Talk Easy with Sam Fragoso

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Episode 82 - Lois Smith Dec 11, 2017

Show notes

The inimitable Lois Smith has lived a full and exciting life, beginning in Kansas in 1930 and leading her to where she is today, acting in films like Marjorie Prime and Lady Bird at the age of 87. Lois studied theater at the University of Washington, got married at the age of 18, moved to New York with her husband, and has acted on stage and screen ever since. In this episode, she and Sam spend a peaceful hour discussing all of these milestones, along with Lois' first job in the Broadway play Time Out With Ginger, her LIFE magazine cover in 1955, her mindset when it comes to promoting films, and some wisdom from her character in Minority Report. http://talkeasypod.com/artist/lois-smith/

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Episode 81 - Paul F. Tompkins Dec 05, 2017

Show notes

This week, Sam sits down with comedian, actor, and TV writer Paul F. Tompkins. Paul is a longtime standup comic who has appeared in everything from Mr. Show with Bob and David to two Paul Thomas Anderson films--more on both of those in the episode. Besides his prolific standup career, Paul's current projects include roles on Bob's Burgers and Bojack Horseman and a podcast hosting gig of his own. Here, he and Sam talk about his early dream of being a household name, the ways he's changed since his first stand-up special, the all-encompassing weight of his parents' unhealthy marriage, and everyone's odd habit of reading into the way he dresses. http://talkeasypod.com/

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Episode 80 - Rory Scovel Nov 20, 2017

Show notes

Rory Scovel has been on the stand-up scene for more than ten years, from his early days spent doubling as a “desktop support specialist” in Washington D.C., to this year’s Netflix special, Rory Scovel Tries Stand-Up for the First Time. When he’s not on an endless Kerouac-esque comedy tour across America, Rory is guesting on shows and podcasts with comedians like Pete Holmes and Chris Hardwicke, and acting on hilarious, under-the-radar shows like Those Who Can’t and Zach Stone is Gonna Be Famous. Here, he and Sam talk about the importance of getting justice for victims of sexual misconduct, Rory’s most absurd and unplanned comedy bits, the evolving end goals for stand-up comedians, and losing his mom at a very young age. http://www.talkeasypod.com/

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Episode 79 - Joachim Trier Nov 13, 2017

Show notes

Joachim Trier is a Norweigan filmmaker who has so far directed four feature films, including the English language family drama Louder than Bombs and his newest project, Thelma, an intense thriller that was selected to represent Norway in this year's competition for Best Foreign Language Film at the Oscars. As Sam points out, each of these films is incredibly different than one another, a deliberate creative choice on Joachim's part. Through the course of this conversation, Joachim's attention to and care for the craft of filmmaking become abundantly clear. Listen as he and Sam discuss his life and career at length, including Joachim's childhood spent illegally skateboarding (9:45), his feelings of both pride and disappointment in his work (14:05), his love for the surprising films of Wong Kar-wai (23:31), the tricky balance of maintaining relationships as a filmmaker (29:18), and the importance of adding new voices to the film industry (37:35). http://talkeasypod.com/artist/joachim-trier/

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Episode 78 - Noël Wells Nov 06, 2017

Show notes

Early this year, Sam and actress Noël Wells recorded an episode of Talk Easy at Sundance. Days after the presidential inauguration and in the midst of festival chaos, it was a strange time for both of them, but the resulting conversation was thought-provoking and lovely. Now Noël’s back at a different moment of her life–debuting Mr. Roosevelt, her first feature as director, writer, and lead actress–for another round of thoughtful conversation. Here, she and Sam talk about parallels between Mr. Roosevelt and Noël’s past (6:30), her years spent as a self-proclaimed try-hard (13:15), the online-comment-obsessed culture of SNL (26:20), the nuance of discussing sexual misconduct in Hollywood (30:50), and more. http://talkeasypod.com/artist/noel-wells-returns/

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Episode 77 - Miguel Arteta Oct 31, 2017

Show notes

Since the late '90s, director Miguel Arteta has worked in film and television to bring us multilayered comedic movies like Chuck & Buck and Youth in Revolt, as well as episodes of acclaimed shows like Six Feet Under, Freaks & Geeks, and Enlightened. This year saw the release of his latest feature, Beatriz at Dinner, a topical story of a tense dinner party between an earthy, socially conscious woman and a group of privileged corporate bigwigs. Over the course of the hour, Miguel speaks with Sam about making these and other films, focusing on physical and emotional health, righteous generational anger, and his memories of some favorite collaborators, including the late friend and filmmaker Jonathan Demme. http://www.talkeasypod.com/

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Episode 76 - Shea Serrano Oct 25, 2017

Show notes

His whole adult life, Shea Serrano's worked hard. Not just at one thing, but at everything he's done, from chronic pool-playing and highly-calculated games of Texas hold 'em in college, to teaching middle school for eight years at an underserved school in Houston. Here, he talks to Sam about all of this, as well as how the work he did to pay the bills ultimately led him to writing. Shea has written for Grantland and The Ringer, and has authored three multimedia books, including a New York Times bestseller. With a no-bullshit attitude and plenty of motivating stories to share, Shea walks Sam through his major life events so far, including the first time he realized he was at a disadvantage, the complications he and his wife faced with the birth their twins, and the moment he finally figured out what makes a good dad. More info: www.talkeasypod.com

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Episode 75 - Jen Yamato Oct 16, 2017

Show notes

Jen Yamato is an internet-era journalist working at one of the last print news institutions in America, The LA Times. That in itself is interesting, but it's only the latest step in a career that's also included time spent working at Rotten Tomatoes, Deadline, Movieline, and The Daily Beast. This week, after warning us that she's a Gemini, Jen talks with Sam about the best year of her life (age 17), changes she's witnessed to the journalism landscape, and the recent spate of sexual misconduct accusations shaking the film industry. http://www.talkeasypod.com/

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Episode 74 - Jon Daly Oct 09, 2017

Show notes

This week, Sam sits down with friend, comedian, and writer Jon Daly. Along with appearing as a regular at the improv institution Upright Citizens Brigade, Jon's taken on comedic roles in dozens of shows and movies over the past fifteen years. Jon's had roles in feature films like The Secret Life of Walter Mitty and Janicza Bravo's Lemon, and can be seen in episodes of Kroll Show, Comedy Bang! Bang!, and basically anything on TV that's equal parts funny and bizarre. Here, he and Sam talk about everything from celebrity AA to Martin Lawrence's hype man, before getting real about the lifelong struggle for openness and self-knowledge. Wesbite: http://talkeasypod.com/

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Episode 73 - Willem Dafoe Oct 02, 2017

Show notes

For over thirty years, Willem Dafoe has been putting in hard work on stage and screen, and it’s paid off. Starting in 1980 with Heaven’s Gate, a movie that he was mostly cut from during editing, he went on to take memorable roles in a wide range of films that include Platoon, The English Patient, Shadow of a Vampire, and Spider-Man. Most recently, he’s starring in The Florida Project, a film by Sean Baker that premiered to acclaim at last month’s Toronto Film Festival. Willem sits down this week to talk to Sam about his career, his appreciation for outsiders, and the tricky balancing act of maintaining privacy as a public figure. Website: http://talkeasypod.com/

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