All Of It with Alison Stewart

Pastry chef and entrepreneur Dominque Ansel shook up the baking world in 2013 when he created the Cronut (a croissant-like confection shaped like a donut) in his Soho bakery. Several cookbooks and international bakery openings later, he once again has created a hybrid of sorts. His new bakery is called Papa D'Amour, and blends Asian and French baking traditions in honor of his half-French, half-Taiwanese family. Ansel discuses the inspirations for his new bakery, and his latest baking book, Life’s Sweetest Moments. He'll also answer baking questions from callers.

As AI technology like ChatGPT continues to advance, more and more college and high school students have begun using the technology to help them with assignments... or to just do it for them. Intelligencer features writer James D. Walsh discusses his new piece, "Everyone is Cheating Their Way Through College." Plus, students and educators share how ChatGPT has changed their relationship with education.

Stand-up comedian Matteo Lane admits he has no business writing a cookbook and yet... Your Pasta Sucks: A "Cookbook," includes 30 recipes, including his "foolproof" homemade pasta, presented with humor. He joins us to discuss the book and his new comedy special, "Matteo Lane: The Al Dente Special," streaming on Hulu this Friday.

The new Broadway play "Good Night, and Good Luck" has earned five Tony nominations for its portrayal of the standoff between newscaster Edward R. Murrow and Senator Joseph McCarthy. Director David Cromer discusses how he used video technology to help bring this story to life. Plus, actor Glenn Fleshler talks about playing TV producer Fred Friendly.

The new play "John Proctor is the Villain" earned seven Tony nominations, including Best Play and a Best Direction of a Play nomination for director Danya Taymor. Taymor, playwright Kimberly Belflower, and actor Amalia Yoo discuss the show, which follows a group of high school girls in rural Georgia grappling with the ways the Me Too movement has affected their own lives.

When and why did emergency sirens get so loud? These are questions that Ben Naddaf-Hafrey, senior producer for Pushkin Industries, tried to answer in a recent episode of Malcolm Gladwell's "Revisionist History" podcast. Naddaf-Hafrey lives opposite a fire station in Brooklyn, which means he is often exposed to the high decibels of an engine's siren. But, as he discovered in his reporting, loud sirens may not be as effective in saving lives as we think. Naddaf-Hafrey discusses what he found and listeners share their experiences with sirens on the streets of New York. Click here to read some of his in-depth reporting on this subject.

Culture writer Niko Stratis discusses her new memoir, The Dad Rock That Made Me A Woman, which traces her life from a childhood in the Yukon, her careers as a construction worker and journeyman glazier, her challenges with alcohol, her journey through gender identity, and the transformative power of music.

Local artist Sheree Hovsepian discusses her solo exhibit at Uffner & Liu, "Figure Ground," which displays her latest works, including new bronze sculptures, and her new monograph, which will be released May 28th.

Our May Get Lit with All Of It book club selection is the new novel Audition by Katie Kitamura. The story follows a successful actress struggling through a new play... and the much younger man who suddenly comes into her life. Kitamura discusses the novel ahead of our May 29th Get Lit event.Click here to borrow your e-copy and to get free tickets to the event!

The Knicks play the fourth game of their playoff series against Boston tonight at Madison Square Garden Monday evening. Sports and culture writer Priya Desai talks about why this particular match up has been so captivating and why New York fans are feeling hopeful. Plus, listeners call in to discuss the series so far, and their predictions for Game 4.

Our April Get Lit book club pick, The Dream Hotel, comes from Moroccan author Laila Lalami and its protagonist is the daughter of Moroccan immigrants to the United States. At Lalami's request, we closed our event with music from Morocco as well. Hear performances from New York-based band Imal Gnawa and conversation with bandleader Atlas Phoenix.

Author Laila Lalami discusses her new book, The Dream Hotel, which follows a woman detained after an AI algorithm analyzes her dreams and determines she's at risk of harming her husband. The novel was our April selection for our Get Lit with All Of It book club.

In celebration of Teacher Appreciation Week, author Sarah Ruhl tells us about the teachers who shaped her, as detailed in her new essay collection, Lessons From My Teachers: From Preschool to the Present. Listeners shout out a teacher who made a big impact on their life.

Author Jessica Slice is a mother, and she is also disabled. She writes about the misconceptions about what disabled parents are capable of, as well as the challenges she faces as a disabled mother, in her new book Unfit Parent: A Disabled Mother Challenges an Inaccessible World, and listeners share their experiences.

Travelers looking to save on baggage fees might start with smarter packing. Sally French, NerdWallet writer and co-host of the "Smart Travel" podcast, shares tips on packing, travel points, ID rules, and destination ideas.

Note: This conversation was interrupted by the breaking news that a new pope has been selected. Pope Leo XIV, from Chicago, is the first ever pontiff from the United States. Tune in on Monday when we'll continue our scheduled discussion about sirens. When and why did emergency sirens get so loud? These are questions that Ben Naddaf-Hafrey, senior producer for Pushkin Industries, tried to answer in a recent episode of Malcolm Gladwell's "Revisionist History" podcast. Naddaf-Hafrey lives opposite a fire station in Brooklyn, which means he is often exposed to the high decibels of an engine's siren. But, as he discovered in his reporting, loud sirens may not be as effective in saving lives as we think. Naddaf-Hafrey discusses what he found and listeners share their experiences with sirens on the streets of New York.

Joy Huerta and Benjamin Velez are Tony nominated for writing the music and lyrics for the new Broadway musical, “Real Women Have Curves.” They discuss their songwriting process. Plus, cast members Tatianna Córdoba, Aline Mayagoitia, and Florencia Cuenca perform songs from the show live in our studio.

Fresh off of their appearance on "The Kelly Clarkson Show," Sir Woman joins us for a special live performance in WNYC's Studio Five and to discuss the inspiration behind their new double album, If It All Works Out and If It Doesn’t. The band also has a concert tonight at Racket NYC at 7 p.m.

For thousands of years, humans have loved to play board games, from the advent of chess to Settlers of Catan. What makes board games so special? Author Tim Clare discusses his new book, Across the Board: How Games Make Us Human, and listeners share their favorite board games.

With nicer weather continuing to develop, and the school year approaching its end, many people will be looking for day trips getaways in our area. WNYC and Gothamist transportation reporter Stephen Nessen shares his tips for public transit options to help you plan your trip, and listeners call in to share their favorite day trips.

The critically acclaimed second season of the Star Wars saga, "Andor" tells the backstory of the forming of the Rebel Alliance. Created by Tony Gilroy, it stars Stellan Skarsgard as the duplicitous rebel leader. Both Gilroy and Skarsgard discuss the show.

100 years ago this week, the New York Public Library opened a special collection at its 135th Street branch in Harlem called the Division of Negro Literature, History and Prints, now known as the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. On May 8, the Schomburg Center opens a new exhibition, "100: A Century of Collections, Community, and Creativity." Director Joy Bivins discusses the history of the Center, Arturo Schomburg's legacy, and plans for the centennial celebration.

[REBROADCAST FROM Dec 19, 2024] Ahead of the proceedings tomorrow in which the leadership of the Catholic Church will elect a new pope, we present our past conversation about the Academy Award-winning film "Conclave," with director Edward Berger and actor Stanley Tucci, who plays an American cardinal up for election.

Why are some families full of exceptionally talented and intelligent siblings? Is it nature, or nurture, or some combination? Susan Dominus, a staff writer at The New York Times Magazine, discusses her new book The Family Dynamic: A Journey into the Mystery of Sibling Success. And listeners weigh in on their own experiences and observations.

Two local singer-songwriters whose influences include bossa nova and much more will co-headline Music Hall of Williamsburg tomorrow night. Last week, Mei Semones released her baroque- and j-pop-inflected debut album Animaru. "Post-bossa" guitarist John Roseboro's most recent album Fools was released in late 2024. Semones and Roseboro join us live in the studio to perform a song from each and team up for a special duet.

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, including this one called "St. Louis Blues," which did not air during the original conversation.

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.

On Canadian singer-songwriter Bells Larsen's new album, Blurring Time, half the vocals were recorded at the beginning of his transition journey. The other half were recorded after testosterone had brought his voice to a lower register. Larsen blends his two voices in moving harmonies that touch on the passage of time, identity, and relationships others and oneself. He joins us for a Listening Party.

Fifteen years ago, actor Lili Taylor took a sabbatical and spent time at her house in upstate New York. There, in the quiet, she started to listen. As she writes, "I started to hear birds. It was as if I'd switched my studio input from one dimension to Dolby stereo." It changed her perception of the world. In her new book of essays Turning to Birds: The Power and Beauty of Noticing, she writes about her encounters with the natural world, what she has gained by paying attention to her surroundings, and how her connection with nature helps her find peace and calm.

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.