The Stories of Actor Jeff Daniels
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…
Actor and Director Dev Patel is a Leading Man
Actor Dev Patel has pursued interesting, complex roles in Hollywood since his arrival in Slumdog Millionaire fifteen years ago. He joins us today to discuss Monkey Man, his directorial debut and most personal project to date. At the top, we walk through the Hindu mythology that inspired the film (…
Director M. Night Shyamalan: A Talk from 'Development Hell'
Today we're sharing two special conversations, featuring our friends at Revisionist History. First, Malcolm Gladwell joins Sam to discuss "Development Hell," a new series about the untold stories of Hollywood that never left the page (2:00). Then, we turn to Gladwell's recent sit-down with direct…
Comedian Ramy Youssef Returns with ‘More Feelings’
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:…
Pushkin Hosts Celebrate World Happiness Day
The Happiness Lab’s Dr. Laurie Santos brings together other Pushkin hosts to mark the International Day of Happiness. Revisionist History’s Malcolm Gladwell talks about the benefits of the misery of running in a Canadian winter. Dr. Maya Shankar from A Slight Change of Plans talks about quieting he…
How Do We Think About the 2024 Election?
Writer Evan Osnos (The New Yorker, CNN) has been interviewing Joe Biden on and off for the past decade. He recently profiled the 46th President ahead of his State of the Union, offering a rare (and revealing) portrait of the elder statesman from Pennsylvania. In act one, we outline the state and …
Oscar Sunday with Composer Ludwig Göransson (‘Oppenheimer’)
To celebrate Oscar Sunday, we're returning to our talk with Oppenheimer composer Ludwig Göransson! To begin, Göransson describes the collaborative process with director Christopher Nolan (6:48), the instrument at the heart of the film (9:30) and its hauntingly beautiful theme (11:06). Then, we wal…
From the Oscar Archives: Cate Blanchett
For over twenty-five years, Cate Blanchett has been as vital as any performer we have. In the lead-up to this Sunday's 96th annual Academy Awards, we're returning to our special talk with Cate. To begin, we unpack her femme fatale turn in Nightmare Alley (6:06), the way director Guillermo del Toro…
Dispatches from a Gaza Hospital (with Dr. Seema Jilani)
As we enter month six of the Israel-Hamas war, a dispatch from Dr. Seema Jilani. She’s provided critical aid in the West Bank for nearly two decades, and recently returned from Gaza working with the IRC (the International Rescue Committee) to offer humanitarian support and medical assistance. At t…
A Cup of Coffee with Actor Kyle MacLachlan (‘Twin Peaks’)
In celebration of Dune’s 40th anniversary, we have a damn fine cup of coffee with actor (and now podcaster) Kyle MacLachlan. We discuss his new true crime podcast Varnamtown (7:08), MacLachlan’s small-town upbringing (15:36), and what inspired him to pursue acting after college (18:15) before land…