The Omaha-born filmmaker known for dramedies including 'Election,' 'About Schmidt,' 'Sideways,' 'The Descendants' and 'Nebraska' reflects on his differing feelings about writing and directing, the ways in which he casts A-listers and extras and reuniting with Paul Giamatti 19 years after their prior collaboration on his latest film, about three people who begrudgingly spend the 1970 Christmas break together at a New England boarding school. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit...

In front of an audience at the Newport Beach Film Festival, the star DJ-turned-producer/songwriter reflects on his path to music, notable collaborations (with the likes of Amy Winehouse, Bruno Mars and Lady Gaga) and expansive work on Greta Gerwig's 2023 blockbuster (he EP'd the soundtrack, co-wrote the score and co-wrote and/or co-produced singles performed by Dua Lipa, Billie Eilish, Lizzo, Sam Smith and Ryan Gosling). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In front of an audience at the Burbank International Film Festival, the brilliant and eccentric filmmaker reflects on his childhood in Burbank and how it led him to animation and to characters regarded by others as freaks, alternating between mainstream blockbusters and personal art films and collaborating over decades with the likes of Johnny Depp, Colleen Atwood and Danny Elfman. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The legend of New German Cinema reflects on making movies in Germany and America, moving between narrative and doc features and the making of his greatest films including ‘Paris, Texas,’ ‘Wings of Desire’ and ‘Buena Vista Social Club.’ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The veteran fan favorite reflects on his path to standup and his unusual stage name, how the Spike Lee documentary 'The Original Kings of Comedy' changed his career trajectory and his forthcoming debut novel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The world’s most famous living film critic, who was the Internet Movie Database before the advent of the Internet, shares how his famous movie guide began when he was 17 and ended 45 years later, what his life is like a decade after his Parkinson's diagnosis and his outlook for the future of the movies and film criticism. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One of the top TV producers in the business reflects on coming to America with James Corden to launch 'The Late Late Show' and its hit segment-turned-spinoff 'Carpool Karaoke,' why the Grammys has been his toughest producing assignment and what it's like putting producing televised concert specials like Adele's from Griffith Park and Elton John's from Dodger Stadium. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In front of an audience at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, the actress/director reflects on her evolution from model to soap star to ‘The Princess Bride’ and ‘Forrest Gump,’ her collaborations with her ex Sean Penn and breaking out of typecasting with ‘House of Cards’ — and then navigating the aftermath of Kevin Spacey’s downfall. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The 'Parks and Rec' scene-stealer turned leading lady reflects on the stroke that changed her at 21, landing three major parts in her first week in LA, breaking out of the 'deadpan' box and why she wants to host the Oscars. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

At a celebration of the podcast's 500th episode, one of the most popular and admired comedians of his generation reflects on his path from comedy student to 'Saturday Night Live' writer and host; his five standup specials, including his latest, on Netflix, which addresses his battle with addiction; and whether he would say yes if asked to host the Oscars. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The legendary English actor of stage and screen reflects on his dark childhood, and how he found his escape from it in the theater; the fateful series of events in 1987 led to him, at the age of 47, becoming Jean-Luc Picard, the captain of the starship 'Enterprise'; and why, after years of 'X-Men' films, plays, voiceover work and much else, he agreed to return to the part with which he is most closely associated.

The comedy legend reflects on getting through childhood tragedies, why he was drawn to sketch in his native Canada (at Second City and 'SCTV') and in the U.S. (at 'SNL' and 'The Martin Short Show') and what is at the root of his nearly 40-year friendship and collaboration with Steve Martin.

Six Broadway standouts — nominated for 'Into the Woods,' 'A Doll's House,' 'Kimberly Akimbo,' 'Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street,' 'Topdog/Underdog' and 'Parade,' respectively — discuss the challenges and rewards of their parts, COVID's lasting impact on theater, the writers strike and the Tonys, their dream roles, plus more.

In front of an audience in the Campari Lounge at the Cannes Film Festival, the Swedish Oscar winner reflects on her transition from dancing to acting, the ups and downs of her life-changing 2015, her husband Michael Fassbender and her 2023 return to Cannes as the star of a film in competition.

The Kuwait-born Palestinian standup comedian turned co-creator/writer/star of the first Palestinian-American television comedy series reflects on his 20-year journey to become an American citizen, comedy mentors including Dave Chappelle and teaming with Ramy Youssef on two trailblazing TV shows.

The distinguished actor and singer of stage (he's been nominated for four Tony noms across three decades) and screen (he's best known for the film ‘Spotlight’ and the TV series ‘Smash’ and ‘13 Reasons Why’) reflects on his path to showbiz; decisions to leave ‘Next to Normal’ and ‘Hamilton’ after their off Broadway runs; and career since starring in a best picture Oscar winner. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One of the biggest breakout stars of recent years reflects on the sacrifices that her family made to enable her to pursue acting, the challenges and rewards of her Emmy-nominated work on HBO’s ‘Euphoria’ and ‘The White Lotus’ and why she is so proud of her new film, the first on which she has ever been #1 on the callsheet. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One of TV’s most trailblazing, talented and prolific storytellers reflects on her path to Shondaland and ‘Grey’s Anatomy,’ why she cringes at the attention paid to her shows’ racial diversity and what led her to jump from ABC to Netflix and to venture into the world of ‘Bridgerton.’ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Emmy winner — who in 2022 became the first Black winner of best supporting actress in a comedy series in 35 years — reflects on her Tony-nominated turn in the original Broadway production of 'Dreamgirls,' why she almost walked away from showbiz after leaving the hit TV show 'Moesha' and the fateful series of events that led to her meeting Quinta Brunson. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One of the top young stars in Hollywood reflects on the importance to his career of Matthew Vaughn and Dexter Fletcher; the running thread that Elton John played in his life even prior to playing him in 'Rocketman'; and why he relished the opportunity to do longform television for the first time in Apple TV+'s acclaimed limited series. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

At the TCM Classic Film Festival, one of the last surviving stars of Hollywood's Golden Age reflects on working as a kid alongside the likes of Cecil B. DeMille and Spencer Tracy; employing his tumbling background to dance in musicals like 'Seven Brides for Seven Brothers' and 'West Side Story'; and why, shortly after his Oscar nom for 'Peyton Place,' he "dropped out" of the biz, and then later returned. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

At the TCM Classic Film Festival, the legendary star of late '50s/'60s rock 'n' roll and beach movies reflects on his path from trumpeter to teen idol, his experiences off screen and on with Annette Funicello and what his life is like today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The self-described "oddball" actress/writer/director/producer reflects on child stardom, her years away from the business due to addiction and her remarkable run of the past decade with Netflix's 'Orange Is the New Black' and 'Russian Doll' followed by an acclaimed new Peacock series. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In front of an audience at CAA in Los Angeles, the Oscar-nominated (‘House of Sand and Fog’) and Emmy-winning (‘House of Saddam’) actress reflects on her journey to acting and away from Iran, her difficult decision to play a terrorist on ‘24’ and the current crisis in her homeland. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In front of an audience at the Boulder International Film Festival, the legendary 83-year-old actor reflects on his many years as a struggling actor, his career-making and Oscar-winning turn in Milos Forman’s ‘Amadeus’ and his recent career resurgence on several hit TV shows. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices