Episodes
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To commemorate his 30th birthday, Abbi Jacobson interviews Sam!
They talk about Sam's early days in journalism (8:00), his Almost Famous-like experience as a teenage film critic (10:30), making Talk Easy and how the show evolved post-pandemic (13:15), and the email from the late Roger Ebert that changed his life (22:30).
On the back-end, they discuss Abbiâs annual birthday questions (28:00), why Samâs episode with filmmaker Werner Herzog has stayed with her (31:57), and how he approaches asking hard questions on Talk Easy (36:43). To close, a passage from Sam's debut episode with Don Cheadle (45:28) and a philosophy captured in his short film Sebastian (53:20).
Listen to our first conversation with Abbi Jacobson from 2022.
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To start, Sam sits with another week in American life, before returning to our timely conversation with Congressman Maxwell Frost (FL-10).
At the top, we discuss the five-year aftermath of the horrific shooting at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida (10:29), his first two months in office as the first Gen-Z Congressman (12:10), and the legislature heâs fighting for to reduce gun violence (17:14). Then, we walk through his impassioned response to the Sandy Hook shooting (19:40), how it cemented his early commitment to politics (26:17), and embracing his Afro-Cuban identity as an adopted child (30:15).
On the back half, Frost reflects on his road to Congress (37:58), the connection he shares with his biological mother (41:00), the blend of grassroots organizing and policy-making he leads with today (49:22), and the progress he hopes to see in the years to come (57:40).
Original air date: February 26, 2023.
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This week, our guest is trailblazing filmmaker Lee Daniels.
At the top, we discuss his fifteen-year journey to the new Netflix film The Deliverance (5:00), Danielsâ relationship to spirituality (9:16), and his memories of directing theatre at eight-years-old (14:55). Then, we dive into the therapeutic quality of filmmaking (17:14), his work as a casting director at Warner Brothers in the 80s (19:48), and what it meant for Daniels to manage young performers like Morgan Freeman and Loretta Devine (23:38).
On the back-half, he unpacks the tumultuous process of making his award-winning film Precious (32:00), the projects that followed in The Paperboy and The Butler (39:30), the rise of Empire and his paradigm-shifting work in Hollywood (41:10), the peace that guided him to make his new film (46:10), and what motivates him to keep working (50:31).
Thoughts or future guest ideas? Email us at [email protected].
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Since 1989 (Sex, Lies, and Videotape), filmmaker Steven Soderbergh has been a pioneering voice in American cinema. Part free-wheeling iconoclast, part exacting technician.
Today, we return to our conversation with the legendary artist. First, Soderbergh describes his process making No Sudden Move amid the pandemic (8:38), his ability to push past creative blocks (14:34), the importance of 1998âs Out of Sight (31:00), the seismic impact of his late mentor, Mike Nichols (27:28), and how a formative moviegoing memory (28:48) informed his ideas on the role of storytelling (32:43). Before we goâ Steven speaks candidly on the future of movies (39:20) and his role in them (41:13).
This episode originally aired June 27th, 2021. To hear our latest talk with Sean Fennessey, listen here. Thoughts or future guest ideas? Email us at [email protected].
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Weâre so back at the movies⊠with head of content at The Ringer and co-host of The Big Picture, Sean Fennessey!
At the top, Sam and Sean discuss Sean Wangâs DĂŹdi (8:52), the father-daughter story at the heart of M. Night Shyamalanâs Trap (15:52), and why the documentaries Brats (19:39) and Faye (22:35) make the perfect weekend watch.
Then, they talk about the real-life story behind A24âs Sing Sing (27:45), what Borderlands reveals about post-strike Hollywood (29:57), the anticipation building around Sean Bakerâs triumphant upcoming feature Anora (32:13), Jason Reitmanâs Saturday Night (33:17), Joshua Oppenheimerâs apocalyptic musical film The End (35:49), and James Mangoldâs A Complete Unknown (37:17).
On the back-half, we dive into Seanâs childhood in Long Island (43:37), his early writing at Ithaca College (44:15), working at Complex Magazine in the mid-aughts (53:00), his pivot to Grantland (1:02:10), launching The Ringer (1:15:50), his on-mic personality on The Big Picture (1:11:50), the future of his podcast(s) (1:18:31), and why he remains optimistic about the film industry (1:27:09).
This conversation was recorded at Spotify Studios. Thoughts or future guest ideas? Email us at [email protected].
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Whatâs the difference between an interview and a first date? For the past decade, Amelia Dimoldenberg has been walking that fine line on her hit YouTube series, Chicken Shop Date. The premise is in the title: filmed at various chicken establishments across London, the show features a series of funny (sometimes awkward) âdatesâ with everyone from Paul Mescal to Billie Eilish.
To celebrate the 10th anniversary of her beloved series, Amelia and Sam have a cup of tea to discuss her recent sit-down with Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds (5:00), her upbringing in London (7:20), and how Mary-Kate and Ashley inspired the young creative ambitions (11:10) that lead to Chicken Shop Date (17:17). We also highlight a few pivotal episodes of the show with rapper Ghetts (24:50), actor Daniel Kaluuya (32:10), and documentarian Louis Theroux (32:52).
On the back-half, we unpack Dimoldenbergâs comedy influencesâfrom Amy Poehler in Parks and Recreation to Zach Galifianakisâ Between Two Ferns (36:34), how she continues to expand her reach as an independent creator (43:00), why the âanti-interviewâ genre has come into vogue (49:12), and what she hopes for in the decade to come (1:02:12).
For questions, comments, or to join our mailing list, drop us a line at [email protected].
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Vinson Cunningham has been a staff writer at The New Yorker for the past eight years, covering theater, television, and politics. He joins us this week to unpack his personal debut novel Great Expectations.
At the top, we discuss the state of the US election (5:00), the emergence of the new Democratic ticket in Kamala Harris and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (10:00), and the fickleness of internet hype (15:00). Then, Cunningham explains how his new book dovetails with his time working on Barack Obamaâs 2008 Presidential campaign (19:00), his process writing fiction (30:00), and his early memories of getting involved in politics (35:30).
On the back-half, we talk about Vinsonâs upbringing in the church (38:00), the role of faith in his life (47:00), and his personal feelings about divine intervention (57:00), both in politics and on the heels of a tragic personal loss (1:01:40). To close, he shares a moving piece of his review of Hamlet (1:07:00), reflects on his growth over the past year (1:15:00), and reveals why this moment for Kamala Harris gives him hope for his daughters (1:22:00).
This conversation was recorded at Spotify Studios and Condé Nast. Thoughts or future guest ideas? Email us at [email protected].
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Last fall, Zadie Smith published her prescient historical novel The Fraud. We return to our conversation with the beloved author this week, on the heels of our latest sit-down with writer Taffy Brodesser-Akner.
At the top, Smith details her most recent book (7:48), her instinctive writing process (13:37), and the role of projection in her work (20:08). Then, Zadie reflects on her upbringing in North West London (23:48), the art that influenced her growing up (26:42), and the media circus that followed the publication of her debut novel, White Teeth (31:28).
On the back-half, we discuss her desire to frequently reinvent herself as an artist as a writer (41:53), why she prioritized pleasure after her book On Beauty (45:24), her evolving relationship to humanism (48:06), the nuanced politics of her work (54:13), a striking passage from Intimations (1:01:56), and what she sees in this next generation of novelists (1:04:55).
This conversation was recorded at Spotify Studios. Thoughts or future guest ideas? Email us at [email protected].
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Taffy Brodesser-Akner (âFleishman Is in Troubleâ) is a staff writer at The New York Times, where she covers everything from The Eras Tour to Tom Hanks.
She joins us today to unpack her new book Long Island Compromise (7:30), its central questions about wealth, trauma, and inheritance (11:58), and the real-life crime that inspired the story (12:52). Then, we dive into the process of writing a novel (15:17), a formative passage from the book (24:31), and Brodesser-Akner's memories of growing up in between Brooklyn and Long Island (29:54).
On the back-half, she describes her work as a journalist (40:14), profiling Nicki Minaj (45:38) and Bradley Cooper (45:54), how those experiences propelled her to write Fleishman Is in Trouble (46:20), her reflections while writing about Taylor Swift (54:05), and the transformational power of storytelling (1:04:07).
Thoughts or future guest ideas? Email us at [email protected].
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Today, we're revisiting our special conversation with actor Tom Hanks.
We begin by discussing his debut novel, The Making of Another Major Motion Picture Masterpiece (5:58), his nomadic upbringing across California (13:28), and the Stanley Kubrick film that made him want to be an artist (19:40). Then, we talk about his early work at the Great Lakes Shakespeare Festival (24:00) and moving to Los Angeles for his television debut in Bosom Buddies (28:30), before pivoting to dramatic roles in films like Philadelphia and Forrest Gump (32:44).
On the back-half, Hanks describes the transformative, eight-year process of making Cast Away (39:00), receiving an AFI Lifetime Achievement award for his work at age forty-six (41:35), the vital performances that followed (42:40), and his insatiable desire to reflect the human experience (46:23).
To close, Hanks reflects on the kinship he found with Yankee hall of famer Joe DiMaggio (59:08), his formative friendships with actor Holland Taylor (52:30) and the late Nora Ephron (54:40), and the Cecil B. DeMille story he hopes to keep telling (55:50).
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This week, on the heels of our live show with Julia Louis-Dreyfus, weâre presenting a special conversation from her podcast Wiser Than Me.
The episode features award-winning author Isabel Allende (The Wind Knows My Name). They discuss motherhood, falling in love again in her seventies, an influential piece of advice by writer Elizabeth Gilbert, and how Allende remains present in her life and work.
Find more episodes of Wiser Than Me through Lemonada Media.
To hear Julia on Talk Easy, listen here. The episode is also available to watch on YouTube. Thoughts or future guest ideas? Email us at [email protected].
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Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Seinfeld, Veep) is a national treasure with more primetime Emmys than any performer in the history of television. Then thereâs her latest decade in film: two collaborations with Nicole Holofcener (Enough Said and You Hurt My Feelings) along with a devastating turn in the heart-rending fairytale from A24, Tuesday. Her range is unparalleled, including in the role of host on her excellent, award-winning podcast, Wiser Than Me from Lemonada.
We sat with Julia as part of this yearâs Aspen Ideas Festival, where we discussed her powerful new film, Tuesday (6:33), her early performances in the basement of her childhood home (15:45), a formative high school yearbook quote (16:45), landing at SNL in the 1980s (22:06) with Larry David (24:56), the legacy of Seinfeld (28:42), and where she stands on the issue of âpolitical correctness in comedyâ (31:54).
On the back-half, a celebration of her uproarious turn as Selina Meyer on Veep (36:47), a life-changing diagnosis on the heels of her historic Emmy win (40:00), and the support she received from showrunner David Mandel (42:52) and President Biden (46:23). To close, we sit with the stakes of this upcoming election (50:40), words of wisdom from Jane Fonda (52:14), and the poem âExplanationâ by Juliaâs father, the late GĂ©rard Louis-Dreyfus (54:00).
You can watch this conversation on YouTube. Thoughts or future guest ideas? Email us at [email protected].
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On the heels of his first Emmy win, actor Ebon Moss-Bachrach joins us on the show to unpack the return of The Bear.
At the top, we dive into the making of the hit series (9:22), a powerful scene with co-star Jeremy Allen White (11:20), and how Moss-Bachrach manages to keep adding layers to his portrayal of Cousin Richie (14:26). Then, he describes the mounting pressures around this new season (19:23), the day he knew he wanted to be an actor in Williamstown, Massachusetts (27:35), and the early days of his collaboration with actor Jon Bernthal (30:26).
On the back-half, Ebon reflects on a formative role as a jazz musician in Warren Leightâs play Side Man (35:34), his ideas about success and living a more balanced life (38:19), his experience playing Desi in Girls (43:33), a philosophy depicted in The Bear (47:35), and the work he hopes to continue making in years to come (50:38).
Thoughts or future guest ideas? Email us at [email protected].
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âYouâre never gonna forget where you were last night at 7:30,â says James Carville. âIt has the potential to be that consequential.â
Carville is regarded as one the most influential (and animated) operators in the Democratic Party. He came to prominence as the chief architect behind Clintonâs 1992 Presidential campaign, and has remained one of the most incisive political analysts in the country.
He joins us this week from the Aspen Ideas Festival, the day after the first presidential debate between Joe Biden and Donald Trump (8:15), to discuss what he saw from each candidate (10:30), whether Biden should (or will) step aside in the months ahead (16:16), and who, theoretically, would be fit to run come August at the DNC (26:00).
On the back-half, Carville shares how he would reframe the Democrats' political strategy (33:19), the âcoastal condensationâ that has slipped into the bloodstream of the left (36:30), his advice on winning elections (54:00), and how he aims to inspire swing voters in purple states through the American Bridge project (59:48). To close, a scene from the 1993 documentary The War Room (1:01:57), and why his love of politics remains undiminished even after this dark week in American democracy (1:05:10).
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Beloved playwright Annie Baker won the Pulitzer for Drama in 2014 for her play, The Flick. A decade later, sheâs releasing her directorial debut, Janet Planet, through A24.
We begin by talking about her striking first feature (7:55): the Western Massachusetts origins of the project (11:00), the mother-daughter love story at its center (13:24), how Thomas Mannâs âThe Magic Mountainâ shaped Bakerâs understanding of time (22:55), and why sheâs routinely sidestepped the slippery-slope of âconfessionalâ autobiography in her own work (30:30).
On the back-half, we discuss Annieâs early jobs in New York before she turned to the page and the classroom (40:00), the issues of class that continue to plague contemporary theater (45:00), a formative Rainer Maria Rilke poem as read by Sam (55:50), and whether she believes art âmattersâ in 2024 (1:00:18)
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This Father's Day, we're revisiting our special talk with actor Ethan Hawke.
After a phone call with Dad Fragoso (2:00), we dive into the episode. At the top, Hawke unpacks his docuseries The Last Movie Stars (9:24), describing his introduction to Paul Newman through Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (12:13). Then, he reflects on his personal history: growing up with his mother on the east coast (16:43), his on-screen debut at fifteen in Explorers with River Phoenix (20:04), the enduring legacy of Robin Williams (25:57), and how Richard Linklaterâs Before trilogy transformed his career (33:01).
On the back-half, we revisit a memorable scene from Before Midnight (42:28), how capturing Chet Baker in Born to Be Blue helped Hawke process loss (52:31), what he learned about longevity from director Paul Schrader (55:29) and how that definition evolved in making The Last Movie Stars (58:32). To closeâ we discuss the importance of family (1:02:12), Hawkeâs hopes for his third act (1:04:24), and why he continues to honor The Actorâs Vow by Elia Kazan (1:07:38).
Drop us a line at [email protected].
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Director Richard Linklater has made a career out of telling personal stories with universal appeal. Dazed and Confused, Waking Life, the Before trilogy, Boyhood. No matter the genre or form, Linklater's human touch remains.
He joins us this week around the release of his latest film, Hit Man (7:36), an action-packed neo-noir (9:15) that also explores the malleability of identity (12:00). Then, Linklater reflects on his athletic career in college (18:20), the health scare that ushered in a period of creative exploration (19:48), and the renegade spirit that drove his first two feature films, Itâs Impossible to Learn to Plow by Reading Books and Slacker (29:12).
On the back-half, Linklater describes a formative Sundance memory with director Robert Altman (36:00), his first experience at the helm of a major motion picture (39:48), and the lived serendipity that inspired his Before films (54:22). To close: a Hollywood state of the union (1:02:54), why Richard continues to create art from the fabric of his life (1:10:00), and whether Sam should return to directing himself (1:19:36).
You can watch Samâs directorial work here, including his short film Sebastian.
Drop us a line at [email protected].
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On the heels of her breakout role in Stranger Things, Maya Hawke has gone her own way as an artistâ both as an actor and singer-songwriter. Thatâs especially true on her striking new record, Chaos Angel.
We begin our conversation by diving into this third record of hers (5:37), the âemotional pendulumâ that guided her creative process (9:15), and how director Paul Thomas Andersonâs Magnolia inspired the first track (16:12). Then, Maya discusses a piece by novelist Flannery OâConnor (21:20) that shaped her portrayal of the Southern Gothic writer in the new film, Wildcat (25:28), directed by her father (Ethan Hawke).
On the back-half, we sit with Hawkeâs childhood growing up in a household of actors (41:55), a passage from her father reflecting on Before Midnight (45:10), the connective tissue between her latest projects (55:10), and how sheâs recently found a place of peace in the aftermath of her new album, Chaos Angel (59:36).
For questions, comments, or to join our mailing list, reach me at [email protected].
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This week weâre joined by comedian and actor Ilana Glazer.
At the top, Glazer reflects on her recent tour across the country (4:55), portraying a new mother in Babes while having her first child (8:30), and the filmâs timely politics around reproductive rights (10:28). Then, we dive into the creation of Broad City with collaborator Abbi Jacobson (16:06), how the show ascended to five seasons on Comedy Central with the support of Amy Poehler (22:40), and their maternal approach to creating the series (26:14).
On the back-half, we talk about her regenerative period following Broad City (37:10), why Glazer has yet to rewatch the series (39:00), her daily practice of presence (48:05), the joy of parenthood (50:05), and why she still has faith in humanity (58:10).
This conversation is available to watch on YouTube. For questions, comments, or to join our mailing list, reach me at [email protected].
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Hacks co-creators Paul W. Downs and Lucia Aniello, who are also husband and wife, have been performing and writing together for over a decade. Today, we discuss the road to season three of their hit HBO series.
At the top, they unpack the makings of their creative partnership (8:20), how they chronicled the evolving state of comedy in Hacks (14:38), and Jerry Seinfeldâs recent comments about the medium (20:05). Then, we walk through Paul and Luciaâs origin stories (33:45), their meeting in an improv class at UCB (38:00), and the New York comedy pipeline they fell into with Broad City (46:59).
On the back-half, we talk about the making of their feature film debut Rough Night (49:35), the road trip where they first imagined the premise for Hacks (53:25), their guiding principle while creating the show (59:10), and their journey into parenthood (1:05:48). To close, a piece of advice on art-making today (1:11:30).
For questions, comments, or to join our mailing list, reach me at [email protected]. This conversation was recorded at Spotify Studios. Clips courtesy of HBO.
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