Dr. Ashish Jha is the Director of Harvard Global Health Institute and a Professor at Harvard T. H. Chan school of public health. If you've turned on your TV over the past few days, you've likely seen him discussing COVID-19. Today he joins us to talk about how the coronavirus spread; the necessity for social distancing; elderly discrimination; what we can learn from the Spanish Flu of 1918; and plenty advice on how to best keep you and your family safe in this critical moment.“We’ve got a common...
Mar 15, 2020•55 min
Actor Sam Waterston doesn't do many of these. In fact, this is his first podcast. To mark the special occasion the stage and screen performer reflects on his 60-year career, from his days at Yale in Waiting for Godot to breaking into Hollywood with the The Great Gatsby. But what most fascinates Waterston is reflecting on his life behind the camera, off-stage, as a husband and father. For years Waterston was reluctant to publicly give voice to his thoughts. Now that he's approaching 80, he's star...
Mar 08, 2020•1 hr 3 min
If it weren't for her singular acting abilities, Alison Pill would be best known for her boisterous laugh. (That is only kinda a joke.) The chameleonic actress– Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, Midnight in Paris, The Newsroom– has been at it since the age of 10. And so we begin on set, unpacking her life as a child actor, and how she managed to find a voice as she grew up on (and off) screen. We also discuss her transcendent work on stage (from Blackbird to Three Tall Women), rejecting precocity, th...
Mar 01, 2020•1 hr 2 min
Actress Haley Bennett joins us this week for a reflective look at her life as an actress, starting with her role as a pop-star in Music and Lyrics to her newest film, the disturbing domestic thriller, Swallow . We discuss the serendipity of motherhood, the perils of acting at an impressionable young age, and how she managed to find her artistic voice amid Hollywood pressures. Plus, a Terence Malick story! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com...
Feb 23, 2020•56 min
Welcome back! This week, celebrated poet, author, and essayist Morgan Parker sits with Sam to discuss her latest book, Magical Negro. They talk about what poetry can look (and sound) like in the Internet era , the loneliness of being a writer in LA, Morgan's experiences of dating (and writing about) white men named Matt, the visceral intensity of her book readings, and how mass (predominately white) audiences engage with her work. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetw...
Feb 16, 2020•1 hr 18 min
From the Talk Easy team to you, happy holidays! We're closing out the year with our third annual holiday special, featuring a special group of guests who sat with us over the past twelve months. Throughout this episode, they reflect on their favorite art, memories, triumphs, lessons, and so much more from 2019. Randall Park – 4:22 Mary Holland – 5:45 Harrison Cameron – 25:25 Gary Gulman – 28:01 Jeff Garlin – 28:46 Chaz Ebert – 45:47 Pam Grier – 47:58 Tayarisha Poe – 1:01:45 Justin Simien – 1:04:...
Dec 23, 2019•2 hr 42 min
The trajectory of Gloria Steinem’s life and work is unparalleled. Her cultural and political impact, incalculable. With the release of “The Truth Will Set You Free, But First It Will Piss You Off”, the beloved author and activist reflects on 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 race and gender bias throughout America....
Dec 16, 2019•1 hr 7 min
From Wild at Heart to Marriage Story, legendary actress Laura Dern has impacted decades of storytelling with her work on screen. For the next hour, we discuss her early memories of Martin Scorsese, years of teenage activism, her quick pivot from college to Blue Velvet, and how Lucille Ball's “female boss narrative” affected her as an artist and mother. And throughout our conversation, Laura reflects on experiences with beloved collaborators: David Lynch, Jonathan Demme, Robert Altman, Greta Gerw...
Dec 09, 2019•57 min
Before a string of successful plays (August: Osage County, Bug) and brilliant performances on screen (Homeland, Lady Bird, Ford v Ferrari), Tracy Letts was acting on-stage, with his father, in Tishomingo, Oklahoma. As his twenties approached, he pursued love and theatre in Chicago, pivoted to editing textbooks in Florida, and then returned to the stage with the authorship of his first play, Killer Joe. From there, Tracy oscillated between Los Angeles and Chicago, navigating traumatic loss and fe...
Nov 25, 2019•2 hr 30 min
Director Errol Morris—with his brief history as a private detective and door-to-door salesman—has transformed the world with his boundless curiosity. In this hour, we discuss the hostile reaction to American Dharma, how interviewing mass murderers shaped Errol’s theory of language, the role of self-deception in his films, and the subsequently arcane motives of Steve Bannon and Elizabeth Holmes. Errol reflects on his roots in commercial directing, his hatred of standard documentary filmmaking, th...
Nov 17, 2019•1 hr 7 min
This week, Sam sits down with Honey Boy director Alma Har’el. She discusses the sacrificial act of independent filmmaking, the synchronicity of her art and experiences, how making Love True healed her childhood trauma, finding romance in her parents’ turbulent relationship, the profundity of working on Obama's 2008 campaign, her nonprofit's mission to change the consciousness of society, feeling close to strangers watching her film, and finally, examining her own story in projects to come. Visit...
Nov 10, 2019•1 hr 1 min
This week on the show is actor, writer, and comedian Randall Park! He reflects on his strikingly diverse childhood friend group, becoming ‘the entertainment’ at parties, founding the still-active Asian American theatre company at UCLA, pivoting from his masters in Asian American studies to a professional acting career, persisting against viscous stereotypes, solidifying his creative voice through short filmmaking, embracing the steady success of Fresh Off the Boat, and maintaining his humility t...
Nov 03, 2019•58 min
Edward Norton has built a career out of shape-shifting. Just look at his beginning in film: The People vs. Larry Flynt, Primal Fear, Everyone Says I Love You, American History X, Rounders, Fight Club. And it didn't stop there. Throughout the 2000s Norton embraced what he calls his “penchant for mimicry”–a desire to disappear into roles big and small. So, for the next hour, Norton and I reflect on his past and present, from performing in front of Edward Albee at 24 to directing his 2nd film, Moth...
Oct 28, 2019•1 hr 8 min
In 2016 Robert invited me to sit with him at his home away from home: Marco’s in West Hollywood. At his corner table next to the window, he ate there every morning for thirty years. This is one of those mornings. Rest in peace, Bob. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Oct 20, 2019•1 hr 18 min
Episode 151 - Gary Gulman by Sam Fragoso Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Oct 13, 2019•58 min
Well, let's give this a go. 150. Hosted by my pal, Harrison Cameron. For more info: www.talkeasypod.com. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Oct 07, 2019•1 hr 14 min
This week, “Hustlers” actress Trace Lysette joins us on the show! She reflects on “giving birth to herself” in New York (8:30), developing “Tribe“ with Devere Rogers (10:30), manifesting an abundance of opportunity for transgender artists (11:40), fighting passivity in storytelling (14:00), facing the duality of success and heartbreak (17:00), navigating dating in Los Angeles (21:00), recognizing and educating against toxic masculinity (27:00), speaking out during the #MeToo movement (35:00), fi...
Sep 30, 2019•50 min
This week we're joined by podcaster/filmmaker/writer Scott Aukerman! He talks about his his first TV appearances back in high school (01:40), his affinity for David Letterman (05:20), how he used humor to dodge playground bullies (09:43), playing a certain kind of character on-mic (17:28), his early days of trying to make it in LA (21:54), a game-changing interaction with Bob Odenkirk (27:07), how his partner became his ex... and then his wife (31:01), the creative differences (and struggles) be...
Sep 22, 2019•1 hr 17 min
Karley Sciortino is on this week! She reflects on her childhood, growing up Catholic in the age of Britney Spears, and sexual awakenings, her parents' steadfast relationship, her first sexual experience, journeying across the pond for college, dropping out and not coming back, living in an "egalitarian-esque" artist commune for 6 years, first reactions to her sex-heavy blog, what "slut" really means to her, how writing helped uncover her sexual identity, falling in love, hard and fast, Eyes Wide...
Sep 15, 2019•1 hr 12 min
This week, Sam sits down with renowned writer, director, and former film critic, Peter Bogdanovich. They discuss the fragmentation of the old Hollywood studio system (00:42), Peter’s pivot from journalism to filmmaking (4:00), his tumultuous experience making “The Last Picture Show“ (12:09), the origin of the title “Paper Moon” (20:40), navigating success and public envy (24:00), how he endured the tragedy of Dorothy Stratten (32:10), rediscovering his filmmaking roots in the '80s (38:30), his o...
Sep 08, 2019•1 hr 7 min
This one has been long over-due... Justin Simien, friends! The sensible mind behind Dear White People talks about his high school days, pointing out how this chapter in his life formed a deep love for the arts (07:13), then delves into theater as an entryway into the realm of storytelling (11:32), the past and putting things in perspective (14:37), an introduction to Fosse, Kubrick, and other cinematic influences (17:38), in some cases... separating the art from the artist (22:05), the evolution...
Sep 01, 2019•1 hr 15 min
We're back, with Whitney Cummings! She starts off with some personal thoughts about love, then discusses her self-perception, being so-called "mainstream", seeking validation as a comedian and person, dealing with self-deprecation, reflecting on high school insights and growing up in a chaotic home that brought her closer to comedy, which led to college success and growth in her field, finding work in Los Angeles, flourishing as a woman in comedy, gaining the lessons she learned in her 20s, faci...
Aug 25, 2019•1 hr 11 min
To celebrate the fiftieth episode of Talk Easy we decided to do something a little different, which ended up being Sam sitting down with his mother for an interview. This episode is not only special for how far the show has come, but the glimpse it gives us into the lives of both Sam and his mother. The love and respect that Sam and his mom have for one another is blatant throughout the entirety of this episode, and we feel lucky to have caught it on tape. In this hour, we learn about her childh...
Aug 18, 2019•1 hr 17 min
Alan Alda ladies and gentleman. We talk M*A*S*H, joke thievery, his childhood in Burlesque, his ongoing battle with face blindness (that's not a joke), and how a brush with death gave him a new lease on life. His latest project is a podcast of his own, Clear+Vivid, and you can find out more at www.alanalda.com. For more info about Alan visit our show notes: www.talkeasypod/alan-alda Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy i...
Aug 11, 2019•53 min
Another classic throwback for you this week! John Cho's career has undergone several transformations in the past two decades, each of them more interesting and impressive than the last. John appeared in several roles in smaller films before breaking through in the 2004 stoner comedy Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle. Since then, he's made waves in blockbuster movies like the Star Trek reboot and Harold and Kumar sequels, underrated TV shows including Selfie and The Exorcist, and buzzed-about...
Aug 04, 2019•1 hr 12 min
Another great throwback from the Talk Easy Vault! Lena Waithe has been making waves in Hollywood since she arrived in 2006 from Chicago — you just didn’t know it. Although a writer at heart, Waithe has also learned how to do just about everything else in this industry. She produced Dear White People (the movie), has a role in Steve Spielberg’s next film, and, oh, yeah, created an upcoming Showtime drama called The Chi, due later this year. Most recently, you've probably seen her breaking barrier...
Jul 28, 2019•1 hr 15 min
A throwback to one of my favourite episodes, with Malcom Gladwell... Malcolm Gladwell is a writer best known for his books Blink, The Tipping Point, and David and Goliath. While what he writes about can at points stir up controversy for oversimplification and grandiosity, Gladwell has an infectious curiosity about our world that is far greater than his flaws. On the heels of season 2 (now season 4) of Revisionist History, Malcolm and Sam not only discuss this curiosity, but also their affinity f...
Jul 22, 2019•1 hr 12 min
A throwback to one of my favorite episodes, with Norman Lear. - TV titan Norman Lear joins Sam on the show this week. The 95-year-old is chiefly responsible for changing television. His shows—All in the Family, Maude, The Jeffersons, Good Times—were unlike anything that came before them. Political, combative, funny. Lear’s greatest gift is his endless curiosity in the imperfection of humans. Especially Americans. When Sam and Norman sat down, they discussed his remarkable life, one story at a ti...
Jul 14, 2019•57 min
Ron Perlman! We talk standouts from this week's Democratic debates, the state of independent film, finding a love for acting at 19, the impact his father's death had on him, how he managed ego as success arrived, coming to terms with his body, the (potentially exciting) future of "Hellboy", and what he hopes his legacy looks like. For more, our site: talkeasypod.com Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See o...
Jun 30, 2019•1 hr
Comedy icon Jeff Garlin is on this week! We get into texting/technology woes (07:54), getting divorced after 25 years (11:29), being single again at 57 (13:45), choosing raw honesty in life (17:39), making it in the comedy scene alongside Conan O'Brien, Stephen Colbert and Amy Sedaris (28:55), having an eye for talent (30:02), producing and guiding other comedians like Jon Stewart and Dennis Leary (32:29), what he would say to Eddie Murphy now (36:48), his medical battles and what they taught hi...
Jun 23, 2019•55 min
