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
Mar 2, 2012 • 52min
Episode 138: Stephin Merritt, Vengeance Eating, and Alka-hol
This week: Stephin Merritt’s attraction to love… Actress Amy Brenneman adjudicates listener etiquette… A vengeful lunch with Joel Stein… an Alkaholic drink… Neil deGrasse Tyson defends space… Bill Plympton’s favorite animation… and a 3-song prescription from Dr. Dog. Plus: Aggie yells, a Dinner Party Timeout, and a cross-word joke from singer Cate le Bon.
Feb 24, 2012 • 52min
Episode 137: Geoff Dyer, Bug Juice, and Damn Good Advice
This week: Celebrated UK writer Geoff Dyer takes us into the “Zona”… Top Chef’s Gail Simmons survives internship hell and gets her Angel wings… Damn Good Advice from legendary ad man George Lois… Bees you can drink… A big empire built on small change… Winning an election… And nomophobia on the rise. Plus: picture books for grownups, Islands with Hallways, and a Fun joke.
Feb 17, 2012 • 52min
Episode 136: Michel Hazanavicius, New Fruit, and Undead Presidents
This week: “The Artist” director Michel Hazanavicius breaks the silence… Brendan witnesses the arrival of a fruit sensation… Titanic sound achievements, selected by a 7-time Oscar-winning sound designer… Sharon Van Etten’s moody party soundtrack… the real “Bonfire of the Vanities”… and Comedian Sarah Colonna breaks up with eHarmony. Plus, travel trends, a reality-check for gamers, and a joke from Miranda July.
Feb 10, 2012 • 52min
Episode 135: The Shins, Lovable Fools, and Boardwalk Empires
This week: The Shins’ James Mercer blows the lid off a government cover-up… author Krys Lee’s inspired immigrant tales… An Oscar-nominated Undefeated team… Emily Post’s offspring get aggressive-aggressive… a tourist’s guide to a city you can’t visit… and Victorian puddings on the rise (plus a recipe). Plus: The weirdest bands of the year, a kiddie joke from Youth Lagoon, and a prescription for dull dinner parties from Dr. Dog.
Feb 3, 2012 • 52min
Episode 134: Anjelica Huston, Doomsday Planes, and Things about Chicken Wings
This week: Actress Anjelica Huston reveals her secret good-luck charm … Writer-provocateur Caitlin Flanagan blends etiquette, therapy, and cake… “The Artist’s” James Cromwell talks quiet… Chickens with four wings… Greeks invade Britain… We toast the end of the world… A poem from imprisoned dissident Liu Xiaobo… Plus, nurture-over-nature, and a Major find from the Asteroids Galaxy Tour.
Jan 27, 2012 • 52min
Episode 133: Chairlift, Megadeth on Etiquette, and the Food Olympics
This week: Musical duo Chairlift offers us a martini (and some music)…Megadeth politely shreds our etiquette questions…Author-du-jour Ben Marcus says words CAN break your bones…Antonio Banderas plays kitty and creepy…A soldier lost and found – 28 years later…Plus, the latest in men’s fashion, epic Sundance flops, and a joke from crime writer Robert Crais.
Jan 20, 2012 • 52min
Episode 132: Tim and Eric, Bone Luging, and Lucinda Williams
This week: Sketch duo Tim & Eric tell us the secret to comedy… Lucinda Williams on etiquette and (non) barbecuing… Chuck Klosterman tackles football… Shalom Auslander’s words about last words… CNN’s Kat Kinsman talks about not talking about “bone luging”… And the science of “disgusting.” Plus, a running joke, your letters, and new Shins.
Jan 13, 2012 • 52min
Episode 131: Stephen Merchant, Demon Children, and The War on Drugs
This week: “The Office” co-creator Stephen Merchant spars with Brendan… fashion guru Simon Doonan advocates mullets… humorists Dave Barry & Alan Zweibel (attempt to) read their epic epilogue… The soundtrack of The War on Drugs… Artist Chris Burden’s slot-cars on steroids… And Rico digs into Frito Pie. Plus: silent senators, illin’ crosswords, and far-out jokes.
Jan 6, 2012 • 52min
Episode 130: Wim Wenders, Liszt Lists, and Live Long and Proper
This week: Director Wim Wenders speaks body language… Star Trek’s George Takei takes etiquette to warp factor five… A list about Liszt, from world-renowned pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet… Kathleen Turner’s fiery new role… Third Wave Coffee… Existential humor… And finally, we learn how to play dead from a corpse – and then how to come back to life from Guided By Voices.
Dec 30, 2011 • 53min
Episode 129: The List Show
This week: We celebrate the year’s end with an all-list show. Film critic A.O. Scott explains the art (and anxiety) behind list-making… The Colbert Report’s Opus Moreschi curates the year in comedy… sleeper hit films… Lists with identity crises… And the Onion lists the year’s top news stories that never happened. Plus, a glimpse of the future feat. jetpacks, platefuls of bark, and your favorite artists of *next* year (like Jhene Aiko and the XX).
