This year's college admissions season has been the "craziest" ever, according to education journalist and author Jeffrey Selingo. Applicants to Common Application colleges are up 6 percent - the highest on record. Plus, with a recent calculation error by the Department of Education, FAFSA-eligible students are left in the dark about their financial aid status. Selingo joins us for a deep dive on this year's college application conundrum. Plus, we take listener calls.
That new "Save the Date" in your mailbox means wedding season is approaching. Nick Leighton of the Were You Raised By Wolves? podcast joins us to take your calls and discuss the correct ways to comport oneself on someone else's big day.
Alice Randall is a household name in country music. She was the first Black woman to co-write a #1 country hit, "XXX's and OOO's." She reflects on her career in her latest book "My Black Country." It also examines the impact of Black tradition and culture on this "most American of art forms." Randall joins us to talk about the book (out on April 9), and teases out some songs from her forthcoming tribute album, to be released on April 12th.
"Dead Outlaw" is a new musical about the real-life American outlaw Elmer McCurdy and the larger-than-life image he gained after his death. The show's band takes center stage in the production, and we're joined for a live in-studio performance by Erik Della Penna, who co-wrote the show's music and lyrics with the show's creator David Yazbek, as well as music director Rebekah Bruce and musicians Jeb Brown, Chris Smylie, Spencer Cohen, and HANK. Actors Julia Knitel and Thom Sesma also join to perform their songs. Produced by Audible Theater, Dead Outlaw plays at the Minetta Lane Theatre until April 14 and will also be released as an Audible Original later this year.
*This segment is guest-hosted by Kousha Navidar.