Episode 101 - C.J. Farley - Who Knows You By Heart
Kicking off Season 11 and Black History Month- This conversation could not be more timely. Part social thriller, part modern love story, Who Knows You by Heart by CJ Farley is a sly, witty, and endlessly discussable tale of Big Tech, new money, relationships, race, and discovering what's real in an age of artificial intelligence. C.J. (Christopher John) Farley is a Jamaican-born author, journalist, and editor known for works spanning fiction, YA, and biography, including Before the Legend: The Rise of Bob Marley and Aaliyah: More Than a Woman . A Harvard graduate and former Time and Wall Street Journal editor, his novels often explore race, technology, and culture, such as Game World and Who Knows You By Heart . Key Details and Accomplishments: Background: Born in Kingston, Jamaica, and raised in Brockport, New York. He is a Harvard University graduate and former editor of the Harvard Lampoon . Literary Work: Novels: Game World (fantasy adventure), Around Harvard Square (NAACP Image Award winner), Zero O'Clock (pandemic-themed YA), Kingston By Starlight , and My Favorite War . Non-Fiction/Biographies: Before the Legend: The Rise of Bob Marley (Hurston/Wright Legacy Award finalist) and Aaliyah: More Than a Woman . Latest Work: Who Knows You By Heart (2025/2026), a novel exploring AI, race, and relationships. Journalism & Editorial Career: Worked as a music critic for Time magazine, senior editor for The Wall Street Journal , and executive editor at Audible. He has interviewed artists like Beyoncé, Prince, and Taylor Swift. Other Roles: Currently serves in leadership for arts programming and development at PBS and was a consulting producer on the HBO documentary Mr. Dynamite: The Rise of James Brown .