Musician Kevin Abstract (founding member of BROCKHAMPTON) joins us today! With the release of “Roadrunner: New Light, New Machine,” we unpack how Kevin and the group arrived at this new record. Under the comfort of his sunglasses, Kevin talks about falling back in love with music during the pandemic (5:25), despite struggling with success (8:50) and self-acceptance (12:13). He also discusses the radical act of speaking his truth on Papercut (14:15), the power of representation (17:56), and the music video that jump-started BROCKHAMPTON’s ascendency (21:30). Then, before we go, Kevin speaks openly about the mounting pressures to perform (25:48), the joys of collaborating with Dominic Fike on Peach (29:54), the healing nature of “Roadrunner” (36:07), and where he hopes the group goes from here (40:34). 

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Musician Kevin Abstract (founding member of BROCKHAMPTON) joins us today! With the release of “Roadrunner: New Light, New Machine,” we unpack how Kevin and the group arrived at this new record. Under the comfort of his sunglasses, Kevin talks about falling back in love with music during the pandemic (5:25), despite struggling with success (8:50) and self-acceptance (12:13). He also discusses the radical act of speaking his truth on Papercut (14:15), the power of representation (17:56), and the music video that jump-started BROCKHAMPTON’s ascendency (21:30). Then, before we go, Kevin speaks openly about the mounting pressures to perform (25:48), the joys of collaborating with Dominic Fike on Peach (29:54), the healing nature of “Roadrunner” (36:07), and where he hopes the group goes from here (40:34).  Learn more about your ad-choices at <a href="https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com">https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com</a>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.

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.

Where people sound like people, since 2016.

Talk Easy with Sam Fragoso

Kevin Abstract: New Light, New Machine

Michelle Zauner (Japanese Breakfast) has long turned to music to make sense of the past. Today, she joins us to unpack all of the emotional terrain covered in her latest album, For Melancholy Brunettes (& sad women).

We discuss the literary (6:08) and musical (7:32) influences that shaped the new record, her transformative year spent living and writing in Korea (13:12), and the daily diary she kept while abroad (15:44). We then celebrate her late mother (18:56), her exploration of identity in Crying in H Mart (23:19), and the song “Heft” born out of that ongoing grief (29:49).

On the back half, Zauner recounts her breakout performance at SXSW (35:30) and unpacks her evolving relationship with her father in the wake of her mother’s passing (43:17), her plans for a second book (56:40), and how she’s coming into her own on this latest world-wide tour (58:02).

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

This episode was recorded at Spotify Studios.

Michelle Zauner (Japanese Breakfast) has long turned to music to make sense of the past. Today, she joins us to unpack all of the emotional terrain covered in her latest album, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/4qqdOkr3Ff3kN8GxoxvRES?go=1&amp;sp_cid=ff27999843332076d0986b51b6605bf3&amp;utm_source=embed_player_p&amp;utm_medium=desktop&amp;nd=1&amp;dlsi=e2fd14bdce0042d4">For Melancholy Brunettes (&amp; sad women)</a>.
We discuss the literary (6:08) and musical (7:32) influences that shaped the new record, her transformative year spent living and writing in Korea (13:12), and the daily diary she kept while abroad (15:44). We then celebrate her late mother (18:56), her exploration of identity in <a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/612676/crying-in-h-mart-by-michelle-zauner/">Crying in H Mart</a> (23:19), and the song &ldquo;Heft&rdquo; born out of that ongoing grief (29:49).
On the back half, Zauner recounts her breakout performance at SXSW (35:30) and unpacks her evolving relationship with her father in the wake of her mother&rsquo;s passing (43:17), her plans for a second book (56:40), and how she&rsquo;s coming into her own on this latest world-wide tour (58:02).
Thoughts or future guest ideas? Email us at mail@talkeasypod.com.
This episode was recorded at Spotify Studios.

Michelle Zauner (Japanese Breakfast) is Creating a Language of Her Own

Since his bestselling novelOn Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeousdebuted in 2019, Ocean Vuong has become one of the most beloved writers of his generation. He first sat with Sam in 2021 amid the pandemic.

Today, Vuong returns to discuss the personal history within his latest novel, The Emperor of Gladness—a piece of fiction that draws from the contours of his own coming-of-age in East Hartford, Connecticut (5:43). We begin with the class dynamics at the heart of the book (9:27), the surrogate family he found working at Boston Market (21:22), and his formative college years in New York City (28:18).

On the back half, we walk through how Ocean’s work continues to honor the memory of his late mother (36:48), the devastating impact of the opioid crisis (41:40), and his own journey to sobriety (45:03). To close, Vuong reflects on the childlike wonder behind his poem “Dear Sara” fromTime Is a Mother (1:04:52), why he still loves teaching creative writing (1:18:30), and how all of these experiences deliver him back to the page, each and every day (1:26:00).

Watch our conversation on YouTube. Thoughts or future guest ideas? Email us at mail@talkeasypod.com.

Since his bestselling novel<a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/600633/on-earth-were-briefly-gorgeous-by-ocean-vuong/9780525562047/"> On Earth We&rsquo;re Briefly Gorgeous</a> debuted in 2019, Ocean Vuong has become one of the most beloved writers of his generation. He first sat with Sam<a href="https://talkeasypod.com/ocean-vuong/"> in 2021</a> amid the pandemic.
Today, Vuong returns to discuss the personal history within his latest novel, <a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/752232/the-emperor-of-gladness-oprahs-book-club-by-ocean-vuong/9780593831878/">The Emperor of Gladness</a>&mdash;a piece of fiction that draws from the contours of his own coming-of-age in East Hartford, Connecticut (5:43). We begin with the class dynamics at the heart of the book (9:27), the surrogate family he found working at Boston Market (21:22), and his formative college years in New York City (28:18).
On the back half, we walk through how Ocean&rsquo;s work continues to honor the memory of his late mother (36:48), the devastating impact of the opioid crisis (41:40), and his own journey to sobriety (45:03). To close, Vuong reflects on the childlike wonder behind his poem &ldquo;Dear Sara&rdquo; from<a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/689930/time-is-a-mother-by-ocean-vuong/"> Time Is a Mother</a> (1:04:52), why he still loves teaching creative writing (1:18:30), and how all of these experiences deliver him back to the page, each and every day (1:26:00).
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZqOGX_kdNo">Watch our conversation</a> on YouTube. Thoughts or future guest ideas? Email us at mail@talkeasypod.com.

Writer Ocean Vuong’s Vision of the Future

Even before Jelani Cobb became Dean of the Columbia Journalism School, he was an educator. His reportage at The New Yorker (where he’s been writing about race and politics since 2012), steeped in history. And yet not even Cobb could’ve been prepared for what he’s described as a “harrowing” year in academia.

On the heels of graduation week at Columbia, Cobb joins us for a wide-ranging discussion about the climate on campuses across the country (5:17), the Trump administration’s sustained attacks on higher education (9:07), and the “potentially unlawful” detainment of student activist Mahmoud Khalil (15:57). Then, Cobb speaks to the challenges of public trust in journalism (30:35), “the beneficial workplace” he hopes to cultivate in newsrooms (39:39), and why young journalists continue to inspire him (45:45).

On the back-half, Jelani reflects on the five years since the murder of George Floyd (55:55), the fleeting corporate activism of 2020 (1:01:05), the importance of understanding Civil Rights history (1:06:13), and why he’s determined to continue telling stories in “dangerous times” (1:10:30).

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

Even before Jelani Cobb became Dean of the Columbia Journalism School, he was an educator. His reportage at The New Yorker (where he&rsquo;s been writing about race and politics since 2012), steeped in history. And yet not even Cobb could&rsquo;ve been prepared for what he&rsquo;s described as a <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2025/06/02/a-tumultuous-spring-semester-finally-comes-to-a-close">&ldquo;harrowing&rdquo; year in academia</a>.
On the heels of graduation week at Columbia, Cobb joins us for a wide-ranging discussion about the climate on campuses across the country (5:17), the Trump administration&rsquo;s sustained attacks on higher education (9:07), and the &ldquo;potentially unlawful&rdquo; detainment of student activist Mahmoud Khalil (15:57). Then, Cobb speaks to the challenges of public trust in journalism (30:35), &ldquo;the beneficial workplace&rdquo; he hopes to cultivate in newsrooms (39:39), and why young journalists continue to inspire him (45:45).
On the back-half, Jelani reflects on the five years since the murder of George Floyd (55:55), the fleeting corporate activism of 2020 (1:01:05), the importance of understanding Civil Rights history (1:06:13), and why he&rsquo;s determined to continue telling stories in &ldquo;dangerous times&rdquo; (1:10:30).
Thoughts or future guest ideas? Email us at mail@talkeasypod.com.

Kevin Abstract: New Light, New Machine

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