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
Jun 7, 2014 • 51min
Episode 256: Harry Dean Stanton, Patricia Lockwood, and Hamilton Leithauser
This week: Actor Harry Dean Stanton shows off his singing … Poet Patricia Lockwood revisits childhood … Why Lyndon Johnson fascinates us, fifty years later … Former frontman of The Walkman on his soulful solo debut … Baseball excellence, naturally … The arc of history bends towards better booze … One sleepy rabbit with a […]
May 30, 2014 • 50min
Episode 255: Steve Coogan, Hugh Bonneville, B.J. Novak, and “Broad City” BFFs
This week: Oscar nominee Steve Coogan (“Philomena,” this summer’s upcoming “The Trip to Italy”) meditates on condiments and dramedies … “The Monuments Men” star Hugh Bonneville – a.k.a. Lord Grantham on “Downton Abbey” - minds his manors … Former “The Office” employee B.J. Novak introduces us to Wikipedia Brown, Boy Detective … The BFFs behind Comedy […]
May 24, 2014 • 51min
Episode 254: James McAvoy, Jon Favreau, and Wearing Your Food
This week: Actor James McAvoy (of this week’s new “X Men” blockbuster, and the art-house drama “Filth”) flies the Scottish flag… Writer-director Jon Favreau cooks up a new film… Emma Straub on why vacation with the ‘rents isn’t all that bad… Indie pop duo Sylvan Esso score your next brat barbecue… The one time when […]
May 17, 2014 • 50min
Episode 253: Conor Oberst, Colson Whitehead, and Freakonomics
Musician Conor Oberst gives us a topography lesson … A new movie – and fail-safe flirting tips – from actor Griffin Dunne… ’Freakonomics’ Stephen Dubner is your kryptonite …. Colson Whitehead becomes a gambling man … Inventing the futuristic fastener Velcro … Why bad words might be good for you … Annabelle Gurwitch finds lust in […]
May 10, 2014 • 50min
Episode 252: Marc Maron, Philippe Petit, and Soylent
This Week: Marc Maron gives etiquette AND time-travel advice… Graphic novelist Mimi Pond lists criminals, spies, and other bohemians … “Man On Wire” tightrope-walker Philippe Petit explores creative chaos… “The Descendants” author Kaui Hart Hemmings tells a new tale… load up on Kleenex ’cause here comes SADvertising… the history of the least respected trophy in […]
May 3, 2014 • 50min
Episode 251: Kevin Spacey, Ruth Reichl, Todd Snider and Elephant
This week: Stage & 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 […]
Apr 25, 2014 • 10min
The 2014 Icebreaker Episode
On the occasion of our 250th podcast, we’re celebrating with this bonus mini-episode, compiling a year’s worth of our show-starting jokes into one convenient package. These tiny tales of stuff walking into bars, bad trips to the doctor and lightbulbs in need of changing come courtesy of guests like Jonah Hill, Carrie Brownstein, The Arctic […]
Apr 25, 2014 • 50min
Episode 250: Daniel Radcliffe, Lars Ulrich, and Elizabeth Gilbert
This week: Daniel Radcliffe wears a mask that is not for a role … Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich tells your roommate to turn that racket down … Elizabeth Gilbert (“Eat, Pray, Love”) sets the planets spinning … Cartoonist Jeff Smith lists favorite strips … Visiting the Candyland of vegetables … There is danger and allure at […]
Apr 25, 2014 • 10min
The 2014 All-Icebreaker Special
We just released the 250th episode of our show, so we’re celebrating with this bonus episode, containing a collection of party-winning jokes from our guests. These laughs (or groans) come courtesy of Jonah Hill, Carrie Brownstein, The Arctic Monkeys, Tavi Gevinson, Jim Jarmusch, Timothy Olyphant, and many more. “A Space, Man” – Hugh Bonneville aka […]
Apr 19, 2014 • 51min
Episode 249: Scarlett Johansson, Billy Eichner, and Slint
This week: Scarlett Johansson muses on ol’ blue eyes and earthly aliens… Comedian Billy Eichner takes etiquette to the streets … We catch up with 90′s alt stars Slint… A baseball game everyone wanted to lose… Terrifying Easter bunnies, brought to you by UCB co-founder Matt Walsh… Uncovering Uzbek cuisine … And, check your chins, […]
