‘Articulate’ uncovers artistic talent with host Jim Cotter

It’s a big leap forward. Season four of “Articulate,” the Emmy Award-winning public television series, comes to Arizona PBS on Sundays at noon beginning Oct. 7. The arts show, hosted by Jim Cotter, has an all star lineup for fall 2018. Over thirteen episodes, get to know authors, dancers, sculptors, poets, musicians, a world famous conductor and an award-winning architect.

The show’s creators have a knack for uncovering talent. Executive producer Tori Marchiony interviewed Hayley Kiyoko before her MTV Video Music Award. Get to know a NASA physicist turned origami expert, a dictionary writer, and a master stonecutter.

We check back with guest Josh Radnor, star of “How I Met Your Mother” and half of the band Radnor & Lee. The weekly public television magazine show explores how creative thinkers help shape our understanding of the world.

Cotter caught up with the internationally acclaimed conductor Yannick Nézet-Séguin in Israel. “We chased him halfway across the world and he literally lives across the street from Articulate’s studios in Philadelphia.”

The band They Might Be Giants released their 20th album “I Like Fun” earlier this year.

Priscilla Renea penned big hits for acts including Rihanna, Fifth Harmony and Demi Lovato. “She’s a successful songwriter but she’s relatively unknown,” explains Cotter. “She’s well established as a writer, and there’s no good reason why she doesn’t perform more.”

Articulate isn’t just about the music. Bestselling author David Sedaris reveals secrets he’s never shared anywhere else. Pritzker Prize-winning architect Balkrishna Doshi discusses his guiding philosophy. “Forget the architecture,” says Cotter. “Doshi lived the life he was supposed to lead. He lived his beliefs.”

Oct. 7

“The Outsiders”
David Sedaris finally gets what he’s always wanted. Singer-songwriter Priscilla Renea is indefatigable, and she’s doing things her way. Jeffrey Gibson’s life and work are profoundly shaped by his Native American origins.

Oct. 14

“It’s All Between Their Ears”
Olivia Laing’s writing explores the aspects of life that are most difficult to put into words. Bill Fontana finds musical potential in everything. Merrill Garbus of Tune-Yards quiets the destructive voices in her head.

Oct. 21

“Redefining Possible”
When countertenor Anthony Roth Costanzo sings, he confounds expectations of how a man should sound. Long before Kory Stamper started writing dictionaries, she was just a kid in love with language. Former NASA physicist Robert J. Lang finds a natural fit for his mathematical mind in the ancient art of origami.

Oct. 28

“Roads Less Traveled”
Loss has shaped Tracy K. Smith’s perspective: as a poet, and as a person. Composer David Lang may be a Pulitzer Prize winner, but he’ll always think like an outsider. Open Mike Eagle calls his music “art rap” – a new style of humor-infused, socially aware hip-hop.

Nov. 4

“Journeys in Time & Space”
There’s an epic poem that has survived re-reading longer than the Bible and Shakespeare – but why? In high school, Kaki King was too scared to have actual relationships…but she could be in your band. Writing a graphic memoir about her family’s journey from war-torn Vietnam helped Thi Bui heal.

Nov. 11

“As If by Fate”
Erika Sanchez writes for young adults who are like she was at their age – a complex, confused outsider. Masatoshi Izumi’s family’s relationship with stone goes back hundreds of years. Misery may love company, but Shawn Colvin isn’t picking up the phone.

Nov. 18

“The Wildest Dreamers”
Taylor Mac prefers his theater flawed. Readers never want to leave Holly Black’s fantastic, enchanted realms. Vieux Farka Toure was drawn to music because of his father, but pursued it in spite of him.

Dec. 9

“‘Articulate’ in San Francisco”
Marc Bamuthi Joseph is a master wordsmith and a curator of ideas. He discusses his quest for a better world and shares the poems he hopes might help us get there.

Dec. 16

“Unique Perspectices”
Yannick Nezet-Seguin is one-of-a-kind in the world of conducting. Type designer Tobias Frere-Jones disagrees with your first-grader teacher. Hayley Kiyoko’s “overnight success” was a lifetime in the making.

Dec. 23

“Experiments Gone Right”
Pritzker Prize-winning architect Balkrishna Doshi learned a lot about his craft as a bedridden 10-year-old. Actor/writer/director Josh Radnor and singer-songwriter Ben Lee were friends for a decade before they decided to make music together. Amy Seiwert is constantly pushing against boundaries-seen and unseen.

Dec. 30

“The Seekers”
On first listen, the music of They Might Be Giants can come across as lighthearted, even glib. Don’t be fooled. Sylvia Plath should be remembered as more than a poster girl for despair. An artist falls in love with an engineer. Perspectives shift.

Jan. 13

“‘Articulate’ in Philadelphia”
Cellist David Finckel’s life is filled with love for his instrument, for his wife and collaborator, Wu Han, and for the music he shares with us all.

Jan. 20

“Halloween”
Goth appears to our dark side; but even in the shadows, there is light. H.P Lovecraft’s intergenerational legacy of horror. Humanity’s greatest fear is not the unknown. It’s the certainty of our own mortality.

Jan. 27

“Black History Month”
For STS, wordplay is a way of life. Moe Brooker has stared down adversity but says he’s also been lucky. Dindga McCannon, “art quilting” pioneer.