On this episode of Uncle Dan’s Story Hour, “Racism”. Writer Dan Wakefield and Guest Host Cy Bennett of Keep Indianapolis Beautiful, talk with powerful guests Tasha Jones, Author Aleta Hodge, Cindy Booth of Child Advocates, and Pam Blivens-Hinkle of Spirit and Place.

On this episode of Uncle Dan’s Story Hour, “New York in the 50s” Writer Dan Wakefield and Host Will Higgins of the Indy Star talk with composer/musician David Amram about living in New York in the 50s and what it was like to collaborate with Jack Kerouac. Recorded live at the Jazz Kitchen.

View more about Under The Apple Tree and Dan’s other books

On this episode of Uncle Dan’s Story Hour:

• Dan Wakefield tells of The Emmett Till Murder Trial
• Hear James Baldwin of “I Am Not Your Negro” film speak on justice
• Dan Wakefield speaks of his friendship with James Baldwin
• Guests include: Attucks star Bill Hampton, newly inducted into Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame, and Pat Payne, IPS director of “Racial Equity” program

Mark tells us about what it was like growing up with Kurt as a father before he became a cultural icon, when Kurt was piecing a living together selling Saabs, and was turned down for teaching an English Course at Cape Cod Community College.

More importantly, he talks frankly about his problems with mental illness, as he does in his memoirs The Eden Express and more recently Just Like Someone Without Mental Illness, Only More So, which involves starting a commune in British Columbia, taking mescaline before and acid during the commune days and ending up in a mental hospital in Canada, and later getting into Harvard medical school. He later had 3 other mental “breaks” but has survived and carries on his work as pediatrician in Boston.

This should be heard by the following people:

• Lovers of the work of Kurt Vonnegut
• People who are or want to be writers, painters or musicians
• People who have ever been mental patients or fear they may be
• Relatives of people with mental problems
• People who want to know about the effects of drugs.

On this episode of Uncle Dan’s Story Hour. Seekers of the Spirit. Writer Dan Wakefield, Guest host Anne Ryder, Butler University Professor and author Hilene Flanzbaum, and Managing Director of the Desmond Tutu Center Waseema Ali, share personal stories of spirituality and faith. Recorded live at the legendary red key tavern.

On this episode of Uncle Dan’s Story hour, Writing from Dangerous places. Writer Dan Wakefield and his friends, Will Higgins of the Indianapolis Star and author Doug Wissing, share stories while on assignment in the Middle East about playing tennis with a high ranking Iraqi general, and interviewing Golda Meier. Recorded live at the legendary Red Key Tavern.

Take a step back in time with author and screenwriter, Dan Wakefield and his friends for Uncle Dan’s Story Hour. Recorded live at the legendary Red Key Tavern. Hear stories about Dan’s hit novel and movie “Going All The Way”, attending Shortridge in the 50s, and his friendship with Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. Uncle Dan invites us into his world and his love affair with Indianapolis.