Susie Essman

Of God and Country: Jonathan Alter

Jonathan Alter: author, columnist, pundit, podcaster, filmmaker and lecturer. Jon executive-produced Amazon Prime’s 2013 satirical series ALPHA HOUSE, created by Pulitzer-Prize-winning Doonesbury cartoonist Gary Trudeau, and starred John Goodman. We discuss how religion influenced the founding fathers and why the “separation of church and state” is a controversial American idea, which doesn’t appear in the constitution. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

Killer Mike (Encore)

Scott talks with actor, activist, 4-time Grammy-winning rapper, and half of hip-hop supergroup, Run The Jewels, Killer Mike. In the episode, Mike talks about his admiration for - and friendship with - Civil Rights icon and former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Andrew Young, growing up in the all-Black neighborhood of Atlanta’s Collier Heights, and his musical evolution. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

Susie Essman

Actress and comedian Susie Essman, who played Susie Green on CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM, is poised to reteam with Larry David and an all star cast, including past YE GODS! guest Larry Wilmore, for HBO’s LIFE, LARRY AND THE PURSUIT OF UNHAPPINESS. Susie's 2009 memoir is "WHAT WOULD SUSIE SAY?: BS WISDOM ABOUT LOVE, LIFE AND COMEDY". She and bff Joy Behar appeared on stage together last year in Joy’s off-Broadway play MY FIRST EX HUSBAND. Check out their joint interview on theatermania.com for more on their four-decade friendship. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

Danielle Crittenden

Danielle Crittenden is a journalist and author. Her new book is DISPATCHES FROM GRIEF: A MOTHER’S JOURNEY THROUGH THE UNTHINKABLE. Danielle’s Atlantic article "ON LOSING A DAUGHTER" and husband David Frum’s article "MIRANDA’S LAST GIFT", also for Atlantic, explore their sudden loss of their daughter Miranda at 32, the time they had with her, and how they both processed that loss.  Danielle also recently contributed to THE WALL STREET JOURNAL explaining the role technology has played in her grief experience.  We discuss Danielle’s conversion to Judaism and how it helped her process Miranda’s sudden absence. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

Stephen Mitchell

Stephen Mitchell is an author, editor, and translator of classic and spiritual literature. His 1988 translation into English of the TAO TE CHING by Lao Tzu, and its accompanying audio book have been indispensable guides to millions of seekers.  We discuss how spiritual texts come to be written, the history of the translating and compiling of the Christian gospels, and why Stephen was compelled to untangle Jesus’s teachings for himself. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]