This week, 8-time Grammy award-winner Jack Antonoff joins host Charlotte Alter to talk about the indelible mark he’s left on music history. The pair discuss the magnetic pull of their shared hometown of New Jersey, the profound impact that Antonoff’s family has had on his work, and the intimate and intricate processes behind today’s chart-topping hits. Whether you're an aspiring musician or just hum to the rhythm of Bleachers, tune in for an inspiring and exciting backstage pass to the...

U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona has unique insight into the current state and future of American schools. This week, we’re sharing a conversation Secretary Cardona had with host Charlotte Alter last month to help shed light on this changing landscape. Cardona shared cherished memories of being an elementary school principal and the challenges of post-pandemic education. The pair unpacked everything from student loan debt solutions under the Biden administration to the critical role...

Henry Louis Gates, Jr. is a renowned historian, author, scholar, filmmaker, and is the Director of the Hutchins Center for African and African American Research at Harvard University. This week, Gates joins host Charlotte Alter and reflects on his formative years in the working-class mill town of Piedmont, West Virginia, his early education during the pivotal era of school desegregation, and his experiences watching the civil rights movement unfold in America. The pair delve into the power of...

For over a decade, Charli XCX has been a trailblazer in the pop and electronic music scenes, captivating audiences with hits like “I Love It” and “Boom Clap,” and acclaimed albums such as "How I'm Feeling Now" and "Crash." Her music has underscored iconic TV shows and films, from “GIRLS” in the 2010s to the recent hits “Bottoms” and “Barbie.” This week, Charli XCX sits down with host Charlotte Alter and shares insights into her creative process, her complex relationship with 90s pop, and how...

Legendary makeup artist, author, and entrepreneur Bobbi Brown joins host Charlotte Alter for our final episode of the season. They delve into Brown's journey from her Chicago upbringing to the pinnacle of the global beauty industry. Brown candidly shares the story behind her rise to success, from the profound influence of her mother on her perception of beauty to how she developed her iconic natural makeup style, to how she built not one but two, massively successful cosmetics companies....

For over a decade, Charli XCX has been a trailblazer in the pop and electronic music scenes, captivating audiences with hits like “I Love It” and “Boom Clap,” and acclaimed albums such as "How I'm Feeling Now" and "Crash." Her music has underscored iconic TV shows and films, from “GIRLS” in the 2010s to the recent hits “Bottoms” and “Barbie.” This week, Charli XCX sits down with host Charlotte Alter and shares insights into her creative process, her complex relationship with 90s pop, and how...

Ron Howard is one of the most prolific and celebrated filmmakers of the last fifty years. This week, Howard and host Charlotte Alter dive deep into his decades-long career in front of and behind the camera. Howard shares the inspiration behind his latest documentary film, “Jim Henson: Idea Man,” and what drove his decision to chronicle the life and work of a fellow Hollywood legend. The pair explore how Howard’s films reflect the eras in which they were made, the complex stories and...

Ana Zamora is the Founder and CEO of The Just Trust – a nonprofit organization that supports criminal justice reform and public safety innovation in the United States. This week, we’re sharing a conversation that Ana had with host Charlotte Alter in March, in which she shares her personal journey into criminal justice reform, spurred by her brother’s experience with the system. The pair delve into the complexities and necessities of bipartisan collaboration in criminal justice reform,...

Sherrie Westin is the dynamic force driving Sesame Workshop’s global educational initiatives. This week, Westin shares her inspiring journey to becoming President and Interim CEO of Sesame Workshop with host Charlotte Alter. The pair trace Westin’s path from her early days organizing activities for neighborhood friends, through a successful career in media and public service, to a profound pivot into children's television driven by the transformative experience of motherhood. They explore the...

Former Capitol Police officer Harry Dunn has become a household name in the years following the events of January 6, 2021. This week, we’re sharing a conversation Dunn had with host Charlotte Alter back in February, wherein Dunn shares scenes from his childhood in Prince George’s County and speaks to how his lifelong interest in serving the public led him to a career in law enforcement. The pair delve into the realities of working in the Capitol before and after January 6th, and the profound...

U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona has unique insight into the current state and future of American schools. This week, we’re sharing a conversation Secretary Cardona had with host Charlotte Alter last month to help shed light on this changing landscape. Cardona shared cherished memories of being an elementary school principal and the challenges of post-pandemic education. The pair unpacked everything from student loan debt solutions under the Biden administration to the critical role...

Maya Rudolph is a comedy legend, and a 2024 TIME100 honoree. The multitalented actor, acclaimed for her iconic tenure on Saturday Night Live and unforgettable performances in “Bridesmaids,” “Big Mouth,” and more, joins host Charlotte Alter this week to dive deep into her creative process and personal journey. Maya takes us behind the scenes of growing up in a musical family and highlights the parallels between careers in music and comedy. In discussing her hit Apple TV series “Loot,” Maya...

Acclaimed novelist Lauren Groff is a singular voice in American fiction and a 2024 TIME100 honoree. This week, Groff joins host Charlotte Alter to delve deep into the essence of creativity and the intricacies of the natural world and the human body. Lauren shares her unique perspective on how time acts as the "secret currency" of art, reflecting on the challenges of balancing marriage, motherhood and writing. Known for her commitment to an analog writing practice, Lauren discusses the virtues...

Distinguished, award-winning journalist Christiane Amanpour is known for her fearless reporting from some of the world's most volatile regions. CNN's chief international anchor of the network's flagship global affairs program, "Amanpour," Christiane joins host Charlotte Alter this week to reflect on her experiences as a war reporter over the past four decades and share what concerns her most about the current state of global affairs. In discussing the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza and the ongoing...

Gillian Anderson, the illustrious actor renowned for her iconic role as Dana Scully in "The X-Files," joins host Charlotte Alter this week on the show. Gillian reflects on the profound impact of portraying such a pivotal character so early in her career and unpacks the "Dana Scully effect," which empowered a generation of women to pursue careers in science and technology. She shares scenes from her bicultural upbringing, moving between the UK and America, and her transformative punk phase...

Henry Louis Gates, Jr. is a renowned historian, author, scholar, filmmaker, and is the Director of the Hutchins Center for African and African American Research at Harvard University. This week, Gates joins host Charlotte Alter and reflects on his formative years in the working-class mill town of Piedmont, West Virginia, his early education during the pivotal era of school desegregation, and his experiences watching the civil rights movement unfold in America. The pair delve into the power of...

David Axelrod is a preeminent political strategist and the mastermind behind some of the most successful political campaigns in American history. This week, David sits down with host Charlotte Alter and shares his journey from his childhood in New York City to the halls of the Obama White House, with more than a few stops in Chicago along the way. David reflects on his early political awakenings, the unmatched education he received at The Chicago Tribune, and what ultimately drove him from...

Kate Cox, a Texas mother of two, was thrilled to find out she was pregnant with her third child last year. But the dream of expanding her family quickly turned into a nightmare when Cox and her husband were told that their fetus had an anomaly called Trisomy 18 that, in their case, was fatal. In December 2023, Cox asked a Texas court to temporarily block the state's abortion ban so she could receive urgent medical care, becoming the first pregnant woman to sue for the right to terminate her...

Jennifer Lame is a remarkably talented film editor, whose keen eye and unique storytelling abilities have contributed to some of the most iconic films of our time. From her early days as an apprentice to Sidney Lumet to her celebrated work with writers and directors like Noah Baumbach, Christopher Nolan, Ryan Coogler and Ari Aster, Jennifer shares her incredible journey to the top of the film industry with host Charlotte Alter on this week’s show. Jennifer takes us behind-the-scenes of...

Kara Swisher is a titan in the realms of tech journalism and media. Known for her fearless interviews with the biggest names in Silicon Valley and her incisive commentary on the tech industry, Kara sits down with host Charlotte Alter to share insights from her latest book, "Burn Book: A Tech Love Story." The pair discuss Swisher’s early days chronicling the rise of the internet, the transformations of the media industry over recent decades, and the perplexing gap between Silicon Valley's...

Distinguished economist Claudia Goldin is the Henry Lee Professor of Economics at Harvard University, the 2023 Nobel Prize Laureate in Economic Sciences, and one of TIME’s 2024 Women of The Year. This week, host Charlotte Alter sits down with Goldin for a captivating conversation on the evolution of women's participation in the workforce. Claudia shares the exhilarating moment she was awarded the Nobel Prize and her path to discovering a deep-seated passion for economics, and sheds light on...

Danielle Brooks, an award-winning actress and singer who has captivated audiences from Broadway to the big screen, sits down with host Charlotte Alter in this week's episode. Fresh from her acclaimed role as ‘Sofia’ in the film adaptation of “The Color Purple” musical, Danielle shares her journey from an arts education in South Carolina to the set of her anticipated “Minecraft” movie. She delves into the impact of her church roots on her artistic expression, her thoughtful process for...

Sheila Heti is a beacon of contemporary literature, renowned for her unique narrative voice and groundbreaking novels such as "Pure Colour," "Motherhood," and "How Should a Person Be?" This week, Sheila joins host Charlotte Alter to discuss her latest literary endeavor, "Alphabetical Diaries," a profound exploration of life distilled from a decade's worth of diary entries, showcasing her innovative approach to storytelling. The pair delve into the intricate relationship between fiction and...

This week, host Charlotte Alter sits down with Jon Batiste, a celebrated musician, composer, and bandleader with deep Louisiana roots. Known as the "crown prince of jazz," Batiste's journey spans from New Orleans' vibrant streets to Juilliard's halls, extending to international acclaim. Charlotte and Jon discuss the formation of his band, Stay Human, Batiste’s tenure on “The Stephen Colbert Show,” his Grammy-winning 2022 album "We Are," and the resilience portrayed in his 2023 film "American...