Episodes

Episode 225: Jessica Chastain, Dave Barry, and Joy(ful) Division

attends the Marni at H&M Collection Launch at Lloyd Wright’s Sowden House on February 17, 2012 in Los Angeles, California.

This week: one of our favorite episodes of 2013, in which Oscar-nominated actress Jessica Chastain of “Zero Dark Thirty” riffs on Pitt and pigs… Humorist Dave Barry offers insane advice… Reggae legend Jimmy Cliff plays dinnertime DJ… Joy Division’s Peter Hook tells the bright side of a dark band… We excavate the story of a crown jewel, then drink a sparkling cocktail…  Plus, flying goats, contagious laughter, and the spider of the year.


Dave Barry's Flat Food Pyramid

Icebreaker

If you have to be quarantined, at least Dave Barry's menu sounds pretty good.


The Creepiest Awards Show Going

Small Talk

Reyhan Harmanci, Deputy Editor of the food culture mag Modern Farmer, lays out the results of the coveted “Spider of the Year” awards.


Diamonds You Can Drink

A History Lesson With Booze ®

This week back in 1905, South African miner Frederick Wells unearthed a record-breaking royal treasure. We celebrate his discovery with this glistening cocktail.


We Fall Hard for Jimmy Cliff

Soundtrack

Recording since 1968, Jimmy Cliff deserves tremendous credit for shaping reggae music in Jamaica and for popularizing it around the world. Back with a new record, he's enjoying reaching a whole new generation of fans.


Jessica Chastain's Gold Streak

Guest of Honor

Jessica Chastain stars in the new film "The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby" (and five other movies coming out in the next year). We spoke with the actor hot off her Oscar win for "Zero Dark Thirty."


Better Living Through Zsuzsi

Eavesdropping

Canadian writer Zsuzsi Gartner is known for her dark comic skewering of modern life. Her story collection “Better Living Through Plastic Explosives” was shortlisted for the Giller Prize - Canada’s highest for fiction. Today we overhear her read an artful passage.


A Super Bowl... of Vegetables

Main Course

L.A. restaurant Street is serving up a special Super Bowl Sunday menu…that’s entirely meat-free. What's Game Day without, well, game? Rico finds out.


Reasonable Advice from Dave Barry's 'Insane City'

Etiquette

Pulitzer prizewinning humorist, author, and columnist Dave Barry takes over our etiquette column this week, offering advice for all sidewalks of life.


Peter Hook on Experiencing 'Unknown Pleasures'

Chattering Class

Peter Hook played bass in the seminal post-punk band Joy Division. His new memoir “Unknown Pleasures: Inside Joy Division” sheds some light on the experience.


Pulling a 'One-Way Trigger'

One For The Road

Pop-rock powerhouses The Strokes released a new album called “Comedown Machine” in March. Here’s a little piece of the single “One-Way Trigger” - perfect for dancing away the frost.