Sunday Sitdown with Willie Geist

By Willie Geist, Sunday TODAY

SHOW DESCRIPTION

NBC's "Sunday TODAY with Willie Geist" provides sharp, conversational coverage of the day's news, along with in-depth profiles of the people and ideas shaping our culture. In his “Sunday Sitdowns,” Geist chats with some of the biggest names in news and pop culture, from actors and musicians to presidents and CEOs, about the stories behind their success. This podcast features the full, unedited versions of those conversations for an even deeper look at the names in the headlines. "Sunday TODAY" airs live on NBC from 8 a.m. - 9 a.m. ET. Check your local listings.

4.7

568 ratings

	EPISODES LIST
		Ethan Hawke Ethan Hawke hasn’t starred in many big-budget blockbusters, but that’s by his own design. In this week’s “Sunday Sitdown,” the movie star opens up to Willie Geist about how he built a career on deep, challenging roles, like the one in “Boyhood” that earned him an Oscar nomination in 2015, his breakout role in “Dead Poets Society,” and his latest performance in “First Reformed.”	11.18.2018
		Claire Foy British actress Claire Foy exploded onto Hollywood’s A-List, and onto the awards circuit, with a captivating performance as the young Queen Elizabeth in Netflix's hit series “The Crown.” In this week’s “Sunday Sitdown,” Willie Geist sat down with the star to talk about passing on that role after two seasons, and her latest performance as a different kind of icon in the movie “The Girl in the Spider’s Web.”	11.11.2018
		Mark Wahlberg Over the past two decades, Mark Wahlberg has worked his way onto Hollywood’s A-list with memorable performances in movies like “The Departed,” “The Fighter,” and a string of hit comedies, often with his friend Will Ferrell. In this week’s “Sunday Sitdown,” Willie Geist meets up with the actor in Boston to talk about his childhood there and the overnight hip-hop career that made him a star, as well as his latest film “Instant Family.”	11.04.2018
		Ina Garten Ina Garten is a beloved chef in part because she seems like one of us – she has no formal training and she taught herself how to make a great meal by experimenting with cookbooks. In this week’s “Sunday Sitdown,” Willie Geist travels to the Hamptons for lunch with the television host and bestselling author to talk about her life before “The Barefoot Contessa,” her down-to-earth approach in the kitchen, and the release of her 11th cookbook “Cook Like a Pro.”	10.28.2018
		Ryan Reynolds The “Deadpool” franchise gave Ryan Reynolds the signature role of his 20-year career, but its success was far from a sure thing. In this week’s “Sunday Sitdown,” Willie Geist talks to the Hollywood superstar about his decade-long fight to bring that character to the big screen, plus his new life as a businessman and majority owner of American gin company, Aviation Gin.	10.21.2018
		Jeff Bridges Jeff Bridges’ character in “The Big Lebowski” has become a folk hero since the movie was released 20 years ago, partly because “The Dude’s” laid-back vibe fits so well with the man who plays him. In this week’s “Sunday Sitdown,” Willie Geist talks with the legendary actor about his childhood in a Hollywood family, his sixty-year, Oscar-winning career, and his personal “dude”-like zen.	10.14.2018
		Riz Ahmed Over the last two years, Riz Ahmed had a blockbuster breakout in "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story," he appeared on the cover of TIME Magazine as one of the world's Most Influential people, and he became the first Asian man and first Muslim to win an Emmy Award. In this week's "Sunday Sitdown," Willie Geist chats with the actor and hip-hop artist about his rise in Hollywood, including that award-winning role in HBO's "The Night Of" and his latest performance as evil genius Carlton Drake in the new marvel movie, "Venom."	10.07.2018
		Kevin Hart After blockbuster hits like “Jumanji,” “Ride Along,” and "Central Intelligence," Kevin Hart has become one of the world’s biggest comedians, living in the rarified air of his own comedy heroes. In this week’s “Sunday Sitdown” Willie Geist met up with Hart at Madison Square Garden on his “Irresponsible” stand-up comedy tour to talk about growing up in Philadelphia, his confessional style of humor, and how he became the king of his own media empire.	09.23.2018
		Maya Rudolph Maya Rudolph knew from an early age that she was meant to make people laugh, but a seven-season run on “Saturday Night Live” put her comedic genius on the map. In this week’s “Sunday Sitdown,” Willie Geist met the actress inside SNL’s famous Studio 8H to talk about her time on that show, including her favorite celebrity impressions and what it was like to work alongside cast members like Tina Fey and Amy Poehler. She also shares how the show served as comedy boot camp, giving her a foundation for roles in films like “Bridesmaids” and her new Amazon series “Forever,” in which she stars alongside fellow SNL alum Fred Armisen.	09.16.2018
		Lenny Kravitz It’s been nearly 30 years since Lenny Kravitz released his breakthrough first album, “Let Love Rule.” Since then he has sold more than 40 million albums and at one point won the Grammy Award for “Best Male Rock Vocal Performance” four years in a row. In this week’s “Sunday Sitdown,” Willie Geist talks to the rock star about his long career in the industry and the interesting way he came up with his latest album, “Raise Vibration.”	09.09.2018
		Sarah Silverman Sarah Silverman is known for her hard-edged, taboo-breaking standup act and her progressive political bent off stage, but her Emmy-nominated TV series “I Love You, America” shows a different side of the comedian. In this week’s “Sunday Sitdown,” Willie Geist talks to Silverman about traveling the country for that show as she tries to understand today's American divide. She also opens up about her early love of performing and her rise from the basement comedy clubs of New York City to being one of the most successful comics in the business.	09.02.2018
		Jason Aldean Jason Aldean isn’t just one of the biggest names in country, he’s one of the biggest names in all of music. His latest album “Rearview Town” debuted at #1 on the Billboard charts, knocking Cardi B out of the top spot. In this week’s “Sunday Sitdown,” Willie Geist met up with the country superstar on tour to talk about his long journey through Nashville, his unique sound, and how he’s coping after the Las Vegas shooting nearly a year ago.	08.26.2018
		Chris O'Dowd Chris O’Dowd was already big in the U.K. before he moved to Los Angeles, but he made a name for himself in America playing Officer Nathan Rhodes in the smash comedy "Bridesmaids." In this week’s "Sunday Sitdown," Willie Geist talks to the actor about his journey from Ireland to Hollywood, and how that film launched him into a series of roles in movies, television and Broadway. O'Dowd also opens up about his latest role in the hit series "Get Shorty," a different kind of character for an actor known for his charm and sense of humor.	08.19.2018
		Mila Kunis Mila Kunis was only 14 years old when she landed the role of Jackie Burkhart on “That 70’s Show,” where she spent eight seasons from 1998 to 2006. In this week’s “Sunday Sitdown,” the actress talks to Willie Geist about that breakout role which introduced her to co-star Ashton Kutcher, a friend back then and her real-life husband today. Kunis also chats about moving to America with her family from the Soviet Union when she was just 7 years old, the acting class that started her career in Hollywood, and her latest action film “The Spy Who Dumped Me.”	08.05.2018
		Lady Antebellum Lady Antebellum, the trio of Hillary Scott, Charles Kelley and Dave Haywood, is famous for its pitch-perfect harmony, which began when they met in a Nashville bar 12 years ago. In this week’s “Sunday Sitdown,” Willie Geist got together with the band to talk about that first meeting, the Grammy-winning song that changed their career, and how they manage to stick together after all these years. Plus the band took Willie on a tour of their rehearsal space as they get ready to head out on the “Summer Plays On” tour with Darius Rucker.	07.15.2018
		Jordan Spieth As a child, Jordan Spieth was a golf prodigy. He played in his first professional tournament at just 16 years old, and by the age of 23 he had won three of golf's four major tournament titles. In this week's "Sunday Sitdown," Willie Geist got together with the young star at his home course in Dallas as he prepared to defend his British Open title. Spieth talks about his meteoric rise to the top of the PGA rankings, the comparisons to golf legends such as Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods, and how he's managed to keep his life as normal as possible during it all.	07.08.2018
		Bobby Flay Bobby Flay has been a star on the Food Network almost since its beginning nearly 25 years ago, and his shows and restaurants have since made him a household name. In this week’s “Sunday Sitdown,” Willie Geist visits the chef at his summer home in the Hamptons to discuss his long career in the business, starting with his childhood interest in cooking and his rise from high school dropout to the head of a food empire.	07.01.2018
		Blake Shelton Blake Shelton will be the first to tell you that being a coach on “The Voice” changed his life in more ways than one. In this week’s “Sunday Sitdown,” the country music superstar opens up to Willie Geist about how that show not only exposed him to millions of new fans, but also introduced him to his current girlfriend, Gwen Stefani, at a very difficult time in his life. The Oklahoma native also chats about the early days of hunting for record deals as a teenager in Nashville, and what it’s like returning to Music City to open up his new bar and music venue “Ole Red.”	06.24.2018
		Trevor Noah When Jon Stewart announced he would give up his hosting chair on “The Daily Show” after 16 years, almost no one speculated his replacement would be Trevor Noah. In this week’s “Sunday Sitdown,” Willie Geist chats with the popular comedian about his astounding journey from apartheid South Africa where his biracial background was literally a crime to now sitting in that famous chair. Noah also discusses his unique approach to covering today’s politics and breaking through in a crowded late-night field.	06.17.2018
		Claire Danes For the last seven years, Claire Danes has played one of the most intense and complex characters on television, CIA agent Carrie Mathieson on the hit series “Homeland.” In this week’s “Sunday Sitdown,” the Emmy and Golden Globe winning actress sits down with Willie Geist to chat about what it’s like to play that memorable role and how the show’s storylines have an uncanny way of predicting the future. She also discusses her childhood growing up in show business, including moving from New York City to Los Angeles at age 13 to audition for “My So-Called Life,” as well as her latest movie, “A Kid Like Jake.”	06.10.2018
		Andrew Garfield Andrew Garfield captured Hollywood’s attention in “The Social Network,” and he became a star when he was cast as a blockbuster superhero in “The Amazing Spider-Man.” In this week’s “Sunday Sitdown,” the Oscar-nominated actor chats with Willie Geist about his complicated relationship with fame and why he has always felt more comfortable on the stage than as a global movie star. He opens up about his current role in the theater, the demanding lead in the iconic play “Angels in America” on Broadway. The show is nominated for a record-breaking 11 Tony Awards, including one for Garfield, and he talks about that positive response and why he feels the play’s themes are resonating today.	06.03.2018
		Jason Bateman Jason Bateman is living a double life these days, playing the leader of the Bluth family in the comedy cult classic “Arrested Development” while also starring in the dark series “Ozark,” where he plays a family man who is in deep trouble with a drug cartel. In this week’s “Sunday Sitdown,” Willie Geist chats with the actor about his lengthy career, from growing up a child star on the sitcom “Silver Spoons,” to facing some dark times in his twenties, to landing “Arrested Development” and his recent success on Netflix.	05.27.2018
		Laura Dern Actress Laura Dern has a long career of big-name credits, but this past year has thrust her into the spotlight. In this week’s episode of “Sunday Sitdown,” Willie Geist talks with the Emmy and Golden Globe winning actress about her big year that’s included roles in the hit HBO series “Big Little Lies,” on the big screen in “Star Wars: The Last Jedi,” and in the revival of the cult classic “Twin Peaks.” She opens up about growing up in Hollywood the daughter of movie stars, and what it was like to be nominated for an Oscar alongside her mother for their film “Rambling Rose.” Dern also discusses her intense new movie “The Tale” and the importance of stepping up as a leader in the era of #MeToo and Time’s Up.	05.20.2018
		Melissa McCarthy Comedian Melissa McCarthy is known for her outrageous roles in “Bridesmaids” and “The Heat,” but not everyone knows about her journey to stardom. In this week’s “Sunday Sitdown,” the actress talks to Willie Geist about her path from a soybean farm in Illinois to crashing on couches in New York City to becoming the fourth-highest paid actress in Hollywood. And in honor of Mother’s Day, McCarthy opens up about raising two young daughters and why her latest film, “Life of the Party,” is the first one she’ll let them watch.	05.13.2018
		Ron Howard Oscar-winning director Ron Howard has been in show business almost since he was born. He appeared in his first movie at just 18 months old and by the age of 6 he was a star on “The Andy Griffith Show.” In this week’s episode of “Sunday Sitdown,” Willie Geist chats with Howard about growing up on the sets of some of the most beloved shows on television, all while dreaming of being behind the camera. Howard is now one of the most acclaimed filmmakers in Hollywood, directing hits like "Apollo 13," "A Beautiful Mind," and "Frost-Nixon." He opens up to Willie about that prolific career, including his latest adventure directing the new Star Wars movie "Solo" and all the pressure that comes along with it.	05.06.2018
		Laurie Metcalf Laurie Metcalf is on a roll. The 62-year-old actress is coming off a year that included a Tony Award for her performance in “A Doll’s House,” an Oscar nomination for her acclaimed role in “Lady Bird” and a revival of her Emmy-winning performance on the hit TV sitcom “Roseanne.” In this week’s episode of “Sunday Sitdown,” Willie Geist talks with the actress about her whirlwind of a year and how she juggles that crazy work schedule, including her latest adventure on Broadway.	04.29.2018
		Damian Lewis Damian Lewis is the British actor you usually hear using an American accent on television. The star of the hit show “Billions” first made a name for himself playing an American soldier on HBO’s “Band of Brothers,” before he went on to shake up television with his Emmy and Golden Globe winning performance as Sergeant Nick Brody on “Homeland.” In this week’s “Sunday Sitdown,” the actor talks to Willie Geist about his in-depth preparation for his current role as ruthless hedge fund manager Bobby Axelrod, including studying real-life Wall Street titans. It turns out Lewis has also learned a mean game of ping pong in his downtime on the set, so he challenged Willie to a friendly match.	04.22.2018
		Bill Murray When the one and only Bill Murray comes calling for interview, you drop everything to make it happen. In the first episode of "Sunday Sitdown," Willie Geist meets up with the legendary actor on a moment’s notice to talk about his days on Saturday Night Live, his epic movie career, and everything in between, including the infamous 1-800 phone number he uses to connect with Hollywood. Even Wes Anderson, who directed Murray’s latest film “Isle of Dogs,” has to leave a message for him there, and they’ve worked on eight movies together. Murray opens up to Willie about his decision to live outside the spotlight, besides crashing a party every now and then.	04.15.2018
		Trailer Join us for the brand new “Sunday Sitdown” with Willie Geist. In this podcast, we’re giving you the uncut, unfiltered interviews with the biggest names out there from pop culture to politics. On his show “Sunday TODAY” on NBC, Willie sits down with stars like Justin Timberlake, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey and even President George W. Bush to talk about the stories behind their success. Now, these conversations will be available to you in full, right here every week on “Sunday Sitdown.” Check it out!	04.10.2018
		Emily Blunt Emily Blunt had never worked with husband John Krasinski until the two starred together in the new horror film “A Quiet Place,” which Krasinski also directed and co-wrote. In this episode of "Sunday Sitdown," the British actress talks to Willie Geist about working with her husband as well as what it’s like to have the stamp of approval from “The Devil Wears Prada” co-star Meryl Streep and the original Mary Poppins, Julie Andrews. Plus she shares some of her lesser known hobbies and talents, including the one her husband didn’t even know she had until recently.	04.08.2018
		John Goodman More than 20 years after “Roseanne” ended, John Goodman and the cast are back together for the show’s revival. In this episode of "Sunday Sitdown," Willie Geist visits Goodman in New Orleans to talk about how the reboot isn’t so different from two decades ago and how his life has improved in recent years after overcoming struggles with alcoholism. He also chats about what it was like to work with the Coen Brothers on the cult classic “The Big Lebowski” and the impact that movie has had 20 years on.	04.01.2018
		Drew Barrymore Drew Barrymore has been acting nearly her entire life, but it was not always glamorous. In this episode of "Sunday Sitdown," the actress opens up to Willie Geist about those tough early years growing up in Hollywood, what it’s like to be a mom now, and her latest adventure on the small screen in in Netflix’s “Santa Clarita Diet.” She also reflects on that infamous interview with David Letterman, plus what she sees on the horizon after 35 years in the industry.	03.25.2018
		Chadwick Boseman Chadwick Boseman soared to fame this year with the release of “Black Panther,” Marvel’s first movie to feature a largely black cast and crew. In this episode of "Sunday Sitdown," the actor joins Willie Geist to talk about the impact of the record-breaking film, the response he’s received and what it means for the movie industry. Boseman also opens up about what it’s like to play some of history’s most famous figures, plus that time Denzel Washington helped him pay for acting school.	03.18.2018

LAST EPISODE

Ethan Hawke

11.18.2018

Ethan Hawke hasn’t starred in many big-budget blockbusters, but that’s by his own design. In this week’s “Sunday Sitdown,” the movie star opens up to Willie Geist about how he built a career on deep, challenging roles, like the one ...