The Dinner Party Download
American Public Media
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.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Feb 26, 2016 • 50min
Episode 338: The NOTscars Special
It’s our first NOTscars show — for everything you won’t find at the Oscars! “Tangerine” star Mya Taylor on Hollywood realness and her rural refuge… New York Times film critic AO Scott lists his favorite Academy-ignored films… Heben Nigatu and Tracy Clayton of the “Another Round” podcast on tired movie tropes and #OscarsSoWhite… “Mad Max: […]
Feb 19, 2016 • 50min
Episode 337: Adam McKay, George Miller, Santigold
Two Oscar-nominated filmmakers tell us about finding stories in unexpected places — Adam McKay (“The Big Short”) and George Miller (“Mad Max: Fury Road”)… Santigold revives our spirits with her party soundtrack… The down-and-up history of the Ferris Wheel… Star L.A. chef Roy Choi reinvents fast food, in the heart of Watts… And more!
Feb 12, 2016 • 56min
Episode 336: Jason Schwartzman, Jenny Slate, Father John Misty, Lena Waithe
It’s a special live(ly) edition of the DPD, recorded in front of a sold-out L.A. crowd! Actor Jason Schwartzman revisits his “Rushmore” audition… Comedian Jenny Slate talks Marcel the Shell and Michael Dukakis the Hottie… Father John Misty plays a few party-stopping songs… And TV writer-producer Lena Waithe (currently starring in “Master of None”) tells […]
Feb 9, 2016 • 13min
Speakeasy Special #5
It’s an all new “Speakeasy” — our occasional, off-the-cuff, slightly profane, online-only series in which we give you a peek behind the scenes… and share some of the great stuff we had to leave on the cutting room floor. This time around, you’ll hear how Sir Ian McKellan‘s “Gap of Rohan” icebreaker came together (and […]
Feb 5, 2016 • 51min
Episode 323: Olivia Wilde, Elvis Costello, Paul F. Tompkins
Encore Broadcast: “Meadowland” actor Olivia Wilde tells us about non-nurturing female characters… Music legend Elvis Costello chats about his new memoir… We toast to Little Richard’s religious awakening… Art god Laurie Anderson weaves together a gripping tale about her rainy stint at an Amish farm… Young adult novelist Leigh Bardugo gives us her list of […]
Jan 29, 2016 • 50min
Episode 325: Brie Larson, Gloria Steinem, Raury
Encore Broadcast: Actor Brie Larson, star of “Room,” talks about being trapped on a plane while passengers watch her movie… The esteemed Gloria Steinem answers etiquette questions and gives you permission NOT to smile… folk-hip-hop artist Raury DJs your dinner party in a futuristic forest… Mary-Louise Parker reads a letter from her new book (don’t call it a […]
Dec 30, 2015 • 51min
Episode 315: Jason Segel, Diablo Cody, and Three Cool Cats
Encore Broadcast: This week we revisit one of our favorite 2015 episodes: Actor Jason Segel turns over a new leaf, as David Foster Wallace, in the biopic “The End of the Tour”… Rock star writer Diablo Cody (“Ricki and the Flash”) comes bearing etiquette (and karaoke) tips … Bobcat Goldthwait remembers Barry Crimmins, the man who brought conscience (and […]
Dec 23, 2015 • 51min
Best of 2015: Carrie Brownstein, Oscar Isaac, Shamir
Sit back, relax, and aim your ears at these standout moments from punk singer Carrie Brownstein, artist Laurie Anderson, actor Oscar Isaac, comedian Michael Ian Black, and dance-pop maestro Shamir. Plus, your favorite icebreaker and history lesson of the year… and a Small Talk mash-up. (We’ll call it Tiny Talk!) Here’s to lots more phenomenal […]
Dec 18, 2015 • 50min
Episode 331: Gael Garcia Bernal, Molly Crabapple, Hannibal Buress
Gael Garcia Bernal — a Golden Globe nominee for the series “Mozart in the Jungle” — goes from messiah to maestro… Comedian Hannibal Buress offers up etiquette advice for humans, from dogs… Illustrator and commentator Molly Crabapple likens drawing to dancing – to picking scabs… We tune into an offbeat holiday soundtrack, courtesy British song-smith […]
Dec 17, 2015 • 55min
2015 DPD Holiday Special: Darryl ‘DMC’ McDaniels, Fran Lebowitz, Macklemore
We’ve made a special episode of “The Dinner Party Download” stuffed with holiday goodness. Hip-hop legend Darryl McDaniels (the “DMC” of Run-DMC) riffs on his mega-hit “Christmas in Hollis”… TV’s “Naked Chef” Jamie Oliver injects some health into our holiday menu (but don’t mess with his decadent cheese toasty)… Humorist Fran Lebowitz keeps the season […]
