This week: Filmmaker Mike Leigh talks about crop circles (yes, those crop circles) ... Actor Gina Rodriguez explains how "Breaking Bad" is crazier than a telenovela ... What we can learn about dictators from thier food obsessions ... A replay of the history of the replay ... Joseph Gordon-Levitt on art outside the Hollywood machine ... Lambs on the run ... And we read Dick Cavett's new book, even though he thinks that's kind of naive.
This week: How Michael Cera keeps the act alive ... Viv Albertine of The Slits on punk rock conformity ... Nick Hornby reveals his secret plans for "Wild II" ... Essayist Meghan Daum is not impressed by Cronuts ... Conor Oberst serves up an eclectic dinner party playlist ... Momo dumplings migrate from the Himalayas to Queens ... The first text message ever sent ... And how a cartoon mouse got involved in an art heist.
To celebrate Thanksgiving (and, even better, leftovers!) it's our annual All Food Special. Featuring: Perfection on a sushi plate ... Hot, spicy, and festive horseradish ... Filmmaker Jim Jarmush gets corny ... Jimmy Buffet makes an indie rocker cry ... Trendy Filipino flavors ... Obsessive food Instagramming ... A glimpse inside a restaurant kitchen ... And the 'Delicious' life of Ruth Reichl.
Roxy Music rocker Bryan Ferry explains capital-A Art ... Lynne Rossetto Kasper takes a seat at our Splendid Table ... One of the nation's most-acclaimed poets, Billy Collins, invents some words ... Aasif Mandvi of "The Daily Show" channels MJ to unite a crowd ... Singer Jessie Ware gets sassy ... Beer writer William Bostwick on beers from watered-down to porked-up ... A 3AM phone call nobody wants ... New jams from Iceland ... And a newly-discovered mystery surrounding the death of Vincent Van Gogh.
Anjelica Huston talks about bad boys and leading ladies ... The difficulty of making a film in a warzone ... Chef and author Gabrielle Hamilton cooks what she knows ... You may not have heard of Glyn Johns, but you've probably heard the long list of rock hits he helped create ... Emily Spivack unsuccessfully plays cards in the jungle ... Kevin Morby's movie montage moment ... Why Congress won't allow airplane rides at Disneyland ... And the Posts advise light drinks and heavy eaters ...
Broadway star Audra McDonald is about to launch a national tour; here's how not to decorate for her welcome party ... Thomas Jefferson (well, scholar and radio host Clay Jenkinson channeling Thomas Jefferson) expounds on patriotic decorum ... Get ready, people, for a playlist from indie-supergroup People Get Ready ... A scoop of new Spoon ... Blankets that broadcast your mood to fellow flyers ... One man's violent vendetta against disco ... The national pride of eating sheep innards stuffed in a stomach and stabbed with a knife ... Reuniting a musician with his only recording ... And avoiding scams with Priceonomics.
Our youngest-ever Guest of Honor, Elle Fanning, isn't taking this acting thing too seriously ... Author Gary Shteyngart is only a little failure ... Ruben Östlund has made a film that may increase Sweden's divorce rate ... One bubbly coffee entrepreneur explains his innovation ... Michelangelo really, really, did not want to paint that ceiling ... Dan Pashman of The Sporkful builds a bacon tower ... Spooky new music from King Tuff ... And experiencing a horrifying, immersive, nightmare scenario from which you cannot hide - for fun!
Actor Jason Schwartzman – star of the new film "Listen Up Philip" – pits his ego against Brendan's... A soundtrack from Weezer's Rivers Cuomo inspires hand-holding... Iconoclastic artist Barbara Kruger points and doesn't shoot... And Jack Black and Kyle Gass of Tenacious D shred etiquette to pieces. Also, humorist Simon Rich ponders barbarism and hamsters, a new Kit Kat craze hits the US, we tune into static small talk, and more!
This week: Aussie actor Joel Edgerton ("The Great Gatsby," "Warrior") dances into the spotlight with wildly different fall projects, including this week's "Felony"... Filmmaker Justin Simien ("Dear White People") explores the many shades of black identity, and talks etiquette with y'all... A be-witching soundtrack from electro-pop songstress Banks...Food falls from the sky! Brendan opens his mouth... The strange backstories of fragrances, from cinnamon to ambergris... Chicago Cub fan Steve Bartman inspires a cocktail full of vitriol - and forgiveness... Plus, pay-per-laugh, a gourd joke, and new music from Foxygen.
A podcast-only bonus! WARNING: These 2 performances from our recent live show are smart, funny, and NOT for family listening. (Cursing, frank conversation about sex, etc. Please listen responsibly.) Great stuff though! Comic Moshe Kasher on his Mom's nontraditional approach to sex ed... & comedy duo Garfunkel & Oates explain how not to break up.