Bouncing Back After Being Fired; History of Ward Island; Food As A Portal To The Past; Samia's New Album

Samhita Mukhopadhyay, author of the book The Myth of Making It: A Workplace Reckoning, talks about reclaiming her identity after losing a job that defined her. Listeners call in and share their stories about rebounding after a job loss.

For almost two centuries, New York has used Ward's Island as a space to house its most marginalized residents. Philip T. Yanos, a professor of psychology at John Jay College of Criminal Justice and the Graduate Center, City University of New York, grew up on the island in the 1970s on the grounds of the Manhattan State Hospital, where his dad worked as a psychiatrist. Yanos has written a new book, Exiles in New York City: Warehousing the Marginalized on Ward's Island, and he discusses his research and listeners who've visited or lived on Ward's Island share their stories.

A flavorful bite of a beloved family dish can bring us back to our childhoods. But food can help us experience an even farther past. Max Miller, host of the YouTube channel 'Tasting History,' and author of the cookbook Tasting History: Explore the Past through 4,000 Years of Recipes, hunts around historical primary sources for early versions of modern classics, or menus from different chapters of history, from the bean porridge served to competitors in the gladiatorial arena to the upscale menus offered to wealthy travelers on the Titanic or the Hindenburg. Miller talks about his research and why food can help us experience a taste of so many different lives from long ago. Plus, listeners ask about the histories of their favorite dishes and ingredients.

NYC native and indie rock artist Samia releases her new album, Bloodless, on April 25. She joins us for a special preview, and performs songs live in the studio.