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Al Letson      

Peabody Award-Winning Radio Host, Spoken Word Artist, Playwright

Al Letson is an American poet, playwright, performer, journalist, and radio and podcast host. Since 2013, he's been the host of Reveal from the Center for Investigative Reporting and PRX. Before that, he created and hosted the show "State of the Re:Union", distributed by National Public Radio and PRX .

Letson credits comic books with teaching him how to read and helping him conquer dyslexia. He's worked on two independent comic books, "Imperfect" and "Planetfall".

The first pilot of "Reveal" received a Peabody and went into full production in 2014. Letson went on to become the full-time host of the program which is currently heard on over 400 public radio stations. In 2016, Letson began hosting his own story "Podcast, Errthang Show!"

Speech Topics

Bayard Rustin: The Untold Story of a Civil and Gay Rights Pioneer

August 28th, 1963 will forever be tied to Martin Luther King Jr.'s hallowed "I Have a Dream" speech. This historic moment would probably have never come to fruition if it weren't for a man standing in King's shadow, Mr. Bayard Rustin. Rustin was a man with a number of seemingly incompatible labels: black, gay, Quaker... identifications that served to earn him as many detractors as admirers. Although he had numerous passions and pursuits, his most transformative act, one that certainly changed the course of American history, was to counsel MLK on the use of non-violent resistance. Al Letson takes the audience to a specific time in history that shapes the way we live now.

State of the Re:Union

State of the Re:Union is a public radio show that seeks to unify its audience by telling the stories of real people through an innovative exploration of a city, detailing how things come together and what pulls them apart. While many of today's media outlets highlight the divisions and conflicts that separate us, State of the Re:Union stands apart--bringing something new to radio and multimedia by exploring the resonating themes, stories, challenges and cultural components that create communities across the country. Viewers and listeners are taken on this uplifting journey by award-winning poet, playwright and Public Radio Talent Quest winner Al Letson, who weaves spoken word into his soul-stirring storytelling.

News

A Manifesto On Diversity In Public Media
The host of the award-winning programs State of the Re:Union and Reveal shares his ideas about making public radio sound more like America.

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