Here's The Thing with Alec Baldwin

Internationally renowned composer and conductor Leonard Slatkin believes that the arts have the power to transform us – and his life and body of work exemplify this belief. Slatkin has served as the Music Director of the St. Louis, Detroit, New Orleans, National and Lyon Symphony Orchestras, Chief Conductor of the BBC Symphony Orchestra in London, and Principal Guest Conductor of countless others. Raised in a musical household, he is the son of violinist, conductor and film composer Felix Slatkin and Eleanor Aller, first chair cellist at Warner Brothers Studios. Both were members of the Hollywood String Quartet and contributed to some of the great film scores of old Hollywood. As a result, Stalkin was surrounded by music from an early age - learning several instruments while young and attending The Juilliard School. He went on to build an impressive career, including six Grammy wins and the National Medal of the Arts. Slatkin is the author of several books on music and conducting, most recently “Eight Symphonic Masterworks of the Twentieth Century - A Study Guide for Conductors.” He also served as host of the weekly radio programs “The Slatkin Project” and “The Slatkin Shuffle.” Leonard Slatkin shares with host Alec Baldwin what it was like growing up surrounded by icons like Marilyn Monroe and Frank Sinatra in his home, discusses how he contributes to an orchestra as its Music Director and reflects on what it means to be part of a musical dynasty.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While it may have taken a few detours for Jonathan Tetelman to become the opera star he is today, the journey has been well worth it. Tetelman initially found success with his voice quite young, singing in the American Boychoir School and recording with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Yet following years of vocal study, Tetelman stepped away from the arias to become a nightclub DJ in New York City. It was only upon realizing that opera was indeed his passion that Tetelman returned to the genre and found incredible success in the great music halls and houses across the globe. Tetelman now captivates audiences with performances in Madama Butterfly, Carmen, and La Bohéme – and with his albums “Arias” and “The Great Puccini.” Jonathan Tetelman speaks with host Alec Baldwin about the challenging transition from baritone to tenor, the work he puts in behind-the-scenes to understand his characters and how he navigates the physical demands of his career.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Conservative commentator George Conway discusses forming Republican values, critiquing Trump, and predicting Democrats' strategy to defeat Trump at the ballot box. The conversation covers Conway's political evolution, analysis of Trump's behavior, and reflections on Roe v. Wade. The podcast also touches on engaging young people in politics and previews upcoming episodes.

While many people have their theories surrounding the assassination of President John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1663, few can claim to have proof that the government has not been fully transparent about the events in Dallas, Texas. Douglas Horne, a former U.S. Naval officer, worked on the staff of the JFK Assassination Records Review Board (ARRB) in Washington, D.C. from 1995 to 1998. While working for ARRB, Horne was a key participant in taking the depositions of 10 witnesses and participants of the JFK autopsy in 1963. Horne claims to have seen proof that the official JFK autopsy – and the infamous Zapruder film, which captured the assassination live – were both doctored. Horne speaks with host Alec Baldwin about the formation of the review board, the testimony he witnessed and why he feels the truth continues to be concealed today.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Coming from a challenging, working class upbringing in the United Kingdom, Steve Jones discovered his outlet in music - as founding guitarist of the groundbreaking punk rock band the Sex Pistols. Despite the release of only one album,”Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols,” the band changed the course of music and history - vocalizing issues of class in songs like “Anarchy in the U.K.” – and influencing fashion, art and society. Since then, Jones has continued to play music (both solo and with bands The Professionals and Neurotic Outsiders) and was the host of the popular, long-running radio show, “Jonesy’s Jukebox.” In 2022, his insightful memoir, “Lonely Boy,” was adapted into the FX television series, the Danny Boyle-directed “Pistol.” Steve Jones talks to host Alec Baldwin about the roots of punk rock, coming up alongside Vivienne Westwood and Chrissie Hynde, and the road to getting clean – and beginning life anew.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Alec Baldwin discusses his acting career from 'The Hunt for Red October' to 'SNL' and '30 Rock'. He talks about method acting, his iconic Trump impression impact, calling Paul McCartney an 'A-hole' in yoga, and his 39 years of sobriety.

Born a gifted athlete, life almost took James Naughton down another path…until he found his home in the theater. The actor earned his first Tony for the musical City of Angels – and his second as the originator of the role of Billy Flynn in the hit Broadway revival of the musical Chicago, now the second-longest running show in Broadway history. As a director, he helmed the Tony-nominated Arthur Miller’s “The Price” and Thorton Wilder’s “Our Town,” the latter of which was featured on PBS’ Masterpiece Theater. Naughton also regularly brings his talent to the small screen, like in his roles on “Who’s the Boss?,""Ally McBeal,” and “Gossip Girl,” and in films “The Devil Wears Prada” and “The First Wives Club.” James Naughton shares with host Alec Baldwin his experience directing - and being directed by - his good friend Paul Newman, acting at the famous Williamstown Theater with an all-star ensemble, and how he’s working to enact change through legislation today. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There is bouncing back after adversity, and then there is: Vanessa Williams. The talented multi-hyphenate was only 21 years old when she became the first Black woman to be crowned Miss America. Yet a controversy surrounding the release of unauthorized nude photos led to her ultimately relinquishing her title 10 months into her reign. When doors were closed to her following the scandal, she fought her way back to an impressive and decorated career: Williams built decades of success as an actor and recording artist, selling 25 million records worldwide, starring in over 100 roles in television, film, and on Broadway - and being nominated for a Tony and multiple Emmy and Grammy Awards.  Vanessa Williams speaks with host Alec Baldwin about the death threats she received after she won Miss America, how the work of Stephen Sondheim inspires the type of art she wishes to make, and what it’s like working with Elton John on her next big project.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Many of us are aware that a steady diet of candy, cookies and soda isn’t the best thing for our health, but few know just how dangerous these products can be. Physician and public health expert Dr. Dean Schillinger has witnessed the “absolute explosion” of Type 2 Diabetes in America. Dr. Schillinger is founder of the University of California San Francisco Center for Vulnerable Populations, Professor of Medicine in Residence at UCSF and was featured in the PBS documentary on diabetes, “Blood Sugar Rising.” He believes that sweeping legislative and societal changes are necessary to reverse the ravaging effects of this disease. Dr. Schillinger shares with host Alec Baldwin how corporations knowingly fuel our addiction to sugar, why the disease disproportionately affects vulnerable populations and the most important change you can make to help fight diabetes.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The sound of the band Heart is unmistakable: powerful guitar riffs, intricate melodies and soaring vocals. Since 1975, the group fused hard rock, pop and folk to produce 20 Top 40 hits, earn four Grammy nominations and sell over 35 million records. They also made rock history as the first female-fronted hard rock band – and one of the longest lasting and most commercially successful bands of all time. Now, they are heading out on a world tour.  In this two-part episode, host Alec Baldwin speaks with the two women at the beating center of the band, sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson. In this episode, Alec talks with lead vocalist Ann Wilson about how she discovered she had “the voice,” what it was like coming up as a young woman in the music industry in the 70s, and how Heart managed to produce a sound that was both hard and soft, being anything it wanted to be.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.