Want to create an interactive transcript for this episode?
Podcast: The Atlantic Out Loud
Episode: Patti Smith’s Lifetime of Reinvention
Description: Nearing 80, the punk poet reflects on the twists in her story that have surprised even her.
By Amy Weiss-Meyer
From the December 2025 issue.
Get more from your favorite Atlantic voices when you subscribe. You’ll enjoy unlimited access to Pulitzer-winning journalism, from clear-eyed analysis and insight on breaking news. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices