The brain behind BoJack Horseman, Raphael Bob-Waksberg, is with us this week. He dives right in, talking about the privilege of being a white man in today's entertainment industry, his “professionally Jewish” parents, how ADHD affected him as a teenager, developing his creative voice, the loneliness of first moving to Los Angeles, the enduring impact Gary Shandling and The Larry Sanders Show has had on him, what he actually meant for BoJack Horseman to be, being a show-runner, six season into “BoJack”, the joy of writing a book, whether he's equipped to handle the responsibility of being an artist in 2019, and, finally, how meeting his wife has made him less cynical . 

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“I feel like I always get asked the same questions," says actor Michael Kelly. Well, hopefully, not today. Kelly joins us on the show to talk his beachy college years in South Carolina (06:40), choosing acting over business and law (09:53), the impact of Arthur Penn and the Actors Studio (14:28), the benefit of his naiveté (18:05), being on set with Milos Forman and Jim Carrey for Man on the Moon (20:15), his 2000 Unbreakable breakout (27:41), the story of how he met his wife, Karyn (33:31), how the Kevin Spacey controversy impacted House of Cards (41:03), and then, finally, some stray reflections on today's political landscape (56:45). For more info, visit talkeasypod.com. 

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Gin Queen, Mates! Jacki Weaver is on this week, reflecting on her childhood in Sydney (07:54), an early and undying devotion to acting (09:34), never becoming a social worker (14:09), being a romantic (16:41), the joys and toils of motherhood (18:15), her first marriage at age 19 (20:04), the memoir she never intended to write (21:19), working consistently in show-business through the 70s and 80s (22:49), looking for and finding balance (25:42), life on stage (27:24), not really fearing death (51:57), reserving judgment (31:54), the snowball success of 2010’s Animal Kingdom (35:06), being happy (39:17), aging in Hollywood (40:19), her parents’ love (45:55), and her own (48:30). 

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Sir Kenneth Branagh, friends! Sam and Kenneth discuss the process of making his new film, All Is True, (5:07), the recurring themes throughout his work (10:10), performing Hamlet in front of Queen Elizabeth at age 20 (12:30), directing for the first time in 1989 (18:33), taking a break from Shakespeare with 1992’s Peter’s Friends (22:24), how his father influenced his work (34:52), the darkest (and slowest) period in his career (37:25), the death of “the middle” in contemporary cinema (43:25), and why Thor is not an anomaly in his prestigious body of work (47:02). To learn more, our site. 

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On the brink of 70, legend Pam Grier sits down to reflect on a series of pivotal moments from her inimitable life. For example: moving to Los Angeles at 18 in 1967, becoming a trailblazer through iconic films like Foxy Brown and Coffy, getting thrown out of a bar with John Lennon and Harry Nilsson in 70s Hollywood, words of wisdom from Eartha Kitt, falling in love with Richard Pryor, overcoming cervical cancer in 1988, and much more. There's only one Pam Grier, and we're honored to have her. To learn more about the podcast, our site: talkeasypod.com 

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Werner Herzog is 76 years old with three films coming out in 2019. I don't know how he does it, but I try to find out in this conversation. From a childhood encounter with god in the Bavarian mountains to sitting across from Mikhail Gorbachev, Herzog shares some pivotal moments from his decade-spanning life and career. In previous interviews he has expressed his disdain for introspection. This is not that interview. This is something different, something – I hope– that's more representative of who Werner is in the world. Inquisitive, empathetic, principled, honest, and above all, warm. You can donate to Talk Easy here: talkeasypod.com/donate/ 

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Wyatt Cenac is the host of Problem Areas on HBO. It's a new kind of program– think Last Week Tonight meets Frontline, except hosted by someone whose comedy is dryer than the Sahara desert. On the podcast, we talk early stand-up days, growing up in Dallas, Texas, ego in comedy, running a show in 2019, the “anxiety crisis” across America, and why Trump appeals to low-income communities. Oh, and some bits. Lots of bits in this one. For more info, talkeasypod.com 

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“Chaz is a strong woman, sure of herself. I'd never met anyone like her,” wrote her late husband, Roger Ebert. Truth be told: neither have I. Chaz Ebert is a singular soul. Wise, kind, and extremely busy. She's the CEO of Ebert companies, including RogerEbert.com. She's a publisher of books, a philanthropist, and a TV and film producer. I've known Chaz for seven years, and this week we finally sat down to talk– about her upbringing on the West Side of Chicago, her marriage with Roger, the time spent grieving in his absence, and how she plans continue creating her legacy. You can learn more about Talk Easy at our site: talkeasypod.com 

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A very special episode for you live from Ebertfest 2019 in Champaign, Illinois. Rita Coburn Whack talks of her film "Maya Angelou, Still I Rise" and lets us in on the words of wisdom she learned from Angelou herself. Then, Sam brings out two of the festival's biggest stars. Lastly– Sam calls up the great writer and critic Richard Roeper to talk all things Ebert. Illustrations by Krishna Shenoi. Music by Dylan Peck. 

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Tayarisha Poe is an emerging filmmaker from West Philly. Her debut feature, Selah and the Spades, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival this year. Our conversation took place at the Park City festival (and side-note: the background noise is a result of taping this inside a restaurant). We talk raising money for her first film, writing characters of color that are, by design, unkind, and much more. You can donate to Talk Easy here: talkeasypod.com/donate/ 

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