The best-selling author of Eat, Pray, Love (among many other great works) Elizabeth Gilbert talks to Michael about creative process - her own and others who have inspired her in this interview that covers some big topics, peppered with lots of laughs and that unmistakable Gilbert charm.

#1 Elizabeth Gilbert

Actor, comedian and author Bob Odenkirk talks about his professional journey starting as a brash young writer for Saturday Night Live, to working as one half of the HBO cult comedy series, Mr. Show with Bob and David, to becoming a break out star in the hit series, Breaking Bad which spawned his own hit series, Better Call Saul. Along the way Odenkirk realized an important lesson that sometimes being a bull in a china shop isn't always the best approach.

#4 Bob Odenkirk

Michael takes us into the world of the fascinating, profane, indie movie director, Kevin Smith, who helped change the world of movie-making with his first film, Clerks.  For anyone who has had a dream and failed.  And failed again.  And again, this guy will make you want to get up and keep trying.

#5 Kevin Smith

Michael sits down with his friend and fellow comedian, Amy Schumer to discuss her years trying to make it in stand-up, how she made her hit Comedy Central show Inside Amy Schumer, and her upcoming film with Judd Apatow, Train

#5 Amy Schumer

Operatic tenor, Carl Tanner, spent years hiding his voice, first as a truck driver and then bounty hunter until he finally decided to put the guns down and pursue his incredible talent.  Today he sings on the biggest opera stages in the world.  His fascinating story is not to be missed.  

#7 Carl Tanner

In this episode, Michael takes listeners into the world of the theoretical physicist and string theorist, Brian Greene, who has the unusual gift for not only understanding some of the world's most difficult mathematical equations, but being able to explain them and make them fascinating to the rest of the population.  

#8 Brian Greene

Award-winning filmmaker, writer and multimedia artist, Miranda July seems to have dreams of conquering the world. Unlike most of us, she has wicked follow-through that demands the world's attention in the best way.  Her unusual childhood has left her with a unique, and very funny outlook on the world.  


#9 Miranda July

After barely paying her rent for years trying to make it as an actress, Megan Mullally hit the big time playing the wealthy, alcoholic socialite Karen Walker on the Emmy Award winning TV sitcom Will & Grace.   Only a handful of actors get to experience what she has and her funny, warm thoughtful take on fame is inspirational.

#12 Megan Mullally

King of the nerds, Chris Harwick, sits down with Michael to explain how he figured out his life.  The talk show host and CEO of Nerdist Industries got his start on the MTV game show Singled Out. After several years of abusing alcohol and not being able to pay his rent, Chris quit booze, stopped acting and decided to make a world out of the things he’s passionate about which organically led to a build-it-and-they-will-come multi million-dollar business.

#13 Chris Hardwick

In this episode, Michael chats with A.D. Miles about his journey from prop stylist to his current job as head writer for The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.  The Wet, Hot American Summer co-stars discuss everything from being booed off the stage, to meeting Lorne Michaels and the behind-the-scenes of working on one of the most successful television franchises in history.

#15 A.D. Miles

The best-selling recording artist of such hits as "Girls Chase Boys" and "The Way I Am" talks about not saying yes to the established recording industry and forging her own path to success.  

#16 Ingrid Michaelson

In the late 80's and 90's Bobcat Goldthwait was one of the biggest comedians in the US.  His trademark voice and sharp black comedy led him to financial success in Hollywood films and videos, but he was miserable.  At the height of his so-called success, Goldthwait chucked it all and decide to focus on writing, directing, and most of all, being happy.

#17 Bobcat Goldthwait

NPR Humorist and Best-selling Author of "Me Talk Pretty One Day" and "When You Are Engulfed in Flames," author David Sedaris became a household name in his mid-thirties after public radio broadcast his iconic holiday story "SantaLand Diaries.” 20 years later he now tours the world, selling out venues full of loyal fans.  In Part 1 of his interview, Michael talks to David about how he crafts his stories and how his career as a writer and performer became so successful.  

#19 David Sedaris Part 1

In Part 2 of Michael’s interview with Best-selling Author David Sedaris, they talk about growing up Sedaris and how his relationship with his father motivated him to be the writer he is today. 

#20 David Sedaris Part 2

When Felicia Day moved to Hollywood after being a musical and math prodigy in college, she expected that being an actress would be as easy.  She was not used to failing.  But until she figured out that she had to carve her own career by writing and starring in the hit web series, “The Guild” which used her love of gaming as the basis, success eluded her.  Now with the publication of her memoir, “You’re Never Weird On The Internet,” Day walks Michael through how she made her own success on her terms, and what happens when you get what you want.

#21 Felicia Day

Actor and playwright John Leguizamo has become famous for being an open book, which is apparent in his critically acclaimed one-man shows that chronicle his life from troublemaker to film star. In his conversation with Michael, he talks seriously about how he became a performer, how money and fame were never important, and how a Latin boy from Queens was able to carve out his own career in what he calls “Hollywon’t.”

#25 John Leguizamo

Chuck Klosterman is best known for his wildly popular books on music and pop cultural including the mega hits “Sex, Drugs and Cocoa Puffs: A Low Culture Manifesto” and “Killing Yourself to Live,” in which he writes about subjects he is passionate about--from heavy metal to breakfast cereals and everything in between. In this episode Klosterman discusses his rise from small town boy to finding his place as one of America’s best loved cultural critics. 

#26 Chuck Klosterman

The record-breaking, six-time Tony Award-winning actress Audra McDonald went from a hyper-active kid performing in the local dinner theater to Broadway mega-star. In this episode, Michael chats with her about failed auditions, letting go of her idea of perfection, and how she learned to embraces new challenges, such as learning to tap dance for her upcoming role in Shuffle Along Or The Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed.

#27 Audra McDonald

In his early years as a comedian, Jim Gaffigan struggled to find his own comedic point of view.  It took him years to figure out that his best work meant being comfortable as his clean self and having faith that funny is funny, even without profanity.  Along with his writing partner, and wife, Jeanie, Gaffigan has become one of the most popular comedians working today.

#28 Jim Gaffigan

On this episode, Michael goes deep with Krista Tippett. Tippett has devoted her professional life to asking the big questions on her show, On Being.  Questions about faith and science and love and how we should live our lives are posed in such an engaging, thought-provoking way that it's no wonder she has amassed a huge following on both public radio and through her popular podcast.

#31 Krista Tippett

When Michael spoke to Five Thirty Eight's founder Nate Silver, he highly recommended Daniel Kahneman's groundbreaking book Thinking Fast and Slow. Now, Michael talks to Kahneman, the Nobel Prize-winning author and founder of behavioral economics, in a rare interview, in which he not only discusses his best-selling book, but also shares personal stories about growing up Jewish in Nazi-occupied Paris, his early years in the Psychology branch of the Israel Defense Forces and his fascinating research on decision making and happiness.

#42 Daniel Kahneman

From NPR intern to the creator, host, and Executive Producer of This American Life, one of the most popular shows on public radio, Ira Glass talks about what goes into making his weekly program, his approach to being "the boss" and he shares memories about his work before This American Life.  His legendary instincts about what makes great audio come into full play as he offers this show advice on how how to edit his interview.

Ira for HTBA Ads MP3 Version

#46 Ira Glass

In this illuminating interview, Michael speaks to the millennial founder of MuslimGirl.net, the number one online publication for Muslim women in the United States, and the author of the new memoir, Muslim Girl, about her experience being a feminist, American Muslim in post 9/11 America. Al-Khatahtbeh shares her passion for educating those of us who don’t fully understand the day to day bigotry and threats of being an American Muslim, as well as giving a voice to women who might otherwise feel ostracized by our society.

#50 Amani Al-Khatahtbeh

The YouTube star and bestselling author discusses how she stumbled into her successful career making funny videos watched by millions of viewers every week.  A natural introvert, Helbig had to figure out a way to put herself out into the world and learned the great lesson that if you can follow your fear, it can lead to great things.

#51 Grace Helbig

Michael sits down with Deborah Berke, the first female dean at the Yale School of Architecture and founder of one of Architectural Digest’s top 100 companies of 2016, for a fascinating conversation about the role of architecture in everyday life.  Berke shares her view on urban planning and offers sound advice for anyone who wants to follow their passion.

#53 Deborah Berke

Dr. Charles Limb has married his passion for music with his day job as a surgeon and neuroscientist and is studying the science of creativity. In his research Limb has started gathering some tantalizing clues about the mind’s activity during jazz and rap improvisation discovering that the creative brain is functioning very differently than the memorizing brain. He’s talking to Michael about what this all means and why it’s important, especially in this current political environment when funding for the arts is on the chopping block.

#58 Charles Limb

The comedian, writer and host of the hit CNN docu-series United Shades of America has an often hilarious, frequently serious conversation with Michael about his years determined to break into comedy, what he needed to realize to finally achieve success, and they go deep into the topic of how to talk about racism.

#59 W. Kamau Bell

The Senator from the great state of Minnesota discusses his new memoir, Al Franken, Giant of the Senate, which traces his unlikely path from a 30 year career as a comedian, writing and starring at Saturday Night Live, to diving into politics after being a passionate follower on the sidelines. In this emotionally honest conversation he shares with Michael why he cares so much, and even dishes a bit on his fellow senators.

#60 Al Franken

The man who ran 50 marathons in 50 states in 50 days, among many other incredible feats, Karnazes has pushed his body and mind to inconceivable limits. In this inspiring conversation he tells Michael how he discovered his love for endurance running, what life on the run is like, and how he handles pain.  They also discuss his new book, The Road To Sparta, where recounts his participation in the 153-mile race from Athens to Sparta while recounting the Ancient Greek story of the world's first marathon.

#61 Dean Karnazes

One of pop music’s biggest stars - over the last ten years, she’s had 9 #1 hits, sold millions of albums, racked up billions of video views, and is the most followed person on Twitter - sits down with Michael to discuss growing up the daughter of ultra conservative Christian ministers, navigating her relationship with fame, and the struggle to be taken seriously.

#62 Katy Perry

The political satirist traces his route from failed sitcom writer to creating and writing the popular New Yorker column, The Borowitz Report, where his made-up musings on politics often go viral, and sometimes, even get taken seriously, especially in China.  In a special live episode in front of a packed, New York audience, Borowitz talks to guest host Dean Obeidallah about how he created his own success, making fun of Trump, and the difference between “fake news” and satire.  Photo credit: Seth Olenick

#63 Andy Borowitz

In a must listen episode for any person who loves to read, the editor of The New York Times Book Review is talking with Michael about writing, criticism and most of all, reading.  Her new book, the memoir My Life with Bob: Flawed Heroine Keeps Book of Books, Plot Ensues chronicles her life through all the books she’s read, tracing her life through high school and college, in her travels from Paris to London to Thailand, from job to job, through her failed first marriage and her current life as a mother, wife and the editor as arguably one of the most important book reviews in the world.

#64 Pamela Paul

The president of Planned Parenthood talks to Michael about how she got started in activism and organizing and what it was like growing up in conservative Texas as the daughter of two outspoken liberals. She also delves into the important work Planned Parenthood is doing today for women’s health in spite of the opposition from those who oppose birth control and abortion, just two of the many services they offer, and how she deals with people who disagree.

#65 Cecile Richards

Doug Stanhope is considered the comedian’s comedian for his precise writing and insightful, often cynical, and controversial social and political comedy.  He’s also known for his use of drugs and alcohol. In this episode he talks to Michael about his work, fans, and they get into a fascinating conversation on how he uses booze and pills to help him through his crippling social anxiety - it’s so bad he can’t be around people or perform on stage without self medicating (and yes, he openly drank throughout this interview).

#66 Doug Stanhope

In 1978, Ina Garten took a huge risk and left her job as a budget analyst in the White House to pursue her dream working with food. She packed her bags, moved to the Hamptons, bought a specialty food store and "The Barefoot Contessa" was born. In this enlightening and charming episode, the down-to-earth Food Network star shares her story of “jumping into the pond” by teaching herself to cook and run a business with no experience, when she knew it was time to leave, and she dishes about the challenges she faced along the road to becoming a bestselling cookbook author and TV star.

Episode 67: Ina Garten

In this in-depth interview show, Black takes listeners into the minds of some of today’s most fascinating people to discuss how they became, well, amazing.  Brought to you by PRX and Audible.

How To Be Amazing

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