Talk Easy with Sam Fragoso

Journalist and podcast host Sam Sanders discusses the stories of the summer; director and actor Natasha Lyonne shares her experience as a child actor in New York City; Tom Hanks talks about the Stanley Kubrick film that propelled his career; critic Hilton Als reflects on the late Joan Didion; novelist Zadie Smith discusses the politics of writing.

Bradley Cooper and David Remnick discuss Cooper's new film Maestro, his fascination with music, and his portrayal of Leonard Bernstein. They also talk about conducting, preparing for scenes, and Cooper's transition from actor to director.

David Remnick, Editor of The New Yorker, discusses the Israel-Hamas war and the challenges of polarized communication. He shares his personal history in journalism and the state of journalism today. He cautions against despair in 2024 and pays tribute to Joni Mitchell's creativity. They also explore the suffering in the Middle East and the conflation of criticism and fanaticism. Remnick shares stories about Ben Bradlee and his love for music.

Willem Dafoe, experienced actor known for shapeshifting roles, discusses his role in 'Poor Things', his upbringing in Wisconsin, his love of B-movies, and his task-based approach to acting. He also reflects on memorable performances in 'To Live and Die in L.A.', 'Platoon', and 'The Florida Project', and his desire to continue creating in years to come.

Nobel Peace Prize-winner Maria Ressa has spent the past decade advocating for the protection of journalists. Today, we return to our urgent conversation with the trailblazing author and activist. We begin by unpacking the fragmenting effects of social media (6:08), how the internet gave power to authoritarian regimes around the globe (8:49), and Ressa’s five years uncovering those operations (9:20). Then, we walk through her early years: moving from the Philippines to suburban New Jersey at age ten (14:08), three lessons from childhood (16:52), and her discoveries at Princeton (22:10). On the back-half, we discuss Ressa’s serendipitous entry to the newsroom (32:18), why she founded Rappler in 2012 (35:12), and her critical reportage on President Rodrigo Duterte’s drug war (36:52), which led to her arrest by the Filipino government in 2019 (41:22). Now, she’s charted this fight in her book, How to Stand Up to a Dictator (47:12). To close, we unpack her continuous pursuit of the truth (50:03), her recognition as a 2021 Nobel Laureate (52:37), and an ode to a lifelong friend (56:11). For questions, comments, or to join our mailing list, drop me a line at sf@talkeasypod.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Director and actor Benny Safdie discusses his collaboration with comedian Nathan Fielder, their satirical black comedy series The Curse, and Safdie's history of capturing real-life personalities on film. He also talks about his early connection to the movie Kramer v Kramer, his encounters with photographer Robert Frank, and how directors Robert Bresson and Frederick Wiseman inspired him. Safdie dives into his co-directing work with his brother, their debut feature Daddy Longlegs, and projects like Good Time and Uncut Gems. He shares why he worked as a boom operator while directing and his recent pivot to acting. Safdie also discusses playing an astrophysicist in Oppenheimer.

Brit Marling, actor and filmmaker with a futuristic vision, discusses her new show, artificial intelligence in filmmaking, and her love for science fiction. She reflects on her unconventional path, meeting her collaborators, and the public outcry over the cancellation of 'The OA'. They also talk about the state of Hollywood, the power of collective action, and her directorial debut inspired by Krzysztof Kieślowski.

Writer and comedian Ziwe has made a career out of conducting charged and satirical interviews. She joins us this week to discuss her debut essay collection, Black Friend (5:45), the backstory behind her essay WikiFeet (10:19), her early affinity for broadcast news (13:06), the influence of satirists Jonathan Swift and Stephen Colbert (15:10), and her early, formative experiences working in comedy (35:05). On the back-half, Ziwe reflects on the making of her YouTube series Baited (38:06), a memorable episode with Aparna Nancherla (41:30), her pandemic pivot to IG live (43:30), and the Showtime variety show that followed (46:30). To close, a philosophy on art-making from Ira Glass (50:40) and what Ziwe hopes for in her next chapter (56:15).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Marina Abramović is a pioneer in the field of performance art, using her body as both the subject and the medium. Today, we return to our special conversation with the legendary performer from her New York City apartment. To follow along with the works discussed, visit our guided, virtual exhibit at talkeasypod.com/marina-abramovic. We start with her healing installation in Ukraine (7:45), creating art out of hardship (12:24), a Rainer Rilke poem that shaped her childhood (15:23), and the curiosity that propels her forward (23:42) in the face of sexist attacks from the press (28:59). On the back-half, Marina reflects on her groundbreaking work in Rhythm 0 (33:39), her tolerance for pain (38:39), the deep-seated influence of her mother (39:47), finding happiness at age 75 (45:20), how her seminal piece, The Artist Is Present, lives on (47:56), and what it means to be still, together (52:30). For thoughts, reflections, and guest suggestions, drop me a line at sf@talkeasypod.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Writer Michael Lewis discusses the rise and fall of crypto billionaire Sam Bankman-Fried in his new book. They explore Bankman-Fried's criminal fraud case and his belief in effective altruism. Lewis reflects on the ten-day collapse of FTX and his personal connection to Sam's parents. He also discusses his own journalistic tendencies and writing the book amidst personal tragedy.