All Of It with Alison Stewart

Chilean novelist Isabel Allende discusses her latest novel, My Name is Emilia del Valle. The story follows a young journalist who becomes caught up in the Chilean Civil War. Isabel will be speaking at Symphony Space on May 6 at 7 pm.

May is National Bike Month, and many riders are thinking about how to make the most of biking in New York City as the weather gets warmer, from scenic routes for a more pleasant commute, to planning weekend riding tips. Organizers Emily Jacobi, Mae Francke and Anna Berlanga from the organization Transportation Alternatives share insights from their work across the boroughs. Plus, listeners share their favorite places to ride.

This year marks the thirtieth annual Jazz at Lincoln Center Essentially Ellington festival, where high school big bands from around the country are selected to compete and perform. But this year, in honor of the anniversary, Jazz at Lincoln Center opened applications up to schools around the world, and bands from Australia, Japan, and Spain were selected to participate. To help preview the festival, students from the Celia Cruz Bronx High School of Music big band, selected this year, perform some live numbers in WNYC's studio. Plus, Penelope Smetters-Jacono, director of Bands at Celia Cruz, and Todd Stoll, Jazz at Lincoln Center Vice President of Education, discuss the importance of education in jazz. Jazz at Lincoln Center's Essentially Ellington festival is open to the public May 7-11.

[REBROADCAST FROM Aug 13, 2024] A documentary tells the stories of four young girls preparing for a 'Daddy-Daughter Dance' with their incarcerated fathers, as part of a rehabilitation program in Washington, D.C. "Daughters" was directed by Natalie Rae and Angela Patton, who discuss the film, along with one of the subjects, the program's 'fatherhood coach' Chad Morris.

Celebrated writer Karen Russell discusses her latest novel, The Antidote, which follows members of a Dust Bowl town and the long-kept secrets many of them would prefer to forget.

The nominations for the Tony Awards are out today. We speak with Vulture and New York Magazine's theater critic Jackson McHenry about the surprises, snubs and expected nods.

Psychologist Dr. Marisa G. Franco, author of the book Platonic: How The Science of Attachment Can Help You Make—and Keep—Friends talks about how to navigate honest conversations with friends from setting boundaries to expressing hurt, and offers advice on handling conflict with care. Listeners share their stories and ask questions about having difficult conversations about friendship.

If you received a wedding invite with a bizarre and confusing dress code recently, you're not alone. According to Bride's Magazine, wedding dress codes are getting wackier. Gabby Rello Duffy, Brides Magazine senior editorial director, discusses this trend, and helps listeners seeking fashion advice for their wedding attendances this year.

[REBROADCAST FROM April 10, 2025] In the new novel The Dream Hotel, one woman’s dreams are analyzed by AI, interpreted, and used against her.The novel is the first work of speculative fiction from acclaimed author Laila Lalami. It follows a woman named Sarah, who is detained by members of the Risk Assessment Administration. They claim that her dreams reveal that she is likely about to harm her own husband, a man she loves dearly. We’ve selected The Dream Hotel as our April Get Lit with All Of It Book Club selection, and Laila Lalami discusses the novel in a preview conversation ahead of our May 6 event.To find out how to borrow your e-copy of the novel from the New York Public Library, and to snag your free tickets to our Get Lit event, click here.

The Met Gala is coming up, and so is "The Debt Gala," which parodies celebrity culture and Avant Garde fashion to raise money and awareness about the issues surrounding healthcare costs. Debt Gala co-founder Molly Gaebe and comedian, writer and actor Joyelle Nicole Johnson, who got involved through her own experiences with medical debt, discuss the event, and the issue it's meant to highlight.

Paste Magazine calls Valerie June "casually masterful, deceptively mellow." Her latest album Owls, Omens and Oracles is a celebration of joy and positivity in the face of adversity. June joined us for a conversation recently, and recorded an exclusive bonus track in WNYC's studio five. So today, we present Valerie June's cover of Lightnin' Thomas's 'The Life I Used To Live.' June will play The Town Hall on May 6.

It's not just you, cinnamon buns are everywhere in New York City, from chains like Cinnabon to small bakeries that specialize in special flavors like pistachio or blueberry lemon. The Infatuation, a food culture website, recently listed their picks for the best cinnamon buns in the area, and staff writers Willa Moore and Molly Fitzpatrick will share their favorites on the air. Plus, listeners call in to talk about their favorite cinnamon buns.

This National Poetry Month, the WNYC Morning Edition team has been airing some of your submitted poems based on a weekly theme. To close out Poetry Month, producers Amanda Rozon and Verónica Del Valle recap the series, and share some submitted poems.

When cartoonist Harry Bliss lost his dog of 17 years, Penny, he realized in his grief that he wanted to take stock of his life. The result is a new graphic memoir, You Can Never Die, featuring his many illustrations of Penny, journal entries, reflections on his often dysfunctional family and his career.Bliss will be in conversation with New Yorker cartoon editor Emma Allen at P&T Knitwear on April 30 at 6:30.

Cultural scholar, professor and filmmaker Dr. Stephane Dunn talks about the new film "Sinners," including its on-screen themes about race in the American south, and the behind-the-scenes deal that some in Hollywood are calling 'unprecedented' that allows director and writer Ryan Coogler creative control and ownership over the film. Dunn discusses the film, how its production fits into the history of Black film, and what impact it might have on the industry going forward.

The new documentary "Free for All: The Public Library" tells the story of the librarians who made a simple idea happen. From the “Free Library Movement” to today's librarians who deal with the constant threat of funding cuts, closures and book bans, directors Lucie Faulknor and Dawn Logsdon discuss their film.

Emmy-winning actor Sarah Snook discusses her athletic turn as 26 different characters in a one-woman production of "The Picture of Dorian Gray," running now at the Music Box Theater.

As Poetry Month wraps up, poet Traci Brimhall, who is currently serving as the poet laureate of Kansas and the Guggenheim's poet in residence speaks about some of her favorite poems for this moment. Plus, listeners call in with their favorites.

Note: If you are experiencing psychological distress or thoughts of ending your life, please call the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988.Arianna Rebolini was a successful book blogger, the former book editor at Buzzfeed, and a newly minted debut novelist. But she still couldn't keep her depression at bay. She writes candidly about her struggle with suicidal thoughts in her new book Better: A Memoir About Wanting to Die.

KEXP calls chlothegod “vivacious” and “genre-defying.” Her new EP I Feel Different Every Day (Deluxe) blends alt-rock, R&B, and raw emotion into a bold, cathartic sound. Chlo performs live in WNYC’s Studio Five.

As "The Dogist," photographer Elias Weiss Friedman has won over millions of fans with his photos of dogs in New York and around the world. In a new book titled This Dog Will Change Your Life, he shares stories about some of the dogs he's met, and how those interactions have shaped him. He'll talk about his work as The Dogist, discuss the book, and talk with listeners sharing love for their own canine companions. Weiss Friedman will be at the Gramercy Theatre on June 3.

In her new book, The Atlantic writer Sophie Gilbert argues that early 2000s pop culture presented toxic views of women, and was a backlash regression from the progress made in the 1990s. She discusses the book, titled Girl on Girl: How Pop Culture Turned a Generation of Women Against Themselves. Plus, listeners share their thoughts on how early 2000s culture shaped them. Gilbert will be speaking at the 92Y on April 30 at 7:30 pm.

One hundred years ago today, an international exhibition opened in Paris called, "“L’Exposition internationale des arts décoratifs.” 16 million people attended the months long show, and the exhibition is credited with launching the famous Art Deco architectural movement that now defines the New York City skyline. Francis Morrone, architectural historian and NYU adjunct instructor, dives deeper into the history of New York Art Deco and listeners share their favorite local Art Deco building.

Musical theater legend Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber has seen a resurgence of his work, as creative teams both in New York and London have worked on high profile revivals of his work. Webber discusses the Broadway revival of "Sunset Boulevard," "Cats: The Jellicle Ball," the recently announced "Evita" revival, and his collaboration with director Jamie Lloyd. Plus, listeners call in with their questions about his prolific career.

Listeners call in to share what they'll be getting up to this weekend.

New York may be known as a concrete jungle, but it's also a fish spawning ground, a migratory bird rest stop, and home to all kinds of life, including flora, fauna and whatever category “dog vomit slime mold” fits into. In their new book Wild NYC: Experience the Amazing Nature in and Around New York City, naturalist and science writer Ryan Mandelbaum profiles some of the species with whom we share our urban environment. The book also describes the city's natural history, and includes suggestions for day trips and excursions that can bring you closer to nature here in the five boroughs.

Vulture critic Nick Quah talks about the most exciting TV shows airing this season, including “Black Mirror,” “The Last of Us,” and “Andor.” Plus, listeners call in about the shows you’re watching this season.

Our series of Poetry Month conversations continues with Robin Walter, whose debut collection Little Mercy was awarded the 2024 Academy of American Poets' First Book Award.

Lately, studies have show that rates of cancer are rising among young people, including colorectal cancer, breast cancer, and prostate cancer. But what is behind this rise? We speak with journalist Jamie Ducharme, who wrote a piece titled “The Race to Explain Why More Young Adults Are Getting Cancer” for Time Magazine. Plus Dr. Trisha Pasricha, who writes the Ask the Doctor column for the Washington Post, discusses this story from a doctor's perspective. Plus, listeners share their own experience with cancer at a young age.

Uwade gained a widespread notoriety when Fleet Foxes featured her on their 2020 album Shore. Now she's set to release her debut album Florilegium. The singer-songwriter, who is also currently pursuing a PhD at Stanford, joins us to perform live in studio five.

A new novel, written by a former Hollywood agent, tells the story of three women who rise to the top of the entertainment business in the 1980s. Author Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas talks about Climbing in Heels, which has been optioned for TV.

Morocco's Bab L'Bluz fuses traditional Gnawa with rock and psychadelia. Spin Magazine says their latest album, Swaken, defies the "limits of style and space-time." We catch them in the middle of a U.S. tour and they perform live in our studio.

In the past month, President Donald Trump extended the TikTok ban deadline, Elon Musk sold X (formerly Twitter) to his company xAI, and AI has become a fixture on nearly every major social network. Clare Duffy, a CNN tech writer and host of CNN Audio’s “Terms of Service with Clare Duffy” explains what it all means, and listeners call in with their questions.

These days, photographer Dona Ann McAdams lives on a goat farm in Vermont. But a new exhibit of her work incorporates five decades of her photography from around the world. "Dona Ann McAdams: 'Black | Box'" is on view at the Pratt Manhattan Gallery through June 7. She discusses her practice, explains how her childhood growing up in Ronkonkoma on Long Island informed her interest in photography, and shares stories from her adventures in California and New York, including her gig as the longtime staff photographer of Performance Space 122. Dona will be at Park Avenue Armory on Friday April 25 at 3 pm for a photography show event, and will also be in conversation with poet Eileen Myles at the Pratt Manhattan Gallery on Thursday May 15 at 6:30 pm.

[REBROADCAST FROM Dec. 11, 2024] The lead singer of the hit band MUNA, Katie Gavin has struck out on her own to make her debut solo album, What a Relief. We present her live performances from WNYC's performance studio ahead of her shows this week at Radio City Music Hall and Market Hotel.

The new play "Becoming Eve" is based on the memoir of the same name from Rabbi Abby Chava Stein. It explores her journey from growing up in an ultra-Orthodox Jewish community to coming out as a trans woman. The play stars Tommy Dorfman as Stein. Stein and Dorfman discuss "Becoming Eve," which is running at the New York Theater Workshop through April 27.

Icebox desserts are no-bake or low-bake desserts that assemble quickly and set in the refrigerator. Plus they have a unique history dating to when Americans were modernizing their kitchens and embracing electricity. Bobbie Lloyd is the CEO and chief baking officer at Magnolia Bakery. She joins us to talk about some of the recipes in the new cookbook The Magnolia Bakery Handbook of Icebox Desserts: Classic and Creative Icebox Desserts with a Magnolia Bakery Twist. She’ll also share how to adapt them, and field listener's calls and questions.Magnolia Bakery’s Famous Banana PuddingBanana pudding has been around since the late 1800s, when faster steam ships meant bananas could make their way to US ports. It was first made with sponge cake, but by the 1920s, cake was replaced with vanilla wafers. For this recipe, I use Nabisco Nilla wafers and strongly recommend you don’t make any substitutions to ensure you get the same crave-worthy texture of this iconic dessert.MAKES 4 to 5 quarts; serves up to 16INGREDIENTSPART ONE1 (3.4oz) package instant vanilla pudding mix, preferably Jell-O1 (14oz) can sweetened condensed milk1 ¼ cups (300g/10.6oz) ice-cold waterPART TWO3 cups (720g/24oz) heavy creamASSEMBLY1 (11oz) box Nilla wafers4 large or 6 small bananas, slicedINSTRUCTIONSMAKE PART ONE: Place the pudding mix into a 4-quart bowl and set aside.In a 2-quart liquid measuring cup or bowl with a spout, whisk together the sweetened condensed milk and water until smooth.Slowly pour the liquid into the bowl with the pudding mix while whisking constantly until thoroughly combined. Scrape the bottom and sides of the bowl with a spatula and stir until smooth. Cover with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for a minimum of 30 minutes. The pudding can be made ahead up to 24 hours. MAKE PART TWO: In a stand mixer fitted with the whisk, whip the heavy cream on medium speed for 1 minute, until the cream starts to thicken, then increase the speed to medium-high and whip until stiff peaks form. Be careful not to overwhip.With the mixer running on low speed, add the pudding mixture a spoonful at a time. Mix until well blended and no streaks of pudding remain. Scrape the bottom and sides of the bowl. TO ASSEMBLE: Select either a trifle bowl, a 9 × 13-inch pan, a wide glass bowl with a 4- to 5-quart capacity, or individual bowls.If using a trifle bowl, spread one-quarter of the pudding over the bottom of the bowl, then layer with one-third of the cookies and enough banana slices to cover the cookie layer. Repeat the layering twice more. End with a final layer of pudding. Garnish the top with additional vanilla wafer cookies or cookie crumbs.Cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 4 to 6 hours. The cookies should be tender when poked with a knife. This dessert is best served within 12 hours of assembling.From The Magnolia Bakery Handbook of Icebox Desserts by Bobbie Lloyd. Copyright © 2025 by Magnolia Intellectual Property, LLC. Reprinted by permission of Harvest, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.

A new exhibition at the Queens Museum marks 60 years since the 1964–1965 New York World’s Fair, and explores its cultural and political legacy. Assistant Director of Archives and Collections Lynn Maliszewski, discusses the new show “A Billion Dollar Dream: The 1964-1965 New York World’s Fair on its 60th Anniversary,” on view through July 13.

Josh Rogosin is the engineer responsible for shaping the sound of NPR's “Tiny Desk.” Now, he runs “Global Sound Concerts,” a music series which travels the world, producing videos in the cities and locations that matter to artists. He's also a judge for WNYC's Public Song Project (which you too can join through April 28). Tonight, he'll be at the New York Public Library’s Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library to lead a free masterclass on recording and mixing. Jenna Li, program manager for NYPL's Studio 40 and Technology Training, also joins us to talk about the the NYPL's recording resources for local musicians.

Paste Magazine calls Valerie June "casually masterful, deceptively mellow." Her latest album Owls, Omens and Oracles is a celebration of joy and positivity in the face of adversity. June performs live in WNYC's studio five, and will play The Town Hall on May 6.

A house without color is a boring one. But it can be difficult and stressful to pick and match the right colors while also avoiding your living room turning into a kindergartner's art project. Laura Perryman, color consultant and author of the new book, The Rainbow Home: Over 200 Ideas and Tips for Adding Color to Your Home, shares strategies to incorporate more color into our interior design, and listeners share their thoughts and questions.

A new show at the Brooklyn Academy of Music explores what it means to be a powerful woman through the lens of Shakespeare's "Macbeth." Writer and performer Whitney White discusses her show "Macbeth in Stride," running now at BAM through April 27. Plus, White discusses directing the Broadway musical "The Last Five Years."

National Poetry Month continues with readings from former National Poet Laureate Tracy K. Smith, and listeners share their favorite poems.

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.

When his grandmother was dying, playwright Joshua Harmon secretly recorded the last conversation he ever had with her. Those recordings have inspired the new off-Broadway play, "We Had A World," starring Andrew Barth Feldman (Joshua), Joanna Gleason (Renee), and Jeanine Serralles (Ellen). Harmon, Feldman, and director Trip Cullman discuss their production, running at the New York City Center Stage II through May 11.

The latest issue of New York Magazine is dedicated to the legends of Broadway including Liza Minelli, Patty Lupone and Andre DeShields. We speak with NY Mag's Editor-in-Chief David Haskell as well as Mark Seliger, photographer who shot the cover subjects--who were photographed in their most famous costumes.

Samhita Mukhopadhyay, author of the book The Myth of Making It: A Workplace Reckoning, talks about reclaiming her identity after losing a job that defined her. Listeners call in and share their stories about rebounding after a job loss.

NYC native and indie rock artist Samia releases her new album, Bloodless, on April 25. She joins us for a special preview, and performs songs live in the studio.

A flavorful bite of a beloved family dish can bring us back to our childhoods. But food can help us experience an even farther past. Max Miller, host of the YouTube channel 'Tasting History,' and author of the cookbook Tasting History: Explore the Past through 4,000 Years of Recipes, hunts around historical primary sources for early versions of modern classics, or menus from different chapters of history, from the bean porridge served to competitors in the gladiatorial arena to the upscale menus offered to wealthy travelers on the Titanic or the Hindenburg. Miller talks about his research and why food can help us experience a taste of so many different lives from long ago. Plus, listeners ask about the histories of their favorite dishes and ingredients.

For almost two centuries, New York has used Ward's Island as a space to house its most marginalized residents. Philip T. Yanos, a professor of psychology at John Jay College of Criminal Justice and the Graduate Center, City University of New York, grew up on the island in the 1970s on the grounds of the Manhattan State Hospital, where his dad worked as a psychiatrist. Yanos has written a new book, Exiles in New York City: Warehousing the Marginalized on Ward's Island, and he discusses his research and listeners who've visited or lived on Ward's Island share their stories.