In celebration of Oscar Sunday, our conversation with actor Monica Barbaro. Her portrayal of Joan Baez in the Bob Dylan biopic, A Complete Unknown, earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress.

At the top, we discuss how director James Mangolddrew inspiration from Miloš Forman’s Amadeus (7:00), the vocal lessons Monica received in preparation for the role of Baez (10:15), and her affecting rendition of House of the Rising Sun (16:00). Then, we dive into Monica’s California upbringing (18:00), her pivot from dancing to professional acting (24:00), and the winding journey that led her to A Complete Unknown (29:00).

On the back-half, we talk about her breakout role in Top Gun: Maverick (38:00), her evolving relationship to perfectionism (39:30), the deep, autobiographical research she did to portray Joan Baez (42:00), and what she hopes for in the years to come (54:15).

Thoughts or future guest ideas? Email us at mail@talkeasypod.com.

In celebration of Oscar Sunday, our conversation with actor Monica Barbaro. Her portrayal of&nbsp;Joan Baez in the Bob Dylan biopic,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.searchlightpictures.com/a-complete-unknown">A Complete Unknown</a>, earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress.
At the top, we discuss how director James Mangold drew inspiration from Milo&scaron; Forman&rsquo;s Amadeus (7:00), the vocal lessons Monica received in preparation for the role of Baez (10:15), and her affecting rendition of House of the Rising Sun (16:00). Then, we dive into Monica&rsquo;s California upbringing (18:00), her pivot from dancing to professional acting (24:00), and the winding journey that led her to A Complete Unknown (29:00).
On the back-half, we talk about her breakout role in Top Gun: Maverick (38:00), her evolving relationship to perfectionism (39:30), the deep, autobiographical research she did to portray Joan Baez (42:00), and what she hopes for in the years to come (54:15).
Thoughts or future guest ideas? Email us at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:mail@talkeasypod.com">mail@talkeasypod.com</a>.

Talk Easy with Sam Fragoso is a weekly series of intimate conversations with artists, activists, and politicians. Where people sound like people. Hosted by Sam Fragoso. New episodes every Sunday.

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Actor Monica Barbaro (‘A Complete Unknown’) Takes the Stage as Joan Baez

In the first 100 years of The New Yorker, only five have edited the magazine. Since 1998, it’s been David Remnick at the helm, shepherding the publication into the 21st century. 

We discuss Zohran Mamdani’s mayoral win in New York City (3:24), the new documentary, The New Yorker at 100, chronicling the magazine’s evolution (11:00), how comedian Jon Stewart understands the rising influence of the podcast Manosphere (26:20), and the future of media (47:00).

Then, we turn to our first talk with Remnick from 2023, reflecting on the art that influenced him growing up in New Jersey (54:00) to his pathway to journalism at Princeton University (1:03:30) and his start at The Washington Post under the tutelage of legendary editor Ben Bradlee (1:09:00). We close with lessons from his early days running The New Yorker (1:14:30), why he cautions against despair (1:26:20), and a tribute to the creative longevity of musician Joni Mitchell (1:34:00).

Subscribe to our new YouTube channel. Thoughts or future guest ideas? Email us at mail@talkeasypod.com.

Get 50% off Monarch, the all-in-one financial tool at monarch.com with code TALKEASY. 

In the first 100 years of The New Yorker, only five have edited the magazine. Since 1998, it&rsquo;s been David Remnick at the helm, shepherding the publication into the 21st century.&nbsp;
We discuss Zohran Mamdani&rsquo;s mayoral win in New York City (3:24), the new documentary, <a href="https://www.netflix.com/watch/81770824?source=35">The New Yorker at 100</a>, chronicling the magazine&rsquo;s evolution (11:00), how comedian Jon Stewart understands the rising influence of the podcast Manosphere (26:20), and the future of media (47:00).
Then, we turn to our first talk with Remnick from 2023, reflecting on the art that influenced him growing up in New Jersey (54:00) to his pathway to journalism at Princeton University (1:03:30) and his start at&nbsp;The Washington Post under the tutelage of legendary editor Ben Bradlee (1:09:00). We close with lessons from his early days running The New Yorker (1:14:30), why he cautions against despair (1:26:20), and a tribute to the creative longevity of musician Joni Mitchell (1:34:00).
Subscribe to our new&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/@talkeasypod">YouTube channel</a>. Thoughts or future guest ideas? Email us at <a href="mailto:mail@talkeasypod.com">mail@talkeasypod.com</a>.
Get 50% off Monarch, the all-in-one financial tool at <a href="http://monarch.com">monarch.com</a> with code TALKEASY.&nbsp;

The New Yorker at 100 (with David Remnick)

What happens when a house is not a home? It's the question pulsating at the heart of the new film, Sentimental Value, and one that actor Renate Reinsve reckons with in the lead role of Nora.

We discuss her process connecting the ‘puzzle’ of each character (7:00), how she balances dark and light themes in this new film(8:20), and her creative childhood in Norway (12:00). Then, Renate describes how David Lynch’s Mulholland Drive impacted her as a young performer (20:20), her liberating teen years in Edinburgh (22:00), and how her longtime collaboration with writer-director Joachim Trier came to be—beginning with her supporting role in Oslo, August 31st (25:00).

On the back-half, she reflects on her early years in the theatre (36:20), how she recalibrated herself from stage to screen (39:15), and her spiritual tribute to the late Diane Keaton in The Worst Person in the World (42:53). To close, we talk about the final day on the set of Sentimental Value (49:40), her desires for the years ahead (55:00), and what it meant to bring her family to the film’s premiere at Cannes (58:39).

Subscribe to our new YouTube channel. Thoughts or future guest ideas? Email us at mail@talkeasypod.com.

What happens when a house is not a home? It's the question pulsating at the heart of the new film,&nbsp;Sentimental Value,&nbsp;and one that actor Renate Reinsve reckons with in the lead role of Nora.
We discuss her process connecting the &lsquo;puzzle&rsquo; of each character (7:00), how she balances dark and light themes in this new film (8:20), and her creative childhood in Norway (12:00). Then, Renate describes how David Lynch&rsquo;s Mulholland Drive impacted her as a young performer (20:20), her liberating teen years in Edinburgh (22:00), and how her longtime collaboration with writer-director Joachim Trier came to be&mdash;beginning with her supporting role in Oslo, August 31st (25:00).
On the back-half, she reflects on her early years in the theatre (36:20), how she recalibrated herself from stage to screen (39:15), and her spiritual tribute to the late Diane Keaton in The Worst Person in the World (42:53). To close, we talk about the final day on the set of Sentimental Value (49:40), her desires for the years ahead (55:00), and what it meant to bring her family to the film&rsquo;s premiere at Cannes (58:39).
Subscribe to our new&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/@talkeasypod">YouTube channel</a>. Thoughts or future guest ideas? Email us at <a href="mailto:mail@talkeasypod.com">mail@talkeasypod.com</a>.

Renate Reinsve Delivers the Performance of the Year in ‘Sentimental Value’

Following the success of The Worst Person in the World, writer-director Joachim Trier returns this fall with a candid family story in Sentimental Value.

We begin with the guiding words from writer Philip Roth (7:20), how Trier arrived at this intimate new film (8:40), and why he was drawn to father-daughter dynamics (his own, and others) in making this new project (10:00). Then, we talk about Joachim’s early observations growing up in Norway (25:00), why he prefers to be present with performers on set, rather than watching from a far-off monitor (32:00), and how he parlayed skating into his early work as a filmmaker (35:00).

On the back-half, Trier reflects on meeting longtime collaborator, screenwriter and director Eskil Vogt (37:00), the essayistic qualities of his sophomore film, Oslo, August 31st (40:00), and how that style fully solidified in Louder Than Bombs and The Worst Person in the World (42:00). To close, we revisit a recurring monologue in Sentimental Value (48:00), his last day on set with actor Renate Reinsve (50:00), and how director Martin Scorsese has inspired Trier to continue ‘stirring the sauce’ (56:00).

Subscribe to our new YouTube channel. Thoughts or future guest ideas? Email us at mail@talkeasypod.com.

Get 50% Off Monarch, the all-in-one financial tool at www.monarch.com/talkeasy.

Following the success of The Worst Person in the World, writer-director Joachim Trier returns this fall with a candid family story in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.neonrated.com/film/sentimental-value">Sentimental Value</a>.
We begin with the guiding words from writer Philip Roth (7:20), how Trier arrived at this intimate new film (8:40), and why he was drawn to father-daughter dynamics (his own, and others) in making this new project (10:00). Then, we talk about Joachim&rsquo;s early observations growing up in Norway (25:00), why he prefers to be present with performers on set, rather than watching from a far-off monitor (32:00), and how he parlayed skating into his early work as a filmmaker (35:00).
On the back-half, Trier reflects on meeting longtime collaborator, screenwriter and director Eskil Vogt (37:00), the essayistic qualities of his sophomore film, Oslo, August 31st (40:00), and how that style fully solidified in Louder Than Bombs and The Worst Person in the World (42:00). To close, we revisit a recurring monologue in Sentimental Value (48:00), his last day on set with actor Renate Reinsve (50:00), and how director Martin Scorsese has inspired Trier to continue &lsquo;stirring the sauce&rsquo; (56:00).
Subscribe to our new <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@talkeasypod">YouTube channel</a>. Thoughts or future guest ideas? Email us at <a href="mailto:mail@talkeasypod.com">mail@talkeasypod.com</a>.
Get 50% Off Monarch, the all-in-one financial tool at <a href="http://www.monarch.com/talkeasy">www.monarch.com/talkeasy</a>.

Actor Monica Barbaro (‘A Complete Unknown’) Takes the Stage as Joan Baez

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