Quiara Alegría Hudes on "The White Hot"

January 09, 2026 00:29:09
Quiara Alegría Hudes on "The White Hot"
51 Percent
Quiara Alegría Hudes on "The White Hot"

Jan 09 2026 | 00:29:09

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Show Notes

On this week's 51%, we speak with author and playwright Quiara Alegría Hudes about her debut novel, The White Hot. Hudes is the Pulitzer-Prize winning playwright of Water by the Spoonful and the musical In the Heights, which she also adapted for the screen. The White Hot takes the form of a letter written by a mom to her 18-year-old daughter, explaining — but not apologizing for — why she suddenly abandoned her nearly a decade prior. WAMC’s Sarah LaDuke speaks with Hudes about why she decided to write the tale, an unflinching exploration of one mom’s rage and journey toward self-discovery.

Guest: Quiara Alegría Hudes, playwright and author of The White Hot

51% is a national production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio in Albany, New York. Jesse King is our producer and host. Our associate producer is Madeleine Reynolds, and our theme is "Lolita" by the Albany-based artist Girl Blue. 

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