Speakeasy Special: Sam Heughan, Dick Cavett, Saoirse Ronan, Opus Moreschi

It's an all-new episode of our off-the-cuff Speakeasy podcast! "Outlander" star Sam Heughan has a failsafe way to look buff (hint: tiny clothing)... Dick Cavett reveals his hidden talent and has a little fun at Spiro Agnew's expense... Opus Moreschi, head writer of "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert," gets crafty with cocktails during our New York live show... And "Brooklyn"-to-Broadway star Saoirse Ronan professes her love for a King... of Queens.


Episode 349: Barney Frank, Anna Chlumsky, Hailu Mergia

This week, it's a special edition of the DPD, taped in front of a D.C.-area crowd! Think of it as a political party: Former congressman Barney Frank pines for pragmatism and left-(handed) progress... Anna Chlumsky of HBO's "VEEP" swears she can leave her character's quirks on-set... Local keyboard legend Hailu Mergia, once a part of Ethiopia's jazz scene, tells us his incredible story and then plays us out... And we talk Martinis (and Martinezes) with D.C.'s bartender-in-chief Derek Brown. Plus, the man behind the President's "Between Two Ferns" appearance, some crooked Nixon humor, and more!


Episode 307: Alison Bechdel, Chuck Palahniuk, Colleen

Encore Broadcast: Alison Bechdel -- whose graphic memoir "Fun Home" is now a 12-time Tony-nominated musical -- tells us how she gets comfy, with her life on stage... "Fight Club" author Chuck Palahniuk schools us in prank-ology, to celebrate his new sequel... The Posts tackle some especially hairy etiquette hang-ups... We tune into an avant-garde-tinged soundtrack, courtesy of French songstress Colleen... 2015 ballpark cuisine -- from nachos-on-a-stick to pulled pork parfait. Plus, the surprisingly continental history of blue jeans, a library you can't visit for 100 years, and lots more.


Episode 328: Ian McKellen, Cindy Crawford, Wine Crime

Encore Broadcast: Master thespian Sir Ian McKellen with etiquette advice and real talk about his least favorite co-stars... supermodel Cindy Crawford recalls her photo shoot with a 40-pound python... Investigative journalist Christine Haughney on why in wine, there's not always truth... Will Toledo -- of lo-fi indie rock band Car Seat Headrest -- DJs your laid-back dinner party... filmmaker Kent Jones on his new Hitchcock doc... Plus, Ann Friedman on pigeon doctors, a history of the Pokemon Shockwave of 1997, a kid show-inspired cocktail, and more!


Episode 348: Sam Heughan, Sebastian Junger, Moshe Kasher and Natasha Leggero

"Outlander" star Sam Heughan drops by to deliver some haircare tips before answering a few of our listeners' etiquette questions... Filmmaker and journalist Sebastian Junger tells us why some prefer wartime to peacetime... Comedians/spouses Moshe Kasher and Natasha Leggero list a few road trips gone wrong... Brendan visits a cheese cave... Actor and writer Faith Salie confronts her demons... Plus, the sticky history behind masking tape and more!


Episode 347: Colin Farrell, Maria Bamford, Frankie Cosmos

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!


Speakeasy Special: Ellie Kemper, Cameron Esposito, Michael McKean, Emmy the Great

It's an all new "Speakeasy" -- our occasional, off-the-cuff, slightly profane, online-only podcast where we share some of the great stuff we had to leave on the cutting room floor. This time around you'll hear Ellie Kemper of "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt" attempt to raise the bar for improv (or is it the roof?)... Plus, Comedian Cameron Esposito schools Brendan on the perils of wearing blue on TV -- and on the perks of entering a room with Tom Cruise...Michael McKean finds the silver lining in a fan diss... And -- bonus audio from our recent NYC live taping! -- Emmy the Great performs a cover of Faye Wong's cover of the Cranberries tune "Dream." Got it? Good. Cheers!


Episode 252: Marc Maron, Philippe Petit, and Soylent

Encore Broadcast: Marc Maron gives etiquette AND time-travel advice... Graphic novelist Mimi Pond lists criminals, spies, and other bohemians ... "Man On Wire" tightrope-walker Philippe Petit explores creative chaos... "The Descendants" author Kaui Hart Hemmings tells a new tale... load up on Kleenex 'cause here comes SADvertising... the history of the least respected trophy in sports... and Rico tastes Soylent: the pasty beige future of food. PLUS: Our listeners sound off about mouths and sounds.


Episode 346: Saoirse Ronan, Cameron Diaz, Solomon Georgio

Oscar-nominee Saoirse Ronan sharpens her skills in Broadway's Crucible... Actor-and-author Cameron Diaz gives us impeccable advice -- for the long haul... A new doc paints a portrait of David Hockney, an artist both bright and blue... One-man-band Kevin Morby recommends a few other artists (and BBQ masters) who went solo... Comedian-on-the-rise Solomon Georgio recalls his low point... And we toast "Queen Bess" -- the African-American pilot who blazed a (con)trail before Amelia Earhart did. Plus, a cure for cell phone zombie-ism, a new funk-tastic track, and some horseplay.


Episode 345: Jessica Williams, Dick Cavett, Michael McKean

"The Daily Show" Senior Correspondent Jessica Williams dishes about her most devastating moment (in an olive oil shop in Park Slope)... Talk-show legend Dick Cavett waxes poetic on playing himself... Comedian Jen Kirkman loses her cell phone and changes her life... Actor Michael McKean, of "This is Spinal Tap" and "Laverne and Shirley" fame, briefs us on playing bad guys. Plus Helen Zaltzman -- host of the podcast The Allusionist -- on the spies sending you birthday cards, a real German cocktail to go with some fake German news, and music from Emmy the Great!