Much like the staggering beauty of her voice, Audra McDonald is impossible to ignore. The only artist to sweep all four acting categories at the Tony’s, she’s the most decorated Broadway star of all time. Reviews of her award-winning performances overflow with accolades, describing her stage presence as “spellbinding,” “haunting,” and “genius.” But for the California native, things haven’t always been easy. She talks to Alec about getting into Juilliard, making it on Broadway, and the suicide attempt that helped shape who she is today.

Originally aired July 25, 2017

Much like the staggering beauty of her voice, Audra McDonald is impossible to ignore. The only artist to sweep all four acting categories at the Tony&rsquo;s, she&rsquo;s the most decorated Broadway star of all time. Reviews of her award-winning performances overflow with accolades, describing her stage presence as &ldquo;spellbinding,&rdquo; &ldquo;haunting,&rdquo; and &ldquo;genius.&rdquo; But for the California native, things haven&rsquo;t always been easy. She talks to Alec about getting into Juilliard, making it on Broadway, and the suicide attempt that helped shape who she is today.
Originally aired July 25, 2017

Award-winning actor Alec Baldwin takes listeners into the lives of artists, policy makers and performers. Alec sidesteps the predictable by going inside the dressing rooms, apartments, and offices of people we want to understand better: Ira Glass, Lena Dunham, David Letterman, Barbara Streisand, Tom Yorke, Chris Rock and others. Hear what happens when an inveterate guest becomes a host.

Award-winning actor Alec Baldwin takes listeners into the lives of artists, policy makers and performers.  Alec sidesteps the predictable by going inside the dressing rooms, apartments, and offices of people we want to understand better: Ira Glass, Lena Dunham, David Brooks, Roz Chast, Chris Rock and others. Hear what happens when an inveterate guest becomes a host.

Here's The Thing with Alec Baldwin

From the Archives: Audra McDonald is the "Luckiest Survivor in the World"

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/ec5234b0-4bfc-452e-8ba9-b24900269108/transcript

For more than four decades, Jeffrey Sachs has been a leading voice in global economics and advising governments from Bolivia and Poland to Russia, China, and India. A Harvard graduate with three economics degrees, Sachs became a tenured Harvard professor at just 28 and spent more than two decades teaching at the university before joining Columbia University, where he now serves as University Professor and Director of the Center for Sustainable Development. Sachs has served as a special advisor to three United Nations Secretaries-General, helped launch the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, and played a pivotal role in shaping the UN Sustainable Development Goals. He is also the author of more than a dozen books, including the New York Times bestseller The End of Poverty. In recent years, Sachs has emerged as one of the most outspoken critics of American foreign policy. In this wide-ranging conversation, he reflects on his extraordinary career, the evolution of American politics and global leadership, and how the United States' role in the world has changed since he first entered the international stage.

For more than four decades, Jeffrey Sachs has been a leading voice in global economics and advising governments from Bolivia and Poland to Russia, China, and India. A Harvard graduate with three economics degrees, Sachs became a tenured Harvard professor at just 28 and spent more than two decades teaching at the university before joining Columbia University, where he now serves as University Professor and Director of the Center for Sustainable Development. Sachs has served as a special advisor to three United Nations Secretaries-General, helped launch the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, and played a pivotal role in shaping the UN Sustainable Development Goals. He is also the author of more than a dozen books, including the New York Times bestseller The End of Poverty. In recent years, Sachs has emerged as one of the most outspoken critics of American foreign policy. In this wide-ranging conversation, he reflects on his extraordinary career, the evolution of American politics and global leadership, and how the United States' role in the world has changed since he first entered the international stage.

Jeffrey Sachs on a Career at the Center of Global Affairs

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/3124787e-5fac-4f46-aeee-b4fd013e0581/transcript

Singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Todd Rundgren is in a class all his own. Whether scoring Top 40 hits, playing all of the instruments on his albums or wildly experimenting with musical genres, Rundgren is continuously pushing the boundaries of creativity. That ethos and ingenuity can be found in his numerous solo albums from the 70s to present day, with his band Utopia and as a record producer for musicians like Patti Smith, The Psychedelic Furs and MeatLoaf. The trailblazing Rundgren is also a pioneer in computer technology and multimedia – creating the first color graphics tablet, first interactive album and first interactive concert tour. Todd Rundgren tells Alec how he pulls off making the music he wants to make, how he almost changed careers to become a computer programmer and how psychedelics helped him rethink music completely. 

You can listen to all of the music from this episode and other selections from Todd Rundgren in a curated playlist here.

Originally released May 23rd, 2022. 

Singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Todd Rundgren is in a class all his own. Whether scoring Top 40 hits, playing all of the instruments on his albums or wildly experimenting with musical genres, Rundgren is continuously pushing the boundaries of creativity. That ethos and ingenuity can be found in his numerous solo albums from the 70s to present day, with his band Utopia and as a record producer for musicians like Patti Smith, The Psychedelic Furs and MeatLoaf. The trailblazing Rundgren is also a pioneer in computer technology and multimedia &ndash; creating the first color graphics tablet, first interactive album and first interactive concert tour. Todd Rundgren tells Alec how he pulls off making the music he wants to make, how he almost changed careers to become a computer programmer and how psychedelics helped him rethink music completely.&nbsp;
You can listen to all of the music from this episode and other selections from Todd Rundgren in a curated playlist <a href="https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7Go33qEy2ldi6CY1yjFMH3?si=a871980a0b924a62&amp;nd=1&amp;utm_medium=organic&amp;_branch_referrer=H4sIAAAAAAAAA7WNSwrCMBRFV5MO%2B0lKP0IRUasTF%2BBInmlrY59JzGeQ3ZsKLkG4g8u9HM7snLabLLNaOTGFFLROUcgl22qjBs9dp%2FQoE0LLySPevMFuXhHCdoT2Meud%2FmiuXnHSCAGFdbHWJ8XY%2BxgoDqLaX4vw7C9nRlhvBWEHaOqibXLI7y0toaJfDSDegS9%2FVhFaySHuRTKN4LwZO2UeIAX%2FAAboxcURAQAA&amp;product=open&amp;%24full_url=https%3A%2F%2Fopen.spotify.com%2Fplaylist%2F7Go33qEy2ldi6CY1yjFMH3%3Fsi%3Da871980a0b924a62&amp;feature=organic&amp;_branch_match_id=306473021444063971">here</a>.
Originally released May 23rd, 2022.&nbsp;

From the Archives: Todd Rundgren

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/3315f232-7481-4513-b3e8-b4f60173eb13/transcript

Lou Gramm is a legendary singer and songwriter best known as co-founder and original frontman of Foreigner. Gramm is considered among the greatest and most successful rock vocalists of his generation. He co-wrote many of Foreigner's hits with bandmate Mick Jones. Together, they were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame class of 2013 and in 2024, Gramm was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Foreigner. Gramm is the voice behind hit songs such as “Juke Box Hero”, “Urgent", and “I Want to Know What Love Is”. In March 2026, Gramm released his first full-length solo album since 1989. Paired with this conversation is Here’s The Thing’s 2017 conversation with another legendary singer-songwriter: Jon Anderson. The co-founder of the progressive rock band Yes and renowned for his unmistakable vocals and songwriting, Anderson is the voice behind timeless hits including “Roundabout,” “Owner of a Lonely Heart,” and “I've Seen All Good People”. In 2017, Anderson was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame with Yes. With a career spanning more than five decades, Anderson continues to tour worldwide.

Lou Gramm is a legendary singer and songwriter best known as co-founder and original frontman of Foreigner. Gramm is considered among the greatest and most successful rock vocalists of his generation. He co-wrote many of Foreigner's hits with bandmate Mick Jones. Together, they were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame class of 2013 and in 2024, Gramm was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Foreigner. Gramm is the voice behind hit songs such as &ldquo;Juke Box Hero&rdquo;, &ldquo;Urgent", and &ldquo;I Want to Know What Love Is&rdquo;. In March 2026, Gramm released his first full-length solo album since 1989. Paired with this conversation is Here&rsquo;s The Thing&rsquo;s 2017 conversation with another legendary singer-songwriter: Jon Anderson. The co-founder of the progressive rock band Yes and renowned for his unmistakable vocals and songwriting, Anderson is the voice behind timeless hits including &ldquo;Roundabout,&rdquo; &ldquo;Owner of a Lonely Heart,&rdquo; and &ldquo;I've Seen All Good People&rdquo;. In 2017, Anderson was inducted into the Rock &amp; Roll Hall of Fame with Yes. With a career spanning more than five decades, Anderson continues to tour worldwide.

The Hitmakers: Foreigner’s Lou Gramm and Yes’ Jon Anderson

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/866681b2-2407-493e-8ce8-b4ef016e2df0/transcript

From the Archives: Audra McDonald is the "Luckiest Survivor in the World"

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