The Moment with Brian Koppelman

This week on The Moment, Brian Koppelman talks to his wife, Amy Koppelman, a novelist and screenwriter, about her new book Hesitation Wounds and her recent film I Smile Back. The two discuss Amy's lifelong battle with depression, the themes and characters of her stories, and how writing has, in many ways, saved her life. Plus, Amy talks about the letter she wrote to Philip Roth, why Per Petterson is one of her favorite authors, and how she overcame resistance from publishers and peers throughout her career.   Topics mentioned on today's show include: Hesitation Wounds by Amy Koppelman I Smile Back by Amy Koppelman A Mouthful of Air by Amy Koppelman I Curse the River of Time by Per Petterson The Sheltering Sky by Paul Bowles The Moviegoer by Walker Percy Franny and Zooey by J.D. Salinger Toronto International Film Festival Daughters of the American Revolution "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" by The Beatles Oswald Typewriters Columbia University American Pastoral by Philip Roth The World of Yesterday by Stefan Zweig Jesus' Son by Denis Johnson University of Pennsylvania Sundance Film Festival Deauville American Film Festival Nemesis by Philip Roth   People mentioned on today's show: Amy Koppelman Sarah Silverman Josh Charles Thomas Sadoski Paige Dylan E.E. Cummings Kurt Cobain Gary Gulman Alan Hunter Mark Goodman Michael Cunningham Fyodor Dostoevsky Leo Tolstoy Anton Chekov Grace Paley Touré Richard Locke Joan Didion   This episode of The Moment is brought to you by Braintree. Looking to set up payments for your business? Braintree gives your app or website a payment solution that accepts just about every payment method with one simple integration. Plus, we'll give you your first $50,000 in transactions fee-­free. To learn more, visit BraintreePayments.com/Moment.   And by The Message, a new podcast series from GE Podcast Theater.   And by MUBI, a curated online cinema that brings its members a hand­picked selection of the best independent, international, and classic films. Every day, MUBI's curators introduce a new title and you have 30 days to watch it. That means there are always 30 wonderful films to enjoy, all for only $4.99 a month. Listeners of The Moment can try MUBI free for one month-just go to MUBI.com/themoment for a free trial.   Email:themomentbk@gmail.com  Twitter: @BrianKoppelman iTunes: itunes.com/themoment To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tom McCarthy, the writer and director of Spotlight, joins Brian this week to talk about his new film which tells the true story of how a Pulitzer Prize-winning Boston Globe team unmasked the widespread cover-up of child abuse in Boston's Catholic Church. Tom has written and directed a number of other great films including The Station Agent, The Visitor, and Win Win. Today, the two talk about how Tom bounced back from a critical and commercial failure in his 2014 movie, The Cobbler, to create what is now being regarded, in Spotlight, as a frontrunner for this year's best picture. Plus, Tom talks about his career as an actor, the role of journalism in today's society, and how some of our most calamitous mistakes aren't the result of one big bad decision, but of a lot of small mistakes, winks, and people looking the other way.   Spotlight opens in select theaters on November 6th.   Topics mentioned on today's show include: Spotlight The Station Agent The Visitor The Wire Up The Boston Globe The Cobbler Rounders Empire Win Win Evita Noises Off Boston College Star Wars Harold and Maude Repo Man Soul Asylum The Replacements The Jayhawks The Guthrie Theater The Front Page Yale Drama School Axis Theatre Almost Famous Jesus Son Ray Donovan "Calling Out Bill Cosby's Media Enablers, Including Myself" by David Carr "What Do We Really Know About Osama Bin Laden's Death?" by Jonathan Mahler "There's Just One Problem with Those Bin Laden Conspiracy Theories" by Mark Bowden All The President's Men The Insider Billions   People mentioned on today's show: Tom McCarthy Tom McArdle Tony Gilroy Adam Sandler Danny Strong Jon Hamm Peter Dinklage Bobby Cannavale Patricia Clarkson Patti LuPone Hal Ashby Amy Poehler Dave Pirner Marc Perlman Doug Hughes Dalton Trumbo Anton Chekhov Jean-Pierre Melville Francois Truffaut Sultan Kosen Ethan Hawke James Bundy Richard Jenkins Michael Keaton Liev Schreiber Rachel McAdams John Slattery Mark Ruffalo Stanley Tucci Billy Crudup Paul Gilfoy Eileen McNamara Paul Giamatti   This episode of The Moment is brought to you by Braintree. Looking to set up payments for your business? Braintree gives your app or website a payment solution that accepts just about every payment method with one simple integration. Plus, we'll give you your first $50,000 in transactions fee-­free. To learn more, visit BraintreePayments.com/Moment.   And by The Message, a new podcast series from GE Podcast Theater.   Email: themomentbk@gmail.com Twitter: @BrianKoppelman iTunes: itunes.com/themoment To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Judah Friedlander, the longtime comedian, star of 30 Rock, and author of the new book, If the Raindrops United, joins Brian this week to talk about how his material has changed over the years, his various battles with anxiety, and what it felt like to finally find a home on stage. Plus, Brian reads a passage from the new book and the two discuss why the only thing holding Judah back from making his first special is Judah.    Topics mentioned on today's show include: If the Raindrops United by Judah Friedlander 30 Rock Scott Ferrall Radio Show Top Spin WJOK Comedy Radio Comedy Tonight with Bill Boggs Robin Byrd Show Skywalking: The Life and Films of George Lucas by Dale Pollock Diner At The Diner by Brian Koppelman 1984 by George Orwell Dead Poets Society The Tibetan Book of the Dead Healing Back Pain: The Mind-Body Connection by John Sarno Rocky The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron   People mentioned on today's show: Judah Friedlander Steven Wright Lenny Bruce Rick Shapiro Bob Newhart Allan Havey Steve Martin Bob Hope Rodney Dangerfield Peter North Rick Baker Phil Tippet Ray Harryhausen Paul Reiser Jim Gaffigan Bill Burr Ted Alexandro Ben Bailey Sam Kinison John Mulrooney Andrew Dice Clay Richard Lewis Jerry Seinfeld Blaine Capatch Patton Oswalt Big Jay Oakerson Steve Nash   This episode of The Moment is brought to you by Braintree. Looking to set up payments for your business? Braintree gives your app or website a payment solution that accepts just about every payment method with one simple integration. Plus, we'll give you your first $50,000 in transactions fee-­free. To learn more, visit BraintreePayments.com/Moment.   And by The Message, a new podcast series from GE Podcast Theater.   Twitter: @BrianKoppelman iTunes: itunes.com/themoment Email: themomentbk@gmail.com To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on The Moment, Brian Koppelman talks to John Dahl who directed Rounders and gave Brian his first big break in movies. John is also known for directing movies such as The Last Seduction, You Kill Me, and Red Rock West. The two talk about John's road to becoming a director, the lessons he learned along the way, and how directing is a lot like being the leader of a band. Plus, John talks about dealing with disappointments in show business, his worst studio pitch, and why filmmakers should keep telling the story of the movie to everybody on the set.   Topics mentioned on today's show include: The Last Seduction Red Rock West Kill Me Again Unforgettable You Kill Me Rounders A Clockwork Orange She's Gotta Have It Raising Arizona Cool Hand Luke The French Connection The Godfather University of Montana Montana State University American Film Institute Billions Red Desert State And Main Powerhouse a TV series Double Indemnity General Hospital The Tropicana in Hollywood I Wake Up Screaming The Bridge   People mentioned on today's show: John Dahl Columbo The Beatles Spike Lee Coen Brothers Paul Giamatti Dave Warfield Billy Wilder Christopher Guest Bill Pullman Val Kilmer Elwood Reid   This episode of The Moment is brought to you by Braintree. Looking to set up payments for your business? Braintree gives your app or website a payment solution that accepts just about every payment method with one simple integration. Plus, we'll give you your first $50,000 in transactions fee-­free. To learn more, visit BraintreePayments.com/Moment.   And by The Rachel Maddow Show on MSNBC. Watch Rachel as she breaks down the big headlines for the local threads that tie them all together. It's the Rachel Maddow Show covering America one story at time. Weeknights at 9 Eastern only on MSNBC.   The Moment is also brought to you by The Message, a new podcast series from GE Podcast Theater.   Email: themomentbk@gmail.com Twitter: @BrianKoppelman iTunes: itunes.com/themoment To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Phil Rosenthal is the creator and executive producer of Everybody Loves Raymond and his new show, I'll Have What Phil's Having. This week, Brian and Phil discuss life before and after Everybody Loves Raymond, the best movies about show business, and Phil's first mind-blowing food experience. Plus, the two talk about Phil's current bout of writer's block, the best pizza slice in New York City, and whether Los Angeles is indeed the best food city in America.   Topics mentioned on today's show include: I'll Have What Phil's Having Everybody Loves Raymond Exporting Raymond You're Lucky You're Funny: How Life Becomes a Sitcom by Phil Rosenthal Dayenu Jewish James Bond a video by Funny or Die Spanglish The Honeymooners Hofstra University Saturday Night Live Apocalypse Now Rounders Narcos Seinfeld Curb Your Enthusiasm Avatar Terms of Endearment Making the Cut: The Road to Pebble Beach The King of Comedy Broadway Danny Rose The TV Set Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain The Bobby Gold Stories by Anthony Bourdain Defending Your Life Writer's Bloc with Phil Rosenthal Heat by Bill Buford Spicy Thai BBQ La Super Rica Guerillas Tacos   People mentioned on today's show: Les Moonves James L. Brooks Alan Kirschenbaum Bill Murray Larry David Julia Child Jeff Smith Tom Hanks Ray Romano Kevin James Steve Martin Jake Kasdan Anthony Bourdain J.R. Havlan Mario Batali Bill Esparza   This episode of The Moment is brought to you by Open Account, a podcast series created by SuChin Pak and Umpqua Bank. Open Account explores, through honest and sometimes comical interviews, our uncomfortable silence around money. Open Account is available now on iTunes.   And by Braintree. Looking to set up payments for your business? Braintree gives your app or website a payment solution that accepts just about every payment method with one simple integration. Plus, we'll give you your first $50,000 in transactions fee-free. To learn more, visit BraintreePayments.com/Moment.   The Moment is also brought to you by The Message, a new podcast series from GE Podcast Theater.   Email: themomentbk@gmail.comTwitter: @BrianKoppelmaniTunes: itunes.com/themoment To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Salman Rushdie, the distinguished author of books such as Midnight's Children, The Satanic Verses, and Joseph Anton: A Memoir, joins Brian this week to discuss his latest novel Two Years Eight Months and Twenty Eight Nights, the themes of alienation and truth that often lie beneath the surface in his work, and why, in a world gone mad, fiction matters. Plus, Salman talks about his rocky start as a writer, an unforgettable night at Madison Square Garden, and how religious fascists are waging a war on pleasure.   Topics mentioned on today's show include: Two Years Eight Months and Twenty Eight Nights by Salman Rushdie Midnight's Children by Salman Rushdie The Satanic Verses by Salman Rushdie Joseph Anton: A Memoir by Salman Rushdie The Moor's Last Sigh by Salman Rushdie Candide by Voltaire Haroun and the Sea of Stories by Salman Rushdie The Arabian Knights: Tales from a Thousand and One Nights The animal fables of The Panchatantra The Hamzanama Ocean of the Streams of Stories Grimus by Salman Rushdie Shalimar the Clown by Salman Rushdie Salman Rushdie slams critics of PEN's Charlie Hebdo tribute Tenth of December by George Saunders The Illusionist Eisenheim the Illusionist by Steven Millhauser Martin Dressler: The Tale of an American Dreamer by Steven Millhauser "One" by U2 ISIS Enshrines a Theology of Rape by Rukmini Callimachi   People mentioned on today's show: Christopher Hitchens Joyce Carol Oates Joan Didion Ibn Rushd Kierkegaard Gustave Flaubert Thorstein Veblen Ian McEwan Martin Amis Julian Barnes Kazuo Ishiguro Jane Austen Walt Whitman Penn Jillette Jonathan Franzen Steven Milhauser William Kennedy James Salter H.L. Mencken   This episode of The Moment is brought to you by Open Account, a podcast series created by SuChin Pak and Umpqua Bank. Open Account explores, through honest and sometimes comical interviews, our uncomfortable silence around money.  Open Account is available now on iTunes.   And by Braintree. Looking to set up payments for your business? Braintree gives your app or website a payment solution that accepts just about every payment method with one simple integration. Plus, we'll give you your first $50,000 in transactions fee-­free. To learn more, visit BraintreePayments.com/Moment.   Email: themomentbk@gmail.com  Twitter: @BrianKoppelman iTunes: itunes.com/themoment To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Writer and director Neil LaBute discusses his latest show, Billy & Billie, and his process as a director. LaBute delves into his work as a writer, addressing the confusion between his morality and his characters. The conversation explores truth-telling, societal connections, and the challenges faced by writers in evolving themes.

James Foley, the newly announced director of Fifty Shades Darker, joins Brian this week to discuss how James thinks about directing, the years he spent in movie jail, and how decades of Freudian analysis helped break him out. Also, Foley talks about his time on House of Cards and how David Fincher's trust gave him a 2nd shot in Hollywood. Plus, James tells a few stories from the set of Glengarry Glen Ross and takes a look ahead at his new project, Fifty Shades Darker.   Topics discussed on today's show include:  Glengarry Glen Ross Fifty Shades Darker (Sequel) Fifty Shades Darker by E.L. James Billions At Close Range After Dark, My Sweet "Papa Don't Preach" by Madonna Reckless House of Cards The Intern The Martian Gladiator Perfect Stranger Solitary Man USC Film School    People discussed on today's show:  James Foley Beau Willimon David Fincher Paul Giamatti Sigmund Freud Nikki Toscano Nancy Meyers Woody Allen Ridley Scott Halle Berry Bruce Willis Tom Cruise Josh Donen David Mamet Alec Baldwin Jack Lemmon Ed Harris Billy Wilder E.L. James Dakota Johnson Jamie Dornan   This episode of The Moment is brought to you by Draft Kings. One-week fantasy football at Draft Kings means every moment could take you closer to a life-changing payday. Play when you want and pick a new team every time! Use the code MOMENT to play free for a shot at a million bucks in this week's Millionaire Maker event only at DraftKings.com!   And by Open Account, a podcast series created by SuChin Pak and Umpqua Bank. Open Account explores, through honest and sometimes comical interviews, our uncomfortable silence around money.  Open Account is coming soon on iTunes.   And by Braintree. If you're working on a mobile app and searching for a simple payments solution, check out Braintree. With one simple integration, you can offer your customers every way to pay. Period. To learn more, and for your first $50,000 in transactions fee-free, go to braintreepayments.com/MOMENT.   Email: themomentbk@gmail.com  Twitter: @BrianKoppelman iTunes: itunes.com/themoment To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mary Karr, the award-winning poet and best-selling author, joins Brian this week to discuss her latest book, The Art of Memoir, and reflect on her past work including The Liars' Club and a poem she wrote about David Foster Wallace, "Suicide's Note: An Annual." Also, Karr talks about being critical of David and why she couldn't read Infinite Jest until after his death. Plus, Brian and Mary talk about some of their favorite memoirs and how Mary believes that with the right tools and mindset, anyone can tell their own story.   Topics discussed on today's show include: The Art of Memoir by Mary Karr The Liars' Club by Mary Karr Cherry by Mary Karr Lit: A Memoir by Mary Karr The Rock Bottom Remainders Short Sharp Shocked by Michelle Shocked Texas Campfire Tapes by Michelle Shocked "Michelle Shocked enrages fans with onstage anti-gay rant." Memoirs by Pablo Neruda A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers Dispatches by Michael Herr Stop-Time by Frank Conroy Body and Soul by Frank Conroy Black Boy by Richard Wright Native Son by Richard Wright Up From Slavery by Booker T. Washington Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison Leviathan by Paul Auster I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou The Kiss: A Memoir by Kathryn Harrison The Woman Warrior - Maxine Hong Kingston Speak, Memory by Vladimir Nabokov Night by Elie Wiesel Survival in Auschwitz by Primo Levi Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl The Painted Bird by Jerzy Kosinski The Moment with Jerome Charyn: 8/24/15 Sizzling Chops and Devilish Spins by Jerome Charyn What I Talk About When I Talk About Running by Haruki Murakami Tenth of December by George Saunders Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace Forever Overhead by David Foster Wallace On Writing by Stephen King The Shining by Stephen King The Stand by Stephen King The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien This Boy's Life by Tobias Wolff Bullet in the Brain - A Short Film The Night in Question by Tobias Wolff "Suicide's Note: An Annual" by Mary Karr   People discussed on today's show: Mary Karr Stephen King George Saunders Allen Grossman Michelle Shocked Tobias Wolff Marie Howe Geoffrey Wolff Raymond Carver Quentin Tarantino Ian McEwan Marina Abramovic Knausgaard Isaac Babel Gabriel Garcia Marquez Don DeLillo Tom Noonan Ralph Waldo Emerson Patti Smith Pam Houston   This episode of The Moment is sponsored by Draft Kings. Start this football season by winning two million dollars! This isn't fantasy as usual.  This is Draft Kings. Use code MOMENT to play free for a shot at two million dollars in the Week One Ten Million Dollar Millionaire Maker. Go to DraftKings.com!   And by Braintree. If you're working on a mobile app and searching for a simple payments solution, check out Braintree. With one simple integration, you can offer your customers every way to pay. Period. To learn more, and for your first $50,000 in transactions fee-free, go to braintreepayments.com/MOMENT   Email: themomentbk@gmail.com Twitter: @BrianKoppelman iTunes: itunes.com/themoment To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Peter Zizzo, the award winning songwriter and producer, grew up as a renowned guitar player and on today's show Brian and Peter talk about the effects of being viewed as a prodigy, the decisions he has made as an artist, and the lessons he learned along the way. Plus, Peter talks about writing songs for Celine Dion and Vanessa Carlton, how he felt being nominated for an award that was purely his own work, and wanting the success to be real this time around.   Topics discussed on today's show include: "Whispers" by Corina The Moment with David Levien: 3/24/15 Dante's Inferno by Dante Alighieri Women and Children First by Van Halen Spring Has Sprung on Peter Rabbit "Hello" by Lionel Richie "Suddenly" by Billy Ocean Solitary Man Rounders "Ordinary Day" demo by Vanessa Carlton "Only One Road" by Celine Dion   People discussed on today's show include: Peter Zizzo Vanessa Carlton Avril Lavigne Billy Cobham Adam Schlesinger Steve Winwood Taylor Swift Tony Robbins Charles Koppelman Robert Randolph Tim Herilhy David Koepp Max Martin Imani Coppola Hailey Knox Ron Fair   This episode of The Moment is sponsored by Draft Kings. Start this football season by winning two million dollars! This isn't fantasy as usual.  This is Draft Kings. Use code MOMENT to play free for a shot at two million dollars in the Week One Ten Million Dollar Millionaire Maker. Go to DraftKings.com!   And by Audible.com, a leading provider of spoken audio information and entertainment. Listen to audiobooks whenever and wherever you want.  Get a free audiobook of your choice and a 30-day trial today when you visit: audible.com/MOMENT.   And by Braintree. If you're working on a mobile app and searching for a simple payments solution, check out Braintree. With one simple integration, you can offer your customers every way to pay. Period. To learn more, and for your first $50,000 in transactions fee-free, go to braintreepayments.com/MOMENT.   Email: themomentbk@gmail.com Twitter: @BrianKoppelman iTunes: itunes.com/themoment To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices