The Patron and the Panhandler
Fifty years after Joseph Mitchell published “Joe Gould’s Secret” in The New Yorker, one last question about Gould—the identity of his anonymous benefactor—is answered.
How The Beatles Went Viral
In the Winter of 1964, the Fab Four rocket to superstardom in just six weeks.
Prying Eyes
Photographer Trevor Paglen makes art out of government secrets.
Hear Jonah Weiner discuss this article on the Longform Podcast.
The Longform Guide to Loners
Chris McCandless, Ida Wood, Sly Stone and more—a collection of stories that go inside the lives of outsiders.</p>
Who Killed Gonzalo Ramirez?
In 1995, Ramirez allegedly raped Patricia Esparza. He was tortured and killed weeks later. Now she’s charged with his murder. Is she responsible?
Saving eBay
How a small team of 20-somethings helped spark a $50 billion turnaround.
What’s the Point If We Can’t Have Fun?
Humans play. So do animals. Perhaps that’s why we’re all here.
"The Eagle Has Landed"
The behind-the-scenes story of how NFL prospect Michael Sam came out.
Young, Loud, and Snotty
A barely drinking-age Green Day profiled shortly after the release of Dookie.
India’s Golden Chance
How the next generation of Indian women could break the country’s cycle of early motherhood and forced marriage.
The Sochi Project
Since 2007, when they first heard that “the Florida of Russia” was being awarded the Winter Olympics, two Dutch journalists have been documenting everyday life in Sochi and how it has changed in the run-up to the Games.
The Big Book of Black Quarterbacks
The stories of the 109 black men who have played quarterback in the NFL, from Fritz Pollard to Russell Wilson.
Interview: Philip Glass
“When society becomes unhinged, the arts get really good.”
Deep Inside Baz Luhrmann’s Creative Chaos
In between projects, the director searches for “that next soul-nourishing gig.”
Playboy Interview: The Beatles
On fame, making money and agnosticism.
Remember This
Inside the minds of two people, one with the world’s best memory and one with the world’s worst.
The Fight to Live
The angry last days of Ty Cobb.
Sponsored
Sponsor: OZY
Our sponsor this week is OZY, a new kind of media site. OZY doesn't just catch you up on the news, it vaults you ahead. Every day, OZY offers up short, thoughtful profiles of "the new and the next" — new people, places, things, trends and ideas that you won't be reading about anywhere else for months.
On top of that, every morning OZY sends out the Presidential Daily Brief, a great newsletter giving you a smart, sharp snapshot of the top 10 stories you absolutely need to know today. Curated by OZY's team of editors all around the world — and sometimes by luminaries such as Bill Gates and Tony Blair — the Presidential Daily Brief is a super easy way to find out what happened, why it matters, and what's next. Subscribe today.
The Rise and Fall and Rise and Fall of Terrance Roberts
A respected anti-gang crusader shoots and paralyzes another man.
Into the Pines
Jeffrey Holliman was deep in debt and out of options. So he took to the woods outside his small East Texas town. Then he started taking from his neighbors.
Ariel Levy is a staff writer at The New Yorker.
"I like an older awesome lady, I don't think enough is written about older awesome ladies and I don't think there are enough role models for younger awesome ladies. It’s great fun hanging out with an older awesome lady. It’s inspiring. And it makes you think 'Jesus, I might be rocking it when I’m 80!'"
Thanks to TinyLetter and ProFlowers for sponsoring this week's episode.
The Loneliness of Vladimir Putin
The Russian president has crushed all dissent, but he’s more vulnerable than ever.
Wikipedia: Voynich Manuscript
An illustrated codex, hand-composed in an unknown writing system.
Who Killed the Jeff Davis 8?
After eight women are murdered in Louisiana, what was initially thought to be the work of a serial killer becomes something much more troubling.
Inside the Iron Closet: What It's Like to Be Gay in Putin's Russia
The coordinated government attack on queer Russia.
