Best Of: Barbara Kingsolver on ‘Urban-Rural Antipathy’

This episode of the Ezra Klein Show features an interview with Barbara Kingsolver, the author of "Demon Copperhead," which won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. The conversation explores Kingsolver's Appalachian roots, her experiences growing up in Kentucky and living abroad, and the inspiration behind her novel. Kingsolver discusses the shame associated with being from Appalachia, the exploitation of the region by extractive industries, and the opioid epidemic's impact on children and communities. She emphasizes the importance of community in Appalachia, the need for understanding and compassion towards those struggling with addiction, and the economic factors contributing to the opioid crisis. The discussion also touches on the urban-rural divide in America and the lack of representation of rural communities in media.