Performing Arts Episodes

How can you hate me when you don't know me? Daryl Davis walks into rooms most people would run from. A Black musician, actor, and author, Davis has spent decades doing something that sounds almost too simple to work: sitting down with Klan leaders and just talking. The result? Over 200 Klansmen have hung up their hoods for good—and more than two dozen have handed Davis their robes as proof. He keeps them, not as trophies, but as evidence of what honest conversation can actually do. Daryl breaks...

Who was the woman talking to a log on primetime TV — and why can't anyone forget her? Phil and Ted sit down with filmmaker, actor, and singer Richard Green, whose documentary "I Know Catherine, the Log Lady," chronicles the life of Catherine Coulson, Twin Peaks' most unforgettable oddball. Green was Coulson's friend for decades, and he brings real stories: what it was like on David Lynch's iconic sets, how Coulson built a legacy from one strange, indelible role, and what it takes to survive — a...

Is America's system of checks and balances already broken, or just badly bent? Phil and Ted sit down with Professor Michael Genovese — presidential scholar, author of 50 books on the office, and, improbably, a stand-up comedian — to take stock of a presidency that's tested every boundary it could find, and cashed in along the way. Genovese walks through Trump's "runaway presidency": the monetizing of the Oval Office, the abuse of presidential power for personal enrichment — his own and his in...

Takeaways: Paul Wilson, an exceptional comedian and improviser, shares insights from his extensive career in comedy and television, notably his time on 'Cheers'. The discussion highlights the evolution of comedy improv and its significance in today's entertainment landscape amidst political and social challenges. We delve into the personal anecdotes of Paul Wilson, illustrating the camaraderie and competitive spirit among comedians throughout their journeys. The conversation addresses the cu...