All Of It with Alison Stewart

In the new movie "Our Hero, Balthazar," a young man who posts performatively online decrying gun violence suddenly finds himself encountering a man who claims to want to perpetrate a school shooting. Director Oscar Boyson and actors Asa Butterfield and Jaeden Martell discuss the film, in select theaters now. Film still courtesy of the studio

The new biography Judy Blume: A Life chronicles the life and career of the beloved children's book author. Biographer Mark Oppenheimer discusses the book, and his complex relationship with his subject, in today's installment of our series Full Bio. Photo by J. Smestad via Getty

Marshall Project staff writer Maurice Chammah is the author of the newsletter, "Redemption Songs: The Music of Mass Incarceration." The newsletter shares stories of songs made by incarcerated people. BL Shirelle is one of its subjects, a formerly incarcerated musician who now runs the label FREER Records, which releases music by prison-impacted artists. Chammah and Shirelle discuss their efforts, share some of the songs featured by the newsletter and label, and explore what the tracks suggest about mass incarceration in the U.S. Album cover courtesy of FREER Records

Singer-songwriter and Staten Island native Ingrid Michaelson performs live ahead of her American Songbook concert at Lincoln Center. "Ingrid Michaelson & Friends: The Time and Space Between Us" will take place at David Geffen Hall on Friday April 3 at 7:30. Photo by Rebecca J Michelson

Indian sitar master Purbayan Chatterjee performed at this month's Get Lit with All Of It event with author Megha Majumdar. This month's book selection, A Guardian and a Thief, takes place in Kolkata, a city for which Chatterjee wrote an anthem. Photo courtesy of the artist

The March Get Lit with All Of It selection was the novel A Guardian and a Thief by Megha Majumdar. The novel is set in a future version of Kolkata, India, that has been ravaged by climate change. One family thinks they are set to start a new life in Michigan, but when their visas are stolen, they discover how far they will go to retrieve them. Majumdar joined us for an event at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library. Cover art courtesy of the publisher

A Brooklyn Museum show features more than 280 works from the groundbreaking Malian portrait photographer Seydou Keïta, including iconic prints, never-before-seen portraits, textiles, and Keïta’s personal possessions, brought to life with unique insights from his family. Guest curator Catherine E. McKinley and Brooklyn Museum's photography curator Pauline Vermare discuss the exhibition, 'Seydou Keïta: A Tactile Lens,' on display through Sunday, May 17th. Self portrait by Seydou Keïta, courtesy of the Brooklyn Museum

In recent weeks, The New York Times broke a story spotlighting accusations that influential labor activist Cesar Chavez sexually assaulted and groomed young women and girls in the movement he led. Latino USA's Maria Hinojosa and Mónica Ramírez, founder of Justice for Migrant Women, discuss how the allegations factor into the legacy of Chavez's activism. Photo via Bettmann/Getty

The second season of the Hulus series "Paradise" shows us what remains of the world outside the bunker. Sinatra, played by Juliane Nicholson, remains in charge of the city underground, which is threatened by the arrival a group of travelers lead by Link, played by Thomas Doherty. Nicholson and Doherty discuss the new season of "Paradise," streaming now on Hulu. Image courtesy of Hulu

It's March (Audio) Madness time. NPR's Student Podcast Challenge has released the names of its finalists. Undergrads Syd Walter from Sarah Lawrence College, Luisa Sukkar from Barnard College, and Colby McCaskill from Fordham University discuss their contributions to the challenge, and share selections of their work, which include the sounds of a New York City neighborhood, the imaginary country created by someone's brother, and a love letter to aging grandparents. Photo by L. Malik Anderson/WNYC

For decades, musicians have been playing in the NYC subway system. Now, the MTA is revamping its program for musicians who perform in the subway system. Tina Vaz, head of the MTA's Arts and Design program, discusses the changes, and trumpeter Eganam 'ÉGO' Segbefia performs live in studio. Photo courtesy of ÉGO

A new PBS docuseries called "We Are Our Time" explores the life of the legendary dancer and choreographer Martha Graham. Co-directors and co-producers Peter Schnall and Cyndee Readdean talk about the seiries, and Graham's impact on the world of dance, today. Martha Graham Dance Company will be performing at New York City Center April 8 through 12. Photo via Bettmann/Getty Images

Last month, Alison Stewart hosted a conversation in partnership with The Tenement Museum about NYC history, through the lens of the character Peggy Scott, from the hit series 'The Gilded Age.' Scott is an educated young Black woman who comes to the city pursuing her ambitions to become a successful writer, during a historical period that has come to be characterized by wealthy white 'robber barons' like Rockefeller, Carnegie and Vanderbilt. Hear a special presentation of the event, which was held before a live audience in The Greene Space, with Tenement Museum researcher Marquis Taylor, historian Leslie Harris, and Denée Benton, the actor who plays Peggy Scott. Photo courtesy of the Tenement Museum

"Mexodus," the musical about the Underground Railroad that lead south to Mexico, has returned to the Off-Broadway stage. Stars and creators Brian Quijada and Nygel D. Robinson return to WNYC to discuss the show, the upcoming audio-based performance of the show coming to Audible, and to perform songs live in our studio . Photo courtesy of the production

Author Dorothy Roberts is the product of an interracial marriage, rare for Chicago in the 1960s. When she got older, Roberts discovered that her dad was interested in studying interracial marriages long before he met her mother, calling into question whether their entire family might have been the product of an experiment. Roberts discusses her new book, The Mixed Marriage Project: A Memoir of Love, Race, and Family. Cover art courtesy of the publisher

A local medical school has been exploring new ways to teach the next generation of doctors, with more of an emphasis on the parts of healthcare beyond medical science, including bedside manner and how healthcare costs impact patient experiences. Dr. David Elkowitz, Associate Dean for Academic Programs and Educational Culture, Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell and Director of the Academy of Medical Educators, discusses his institution's approach to medical education. Image by CHIH CHIEH HSIAO, via Getty Creative

A new graphic memoir called See One, Do One, Teach One: The Art of Becoming a Doctor explores doctor and illustrator Grace Farris's journey through her medical education. She discusses the book, and the lessons she's learned about teaching the next generation of healthcare professionals. Cover illustration by Grace Farris

A popular nightlife activity in New York these days is two stepping or line dancing at the Honky-Tonk bar. Reporter Will Groff, author of the Wall Street Journal article, "How American Nightlife Went Honky-Tonk," discusses why honky-tonk culture has taken off in cities around the U.S., and listeners share their experience dancing at the country bar. Photo By Carlos Avila Gonzalez/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images

A new book traces how Black comedians developed their craft, from vaudeville and the Chitlin’ Circuit to stand-up stages and 1990s sitcoms. PBS NewsHour co-anchor Geoff Bennett joins us to discuss his latest book, Black Out Loud: The Revolutionary History of Black Comedy from Vaudeville to '90s Sitcoms, ahead of a conversation with comedians and writers Phoebe Robinson and Jordan Carlos this Thursday, March 25th in the Greene Space. Promotional image for 'In Living Color'

In March, the Criterion Channel is featuring the film series "VHS Forever," a collection of films that involve VHS tapes or video stores, from "Videodrome" to "The Ring." It was curated by Clyde Folley, who discusses the series. Plus, listeners share their favorite experiences with video stores. Image by José Araújo via Getty Creative

Anjie Cho, Feng Shui expert and architect, shares advice on how to capitalize on the energy of the spring equinox through spring cleaning and other mindfulness practices. Plus, listeners call with their questions and stories about how they're approaching the seasonal transition. Image by nensuria via Getty Creative

This Spring, renowned Mexican artists Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera are being celebrated by the Museum of Modern Art in a dual exhibition. 'Frida and Diego: The Last Dream,' looks at how Kahlo and Rivera represented a shift in the development of Mexican identity, art, and culture in the early 20th century. The show is presented in conjunction with the Metropolitan Opera, which is presenting 'El Último Sueño de Frida y Diego,' an opera debuting this Spring that explores the relationship between Rivera and Kahlo through a fictional narrative. MoMA worked with the opera's set designer Jon Bausor to create unique setting for the art on view. Bausor discusses the process for designing this exhibit alongside Beverly Adams, MoMA curator of Latin American Art. 'Frida and Diego: The Last Dream' is on view through September 12. Photo by Robert Gerhardt via MoMA

In the revival of Clare Barron's play "You Got Older," Alia Shawkat stars as Mae, a young woman in a state of limbo after losing her job and moving home to take care of her father (Peter Friedman) who is battling cancer. Shawkat, Barron, and director Anne Kauffman discuss the play, running now at the Cherry Lane Theater. Photo by Marc J. Franklin

For two years, the New Museum has been closed for major renovations. Tomorrow marks the re-opening of the downtown arts space after its multi-million dollar makeover. The museum is marking the opening with a new museum-wide exhibit, 'New Humans: Memories of the Future,' which will be free to the public on opening weekend. Museum director Lisa Phillips, who is stepping down from her role in April, and artistic director Massimiliano Gioni, discuss what to expect from the New Museum in 2026. Image: Tatsuo Ikeda, BRAHMAN: Chapter 4: Helix Granular Movement-6, 1979. Acrylic on paper, 15 1/2 × 15 1/2 in (39.37 × 39.37 cm). The Rachofsky Collection, Dallas, via The New Museum

Mama Dip’s Kitchen was one of Chapel Hill, North Carolina’s most beloved restaurants. Now, founder Mildred “Mama Dip” Council’s youngest daughter, Anita “Spring” Council, has published a collection of recipes, family secrets, and personal vignettes about coming of age as a Black girl in the Jim Crow South. Anita discusses the book, titled Southern Roots: Recipes and Stories from Mama Dip’s Daughter. Family photo courtesy of Anita “Spring” Council

Minneapolis rapper Dessa performs live in studio ahead of her Music Hall of Williamsburg concert tonight. Image courtesy of the artist

"Love Story," the latest series from Ryan Murphy, attempts to tell the story of one of the most famous celebrity couples of the 1990's: John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette Kennedy. It has been on of the highest rated series in FX's history, and launched nostalgia about everything from the pre-smart phone era of the 90's to the fashion. But it's also received criticism for its loose interpretation of the facts. Ashley Wong discusses her Wall Street Journal reporting about the series. Photo by Rose Hartman/Getty Images

[REBROADCAST FROM February 20, 2026] "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" is back onstage in New York City for its 20th anniversary. Cast members join us to perform songs from the show live in our studio. Photo by Joan Marcus

[REBROADCAST FROM January 21, 2026] The documentary "Queen of Chess" puts the spotlight on Judit Polgár, a Hungarian child chess prodigy who sought to become a champion in a game dominated by men. Judit Polgár and director Rory Kennedy join to discuss the documentary, which premieres at the Sundance Film Festival and will be available to stream soon on Netflix. Photo courtesy of Netflix

The stars of the Broadway musical 'Chess' join Alison Stewart live in The Greene Space at WNYC. Aaron Tveit, Lea Michele, and Nicholas Christopher perform songs from the show and discuss bringing the beloved musical back to the stage. Plus, conversation about the production with Tony Award-winning director Michael Mayer and Emmy Award-winner Danny Strong, who re-wrote the book for this revival. This event is part of All Of It's Broadway on the Radio series. If you want to watch a livestream of the event, click this link!

Leonardo Drew is a Bridgeport-born, Brooklyn-based artist who has two exhibits in our area you can see, specifically about his work with paper. Drew discusses his story and three-decade career in art, and what interests him about paper as a material and inspiration for large-scale abstract pieces he calls "explosions". His work is on view at The Bruce Museum in Greenwich through May 10, and at Pace Prints beginning March 19 through April 25. Image courtesy of Pace Prints

In the new show "Bait," Riz Ahmed stars as Shah Latif, a London actor who might be on the brink of landing a role as the new James Bond... when the public finds out that the new Bond might be an actor of color, stirring up controversy. Ahmed discusses the series, which he also created and produced. "Bait" premieres on March 25 on Prime Video. Image courtesy of Amazon Prime

A new book about the only Black editor on the staff of a prestigious fashion magazine revisits the world of hip-hop music and the glamorous magazine scene in the late 1990s. Former Ebony magazine editor-in-chief and author Amy Dubois Barnett discusses her debut novel, If I Ruled the World, which is being adapted into a hour-long drama series co-written by producer Lee Daniels. Image courtesy of Flatiron Books

Head Peloton Instructor and former lawyer Robin Arzon has a new cookbook called Eat to Hustle: 75 High-Protein Plant-Based Recipes. A diabetic and a strength training advocate, she shares vegan protein recipes from the book, and talks about techniques for getting the most out of plant-based proteins. Cover art courtesy of the publisher

The new film "Project Hail Mary" is a humorous and good-hearted space epic about one man, played by Ryan Gosling, who wakes up to find himself alone on a spaceship, tasked with saving the Earth. Directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller discuss the film, in theaters on March 20. Image by Jonathan Olley, courtesy of Amazon

A monumental Smithsonian Folkways box set celebrates a pioneering accordion player who blended African American blues, R&B, Afro-Caribbean rhythms, and Louisiana Cajun and Creole music. It’s titled “Clifton Chenier: King of Louisiana Blues and Zydeco.” Singer and accordionist CJ Chenier, Clifton Chenier’s son, and Adam Machado, producer and director of the Arhoolie Foundation, join us to discuss Clifton’s legacy and the retrospective box set. Photo by Paul Natkin/Getty Images

In the new play "Cold War Choir Practice," a young girl finds herself spending time with her conservative Black uncle, who is into Reagan, conspiracy theories, and roller rinks. Alana Raquel Bowers, who plays "Meek," discusses the show, along with playwright Ro Reddick, who recently took home the prestigious Susan Smith Blackburn Prize. "Cold War Choir Practice" runs at MCC Theater through March 29. Image courtesy of the production, via NYTG

Melissa Auf der Maur played bass for two of the biggest bands of the 90's — The Smashing Pumpkins and Hole — and witnessed firsthand the explosion of alternative rock music of that era. She discusses her new book, Even the Good Girls Will Cry: A 90's Rock Memoir which recounts her story, from her childhood in Montreal to, being hand picked to join Hole just after the death of Kurt Cobain. Cover art courtesy of the publisher

In the new movie "Group: The Schopenhauer Effect," actors improvise their way through a fictional group therapy session led by real-life psychologist Dr. Elliot Zeisel. The movie portrays a screenwriter, played by Thomas Sadoski, who has joined the group looking for inspiration for a new movie. Zeisel, Sadoski, and director Alexis Lloyd discuss the film, which is playing now at Quad Cinemas. Photo courtesy of Abramorama

There may be no such thing as "the best," but journalist and food writer Ella Quittner didn't let that stop her from diving into ways to make "the best" scrambled eggs, pasta, meatballs, or even bacon. She discusses her new cookbook, Obsessed With the Best: 100+ Methodically Perfected Recipes Based on 20+ Head-to-Head Tests, in which she records her deeply researched techniques to use to produce maximal flavor with minimum effort. Cover art courtesy of the publisher

Last night was the 98th annual Academy Awards. Oscars aficionado and "Keep It" co-host Louis Virtel discusses his opinions of the winners, and all the surprises of the night. Plus, listeners share their thoughts about the Oscars this year. Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images

In the new revival of the 1989 play "Tru," Jesse Tyler Ferguson stars as famed writer Truman Capote grappling with a social scandal that has left him cut out from his circle of elite New York City women. Ferguson discusses the play, which is staged in the Library of the House of the Redeemer for 34 performances only, running now through April 12. Photo by Emilio Madrid

Ahead of St. Patrick's Day, the local Pogues-inspired cover band Dark Streets perform live in our studios, with WNYC engineer Jason Isaac on the drums. Guitarist Nate Palan and bassist Caitlin Oliver-Gans discuss what it's like to be a New York tribute band, and preview their upcoming concerts. (Saturday 3/14 at the Burren Public House in The Bronx at 9pm, 3/15 at Mama Tried in Brooklyn at 6pm, Monday 3/16 at Lucinda's in the East Village at 8pm, and Tuesday 3/17 at Paddy Reilly's Music Bar in Kips Bay at 7pm) Photo by Ray Brizzi

Angela Flournoy's novel The Wilderness follows a group of four friends as they navigate young adulthood in New York and Los Angeles. We air highlights from our Get Lit event with Flournoy, which recently took place live in The Greene Space.

[REBROADCAST FROM October 21, 2025] The latest film from director Yorgos Lanthimos, 'Bugonia,' tells the story of two conspiracy theorists who become obsessed with the idea that a high-powered CEO is actually an alien, and plot to kidnap her. Jesse Plemons stars as Teddy, one of the kidnappers. Plemons and Lanthimos discuss the film, which is nominated in four categories at this year's Academy Awards.

[REBROADCAST FROM January 12, 2026] The film "The Voice of Hind Rajab" tells the story of the attempted rescue of Hind Rajab, a young girl who was stuck in a car in Gaza after every other family member in the car had been shot and killed. Rajab was on the phone with the Red Crescent Society for hours as they tried to send an ambulance to retrieve her. The film uses the real audiotapes of those calls, but uses actors to play the Red Crescent employees in a unique blend of fact and fiction. Director Kaouther Ben Hania discusses the film, which is nominated for Best International Feature Film at this year's Academy Awards.

[REBROADCAST FROM January 14, 2026] The meditative drama "Train Dreams" follows a logger in the Northwest at the turn of the century dealing with loss and a quickly changing industrial landscape. It won a Critic's Choice for Best Cinematography and is garnering Oscar buzz for actor Joel Edgerton, who plays the protagonist. It was directed by Clint Bentley who also wrote and directed the acclaimed film "Sing Sing." They discuss the film, which has been nominated in four categories at this year's Academy Awards.

[REBROADCAST FROM January 15, 2026] The hit vampire film "Sinners" is poised to be a serious awards season contender. Miles Caton stars in the film as Sammie, the young guitar player who can summon spirits with his music. Delroy Lindo also stars as the blues singer Delta Slim, part of the crew fighting vampires. Caton and Lindo discuss their roles in the film. 'Sinners' has earned a record-breaking 16 nominations at this year's Academy Awards. Film still courtesy of the studio

Daft Punk was famous for the robot masks that concealed the identities of the French musical duo. But behind the gimmick was a sound that revolutionized popular dance music in the early 2000s. Today marks the 25th anniversary of Daft Punk releasing Discovery, featuring hits like "One More Time" and "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger." Music writer Ben Cardew, author of the book, Daft Punk's Discovery: The Future Unfurled, reflects on the anniversary and listeners share their memories of listening to Discovery. Photo by Karl Walter/Getty Images

The new HBO series "Neighbors" puts a spotlight on conflicts between real-life neighbors, from disputes over who owns a patch of grass to an obsessive hatred of a concrete wall. Showrunners Dylan Redford and Harrison Fishman discuss the show. Plus, listeners share their experiences of neighborly conflict, and how they resolved it. New episodes of "Neighbors" premiere Fridays on HBO and HBO Max. Photo courtesy of HBO