Here's The Thing with Alec Baldwin

From the Archives: Jacques Pépin

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.    Originally aired February 6th, 2024. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Melissa Errico: From Sondheim to Legrand and the Great American Songbook

Melissa Errico is a Tony-nominated actress, singer, recording artist, and writer. She is known for her iconic Broadway musical roles such as Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady and the title role in One Touch of Venus. She is also recognized from her roles on TV series such as Billions, The Jim Gaffigan Show, Blue Bloods, The Good Wife, Law & Order, A Gifted Man, Ed, and Miss Match opposite Alicia Silverstone. In addition to her work on stage and screen, Errico is highly regarded for her recordings of musical theater classics, including albums of songs by Stephen Sondheim and Michel Legrand. Her 2018 album “Sondheim Sublime” was described by the Wall Street Journal as “the best all-Sondheim album ever recorded”. In a review for her 2024 album “Sondheim in the City”, the New York Times described Errio as “one of Sondheim's deepest-hearted yet lightest-touch interpreters.” Errico’s interpretation of Legrand’s music is equally highly praised, so much so that she was asked to write his eulogy for the Times and was the only American singer invited to perform at Legrand’s memorial at Le Grand Rex in Paris. In recent years, Errico has become a contributing writer to The New York Times and served on the National Endowment for the Arts. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

From the Archives: Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey

Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey are the New York Times reporters who broke the Harvey Weinstein story. For five months -- perpetually in danger of losing the scoop -- they cultivated and cajoled sources ranging from the Weinsteins’ accountant to Ashley Judd. The article that emerged on October 5th, 2017, was a level-headed and impeccably sourced exposé, whose effects continue to be felt around the world. Their conversation with Alec covers their reporting process, and moves on to a joint wrestling with Alec’s own early knowledge of one of the Weinstein allegations, and his ongoing friendship with accused harasser James Toback. The guests ask Alec questions about the movie industry’s ethics about sex and “the casting couch.” Over a respectful and surprising half-hour, host and guests together talk through the many dilemmas posed by the #MeToo movement that Kantor and Twohey did so much to unleash. Originally aired January 21st, 2020. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Amanda Litman on Next Gen Leadership

Amanda Litman is an author, digital strategist, and the co-founder and president of “Run For Something” - an organization which recruits and supports young, diverse progressive candidates. Since launching in 2017, Run For Something has helped to elect more than 1,500 leaders across 49 states- primarily women and people of color. Outspoken against “bad boomer leadership” and a “boomer mentality” in politics, Litman is also president of RFS Civics -  a 501c3 that works to end the gerontocracy. Shortly after launching Run for Something, Amanda wrote the book Run for Something: A Real-Talk Guide to Fixing the System Yourself and has recently published her latest book, When We’re in Charge: The Next Generation’s Guide to Leadership in May 2025. Litman cites Barack Obama as her inspiration to work in politics and started her career as an email writer for his 2012 re-election campaign. From there, Litman worked as a digital strategist for Hilary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign, Charlie Crist's 2014 Florida gubernatorial campaign, and served as the deputy email director for Organizing for Action. Litman is a strong advocate for a new style of “next gen” leadership and setting a new standard for this upcoming generation of leaders. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Academy Award Winner Morgan Neville Captures Lorne Michaels

Morgan Neville is an Academy Award-winning filmmaker whose work has captured some of the most iconic figures in American music, film, and television. Neville’s 2013 film “20 Feet from Stardom” won the Oscar for best documentary feature. A few years later, his 2018 film about Fred Rogers, “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” became the highest-grossing biographical documentary of all time. Neville has directed films about subjects ranging from Keith Richards to Anthony Bourdain, from Orson Welles to Steve Martin, and Paul McCartney. In addition to his Academy Award, Neville has earned a Grammy, an Emmy, and a Peabody award for his work. A native of Southern California, Neville studied colonial American history at the University of Pennsylvania. He began his career as a journalist and later founded his film company, Tremolo Productions, in 1999. Neville's most recent film “Lorne” profiles the creator of Saturday Night Live. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.