All Of It with Alison Stewart

The Radio City Rockettes are of course a celebrated New York tradition around the holidays, but did you know the group was formed in St. Louis? This year marks the centennial of The Rockettes. Julie Branam, director and choreographer of the Christmas Spectacular, speaks to the history of the institution, and listeners share their memories of seeing The Rockettes throughout the years.

An exhibition at The New York Historical explores Black LGBTQ+ nightlife, arts, and culture during the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s and 1930s. Lead curator Allison Robinson and chief historian George Chauncey, author of Gay New York and the DeWitt Clinton Professor of American History at Columbia University, discuss "The Gay Harlem Renaissance", on view through March 8, 2026.

The holidays are thought to be a time of gathering with friends and family, but many also spend the season alone, either by choice or not. Being alone especially around the holidays can feel challenging, but it doesn't have to be! Comedian Josh Gondelman, known for his pep talks, discusses how to break the stigma of being lone during the holiday season, and listeners share their stories and tips.

[REBROADCAST FROM Sept. 8, 2025] Gene Pressman was the former co-CEO, creative director, and head of merchandising and marketing for Barneys New York before the beloved department store closed in 2020. Now, he chronicles the history of his family's business, and his own experience there, in the new memoir They All Came to Barneys: A Personal History of the World's Greatest Store. Pressman discusses the book, and listeners share their memories of Barneys.

[REBROADCAST FROM May 14, 2025] Celebrated poet and author Ocean Vuong discusses his new novel, The Emperor of Gladness. It follows the relationship between a young man and an elderly woman who meet after the man's suicide attempt.

[REBROADCAST FROM June 9, 2025] "Somebody Somewhere" star Jeff Hiller discusses his new memoir, Actress of a Certain Age: My Twenty-Year Trail to Overnight Success. Hiller will be speaking at Symphony Space on June 10 with "Somebody Somewhere" co-stars Bridget Everett and Murray Hill.

[REBROADCAST FROM March 14, 2025] Social media influencer Dylan Mulvaney rose to fame through her series documenting her gender transition on TikTok. But along with love from many in the LGBTQIA+ community, the videos attracted hate and transphobia. Mulvaney found herself embroiled in a national controversy after her turn as a spokesperson for Bud Light led some to declare a boycott of Bud Light's products. Now, Mulvaney is chronicling her journey into womanhood and national fame in her new memoir, Paper Doll: Notes from a Late Bloomer.

[REBROADCAST FROM Oct. 2, 2025] The novel The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny has been shortlisted for the Booker Prize and is a Kirkus Prize finalist. Author Kiran Desai discusses the novel, which tells the story of one couple throughout their lives in India and New York City.

[REBROADCAST FROM October 20, 2025] Both Steve Martin and Alison Brown share a love of the banjo. Videos of the two playing together have gone viral online, and Martin's banjo videos during the pandemic were particularly comforting to many. Brown and Martin talk about their new album, Safe Sensible and Sane, and perform live in the studio.

[REBROADCAST FROM June 10, 2025] On June 6, The Doobie Brothers, now reunited with Michael McDonald, released their latest album, Walk This Road. And on June 12, the band is being inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Ahead of their induction, tune in for a Listening Party with all four members: Michael McDonald, Patrick Simmons, Tom Johnston, and John McFee.

[REBROADCAST FROM January 8, 2025] Lakecia Benjamin is an alto saxophonist and composer who is nominated at this year's Grammy Awards in the Best Jazz Instrumental Album and Best Jazz Performance categories for her album, Phoenix Reimagined (Live). The project is a live performance of her 2023 album, Phoenix. Benjamin joins to perform live with her band and discuss her New York upbringing in music.

[REBROADCAST FROM February 20, 2025] Powerhouse country and Americana duo The War and Treaty joined us live in the studio to perform songs from their brand new album, Plus One.

The new Netflix documentary "The Cover-Up" spotlights the career of investigative journalist Seymour Hersh, who is known for breaking stories like the My Lai Massacre and the torture of prisoners at Abu Ghraib. Documentarian Laura Poitras discusses the documentary, which is paying now at Film Forum and is streaming on Netflix.

We are getting you set for the holiday season with local shop enthusiast Caroline Weaver, aka, The Locavore. She will join us each week through the holiday season, to go to explore each borough's local shopping options, for shoppers who want their holiday spending to support their communities. Today, the Locavore takes on Queens.

The Rom-Com is as synonymous with Christmas as the Christmas Tree itself. For the next installment of our debate series, Small Stakes, Big Opinions, we ask the question: What is the best Holiday rom-com and why? Rebecca Alter, Vulture staff writer, gives us her list of favorite movies, and listeners share their picks.

Gen Z moviegoing attendance grew by 25 percent over the last 12 months, according to Cinema United’s Strength of Exhibition report. IndieWire executive editor Ryan Lattanzio breaks down the report’s findings and explains the factors that encourage people to become "habitual" moviegoers, defined as those who see at least six films a year.

Christmas is just a week away. Members of the West Village Chorale return once again this year to ring in the holiday spirit and perform some classic carols live. And on Saturday, December 20, you can join the Chorale for their longtime annual free caroling walk around the Village.

The National Dance Institute was founded 50 years ago to provide free dance education to children who would not be able to afford it, and children with physical disabilities that most programs are not equipped to work with. Today, it serves over 6,500 children in the NYC area. Artistic director Kay Gayner and board member Daniel Ulbricht, who is also principal dancer of the New York City Ballet, discuss the organization's mission, and it's work over the past five decades.

The Whitney's exhibit, "High Wire: Calder’s Circus at 100" celebrates the centennial anniversary of Alexander Calder's iconic work by bringing it together with other examples of his circus-themed wire sculptures and drawings. Whitney curators Jennie Goldstein and Roxanne Smith discuss the exhibit.

The new documentary "Happy and You Know It" celebrates the history of children's music and musicians. Director Penny Lane discusses the documentary, and listeners share their favorite children's musician or song. "Happy and You Know It" premieres on HBO and HBO Max on December 25.

Though it had a relatively quiet 1955 release, the klezmer album Tanz!, from Dave Tarras and the Musiker Brothers, is now considered a landmark of the genre. On the new album, Michael Winograd Plays Tanz! Live In New York City, Michael Winograd celebrates its legacy. He and his band will perform a few pieces live and talk about the album's influence on him, and preview a show Thursday evening at the Center for New Jewish Culture.

Looking to give a book as a Christmas gift, but not sure what to get? All Of It and Get Lit producer Jordan Lauf provides a gift guide for every kind of reader, from history lovers to romance novels. Plus, listeners chime in with their own suggestions.

25 years ago this month, the Coen brothers' Americana Odyssey "O Brother, Where Art Thou" was released in theaters. While the movie saw a paucity of award recognition, its soundtrack managed to land a Grammy for Album of the Year, giving rise to a major revival of American roots and bluegrass music in the mainstream. Music writer Allison Hussey discusses the soundtrack and its legacy as part of our Silver Liner Notes series, and listeners share their feelings about the film, and the soundtrack.

Actor Tim Blake Nelson is known for his work in "O Brother Where Art Thou," "Watchmen" and most recently, "The Lowdown." In addition to his work as a playwright, photographer, director and filmmaker, his second novel, Superhero, a satire about the Hollywood industry of blockbuster films, is available now. Nelson discusses the book and his many other projects.

A new book about puzzles claims 36 million Americans solve crosswords once a week or more, and nearly 23 million solve them daily. Natan Last, a researcher, policy advisor, writer, and crossword constructor in New York City, joins us to discuss his book, Across the Universe: The Past, Present, and Future of the Crossword Puzzle.

Recently, vocalist Kate Kortum won NJPAC's Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition, a prestigious award for Jazz vocalists that includes previous winners like Samara Joy. Kortum is originally from Houston, now embarking on her early career in New York. She discusses her emotions around winning the competition, and performs live from her latest album, Wild Woman. You can also see her perform at Big Band Holidays with The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra through December 21.

Actor Carol Kane, known for her roles in Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, the Princess Bride and Taxi, lives with her 98 year old mother in Manhattan. A new documentary short called "Carol & Joy" spotlights a day in the life of two singular talents as well as touches on the demands of caregiving. Carol and Joy Kane discuss their lives together, along with director Nathan Silver.

Penn Station is one of the busiest transport hubs in NYC and has had its share of problems. New York Times architecture critic Michael Kimmelman and transit hub economics reporter Patrick McGeehan discuss ideal solutions, and practical ones, as well as the obstacles to getting them implemented. Plus, listeners call in with their questions.

Through her Instagram and TikTok account, ghostlyarchive, Rosie Grant documents recipes she finds on gravestones and her own process trying to recreate them. She talks about her recently published the book, To Die For: A Cookbook of Gravestone Recipes, and take calls from listeners who family recipes from their (deceased) loved ones.

The final season of the beloved sci-fi series "Stranger Things" is underway. Star Gaten Matarazzo, who has been playing Dustin on the show for a decade, discusses the final season and takes calls from listeners.

Cameron Crowe discusses his new memoir, The Uncool, which chronicles his time working for Rolling Stone, covering some of the biggest rock bands in the world, as a very young journalist.

"Tartuffe" is the classic Molière comedy and satire first performed in the 1660s. Matthew Broderick is currently starring in the lead role of a new off-Broadway production of the play at New York Theatre Workshop. Broderick discusses his process for taking on the role, along with Lisa Kron, who plays Dorine, and director Sarah Benson. "Tartuffe" is running through January 24.

The Americana band Old Crow Medicine Show has a new holiday album, OCMS XMAS. Band members Ketch Secor, Morgan Jahnig and Cory Younts join for a listening party to get listeners in the holiday spirit.

Local New Jersey poet and Princeton professor Patricia Smith has won the National Book Award for her poetry collection, The Intentions of Thunder: New and Selected Poems. The collection covers her poetry from 1991 to 2024, and includes poems about jazz, family, Black identity, Hurricane Katrina, and more. Smith discusses the collection, and read some poetry.

We are getting you set for the holiday season with local shop enthusiast Caroline Weaver, aka, The Locavore. Each week through the holiday season, she offers her insights to help explore each borough's local shopping options, for shoppers who want their holiday spending to support their communities. Today, the Locavore takes on the Bronx.

There's never a bad time for ramen, but with the temperatures dropping winter is the perfect time to warm up with a bowl. Chef, writer and self professed "ramen geek" Sho Spaeth talks about his favorite places to check out in the city, plus listeners call to shout out theirs.

As part of our Get Lit event, singer-songwriter Sarah Kinsley discussed her career, her album The Escaper, and for a special performance, which includes a unique rendition of her hit song "The King."

The November Get Lit with All Of It book club selection was the novel Flashlight by Susan Choi. It follows a family grappling with the aftermath of a father's mysterious disappearance one night on the shores of Japan. We air highlights from our Get Lit event with Choi. Missed the event? Watch it in full here!

The Queer Urban Orchestra is a local group and the first orchestra in the city specifically serving the LGBTQ community. Ahead of their Refuge-themed concert, members of the orchestra perform live, and David Bloom, Artistic Director and Conductor, Dave Lohman, Principal Bassoonist, and Brian Shaw, Principal Oboist and Orchestral Manager discuss the mission behind the Queer Urban Orchestra. The group's concert is at the Stephen Wise Free Synagogue on December 13.

All Of It Hostess with the Mostess Alison Stewart is looking forward to a nice long staycation. She and All Of It producer Luke Green, who took his own stretch of local R&R recently, invite suggestions from listeners for things to do and see in the area that might be missed in the bustle of daily life.

All throughout December, Criterion Channel subscribers can stream their new series "Black Debutantes: First Features by Black Women Directors." The series features films such as "Eve's Bayou," "Daughters of the Dust," "Just Another Girl on the I.R.T," and more. Rógan Graham, programmer and film critic, and Ashely Clark, curatorial director at the Criterion Collection, discuss the series.

From "The Shining" to "Lost in Translation," so many great films have been set in hotels. And all throughout December, you can stream many of those films on the Criterion Channel, as part of their series "Hotels on Film." Aliza Ma, head of programming for the Criterion Channel, discusses the series, and listeners share their favorite movies set in a hotel.

Recently, "The Beatles Anthology" documentary series has been remastered and updated with a new episode for Disney Plus, and includes a new companion album of 191 songs. Rolling Stone contributing editor Rob Sheffield joins us to discuss the project, and also field calls from listeners looking to settle the age-old debate: which Beatles album is the best?

The penny is no more! As we look back at the history of the penny, economist and author David McWilliams provides some context, and examines the history of currency more broadly. He is the author of the new book, The History of Money: A Story of Humanity. Plus, listeners call in with their questions about money throughout the ages.

Golden Globe nominations were announced on Monday, and Kyle Buchanan, awards season columnist for The New York Times, discusses all the snubs and surprises from the world of film and television, and previews some of the other events and honors from awards season.

Jay Som is the solo project of singer-songwriter, producer, and engineer Melina Duterte. In the six years since her last solo record, she's worked with a number of different artists, including most notably boygenius; her work on their album earned her Grammy nominations for Album of the Year and Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical, plus a win for Best Alternative Music Album. Now, as Jay Som, she's released Belong, an album that boasts contributions from friends she's made in those years, including Hayley Williams. She and her band perform live in our studio.

In his new podcast "David Greene is Obsessed," former Morning Edition host David Greene speaks with guests about their obsessions, from a collector who has more than 13,000 Barbies to David Arquette's fascination with Bozo the Clown. Greene discusses the show, and takes calls from listeners who want to share their obsessions.

The third film in the Knives Out series is called "Wake Up Dead Man," in which Daniel Craig returns to the role of detective Benoit Blanc, trying to solve a Good Friday murder at a Catholic parish in upstate New York. The series' writer and director Rian Johnson talks about the latest installment of his series, which is available to stream on Netflix now.

[REBROADCAST FROM Nov. 13, 2025] Actors Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter, one-time co-stars in "Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure," have reunited on stage in Jamie Lloyd's production of "Waiting for Godot" on Broadway. They discuss the show, which is running now through January 4.

A new piece in T Magazine argues that Gen X has had some of the greatest contributions to American culture in history. Writer Amanda Fortini discusses her article, "Is Gen X Actually the Greatest Generation?" Plus, listeners share their favorite Gen X cultural contributions.