Books to Broadcast: The Making of Severance Radio

By Stephanie Gibson, Kathleen Kuo, and Sara Ortiz

In late 2019, a committee of writers, scholars, book sellers, and community members throughout our state met to select two books–a fiction and non-fiction title–as part of Nevada Reads, our statewide reading club. The two chosen: Nomadland: Surviving America in the Twenty-First Century by Jessica Bruder, and Severance by Ling Ma. This pairing was selected, in part, because of the corresponding themes of displacement, transience, and economic upheaval found in both books. As 2020 unfolded, these themes became increasingly germane. With Severance especially, Ling Ma’s satirical portrait of a global fever illness that transforms life in the U.S. became eerily prophetic as COVID-19 swept our world.

In the past, Nevada Humanities produced programming that included our Nevada Reads authors, such as hosting them at the Las Vegas Book Festival, participating in the Nevada Humanities Literary Crawl, visiting classrooms and schools, and taking part in other public events around the state. In the wake of the pandemic and the suspension of large, in-person gatherings, large questions loomed: How do we continue programming around these books? Books are meant to be read, shared, and discussed. How could we do this when we couldn’t be together?

Asking themselves similar questions in Las Vegas, the Black Mountain Institute (BMI) team was trying to figure out how to pivot away from traditional in-person gatherings. On March 9, the literary organization that hosts the annual Believer Festival made the internal decision to call off the festival. By March 10, BMI started notifying artists, partners, and sponsors, and come March 12, they publicly announced the news. In that same announcement, BMI communicated that they would continue to connect and to foster artful exchange in this time of pandemic. They would aim to connect meaningfully around art and literature in a world of social distancing. Nevada Humanities was one of the first organizations to reach out to BMI. The two institutions had originally planned to co-sponsor Ling Ma at The Believer Festival. Stephanie was curious about how to continue to elevate Nevada Reads in this unusual time. Sara suggested radio as a way to connect with people during the 2020 lockdown, especially since at the time, libraries and bookstores were not readily accessible to the public. Through radio broadcasts, listeners could hear the audiobook of Severance in a serial format. Each episode could feature guests discussing various themes throughout the novel. Together, BMI and Nevada Humanities could replicate the feeling of a book club. It turned out to be a really good book club.

Recording for the last time in the studio with Heidi Kyser. Photo/Courtesy Sara Ortiz.

Stephanie, Kathleen, and Sara–a trio of radio novices–started making their way down an exponentially long production task list: secure, not one but, two radio stations; find a host (the brilliant Heidi Kyser); confirm a sound engineer (Fil Corbitt, who is a worker of magic); invite 26 guests from multi-disciplinary backgrounds; dissect the audiobook into 14 parts; write summaries; create art and graphics for the program (shoutout to Lille Allen); schedule 14 conversations; write scripts; record in studio; edit conversations; listen to conversation; edit some more, and so on.

Over the course of a few months, several hundred emails, weekly Zoom meetings, and a myriad of multi-tabbed spreadsheets later, the pilot episode of Severance Radio aired on Sunday, June 5 to audiences in Reno, Vegas, and beyond. Stephanie recalls laying down in her bedroom, lights dimmed on a lazy summer afternoon as the first chapters of Severance trickled across the airways. Kathleen sat with her laptop and her dog, heart pounding as she counted down the minutes before noon and the culmination of months of work. Sara, excited to create the full stereo experience, switched on four vintage radios as Heidi Kyser’s voice boomed across her bungalow in pure hi-fi: “Welcome to Severance Radio: a Nevada Reads on-air book club!”

The world felt a little less lonely as we worked together and poured our energy into this show. As we checked in with one another, we also checked in with our guests and coworkers. We found amusement in recording from our closets and comfort in the connections we were making.

Recording a podcast conversation from our closets. Screenshot/Sara Ortiz.

With the assistance of our radio partners in Reno and Las Vegas, Severance Radio enables our readers and listeners to participate every week from the comfort of their own homes, vehicles, or wherever they choose to listen. Each audiobook excerpt is followed by conversations between scholars and artists on the novel’s themes, including: COVID-19; humor in a time of crisis; nostalgia and its dangers; and the genre of apocalyptic writing. Some of our guests include Kristen Arnett, Scott Dickensheets, Katherine Fusco, Tim Gauthier, Brent Holmes, Dana Lee, Vi Khi Nao, Lance L. Smith, Erica Vital-Lazare, Claytee D. White, and others. While our live radio run will end in October 2020, you can find these themed conversations as podcast episodes, including extended conversations and some bonus material, like a conversation between the three of us on the making of the show. Have you been listening in? Tell us what you think!

"I don’t listen to audiobooks, ever—I’m not an aural learner, and I like to see and underline the text as I read—but I tuned in for my friends and found listening to the prose while reading along in the book unexpectedly relaxing and thoroughly enjoyable." – Amanda in Livingston, Montana

"For me, Severance Radio came at an important time when I was feeling very isolated during the pandemic. I grew up with radio being important, and I love storytelling. My siblings [in Colorado] feel the same way. This is a way for us to bond knowing that all three of us are listening on Sunday night. We usually have a quick conversation confirming that everyone will be tuning in, and we all get a glass of wine and enjoy the reading. It makes me feel very connected to my siblings in this time of social distancing." – Kate in Las Vegas, Nevada

“An engaging and dynamic conversation series around Ling Ma’s SEVERANCE. I love the range of perspectives included here, which highlight the many ways into this simultaneously multi-genre and genre-defying novel.” – LVGhost

“I spent my cooking and lounging time this weekend listening to the podcast -- catching up on episodes I missed live and reviewing those I'd heard before. Listening to the whole project (so far) straight through drove home for me what a great idea this was and what an excellent job you and the rest of the team have done with it. From conception through production and marketing, it's top notch, and I am proud to be involved.” –hk

“This is audio as community-building, as response to pandemic, as artful collaboration. It’s also just good, old-fashioned meaningful conversation about a terrific and meaningful book.” – Josh G.

Severance Radio airs every Sunday on the following stations:

LAS VEGAS: 7 PM at KUNV 91.5 FM | Stream it live from anywhere in the world: kunv.org/listen

RENO: Noon at KWNK 97.7FM | Stream it live from anywhere in the world: kwnkradio.org/listen

Missed the show? Catch a rebroadcast every Monday at 11 AM PT on KUNV 91.5 HD-2 and therebelhd2.com/live. Listen again on Wednesdays at 6 PM PT on KWNK 97.7FM and kwnkradio.org/listen.

Severance Radio: A Nevada Reads Book Club is jointly produced by Nevada Humanities and the Black Mountain Institute, and is part of Nevada Reads, a statewide program of Nevada Humanities. This program is made possible with the support of Nevada Humanities, Black Mountain Institute, Nevada State library, Archives and Public Records, The Institute of Museum and Library Services, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Nevada Center for the Book. The Nevada Center for the Book is a program of Nevada Humanities and is the state affiliate of the Center for the Book at the Library of Congress.

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