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
Apr 11, 2014 • 51min
Episode 248: Jim Jarmusch, Lavender Country, and Horseradish Hazards
This week: Filmmaker Jim Jarmusch sinks his teeth into a new genre and Tom Waits metaphors… Comedy writer Carol Leifer (“Seinfeld,” “SNL”) kicks off her shoes… Lavender Country brought gay rights to country … ”Review” star Andy Daly reviews other reviewers … Rock music insider Lisa Robinson shares her backstage stories (and takes credit for U2) […]
Apr 4, 2014 • 51min
Episode 247: Amy Schumer, Errol Morris, & The War on Drugs
This week: Comedienne Amy Schumer secretly enjoys tea and reading … Errol Morris explains Donald Rumsfeld’s problems with reality … Actress Judy Greer steps into the spotlight, for a change … The War on Drugs’ Adam Granduciel invites Bryan Ferry and Humphrey Bogart to his party … The best milk for your coffee, from cow or nut […]
Mar 27, 2014 • 51min
Episode 246: Toni Collette, Bill Callahan, and Oil Balls
This week: Toni Collette grabs the wheel … Rob Delaney takes us to a dark, dark chocolate place … Ben Schott shares speichelgleichmut … Texas singer-songwriter Bill Callahan remembers the Seventies … Celia Rivenbark smuggles in the sauce … Poetry among thieves … And savor-ish dough balls straight from Amsterdam.
Mar 22, 2014 • 51min
Episode 245: Steve Martin, Stradivariuses, and Switchel
This week: Steve Martin puts on a show as well as a concert … Emily Posts’ progeny pocket dial us … Switchel, a.k.a. Herman Melville’s fave energy drink… Filmmaker Davy Rothbart celebrates beautiful losers – in basketball and life … A British Invasion of radio pirates inspires a rum cocktail – naturally. Plus, a two million dollar puppy, mute violins, and […]
Mar 15, 2014 • 51min
Episode 244: Wes Anderson, Dave Barry, and the Sweet Sounds of Real Estate
This Week: Filmmaker Wes Anderson on stoves that witnessed history… Humorist Dave Barry takes aim at your etiquette questions… Real Estate (the band, not the biz sector) 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 […]
Mar 7, 2014 • 51min
Episode 243: 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 […]
Feb 28, 2014 • 51min
Episode 242: Oscar Isaac, Mads Mikkelsen, and Vermouth Strikes Back
Oscar Isaac, star of “Inside Llewyn Davis” and the new “In Secret,” talks travis pickin’ and tabbies … Mads Mikkelsen of Oscar-nominated Danish drama “The Hunt,” looks on the bright side of strife … Bestselling author Janet Evanovich tells us how to politely destroy a van … Vermouth that gin actually loves … Changing views […]
Feb 21, 2014 • 51min
Episode 241: Stephen Malkmus, Doughnuts for Groughnups, and Oscar’s Finest “Act”
This week: Stephen Malkmus on rock and roll fatherhood … Comedienne Annabelle Gurwitch makes an effort at etiquette …. Rebecca Mead revisits “Middlemarch” … Humble doughnuts get a sophisticated make-over … “The Act of Killing” is a difficult, fascinating, and important film to watch … Angel Olsen takes flight … Clown college admissions decline … […]
Feb 14, 2014 • 51min
Episode 240: Jonah Hill, House of Cards and Luxury Toast
This week: Jonah Hill’s search for the perfect coupling … Skip Lievsay explains how movies should sound … Life imitates board games imitating life (but not The Game of Life) … One mother’s love-hate relationship with a thousand plastic blocks … Getting what you pay for with luxury toast … The creator of “House of […]
Feb 8, 2014 • 51min
Episode 239: 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 […]
