For the holiday week, we’re revisiting one of our favorite conversations with Pulitzer Prize-winning writer and critic Hilton Als.

At the top, we unpack his approach to writing profiles (5:50), inspired by the words of photographer Diane Arbus (6:10), and how he captured Prince in a new, two-part memoir entitled My Pinup (7:55). Then, Als reflects on his upbringing in Brownsville, Brooklyn (10:25), a timely passage from his 2020 essay "Homecoming" (14:40), and formative works by writers Adrienne Kennedy (20:58) and the late Joan Didion (27:05).

On the back-half, we discuss the interplay of memory and writing (36:38), Hilton’s writing routine (40:55), his sources of hope today (44:30), and to close, a dialogue from Jean Rhys’ unfinished autobiography Smile Please (48:25).

Thoughts or future guest ideas? Email us at sf@talkeasypod.com.

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Actor Sebastian Stan has built a career out of shapeshifting.

This week, he joins us to discuss the process of transforming into Donald J. Trump in The Apprentice (8:27), his personal relationship to the American dream (15:35), and the extensive research that went into recreating 1970s-1980s New York City in the film (17:27). Then, we unpack Sebastian’s Romanian upbringing (29:00), the gift of his unconventional, nomadic childhood (34:40), and what the film represents in this post-Election moment (38:30).

On the back-half, we talk about the impact of the late director Jonathan Demme (50:45), Stan’s radical and stunning work in A Different Man (55:08), what both of his new films reveal about reality (59:14), and what the silencing of The Apprentice—and his Actors on Actors shutout—reveals about the entertainment industry (1:00:00). To close, a reflection about control and how Sebastian embraces everyday life (1:17:55).

Thoughts or future guest ideas? Email us at sf@talkeasypod.com.

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For the past 50 years, Nikki Giovanni had been one of our preeminent poets. Rest in Peace to the legendary writer and activist, who passed this week at the age of 81.

Today we return to our conversation from 2021, reflecting on how her childhood led to a life of writing (6:28), the enduring impact of a televised conversation with James Baldwin (13:40), the story behind her famous poem, “I Married My Mother” (18:30), and why she doesn't believe in role models (23:43).

On the back-half, we work our way to the present, as Nikki shares her experience of visiting the African American Museum (31:45), the evolution of her poetry (34:32), and how she grappled with two cancer diagnoses (38:25). To close, Nikki reads from her inventive about the author page (43:47).

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