This weekend, comedian Ramy Youssef released a powerful and personal new HBO special, More Feelings.

To commemorate the one-year anniversary of our first talk, we begin with a phone call with Ramy (5:35). Then, we dive into our talk from 2023, discussing the third season of his Hulu show Ramy (32:59), a timely scene from the show (35:46), and the questions that shaped it (39:37). Then, we walk through his coming of age as a first-generation Egyptian-American in New Jersey (42:28), his early forays into film (47:07), and the sketch inspired by his life-altering Bell’s palsy diagnosis (48:25).

On the back-half, we discuss Youssef's television debut in the sitcom See Dad Run (59:00), how he found his “essence” as a performer (1:00:54), and the politics of his stand-up comedy (1:03:50). To close, he describes the influences behind Ramy, from The Carmichael Show to Curb Your Enthusiasm (1:08:25), a philosophy that guides his work (1:14:58), and the future of the series (1:21:36).

For questions, comments, or to join our mailing list, reach me at sf@talkeasypod.com. This conversation was recorded at Spotify Studios in Los Angeles.

This weekend, comedian Ramy Youssef released a powerful and personal new HBO special, <a href="https://www.hbo.com/movies/ramy-youssef-more-feelings">More Feelings</a>.
To commemorate the one-year anniversary of our first talk, we begin with a phone call with Ramy (5:35). Then, we dive into our talk from 2023, discussing the third season of his Hulu show Ramy (32:59), a timely scene from the show (35:46), and the questions that shaped it (39:37). Then, we walk through his coming of age as a first-generation Egyptian-American in New Jersey (42:28), his early forays into film (47:07), and the sketch inspired by his life-altering Bell’s palsy diagnosis (48:25).
On the back-half, we discuss Youssef's television debut in the sitcom See Dad Run (59:00), how he found his “essence” as a performer (1:00:54), and the politics of his stand-up comedy (1:03:50). To close, he describes the influences behind Ramy, from The Carmichael Show to Curb Your Enthusiasm (1:08:25), a philosophy that guides his work (1:14:58), and the future of the series (1:21:36).
For questions, comments, or to join our mailing list, reach me at sf@talkeasypod.com. This conversation was recorded at Spotify Studios in Los Angeles.

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

Comedian Ramy Youssef Returns with ‘More Feelings’

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/705bbbd2-ad0c-4cb4-b703-b13d00880f0f/transcript

Today, actor and author Nick Offerman returns to the show! We call him up to unpack his latest role as a fictional president in Alex Garland’s Civil War (2:30), the function of the film’s politics (9:30), and a powerful poem by Wendell Berry (26:15).

Then, we turn to Offerman’s personal journey, beginning with his recent book Where the Deer and the Antelope Play(32:48), which was inspired by growing up in rural Minooka, Illinois (33:30) and his experiences with the late Sam Shepard at Steppenwolf Theatre (35:55).

Shortly after working with Shepard, Offerman began to find his footing—on and off the stage—as a performer, carpenter, and fight choreographer (39:48). He reflects on his galvanizing role in the film Going All the Way (42:37), the guiding principles of George Saunders (45:30), lessons from his sensei Shōzō Satō (52:10), the start of his nearly two-decade marriage with actress Megan Mullally (54:05), the phone call that changed his life (1:00:00), and the complicated legacy of Ron Swanson from Parks and Recreation (1:06:36). 

Then, before we go, we return to the timely (and urgent) message of his latest book (1:11:30), a piece by Jeff Tweedy (1:14:10), and words by Wendell Berry (1:16:45).

For questions, comments, or to join our mailing list, reach me at sf@talkeasypod.com.

Today, actor and author Nick Offerman returns to the show! We call him up to unpack his latest role as a fictional president in Alex Garland’s <a href="https://tickets.civilwar.movie/">Civil War</a> (2:30), the function of the film’s politics (9:30), and a powerful poem by Wendell Berry (26:15).
Then, we turn to Offerman’s personal journey, beginning with his recent book <a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/536915/where-the-deer-and-the-antelope-play-by-nick-offerman/">Where the Deer and the Antelope Play</a> (32:48), which was inspired by growing up in rural Minooka, Illinois (33:30) and his experiences with the late Sam Shepard at Steppenwolf Theatre (35:55).
Shortly after working with Shepard, Offerman began to find his footing—on and off the stage—as a performer, carpenter, and fight choreographer (39:48). He reflects on his galvanizing role in the film Going All the Way (42:37), the guiding principles of George Saunders (45:30), lessons from his sensei Shōzō Satō (52:10), the start of his nearly two-decade marriage with actress Megan Mullally (54:05), the phone call that changed his life (1:00:00), and the complicated legacy of Ron Swanson from Parks and Recreation (1:06:36). 
Then, before we go, we return to the timely (and urgent) message of his latest book (1:11:30), a piece by Jeff Tweedy (1:14:10), and words by Wendell Berry (1:16:45).
For questions, comments, or to join our mailing list, reach me at sf@talkeasypod.com.

Nick Offerman (‘Civil War’) Brings a Message of Hope

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/b533fc9f-2b1b-48dc-ae69-b1600025233d/transcript

Today, in honor of National Poetry Month, we’re returning to our conversation with Rupi Kaur. Her debut collection, milk and honey, turns 10 this year.

At the top of our conversation, Kaur reflects on her international tour (4:44), her childhood in Canada (13:05), how she processes trauma through writing (22:13), her college photo series on menstruation that went viral (23:33), and the self-published poetry collection (milk and honey)that followed (29:20). In the aftermath of this unexpected attention, Rupi speaks candidly on the emotional toll of the last decade (30:43) and how she reckons with her critics today (32:35), before reading a poem written in response to their harassment (41:09).

On the back-half, Rupi describes her powerful connection to her heritage (42:41), understanding her mother’s sacrifices (43:15), which she recounts in Broken English (45:52), and the ways in which her work has evolved (54:08). To close, she performs two personal pieces from home body (56:17) and shares why she’s ready to get back on the stage, doing what she loves to do (58:43).

For questions, comments, or to join our mailing list, reach me at sf@talkeasypod.com.

Today, in honor of National Poetry Month, we’re returning to our conversation with Rupi Kaur. Her debut collection, <a href="https://rupikaur.com/pages/milk-and-honey-10th-anniversary-edition">milk and honey</a>, turns 10 this year.
At the top of our conversation, Kaur reflects on her international tour (4:44), her childhood in Canada (13:05), how she processes trauma through writing (22:13), her college photo series on menstruation that went viral (23:33), and the self-published poetry collection (milk and honey) that followed (29:20). In the aftermath of this unexpected attention, Rupi speaks candidly on the emotional toll of the last decade (30:43) and how she reckons with her critics today (32:35), before reading a poem written in response to their harassment (41:09).
On the back-half, Rupi describes her powerful connection to her heritage (42:41), understanding her mother’s sacrifices (43:15), which she recounts in Broken English (45:52), and the ways in which her work has evolved (54:08). To close, she performs two personal pieces from home body (56:17) and shares why she’s ready to get back on the stage, doing what she loves to do (58:43).
For questions, comments, or to join our mailing list, reach me at sf@talkeasypod.com.

Poet Rupi Kaur: 10 Years of 'Milk and Honey'

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/3491dd15-0a10-4aee-b04d-b1590075168e/transcript

Actor Jeff Daniels is always writing. Plays, songs, a script or two. Even in interviews you get the sense the Michigan native is trying to relay the stories of his life in a way he’d find compelling as a reader, or listener. Bystander — as a viewer. 

He joins us this week around the latest chapter of his crime series American Rust(12:30), reprising his role as Police Chief Del Harris. It’s a performance inspired by his midwestern upbringing in Chelsea, Michigan (16:06) and the formative teachings of theater director Marshall W. Mason (21:20). Then, Daniels reflects on his arrival to New York City in 1976 (24:06), performing in Lanford Wilson’s play Fifth of July (27:20), and his early on-screen roles in Jonathan Demme’s Something Wild (31:10), Woody Allen’s The Purple Rose of Cairo (34:20), and Noah Baumbach’s The Squid and the Whale (44:20).

On the back-half, we walk through his years making The Newsroom (51:48), working with screenwriter (and then playwright) Aaron Sorkin (53:20), and how the two of them reimagined Atticus Finch and To Kill a Mockingbird for both Broadway (59:49) and what he calls “a country at a crossroads” (1:05:33). To close, we sit with the utility of good writing in this fraught era (1:10:30), and a musical tribute to his late father, Robert (1:15:32).

For questions, comments, or to join our mailing list, reach me at sf@talkeasypod.com. 

Actor Jeff Daniels is always writing. Plays, songs, a script or two. Even in interviews you get the sense the Michigan native is trying to relay the stories of his life in a way he’d find compelling as a reader, or listener. Bystander — as a viewer. 
He joins us this week around the latest chapter of his crime series <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/amzn1.dv.gti.ed5c00e5-14c1-4c8a-b7fb-907f1a3872be?autoplay=0&amp;ref_=atv_cf_strg_wb">American Rust</a> (12:30), reprising his role as Police Chief Del Harris. It’s a performance inspired by his midwestern upbringing in Chelsea, Michigan (16:06) and the formative teachings of theater director Marshall W. Mason (21:20). Then, Daniels reflects on his arrival to New York City in 1976 (24:06), performing in Lanford Wilson’s play Fifth of July (27:20), and his early on-screen roles in Jonathan Demme’s Something Wild (31:10), Woody Allen’s The Purple Rose of Cairo (34:20), and Noah Baumbach’s The Squid and the Whale (44:20).
On the back-half, we walk through his years making The Newsroom (51:48), working with screenwriter (and then playwright) Aaron Sorkin (53:20), and how the two of them reimagined Atticus Finch and To Kill a Mockingbird for both Broadway (59:49) and what he calls “a country at a crossroads” (1:05:33). To close, we sit with the utility of good writing in this fraught era (1:10:30), and a musical tribute to his late father, Robert (1:15:32).
For questions, comments, or to join our mailing list, reach me at sf@talkeasypod.com.

The Stories of Actor Jeff Daniels

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/991fc592-db3c-43dd-981b-b15200576f82/transcript

Comedian Ramy Youssef Returns with ‘More Feelings’

In 1 playlist(s)

Talk Easy with Sam Fragoso

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips