Morning Meeting

This week, the always entertaining John Lithgow stops by, along with AIR MAIL columnist Douglas McGrath, to talk about the terrific new Off Broadway show that Lithgow has directed and McGrath wrote and stars in. As expected, it’s a lively, fun conversation. In addition, George Pendle looks at the Sisterhood of the Traveling Brownshirt: how European women are the new face of the far right. And then Hooman Majd brings his insights to the protests in Iran, and what they portend for the men who toppled the Shah. All this and more make this week’s show one you won’t want to miss.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week, Ashley and Mike take a look at the dark side of social-media influencers and get a peek inside what really happens at those exclusive artist retreats. Eve Peyser joins the show to reveal how Saudi Arabia, hoping to make people forget its ruler ordered the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, pays Instagram stars to post about how fun it is to vacation there. Then Judith Newman talks about her time at the Ucross colony, and explains what gets made (and who gets laid) when writers and artists get away from it all. And speaking of writers, Michael Oreskes tells us about some new books that reveal how the masters of the dark arts controlled Trump and his White House. All this and more make this week's show one you won't want to miss.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week, Ken Burns joins Ashley and Mike to discuss his timely new documentary, and writer Andrew Ryvkin explains how Putin hopes to swap American basketball star Brittney Griner for a notorious Russian arms dealer. In addition, Ashley shares her impressions on life in London during the mourning of Queen Elizabeth, and there’s a look at a terrific new documentary about David Bowie. All this and more make this week’s episode one you won’t want to miss.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week, two very special guests join Ashley and Mike to remember Elizabeth II. First, Anna Scott Carter shares a lovely story about the first time she met the Queen, and also gives personal insights into why the monarch had such a love for Balmoral. Then George Pendle details how Cecil Beaton's carefully composed photographs of her across the decades played a crucial role in creating her image—and our memories of her. All this and more make this week's show one you won't want to miss.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week, Ashley and Mike are joined by three great guests: first, AIR MAIL Co-Editor Alessandra Stanley, who notes that Jared Kushner, in his new book, reveals the Trumps have a bit more in common with the Mussolinis than we ever knew. Later, screenwriter and reporter Michael Bronner has a riveting update on the sociopathic grifter who inspired the movie Rogue Agent; and finally Christopher Buckley, the master of the satirical novel, stops by to discuss his very funny new book. All this and more make this week’s show one you won’t want to miss.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week, the great documentary director Errol Morris joins Ashley and Mike to discuss the HBO show The Rehearsal, and whether Nathan Fielder’s players are in on a joke or unwitting subjects in an elaborate behavioral experiment. Later, AIR MAIL Books Editor Jim Kelly stops by to talk about a revealing (and timely) new biography of Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Plus, there’s a look at a bizarre crime on Nantucket involving vacationing Washington, D.C., power players. All this and more make this week’s show one you won’t want to miss.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week, Ashley and Mike are joined by three great guests: first, Buzz Bissinger, author of Friday Night Lights, who tells us why he's preparing to leave America; second, Flora Gill, who explains how a dating show where everyone is naked has conquered the U.K. (and why it's also very heartwarming); and finally, Joseph Bullmore, who tells us about the world's most Googled person—the millionaire misogynist spreading his toxic gospel to young men via Hustler's University. All this and more make this week's show one you won't want to miss.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week, we celebrate our 100th episode! We want to thank everyone who has listened over the past two years. On today’s show, Ashley and Mike are joined by three great guests: first, the always funny Jill Kargman, who tells us why she’s watched every single episode of South Park; second, Rich Cohen, who takes us inside his riveting true-crime story about “murder boy”; and finally, Elliot Ackerman, who discusses his new book, The Fifth Act, about America’s withdrawal from Afghanistan and how he helped coordinate a “digital Dunkirk.” All this and more make this week’s show one you won’t want to miss.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

How did 2022 become the Summer of Frump? Sun’s out, but buns are not out, and this week Linda Wells joins Ashley and Mike to reveal how and why “granny style” has taken over the toniest of beaches. In addition, Douglas McGrath suggests a provocative career move for Liz Cheney, and Terry McDonell remembers the greatest N.B.A. champion ever—and a true inspiration of a human being—Bill Russell. All this and more make this week’s show one you won’t want to miss.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week, Ashley and Mike are joined by three terrific conversationalists: James Wolcott, Marie Brenner, and Alan Zweibel. James gets us up to speed on director Michael Mann’s heart-thumping novel-sequel to his film masterpiece Heat, while Marie takes us inside her riveting new book about how one of New York City’s great hospitals battled and survived the coronavirus siege. Finally, Alan Zweibel, a founding writer of Saturday Night Live and the man behind John Belushi’s samurai sketches, stops by to talk about what happens when “hip” takes on a very different meaning. It’s an episode you won’t want to miss.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.