Episode 36 of Datebook podcast is Movies with Mick LaSalle, starting with a discussion about "Shazam" and superhero movies, and other new films including "Dumbo," "The Public" and "The Invisibles." LaSalle and his co-host Leba Hertz also make a few detours, talking about baseball movies, the Federalist Papers and the general lousiness of Johnny Depp. 

This episode produced by Peter Hartlaub. Music is Mozart's Symphony 40 in G Minor by Blue Dot Sessions.

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Episode 35 of Datebook podcast is an interview with "Tales of the City" author Armistead Maupin, returning to the San Francisco Chronicle to Style reporter Tony Bravo and Maupin's former People section colleague Ruthe Stein. Maupin talks about the beginnings of the "Tales" column, what it was like being a gay man in the newsroom and his thoughts about the new Netflix "Tales of the City" continuation which debuts later in 2019. This Datebook podcast is for mature audiences.

This episode produced by Peter Hartlaub. Music is Mozart's Symphony 40 in G Minor by Blue Dot Sessions.

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Episode 34 of Datebook podcast is an interview with Brit Marling and Zal Batmanglij, co-creators of "The OA Part II." Marling is the series star and co-wrote the show. Batmanglij co-wrote and directed most episodes. They talk about why they came to San Francisco, how their research and experiences in the city influenced the script and how their favorite San Francisco movie inspired the new Netflix show.

This episode produced by Peter Hartlaub. Music is Mozart's Symphony 40 in G Minor by Blue Dot Sessions.

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In Episode 33 of Datebook podcast, Lily Janiak talks to Darryl V. Jones, Lorraine Hansberry Theatre's new acting artistic director. She asks about his vision for the black theater company — a Bay Area institution, but one that's faced setback after setback in the last decade — as well as the show he's directing for it, "The Urban Retreat," which runs March 22-April 6 at the African American Art and Culture Complex.

This episode produced by Lily Janiak. Music by Steven Boyle.

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Episode 32 of Datebook podcast is an interview with Alex Gibney, talking about Silicon Valley and its role in his new HBO documentary about the Elizabeth Holmes/Theranos debacle, "The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley." Gibney talks about his own young career as a documentarian, the late-in-the-game leaked footage that made "The Inventor" special, and the links he made in his film between Holmes and original "fake it 'til you make it" entrepreneur Thomas Edison.

This episode produced by Peter Hartlaub. Music is Mozart's Symphony 40 in G Minor by Blue Dot Sessions.

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Episode 31 of the Datebook podcast is Movies with Mick LaSalle. Mick and movie editor Leba Hertz talk about Steven Spielberg's comments about Netflix, and debate whether Netflix releases should qualify for Academy Awards. They also talk about the new release "Captain Marvel," and whether it's one of the best of the recent Marvel Cinematic Universe movies. And they talk about new movies and other fun, from Bob Fosse to Beethoven. 

This episode produced by Peter Hartlaub. Music is Mozart's Symphony 40 in G Minor by Blue Dot Sessions.

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Episode 30 of the Datebook podcast is a conversation between San Francisco Chronicle art critic Charles Desmarais and Bay Area art collector Komal Shah, who along with her husband Gaurav Garg is presenting the Artists on the Future series at Stanford.

The first event in the Komal Shah and Gaurav Garg Artist Conversation Series is set for Monday, March 4 at the CEMEX Auditorium, and features artist Dana Schutz in conversation with Hamza Walker. Admission is free but registration is required. Register here.

This episode produced by Peter Hartlaub. Music is Mozart's Symphony 40 in G Minor by Blue Dot Sessions.

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Episode 28 of Datebook podcast is a live recording of the Feb. 20, 2019, Datebook Talks Oscars event, featuring an Oscars rundown with San Francisco movie critic Mick LaSalle, Style reporter Tony Bravo, East Bay columnist Otis Taylor Jr. and senior digital A&E editor Mariecar Mendoza. The group talks about the upcoming Academy Awards, Oscars of the past, fashion, the no-host awards show coming up on Feb. 24, 2019 and how The Chronicle covers the Academy Awards. 

Produced by King Kaufman and Peter Hartlaub. Music is Mozart's Symphony 40 in G Minor by Blue Dot Sessions.

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In Episode 28 of Datebook podcast, Mick LaSalle talks about what should win and what will win for the upcoming Feb. 24, 2019, Academy Awards. LaSalle is joined by Chronicle editor Leba Hertz. Their Movies with Mick LaSalle discussion leads to talk about "colonoscopy movies," Christian Bale's surprising English accent and why the worst thing for a journalist writing about the Oscars is two different movies being honored for Best Director and Best Picture. 

Produced by Peter Hartlaub. Music is Mozart's Symphony 40 in G Minor by Blue Dot Sessions.

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In Episode 27 of Datebook podcast, theater critic Lily Janiak interviews local actor and pedicab driver Caleb Cabrera as part of The Artist's Life series, a recurring feature that spotlights the talent who help make up the rich tapestry of the Bay Area’s cultural life. We talk about his recent role in Shotgun Players' "Women Laughing Alone with Salad," his upcoming role in Crowded Fire's "Transfers" and what it's like to shuttle tourists and baseball fans around the Embarcadero on three wheels.

Produced by Lily Janiak. Music by Steven Boyle.

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