From their inception in the 1960's until the last decade, Birkenstocks have been the sensible shoe for the crunchy set. But they've become a staple of fashionistas and celebs, and the company recently started trading publicly. New York Times styles reporter Elizabeth Paton is the author of the piece "From LSD to IPO" which traces the company's history from its orthopedic beginnings in Germany to the $2000 Valentino pairs that exist today. We'll discuss all things Birks with her and take listener calls about their love of the shoe.

Right now, Montclair Art Museum has a huge show featuring some of the most well-known women in the artworld such as Barbara Kruger, Carrie Mae Weems, Alice Neel, Betty Parsons and Jaune Quick-to-See Smith. It's called Taking Space: Contemporary Women Artists and the Politics of Scale. Gail Stavitsky, the museum's chief curator, joins us to talk about the exhibition on display through Jan. 7.

Our series Full Bio returns, and this month we are focusing on the life of pioneering playwright August Wilson, who won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama twice, and whose plays focus on the life of Black Americans in the 20th century. Biographer Patti Hartigan joins us for a deep dive into her book, August Wilson: A Life. On day four, we speak about the end of Wilson's life and his enduring legacy.

The Brooklyn Museum’s newest exhibit opens Friday Nov. 17. It’s called “Copy Machine Manifestos: Artists Who Make Zines,” and it explores 50 years of homegrown publishing, irreverent and edgy cultural commentary, and the eclectic visual vocabulary of "the zine" as an art form. Contributing professor Branden W. Joseph, who teaches modern and contemporary art at Columbia University, helped curate the exhibit, which he joins us to discuss.