Here & Now Anytime

Author Tommy Orange confronts the phenomenon of 'pretendians'

Here & Now Anytime

Show Notes

Cheyenne author Tommy Orange found out that one of his favorite Indigenous writers wasn't actually Indigenous. Then, he interviewed him. Orange shares what he learned and the long history of "pretendians," non-Indigenous people claiming to be Indigenous.

Then, Brian Frange, who calls apples the "greatest fruit to grace the earth," has made it his calling to rank and re-rank at least 100 varieties of the fruit, based on 10 criteria, including density, skin, flesh, crispness, beauty and, of course, taste. Frange joins us to talk about his rankings, the unlikely origins of the apple, and the fact that planting the seeds from any variety of apple will produce a new species, making grafting the only way to produce known apple types.

See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.

NPR Privacy Policy

More from Here & Now Anytime

Oct 23, 2026

Axios' Margaret Talev and Kansas Public Radio's Jim McLean discuss the dividing lines in Kansas where President Trump campaigned this week. They also unpack the fallout from a political advertisement in the Ohio gubernatorial race that's being called one of the ugliest of the midterm election cycle.

Oct 22, 2026

In recent days, President Trump exempted Russia from new sanctions and agreed to buy Russian diesel. This newfound favorable attitude toward Russia has heightened concerns about the impact on Ukraine.

Oct 21, 2026

Utah is suing Kalshi, the prediction market company, accusing the platform of gambling, which is illegal in the state. Utah's Attorney General Derek Brown tells us about the lawsuit.

Oct 20, 2026

An ‘October surprise’ is a scandal or newsmaking event that can influence voters just weeks before Election Day. Princeton University professor Julian Zelizer looks back at historic October surprises since the term was coined in the 1980s and before.

Oct 19, 2026

The economy is a leading issue for voters this November, but other top issues vary compared to previous midterm elections, according to Pew Research Center. Pew's director of research Jocelyn Kiley tells us more.

See all episodes →