The Back Room with Andy Ostroy

Sarah Tuttle-singer is a writer, author of the book Jerusalem Drawn and Quartered, and works for The Times of Israel. She was born and raised in Venice beach and has lived in Israel for the past 13 years. She now lives in Jerusalem with her kids where she writes stories about people, climbs roofs, and explores the roads not taken…and loves talking with strangers. Sarah is a friend of mine. A mother of two teenagers and a toddler. And she shares her personal story of what it's like living in this nation at war in the wake of the barbaric terrorist attack last weekend by Hamas. We discuss the shock and horror of that attack; the imminent ground invasion of Gaza; the growing humanitarian crisis and the likelihood of mass casualties on both sides; and the dilemma facing Israel as it mobilizes and goes on the offensive to protect itself and its citizens. An inspiring optimist, Sarah offers her thoughts on compassion, empathy and the long-term prospects for peace in the region. And at one chilling point, our chat is interrupted by gunfire and blaring sirens. It's a riveting conversation you don't want to miss. Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com Leave us a message: 845-307-7446 Twitter: @AndyOstroy Produced by Andy Ostroy, Matty Rosenberg, and Jennifer Hammoud @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff Music by Andrew Hollander Design by Cricket Lengyel

David Hogg is a leader in the fight to end gun violence. He is co-founder of the Leaders We Deserve PAC, a grassroots organization dedicated to electing young progressives to Congress and State Legislatures nationwide. He is also co-founder of March for Our Lives, an organization that’s helped lead one of the largest youth movements in America. David rose to prominence during the 2018 gun violence protests as a student survivor of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, FL. With his sister Lauren, he wrote the NY Times best-selling book #NeverAgain: A New Generation Draws the Line. He was also included in Time magazine's 100 Most Influential People of 2018. David is an incredibly impressive young man. And our conversation is so compelling. We discuss the gun-violence epidemic in America, what needs to be done to effect real change, and his personal long-term commitment to achieving meaningful gun-reform legislation. Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com Leave us a message: 845-307-7446 Twitter: @AndyOstroy Produced by Andy Ostroy, Matty Rosenberg, and Jennifer Hammoud @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff Music by Andrew Hollander Design by Cricket Lengyel

The inimitable Rick Wilson's back in The Back Room! Rick's a renowned political strategist, infamous ad-maker, writer, speaker, political commentator, co-founder of the political action committee The Lincoln Project, co-founder of media company Resolute Square and a two-time New York Times bestselling author. It's always uniquely insightful and entertaining when Rick joins the conversation with his razor-sharp wit and wisdom! In this episode he shares his thoughts on Donald Trump's NY State civil fraud trial, Kevin McCarthy's ouster as House Speaker, the GOP House chaos, the 2024 election and a hilarious lightening-round of the presidential candidates. Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com Leave us a message: 845-307-7446 Twitter: @AndyOstroy Produced by Andy Ostroy, Matty Rosenberg, and Jennifer Hammoud @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff Music by Andrew Hollander Design by Cricket Lengyel

Elie Honig is an attorney and CNN senior legal analyst and the bestselling author of Hatchet Man and the recently released Untouchable: How Powerful People Get Away With It. He’s a former assistant United States attorney for the Southern District of New York. He also hosts podcasts and writes for CAFE and Vox Media. Elie is our first member of The Back Room "Five-Timers" club! And he's back to help unpack Donald Trump's New York State civil fraud trial and his myriad legal troubles going forward. Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com Leave us a message: 845-307-7446 Twitter: @AndyOstroy Produced by Andy Ostroy, Matty Rosenberg, and Jennifer Hammoud @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff Music by Andrew Hollander Design by Cricket Lengyel

Guy Nattiv is an Academy Award-winning filmmaker originally from Israel. His first American short film, SKIN, won the 2019 Academy Award© for Best Live Action Short, and the feature version, also titled SKIN, was released in 2019. His recent film, GOLDA, stars Academy Award©-winning actress Helen Mirren as the first female Prime Minister of Israel, Golda Meir. His next feature TATAMI, premiered at the Venice Int Film Festival in September 2023 to much acclaim. He co-directed the film with Iranian filmmaker Zar Amir Ibrahimi, who won Best Actress at the Cannes Film Festival for her film HOLY SPIDER. It is the first ever Israeli/Iranian cinematic collaboration. In Israel, Guy wrote and directed three features, including THE FLOOD, MAGIC MEN and STRANGERS. Guy shares his early filmmaking inspirations; the GOLDA backstory; the thrill of winning an Oscar for SKIN; the controversy over actors playing characters of different races, religions, etc; and his exciting upcoming projects. We also get into politics too, discussing the parallels between Donald Trump, Benjamin Netanyahu and the right-wing extremism in both America and Israel. And there's a brief cameo from his talented wife and filmmaking partner Jaime Ray Newman! Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com Leave us a message: 845-307-7446 Twitter: @AndyOstroy Produced by Andy Ostroy, Matty Rosenberg, and Jennifer Hammoud @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff Music by Andrew Hollander Design by Cricket Lengyel

Stephanie Grisham is the New York Times bestselling author of “I’ll Take Your Questions Now, What I Saw in the Trump White House.” During the Trump Administration she served as White House press secretary and director of communications for both the President and First Lady, Melania Trump. She is the only person in history who has held three senior roles at once, while representing both the east and west wings. Steph gives a fascinating window into Donald Trump's current state of mind as he battles his existential political, legal and financial crises which threaten to shut his business and ultimately send him to prison. Is he a flight risk...to Russia? Is America in danger of a "Trump Civil War"? She weighs in on all of this and more, including the GOP debate, a fun lightening-round on the 2024 GOP candidates, MAGA-maniac Peter Navarro and his "Pimp Lady" attack on her, and gives an update on her new animal sanctuary! Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com Leave us a message: 845-307-7446 Twitter: @AndyOstroy Produced by Andy Ostroy, Matty Rosenberg, and Jennifer Hammoud @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff Music by Andrew Hollander Design by Cricket Lengyel

Victor Shi is a Gen Z speaker, writer, and organizer. He currently hosts the daily show "On the Move with Victor Shi" and co-hosts "iGen Politics" with Jill Wine-Banks. He also serves as Strategy Director for Voters of Tomorrow, is a writer for Resolute Square, and is a rising senior at UCLA. Previously, Victor was elected as the youngest delegate for Joe Biden, organized on presidential, state, and local campaigns, and interned at the DNC and the White House. Victor has appeared on MSNBC, CNN, PBS and has been published by, among others, CNN, USA Today, and the Chicago Tribune. Victor shares his keen insights on a number of topical subjects including Donald Trump, Trumpism, 'wokeism', the chaos in the House, the looming shutdown, the Biden 'age' issue, the 2024 election, and the youth vote. Plus an inspiring trip back to his childhood, his early civic engagement and political activity, the critical role teachers played in helping shape his future path, and whether he'd ever run for political office! Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com Leave us a message: 845-307-7446 Twitter: @AndyOstroy Produced by Andy Ostroy, Matty Rosenberg, and Jennifer Hammoud @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff Music by Andrew Hollander Design by Cricket Lengyel

Al Franken is a former U.S. Senator, podcaster, comedian, and one of the original writers for Saturday Night Live. During his fifteen seasons with SNL, Franken won five Emmy’s for writing and producing. He’s also the author of four #1 New York Times bestsellers, including Rush Limbaugh is a Big Fat Idiot and Other Observations; Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them – A Fair and Balanced Look at the Right; and Al Franken, Giant of the Senate. The Al Franken Podcast is one of the nation’s top-ten politics and public affairs podcasts. And his political action committee, Midwest Values PAC, supports progressive Democrats, voting rights, economic and social justice, education, clean energy and accountability. Al brings his inimitable Mid-Western charm, keen political insights, and sardonic wit into The Back Room for a truly fun chat about his childhood; his early inspirations; his comedy and political beginnings; his SNL years and how comedy has changed since; his love of the Senate and his regrettable resignation; today's Republican Congressional chaos; Trump's legal troubles; the looming government shutdown; the Biden "age" issue and the 2024 election; and whether he'll run for office again. Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com Leave us a message: 845-307-7446 Twitter: @AndyOstroy Produced by Andy Ostroy, Matty Rosenberg, and Jennifer Hammoud @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff Music by Andrew Hollander Design by Cricket Lengyel

Peter Frampton is one of the most celebrated artists and guitarists in rock history. In 2007, he won a Grammy for Best Pop Instrumental Album for Fingerprints and in 2014 was inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame. His album All Blues was #1 for fifteen weeks on Billboard’s Blues Chart. In 2020 Frampton was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, his autobiography Do You Feel Like I Do?: A Memoir debuted on The New York Times Bestsellers list, and his 2021 album Frampton Forgets The Words was released to widespread critical acclaim. Later this year, he will appear on Dolly Parton’s forthcoming album, Rockstar (out November 17), as the only artist featured on two tracks. And after 47 years, Frampton Comes Alive! remains one of the top-selling live records of all time selling over 17 million worldwide. What an absolute thrill to have this music legend in The Back Room! Peter and I chat about his initial exposure to music and the guitar; his life-long friendship with David Bowie; his early music influences; his days playing in the bands The Herd and Humble Pie; becoming pals with George Harrison and playing on his masterpiece album All Things Must Pass; the phenomenal success of Frampton.Comes Alive!; living and creating with Inclusion Body Myositis; and his current tour. And, rumor has it there might just be a live impromptu "talk box" performance! Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com Leave us a message: 845-307-7446 Twitter: @AndyOstroy Produced by Andy Ostroy, Matty Rosenberg, and Jennifer Hammoud @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff Music by Andrew Hollander Design by Cricket Lengyel

Ted Hope has been a producer on over 70 films, CEO of a start-up streamer, co-head of 3 production companies, executive director of a film society and festival, and the former co-head of movies at Amazon Studios, leading the company to 19 Oscar nominations and 5 wins. As a producer, his films have received 25 Oscar nominations, with 6 wins. He is the author of the memoir Hope For Film and writes a Substack newsletter of the same name. Ted helped launch the feature film careers of Ang Lee, Nicole Holofcener, Hal Hartley, and many others. His most recent films include CASSANDRO, the first narrative from Oscar-winning documentary director Roger Ross Williams, as well as the documentaries FREEDOM ON FIRE, directed by Evgeny Afineevsky; Marina Zenovich’s JERRY BROWN: THE DISRUPTER; and Vanessa Hope's INVISIBLE NATION. When it comes to producing films, Ted's the real deal...with a stellar career spanning over 35 years. We're thrilled to have him in The Back Room sharing his inimitable wit and wisdom on streamers, the studios and the ever-changing movie ecosystem; the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes and the key issues behind them; the impact of AI on content creators; his exciting upcoming film projects; and his love of cheese! He also shares his memories of the early days of indie film, and in particular, working with my late wife Adrienne Shelly and auteur Hal Hartley on THE UNBELIEVABLE TRUTH and TRUST. Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com Leave us a message: 845-307-7446 Twitter: @AndyOstroy Produced by Andy Ostroy, Matty Rosenberg, and Jennifer Hammoud @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff Music by Andrew Hollander Design by Cricket Lengyel