Podaroo

What do you see when you close your eyes?

Hello, Nina!

I was just looking at your Wikipedia page, and saw that your husband, a trauma surgeon, treated you for injuries on your honeymoon after you were hit by a boat propeller. I live on the water, and being hit by a boat propeller is one of my biggest fears. No question relating to that, but it may be the most romantic thing I've read. A man who can save you from a boat propeller is my kind of man!

As for questions, I've read that you left college after three years, and never finished your degree. As someone who struggled in college (and is still paying for those years I spent struggling), I'm wondering -- what purpose do you think college should serve? Is there a right way to do it? And inside or outside of a traditional academic setting, what are some of the best ways to get an education?

Thanks! And I'm with you on the value of education. Once I got through my tumultuous undergrad years, I went on to grad school and became a librarian. But I've always been interested in what makes school work or not for people -- as someone who loves learning, stumbling through my college years was both disconcerting and humbling.

I've seen you play here in San Francisco twice -- once at a smallish club in my old neighborhood (The Independent) and once at the Fillmore. Both were great shows, but I preferred the smaller venue -- it was just more intimate and a tremendously high energy show.

Do you have a preference? Is it harder to connect with the audience at larger shows, or does the combined energy of the crowd make it even better? More importantly, when are you coming back?

What's going on in Myanmar? How ingrained are the ethnic conflicts there? Do you feel optimistic about the continued release of political prisoners?