This week: Actor Titus Welliver on shooting a gun, canonically … Corin Tucker doesn’t think her band’s music is too awful … Tracee Ellis Ross shares the gift of laughter and a loopy life coach … Comedian Maz Jobrani helps our listeners confront stereotypes and racism, with jokes … Hollywood costume creator Colleen Atwood reveals one dress she won’t be designing … Small, squishy creatures with powerful mouths (and we’re not talking about politics) … Why one type of Chinese cooking is so hot right now, while also less hot than you think … Some splashy history … And a newly-released song from the iconic Pop Staples …
Tracee Ellis Ross - "Fridge Tree"
Tracee Ellis Ross of "Black-ish" gives us a joke that is blue and white. She stopped by to tell a story about how she has been doing this comedy thing for a while.
Limpets Are the Least Limp of All
New research suggests that the strongest creature in the world may be rather more shell-bound, small, and squishy than you would expect.
Ivan Ivanovich and The Splash Down
This week back in 1961, Ivan Ivanovich became the first man in space. Or rather, the first mannequin in space. Learn about this state-of-the-art dummy, and then toast his successes with this custom cocktail.
Talking Changes (and 'Changes') with Sleater-Kinney's Corin Tucker
Sleater-Kinney have reunited after an extended hiatus to release "No Cities to Love." Singer-guitarist Corin Tucker delivers a party playlist for you to love.
Titus Welliver Explores Darkness and Light on Screen and Canvas
Something seems to draw Titus Welliver back to a certain type of gritty dramas, from his recurring roles on "NYPD Blue," "Lost," and "Sons of Anarchy," to his new starring turn in the crime-thriller series "Bosch."
One Very Silly Video Along Tracee Ellis Ross' Journey to Self-Acceptance
Actor Tracee Ellis Ross has won scads of new fans playing a mom on the hit sitcom "Black-ish." Tracee tells us a story about her real-life mother, music legend Diana Ross, and about the time when she began to find her own voice(s).
Sichuan Cuisine is Heating Up American Tastes
The bold flavors and exotic ingredients which typify cooking from the Sichuan region of China are drawing huge crowds to small restaurants in California's San Gabriel Valley.
Maz Jobrani Tells Jokes Without Borders
Maz Jobrani has built a career as an actor and stand-up comedian, in spite of a Hollywood system that attempted to limit him to roles as a terrorist villain. He has written a memoir about that experience, "I'm Not a Terrorist but I've Played One on TV: Memoirs of a Middle Eastern Funny Man."
Costume Designer Colleen Atwood Makes the Clothes that Make the Movie
Colleen Atwood is among the most celebrated costume designers working today, with a cabinet-full of trophies for her work in film, television, and Broadway. Among those statuettes are a trio of Academy Awards and, this Sunday, she may well make it a quartet, as she is nominated for her work on "Into the Woods"
Pops Staples - 'Somebody Was Watching'
"Don't Lose This" is a posthumous album from Pops Staples, taken from his final recording sessions with his daughter Mavis in 1999. The songs are now being released for the first time, featuring production and guitar work by Wilco's Jeff Tweedy.
Playlist 293
All the music from this week's episode.
