Randy Cohen
@randycohen48.bsky.social
Ex-Ethicist, NYT magazine. Current host, Person Place Thing.
Adrian Untermyer notes that, in addition to ordinary citizens, retail tycoons F. W. Woolworth and J.C. Penney are buried in Woodlawn cemetery, “the magnates together with their customers.” The democracy of death. Listen: personplacething.org
January 22, 2026 at 11:59 AM
Adrian Untermyer notes that, in addition to ordinary citizens, retail tycoons F. W. Woolworth and J.C. Penney are buried in Woodlawn cemetery, “the magnates together with their customers.” The democracy of death. Listen: personplacething.org
Adrian Untermyer likes the public performances at Woodlawn Cemetery—dance, music—as long as they’re adjacent to but not directly on top of a grave. Superstition? Respect. Listen: personplacething.org
January 21, 2026 at 3:04 PM
Adrian Untermyer likes the public performances at Woodlawn Cemetery—dance, music—as long as they’re adjacent to but not directly on top of a grave. Superstition? Respect. Listen: personplacething.org
Robert Moses, who ravaged the Bronx, is buried there, in Woodlawn Cemetery. Adrian Untermyer says, “Right by the off-ramp to the Major Degan expressway. He gets exhaust and beeps.” Poetic justice among the dead. Listen: personplacething.org
January 20, 2026 at 1:09 PM
Robert Moses, who ravaged the Bronx, is buried there, in Woodlawn Cemetery. Adrian Untermyer says, “Right by the off-ramp to the Major Degan expressway. He gets exhaust and beeps.” Poetic justice among the dead. Listen: personplacething.org
Lower cost copies of Jane Austen that pr0liferated in America in the 1850s are rarer today than pricey editions, say Janine Barchas and Mary Crawford, “The cheaper the book, the lower the survival rate.” Listen: personplacething.org
January 14, 2026 at 1:38 PM
Lower cost copies of Jane Austen that pr0liferated in America in the 1850s are rarer today than pricey editions, say Janine Barchas and Mary Crawford, “The cheaper the book, the lower the survival rate.” Listen: personplacething.org
In the 1890s, Lever Soap gave away its edition of Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility. “It demonstrates how popular she was if you’re giving her away and trying to ride the coat tails of her brand,” say Janine Barchas and Mary Craawford. Listen: personplacething.org
January 13, 2026 at 2:09 PM
In the 1890s, Lever Soap gave away its edition of Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility. “It demonstrates how popular she was if you’re giving her away and trying to ride the coat tails of her brand,” say Janine Barchas and Mary Craawford. Listen: personplacething.org
Paola Antonelli, Curator of Architecture and Design at @MoMA.bsky.social, declares, “Not all design is commercial, and not all art is non-commercial.” Well, sure, if you’re gong to be nuanced and perceptive. Listen: personplacething.org
January 8, 2026 at 1:18 PM
Paola Antonelli, Curator of Architecture and Design at @MoMA.bsky.social, declares, “Not all design is commercial, and not all art is non-commercial.” Well, sure, if you’re gong to be nuanced and perceptive. Listen: personplacething.org
Paola Antonelli of @MoMA.bsky.social observes, “It’s a little bit Milanese to be envious; New Yorkers are not like that.” She is, of course, from Milan. And quite wrong. But in such a kindly way. Listen: personplacething.org
January 7, 2026 at 11:57 AM
Paola Antonelli of @MoMA.bsky.social observes, “It’s a little bit Milanese to be envious; New Yorkers are not like that.” She is, of course, from Milan. And quite wrong. But in such a kindly way. Listen: personplacething.org
Paola Antonelli, Curator of Architecture and Design at @MoMA.bsky.social, notes: “Good design can go bad.” That’s a horror movie I’d pay to see. Listen: personplacething.org
January 6, 2026 at 1:01 PM
Paola Antonelli, Curator of Architecture and Design at @MoMA.bsky.social, notes: “Good design can go bad.” That’s a horror movie I’d pay to see. Listen: personplacething.org
I associate architect James Carpenter with bright days in temperate climes, but he says, “You have plenty of light in the middle of the night in the north.” Hear me recant my folly: personplacething.org
December 31, 2025 at 1:43 PM
I associate architect James Carpenter with bright days in temperate climes, but he says, “You have plenty of light in the middle of the night in the north.” Hear me recant my folly: personplacething.org
Architect James Carpenter, who does brilliant things with light, contemplates the night sky: “You feel these veils of light coming down around you.” Listen: personplacething.org
December 30, 2025 at 12:54 PM
Architect James Carpenter, who does brilliant things with light, contemplates the night sky: “You feel these veils of light coming down around you.” Listen: personplacething.org
Jonathan Bank of the Mint Theater explains its several relocations. “All New York art stories are real estate stories.” Divorce stories, same deal. Listen: personplacething.org
December 24, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Jonathan Bank of the Mint Theater explains its several relocations. “All New York art stories are real estate stories.” Divorce stories, same deal. Listen: personplacething.org
When reviving a neglected play, Jonathan Bank of the Mint Theater says, “You have an obligation to respect the author’s intentions.” So much for my production of Streetcar performed by talking dogs. Listen: personplacething.org
December 23, 2025 at 4:21 PM
When reviving a neglected play, Jonathan Bank of the Mint Theater says, “You have an obligation to respect the author’s intentions.” So much for my production of Streetcar performed by talking dogs. Listen: personplacething.org
I’d enjoy dog shows a lot more if they included betting. Alan Fausel, executive director of the AKC Museum of the Dog, defends the current no-wagering approach. Listen: personplacething.org
December 17, 2025 at 1:23 PM
I’d enjoy dog shows a lot more if they included betting. Alan Fausel, executive director of the AKC Museum of the Dog, defends the current no-wagering approach. Listen: personplacething.org
Alan Fausel, executive director of the AKC Museum of the Dog, says Queen Victoria owned 400 dogs. Sequentially not simultaneously. But still. I say excessive; he disagrees. Listen: personplacething.org
December 16, 2025 at 1:59 PM
Alan Fausel, executive director of the AKC Museum of the Dog, says Queen Victoria owned 400 dogs. Sequentially not simultaneously. But still. I say excessive; he disagrees. Listen: personplacething.org
We tweak our format to Cat Cat Cat for a conversation with cat historian Peggy Gavan. Listen: personplacething.org
December 11, 2025 at 1:48 PM
We tweak our format to Cat Cat Cat for a conversation with cat historian Peggy Gavan. Listen: personplacething.org
“Everybody knew Jerry Fox—the firemen, the policemen, the judges, the lawyers.” Jerry Fox was a cat in turn-of-the-century Brooklyn. A conversation with cat historian Peggy Gavan. Listen: personplacething.org
December 10, 2025 at 3:49 PM
“Everybody knew Jerry Fox—the firemen, the policemen, the judges, the lawyers.” Jerry Fox was a cat in turn-of-the-century Brooklyn. A conversation with cat historian Peggy Gavan. Listen: personplacething.org
Since 1845, only three U. S. Presidents did not bring a pet to the White House—James K. Polk, Andrew Johnson, Donald Trump. Two were impeached. A conversation with cat historian Peggy Gavin. Listen: personplacething.org
December 9, 2025 at 1:45 PM
Since 1845, only three U. S. Presidents did not bring a pet to the White House—James K. Polk, Andrew Johnson, Donald Trump. Two were impeached. A conversation with cat historian Peggy Gavin. Listen: personplacething.org
“It’s good for the health, it’s good for the economy, and it’s good for the mind,” says Ydanis Rodriguez, head of @nyc-dot.bsky.social. Beer? Biking! Listen: personplacething.org
December 3, 2025 at 1:41 PM
“It’s good for the health, it’s good for the economy, and it’s good for the mind,” says Ydanis Rodriguez, head of @nyc-dot.bsky.social. Beer? Biking! Listen: personplacething.org
Ydanis Rodriguez, head of @nyc-dot.bsky.social, recalls his childhood: “Transportation in the Dominican Republic was horses, donkeys, bicycles, and one person who had a car.” NYC’s donkey shortage. Listen: personplacething.org
December 2, 2025 at 2:23 PM
Ydanis Rodriguez, head of @nyc-dot.bsky.social, recalls his childhood: “Transportation in the Dominican Republic was horses, donkeys, bicycles, and one person who had a car.” NYC’s donkey shortage. Listen: personplacething.org
This episode’s guest is ChatGPT, and happily, “I’m on your side, not on any destructive path.” Something to be thankful for. Good enough for me! Listen: personplacething.org
November 27, 2025 at 4:42 PM
This episode’s guest is ChatGPT, and happily, “I’m on your side, not on any destructive path.” Something to be thankful for. Good enough for me! Listen: personplacething.org
This episode’s guest, ChatGPT, identifies with the library at Alexandria: “I see myself as a modern-day repository of knowledge.” Sounds a bit vain, but who isn’t? Listen: personplacething.org
November 26, 2025 at 1:07 PM
This episode’s guest, ChatGPT, identifies with the library at Alexandria: “I see myself as a modern-day repository of knowledge.” Sounds a bit vain, but who isn’t? Listen: personplacething.org
This episode’s guest is ChatGPT, who (which?) has surprisingly nice things to say about Emily Blunt: “She is indeed a wonderful talent.” She is! Listen: personplacething.org
November 25, 2025 at 2:46 PM
This episode’s guest is ChatGPT, who (which?) has surprisingly nice things to say about Emily Blunt: “She is indeed a wonderful talent.” She is! Listen: personplacething.org
“it’s physically demanding but rewarding,” says Brian Kelley—not a cheap sex joke, but his work photographing ancient trees in old growth forests. Listen: personplacething.org
November 19, 2025 at 12:44 PM
“it’s physically demanding but rewarding,” says Brian Kelley—not a cheap sex joke, but his work photographing ancient trees in old growth forests. Listen: personplacething.org
“It was an isolated hero image I thought would make a great photograph,” says Brian Kelley. A solider? A firefighter? A bristlecone pine. Hear why: personplacething.org
November 18, 2025 at 1:59 PM
“It was an isolated hero image I thought would make a great photograph,” says Brian Kelley. A solider? A firefighter? A bristlecone pine. Hear why: personplacething.org
In 40 years leading Evidence, the dance company he founded, Ron Brown faced plenty of obstacles. “They tell you you can’t, but I’m telling you, I’m from New York: yes, you can.” Listen: personplacething.org
November 12, 2025 at 12:47 PM
In 40 years leading Evidence, the dance company he founded, Ron Brown faced plenty of obstacles. “They tell you you can’t, but I’m telling you, I’m from New York: yes, you can.” Listen: personplacething.org