92NY Talks

Join New York Times columnist David Brooks with renowned economist Tyler Cowen for a conversation about technology, morality, and finding humility in today’s fractious political culture — in a live taping of Cowen’s hit podcast Conversations with Tyler. David Brooks’ explorations of morality in contemporary politics and culture — the cultivation of spiritual and intellectual rigor through compromise and humility — have made him an uncommonly steady voice in an unsteady time. Critiquing the excesses of the right and the left in his bestselling books and New York Times columns, Brooks examines how class, education, and consumer culture have shaped our identities. He is exactly the kind of thinker who Tyler Cowen loves to talk with on Conversations with Tyler — Cowen’s hit podcast offering wide-ranging examinations of work, the world, and everything in between: a platform for genuine intellectual curiosity. Returning to 92NY’s stage after his sold-out conversation kicking off The Dialogue Project, hear Cowen talk to Brooks about what has shaped their intellectual lives. Take an unscripted tour of Brooks’s early Chicago crime-reporting days, how he would redesign his famed Yale “Humility” syllabus for a TikTok-native generation, the evolution of his religious worldview, his latest ideas on “moral capital,” and much more.

Join John Turturro, the award-winning actor celebrated for his roles in classic films, as he chats with Josh Horowitz about his Emmy-nominated role in the dystopian thriller, Severance. Turturro shares insights into his character Irving Bailiff, revealing the emotional depth of his romance with co-star Christopher Walken. He also reflects on the unique challenges of portraying complex characters, the joy of collaboration in acting, and the profound themes of memory and identity in the show. Expect humor and poignant anecdotes that enrich the conversation!

Megan Stalter, a rising star from HBO Max's Hacks, joins comedian Sarah Sherman for a hilarious chat. They discuss Stalter's transition from internet comedy to leading roles, particularly in Lena Dunham's new series, Too Much. With stories from the set, they humorously dissect the dynamics of acting alongside a co-star and the challenges of filming intimate scenes. The duo also shares whimsical anecdotes, including bizarre offers from Facebook Marketplace, all while reflecting on the ups and downs of their comedic journeys.

Join legendary comedian Marc Maron as he chats with Jim Gaffigan, famed for his relatable humor on fatherhood and food. They delve into the evolution of comedy, discussing how Gaffigan transitioned from anger to a more accepting style. He shares insights on the challenges of making comedy during tough times and reveals the emotional journey behind crafting his HBO special. The conversation also touches on how social media impacts the comedy landscape and even lightens up with a fun discussion about favorite ice cream flavors.

Join Wall Street Journal’s Josh Dawsey, The New York Times’ Tyler Pager and The Washington Post’s Isaac Arnsdorf with Pulitzer Prize winner Maggie Haberman for a conversation about Donald Trump’s stunning political comeback, what it means for America, and Dawsey, Pager, and Arnsdorf’s new account of the election, 2024: How Trump Retook the White House and the Democrats Lost America. “The whole world was against me, and I won,” said Donald Trump in an exclusive interview, ten days before his second inauguration. Nearly four years after Trump’s first turbulent presidency concluded in a violent attempt to overturn the election, he made a political comeback on a scale that stunned the nation. In 2024 — drawing on extraordinary access to the Trump, Biden, and Harris teams —Dawsey, Pager, and Arnsdorf bring us the definitive account of how he did it. In a special conversation, hear these award-winning reporters talk to Maggie Haberman about how the 2024 election is influencing Trump’s policy — vindicating and emboldening him — and what it means for US democracy. This talk was recorded on July 17th, 2025, at The 92nd Street Y, New York.

Join acclaimed comedian and New York Times-bestselling author Zarna Garg for a special conversation with Ira Glass (This American Life) about her new Hulu stand-up special, Practical People Win. The conversation was recorded on July 18th, 2025, at The 92nd Street Y, New York.

Ready to optimize your travel? Brian Kelly, founder of The Points Guy and “The Man Who Turned Credit-Card Points into an Empire” (The New York Times) relates secrets and tips from his bestselling book How to Win at Travel – and all you need to know to help you save money while upgrading your getaways. Recorded July 10, 2025, at The 92nd Street Y, New York.

Ray Dalio, founder of Bridgewater Associates and a leading investor, engages with David Rubenstein in a deep discussion about global debt. He raises urgent concerns regarding U.S. government debt and its implications for the economy. Dalio critiques America’s fiscal policies, shedding light on the struggles to compete with China. He shares strategies for financial stability amidst economic uncertainty, including the historical significance of gold as an investment. His new book offers insights on preventing a potential debt crisis and emphasizes learning from past mistakes.

In Who Knew, Barry Diller tells his story for the first time (and what a story it is). In a career spanning six extraordinary decades, Barry Diller has become one of the most successful executives in media history. Diller’s ascent was meteoric, launching ABC-TV’s Movie of the Week at age twenty-seven, becoming CEO of Paramount Pictures at age thirty-two, and launching the Fox TV network at age forty-four. Along the way, Diller oversaw the production of classic films such as Saturday Night Fever, Raiders of the Lost Ark, and Home Alone and hit TV shows such as The Simpsons, Married…with Children, and Cops. Along the way Diller tangoed with movie stars and moguls, using his unique management acumen to set the table on his terms. He went on to develop some of the most successful online businesses in the world, including Expedia, Match, and Angi. Indeed, Diller’s media savvy changed the course of American culture. While successful professionally, Diller struggled personally. In Who Knew, he reveals the extent of those struggles with astonishing candor before finding his “unique and complete love,” Diane Von Furstenberg. Intimate, candid, and moving, Who Knew is a memoir filled with heart, imbued with humility, and infused with wisdom.

In American Jewish life, few questions are as fraught — or as revealing — as this one: Is Donald Trump good for the Jews? For some, the answer lies in his record. As president, Trump moved the US embassy to Jerusalem, recognized Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, brokered normalization deals between Israel and Arab states, and cast himself as an unflinching ally of the Jewish state. In recent months, he has demanded action on campus antisemitism and positioned himself as a defender of Jewish students. But others see a more cynical calculus: a president who invokes Jewish loyalty tests, traffics in antisemitic tropes, and redefines criticism of Israel as bigotry — thereby narrowing the space for dissent and civil discourse. They worry that his brand of politics is less about safeguarding Jewish life than about instrumentalizing it, often at the expense of liberal values many American Jews hold dear. In this launch of the SAPIR Debates, two prominent Jewish voices take opposing sides of this urgent and emotionally charged question: Jason Greenblatt, who served as Trump’s Special Envoy to the Middle East and worked for him for 20 years, and Rahm Emanuel, former chief of staff to President Obama, Mayor of Chicago, and US Ambassador to Japan. Moderated by SAPIR Editor-in-Chief Bret Stephens, this is a timely, unsparing exchange on identity, power, politics — and what it means to stand with the Jews in America today.