Interviews
From his early days interviewing national leaders on C-SPAN, Brian has spent four decades in conversation with artists, activists, public intellectuals, political leaders, and everyday people on six continents.
Each interview is an exploration of the essential truths and “real stories” behind surface narratives.
With Electric Memories, Brian extends this work into a personal process—documenting and bringing to life your defining moments and passages.
Computer scientist & internet entrepreneur, Brewster Kahle
Surmountable
“I think the ‘Eureka!’, the broader realization, was that the Internet is so important to us, not just as a cable TV replacement, it is the way that we live our lives. And those trying to seek control over the Internet ran into a strongly held belief that we have to keep this thing open,…
Jorge Fuentes, Congressman
WAR: The Afterparty
“The conditions of the time of Jacobo Árbenz are the same now. I understand that the North American government is the leader of the world. The world needs a leader. It’s a good leader. It has a philosophy of human rights. But the people in the CIA, the State Department, the embassies, their history is…
Activist and Adbusters co-founder, Kalle Lasn
Surmountable
“It was the time of the Arab Spring and we decided that the moment was right for something to happen in America as well. A special moment after the 2008–2009 financial troubles. Young people were really disillusioned. They had their university degrees and were still getting nowhere. They felt the future doesn’t compute for them.…
Lonely Planet’s longtime guide author, Joe Cummings
Full Moon over Koh Phangan
“It was the first series for those who traveled on a budget and off the beaten track. You could use any guide and figure out a way to make it, but this was going to obscure places, not the main tourist routes, and closer to local cultures.”
Leading Islamic scholar and mullah, Dr. Ayaz Niazi
WAR: The Afterparty
“You started our conversation by asking me about Islam. Islam totally differs from what these Muslims are doing today. Those Taliban, radical groups, they have their personal ideas. You should ask them why are they doing such things. Is what they are doing in the holy Quran, did Allah say so, to kill people, to…
Jazz Musician, Ron Carter
Six days at Ronnie Scott's
“When Bill plays with a trio, or quartet – me, Herbie and him, or Donald Harrison, him and I – he uses a smaller drum set. I admire him for realizing his normal kit is not necessary for this trio gig. Don’t need that stuff for certain size ensembles.”
Lakota Historian, LaDonna Brave Bull Allard
Surmountable
“I’m not a frontline person. Before the camps, I was doing historic tours, lectures about the history of Sitting Bull, about all the chiefs, about our culture, our way of life. When the camp started, I contacted everybody I knew from all parts of the world that, “Hey, this is happening.”
Fredrik Brannlund, Finally Together Founder
Electric Memories
“We have the technology, perhaps more expensive than sustainable at this point, to be able to build a city which demonstrates this same thing. That is, giving back more than it takes from nature. The idea is to build a little city knowing that you’re surrounded by other people living on the premise of giving…