In this episode of Words on a Wire, host Will Rose speaks with writer Andrew Bertaina about his book-length essay, Ethan Hawke and Me, which was inspired by Richard Linklater's acclaimed Before trilogy. Blending memoir, literary criticism, and cultural reflection, Bertaina explores how the films shaped his understanding of romance, relationships, marriage, divorce, and the often complicated journey into adulthood.

Their conversation ranges from the enduring appeal of Before Sunrise, Before Sunset, and Before Midnight to the role art plays in helping us make sense of our lives. They also discuss writing, memory, creative ambition, and the ways books and films can become companions through different stages of life.

Andrew Bertaina is the author of One Person Away From You, The Body Is A Temporary Gathering Place, and The Way We Find Each Other.

Artificial intelligence is transforming the way we work, raising difficult questions about expertise, creativity, and the future of professional life. In this episode of Words on a Wire, host Will Rose speaks with Chris Walker, author of The Frequency Era, about his argument that society is entering a new economic age.

Walker contends that as information becomes increasingly abundant through AI, the qualities that make us uniquely human become more valuable. Drawing on history, psychology, neuroscience, and economics, he explores why creativity, judgment, discernment, emotional resilience, and human connection may emerge as the defining skills of the future.

In this episode of Words on a Wire, host Daniel Chacón sits down with actor, director, and The University of Texas at El Paso theater professor Jay Stratton for a wide-ranging conversation about creativity, performance, teaching, and life in the arts. Stratton reflects on his years as a working actor in New York City, his journey from business student to theater artist, and the realities of building a career in regional theater. Along the way, the discussion expands into larger questions about storytelling, boredom, childhood imagination, academia, parenting, and the pressures of modern productivity. Thoughtful, funny, and deeply personal, the episode explores how art shapes the way we connect with community, culture, and ourselves.