Colson Whitehead’s ascent in the literary world has seemed, like much of what he does, impressively effortless. The hosts are joined by their fellow staff writer Julian Lucas, who recently profiled Whitehead for The New Yorker. On the page, Whitehead is a true Gen X ironist, transmitting heavy histories and themes with levity. Read, watch, and listen with the critics:“The Elusive Promise of the First Person” (The New Yorker)“The Nickel Boys,” by Colson Whitehead“Colson Whitehead’s Big Score,” by Julian Lucas (The New Yorker)“The Colossus of New York,” by Colson Whitehead“The Underground Railroad,” by Colson Whitehead“Sag Harbor,” by Colson Whitehead“Harlem Shuffle,” by Colson Whitehead“Cool Machine,” by Colson Whitehead“Why Bother?,” by Jonathan Franzen (Harper’s)“The Odyssey” (2026)“Who Owns the Odyssey?” to Do This,” by Colson Whitehead (The New York Times)“John Henry Days,” by Colson WhiteheadNew episodes drop every Thursday.