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
Nov 23, 2013 • 50min
Episode 228: Kevin Hart, Aisha Tyler, and Frozen Beer
We reheat an old episode for this pre-Thanksgiving week, featuring, fittingly, an English take on American culture … Superstar comedian Kevin Hart growing an inch … Comic, writer, TV host and now etiquette expert Aisha Tyler steering listeners clear of video game hogs and sunshine nazis … Memoirist Ashley Cardiff on being haunted by Prince […]
Nov 16, 2013 • 50min
Episode 227: Stephen Fry, Gail Simmons, and Daniel Boulud
Brit wit Stephen Fry talks Shakespeare, takes on Turkey Day, and meets dead people… “Top Chef” judge Gail Simmons adjudicates your etiquette questions while growing the perfect sous chef… star chef Daniel Boulud sniffs out truffle treasure… “Medora” co-director Davy Rothbart declares victory for some beautiful losers… neuroscientist and skeptic Sam Harris cannot tell a […]
Nov 9, 2013 • 50min
Episode 226: 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.
Nov 1, 2013 • 50min
Episode 225: Jessica Chastain, Dave Barry, and Joy(ful) Division
This week: one of our favorite episodes of 2013, in which Oscar-nominated actress Jessica Chastain of “Zero Dark Thirty” riffs on Pitt and pigs… Humorist Dave Barry offers insane advice… Reggae legend Jimmy Cliff plays dinnertime DJ… Joy Division’s Peter Hook tells the bright side of a dark band… We excavate the story of a […]
Oct 26, 2013 • 50min
Episode 224: The 2013 All-Movie Episode
This week it’s a special ALL MOVIE EPISODE! Starring Oscar-nominees Michelle Williams and David O. Russell … Also: Laura Dern re-examines David Lynch’s brain(s) … “Hunger Games” make-up artist Ve Neill lists a few fave transformations … Spike Lee plays matchmaker … Steven Spielberg incites a teenage riot … Dick Cavett teaches us “how to […]
Oct 17, 2013 • 50min
Episode 223: Bob Odenkirk, Linda Thompson, and Peaches Teaches
This week: Bob Odenkirk, comedy polymath & “Breaking Bad” breakout star, talks sketch and Saul… … Pop provacateur Peaches strips down etiquette… Folk-rock icon Linda thompson plays party DJ … Small island, big library … Food writer Nigel slater recalls pre-parm Britain … Behind the scenes with Johnny Carson … Leafy green humor … And […]
Oct 11, 2013 • 51min
Episode 222: Dane DeHaan, Anna Calvi, and the Modernist Maestro
This week: “Kill Your Darlings” star Dane DeHaan catches the Beats… Operatic indie rocker Anna Calvi DJs your next soiree… The Posts return with etiquette advice smokers will love… We’re schooled in design by the man who defined late 20th Century style… Old-school Hollywood honcho David Picker acts out for Woody Allen… Little Richard throws […]
Oct 4, 2013 • 3sec
Episode 221: Daniel Radcliffe, Lars Ulrich, and Elizabeth Gilbert
This week: Daniel Radcliffe wears a mask that’s 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 […]
Oct 4, 2013 • 50min
Episode 221: Daniel Radcliffe, Lars Ulrich, and Elizabeth Gilbert
This week: Daniel Radcliffe wears a mask that’s 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 […]
Sep 28, 2013 • 51min
Episode 220: Margaret Atwood, Gunn Culture, and Hulk Hogan: Hero
This week: literary giant Margaret Atwood is prepared for mega-bears… Tim Gunn returns, just in time to save listeners from the ‘comfort trap’… guitarist Steve Gunn (no relation) spins a mellow party playlist… The author behind the bestselling “Jack Reacher” series lists toughs he loves… ”China, Illinois” Animator Brad Neely wants Hulk Hogan to eat him… […]
