"How do our ancestors' 'taboos' affect our own lives and perspectives today? What do we choose to share and what do we keep hidden?" Lauren Schiller
"How do our ancestors' 'taboos' affect our own lives and perspectives today? What do we choose to share and what do we keep hidden?" Lauren Schiller
Lauren Schiller
Lauren Schiller is an award-winning audio producer, live event moderator, and author. She has created numerous podcasts and radio shows—including the nationally syndicated Inflection Point, about how women build power and lead change. Her new book, “It’s a Good Day to Change the World: Inspiration and Advice for a Feminist Future,” co-authored with Hadley Dynak, explores what it takes to achieve an equal, just, and joy-filled world. Lauren moderates live events for City Arts & Lectures, the Commonwealth Club, Cal Performances, and the Jewish Community Center of San Francisco. Find Lauren’s interviews at inflectionpointradio.org.
Part #2 - LABA PROJECT
winter 2023
RELATIVITY
audio story
LABA fellow Lauren Schiller and her brother Michael I Schiller, both award-winning radio producers, share an excerpt from their latest collaboration, “MONA.” Get a glimpse into the life of their great-aunt, a charismatic, powerful show-woman who built her life by breaking every rule. This will be the third installment in their audio series work-in-progress, Relativity, in which they investigate the myths, legends and cultural significance of the stories they grew up with. Lauren and Michael will share the genesis of the series, play an excerpt of the episode, and probably demonstrate a little sibling ribbing.
“Return, rebellious children” (Hagiga 15a)
Part #1 - Explore
Spring 2023
We are 1/3 through the year-long LABA fellowship. Tell me what you are thinking so far about the theme of TABOO and your current project idea inspired by it.
In this project, called “Relativity”, I team up with my brother Michael I Schiller (of Reveal) to investigate the family stories we grew up with. In a series of episodes, we explore the family myths and legends that take us through surprising and pivotal moments in history–from the birth of the modern art movement in New York City in the 1930s to the Warhol Factory, and the psychedelic summer of love; from first-wave feminism and the labor movement, to the invention of television.
We apply an investigative journalism lens to cultural narratives. We use archival tape and conduct new interviews to discover how those closest to us have shaped our culture and affected our lives: with betrayal, redemption, separations, fame, money, rivalry, blindspots, sacrifice, humiliation, inspiration and love.
Each of the stories in this series features someone who broke a taboo. Our relatives were punished, rewarded, or both, as a result of their culture-shifting history-making behavior. How do our ancestors' “taboos” affect our own lives and perspectives today? What do we choose to share and what do we keep hidden? Is taboo...relative?
Photo from Lauren Schiller featuring her and her brother
