Now What? With Carole Zimmer: Recent Episodes
Carole Zimmer
Conversations with extraordinary people about their lives and how they navigate all the bumps in the road.
Ada Ferrer was born in Cuba. Her father fled the country after Fidel Castro marched into Havana. When Ferrer was a baby, her mother also left the country to join Ada's father in NY. Ferrer grew up between two worlds in a family torn apart by the Cuban revolution. But she was lucky. She got a good education and became a Professor of History at Princeton University. In 2022, Ferrer was awarded a Pulitzer Prize for her book about the five centuries of U.S.-Cuba relations. Ferrer's memoir, Keeper of My Kin, explores separation, trauma and the heartbreak of families broken up by politics. "Now What?" is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Lucy Little and Jackie Schwartz. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
Novelist Siri Hustvedt knows a lot about grief. Two years ago, her husband, the writer Paul Auster, died. They had an extraordinary life together as parents, romantic partners, and authors who shared their work. Hustvedt was devastated by Paul's death. In her book Ghost Stories, she explores what happens when someone who has been your partner for more than 40 years disappears and how she remains haunted by his absence. Hustvedt also talks publicly for the first time about a family tragedy: the death of Paul's son and their young granddaughter. In her Brooklyn brownstone overlooking her garden, I talk to Siri Hustvedt about love, memory, healing and the things that make her laugh. "Now What?" is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Lucy Little and Jackie Schwartz. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
I've always loved being a journalist and I'm excited to catch up with two of the best people in the business. Mary Alice Williams was there when CNN made history, becoming the first 24-hour news network. She was appointed CNN Vice president, making Williams one of the highest-ranking female executives in American television. Mary Murphy spent four decades at PIX 11 News reporting on mob hits, drug wars and the terror attacks on the World Trade center. The job of being a reporter has changed with the rise of social media. We talk about the importance of a free press and the contributions women have made to the business of covering the news. "Now What?" is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Lucy Little and Jackie Schwartz. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
Zayd Ayers Dohrn was born in a safe house during the decade his parents were in hiding. In 1969, Zayd's mother and father, Bill Ayers and Bernadine Dohrn, founded the revolutionary group called the Weather Underground. FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover declared Bernadine the most dangerous woman in America. In their lives underground, Ayers and Dohrn committed acts of violence like bombing government buildings to call attention to the Vietnam war. They also gave birth to two children. Zayd has written a memoir of those years called Dangerous, Dirty, Violent, and Young. We talk about political ideals and how the role of revolutionary urban guerrilla clashed with the idea of raising a family. "Now What?" is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Lucy Little and Jackie Schwartz. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
For Matthew Zachary, the subject of cancer is up close and personal. He was diagnosed with a rare brain tumor at the age of 21. Having survived the odds, Zachary became a patient advocate, founding a non-profit called Stupid Cancer which supports young adults with the disease. Zachary celebrated the publication of his memoir We the Patients, by sitting down at the piano on the stage of Manhattan's Merkin Hall and playing a concert. The event marked the 30 years that have passed since Zachary's cancer diagnosis. We talk about family, wellness and how to be a healthcare revolutionary. "Now What?" is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Lucy Little and Jackie Schwartz. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
Kathryn Grody is an actress who has appeared in films like Reds and The Lemon Sisters. She's also been married to actor and singer Mandy Patinkin for more than 45 years. They have two children: Isaac and Gideon. During the pandemic, the family retreated to their house in upstate New York. That's when Gideon began filming the daily lives of his parents and posting the videos on Tik Tok, Instagram and other platforms. These clips of Mandy and Kathryn bickering about what they should eat for dinner and the definition of pizza rats went viral, racking up millions of views. Grody's latest project is a one-woman show called The Unexpected Third. We talk about aging, the consequences of fame and the art of staying alive. "Now What?" is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Lucy Little and Jackie Schwartz. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
Ibram X. Kendi became a star when his book How to Be an Antiracist landed on the bestseller list. Kendi, who's now a Professor of History at Howard University, gained a reputation as a racial-reconciliation guru. He's also the recipient of a MacArthur Fellowship which is known as the genius award. Now, Kendi has written a book called Chain of Ideas: The Origins of Our Authoritarian Age. It focuses on a scary idea called the Great Replacement theory which insists that white people are being deliberately replaced by non-white immigrants. We talk about conspiracy theories, race and what that X stands for in the middle of his name. "Now What?' is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Lucy Little and Jackie Schwartz. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
Actress Gina Gershon hadn't had what you'd call a traditional Hollywood career. So, it's no surprise that she's written a memoir with an in-your-face title. Alpha Pussy: How I Survived the Valley and Learned to Love My Boobs. Gershon says the alpha pussy part has something to do with the fact that she raises male cats. As a result of her roles in films like Bound and Showgirls, Gershon has become something of a gay icon. The actress has also impersonated Melania in sketches that appeared on Funny or Die. Now, Gershon is writing screenplays. We talk about breasts, ageism and stupid Hollywood executives. "Now What?' is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Lucy Little and Jackie Schwartz. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
In 2019, At the age of 45, Andrew Yang decided to enter the race for President of the United States. He'd never run for any elective office before. Yang hoped his signature proposal of giving every American adult a universal basic income of $1,000 a month would help get him into the White House. Though he wound up with a dedicated group of tech-savvy followers known as the Yang gang, the candidate dropped out after losing the New Hampshire primary. Then in 2022 Yang announced he was joining the race for New York City Mayor. He was the front runner until his campaign lost ground and he wound up losing to Eric Adams. Now, he's written the memoir Hey Yang, Where's My Thousand Bucks? "Now What?" is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Lucy Little and Jackie Schwartz. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
He was editor of Vanity Fair for 25 years during a time that big glossy magazines ruled. Its pages were filled with stories about Hollywood royalty, Brangelina, fashion icons like Calvin, Giorgio and Donatella. Even Graydon's hair became famous for the way it took off on the sides like a winged creature. Graydon knows everyone and has juicy stories to tell. All this at a time when people turned real pages and lavish expense accounts reigned. The Vanity Fair Oscar party became the hottest ticket in town. People would do anything for an invitation. One year someone brought a pig as their guest. "Now What?" is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Lucy Little and Jackie Schwartz. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
Singer Ani DiFranco's career took off in the 90s when she became a big hit with people from the millennial generation, like my son Jon who spent his teenage years listening to DiFranco's song Untouchable Face over and over again. Her lyrics speak to the raw emotions of adulthood, especially when it comes to relationships and identity. And all these years later DiFranco's career is alive and well. She's about to embark on her Spirit of Love tour heading for cities across the country. I attended one of her concerts recently. Her fans are passionate and the energy is electric. "Now What?" is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Lucy Little and Jackie Schwartz. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
Jeanette Winterson is a writer who grew up in a Pentecostal evangelical family in a little town in the north of England. She was adopted. Her parents were poor. There was no indoor bathroom. Winterson dreamed of escaping that life. When she was 16, she fell in love with a woman. Her parents were scandalized. Winterson left home, slept in her car and managed to get into Oxford. She's fascinated by the ancient fairy tales in The One Thousand and One Nights. Winterson uses these stories as a framework in her new book One Aladdin Two Lamps. We talk about good relationships, ghosts, elves and AI. "Now What?" is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Lucy Little and Jackie Schwartz. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
Caroline Paul is an adventure seeker. She's been a white-water rafting guide and pioneered first descents on unexplored rivers in Borneo. To experience wing walking, she strapped herself to the top of a biplane while it performed maneuvers like loops and rolls. She's also racked up credits as a luge athlete, that crazy sport where you race down steep, icy tracks on small sleds, lying on your back. Now, Paul pilots a gyrocopter, a machine that might remind you of a praying mantis with wings. We talk about how the thrill of flight relates to themes of love and why Paul says it's easier to learn a landing than a human heart. "Now What?" is produced with help from Steve Zimmer, Lucy Little and Jackie Schwartz. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
When Jimmy Wales was 3, growing up in Huntsville, Alabama, a door-to-door salesman sold his mother a copy of the World Book Encyclopedia. Jimmy fell in love with it. As an adult he had the idea of creating an online encyclopedia that would give everyone free access to the sum of all human knowledge. The result is Wikipedia, which Wales co-founded 25 years ago. Though not without controversy, Wikipedia is a runaway success. It's the world's largest, most comprehensive encyclopedia with more than 1 and a half billion unique visitors a month. That should only happen to "Now What?" I talk to Jimmy Wales about his new book The Seven Rules of Trust and how we can make a difference in a bitterly divided society. "Now What is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Lucy Little and Jackie Schwartz. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
Until she was 10, Emi Nietfeld led a pretty normal life. It was when her parents divorced that her world fell apart. The parent she knew to be her father transitioned to a woman named Michelle. Her mother was a police photographer with serious psychological problems. In her book, Acceptance, Emi who is now 32, talks about the price she paid for working so hard to overcome circumstances that no child should have to endure. They include stints in a psychiatric ward, living in foster care, stays in a homeless shelter and a suicide attempt at the age of 13. So how did she wind up graduating from Harvard and what lessons can be learned from a childhood where welfare systems fail you? We talk about the notion of self-worth and how hard it is to outrun your past. "Now What?" is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Lucy Little and Jackie Schwartz. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
It hasn't been a great year when it comes to treating our fellow human beings with dignity and respect. But it's been a great year for talking to extraordinary people on "Now What?" Larry Charles is a true character who wore his pajamas to work and directed Sacha Baron Cohen in the movie Borat. Along with Gilda Radner and Jane Curtin, Laraine Newman was a hilarious member of the original cast of Saturday Night Live which just celebrated its 50th season. Alison Bechdel, the gifted graphic novelist of Fun Home, has a lot to say about living the life of a gay boomer radical in Vermont. "Now What?" has turned out to be a podcast with a very special community. It's produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Lucy Little and Jackie Schwartz. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
Gabrielle Hamilton's father always told his five kids they had to do something practical with their lives and whatever they did, they had to be excellent at it. Mediocrity was a family sin. In 1999 Hamilton opened Prune, a 30-seat restaurant in the East Village, to rave reviews. She was honored with a James Beard award for Best Chef in New York City in 2011, followed by Outstanding Chef in 2018. Hamilton was also featured on the PBS series The Mind of a Chef. She realized her dream of becoming a writer with her best-selling memoir Blood, Bones and Butter. Now, she's got a new book called Next of Kin. We talk about dysfunctional families and the pressures of life both inside and outside the kitchen. "Now What?" is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Lucy Little and Jackie Schwartz. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
Calvin Duncan grew up in the ninth ward in New Orleans. His mother died when he was very young. He stole food so he'd have enough to eat. When he was 19, Duncan was arrested for allegedly killing a man during a robbery. He was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison, spending more than 28 years in Angola, Louisiana's notorious state penitentiary. That's when Duncan began studying law. In 2011, he was released from prison and at the age of 60, Duncan graduated from Lewis and Clark Law School. He's just scored another first. This November, Calvin Duncan was elected Clerk of the Criminal Court in New Orleans. Duncan and Sophie Cull co-wrote The Jailhouse Lawyer. "Now What?" is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Lucy Little and Jackie Schwartz. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
Picture this. It was my first job in radio. I decided to do a series about women and comedy. The idea coincided with the birth of Saturday Night Live. The first interview: Gilda Radner. We sat on the floor, right across from Studio 8H where the show is still performed. Gilda told me all about what life is like when you become an overnight star. Then I talked to Jane Curtin about people asking her for autographs when she walked her dog. Somehow, in those years I missed talking to Laraine Newman. But I finally just caught up with her. And she's the star of this episode. It's an outrageous conversation about SNL and all the things that have happened to her since. Plus, you'll hear what Gilda and Jane had to say from those early day sit-downs. "Now What?" is produced with help from Steve Zimmer, Lucy Little and Jackie Schwartz. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
E. Jean Carroll is a brave woman. In 2019, she sued Donald Trump for calling her a liar after she went public with the accusation that he had raped her in a Bergdorf Goodman dressing room. There was a second trial. This one was about defamation and sexual abuse. Juries in both cases found Donald Trump guilty. E. Jean Carroll was awarded more than $88 million in damages. Now, President Trump has asked the Supreme Court to overturn the judgement that he defamed and sexually abused her. She's written a book about the court proceedings called Not My Type. We talk about resistance, trauma and never giving up. "Now What?" is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Lucy Little and Jackie Schwartz. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
Paul Krugman is proud of his accomplishments including being chosen as the sole winner of the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences for his contributions to new trade theory. When it comes to trade, Krugman is no fan of President Trump's tariffs. And President Trump is no fan of Paul Krugman. Trump has called Krugman a "deranged bum," a description Krugman considers a great honor. After 25 years as a columnist for the New York Times, Krugman decided to leave the paper and go out on his own. He now writes a newsletter on Substack where he has about 400,000 subscribers. We talk about why he thinks the U.S. economy is in worse shape than it looks and why he continues to have faith in the American people. "Now What?" is produced with help from Steve Zimmer, Lucy Little and Jackie Schwartz. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
Jake Tapper anchors several programs on CNN including the Sunday morning public affairs show State of the Union. Tapper has been reporting on politics at the network for more than 12 years. He recently conducted a controversial text interview with President Trump. Tapper has written two books so far this year including the best seller Original Sin about Joe Biden's mental and physical decline during his presidency. Tapper's new book Race Against Terror is about a member of Al Qaeda who was tried in a U.S. criminal court for killing American troops in Afghanistan. We talk about jihadis, democracy and the Trump administration's politics of revenge. "Now What?" is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Lucy Little and Jackie Schwartz. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
Former FBI Director James Comey is at the top of President Donald Trump’s enemies list. Trump has made no secret of his dislike for Comey, who was in charge of the FBI probe that looked into whether Russia had interfered with the 2016 election. In May of 2017, Donald Trump fired Comey. The President has prodded the Justice Department to go after his political opponents. Now, Comey has been indicted for allegedly lying to Congress. Critics say the country has entered a dangerous phase in which the government is taking revenge on its political opponents. In August 2023, I spoke to James Comey about decency, fairness and what it’s going to take to protect our democracy. “Now What?” is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Lucy Little and Jackie Schwartz. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
Virgil Abloh is a designer who broke the mold when it comes to the world of design. He had a degree in architecture, not fashion when he started out designing tee shirts. Kanye West became Virgil’s mentor at a time the rapper’s own career was taking off. Virgil went from designing streetwear to becoming the first Black artistic director of the French luxury fashion house Louis Vuitton. Robin Givhan, a Pulitzer-prize winning Senior Critic-at-Large at the Washington Post was so fascinated by Virgil’s wide-ranging talent that she wrote a book about him called Make it Ours. We talk about Virgil’s tragic death at the age of 41 and how his work has had an historic impact on fashion. “Now What?” is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Lucy Little and Jackie Schwartz. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
Rax King is a writer. Her first book of essays is called Tacky. Her new one is Sloppy. King prides herself on being a model of bad behavior. Name a vice and she’s got it: overspending, shoplifting from Brandy Melville, lying, former cocaine abuser. She likes to wear low cut tops to show off her numerous tattoos. A prominent ink decoration that curves around her neck says “I’ll go on.” It frames her Bitch necklace. King also co-hosts a podcast called Low Culture Boil which she describes as trash-themed. We talk about the allure of being a bad girl, why watching Jersey Shore helped her to bond with her father and tips on how to audition as a stripper. “Now What?” is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Lucy Little and Jackie Schwartz. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
Footwear runs in the family. Kenneth Cole’s father had a shoe manufacturing company in Brooklyn. Cole’s brand is also known for the social issues he embraces, from combating HIV/AIDS to calling attention to the stigma of mental illness. The new documentary A Man with Sole looks at how Cole’s company took off after he parked a trailer in front of the Hilton Hotel, installed a red carpet and sold 40,000 pairs of shoes in three days. Cole also figured out how to revive his company when the going got tough. I spoke to Kenneth Cole in his Manhattan headquarters about the rewards of being a risk taker. “Now What?” is produced with help from Steve Zimmer, Patrick Emile, Lucy Little and Jackie Schwartz. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
Laurie Woolever was chef Mario Batali’s assistant at a time when his hit restaurant Babbo was attracting celebrity diners vying for reservations. Then she spent almost a decade working for Anthony Bourdain. Woolever made haircut appointments for the TV host in New York and she found places in Singapore or Mumbai where Bourdain could practice Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu when he was on the road filming his long-running TV show Parts Unknown. After the shocking phone call in 2018 letting her know that her boss had taken his own life, Woolever felt lost. In Woolever’s memoir Care and Feeding, she talks a lot about the influence of the two celebrity chefs who came to dominate her life. “Now What?” is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Lucy Little and Jackie Schwartz. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
Maira Kalman is one of those multi-talented people. She writes children’s stories and books for adults. She’s also a contributor to the New York Times, creates covers for the New Yorker and sets for operas. Her latest book, Still Life with Remorse, includes family stories, paintings and vignettes about historical figures like Leo Tolstoy and Franz Kafka. She also likes to dress up like like those characters and make funny films about them. We spoke in Kalman's Greenwich village studio and laughed a lot about life's craziest moments.“Now What?” is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Lucy Little and Jackie Schwartz. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
James Carville’s nickname is The Ragin’ Cajun. He became famous when Bill Clinton hired him as his lead political strategist in 1992 and Carville helped the guy from Hope beat George H.W. Bush to become the 42nd U.S. president. Carville’s aggressive tactics are highlighted in the documentary “The War Room.” He’s also famous for being part of a couple who are on opposite sides of the political spectrum, former Republican strategist Mary Matalin. Carville now co-hosts the podcast “Politics War Room.” He also spends a lot of time trying to figure out how to help the Democratic party regain power. We talk about what went wrong and how scared we should be. “Now What?” is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Lucy Little and Jackie Schwartz. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
Larry Charles is a true character. He liked to wear his pajamas to work. He was one of the original writers of Seinfeld. He also wrote and directed Curb Your Enthusiasm episodes. In between, Charles made a movie with Bob Dylan called Masked and Anonymous that was never released. He also directed Sacha Baron Cohen in Borat and Bruno where Cohen ran down the street in an orthodox Jerusalem neighborhood wearing pink hot pants. Larry Charles wrote a memoir called Comedy Samurai. The book is very funny. This conversation is hilarious. “Now What?” is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Lucy Little and Jackie Schwartz. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
Paul Hawken has racked up several notable accomplishments in his life. As a teenager, in the mid-60s, Hawken headed south to join the civil rights movement. He’s always had a strong sense of social justice and he started several companies that emphasized operating in a socially responsible way including The Erewhon Trading Company, a natural foods wholesaler, and the garden supply company Smith and Hawken. And through it all Paul Hawken Has thought a lot about our environment, the climate and how people relate to one another in their lives. He’s also written more than 10 books. His latest is called Carbon: The Book of Life. “Now What?” is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Lucy Little and Jackie Schwartz. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
Penn Jillette and his partner Teller have created one of the most successful and lucrative careers in show business by using mind bending effects and revealing the secrets behind their magic tricks. Teller is the short one with sleight of hand who doesn’t speak. Penn is 6 feet 6 inches tall. He’s the juggler who talks and plays the double bass. They’re the longest-running headliners in the history of Las Vegas and they have a TV show called Penn and Teller: Fool Us. In his spare time, Penn Jillette writes books. His latest is a novel called Felony Juggler. We talk about politics, why he thinks of himself as a professional atheist and how he lost 100 pounds in 3 months. “Now What?” is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Lucy Little and Jackie Schwartz. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
Alison Bechdel is a cartoonist and graphic novelist. She first started getting attention for her comic strip Dykes to Watch Out For and later wrote a graphic memoir called Fun Home which is about her father’s troubled life and her own experience of coming out as a lesbian. In 2015, Fun Home was produced as a Broadway musical and won 5 Tony Awards. Her new graphic novel Spent is about an artist trying to come to terms with her past success. And here’s a spoiler. She includes this in her story but Alison Bechdel doesn’t really run a sanctuary farm for pygmy goats. “Now What?” is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Lucy Little and Jackie Schwartz. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
Writer Sophie Gilbert has a theory about the early 2000s. In her new book Girl on Girl, she’s written about some disturbing trends in popular culture focusing on the way that girls were portrayed in magazines and TV shows. Britney Spears, the "Princess of Pop,” appeared on 8 Rolling Stone covers dressed in scanty outfits and striking provocative poses. Lindsay Lohan became a pop idol at the age of 17. Keeping Up with the Kardashians followed Khloe, Kylie, Kris, Kourtney, Kim and Kendall. The reality show glorified celebrity and set what some consider to be unrealistic standards of beauty. I talk to Gilbert about how the sexualization of young women damaged their self-image and hurt the feminist movement. “Now What?” is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Lucy Little and Jackie Schwartz. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
Amy Irving’s film career soared in the 1980s. She was featured in the film Yentl, a role that earned her an Academy Award nomination. In the movie Crossing Delancey, Irving plays a single woman who falls in love with a pickle merchant. In real life, Irving married Steven Spielberg, a relationship that ended in divorce. She co-starred with Willie Nelson in the film Honeysuckle Rose and that was the beginning of a life-long friendship with Nelson. Irving’s career has shifted away from acting and towards music. She’s got a new album which features Willie Nelson covers. It’s called Always Will Be. I spoke to Amy Irving at her home in Westchester about singing as a second act and what it’s like to be an older woman in Hollywood. “Now What?” is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Lucy Little and Jackie Schwartz. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
Elizabeth Anne Hanks is a writer. She’s also the daughter of Tom Hanks. Her mother Susan was married to Tom Hanks before he became a movie star. Elizabeth grew up with her mother and older brother in Sacramento while her dad’s career in Hollywood took off with lead roles in movies like Big and Forrest Gump. Elizabeth could relate to something the character of Forrest said in the film. "Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.” What Elizabeth got is a childhood she writes about in her memoir called The 10. It’s the story of being raised by a mentally ill mother and forging a close relationship with her father. “Now What?’ is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Lucy Little and Jackie Schwartz. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
Pico Iyer is a travel writer and a novelist who has spent time in far flung places like Ethiopia, Tibet, North Korea, Bhutan and Nepal exploring the history, culture and food of diverse cultures. In contrast to his life on the road in places, Iyer is now spending more time exploring his inner life. That’s what his latest bookcalled Aflame Is all about. Several times a year, Iyer visits a Benedictine monastery in Big Sur which he finds to be a refuge from the crowded noisy world he usually inhabits. Iyer examines the benefits of just sitting still and doing nothing. We talk about Iyer’s relationship with the Dalai Lama and with singer Leonard Cohen when Cohen was a Buddhist monk living on a mountaintop. “Now What?” is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Lucy Little and Jackie Schwartz. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
Pardons are about presidential power. Many presidents wait until the end of their term to issue them. Not Donald Trump. He has pardoned more than 1500 people who took part in the assault on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. President Trump has also issued more than 70 executive orders, another instrument of presidential power. They focus on shrinking the government, imposing tariffs on Mexico, China and Canada and freezing foreign aid. Many of these actions are facing lawsuits and judicial rulings. So, what will the federal government look like when the dust settles? I talk to legal scholar Jeffrey Toobin about the future of American democracy and his new book The Pardon: The Politics of Presidential Mercy. “Now What?” is produced with help from Steve Zimmer, Lucy Little and Jackie Schwartz. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
Picture this. It was my first job in radio. I decided to do a series about women and comedy. The idea coincided with the birth of Saturday Night Live. The first interview: Gilda Radner. We sat on the floor, right across from Studio 8H where the show is still performed. Gilda told me all about what life is like when you become an overnight star. Then I talked to Jane Curtin about people asking her for autographs when she walked her dog. Somehow, in those years I missed talking to Laraine Newman. But I finally just caught up with her. And she’s the star of this episode. It's an outrageous conversation about SNL and all the things that have happened to her since. Plus, you’ll hear what Gilda and Jane had to say from those early day sit-downs. “Now What?” is produced with help from Steve Zimmer, Lucy Little and Jackie Schwartz. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
Rick Steves is a travel writer who’s on a mission. His name appears on guidebooks to nearly every country on the continent including Croatia and Slovenia as well as France and Italy. His television series Rick Steves Europe debuted on PBS 25 years ago. Steves advises travelers to get off the beaten trail and head for villages where they can see the way local people really live. He’s also a passionate advocate for legalizing marijuana. Steves’ new book is called On the Hippie Trail. It’s a detailed journal about a trip he took from Istanbul to Kathmandu when he was 23 years old. I talked to Rick Steves about exotic lands, marijuana, travel and mortality. “Now What?” is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Lucy Little and Jackie Schwartz. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
Alan Lightman likes to look at things very closely. Lightman is a physicist at MIT who has written 7 novels including the best-selling Einstein’s Dreams. Lightman, who writes poetry in his spare time, calls himself a spiritual materialist. That’s a belief that you can find the spiritual within the realm of science. Lightman was also the host of the PBS television series Searching: Our Quest for Meaning in the Age of Science. His latest book is called The Miraculous from the Material. It contains essays about the marvels of the universe like Mandarin fish, the northern lights and the Rings of Saturn. “Now What?” is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Lucy Little and Jackie Schwartz. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
Maira Kalman is one of those multi-talented people. She writes children’s books and books for adults. She’s also a contributor to the New York Times. She creates covers for the New Yorker and sets for operas Her latest work is a book of essays called Still Life with Remorse that includes family stories and paintings she’s done. It also includes vignettes about historical figures like Leo Tolstoy and Franz Kafka. In fact, Kalman likes to dress up as these characters like Kafka and make little films about them. Her son Alex shoots the movies. They’re very funny. We laugh about a lot of crazy things that happen in life on the new episode of “Now What?”
We're speeding towards the end of the year, a time for remembering and reflecting. When I think of "Now What?" I think of the extraordinary people I was privileged to speak with this year and that’s why this episode is a Best Of. Jane Fonda, who just celebrated her 87th birthday, shared a lifetime of experiences including information about her sex life. And when you talk about inspiring, there’s no one who shines like Suleika Jaouad. The best-selling writer and painter talks about how an illness she’s been dealing with since she was in her early 20s, has taught her to live in the present. Actor, writer, producer Griffin Dunne tells his story about the triumphs and tragedies of growing up in a celebrity family. “Now What?” is produced with help from Steve Zimmer, Lucy little and Jackie Schwartz. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
I first met Andy Bachman when he was a rabbinical student and he tutored my son Jon for his bar mitzvah. Bachman later served as Senior Rabbi at Congregation Beth Elohim, the reform synagogue in Park Slope, Brooklyn. In August, Bachman was supposed to participate in a discussion at the Powerhouse Arena bookstore. When he arrived, he found a sign in the window that said the event had been cancelled. Bachman later found out the discussion had been called off because he’s a Zionist. This is an important conversation about intolerance, war and political divisions. “Now What?” is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Lucy Little and Jackie Schwartz. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
She used to make her living standing in Harvard Square as a statue known as the Eight Foot Bride. Then Amanda Palmer founded the punk cabaret band The Dresden Dolls. And she’s not afraid to tell you what’s on her mind. Palmer shares her feelings online and when she performs on stage. Her fans are passionate about the musician and the person. Palmer has more than 24,000 supporters on Patreon. She’s recently been named an honoree of the She Rocks Awards which recognizes women who have broken barriers in the music industry. “Now What?” is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Lucy Little and Jackie Schwartz. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
No one embodies the concept of change and staying power like Jane Fonda. She started out as the daughter of Hollywood royalty. Her father was the revered actor Henry Fonda. Jane Fonda has appeared in more than 50 films, earning Oscars for Best Actress for her roles in Klute and Coming Home. And she’s also famous in political circles for her anti-war activism and demonstrations against climate change. As an 86-year three-time divorcee, Fonda says she’s no longer interested in romance or sex. She just wants to make the world a better place.
Gracie and Rachel met in high school and they’ve been playing music together ever since. You can hear the connection they feel with one another in their lush harmonies, haunting melodies and lyrics that express vulnerability and emotional depth. Gracie and Rachel tour extensively and record on Grammy-winning singer Ani DiFranco’s Righteous Babe Records. I spoke to them in the Brooklyn loft where they live and create their work. At the end of our conversation, Gracie sat down at the piano and Rachel picked up her violin. They treated us to a live performance of Ideas, a song about empowerment and change from their album Hello Weakness, You Make Me Strong. ”Now What?” is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Lucy Little and Jackie Schwartz. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
Garrison Keillor spent 42 years as the host of “A Prairie Home Companion, a folksy show that was performed live on Saturday nights and broadcast on hundreds of public radio stations. Keillor, who likes to wear red sneakers, brought his audience news from Lake Wobegon, a fictional town in the state of Minnesota where he grew up. He also performed in skits where he played Guy Noir, Private Eye. Keillor likes to sing patriotic songs and recite poetry. He’s also written more than 15 books and many articles for the New Yorker. Keillor is currently at work on a novel which he says he better finish fast. “I’m 82. I don’t have time to write Moby Dick.” “Now What?” is produced with help from Steve Zimmer, Lucy Little and Jackie Schwartz. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
He worked for CNN for 17 years. One day last year Don Lemon woke up to find out he he’d been fired. He’d won Emmys for his reporting and also hosted Don Lemon Tonight where he talked about controversial topics with politicians and newsmakers. It was after Lemon began co-hosting a morning show that he ran into trouble. He made a comment about a former Republican Presidential candidate in a discussion about age: “Nikki Haley is not in her prime, sorry.” After leaving CNN, Lemon made a deal with Elon Musk to host an exclusive show on X. That fell apart and Lemon’s show is now streaming on digital platforms and YouTube TV. He’s also written a book called I Once Was Lost about his Christian faith. “Now What?” is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Lucy Little and Jackie Schwartz. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
Stan Milford is a Navajo Ranger who spent more than a decade investigating paranormal activities. Milford says he examined hauntings, witchcraft and skinwalkers. He also looked into reports involving dozens of witnesses who claim to have seen a creature known as Bigfoot on the Navajo reservation, an area of 27,000 miles that runs through 4 states. Milford says he took the reports of all these incidents seriously and understands that the people who experience them can be deeply affected by what they’ve seen. Milford, who describes himself and his partner as a real-life X-files team has written a book about a lifetime of mysterious occurrences called The Paranormal Ranger. “Now What?” is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Lucy Little and Jackie Schwartz. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
David Rohde is a National Security reporter for NBC News and a longtime foreign correspondent. He won a Pulitzer Prize for his reporting on the war in Bosnia. When Rohde was a reporter for the New York Times, he was kidnapped by the Taliban and held for 7 months before he managed to escape. Rohde's latest book is called Where Tyranny Begins. He looks at all the ways in which former President Donald Trump tried to interfere with the Department of Justice including the FBI. “Now What?” is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Lucy Little and Jackie Schwartz. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
Griffin Dunne grew up in Beverly Hills in a family of storytellers. His father Dominick was a celebrity journalist. His uncle, the screenwriter John Gregory Dunne was married to the Pulitzer prize-winning writer Joan Didion. Griffin starred in Martin Scorsese’s 1985 black comedy "After Hours" and he made a movie with Madonna called "Who’s That Girl?" He also played Uncle Nicky in the streaming series "This is Us." Griffin has written a memoir called The Friday Afternoon Club which is a great read. We talk about family triumphs and family tragedy. And we also have plenty of laughs on this episode of “Now What?” which is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Lucy Little and Jackie Schwartz. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
Charles Busch made a name for himself as a playwright and a leading lady in drag with productions like the off-Broadway cult classic Vampire Lesbians of Sodom. Busch was recently inducted into the Theater Hall of Fame for his Tony-award winning play The Allergist’s Wife.He appeared in the TV show Oz where he plays a cross-dressing homosexual. When it comes to playing male roles, Busch says he’s nothing great. It’s when he puts on gowns and wigs that he feels like a star. Sitting in his duplex apartment with his famous closet filled with sparkly gowns, we talk about his memoir Leading Lady and what it was like to be a sex worker before becoming an overnight sensation on stage. We had so much fun, so many laughs. And you will, too. “Now What?” is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Lucy Little and Jackie Schwartz. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
She’s a film director who made a movie called Desperately Seeking Susan. It’s a caper that revolves around mistaken identity starring Rosanna Arquette and a then unknown Madonna. Seidelman went on to direct She Devil with Meryl Streep in her first comedic role. But Hollywood is a tough place for women directors. Nora Ephron came on the scene and directed Sleepless in Seattle and You’ve Got Mail in the 1990s. And 25 years later Greta Gerwig had a big hit with Barbie. Seidelman eventually started working in TV, directing the pilot episode of a series that was to become a cultural icon, Sex and the City. We talk about sexism, ageism and the challenge of staying on top of your game. “Now What?” is produced with help from Steve Zimmer, Lucy Little and Stacey Maltin. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
Chelsea Devantez is a writer and comedian who has a good time being outrageous. She grew up in a family that moved around a lot when she was a kid. They never had much money. She was a victim of domestic violence. Chelsea had always wanted to be an artist. And her dream came true when she was hired to perform as part of the improv team at Second City in Chicago. Chelsea got her next dream job when Jon Stewart hired her to be the head writer of his streaming series The Problem with Jon Stewart. Now, she produces original comedy projects at 20th Century Studios and she’s written a memoir called I Shouldn’t Be Telling You This. We talk about all the things she shouldn’t be telling us. “Now What?” is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Lucy Little and Jackie Schwartz. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
I started to think a lot about music when I knew I’d be talking to Chuck D, the rapper and frontman of Public Enemy. Some critics point to the group as a revolutionary voice in hip hop. Chuck D and Flavor Flav formed Public Enemy in 1985. Their songs became known for political messages on albums like Fear of a Black Planet. But in the decades since becoming a legendary rapper, Chuck D has developed his talent as an artist illustrating 3 graphic books. His latest, Rap Pilates, is about the exercise he credits with helping him to perform high-energy concerts. We talk about drawing, creativity and changing the world. “Now What?” is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Lucy Little and Jackie Schwartz. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
Ever since he was a kid, Nick Kristof dreamed of being a foreign correspondent. And that’s what he spent decades doing, traveling to more than 150 countries to cover conflicts and crises. Kristof is a two-time Pulitzer Prize winner for his reports on the deadly Tiananmen Square protests and for columns focusing attention on genocide in Darfur. Kristof has also been called the moral conscience of a generation. We talk about all the close calls and terrifying moments he describes in his new memoir Chasing Hope. And we talk about why he’s an optimistin a world torn apart by conflict. “Now What?” is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Lucy Little and Jackie Schwartz. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
Gail Godwin has written 18 books. Many of her novels were best sellers including Evensong. Three of them were finalists for the National Book Award. Her book Grief Cottage features a boy who has a relationship with a ghost. Godwin says she herself has seen ghosts. When she was a reporter, an apparition dressed in a medical uniform used to visit her in the middle of the night. Godwin’s new book is a memoir. It opens with the story of how the writer, who’s 87, went into her back yard to water her dogwood tree, wound up falling on her face and breaking her neck. We talk about how curiosity saved her in her darkest moments. “Now What?” is produced with help from Steve Zimmer, Lucy Little and Jackie Schwartz. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
Writer Jhumpa Lahiri grew up in Rhode Island after her family emigrated from India when she was a toddler. Her first language was Bengali and she spoke English in school. When she was 32, Lahiri won a Pulitzer Prize for Fiction for her first book Interpreter of Maladies. It was an honor but it also put a lot of pressure on her as a writer. Then Lahiri fell in love with the Italian language and when she moved to Rome, she discovered a kind of freedom. Now, Lahiri writes her books in Italian. Her latest work of fiction is called Roman Stories. We talk about identity, culture and what it’s like to live between 2 different worlds. “Now What?” is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Lucy Little and Jackie Schwartz. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
What’s it like to earn hundreds of thousands of dollars a year working as the personal assistant to the billionaire founder of a famous hedge fund? Pretty tough according to writer Carrie Sun. Sun’s memoir Private Equity tells the story of working 24/7, being at the beck and call of a demanding boss and feeling so stressed that she developed an eating disorder. There are also the perks like a $2500 gift certificate to Soul Cycle, a Derek Lam coat worth $6,000, surfing trips to Montauk and a bird’s eye view of the world of the ultra-rich. We talk about what you owe your job, how that fits with your personal values and what to do when you feel you’re wasting your life. “Now What?” is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Lucy Little and Jackie Schwartz. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
Frank Bruni used to be a restaurant critic for the New York Times. Now, he’s a Contributing Opinion writer for the paper and a Professor of Journalism and Public Policy at Duke University. Bruni has written a book called The Age of Grievance about what’s going on in Trump World and the MAGA Universe. One of his theories is that the people who are the most furious feel they’re losing because someone else is winning. We talk about the erosion of democracy in our country and why so many people seem to be so ticked off. “Now What?” is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Lucy Little and Jackie Schwartz. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
You may know him from his role as Murray Bauman in Stranger Things and as Martin in the BBC comedy Fleabag. Brett Gelman has dreamed of being a famous actor since he was a child growing up in Highland Park, Illinois, where he wanted to make the other kids laugh and wound up feeling like an outcast. Gelman has written about his childhood and his neuroses in a book called The Terrifying Realm of the Possible. He’s run into problems publicizing the book after making impassioned speeches about his support for Israel in the conflict with Gaza. Get ready for a heated discussion (and laughs). “Now What?” is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Lucy Little and Jackie Schwartz. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
Bill Bradley is one of those wildly talented people, a star athlete with a brilliant mind. He went to Princeton University where he was the 1965 NCAA champion of the year. Then it was on to Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar. But basketball still called to him and he joined the New York Knicks, playing on the dream team which won two NBA championships. After life on the court, Bradley decided to try politics and was elected to the U.S. Senate from New Jersey where he served three terms. Bradley has made a film about the many chapters of his life called Rolling Along. “Now What? is produced with help from Steve Zimmer, Lucy Little and Jackie Schwartz. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
As a child, Ed Begley Jr. watched his dad act in films like Sweet Bird of Youth, a role that earned him an Oscar. His father’s career inspired the younger Begley to go into acting where he has appeared in hundreds of films and TV shows including Better Call Saul and Young Sheldon. In his twenties. Ed Begley, Jr. drank too much and abused drugs. Addiction is now in his past. Begley is also a passionate environmentalist. He took public transportation to the Oscars ceremony which his daughter Hayden filmed and posted on Tik Tok where it’s gotten more than 6 million views. “Now What?” is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Lucy Little and Jackie Schwartz. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
Lucy Sante is a well-known author and critic who has written more than 10 books. Her latest is the memoir l Heard Her Call My Name. It’s the first book she’s written under the name Lucy. Lucy started out life with the name Luke. At the age of 67, she decided to fulfill a long-held desire to transition to a woman. It’s now been three years since Lucy came out. We talk about the challenges of changing her gender, whether she thinks about things differently now that she’s a woman and what kind of clothes she likes to wear. “Now What?” is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Lucy Little and Jackie Schwartz. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
Who faces death at the age of 22? Suleika Jaouad did. After Suleika was diagnosed with a rare blood cancer, she had a bone marrow transplant. At the age of 26 Suleika was declared cancer free. Suleika is the author of the best-selling memoir Between Two Kingdoms. She’s married to Jon Batiste, the former band leader for the Late Show with Stephen Colbert and a 5-time Grammy award winner. Two years ago, Suleika’s cancer came back and she had a second bone marrow transplant. She has thought a lot about life and death and all the moments in between. Our conversation made me cry. You won’t want to miss it. “Now What?” is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Lucy Little and Jackie Schwartz. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
No one embodies the concept of change and durability in one lifetime like Jane Fonda. She started out as what some might call a Nepo Baby, the daughter of Henry Fonda, an actor who was considered Hollywood royalty. During her long career, Jane Fonda has appeared in more than 50 films, earning Oscars for Best Actress for her roles in Klute and Coming Home. Fonda became as famous for her politics as she did for her acting roles. Her anti-Vietnam war activities earned her the nick name of Hanoi Jane. She also became a fitness guru. Now that her successful Netflix series Grace and Frankie has ended, Fonda says she’s devoting herself to combating the climate crisis. And as an 86-year three-time divorcee, Fonda says she’s no longer interested in romance or sex. She just wants to make the world a better place.
”Now What?” is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Lucy Little and Jackie Schwartz. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
In 2023, 83-year old Dr. Anthony Fauci retired as the Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, a job he’d held for 38 years. Once called “America’s Doctor,” Dr. Fauci had often been vilified for his role on the White House Coronavirus Task Force under President Donald Trump. In the past year, Dr. Fauci’s critics have only gotten louder. In his book on the scientist, Presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., a staunch anti-vaxxer, wrote, “I think he is a genuinely bad human being.” I caught up with Dr. Fauci to find out why he thinks he’s the target of right-wing conspiracy theories, anger and even hatred. ”Now What?” is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Lucy Little and Jackie Schwartz. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
Filmmaker Lisa Cortes brought a 1950s rock ‘n’ roll legend to life again in her rollicking new documentary Little Richard: I Am Everything. Richard, who was known for hits like Long Tall Sally and Tutti Frutti, was a complicated personality who felt he never got the kind of recognition that he deserved. But in Cortes’ film, celebrated musicians talk about how Richard influenced their work. Mick Jagger says he studied Richard’s dance moves and Paul McCartney credits Richard with teaching him how to shriek. I talk to Lisa Cortes about making films that set the record straight when it comes to artists who are overlooked and misunderstood. “Now What?” is produced with help from Steve Zimmer, Lucy Little and Jackie Schwartz. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
Photo by Paul Morejón
I was so lucky to have spent a few hours with Norman Lear who recently died at the age of 101. Lear was 95 at the time we talked. In the 1970s he created a television empire with shows that dominated the network ratings like All in the Family, Sanford and Son, The Jeffersons and Maude. These series changed television forever by tackling subjects like racism and social inequality. Lear was also an outspoken liberal. In 2001 he bought a rare copy of the Declaration of Independence for more than $8 million and arranged for it to tour around the U.S. as a way to encourage people to take pride in their country. “Now What?” is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Lucy Little and Jackie Schwartz. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
Charles Busch made a name for himself as a playwright and a leading lady in drag with productions like the off-Broadway cult classic Vampire Lesbians of Sodom. That campy theatrical spoof was followed by Psycho Beach Party and Pardon My Inquisition, or, Kiss the Blood off My Castanets. Busch also appeared in the TV show Oz where he plays a cross- dressing homosexual who smothers his Mafia cellmate. When it comes to playing male roles, Busch says he’s nothing great. It’s when he puts on gowns and wigs that his imagination really takes flight. We talk about glamorous wigs and how Busch made money as a sex worker before he became an overnight sensation on stage. “Now What?” is produced with help from Steve Zimmer, Lucy Little and Jackie Schwartz. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
Paulina Porizkova, who was a supermodel in the 80s, has one of those rags to riches stories which she talked with me about on “Now What?” in December 2022. That conversation has just been honored with a Clarion award for Best Podcast given by the Association of Women in Communications. Life has not always been star turns for Paulina who was born in Eastern Europe. She began modeling in Paris at the age of 15. When she was 19, she met her future husband Ric Ocasek, lead singer of the Cars. We talk about Paulina’s memoir Unfiltered: The Good, the Bad and the Beautiful and what it takes to reinvent yourself when you’re in your 50s. “Now What?” is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Lucy Little and Jackie Schwartz. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
*Photo By David Sedlecký
When it comes to the word prolific, Walter Mosley fits right in. He’s written about 60 books. His latest is the sci-fi novella Touched. Mosley’s first work of crime fiction, Devil in a Blue Dress, features the character of a black private detective named Easy Rawlins who lives in the Watts neighborhood of LA. It was made into a film starring Denzel Washington. Mosley was also brought up in LA with a Jewish mother and an African American father. Growing up as an only child, Mosley has said his writing imagination might come from an emptiness in his childhood that he filled up with fantasies. It's a question we explore in this episode of “Now What?” which is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Lucy Little and Patrick McAndrew. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
Roz Chast is an award-winning cartoonist who started working for the New Yorker 45 years ago. Her comics examine our everyday neuroses and anxieties. As an only child growing up in Brooklyn, Chast worried that a fire could break out in the wall and burn up her family. Or that she’d suddenly have an appendicitis attack and wind up in the hospital like Madeleine in that children’s story. Chast hates to drive and is terrified of changing lanes. Now, she’s written a book called I Must be Dreaming about her nightmares and all the wacky things that go on in our heads while we’re asleep. “Now What?” is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Lucy Little and Patrick McAndrew. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
Avi Loeb is probably the most famous practicing astronomer in the country. He’s the founding director of Harvard University’s Black Hole Initiative and was the longest-serving chair of Harvard’s Department of Astronomy. Now, Loeb is also one of the most controversial astronomers in the country. In 2018, he proposed that an object named Oumuamua that had been detected by a telescope in Maui may have been a probe from an alien civilization. Earlier this year, Loeb claimed to have recovered material from an interstellar meteor that could be evidence of an alien starship. Some of Loeb’s colleagues accuse him of making wild and sensational claims. So, what do you think? “Now What?” is produced with help from Steve Zimmer, Lucy Little and Patrick McAndrew. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
Gay Talese is known for his dapper wardrobe and distinctive writing style. He became famous as a writer who helped to define the New Journalism in the 1960s. He wrote block buster best sellers like Honor Thy Father about the Bonanno crime family. The Voyeur’s Motel focuses on a motel owner who spied on his guests. Talese also calls himself a voyeur. He spent 8 years researching Thy Neighbor’s Wife, his book about sex in America. That research included managing a massage parlor and living in a nudist colony. Now, 91-year old Gay Talese has written a new book called Bartleby and Me. Sitting on his elegant leather sofa in his Manhattan townhouse, I asked Gay Talese to tell me about all the outrageous things he’s done in his life. “Now What?” is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Lucy Little and Patrick McAndrew. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
She used to make her living standing in Harvard Square as a statue known as the Eight Foot Bride. Now, Amanda Palmer is the leader of the punk cabaret band The Dresden Dolls. And she’s not afraid to tell you what’ on her mind. Her fans are passionate about her. Palmer has 1 million followers on X (formerly Twitter) and 10,000 patrons on Patreon who support her work. She’s open, honest and outrageous. “Now What?” is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Lucy little and Patrick McAndrew. Audio production is by Nick CIavatta.
Ben Smith had a front row seat to momentous shifts in the media that changed newspapers and magazines forever. In the early 2000s, readers began flocking to websites like Gawker and the Huffington Post for gossip, news and information. After Smith became the founding editor of BuzzFeed News, he decided to publish the Steele Dossier, the controversial report containing allegations about a conspiracy between Donald Trump’s presidential campaign and the Russian government. We talk about Traffic, Smith’s book about the media revolution and the race to go viral. “Now What?” is produced with help from Steve Zimmer, Lucy Little and Patrick McAndrew. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
John Waters is having a moment. The filmmaker, who's also known as the Prince of Puke and the Duke of Dirt, is getting a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He says he hopes it will be near the one celebrating Alvin and the Chipmunks. Plus, LA’s Academy Museum of Motion Pictures is honoring Waters with an exhibit that features some of his old cameras and props like the exploding wig worn by Debbie Harry in Hairspray which is celebrating its 35th anniversary. And Waters will be making another movie, his first in more than 18 years. It’s based on his book Liarmouth, a novel that includes stories of satanic babies and tickle fetishism. We talked about why John Waters paints on his moustache and what it means to be weird in this conversation from May 2022. “Now What?” is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Lucy Little and Patrick McAndrew. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
At 6 feet 8 inches tall, people say Jim Comey could have been a basketball player. Instead, he became the top law enforcement official when President Barack Obama appointed him FBI Director and he led an investigation into former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email server. After concluding that there was no national security breach, less than two weeks before the Presidential election, Comey said the case had been reopened. Many people blame him for Clinton’s election loss. Then his new boss, Donald Trump, fired him. Now Jim Comey is a novelist. He tells all on “Now What?” which is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Lucy Little and Cameryn Yarber. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
Dave Barry wrote a humor column in the Miami Herald for more than 20 years that earned him a Pulitzer Prize for Commentary. He also writes books. His latest is called Swamp Story. It’s very funny with a totally ridiculous plot that takes place in the Everglades. There's a character who runs around pretending to be a creature called the Melon Monster and a support boar, as in wild pig, who pees on a politician during a press conference. Barry has also played lead guitar in a band called the Rock Bottom Remainders. His band mates include other writers such as Stephen King and Scott Turow. A man of many talents, Barry and I share a lot of laughs in this conversation. “Now What?” is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Lucy Little and Cameryn Yarber. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
In June 2023, something shocking happened to Nicole Daedone, founder of OneTaste, which was once one of the fastest growing companies in the U.S. OneTaste defined itself as a sexuality-focused wellness company dedicated to spreading the word about OMing or orgasmic meditation. That’s a practice that involves an individual methodically stroking a partner’s clitoris. Federal prosecutors indicted Daedone on charges of forced labor conspiracy. The government alleges that she “intentionally recruited individuals who had suffered prior trauma.” Daedone pleaded not guilty and faces up to 20 years in prison. I spoke to Daedone in November 2022 in a wide-ranging discussion of women’s sexuality and the claims leveled against her involving sexual abuse. You won’t want to miss what she has to say. “Now What?” is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Lucy Little and Cameryn Yarber. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
Andrew McCarthy was still a teenager when he acted in his first film and became a member of what’s called the Brat Pack. That’s the group of actors including Demi Moore and Molly Ringwald who starred in 1980s films like Pretty in Pink and St. Elmo’s Fire. There were a few bumps along the road like drinking too much alcohol and taking drugs before McCarthy became a travel writer. McCarthy also directs episodes of TV series like Orange is the New Black. And he walked 500 miles across Spain with his teenage son, an adventure he writes about in a new book called Walking with Sam. “Now What?” is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Lucy Little and Cameryn Yarber. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
She’s a long-time activist for women’s rights and she’s also a Founding Editor of Ms. Magazine. Letty Cottin Pogrebin is the author of 12 books including How to Make it In a Man’s World. Her latest is called Shanda which means shame in Yiddish. It’s about the secrets families keep and the ones that Pogrebin uncovered that wound up changing her own life. Pobregin begins her book by revealing a story about how she had to confront her own shame after she was diagnosed with a benign brain tumor. And why she felt she had to hide the news at all costs. “Now What?” is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Lucy Little and Julian Androkae. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
It’s hard for me to believe that “Now What?” has just celebrated its 100th episode. We marked the occasion with a first: a conversation taped in front of a live audience at the Center for Fiction in Brooklyn. V (formerly Eve Ensler) and creator of “The Vagina Monologues” told stories about her remarkable life. The room was filled with fans of the podcast, friends and family. And as the conversation unfolded, we were all bound by a sense of togetherness and community. Now you’ll get to be a part of it, too. “Now What?” is produced with help from Steve Zimmer, Lucy Little and Julian Androkae. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
Jeannette Walls’ memoir The Glass Castle became an international bestseller that sold over 5 million copies. Walls’ father Rex was an alcoholic who dreamed of inventing a gold-detecting gizmo that would make him rich enough to build a glass castle. The family moved around a lot, usually before the rent came due. At one point Jeannette and her siblings were left at their grandparents’ house where they often had to scrounge food from garbage cans. Now Walls has written a novel called Hang the Moon. about a gutsy young woman who becomes a rum runner during Prohibition. We talk about what it’s like to grow up poor and how your life changes when you become very, very rich. “Now What?” is produced with help from Steve Zimmer, Lucy Little and Jullian Androkae. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
She was my first guest on “Now What?” and now she’s come back to help me celebrate the 100th episode. There’s no one quite like Gloria Steinem. But don’t call her an icon. She doesn’t like it. Gloria thinks of herself as a writer and an activist. She dressed up as a Playboy bunny for a Show Magazine article to tell the intimate story of what it’s like to be treated as an object at work. She was an important leader of the wave of feminism that changed the world in the 1960s and 70s and she’s the author of numerous books including Revolution from Within and My Life on the Road.We talk about women’s rights and what Gloria is wearing these days. “Now What?’ is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Lucy Little and Jullian Androkae. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
Photo Credit:
Creator: Todd Plitt | Credit: Getty Images Copyright: 2005 Getty Images
She comes from a famous musical family. And she’s always felt like she was number 4 on the totem pole behind her brother Rufus, her father Loudon Wainwright III and her mother Kate McGarrigle. These days Martha has come into her own, talking about her life in a memoir called Stories I Might Regret Telling You. There are tales about her parent’s divorce and Martha’s wild days as a druggie, drinker and party goer. She also talks about how she got comfortable in her own skin and how much she loves being the mother of two boys. In a conversation that’s honest, funny and raw Martha Wainwright bares all. “Now What?” is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Lucy Little and Jullian Androkae. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
Tig Notaro had been doing stand-up for more than 10 years when she got up on stage in 2012, grabbed the mic and began her set with these words: “Hello, Good evening. Hello. I have cancer.” Many critics called the set historic and ground breaking. When it was released as an album called “Live” it shot to number 1 on the comedy charts. in her Netflix special “Boyish Girl Interrupted” Tig went further. She unbuttoned her white shirt, sharing her mastectomy scars with the audience. Now she’s married and has twin boys and remains an unusual comedian. You’ll find out more about what makes Tig Notaro tick. “Now What?” is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Lucy little and Julian Androkae. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
Bruce Jackson grew up in a public housing project in Manhattan and got arrested when he was 10. Some of his friends became drug dealers but Jackson went on to become the first person in his family to go to college. After earning a law degree from Georgetown, Jackson represented hip hop figures like LL Cool J, Heavy D and Busta Rhymes before leaving music behind to take a high-powered corporate job at Microsoft. We talk about Jackson’s book Never Far from Home and what it means to grow up African American and poor in New York City, striving to grab the brass ring on the carousel that means you’ve arrived. “Now What?” is produced with help from Steve Zimmer, James Napoli and Andreea Coscai. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
When the U.S. was hit by the Covid 19 pandemic, President Trump often praised unproven treatments. While trying not to contradict Donald Trump, Dr. Anthony Fauci, one of the top infectious disease experts in the country, became a calming presence, advocating practical remedies like social distancing. He also became the target of right-wing conspiracy theorists who sent him death threats. I talk to Dr. Fauci about his role in developing treatments for once-fatal diseases like AIDS and how his life changed in the challenging years of the Trump administration. “Now What?” is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Andreea Coscai and James Napoli. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
Judy Woodruff got her start in the news business at a time when you didn’t see many women on the air. Her first job was getting coffee for her bosses at a local TV station in Atlanta. That was nearly 50 years ago and she’s covered Presidents and crises ever since. She’s also spent the last decade as an anchor on the PBS NewsHour. No happy talk, no screaming and yelling. She’s even been parodied on Saturday Night Live. We talk about how she’s handled tragedy in her life and we laugh about the good times, too. “Now What?” is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Alex Wolfe and Andreea Coscai. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
Dani Shapiro is a writer who is very interested in family secrets. After Shapiro sent a sample of her saliva to a DNA company to find out more about her heritage, the results that came back rocked her world. Shapiro discovered that the man she spent her life calling dad was not her biological father. We talk about identity, what we hide from one another and the family secrets in Shapiro’s new novel Signal Fires. “Now What?” is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Alex Wolfe and Andreea Coscai. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
Welcome to 2023. It’s a good time to take a fresh look at who we are and how we might want to change. Dr. Mark Epstein is a psychiatrist and a Buddhist. In his new book, The Zen of Therapy, Epstein writes about how he uses his spiritual beliefs to help his patients understand the importance of their own personal and unique stories. We talk about the need to laugh at ourselves and how to feel comfortable in our own skin. “Now What?” is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Alex Wolfe and Andreea Coscai. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
She’s been called one of the most beautiful women in the world. Paulina Porizkova also had what many considered a fairy tale marriage to Cars lead singer Ric Ocasek. But after Ocasek died in 2019, the former supermodel found she’d been cut out of his will. Porizkova writes about that in No Filter: The Good, The Bad, and the Beautiful. We talk about what it takes to recover from grief and heal from a deep sense of betrayal. “Now What?” is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Alex Wolfe and Andreea Coscai. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
Lucy Sante is the award-winning author of numerous books. Her latest, Nineteen Reservoirs tells the story of the massive and disruptive project undertaken to bring a clean water supply to New York City. While Lucy was writing the book, she was also going through a major change in her own life. Named Luke at birth, at the age of 66, Sante decided to do something she had thought about all her life: transition to a woman. We talk about the complexities of gender and identity. “Now What?” is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Alex Wolfe and Andreea Coscai. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
If you’ve seen the Netflix documentary Orgasm Inc. you’ve been introduced to One Taste Founder Nicole Daedone who created a company dedicated to spreading the word about a practice called orgasmic meditation. OneTaste closed its doors after a Bloomberg BusinessWeek article included complaints of sexual assaults and financial improprieties. Daaedone is at the heart of much of the controversy. In an exclusive conversation, I spoke with Daedone about who she is, what went wrong and whether she’s a visionary or a villain. I’ll let you decide. “Now What?” is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Andreea Coscai and Alex Wolfe. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
Woodstock, New York is famous for the music festival that actually didn’t take place there. It’s also known for famous musicians like Bob Dylan who once lived there and for its writers like Larry Beinhart who wrote the political satire American Hero. The film Wag the Dog is based on Beinhart’s book. Beinhart has also written a mystery series featuring the private detective Tony Casella. Much of the action in his latest book called The Deal Goes Down takes place in Woodstock where Casella lives and agrees to become a killer for hire. I talk to Larry Beinhart about movies, money and morality. “Now What?” is produced with the help of Andreea Coscai, Alex Wolfe and Justin Foy. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
Constance Wu first gained attention playing a tiger mom on the TV series Fresh Off the Boat. While she was in the series, Wu was cast in a movie called Crazy Rich Asians, a critical and commercial success that made Wu a movie star. But then she made a mistake. She tweeted about how disappointed she was that Fresh off the Boat had been renewed. The backlash was swift with fans calling Wu spoiled and ungrateful. I talk to Constance Wu about the perils of social media and lessons learned. “Now What?” is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Andreea Coscai and Alex Wolfe. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
Constance Wu first gained attention playing a tiger mom on the TV series Fresh Off the Boat. While she was in the series, Wu was cast in a movie called Crazy Rich Asians, a critical and commercial success that made Wu a movie star. But then she made a mistake. She tweeted about how disappointed she was that Fresh off the Boat had been renewed. The backlash was swift with fans calling Wu spoiled and ungrateful. I talk to Constance Wu about the perils of social media and lessons learned. “Now What?” is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Andreea Coscai and Alex Wolfe. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
The midterms are right around the corner. With politics in the air I found a couple of interesting people to shoot the breeze with about where we’re heading. Brad Tusk is a political consultant and venture capitalist who helped a company called Uber gain a foothold in New York and became very rich as a result. Tusk has opened a book store called P&T Knitware on the lower east side of Manhattan. You’ll also hear from California Congressman Adam Schiff who’s running for re-election. Schiff, who is the Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee led the first impeachment of Donald Trump. “Now What?” is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Alex Wolfe and Andreea Coscai. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
The midterms are right around the corner. With politics in the air I found a couple of interesting people to shoot the breeze with about where we’re heading. Brad Tusk is a political consultant and venture capitalist who helped a company called Uber gain a foothold in New York and became very rich as a result. Tusk has opened a book store called P&T Knitware on the lower east side of Manhattan. You’ll also hear from California Congressman Adam Schiff who’s running for re-election. Schiff, who is the Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee led the first impeachment of Donald Trump. “Now What?” is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Alex Wolfe and Andreea Coscai. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
Pa. Lt. Governor John Fetterman is running for a Senate seat in Pennsylvania against Dr. Mehmet Oz. He’s a most unusual politician. Fetterman is 6 feet 8 inches tall. He’s got a row of tattoos on his right arm that memorialize the dates that people were killed by gun violence in Braddock, Pa during the 13 years that Fetterman was Mayor. He’s also known for campaigning in shorts and hoodies and he’s got a Masters degree in Public Policy from Harvard’s Kennedy School. I sat down with John Fetterman in 2019 to talk about his appeal to working people and his interest in recreational marijuana. “Now What?” is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Alex Wolfe and Andreea Coscai. Audio production is by Nick CIavatta.
Pa. Lt. Governor John Fetterman is running for a Senate seat in Pennsylvania against Dr. Mehmet Oz. He’s a most unusual politician. Fetterman is 6 feet 8 inches tall. He’s got a row of tattoos on his right arm that memorialize the dates that people were killed by gun violence in Braddock, Pa during the 13 years that Fetterman was Mayor. He’s also known for campaigning in shorts and hoodies and he’s got a Masters degree in Public Policy from Harvard’s Kennedy School. I sat down with John Fetterman in 2019 to talk about his appeal to working people and his interest in recreational marijuana. “Now What?” is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Alex Wolfe and Andreea Coscai. Audio production is by Nick CIavatta.
What does it take to create a work of art with another person? Talent, inspiration, hard work. But the most important part of the equation may be whether the creators hit it off and find themselves on the same wavelength. James Lapine found his best collaborator in Stephen Sondheim, one of the greatest theater composers ever. Their first work together turned out to be a Broadway show called Sunday in the Park with George. They went on to create Into the Woods and Passion. I talk to James Lapine about his relationship with Sondheim, who died suddenly last year, and the art of thinking outside the box. “Now What?” is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Annika Hoiem and Alex Wolfe. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
What does it take to create a work of art with another person? Talent, inspiration, hard work. But the most important part of the equation may be whether the creators hit it off and find themselves on the same wavelength. James Lapine found his best collaborator in Stephen Sondheim, one of the greatest theater composers ever. Their first work together turned out to be a Broadway show called Sunday in the Park with George. They went on to create Into the Woods and Passion. I talk to James Lapine about his relationship with Sondheim, who died suddenly last year, and the art of thinking outside the box. “Now What?” is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Annika Hoiem and Alex Wolfe. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
When people ask me who are the most interesting characters I’ve ever talked to for “Now What?” I always think of the Irish actor Gabriel Byrne. Byrne has been in many iconic movies including Miller’s Crossing and The Usual Suspects. He also played the brooding psychiatrist in the series In Treatment and became a heartthrob at the age of 59. He’s now performing in a stage version of his memoir Walking with Ghosts. This is a beautifully written piece in which Byrne talks about the years he spent as a thief and his calling to be a priest. I spoke to Gabriel Byrne for an episode that was first posted in March 2021. “Now What?” is produced with help from Steve Alex Wolfe. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
When people ask me who are the most interesting characters I’ve ever talked to for “Now What?” I always think of the Irish actor Gabriel Byrne. Byrne has been in many iconic movies including Miller’s Crossing and The Usual Suspects. He also played the brooding psychiatrist in the series In Treatment and became a heartthrob at the age of 59. He’s now performing in a stage version of his memoir Walking with Ghosts. This is a beautifully written piece in which Byrne talks about the years he spent as a thief and his calling to be a priest. I spoke to Gabriel Byrne for an episode that was first posted in March 2021. “Now What?” is produced with help from Steve Alex Wolfe. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
This is a special episode. It’s about my brother-in-law Joel Zimmer who was diagnosed with back of the tongue and tonsil cancer caused by the HPV virus. If you were to tell people that there’s a form of cancer that’s sexually transmitted they’d probably look at you as if you’re crazy. But there is and cases are on the rise. HPV now causes most of the throat and mouth cancers found in men. You’ll hear from Joel, oncologists, sex experts and President Joe Biden, whom I interviewed in Washington, D.C. about his family’s own experience with cancer. Thank you to Offscrip Health for allowing me to share “Silent Cancer” on “Now What?” “Silent Cancer” was produced with the help of Mary Rose Madden and Nick Ciavatta.
Since 2017, more than 80 women have come forward to accuse Harvey Weinstein of sexual harassment or assault. In 2022, the former movie studio mogul was sentenced to 23 years in prison for rape. Throughout his career Weinstein was riding high with films like Pulp Fictionand Shakespeare in Love. So the question is how did Weinstein manage to lead a parallel life that lasted for decades in which he abused women. I talk to writer Ken Auletta about his book Hollywood Ending and the culture of silence in the movie business. “Now What?” is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Annika Hoeim and Alex Wolfe. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
His breakthrough movie was Harold and Kumar go to White Castle, the buddy film where the stoners ride a cheetah in New Jersey to get burgers. Penn’s parents came to the U.S. from India and the actor is a long time vocal advocate for more diversity in Hollywood. Penn played a doctor on the TV series House and the son of Indian immigrants in the film The Namesake. When he took a break from acting, Penn served in the Obama administration as Associate Director of the White House Office of Public Engagement. He’s written a memoir about his adventures in Hollywood and Washington called You Can’t Be Serious. “Now What” is produced with help from Steve Zimmer, Annika Hoeim and Alex Wolfe. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
Writer Delia Ephron ran into a rough patch that lasted for years. First, her sister Nora died. After Delia’s husband passed away, Delia was diagnosed with the same type of leukemia that killed Nora. Doctors told Delia her own chances of surviving were not good. She tells that gripping story in a memoir called Left on Tenth. But not all is doom and gloom. Something unexpected happened to Delia in the midst of all the loss; she fell in love.“Now What?” is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Alex Wolfe and Annika Hoiem. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
His book about healing trauma, The Body Keeps the Score, has been on the paperback bestseller list for more than 4 years. So why are people so interested in trauma, terrible events that sear themselves into our minds and won’t let go? Psychiatrist Bessel van der Kolk has spent decades working on ways to free people from the traumatic events that have shaped their lives. We talk about ghosts past and present, psychedelic drugs and what we have to do to feel comfortable in our bodies. “Now What?” is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Alex Wolfe and Annika Hoiem. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
Queen Elizabeth is celebrating 70-years on the throne with people pouring into the streets to toast the longest-reigning British monarch. But the 96-year old Queen has had her challenges in recent years. Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle quit their royal duties and took off for southern California. Prince Andrew got himself in trouble with allegations of sexually abusing underage women and hanging out with Jeffrey Epstein. Tina Brown, author of The Palace Papers tells us what’s next for the House of Windsor. “Now What?” is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Annika Hoeim and Alex Wolfe. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
He’s known as the Prince of Puke. John Waters’ film Pink Flamingos starring Divine is about a woman who’s competing for the title of Filthiest Person Alive. In Multiple Maniacs Divine gets sexually assaulted by a giant lobster. Waters’ films like Hairspray and Cecil B. Demented have become cult classics. Waters may be a counter culture hero but he’s also a successful brand. His latest work is a novel called Liarmouth. I talk to John Waters about being an oddball and why he draws on his moustache. “Now What” is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Gabe Zimmer and Annika Hoiem. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
Anna Quindlen became a star at the New York Times writing about motherhood and what it’s like to go to the supermarket dragging little kids along, an event she said should be included in the Olympics. After being awarded a Pulitzer Prize for Commentary for her Op-ed column Public and Private., Quindlen announced that she was quitting her job at the Times to become a full time novelist. She’s now putting the finishing touches on novel number 10. I talk to Anna Quindlen about being prolific, her grand kids and the looming threat to abortion rights. “Now What?” is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Annika Hoiem and Alex Wolfe. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
Kent Swig is a legend in real estate circles. Swig began buying buildings in New York’s financial district in the late 90s. At the peak, Swig’s buildings were worth about $3 billion. But when the 2008 financial crisis hit, the bottom fell out for Swig. He’d taken out what he thought would be a short-term personal loan of more than $21 million and his marriage ended in a bitter divorce. Now Swig is back. He’s paying his creditors, he’s doing deals and riding his surfboard in a quest to find the perfect wave. “Now What? is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Annika Hoeim and Alex Wolfe. Audio production in by Nick Ciavatta.
We wake up in the morning and plan. Maybe I’ll meet a friend for lunch. Maybe I’ll go to Italy in July. But life sometimes throws unexpected curves. That’s what happened to writer Amy Bloom who was happily married to her husband Brian, an architect, when she began to notice that Brian would get lost on his way to the grocery store. When Brian was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease he made a decision. He asked Amy to research ways he could end his life quickly and painlessly. I talk to Amy Bloom talk about what happened next, endings and beginnings. “Now What?” is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Annika Hoeim and Alex Wolfe. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
He came of age when rock n’ roll was entering a Renaissance. Stevie Van Zandt was a teenager when he met another music freak named Bruce Springsteen. Stevie joined the E Street band. He quit the E Street band. Leaving, he said, was the worst decision he ever made. But Stevie recovered, becoming a political activist and an actor, landing the role of Silvio, Tony Soprano’s right hand man in The Sopranos. We laugh a lot talking about music, the glory years and what to do when you realize you’ve screwed up your life. “Now What?” is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Annika Hoeim and Alex Wolfe. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
I’d never heard of Lee Kravetz until a friend recommended I read his fascinating new book called The Last Confessions of Sylvia P. Kravetz, who started out as a psychologist, always wanted to be a writer. He became fascinated with The Bell Jar author Sylvia Plath, who nearly 60 years after her death has remained a towering figure in the world of poetry. I talked to Lee Kravetz about the birth of confessional poetry and why he’s so fascinated by the connection between madness and art. “Now What?” is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Annika Hoeim and Alex Wolfe. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
James Ivory has directed more than 30 films like Howards End and The Remains of the Day. Ivory and his long-time partner Ismail Merchant have the distinction of being listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest partnership in the history of independent cinema. At the age of 89, Ivory also made cinema history by becoming the oldest person to ever win an Academy Award. “Now What?” is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Annika Hoeim and Alex Wolfe. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
Sometimes peoples’ lives intersect with history in a way you never forget. That’s the case with Julius and Ethel Rosenberg who were convicted of spying for the Soviet Union. They died in the electric chair in 1953, leaving behind two young children, Robbie and Michael, who miraculously grew up to be successful adults. I spoke with Michael about his childhood and the controversial choices his parents made. “Now What?” is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Annika Hoiem and Alex Wolfe. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
Adam McKay’s new film Don’t Look Up is breaking records on Netflix. Featuring an all-star cast, the movie is about a comet hurtling towards earth. McKay is famous for his collaborations with Will Ferrell in films like Anchorman and Talladega Nights. Their long-time working relationship broke up a few years ago. More about that, our country’s poisonous politics and why the LA Lakers make Adam McKay so happy. “Now What?” is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Annika Hoeim and Alex Wolfe. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
He likes Russian bear hats and martinis and he collects watches. Gary Shteyngart came to this country from Russia when he was 7 and grew up in Queens, New York. Gary says he was bullied in the schoolyard because he spoke with a thick accent and dressed funny. He also writes funny books. Gary’s latest novel is called Our Country Friends. It’s about a group of people who live together during the pandemic. We talk about his 1967 Rolex GMT, a circumcision that went wrong and what the world looks like from the eyes of Gary Shteyngart. “Now What?” is produced with help from Steve Zimmer, Annika Hoeim and Alex Wolfe. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
Norman, Lear, one of the most inspiring people I’ve ever talked to, will turn 100 in July. Lear says that one reason he’s still around is that he spends so much time laughing. He teamed up with Jimmy Kimmel to produce the Emmy award-winning show Live in Front of a Studio Audience which recreates episodes of Lear’s sitcoms like Good Times and All in the Family. Lear’s other hit shows include Sanford and Son, One Day at a Time, The Jeffersons, Good Times and Maude. I spoke to Norman Lear when he was 95 about life, death and everything in between. “Now What?” is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Alex Wolfe and Annika Hoeim. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
Covid is raging again. The virus has similarities to another serious health problem. This one is caused by a tick bite and it can wreak havoc on your life. Just ask Ross Douthat, an Op-Ed columnist for the New York Times who fought a 5-year battle with Lyme disease. We talk about what happens when your life becomes a medical horror story and doctors can’t help you. “Now What?” is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Annika Hoiem and Alex Wolfe. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
Ricki Lake’s career took off when she was 19 and starred as Tracy Turnblad in John waters’ cult film Hairspray.. Lake played a high school student whose hair was so big that the kid who sat in back of her complained that he couldn’t see the teacher. Lake went on to host a talk show that lasted for 11 seasons. Now she makes documentaries about women’s health. Her latest one is called The Business of Birth Control. We talk about the art of reinventing yourself and all the twists and turns Ricki Lake’s life has taken. "Now What?" is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Annika Hoiem and Alex Wolfe. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
She’s most famous for her role as Carmela Soprano, the long-suffering wife of mob boss Tony Soprano played by Jim Gandolfini. Now, the long-running TV series has found a new audience, young people who can’t get enough of the New Jersey crime family. Falco has moved on to other roles. She played Hillary Clinton in the mini-series “Impeachment: American Crime Story.” And she’s starring in an off-Broadway play called “Morning Sun.” We talk about acting, motherhood and why she’s chosen to be a vegan and a Buddhist. “Now What?” is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Annika Hoiem and Alex Wolfe. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
He’s a staff writer for the New Yorker and a Pulitzer-prize winner for his book The Looming Tower. Lawrence Wright also wrote an expose of Scientology called Going Clear. His latest book, The Plague Year, looks at pandemics and how long we all may have to live with Covid-19. But when Wright isn’t thinking about big subjects, he sings and plays keyboard in a band called WhoDo in his hometown of Austin, Texas. “Now What?” is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Annika Hoiem and Alex Wolfe. Audio production is by Nick CIavatta.
Sarah Ruhl is an award-winning writer whose play Eurydice has been turned into an opera at Lincoln Center. Ruhl is also a Pulitzer Prize finalist and a Tony Award nominee for her play In the Next Room (or the Vibrator Play). After Ruhl gave birth to twins, a hospital worker noticed that Ruhl’s left eye was droopy. That turned out to be a 10-year battle with a paralyzed face. We talk about the sadness of not being able to smile and the joy of working in the theater again. “Now What?” is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Annika Hoiem and Alex Wolfe. Audio production is by Nick CIavatta.
Photo credit is Greg Constanzo.
I first met Neil deGrasse Tyson at a bug eating event at the Museum of Natural History when he was munching on a fried tarantula. You may remember Tyson as the host of Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey. That was the continuation of a television series that originally starred Carl Sagan, another well-known astrophysicist. Tyson is also the Director of the Hayden Planetarium in New York and he’s written more than 17 books. The latest is called A Brief Welcome to the Universe. But when you’re talking to Neil deGrasse Tyson, as you’ll discover, nothing is brief. “Now What?” is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Annika Hoiem and Alex Wolfe. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
Georgina Pazcoguin started taking ballet lessons when she was 4 and when she was a teenager she was accepted into the School of American Ballet. She wound up becoming a soloist with the NYC Ballet and butting heads with Director Peter Martins. We talk about the tightly wound world of ballet, dancing nude in Oh! Calcutta! and Georgina’s tell-all book Swan Dive. “Now What?” is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Fei Lu and Alex Wolfe. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
Photo by Matthew Karas
What is it with our Presidents? They all play golf. I think it has something to do with power. And friendship, too. Gary Ginsberg wrote a book called “First Friends.” It’s about nine U.S. Presidents and the people closest to them like Abe Lincoln and Joshua Speed. They slept in the same bed for four years. Vernon Jordan stayed loyal to Bill Clinton even as impeachment loomed. And then there’s Donald Trump the loner. He didn’t have a best friend. We talk about the long arm of history and friends in high places. “Now What?” is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Fei Lu and Alex Wolfe. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
Ben Rhodes was 29 when he went to work for Barack Obama in the White House. In his role as Deputy National Security Advisor, Rhodes helped to negotiate the Iran nuclear deal and the opening to Cuba, only to see Donald Trump tear down those policies. Then Rhodes traveled to Hungary, Russia and China to look at governments that promote nationalism. I talk to Ben Rhodes about reinvention, global despair and what the road ahead might look like. “Now What?” is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Fei Lu and Alexander Wolfe. Audio production is by Nick CIavatta.
In 2001, when the World Trade Center was attacked, I was a reporter at Bloomberg Radio. I was sent to Pakistan to cover the bombing campaign the U.S. was about to embark on in retaliation for 9/11. Based in Islamabad, I spent weeks traveling around Pakistan, visiting tribal areas in Peshawar and refugee camps where Afghanis had fled to escape the Taliban. I talked to women about the repressive policies of the Muslim extremists who then ruled Pakisatn. Now, 20 years later, the same fears fill the hearts of Afghanis and their desire to flee sounds eerily like the stories I was told in 2001. And I, like so many others, now worry about what will happen to the people of Afghanistan.
James Patterson has written 140 novels, mostly thrillers. His books have sold over 300 million copies. Many of them were created with co-authors including former President Bill Clinton. Patterson is also a philanthropist who has given millions to causes that promote reading. And he says, “I don’t take myself too seriously. Yeah, I sell a lot of books. So what?” I talk to James Patterson about what it’s like to be the world’s best-selling author and why he can’t wait to get up every morning and write something new. “Now What?” is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Fei Lu and Alex Wolfe. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
Lizzie Borden named herself after an ax murderer when she was a kid growing up in Detroit. In the 1980s she gained a reputation as a radical feminist filmmaker. Born in Flames is about an underground women’s army. Working Girls takes place in a brothel and tells the story of middle class sex workers. Then Borden went to Hollywood to make a film for Harvey Weinstein that turned out to be a disaster. Now, Borden’s early movies are making a comeback. A restored version of Working Girls was recently re-released in theaters across the country. “Now What?” is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Fei Lu and Alex Wolfe. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta
Amanda Kloots may be the most famous Covid widow in the world. It’s not a distinction that anyone wants to have. Kloots’ husband, former Broadway star Nick Cordero, died of the effects of the virus last year at the age of 41. Kloots, who is also a celebrity fitness trainer and workout guru, wrote about losing Nick, raising their young son Elvis and how to move on in her memoir Live Your Life. We talk about what inspires her, how to stay positive and the benefits of jumping rope. Now What?” is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Fei Lu and Alex Wolfe. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
Oscar-winning filmmaker Alex Gibney likes to take on controversial subjects. He exposed the Scientology community in his film Going Clear. And then there was the portrait of Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes in The Inventor and her claims to have pioneered a revolutionary new way to test blood. Gibney’s latest doc is The Crime of the Century about the Sackler family, Purdue Pharma and the company’s role in the devastating opioid crisis. Gibney talks about calling out wrong doers and telling the truth. “Now What?” is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Alex Wolfe and Fei Lu. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
So far she’s written 17 novels including her breakout book We Need to Talk About Kevin which was made into a movie starring Tilda Swinton and put Lionel Shriver on the map. When she’s not sitting at her desk thinking up stories to terrify us you can probably find Shriver on the tennis court or saying something politically incorrect. Lionel Shriver talks about how she’s made an art out of speaking her mind and the suicide pact in her new book Should We Stay or Should We Go? “Now What?” is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Tay Glass and Alex Wolfe. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
Anxiety is running rampant through our lives these days. Covid hasn’t helped. The political situation is chaotic. And everywhere we turn we’re bombarded with social media and sensory input of all kinds. Don’t despair. Dr. Jud Brewer has our backs. Brewer is the Director of Research and Innovation at Brown University’s Mindfulness Center and he’s written a book called Unwinding Anxiety. We talk aboutscientific ways to calm down and even get to that gratifying feeling of joy. “Now What?” is produced with the help of Tay Glass and Alex Wolfe. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
One day in 1970, the Village Voice sent writer Vivian Gornick to cover a women’s-liberation gathering on Bleecker Street. She came back a radical feminist. And it was her articles in the Voice that helped spread the word about the burgeoning gender equality movement that came to be known as second wave feminism. Since then Gornick has written many books including her latest Taking a Long Look and her celebrated memoir Fierce Attachments. We walked through the streets of Greenwich Village talking about all the things that make a long life worth living. “Now What?” is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Tay Glass and Alex Wolfe. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
Gregory Gourdet started his culinary career working at the exclusive restaurant Jean Georges. But Gourdet also spent a lot of time at raves, taking large amounts of drugs and drinking. His addiction wound up derailing his career. But then Gourdet detoxed, becoming a serious marathon runner and gaining a reputation for cooking healthy food. Now, he’s a judge on Top Chef and has written a cookbook called Everyone’s Table which features recipes that contain not a drop of dairy, gluten or refined sugar. Gregory Gourdet spills the beans on this episode of “Now What?” which is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer and Tay Glass. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
When I was in college, the Kennedy clan was America’s political dynasty, our country’s royalty. There certainly were a lot of them. Matriarch Rose Kennedy and Joseph Kennedy, Sr. had 9 children including John F., Robert F. and Ted. Robert had 11 children. His sister Eunice had 5 including Tim Shriver, long-time Chairman of the Special Olympics. I talk to Shriver about having more cousins than you can count and his book The Call to Unite. “Now What?” is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Tay Glass and Alex Wolfe. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
Mark Bittman has been in the center of the world of food and cooking for the past 40 years. He was a long-time columnist for the New York Times and has written more than 30 books. His latest is “Animal, Vegetable, Junk: From Sustainable to Suicidal. It’s a deep dive into the history of agriculture as far back as the Crusades. We talk about farming, the environment and the future of the planet. “Now What?” is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Tay Glass and Alex Wolfe. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
Silicon Valley is known for its young billionaire entrepreneurs, catered lunches, in-house yoga classes and Whiskey Wednesdays. Writer Anna Wiener worked at start-ups where she had a front row seat to the industry’s culture. Wiener wrote a book about it called “Uncanny Valley” which the New York Times named one of the 10 best books of 2020. We talk about innovation, greed and sexism in the heart of tech. “Now What?” is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Tay Glass and Alex Wolfe.
Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
Science journalist Elizabeth Kolbert has watched an invasive species of Asian carp jump 10 feet into the air when they’re shocked. She’s gone to the Mojave Desert to see how researchers are trying to save tiny little pupfish. And she’s traveled to the Great Barrier Reef to see coral that’s turned as white as a ghost because of rising water temperatures. Kolbert talks about far-out environmental fixes and what’s in store for our children on Planet Earth. “Now What?” is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Tay Glass and Alex Wolfe. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
You probably know Gabriel Byrne as an accomplished actor from Ireland who’s appeared in more than 80 films. But before Byrne took to the stage he had a series of odd jobs like being a plumber and a petty thief. Byrne was 40 before he appeared in his first American film Miller’s Crossing. He plays a criminal in The Usual Suspects and a psychiatrist in the series In Treatment. Byrne talks to me about his career and his memoir Wallking with Ghosts. “Now What?” is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Tay Glass and Alex Wolfe. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
David Duchovny spent 9 years investigating paranormal phenomenon on The X-Files, the TV series that turned him into a star. The actor also has other passions. He’s written 4 novels. His latest is called Truly Like Lightning. It’s about a former stuntman who becomes a Morman and lives in the desert with his 3 wives and 10 children. Plus, Duchovny sings. “Now What?” is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Tay Glass and Alex Wolfe. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
Mark Cuban is one of those people who’s bigger than life. He’s a self-made billionaire whose father worked in an upholstery shop. Cuban started buying and selling companies during the 90s in the heart of the Internet boom. Then he bought the Dallas Mavericks, winning an NBA championship in 2011. Cuban is also a star of Shark Tank. He talks to me about money, deals and screaming at referees on this episode of “Now What?” which is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Alex Wolfe and Tay Glass. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
Roman Mars likes to tell stories. He tells lots of them on his podcast 99% Invisible which is about design and architecture. Mars also likes to wear pocket squares and drink Coke Zero and talk about who created those inflatable figures you see waving around at gas stations and the trend to disguise cell phone towers as trees. “Now What?” is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Tay Glass and Alex Wolfe. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
He’s the first comic strip artist to win a Pulitzer Prize. The recognition was for Doonesbury which is celebrating its 50th anniversary. Garry Trudeau captured the counter culture by creating characters like Zonker and Joanie Caucus. He also got a jump on another aspect of American life when he bega writing about the rise of Donald Trump more than 30 years ago. I talked to Garry Trudeau about Doonesbury’s memorable characters and the challenge of drawing Donald Trump’s hair. "Now What?" is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Tay Glass and Alexander Wolfe. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta. Photo: Ali Goldstein
One of his most famous stories describes the Christmas David Sedaris dressed up as an elf when he worked at Macy’s Santaland. Since then, Sedaris has written essays that are about what it was like to grow up in a family of 6 kids in Raleigh, North Carolina, his drug using days and his obsessive behaviors like walking 43 miles in one day and picking up trash in England. Sedaris also talks about why he likes to prowl New York City’s streets after midnight and the current whereabouts of his new ruffled Comme des Garcons jacket. “Now What?” is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Tay Glass and Alex Wolfe. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
David Sedaris photo by Ingrid Christie.
Ethan Hawke has appeared in more than 60 films, been nominated for 4 Academy Awards and written 3 novels. And that’s probably all before breakfast. Hawke was 19 when he landed his breakout role in the Dead Poets Society starring Robin Williams. Now Hawke is starring in The Good Lord Bird in which he plays John Brown, the bible-toting rebel who devoted his life to abolishing slavery. Ethan Hawke talks to me about fanaticism, creativity and why he never stops until he gets it right. “Now What?” is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Tay Glass and Alexander Wolfe. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta. Photo: Sam Jones.
He’s the best-selling author of books like Motherless Brooklyn. His latest novel is The Arrest. Jonathan Lethem is a storyteller who mixes genres like hard-boiled crime novels, post-apocalyptic science fiction and superhero comics. Growing up in Bohemian Brooklyn in the 1970s, Lethem learned everything there was to know about the music of Bob Dylan and saw Star-Wars twenty-one times during its original theatrical release. He also collected drawings of vomiting cats. “Now What?” is produced with the help of Gabe Zimmer, Steve Zimmer, Tay Glass and Alex Wolfe. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
She’s had great roles on Broadway and on television. Edie Falco played a prison officer in Oz and the drug-addicted Jackie Peyton on Nurse Jackie. But Falco’s breakout role was starring as Carmela Soprano, the long-suffering wife of mob boss Tony Soprano on The Sopranos, one of the best series ever on television. Falco is also a vegan, a Buddhist, a single mother and as far away from a diva as you can get. I talked to her about how she tries to live every moment as it comes. “Now What?” is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Gabe Zimmer, Tay Glass and Alex Wolfe. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
**Jane Fonda has lived about as full a life as anyone on this planet. Born to Hollywood royalty, actor Henry Fonda, Jane became a star in her own right taking home 2 Academy Awards for Best Actress. And then there’s Jane the activist who’s passionate about fighting climate change and has gotten herself arrested 5 times for civil disobedience. Jane Fonda talks to me about growing up with no confidence in herself and having to marry powerful men to feel that she counts. “Now What?” is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Gabe Zimmer and Tay Glass. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
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Julie Taymor has scored a number of firsts. She was the first woman to win a Tony award for Best Direction of a Musical, The Lion King, which has earned more money than any entertainment title in box office history. Her latest project is a movie called The Glorias about Gloria Steinem. She’s hoping that the life story of one of the world’s most famous feminists will inspire people in these challenging times. Julie Taymor talks about her dreams, her fears and her passions on “Now What?” which is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Gabe Zimmer and Tay Glass. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta. Photo is by Marco Grob.
When David Fajgenbaum was 25, he went from being a monster athlete to death’s door. Fajgenbaum found out he had a potentially fatal disease called Castleman which was attacking his immune system. The doctors couldn’t help him so Fajgenbaum found his own treatment. Now, he’s working on Covid. In this episode we talk about life, death and what to do when everything spirals out of control. “Now What?” is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Gabe Zimmer and Tay Glass. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
What happens when nude photos of you begin showing up on swinger websites? If you’re a 31-year old Congresswoman in your first term, you give up your dream job and resign. At least that’s what Katie Hill did. In her book “She Will Rise,” Hill says she was the victim of revenge porn by her estranged husband. We talk about what it’s like to live your life in the middle of a scandal and whether men get a pass for the kind of behavior which women get clobbered for. “Now What?” is produced with help from Gabe Zimmer, Steve Zimmer and Stephanie Marie Horton. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
It’s been more than 3 decades since former Senator Gary Hart dropped out of the race for President. Hart has earned a PhD in Politics at Oxford and has written more than 20 books including 5 novels and a biography of James Monroe. Hart is also a public policy and defense expert who is warning about secret powers the President has that Congress never approved and the American people don't even know about that threaten our democracy. "Now What?" is produced with the help of Gabe Zimmer, Steve Zimmer and Stephanie Marie Horton. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
Oliver Stone was known as one of Hollywood's bad boys … the ultimate risk taker. He spent a lot of time in a drug-induced haze and gained a reputation as a conspiracy nut. Stone has also been called one of the great directors of his generation for making films like Platoon and Born on the Fourth of July. On this episode, Oliver Stone talks about movies, drugs, sex and marriage. "Now What?" was produced with the help of Gabe Zimmer, Steve Zimmer and Stephanie Marie Horton. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
Sometimes you meet someone who is so dedicated, so inspired by an idea that it practically knocks you over. In the 1960s, Alice Waters got inspired by organic food and the farmers who grow it when she opened her iconic Chez Panisse restaurant in Berkeley, California. Known as a pioneer of the farm to table movement, Waters dreamed of serving Bill Clinton the perfect peach and she inspired Michelle Obama to plant the White House garden. I talk to Alice Waters about why she believes that food and eating is a political act. “Now What?” is produced with the help of Gabe Zimmer, Steve Zimmer and Stephanie Marie Horton. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
Carl Reiner was 98 when he died. I’ll never forget the hours I spent with him sitting in his Beverly Hills home in the same chair that his best friend Mel Brooks always used when he visited. Reiner was 94 on that summer afternoon when I spoke to him about his long career in television and film, his 65-year marriage to his wife Estelle and why he’d always wanted to be an Irish tenor. Then Carl Reiner burst into song. That’s all on this episode of “Now What?” which is produced with the help of Stephen Colon, Gabe Zimmer and Steve Zimmer. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
With the world in turmoil, we could all use a little inspiration. That’s why I wanted to talk to Robert Reich. Reich is an economist, a Professor of Public Policy at UC Berkeley, a former Secretary of Labor in the Clinton Administration and the author of 19 books including his latest, “The System: Who Rigged it, How We Fix it. You won’t want to miss our conversation about other tough periods in American history and how the U.S. managed to move on to better times. “Now What?” is produced with the help of Gabe Zimmer, Steve Zimmer and Stephanie Ann Horton. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
He started out writing jokes for Borscht Belt comedians for $7 a piece. Then Lorne Michaels hired Alan Zweibel to be a writer on the first season of Saturday Night Live. That’s where he met Gilda Radner and they created memorable characters like Emily Litella and reporter Roseanne Roseannadanna. He went on to co-create It’s Garry Shandling’s Show and collaborate with Billy Crystal on the award-winning 700 Sundays. I talk with Alan Zweibel about what it takes to make people laugh. “Now What?” is produced with help from Gabe Zimmer, Steve Zimmer and Stephanie Marie Horton. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
Kathy Hochul. Not exactly a household name. But New York’s Lt. Governor has a higher profile these days now that her boss, Governor Andrew Cuomo is a political star. Before teaming up with Cuomo, Hochul’s political career was all about men behaving badly. I talk with Hochul about the nasty business of politics and what it takes to stay above the fray. Now What?” was produced with help from Gabe Zimmer, Steve Zimmer and Stephanie Marie Horton. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
Steven Colbert has called him a smartypants and an egghead. Bard College President Leon Botstein says he’s one of those people who’s easy to make fun of and he’s okay with that. In addition to being the head of an institution of higher learning for the past 45 years, Botstein is the Conductor of the American Symphony Orchestra. And while other educators are worried about what’s going to happen to colleges now, Botstein says the creativity of students will save the day. “Now What?” is produced with the help of Gabe Zimmer, Steve Zimmer and Stephanie Marie Horton. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
He’s probably the best-known documentary filmmaker in the U.S. His work has been honored with 15 Emmy Awards including one for The Vietnam War, a 10-part series that took Ken Burns more than 10 years to make. He’s always loved history but his subjects also go beyond extraordinary events. On this episode of "Now What?" we talk about life lessons in a pandemic and what we can learn from looking at history while living in the moment. "Now What?" is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Gabe Zimmer and Stephanie Hou. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
Ann Patchett is the author of 8 novels, a memoir, a collection of essays and a children’s book. She says one of the biggest thrills in her life was the moment her friend Tom Hanks agreed to narrate the audio version of her latest best seller “The Dutch House.” What she likes best is reading, talking about books and wearing flip flops to work at her bookstore in Nashville. We talk about how a pandemic brings you face to face with what’s really important in life and how books help you to find yourself. “Now What?” was produced with the help of Gabe Zimmer, Steve Zimmer and Stephanie Hou. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
In these odd times, we don’t meet in person. For this conversation, I was in my closet in Woodstock, New York and Nick Kristof was in his study in Westchester. Kristof, who has been an Op-Ed columnist for the New York Times since 2001 is a two-time Pulitzer Prize winner. His latest book is called Tightrope: Americans Reaching for Hope. When it comes to reporting, Kristof is an example of the best of the best and he covers the hard subjects: injustice, poverty and human rights. “Now What?” is produced with help from Gabe Zimmer, Steve Zimmer and Stephanie Hou. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
This conversation took place in person just days before masks, gloves and social distancing took over. Reichardt is an independent filmmaker whose movies “Wendy and Lucy” and “Certain Women” often star actress Michelle Williams and often win prizes at Festivals like Sundance. Her new film is called “First Cow” and it will be released later this year when theaters open again. In the meantime, you can hear Reichardt talk all about her journey from high school dropout to becoming an artist who creates imaginative, independent work on her own terms. "Now What?" was produced with the help of Gabe Zimmer, Steve Zimmer and Stephanie Hou. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta
Lili Taylor is one of those actors who can play just about any role. You probably know her from dozens of movies including “Mystic Pizza,” an iconic horror movie called “The Conjuring” and an indy called “I Shot Andy Warhol.” I particularly remember her role as Lisa in “Six Feet Under,” the hippie villain you love to hate. Taylor is also on the board of the Audubon Society and when she isn’t in front of a camera, she’s probably looking for birds. That’s how we ended up strolling through Brooklyn’s Prospect Park searching for owls and talking about acting. “Now What?” is produced with help from Gabe Zimmer, Steve Zimmer, Rachel O’Brien and Stephanie Hou. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
I went to the TEDWomen conference and heard from people with big ideas who think out of the box including Jane Fonda, Eve Ensler and Pat Mitchell. Mitchell is the mastermind behind this conference that focuses on the power of women and girls to be creators and change makers. You won’t want to miss our conversation about what it means to be a dangerous woman and the power of taking risks. “Now What?” is produced with help from Gabe Zimmer, Steve Zimmer and Stephanie Hou. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
She’s written 9 books and she loves digging up facts like these. Mamie Eisenhower, wife of the 34th President, wore a pink inaugural gown that had more than 2,000 hand-sewn rhinestones in it. And New York Times Op-Ed columnist Gail Collins also says Mamie liked pink toilet seats. In addition to Collins, we also hear from Betty Friedan about the people who used to be called stewardesses, writer Nora Ephron about how she got her skin to clear up, Bella Abzug on the elusive idea of equality and Shirley Maclaine on why she’d never want to be 20 again. That’s all on this episode of “Now What?” produced with help from Steve Zimmer, Gabe Zimmer and Stephanie Hou. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
When Ruth Reichl was the Restaurant Critic of the New York Times, she dressed up in disguises like Chloe the sexy blond and Heddy the bag lady to fool anyone who might recognize her at upscale restaurants like Le Cirque. Reichl has written 8 books about her relationship with food including her latest “Save Me the Plums.” I went to see Reichl in her home in upstate New York where she told me about what happened when the ax fell on Gourmet Magazine and she lost her job as Editor of one of the last iconic food magazines on the planet. Now What?” was produced with help from Stephanie Hou, Steve Zimmer and Gabe Zimmer. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
Judy Collins made her debut as a classical pianist playing a Mozart concerto when she was 13. But folk music stole her heart in the days when Pete Seeger and Woody Guthrie were capturing the bohemian spirit. In the 60s and 70s Collins recorded songs by Joni Mitchell, Leonard Cohen and Stephen Sondheim. And there were songs written about her like Suite: Judy Blue Eyes, a big hit for Crosby, Stills and Nash. We talk about love gone wrong, eating disorders, alcoholism and musical legends on this episode of “Now What?” which was produced with help from Stephanie Hou, Steve Zimmer and Gabe Zimmer. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
She's already lived many lifetimes in this one life. Eve Ensler wrote the ground-breaking theater piece, "The Vagina Monologues," about a woman’s most private parts. She founded a community in the Congo for women who were raped. She won a near-fatal battle with cancer. And in this episode, Ensler talks about another shocking subject: how she was sexually abused by her father from the time she was 5 years old. Now What?” was produced with help from Steve Zimmer and Gabe Zimmer. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio is a long-shot candidate who’s running for President. On the n trial, de Blasio talks a lot about his interracial family and raising a black son. I had the opportunity to speak to his wife, New York City First Lady Chirlane McCray, about the challenges she’s faced as a mother, her own aspirations of running for office and what’s it like to be a private person in the public spotlight. It’s all in an updated version of my interview with Chirlane McCray on this episode of “Now What?” which was produced with help from Stephanie Hou. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta
She’s an heiress to her grandfather’s fortune. He co-founded the Walt Disney Company. She’s also a philanthropist who has given away more than $70 million. And Abigail Disney is a Twitter queen. Her tweet storm went viral when she called Disney CEO Bob Iger’s $66 million salary “insane.” And expressed her fury about what she calls the poor working conditions and low salaries of the people who take your tickets at Disneyland. Listen to what Abby has to say about being rich and being poor on this episode of “Now What?” which was produced with help from Stephanie Hou, Steve Zimmer and Gabe Zimmer. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
Listen to this truly historic episode of "Now What? which features best selling author Michael Pollan and Timothy Leary. Leary comes to us by way of a 1980 interview I did with him about turning on, tuning in and dropping out. We talk about how LSD has become trendy again and whether psychedelics have the potential to lead to a new world consciousness. "Now What? is produced with the help of Gabe Zimmer Zimmer and Steve Zimmer. Audio Production is by Nick Ciavatta and Billy Libby, who composed the new "Now What?" theme.
Older women. They’ve been the target of jokes forever. Clinical psychologist and bestselling author Mary Pipher doesn't like that. Pipher has written a book called “Women Rowing North" about flourishing as we age. To round out our conversation I invited my young friend Haley Zimring to join us. Haley is 28 and has two young children. Listen to us talking young and old and all the stages in between. "Now What?" is produced with the help of Gabe Zimmer and Steve Zimmer. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
He's a big guy in more ways than one. John Fetterman is 6' 8." He got a reputation as America's coolest Mayor when he tried innovative ways to revive the little town of Braddock, Pa. Now Fetterman is the Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania. Unlike most politicians, he’s isn’t boring. He’s downright inspiring. We talked about why anyone would want to be in politics in 2019 and why he likes getting whacked in the head by his son’s nerf gun.“Now What?” was produced with help from Derrick Clements, Steve Zimmer and Gabe Zimmer. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
Ali Velshi is co-host of the MSNBC show Velshi and Ruhle. And it's a good thing he's got a sense of humor. Stephen Colbert has referred to Velshi as the "business reporter from our hairless, raceless future.” True, Velshi is bald. Born in Kenya to parents of Indian descent, Velshi is also an immigrant and a Muslim. We talked about all that, fake facts and the future of the planet on this episode of “Now What?” Check out our conversation, which was produced with help from Steve Zimmer and Gabe Zimmer. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
Joe Biden became a U.S. Senator when he was 29 and served two terms as Vice President in the Obama administration. He’s always been known as a regular guy, someone who can relate to the postal worker and the secretary. He’s also experienced tragedy. Four years ago, Biden’s oldest son Beau died of brain cancer. In this episode of “Now What?” host Carole Zimmer talks to the Vice President and Dr. Jill Biden about cancer, loss, hope and whether he will make that much talked about run for the Presidency. Now What?” was produced with help from Jackson Bierfeldt, Steve Zimmer and Gabe Zimmer. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
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| Please subscribe to Now What? With Carole Zimmer on iTunes and write a review: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/now-what-with-carole-zimmer You can also find us on Stitcher: http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/carole-zimmer/now-what Check out our conversation at: www.carolezimmer.com/podcast |
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I didn’t know much about Danny Glover before my friend Eric Werthman got the chance to make a move with him. Glover has had one of those careers that just keeps going with more than 165 TV projects, plays and movies including “Lethal Weapon” which really put him in the Hollywood orbit. On Glover’s lunch break, I found out what he’s really passionate about. It’s not acting or movie making. It’s the years he spent as a community organizer and all the social issues he really cares about. "Now What?" is produced with the help of Jon Kalish, Gabe Zimmer and Steve Zimmer. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
You probably know him best as Saul Berenson, the CIA operative on the Emmy-award winning series "Homeland.” But Patinkin has had a long career on stage and in film. 30 years ago he starred in “The Princess Bride.” Who could ever forget “My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.” Carole Zimmer talked with Mandy Patinkin about his life-long love affair with music and what’s really important in life. “Now What?” was produced with help from Steve Zimmer and Gabe Zimmer. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
Writer Ayelet Waldman may not go looking for controversy but it knows where to find her. In a New York Times Modern Love essay Waldman said she loved her husband, novelist Michael Chabon, more than her children. That outraged the mothers of America. Mood disorders have long ruled Waldman’s life leading to vicious Twitter spats and deep dives into depression. Then she decided to take micro-doses of LSD. We sat in her kitchen and talked about what a little acid did for her marriage and her manias. “Now What?” was produced with help from Coby McDonald, Steve Zimmer and Gabe Zimmer. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
New York City First Lady Chirlane McCray is married to Mayor Bill deBlasio, There are good reasons to stay away from interviewing politicians. They tend to talk in sound bites or trap you in their talking points. But McCray is actually willing to look you in the eye and tell you what it was like to be the only black student in her school and how she fell in love with her husband. Check out our conversation on
“Now What?” is produced with help from Allison Bernstein and Rafaella Gunz.
Some art critics have called Judy Chicago's monumental work "The Dinner Party" crass and vulgar. That's because the ceramic plates highlighting famous women in history have wings and petals that evoke the most intimate parts of a woman's body. Elizabeth Sackler rescued the art installation from the darkness of storage when she bought it for the Brooklyn Museum. This is the story of two women who changed feminist art forever.
"Now What?" is produced with help from Allison Bernstein & Rafaella Gunz.
He likes loud colors. He likes to mix ball gowns with combat boots. Isaac Mizrahi went from producing couture fashion to designing a line for Target before signing an exclusive deal with the home shopping channel QVC which he says is more relevant to women than high fashion anyway. Check out my conversation with the man who used to design $1600 tee shirts and hear what he has to say about why he’s always felt more like a woman than a man. “Now What?” was produced with help from Steve Zimmer and Gabe Zimmer. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
She’s made more than 1100 documentaries and won 65 Emmys. In this episode of “Now What?” you’ll hear from Sheila Nevins who spent 35 years at HBO transforming documentaries from dull stories to eye popping series like “Taxi Confessions” and “The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst.” Check out my conversation with the hilarious and outspoken Nevins as we talk about facelifts and what women have to do to get ahead in the world. Now What?” was produced with help from Steve Zimmer and Gabe Zimmer. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
This episode of “Now What?” tells a story about family secrets, race and identity. It takes place in the little town of Woodstock in upstate New York where Lacey Schwartz grew up with her parents Peggy and Robert. She went to the local schools and celebrated her bas mitzvah at the Woodstock Jewish Congregation. With her darker skin tone and curly hair, Lacey always looked different than most of her friends. When she was a teenager Lacey found out the truth about her identity. She made a film about her childhood called “Little White Lie.” I went to visit Lacey at her home in upstate New York where we talked about life lessons and the power of denial.
“Now What?” is produced with help from Allison Bernstein and Rafaella Gunz.
In this episode of “Now What?” you’ll hear from actor Alan Alda. He first made a name for himself playing Hawkeye Pierce, a surgeon in a mobile operating unit during the Korean War on MAS*H. Alda has worked for directors like Martin Scorsese in "The Aviator" and Steven Spielberg in "Bridge of Spies." And there were the political roles including Senator Arnold Vinick on "The West Wing." Alda has also written best sellers and been married to the same woman for almost 60 years. He talks about what it's like to live in other people's skin and what he wants to leave behind when he's gone. It’s all on “Now What?” which was produced with help from Gabe Zimmer and Steve Zimmer. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
In this episode of “Now What?” you’ll hear from legendary TV producer Norman Lear who created “All in the Family” and other hit TV shows including Sanford and Son, The Jeffersons, One Day at a Time and Maude. Now, Lear has sold a new show to NBC about adventures in a senior community. In LA, I opened Google maps and sailed onto the 405 in my rental car, wending my way to the Beverly Hills office of the 95-year old television writer and producer. We had so much fun, singing, laughing and talking about what it means to live in the moment and what happens when those moments run out. It’s all on “Now What?” which was produced with help from Stephen Colon, Nathaniel Beaver, Gabriel Zimmer and Steve Zimmer. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
In this episode of “Now What?” you’ll hear from Jane Pauley, who took over as co-host of the Today show when she was barely 25. Audiences loved the straight forward mid westerner who reminded them of the girl next door, the one you hoped your son might marry. When a younger, blonder woman made it a little too crowded on the set, Pauley moved on to co-host Dateline. A series of severe mood swings eventually led her to a stint in a psychiatric ward. But she's a woman who's all about re-invention and she's back on TV in another high profile role, host of CBS Sunday Morning. We talk about her journey in television and how life always manages to pack its share of surprises. It’s all on “Now What?” which was produced by Carole Zimmer and Nick Ciavatta with help from Gabe Zimmer and Steve Zimmer.
In this episode of “Now What?” you’ll hear from Elizabeth Lesser, co-founder of the holistic learning center, the Omega Institute and author of several books including “Marrow: A Love Story.” From the time Lesser was a child she found herself seeking a spiritual path. Starting out as a midwife, she witnessed the many wonders of birth. Now Lesser is coping with the other side of that equation, the death of her younger sister Maggie, a year after Lesser gave her sister a stem cell transplant. A frequent guest on SuperSoul Sunday, Lesser has talked with Oprah about gratitude and why she believes in change. Now, Lesser talks with host Carole Zimmer about life, death and the power of love. “Now What?” was produced with help from Nick Ciavatta, Justin Foy, Gabe Zimmer and Steve Zimmer.
In this episode of “Now What?” you’ll hear from Gideon Irving who travels around the world performing his show in peoples’ living rooms. It’s a mix of song, magic and stories that Stephen Sondheim has called eccentric and exhilarating. Gideon has just had a hit off-Broadway show that’s about to tour across the country. And he’s planning to spend a year on horseback riding through what was once known as the Wild West, stopping at homes along the way to do his shows. Did you know there’s even such a thing as a horse motel? Gideon and I had a lot of laughs making up songs and talking about why he’s such a nut for adventure. It’s all on “Now What?” which was produced with help from Nick Ciavatta, Gabe Zimmer and Steve Zimmer.
Lesley Stahl started her career at CBS in 1972, a year when networks began to feel the pressure to hire more women. In that same year, Stahl made a name for herself covering Watergate, the scandal that led to Richard Nixon’s administration. She went on to cover the White House in the Carter, Reagan and George H.W. Bush Administrations. For the past 26 years, Stahl has been a 60 minutes Correspondent reporting from Iraq and Afghanistan, collecting 12 Emmys along the way. She says one of the best days of her life was going to see the mountain gorillas in Rwanda. The other best days have nothing to do with the news. They’re all about her grand children Jordan and Chloe. I went to 60 Minutes to talk to Stahl about why her walls are covered with photos of little children and why being a grandmother is the best assignment she’s ever had. It’s all on “Now What?” which was produced with help from Nick Ciavatta, Gabe Zimmer and Steve Zimmer.
Kelly Carlin’s father George became one of the most famous counter culture comedians of all time. His “7 dirty words” routine went all the way to the Supreme Court. George was the guest host of the first Saturday Night Live show ever broadcast. He did 14 stand-up comedy specials for HBO, wrote three best sellers, won 5 Grammy Awards and is idolized by comedians like Louis C.K. But try growing up as his daughter. He spent too much time away from home and used too many drugs. Kelly Carlin wrote all about it in “A Carlin Home Companion: Growing Up with George.” I went to see Kelly at her home in LA. We talked about comedy, addiction and how the Buddha was right when he taught that in life is full of suffering as well as joy.
It’s all on “Now What?” which was produced with help from Nick Ciavatta, Stephen Colon, Dan Przygoda, Gabe Zimmer and Steve Zimmer.
He wears orange and burgundy robes and he’s the only Westerner the Dalai Lama has ever chosen to be the abbot of a Tibetan Buddhist monastery. Vreeland is also the grandson of long-time Vogue editor and queen of fashion Diana Vreeland. The son of a diplomat, Vreeland spent his early life in Europe chasing women and driving fast cars. After moving back to the U,S., Vreeland apprenticed with master photographers Irving Penn and Richard Avedon. That was before he decided to become a monk, shave his head and move to a Tibetan Buddhist monastery in India. There’s a movie about Vreeland’s life called “Monk with a Camera.” I’d seen it. That’s how I recognized him walking down the street in Manhattan and asked him to be on “Now What?” Listen to what Vreeland told me about mortality, celibacy, the Dalai Lama and the experiences in life that are really important.
In this episode of “Now What?” you’ll hear from actor, writer and director Carl Reiner who works in a room surrounded by his nine Emmys. We got to spend an afternoon in his Beverly Hills home where he talked about starting out on the Sid Caesar show, creating the Dick Van Dyke show and teaming up with Mel Brooks to perform a sketch at parties that became known at the “2000 Year Old Man.” Reiner was the straight man and Brooks was the guy with 42,000 children and not one of them ever came to visit. At 94, Reiner is writing two books. He told me he always wanted to be an Irish tenor and then burst into song. It’s all on “Now What?” which was produced with help from Jessi Carrier, Nick Ciavatta, Gabe Zimmer and Steve Zimmer.
In this episode of “Now What?” you’ll hear from Eve Ensler, the playwright who created “The Vagina Monologues,” a theater piece that changed the lives of thousands of women, especially her own. We got to spend an evening with Ensler in her Manhattan apartment filled with the treasures from her travels, talking about the emotional distance she has traveled, the community she founded for women in the Congo and surviving a near fatal battle with cancer. As Ensler puts it, “We go through so many lifetimes in this lifetime.” “Now What?” was produced with help from Nick Ciavatta, Nellie Gilles, Allison Bernstein, Steve Zimmer and Gabe Zimmer.
In this third episode of “Now What?” you’ll hear from the actress who played Marion Ravenwood in “Raiders of the Lost Ark” and got to tell off Harrison Ford. “Indiana Jones. I always knew some day you’d come walking back through my door.” We got to walk through Karen Allen’s door at her charming house in the Berkshires where we spent the afternoon chatting about re-invention, karma, the downside of facelifts and why Karen Allen wants acting and directing to be at the center of her life again at the age of 64. “Now What?” was produced with help from Dan Brown, Nick Ciavatta, Allison Bernstein, Steve Zimmer and Gabe Zimmer.
He’s been doing stand-up for 50 years and he’s sometimes called the comedian’s comedian. For Jay Leno, Robert Klein is a comic hero. “He was a guy who I felt was like me. Middle class, normal parents. Watched the same TV shows I watched and that was a big change in comedy.” Jerry Seinfeld points to Klein as one of the most “intelligent, coolest comedians around.” I caught up with Klein in upstate New York where he was appearing at the Woodstock Comedy Festival. Turns out we had a lot in common. We’re both from the Bronx, our mothers used to throw dimes out of the window so we could get ice cream and we both worked as substitute teachers.
In this first episode, you’ll hear from someone who has changed the world for women and keeps on changing it. We got to spend an afternoon with Gloria Steinem shooting the breeze in her cozy Manhattan brownstone.
It’s Gloria like you’ve never heard her before. We went into her closet and checked out her black motorcycle jacket with the spikes, talked about mortality, Ms. Piggy and all the things that make Gloria Steinem laugh. Now What was produced with help from Nellie Gillis, Nick Ciavatta and Allison Bernstein.