All Of It with Alison Stewart

Comedian and "Saturday Night Live" veteran Leslie Jones has returned to the stage with a new comedy special, 'Leslie Jones: Life Part 2', with reflections on aging, fame, and events in her life. Leslie Jones discusses how she's finding the humor in life today. The comedy special is out now on Peacock.

Last week, it was announced that Netflix will acquire Warner Bros. in a $82.7 billion dollar deal with massive implications for the entertainment industry. The deal would leave the streaming service in charge of one of the biggest Hollywood film studios, HBO, and many famous pieces of intellectual property, including Harry Potter and DC Comics. But competitor Paramount is also vying for a deal. Georg Szalai, global business editor at The Hollywood Reporter, discusses what this deal would mean for Hollywood, responses from the industry, and the potential consequences for movie theaters and streaming services.

The holiday season is a time for giving, and in that spirit, WNYC is holding a blood drive throughout the day on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025, in The Greene Space. We preview that event, share details about how to get involved, and speak with Sapreet Saluja, executive director at NY Cares about the many ways around NYC to volunteer your efforts for those who need help. Plus, listeners call in to share their experiences of how charity and community service play a role in their experience of the holidays.

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 Brooklyn.

A new documentary chronicles the journey of Tim Johnson, a former Super Bowl Champion turned pastor whose faith inspired him to minister to incarcerated men on Rikers Island. Kayla Johnson, the film's director and Tim's daughter, joins us to discuss "Fatherless No More."

The New Yorker celebrates its centennial this year, and a new documentary, "The New Yorker at 100" takes audiences through the history of the storied publication. Director Marshall Curry talks about the film. Plus, listeners weigh in with their favorite New Yorker articles, covers, and memories.

The musician Cavetown is also founder of the This Is Home Project, which helps support access for LGBTQ+ youth to housing and healthcare. On December 14, he'll host a benefit concert at Music Hall of Williamsburg featuring performances from a number of local artists. He previews the event, and also his forthcoming album, Running With Scissors, out Jan. 16.

Musician and trained doula Domino Kirke will be hosting a concert on Dec. 17 with other 'mama musicians,' including Joan As Police Woman and Rachael Price of Lake Street Dive. She'll discuss the event, which benefits Carriage House Birth, an organization she founded which provides doula training and childbirth education.

Comedian Ana Gasteyer discusses her live show "Ana Gasteyer: Sugar & Booze Holiday Spectacular," which will include performances of holiday classics and her own original holiday songs. Gasteyer will be at Town Hall on December 15 and at the Westport Country Playhouse on December 22.

A new exhibition at the Museum of Food and Drink (MOFAD) honors generations of New York’s mostly immigrant street food entrepreneurs and the dishes they have introduced as iconic parts of the city’s cultural and culinary landscape. Museum president Nazli Parvizi and curatorial director Catherine Piccoli preview "STREET FOOD CITY," before it opens Saturday, Dec. 6.

Director and writer Chloé Zhao discusses her new film "Hamnet," an adaptation of the bestselling novel by Maggie O'Farrell. The film tells the story of William Shakespeare, his wife Agnes, and the tragic loss of their son Hamnet. "Hamnet" is in theaters now.

Sally Wainwright, the award-winning writer and director of the UK series "Happy Valley" and "Last Tango in Halifax," has a new show called "Riot Women," about a group of middle aged women in the north of England who form a rock band for a charity talent show. What starts out as a lark turns into something more meaningful. Wainwright discusses the show, which was recently greenlit for a second season. Riot Women premieres on BritBox January 14th.

Martini, anyone? Who doesn't love a nice cheeky cocktail for happy hour or date night? The New York Times has recently compiled a list of 25 must-try cocktails in the city. Becky Hughes, New York Times Cooking assistant editor and cocktail enthusiast, discusses which drinks made the list, and listeners share where they order their favorite cocktail in New York.

Tom Delgado is a comedian and history enthusiast. As a licensed New York City tour guide, Delgado takes viewers on neighborhood walking tours on his popular YouTube channel, and also hosts a monthly variety show, "Tom D's Big NY Show," which combines history and comedy. Delgado discusses his background and how he finds the funny in local history, and previews his next show, featuring author Jonathan Mahler, at Caveat on Saturday, December 6 at 7pm.

Whether you're having people over or going to a dinner party, Casey Elsass, author of What Can I Bring?: Recipes to Help You Live Your Guest Life, has ideas for some of the best dishes and drinks you can make. He discusses the power of "the signature dish," the best winter cocktails and takes listener calls and questions.

The New York Public Library exhibition "Niyū Yūrk: Middle Eastern and North African Lives in the City," spotlights the history of MENA residents of NYC throughout the centuries. Hiba Abid, curator for Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies at the NYPL, discusses the exhibition, and listeners share their own family history.

Retirement is a life transition. Some people leave New York and retire to warmer places like Florida. But what can retirement life look like in NYC? Beth Finkel, AARP's New York State Director, discusses how people can live their best retirement in New York with all that the city offers, and listeners share their questions and suggestions.

The new documentary "Merchants of Joy" follows five New York City families as they run their Christmas tree business. Director Celia Aniskovich and subject Ciree Nash of Uptown Christmas Trees discuss the film, which is streaming now on Amazon Prime.

The holiday season is full of traditions. Family dinners. Caroling. Gifting. For birders, there's another event that cannot be missed: the Christmas Bird Count. Now in its 126th year, the CBC is the nation's longest running community science bird project. Jessica Wilson, executive director of the NYC Bird Alliance, explains what it is, the importance of the data it gathers, and how to participate.

The new film "The Secret Agent" tells the story of a former professor, played by Wagner Moura, who finds himself attempting to fight back against the persecution of the authoritarian Brazilian dictatorship in 1977. Moura and writer/director Kleber Mendonça Filho discuss the film, which is select theaters now.

Want to make holiday cookies that will impress all of your guests? One place to turn to for inspiration might be the new New York Times cookbook Cookies: The Best Recipes for the Perfect Anytime Treat, curated by recipe creator and New York Times Cooking supervising video producer Vaugh Vreeland, who talks about the book shares recipes and takes calls from listeners.

Historically, bridges have played important roles in some of the most beloved songs in modern music history. But as the music industry has evolved in the streaming and social media world, bridges are less common or important in popular music. Matthew Schnipper, Gothamist/WNYC arts and culture editor, gives us his list of the best bridges in music (as in, musical bridges, as well as songs about bridges), and listeners share their favorite bridges to listen or sing along to.

New York City's infrastructure is of course dominated by its famous skyline and skyscrapers. But don't forget about the bridges! The city is connected by hundreds of bridges that move cars, trains, pedestrians, and bikers. For this installment of our Small Stakes, Big Opinions series, Greg Young, co-host of the Bowery Boys podcast, discusses his favorite bridges in the city and some interesting history behind them, and listeners share what they think is the best and most beautiful bridge in New York to cross or view from afar.

Local shop enthusiast Caroline Weaver, aka, The Locavore, prepares us for the holiday season. She joins 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 Manhattan.

When Greta Rideout pressed charges against her husband John in 1978, spousal rape was only considered a crime in four states. Rideout was one of the first women to press rape charges against her husband, opening the door for making marital rape a crime across all 50 states. Author Sarah Weinman discusses her new book on the subject, Without Consent: A Landmark Trial and the Decades-Long Struggle to Make Spousal Rape a Crime.

The new short documentary film "Cashing Out" examines the complications of buying life-insurance policies for HIV-positive gay men. Matt Nadel, who directed the film for The New Yorker, and subject Scott Paige join to discuss.

A provocative reimagining of Henrik Ibsen’s classic play, “Hedda” stars Tessa Thompson as the aristocrat caught between a past love and a stifling marriage. Thompson and director Nia DaCosta discuss the film, now streaming on Prime Video.

[REBROADCAST FROM November 7, 2025] The new play 'Queens' follows a group of women spanning multiple generations, living in an illegal basement apartment as they hustle for the American dream, until a young Ukrainian woman looking for her mother forces them to face the difficult choices they made to survive. Actors Anna Chlumsky and Marin Ireland talk about the show, alongside playwright Martyna Majok.

[REBROADCST FROM October 30, 2025] The new cast from Broadway's Hadestown joined Alison Stewart live in The Greene Space. Lead actors Morgan Dudley, Kurt Elling, Rebecca Naomi Jones, Paulo Szot, and Jack Wolfe perform songs from the show and discuss stepping into the principal roles of the long-running Broadway hit. This event is part of All Of It's Broadway on the Radio series.

[REBROADCAST FROM October 7, 2025] The new Broadway play "Art" features three friends debating the value of one insanely expensive painting, and therefore the nature of art in general. Actor Bobby Cannavale, who stars in the play alongside Neil Patrick Harris and James Corden, discusses the show along with director Scott Ellis. "Art" runs through December 21.

[REBROADCAST FROM May 29, 2025] More than a decade since their last album, this year, OK Go released a new one: And the Adjacent Possible. The band that grew up with Youtube and revolutionized the music video for the internet age perform live versions of their music in our studios.

[REBROADCAST FROM November 5, 2025] A new, musical adaptation of Thornton Wilder's "The Skin Of Our Teeth" called "The Seat Of Our Pants" follows the existential dreads and absurdist twists of the 5,000-year old Antrobus family. Ethan Lipton adapted the show and wrote the music. He'll talks about the new musical, along with members of the cast. "The Seat Of Our Pants" is playing at The Public until Nov. 30.

[REBROADCAST FROM April 17, 2025] NYC native and indie rock artist Samia released her new album, Bloodless, in April 25. She talks about the record, and performs songs live in the studio.

[REBROADCAST FROM April 24, 2025] Uwade became known to the All Of It team and many other listeners when Fleet Foxes featured her on their 2020 album Shore. Her debut album is called Florilegium. The singer-songwriter, who is also currently pursuing a PhD at Stanford, performed live in studio five.

A new film captures the magic of the Theater of the Ridiculous, an eccentric troupe rooted in New York’s queer underground. Director Fermín Eloy Acosta talks about connecting with one of its former members, the Argentine-born artist Leandro Katz, and about his documentary "Museum of the Night," which is part of the DOC NYC film festival.

Hollywood icon Bruce Lee lived a short, eventful life that changed the trajectory of Asian representation in American culture. This month for our series Full Bio, we learn more about the life, career, and culture impact of Bruce Lee from biographer Jeff Chang. His new book is titled Water Mirror Echo: Bruce Lee and the Making of Asian America. In today's installment, Chang speaks about Lee's martial arts training, and his move to California. In today's installment, Chang speaks about Lee's career in Hollywood, his untimely death at 32, and his legacy.

[REBROADCAST FROM May 20, 2025] Lorna Simpson is a New York-born artist who first made her name as a photographer, but in recent years has turned to painting. The Met has organized a solo exhibition of Simpson's paintings, "Lorna Simpson: Source Notes," that displays more than 30 works, made up of found images, or as Lorna calls, her source notes. The exhibition will be showing through November 30.

Aldo Sohm, the celebrated sommelier for Le Bernardin, discusses his new book, Wine Simple: Perfect Pairings, and provide listeners with tips and tricks for creating great wine pairings this holiday season.

"Next Level Chef" winner, Pyet DeSpain discusses her debut cookbook Rooted in Fire: A Celebration of Native American and Mexican Cooking. The recipes showcase traditional Native American ingredients, techniques and approaches, and how they connect with traditional and modern Mexican cooking.

Hollywood icon Bruce Lee lived a short, eventful life that changed the trajectory of Asian representation in American culture. This month for our series Full Bio, we learn more about the life, career, and culture impact of Bruce Lee from biographer Jeff Chang. His new book is titled Water Mirror Echo: Bruce Lee and the Making of Asian America. In today's installment, Chang speaks about Lee's martial arts training, and his move to California.

Artist Helen Frankenthaler was always innovating. A new exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art explores her experimentation with paint over the decades of her career, beginning in New York and later in Darien, where she spent much of her life. Samantha Friedman, curator in the Department of Drawings and Prints, discusses 'Helen Frankenthaler: A Grand Sweep,' on view through February 8.

[REBROADCAST FROM October 15, 2025] A new Lévy Gorvy Dayan exhibition "Downtown/Uptown: New York in the Eighties" features artists Jean-Michel Basquiat, Francesco Clemente, Jeff Koons, Barbara Kruger, Cindy Sherman, and others. Art dealer Mary Boone and Lévy Gorvy Dayan co-founder Brett Gorvy, who both worked on the exhibition, join us to discuss the show which is on display through Saturday, Dec. 13.

The new exhibit "Divine Egypt" at the Metropolitan Museum of Art brings together nearly 250 works of art from Ancient Egypt that depict the deities they worshiped. Curator Diana Craig Patch discusses the history and artistic value of these objects. "Divine Egypt" is on view through January 19.

For a special Thanksgiving edition of “Small Stakes Big Opinions,” cook, author and Smitten Kitchen founder Deb Perelman joins to debate about the best Thanksgiving side dish, and listeners call in with their turkey adjacent hot takes.

Hollywood icon Bruce Lee lived a short, eventful life that changed the trajectory of Asian representation in American culture. This month for our series Full Bio, we learn more about the life, career, and culture impact of Bruce Lee from biographer Jeff Chang. His new book is titled Water Mirror Echo: Bruce Lee and the Making of Asian America. In today's installment, Chang speaks about Lee's family, and his childhood in China.

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 Staten Island.

In honor of Thanksgiving, All Of It invites listeners to call in and share what they're grateful for. Joining us as a guest is Kristi Nelson, author of Wake Up Grateful and former director of the organization A Network for Grateful Living.

The new album from Spanish pop sensation Rosalía marks a turn away from her recent reggaeton music and back to her classical music training. On LUX, the artist sings in many different languages, employs dramatic orchestral arrangements, and collaborates with musicians like Bjork. "Switched on Pop" host Nate Sloan and producer Reanna Cruz, discuss the new album and break down their favorite tracks.

The 2025 Booker Prize went to Flesh, a novel about a Hungarian teenager who enters into an affair with a married woman, a relationship that will have consequences for the rest of his life. Author David Szalay discusses his book, fresh off his Booker win.

"Grey Gardens" was recently selected to be in the National Film Registry, and will celebrate its 50th anniversary with screenings at the Maysles Documentary Center on Sunday Nov. 23, 2025. Listeners call in to share their Big and Little Edie story, with the daughter of the filmmaker Albert Maysles, Rebekah Maysles.