Dunham, the creator of HBO’s GIRLS, says when she was younger, she thought she’d be a "Gender and Women’s Studies teacher who showed movies at the occasional film festival." Instead she's trying to figure out what to wear to shoot the cover of Rolling Stone. Dunham talks with Alec about getting a dog and her first date with her boyfriend Jack Antonoff.  She’s not ready for children—yet—but they are on her mind: “I was raised to think that the two most important things you could do in your life were to have a passionate, generous relationship to your work and to raise children.”

Originally aired January 21, 2013

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Much like the staggering beauty of her voice, Audra McDonald is impossible to ignore. The only artist to sweep all four acting categories at the Tony’s, she’s the most decorated Broadway star of all time. Reviews of her award-winning performances overflow with accolades, describing her stage presence as “spellbinding,” “haunting,” and “genius.” But for the California native, things haven’t always been easy. She talks to Alec about getting into Juilliard, making it on Broadway, and the suicide attempt that helped shape who she is today.

Originally aired July 25, 2017

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When John Dean found his conscience, America found its backbone and impeached a president. The Nixon Administration tried to undermine American democracy during the election of 1972 through now-legendary dirty tricks aimed at their Democrat opponents. They almost got away with it. Dean was Nixon’s White House Counsel, and participated in the cover-up of the Watergate break-in. Then he began cooperating with investigators, and blew the case wide-open. Dean is one of the most complicated and fascinating characters in modern American history. In a frank and funny conversation with Alec Baldwin in front of a live audience, John Dean opens up about how it all went down – and how it could go down now under Trump, who he says shares Nixon's paranoia and authoritarian instincts.

Originally aired December 12, 2017

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Thom Yorke, Radiohead and Atoms for Peace frontman, admits that, even after over 25 years in the business, performing is ?either wicked fun or really awful.? He talks with Alec about his pre-show ritual?"I stand on my head for a bit"?and how he and his bandmates have been able to stick together since they were teenagers.  Originally aired April 1st, 2013

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This year marks the 50th anniversary of ?Saturday Night Live? ? and while many of the ?Not Ready for Prime Time Players? have gone on to achieve remarkable careers, few have had as fascinating a journey as Dan Aykroyd?s. As the youngest member of the 1975 original cast, Aykroyd quickly became known for his iconic sketches, including parodies of Julia Child and Richard Nixon, the beloved ?Two Wild and Crazy Guys,? and the absurd ?Bass-o-Matic.? His sketch ?The Blues Brothers? not only became a cultural touchstone, but evolved into successful feature films and a live musical act. Aykroyd?s talents also extend to behind the camera, as he wrote and starred in the comedy classics ?Dragnet,? ?Coneheads,? ?Spies Like Us? and ?Ghostbusters.? Aykroyd?s career has earned him numerous accolades, including an Emmy Award and Grammy and Academy Award nominations. He is also an entrepreneur and co-founder of the House of Blues music venues and Crystal Head Vodka. In this conversation, host Alec Baldwin speaks with Aykroyd about the early days of ?SNL,? the evolution of his career into music and dramatic roles, and how his upbringing helped shape the creation of ?Ghostbusters.?

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After a whirlwind political season of campaign ads, fundraising texts, and seemingly-endless breaking news?Election Day has finally arrived! To mark the occasion, host Alec Baldwin speaks with Molly Jong-Fast, political analyst for MSNBC, special correspondent for ?Vanity Fair,? and host of the podcast ?Fast Politics with Molly Jong-Fast.? Daughter of celebrated writers Erica Jong and Jonathan Fast, Jong-Fast is also the author of the books ?Normal Girl,? ?Girl [Maladjusted]? and ?The Social Climber?s Handbook.? As a member of the press ? a profession often attacked by Donald Trump ? Jong-Fast has been sounding the alarm about the 45th President?s escalating extremism and authoritarian bent. In this episode, Alec and Jong-Fast discuss Project 2025 and its troubling implications, the effect J.D. Vance has had on the Trump ticket, and her reasons for remaining optimistic about the future. 

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One need not look very far to see that the television landscape has rapidly changed in the last few years, with an influx of new streaming platforms and shifting audience viewing patterns. Another notable upheaval: In 2023, Don Lemon, the Edward R. Murrow and Emmy Award-winning journalist and longtime host of ?CNN Tonight with Don Lemon,? was let go from CNN after seventeen years with the network. Following his exit, Lemon took time for introspection, resulting in his new book, ?I Once Was Lost: My Search for God in America.? The work is a deeply personal exploration of his spiritual journey and the role of religion in the country. It is Lemon?s third book, following ?Transparent? and the #1 New York Times bestseller ?This Is The Fire: What I Say to My Friends About Racism.? Earlier this year, the anchor launched his new endeavor, ?The Don Lemon Show,? on YouTube and podcast platforms. Host Alec Baldwin speaks with Don Lemon about the shakeup at CNN, the role of his faith in trying times and the importance of the press and the First Amendment in a free society.

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Last month, the Great White Way lost one of its brightest stars: Ken Page. In tribute to the beloved actor, singer and Drama Desk Award Winner, ?Here?s the Thing? is sharing Alec Baldwin?s 2021 conversation with the Broadway legend. Page was known for his standout roles in the 1976 all-Black revival of ?Guys and Dolls? and the original casts of ?The Wiz? and ?Ain?t Misbehavin?.? However, one of Page?s most iconic performances was in the film ?The Nightmare Before Christmas? as Oogie Boogie. This episode also features musical theater royalty Betty Buckley, who, like Page, grew up dreaming of performing on Broadway. Both starred in the original Broadway production of ?Cats? ? Page as Old Deuteronomy and Buckley in her Tony-Award winning role as Grizabella. Together, these two pioneers helped redefine and transform musical theater over the past several decades. 

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It has been found at the top of Mount Everest, the bottom of the ocean, and even inside the human body: plastic, once revered as a modern miracle, is now a global threat. Minimally recycled, it never fully disappears; instead, it simply breaks down into tiny particles called microplastics, which contaminate the air we breathe and the water we drink. In ?A Poison Like No Other: How Microplastics Corrupted Our Planet and Our Bodies,? science journalist Matt Simon exposes the far-reaching consequences of this omnipresent material on both our environment and our health. Simon, formerly a staff writer at ?WIRED? and now a senior staff writer at Grist, a non-profit media organization focused on climate solutions, joins host Alec Baldwin to discuss the alarming impact of plastic pollution, ways to reduce personal exposure, and the urgent solution he believes is needed to tackle this environmental crisis. 

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There exists a staggering amount of misinformation and disinformation surrounding climate change, clouding our understanding of its causes and potential solutions. Naomi Oreskes, renowned earth scientist, historian and public speaker, is able to shatter the misconceptions and uncover the fundamental truth of the matter. She is the Henry Charles Lea Professor of the History of Science and Affiliated Professor of Earth and Planetary Sciences at Harvard University. She is also the co-author, with Erik M. Conway, of ?Merchants of Doubt: How a Handful of Scientists Obscured the Truth on Issues from Tobacco Smoke to Global Warming,? and most recently, ?The Big Myth: How American Business Taught Us to Loathe Government and Love the Free Market.? Naomi Oreskes speaks with host Alec Baldwin about the fossil fuel industry?s propaganda campaign against climate action, the myths surrounding green jobs and the economy, and who bears the responsibility to fix this critical issue. 

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Documentary filmmaker John Scheinfeld is a writer, producer and director whose films cover everything from pop culture to politics and sports to religion. His projects dig deep on fascinating topics like Watergate and the Chicago Cubs ? as well as an endless roster of talented people like Frank Sinatra, Rosemary Clooney, John Coltrane, Peter Sellers, Bette Midler and John Lennon. His most recent projects include the documentaries ?What the Hell Happened to Blood, Sweat and Tears?,? about the classic rock band and their involvement with the U.S. State Department and ?Reinventing Elvis: The ?68 Comeback,? on the television special that revived the King?s career. The Emmy- and Grammy-nominee believes he is lucky enough to have the greatest job, going to ?interesting places to talk to interesting people about interesting things.? Host Alec Baldwin speaks with Scheinfeld about how he chooses his projects, how he makes his subjects come alive on film and what it was like working with Yoko Ono. 

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It?s time for the final episode in our Summer Staff Picks series, highlighting our favorite conversations from the Here?s The Thing archives. This week, we revisit Alec Baldwin?s 2013 conversation with ?The First Lady of Broadway,? Elaine Stritch. Alec sat down with the late stage and screen veteran who, among many famous roles, played his mother Colleen Donaghy on ?30 Rock.? Stritch spoke to Alec about her transition from the Sacred Heart Convent and finishing school to finding herself in New York theater classes sitting between Walter Matthau and Marlon Brando. She performed for nearly 70 years ? and of her extraordinary career, Stritch comments, "I was the funny, kind of offbeat girl. I was never the romantic lead.? This wide-ranging conversation with the witty and outspoken legend touches on everything from her time on the ?30 Rock? set to Stritch?s famous cabaret act at the Carlyle Hotel. 

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Our Here?s the Thing Summer Staff Picks series continues, featuring our favorite episodes from the archives. This week, we revisit Alec Baldwin?s 2022 conversation with Rory Kennedy, documentary filmmaker and the youngest child of Ethel and Robert F. Kennedy. She is an Academy Award-nominated, Emmy Award-winning director and producer who has made more than 40 acclaimed documentaries. Her work confronts complicated subjects like poverty, corruption, domestic abuse, addiction and human rights, as well as surfing legends, NASA and the extraordinary life of her mother. Her 2022 film, ?Downfall: The Case Against Boeing,? on the two tragic Boeing 737 Max passenger jet crashes, has become all the more prescient following the recent news regarding the company?s continuing plane malfunctions.

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We are continuing our summer tradition at Here?s The Thing, where members of the staff select their favorite interviews from the archives. This week, we revisit Alec Baldwin?s 2021 conversation with actress and activist Marlo Thomas, who has been breaking barriers for women for more than five decades. She first became a household name as Ann-Marie, the lead in the television show ?That Girl,? a woman who, in the late 60s, wanted a career more than a family. An outspoken feminist, Marlo then launched ?Free to Be...You and Me,? which was first an album, then a book, and eventually, an Emmy- and Peabody-award-winning TV show for children that challenged gender norms and became a touchstone for a generation of feminists. Her best-selling books include a memoir about growing up an adored daughter of TV star Danny Thomas. In 2020, she released a book, ?What Makes a Marriage Last: 40 Celebrated Couples Share with Us the Secrets to a Happy Life,? and a podcast, ?Double Date,? with her late husband Phil Donahue. All in all, quite a life for That Girl.

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Our staff picks continue at Here?s The Thing, where throughout the summer, members of our team select their favorite interviews from the archives. This week, we revisit Alec?s 2021 interview with actress Marilu Henner. The Golden-Globe winner is known for a lot of things, from her groundbreaking role as Elaine Nardo on Taxi to her New York Times bestselling books on health and wellness to her amazing, nearly one-of-a-kind memory. But what shines through in every story, joke, and answer she gives Alec is her positivity and joy. Henner is someone who, at every turn, has chosen her happiness, and she?s eager to share her secrets for creating an optimistic outlook with everyone. 

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It?s time for our summer tradition at Here?s the Thing, where staff members choose their favorite conversations from the archives in our Summer Staff Picks series. This week, we revisit Alec Baldwin?s 2023 interview with documentary filmmaker James Jones, who tells the unbelievable story of CEO-turned-fugitive Carlos Ghosn in ?Wanted: The Escape of Carlos Ghosn.? In 2018, the former auto executive of Nissan and Renault was arrested in Japan on charges of financial misconduct. He escaped prosecution by being smuggled out of the country?in a box. Jones, director of the BAFTA-winning ?Chernobyl: The Last Tapes,? explores questions surrounding CEO excess and a potential corporate takedown in this 2023 Apple TV+ series. Alec Baldwin speaks with Jones about getting Ghosn to be interviewed for the series, the people who suffered collateral damage and if Ghosn, now residing in Lebanon, will ever be held accountable.  And in an additional recent interview, Alec speaks with Michael Taylor, the Green Beret who coordinated Ghosn?s escape, about how he became involved in the plot, what it was like for him serving time in a Japanese prison for his role in the affair and if he and Ghosn ever crossed paths following his release. 

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Actor and comedian Jack McBrayer is known for his cheerful demeanor, captivating Southern charm and impeccable comedic timing. The Georgia native honed his improv skills at the famed Second City in Chicago before gaining national exposure for his portrayal of various characters on ?Late Night with Conan O'Brien.? He then landed the role of a lifetime: the earnest and eccentric NBC page Kenneth Parcell on the hit television series "30 Rock." His iconic performance earned him an Emmy nomination and a Screen Actors Guild Award. McBrayer has also voiced countless animated characters and created, produced and starred in the Apple TV+ series, ?Hello Jack! The Kindness Show.? His latest venture is HGTV?s ?Zillow Gone Wild,? which explores some of the most unusual, extravagant, and quirky homes listed on the real estate website ? and which premiered this past May. Jack McBrayer shares with host Alec Baldwin why he enjoys working with ensembles, what it was like filming their last scene together and how he was once mistaken for a real NBC page by none other than Elaine Stritch on the ?30 Rock? set. And before signing off, Jack and Alec are joined by a surprise special guest!

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Internationally renowned composer and conductor Leonard Slatkin believes that the arts have the power to transform us ? and his life and body of work exemplify this belief. Slatkin has served as the Music Director of the St. Louis, Detroit, New Orleans, National and Lyon Symphony Orchestras, Chief Conductor of the BBC Symphony Orchestra in London, and Principal Guest Conductor of countless others. Raised in a musical household, he is the son of violinist, conductor and film composer Felix Slatkin and Eleanor Aller, first chair cellist at Warner Brothers Studios. Both were members of the Hollywood String Quartet and contributed to some of the great film scores of old Hollywood. As a result, Stalkin was surrounded by music from an early age - learning several instruments while young and attending The Juilliard School. He went on to build an impressive career, including six Grammy wins and the National Medal of the Arts. Slatkin is the author of several books on music and conducting, most recently ?Eight Symphonic Masterworks of the Twentieth Century - A Study Guide for Conductors.? He also served as host of the weekly radio programs ?The Slatkin Project? and ?The Slatkin Shuffle.? Leonard Slatkin shares with host Alec Baldwin what it was like growing up surrounded by icons like Marilyn Monroe and Frank Sinatra in his home, discusses how he contributes to an orchestra as its Music Director and reflects on what it means to be part of a musical dynasty.

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While it may have taken a few detours for Jonathan Tetelman to become the opera star he is today, the journey has been well worth it. Tetelman initially found success with his voice quite young, singing in the American Boychoir School and recording with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Yet following years of vocal study, Tetelman stepped away from the arias to become a nightclub DJ in New York City. It was only upon realizing that opera was indeed his passion that Tetelman returned to the genre and found incredible success in the great music halls and houses across the globe. Tetelman now captivates audiences with performances in Madama Butterfly, Carmen, and La Bohéme ? and with his albums ?Arias? and ?The Great Puccini.? Jonathan Tetelman speaks with host Alec Baldwin about the challenging transition from baritone to tenor, the work he puts in behind-the-scenes to understand his characters and how he navigates the physical demands of his career.

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It takes a strong voice to cut through the noise of today?s bitter bipartisan debate ? and lawyer and activist George Conway does just that. The outspoken Trump critic co-founded The Lincoln Project, a super PAC whose core mission is to defeat the 45th President, while married to Trump Campaign Manager and White House Senior Counselor Kellyanne Conway. Today, the conservative commentator is a contributing writer to ?The Atlantic,? host of the podcast ?George Conway Explains It All (to Sarah Longwell)? and Board President of the Society of the Rule of Law. George Conway talks to host Alec Baldwin about how he formed his Republican values, his thoughts on the latest Supreme Court disclosures and how he predicts Democrats can defeat Trump at the ballot box this November. 

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While many people have their theories surrounding the assassination of President John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1663, few can claim to have proof that the government has not been fully transparent about the events in Dallas, Texas. Douglas Horne, a former U.S. Naval officer, worked on the staff of the JFK Assassination Records Review Board (ARRB) in Washington, D.C. from 1995 to 1998. While working for ARRB, Horne was a key participant in taking the depositions of 10 witnesses and participants of the JFK autopsy in 1963. Horne claims to have seen proof that the official JFK autopsy ? and the infamous Zapruder film, which captured the assassination live ? were both doctored. Horne speaks with host Alec Baldwin about the formation of the review board, the testimony he witnessed and why he feels the truth continues to be concealed today.

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Coming from a challenging, working class upbringing in the United Kingdom, Steve Jones discovered his outlet in music - as founding guitarist of the groundbreaking punk rock band the Sex Pistols. Despite the release of only one album,?Never Mind the Bollocks, Here?s the Sex Pistols,? the band changed the course of music and history - vocalizing issues of class in songs like ?Anarchy in the U.K.? ? and influencing fashion, art and society. Since then, Jones has continued to play music (both solo and with bands The Professionals and Neurotic Outsiders) and was the host of the popular, long-running radio show, ?Jonesy?s Jukebox.? In 2022, his insightful memoir, ?Lonely Boy,? was adapted into the FX television series, the Danny Boyle-directed ?Pistol.? Steve Jones talks to host Alec Baldwin about the roots of punk rock, coming up alongside Vivienne Westwood and Chrissie Hynde, and the road to getting clean ? and beginning life anew.

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Alec Baldwin joins Paul and Skip on the Our Way podcast to discuss his storied acting career, spanning 'The Hunt for Red October' to his record-breaking stint on 'SNL,' '30 Rock' and beyond. Alec offers the guys an impromptu lesson on method acting, explains why he was reluctant to do his iconic monologue in ?Glengarry Glen Ross? and how his instant-classic Trump impression impacted his view on the ex-President. Baldwin also reflects on the time he called Paul McCartney an ?A-hole? in a yoga class, how he wound up as the first guest on ?Inside the Actors Studio,? and his 39 years of hard-won sobriety. Listen to Our Way with Paul Anka & Skip Bronson on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcasts. https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-our-way-with-paul-anka-an-145803075/

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Born a gifted athlete, life almost took James Naughton down another path?until he found his home in the theater. The actor earned his first Tony for the musical City of Angels ? and his second as the originator of the role of Billy Flynn in the hit Broadway revival of the musical Chicago, now the second-longest running show in Broadway history. As a director, he helmed the Tony-nominated Arthur Miller?s ?The Price? and Thorton Wilder?s ?Our Town,? the latter of which was featured on PBS? Masterpiece Theater. Naughton also regularly brings his talent to the small screen, like in his roles on ?Who?s the Boss?,""Ally McBeal,? and ?Gossip Girl,? and in films ?The Devil Wears Prada? and ?The First Wives Club.? James Naughton shares with host Alec Baldwin his experience directing - and being directed by - his good friend Paul Newman, acting at the famous Williamstown Theater with an all-star ensemble, and how he?s working to enact change through legislation today. 

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There is bouncing back after adversity, and then there is: Vanessa Williams. The talented multi-hyphenate was only 21 years old when she became the first Black woman to be crowned Miss America. Yet a controversy surrounding the release of unauthorized nude photos led to her ultimately relinquishing her title 10 months into her reign. When doors were closed to her following the scandal, she fought her way back to an impressive and decorated career: Williams built decades of success as an actor and recording artist, selling 25 million records worldwide, starring in over 100 roles in television, film, and on Broadway - and being nominated for a Tony and multiple Emmy and Grammy Awards.  Vanessa Williams speaks with host Alec Baldwin about the death threats she received after she won Miss America, how the work of Stephen Sondheim inspires the type of art she wishes to make, and what it?s like working with Elton John on her next big project. 

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Many of us are aware that a steady diet of candy, cookies and soda isn?t the best thing for our health, but few know just how dangerous these products can be. Physician and public health expert Dr. Dean Schillinger has witnessed the ?absolute explosion? of Type 2 Diabetes in America. Dr. Schillinger is founder of the University of California San Francisco Center for Vulnerable Populations, Professor of Medicine in Residence at UCSF and was featured in the PBS documentary on diabetes, ?Blood Sugar Rising.? He believes that sweeping legislative and societal changes are necessary to reverse the ravaging effects of this disease. Dr. Schillinger shares with host Alec Baldwin how corporations knowingly fuel our addiction to sugar, why the disease disproportionately affects vulnerable populations and the most important change you can make to help fight diabetes.

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The sound of the band Heart is unmistakable: powerful guitar riffs, intricate melodies and soaring vocals. Since 1975, the group fused hard rock, pop and folk to produce 20 Top 40 hits, earn four Grammy nominations and sell over 35 million records. They also made rock history as the first female-fronted hard rock band ? and one of the longest lasting and most commercially successful bands of all time. Now, they are heading out on a world tour.  In this two-part episode, host Alec Baldwin speaks with the two women at the beating center of the band, sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson. In this episode, Alec talks with lead vocalist Ann Wilson about how she discovered she had ?the voice,? what it was like coming up as a young woman in the music industry in the 70s, and how Heart managed to produce a sound that was both hard and soft, being anything it wanted to be.

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Since their debut album in 1975, the band Heart has been unstoppable. With sisters Ann Wilson on lead vocals and Nancy Wilson on guitar and vocals, Heart made history as the first female-led hard rock band. They dominated the charts for decades, producing 20 Top 40 hits like ?Barracuda,? ?Alone,? and ?These Dreams,? earning four Grammy nominations and selling over 35 million records. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductees also have the honor of being one of the longest-lasting and most commercially successful bands of all time. This April, they are heading out on a world tour. In this two-part episode, host Alec Baldwin speaks with the two women at the beating center of the band, sisters Nancy and Ann Wilson. In this episode, Alec talks with Nancy Wilson about how she got her start on the guitar at the age of 9, how she transitioned into composing film scores and why the guitar is her best friend.

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Single-handedly redefining the term ?character actor,? the accomplished Richard Kind is surely one of the hardest working people in show business. His resume is unfathomably wide and deep, with over 270 film and television credits, spanning roles that exploit his killer comedic timing, like sitcoms ?Spin City? and ?Curb Your Enthusiasm,? and those that exercise his dramatic chops, like HBO?s ?Luck? and the CBS procedural ?East New York.? He?s an actor just as likely to appear in an Oscar-winning feature film as an animated one, to scene-steal a sketch comedy series as to star in an indie short. Kind is also a Tony-nominated stage actor, having appeared on Broadway in ?The Producers,? ?Funny Girl? and ?The Big Knife,? among many others. Richard Kind speaks with host Alec Baldwin about the type of comedians that raised him, how he found his way to the profession after almost attending law school ? and why he believes he is the ?Costco of acting,?

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On February 16th, it was announced that Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny had died in prison. The Vladimir Putin critic had been in Russian captivity on charges of embezzlement and extremism ? and had recently been transferred to a remote penal colony in the Arctic Circle, where Russian authorities claimed the 47-year old died from ?sudden death syndrome.? In the wake of the tragic news, world leaders directly blamed Putin for Navalny?s death. In 2022, Alec Baldwin spoke with Daniel Roher, the director of the Academy-Award-winning documentary, ?Navalny,? which follows the activist in the wake of his 2020 poisoning as he works to uncover those responsible for the assassination attempt against him, before voluntarily returning to Russia. Roher and his collaborator in the film, investigative journalist Christo Grozev, spoke with Alec Baldwin about Navalny?s bravery, why poison is the Kremlin?s weapon of choice and the final moments they spent with Navalny before his heroic return to Russia.

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Chunks of ice making a path across the surface of a river, streaks of pink and orange clouds blocked out against the sky, trees framing a darkened road as if in a ghost story?in the hands of photographer Carolyn Marks Blackwood, nature becomes an abstract work of art. New York?s Hudson Valley is Blackwood?s backyard and her inspiration, where she captures the micro and macro moments of nature?s constant changes ? and the details we so often miss. Blackwood is also a screenwriter and producer, bringing to life films like ?Philomena? and ?The Duchess.? She speaks with host Alec Baldwin about how photography is an act of ?flying by the seat of my pants,? about her time as a jazz singer in New York City, and how she found her way to her many artistic pursuits.  

Carolyn Marks Blackwood?s work can be found here.

The James Paul Cheung scarves made from Blackwood?s photographs can be found here.

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He?s worked as the personal chef for French President Charles de Gaulle, co-hosted a television series with Julia Child and has authored over 30 cookbooks. There?s simply no one in the world like French chef ? and culinary icon ? Jacques Pépin.  The Emmy- and James Beard Foundation Award winner worked in more than 100 restaurants before becoming the Director of Research and Development for Howard Johnson?s. He then transitioned to educating the public in proper French cooking methods through his groundbreaking cookbooks like ?La Technique? and his latest, ?Jacques Pépin Cooking My Way: Recipes and Techniques for Economical Cooking;? as well as through his numerous television series like ?Today?s Gourmet? and ?Every Day Cooking.? He is also the co-founder of the culinary certificate program at Boston University and founder of The Jacques Pépin Foundation, which teaches underserved populations a path to employment through cooking. Alec speaks with Chef Pépin about how his family?s work in restaurants influenced his path, why he?s made the pivots he has throughout his career, and what a revered chef likes to eat in his downtime. 

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It?s time for the premiere of our fourth season of ?Here?s the Thing with Alec Baldwin? at iHeartRadio. Our first episode features the woman behind what TV Guide called ?the most famous soap opera character in the history of daytime TV.?  Actor Susan Lucci inhabited the role of bad girl Erica Kane on ABC?s ?All My Children? for four decades, from the show?s inception in 1970 until 2011. She earned the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress for the role in 1999 after nineteen nominations ? and in December 2023, received the Daytime Emmy Lifetime Achievement Award. Lucci?s body of work also includes numerous television series, films and the Broadway stage. She is the author of All my Life: A Memoir and is a National Spokesperson for the American Heart Association. Susan Lucci talks with host Alec Baldwin about how she played a role that evolved over decades, how she realized a lifelong dream of performing on Broadway, and her thoughts on the rumors of a potential reboot of the beloved soap.  

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Join award-winning actor Alec Baldwin in conversation with some of the most dynamic artists, policymakers, and performers working today. This season, Alec speaks with actor Susan Lucci about portraying her iconic character Erica Kane for four decades, chef Jaques Pépin on his passion for sharing the joy of cooking, and public health advocate Dr. Dean Schillinger on the diabetes epidemic and what can be done about it, just to name a few. If you like listening as much as Alec likes talking with interesting people, subscribe now and never miss an episode. The new season begins January 23rd.

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As we prepare to launch our fourth season at iHeartRadio, we?re revisiting some of host Alec Baldwin?s favorite episodes from the archives. In this episode, Alec digs into the minds behind the processing of the 1.3 billion gallons of wastewater, 16 million pounds of trash and eight million pounds of recyclables that New York City produces every day. Pam Elardo is the former Deputy Commissioner of New York City's Department of Environmental Protection, leading the city's Bureau of Wastewater Treatment. Ron Gonen was New York City's first "Recycling Czar" and now thinks about the problems of waste-management from the perspective of a businessman: he's the CEO of a major investment fund looking for the Next Big Idea in recycling. Pam and Ron walk Alec through what happens from the moment people flush the toilet or toss out their coffee-cup -- and they talk about the big-picture environmental impact of our choices. And since this is Here's the Thing, Alec also learns the incredible life stories each one brings to the job -- from Pam's persistence in the face of the sexism that discouraged women engineers of her generation, to Ron's luck stumbling into the home of a prominent environmentalist while doing housework to make ends meet for his family as a kid.

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As we prepare to launch our fourth season at iHeartRadio, we?re revisiting some of host Alec Baldwin?s favorite episodes from the archives. In this episode, Alec speaks with actress, singer and Broadway star Audra McDonald. Much like the staggering beauty of her voice, Audra McDonald is impossible to ignore. The only artist to sweep all four acting categories at the Tony?s, she?s the most decorated Broadway star of all time. Reviews of her award-winning performances overflow with accolades, describing her stage presence as ?spellbinding,? ?haunting,? and ?genius.? But for the California native, things haven?t always been easy. In this 2017 conversation, McDonald talks to Alec about getting into Juilliard, making it on Broadway, and the suicide attempt that helped shape who she is today.

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As we prepare to launch our fourth season at iHeartRadio, we?re revisiting some of host Alec Baldwin?s favorite episodes from the archives. In this episode, Alec speaks with actor Dustin Hoffman. ?The Graduate,? ?Midnight Cowboy,? and ?Lenny? were just the beginning of Dustin Hoffman's legendary Hollywood career. Over the last five decades, he's stretched and contorted himself into dozens of defining roles, earning recognition as one of the most talented actors in cinema history. In this 2015 conversation, Hoffman tells Alec that he savors each new opportunity like it's the first, and recalls his salad days when he was mis-cast, underestimated, and, on at least one notable occasion, sick on a co-star's shoe. 

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As we prepare to launch our fourth season at iHeartRadio, we?re revisiting some of host Alec Baldwin?s favorite episodes from the archives. In this episode, Alec speaks with the late David Crosby. Some combination of Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young played together for 50 years ? until 2016. The group even survived Crosby's near-total dissolution under the influence of cocaine and heroin. That was a brush with death that left him in need of a liver transplant and a new approach to life. His newfound joy is clear in this 2018 exuberant conversation with Alec. Crosby's childlike gratitude for his sixty years in music is palpable, but he is candid about the struggles, too: from wrestling with Roger McGuinn over control of The Byrds, to the terrifying culmination of the 2016 breakup of Crosby, Stills, and Nash.

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As we prepare to launch our fourth season at iHeartRadio, we?re revisiting some of host Alec Baldwin?s favorite episodes from the archives. In advance of the release of the film ?Maestro? ? directed by and starring Bradley Cooper ? we?re sharing Alec?s interview with two of Leonard Bernstein?s three children. Alec speaks with Jamie and Alexander Bernstein about life growing up with the world-famous conductor and composer. While they knew him in the tux and tails, they also knew him as the dad who loved games ? he was a killer at anagrams ? and was always up for tennis, squash, skiing, or touch football. The two talk about listening to music ? Jamie says she learned ?more about music by listening to The Beatles with my dad than I think I did any other way?? and how their father's relationship to fame evolved during his lifetime. Alex remembers his dad saying, ?I?m so sick of Leonard Bernstein. I've had it with him."

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Melissa DeRosa was the most powerful unelected person in New York State in her position as Secretary to the Governor. She resigned following the Attorney General?s investigation into sexual harassment allegations against Gov. Andrew Cuomo in 2021. Now, her book, "What's Left Unsaid: My Life at the Center of Power, Politics & Crisis? reveals her side of the story and includes intimate details of the dramatic events as they unfolded. She shares an unflinching look at her career, the state?s pandemic response and the workings of Cuomo?s inner circle as they attempted to navigate the scandal. DeRosa speaks with Alec Baldwin about what first attracted her to public service, the effect her career has had on her personal life and what she believes was a political takedown of her former boss. 

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Singer-songwriter Rosanne Cash celebrates the 30th Anniversary of her landmark album ?The Wheel? with the release of a remastered version on her new label, RumbleStrip Records. The daughter of legend Johnny Cash, Rosanne Cash began her career singing backup for her father, but soon made her own indelible mark on the music world, with 11 number one country songs, two gold records and four Grammys. She?s also an essayist and author of four books, including her best-selling memoir, ?Composed.? Cash speaks with Alec Baldwin about starting out as a young woman in the industry in the 70s, how she reclaimed her family?s story through writing and how to remain faithful to herself in her work.

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Documentary filmmaker James Jones tells the unbelievable story of CEO-turned-fugitive Carlos Ghosn in ?Wanted: The Escape of Carlos Ghosn.? In 2018, the former auto executive of Nissan and Renault was arrested in Japan on charges of financial misconduct. He then escaped prosecution by being smuggled out of the country?in a box. Jones, director of the BAFTA-winning ?Chernobyl: The Last Tapes,? explores questions surrounding CEO excess and a potential corporate takedown in this four-part Apple TV+ series. Alec Baldwin speaks with James Jones about getting Ghosn to be interviewed for the series, the people who suffered collateral damage and if Ghosn, now residing in Lebanon, will ever be held accountable.  

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With as many as a million plant and animal species expected to vanish by 2050, the time is now to intervene and reverse the tide?before it is too late. Andrea Crosta is the founder of the non-profit Earth League International, an ?Intelligence agency for Earth,? which protects wildlife, oceans, and forests through intelligence-gathering, research and investigative operations. ELI collaborates with governmental agencies and helps bring down illegal wildlife traffickers, their networks, and those engaged in the ?criminal exploitation of nature.? Their work has resulted in the arrest of a jaguar-fang ring in Bolivia and helping the Mexican government pursue the ?Cartel of the Sea,? which trafficks sea cucumbers and totoaba. Alec Baldwin speaks with Andrea Crosta about the experiences that led him to this work, what it?s like meeting wildlife traffickers face to face, and why we are in a ?now or never? moment for our ecosystem.

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Publishing powerhouse Michael Wolff is the bestselling author of the definitive trilogy on the Trump White House: ?Fire and Fury,? ?Siege,? and ?Landslide.? He also has served as a columnist for New York magazine, Vanity Fair, British GQ, the Guardian and the Hollywood Reporter ? and is the recipient of two National Magazine Awards. Wolff?s most recent release, ?The Fall: The End of Fox News and the Murdoch Dynasty,? follows up his biography of Rupert Murdoch, ?The Man Who Owns the News,? with further insight into the media mogul and the behind-the-scenes machinations of the cable news network, positing that the end of its influential era may be near. Michael Wolff joins Alec Baldwin for a live event at Town Hall in New York City to discuss his latest book, his writing process, and the state of journalism today. 

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Alec Baldwin speaks with two genius musicians whose artistry has contributed to some of the most memorable songs of the sixties, seventies and eighties, leaving an indelible mark on the music world. Steve Gadd, one of the most influential drummers of all time, is known for bridging jazz, rock, and blues. He has been a studio musician for countless artists from Carly Simon to Aretha Franklin ? and tours with musicians like Eric Clapton, James Taylor, Joe Cocker, as well as with his own outfit, The Steve Gadd Band. His artistry can be found on Paul Simon?s ?50 Ways To Leave Your Lover? and Steely Dan?s ?Aja.? Larry Carlton is a four-time Grammy winning jazz and rock guitarist who became famous for his work as a studio musician in the 1970s and 1980s. He has played in over 3,000 studio sessions with artists like Joni Mitchell, Steely Dan, Michael Jackson, Dolly Parton and many others. Rolling Stone named his contribution to Steely Dan?s ?Kid Charlemagne? one of the best guitar solos in rock music. Carlton is also renowned for his solo work and as a member of the jazz group The Crusaders and the smooth jazz band Fourplay.

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Photojournalist Brian Hamill is known for his still photographs from movie sets and portraits of rock and roll legends, athletes, celebrities, and politicians. Everyone from Muhammad Ali to Frank Sinatra to Barbara Streisand has been the subject of his lens over the course of his five decades of work. The life-long New Yorker has captured some of the most iconic photos of John Lennon and Yoko Ono, which were recently compiled into his 2022 book, ?Dream Lovers: John and Yoko in NYC.? His work on set spans more than 75 motion pictures, including unforgettable films like ?Annie Hall,? ?Raging Bull,? ?Big,? ?Tootsie,? and ?You?ve Got Mail.? Hamill?s photojournalism experience extends to capturing moments of strife and conflict, including the 1994 Northridge Earthquake and ?The Troubles? in 1970s Northern Ireland. Alec Baldwin speaks to Hamill about growing up in Brooklyn as the child of Irish immigrants, his behind-the-scenes experiences on the world?s most memorable movie sets, and the backstory that led to taking John Lennon?s portrait. 

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As the writers? and actors' strike in Hollywood stretches into the fall, many have called this moment ?existential.? After negotiations with AMPTP, the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, broke down, SAG-AFTRA and WGA members took to picket lines over dwindling wages and the use of artificial intelligence, which may change the entertainment industry forever. Writer, director, and producer Justine Bateman is one guild member warning of A.I.'s potentially devastating influence. Following her roles in Family Ties and Satisfaction, among many others, Bateman transitioned to working behind the scenes as a filmmaker and author. She earned her Computer Science and Digital Media Management degree from UCLA in 2016, which has become all the more relevant facing the rise of A.I. Bateman speaks with Alec Baldwin about the threat A.I. poses to the entire entertainment industry, how the business has changed since she first started in it, and what drives her creative work.

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It?s time for the final episode in our Summer Staff Picks series, highlighting favorite conversations from the Here?s The Thing archives. This week, we revisit Alec Baldwin?s conversation with Andrew Berman. He has been called one of the most powerful people in New York real estate, but not because he's a deep-pocketed developer. Berman is the Executive Director of Village Preservation, where he advocates for the protection and conservation of historically important buildings and sites in Greenwich Village, the East Village and NoHo, including the cultural touchstone The Stonewall Inn. Alec first spoke with Berman in 2015 regarding his background and what led him to this field, how the changing zoning laws affect his work, and his wish for the city?s future. Berman joined Alec again earlier this summer for an update on his work since last they spoke, including the recent wins that Village Preservation has achieved, the ways the city has changed since covid and the challenges involved in solving the city?s affordable housing crisis.

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Our summer tradition at Here?s the Thing continues, as staff members choose their favorite conversations from the archives for our Summer Staff Pick series. This week, we revisit Alec?s 2021 interview with Mick Fleetwood, drummer and founding member of Fleetwood Mac, one of the most successful rock bands of all time and creators of enduring hits like ?Landslide,? ?Dreams,? and ?Don?t Stop.? Fleetwood talks to Alec about how his dyslexia led him to drumming, how supportive parents encouraged his talent and his move to London as a teenager, how his friendship with the band?s founder, guitarist Peter Green, evolved to a life-long friendship, and how Fleetwood Mac balanced the weight of their interpersonal dynamics and the band?s wild, over-the-top success. 

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Making recent headlines is the arrest in a cold case over a decade-old, the Long Island Serial Killer. From 2010 to 2012, the remains of 11 bodies were found on or near Gilgo Beach on the east end of Long Island, New York. In July of 2023, authorities arrested Rex Heuermann, a 59-year old architect charged with the murder of three women in the case ? and named as a prime suspect in a fourth, based on phone records and DNA evidence. True crime documentary and podcast producers Billy Jensen and Alexis Linkletter were on the hunt long before these recent developments. Their 2021 podcast,?Unraveled: Long Island Serial Killer,'' uncovers a web of corruption and cover-ups perpetuated by the Suffolk County Police Department that enabled the investigation to go unresolved for so long. Alec speaks with Jensen and Linkletter about their findings, what the recent discoveries reveal ? and what questions still remain. 

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