This Podcast Will Kill You Special Episode: Wendy Chin-Tanner & King of the Armadillos
Jul 15, 2025
Wendy Chin-Tanner, author and sociologist, shares insights from her novel, King of the Armadillos, which draws from her father's experiences with Hansen's disease. The discussion touches on the stigma of leprosy, the vibrant community formed in Carville, and how personal histories shape narratives. Wendy highlights the complexities of illness, advocacy, and resilience against societal fears, weaving a heartfelt tale of connection and memory through her creative process. Tune in for an inspiring journey through forgotten public health history.
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Choosing Fiction for Truth
- Wendy initially resisted fiction but chose it to creatively explore her father's experience during the pandemic with him nearby.
- Fiction let her humanize Victor fully and explore music and family beyond factual confines.
Music as Healing and Growth
- Victor's discovery of music represents self-healing and reintegration beyond trauma and illness.
- Wendy connected her poetic background to empathize deeply with Victor's growth as a musician.
Return to Carville Reveals Truth
- A 2016 trip to Carville with her father deepened Wendy's understanding of his experience.
- Patients were advised to forget Carville to reintegrate, revealing institutionalized stigma despite support services.
