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 7, 2015 • 52min
Episode 291: Eddie Redmayne, Issa Rae, Andrew Jarecki
Eddie Redmayne reveals his egg-y fears … Issa Rae gives tips for shutting down awkward asks … Why not leaving a tip might be the nicest thing you can do for a waiter … Swedish star Seinabo Sey warms us up … A documentarian tells us why audiences love true-crime stories … We get some […]
Jan 31, 2015 • 53min
Episode 290: Patricia Arquette, Weird Al, and Jenny Lewis
Pop-parodist “Weird Al” Yankovic on being weird (and Weird, and “Weird”) … “Boyhood” star Patricia Arquette’s stolen Santa Clauses … How singer Jenny Lewis kicks people out … A trademark-licensing dispute that lead to a big hit … Visiting a magical-realist Virgin Islands with author Tiphanie Yanique … New York Philharmonic conductor Alan Gilbert counts coughs to judge […]
Jan 24, 2015 • 51min
Episode 289: Frank Gehry, Miranda July, Dame Edna
This week: A musical peek into Frank Gehry’s house … Dame Edna delivers ‘glorious’ advice … Miranda July builds a system … The children raised amid resource extraction … Adding butter to coffee to make it ‘Bulletproof’ …Natalie Prass curates a list of sisters and goddesses … A trip to Robinson Crusoe’s island … And […]
Jan 17, 2015 • 50min
Episode 288: Nick Kroll, Laura Poitras, Eddie Huang
This week: The filmmaker who documented Edward Snowden (but didn’t decorate his hotel room) … Comedian Nick Kroll goes in search of the weirdest voices in America … Chef and author Eddie Huang tries to bring authenticity to a network sitcom … Kolache pastries heat up … An opera star shares moments when music made […]
Jan 10, 2015 • 50min
Episode 287: J.C. Chandor, Mark Duplass, Twerps
This week: Actor-writer-director Mark Duplass on brotherly love – without eye-contact … A spicy, south-of-the-border drink trend … Filmmaker J.C. Chandor makes art inspired by tragedy … FM radio is invented, and we’re pretty grateful … An ex-Aerosmith roadie/sailor/journalist settles down on an unlikely farm … Aussie rockers Twerps turn up the volume … Latin […]
Jan 2, 2015 • 51min
Episode 286: Best of 2014
We are kicking off 2015 by rounding-up some of our (and your!) favorite moments from 2014. Actor Jeffrey Tambor talks parenting — in real life and television … Grilled cheese sandwiches fall from the sky … Anjelica Huston will not be forgotten … A collection of all-star etiquette wisdom from Billy Eichner, Mel Brooks, Betty […]
Dec 27, 2014 • 50min
Episode 285: Wes Anderson, Dave Barry, and Real Estate
This Week: Filmmaker Wes Anderson on stoves that witnessed history… Humorist Dave Barry takes aim at your etiquette questions… Real Estate play party DJ… Lit phenom Helen Oyeyemi gazes into the mirror, mirror….And Noah Strycker opens up his bird-brain. Plus: wild camels roaming Texas, the strangest cleanse ever, and Mac DeMarco’s tuneful “Brother.”
Dec 24, 2014 • 39min
Holiday Bonus: Frolic with Molly Ringwald and Friends
We’re issuing you a holiday bonus — in the form of an extra podcast. We know, it’s what you wanted most of all. So we’ve wrapped up the contents of our recent Holiday Frolic live event staged in Los Angeles. You’ll hear an extended version of the B.J. Novak story and conversation from last week’s […]
Dec 20, 2014 • 50min
Episode 284: B.J. Novak (live!), The Dukes of Hazzard, and Miriam Toews
A special fireside chat with writer-actor B.J. Novak, from our “Holiday Frolic” road show … Also: Canadian author Miriam Toews’ tale of two sisters… We tag along on “The Search for General Tso” … The stars of classic 1970’s “The Dukes of Hazzard” play holiday DJ for us … Actor Joel Edgerton swims right into a punchline […]
Dec 12, 2014 • 49min
Episode 283: Mike Leigh, Gina Rodriguez, Joseph Gordon-Levitt
This week: Filmmaker Mike Leigh talks about crop circles (yes, those crop circles) … Actor Gina Rodriguez explains how “Breaking Bad” is crazier than a telenovela … What we can learn about dictators from thier food obsessions … A replay of the history of the replay … Joseph Gordon-Levitt on art outside the Hollywood machine […]
