Wits ® Apm Podcasts

On this week’s show, Cristela Alonzo tells us the amazing story about how she came to be the first Latina to write, produce and star in her own network sitcom, Ryan Bingham tells us what you have to do to ride a bull, and we hear what happens when you mess with Texas. Plus, Ryan sings from his latest album, Fear and Saturday Night.

On this week’s Wits, comedian, actor and podcaster Paul Scheer tells us about his reenactments of Arsenio Hall interviews from the 90s, Neko Case sings songs from her latest album, and we hear the real story of John Mellencamp’s Jack and Diane. Plus, was George Washingon a big jerk? We’ve got the answer. Maybe.

On this week’s podcast, an interview with actor John DiMaggio. He’s the voice of Adventure Time’s Jake the Dog. He’s Bender in Futurama. He’s the Executive Producer of a documentary on voice acting called “I Know That Voice,” and he’s a lot of fun to talk with. We also answer listener questions from the Wits mailbag, and comedians Hari Kondabolu and W. Kamau Bell join us for a scene in the office: a get-to-know-you game gone wrong.

On this week’s Wits, author Neil Gaiman presents the worst submissions to our Bad Gaiman Challenge – where we asked you to send in your poorest imitations of Neil Gaiman’s writing. We also hear Neil selling real estate, or rather, “unreal” estate, and in Pop Song Correspondence, Satan applies for a job at Radio Shack. Plus, music from My Brightest Diamond.

The Thrilling Adventure Hour's married mediums Frank and Sadie Doyle join Wits host John Moe in the crossover event of the holiday season. Relish the sweet song stylings of Rhett Miller, and learn all about the stories behind some of “Weird Al” Yankovic’s big projects. PLUS a super special singalong.

This week on Wits, comedian and actor Maria Bamford as a very creepy Tooth Fairy and a possibly zombified Laura Ingalls Wilder promoting her new books. We also get music from singer/songwriter Jeremy Messersmith. Plus, Maria and Jeremy try to sort out which patron saints are for real in the Wits game show.

On this week’s show, comedian, author and actor Jim Gaffigan talks about his upcoming book Food: A Love Story, the food he loves, and the food he just doesn’t really understand. Comedian, actor and musician Reggie Watts improvises a song about a beaver who is no good at building dams and singer/songwriter Thao Nguyen wows the audience with her Appalachian-infused rock and roll. Plus, Tom Waits, President Chester Alan Arthur and an immortal stegosaurus want to sell you bubbled gum.

This week on Wits, rappers George Takei and Serengeti. Wait, is that right? Well, sort of. Famed Star Trek officer, social media star, and activist George Takei tells stories about the early days of the iconic science fiction franchise, his new Broadway musical, and how he, along with his Gang from Sugar Hill, started rap music. That last part might be more of a comedy sketch. We also get to know rapper Serengeti and his alter ego Kenny Dennis. Plus, a game of OBSCURE RAPPER, ANCILLARY STAR TREK CHARACTER, or NFL LINEMAN; and great music from Serengeti.

This week on Wits, actor Eric Stonestreet as a Bigfoot who specializes in marriage counseling. Singer/songwriter Brandi Carlile reveals her secret obsession (not to reveal too much but it involves tomatoes). We also get useful lessons on how to cross piranha-infested waters and hear a clip from the new PBS remake of House of Cards. Plus brand new music from Brandi Carlile.

On this week’s show, comedian Kumail Nanjiani talks about his first time in America, his HBO show Silicon Valley, and his love for video games. He also gets pretty freaked out about a potato in a conference room. And we hear music from singer/songwriter Valerie June, who tells us how sometimes songs come to her in different voices. Plus, an installment of Cop Squadron!

On this week’s show, actor/writer Keegan-Michael Key as Rex, a powerful, 2-ton police force of nature who gets all the confessions. Because he is an actual Tyrannosaurus Rex. We also get the back story on Keegan’s iconic substitute teacher role from his hit show Key & Peele and play a Wits Game Show that reveals our guests might be criminal masterminds. Might! Plus, brand new installments of Amazon Review Theater take on one-star reviews of classics like Of Mice and Men and Hop on Pop, and the beautiful music of singer/songwriter Bhi Bhiman.

On the Wits podcast extra: Hail To the Chief(s)! Chieves? America celebrated its presidents this week. Wits celebrates those same presidents with a look back at the Commanders-in-Chief, Founding Fathers, and First Ladies that we have had on the show over the years. Or at least guests we made pretend that they were those people. And there have been a lot: James K. Polk, others. With special guests Andy Richter, Neil Gaiman, Paul F. Tompkins, Kevin Murphy, Bill Corbett, Paget Brewster, Joseph Scrimshaw, Josh Ritter, Chris Koza, Amy Sedaris, Eugene Mirman, Nellie McKay and Margaret Cho.

This week on Wits, the band OK Go debuts a brand new, previously unreleased video that you have to see to believe. Yep, video on the radio. Comedian Hari Kondabolu talks colonialism, weird word tricks and having his high school mascot named after him. We play a new Game Show featuring less-than-famous quotes from very famous people. Plus, special guest W. Kamau Bell as a Smurf and we get advice on how to understand the TV show Falcon Crest and/or sneak up on people.

On the podcast extra this week: Extra bonus Neil Gaiman, Friend of Wits! Acclaimed author Neil Gaiman is a long-time pal of our show. He’s been a full-on guest twice, and has made special appearances countless times. Because we have so much fun with Neil every time he’s on, we thought it would be fun to take a look back at some of his more memorable moments on Wits. So we tuned up the Wits time-turn-backer machine to turn back time, where it’s time to turn toward timeless Neil Gaiman turns on our show.

This week on Wits, acclaimed best-selling author Neil Gaiman tells tales of his time in a teenage punk band, reveals the conversations he’s had while owning multiple talking animals, and tackles the role of a smooth jazz trumpeter tasked with saving the world from Murder Cat. Singer/songwriter Shara Worden joins us for a Wits Game Show about some of the most obscure comic books ever made, and we get beautiful eclectic music from My Brightest Diamond.

We had such a great time taping our show with Paul F. Tompkins, Paget Brewster, Weird Al Yankovic, and Rhett Miller that we lost track of ourselves and made way too much material for the radio. So we are sharing this bonus material as an extra TOO MUCH FOR RADIO episode. Hear Paul F. Tompkins and Paget Brewster battle Rhett Miller for “Weird Al” Yankovic’s affection. Check out the new #1 single, Guacamole Heart. And swoon to Rhett’s croons.

This week: the triumphant return of the terrific Wits/Thrilling Adventure Hour Crossover. Enjoy an all-new feature featuring married mediums Frank & Sadie Doyle and their quest to figure out just who is filling all these martini glasses with booze while they sleep. The one and only “Weird Al” Yankovic reveals the true stories behind some of his most iconic songs and projects, while actress Paget Brewster stuns the audience with her allegiance to the most hated of all insects. Plus, Paul F. Tompkins reveals that you’ve been singing Bowie wrong all this time, and we get a blast of pure rock energy from singer/songwriter Rhett Miller.

On this week's episode, Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me! host Peter Sagal sings, comedian Paul F. Tompkins reads one-star Amazon reviews (and also sings), and art-rapper Open Mike Eagle offers chilling insight on the Happy Birthday song. He sings as well. Plus, a peek at what probably happened in movies like Christine and Steel Magnolias, cocktail recipes from Don Draper, and a Wits game show.

This week on Wits, you will be shocked by what you learn about our guest, comedian Maria Bamford, and the things she’s eaten that belong to other people. We also meet Buttonwillow, the world’s best salesperson, and get incredibly valuable advice on how to appreciate the band ABBA. Plus, behind-the-scenes with the Doobie Brother mother, and lots of great music from Jeremy Messersmith.

This week on Wits, Emmy-nominated actor Colin Hanks takes us to the new M. Night Shyamalan restaurant, and he and singer/songwriter Father John Misty travel back in time to the Great Depression and the first moments of the game Monopoly. Plus, advice on how to enjoy life when you stand nowhere, a tour through American slang, and music from Father John Misty.