All Of It with Alison Stewart

Our November Full Bio selection is John Lewis: A Life, written by author David Greenberg. Greenberg interviewed Lewis before his death as well as over 250 people for a comprehensive biography about the US Congressman, Civil Rights Activist, and preacher of getting into, as he called it, "good trouble." On Day Two, hear about how John Lewis dedicated himself to Civil Rights, his commitment to non-violent protest, his participation in the Freedom Rides and the March on Washington, and the injuries he sustained during the infamous Selma March.

A new biography of Jimmy Breslin demonstrates how he helped usher in an age of New Journalism, and broke new ground with his decades of crime reporting throughout the city. Author Richard Esposito joins us to discuss Jimmy Breslin: The Man Who Told the Truth.

Kai Wright joins Alison to reflect on Election Night and we take listener calls.

Information has become so siloed that it's easy for misinformation to spread. We'll discuss the role of media in the 2024 election with NPR's David Folkenflik and take your calls.

Nearly 70-percent of Americans said this year's presidential election was a "significant" source of stress, according to a poll by the American Psychological Association. Vox senior reporter Allie Volpe and psychotherapist Jneé Hill talk about how to deal with election-related stress and take calls from listeners.

Our November Full Bio selection is John Lewis: A Life, written by author David Greenberg. Greenberg interviewed Lewis before his death as well as over 250 people for a comprehensive biography about the U.S Congressman, Civil Rights Activist, and preacher of getting into, as he called it, "good trouble." On Day One, we learn more about the early life of John Lewis, growing up in rural Alabama and how he was the first member of his family to attend college.

Today, Fox News has become one of the top cable news networks, however, this was not the case 25 years ago. In the 10th season of Slate's Slow Burn podcast, host Josh Levin revisits the moment between 2000 and 2004 when Fox News first surged to power through interviews with former hosts, reporters, producers, opponents, and Fox’s victims. Levin joins us to discuss this season and take calls from listeners.

[REBROADCAST FROM Oct. 3, 2024] Before Roe v. Wade, Dr. Curtis Boyd decided to dedicate his career to providing safe, but illegal, abortions in Texas and New Mexico. It was at one of those clinics that he met his wife, Glenna Halverson-Boyd, who became a counselor to women seeking an abortion. The couple write about their decades of providing abortion care and advocacy in their new memoir, We Choose To: A Memoir of Providing Abortion Care Before, After, and During Roe. The Boyds join us to discuss as part of our political book series, Get Po-Lit-ical.

[REBROADCAST FROM Oct. 1, 2024] Over the years, former President Trump has continued to increase his popularity among Latino voters, despite often inflammatory rhetoric about South America and undocumented immigrants. A new book explores why so many more Latino voters have been drawn to far-right movements. Author and journalist Paola Ramos joins us to discuss her new book, Defectors: The Rise of the Latino Far Right and What It Means for America, as part of our series, Get Po-Lit-ical.

[REBROADCAST FROM Oct. 15, 2024] The QAnon conspiracy theory has taken hold of many Americans in the last few years, many of whom truly believe there is a cabal of pedophiles running the country, and Donald Trump is the only one who can stop them. A new book investigates how QAnon has torn some families apart. Author Jesselyn Cook joins us to discuss The Quiet Damage: QAnon and the Destruction of the American Family as part of our political book series, Get Po-Lit-ical.

[REBROADCAST FROM Oct. 15, 2024] 18-year-old Jackson Reffitt made national news for his decision to turn his father in to the FBI for his role in the Jan. 6th attack on the Capitol. A new play dramatizes the investigation and resulting trial, using the words from statements, evidence, and court transcripts. Reffitt joins us to discuss, alongside the play's creator and director Stephen Sachs, and Patrick Keleher, who plays Reffitt in the play. "Fatherland" is running at New York City Center through November 10.

[REBROADCAST FROM Oct. 1, 2024] Recent polls show young men leaning towards voting for Trump/Vance this November. In an apparent effort to boost their chances, the former president and his veep nominee have been booking appearances within the "manosphere," a term used to refer to a loose collection of websites, podcasts, and influencers associated with men's issues and, often, misogyny. NPR political correspondent Danielle Kurtzleben discusses her reporting on the world of "dude influencers.”

Today we try to answer the ever evolving yet age old question: Where's the best bagel in New York? For the next installment of our Small Stakes, Big Opinions series, we tackle this question with Becky Hughes from the New York Times and discuss her recent article, "The 17 Best Bagels in New York City Right Now," as well as other debates like, to toast or not to toast?

[REBROADCAST FROM JUNE 16, 2023] The NYC Marathon is this Sunday, so we revisit a conversation about running, no matter what your fitness level is. Slow AF Run Club founder Martinus Evans. Inspired by his own journey with running, Evans now has a book titled Slow AF Run Club: The Ultimate Guide for Anyone Who Wants to Run.

The Barbizon Hotel was a place of freedom and upward mobility for many ambitious young women in the 20th century, including women like Sylvia Plath and Grace Kelly. The debut novel from former Dear Prudence advice columnist Daniel Lavery tells the story of people working and living at a similar kind of hotel. Lavery joins us to discuss the book Women's Hotel.

“Luther: Never Too Much,” is a new documentary that chronicles the life of the late singer Luther Vandross, from his days as a regular on Sesame Street to his Grammy-award winning solo career. We’re joined by two of his long time collaborators, vocalist and songwriter Fonzi Thornton and musician Marcus Miller as well as the film’s director, Dawn Porter.

Tracing her family’s story from her grandfather’s birth in Belarus and emigration to Tel Aviv—where she was born—artist and writer Maira Kalman considers her unique family history, and the relationship between recollection, regret, happiness, and heritage in her new book, Still Life With Remorse.

When MF DOOM passed away suddenly in 2020, the music world grieved for one of the most legendary and mysterious rappers in the genre. DOOM, who grew up on Long Island, was known for performing in a mask, concealing his identity, and creating multiple cult-classic underground albums like Operation: Doomsday, Madvillainy, and MM..FOOD. Journalist S.H. Fernando Jr. has written a new biography of the influential rapper, The Chronicles of DOOM: Unraveling Rap's Masked Iconoclast, and he discusses his research with us ahead of his book event tonight at the Brooklyn Museum in conversation with Hanif Abdurraqib.

In the new true crime documentary “Fanatical: The Catfishing of Tegan and Sara,” Director Erin Lee Carr investigates the 15 years long scam that has ensnared pop star Tegan Quin. Carr joins to discuss.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of Tobe Hooper's horror masterpiece, "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre." The iconic slasher film broke new ground in horror cinema and became a primary influence for many of the filmmakers that followed, most recently Ti West's popular film "X." We discuss the legacy of the film, and take calls, with Erik Piepenburg, who writes a monthly horror column for the New York Times.

Happy Halloween! American writers, artists, and filmmakers have had an interest in the spooky and macabre for centuries. A new book traces that history and the role horror has played in American culture from the Salem witch trials to today. Author and Columbia professor Jeremy Dauber joins us to discuss, American Scary: A History of Horror, from Salem to Stephen King and Beyond.

[REBROADCAST FROM June 7, 2024] The Trump campaign continues to face backlash after comedian Tony Hinchcliffe made a racist jokes about Puerto Rico at a rally at Madison Square Garden last Sunday. We take some time to reflect on the history of the island, and the circumstances that led so many Puerto Ricans to move to New York City. Author Jorell Meléndez-Badillo joins us to discuss his new book, Puerto Rico: A National History. *This segment is guest-hosted by Kousha Navidar.

With Halloween looming and costumed kids preparing to demand sugary treats from their neighbors, Jackie Peiser, retail reporter for the Washington Post, discusses the latest trends in the candy industry, including the impact of climate change on chocolate prices, and why gummy products are becoming more popular. Plus, listeners call in to share what they love about their favorite candies.

Earlier this month, New York-based alto saxophonist, composer, and arranger Immanuel Wilkins released his second album, Blues Blood. Wilkins returns to All Of It to talk about the album and perform live with his quartet, which features Micah Thomas on piano, Rick Rosato on bass, and Kweku Sumbry on drums.

In the new book, Linguaphile: A Life of Language Love, linguist Julie Sedivy traces her interest in communication through the lifecycle of language learning and loss—how kids first encounter it, how our speech diminishes in old age, and everything in between. Sedivy joins us and takes calls from listeners about their personal experiences with language. You can read more about Alison's own story of language recovery following her brain surgery in a recent profile of her by the New York Times.

Before she died tragically young of cancer, author Rebecca Godfrey was working on a novel about the life of Peggy Guggenheim, famous art collector. Godfrey asked her friend, fellow author Leslie Jamison, to finish the novel after her death. Jamison discusses the novel, Peggy, and the complications and challenges of finishing a dear friend's work. Jamison will be speaking tomorrow night at The Center for Fiction.

The new series "Agatha All Along," a spinoff of the Marvel universe's "WandaVision," is a dark comedy that follows the titular occultist, played by Kathryn Hahn, as she attempts to reassemble her coven, which includes the sorceress Jennifer Kale, played by Sasheer Zamata, who joins All Of It to discuss the show.

In 2022, vocalist Dawn Richard and musician Spencer Zahn released their first collaborative album, Pigments. Now, the duo returns with their latest project, Quiet in a World Full of Noise, which Paper Magazine calls "melancholy." Richard and Zahn join us in studio to discuss the new album which is out now before performing at National Sawdust in Brooklyn tonight and tomorrow.

Kenneth Branagh, perhaps the world's most celebrated living Shakespearean actor, discusses starring as King Lear in the new production at the Shed running through December 15.

126 years ago next month, a massacre was carried out against Black citizens of Wilmington, North Carolina, in what would become the only successful coup d'etat in American history. The film "American Coup: Wilmington 1898" documents the history and consequences of that massacre. The documentary premieres on PBS on November 12. Filmmakers Yoruba Richen and Brad Lichtenstein join us.

[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 through September 15. Director Sam Pinkleton joins us to discuss the Broadway transfer, alongside actor Conrad Ricamora, who stars as Abraham Lincoln.

Singer-songwriter Amythyst Kiah released her latest album, Still + Bright, on Oct. 25th. Ahead of the release, Kiah, also a member of the supergroup Our Native Daughters, performed a few songs from the album. You can listen to the full conversation, and enjoy a bonus track she recorded in our studios which has not been previously aired.

10 years ago, four friends with no restaurant experience, including LCD Soundsystem's James Murphy, decided to open The Four Horsemen in Williamsburg. A decade later, and with a Michelin star under their belt, the team has published a new cookbook that also dives deep into what it took to make the restaurant work. We are joined by head chef Nick Curtola and restaurant manager Amanda McMillan to talk about the new book, The Four Horsemen: Food and Wine for Good Times from the Brooklyn Restaurant.

Brendan Hunt is an actor, co-creator of the TV series "Ted Lasso," and a playwright. His new play, "The Art Couple," will get an all-star reading at Symphony Space tonight as part of their "At Play" series. Hunt joins us to discuss.

Today is the opening of artist Keith Jackson's new show, his New York solo debut, at Charles Moffett. For much of his life, Jackson, who grew up in Missouri and now in lives in Kenosha, Wisconsin, worked as a building contractor. But in the last few years, he's dedicated himself to painting full-time. This new show, The Provocateurs, displays paintings inspired by Jackson's study of a 1939 sharecropper demonstration in Southeast Missouri, near where he was raised. Keith Jackson tells us more about his practice and the show, on view through November 30.

In 1994, choreographer, dancer and director Bill T. Jones stirred up controversy with his work "Still/Here," a performance piece that used dance, video, photos, music, and more to tell the stories of people grappling with terminal illness, including many who were dying of AIDS. Now, 30 years after the work first premiered at BAM, Bill T. Jones and his company will be returning for a recreation of that performance. Jones and original "Still/Here" company member Arthur Aviles join us to discuss the performance, which is running at BAM from October 30 through November 2.

NYC-based musician and Columbia grad Sarah Kinsley released her debut album Escaper last month and wrapped her US tour at Webster Hall last week. Next month she'll set off for Europe, but before then she joins us in the studio to perform live.

It's time for the final season of the acclaimed HBO series "Somebody Somewhere." Actor Jeff Hiller, who stars in the show as Joel, the best friend of main character Sam, joins us to discuss the final season, which premieres on Sunday.

Jeff VanderMeer returns to his provocative Southern Reach series with a surprise fourth (and he says final) installment, Absolution. He joins us to discuss ahead of his event on Thursday night in conversation with Emily St. John Mandel at 7:30pm at St. Joseph's University, New York,

In 2020, pastry chef Clarice Lam opened the acclaimed Japanese-Italian restaurant Kimika, which was a James Beard Foundation Award semi-finalist for Best New Restaurant. Now, she has released her debut cookbook, Breaking Bao: 88 Bakes and Snacks from Asia and Beyond. Lam joins us to discuss.

Last year, just off Transmitter Park in Greenpoint, a new diner opened inspired by the history of radio and WNYC, which used the land for transmission towers for over fifty years. Radio Star is inspired by the radio era of the 1940s, including vintage fixtures and furniture from the time period. Owner Sara Conklin tells us about what's on the menu, her original vision for her restaurant and its connection to WNYC.

In playwright Dominique Morisseau's "Bad Kreyòl," a first-generation Haitian-American travels to Haiti to reconnect with a relative, exploring the relationships between the characters and the countries they reside in. Morisseau discusses the show, which is running through December 1 in a world premiere at the Signature Theatre.

In honor of the museum's 200th anniversary, the eight galleries of the American Art wing of the Brooklyn Museum have been reinstalled and "reoriented" with a more diverse collection where "Black feminist and BIPOC perspectives act as through lines in this vast presentation." We're joined by Stephanie Sparling Williams, Andrew Mellon Curator, American Art, to discuss.

Pulitzer Prize-winning author Louise Erdrich discusses her new novel, The Mighty Red, about a group of people who come together in North Dakota to attend a wedding, including a man determined to steal the soon-to-be-wife away. Erdrich is speaking tomorrow night at Symphony Space.

Nasozi Kakembo is a designer with studios in Brooklyn and Kampala, Uganda. She describes it as a "a design bridge between my East African heritage and my American upbringing." She works specifically with artisans to highlight ethical decor. Kakembo discusses her new book, The African Decor Edit, which looks at the ways you can bring your heritage into your home.

Actor and comedian Cat Cohen discusses her new comedy special, "Come For Me," and her role as one of the Brothers Sisters on the latest season of "Only Murders in the Building." She will also discuss her debut album, Plus One, which will release with Elektra Records on November 14.

Collaborators Lin-Manuel Miranda and Eisa Davis join us to discuss their new project, the concept album Warriors. It's a multi-genre musical adaptation of the 1979 movie "The Warriors," which tells the story of a Coney Island gang who need to fight their way back to Brooklyn after they are framed for a murder in the Bronx.

Before he became a New York City doorman, Stephen Bruno's story begins in the Bronx. Growing up as an academically gifted kid, Bruno's path didn't necessarily go as planned. In his new memoir, Building Material: The Memoir of a Park Avenue Doorman, Bruno describes how he went from being broke and flunking out of college to landing a prestigious doorman job for a fancy Park Avenue building. He also shares stories about New York that only doormen might get to witness. Bruno, now an author as well as still a doorman on Park Avenue, is with us to discuss his story.

Broadway's "Suffs" tells the story of the fight for women's suffrage, led by National Woman's Party founder Alice Paul. The show won Tony Awards for both Best Book and Best Original Score, as well as a number of nominations including Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role (Nikki M. James) and Best Direction (Leigh Silverman). James and Silverman join us. "Suffs" is running at Music Box Theatre through January 5.

Award-winning artist Edra Soto has an ongoing series of installations based on rejas, wrought iron screens frequently seen outside homes in Puerto Rico. Graft is the latest installation and is on view at Doris C. Freedman Plaza in Central Park through August 2025. Soto joins us to discuss her work as part of a commission through the Public Art Fund.