All Of It with Alison Stewart

[REBROADCAST FROM May 20, 2025] The new novel The Doorman follows Chicky Diaz, the titular character working at a high end Manhattan building who becomes ensnared in the web of secrets his residents try to keep. Author Chris Pavone discusses his new thriller.

Dan Medley is a contractor and the founder of Team Handy Dan. He also teaches people the basics of home repair. He offers tips from how to build a home toolbox to how to assess when you can do a job yourself, and when to call a professional.

Jennifer Senior used to have no trouble sleeping. Until she did. In her new article for The Atlantic, called "Why Can’t Americans Sleep? Insomnia has become a public-health emergency," she looks at how insomnia is now tenacious and pervasive. She joins us to discuss her reporting, and talk about how America is actually making its sleep crisis worse.

July 10 marks the 100th anniversary of the start of the Scopes Trial, which centered on the ability to teach the theory of evolution in public schools. We reflect on the legacy of this monumental case and its relevance today, with Brenda Wineapple, author of the book Keeping the Faith: God, Democracy, and the Trial That Riveted a Nation.

We continue our week of beach reads with a debut novel from Katie Yee, called Maggie: Or, a Man and a Woman Walk Into a Bar. The story follows a woman who finds out her husband has been having an affair with a woman named Maggie... and that she has also been diagnosed with cancer. Yee discusses the novel, which is out on July 22, and will be speaking on 'pub day' at Yu and Me Bookstore at the NYPL Chatham Square Branch, and on July 24 with Books Are Magic at the Melissa Joy Manning Jewelry Store.

Jonathan Adler's 30 year career is being celebrated at the Museum of Art & Design in a show titled "The Mad, MAD World of Jonathan Adler," which looks at his ceramic work over the past 30 years.

Bestselling author Jennifer Weiner's latest novel The Griffin Sisters' Greatest Hits follows sisters Zoe and Cassie as they skyrocket to early‑2000s pop stardom, only for a tragedy to end their meteoric rise and shatter their bond. Years later, after going their separate ways, Zoe's teenage daughter tries to engineer a reunion. Weiner talks about her new book.

In the 80s and 90s, New York City's skateboarding scene was wild and gritty, and seemingly unable to be commercialized. And then the streetwear brand Supreme came along. Director Josh Swade discusses the new 30 for 30 documentary “Empire Skate,” which tells the story of 1990s New York City skate culture that inspired a global brand.

The Zombies were core to the British Invasion of the 1960s, with songs like She's Not There, and Time of the Season. "Hung Up On A Dream: The Zombies Documentary" explores how the English teenagers became Rock and Roll Hall of Famers. Lead singer Colin Blunstone discusses the group's story, and takes listener calls, along with the film's director Robert Schwartzman. On Wednesday evening at Gramercy Theatre, there will be a screening of the film followed by Q&A and unplugged performance with Blunstone and Schwartzman's band, Rooney.

Duke is an international hip hop star who is visiting US troops in Kabul. Roya is his interpreter. In the new play set against a war-torn Afghanistan in 2016, can their chemistry matter more than their differences? Stars Jay Ellis and Stephanie Nur discuss the new play 'Duke & Roya', alongside director Warren Adams.

Before Kate Spade’s tragic death, she and Frances Valentine co-founder Elyce Arons had been best friends for 37 years. Arons reflects on their bond in her new memoir, titled We Might Just Make It After All, and shares memories of their decades-long friendship.

A mystical adventure awaits Gwendolyn Montgomery, an NYC power publicist, who finds herself caught in web of murder. Clarence Haynes discusses his book The Ghosts of Gwendolyn Montgomery, which has been described as "a fresh, authentic voice in urban fantasy and horror."

When it’s too hot to cook, easy, no-oven recipes can be a lifesaver. New York Times associate editor Margaux Laskey recently published a list of "100 Easy Summer Recipes for Right Now." She talks about her favorites, and listeners share their go-to hot-weather meals.

ADHD diagnoses are soaring. For some kids, it's a lifesaver. But recent research about ADHD shows that it might be more of a mismatch between your brain and your current circumstance -- and that labeling kids with ADHD has some downsides. In his recent article for the New York Times Magazine, Paul Tough asks "Have We Been Thinking About ADHD All Wrong?" He discusses his reporting, and listeners call in to share their experiences with ADHD diagnoses.

You may know Laura Lippman for her Tess Monaghan series of mysteries. In her latest novel, Murder Takes a Vacation, we meet Muriel Blossom, who once worked with Tess. Now retired and widowed, she takes her first trip to Europe, which promptly goes awry. Lippman discusses her new work, which The New York Times calls "a rollicking adventure of the highest order."

Our second Summer Reading Challenge is underway! This week, All Of It producer Jordan Lauf discusses some beach reads that could fit in the five Summer Reading Challenge categories. Listeners weigh in with their recommendations. Click here to sign up for the Challenge!

We are previewing the sights and sounds of summer. We've talked about movies, music, and podcasts. Now Vulture critic Kathryn VanArendonk joins us to talk about some of the season's most anticipated TV shows, from a new season of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds to Love Island USA. Plus listeners share what they excited to be watching this season.

This summer, you can see the largest New York exhibition ever put together about local post-war photographer Diane Arbus. For "Diane Arbus: Constellation," Park Avenue Armory has amassed more than 450 Arbus photographs. Curator Matthieu Humery and photographer Neil Selkirk, a former student of Arbus and the only person allowed to make prints from her negatives, talk about the exhibition, on view through August 17.

For this month's installment of Full Bio, we learn about the life of Senator Charles Sumner with Zaakir Tameez, author of the new biography, Charles Sumner: Conscience of a Nation. Sumner was a fierce abolitionist and statesman from Massachusetts who was a pivotal advisor to President Lincoln and an influential force during the Civil War. You can listen to all three parts of our series in full.Charles Sumner, Part 1: Sumner's upbringing in a diverse neighborhood in Boston, and how that experience led him to become an abolitionist.Charles Sumner, Part 2: Sumner's experiences as a statesman during the Civil War, the caning incident, and questions about his sexuality.Charles Sumner, Part 3: Sumner's relationship with the Lincolns, and life after the Civil War.

Today for the Fourth of July, we learn about the life of Frederick Douglass, the abolitionist born into slavery who famously asked, "What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?"We present our Full Bio conversation with Yale historian David Blight, author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning biography, Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom.Frederick Douglass, Part 1: Douglass’s early life as an enslaved person and how he learned to readFrederick Douglass, Part 2: How Douglass escaped slavery and fled to the NorthFrederick Douglass, Part 3: How Douglass's views on slavery evolved in the 1830’s and 1840’sFrederick Douglass, Part 4: Douglass’s first wife, Anna, their five children (four of whom lived to adulthood), and his long and turbulent friendship with German feminist and abolitionist Otillie AssingFrederick Douglass, Part 5: His allegiance to the Republican Party, including his working relationship with Abraham Lincoln, and why Andrew Johnson was so dismissive of DouglassFrederick Douglass, Part 6: The reaction to Frederick Douglass’s death in February of 1895 as well as why Douglass’s second marriage to a woman named Helen Pitts became one of the biggest scandals in 19th century America

[REBROADCAST FROM April 14, 2025] Curator Aimee Ng discusses the reopening and renovations of the venerable Frick Collection, including what exhibits to check out.

[REBROADCAST FROM May 28, 2025] Artist Nanette Carter grew up in Montclair, the daughter of the city's first Black mayor, Matthew G. Carter. The Montclair Art Museum has organized a new homecoming solo exhibition of Carter's work, "Nanette Carter: A Question of Balance," on view through July 6. Carter discusses revisiting her art from throughout her career for this show, which is her first major museum survey.

[REBROADCAST FROM April 9, 2025] New York-based artist Amy Sherald is best recognized for her famous portraits of First Lady Michelle Obama and Breonna Taylor. Today is the opening of “Amy Sherald: American Sublime,” the artist's first solo exhibition at a major New York museum. She discusses her practice, the stories of some of her most iconic portraits and the fifty paintings dating back to 2007 that comprise the exhibition, which is on view at the Whitney through August 10.

[REBROADCAST FROM April 18, 2025] Today is the opening of the Guggenheim's major survey of artist Rashid Johnson, who was born in Chicago in the late 1970s. "Rashid Johnson: A Poem for Deep Thinkers," displays almost 90 pieces, including paintings, films, sculptures, and a site-specific installation at the top of the museum's rotunda. Johnson discusses his practice alongside Naomi Beckwith, Guggenheim deputy director and chief curator.

[REBROADCAST FROM April 16, 2025] A new exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art explores the earliest days of photography and the daguerreotype. Curator Jeff Rosenheim discusses the new exhibition "The New Art: American Photography, 1839–1910," on view at the Met through July 20.

[REBROADCAST FROM May 5, 2025] Jesse Krimes was interested in art at an early age, but got caught up in the criminal justice system in his early 20's. He spent 6 years in prison, including some time in solitary confinement. Since his release, he has pursued his own art career, and worked to help incarcerated people use art as a tool for self-expression and rehabilitation. Now he has his own exhibition at The Met. His solo show is called "Corrections," and runs through July 13. He'll discuss his work and his Brooklyn-based organization, The Center for Art and Advocacy, which provides resources for formerly incarcerated artists.

As summer kicks off, a fresh wave of films is hitting screens big and small. Vulture film critic Alison Willmore joins us to break down her list of films to see in the next few weeks, from "Superman" to "The Naked Gun."

For this month's installment of Full Bio, we learn about the life of Senator Charles Sumner with Zaakir Tameez, author of the new biography Charles Sumner: Conscience of a Nation. Sumner was a fierce abolitionist and statesman from Massachusetts who was a pivotal advisor to President Lincoln and an influential force during the Civil War. In today's installment, we learn about Sumner's life after the Civil War.

[REBROADCAST from July 2, 2024] Bobby Finger, author and co-host of the Who? Weekly podcast discusses his second novel, Four Squares. which is now out in paperback. The story is set in the West Village of the 1990s, where Artie, a gay man working a tedious advertising job meets the love of his life, Abraham. The story interweaves through several stages of Art's life, including as an elderly man seeking belonging and connection in New York City.

Dr. Jessica B. Harris, author of High on the Hog, shares her new cookbook Braided Heritage, exploring how Indigenous, European, and African traditions shaped American cuisine, with 90+ recipes for today’s home cook.

Looking for some new podcast suggestions for the summer? Lauren Passell, curator of Podcast The Newsletter and podcast writer for LifeHacker shares her standout picks, from recent hilarious fiction to sharp cultural commentary that are perfect for road trips, beach days, or just beating the heat.

For this month's installment of Full Bio, we learn about the life of Senator Charles Sumner with Zaakir Tameez, author of the new biography Charles Sumner: Conscience of a Nation. Sumner was a fierce abolitionist and statesman from Massachusetts who was a pivotal advisor to President Lincoln and an influential force during the Civil War. In today's installment, we learn about Sumner's experiences as a statesman during the Civil War.

Eleri Ward's recent stage credits include starring in Florence Welch’s "Gatsby" music at the American Repertory Theatre. Now the actor and singer-songwriter is preparing to release her debut album, Internal Rituals, in September. She joins us to perform a preview of it live in the studio.

Bobbito Garcia is an influential New York DJ, author, filmmaker, radio host, and park hooper. He grew up in the city obsessed with the game of basketball, especially the unique culture of New York City outdoor pickup. He discusses his new memoir, Bobbito’s Book of B-Ball Bong Bong!: A Memoir of Sports, Style, and Soul, and listeners share stories about their time spent playing pickup ball in New York.

Summer’s just getting started, and Switched on Pop's Nate Sloan joins us to share standout new tracks from Sabrina Carpenter to Grupo Frontera that are already defining the sound of summer 2025.

For this month's installment of Full Bio, we learn about the life of Senator Charles Sumner with Zaakir Tameez, author of the new biography Charles Sumner: Conscience of a Nation. Sumner was a fierce abolitionist and statesman from Massachusetts who was a pivotal advisor to President Lincoln and an influential force during the Civil War. In today's installment, we learn about Sumner's upbringing in a diverse neighborhood in Boston, and how that experience led him to become an abolitionist.

A new cookbook from Nick Morgenstern, the owner of Morgenstern's Finest Ice Cream, teaches readers how to make these delicious gourmet ice cream flavors at home. Morgenstern discusses the cookbook and takes calls from listeners.

"The Gilded Age" star Morgan Spector discusses the third season of the period drama, and takes calls from our listeners who have questions about the series. "The Gilded Age" airs Sunday evenings on HBO.

Cherry Grove Archives Collection celebrates Fire Island’s LGBTQ+ legacy with a new podcast, art walks, and a drag pageant film. Creative Director Parker Sargent shares how these projects preserve and share this vital community history.

In honor of NYC Pride Weekend, baker Justin Burke talks about Potluck Desserts: Joyful Recipes to Share with Pride, a cookbook inspired by queer potlucks. He shares recipes like Snickerdoodle Peach Cobbler, Lemon-Thyme Bars, and Hummingbird Blondies, along with reflections on joy, pride, and chosen family.

NYC Pride festivities will be taking place over the weekend. Co-chair of NYC Pride, Kazz Alexander, talks about the events in this year's program, and about the importance of Pride in 2025.

New York and New Jersey have hundreds of miles of coastline, and hundreds of great beaches to choose from. New Jersey journalist Brian Donohue, and Time Out New York's Rossilyne Culgan talk about their favorites, and we'll take your suggestions and calls.

The new play "Trophy Boys" follows an undefeated debate team from an all-boys school who must face off against their sister school for their final debate. The question at the center of the debate: has feminism been good for women? Playwright and actor Emannuelle Mattana and actor Louisa Jacobson discuss the show, which is running at the MCC Theater through July 27.

Madison McFerrin returns with her sophomore album SCORPIO. She joins for a Listening Party.

James Baldwin once called his friend, artist Beauford Delaney, a "spiritual father." Delaney was born in Tennessee, and arrived in New York during the Harlem Renaissance, before following other Black artists to Paris in the 1950s. This summer, The Drawing Center is presenting a new exhibition of Beauford Delaney's drawings, the first New York retrospective of Delaney's work in over thirty years. "In the Medium of Life: The Drawings of Beauford Delaney" is on view through September 14, and Laura Hoptman, executive director, and Rebecca DiGiovanna, assistant curator, discuss why Delaney's drawings are important to understand his practice.

"Adults" showrunner Stefani Robinson and actor Amita Rao, who plays “Issa,” talk about the new series, which follows a group of slightly unhinged, dysfunctional best friends in their 20s as they navigate ambition, codependence, and growing up together and apart in New York City.

A cheap date doesn't have to mean boring. In fact, it opens up a lot of possibilities. It can get you out of your comfort zone and into a shared experience that's adventurous, playful, and educational (especially if you go searching for New York City Easter eggs). Danielle Kam wrote the article "40 Cheap Date-Night Ideas That Aren’t Cringe" for The Cut. She shares her suggestions, and takes listeners questions and stories.

The new novel Flashlight tells the story of how one father's disappearance during a walk on the beach with his young daughter changes the course of the family's life forever. Author Susan Choi discusses her new novel.

Maris Kreizman and her husband, comedian Josh Gondelman, join us together to talk about different approaches to hope and optimism, and how they make their partnership fun and fulfilling.

Author and culture critic Maris Kreizman discusses her new book of essays, I Want to Burn This Place Down. The book chronicles her own journey through politics, as she becomes disillusioned with the current political system and begins to believe radical change is necessary. The book will be published on July 1.