The Dinner Party Download - podcast cover

The Dinner Party Download

American Public Mediawww.dinnerpartydownload.org
Welcome to The Dinner Party Download, a fast and funny hour of culture, food and conversation: “public radio’s arts & leisure section.” In every episode you’ll learn a joke; bone up on an odd bit of history and then wash it down with a themed cocktail recipe; meet artists of note; have your burning etiquette questions answered; savor an emerging food trend; and hear your new favorite song. Plus, unconventional wisdom from hosts Rico Gagliano and Brendan Francis Newnam.
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Episodes

Episode 282: Michael Cera, Nick Hornby, and Viv Albertine

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 […]

Dec 06, 201450 min

Episode 281: All-Food Special 2014

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 … […]

Nov 28, 201450 min

Episode 280: Bryan Ferry, Aasif Mandvi, and Jessie Ware

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 […]

Nov 22, 201450 min

Episode 279: Anjelica Huston, Gabrielle Hamilton, and Glyn Johns

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 […]

Nov 15, 201450 min

Episode 278: Audra McDonald, Thomas Jefferson, and Haggis in the U.S.A.

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 … […]

Nov 08, 201450 min

Episode 277: Elle Fanning, Gary Shteyngart, and The Sporkful

Elle Fanning talks about her extra-curricular activities … 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 … Patrick Haggerty puts together a playlist for […]

Nov 01, 201449 min

Episode 276: Jason Schwartzman, Weezer, Barbara Kruger, Tenacious D

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, […]

Oct 25, 201453 min

Episode 275: Joel Edgerton, Justin Simien, and Banks

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, […]

Oct 18, 201450 min

Bonus Podcast: The After-Dinner Party Download

A podcast-only bonus! WARNING: These 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.

Oct 15, 201416 min

Episode 274: Jenny Slate, John Waters, and First Aid Kit

This week: Filmmaker, writer, and ‘Pope of Trash’ John Waters offers etiquette advice, naturally… Jenny Slate, star of the film “Obvious Child,” says ‘complicated’ and ‘comedy’ can coexist… Swedish sister duo First Aid Kit bring board games and tacos to their dinner cozy party … When we’re hungry, why do we get ‘hangry’? … From […]

Oct 11, 201451 min

Episode 273: Jeffrey Tambor, Perfume Genius, and Quincy Jones

Actor Jeffrey Tambor comes to terms with a catch-phrase … Perfume Genius really wants you to care as much about these songs as he does … Quincy Jones shares what he learned from jazz man Clark Terry … What a jar of baby food teaches us about society … Edgar Allan Poe’s creepy demise – […]

Oct 04, 201451 min

Episode 272: Mia Wasikowska, Nick Frost, and Interpol

Actress Mia Wasikowska (“Alice in Wonderland”) makes “Tracks” across the Outback… British film star Nick Frost (“The Boxtrolls,” “Shaun of the Dead,” “Hot Fuzz”) squares off against etiquette monsters and bachelor party killjoys… Inner-party music from Interpol… “New Yorker” writer John Lahr writes the book on playwright Tennessee Williams… One of history’s strangest bar bets… Susan […]

Sep 27, 201451 min

Episode 271: Bill Hader, Hiss Golden Messenger, and Betty Halbreich

Actor Bill Hader shows off his drama schooling … Bergdorf’s Betty Halbreich dresses down America, while endorsing wearing hats on your face … Biographer Mark Whitaker reflects on Bill Cosby’s comedy and complicated identity … Alt-country musician MC Taylor of Hiss Golden Messenger crafts a party playlist for introverts … Marlon James’ novel humanizes Bob Marley stalkers, and would-be […]

Sep 20, 201451 min

Episode 270: James McAvoy, Jon Favreau, and Emma Straub

This week: Actor James McAvoy (of “X Men” and “Filth”) flies the Scottish flag … Writer-director Jon Favreau cooks up a foodie film … Top author of the summer Emma Straub keeps the vacation going forever … Indie pop duo Sylvan Esso score your next brat barbecue … The one time when you want food to stain your […]

Sep 12, 201451 min

Episode 269: Mel Brooks, Greta Gerwig, and AC Newman

This week: Comedy legend Mel Brooks reanimates “Young Frankenstein” then offers priceless etiquette advice (warning: may include death threats, flatulence, gallows humor, and uncontrollable laughter)… Actress Greta Gerwig (“Frances Ha”) tries a love story on for size… AC Newman of indie rock super-group The New Pornographers spins a party soundtrack that’s so cool, it’ll annoy you… […]

Sep 06, 201450 min

Episode 268: Daniel Radcliffe, Benjamin Booker, and ‘The Narcissist Next Door’

Actor Daniel Radcliffe’s favorite language … NOLA rocker Benjamin Booker’s wild party … The era when your granddad’s music was super-rebellious … Emily Post-approved place-settings for palaces (and regular restaurants) … Novelist Edan Lepucki’s arty darkness in the California sun … Hula hooping to outer space … Cronuts, ramen burgers, donnolis, and the future of fusion […]

Aug 30, 201451 min

Episode 267: Elisabeth Moss, Alice Waters, George Takei, Jon Wurster

Elisabeth Moss’ supernatural surprise … Taking on George Takei .. Jon Wurster drums in some etiquette lessons … An apple a day won’t keep Alice Waters away … We dig up the story of Daguerreotypes … Greg Poehler is an American fish in an cold Swedish pond … Otis Gibbs rambles about being a ramblin’ man … […]

Aug 23, 201451 min

Episode 266: Kevin Spacey, Ruth Reichl, Todd Snider and Elephant

This week: Stage and screen star Kevin Spacey channels Richard III (and Bill Clinton)… Food icon Ruth Reichl has us eating her words… Folk-rocker Todd Snider meets Tony Bennett in an unlikely place… English pop duo Elephant come together to DJ a dance party… Pluto gets discovered, gets a name – and then gets demoted […]

Aug 16, 201450 min

Episode 265: Pharrell, Carrie Brownstein & Fred Armisen, and Much MØ

This week: Portlandia duo Carrie Brownstein and Fred Armisen open up about hot-tubs, underwear, and weddings … Music multi-hyphenate Pharrell Williams explains his ‘exotic rainbow’ of ‘Happy’-ness … Danish electro-pop phenom Mø spins us a party playlist… author Cari Lynn tells the tale of a NOLA birthday party of ill-repute… How the grandest experiment in […]

Aug 09, 201451 min

Special Live Performance from Teenage Fanclub!

A couple weeks ago, The Dinner Party Download took a trip down south to North Carolina to stage a special live event in conjunction with the Merge 25 music festival. Over three days, dozens of bands from the indie record label Merge’s 25 year history gathered together – and we were delighted to help kick […]

Aug 05, 201410 min

Special Live Performance from Teenage Fanclub!

A couple weeks ago, The Dinner Party Download took a trip down south to North Carolina to stage a special live event in conjunction with the Merge 25 music festival. Over three days, dozens of bands from the indie record label Merge’s 25 year history gathered together – and we were delighted to help kick […]

Aug 05, 201410 min

Episode 264: Margaret Atwood, Tim Gunn, and Hulk Hogan: Hero

This week: literary giant Margaret Atwood is prepared for giant bears… Tim Gunn returns, just in time for Project Runway’s 13th season debut, to save listeners from the ‘comfort trap’… Guitarist Steve Gunn (no relation to Tim, as far as we know) spins a mellow party playlist… The author behind the bestselling “Jack Reacher” series […]

Aug 01, 201451 min

Episode 263: Bill Nye, David Crosby, and Our Big Party in Big Sur

This week: a very special edition of The Dinner Party Download originally crafted as part of the Big Sur Sound and Story Festival at the Henry Miller Memorial Library in Big Sur, California. The show is themed around a summer night, out under the stars. Bill Nye The Science Guy takes us on a trip […]

Jul 24, 201459 min

Episode 262: Scarlett Johansson, Billy Eichner, and Slint

This week: Scarlett Johansson muses on ol’ blue eyes and earthly aliens … Comedian Billy Eichner takes etiquette to the streets … We catch up with 90′s alt stars Slint … A baseball game everyone wanted to lose … A terrifying rabbit, brought to you by UCB co-founder Matt Walsh … Uncovering Uzbek cuisine … […]

Jul 18, 201451 min

Episode 261: Patricia Arquette, Weird Al, and Jenny Lewis

Pop-parodist “Weird Al” Yankovic on being weird (and Weird, and “Weird”) … “Boyhood” star Patricia Arquette’s stolen Santa Clauses … How singer Jenny Lewis kicks people out … A trademark-licensing dispute that lead to a big hit … Visiting a magical-realist Virgin Islands with author Tiphanie Yanique … New York Philharmonic conductor Alan Gilbert counts coughs to judge […]

Jul 12, 201450 min

Episode 260: Audra McDonald, Thomas Jefferson, and Haggis in the U.S.A.

She may perform fearlessly, but Broadway star Audra McDonald tells us which party decoration freaks her right out … 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 […]

Jul 04, 201450 min

Episode 259: Rich Sommer, Jackie Collins, and Roger Ebert, Remembered

The life and legacy of critic Roger Ebert … Secret liaisons with Jackie Collins … Boozing and camping with “Mad Men” actor Rich Sommer … Heavy metal rockers Zig Zags crash your party … A spooky, supernatural adventure … Crafting a symbol of Pride … A joke for book-worms … And dating for super-nerds.

Jun 28, 201451 min

Bonus: Steve Martin, in Conversation – From Scruggs to Jagger

A podcast-only bonus! We’re sharing the extended cut of our interview with Steve Martin, just in time for his 4th-of-July bluegrass shows at The Hollywood Bowl. Steve discusses his musical life, his early days as a performer, and the connection between banjo & de Kooning. Enjoy! And after hearing the interview, you will surely find this to […]

Jun 25, 201426 min

Episode 258: Jonah Hill, House of Cards, Luxury Toast

This week: Jonah Hill’s search for the perfect coupling … Skip Lievsay explains how movies should sound … Life imitates board games imitating life (but not The Game of Life) … One mother’s love-hate relationship with a thousand plastic blocks … Getting what you pay for with luxury toast … The creator of “House of […]

Jun 20, 201451 min

Episode 257: Jenny Slate, John Waters, and First Aid Kit

This week: Filmmaker, writer, and ‘Pope of Trash’ John Waters offers etiquette advice, naturally… Jenny Slate, star of the film “Obvious Child,” says ‘complicated’ and ‘comedy’ can coexist… Swedish sister duo First Aid Kit bring board games and tacos to their dinner cozy party … When we’re hungry, why do we get ‘hangry‘? … From Panama […]

Jun 14, 201451 min
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