All Of It with Alison Stewart

Author Saratoga Schaefer discusses their latest novel, Serial Killer Support Group, about a woman who infiltrates a group for serial killers to avenge her sister's death.

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.

Death is one of the only sure things about life. Registered nurse and "end of life" specialist Suzanne O'Brien believes we can make that time better. Her book, The Good Death, offers guidance for how caregivers can help their loved ones. It also offers practical advice on how to have a 'good death' so that everyone can be involved.

Writer and director David Cronenberg's new film "The Shrouds" is partly inspired from the grief of losing his wife in recent years. The film follows a grieving businessman named Karsh who invents a way to connect with the dead. Cronenberg discusses, alongside actor Diane Kruger, who stars in the film. "The Shrouds" is in New York and Los Angeles theaters on Friday April 18 and nationwide April 25.

[REBROADCAST FROM December 9, 2024] Broadway star Megan Hilty joins us to discuss starring in the Broadway musical,"Death Becomes Her," an adaptation of the beloved Robert Zemeckis film. The show is running now at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre.

[REBROADCAST FROM July 16, 2024] In Cole Escola's hit play "Oh, Mary!" they star as a deranged version of Mary Todd Lincoln, whose dream in life is to be a cabaret star. Mary's husband Abraham gets her acting lessons to keep her from bothering him, which sets off a chain of events which ultimately leads to his own assassination. Following a successful off-Broadway run, the show is now running at the Lyceum Theatre. Director Sam Pinkleton joins us to discuss the Broadway transfer, alongside actor Conrad Ricamora, who stars as Abraham Lincoln.

The cast and creative team from Broadway's "Hell's Kitchen" join us live in The Greene Space. Lead actors Jade Milan, Jessica Vosk, Tank, and Kecia Lewis perform the music of Alicia Keys. Music supervisor Adam Blackstone and music consultant Tom Kitt talk about orchestrating those songs for the Broadway stage. This is a free event, and part of our Listening Party Live series.

Curator Aimee Ng discusses the reopening and renovations of the venerable Frick Collection, including what exhibits to check out. The Frick opens to the public on April 17.

A new cookbook, All I Think About Is Food: A Vegetarian Cookbook That'll Keep the Party Going, provides suggestions for dinner party hosts looking to satisfy all of their guests' hunger needs. Author Mamrie Hart shares a few recipes from her debut cookbook, and listeners share some of their favorite vegetarian dishes.

James Beard award-winning Chef and LA icon Roy Choi is releasing his first cookbook in over a decade. The Choi of Cooking: Flavor-Packed, Rule-Breaking Recipes for a Delicious Life includes Roy's recipes that allow for you to still pursue those, let's say, glutinous cravings, while still maintaining a healthy diet and lifestyle. Choi discusses the cookbook, his philosophy on home cooking, and reflects on the impact of Kogi BBQ, his popular fusion food truck.

The Emmy-winning Netflix series "Love on the Spectrum" is back for Season 3! The show follows different people with autism as they attempt to navigate the dating world and find love. The show's creators Cian O'Clery and Karina Holden discuss their approach to the series, and to autism representation. "Love on the Spectrum" is streaming now on Netflix.

With the first nights of Passover coming up this weekend, listeners might be thinking about what to cook for their Seder tables. Jake Cohen, the cookbook author behind Jew-ish, and I Could Nosh, shares his tips, tricks and recipes for Passover cooking. Plus, listeners call in with their secrets for spicing up their charoset, or making the most of matzoh brei for the bread-less week ahead.

It may be officially Spring, but the weather outside is still grey and dreary. Want to manifest some sunshine in your life? Try margaritas. Author Caroline Pardilla, digital content editor for Imbibe magazine, has written a new book, Margarita Time: 60+ Tequila & Mezcal Cocktails, Served Up, Over & Blended. She discusses her love of margs, and her tips for making them extra tasty. Plus, listeners share their favorite recipes.

For 40 years, the Whiting Awards have been discovering up-and-coming literary talent, and awarding them with substantial grants. Past recipients include Michael Cunningham, Jonathan Franzen, Hernan Diaz, Ocean Vuong, Michael R. Jackson, Mary Karr, and more. This week, the 40th Annual Whiting Awards handed out grants to a new class of writers. Courtney Hodell, director of literary programs with the Whiting Foundation, discusses her role overseeing the awards, and how the Foundation has become so adept at identifying emerging literary talent.

A new documentary explores the years leading up to John Lennon’s first and only full-length solo concert after The Beatles—a benefit show that raised $1.5 million for children abused at the Willowbrook State School in Staten Island. Director Kevin MacDonald joins us to discuss the film, “One to One: John & Yoko” which opens in theaters today.

During the pandemic, Debbie Taylor-Kerman made a big decision. She decided to quit her settled career in the commercial art licensing industry to become a full-time artist. Her most recent work is the subject of a new exhibition at Heath Gallery, "More Love Now", on view through May 3. Taylor-Kerman discusses her story, including her childhood in Scotland to arriving to New York in 1991. She will be hosting an Artist Talk at Heath Gallery on April 12 from 2-4pm.

The new novel The Dream Hotel 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, which probes people’s dreams with Artificial Intelligence. They claim that Sarah’s dreams reveal that she is likely to harm her own husband, a man she loves dearly. The Dream Hotel is 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.

Women with autism have been consistently undiagnosed and under-researched. Author Gina Rippon’s new book explores why, and how has this skewed our understanding of what autism is and how it presents. She’ll discuss Off the Spectrum: Why the Science of Autism Has Failed Women and Girls, and take calls from listeners on the subject.

[REBROADCAST FROM Feb 11, 2025] The Max medical drama "The Pitt" follows Dr. Robby Robinavitch and his hardworking staff working in a Pittsburgh emergency room. Tonight, the finale of Season 1 airs at 9 pm, with a second season on the way. Star and executive producer of "The Pitt," Noah Wyle, joins us to discuss playing Dr. Robby, and returning to a medical drama years after starring in "E.R."

Last week, country singer Orville Peck made his Broadway debut alongside two-time Tony nominee Eva Noblezada in “Cabaret” at The Kit Kat Club. Peck stars as the Emcee and Noblezada as Sally Bowles. The two discuss stepping into their roles in this Broadway revival through July.

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.

Each season in New York brings a particular charm, and for many, 'spring' signifies romance and optimism. Poet Vincent Katz has published a new collection, Daffodil: And Other Poems, with meditative poems on the intersections between nature and the Big Apple. As part of our Poetry Month coverage, Katz discusses his writing practice and shares selections from his collection.

For over two centuries, New York City's social dance scene has given rise to trends that have been both popular and controversial, leading to a notorious law that regulated and banned dancing at many nightlife establishments. A new exhibit at the Museum of the City of New York looks at the history of the city's dance scene, and how the dance floor is often a place where different cultures collide and thrive. Co-curators Sarah Henry and Derrick León Washington discuss the exhibit "Urban Stomp: Dreams & Defiance on the Dance Floor," which opens on April 11.

In Kevin Nguyen's latest novel, a series of violent attacks leads the United States government to incarcerate all Vietnamese Americans in various camps throughout the country. The novel, titled My Documents, follows a group of cousins sent to different camps who attempt to figure out how to change their circumstances. Nguyen talks about his book ahead of an April 9 event at Books Are Magic.

For the second week of Poetry Month, Ricardo Maldonado of the Academy of American Poets, will read some of the poems that are resonating with him today, and explain how his organization is celebrating poetry in April. Plus, listeners share their favorite poems.

Ice cream fans in Brooklyn, are likely familiar with Malai in Carroll Gardens, which is known for incorporating South Asian flavors into their ice cream. Founder Pooja Bavishi has written a new cookbook, Malai: Frozen Desserts Inspired by South Asian Flavors, and she discusses her story. Plus, listeners share their experience enjoying Malai ice cream and South Asian frozen desserts. Pooja is hosting a Make-Your-Own-Sundae Party & Book Signing at Malai tomorrow at 6pm.

The new film "Warfare" draws directly on the memories of director Ray Mendoza, an Iraq war veteran and former Navy Seal who was a part of a mission that went very wrong. Co-directed with Alex Garland, "Warfare" presents a dramatized version of that mission. Mendoza and Garland discuss the film, which is in theaters April 11.

In the new FX series "Dying for Sex," a woman diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer decides to end her marriage to go on a journey of sexual self-discovery. The series stars Michelle Williams as Molly and Jenny Slate as her friend Nikki. The show is based on a podcast of the same name by Nikki Boyer. Slate and the series co-creator, writer, and executive producer Kim Rosenstock discuss the series, which is streaming now on FX on Hulu.

A new romantic comedy, based on the play by Madhuri Shekar, follows an introverted doctor, Naveen, who invites his white orphan artist boyfriend, Jay, home to meet his traditional East Indian family. Actors Karan Soni, who plays Naveen, and Zarna Garg, who plays Naveen's mother join us alongside director Roshan Sethi to discuss "A Nice Indian Boy," which opened in theaters this weekend.

In the new novel Counting Backwards, a woman named Addie becomes concerned when her devoted husband, Leo, starts having vivid hallucinations. When he is eventually diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia, her world, and their marriage, is turned upside down. The novel is based on author Binnie Kirshenbaum's own experiences with her husband. Kirshenbaum discusses the novel.

Solo restaurant reservations are on the rise, even if many restaurants still limit a reservation to a table for two or more. Priya Krishna, reporter and video host for The New York Times food section and NYT Cooking, looked into why there is such a stigma when it comes to eating out alone. Krishna discusses her reporting and listeners share their favorite spots to dine solo.

The finale for ‘The White Lotus' season 3 aired over the weekend. Actor Carrie Coon plays Laurie Duffy, a corporate lawyer from New York getting over her recent divorce on a girls' getaway. Coon discusses the show's third season, and how Laurie's friendships were strained by their trip to Thailand.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of Saturday Night Live. For this month's Full Bio, we're going to learn more about Lorne Michaels, the show's creator and showrunner. For all of his power and influence in the industry, Michaels remains a somewhat elusive figure. Writer Susan Morrison attempts to get to the man behind the image in her new biography, Lorne: The Man Who Invented Saturday Night Live. For this weekend podcast special, we present the entirety of our 3-part conversation with Morrison.

A new play from Tony Award-winning playwright Branden Jacobs Jenkins follows the family of an aging Civil Rights icon named Solomon Jasper, a famous activist, preacher, and the patriarch of the Solomon family. But Solomon has some secrets, and so does his son, Nazareth, played by Jon Michael Hill. When Nazareth comes home to celebrate his mom's birthday, all of these secrets threaten to come to the surface. Jacobs Jenkins, Lennix, and Hill discuss "Purpose," which is running at the Helen Hayes Theater through July 6.

New York Times reporter Steven Kurutz talks about his recent article, “The Gen X Career Meltdown,” and discusses how his generation has felt the pressures of changing technologies and office cultures in the workplace, and how they have adapted to those changes. Plus, Gen-X listeners share their experiences with big career shifts.

Indie rock back The Ophelias perform live from our March Get Lit with All Of It book club event. Today they release the album Spring Grove and kick off a tour, with a Brooklyn show this Saturday. Lead singer and guitarist Spencer Peppet talks about the group and its music.

Hear highlights from our March Get Lit with All Of It book club event. We spent the month reading Mothers and Sons by Adam Haslett, a novel about a New York City asylum lawyer grappling with the events that led him to become estranged from his mother. Missed the event? Click here to watch in full!

Shauna Moore, director of horticulture for Brooklyn Botanic Garden, explains how to get the most out of spring’s bloom in your garden, and discusses the new requirements and best practices around NYC’s new composting requirements.

Kenny Leon's production of "Othello" is now on Broadway, starring Denzel Washington as Othello and Jake Gyllenhaal as the scheming Iago. Opposite these two men is Molly Osborne, who plays Othello's wife Desdemona, the focus of Iago's plot. She discusses the role and the production, which is running through June 8.

[REBROADCAST FROM Feb.24, 2025] The latest production from playwright Bess Wohl blends the present and the past to examine the Women's Lib movement in the 1970s. "Liberation" stars Susannah Flood as Lizzie, a woman who, to better understand her mother's past, embodies her mother to witness how she started a consciousness raising group with other women in her Ohio community. One of those women is Celeste, played by Kristolyn Lloyd, a Radcliffe-educated student who has her own thoughts on what it means to achieve liberation. Wohl, Flood, and Lloyd discuss the show, running now at the Laura Pels Theatre through April 6.

Actor Michael Shannon has made his feature film directorial debut with the new movie "Eric LaRue." The film follows Janice, the mother of a teenage boy who has shot and killed three of his classmates. Janice is struggling with her grief, and with her husband's newfound faith in the wake of this tragedy. Shannon, writer Brett Neveu and Judy Greer, who plays Janice, discuss "Eric LaRue," in theaters Friday April 4.

In the new movie "The Ballad of Wallis Island," an eccentric lottery winner living on an island plots to get his favorite indie duo back together for a private concert. Tim Key plays Charles, the lottery winner, and Tom Basden plays Herb McGweyer, one half of the duo. Key and Basden discuss writing and starring in the film, alongside director James Griffiths. "The Ballad of Wallis Island" is in select theaters now.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of "Saturday Night Live." For this month's Full Bio, we're going to learn more about Lorne Michaels, the show's creator and showrunner. For all of his power and influence in the industry, Michaels remains an elusive figure. Writer Susan Morrison attempts to get to the man behind the image in her new biography, Lorne: The Man Who Invented Saturday Night Live. In today's installment, we discuss Lorne Michaels as a manager, a casting agent, and a successful showrunner.

After years covering entertainment for Vanity Fair, Josh Duboff began writing his debut novel, Early Thirties, in 2019 as a way to reflect on his own journey as an ambitious 20-something in New York City.

East Harlem-born Puerto Rican poet Willie Perdomo, the former State Poet of New York, is curating poets.org’s National Poetry Month series, consisting of one newly published poem per day from a contemporary poet. Perdomo will discuss the series, and the purpose of National Poetry Month. Plus, listeners share their favorite works of poetry, particularly works they lean on through uncertain times.

The Olivier Award-winning musical "Operation Mincemeat" has been a sensation on London’s West End, and now the comedy has landed on Broadway. The show is based on the true story of a daring and implausible British intelligence mission to trick the German forces. David Cumming, Natasha Hodgson, and Zoe Roberts, who co-wrote and star in the musical, discuss bringing the show to the U.S.

[REBROADCAST FROM Jan. 16, 2025] The rapper Saba is one of the stars of a new generation of hip hop artists from Chicago. On his new album, he teams up with a legend of a previous generation: No ID. Saba talks about his new collaborative album, From the Private Collection of Saba & No ID, which was recently released.

Twelve years ago, author Eamon Dolan cut ties with his mother, a decision that became the subject of his New York Times op-ed on estrangement and his new book, The Power of Parting: Finding Peace and Freedom Through Family Estrangement. Dolan discusses his experience and research on family estrangement, and listeners share their experiences with difficult family members.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of Saturday Night Live. So for this month's Full Bio, we're going to learn more about Lorne Michaels, the show's creator and showrunner. For all of his power and influence in the industry, Michaels remains an elusive figure. Writer Susan Morrison attempts to get to the man behind the image in her new biography, Lorne: The Man Who Invented Saturday Night Live. In today's installment, we learn how Michaels created Saturday Night Live.

As part of the Women's History Month series, Equalizers: Women In Music Production, several of the audio engineers who make WNYC sound great share their experiences in the audio broadcast industry. Hear Julianna Fonda, Liora Noam Kravitz, Irene Trudel, Shayna Sengstock, Jennifer Munson and Amber Bruce explain their roles, and what drives their work.