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
Oct 4, 2014 • 51min
Episode 273: Jeffrey Tambor, Perfume Genius, and Quincy Jones
Actor Jeffrey Tambor comes to terms with a catch-phrase … Perfume Genius really wants you to care as much about these songs as he does … Quincy Jones shares what he learned from jazz man Clark Terry … What a jar of baby food teaches us about society … Edgar Allan Poe’s creepy demise – […]
Sep 27, 2014 • 51min
Episode 272: Mia Wasikowska, Nick Frost, and Interpol
Actress Mia Wasikowska (“Alice in Wonderland”) makes “Tracks” across the Outback… British film star Nick Frost (“The Boxtrolls,” “Shaun of the Dead,” “Hot Fuzz”) squares off against etiquette monsters and bachelor party killjoys… Inner-party music from Interpol… “New Yorker” writer John Lahr writes the book on playwright Tennessee Williams… One of history’s strangest bar bets… Susan […]
Sep 20, 2014 • 51min
Episode 271: Bill Hader, Hiss Golden Messenger, and Betty Halbreich
Actor Bill Hader shows off his drama schooling … Bergdorf’s Betty Halbreich dresses down America, while endorsing wearing hats on your face … Biographer Mark Whitaker reflects on Bill Cosby’s comedy and complicated identity … Alt-country musician MC Taylor of Hiss Golden Messenger crafts a party playlist for introverts … Marlon James’ novel humanizes Bob Marley stalkers, and would-be […]
Sep 12, 2014 • 51min
Episode 270: James McAvoy, Jon Favreau, and Emma Straub
This week: Actor James McAvoy (of “X Men” and “Filth”) flies the Scottish flag … Writer-director Jon Favreau cooks up a foodie film … Top author of the summer Emma Straub keeps the vacation going forever … Indie pop duo Sylvan Esso score your next brat barbecue … The one time when you want food to stain your […]
Sep 6, 2014 • 50min
Episode 269: Mel Brooks, Greta Gerwig, and AC Newman
This week: Comedy legend Mel Brooks reanimates “Young Frankenstein” then offers priceless etiquette advice (warning: may include death threats, flatulence, gallows humor, and uncontrollable laughter)… Actress Greta Gerwig (“Frances Ha”) tries a love story on for size… AC Newman of indie rock super-group The New Pornographers spins a party soundtrack that’s so cool, it’ll annoy you… […]
Aug 30, 2014 • 51min
Episode 268: Daniel Radcliffe, Benjamin Booker, and ‘The Narcissist Next Door’
Actor Daniel Radcliffe’s favorite language … NOLA rocker Benjamin Booker’s wild party … The era when your granddad’s music was super-rebellious … Emily Post-approved place-settings for palaces (and regular restaurants) … Novelist Edan Lepucki’s arty darkness in the California sun … Hula hooping to outer space … Cronuts, ramen burgers, donnolis, and the future of fusion […]
Aug 23, 2014 • 51min
Episode 267: Elisabeth Moss, Alice Waters, George Takei, Jon Wurster
Elisabeth Moss’ supernatural surprise … Taking on George Takei .. Jon Wurster drums in some etiquette lessons … An apple a day won’t keep Alice Waters away … We dig up the story of Daguerreotypes … Greg Poehler is an American fish in an cold Swedish pond … Otis Gibbs rambles about being a ramblin’ man … […]
Aug 16, 2014 • 50min
Episode 266: Kevin Spacey, Ruth Reichl, Todd Snider and Elephant
This week: Stage and screen star Kevin Spacey channels Richard III (and Bill Clinton)… Food icon Ruth Reichl has us eating her words… Folk-rocker Todd Snider meets Tony Bennett in an unlikely place… English pop duo Elephant come together to DJ a dance party… Pluto gets discovered, gets a name – and then gets demoted […]
Aug 9, 2014 • 51min
Episode 265: Pharrell, Carrie Brownstein & Fred Armisen, and Much MØ
This week: Portlandia duo Carrie Brownstein and Fred Armisen open up about hot-tubs, underwear, and weddings … Music multi-hyphenate Pharrell Williams explains his ‘exotic rainbow’ of ‘Happy’-ness … Danish electro-pop phenom Mø spins us a party playlist… author Cari Lynn tells the tale of a NOLA birthday party of ill-repute… How the grandest experiment in […]
Aug 5, 2014 • 10min
Special Live Performance from Teenage Fanclub!
A couple weeks ago, The Dinner Party Download took a trip down south to North Carolina to stage a special live event in conjunction with the Merge 25 music festival. Over three days, dozens of bands from the indie record label Merge’s 25 year history gathered together – and we were delighted to help kick […]
