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Talk Easy with Sam Fragoso podcast

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Talk Easy with Sam Fragoso

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  iHeartPodcasts and Pushkin Industries  

Talk Easy with Sam Fragoso is a weekly series of intimate conversations with artists, activists, and politicians. Where people sound like people. Hosted by Sam Fragoso. New episodes every Sunday.

Talk Easy with Sam Fragoso is a weekly series of intimate conversations with artists, activists, and politicians. Where people sound like people. Hosted by Sam Fragoso. New episodes every Sunday.

 

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#449

Actor Josh Brolin: A Life in Vivid Color

Since the turn of the century, actor Josh Brolin has had quite a run. From No Country for Old Men and Hail Caesar from the Coen Brothers, to Inherent Vice from Paul Thomas Anderson, to Sicario and the Dune films from Denis Villeneuve. His new memoir, From Under the Truck, contains stories about the life in between. We discuss his upbringing bouncing from Paso Robles to Santa Barbara (4:30), the influence of his mother (10:00), and his entry to writing (18:00). Then, Brolin reflects on his vivid early adulthood in the 80s (24:00), the power of a story (28:00), and what actor Anthony Hopkins illuminated about sobriety (30:00). On the back-half, we get into his collaborations with the Coen Brothers (34:00), his challenging relationship to drinking (44:00), and why finally, after three decades of playing characters on screen, it was time to fill in some of the backstory (1:00:00). This conversation was recorded at Spotify Studios. Thoughts or future guest ideas? Email us at [sf@talkeasypod.com] (mailto:sf@talkeasypod.com) . See [omnystudio.com/listener] (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information. ... Read more

17 Nov 2024

1 HR 25 MINS

1:25:17

17 Nov 2024

#448

What Can Be, Burdened By What Has Been (with Astead Herndon of NYT)

It’s been a week. To help us through it, we’ve enlisted The New York Times political reporter Astead Herndon. We start with election night 2024 versus election night 2016 (6:35), what Astead discovered about the electorate reporting across the U.S. on his podcast [ The Run-Up] (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-run-up/id1142083165) (9:25), and how insider Democrats arrived at a second Biden run in 2023 (13:30). Then, we discuss politicians’ “lowercase racist” assumptions about Black and Latino voters (16:02), Herndon’s telling one on one interview with Vice President Harris (22:52), and the pervasive, nationwide sentiments that led to Donald Trump’s re-election (32:24). On the back-half: where the Harris campaign fell short in its messaging to voters (38:48), the rise of the “podcast election” (44:48), a revealing window into the Biden administration (47:35), how quickly “good intentions” can turn power corrupted (53:01), and why the Democratic party must remake itself (1:00:55) as we begin to move forward from this election (1:06:00). Thoughts or future guest ideas? Email us at [sf@talkeasypod.com] (mailto:sf@talkeasypod.com) . See [omnystudio.com/listener] (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information. ... Read more

10 Nov 2024

1 HR 09 MINS

1:09:21

10 Nov 2024

#447

Ta-Nehisi Coates (‘The Message’) is Live in Los Angeles

On the heels of his latest book [The Message] (https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/653438/the-message-by-ta-nehisi-coates/) , author Ta-Nehisi Coates joins Sam for a conversation in Los Angeles. At the top, we discuss how his Atlantic piece [The Case for Reparations] (https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2014/06/the-case-for-reparations/361631/) guided these three new essays (6:10), Coates’ early education growing up in West Baltimore (14:57), and his powerful dispatches from South Carolina (22:00) and the Middle East (29:30). On the back-half, Coates unpacks why he believes the mainstream media prioritizes “factual complexity over self-evident morality” (37:47), his advocacy for Palestinian journalists (39:20), and his reflections about the U.S. election (47:28). To close, a formative passage from James Baldwin's The Lost Generation (52:38) and a story about love and writing (57:45). Thoughts or future guest ideas? Email us at [sf@talkeasypod.com] (mailto:sf@talkeasypod.com) . See [omnystudio.com/listener] (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information. ... Read more

03 Nov 2024

1 HR 00 MINS

1:00:44

03 Nov 2024

#446

Actor and Director Anna Kendrick: Life Imitates Art

Anna Kendrick (Pitch Perfect, Up in the Air) has been a fixture in Hollywood for the past fifteen years. She joins us this week to discuss [Woman of the Hour] (https://www.netflix.com/watch/81728818?source=35) , her directorial debut and most revealing project to date. At the top, we dive into the film’s true crime story (7:00), its examination of gender politics in the 1970s (19:29), and the personal Hollywood experiences Anna embedded into this project (22:00). Then, Kendrick reflects on her early years as a child actor: commuting from Portland, Maine into New York City for work (25:40), receiving a Tony nomination at twelve (29:50), and moving to Los Angeles at seventeen (35:10). On the back-half, Anna unpacks the “dissociative” process of directing a film (38:25), the mentorship she received from actor and collaborator Jake Johnson (45:00), and the dangers of workaholism (47:19). To close, she shares a passage from her memoir [Scrappy Little Nobody] (https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Scrappy-Little-Nobody/Anna-Kendrick/9781501117220) (57:20) and describes the work she hopes to make in years to come (1:00:00). Thoughts or future guest ideas? Email us at [sf@talkeasypod.com] (mailto:sf@talkeasypod.com) . See [omnystudio.com/listener] (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information. ... Read more

27 Oct 2024

1 HR 02 MINS

1:02:19

27 Oct 2024

#445

This Conversation with Author Jason Reynolds is a Gift

For the past decade, Jason Reynolds has become an inspiring voice in the literary world. He’s a New York Times bestselling author and as of this month, a 2024 MacArthur fellow. Reynolds sits with us today to share his latest YA novel [Twenty-Four Seconds from Now…] (https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Twenty-Four-Seconds-from-Now/Jason-Reynolds/9781665961271)  (7:45), why he was interested in writing a story about boyhood and masculinity (12:05), and an early passage from the book (15:52) that captures the distinct rhythm of his writing (17:59). Then, we talk about the story structure of this new novel (19:00), how Queen Latifah’s Black Reign introduced him to poetry (21:45), and how his early memories of writing (27:45) and a singular high school teacher (35:17) saved his life. On the back-half, Reynolds describes a meaningful post-college job at rag & bone (46:02), what he’s seen in the education system post-pandemic (59:30), his hope for the next generation (1:02:30), and his lifelong mission to embolden students to see the value in their own narratives (1:14:23). Thoughts or future guest ideas? Email us at [sf@talkeasypod.com] (mailto:sf@talkeasypod.com) . See [omnystudio.com/listener] (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information. ... Read more

20 Oct 2024

1 HR 23 MINS

1:23:12

20 Oct 2024

#444

Wesley Morris Returns with ‘The Wonder of Stevie’

Today, culture critic Wesley Morris (The New York Times) returns to Talk Easy for a conversation about [ The Wonder of Stevie] (https://highergroundmedia.com/podcasts-archive/thewonderofstevie) , his new podcast with the Obamas’ Higher Ground Productions. At the top, Wesley unpacks Stevie Wonder’s legendary five-album run from 1972-1976, his recent “battleground states” tour in the run up to the election, and how his relationship to Stevie’s music has evolved in the process of making this limited series. To listen to The Wonder of Stevie, stream [here] (https://podcasts.apple.com/is/podcast/the-wonder-of-stevie/id1767486783) or wherever you get your podcasts.  Thoughts or future guest ideas? Email us at [sf@talkeasypod.com] (mailto:sf@talkeasypod.com) . See [omnystudio.com/listener] (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information. ... Read more

16 Oct 2024

1 HR 25 MINS

1:25:19

16 Oct 2024

#443

Director Jason Reitman’s Love Letter to ‘Saturday Night’

Since his directorial debut in 2006, Jason Reitman has made the kind of films they say Hollywood doesn’t make anymore. Today, we sit to discuss his latest project [Saturday Night] (https://saturdaynight.movie/) (9:09), the influence of 1970s movies like Michael Ritchie’s The Candidate (12:46), and the details Reitman and his co-writer Gil Kenan collected from dozens of interviews leading up to production (17:45). Then, Jason describes the dynamic between Lorne Michaels and his father, the late director Ivan Reitman (21:55), his formative years at the movie theater (25:50), and the filmmakers that shaped his early work: Alexander Payne, Kevin Smith, Spike Jonze, and Richard Linklater (31:03). On the back-half, we talk about Reitman’s debut film Thank You For Smoking (39:06), the collaborators that shaped Juno (42:50), his personal connection to Up in the Air (43:10), and lessons from making Young Adult (49:43) and Labor Day (51:08). To close, a story about fatherhood (53:00) and the joy of directing (58:58). Thoughts or future guest ideas? Email us at [sf@talkeasypod.com] (mailto:sf@talkeasypod.com) . See [omnystudio.com/listener] (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information. ... Read more

13 Oct 2024

1 HR 02 MINS

1:02:02

13 Oct 2024

#442

Francis Ford Coppola Stays in the Picture

Director Francis Ford Coppola doesn’t just want to make movies. He wants to change them. This was true in 1969 when he co-founded Zoetrope Studios with George Lucas, and it remains true today at age 85. We begin with the historical context of his modern-day Roman epic fable [Megalopolis] (https://www.megalopolis.movie/)  (9:40), his decades-long process developing the film (12:18), and the inspiration he’s taken from Georges Méliès (22:25) and Jacques Tati (24:59). Then, Coppola reflects on the origin of how he became ‘Francis Ford Coppola’ (29:27), the irrepressible spirit he forged in childhood (32:34), and where he sees himself in films like The Godfather (38:29), Apocalypse Now (41:48), and Gardens of Stone (42:17). On the back-half, we unpack the parallels between the titular city of Megalopolis and Zoetrope Studios (50:19), his capacity to keep dreaming, even in the face of financial ruin (53:46), where he believes America is headed in 2025 (54:29), and the lasting memory of his late wife, Eleanor (1:03:25). Watch this conversation [on YouTube] (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kiKqETNujSI&t=1877s) . Thoughts or future guest ideas? Email us at [sf@talkeasypod.com] (mailto:sf@talkeasypod.com) . See [omnystudio.com/listener] (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information. ... Read more

06 Oct 2024

1 HR 04 MINS

1:04:24

06 Oct 2024

#441

The Joaquin Phoenix Interview

Joaquin Phoenix is one of the greatest actors of his generation. For three decades, he’s moved seamlessly between auteur-driven films (Her, The Master) and box-office sensations (Gladiator, Joker).  We sit today for a rare, long-form conversation with Phoenix, starting with his latest film, [Joker: Folie à Deux] (https://www.joker.movie/) (9:10), his free-wheeling collaborations with director Todd Phillips (11:32), and the nomadic upbringing that marked his early years (15:00). Then, he reflects on his childhood television debut in Hill Street Blues (22:27), the brilliance of Robert De Niro (27:53), and his formative performances in To Die For and Parenthood (34:45). On the back-half, we discuss how the polarizing mockumentary, I’m Still Here (47:15), inspired his singular collaborations with directors Spike Jonze, Paul Thomas Anderson, James Gray, and Lynne Ramsay (51:30). We also talk about the evolution of his acting process (52:47), the impassioned Oscars speech he delivered accepting Best Actor for Joker (58:15), and whether he’ll ever turn in what he believes is a ‘great’ performance (1:02:40). Thoughts or future guest ideas? Email us at [sf@talkeasypod.com] (mailto:sf@talkeasypod.com) . See [omnystudio.com/listener] (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information. ... Read more

29 Sep 2024

1 HR 05 MINS

1:05:09

29 Sep 2024

#440

Why Myha’la (‘Industry’) is Playing the Long Game

For actor Myha’la, the role of a lifetime arrived less than a year out of college. “Lightning struck,” she says, “and in so many ways I have been preparing my entire life to be here.” In this case ‘here’ is Industry’s Harper Stern, a fiercely ambitious New Yorker who has come to London to join Pierpont, a prestigious financial investment bank. With the season finale of HBO’s breakout hit approaching, we sat down with Myha'la to discuss all things Industry (4:42): how the evolution of Harper can be charted by her changing hairstyles (8:05), her recent pivot into “ethical investing” (10:45), and the Gen-Z qualities she best embodies (14:04). We also discuss the actor’s first experiences singing and dancing (16:00), her time as front-woman of a Christian Rock band (20:30), and a formative experience at her Catholic high school (23:01). On the back half, Myha’la reflects on her years at Carnegie Mellon (34:55), her views around “method acting” (39:30), the first day on the set of Industry (42:55), the personal investment she’s made in Harper Stern (48:00), a humbling performance never far from mind (53:50), and the ‘picture’ she’d like to paint as an artist in the years ahead (56:50). This conversation was recorded at Spotify Studios and Pushkin Industries. Thoughts or future guest ideas? Email us at [sf@talkeasypod.com] (mailto:sf@talkeasypod.com) . See [omnystudio.com/listener] (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information. ... Read more

25 Sep 2024

57 MINS

57:07

25 Sep 2024

#439

Actor Ken Leung (‘Industry’) Enters a New Season

For the past couple decades, actor Ken Leung has played scene-stealing characters in films like Rush Hour, Keeping the Faith, and A.I. Or, prestige TV shows like Lost and The Sopranos. Today, he joins us to discuss his spectacular turn in HBO’s [Industry] (https://www.hbo.com/industry) (7:30), how he created his character in baseball-bat-wielding manager Eric Tao (9:55), and his Brooklyn upbringing to a family of Chinese immigrants (17:35). Then, he shares how he found his footing as an actor (23:30), a memory of his late younger brother, Kevin (29:27), and why he views each film and TV set as a ‘spiritual space’ (30:56). On the back-half, we walk through Leung’s work on The Sopranos (32:30), his present-day collaboration with actor Myha’la (37:45), the arc of this latest season of Industry (44:15), the state of representation in Hollywood (48:06), and why he feels at peace in this moment (53:00). Clips courtesy of HBO. Thoughts or future guest ideas? Email us at [sf@talkeasypod.com] (mailto:sf@talkeasypod.com) . See [omnystudio.com/listener] (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information. ... Read more

22 Sep 2024

54 MINS

54:23

22 Sep 2024

#438

Abbi Jacobson Interviews Sam

To commemorate his 30th birthday, Abbi Jacobson interviews Sam! They talk about Sam's early days in journalism (8:00), his Almost Famous-like experience as a teenage film critic (10:30), making Talk Easy and how the show evolved post-pandemic (13:15), and the email from the late Roger Ebert that changed his life (22:30). On the back-end, they discuss Abbi’s annual birthday questions (28:00), why Sam’s episode with filmmaker Werner Herzog has stayed with her (31:57), and how he approaches asking hard questions on Talk Easy (36:43). To close, a passage from Sam's debut episode with Don Cheadle (45:28) and a philosophy captured in his short film [Sebastian] (https://vimeo.com/298927991?share=copy) (53:20). Listen to our first conversation [with Abbi Jacobson] (https://talkeasypod.com/abbi-jacobson/)  from 2022. Thoughts or future guest ideas? Email us at [sf@talkeasypod.com] (mailto:sf@talkeasypod.com) . See [omnystudio.com/listener] (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information. ... Read more

15 Sep 2024

56 MINS

56:50

15 Sep 2024

#437

The First Gen Z Congressman’s Fight for Gun Reform

To start, Sam sits with another week in American life, before returning to our timely conversation with Congressman Maxwell Frost (FL-10). At the top, we discuss the five-year aftermath of the horrific shooting at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida (10:29), his first two months in office as the first Gen-Z Congressman (12:10), and the legislature he’s fighting for to reduce gun violence (17:14). Then, we walk through his impassioned response to the Sandy Hook shooting (19:40), how it cemented his early commitment to politics (26:17), and embracing his Afro-Cuban identity as an adopted child (30:15). On the back half, Frost reflects on his road to Congress (37:58), the connection he shares with his biological mother (41:00), the blend of grassroots organizing and policy-making he leads with today (49:22), and the progress he hopes to see in the years to come (57:40). Original air date: February 26, 2023. See [omnystudio.com/listener] (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information. ... Read more

08 Sep 2024

59 MINS

59:34

08 Sep 2024

#436

Filmmaker Lee Daniels (‘The Deliverance’) Finds His Light

This week, our guest is trailblazing filmmaker Lee Daniels. At the top, we discuss his fifteen-year journey to the new Netflix film [The Deliverance] (https://www.netflix.com/title/81582382) (5:00), Daniels’ relationship to spirituality (9:16), and his memories of directing theatre at eight-years-old (14:55). Then, we dive into the therapeutic quality of filmmaking (17:14), his work as a casting director at Warner Brothers in the 80s (19:48), and what it meant for Daniels to manage young performers like Morgan Freeman and Loretta Devine (23:38). On the back-half, he unpacks the tumultuous process of making his award-winning film Precious (32:00), the projects that followed in The Paperboy and The Butler (39:30), the rise of Empire and his paradigm-shifting work in Hollywood (41:10), the peace that guided him to make his new film (46:10), and what motivates him to keep working (50:31). Thoughts or future guest ideas? Email us at [sf@talkeasypod.com] (mailto:sf@talkeasypod.com) . See [omnystudio.com/listener] (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information. ... Read more

01 Sep 2024

51 MINS

51:04

01 Sep 2024

#435

Director Steven Soderbergh: Scene by Scene

Since 1989 (Sex, Lies, and Videotape), filmmaker Steven Soderbergh has been a pioneering voice in American cinema. Part free-wheeling iconoclast, part exacting technician. Today, we return to our conversation with the legendary artist. First, Soderbergh describes his process making No Sudden Move amid the pandemic (8:38), his ability to push past creative blocks (14:34), the importance of 1998’s Out of Sight (31:00), the seismic impact of his late mentor, Mike Nichols (27:28), and how a formative moviegoing memory (28:48) informed his ideas on the role of storytelling (32:43). Before we go– Steven speaks candidly on the future of movies (39:20) and his role in them (41:13). This episode originally aired June 27th, 2021. To hear our latest talk with Sean Fennessey, listen [here] (https://talkeasypod.com/fennessey/) . Thoughts or future guest ideas? Email us at [sf@talkeasypod.com] (mailto:sf@talkeasypod.com) . See [omnystudio.com/listener] (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information. ... Read more

29 Aug 2024

44 MINS

44:49

29 Aug 2024

#434

We Are So Back (at the Movies) with Sean Fennessey (‘The Big Picture’)

We’re so back at the movies… with head of content at The Ringer and co-host of [The Big Picture] (https://open.spotify.com/show/6mTel3azvnK8isLs4VujvF) , Sean Fennessey! At the top, Sam and Sean discuss Sean Wang’s [Dìdi] (https://www.focusfeatures.com/didi) (8:52), the father-daughter story at the heart of M. Night Shyamalan’s [Trap] (https://www.warnerbros.com/movies/trap) (15:52), and why the documentaries [Brats] (https://www.hulu.com/watch/3c92789a-4a02-418b-b896-28f9799be387) (19:39) and [Faye] (https://www.hbo.com/movies/faye) (22:35) make the perfect weekend watch. Then, they talk about the real-life story behind A24’s [Sing Sing] (https://a24films.com/films/sing-sing) (27:45), what [Borderlands] (https://borderlands.movie/) reveals about post-strike Hollywood (29:57), the anticipation building around Sean Baker’s triumphant upcoming feature [Anora] (https://neonrated.com/films/anora) (32:13), Jason Reitman’s [Saturday Night] (https://www.sonypictures.com/movies/saturdaynight) (33:17), Joshua Oppenheimer’s apocalyptic musical film [The End] (https://www.tiff.net/events/the-end) (35:49), and James Mangold’s [A Complete Unknown] (https://www.searchlightpictures.com/a-complete-unknown) (37:17). On the back-half, we dive into Sean’s childhood in Long Island (43:37), his early writing at Ithaca College (44:15), working at Complex Magazine in the mid-aughts (53:00), his pivot to Grantland (1:02:10), launching The Ringer (1:15:50), his on-mic personality on The Big Picture (1:11:50), the future of his podcast(s) (1:18:31), and why he remains optimistic about the film industry (1:27:09). This conversation was recorded at Spotify Studios. Thoughts or future guest ideas? Email us at [sf@talkeasypod.com] (mailto:sf@talkeasypod.com) . See [omnystudio.com/listener] (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information. ... Read more

25 Aug 2024

1 HR 31 MINS

1:31:50

25 Aug 2024

#433

A Tea with Amelia Dimoldenberg of Chicken Shop Date

What’s the difference between an interview and a first date? For the past decade, Amelia Dimoldenberg has been walking that fine line on her hit YouTube series, [Chicken Shop Date] (https://www.youtube.com/@AmeliaDimoldenberg) . The premise is in the title: filmed at various chicken establishments across London, the show features a series of funny (sometimes awkward) ‘dates’ with everyone from Paul Mescal to Billie Eilish. To celebrate the 10th anniversary of her beloved series, Amelia and Sam have a cup of tea to discuss her recent sit-down with Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds (5:00), her upbringing in London (7:20), and how Mary-Kate and Ashley inspired the young creative ambitions (11:10) that lead to Chicken Shop Date (17:17). We also highlight a few pivotal episodes of the show with rapper Ghetts (24:50), actor Daniel Kaluuya (32:10), and documentarian Louis Theroux (32:52). On the back-half, we unpack Dimoldenberg’s comedy influences—from Amy Poehler in Parks and Recreation to Zach Galifianakis’ Between Two Ferns (36:34), how she continues to expand her reach as an independent creator (43:00), why the ‘anti-interview’ genre has come into vogue (49:12), and what she hopes for in the decade to come (1:02:12). For questions, comments, or to join our mailing list, drop us a line at  [sf@talkeasypod.com] (mailto:sf@talkeasypod.com) . See [omnystudio.com/listener] (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information. ... Read more

18 Aug 2024

1 HR 03 MINS

1:03:25

18 Aug 2024

#432

Author Vinson Cunningham on our ‘Great Expectations’ for 2024

Vinson Cunningham has been a staff writer at The New Yorker for the past eight years, covering theater, television, and politics. He joins us this week to unpack his personal debut novel [Great Expectations] (https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/690565/great-expectations-by-vinson-cunningham/) . At the top, we discuss the state of the US election (5:00), the emergence of the new Democratic ticket in Kamala Harris and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (10:00), and the fickleness of internet hype (15:00). Then, Cunningham explains how his new book dovetails with his time working on Barack Obama’s 2008 Presidential campaign (19:00), his process writing fiction (30:00), and his early memories of getting involved in politics (35:30). On the back-half, we talk about Vinson’s upbringing in the church (38:00), the role of faith in his life (47:00), and his personal feelings about divine intervention (57:00), both in politics and on the heels of a tragic personal loss (1:01:40). To close, he shares a moving piece of his review of Hamlet (1:07:00), reflects on his growth over the past year (1:15:00), and reveals why this moment for Kamala Harris gives him hope for his daughters (1:22:00). This conversation was recorded at Spotify Studios and Condé Nast. Thoughts or future guest ideas? Email us at  [sf@talkeasypod.com] (mailto:sf@talkeasypod.com) . See [omnystudio.com/listener] (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information. ... Read more

11 Aug 2024

1 HR 25 MINS

1:25:27

11 Aug 2024

#431

The Vision of Novelist Zadie Smith (‘The Fraud’)

Last fall, Zadie Smith published her prescient historical novel The Fraud. We return to our conversation with the beloved author this week, on the heels of our latest sit-down with writer [Taffy Brodesser-Akner] (https://talkeasypod.com/taffy-brodesser-akner/) . At the top, Smith details her most recent book (7:48), her instinctive writing process (13:37), and the role of projection in her work (20:08). Then, Zadie reflects on her upbringing in North West London (23:48), the art that influenced her growing up (26:42), and the media circus that followed the publication of her debut novel, White Teeth (31:28). On the back-half, we discuss her desire to frequently reinvent herself as an artist as a writer (41:53), why she prioritized pleasure after her book On Beauty (45:24), her evolving relationship to humanism (48:06), the nuanced politics of her work (54:13), a striking passage from Intimations (1:01:56), and what she sees in this next generation of novelists (1:04:55). This conversation was recorded at Spotify Studios. Thoughts or future guest ideas? Email us at  [sf@talkeasypod.com] (mailto:sf@talkeasypod.com) . See [omnystudio.com/listener] (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information. ... Read more

04 Aug 2024

1 HR 08 MINS

1:08:23

04 Aug 2024

#430

Writer Taffy Brodesser-Akner on Her ‘Long Island Compromise’

Taffy Brodesser-Akner (“Fleishman Is in Trouble”) is a staff writer at The New York Times, where she covers everything from The Eras Tour to Tom Hanks. She joins us today to unpack her new book Long Island Compromise (7:30), its central questions about wealth, trauma, and inheritance (11:58), and the real-life crime that inspired the story (12:52). Then, we dive into the process of writing a novel (15:17), a formative passage from the book (24:31), and Brodesser-Akner's memories of growing up in between Brooklyn and Long Island (29:54). On the back-half, she describes her work as a journalist (40:14), profiling Nicki Minaj (45:38) and Bradley Cooper (45:54), how those experiences propelled her to write Fleishman Is in Trouble (46:20), her reflections while writing about Taylor Swift (54:05), and the transformational power of storytelling (1:04:07). Thoughts or future guest ideas? Email us at  [sf@talkeasypod.com] (mailto:sf@talkeasypod.com) . See [omnystudio.com/listener] (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information. ... Read more

28 Jul 2024

1 HR 11 MINS

1:11:19

28 Jul 2024

#429

Tom Hanks: A Retrospective

Today, we're revisiting our special conversation with actor Tom Hanks. We begin by discussing his debut novel, [The Making of Another Major Motion Picture Masterpiece] (https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/599504/the-making-of-another-major-motion-picture-masterpiece-by-tom-hanks/) (5:58), his nomadic upbringing across California (13:28), and the Stanley Kubrick film that made him want to be an artist (19:40). Then, we talk about his early work at the Great Lakes Shakespeare Festival (24:00) and moving to Los Angeles for his television debut in Bosom Buddies (28:30), before pivoting to dramatic roles in films like Philadelphia and Forrest Gump (32:44). On the back-half, Hanks describes the transformative, eight-year process of making Cast Away (39:00), receiving an AFI Lifetime Achievement award for his work at age forty-six (41:35), the vital performances that followed (42:40), and his insatiable desire to reflect the human experience (46:23). To close, Hanks reflects on the kinship he found with Yankee hall of famer Joe DiMaggio (59:08), his formative friendships with actor Holland Taylor (52:30) and the late Nora Ephron (54:40), and the Cecil B. DeMille story he hopes to keep telling (55:50). Thoughts or future guest ideas? Email us at [sf@talkeasypod.com] (mailto:sf@talkeasypod.com) . See [omnystudio.com/listener] (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information. ... Read more

24 Jul 2024

57 MINS

57:51

24 Jul 2024

#428

Talk Easy Presents Author Isabel Allende on ‘Wiser Than Me’

This week, on the heels of our live show with Julia Louis-Dreyfus, we’re presenting a special conversation from her podcast Wiser Than Me. The episode features award-winning author Isabel Allende (The Wind Knows My Name). They discuss motherhood, falling in love again in her seventies, an influential piece of advice by writer Elizabeth Gilbert, and how Allende remains present in her life and work. Find more episodes of Wiser Than Me through [Lemonada Media] (https://lemonadamedia.com/show/wiser-than-me-with-julia-louis-dreyfus/) . To hear Julia on Talk Easy, listen [here] (https://talkeasypod.com/jld/) . The episode is also available to watch [on YouTube] (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJ4PTAeiPlE&t=629s) . Thoughts or future guest ideas? Email us at [sf@talkeasypod.com] (mailto:sf@talkeasypod.com) . See [omnystudio.com/listener] (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information. ... Read more

21 Jul 2024

1 HR 16 MINS

1:16:52

21 Jul 2024

#427

Live from Aspen with Performer Julia Louis-Dreyfus

Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Seinfeld, Veep) is a national treasure with more primetime Emmys than any performer in the history of television. Then there’s her latest decade in film: two collaborations with Nicole Holofcener (Enough Said and You Hurt My Feelings) along with a devastating turn in the heart-rending fairytale from A24, [Tuesday] (https://a24films.com/films/tuesday) . Her range is unparalleled, including in the role of host on her excellent, award-winning podcast, [Wiser Than Me] (https://lemonadamedia.com/show/wiser-than-me-with-julia-louis-dreyfus/) from Lemonada. We sat with Julia as part of this year’s [Aspen Ideas Festival] (https://www.aspenideas.org/sessions/julia-louis-dreyfus-talks-easy-with-sam-fragoso-podcast-recording) , where we discussed her powerful new film, Tuesday (6:33), her early performances in the basement of her childhood home (15:45), a formative high school yearbook quote (16:45), landing at SNL in the 1980s (22:06) with Larry David (24:56), the legacy of Seinfeld (28:42), and where she stands on the issue of “political correctness in comedy” (31:54). On the back-half, a celebration of her uproarious turn as Selina Meyer on Veep (36:47), a life-changing diagnosis on the heels of her historic Emmy win (40:00), and the support she received from showrunner David Mandel (42:52) and President Biden (46:23). To close, we sit with the stakes of this upcoming election (50:40), words of wisdom from Jane Fonda (52:14), and the poem “Explanation” by Julia’s father, the late Gérard Louis-Dreyfus (54:00). You can watch this conversation [on YouTube] (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJ4PTAeiPlE) . Thoughts or future guest ideas? Email us at [sf@talkeasypod.com] (mailto:sf@talkeasypod.com) . See [omnystudio.com/listener] (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information. ... Read more

14 Jul 2024

55 MINS

55:26

14 Jul 2024

#426

Actor Ebon Moss-Bachrach (‘The Bear’) Returns to the Kitchen

On the heels of his first Emmy win, actor Ebon Moss-Bachrach joins us on the show to unpack the return of [The Bear] (https://www.hulu.com/series/05eb6a8e-90ed-4947-8c0b-e6536cbddd5f) . At the top, we dive into the making of the hit series (9:22), a powerful scene with co-star Jeremy Allen White (11:20), and how Moss-Bachrach manages to keep adding layers to his portrayal of Cousin Richie (14:26). Then, he describes the mounting pressures around this new season (19:23), the day he knew he wanted to be an actor in Williamstown, Massachusetts (27:35), and the early days of his collaboration with actor Jon Bernthal (30:26). On the back-half, Ebon reflects on a formative role as a jazz musician in Warren Leight’s play Side Man (35:34), his ideas about success and living a more balanced life (38:19), his experience playing Desi in Girls (43:33), a philosophy depicted in The Bear (47:35), and the work he hopes to continue making in years to come (50:38). Thoughts or future guest ideas? Email us at  [sf@talkeasypod.com] (mailto:sf@talkeasypod.com) . See [omnystudio.com/listener] (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information. ... Read more

07 Jul 2024

53 MINS

53:10

07 Jul 2024

#425

A Post-Debate Talk with Democratic Strategist James Carville

“You’re never gonna forget where you were last night at 7:30,” says James Carville. “It has the potential to be that consequential.”  Carville is regarded as one the most influential (and animated) operators in the Democratic Party. He came to prominence as the chief architect behind Clinton’s 1992 Presidential campaign, and has remained one of the most incisive political analysts in the country.  He joins us this week from the [Aspen Ideas Festival] (https://www.aspenideas.org/) , the day after the first presidential debate between Joe Biden and Donald Trump (8:15), to discuss what he saw from each candidate (10:30), whether Biden should (or will) step aside in the months ahead (16:16), and who, theoretically, would be fit to run come August at the DNC (26:00).  On the back-half, Carville shares how he would reframe the Democrats' political strategy (33:19), the “coastal condensation” that has slipped into the bloodstream of the left (36:30), his advice on winning elections (54:00), and how he aims to inspire swing voters in purple states through the [American Bridge] (https://www.americanbridgepac.org/about-us/) project (59:48). To close, a scene from the 1993 documentary The War Room (1:01:57), and why his love of politics remains undiminished even after this dark week in American democracy (1:05:10).  Thoughts or future guest ideas? Email us at [sf@talkeasypod.com] (mailto:sf@talkeasypod.com) . See [omnystudio.com/listener] (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information. ... Read more

30 Jun 2024

1 HR 11 MINS

1:11:47

30 Jun 2024

#424

How Playwright Annie Baker Made the Movie of the Summer

Beloved playwright [Annie Baker] (https://talkeasypod.com/annie-baker/) won the Pulitzer for Drama in 2014 for her play, The Flick. A decade later, she’s releasing her directorial debut, Janet Planet, through A24. We begin by talking about her striking first feature (7:55): the Western Massachusetts origins of the project (11:00), the mother-daughter love story at its center (13:24), how Thomas Mann’s “The Magic Mountain” shaped Baker’s understanding of time (22:55), and why she’s routinely sidestepped the slippery-slope of “confessional” autobiography in her own work (30:30). On the back-half, we discuss Annie’s early jobs in New York before she turned to the page and the classroom (40:00), the issues of class that continue to plague contemporary theater (45:00), a formative Rainer Maria Rilke poem as read by Sam (55:50), and whether she believes art “matters” in 2024 (1:00:18) Thoughts or future guest ideas? Email us at [sf@talkeasypod.com] (mailto:sf@talkeasypod.com) . See [omnystudio.com/listener] (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information. ... Read more

23 Jun 2024

1 HR 03 MINS

1:03:32

23 Jun 2024

#423

A Father’s Day Special (with Ethan Hawke)

This Father's Day, we're revisiting our special talk with actor Ethan Hawke. After a phone call with Dad Fragoso (2:00), we dive into the episode. At the top, Hawke unpacks his docuseries The Last Movie Stars (9:24), describing his introduction to Paul Newman through Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (12:13). Then, he reflects on his personal history: growing up with his mother on the east coast (16:43), his on-screen debut at fifteen in Explorers with River Phoenix (20:04), the enduring legacy of Robin Williams (25:57), and how Richard Linklater’s Before trilogy transformed his career (33:01). On the back-half, we revisit a memorable scene from Before Midnight (42:28), how capturing Chet Baker in Born to Be Blue helped Hawke process loss (52:31), what he learned about longevity from director Paul Schrader (55:29) and how that definition evolved in making The Last Movie Stars (58:32). To close– we discuss the importance of family (1:02:12), Hawke’s hopes for his third act (1:04:24), and why he continues to honor The Actor’s Vow by Elia Kazan (1:07:38). Drop us a line at [sf@talkeasypod.com] (mailto:sf@talkeasypod.com) .  See [omnystudio.com/listener] (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information. ... Read more

16 Jun 2024

1 HR 13 MINS

1:13:01

16 Jun 2024

#422

Director Richard Linklater’s Moments in Time

Director Richard Linklater has made a career out of telling personal stories with universal appeal. Dazed and Confused, Waking Life, the Before trilogy, Boyhood. No matter the genre or form, Linklater's human touch remains.  He joins us this week around the release of his latest film,  [Hit Man] (https://www.netflix.com/watch/81728840?source=35)  (7:36), an action-packed neo-noir (9:15) that also explores the malleability of identity (12:00). Then, Linklater reflects on his athletic career in college (18:20), the health scare that ushered in a period of creative exploration (19:48), and the renegade spirit that drove his first two feature films, It’s Impossible to Learn to Plow by Reading Books and Slacker (29:12). On the back-half, Linklater describes a formative Sundance memory with director Robert Altman (36:00), his first experience at the helm of a major motion picture (39:48), and the lived serendipity that inspired his Before films (54:22). To close: a Hollywood state of the union (1:02:54), why Richard continues to create art from the fabric of his life (1:10:00), and whether Sam should return to directing himself (1:19:36). You can watch Sam’s directorial work [here] (https://samfragoso.com/work/directing) , including his short film [Sebastian] (https://vimeo.com/298927991?share=copy) . Drop us a line at [sf@talkeasypod.com] (mailto:sf@talkeasypod.com) .  See [omnystudio.com/listener] (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information. ... Read more

09 Jun 2024

1 HR 20 MINS

1:20:06

09 Jun 2024

#421

Maya Hawke (‘Stranger Things’) Writes through Chaos

On the heels of her breakout role in Stranger Things, Maya Hawke has gone her own way as an artist— both as an actor and singer-songwriter. That’s especially true on her striking new record, [Chaos Angel] (https://mayahawke.lnk.to/ChaosAngel) . We begin our conversation by diving into this third record of hers (5:37), the ‘emotional pendulum’ that guided her creative process (9:15), and how director Paul Thomas Anderson’s Magnolia inspired the first track (16:12). Then, Maya discusses a piece by novelist Flannery O’Connor (21:20) that shaped her portrayal of the Southern Gothic writer in the new film, Wildcat (25:28), directed by her father (Ethan Hawke).  On the back-half, we sit with Hawke’s childhood growing up in a household of actors (41:55), a passage from her father reflecting on Before Midnight (45:10), the connective tissue between her latest projects (55:10), and how she’s recently found a place of peace in the aftermath of her new album, Chaos Angel (59:36). For questions, comments, or to join our mailing list, reach me at sf@talkeasypod.com. See [omnystudio.com/listener] (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information. ... Read more

02 Jun 2024

1 HR 01 MINS

1:01:35

02 Jun 2024