Bullseye with Jesse Thorn

Today we're replaying our conversation with the great Mary Randolph Carter. "Carter," as she's known, is the best-selling author of several books on the subject of "junk." Her latest is called "The Joy of Junk: Go Right Ahead, Fall In Love With The Wackiest Things, Find The Worth In The Worthless, Rescue & Recycle The Curious Objects That Give Life & Happiness." It's all about the beauty and lessons that can be found through the art of thrifting. She's also a creative director at Ralph Lauren! We talk to Carter about how her upbringing shaped her connection to "stuff," her favorite junk journeys and how a trip to The Outer Banks during hurricane season helped prepare her for a career in treasure-hunting. Plus, we'll chat about her experience working with the acclaimed design house.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

We'll revisit our conversation with the one and only Lin-Manuel Miranda! He's probably best known as the star and creator of the biggest musical in the last 20 years – Hamilton. The award-winning, massively influential musical about the founding father Alexander Hamilton. You'll be able to watch a film version of Hamilton on Disney Plus starting July 3rd. Later that month, the documentary We Are Freestyle Love Supreme will premiere on Hulu. The film tells the story of the hip-hop improv group Freestyle Love Supreme, which he co-founded long before Hamilton fame. And if that wasn't enough – Lin's starring in the HBO show His Dark Materials. It's a fantasy series based on the book by the same name. Lin-Manuel Miranda talks about how his career has changed since Hamilton. We'll also talk about the time he turned down a part in a Marvel movie.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Gene Luen Yang has written a lot of critically acclaimed graphic novels: American Born Chinese, Boxers & Saints, The Shadow Hero, and the graphic novel series Secret Coders. Four years ago, he won a MacArthur "genius" grant. He also works at DC Comics, home to Superman, among others. He's got two new books out now. Superman Smashes the Klan pits America's favorite superhero against the KKK. The other book, Dragon Hoops is a memoir about his time as a high school teacher in Oakland, following his school's basketball team. Jordan Morris, in for Jess, geeks out with Gene about Marvel superheroes, DC Comics, and attending comic conventions. They'll also talk at length about the decision to pit Superman against the KKK and how Superman's story mirrors the experience of immigrants in the US.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Guest host Jordan Morris chats with actor, director Rob McElhenney about his career. Rob's the creator and star of what will soon be the longest running American sitcom of all time— It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. It's a show about five friends who are just about the most terrible people you've ever met and their weekly antics as they run a bar in South Philadelphia and try to scam their way out of and into just about every situation imaginable. His latest series is called Mythic Quest: Raven's Banquet. It's about the gaming industry and he's re-teamed with a few of his Sunny writing partners. We'll talk to Rob about growing up without a Nintendo in the house, bringing honesty to his projects and how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted his show's production. Plus, we'll chat about some of his favorite games growing up. That's on the next Bullseye!Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

It's a collaboration that's lasted 35 years now and is still going strong. Amy Ray and Emily Saliers – Indigo Girls! They're the duo behind the songs Closer to Fine, Galileo, The Power of Two, and so many other darling folk rock classics. Amy and Emily have been writing, arranging and performing together since high school. They recorded these quiet, beautiful melodies, usually using pretty simple arrangements: an acoustic guitar, maybe a mandolin or electric guitar added for flourish. The band has a new album that dropped last month, it's called Look Long. Guest host Linda Holmes chats with Amy and Emily about the new record. What it's like to parent during quarantine. Plus, we chat about their eclectic taste in music. Find out which Indigo Girl is listening to Young Thug these days!Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

We're joined by guest host Linda Holmes for a very special interview with Giancarlo Esposito. Giancarlo plays Gus Fring, the brilliant villain on Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul. He also played Buggin' Out in Do The Right Thing, Spike Lee's masterpiece. Esposito talks us about the complexity of his characters, his time on The Electric Company and his work on Do the Right Thing. Plus, we'll talk to him about a very difficult time in his life and working through the trauma of racial profiling.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

This week, we're taking a look back at our interview with multi-talented performer Daveed Diggs. He's an actor of stage and screen appearing in projects including Zootopia and Black-ish. In 2018, he co-wrote, produced and starred in Blindspotting alongside his lifelong friend Rafael Casal. He's also the lead vocalist for hip hop group Clipping. His latest projects include the animated series Central Park and the television adaptation of Snowpiercer. We'll talk to Diggs about his musical inspirations, the merits of "corniness" and how Lin Manuel Miranda changed his life. Plus, we'll talk to him about Hamilton, of course! That's on the next Bullseye!Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The Craziest Day of My Entire Career is a segment that gives us the chance to talk with some of our favorite people about some truly unbelievable stories. This time around, we're joined by actor Doug Jones. He often portrays non-human creatures with the help of visual effects, prosthetics and heavy make-up. You've seen him in The Shape of Water as the amphibian man – and as the terrifying faun with eyes in his palms in Pan's Labyrinth. When we asked him about the craziest day of his entire career, he took us back to 1998 to the set of the film Bug Buster. During filming, he had an unforgettable run in with Randy Quaid. You can check out Doug Jones' latest work on Star Trek: Discovery on CBS: All Access and What We Do In The Shadows on FX Now.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

You know Elisabeth Moss for her roles on Mad Men and The Handmaid's Tale. Or maybe you're a West Wing fan and waited with baited breath to see if Zoey and Charlie would end up together. Her new film Shirley is a semi-biographical tale based on the life and work of horror writer, Shirley Jackson. Elisabeth joins us this week to talk about adding Producer to her resume, her fascination with playing women accused of losing their minds, and, of course, her iconic role in the 1991 Hulk Hogan comedy Suburban Commando.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

This week, we're doing something a little different: looking back on the work of Jim Coyle and Mal Sharpe. Two brilliant comedians, decades ahead of their time. The comedy duo recorded a series of hilarious and bizarre man-on-the-street records in the 1960s. They'd approach people with usually an absurd proposition: let's rob a bank together. Let's give a stranger a child. Let's become one person – all all three of us. Deeply weird and deeply funny questions. Jim Coyle died in 1993. Mal Sharpe died this past March. He was 83. We're taking time to remember the comedy duo by revisiting a couple conversations with Mal Sharpe. The conversations are some of the first celebrity interviews on the show, back when it was called The Sound of Young America. We'll also listen to some classic Coyle and Sharpe vox populi interviews.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy