Here's The Thing with Alec Baldwin

There is bouncing back after adversity, and then there is: Vanessa Williams. The talented multi-hyphenate was only 21 years old when she became the first Black woman to be crowned Miss America. Yet a controversy surrounding the release of unauthorized nude photos led to her ultimately relinquishing her title 10 months into her reign. When doors were closed to her following the scandal, she fought her way back to an impressive and decorated career: Williams built decades of success as an actor and recording artist, selling 25 million records worldwide, starring in over 100 roles in television, film, and on Broadway - and being nominated for a Tony and multiple Emmy and Grammy Awards.  Vanessa Williams speaks with host Alec Baldwin about the death threats she received after she won Miss America, how the work of Stephen Sondheim inspires the type of art she wishes to make, and what it?s like working with Elton John on her next big project. 

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Many of us are aware that a steady diet of candy, cookies and soda isn?t the best thing for our health, but few know just how dangerous these products can be. Physician and public health expert Dr. Dean Schillinger has witnessed the ?absolute explosion? of Type 2 Diabetes in America. Dr. Schillinger is founder of the University of California San Francisco Center for Vulnerable Populations, Professor of Medicine in Residence at UCSF and was featured in the PBS documentary on diabetes, ?Blood Sugar Rising.? He believes that sweeping legislative and societal changes are necessary to reverse the ravaging effects of this disease. Dr. Schillinger shares with host Alec Baldwin how corporations knowingly fuel our addiction to sugar, why the disease disproportionately affects vulnerable populations and the most important change you can make to help fight diabetes.

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The sound of the band Heart is unmistakable: powerful guitar riffs, intricate melodies and soaring vocals. Since 1975, the group fused hard rock, pop and folk to produce 20 Top 40 hits, earn four Grammy nominations and sell over 35 million records. They also made rock history as the first female-fronted hard rock band ? and one of the longest lasting and most commercially successful bands of all time. Now, they are heading out on a world tour.  In this two-part episode, host Alec Baldwin speaks with the two women at the beating center of the band, sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson. In this episode, Alec talks with lead vocalist Ann Wilson about how she discovered she had ?the voice,? what it was like coming up as a young woman in the music industry in the 70s, and how Heart managed to produce a sound that was both hard and soft, being anything it wanted to be.

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Since their debut album in 1975, the band Heart has been unstoppable. With sisters Ann Wilson on lead vocals and Nancy Wilson on guitar and vocals, Heart made history as the first female-led hard rock band. They dominated the charts for decades, producing 20 Top 40 hits like ?Barracuda,? ?Alone,? and ?These Dreams,? earning four Grammy nominations and selling over 35 million records. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductees also have the honor of being one of the longest-lasting and most commercially successful bands of all time. This April, they are heading out on a world tour. In this two-part episode, host Alec Baldwin speaks with the two women at the beating center of the band, sisters Nancy and Ann Wilson. In this episode, Alec talks with Nancy Wilson about how she got her start on the guitar at the age of 9, how she transitioned into composing film scores and why the guitar is her best friend.

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Single-handedly redefining the term ?character actor,? the accomplished Richard Kind is surely one of the hardest working people in show business. His resume is unfathomably wide and deep, with over 270 film and television credits, spanning roles that exploit his killer comedic timing, like sitcoms ?Spin City? and ?Curb Your Enthusiasm,? and those that exercise his dramatic chops, like HBO?s ?Luck? and the CBS procedural ?East New York.? He?s an actor just as likely to appear in an Oscar-winning feature film as an animated one, to scene-steal a sketch comedy series as to star in an indie short. Kind is also a Tony-nominated stage actor, having appeared on Broadway in ?The Producers,? ?Funny Girl? and ?The Big Knife,? among many others. Richard Kind speaks with host Alec Baldwin about the type of comedians that raised him, how he found his way to the profession after almost attending law school ? and why he believes he is the ?Costco of acting,?

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On February 16th, it was announced that Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny had died in prison. The Vladimir Putin critic had been in Russian captivity on charges of embezzlement and extremism ? and had recently been transferred to a remote penal colony in the Arctic Circle, where Russian authorities claimed the 47-year old died from ?sudden death syndrome.? In the wake of the tragic news, world leaders directly blamed Putin for Navalny?s death. In 2022, Alec Baldwin spoke with Daniel Roher, the director of the Academy-Award-winning documentary, ?Navalny,? which follows the activist in the wake of his 2020 poisoning as he works to uncover those responsible for the assassination attempt against him, before voluntarily returning to Russia. Roher and his collaborator in the film, investigative journalist Christo Grozev, spoke with Alec Baldwin about Navalny?s bravery, why poison is the Kremlin?s weapon of choice and the final moments they spent with Navalny before his heroic return to Russia.

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Chunks of ice making a path across the surface of a river, streaks of pink and orange clouds blocked out against the sky, trees framing a darkened road as if in a ghost story?in the hands of photographer Carolyn Marks Blackwood, nature becomes an abstract work of art. New York?s Hudson Valley is Blackwood?s backyard and her inspiration, where she captures the micro and macro moments of nature?s constant changes ? and the details we so often miss. Blackwood is also a screenwriter and producer, bringing to life films like ?Philomena? and ?The Duchess.? She speaks with host Alec Baldwin about how photography is an act of ?flying by the seat of my pants,? about her time as a jazz singer in New York City, and how she found her way to her many artistic pursuits.  

Carolyn Marks Blackwood?s work can be found here.

The James Paul Cheung scarves made from Blackwood?s photographs can be found here.

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He?s worked as the personal chef for French President Charles de Gaulle, co-hosted a television series with Julia Child and has authored over 30 cookbooks. There?s simply no one in the world like French chef ? and culinary icon ? Jacques Pépin.  The Emmy- and James Beard Foundation Award winner worked in more than 100 restaurants before becoming the Director of Research and Development for Howard Johnson?s. He then transitioned to educating the public in proper French cooking methods through his groundbreaking cookbooks like ?La Technique? and his latest, ?Jacques Pépin Cooking My Way: Recipes and Techniques for Economical Cooking;? as well as through his numerous television series like ?Today?s Gourmet? and ?Every Day Cooking.? He is also the co-founder of the culinary certificate program at Boston University and founder of The Jacques Pépin Foundation, which teaches underserved populations a path to employment through cooking. Alec speaks with Chef Pépin about how his family?s work in restaurants influenced his path, why he?s made the pivots he has throughout his career, and what a revered chef likes to eat in his downtime. 

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It?s time for the premiere of our fourth season of ?Here?s the Thing with Alec Baldwin? at iHeartRadio. Our first episode features the woman behind what TV Guide called ?the most famous soap opera character in the history of daytime TV.?  Actor Susan Lucci inhabited the role of bad girl Erica Kane on ABC?s ?All My Children? for four decades, from the show?s inception in 1970 until 2011. She earned the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress for the role in 1999 after nineteen nominations ? and in December 2023, received the Daytime Emmy Lifetime Achievement Award. Lucci?s body of work also includes numerous television series, films and the Broadway stage. She is the author of All my Life: A Memoir and is a National Spokesperson for the American Heart Association. Susan Lucci talks with host Alec Baldwin about how she played a role that evolved over decades, how she realized a lifelong dream of performing on Broadway, and her thoughts on the rumors of a potential reboot of the beloved soap.  

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Join award-winning actor Alec Baldwin in conversation with some of the most dynamic artists, policymakers, and performers working today. This season, Alec speaks with actor Susan Lucci about portraying her iconic character Erica Kane for four decades, chef Jaques Pépin on his passion for sharing the joy of cooking, and public health advocate Dr. Dean Schillinger on the diabetes epidemic and what can be done about it, just to name a few. If you like listening as much as Alec likes talking with interesting people, subscribe now and never miss an episode. The new season begins January 23rd.

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As we prepare to launch our fourth season at iHeartRadio, we?re revisiting some of host Alec Baldwin?s favorite episodes from the archives. In this episode, Alec digs into the minds behind the processing of the 1.3 billion gallons of wastewater, 16 million pounds of trash and eight million pounds of recyclables that New York City produces every day. Pam Elardo is the former Deputy Commissioner of New York City's Department of Environmental Protection, leading the city's Bureau of Wastewater Treatment. Ron Gonen was New York City's first "Recycling Czar" and now thinks about the problems of waste-management from the perspective of a businessman: he's the CEO of a major investment fund looking for the Next Big Idea in recycling. Pam and Ron walk Alec through what happens from the moment people flush the toilet or toss out their coffee-cup -- and they talk about the big-picture environmental impact of our choices. And since this is Here's the Thing, Alec also learns the incredible life stories each one brings to the job -- from Pam's persistence in the face of the sexism that discouraged women engineers of her generation, to Ron's luck stumbling into the home of a prominent environmentalist while doing housework to make ends meet for his family as a kid.

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As we prepare to launch our fourth season at iHeartRadio, we?re revisiting some of host Alec Baldwin?s favorite episodes from the archives. In this episode, Alec speaks with actress, singer and Broadway star Audra McDonald. Much like the staggering beauty of her voice, Audra McDonald is impossible to ignore. The only artist to sweep all four acting categories at the Tony?s, she?s the most decorated Broadway star of all time. Reviews of her award-winning performances overflow with accolades, describing her stage presence as ?spellbinding,? ?haunting,? and ?genius.? But for the California native, things haven?t always been easy. In this 2017 conversation, McDonald talks to Alec about getting into Juilliard, making it on Broadway, and the suicide attempt that helped shape who she is today.

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As we prepare to launch our fourth season at iHeartRadio, we?re revisiting some of host Alec Baldwin?s favorite episodes from the archives. In this episode, Alec speaks with actor Dustin Hoffman. ?The Graduate,? ?Midnight Cowboy,? and ?Lenny? were just the beginning of Dustin Hoffman's legendary Hollywood career. Over the last five decades, he's stretched and contorted himself into dozens of defining roles, earning recognition as one of the most talented actors in cinema history. In this 2015 conversation, Hoffman tells Alec that he savors each new opportunity like it's the first, and recalls his salad days when he was mis-cast, underestimated, and, on at least one notable occasion, sick on a co-star's shoe. 

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As we prepare to launch our fourth season at iHeartRadio, we?re revisiting some of host Alec Baldwin?s favorite episodes from the archives. In this episode, Alec speaks with the late David Crosby. Some combination of Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young played together for 50 years ? until 2016. The group even survived Crosby's near-total dissolution under the influence of cocaine and heroin. That was a brush with death that left him in need of a liver transplant and a new approach to life. His newfound joy is clear in this 2018 exuberant conversation with Alec. Crosby's childlike gratitude for his sixty years in music is palpable, but he is candid about the struggles, too: from wrestling with Roger McGuinn over control of The Byrds, to the terrifying culmination of the 2016 breakup of Crosby, Stills, and Nash.

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As we prepare to launch our fourth season at iHeartRadio, we?re revisiting some of host Alec Baldwin?s favorite episodes from the archives. In advance of the release of the film ?Maestro? ? directed by and starring Bradley Cooper ? we?re sharing Alec?s interview with two of Leonard Bernstein?s three children. Alec speaks with Jamie and Alexander Bernstein about life growing up with the world-famous conductor and composer. While they knew him in the tux and tails, they also knew him as the dad who loved games ? he was a killer at anagrams ? and was always up for tennis, squash, skiing, or touch football. The two talk about listening to music ? Jamie says she learned ?more about music by listening to The Beatles with my dad than I think I did any other way?? and how their father's relationship to fame evolved during his lifetime. Alex remembers his dad saying, ?I?m so sick of Leonard Bernstein. I've had it with him."

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Melissa DeRosa was the most powerful unelected person in New York State in her position as Secretary to the Governor. She resigned following the Attorney General?s investigation into sexual harassment allegations against Gov. Andrew Cuomo in 2021. Now, her book, "What's Left Unsaid: My Life at the Center of Power, Politics & Crisis? reveals her side of the story and includes intimate details of the dramatic events as they unfolded. She shares an unflinching look at her career, the state?s pandemic response and the workings of Cuomo?s inner circle as they attempted to navigate the scandal. DeRosa speaks with Alec Baldwin about what first attracted her to public service, the effect her career has had on her personal life and what she believes was a political takedown of her former boss. 

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Singer-songwriter Rosanne Cash celebrates the 30th Anniversary of her landmark album ?The Wheel? with the release of a remastered version on her new label, RumbleStrip Records. The daughter of legend Johnny Cash, Rosanne Cash began her career singing backup for her father, but soon made her own indelible mark on the music world, with 11 number one country songs, two gold records and four Grammys. She?s also an essayist and author of four books, including her best-selling memoir, ?Composed.? Cash speaks with Alec Baldwin about starting out as a young woman in the industry in the 70s, how she reclaimed her family?s story through writing and how to remain faithful to herself in her work.

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Documentary filmmaker James Jones tells the unbelievable story of CEO-turned-fugitive Carlos Ghosn in ?Wanted: The Escape of Carlos Ghosn.? In 2018, the former auto executive of Nissan and Renault was arrested in Japan on charges of financial misconduct. He then escaped prosecution by being smuggled out of the country?in a box. Jones, director of the BAFTA-winning ?Chernobyl: The Last Tapes,? explores questions surrounding CEO excess and a potential corporate takedown in this four-part Apple TV+ series. Alec Baldwin speaks with James Jones about getting Ghosn to be interviewed for the series, the people who suffered collateral damage and if Ghosn, now residing in Lebanon, will ever be held accountable.  

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With as many as a million plant and animal species expected to vanish by 2050, the time is now to intervene and reverse the tide?before it is too late. Andrea Crosta is the founder of the non-profit Earth League International, an ?Intelligence agency for Earth,? which protects wildlife, oceans, and forests through intelligence-gathering, research and investigative operations. ELI collaborates with governmental agencies and helps bring down illegal wildlife traffickers, their networks, and those engaged in the ?criminal exploitation of nature.? Their work has resulted in the arrest of a jaguar-fang ring in Bolivia and helping the Mexican government pursue the ?Cartel of the Sea,? which trafficks sea cucumbers and totoaba. Alec Baldwin speaks with Andrea Crosta about the experiences that led him to this work, what it?s like meeting wildlife traffickers face to face, and why we are in a ?now or never? moment for our ecosystem.

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Publishing powerhouse Michael Wolff is the bestselling author of the definitive trilogy on the Trump White House: ?Fire and Fury,? ?Siege,? and ?Landslide.? He also has served as a columnist for New York magazine, Vanity Fair, British GQ, the Guardian and the Hollywood Reporter ? and is the recipient of two National Magazine Awards. Wolff?s most recent release, ?The Fall: The End of Fox News and the Murdoch Dynasty,? follows up his biography of Rupert Murdoch, ?The Man Who Owns the News,? with further insight into the media mogul and the behind-the-scenes machinations of the cable news network, positing that the end of its influential era may be near. Michael Wolff joins Alec Baldwin for a live event at Town Hall in New York City to discuss his latest book, his writing process, and the state of journalism today. 

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Alec Baldwin speaks with two genius musicians whose artistry has contributed to some of the most memorable songs of the sixties, seventies and eighties, leaving an indelible mark on the music world. Steve Gadd, one of the most influential drummers of all time, is known for bridging jazz, rock, and blues. He has been a studio musician for countless artists from Carly Simon to Aretha Franklin ? and tours with musicians like Eric Clapton, James Taylor, Joe Cocker, as well as with his own outfit, The Steve Gadd Band. His artistry can be found on Paul Simon?s ?50 Ways To Leave Your Lover? and Steely Dan?s ?Aja.? Larry Carlton is a four-time Grammy winning jazz and rock guitarist who became famous for his work as a studio musician in the 1970s and 1980s. He has played in over 3,000 studio sessions with artists like Joni Mitchell, Steely Dan, Michael Jackson, Dolly Parton and many others. Rolling Stone named his contribution to Steely Dan?s ?Kid Charlemagne? one of the best guitar solos in rock music. Carlton is also renowned for his solo work and as a member of the jazz group The Crusaders and the smooth jazz band Fourplay.

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Photojournalist Brian Hamill is known for his still photographs from movie sets and portraits of rock and roll legends, athletes, celebrities, and politicians. Everyone from Muhammad Ali to Frank Sinatra to Barbara Streisand has been the subject of his lens over the course of his five decades of work. The life-long New Yorker has captured some of the most iconic photos of John Lennon and Yoko Ono, which were recently compiled into his 2022 book, ?Dream Lovers: John and Yoko in NYC.? His work on set spans more than 75 motion pictures, including unforgettable films like ?Annie Hall,? ?Raging Bull,? ?Big,? ?Tootsie,? and ?You?ve Got Mail.? Hamill?s photojournalism experience extends to capturing moments of strife and conflict, including the 1994 Northridge Earthquake and ?The Troubles? in 1970s Northern Ireland. Alec Baldwin speaks to Hamill about growing up in Brooklyn as the child of Irish immigrants, his behind-the-scenes experiences on the world?s most memorable movie sets, and the backstory that led to taking John Lennon?s portrait. 

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As the writers? and actors' strike in Hollywood stretches into the fall, many have called this moment ?existential.? After negotiations with AMPTP, the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, broke down, SAG-AFTRA and WGA members took to picket lines over dwindling wages and the use of artificial intelligence, which may change the entertainment industry forever. Writer, director, and producer Justine Bateman is one guild member warning of A.I.'s potentially devastating influence. Following her roles in Family Ties and Satisfaction, among many others, Bateman transitioned to working behind the scenes as a filmmaker and author. She earned her Computer Science and Digital Media Management degree from UCLA in 2016, which has become all the more relevant facing the rise of A.I. Bateman speaks with Alec Baldwin about the threat A.I. poses to the entire entertainment industry, how the business has changed since she first started in it, and what drives her creative work.

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It?s time for the final episode in our Summer Staff Picks series, highlighting favorite conversations from the Here?s The Thing archives. This week, we revisit Alec Baldwin?s conversation with Andrew Berman. He has been called one of the most powerful people in New York real estate, but not because he's a deep-pocketed developer. Berman is the Executive Director of Village Preservation, where he advocates for the protection and conservation of historically important buildings and sites in Greenwich Village, the East Village and NoHo, including the cultural touchstone The Stonewall Inn. Alec first spoke with Berman in 2015 regarding his background and what led him to this field, how the changing zoning laws affect his work, and his wish for the city?s future. Berman joined Alec again earlier this summer for an update on his work since last they spoke, including the recent wins that Village Preservation has achieved, the ways the city has changed since covid and the challenges involved in solving the city?s affordable housing crisis.

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Our summer tradition at Here?s the Thing continues, as staff members choose their favorite conversations from the archives for our Summer Staff Pick series. This week, we revisit Alec?s 2021 interview with Mick Fleetwood, drummer and founding member of Fleetwood Mac, one of the most successful rock bands of all time and creators of enduring hits like ?Landslide,? ?Dreams,? and ?Don?t Stop.? Fleetwood talks to Alec about how his dyslexia led him to drumming, how supportive parents encouraged his talent and his move to London as a teenager, how his friendship with the band?s founder, guitarist Peter Green, evolved to a life-long friendship, and how Fleetwood Mac balanced the weight of their interpersonal dynamics and the band?s wild, over-the-top success. 

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Making recent headlines is the arrest in a cold case over a decade-old, the Long Island Serial Killer. From 2010 to 2012, the remains of 11 bodies were found on or near Gilgo Beach on the east end of Long Island, New York. In July of 2023, authorities arrested Rex Heuermann, a 59-year old architect charged with the murder of three women in the case ? and named as a prime suspect in a fourth, based on phone records and DNA evidence. True crime documentary and podcast producers Billy Jensen and Alexis Linkletter were on the hunt long before these recent developments. Their 2021 podcast,?Unraveled: Long Island Serial Killer,'' uncovers a web of corruption and cover-ups perpetuated by the Suffolk County Police Department that enabled the investigation to go unresolved for so long. Alec speaks with Jensen and Linkletter about their findings, what the recent discoveries reveal ? and what questions still remain. 

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Acclaimed jazz musician Christian McBride has made hundreds of recordings, won eight Grammy Awards and led numerous ensembles, including the Christian McBride Band, the Christian McBride Big Band, Inside Straight and the New Jawn. The versatile bassist has collaborated with jazz legends Herbie Hancock, Ray Brown, Freddie Hubbard, and Chick Corea, as well as artists outside the genre like Sting, Paul McCartney and Celine Dion. Known as a child prodigy, McBride performed with Miles Davis and Wynton Marsalis while still in high school, where he attended Philadelphia?s High School for the Creative and Performing Arts, alongside future members of The Roots and Boyz II Men. McBride now serves as the artistic director of the Newport Jazz Festival and the educational foundation Jazz House Kids. Christian McBride speaks with Alec about his influences, leaving Juilliard early to go on the road, and how being a working musician is similar to being a professional athlete. For information on upcoming tour dates, go to christianmcbride.com.

You can find a playlist featuring Alec?s favorite Christian McBride songs here.

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Our Here?s the Thing Summer Staff Picks series continues, featuring our favorite episodes from the archives. This week, we revisit Alec?s 2021 interview with U.S. Representative Katie Porter. In 2018, Porter was the first Democrat ever to be elected in her traditionally conservative Orange County, California district. Prompted to run by Trump?s 2016 win, Porter quickly made a name for herself with her tough questioning of CEOs and administration officials, often using a whiteboard to lay out the facts. Katie Porter?s no-nonsense approach comes in part from her upbringing in Iowa. During the farm crisis of the 1980s, she saw first-hand how her father, a third generation farmer turned community loan officer, helped to support their neighbors. She went on to study bankruptcy law under Elizabeth Warren at Harvard Law School and become a consumer protection attorney and a law professor. A single mom to three school-age children, Katie Porter tells Alec people often have often underestimated her - at their own peril.

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Our staff picks continue at ?Here?s The Thing,? where throughout the summer, members of our team select their favorite interviews from the archives. This week, we revisit Alec?s 2021 interview with Hans Zimmer, one of the most celebrated and successful film composers of all time. The German-born Zimmer has scored more than 150 movies including ?Gladiator,? ?Hannibal,? ?Sherlock Holmes,? ?The Last Samurai,? and ?The Thin Red Line,? earning him two Academy Awards (?Dune? and ?The Lion King?) and four Grammys. His collaboration with director Christopher Nolan (?The Dark Knight? trilogy, ?Interstellar,? ?Dunkirk,? and ?Inception,?) has become one of the most celebrated partnerships in movie history. Zimmer shares with Alec how he knew music was his path, how his partnership with Nolan began, and how his scores seek to enrich a film?s emotional journey.

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We are continuing our summer tradition at ?Here?s The Thing? where members of the staff select their favorite interviews from the archives. This week, we revisit Alec Baldwin?s conversations with two amazing women in entertainment, Lena Dunham and Carol Burnett. Lena Dunham, creator and star of the ground-breaking ?Girls? and writer/director of the recent film ?Catherine Called Birdy,? spoke with Alec in 2013 about making her first film, ?Tiny Furniture,? how her work evolved following its success and what it's like to play a version of herself. In 2015, Alec spoke with comedian and actress Carol Burnett about making 11-seasons of the Emmy-winning ?The Carol Burnett Show,? navigating being a woman in show business in the 60s and creating her incredible performance as Miss Hannigan in ?Annie.?

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Against the backdrop of soaring stock prices and multi-million dollar executive packages, the labor movement is undergoing a resurgence. A Starbucks location in Buffalo, NY became the first within the coffee chain to unionize in 2021, and since then, more than 330 stores in 39 states have followed suit ? with more elections underway. All the while, the Starbucks corporation was engaging in controversial labor-busting practices: the National Labor Relations Board found that Starbucks violated federal labor laws and a federal judge ruled that Starbucks engaged in ?egregious and widespread misconduct.? Guest Gianna Reeve is an employee of the Camp Road Starbucks in the Buffalo area ? and an organizer with Starbucks Workers United. Reeve joins Alec Baldwin to share her experience at one of the first stores to organize, the conditions that led to the unionization efforts, and what the Starbucks Workers United organization hopes for the future. 

Gianna Reeve is a featured participant in the upcoming documentary ?The Baristas vs The Billionaire.? To learn more, visit: www.baristasvsbillionaire.com

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This past year marked the 75th Anniversary of the Actors Studio, the nonprofit organization that has shared ?truth in acting? with decades of film, television and theater professionals. This episode is the next in our series celebrating some of those responsible for the studio?s success. Guests Roberta and Katherine Wallach are the daughters of stage and screen stars Anne Jackson and Eli Wallach. Jackson and Wallach met during a 1946 production of the Tennessee Williams? play, ?This Property Is Condemned.? They became early members of the Actors Studio and would go on to perform together in film, tv and theater for decades. Roberta and Katherine are actors in their own right, members of the studio, and sit on its Board of Directors. Katherine Wallach has appeared in ?Goodfellas,? ?The King of Comedy? and ?Gangs of New York? and also uses her creative talents as a jewelry designer. Roberta Wallach is a Drama-Desk nominee and began her film career while still in high school. The siblings share what it was like growing up around acting royalty, their father?s perspective on them going into the family business and their thoughts on their parents' enduring legacy.

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Rafael Payare, or ?Rafa,? as he?s known more informally, is the energetic, electrifying and unmistakable conductor that is taking the classical world by storm. Payare currently serves as Music Director of both the Montreal and San Diego Symphonies. A graduate of Venezuela?s famed El Sistema program, Payare first attracted attention as winner of Denmark?s Malko International Conducting Competition in 2012. Since then, he?s brought his exuberance and elegance to conduct preeminent orchestras across the globe, from London to New York, Munich to Boston, and Stockholm to Chicago. Rafael Payare speaks with Alec about the many important conductors he?s learned from, how he approaches putting together a music program, and why finding the right chemistry with an orchestra is like falling in love. 

The following compositions are featured in this episode:

Gustav Mahler Symphony No. 5 with the Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal, conducted by Rafael Payare, provided courtesy of Pentatone. You can find the album here. 

Shostakovich?s Symphony No. 11 in G minor, Op. 103 ?The Year 1905,? conducted by Rafael Payare, courtesy of the San Diego Symphony on Platoon. You can find the album here.

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Filmmaker Ryan White has made a dizzying array of unique documentaries, including ?The Keepers,? about the unsolved murder of a Catholic nun, ?The Case Against 8? about the fight for marriage equality, ?Good Night Oppy,? which traces the journey of NASA?s Mars Rover and ?Assassins,? about the murder of North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un?s half-brother. The Emmy-nominated director?s latest project, ?Pamela, A Love Story,? is a raw look at the life of 90?s bombshell Pamela Anderson. It showcases a more vulnerable side of the actress and re-examines the major life events of the star ? from her rise to fame to the infamous, stolen sex tape with her then-husband, Tommy Lee. Alec speaks with Ryan White about what he learned filming with Anderson, the impact the documentary had on her life and how he balances the light and the dark of his projects.

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There is an important conversation happening regarding the rapidly-changing world of artificial intelligence and how it will affect us.  Alec speaks with two leaders in the tech community that have worked on the systems integral to today?s A.I. revolution. Blake Lemoine is a computer scientist and former senior software engineer at Google. He was working on their Responsible A.I. team when he went public with his claim that the A.I. was sentient. Lemoine was subsequently fired and now champions accountability and transparency in the tech sector. Jay LeBoeuf is an executive, entrepreneur, and educator in the music and creative technology industries. He is the Head Of Business & Corporate Development at Descript, an audio and video editing platform that uses ?voice cloning? technology. Alec speaks with LeBoeuf and Lemoine about the many applications of A.I., what dangers we need to be aware of and what is to come next in this transformative space. 

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Last week, we lost the great singer-songwriter Gordon Lightfoot. In honor of his passing, Alec is sharing his 2016 conversation with the musician, one of his favorites in the history of the podcast: Over the course of a career that has lasted more than half a century, Canadian singer-songwriter Gordon Lightfoot achieved global stardom and exceptional influence. Bob Dylan?s a fan?he's said, ?I can?t think of any [Lightfoot songs] I don?t like.? These songs??Beautiful,? ?Sundown,? ?If You Could Read My Mind,? and many others?have been treasured by generations of popular musicians and listeners around the world. But Gordon Lightfoot was just one of many aspirants who moved to Toronto in the early 1960s to try their hand in the burgeoning folk music scene there. Lightfoot tells Alec about fitting a feeling to a melody, why he owes his first hit record to an exec's girlfriend, and how he wrote "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" by pulling lines straight from the newspaper. 

You can listen to all of the music from this episode and other selections from Gordon Lightfoot in a curated playlist here.

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Forty years ago, ?Vietnam: A Television History,? the 13-part documentary series examining the Vietnam War, premiered on PBS. It served as a searing look into the background, cost and toll taken on the principal figures involved in the war, both at home and abroad. Judith Vecchione served as one of the producers on the series and joined Alec to speak about what went into creating such a wide-ranging and deep investigation of the conflict. The Emmy- and Peabody-winning Vecchione has served as an executive producer with Boston-based PBS station WGBH for the past 23 years, working on many ground-breaking projects, including the Civil Rights series ?Eyes on the Prize.? Vecchione shares with Alec the weight of responsibility she felt in bringing ?Vietnam: A Television History? to the public, what inspires her dedication to the important stories she produces, and how she mentors the next generation of documentary filmmakers.

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An area near the entrance to Death Valley National Park has the capacity to produce enough energy to power the entire planet if covered in solar panels. Yet for Nye County, Nevada residents, the question of what must be sacrificed ? including the environmental and economic future of the area ? and by whom, looms large. Hillary Angelo is the author of the Harper?s Magazine article, ?Boomtown,? which explores the complexity of the solar land rush in the West. Angelo is an urban and environmental sociologist and Associate Professor of Sociology at UC Santa Cruz. Dustin Mulvaney, who was featured in the article, is a solar expert and Professor at San José State University. Alec speaks with Angelo and Mulvaney about the objections of residents, what spaces might be used instead, and how to rethink the future of energy.

You can find the article, ?Boomtown,? here:

https://harpers.org/archive/2023/01/boomtown-beatty-nevada-solar-farms-death-valley/

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Caroline Rhea is best-known as Aunt Hilda in the 90s sitcom, ?Sabrina the Teenage Witch,? but the actor and comedian has been entertaining us in many forms for decades: hosting ?The Biggest Loser? and ?The Caroline Rhea Show,? performing in standup specials on Comedy Central and HBO, voicing Disney?s ?Phineas and Ferb? and appearing as a panelist on game shows like ?Hollywood Squares? and ?Match Game? with Alec. Rhea speaks with Alec about getting back out on the road doing standup, why it was important to take time off from her career to raise her daughter, and why she?s most at home on stage. 

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On October 3, 2003, a horrified audience looked on as Roy Horn, one-half of the famous German magician duo Siegfried & Roy, was bit by a 400-pound white tiger named ?Mantecore? and dragged offstage. After many years in residency at the Mirage Las Vegas and more than 30,000 performances over their career featuring exotic animals, one of the big cats finally turned on their handlers. Chris Jones and Michael Mooney are the authors of The Atlantic article ?The Original Tiger Kings: The Improbable Rise and Savage Fall of Siegfried & Roy,? which deconstructs this moment and everything that led to it. Jones and Mooney are journalists that have collectively written for Rolling Stone, GQ, Esquire and The Wall Street Journal Magazine. Chris Jones is also the author of the book The Eye Test: A Case for Human Creativity in the Age of Analytics, as well as serving as a writer and producer on Netflix?s Away. Michael Mooney is also the New York Times best-selling author of The Life and Legend of Chris Kyle: American Sniper, Navy SEAL. Together, they speak with Alec about the tragic event, the reporting behind the scenes and the lessons learned from the end of an era.

You can find the article at:

https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2022/11/siegfried-roy-fame-rise-and-fall/671528/

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This past year marked the 75th Anniversary of the Actors Studio, the nonprofit organization that has shared ?truth in acting? with decades of film, television and theater professionals, including some of the biggest names in the business. This episode is the first in a series of conversations with some of those responsible for the studio?s success. Alec currently serves as Co-President of the Actors Studio and had the opportunity to speak with two leaders within the institution: Co-President Ellen Burstyn, who joined the studio in 1967, is known for her roles in ?Alice Doesn?t Live Here Anymore,??The Exorcist,? and ?Requiem for A Dream? ? and also has the distinction of winning the ?Triple Crown of Acting:? an Oscar, a Tony and two Emmy Awards. Alec then speaks with Co-Associate Artistic Director Estelle Parsons, who has been with the studio since 1962. Parsons earned an Academy Award for ?Bonnie and Clyde,? the second film she ever made, and has earned five Tony nominations and two Obies in her illustrious career. The two remarkable women share their stories of finding their way to the Actors Studio and the impact it had on their careers ? and their craft. 

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From ?The Godfather? to ?Goodfellas? to ?The Sopranos,? fictional portrayals of the mafia continue to enthrall the American public. On his podcast, ?Our Thing,? Sammy ?The Bull? Gravano, member of ?La Cosa Nostra? and underboss of the Gambino crime family, tells the tales of the real thing. The man who once upheld ?omertà,? or the code of silence, testified as a government witness against mob boss John Gotti in a 1992 plea deal. Prosecutors described him as ?the most significant witness in the history of organized crime in the United States.? Since 2020, he has told stories of his time in ?the life? over five seasons of the ?Our Thing? podcast.  Alec also speaks with co-creator of the podcast, James Carroll, a director, producer, editor and cinematographer of film and television. He shares how the podcast came to be and what he?s learned working with the notorious mobster. 

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Daniel Weiss is President and CEO of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the largest museum in North America. An accomplished scholar and author who holds a PhD in art history and an MBA, Weiss was recruited to lead The Met in 2015 after serving as a college president, university dean, and professor of art history. He has steered the Museum through a series of historic challenges?including the covid crisis, a budget deficit and the removal of the controversial Sackler name from the building. Weiss is also the author of several books, ranging from art history to a soldier?s experience in the Vietnam War. Alec speaks with Daniel Weiss about navigating the Met through the pandemic, his role as a steward of priceless works of art, and his favorite museum to visit in the world. 

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Hatice Cengiz is a Turkish academic and researcher in Middle Eastern studies, and the fiancée of slain journalist Jamal Khashoggi. In 2017, Khashoggi fled Saudi Arabia for the United States, where he wrote columns often critical of the Saudi government for The Washington Post. He was murdered inside the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul by Saudi government officials in 2018. Four years later, Cengiz continues to fight for justice for her fiancée and hold accountable those who ordered and planned the killing. Alec speaks with Cengiz about how she and Jamal Khashoggi first met, the details of that tragic day, and the enduring legacy of her fiancée.

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Join award-winning actor Alec Baldwin in conversation with some of the most dynamic artists, policymakers, and performers working today. This season, Alec speaks with actors Ellen Burstyn and Estelle Parsons on the 75th Anniversary of the Actors Studio, fiancée of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, Hatice Cengiz, on her fight for justice following his assassination, and Daniel Weiss, President and CEO of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, on how he manages the historic institution, just to name a few. If you like listening as much as Alec likes talking with interesting people, subscribe now and never miss an episode. The new season begins January 24th. 

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Huma Abedin has spent her entire career in public service, from her beginnings as an intern in First Lady Hillary Clinton?s office, to her time as senior advisor to then-Senator Clinton, as deputy chief of staff to the Secretary of State, vice chair of Clinton's presidential campaign, and now, as Clinton?s chief of staff. Abedin?s recent memoir, ?Both/And,? details this time in government, as well as her personal struggles behind the scenes. Huma Abedin sits down with Alec to discuss the personal impact of the 2016 election, the lessons she learned from her late father, and the sliding doors that have offered her different paths in life. 

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When Montauk fisherman John Aldridge was thrown off the back of his lobster boat, the Anna Mary, he found himself alone in the middle of the ocean, watching his ship speed off into the distance. With his partner, Anthony Sosinski, sleeping below deck, it would be hours before Aldridge was even discovered missing. The U.S. Coast Guard and Montauk fishing community then mobilized a large-scale search-and-rescue mission off the coast of Long Island, but the needle-in-a-haystack operation missed Aldridge, again and again, while he fought for his life. Following the release of their book, A Speck in the Sea, that recounts this harrowing tale, Aldridge and Sosinski join Alec to share their story of perseverance, friendship, and the mindset it takes to survive the most challenging circumstances. 

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Curt Smith is one-half of the band Tears for Fears, along with childhood friend and bandmate Roland Orzabal. Smith and Orzabal met as teenagers in Bath, England and formed a band that would go on to release hit after hit, from ?Mad World? to ?Shout,? ultimately selling over 30 million albums worldwide. From their debut album in 1983, ?The Hurting,? Tears for Fears created a synth-heavy and lyrically complex sound that still resonates with audiences four decades later. Following the release of their latest album, ?The Tipping Point,? Alec speaks to Curt Smith about forming a creative partnership bourne out of differing voices, how they found the sound for ?Everybody Wants to Rule the World,? and what led to his departure from the group in the 1990s - and their eventual reunion that happened via fax. 

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Actor, director, screenwriter, and producer Liev Schreiber co-founded the BlueCheck Ukraine initiative in response to Russia?s war on Ukraine. BlueCheck Ukraine identifies, vets, and fast-tracks financial support to a diverse portfolio of NGOs that provide life-saving aid on the front lines. Since its launch in March 2022, BlueCheck has swiftly financed emergency evacuations, food distributions, medical aid, shelter, and cash assistance to operations on the ground. Alec Baldwin speaks to Schreiber about his Ukrainian roots and what drove him to start the non-profit, what he has witnessed in his visits to the war-torn region and his extraordinary acting work, from Shakespeare to the Emmy-nominated ?Ray Donovan.?

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Amy Schneider is the most successful woman to ever compete on ?Jeopardy!? The former engineering manager held a 40-game winning streak from November 2021 to January 2022, the second-longest in the show's history. Her winnings totalled $1.3 million, making her the fifth-highest earner of any contestant on the show. In advance of competing in the ?Jeopardy! Tournament of Champions,? Schneider joins guest host Talia Schlanger to discuss how she prepared to compete, how being the most authentic version of herself led to success, and how her life has changed since her historic ?Jeopardy!? run. (Update: She won!)

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