Talk Easy with Sam Fragoso is a weekly series of intimate conversations with artists, activists, and politicians. Where people sound like people. Hosted by Sam Fragoso. New episodes every Sunday.
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Gesamtlänge aller Episoden: 17 days 16 hours 13 minutes
Dispatches from a Gaza Hospital (with Dr. Seema Jilani)
As we enter month six of the Israel-Hamas war, a dispatch from Dr. Seema Jilani. She’s provided critical aid in the West Bank for nearly two decades, and recently returned from Gaza working with the IRC (the International Rescue Committee) to offer humanitarian support and medical assistance.
At the top, we discuss her most recent trip to the region (10:40), the devastating conditions she witnessed (14:46), and the details of her rescue efforts at Al-Aqsa Hospital (16:34)...
A Cup of Coffee with Actor Kyle MacLachlan (‘Twin Peaks’)
In celebration of Dune’s 40th anniversary, we have a damn fine cup of coffee with actor (and now podcaster) Kyle MacLachlan.
We discuss his new true crime podcast Varnamtown (6:36), MacLachlan’s small-town upbringing (15:09), and what inspired him to pursue acting after college (19:03) before landing his debut role in Dune (20:40)...
Lily Gladstone (‘Killers of the Flower Moon’) is Making History
Actor Lily Gladstone made history last month when she netted a Best Actress nomination for her work in Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon.
At the top, we discuss this landmark moment for the film (7:00), her personal approach to the role of Mollie Kyle (9:58), and a revealing scene between Lily and Leonardo DiCaprio (15:40)...
Quinta Brunson: ‘Abbott Elementary’ is Back in Session
Today, we return to our conversation with “Abbott Elementary” creator and star, Quinta Brunson!
On the heels of her historic Emmy wins, we discuss the guiding principles behind the series (6:02), its incomparable cast (9:41), and the show’s personal connection to Quinta’s upbringing in West Philadelphia (14:49). Then, we unpack her earliest comedic influences (19:21), performing in improv in college (26:31), and the solace she found in Second City Chicago (29:09)...
Filmmaker Lulu Wang Creates In Between Two Worlds
Following the success of her autobiographical 2019 film, The Farewell, Lulu Wang has emerged as one of the most exciting voices in Hollywood.
With the arrival of her new series Expats, she joins us to discuss the responsibility she felt creating the Hong Kong-based show (6:55), collaborating with actor Nicole Kidman (12:30), and Wang’s personal connection to the project (13:12)...
Oscar Nominations with Wesley Morris (The New York Times)
Wesley Morris has served as critic at large at The New York Times since 2015, covering film, politics, and pop culture. He joins this week to discuss this year’s Academy Award nominations.
At the top, we discuss the omission of Greta Gerwig from the Best Director category (6:07), former Secretary Clinton on Barbie-gate (10:12), the ‘perversely effective’ nature of Killers of the Flower Moon (16:30), and the ways in which Bradley Cooper’s Maestro upends the traditional biopic (21:45)...
Dan Levy (‘Schitt’s Creek’) Goes His Own Way
Over the past decade, writer and actor Dan Levy rose to fame for his work on Schitt’s Creek. After co-creating the series with his father, Eugene Levy, he turned to a quieter, more personal project.
Said project is his heartfelt directorial debut Good Grief (4:40)...
Filmmaker Ava DuVernay’s New Hollywood Framework
Over the past 15 years, filmmaker Ava DuVernay (Selma, Queen Sugar) has become something of an institution in Hollywood. As a writer, director, and producer she’s worked to make our industry more just and diverse—creating opportunities for voices that have historically been underrepresented both in front and behind the camera. In many ways her latest film, Origin, examines a hierarchy she’s worked to upend through a bold body of work...
Actor Michelle Williams Works from a ‘Place of Peace’
As we begin the new year, we're returning to our conversation with brilliant actor Michelle Williams.
We walk through the making of Showing Up (6:05), Williams’ fifteen-year partnership with director Kelly Reichardt (8:10), and her upbringing in Montana and San Diego (10:42). Then, she describes coming of age on the set of Dawson’s Creek (14:50), her pivotal turn in Tracy Letts’ Killer Joe (20:00), and her path to Ang Lee’s Brokeback Mountain (26:10)...
Talk Easy’s 2023 Mixtape
As we say goodbye to 2023, a collection of passages from some of our favorite episodes of the year. Featuring journalist and podcast host Sam Sanders on the stories of the summer (4:10), director and actor Natasha Lyonne on being a child actor in New York City (18:42), the Stanley Kubrick film that propelled Tom Hanks into performing (28:55), critic Hilton Als on the late Joan Didion (41:45), and novelist Zadie Smith on the politics of writing (52:15)...