1 hr 1 min

Ep #17 - Davia Nelson - Kitchen Sisters Radio Full Expression

    • Music Interviews

Davia Nelson is a radio producer, screen writer and casting director. She began in radio as a DJ in high school in Los Angeles. She later attended UC Santa Cruz and began documenting the community through a series of oral history pieces. With her partner, Nikki Silva, Davia founded “The Kitchen Sisters,” one of the most lasting and prolific public radio production teams in modern history. Their NPR series include “Hidden Kitchens,” “Lost and Found Sounds,” the “Sonic Memorial Project,” “The Hidden World of Girls” and “The Keepers.” They have won 2 James Beard Awards, 2 Peabody Awards and the DuPont Columbia Award among others. Davia has also worked in the film industry as a casting director for Francis Ford Coppola, Wim Wenders and Wes Anderson, among others. She was a screenplay writer and producer of “Imaginary Crimes,” starring Harvey Keitel. In January 2022, the Library of Congress acquired The Kitchen Sisters' archive, includung more than 7,000 hours of audio recordings. 
I spoke with Davia about her lifelong journey as a sonic detective, her tips for conducting a great interview and why she believes storytelling is one of our most vital necessities.  

Davia Nelson is a radio producer, screen writer and casting director. She began in radio as a DJ in high school in Los Angeles. She later attended UC Santa Cruz and began documenting the community through a series of oral history pieces. With her partner, Nikki Silva, Davia founded “The Kitchen Sisters,” one of the most lasting and prolific public radio production teams in modern history. Their NPR series include “Hidden Kitchens,” “Lost and Found Sounds,” the “Sonic Memorial Project,” “The Hidden World of Girls” and “The Keepers.” They have won 2 James Beard Awards, 2 Peabody Awards and the DuPont Columbia Award among others. Davia has also worked in the film industry as a casting director for Francis Ford Coppola, Wim Wenders and Wes Anderson, among others. She was a screenplay writer and producer of “Imaginary Crimes,” starring Harvey Keitel. In January 2022, the Library of Congress acquired The Kitchen Sisters' archive, includung more than 7,000 hours of audio recordings. 
I spoke with Davia about her lifelong journey as a sonic detective, her tips for conducting a great interview and why she believes storytelling is one of our most vital necessities.  

1 hr 1 min