Episodi

  • First Gen with Alejandra Campoverdi and Paola Ramos

    First Gen with Alejandra Campoverdi and Paola Ramos
    Jan 22 2026
    In this episode, Alejandra Campoverdi discusses her award-winning memoir First Gen, sharing her journey from a child on welfare to Harvard graduate, White House aide, and congressional candidate. She reflects on the challenges of being a “First and Only,” reclaiming the parts of ourselves sacrificed to survive, and what it truly takes to achieve the American Dream. The conversation is moderated by Emmy Award-winning journalist and author Paola Ramos, who brings her perspective on identity, social mobility, and advocacy to the discussion. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 ora e 20 min
  • My First Book—Part 2: A Discussion with Julian Schlossberg and Renee Taylor

    My First Book—Part 2: A Discussion with Julian Schlossberg and Renee Taylor
    Jan 20 2026
    In this episode, veteran producer Julian Schlossberg discusses My First Book—Part 2, sharing behind-the-scenes stories from his six decades in film, theater, and television. Hear his experiences with legends like Peter Falk, Elaine May, Mike Nichols, and John Cassavetes, along with reflections on running his own Castle Hill Productions for nearly 40 years. Moderator Renee Taylor, Emmy- and Academy Award-nominated actor and playwright, guides the conversation, offering insights into the art, business, and humor of a career spent at the heart of show business. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 ora e 27 min
  • A Conversation with Ngozi Anyanwu and ChiChi Anyanwu

    A Conversation with Ngozi Anyanwu and ChiChi Anyanwu
    Dec 24 2025
    In this episode, we spotlight Ngozi Anyanwu and her compelling plays. In Good Grief, Nkechi, a med-school dropout and first-generation Nigerian, navigates first loves, losses, and the stars in search of answers. In The Homecoming Queen, Kelechi returns to Nigeria after fifteen years to care for her father, confronting family, culture, and past traumas. The Last of the Love Letters offers a tender exploration of love, choices, and the difficult act of saying goodbye. We also discuss Ngozi’s remarkable career. A 2020 Steinberg Playwright Award winner, her works have been produced at Atlantic Theatre Company, Vineyard Theatre, Center Theatre Group, Steppenwolf, and more. Her plays have appeared on the Kilroys List, earned Humanitas and Leah Ryan honors, and she has been commissioned by leading theaters such as Two River and The Old Globe. Ngozi also directs and teaches, shaping the next generation of theater artists. This conversation is moderated by Chi Chi Anyanwu. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 ora e 49 min
  • A Conversation with Becca Schlossberg

    A Conversation with Becca Schlossberg
    Dec 23 2025
    In this episode, we spotlight playwright and performer Becca Schlossberg, an award-winning, non-binary writer whose work fearlessly explores identity, trauma, myth, and survival. Best known for Just Like I Wanted, a globally produced drama confronting teen suicide, Becca discusses a body of work that spans intimate realism, reimagined mythology, and bold theatrical experimentation—from 3boys and Discus to Dybbuk Bat Mitzvah and The Untold Yippie Project. We talk about blending humor and darkness, adapting ancient stories for modern audiences, and what it means to write toward healing. Becca also shares insight into their work as a stand-up comedian, solo performer, and filmmaker, as well as upcoming projects including their first novel, The Clearing, and a new anthology, The Inner Child Plays. A conversation about storytelling as survival, reinvention, and radical honesty. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    54 min
  • Prima Facie: A Conversation with Suzie Miller and Nora Brigid Monahan

    Prima Facie: A Conversation with Suzie Miller and Nora Brigid Monahan
    Dec 22 2025
    In this special event, Suzie Miller, Olivier and Tony Award-winning playwright of Prima Facie, joins writer and performer Nora Brigid Monahan for a signing and talkback on Miller’s debut novel adaptation of her acclaimed play. Prima Facie follows Tessa Ensler, a brilliant defense barrister whose faith in the law is shattered when she becomes the victim of sexual assault—and must face the very system she once defended. Raw, urgent, and unforgettable, Miller’s story exposes the barriers survivors face in pursuit of justice while demanding change from within the legal system. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    50 min
  • On Bette Midler with Kevin Winkler and Charles Kirsch

    On Bette Midler with Kevin Winkler and Charles Kirsch
    Dec 21 2025
    In this episode, Kevin Winkler discusses On Bette Midler: An Opinionated Guide. The book traces the rise of the Divine Miss M from the Continental Baths to mainstream stardom, exploring her impact on gay, Jewish, and feminist culture, as well as her influence across stage, film, music, and activism. Moderator Charles Kirsch, the young host of Backstage Babble, guides the conversation, offering insider insights into Midler’s enduring legacy and the evolution of her bold, iconic persona. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 ora e 2 min
  • Every Day a Little Death: Crime Fiction Inspired by the Songs of Stephen Sondheim

    Every Day a Little Death: Crime Fiction Inspired by the Songs of Stephen Sondheim
    Dec 20 2025
    A special podcast episode exploring the new anthology Every Day a Little Death, released on what would have been Stephen Sondheim’s 95th birthday. Edited by Josh Pachter, this collection brings together twenty short crime stories—each inspired by a song from one of Sondheim’s twenty musicals, from Saturday Night to Here We Are. Listeners will hear from Josh and a number of contributing authors as they discuss how Sondheim’s lyrics and characters inspired their tales of mystery, suspense, and dark humor. With writers from both the crime fiction world and the theater community, the anthology blends two traditions into something witty, chilling, and full of Sondheimian Easter eggs for fans to uncover. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 ora e 14 min
  • Matching Minds with Sondheim: The Puzzles and Games of the Broadway Legend

    Matching Minds with Sondheim: The Puzzles and Games of the Broadway Legend
    Dec 15 2025
    In this episode, we dive into a little-known side of Stephen Sondheim—the master composer’s lifelong love of puzzles, games, and brain-twisting challenges. Based on Barry Joseph’s fascinating new book Matching Minds with Sondheim, this conversation uncovers how Sondheim’s “puzzler’s mind” shaped not only his legendary musicals but also the treasure hunts, crossword puzzles, parlor games, and elaborate game designs he crafted for friends and collaborators. Joseph shares insights from rare, never-before-seen Sondheim puzzles, dozens of interviews with those who played his games, and deep archival research that reveals a new dimension of Sondheim’s genius. Listeners will learn how these playful creations offered joy, clarity, and connection—and even try their hand at Sondheim-inspired puzzles themselves. It’s a delightful, surprising journey into the mind of a maestro unlike any other. Learn more at MatchingMindsWithSondheim.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    55 min