In the first episode of the Succession podcast, host Kara Swisher unpacks the season three premiere episode, “Secession,” which features a deliciously awkward phone call between Gerri and the president’s press secretary. Kara is joined by former White House Communications Director, Jennifer Palmieri to talk about real life media conglomerates lobbying the White House, and whether Waystar’s move was savvy, or just a complete disaster. Kara also ranks which character is up in this week’s episode, who’s down, and who made the most surprising power move. The official Succession podcast is produced by HBO in conjunction with Pineapple Street Studios. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

HBO’s Emmy-winning show Succession is back for a third season. After each week’s episode airs, join host Kara Swisher and her guests as they unpack how the real world is reflected in the world of Succession on screen. She’ll dive into family dynamics, capitalism run amok, and power unchecked with some of the top thinkers, as well as some of the people who made the show. The official Succession podcast is produced by HBO in conjunction with Pineapple Street Studios. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Host Roger Bennett is joined by Emmy nominee Matthew Macfadyen, who plays Tom Wambsgans, the brown-nosed king of beta-maleness and cuckold crown prince of doomed love. Matthews talks transforming his velvety British voice into Tom's American accent, his antithetical relationships with Shiv and Greg, and the sheer terror of eating Logan Roy's chicken. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Host Roger Bennett is joined by Alan Ruck, who plays Connor Roy, the Presidential hopeful, sugar daddy and Napoleon artifact aficionado. Alan talks what one line unlocked Connor for him, his character's relationship with "the golden trio" of Roy siblings and Rasputin's penis. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Host Roger Bennett is joined by J. Smith-Cameron, who plays Gerri Kellman, Waystar Royco’s General Counsel, the smartest person in the room and a true boss in a sea of manboys. Smith-Cameron talks Gerri as a strong, empowering female role, her ability to steal a scene with a side-eye or smirk, and the origin of the term "slime puppy."  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Host Roger Bennett is joined by Emmy nominee Nicholas Braun, who plays Cousin Greg, the gangly, toe fungus-beset, California Pizza Kitchen aficionado capable of stapling his pants to his own leg. Braun talks about his comedic connection with Matthew Macfadyen, whether Greg has the killer instinct to rise to the top of Waystar Royco, and meeting Succession fan, President Bill Clinton. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Host Roger Bennett is joined by Emmy-nominee Kieran Culkin, who plays Roman Roy, the louche, gutter-mouthed, broken third son of monstrous patriarch Logan. Kieran talks Roman's unfiltered approach to life, the character's sexual hangups, and finally embracing acting as a "career" in his mid-30s.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Host Roger Bennett is joined by Sarah Snook, who plays Shiv Roy, that astute, acerbic, entitled lover of non-monogamous relationships, unbridled power and backless turtlenecks. Snook talks landing the role on a longshot video from Australia, the dynamics and origins of Shiv's relationship with Tom, and if she is the rightful heir to the Waystar Royco throne. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Host Roger Bennett is joined by the haunted, hip hop slinging, dead-eyed, try-hard heir apparent to your favorite media, cruise and theme-park empire, Jeremy Strong, aka Kendall Roy. Jeremy discusses the extremes he goes to meet his character, Kendall's relationship with his father, and the one line that caused him to turn against his family. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Host Roger Bennett is joined by the man at the top of the Waystar Royco org chart: Emmy Award and Golden Globe-winner Brian Cox, the gent who plays Succession’s bellicose patriarch Logan Roy. Brian talks his tenacious career arc, whether Logan really loves his children, and dives deep into that age-old Logan Roy adage: “Fuck Off.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices