The new band EL VY plays live in our studio, combining the downer indie rock of The National with the cheery electro-pop of Menomena. Also, how President Obama became the internet’s go-to scapegoat for all of life’s little annoyances. And the writer Valeria Luiselli explains how she collaborated with the workers in a Mexican juice plant to write her latest novel, “The Story of My Teeth.”

The actor Sam Rockwell explains why acting in every frame of the movie “Moon” can't compare to the difficulty of playing a damaged rodeo cowboy in Sam Shepard’s play “Fool for Love.” Also, reporter John Seabrook breaks down exactly what makes a pop hit — and how formulas can’t completely account for their magic. And Jenny Slate challenges you to create your own super-short holiday movie.

One of the most famous choreographers working today, Twyla Tharp is the person you call when you want to turn Billy Joel songs into Broadway catnip or get horses dancing in Central Park. Also, we hear what made “The X-Files” such a good fit for the conspiracy-minded 1990s, and why we’re primed for it to come back now. And the director Sebastian Schipper explains how he shot a feature-length thriller over the course of two hours in Berlin — in just one take.

For his final episode, Sean Rameswaram traces the path of creative work he has personally posted, from blogging to sketch comedy videos to a truly ill rap posse. To close out the show, he gets the posse back together for one last song.

Special thanks to Jay Cowit for this. 

Sloane Crosley had a successful career as a book publicist and had written two best-selling collections of funny essays. But to write her first novel, she ditched it all and moved to France — not too shabby! Also, we hear from the CEO of FX, who thinks there’s just too much TV on TV. And sisters Bianca and Sierra Casady were as close as sisters can be — but they didn’t start the band CocoRosie until they reunited as adults.

Chrissie Hynde, who founded The Pretenders — and still performs under the name — reveals the pain behind the music in a new memoir. Also, the actor who plays Hodor, the "Game of Thrones" character who only says one word, becomes the internet’s favorite gentle giant. But he has a different dream: to be a world-famous DJ. And we dare to ask whether Shakespeare needs to be translated (into English).

Sure, the on-field sounds of crunching bones and concussing heads are great, but football just wouldn’t be the same without the music. Also, we hear from "The New Yorker" writer Patricia Marx, who actually tried all of those brain-training techniques we keep hearing about for her latest book, “Let’s Be Less Stupid.” And our team of designers unveils their new symbol for the South.

Political memes come and go, but "Thanks, Obama" has stuck around for seven years. Sean Rameswaram discusses all those videos, GIFs, and tweets with Nona Willis Aronowitz from Talking Points Memo and Barack Obama from the White House?!!

Elizabeth Gilbert's huge bestseller "Eat, Pray, Love" was created with lots of hard work and a little bit of fairy dust — which she's happy to sprinkle in your direction. Also, James Murphy of LCD Soundsystem wants to make the New York City subway a more pleasant place by giving it a new soundtrack. And for the writer William T. Vollmann, research isn't about spending a sedate afternoon at the library — it involves hopping trains, getting shot at, and nearly freezing to death at the North Pole.

This is America's soapbox.