion about how we occupy our "stories," how we implement reason and truth, and the role of philosophy, if any.

I've always been fascinated by Edith Piaf, the great singer who embodied not something distinctly French, but intensely, well, human. In this episode I interview singer, actress, and writer Eleanora Owen, who does a one-woman show called "Being Piaf." She's joined by her husband and director, Tim Byron Owen.

A conversation on KXLU radio with host Pete Ludwig in which I do a thought experiment. There are only two methods of creation - no kidding. If there is a God, which did he use? And if you stood outside the universe and looked at it without prejudice, how would you believe it had been created, and for what purpose? But I start with a Jewish joke about disappointing your creator....

I was interviewed on KXLU Radio about my upcoming book, "Quests, Ladders, Rivers and Beads: Rethinking Success and Failure in the Modern World." It's a topic everyone seems to find compelling, including host Pete Ludwig.

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...

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.

An essay about the way our relationship to music has changed of late -- and how fearfully important it has become

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.

An essay about the remarkable popularity of chaos...and it's deeper meaning. Listen in!

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...

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.