Millennials are often painted as entitled, selfie-snapping narcissists, but do they deserve the “kids these days” label? On today’s show we’ll attempt to transcend the generation gap with a strong defense of the youngsters.
Then, we celebrate graduation season with author George Saunders, whose 2013 commencement address at Syracuse University contained a simple message: “be kinder”. The speech went viral, became a short film, and a book. He’ll explain why it rippled out far beyond that group of graduates.
Listen to the full show
Defending Millennials
David Burstein is author of Fast Future: How the Millennial Generation is Shaping Our World. He is also the founder of Generation 18, a nonpartisan young voter engagement organization, as well as a documentary filmmaker.
Wheelchair Motocross
Producer Lauren Ober of WBUR's Only a Game brings us this story of Aaron “Wheelz” Fotheringham, a wheelchair motocross athlete. Check out videos of his spectacular wheelchair tricks here.
You can listen to this story again at PRX.org.
Andre Dubus: Dirty Love
Andre Dubus III is the national book award-winning author of House of Sand and Fog and Townie. His latest book, Dirty Love, again presents gritty, frustrated lives on the skids of the American dream.
George Saunders: Congratulations, By the Way
In 2013, writer, journalist, and college professor George Saunders made a short speech at a graduation ceremony that quickly went viral. He was speaking to the class of 2013 at Syracuse University where he teaches. His book: Congratulations, By the Way elaborates on the speech he gave and encourages a life of kindness.
