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Roughly a year ago, a team at The New York Times Magazine set about tackling a nearly impossible task: creating a list of the greatest living American songwriters. But how to take the tens of thousands of songwriters working in this country and narrow them down to a digestible list? The answer involved thousands of voting ballots, hundreds of music industry insiders and a series of closed-door meetings among a small group of music experts. The result, The Times’s list of the 30 greatest living A...
This episode of "The Daily" explores "Every Brilliant Thing," an interactive play where Daniel Radcliffe, and soon Mariska Hargitay, create a list of life's joys with the audience. It delves into the show's unique structure, its global resonance in addressing depression, and its profound impact on audiences and actors worldwide, highlighting the power of connection and kindness. The playwright and international performers share their experiences, emphasizing the play's cathartic and healing effects.
The episode explores the reality show "Love on the Spectrum," a Netflix hit lauded for its sensitive portrayal of autistic adults seeking love. It delves into the unique journey of its creator, Kean Cleary, from traditional reality TV to ethically focused documentary filmmaking. The discussion highlights how the show builds trust with participants and their families, navigates complex ethical decisions during filming and post-production, and addresses criticisms regarding its representational limits.
The first time Robert Draper heard about the psychedelic drug ibogaine, it was from an unlikely source: the retired U.S. senator Kyrsten Sinema. As a political reporter for The New York Times, Draper often talks to figures like Ms. Sinema. But on this occasion, he said, she wanted to tell him about how she had tried ibogaine, which is illegal in the United States. She’d become such a believer in the drug that she was pushing her home state of Arizona to fund clinical trials for veterans with com...
Lise Davidsen is one of the greatest opera singers of our time — a soprano with a voice so rare, critics reach back a century for comparison. This spring, she has been starring in a sold-out new production of Wagner’s “Tristan und Isolde” at the Metropolitan Opera. But she’s also at a crossroads: Her first performance as “Isolde” on the Met stage came just nine months after giving birth to twins. Today on The Sunday Daily, Natalie Kitroeff talks with the Times writer Zachary Woolfe about his rec...
This episode delves into the immense popularity of the limited series "Love Story," which fictionalizes the romance of John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette. It examines the show's cultural phenomenon, from influencing fashion and New York landmarks to sparking '90s nostalgia for a simpler, pre-smartphone era. The discussion also covers the series' mixed critical reception and the controversies surrounding its portrayal of real public figures, exploring the ethics of creative license and the enduring allure of the Kennedy family.
This episode explores 'looksmaxing,' an internet subculture where men undergo extreme measures—from steroids to bone hammering—to achieve physical perfection. It traces the rise of its controversial star, Clavicular, and his radical beliefs. The discussion highlights the movement's origins, its often racist undertones, and how it reflects a broader societal obsession with image and status in the digital age.
After 12 years as The New York Times' chief restaurant critic, Pete Wells faced a severe health crisis that forced him to confront his unsustainable eating habits. This episode chronicles his journey from indulgence to austerity, detailing his decision to leave his prestigious job and embark on a mission to reset his entire relationship with food. Wells shares insights into eliminating simple carbohydrates and alcohol, embracing mindful eating, and discovering the joys of home cooking and strategic grocery shopping, ultimately reversing pre-diabetes and obesity for a healthier, more present life.
The Daily's Michael Barbaro and chief movie critic Manohla Dargis delve into the 2026 Oscar nominees, which Dargis describes as 'uncommonly good' and 'surprising.' They explore the 'will win versus should win' dynamic in the Best Actress category, contrasting Jesse Buckley's expected win for Hamnet with Renata Rensvey's subtle performance in Sentimental Value. The conversation then covers Best Actor, featuring Timothy Chalamet, Michael B. Jordan, and Ethan Hawke, before moving to Best Picture contenders like One Battle After Another and Sinners, and a deserving dark horse, The Secret Agent. Dargis concludes with optimism for Hollywood's future, urging studios to embrace bold, reality-engaging storytelling.
The episode explores the growing fatigue with traditional dating apps and the search for new ways to find love. It delves into two contrasting trends: a return to in-person, unconventional dating events like wrestling speed dating and wine mixers, and the emerging role of artificial intelligence in optimizing human relationships, from data analysis to finding a 'soulmate.' Both approaches aim to overcome the limitations and challenges of the 'swipe era.'
In this episode of “The Sunday Daily,” the host Rachel Abrams is joined by her New York Times colleagues Motoko Rich, Shawna Richer and Juliet Macur, who are all covering this year’s Olympic Games. They discuss how the geopolitical climate may or may not be influencing the competition, and talk about some of the extraordinary athletes who are pushing the limits of physical achievements. On Today’s Episode Motoko Rich is the Rome bureau chief for The New York Times. Juliet Macur is a national rep...
This episode delves into Bad Bunny's unprecedented rise as the first Spanish-language artist nominated for top Grammys while headlining the Super Bowl halftime show, amidst a federal immigration crackdown he openly criticizes. It explores his Puerto Rican roots, how streaming platforms facilitated his genre-bending and politically charged artistry, and the NFL's calculated decision to book him despite potential backlash. The discussion speculates on how he might leverage this global stage to express his authentic activism.
Pop culture and early science often depicted Neanderthals as primitive brutes, inferior to Homo sapiens. However, recent scientific revelations, especially from DNA analysis, reveal a much more complex picture, showing Neanderthals possessed intelligence, culture, sophisticated tools, and even interbred with our ancestors. The episode also introduces the Denisovans, another ancient human lineage, further complicating and enriching our understanding of the human family tree. These discoveries challenge our assumptions about what it means to be human and highlight our deep, shared history with these long-lost cousins.
Hollywood is grappling with the pervasive influence of AI, moving from initial opposition to integrating generative tools in filmmaking. The discussion highlights AI's role in creating new content, the significant threat it poses to creative labor, and its challenging impact on the integrity of documentaries and fictional performances. Despite anxieties, the episode also explores AI's creative possibilities, exemplified by Disney's partnership with OpenAI and the Wizard of Oz experience at Sphere, ultimately debating whether AI fosters content or genuine art.
As 2025 comes to an end, The Sunday Special is looking back on the year in culture. This week, on our final episode of the podcast, we’re talking about movies. The potential acquisition of Warner Brothers by Netflix has dominated entertainment news in recent weeks, but the year in movies has been about a lot more than corporate mergers. Alissa Wilkinson, a movie critic for The New York Times, and Nicole Sperling, a culture reporter based in Los Angeles, join Gilbert Cruz to talk about what reall...
In these final weeks of 2025, The Sunday Special is looking back at the year in culture. Today, we’re talking about the TV we watched this year — the best shows, the most popular ones and the ones that allowed us to just enjoyably veg out. Gilbert Cruz talks with the TV critic James Poniewozik and the culture reporter Alexis Soloski about the year in television. TV shows discussed in this episode: “Severance” “Common Side Effects” “Too Much” “Nobody Wants This” “Dying for Sex” “The Hunting Wives...
As 2025 comes to an end, The Sunday Special is looking back on the year in culture. This week, we’re listening to the songs and albums that defined the year, for better or worse. Gilbert Cruz is joined by Caryn Ganz and Lindsay Zoladz from The Times’s pop music desk to discuss some of the biggest and best releases of 2025. Albums and songs mentioned in this episode: Bad Bunny, “Debí Tirar Más Fotos” Lady Gaga, “Mayhem” Justin Bieber, “Daisies” Chappell Roan, “The Giver” and “The Subway” Sabrina ...
This episode of the Sunday Special celebrates The New York Times' annual "Cookie Week," where food experts Melissa Clark and Vaughn Vreeland share insights into this year's inventive cookie recipes, including a Vietnamese coffee brownie that sparks debate and a popcorn-themed cookie. They also answer diverse reader questions, offering practical advice on versatile cookie doughs, savory holiday alternatives, cookie storage, batch cocktails, and stress-free main courses. The episode concludes with a fun, food-themed holiday culture game, making it a comprehensive guide to festive treats and entertaining.
The holiday season is here, which means it’s the time to think of great gifts for everyone on your list. While it can feel like a daunting task to choose thoughtful, personalized presents, we’ve got a fix for you: books. On this edition of The Sunday Special, Gilbert is joined by Joumana Khatib and Sadie Stein, editors at the Book Review, for a conversation about the best books to give your family and friends. Joumana and Sadie will share what excited them most this year and also provide recomme...
“Wicked” was one of the biggest movies of 2024. It was culturally ubiquitous, a box office smash and an Oscar nominee for Best Picture. Now, a year later, “Wicked: For Good” arrives in theaters to finish the tale of the complicated friendship between Glinda the Good Witch and Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West. Can “Wicked: For Good” be the sensation that its predecessor was? Will it inject new life into a movie business that has suffered a historically bad business year? Will it satisfy the ...
The Sunday Special explores the pervasive presence of documentaries on streaming services, a stark contrast to their public television origins. Chief TV critic James Poniewozik and film critic Alissa Wilkinson join host Gilbert Cruz to discuss Ken Burns' latest opus, "The American Revolution," and the changing perceptions of his work. They dissect popular subgenres like true crime, nature, and sports documentaries, highlighting funding challenges and the genre's growing diversity. The episode culminates in a series of compelling recommendations and a fun documentary-themed quiz.
This year has been a banner year for video games, with an abundance of surprise releases and unexpected hits. On this week’s Sunday Special, Gilbert Cruz talks with two fellow gamers — Zachary Small, a culture reporter, and Jason Bailey, an editor on The Times’s culture desk — about the state of the industry, the biggest releases and the games they loved playing in 2025. They also share their predictions for Game of the Year. On Today’s Episode Zachary Small is a culture reporter for The Times. ...
The only thing Gilbert Cruz loves more than celebrating Halloween is watching scary movies. And between the classic horror franchises that span decades and the prestige original films of the current moment, he has seen hundreds of them. On today’s episode, Gilbert puts his knowledge to use in conversation with his fellow horror aficionados Jason Zinoman and Erik Piepenburg. They comb through a century of spooks, frights and screams to crown the Top 10 franchises in cinema history. Horror franchi...
Delving into the Hollywood phenomenon of music biopics, this episode analyzes why these films, from "Deliver Me From Nowhere" to "Walk the Line," continue to captivate audiences. Guests discuss the genre's common narrative beats, its commercial benefits for artist estates, and the nuanced acting challenges of portraying real-life legends. The conversation also highlights unconventional biopics that break the mold, offering a fresh take on beloved musicians.
Broadway represents some of the best and most exciting of what American theater has to offer. But for many people, it’s inaccessible. Whether because of geography, cost or other considerations, most people will never sit in a Broadway theater and experience a play or a musical in person. For years, cast recordings have offered a way to experience Broadway shows at a remove. And now, in the streaming era, some Broadway shows are making themselves available to be watched remotely, in movie theater...
Gilbert Cruz, Brooks Barnes, and Mekado Murphy explore the enduring power of amusement parks, sharing personal stories from carnival childhoods to meticulously planned Disney trips. They discuss Universal's new Epic Universe and the ongoing theme park 'IPification' trend, highlighting the industry's massive growth as a profit center for media giants. The conversation also delves into the physics and psychology of roller coasters, rising costs, and offers recommendations for more affordable, yet equally thrilling, park experiences.
Gilbert Cruz sits down with style experts Stella Bugbee and Jacob Gallagher to demystify the fashion industry, discussing the true nature of major fashion weeks and how runway trends connect to everyday clothing. They delve into the challenges of cultivating personal style in a "post-trend" world, addressing listener questions on topics like dressing for one's age, adapting style after becoming a new parent, and making sustainable fashion choices. The conversation covers the pandemic's impact on casualization and concludes with a pop culture quiz on jeans.
NYT food reporters Priya Krishna and Brett Anderson reveal the extensive process behind selecting the 50 best restaurants in America, from year-long scouting to multi-meal days. They explain their individual "algorithms" for evaluating a restaurant, emphasizing atmosphere, originality, and local context. The discussion also covers exciting trends like revitalized classics and all-day cafes, alongside pet peeves like the lack of phone numbers and "Epcotified" cuisines, highlighting the economic pressures shaping the industry.
The 77th Primetime Emmy Awards ceremony is tonight, honoring the best television shows released between June 2024 and May 2025. But before the festivities begin, Gilbert Cruz, the editor of The New York Times Book Review, would like to have a TV celebration of his own. On today’s episode, he gathers Jason Zinoman, a critic at large for The Times, and Alexis Soloski, a culture reporter for The Times, to “channel surf” through some of their favorite shows of the past year. On Today’s Episode: Jaso...
As kids across America head back to school, Gilbert Cruz, the editor of The New York Times Book Review, is thinking about the books he read when he was in school. On today’s Sunday Special, Gilbert talks with the Book Review editor Sadie Stein and the author Louis Sachar (“Wayside School” series, “Holes”) about the books they read when they were students, and ways to encourage young readers today to keep reading. Additional reading 10 Books for Kids Starting Preschool 12 Books for Kids Starting ...
