

Bullseye with Jesse Thorn
NPR
Bullseye is a celebration of the best of arts and culture in public radio form. Host Jesse Thorn sifts the wheat from the chaff to bring you in-depth interviews with the most revered and revolutionary minds in our culture. Bullseye has been featured in Time, The New York Times, GQ and McSweeney's, which called it "the kind of show people listen to in a more perfect world."
Episodes
Mentioned books

Nov 14, 2023 • 38min
Daniel Clowes
Daniel Clowes is an award-winning writer and comics artist. He penned the Eight-Ball series and Ghost World, among others. This year, he released a graphic novel inspired by his attempts to learn about the life of his late, largely absent mother. It's called Monica. On Bullseye, he chats about the novel and the time he spent researching his family history. Plus, the things he learned about his mom that he can't unlearn.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Nov 10, 2023 • 17min
Will Oldham, aka Bonnie "Prince" Billy, on the song that changed his life
Will Oldham, aka Bonnie Prince Billy, discusses the song 'Horses' by Sally Timbs that changed his life. Reflects on the transformative power of music, his deep connection with horses, and influences on his three-decade music career.

Nov 7, 2023 • 41min
Jack Handey
Jack Handey, one of the best SNL writers, talks about his new novel, his columns in the New Yorker, and why he initially declined to come back on the show.

Nov 3, 2023 • 39min
Fashion Designer Carla Fernández
Carla Fernández is a Mexico City based fashion designer who creates new clothes inspired by traditional, indigenous garments of Latin America. Her work is a revolutionary approach to fashion and is absolutely breathtaking. Carla joins us on Bullseye to talk about her "Manifesto de moda Mexicana," thrift shopping and so much more.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Oct 31, 2023 • 37min
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. is a stock car racing legend. He's won more than two dozen races and has been inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame. He's since (mostly) retired from racing and recently gotten into writing. His latest release is a children's book called Buster Gets Back on Track. Dale Jr. joins the show to talk his racing career, about writing, and about why he collects wrecked cars from races.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Oct 27, 2023 • 49min
Soul singer Bettye LaVette
Bettye LaVette is a singer with over 60 years in the game. She's recorded dozens of albums. And earned multiple Grammy nominations for her work in the blues and R&B genre. Her latest album LaVette! was released earlier this year. Bettye stops by the show to chat about the album. She let us in on how she chooses the songs she wants to record. Plus, she gets into her childhood and her long, tumultuous path to music.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Oct 24, 2023 • 38min
Ira Glass
This American Life has been on public radio airwaves for almost three decades. This year, the show passed eight hundred episodes. And probably the most amazing thing is that This American Life is still really great. Ira Glass created the show way back when it first started, and he's still steering the ship at 64. We talk with the public radio legend himself to celebrate This American Life hitting eight hundred episodes. Plus, we learn just how many anagrams one can make with Ira Glass' name.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Oct 20, 2023 • 15min
Blues legend Bobby Rush on the song that changed his life
The Song That Changed My Life is a segment that gives us the chance to talk with some of our favorite artists about the music that made them who they are today. This time around, we're joined by a blues great – Bobby Rush. When he got his start, he played with other greats like Jimmy Reed, Buddy Guy and Howlin' Wolf. The song that changed his life was recorded by another close friend of his – Little Walter. The song? My Babe. Bobby's latest record All My Love For You is out now.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Oct 17, 2023 • 51min
Bob Odenkirk on his new children's book, 'Zilot & Other Important Rhymes'
Bob Odenkirk is an alt-comedy legend. He wrote for Saturday Night Live in the 90s. Then he got the part in Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul as Saul Goodman. And he went from the funny-guy behind the scenes to the main screen. He's also a writer. On Bullseye, he stops by to talk about how he turned his worn notebook into a book of poetry with the help of his children. Plus, he gets into how he's embraced his transition from funny guy to serious actor.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Oct 13, 2023 • 43min
Joe Maddon, World Series winning baseball manager
Major League Baseball is in its Postseason. This week we're joined by a great – former Cubs, Rays and Angels manager Joe Maddon. The Book of Joe: Trying Not to Suck at Baseball and Life. was written by Maddon and Tom VerducciIt. The book is part memoir, part inspirational text, part practical guide on how to build better baseball teams.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy