Talk Easy with Sam Fragoso

Carrie Brownstein and Corin Tucker (Sleater-Kinney) join us upon the release of their 10th album, Path of Wellness! Created in the summer of 2020, we discuss how the group self-produced a record in the pandemic (4:02), making music as means of catharsis and connection (13:10), and their earliest, rose-colored memories of the band (18:15). Carrie and Corin also share the influence of Madonna and Joan Jett (22:37), the evolution of Sleater-Kinney (29:43, 38:50), and what it means to get back on tour this summer, in front of a live audience (42:33). Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Poet and author Ocean Vuong joins us this week following the re-release of his debut novel, On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous. We discuss reckoning with one’s work from a distance (5:08), why he wrote an autobiographical novel (6:30), the cage of American masculinity (11:00), how he’s stayed the course, creatively, amidst oppressive systems (19:56), and what it means it means to be a first-generation writer (22:43). On the back-half, we wrestle with the grief of his mother’s passing and the tragic shootings in Atlanta (27:30), and the collective uncertainty of 2021 (42:38). Then, before we go, a tribute to his late mother and a song by Nina Simone (49:32). Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Anchorman and author Jake Tapper (CNN) joins us this week! We discuss his approach to challenging politicians on air (3:15), the danger of “both sides-ism” (5:55), the mental instability he’s come across in Washington (9:53) and why all politicians think of themselves as the “hero” of the story (14:52). With the release of his new book, The Devil May Dance, Tapper candidly reflects on the power dynamics between journalists and elected officials (16:22), CNN’s role in generating the Trump phenomenon (18:40), the mistakes made in the past four years (21:27), and why he believes the new media can (and will) “rise to the challenge” of better coverage in future elections (29:09). Then, before we go, we return to Tapper’s guiding journalistic principles (37:29), a passage from the late Walter Cronkite (40:30), and why he continues doing the work he’s doing (46:03). Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Anna Sale (host, Death, Sex & Money) returns this week! We unpack her debut book, Let’s Talk About Hard Things (4:38), the origins of Death, Sex & Money (7:08), and how a divorce (8:27) prompted her to ask Big, universal questions, on-air and off (24:23). We then revisit the sermon from Anna’s wedding day (28:08) and the role former Senator Alan Simpson played in her 2nd marriage (34:10). Before we go, we return to a poignant passage from our first conversation with Anna, back in 2017 (39:32). Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Best-selling author Michael Lewis (“Moneyball,” “The Big Short”) joins us this week! His latest book, “The Premonition” (2:40), reveals how the U.S. mishandled the pandemic (5:05) and why the 2009 H1N1 virus was a precursor to 2020 (10:15). But to understand how Lewis tells his stories, we have to understand a bit of his story: how he grew up in New Orleans (20:48) and fell in love with writing at Princeton (26:20), before working as a bonds salesman on Wall Street (29:29). He also shares his approach to creating honest journalist-subject relationships (36:19), his six months covering President Obama (37:12), a favorite poem from his high-school baseball coach (43:02), and the role of luck in his career (48:49). Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Pulitzer-prize winning novelist Jhumpa Lahiri (“Interpreter of Maladies”, “The Namesake”) joins us this week for a special episode. In vivid, writerly detail Lahiri describes being raised in a family “spread out in various places” (5:49), her late mother’s recurring presence in her writing (15:07), the comfort (and pain) of being an observer (19:02), and the vibrancy she found in Rome (33:32), which inspired her new novel (written in Italian, translated in English) “Whereabouts” (14:37). On the back-half of our talk, Jhumpa reflects on the metamorphosis that occurred in her mother’s final days (40:02), how her familial ties (from Calcutta to Rhode Island) informed her early stories (44:38), and, finally, an exhortation on why she writes (48:10). For more: https://talkeasypod.com/jhumpa-lahiri/ Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

To celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Freedom Riders, we sit with Civil Rights activist Dr. Bernard Lafayette. In May of 1961, black and white students made history, riding interstate buses into the segregated American south. Lafayette, then age 20, was one of those riders. At 80, he shares his early memories of protest with roommate John Lewis (3:20), the non-violent strategies used to disarm the white mobs of the South (10:50), and traveling from Montgomery, Alabama to Jackson, Mississippi (17:13), only to get arrested several times (21:02). Then, Bernard shares what the Freedom Riders can teach us about organizing in 2021 (25:39) and how he grappled with the deaths of John Lewis and C.T. Vivian (32:09). Plus– a special guest joins us as we close (37:00). Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Legendary photographer Joel Meyerowitz has been capturing life itself since 1962. Whether on the streets of New York City, the sand dunes of Cape Cod, or in transit across Europe, Meyerowitz has documented what he calls “visions in passing.” Today, he joins us for a special, virtual retrospective, spanning nearly six decades of his life in photographs. To follow along, please visit: https://talkeasypod.com/joel-meyerowitz/ Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Musician Kevin Abstract (founding member of BROCKHAMPTON) joins us today! With the release of “Roadrunner: New Light, New Machine,” we unpack how Kevin and the group arrived at this new record. Under the comfort of his sunglasses, Kevin talks about falling back in love with music during the pandemic (5:25), despite struggling with success (8:50) and self-acceptance (12:13). He also discusses the radical act of speaking his truth on Papercut (14:15), the power of representation (17:56), and the music video that jump-started BROCKHAMPTON’s ascendency (21:30). Then, before we go, Kevin speaks openly about the mounting pressures to perform (25:48), the joys of collaborating with Dominic Fike on Peach (29:54), the healing nature of “Roadrunner” (36:07), and where he hopes the group goes from here (40:34). Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A mixtape for you and yours. These are the songs getting us through this painful, unending week. May they do the same for you. Listen here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3ExjvDZJxv0o1S8SyqCnFY?si=bb24d90af0254d78 Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Kathrine Switzer made history in 1967 when she became the first woman to register and run in the Boston Marathon. She was 20 years old. Today, at age 74, she shares the story behind the story: the months leading up to her historic run as a student at Syracuse University (2:12), the coach that believed in her (4:34), and the night she decided to enter the race (6:00). We also walk through the madness of April 19th, 1967 (13:44), her efforts to ensure women’s marathons be included in the Olympics (24:13), the prejudice that remains against female athletes (28:22), and how she grapples with difficulty as a self-proclaimed optimist (36:42). Then, before we go, Kathrine shares the happiest day of her life with us (40:00). To support our work, become a subscriber at patreon.com/talkeasy Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Entertainer, activist, and author Ts Madison joins us this week! A trailblazer in the LGBTQ+ community, Ts shares the stories that made her Ts: flipping through a Playgirl magazine at age three (6:30), exploring her nascent sexuality under a Christian roof (16:28) and the consequences of her curiosity (20:02). She also talks turning pain into comedy (30:36), her time as a sex worker (32:01), and the “duty” of “keeping the door open” to encourage representation for the Trans community (45:44). Then, before we go, she looks back on the night she first felt seen and the liberation that followed (48:40). You can support our work at patreon.com/talkeasy Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This Sunday Talk Easy turns five years old! To mark the anniversary, we’re revisiting some of our favorite passages from the past 220 episodes: Errol Morris on creativity and curiosity (3:05), a short story from Elizabeth Gilbert (17:17), Colman Domingo’s family affair (22:25), Hasan Minhaj (32:02) and Lena Waithe (35:53) on making work that honors where they come from, a history lesson from Dolores Huerta (38:40), a mantra from Alan Alda (44:15), and the words that started this show, by the late Roger Ebert (57:53). Here’s to five more years. To support our work, become a subscriber at patreon.com/talkeasy Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Journalist Nathaniel Rich (writer-at-large, New York Times Magazine) believes we can do “great good” with nature. But how? In his brilliantly reported new book, “Second Nature”, he explores the potential of environmental innovations (7:52), the weight of living in an era of “terrible responsibility” (11:00), what a methane leak in Aliso Canyon can teach us about us (14:03), and how he found hope in a Japanese doctor studying immortal jellyfish (22:38). We also discuss the spiritual change needed to address our climate crisis (35:41), and why (better) storytelling may be the most effective way out of this mess (42:51). Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Best-selling author Anne Lamott joins us this week! With the release of her new book Dusk, Night, Dawn, we discuss how to move forward from the pain of the pandemic (5:53), a life-changing night in a Miami hotel (7:39), and what her sobriety can teach us about healing (12:22). Wise as her writing suggests, Lamott champions “the ordinary life” (17:27) and the power of forgiveness (22:00). At age 66, she shares her love of service (31:40), her impulse to write it all down (38:47), and the grace of getting older (40:36). Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Following the recent release of their anthology, Black Futures, curator Kimberly Drew and journalist J Wortham join us this week. We discuss their hopes for 2021 (7:33), interrogating institutions like the HFPA (11:20), their career paths (18:10) and expanding accessibility within their respective industries (8:56). J and Kimberly also reflect on how they’ve grown since creating Black Futures (25:38), navigating the pandemic (28:14), and the refuge they've found in the Marvel universe (32:27). Finally, they envision their future selves (39:47) and what a “black future” can look like (43:02). Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

From Mean Girls to Mamma Mia! to First Reformed, actor Amanda Seyfried has repeatedly displayed her versatility as a performer. She does so again in David Fincher’s Mank, playing 1920s and '30s screen star Marion Davies. In celebration of her excellent performance, we sit with Seyfried to discuss the interiors of Davies (6:53), her early years working in the industry (13:13), the joy of making Mean Girls (15:26), and why she moved to Los Angeles at 18 (21:17). Then, she reflects on the parallels between 1930s Hollywood and 2021 Hollywood (36:08), how she found her footing, (41:51) and where she'd like to go in the years ahead (45:32). Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Winnie Byanyima has devoted her life to public service, fighting for gender equality and racial justice. She joins us this week to discuss growing up in Uganda under a brutal dictatorship (2:30), eventually fleeing to gain an education in England (8:36), finding joy in student organizing (16:47) and connecting with young, like-minded activists (25:37). She also shares her experiences spearheading women leadership within the Parliament of Uganda (30:30), challenging income and healthcare inequalities (38:56), and the importance of collective action (47:32). Finally, she reflects on her childhood peers (56:14), on being a survivor (59:12), and her optimism about the future (1:02:45). Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

At age 74, Emmy award-winning actor Glynn Turman “keeps on keepin’ on.” This week on the show, he tells us how. We discuss his first role in Broadway’s original production of A Raisin in the Sun (5:03), his unwavering commitment to acting, even as he struggled to find work (11:28), an opening night that took a dark turn (14:44), his breakout role in Cooley High (20:21), going to a human place as an actor (25:36), and what it means to live with loss (27:13). Then, finally, a story about his late ex-wife, the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin (31:30). Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As we find our footing in 2021, activist and educator Brittany Packnett Cunningham is focused on the work ahead. She joins us this week to unpack the aftermath of the Capitol riots (4:11), her entry point into activism (8:39), unlearning perfectionism (14:30), grappling with imperfect allies (24:04), the consequences of using your voice (27:39), the enduring legacy of Toni Morrison (40:39), taking action under a Biden-Harris administration (45:56), rejecting objectification online (52:32), and, finally, how she keeps going (55:50). Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

For 65 years, Johnny Mathis has been hailed as the voice of romance. In the most unusual of Valentine’s Days, we call up the legendary singer to look back on his early days in San Francisco (8:13), performing on the Ed Sullivan Show (12:03), the close bond he shared with his parents (19:10), the influence of singers like Mabel Mercer (24:18), how he remains joyous at 85 (27:53), and, finally, the nature of loving and letting go (32:07). Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

George Saunders (“Tenth of December”, “Lincoln in the Bardo”) is one of the finest American writers working today. With the release of his new book, “A Swim in a Pond in the Rain“, we talk about combating cynicism (5:00), the power of Chekhov and Tobias Wolff (8:52), regarding literature as a fondness for life (12:30), a summer of Steinbeck (15:00), deconstructing the (male) mythology of Hemingway (26:45), and how starting a young family changed his life (35:00). On the back-half, we talk craft and process (39:00), his conversations with the late David Foster Wallace (42:15), and his aim to entertain any kind of reader (44:39). To close: he shares an excerpt from his short story, “Love Letter” (49:02), and the need to live urgently (53:43). Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As we approach a year in the pandemic, Dr. Ashish Jha offers some hope. He returns to the show this week to discuss the potential of new variants (2:48), the residual effects of Trump's isolationist policies (5:16) the myth of herd-immunity (9:21), what the coming months can look like (14:03), best mask practices (16:32), achieving equity through improved vaccine distribution (22:10), and the science-focused approach of the Biden/Harris administration (25:15). Then, before we go, Dr. Jha speaks of all that we've lost, and all that we stand to gain on the other side of this pandemic (32:31). Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We're back! To help unpack this political moment, we sit with former Mayor of San Antonio and 2020 Presidential candidate, Julián Castro. We discuss Trump’s impeachment (4:30), the filibuster as an obstacle to action (14:10), the fundamental difference between Democrats and Republicans (17:57), what it means to do the right thing in politics (20:35), the complexity of Latinx identity (23:02), connecting to Latino voters (26:10), and the how we keep the American Dream alive (31:52). Finally, Julián closes our conversation with an excerpt from the poem “I Am Joaquin” (34:31) and shares his hopes for how we can prosper (36:40). Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As we say goodbye to 2020, we turn to our guests from this historic year. After some year-end reflections from Sam, we hear from performer Alison Pill (4:35), comedian Hasan Minhaj (9:15), activist Dolores Huerta (29:00), broadcaster Brooke Gladstone (33:28), filmmaker Terence Nance (59:00), documentarians Bill & Turner Ross (1:00:00), and the legendary Holland Taylor (1:02:04). Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Our annual holiday special is here! To celebrate, we've released some special Talk Easy-themed mugs, available in navy and cream. Visit www.talkeasypod.com/shop for more info. Today on part 1 of our special, we hear from guests that came on Talk Easy over the past 10 months. Jelani Cobb of The New Yorker (4:35), poet Morgan Parker (6:40), director Cat Solen (25:00), TV titan Norman Lear (27:24), actress Juliette Lewis (39:00), and performer Tituss Burgess (41:12). Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Activist, social-justice educator, and Black Lives Matter co-founder Janaya Future Khan joins us in conversation this week. We discuss the therapeutic value of boxing (10:40), the racial biases embedded into modern technology (15:24), the danger of political nihilism (23:33), how activism is “the work of being alive” (27:45), and why we need to rewrite generational scripts (39:54), especially as Defund the Police receives pushback (54:56). Finally, we end with Janaya’s moving tribute to the late John Lewis (1:01:10). Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In collaboration with The AIDS Memorial, we present this special episode of Talk Easy. Five stories of love, loss, and remembrance from those impacted by the AIDS epidemic. We thank Aaron (2:36), James (19:45), Kelly (49:19), Jeff (1:05:39), and Theresa (1:39:13) for having the courage to share parts of their lives with us. (Warning: this episode contains intermittently graphic and severe language.) Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Our conversation with Fran Lebowitz is now available on vinyl! Visit www.talkeasypod.com/shop for more info. Fran is the author of books like Metropolitan Life (1978) and Social Studies (1981). She is also a renowned public speaker, performing across the country in auditoriums and lecture halls. That was, until, the pandemic. In the absence of modern technology—she doesn’t have a cellphone, computer, etc.—there were no virtual events for Fran.When we spoke in the summer of 2020, she called in from her landline. After we finished taping I asked how she could listen to our talk once aired. Crickets. But then I had an idea: “What if we printed a vinyl record of the podcast, and have it sent to you?” Fran was entertained by this prospect… before admitting to me that she does, in fact, not own a record player either. By the time she made this admission, I had fallen in love with the concept. And so here we are. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Matthew McConaughey just keeps livin. In his new memoir, Greenlights, you hear how. Through the trials and tribulations, speed-bumps and roadblocks, the Oscar-winning actor has remained unwaveringly optimistic and full-hearted. Today he joins us to share selected scenes from his life, on-screen and off. We start with the whirlwind year of 1992 (3:15) before moving into lessons learned from the late Joel Schumacher (13:02) and his idol, Paul Newman (18:07). He also candidly reflects on his rom-com decade (28:34), how his parents' on-again, off-again marriage impacted him (34:17), the McConaissance, from Mud to True Detective to Killer Joe (40:05). Then, before we go, he shares his hopes for the future–his and ours both (51:00). Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Resmaa Menakem is a trauma specialist and New York Times best-selling author. His latest book, “My Grandmother’s Hands”, focuses on the historical and racialized trauma carried in our bodies and souls, from one generation to the next. As we try to heal, Resmaa joins us to talk about the dangers of white comfort (4:15), the “supreme standard” of the white body (10:03), his personal experience with generational trauma (14:33), the communal horror of racial injustice (19:10), his healing work with soldiers in Afghanistan (24:26), how black people have become habituated to soothing white bodies (36:10), and the illusion of allyship (40:19). Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

At the end of a historic week, who better to provide perspective than Noam Chomsky? Today, he unpacks the 2020 election (5:25), the virtues of the Green New Deal (9:00), the perceived “radicalism” of Leftist proposals (14:21, 18:03), the need to better educate and organize (20:24), the upside to higher taxes in a democracy (24:56), compassion in the pandemic (35:26), and how Americans can move forward from our failures (40:03). Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On today's show: two dispatches from inside the medical community and Silicon valley, respectively. First we're joined by Justin Rosenstein, the man who led the team behind the Facebook like button. Now the co-founder of Asana, he breaks down the influence that social media has had on society in this critical time. Rosenstein serves as the whistleblower against Facebook on Netflix’s recent documentary hit “The Social Dilemma”. Today he talks about how social media platforms have handled the 2020 election vs. the 2016 election (3:20), why big tech companies have ignored the negative effects social media might have on society (10:23), the human price of today's economic system (17:38), and his vision for the deep structural changes ahead (30:27). Then, on the back end, Dean of the Brown University School of Public Health, Dr. Ashish Jha, joins us for the fourth time to update us on the latest uptick in coronavirus cases and hospitalizations in the United States. Dr. Jha talks about the politicization of the pandemic (40:33), the psychological toll the pandemic is taking on healthcare workers (45:15), his thoughts on how the president has dismissed the severity of the virus (51:10) and a realistic timeline of finding a cure (54:54). Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Dutch historian and philosopher Rutger Bregman joins us this week to unpack his latest book, “Humankind: A Hopeful History”. We discuss his radical idea that “most people are decent” (4:30), the trickle-down cynicism created by capitalism (7:51), why evil is more powerful than good (15:30), the toxicity of cable news (19:00), the failures of American policing and prisons (23:22), his infamous Davos takedown (29:04), the historic (and scientific) case for human generosity (37:43), his ungenerous public spat with Tucker Carlson (42:00), a new wave of progressivism on the left (50:20) and the cost of comfort (53:14). Then, with the election around the corner, we walk through his Ten Rules to Live By (59:02). Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

With the art world in flux, writer and critic Antwaun Sargent (The New Yorker, NY Times) joins us this weeks. We discuss the turbulence inside museums across the country (3:20), the potential (creative) silver-lining of this pandemic (7:44), the impetus for his new book, Young, Gifted and Black (11:00), and how Instagram (sort of) democratized photography (17:30). Plus, Antwaun unpacks our culture’s recurring fetishization of firsts with black excellence (23:04), and why the the art world is in desperate need of reshuffling (28:56). Before we go, a virtual exhibit of selected pieces from YGB. Follow along at talkeasypod.com/antwaun Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As election day approaches, philosopher, public intellectual, and Harvard professor Cornel West joins us for a state of the union. We discuss the challenges of 2020 (06:42), our neofascist gangster President (8:37), his “Robin Hood-like sensibility” (11:30), Dostoevsky’s grim view of civilization (16:25), discovering our purpose from womb-to-tomb (21:22), and the legacy of being a “jazz man” (30:11) who fights for justice, love and freedom (35:14). To close, a reading Giacomo Leopardi’s Wild Broom. For more, www.talkeasypod.com Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Writer/director Radha Blank joins us! We talk about taking back control of her voice in her debut film, now available via Netflix, The 40-Year-Old Version (6:04), the catharsis of rapping under the moniker Radhamus Prime (11:11), the experience of coming out as an artist to the world (20:52), the personal family archiving within the film itself (26:56), the importance of portraying a different version of Black life on screen (34:25), and why she needed to make a love-letter to New York City. (41:02) Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Growing up Black in this country, Angela Davis taught Rep. Ilhan Omar that you must be “internally liberated to fight for external liberation”. As the first Somali-American elected to Congress, Omar has routinely fought for that external liberation. She joins us today, from Washington, to discuss the passing of George Floyd and her father (5:55), the challenge of making police reform a bi-partisan issue in Congress (11:18), the valuable mistakes made in her first term in the House (15:44), her refusal to “assume the posture of the good immigrant” (21:25), how she's handled the personal, xenophobic comments from President Trump (24:55), why she continues to reinvest in the youth (32:10), and what she hopes America will look like in the years ahead (40:15). Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The illustrious author, poet, and playwright, Claudia Rankine, joins us with the release of her latest book, Just Us: An American Conversation. We discuss the conversations (3:12) and relationships (24:12) that comprise Just Us, the problem with color-blindness, a personal shift in perspective following her cancer diagnosis (16:53), how history remains present for black people (27:29), and why we must repeatedly unpack what privilege looks and sounds like in this country (40:26). To close, Claudia reads a timely and moving excerpt from Just Us (52:52). Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In a world yearning for connection, Miranda July’s latest film, Kajillionaire, may be just what we need right now. This week, the multi-hyphenate artist processes personal milestones amidst this pandemic (16:00), the complexity of parent-child relationships (19:00), the intended audience for Me and You and Everyone We Know (24:37), how unexpected pockets of human interaction fuel her creativity (31:05), the (im)possibilities of connection (38:43), and her hopes of balancing the work of an artist and a mother (44:01). Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In the search for radical honestly, Jena Malone is a true, multi-hyphenate artist: actor, musician, writer, dancer. Today she joins us to discuss her need to grow outside of acting (1:50), a relocation to Las Vegas that altered her trajectory, (4:23), creating control in chaos throughout childhood (6:42), the business challenges of being a child actor (16:58), juxtaposed with the agency it gave her (22:50). Then, before we go, Jena reflects on the work she's most proud of to date, while honoring the younger self that supported her family (38:33). Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Rest in peace to the estimable Ruth Bader Ginsburg. We begin with a moment to reflect on Ginsburg's enduring legacy, and how it must continue in her absence. Then, we turn to Gloria Steinem. A contemporary and friend to RBG, we hope revisiting this discussion (from 2019) may give you some hope in these turbulent times. The trailblazing activist and author discusses a life-altering procedure she had completed at age 22, why she helped create the women's liberation movement alongside Dorothy Pitman Hughes and Flo Kennedy, and how she learned to become angry—on her own behalf—about the race and gender discrimination across America. . Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A bonus episode! First up we sit with actor Carrie Coon (Fargo, The Leftovers) to discuss living a double life in her twenties (5:19), how acting serves as an outlet for honesty (7:39), the marital and moral intricacies of her new film, The Nest (13:14), motherhood in a pandemic (19:39), finding value in her work (26:22), and a re-defined sense of purpose as we emerge from this moment (30:24). Later we talk to Cat Solen, director of the Adult Swim series The Shivering Truth. She discusses the allegory and surrealism of The Shivering Truth (42:50), her love and fear of scary movies as a child, and the sense of responsibility she felt to take care of the world (46:02), the production process of an episode between her and Vernon Chatman (52:37), learning to embrace her work and not feel the need to apologize for her passion-turned-profession (1:00:18), and the significance of “The Wizard of Speed and Time” and Mike Jittlov and his animation stand (1:07:14). Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Janelle Monáe believes she's “connected to the future”. And I believe her. But right now she (like all of us) is forced to confront the present. This week we sit with the visionary artist to discuss the painful timeliness of her latest film, Antebellum (5:40), and how it aims to humanize black women (8:40). We also dive into her love of sci-fi growing up in the midwest (12:22), the gift of being fired from OfficeDepot (17:57), the Wondaland collective (26:12), and, finally, the importance of art and accountability in our strange, new world (36:59). Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Growing up in the Athens, Alabama, singer-songwriter Brittany Howard acutely understands this moment in America. We talk about how Trump preys on the low-income communities she grew up in (6:48), the crisis in Kenosha (11:06), her ever-evolving spiritual relationship with her sister, Jaime (12:46), her departure from the Alabama Shakes (19:11), looking for a challenge in everything she does (22:08), the stories behind three of her love songs, and, finally, the miracle of of her journey, from the girl who borrowed her sister’s guitar to the woman performing around the world (35:30). Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Legendary actress, comedian, singer, and writer Carol Burnett joins us this week! After seven decades in the industry, she sits down to discuss her upbringing in the Hollywood Arms Apartments (3:30), a mysterious envelope of money that allowed her to study at UCLA (7:15), a generous loan that catapulted her to New York City (12:33), her “big break” in 1957 (23:25), how Julie & Carol at Carnegie Hall came to be (30:13), finding her place in “a man’s game” on network television (43:20), her fond memories of The Carol Burnett Show and everyone who made it possible (49:33). Finally, before we leave, a conversation on divine intervention (1:01:15) and what she's grateful for at age 87. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Tyler Mitchell is a photographer and filmmaker based in Brooklyn. His anticipated debut book, I Can Make You Feel Good, is a timely and unabashedly optimistic celebration of Black life. His photos (available on www.talkeasypod.com) depict young Black men and women living, thriving, and relaxing, in repose and in sunshine. Today, on the show, he reflects on the significance of skateboarding as a teenager; the formative years of working at a cake bakery in Marietta, Georgia; his great escape to New York City; how he spent college doggedly pursuing his dreams; the historic Vogue cover with Beyoncé; and why his work subverts traditional ideas of being Black in America. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Emmy-nominated actor/singer Tituss Burgess (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt) joins us this week! We start with a recent afternoon in his gazebo (4:16), where he reminded himself that the pandemic is a marathon, not a sprint (7:50). In that same memory he also reflects on why his art is especially of value in 2020 (12:10); his mere existence on screen a political act (16:23). Later, we unpack his run on 30 Rock, and the spiritual experience that followed (20:50). In the aftermath of finding purpose, he’s had to reconcile his relationship with his mother (35:27) and the dark personal storm that is now, finally, passing over (45:28). Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A bonus episode! On the heels of her recent Emmy nomination for Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath, the dazzling actress sits with us today. As a child, Leah found herself in the throws of Scientology. After 35+ years in the church, she's now disillusioned with the problematic institution. Her new calling? To dismantle the cult and dissect it dangerous practices. Her new podcast, co-hosted by former Scientology executive Mike Rinder, is called Scientology: Fair Game. Today, Leah and I discuss the real toll her (former) faith took, the pernicious power of this organization, and why she feels an obligation to continue onward and keep fighting. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

TV Titan Norman Lear returns! This week, the legendary show-runner behind All in the Family and Maude sits down to discuss his feelings of imprisonment during the pandemic (3:00), the story of the dearest, darling Mr. President (10:02), understanding the bifurcation of his childhood (11:31), using laughter to make a living (19:00), remembering his glorious grandmother Bubby who represented love and listening (24:10), the “on to the next” mentality that got him through Hollywood (27:40). Then, finally, he shares his morning ritual with us (39:10), and what he hopes his legacy will be (40:53). Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.