Talk Easy With Sam Fragoso

To celebrate the fiftieth episode of Talk Easy we decided to do something a little different, which ended up being Sam sitting down with his mother for an interview. This episode is not only special for how far the show has come, but the glimpse it gives us into the lives of both Sam and his mother. The love and respect that Sam and his mom have for one another is blatant throughout the entirety of this episode, and we feel lucky to have caught it on tape. In this hour, we learn about her childhood (9:16), the experiences she had at the age Sam is now (17:53), meeting Sam's dad (43:06), and the joy she got from motherhood (54:05). ------------------------------------------------- Music for the show provided by @Vanilla and @jinsangbeats. Original illustrations by Krishna Shenoi: www.krishnabalashenoi.com/. Learn more about the show at www.talkeasypod.com

In this episode Sam sits down with director James Gray, and they dive deep into all aspects of the film industry. They start with the difficulty financing films (5:00). Then, they move onto how directing a movie is an inherent narcissistic endeavor (14:00). They also get into the importance of distribution (17:54), television and it's relationship to cinema (45:55), and the change in movies' role in pop culture (50:47). ------------------------------------------------- Music for the show provided by @Vanilla and @jinsangbeats. Original illustrations by Krishna Shenoi: www.krishnabalashenoi.com/. Learn more about the show at www.talkeasypod.com

This week Sam sits down with comedian Andy Daly. Best known for his critically acclaimed show "Review," Andy's work is centered around a dark portrayal of earnestness. There is a disconnect between this darkness and Andy himself, however--outside of his work he is generally an optimist. In this interview he and Sam talk about his improv work at the Upright Citizens Brigade, how he was a horrible student, and behind the scenes of "Review." ------------------------------------------------- Music for the show provided by @Vanilla and @jinsangbeats. Original illustrations by Krishna Shenoi: www.krishnabalashenoi.com/. Learn more about the show at www.talkeasypod.com

This week Sam sits down with director and actor, Alice Lowe. Known for going outside of the norm, Alice does not let people stand in her way--most noticeably, this can be seen in the fact that she directed and starred in her first movie in just eleven days...all while being seven months pregnant. She and Sam talk about her unconventionality to her desire to upend Hollywood's roles for women on screen. All of this and more. ------------------------------------------------- Music for the show provided by @Vanilla and @jinsangbeats. Original illustrations by Krishna Shenoi: www.krishnabalashenoi.com/. Learn more about the show at www.talkeasypod.com

This week's episode was recorded live at South by Southwest with emerging filmmaker, Janicza Bravo. Janicza's work has been described as "unpredictable" and "bizarre," however these descriptions overlook the nuances and empathy that she puts into her films. She frequently collaborates with her partner, Brett Gelman, who we had on the show back in January (January 17th, to be exact). In this interview Sam and Janicza talk about her burgeoning career as a feature-length director, the unique way she got her start as a filmmaker, and rooting for unlikable characters. ------------------------------------------------- Music for the show provided by @Vanilla and @jinsangbeats. Original illustrations by Krishna Shenoi: www.krishnabalashenoi.com/. Learn more about the show at www.talkeasypod.com

This week Sam sits down with singer-songwriter Brenton Wood. Throughout most of is career, Wood was cheated out of the money and rights to the songs he wrote. In this interview, he and Sam talk about this and how he's been able to remain happy throughout the years despite it all. Brenton's music is infectious and positive, as he is himself. Plus, you get to hear Sam sing with Brenton a bit--and they don't sound all that bad. ------------------------------------------------- Music for the show provided by @Vanilla and @jinsangbeats. Original illustrations by Krishna Shenoi: www.krishnabalashenoi.com/. Learn more about the show at www.talkeasypod.com

This week Sam sits down with renowned actor, Philip Baker Hall. Best known for his work with director Paul Thomas Anderson, Hall is a captivating presence on and off the screen. Sam and Philip talked for a long time and got into detail on so much of Philip's life. In this episode we learn more about his work with P.T.A., his falling out with Robert Altman, and his thoughts on death. ------------------------------------------------- Music for the show provided by @Vanilla and @jinsangbeats. Original illustrations by Krishna Shenoi: www.krishnabalashenoi.com/. Learn more about the show at www.talkeasypod.com

This week Sam sits down with fellow podcaster, Andrea Silenzi. She is the host of the electrifying Panoply show “Why Oh Why,” which explores the intricate worlds of love, relationships, and feminism. She and Sam delve into all of these topics in this conversation, dissecting the difference between behaviors of men and women in relationships, the pressures women face, and the fact that Sam is twenty two. ------------------------------------------------- Music for the show provided by @Vanilla and @jinsangbeats. Original illustrations by Krishna Shenoi: www.krishnabalashenoi.com/. Learn more about the show at www.talkeasypod.com

This week Sam sits down with director Roger Ross Williams. Williams started out by directing and producing for networks such as NBC, ABC, and CNN, then moved on to directing his own films. As you will hear in the show, Williams rejects settling in one's work and his passion comes through in everything that he does. He and Sam talk about his complex family life, learning how to show emotions, and much more. ------------------------------------------------- Music for the show provided by @Vanilla and @jinsangbeats. Original illustrations by Krishna Shenoi: www.krishnabalashenoi.com/. Learn more about the show at www.talkeasypod.com

This week Sam sits down with cult-critic Andy Greenwald. Andy is best known for his writing at Grantland--however he has done a plethora of work outside of this, including his writing for Spin and being a published author. In this interview, Sam and Andy talk about his work while also delving into the personal. They talk about how he met his best friend Chris Ryan, reading TV Guide as a kid, and the act of constantly reevaluating one's life. ------------------------------------------------- Music for the show provided by @Vanilla and @jinsangbeats. Original illustrations by Krishna Shenoi: www.krishnabalashenoi.com/. Learn more about the show at www.talkeasypod.com

This week Sam sits down with stand-up comedian, actress, and writer Kate Berlant. The New York Times profiled her as a "magnetic improvisational comic" and this could not be more true. Kate and Sam discuss art's place in the world of Trump, her upbringing as an only child, her new show "555," and the intricacies of improv. ------------------------------------------------- Music for the show provided by @Vanilla and @jinsangbeats. Original illustrations by Krishna Shenoi: www.krishnabalashenoi.com/. Learn more about the show at www.talkeasypod.com

This week Sam sits down with actress, director, and writer Noël Wells—who is best known for her character Rachel on the hit Netflix show, Master of None—at the Sundance Film Festival. Wonderfully forthcoming, Wells tells Sam a number of honest opinions, including the affects of social media on today’s political climate, coming to terms with oneself, and the benefits of psychedelics. ------------------------------------------------- Music for the show provided by @Vanilla and @jinsangbeats. Original illustrations by Krishna Shenoi: www.krishnabalashenoi.com/. Learn more about the show at www.talkeasypod.com

We're back! This week, Sam sits down with comedian Brett Gelman. You probably recognize him from films such as The Other Guys and 30 Minutes or Less and television shows like Man Seeking Woman, Another Period, and Fleabag. Back on screen in Lemon, which premieres at Sundance later this month, Brett came on to discuss today's political climate, trying to walk the line between self-awareness and self-criticism, leaving Adult Swim, and his minor feud with Eric Andre. ------------------------------------------------- Talk Easy is sponsored by MUBI. Get your 30-day free trial at www.mubi.com/TalkEasy. ------------------------------------------------- Music for the show provided by @Vanilla and @jinsangbeats. Original illustrations by Krishna Shenoi: www.krishnabalashenoi.com/. Learn more about the show at www.talkeasypod.com

Merry Christmas, everybody! We're closing out 2016 with a very special bonus episode of Talk Easy looking back on the year that was in cultural, politics, and art. To help us work it all out, we've invited back some of our favourite guests from Talk Easy episodes past, including Matt Zoller Seitz, Mackenzie Davis, Zazie Beetz, Wesley Morris, and more. Consider it a gift for the holiday season, and keep an eye out for the return of the show in January. Thanks for listening, and have a wonderful new year. ------------------------------------------------- Talk Easy is sponsored by MUBI. Get your 30-day free trial at www.mubi.com/TalkEasy. For more information about Baden Baden, MUBI’s exciting first theatrical release, check out the website and trailer. ------------------------------------------------- Music for the show provided by @Vanilla. Original illustrations by Krishna Shenoi: www.krishnabalashenoi.com/. Learn more about the show at www.talkeasypod.com

On this week's show, comedian Reggie Watts joins Sam to talk about finding comedy and music in improvisation, keeping those creative juices flowing, and finding the space to be creative at all. Plus, Reggie shares his thoughts on racism in America today, and considers the election of Donald Trump. All that, and a whole lot more. ------------------------------------------------- Talk Easy is sponsored by MUBI. Get your 30-day free trial at http://www.mubi.com/TalkEasy. For more information about Baden Baden, MUBI’s exciting first theatrical release, check out the website and trailer. ------------------------------------------------- Music for the show provided by @Vanilla. Original illustrations by Krishna Shenoi: http://www.krishnabalashenoi.com/. Learn more about the show at http://www.talkeasypod.com

This week on Talk Easy, journalist Jay Caspian King joins the show to talk about his career writing and editing at noteworthy publications like Grantland, The New Yorker, New York Times Magazine, and Vice. Sam and Jay also discuss his 2010 article about his own gambling addiction, his recent aversion to everything fiction and popular culture, and the belief buried beneath the cold cynicism of most people in journalism. All that and much more. ------------------------------------------------- Talk Easy is sponsored by MUBI. Get your 30-day free trial at http://www.mubi.com/TalkEasy. For more information about Baden Baden, MUBI’s exciting first theatrical release, check out the website and trailer. You can purchase Matt's latest, The Oliver Stone Experience, here. Follow him on Twitter @MattZollerSeitz. ------------------------------------------------- Music for the show provided by @Vanilla. Original illustrations by Krishna Shenoi: http://www.krishnabalashenoi.com/. Learn more about the show at http://www.

This week on Talk Easy, NY Magazine TV critic and RogerEbert.com EIC Matt Zoller Seitz joins Sam to talk about the state of film criticism. They also discuss director Oliver Stone, whose the subject of Seitz latest book The Oliver Stone Experience, a rollicking compendium of essays, interviews, and analysis that took five years to write. The wide-ranging conversations hits on the legacy of Roger Ebert, raising children, and some advice Matt gave Sam about a year ago that changed his life. ------------------------------------------------- Talk Easy is sponsored by MUBI. Get your 30-day free trial at mubi.com/TalkEasy. For more information about Baden Baden, MUBI’s exciting first theatrical release, check out the website and trailer. You can purchase Matt's latest, The Oliver Stone Experience, here. Follow him on Twitter @MattZollerSeitz. ------------------------------------------------- Music for the show provided by @Vanilla. Original illustrations by Krishna Shenoi: krishnabalashenoi.com/. Learn more abo

This week on Talk Easy, emerging actress Mackenzie Davis ("Halt and Catch Fire") joins Sam to talk about...well, yeah, the election. At least for a little bit. After working through some grief and trying to find a way forward, they discuss Mackenzie's work in films like "What If," "The Martian," and "This Awkward Moment." They also dive into her early twenties, managing friendships, and, everyone's favorite subject, death, prompted by her great episode in "Black Mirror." ------------------------------------------------- Always Shine opens at the Roxie Theater in San Francisco this Friday, November 25th. Here are tickets: http://www.roxie.com/ai1ec_event/always-shine/?instance_id=16502 For more information about Baden Baden, MUBI's exciting first theatrical release, check out the website and trailer: http://www.badenbadenfilm.com ------------------------------------------------- Music for the show provided by @Vanilla. Original illustrations by Krishna Shenoi: http://krishnabalashenoi.com/. Learn more about

On this week's show, actress Zoe Kazan joins Sam for a conversation about growing up with screenwriter parents, going off to be an actress, finding the right therapist, the stress of making the film 'Ruby Sparks' with her boyfriend, the pain of being reduced to a single movie trope, and some thoughts on Donald Trump and the election, recorded before the results last Tuesday. All that, plus some thoughts at the top from Sam himself, reflecting on those election results. ------------------------------------- Talk Easy is sponsored by MUBI. Get a 30-day free trial for MUBI at http://www.mubi.com/TalkEasy ------------------------------------- Music for the show provided by @Vanilla. Original illustrations by Krishna Shenoi: http://krishnabalashenoi.com/. Learn more about the show at http://talkeasypod.com

On this week's show, our guest is one of the inspirations for this very podcast. Max Linsky, co-host of the 'Longform' podcast, which features excellent in-depth interviews with many of the best journalists in the field. Max is also the co-founder of Pineapple Street Media, a podcasting and media company, as well as the host of the 'With Her' podcast, the official podcast of the Hillary Clinton campaign. That's right, Max co-hosts a podcast with Hillary Clinton herself. Sam and Max discuss Hillary, journalism, the art of interviewing, the wild story of how he met his wife, and much, much more. Be sure to subscribe to the 'Longform' podcast to hear Max's many interviews with some of the best journalists around: https://longform.org/podcast Then check out 'With Her' to for Max's interviews with Hillary Clinton and others on the Clinton campaign team: https://www.hillaryclinton.com/page/podcast/ Pineapple Street Media: http://pineapple.fm ------------------------------------- Music for the show provided by @