Talk Easy With Sam Fragoso

If it weren't for her singular acting abilities, Alison Pill would be best known for her boisterous laugh. (That is only kinda a joke.) The chameleonic actress–Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, Midnight in Paris, The Newsroom–has been at it since the age of 10. And so we begin on set, unpacking her life as a child actor, and how she managed to find a voice as she grew up on (and off) screen. We also discuss her transcendent work on stage (from Blackbird to Three Tall Women), rejecting precocity, the film that almost made her quit acting, the trials and tribulations of dating in your 20s, approaching #MeToo with a politics of grace, and why Thornton Wilder has irrevocably changed her life. There's also laughing. Lots and lots of laughing.

Actress Haley Bennett joins us this week for a reflective look at her life as an actress, starting with her role as a pop-star in Music and Lyrics to her newest film, the disturbing domestic thriller, Swallow. We discuss the serendipity of motherhood, the perils of acting at an impressionable young age, and how she managed to find her artistic voice amid Hollywood pressures. Plus, a Terence Malick story! For more, visit  http://talkeasypod.com/?post_type=cpt_artist&p=1392&preview=true (http://talkeasypod.com/artist/haley-bennett/) ‎ Support this podcast

Welcome back! This week, celebrated poet, author, and essayist Morgan Parker sits with Sam to discuss her latest book, Magical Negro. They talk about what poetry can look (and sound) like in the Internet era, the loneliness of being a writer in LA, Morgan's experiences of dating (and writing about) white men named Matt, the visceral intensity of her book readings, and how mass (predominately white) audiences engage with her work. For more, visit http://talkeasypod.com/artist/morgan-parker/ (http://talkeasypod.com/artist/morgan-parker/) Support this podcast

From the Talk Easy team to you, happy holidays! We're closing out the year with our third annual holiday special, featuring a special group of guests who sat with us over the past twelve months. Throughout this episode, they reflect on their favorite art, memories, triumphs, lessons, and so much more from 2019. Randall Park – 4:22 Mary Holland – 5:45 Harrison Cameron – 25:25 Gary Gulman – 28:01 Jeff Garlin – 28:46 Chaz Ebert – 45:47 Pam Grier – 47:58 Tayarisha Poe – 1:01:45 Justin Simien – 1:04:06 Minhal Baig – 1:17:01 Ron Perlman – 1:20:17 Michael Kelly – 1:33:54 Want to receive our special holiday newsletter? Drop us a line at talkeasypod(at)gmail(dot)com and we'll add you to the list!

The trajectory of Gloria Steinem’s life and work is unparalleled. Her cultural and political impact, incalculable. With the release of “The Truth Will Set You Free, But First It Will Piss You Off”, the beloved author and activist reflects on a life-altering procedure she had completed at age 22, why she helped create the women's liberation movement alongside Dorothy Pitman Hughes and Flo Kennedy, and how she learned to become angry—on her own behalf—about race and gender bias throughout America. We also discuss much more because, well, this is Gloria Steinem after all. For more about our show visit www.talkeasypod.com

From Wild at Heart to Marriage Story, legendary actress Laura Dern has impacted decades of storytelling with her work on screen. For the next hour, we discuss her early memories of Martin Scorsese, years of teenage activism, her quick pivot from college to Blue Velvet, and how Lucille Ball's “female boss narrative” affected her as an artist and mother. And throughout our conversation, Laura reflects on experiences with beloved collaborators: David Lynch, Jonathan Demme, Robert Altman, Greta Gerwig, Noah Baumbach, and of course, her parents, Diane Ladd and Bruce Dern. For more about our show and Laura, visit www.talkeasypod.com/laura-dern

Before a string of successful plays (August: Osage County, Bug) and brilliant performances on screen (Homeland, Lady Bird, Ford v Ferrari), Tracy Letts was acting on-stage, with his father, in Tishomingo, Oklahoma. As his twenties approached, he pursued love and theatre in Chicago, pivoted to editing textbooks in Florida, and then returned to the stage with the authorship of his first play, Killer Joe. From there, Tracy oscillated between Los Angeles and Chicago, navigating traumatic loss and feelings of “not making it.” In the years ahead, he embraced steady success at the Steppenwolf Theatre and developed his pivotal play, August: Osage County. His father's deteriorating health during this period echoed the marriage of good and horrendous occurrences in his life. Then, finally, Tracy reflects on the qualities he inherited from his family— his father’s honest presence, in life and on stage, and his mother’s curiosity and cleverly-disguised emotional reserve. Visit www.talkeasypod.com for more our show-notes

Director Errol Morris—with his brief history as a private detective and door-to-door salesman—has transformed the world with his boundless curiosity. In this hour, we discuss the hostile reaction to American Dharma, how interviewing mass murderers shaped Errol’s theory of language, the role of self-deception in his films, and the subsequently arcane motives of Steve Bannon and Elizabeth Holmes. Errol reflects on his roots in commercial directing, his hatred of standard documentary filmmaking, the existential sadness in Gates of Heaven, and his mother's ineffable uniqueness. For more about our show, visit: www.talkeasypod.com

This week, Sam sits down with Honey Boy director Alma Har’el. She discusses the sacrificial act of independent filmmaking, the synchronicity of her art and experiences, how making Love True healed her childhood trauma, finding romance in her parents’ turbulent relationship, the profundity of working on Obama's 2008 campaign, her nonprofit's mission to change the consciousness of society, feeling close to strangers watching her film, and finally, examining her own story in projects to come. Visit our site: www.talkeasypod.com

This week on the show is actor, writer, and comedian Randall Park! He reflects on his strikingly diverse childhood friend group, becoming ‘the entertainment’ at parties, founding the still-active Asian American theatre company at UCLA, pivoting from his masters in Asian American studies to a professional acting career, persisting against viscous stereotypes, solidifying his creative voice through short filmmaking, embracing the steady success of Fresh Off the Boat, and maintaining his humility through the pursuit of new projects.

Edward Norton has built a career out of shape-shifting. Just look at his beginning in film: The People vs. Larry Flynt, Primal Fear, Everyone Says I Love You, American History X, Rounders, Fight Club. And it didn't stop there. Throughout the 2000s Norton embraced what he calls his “penchant for mimicry”–a desire to disappear into roles big and small. So, for the next hour, Norton and I reflect on his past and present, from performing in front of Edward Albee at 24 to directing his 2nd film, Motherless Brooklyn. We talk about building personal mythologies, ambition and early success, his memories of Philip Seymour Hoffman, the enduring legacy of 25th Hour, the puzzling joys of Chinatown, the painstaking process of creating his labor of love, Motherless Brooklyn, and more. Visit our site: http://talkeasypod.com/artist/edward-norton/

In 2016 Robert invited me to sit with him at his home away from home: Marco’s in West Hollywood. At his corner table next to the window, he ate there every morning for thirty years. This is one of those mornings. Rest in peace, Bob.

Episode 151 - Gary Gulman by Sam Fragoso

Well, let's give this a go. 150. Hosted by my pal, Harrison Cameron. For more info: www.talkeasypod.com.

This week, “Hustlers” actress Trace Lysette joins us on the show! She reflects on “giving birth to herself” in New York (8:30), developing “Tribe“ with Devere Rogers (10:30), manifesting an abundance of opportunity for transgender artists (11:40), fighting passivity in storytelling (14:00), facing the duality of success and heartbreak (17:00), navigating dating in Los Angeles (21:00), recognizing and educating against toxic masculinity (27:00), speaking out during the #MeToo movement (35:00), finding an anchor in her mother and friends (37:00), questioning her right to pay parity (39:40), and finally, embracing a prospective future of leading roles (47:00).

This week we're joined by podcaster/filmmaker/writer Scott Aukerman! He talks about his his first TV appearances back in high school (01:40), his affinity for David Letterman (05:20), how he used humor to dodge playground bullies (09:43), playing a certain kind of character on-mic (17:28), his early days of trying to make it in LA (21:54), a game-changing interaction with Bob Odenkirk (27:07), how his partner became his ex... and then his wife (31:01), the creative differences (and struggles) between making television versus movies (34:34), how he hit rock bottom after success (41:59), why he made a documentary about his parents (46:01), the birth of Comedy Bang! Bang! (51:00), the challenges of professionally collaborating with your friends (1:00:41), and, finally, his comedy mantra (1:06:20).

Karley Sciortino is on this week! She reflects on her childhood, growing up Catholic in the age of Britney Spears, and sexual awakenings, her parents' steadfast relationship, her first sexual experience, journeying across the pond for college, dropping out and not coming back, living in an "egalitarian-esque" artist commune for 6 years, first reactions to her sex-heavy blog, what "slut" really means to her, how writing helped uncover her sexual identity, falling in love, hard and fast, Eyes Wide Shut-style swingers' parties, her 30th birthday foursome, talking about sex: men vs. women, thoughts and insights during a #MeToo era, pushing her boundaries, and the time she might’ve gone too far.

This week, Sam sits down with renowned writer, director, and former film critic, Peter Bogdanovich. They discuss the fragmentation of the old Hollywood studio system (00:42), Peter’s pivot from journalism to filmmaking (4:00), his tumultuous experience making “The Last Picture Show“ (12:09), the origin of the title “Paper Moon” (20:40), navigating success and public envy (24:00), how he endured the tragedy of Dorothy Stratten (32:10), rediscovering his filmmaking roots in the '80s (38:30), his ongoing relationship with Orson Welles (43:37), becoming “Pop” to Wes Anderson and Noah Baumbach (48:38), reflecting on lessons from the greats (56:00) and, finally, what he still wants to do at 80 (57:47).

This one has been long over-due... Justin Simien, friends! The sensible mind behind Dear White People talks about his high school days, pointing out how this chapter in his life formed a deep love for the arts (07:13), then delves into theater as an entryway into the realm of storytelling (11:32), the past and putting things in perspective (14:37), an introduction to Fosse, Kubrick, and other cinematic influences (17:38), in some cases... separating the art from the artist (22:05), the evolution of who we are vs. who we present ourselves to be (28:18), working in publicity but wanting to make movies (31:44), juggling life and career in his 20's (35:02), who's who in the gay community (36:37), HBO and self-discovery (41:14), being "shady" (44:19), people's approval and the birth of Dear White People (46:26), his father's passing (53:30), references, statements and getting a call from Spike Lee (57:33), the democracy that is storytelling (1:03:12), and where he finds his peace (1:06:18).

We're back, with Whitney Cummings! She starts off with some personal thoughts about love, then discusses her self-perception, being so-called "mainstream", seeking validation as a comedian and person, dealing with self-deprecation, reflecting on high school insights and growing up in a chaotic home that brought her closer to comedy, which led to college success and growth in her field, finding work in Los Angeles, flourishing as a woman in comedy, gaining the lessons she learned in her 20s, facing criticism in the New York Times, navigating show-running and real life, discovering the comfort of stand-up comedy as well as what exactly women are thinking, and finally...finding a voice and loving it.