Morning Meeting: Recent Episodes
Air Mail
Welcome to Morning Meeting, where AIR MAIL’s Ashley Baker and Michael Hainey take you inside the stories people are talking about this week—and tip you off to the ones the editors are talking about for next week. We cover the people shaping your world that you want to know more about (and more often the stuff they don’t want you to know about). And we talk with friends of AIR MAIL—writers, reporters, and style-setters. So listen in every Saturday as Morning Meeting brings you what’s new and exciting from the world of AIR MAIL.
Summer is the time for camp—and shenanigans. And this week William D. Cohan has a report on the controversy swirling at Bohemian Grove, the ultra-exclusive, all-male campground for some of the most powerful men in America. Then the literary legend Gay Talese will join us. Along with Tom Wolfe and other magazine writers of the 1960s, Talese created the New Journalism with profiles such as the one he wrote for Esquire entitled “Frank Sinatra Has a Cold.” It is now considered the greatest magazine profile ever, and Talese is here to talk about the story behindthe writing of that story. And finally, Nicholas Foulkes will reveal why taste-makers and collectors are falling over themselves to get a certain kind of wristwatch from the 1980s. All this and more make this a show you won’t want to miss.
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It would not be summer if there were not a bizarre, ego-fueled drama in East Hampton, and this one says it all. Linda Wells will tell us how—and why—the scene in posh exercise classes out East has gotten physical. Very, very physical. Then Johanna Berkman shares new reporting on the scandal surrounding Wall Street titan Leon Black and his very expensive—and highly curious—multi-million-dollar payments to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. And finally, many of you are fans of Air Mail’s Arts Intel Report, our indispensable research tool for what to do and where and when to do it. Now, just in time for the fall and the explosion of culture that it brings, we’ve launched an exciting revamp of the site—your resource for all things culture—and Laura Jacobs, the Editor of the Arts Intel Report, tells us about it. All this and more make this a show you won’t want to miss.
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This week, Jeffrey Toobin reveals how a Harvard-trained lawyer nicknamed “the Cheese” laid out a plot to subvert the 2020 election—and helped spark the January 6 riot. Then Joseph Bullmore reports from London on the secretive and somewhat strange world of blueblood banks, where the U.K.’s very rich keep their money from commingling with the filthy lucre of the common man. And finally, Linda Wells explains why women are giving men in their life the gift of a threesome. (Yes, you read that right.) All this and more make this a show you won’t want to miss.
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This week, Johanna Berkman shares the details of her shocking report on Leon Black, the billionaire titan of Wall Street who now stands accused of raping a teenager at sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s Upper East Side town house. Then Ash Carter discusses an unflinchingly honest new memoir by Martin Peretz, one of the most influential media figures, a man whose New Republicmagazine was read by presidents and shaped policy but later came on difficult times. Finally, Elena Clavarino reports from the Riviera, where, in the late 19th century, the French and Italian coasts became places of refuge, thanks to their moderate climates. But with climate change destroying the Mediterranean fantasy, will vacationers go elsewhere? All this and more make this a show you won’t want to miss.
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The murder of four students at the University of Idaho is an open-and-shut case, right? No, say the attorneys for Bryan Kohberger, the accused killer. On this week’s episode, Howard Blum takes us inside the defense team’s audacious strategy to win an acquittal. Later, Lesley M. M. Blume has the story of the author of some of the most beloved children’s books ever—who was also the forgotten prophet of nuclear doom. And finally, if you’re still looking for somewhere to escape to on your summer holiday that is far, far, far from the madding crowd, Marcia DeSanctis has just the place. All this and more make this a show you won’t want to miss.
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This week, Beatrice Borromeo joins us from Italy with the shocking story of the prince who got away with murder. Then Alexandra Marshall reports from France on the Rupert Murdoch of French media. Later, James Fox takes us back to the Swinging 60s and explains how horses, of all things, brought together everyone from the Rolling Stones to the biggest names in British society. All this and more make this a show you won’t want to miss.
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Julian Sands, one of the great actors of the past 50 years, died while hiking in Southern California. This week, his friend and fellow actor Simon Callow shares memories of the man who left a mark on him, beginning with their time together while filming A Room with a View. And speaking of movies, William J. Mann reveals how a breathtakingly beautiful 20-year-old starlet and a thrice-divorced alcoholic more than twice her age created that rarest thing in Hollywood: a love story for the ages. And then Rich Cohen joins us for a conversation about U.F.O.’s and what to make of the recent testimony of a whistleblower who claims the government has captured alien flying machines. Yikes! All this and more make this a show you won’t want to miss.
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This week, Rich Cohen tells us about the time he was sent to Woody Creek, Colorado, to check in with the godfather of gonzo, Hunter S. Thompson. Then, speaking of writers, many of you may know the Jackie Collins book Hollywood Wives, which skewered the Beverly Hills elite and sold more than 15 million copies. Now, on its 40th anniversary, Jackie Collins’s daughter Rory joins us to reveal what she learned about life from her powerhouse mother. Finally, Ravi Somaiya has the incredible story of a doctor who used medical technology to investigate the secrets of demonic possession. But did he unleash a deadly curse in the process? It’s a wild story. All this and more make this a show you won’t want to miss.
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This week, John Glatt has a shocking story of sex, drugs, and a bloody murder by a rich American playboy that sent shock waves through Swinging London in the late 1960s. Then, because it’s summer, it’s time for summer reading. Who better to chat with on that subject than one of our favorite guests, Jim Kelly, the Books Editor here at Air Mail. Jim will tell us about a book he’s loving this week, and a few others. All this and more make this a show you won’t want to miss.
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It was a crime and a trial that riveted New York and defined an era: the case of the Central Park jogger, when a young woman was brutally assaulted in the park in 1989. This week, Jeffrey Toobin discusses his eye-opening piece on how the fates of two people involved in that horrendous crime have taken shockingly divergent paths. And how the attack sparked Trump’s interest in politics. Then we have the incredible tale of the boy who fled Saigon as a 12-year-old refugee during the Vietnam War and has now returned as a Michelin-starred chef. It’s the stuff of a Hollywood epic, and Lloyd Grove tells us all about it. All this and more make this a show you won’t want to miss.
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How did it come to pass that we find ourselves living in “The Era of The Butt”? Linda Wells, the editor of Air Mail Look, explains all. Then fans of great food no doubt remember the Spotted Pig. For 16 years it was one of New York’s most acclaimed restaurants. After management was accused of sexual misconduct, it closed up. Now the West Village building that housed it is home to a new restaurant, the Golden Swan, and Alan Richman has a report on it. And speaking of restaurants, Bruce Bozzi joins us. Bruce is the host of Table for Two, Air Mail’s other podcast, where he sits down for a meal with a friend, and this week he’ll tell us about his recent chat with Rita Wilson. All this and more make this a show you won’t want to miss.
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The 70s were the Me Decade, and the 80s were the Greed Is Good decade. But what is this strange decade of the 20s we are living in now? Here at Air Mail, we’re calling it “the Raging 20s,” and Bruce Handy explains why. Then John Glatt has the bizarre true-crime story of a Utah mother of three whose husband died from poisoning. She then wrote a bereavement book for kids, and you won’t believe what happened next. And speaking of wild: Legs McNeil has the inside story of two very strange bedfellows. Specifically, how Kenneth Anger, the writer who influenced everyone from Led Zeppelin to Martin Scorsese, became the unlikely friend of Alfred Kinsey, the father of the sexual revolution. All this and more make this a show you won’t want to miss.
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This week, acclaimed author Pico Iyer joins Ashley and Mike to share what he discovered about the singular spy novelist John le Carré while reading a new collection of his letters. Later, Michael Gross reports on Kate Moss’s new venture and how she’s challenging the modeling industry. And finally, Juli Weiner stops by with a smart idea for gift-giving. All this and more make this week’s show one you won’t want to miss.
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This week, Ashley and Mike are joined by one of New York’s best-known maître d’s, Michael Cecchi-Azzolina, who reveals how he was almost whacked by a member of the Gotti crime family for refusing to serve him drinks. And speaking of crime, Michele McPhee reports from Beverly Hills on a bizarre scam involving a dentist to the stars of Hollywood and the N.B.A. Then Katya V., a poet and feminist in Moscow, tells us why she is determined to stay in Putin’s increasingly unlivable Russia, even as many of her friends escape. All this and more make this week’s show one you won’t want to miss.
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This week, Graydon Carter joins Ashley and Mike to discuss AIR MAIL’s first-ever special issue, devoted entirely to downtown New York. In addition, James Wolcott takes us on a tour of CBGB, the Mudd Club, and some of the other notorious (and now gone) rock clubs from the 70s and 80s. And speaking of music: Chris Black reports on Electric Lady, the Greenwich Village recording studio started by Jimi Hendrix, while Stephanie Danler shares her memories of seeing a pre-fame Lady Gaga in 2006 at Pianos. All this and more make this week’s show one you won’t want to miss.
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This week, Sam Wasson, the author of one of the great books on moviemaking, The Big Goodbye: Chinatown and the Last Years of Hollywood, joins Ashley and Mike to talk about his latest book about the city of dreams, Hollywood: The Oral History. In addition, Marcia DeSanctis reveals her idea for a winter travel destination that should go to the top of everyone's bucket list. And speaking of winter and the holidays, food writer and editor Christine Muhlke shares her thoughts on the best new cookbooks of the season. All this and more make this week's show one you won't want to miss.
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Remember Liz Truss? In a new book, she admits she’s even weirder than we thought she was. And this week, Stuart Heritage joins us from the U.K. to reveal what else he’s learned about the shortest-serving P.M. in the history of Great Britain. In addition, Linda Wells has a report on the new (and pricey) trend in weight-loss management. And then Liberty Ross rolls in to talk about how she’s bringing American-style roller rinks to London. All this and more make this week’s show one you won’t want to miss.
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This week, Stuart Heritage joins Ashley and Mike from the U.K., where he looks at King Charles's attempt to flip the script on the new season of The Crown, as well as the Palace's nervousness about Harry's impending memoir, Spare. Later, William D. Cohan reports on the bizarre billionaire feud between Bill Gates and the creator of Beanie Babies. And then Alexandra Marshall details what's inside the new memoir by the wife of the movie director Roman Polanski.
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This week, Hugh Bonneville—you know him best as Robert Crawley from Downton Abbey —joins Ashley and Mike in a very fun conversation about his new memoir. In addition, Stuart Heritage reports from London on the smoldering wreckage of a mess that is a former prime minister known as Liz Truss. Then Cullen Murphy discusses a best-seller about the environment from 50 years ago, and why it’s still powerful reading today. All this and more make this week’s show one you won’t want to miss.
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This week, Ashley and Mike are joined by Eleanor Cummins, who explains how TikTok has turned a little-known disease into a hot brand among Gen Z and others. In addition, Michael Oreskes reports on new books by Trump associates that detail the shocking extent of the grifter-in-chief’s destructiveness. And Joseph Bullmore has the bizarre tale of the LSD-loving British aristocrat who is suing her art dealer for fraud. All this and more make this week’s show one you won’t want to miss.
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This week, James Kirchick joins Ashley and Mike to discuss our favorite intimate revelations in Confidence Man, the new blockbuster Trump book by Maggie Haberman. And speaking of intimates, Linda Wells reports on the woke-ification of Victoria’s Secret, and then Stuart Heritage sizes up the mess Liz Truss has managed to make of the U.K., in less than a month on the job. All this and more make this week’s show one you won’t want to miss.
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This week, the always entertaining John Lithgow stops by, along with AIR MAIL columnist Douglas McGrath, to talk about the terrific new Off Broadway show that Lithgow has directed and McGrath wrote and stars in. As expected, it’s a lively, fun conversation. In addition, George Pendle looks at the Sisterhood of the Traveling Brownshirt: how European women are the new face of the far right. And then Hooman Majd brings his insights to the protests in Iran, and what they portend for the men who toppled the Shah. All this and more make this week’s show one you won’t want to miss.
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This week, Ashley and Mike take a look at the dark side of social-media influencers and get a peek inside what really happens at those exclusive artist retreats. Eve Peyser joins the show to reveal how Saudi Arabia, hoping to make people forget its ruler ordered the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, pays Instagram stars to post about how fun it is to vacation there. Then Judith Newman talks about her time at the Ucross colony, and explains what gets made (and who gets laid) when writers and artists get away from it all. And speaking of writers, Michael Oreskes tells us about some new books that reveal how the masters of the dark arts controlled Trump and his White House. All this and more make this week's show one you won't want to miss.
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This week, Ken Burns joins Ashley and Mike to discuss his timely new documentary, and writer Andrew Ryvkin explains how Putin hopes to swap American basketball star Brittney Griner for a notorious Russian arms dealer. In addition, Ashley shares her impressions on life in London during the mourning of Queen Elizabeth, and there’s a look at a terrific new documentary about David Bowie. All this and more make this week’s episode one you won’t want to miss.
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This week, two very special guests join Ashley and Mike to remember Elizabeth II. First, Anna Scott Carter shares a lovely story about the first time she met the Queen, and also gives personal insights into why the monarch had such a love for Balmoral. Then George Pendle details how Cecil Beaton's carefully composed photographs of her across the decades played a crucial role in creating her image—and our memories of her. All this and more make this week's show one you won't want to miss.
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This week, Ashley and Mike are joined by three great guests: first, AIR MAIL Co-Editor Alessandra Stanley, who notes that Jared Kushner, in his new book, reveals the Trumps have a bit more in common with the Mussolinis than we ever knew. Later, screenwriter and reporter Michael Bronner has a riveting update on the sociopathic grifter who inspired the movie Rogue Agent; and finally Christopher Buckley, the master of the satirical novel, stops by to discuss his very funny new book. All this and more make this week’s show one you won’t want to miss.
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This week, the great documentary director Errol Morris joins Ashley and Mike to discuss the HBO show The Rehearsal, and whether Nathan Fielder’s players are in on a joke or unwitting subjects in an elaborate behavioral experiment. Later, AIR MAIL Books Editor Jim Kelly stops by to talk about a revealing (and timely) new biography of Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Plus, there’s a look at a bizarre crime on Nantucket involving vacationing Washington, D.C., power players. All this and more make this week’s show one you won’t want to miss.
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This week, Ashley and Mike are joined by three great guests: first, Buzz Bissinger, author of Friday Night Lights, who tells us why he's preparing to leave America; second, Flora Gill, who explains how a dating show where everyone is naked has conquered the U.K. (and why it's also very heartwarming); and finally, Joseph Bullmore, who tells us about the world's most Googled person—the millionaire misogynist spreading his toxic gospel to young men via Hustler's University. All this and more make this week's show one you won't want to miss.
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This week, we celebrate our 100th episode! We want to thank everyone who has listened over the past two years. On today’s show, Ashley and Mike are joined by three great guests: first, the always funny Jill Kargman, who tells us why she’s watched every single episode of South Park; second, Rich Cohen, who takes us inside his riveting true-crime story about “murder boy”; and finally, Elliot Ackerman, who discusses his new book, The Fifth Act, about America’s withdrawal from Afghanistan and how he helped coordinate a “digital Dunkirk.” All this and more make this week’s show one you won’t want to miss.
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How did 2022 become the Summer of Frump? Sun’s out, but buns are not out, and this week Linda Wells joins Ashley and Mike to reveal how and why “granny style” has taken over the toniest of beaches. In addition, Douglas McGrath suggests a provocative career move for Liz Cheney, and Terry McDonell remembers the greatest N.B.A. champion ever—and a true inspiration of a human being—Bill Russell. All this and more make this week’s show one you won’t want to miss.
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This week, Ashley and Mike are joined by three terrific conversationalists: James Wolcott, Marie Brenner, and Alan Zweibel. James gets us up to speed on director Michael Mann’s heart-thumping novel-sequel to his film masterpiece Heat, while Marie takes us inside her riveting new book about how one of New York City’s great hospitals battled and survived the coronavirus siege. Finally, Alan Zweibel, a founding writer of Saturday Night Live and the man behind John Belushi’s samurai sketches, stops by to talk about what happens when “hip” takes on a very different meaning. It’s an episode you won’t want to miss.
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This week, writer Ivana Lowell recounts her stay at a $15,000-a-day rehab facility with a rule-breaking Ivana Trump, and reveals how she really felt about her ex-husband, and more. In addition, AIR MAIL Books Editor Jim Kelly stops by to discuss an illuminating new biography of Vladimir Putin, while our beauty-and-wellness columnist, Linda Wells, takes a look at why so many men, from Joe Biden on down, are availing themselves of cosmetic enhancements such as veneers, Botox. It's an episode you won't want to miss.
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This week, Ashley and Mike are joined by renowned filmmaker Errol Morris, who discusses a revealing new documentary series about Trump and the January 6 riots. In addition, Alexandra Marshall stops by for a revealing conversation about how (and why) menopause has suddenly become sexy. Finally, Terry McDonell takes a look at a newly published collection of letters between Ernest Hemingway and his son Patrick, and what we learn from them about the great author. All this and more make this week's episode one you won't want to miss.
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This week, travel writer and expert Marcia DeSanctis reveals the secret pleasures of one of Europe’s great, but less traveled, cities: Kraków. She says it has all the charms of Paris and is just as magical but much less expensive, which makes it sound like the perfect option for anyone looking for a last-minute summer getaway. And on the subject of magical experiences, Douglas McGrath joins Ashley and Mike to share his love of what he considers the greatest Hollywood musical ever made: Singin’ in the Rain, which celebrates its 70th birthday this year. All this and more make this week’s episode one you won’t want to miss.
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This week, it’s our big “Summer Books” episode! Julia Vitale, one of the deputy editors here at AIR MAIL, as well as one of our books czars, joins Ashley and Mike to reveal her picks for the hot books you need to be reading this summer. And speaking of things literary: Matt Kapp, the Research and Legal Editor here at AIR MAIL, stops by to discuss his story about how he survived making a documentary on one of the great (but very prickly) literary lions, Gore Vidal. All this and more make this week’s episode one you won’t want to miss.
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This week, Ashley and Mike revel in the latest misfortune of the .1-percenters: specifically, those who dropped more than $50 million on the supercool new generation of Gulfstream private jets, which, it seems, are unable to land safely. Oops! Writer Tarpley Hitt joins the program to reveal why the shiny new toys of moviemaker Michael Bay, New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, and many other hyper-wealthy types have been grounded this summer—and why they are mightily pissed off. In addition, Jay Cheshes stops by to reveal why a former co-owner of Eleven Madison Park has become persona non grata in a tony Hudson Valley town. All this and more make this week’s episode one you won’t want to miss.
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This week, Ashley and Mike look at the rise of the “Glocker Mom” (or as they are known in the NRA, “Defense Debbies”)—a new breed of gun-loving suburban mom who have become Instagram stars by promoting the virtues of firearms and fashionable options for concealed carry. Clara Molot, an AIR MAIL associate editor, joins them to discuss her reporting. In addition, David Kaufman, a frequent AIR MAIL contributor, discusses his essay responding to a proposal in California to pay reparations to descendants of enslaved people. It’s an episode you won’t want to miss.
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This week, Ashley and Mike reveal at least one Italian seaside town where oligarchs will be seen this summer. Writer Mark Ellwood joins them to discuss his story, and how Russia’s rich are still finding places in the sun, even though they’ve lost their yachts. And speaking of Italy, Linda Wells, AIR MAIL’s beauty-and-wellness columnist, stops by to share her very funny experience about going to a wellness spa (where a snack is six almonds) in the land of mangia!All this and more make this week’s episode one you won’t want to miss.
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This week Ashley and Mike are joined by filmmaker Whit Stillman who shares the riveting true story of the American who saved Paris – a young spy from Minnesota who helped prevent a coup agains de Gaulle during the Cold War. Plus, speaking of filmmakers, Errol Morris reflects on the power of a single photograph, and if an image can change opinion. All this and more make this week’s episode one you won’t want to miss.
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This week, Ashley and Mike look at the man who brought Bob Marley and other seminal musicians to the world: Chris Blackwell, the founder of Island Records. He's the subject of a great new book, and Tom Freston, a former head of MTV and a friend of Blackwell's, stops by to discuss his impact. In addition, Alex Marshall joins us from France to help us understand why Emmanuel Macron's chest hair (!) is getting so much attention on Instagram. All this and more make this week's episode one you won't want to miss.
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Why is Gen Z obsessed with the drug of the moment … kratom? This week, Ashley and Mike are joined by AIR MAIL Associate Editor Jensen Davis, who reveals how a centuries-old herb from Asia has become very big in New York and L.A. And speaking of ingesting, Dana Brown stops by to regale us with his night at Noma restaurant, when it came to New York City this past week.
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This week, two of the creators of the hit HBO Max comedy Hackstake Ashley and Mike inside the new season, as well as the show’s origin. In addition, AIR MAIL’s Books Editor, Jim Kelly, drops by to discuss a mouthwatering new history of Zabar’s, one of New York City’s most loved temples of food. All this and more make this week’s episode one you won’t want to miss.
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This week, it’s “Two Turntables and the Goldman Sachs Office Revolt.” What happens when the company’s big-bucks, 60-year-old C.E.O. (and part-time Lollapalooza D.J.) orders his Gen Z staffers back to the office … but they want to continue to WFH? It’s got all the makings of a hilarious culture war, and AIR MAIL Writer at Large William D. Cohan joins the show to share his reporting. Speaking of the problems of the rich: Ashley and Mike also speak with writer Hannah Seligson about the new diet drug that the .01-percenters are suddenly obsessed with. All this and more make this week’s episode one you won’t want to miss.
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This week, Ashley and Mike look at the young Hollywood super-couple who lit a match for the cultural explosion in 1960s Los Angeles. AIR MAIL contributor Mark Rozzo joins the show to discuss his new book about Dennis Hopper and Brooke Hayward, and how their art-loaded home in the hills became the center of gravity for everyone from Warhol to Didion to the Hells Angels. There’s also a revealing conversation about why Parisians are grumpy about their city, a look at some unique new grooming trends, and a strange new body enhancement attracting everyone from soccer moms to influencers. All this and more make this week’s episode one you won’t want to miss.
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This week Ashley and Mike are joined by former editor in chief of British Vogue Alexandra Shulman, who tells us what we need to know about the new biography of Anna Wintour. From crying jags at her desk to her fierce loyalty, to how she has survived for so long, it’s a revealing conversation you’ll want to hear. Plus, there’s a look at the strange world of high-priced matchmaking services. All this and more make this week’s episode one you won’t want to miss.
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This week, we look at the Bridgerton effect. From Princess Di’s brother to universities, everyone is trying to cash in on Great Britain’s legendary country estates. Rachel Johnson joins Ashley and Mike to discuss what she learned in one of the many university classes where students can earn a master’s degree in … crumbling old houses? Plus, Tim Bouverie reveals how Putin may be repeating one of Stalin’s epic blunders. All this and more make this week’s episode one you won’t want to miss.
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This week, Ashley and Mike take a look at the Andrew Formerly Known as Prince, Queen Elizabeth’s ethically tainted, money-loving, ill-behaving son, who still manages to escort her in public. Will he end up tanking the Firm for Charles and William? AIR MAIL Writer at Large Stuart Heritage joins the show to share his insights. In addition, AIR MAIL contributor Bruce Handy discusses a new biography of Michael Cimino, the genius director behind one of Hollywood’s greatest masterpieces (The Deer Hunter) as well as one of its biggest bombs (Heaven’s Gate). All this and more make this week’s episode one you won’t want to miss.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Is Vladimir Putin a secret fan of Love Actually ? It’s not the craziest theory to explain his crazy behavior. This week, writer Stuart Heritage tells Ashley and Mike that the rom-com helps decode some of the Russian leader’s erratic conduct. And speaking of leaders, there’s a look at Volodymyr Zelensky’s success as the new Great Communicator—and how it’s being orchestrated by show-runners from his days as a television star. All this and more make this week’s episode one you won’t want to miss.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
This week, Ashley and Mike get up to some Oscar-style party crashing when they’re joined by Dana Brown, a former Vanity Fair editor, who shares funny (and occasionally sordid) tales of what he witnessed in his 20 years inside what was Hollywood’s hottest party. In addition, Clara Molot discusses her report on how Yale University’s hunger for oligarch money led it into a potentially compromising relationship with a Kremlin-linked foundation. All this and more make this week’s episode one you won’t want to miss.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
This week, we look at a legendary “band of brothers” who have re-united for Ukraine: the greatest photojournalists of the 20th century, some now in their 70s, who have come out of retirement to capture the images Putin doesn’t want the world to see. There’s also a look at Ukraine’s remarkable First Lady. In other news, Ashley and Mike are joined by journalist and screenwriter Mitch Glazer, who discusses the loss of one of Miami Beach’s architectural treasures. You’ll hear all this and much more. It’s an episode you won’t want to miss.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
This week, we have a riveting conversation with Katya V., a young poet and teacher living in Russia who is also pro-Ukraine anti-Putin. Rather than flee for the West, she has decided to stay and protest—and risk imprisonment. It’s a powerful, moving interview. In addition, Ashley and Mike are joined by Bridget Foley, who discusses her profile of Romeo Gigli, perhaps the most-influential fashion designer of the late-80s who lost his label and vanished. Foley tracks him down and tells us what he’s been up to. It’s an episode you won’t want to miss.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
This week, we have the very funny example of what happens when Donald Trump tries to crash a party and it’s your job to stop him. Dana Brown, a former deputy editor for Vanity Fair, dishes the dirt from his new, tell-all memoir about his time at the magazine—where he started as an assistant in the 1990s—and how he had to work the door at events, including the night Trump tried to get him fired after he refused to let him crash. It’s a hilarious story. Plus, Alessandra Stanley, a co-editor of AIR MAIL, reveals how it was not Putin who created the corrupt oligarchs the West has now demonized but actually know-it-all American elites in the 1990s. It’s an episode you won’t want to miss.
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This week, Ashley and Mike look at how the “cool mom” often turns out to be a twisted David Lynch–in–the–suburbs character, as seen in the recent case of the wealthy woman in upscale Greenwich, Connecticut, who was secretly filming teenage friends of her children having sexual encounters in her house. They’re joined by Rich Cohen, who lives in that neck of the woods and has insights into the case. In addition, there’s a look at Ukraine, and more. It’s an episode you won’t want to miss.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
This week, Ashley and Mike are joined by AIR MAIL’s always entertaining critic James Wolcott, who lived to tell about his experience reading Donald Trump’s new “memoir,” Our Journey Together. There’s also a look at what might be the sketchiest airline around, and a shocking sex scandal in a very exclusive and wealthy Connecticut suburb. You’ll find all this and more in this week’s Morning Meeting.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
This week, Ashley and Mike look at a strange new crime in Beverly Hills (stealing French bulldogs!) as well as at Lauren Sanchez—Jeff Bezos’s girlfriend—who just might be the most powerful woman in America. There’s also a look at the party-loving ways of Prime Minister Boris Johnson. AIR MAIL Writer at Large Stuart Heritage joins the show to explain the scandal swirling around BoJo the Clown and to discuss whether he will survive. You’ll find all this and more in this week’s Morning Meeting.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
This week, the victim of one of New York’s most notorious grifters, Anna Sorokin—who is now getting the star treatment in a Netflix mini-series—talks to Ashley and Mike about what it’s like to fall for a con woman, and if it’s right that Netflix has funded a convicted criminal. Plus, Rachel Johnson swings by to discuss the 40th anniversary of The Official Sloane Ranger Handbook. It’s an episode you won’t want to miss. You’ll find all this and more in this week’s Morning Meeting.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
This week, we look at Francis Ford Coppola’s other, other, other masterpiece, The Conversation—which was so good that he competed against himself (with his better-known film, The Godfather: Part II) for the Oscar for best picture in 1974. How The Conversation came to be completed (Coppola walked off the set), and how it predicted our modern surveillance culture, is a riveting story, as related by writer Michael Sragow. Plus, there’s a discussion of the drama surrounding one of London’s hottest restaurants, and much more.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
This week, Diane von Fürstenberg and Jonathan Becker remember André Leon Talley, the grandson of a sharecropper who became a titan of fashion. Plus, former 60 Minutescorrespondent Steve Kroft joins Ashley and Mike to discuss his Patricia Highsmith–worthy story of a confidence man suspected in a string of high-end thefts among the blueblood set, from Newport to Manhattan to Georgetown. You’ll find all this and more in this week’s Morning Meeting.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
This week, Sam Kashner joins Ashley and Mike to describe what it was like to spend the past year collaborating with the late Hollywood titan Peter Bogdanovich on his final script, for a movie about the lives of George and Ira Gershwin. It’s a lovely conversation filled with poignant, beautiful moments about friendship, creativity, and the magic of movies. You’ll find all this and more—including a look at L.A.’s hot new restaurant, as well as words we can’t stand—in this week’s Morning Meeting.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
This week we ask: Was justice served in the Elizabeth Holmes trial? AIR MAIL Writer at Large Rich Cohen, who has covered the case, joins us. On another note, Ashley and Mike are also joined by Linda Wells, AIR MAIL's new beauty-and-wellness columnist, who shares her views on the latest eye-opening trend (and has a tip for men). You'll find all this and more in this week's edition. It's a show you won't want to miss.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
This week, Graydon Carter and Alessandra Stanley, co-editors of AIR MAIL, join Ashley and Mike to discuss the stories they're keeping an eye on as we move into 2022. It's an episode you won't want to miss.
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This week, we're dreaming of new adventures for 2022—beginning with one of the rarest of opportunities: seeing some of the last 1,000 gorillas that remain on Earth. Marcia DeSanctis joins Ashley and Mike to recount her amazing journey into the mists of Rwanda and explain how coming face-to-face with these extraordinary creatures is an experience that marks you forever. It's an episode you won't want to miss.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Can you guess how Larry David survives Christmas? This week, we’ve got the inside story on how everyone’s favorite grinch gets through all the holidays madness. Plus, we have a fun and revealing conversation with Sam Kashner about how the holiday classic Love Actually came to be, and the secrets to its success. You’ll find all this and more in this week’s Morning Meeting.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
This week, we go inside the scandal swirling in the book world: how best-selling memoirist Alice Sebold helped send an innocent man to prison for rape. We speak with the writer who reveals how the tragic truth came to light, and it’s a riveting story. Plus, we talk with comedian Sandra Bernhard about her new show. You’ll find all this and much more in this week’s Morning Meeting.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
This week we have the riveting true story of Stephen Glass, the most notorious fraud in journalism. Seeking redemption, he decided he would live by one simple rule: Always tell the truth. He found a second chance. Then he broke that rule—at a painful price. Bill Adair, a reporter and founder of PolitiFact, who is now a journalism professor at Duke University, joins Ashley and Mike to discuss Glass’s incredible story. It’s an episode you won’t want to miss. You’ll find all this and more in this week’s Morning Meeting.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
This week, Ashley and Mike speak with David Kamp about all things Beatles, in light of the new documentary Get Back—and why this band still has a hold on all of us after 60 years. There are also looks at Italy's hottest city and at a remote old mining town in Greece that influencers are desperate to get to.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
This week, Ashley and Mike look at the real, deeply twisted story behind House of Gucci. And speaking of fashion, there’s the incredible true tale of Christian Dior’s Nazi-fighting little sister. Plus, we have pro tips on how to nail Thanksgiving dinner. You’ll find all this and much more in this week’s Morning Meeting
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Is it possible the hyper-rich like Elon Musk are fueling the woke arguments? If you think it sounds implausible, listen in as Alessandra Stanley explains her theory to Ashley and Mike. Plus, we look at this season’s hot fashion accessory—owning a restaurant. And we go inside the making of The Office. You’ll find all this in this week’s Morning Meeting.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
This week, we reveal the secret to Squid Game’s becoming a $900 million global juggernaut. And Ashley and Mike ask: Is it possible Elizabeth Holmes will beat the rap in her Theranos trial? Plus, there’s a look at why beautiful people love to throw pity parties for themselves. You’ll find all this and much more in this week’s Morning Meeting.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
This week Ashley and Mike look at the shocking story of ladies-only strip club Chippendales, the inspiration for Magic Mike and more. It’s a, um, very revealing tale. Plus, we have a look at what might be the creepiest hotel in the world. And speaking of creepers, one woman tells what it’s like to wear Kylie Jenner’s very, shall we say, flashy swimsuits. You’ll find all this and much more in this week’s Morning Meeting.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
This week we take you inside the making of The Godfather—and reveal how Marlon Brando’s Don Corleone was based on … a woman! Writer Mark Seal joins Ashley and Mike to discuss his new book about the making of one of the biggest books and movies ever. Plus, we have a look at Prince Andrew’s mounting troubles, Jeff Bezos’s projectile dysfunction, and much more in this week’s Morning Meeting.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
This week, we discover the world’s best pizza, hidden in a rural Italian village, and we go inside the mind of Succession’s scheming patriarch, Logan Roy. (Well, really the gifted actor Brian Cox, who portrays Roy and has just published a no-holds-barred memoir.) Writer Peter Biskind joins Ashley and Mike to discuss Cox’s incredible career and how it shapes his smash performance in the HBO show.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
This week, we look at the Sacklers, the OxyContin-peddling robber barons who made billions pushing a drug that destroyed lives and communities. Yet, like WeWork’s Adam Neumann and other super-rich, they seem to have escaped any real punishment. Ashley and Mike are joined by Danny Strong, creator of Dopesick, the new limited series on Hulu starring Michael Keaton, that seeks to hold the family accountable.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
This week, we’ve got the inside story on the Big Books of the Fall, and what you need to read, thanks to AIR MAIL Senior Editor Julia Vitale. Plus, Ashley and Mike reveal L.A.’s secretive home of social-media stars, swoon over Stanley Tucci, and discuss a new musical about … Hitler?! (Paging Mel Brooks!) You’ll find all this and much more in this week’s Morning Meeting.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
This week, Anderson Cooper reveals how money destroyed his dynastic family—and why he won't leave his money to his son. Plus, Ashley and Mike look at how Jeff Bezos and other tech bros are plotting to live forever, and the Zuck's latest plan to destroy the self-esteem of young girls. There's also a look at the hottest new chef in Paris.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
This week, the ever witty actor John Lithgow discusses (and reads from!) his very funny new book, A Confederacy of Dumptys. In addition, there's a look at Prince Charles's financial problems as well as two strange new trends in decorating and women's fashion.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Is Elizabeth Holmes the greatest fraudster of our era? The Steve Jobs obsessive convinced some very smart people to give her millions of dollars for Theranos, her bogus blood-testing company. Now, as AIR MAIL's Rich Cohen tells Ashley and Mike, she's starring in the trial that "defines our decade"—an era filled with greed, stupidity, ego, and plenty of bad behavior. In addition, there's a look at royals behaving dumbly, and a bizarre Southern Gothic murder mystery.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
At 20, Diana de Vegh began an affair with John F. Kennedy that continued through his time as president. Now, for the first time ever, she tells how she came into his orbit, how her life was forever altered, and what she learned about herself. It's an episode you won't want to miss. In addition, Ashley and Mike talk about why Gen Z–ers like to sext each other but are grossed out by nudist camps. And we have a look at Gwyneth Paltrow's latest scheme.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
This week, we have a look at “Genuinfluencers”—Gen X–ers who think being into clothes and beauty is soooo 2020. Also, AIR MAIL co-editor Alessandra Stanley joins us to discuss what we can do for the Afghan people while the politicians dither. And we have a look at the hot, new nightlife spot in New York City as well as where to go to get in on the latest sport of kings.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
This week, Ashley and Michael look at the high jinks and “corridor creeping” that happens at Downton Abbey–ish estates during shooting season. Speaking of misbehavior, AIR MAIL co-editor Alessandra Stanley joins the program to discuss Andrew Cuomo and Justice Stephen Breyer—and why so many people choose selfish behavior over what’s best for society.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
This week, the always witty, ever entertaining Stephen Fry joins us to discuss a long-secret library that has come to light—and has book-lovers and readers losing their minds. It's an amazing tale you'll want to hear. We also have a look at a multi-million-dollar corruption scandal that's rocking the Vatican, and what it's like to have a conspiracist as a mother. You'll find all these stories and more in this week's Morning Meeting.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
In My Unorthodox Life, a new reality show on Netflix, Julia Haart has captivated people with her incredible story—how, at age 41, she and three of her children broke from their repressive, ultra-Orthodox Jewish community. Eight years later, she’s the C.E.O. of a major talent agency, after having been the creative director at La Perla. This week, she gives a revealing, candid, and funny interview with Ashley and Mike about why she left and what she’s learned. You’ll find all this and much more—such as a look at London’s post-lockdown social swirl and a fascinating jewel heist—in this week’s Morning Meeting.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Did you know that nearly 50 percent of workers under 40 would rather quit their job than return to the office full-time? This week Kat Rosenfield joins Ashley and Mike to discuss the Great Work from Home Revolt that’s upending employers’ plans—and why millennials and Gen Z–ers are choosing quality of life over work. You’ll find all this, as well as cultural recommendations and much more, in this week’s Morning Meeting.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
What really happened inside the White House—and Trump’s brain—between Election Night and the violent storming of the Capitol? As Michael Wolff reveals, it was crazier than we imagined. And this week, he shares what he learned about those final months. In addition, we have a report on a mysterious, magical, and little-known Italian island, as well as a look at Emerald Fennell’s take on a promising young woman of a different sort, Cinderella, whose story she is making into a musical with Andrew Lloyd Webber. You’ll find all this and much more in this week’s Morning Meeting.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
What is it like to sleep with a psychopath? This week, we have the riveting story of a woman who was duped into falling in love with one of the U.K.’s biggest con men, who ended up stealing more than a million dollars from her. It’s a tale you have to hear. Plus, we have a very fun conversation with Jamie Lee Curtis, and much more, in this week’s Morning Meeting.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
How did Queen Elizabeth help Liz Taylor land husband No. 6? It's a tale you'll get only in this week's episode. Plus, talk-show host and comedian Graham Norton stops by to discuss his beautiful new novel with Ashley and Mike.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
This week, Ashley and Mike look at the sex-life drama of yet another tech bro, Eric Schmidt, the former C.E.O. of Google. Unlike Bezos and Gates, Schmidt didn't leave his wife. Instead, he simply arranged for a very open marriage. Is it the reason he's no longer with the company? Plus, there's a fascinating discussion on the intrepid work of the 79-year-old reporter who forced the Establishment to rethink its assumptions about the "lab leak" theory of the coronavirus.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
This week, master crime writer James Ellroy, the acclaimed author of L.A. Confidential, joins Ashley and Mike to discuss depravity, secrets, and all-around bad behavior among the elite in Hollywood, which is the setting for his big, new novel, Widespread Panic. Plus, there’s a look at new ways to entertain—as well as the post-vaccine explosion of verypublic P.D.A.’s in New York City. You’ll find all this and much more in this week’s Morning Meeting.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
This week, we go inside the underground kink scene dominating Washington, D.C. Don’t worry: you won’t be subjected to a nude Mitch McConnell! But in a town where “House whip” is a revered title of power, is it any surprise that so many politicians go to sex clubs? Alexandra Bregman joins Ashley and Mike to talk about what she learned—and saw. In addition, there are reports on the great suntan-lotion crisis of 2021, and how the cool kids are escaping back to nature this summer.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Let’s go to Paris! Dinner with Julia Child! Coffee with Patricia Highsmith! This week, Ashley and Mike are joined by writer Alexander Lobrano to discuss his new memoir and his years in France. There’s also a report on how Paris is adjusting to post-lockdown life. Plus, for the more adventuresome, there’s a look at the new nudism—why millennials are ditching their clothes.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
This week, Ashley and Mike discuss the summer’s big books with AIR MAIL Senior Editor Julia Vitale, who shares her smart recommendations for what you’ll want to read—and what you need to read. Plus, there’s a report on Bruton, the seaside town that’s become the new Cotswolds for London’s cool set, and a look at two guys who invented tattoos that disappear. (Too bad it wasn’t around in Johnny Depp’s “Winona Forever” days.)
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
The secret to being rich and successful? Be boring! Strange as it seems, the evidence is strong. And this week, Ashley and Mike talk about why the trend is catching on. There's also a look at the true-crime story that has gripped France, as well as a London apartment that is selling for a reported $241 million. Plus, noted director and writer Michael Lindsay-Hogg stops by to share his memories of the great life lived by actor Norman Lloyd.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
This week, Ashley and Mike are joined by James Wolcott to discuss Halston, the 1970s-era American fashion designer who burned bright and hard, and now gets the Hollywood treatment in Ryan Murphy's latest mini-series. Plus, there's a look at what Jeff Bezos is doing with all that money you gave him on Amazon Prime.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Is this what Congress means when they talk about busting up Big Tech? This week, Ashley and Mike look at the $130 billion breakup of Bill and Melinda Gates's marriage, and whether Bill had a, well, anti-trust problem of a different sort. Later, William Norwich joins the show to discuss the amazing life of Sean Driscoll, the man who quietly shaped the tastes of New York for 40 years. Plus, there's a look at Billie Eilish's transformation.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Summer’s on the horizon, the E.U. is opening to Americans who’ve been vaccinated, and Ashley and Mike are thinking where they want to go. Maybe even George Clooney’s new wine-producing château, in Provence. (Did someone say Hollywood and vines?) Plus, Alessandra Stanley looks at the battles roiling New York’s toniest private schools—and offers a solution.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
This week, Ashley and Mike are in a red-carpet state of mind. They're looking at the little-known, super-exclusive party thrown for Charlie Chaplin when he returned to Hollywood after his decades-long exile. And they're talking to Anjelica Huston about her new career. And speaking of careers, they've got a look at one of the great powers behind Los Angeles and Broadway, Boaty Boatwright.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
This week, Ashley and Mike go inside the messy divorce that is rocking the Trump Organization, and how it's giving prosecutors intel about Trump's money. And speaking of family businesses, author Bethany McLean joins the show to discuss the secretive Sackler clan and how they made billions on opioids. There's also a chat about the hot dating app Bumble, and a look at what might be the world's most perfect hotel.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Hunter Biden's un-put-downable memoir? America's—or certainly Brooklyn's—new It Girl? And: How did the battle of the bulge (losing weight) become a battle between millennials and boomers?
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Sissy Sheridan is 16, has 5.3 million followers on TikTok ... and thinks the most downloaded app of 2020 spews hate. So how come she can't quit it? Listen in, as she tells Ashley and Mike why. You'll also hear from Nancy Jo Sales, the author of The Bling Ring, who profiled Sissy. Plus there's a look at Parler, the shady social-media app that almost toppled the U.S. government, and much more in this week's episode.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
This week, Ashley and Mike discuss New York City restaurants—not just their place in the hearts and lives (and, yes, stomachs) of New Yorkers, but also the key role they will play in the city's post-pandemic recovery. It's a love letter to the city's restaurants, and our hosts are joined by Ryan Hardy, executive chef and partner in Charlie Bird, Pasquale Jones, and Legacy Records. Plus, there's the search for Prince William; the coronavirus Casablanca; Saul Bellow; and much more in this week's Morning Meeting.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
This week, beauty and wellness expert Bobbi Brown joins Ashley and Mike with advice on how to reset yourself for life after a year of lockdown. There's also a lively discussion of this week's Oscar nominations as well as a look at the hottest new chef in Paris, a 28-year-old son of West African immigrants who just snagged his first Michelin star.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
This week, Stuart Heritage joins Ashley and Mike from the U.K. to discuss the fallout from the royal Megxiles' bombshell Oprah interview, and where they might be going from here. Also joining from the U.K. is Joseph Bullmore, who takes us inside the elite boarding school where the plutocrats of the world—and a number of Europe's royal families—send their kids to get a much-needed reality check. But don't worry, we also have some non-U.K. stories: like a look inside the most exclusive sex club in Paris.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
This week, restaurant critic Alexander Lobrano spills the beans to Ashley and Mike about the speakeasy restaurants that have quietly popped up in France, where all eating establishments have been closed since the end of October. (Just be sure you listen on a full stomach—it’s a story that will make you hungry.) Plus, Ashley and Mike speak with Fernando Garcia, of Oscar de la Renta, about how he and Laura Kim created Amanda Seyfried’s dress for the Golden Globes, in the midst of the pandemic (and how it almost got lost in transit).
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
How did the world’s second-richest man become so successful? This week, Eric Berger, who spent time with Elon Musk as he built SpaceX, reveals how the real-life Tony Stark gets people to join him in his quests, and drives them to unheard-of achievements—insights you won’t want to miss. Plus, there’s a look at a new documentary about Woody Allen.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
This week, Ashley and Mike speak with AIR MAIL Writer at Large Lili Anolik about what the new documentary on the misunderstood pop star gets wrong. And speaking of misunderstood, Mike confesses to watching a movie he never thought he’d see.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Thirty years ago, British press baron Robert Maxwell was Rupert Murdoch’s nemesis. He was also a crook. Then he fell—or was he pushed?—off his yacht in the middle of the night, and drowned. This week, John Preston joins Ashley and Mike to talk about his revealing new book that looks at Maxwell’s life—as well as his most infamous heir, his daughter Ghislaine, who now awaits trial for her connections to Jeffrey Epstein.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
The star of the new Martin Scorsese Netflix series stops by this week to talk about the upsides of lockdown, and more. Plus, how Fran feels to be named to the International Best-Dressed List. In addition, Ashley and Mike talk about a few of the week’s most intriguing scandals, from Millennials getting busted in Marrakech to a new book about Ghislaine Maxwell’s notorious father and his unsolved death.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
For the rich and powerful, getting the coronavirus vaccine has been a rare reminder that sometimes all the connections in the world don't help. You still have to serve jury duty and go to the D.M.V. And now you can't buy your way to the front of the vaccine line. Those who do manage to get the jab, however, take on a different status in the eyes of their friends: smug. And this week, newly smug Alessandra Stanley humorously explains to Ashley and Mike why this happens. You'll get all this and more in this week's Morning Meeting.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Capping a historic week, longtime Trump observer and sometime sparring partner Graydon Carter shares his thoughts on the ex-president (and perhaps future convict) with Ashley and Mike. Plus, there's a look at the latest curious, money-making behavior by a former member of the royal family. And speaking of curious behavior, why are millennials and Gen Z-ers so keen on posting weepy breakup videos on TikTok? You'll get all this and more in this week's Morning Meeting.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
If anyone knows what it’s like to have Trump own their headspace for four years, it’s Barry Blitt. The AIR MAIL contributor and Pulitzer Prize–winning cartoonist has produced some of the most cutting commentaries on the president. This week, he tells how he creates his illustrations, and how he may detox after these four years. In addition, Mike and Ashley discuss some of the week’s other grifters and charlatans, as well as some people that you’ll find truly inspiring.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Well, that was a bang-up week. And in today's episode, Ashley and Mike speak with Alessandra Stanley about her and Graydon Carter's idea for a new amendment to the Constitution that could prevent a week like we just lived through. Also joining the program is Rachel Johnson, who talks about how the U.K.'s third lockdown has turned British citizens into a brigade of "curtain twitchers," eager to snoop on their neighbors and report their stay-at-home transgressions.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Welcome to 2021, where Ashley and Mike are starting the year off right, talking about a very strange new trend, one of the greatest singers of all time—and how he was captured in print despite his best efforts—and much more. It’s the perfect way to ring in the New Year.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
This week Ashley and Mike speak with Alan Cumming about his new book, his time in Cabaret, his New York City club, and more. Plus, they talk about what could be next for Javanka, as well as their love for two very, very different movies: Showgirls and National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.It’s a Boxing Day gift you’re sure to enjoy.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
This week, Ashley and Mike speak with AIR MAIL writer at large Stuart Heritage about the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, and how they seem to be imitating the Obamas. (Netflix deal? Check. Spotify deal? Check.) Plus, a look at John le Carré and how the world he created on the page came to be the world we live in.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Is there anyone more enchanting than Candice Bergen? Fresh off her performance in Steven Soderbergh's new movie, Let Them All Talk, she sits down with Ashley and Mike to talk about working with Meryl Streep, the films of Louis Malle, leading men she's known, the Black and White Ball, and more. Plus, Ashley and Mike discuss the latest and craziest bad behavior among the .01-percenters, who are scheming on how they can jump the line of essential workers and the infirm in order to get a coronavirus vaccine.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
AIR MAIL co-editor Graydon Carter has known and covered Donald Trump for four decades, so who better to tell us what the future holds for him? It’s a conversation you don’t want to miss. Plus, a Grinch-y Ashley and a George Bailey–ish Mike talk to a man who is addicted to Hallmark Christmas movies.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
As the man behind the French Laundry, Per Se, and Bouchon, Thomas Keller is one of the world's most renowned chefs. Who better to ask what to do with your Thanksgiving leftovers? Plus, this week Ashley and Mike discuss Elena Clavarino's story about why the coronavirus is "the straw that broke the millennial generation's back"—and whether they deserve our sympathy. Oh, and don't worry: there are plenty of thoughts on The Crown, too.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Cazzie David has written some of AIR MAIL’s funniest pieces. She’s also managed to survive lockdown with her father, Larry David. This week, she speaks about that, and her new book (16:19). We also have Mark Ellwood taking us inside the mishegas at the luxe e-tailer Moda Operandi (4:39). Plus, Ashley and Mike go deep on The Queen’s Gambit (23:18).
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Just what you’ve been longing for: a fill-’er-up of David Sedaris’s great wit. If you loved last week’s conversation, you won’t be disappointed this week, as Sedaris tells Ashley and Mike what he won’t miss about Donald Trump (11:41). In other good news, Walter Isaacson, author of the best-selling Steve Jobs biography, tells us why he volunteered to be a guinea pig for the Pfizer vaccine and what he’s learned (01:57). And Christopher Buckley has written the perfect concession speech for Donald Trump (22:22). It’s an episode you won’t want to miss.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Desperate to hear something besides cable-TV election updates? On Morning Meeting, we've got just what you need: smart conversation that will make you laugh and stories that will transport you. This week, best-selling humorist David Sedaris shares his hilarious views on the world (06:59), while Ashley and Mike talk about another big drama they have their eyes on (01:29), and other stories you won't want to miss.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Welcome to Morning Meeting, where AIR MAIL's Ashley Baker and Michael Hainey take you inside the stories people are talking about this week—and tip you off to the ones the editors are talking about for next week. We cover the people shaping your world whom you want to know more about (and more often the stuff they don't want you to know about). This week's guests are Scott Z. Burns, who wrote the screenplay for Contagion and now channels the mind of the coronavirus (19:30), and Reeves Wiedeman, talking about how he discovered a bizarre WeWork-sanctioned film starring Gwyneth Paltrow's cousin (6:50).
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Welcome to Morning Meeting, where AIR MAIL's Ashley Baker and Michael Hainey take you inside the stories people are talking about this week—and tip you off to the ones the editors are talking about for next week. We cover the people shaping your world that you want to know more about (and more often the stuff they don't want you to know about). This week's guests are AIR MAIL writer at large William D. Cohan, who takes us inside his reporting on Vice Media (7:53), and Duff Lambros, a former Trump-appointed judge (of a beauty pageant, but still!), with some judicious advice for Amy Coney Barrett (18:43). Plus, hear about the 1-percenters who are escaping lockdown (3:08).
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Welcome to Morning Meeting, where AIR MAIL’s Ashley Baker and Michael Hainey take you inside the stories people are talking about this week—and tip you off to the ones the editors are talking about for next week. We cover the people shaping your world that you want to know more about (and more often the stuff they don’t want you to know about). This week’s guest, Ina Garten—the Barefoot Contessa—shares her thoughts on something we all need more of right now: comfort food. Plus, hear about the woman who had the most powerful men in Paris wrapped around her finger, as well as the 40th anniversary of a New York hot spot. It’s a conversation that’s not to be missed.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Welcome to Morning Meeting, where AIR MAIL's Ashley Baker and Michael Hainey take you inside the stories people are talking about this week—and tip you off to the ones the editors are talking about for next week. We cover the people shaping your world that you want to know more about (and more often the stuff they don't want you to know about). This week's guest is AIR MAIL's founder and co-editor, Graydon Carter, who shares his insights on a man he's known for more than 30 years: Donald Trump (11:20). Plus, hear about 1-percenters behaving badly (01:53) as well as the new show to hate-watch (06:00). It's an episode that's not to be missed.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Welcome to Morning Meeting, where AIR MAIL’s Ashley Baker and Michael Hainey take you inside the stories people are talking about this week—and tip you off to the ones the editors are talking about for next week. We cover the people shaping your world that you want to know more about (and more often the stuff they don’t want you to know about). And we talk with friends of AIR MAIL. This week’s guest is chef Daniel Boulud, who tells us how he got his acclaimed restaurant Daniel open for indoor dining.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Welcome to Morning Meeting, where AIR MAIL’s Ashley Baker and Michael Hainey take you inside the stories people are talking about this week—and tip you off to the ones the editors are talking about for next week. We cover the people shaping your world that you want to know more about (and more often the stuff they don’t want you to know about). And we talk with friends of AIR MAIL—writers, artists, and style-setters. This week, AIR MAIL’s co-editor Alessandra Stanley shares a humorous encounter with Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. So listen in every Saturday as Morning Meeting brings you what’s new and exciting from the world of AIR MAIL.
AIR MAIL articles mentioned during the show:
- Magisterial Meghan
- Is Serge Gainsbourg #Annulé?
- Toulouse-Lautrec’s Family Is Shortchanged
- Tattle Tales
- Lust in Translation
- Toast of the Town
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Welcome to Morning Meeting, where AIR MAIL's Ashley Baker and Michael Hainey take you inside the stories people are talking about this week—and tip you off to the ones the editors are talking about for next week. We cover the people shaping your world that you want to know more about (and more often the stuff they don't want you to know about). And we talk with friends of AIR MAIL—writers, artists, and style-setters. This week Douglas McGrath shares his conversation with Nick Pileggi about the 30th anniversary of Goodfellas. So listen in every Saturday as Morning Meeting brings you what's new and exciting from the world of AIR MAIL.
AIR MAIL articles mentioned during the show:
- The View From Here by John Lahr
- I Know Those Guys by Douglas McGrath
- Her Royal Deepness by Ted Heller
- Diary Dearest by Stuart Heritage
- Booty Call by Adam Sage
- Members Only by Michael Odell
- The Way We Live Now by Nicholas Hellen and Grant Tucker
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Welcome to Morning Meeting, where AIR MAIL’s Ashley Baker and Michael Hainey take you inside the stories people are talking about this week—and tip you off to the ones the editors are talking about for next week. We cover the people shaping your world that you want to know more about (and more often the stuff they don’t want you to know about). And we talk with friends of AIR MAIL—writers, reporters, and style-setters, such as André Leon Talley, who this week tells us about the new way of Fashion Week. So listen in every Saturday as Morning Meeting brings you what’s new and exciting from the world of AIR MAIL.
AIR MAIL articles mentioned during the show:
- Lights Out by André Leon Talley
- Call Girl by Hannah Evans
- Planes Have Changed While You Were Away by Charles Bremner
- Have You Seen the News? by Ashley Baker
- Black and White and Read All over the South by Sam Kashner
- Oedipus Vex by Kim Willsher
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Welcome to Morning Meeting, where AIR MAIL’s Ashley Baker and Michael Hainey take you inside the stories people are talking about this week—and tip you off to the ones the editors are talking about for next week. We cover the people shaping your world that you want to know more about (and more often the stuff they don’t want you to know about). And we talk with friends of AIR MAIL—writers, reporters, and style-setters. So listen in every Saturday as Morning Meeting brings you what’s new and exciting from the world of AIR MAIL.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.