In a must listen episode for any person who loves to read, the editor of The New York Times Book Review is talking with Michael about writing, criticism and most of all, reading. Her new book, the memoir My Life with Bob: Flawed Heroine Keeps Book of Books, Plot Ensues chronicles her life through all the books she’s read, tracing her life through high school and college, in her travels from Paris to London to Thailand, from job to job, through her failed first marriage and her current life as a mother, wife and the editor as arguably one of the most important book reviews in the world.
Episode 63: Andy Borowitz
The political satirist traces his route from failed sitcom writer to creating and writing the popular New Yorker column, The Borowitz Report, where his made-up musings on politics often go viral, and sometimes, even get taken seriously, especially in China. In a special live episode in front of a packed, New York audience, Borowitz talks to guest host Dean Obeidallah about how he created his own success, making fun of Trump, and the difference between “fake news” and satire.
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Episode 62: Katy Perry
One of pop music’s biggest stars - over the last ten years, she’s had 9 #1 hits, sold millions of albums, racked up billions of video views, and is the most followed person on Twitter - sits down with Michael to discuss growing up the daughter of ultra conservative Christian ministers, navigating her relationship with fame, and the struggle to be taken seriously.
Episode 61: Dean Karnazes
The man who ran 50 marathons in 50 states in 50 days, among many other incredible feats, Karnazes has pushed his body and mind to inconceivable limits. In this inspiring conversation he tells Michael how he discovered his love for endurance running, what life on the run is like, and how he handles pain. They also discuss his new book, The Road To Sparta, where recounts his participation in the 153-mile race from Athens to Sparta while recounting the Ancient Greek story of the world's first marathon.
Episode 60: Al Franken
The Senator from the great state of Minnesota discusses his new memoir, Al Franken, Giant of the Senate; which traces his unlikely path from a 30 year career as a comedian, writing and starring at Saturday Night Live, to diving into politics after being a passionate follower on the sidelines. In this emotionally honest conversation he shares with Michael why he cares so much, and even dishes a bit on his fellow senators.
Episode 59: W. Kamau Bell
The comedian, writer and host of the hit CNN docu-series United Shades of America has an often hilarious, frequently serious conversation with Michael about his years determined to break into comedy, what he needed to realize to finally achieve success, and they go deep into the topic of how to talk about racism.
Episode 58: Charles Limb
Dr. Charles Limb has married his passion for music with his day job as a surgeon and neuroscientist and is studying the science of creativity. In his research Limb has started gathering some tantalizing clues about the mind’s activity during jazz and rap improvisation discovering that the creative brain is functioning very differently than the memorizing brain. He’s talking to Michael about what this all means and why it’s important, especially in this current political environment when funding for the arts is on the chopping block.
Episode 57: Annie Duke
Michael sits down with one of the world’s best known poker players to discuss her big wins and losses both at the table and in life, as well as her struggles being a woman in a male dominated profession. Of equal importance, Duke’s shares how she successfully used the skills and strategies she gained at the card table to create a second career teaching, speaking and advocating.
Episode 56: Judd Apatow
Judd Apatow is one of the most important influencers of comedy today. In this jam-packed episode, the writer, director and producer of such blockbusters as The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Knocked Up and This Is 40 traces the roots of his love of comedy, from working with giants like Jim Carrey and Gary Shandling who helped him along the way to why he now pays it forward to help launch the careers of so many others like Lena Dunham and Pete Holmes, and how he recently returned to the stand-up stages where he started out.
Episode 55: Josh Groban
At the age of 17 a shy young man walked onto a stage to sing with Celine Dion and a star was born. In the almost 20 years since that moment, Josh Groban has gone on to sell over 25 million records and tour giant arenas all over the world. But while that's amazing enough, in this interview Michael learns how Groban has taken control of his career and is trying new things (including a run on Broadway), and how despite all his massive success at such a young age, he is a remarkably warm, funny and unpretentious person.