Episodes

Episode 347: Colin Farrell, Maria Bamford, Frankie Cosmos


Encore Broadcast: Movie star Colin Farrell considers his new film, “The Lobster”… Comedian Maria Bamford channels her mother (and her mother’s hairdresser) to give us etiquette advice… Writer and activist Lindy West stands up for Kermit the Frog… Musician Frankie Cosmos DJs your dinner/pajama party (no boys allowed!)… Writer and rocker John Doe regales us with stories of the early ’80s punk scene in LA (X marks the spot)… Plus, hairy dead presidents, the lonely journey of the Gar-Barge, a trashy cocktail, and more!


The Lonely Gar-Barge and The Better No Litter

A History Lesson With Booze ®

Right around this time back in 1987, New Jersey became the 3rd state in the union to mandate trash recycling… and the impetus may’ve been the long and inglorious journey of the Mobro 4000 — a barge, loaded with litter, that couldn’t find a home. Hear the story, then toss back this trashy custom cocktail.


Frankie Cosmos' Greta Kline Cues Up a Slumber Party Playlist

Soundtrack

Greta Kline is the woman behind the indie-pop project Frankie Cosmos. Most of the songs on their latest album, "Next Thing," are under two minutes long, but they're packed with dreamy vocals and lyrics that Pitchfork says can "puncture your heart in the span of a sentence." The singer-songwriter sets a playlist with comfortable vibe featuring tunes from Liz Phair, Anna McClellan, and more.


Colin Farrell Plays With Absurdity in 'The Lobster'

Guest of Honor

Colin Farrell has starred in films from some of the world's great directors, including Steven Spielberg's "Minority Report" and Terence Malick's "The New World." And he won a Golden Globe for playing a thickheaded hitman in the indie classic "In Bruges." His new film is the dark, absurd comedy "The Lobster." The actor explores the possible meaning behind the "twisted" dark comedy and more.


Maria Bamford Channels Her Mom to Advise You

Etiquette

Each week you send in your questions about how to behave, and here to answer them this time is Maria Bamford. She is one of the comedy world's most beloved and original voices, and is also, by the way, a master at using her voice. Maria's new project is a candy-colored, hilariously absurd, kind of, sort of semi-autobiographical series called "Lady Dynamite." It just premiered on Netflix.


John Doe’s L.A. Punk Flashbacks, From Romance to Riots

Eavesdropping

In the 1970s, John Doe, along with partners-in-crime Exene Cervenka, Billy Zoom and DJ Bonebrake, formed X... which became one of the most important bands of the exploding L.A. punk scene. He writes about the era in "Under The Big Black Sun: A Personal History of L.A. Punk" -- a collection also featuring chapters by Cervenka, Henry Rollins (Black Flag), Dave Alvin (The Blasters), and others. Today we overhear John tell about some of the era's highs, lows... and infernos.


Lindy West: Big Voice, No Shame

Interview

The writer and activist has found an audience-- and faced repeated backlash-- as she's talked about what it's like to grow up big in a body-obsessed culture. Her first book, just released this week, is called "Shrill: Notes from a Loud Woman."


Playlist 347

Playlist

All the music from episode 347.