Talk Easy with Sam Fragoso

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The Carol Burnett Show Aug 30, 2020

Show notes

Legendary actress, comedian, singer, and writer Carol Burnett joins us this week! After seven decades in the industry, she sits down to discuss her upbringing in the Hollywood Arms Apartments (3:30), a mysterious envelope of money that allowed her to study at UCLA (7:15), a generous loan that catapulted her to New York City (12:33), her “big break” in 1957 (23:25), how Julie & Carol at Carnegie Hall came to be (30:13), finding her place in “a man’s game” on network television (43:20), her fond memories of The Carol Burnett Show and everyone who made it possible (49:33). Finally, before we leave, a conversation on divine intervention (1:01:15) and what she's grateful for at age 87.

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Tyler Mitchell's “Black Utopia” Aug 26, 2020

Show notes

Tyler Mitchell is a photographer and filmmaker based in Brooklyn. His anticipated debut book, I Can Make You Feel Good, is a timely and unabashedly optimistic celebration of Black life. His photos (available on www.talkeasypod.com) depict young Black men and women living, thriving, and relaxing, in repose and in sunshine. Today, on the show, he reflects on the significance of skateboarding as a teenager; the formative years of working at a cake bakery in Marietta, Georgia; his great escape to New York City; how he spent college doggedly pursuing his dreams; the historic Vogue cover with Beyoncé; and why his work subverts traditional ideas of being Black in America.

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Unbreakable Tituss Burgess Aug 23, 2020

Show notes

Emmy-nominated actor/singer Tituss Burgess (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt) joins us this week! We start with a recent afternoon in his gazebo (4:16), where he reminded himself that the pandemic is a marathon, not a sprint (7:50). In that same memory he also reflects on why his art is especially of value in 2020 (12:10); his mere existence on screen a political act (16:23). Later, we unpack his run on 30 Rock, and the spiritual experience that followed (20:50). In the aftermath of finding purpose, he’s had to reconcile his relationship with his mother (35:27) and the dark personal storm that is now, finally, passing over (45:28).

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Leah Remini vs. The Church of Scientology Aug 19, 2020

Show notes

A bonus episode! On the heels of her recent Emmy nomination for Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath, the dazzling actress sits with us today. As a child, Leah found herself in the throws of Scientology. After 35+ years in the church, she's now disillusioned with the problematic institution. Her new calling? To dismantle the cult and dissect it dangerous practices. Her new podcast, co-hosted by former Scientology executive Mike Rinder, is called Scientology: Fair Game. Today, Leah and I discuss the real toll her (former) faith took, the pernicious power of this organization, and why she feels an obligation to continue onward and keep fighting.

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Norman Lear Turns 98 Aug 16, 2020

Show notes

TV Titan Norman Lear returns! This week, the legendary show-runner behind All in the Family and Maude sits down to discuss his feelings of imprisonment during the pandemic (3:00), the story of the dearest, darling Mr. President (10:02), understanding the bifurcation of his childhood (11:31), using laughter to make a living (19:00), remembering his glorious grandmother Bubby who represented love and listening (24:10), the “on to the next” mentality that got him through Hollywood (27:40). Then, finally, he shares his morning ritual with us (39:10), and what he hopes his legacy will be (40:53).

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Jenny Slate in 2020 Aug 09, 2020

Show notes

Three years ago Jenny and Sam promised to reconvene in 2020 (if only they knew what 2020 would look like). Nevertheless, today they make good on that promise. In the intervening years, Jenny wrote a book, titled Little Weirds. It's a collection of (vaguely) autobiographical stories from the heart, about the heart. It's also the springboard for this discussion, which dives into her childhood desire to be seen (7:02), the therapeutic quality of writing (11:05), a life-altering trip to Norway (22:54), a Jo Stafford staple that framed her ideas around romance (29:05), and how she learned how to love again (37:41). To close, we sit with a passage from our 2017 discussion, reflecting on what those words mean now (44:33).

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Malcolm Gladwell Returns Aug 02, 2020

Show notes

Malcolm Gladwell is back! This week, the renowned writer/podcaster talks authorship (2:18), life as a rebellious teenager in peaceful Canada (6:47), his take on “A Letter on Justice and Open Debate” that he co-signed and the backlash it received (13:25), the fundamental ambiguity of strangers’ behaviors (23:02), the self-reflection he took amidst the protests (29:43), discounting the role of luck in our fortune (32:32), what being a runner does for him (38:48), wanting to stay engaged with people in the world (41:50), and writing about topics he is not an expert in (43:07).

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Hannah Gadsby Jul 26, 2020

Show notes

With the release of her new special, Douglas, Australian comedian Hannah Gadsby sits with us this week. We discuss life after the success Nanette (5:49), how she deals with sensory overload on stage (9:11), why the pandemic hasn't been so bad for her (11:42), how she was shaped by her mother's feisty energy (19:47), living in a world where we don’t know how to let go (26:17), being a keen observer (35:34), and whether or not she ever considered quitting stand-up comedy (43:49).

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Fran Lebowitz Jul 19, 2020

Show notes

Legendary American author and public speaker Fran Lebowitz joins us via landline. In conversation, there's nothing off-the-table for the famously persnickety sexagenarian. We discuss how she's weathering the COVID crisis as a tried-and-true New Yorker (12:28), her clear-eyed views on race and racism (15:53), the impact of her friendship with the late Toni Morrison (28:23), her lifelong disinterest in domesticity (38:04), the hostility she received as a literary wunderkind (44:12), the impact of AIDS on the artistic community (51:57), and whether she stills wants to work through her notorious “writer's blockade” (1:11:36).

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Run the Jewels Jul 12, 2020

Show notes

Run The Jewels is an American hip-hop super duo that features the talents of Brooklyn rapper/producer El-P and Atlanta emcee Killer Mike. This week, they sit down with us to talk about the labels the media has placed on them (7:15), the value of dreaming (16:16), the inner-workings of how they create together (21:35), their philosophies on the purpose of rap (28:00), why the night of November 24th, 2014 changed them (32:17), their role in this precarious moment (38:20), and, finally, whether they believe RTJ was destiny (47:38).

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