629. How Is Live Theater Still Alive?

It brings strangers together. It teaches probability, strategy, and emotional control. It has even helped N.F.L. teams win the Super Bowl. Stephen Dubner explores why this ancient game is having a renaissance. (Part two of a series, “We Are All Gamers Now.”) SOURCES: Remington Da ... Show More

As the Trump administration rolls back environmental regulations, we revisit a 2022 episode that explored the hidden cost of an invisible threat: air pollution. SOURCES: Angela Duckworth, psychologist at the University of Pennsylvania. Michael Greenstone, economist at the Univers ... Show More

Another war in the Middle East. A retreat from the international order. A presidency built on self-dealing and arbitrary power. It’s enough to make you think the U.S. is in a steep decline — but Fareed Zakaria thinks otherwise. SOURCES: Fareed Zakaria, journalist and author. RESO ... Show More

“Miller, Lyles, and I were standing near the exit door . . . Blake stuck out there in front, leading the orchestra—his bald head would get the brunt of the tomatoes and rotten eggs.”This is the story of American musical theater and the dawn of modern Broadway. Popular entertainme ... Show More

Actress and singer Patti LuPone has left an indelible mark on the world of theater. Known for her breakthrough roles in musicals such as Evita and Les Misérables, and for collaborating with the likes of David Mamet and Stephen Sondheim, LuPone has equally stunned audiences with h ... Show More

Larry weighs in on President Joe Biden. He’s then joined by director, playwright, and Emmy Award-winning actor Colman Domingo to discuss his latest film ‘Sing Sing’ (13:55). They begin their conversation by talking about the process of choosing roles for a project and describing ... Show More

David Mamet is one of the most celebrated American playwrights of the last century: Sexual Perversity in Chicago, Speed-the-Plow, American Buffalo, and Glengarry Glen Ross— which won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1983 and remains timely today. Our conversation unfolds, fittingl ... Show More

The New Zealand born opera singer Dame Kiri Te Kanawa is one of the world's greatest sopranos. She enjoyed a 50 year career singing lead roles in opera houses around the globe, and on dozens of studio recordings. Since retiring in 2017 she has focussed on leading her Kiri Te Kana ... Show More

Last month, the Great White Way lost one of its brightest stars: Ken Page. In tribute to the beloved actor, singer and Drama Desk Award Winner, “Here’s the Thing” is sharing Alec Baldwin’s 2021 conversation with the Broadway legend. Page was known for his standout roles in the 19 ... Show More

Today, we’re taking on the much-hyped film adaptation of the musical smash Wicked. Starring Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo and Jeff Goldblum, the story is a loose prequel to The Wizard of Oz, following its two star witches before they become Glinda the Good Witch and the Wicked Wit ... Show More