50 Cent Interviews

No, this post is not about a bullet-riddled rap mogul (though I do feel an odd camaraderie with Fiddy), but rather about NPR's Alex Chadwick and his poignant and impromptu interview series known as Interviews 50 Cents. Chadwick sets up shop in high-traffic areas with a card table, two mics and a sign that reads "Interviews 50 ¢." He then conducts brief interviews with anyone who sits down. According to this, Chadwick got the idea from Lucy's "Psychiatric help" booth in Peanuts.

Apparently I'm about a decade late to the party. This series is not new, but Slate is now posting a few of the interviews.

In the video below, a smartly-dressed man talks about cleaning up his life after being homeless and addicted to crack. The best part about this interview style is that neither person knows exactly where the conversation is going.

Watch more two quarter interviews at SlateV.com.