Tracy Daugherty, author of "The Last Love Song," explains how he went on to write his unauthorized biography despite Didion's lack of cooperation. 

Web Extra: Tracy Daugherty on Writing an Unauthorized Joan Didion Biography

Indie folk musician Greta Kline (aka Frankie Cosmos) offers up  a cheesy way to help lure a bear out of a cave, if for some reason that's something you'd want to do. 

Frankie Cosmos - 'Camembert'

Rebecca Lehrer, co-host of the podcast The Mash-Up Americans, fills us in on the recent auction sale of Thomas Jefferson's hair (which sold for over $6800!) and how it may give us new insight into the historical figure. 

Thomas Jefferson's Hair Sells 190 Years After His Death

Back in 1902, a guy named Willis Carrier drew up plans for an invention that made life a lot more comfortable for everybody. Learn the history of the modern air conditioner and get a chilly drink to go with it.


How Willis Carrier Helped us Keep our Cool

We talk with the inventor of the Cheese Grotto, a new specialty device that works like a lot like a cigar humidor for your cheese.


Why You Might Want to Reconsider How You Store Your Cheese

Actor Viola Davis — star of the ABC hit show “How to Get Away with Murder” — waxes poetic on the wonders of Vaseline… Broadway star Alan Cumming gives us an etiquette lesson and reminds us that he is NOT a performing poodle… Jane’s Addiction guitarist Dave Navarro navigates the darkest moment of his life in his new documentary “Mourning Son”… Musician M. Ward DJs your dinner party… Plus, the history of New York’s first subway and a hip underground companion cocktail, robotic animal decoys, and more!

Episode 339: Viola Davis, Alan Cumming, Dave Navarro

Movie star Colin Farrell considers his new film, “The Lobster”… Comedian Maria Bamford channels her mother (and her mother’s hairdresser) to give us etiquette advice… Writer and activist Lindy West stands up for Kermit the Frog… Musician Frankie Cosmos DJs your dinner/pajama party (no boys allowed!)… Writer and rocker John Doe regales us with stories of the early ’80s punk scene in LA (X marks the spot)… Plus, hairy dead presidents, the lonely journey of the Gar-Barge, a trashy cocktail, and more!

Episode 347: Colin Farrell, Maria Bamford, Frankie Cosmos

The author of "The Girls" -- this summer's hottest literary debut -- answers our two standard questions, talks about her writing process, and defends clamshell cell phones.

Emma Cline Answers Our Two Standard Questions

During our 300th episode, we highlighted all the ways Kai has kindly lent his voice for gags on DPD.

Kai on DPD

Rico chats with filmmaker Erik Shirai about his debut film, which chronicles how one brewery in Japan crafts the spirit from its fermented rice beginnings, to the bottling, and beyond.


The Myths and Miseries of Saké-Making

The New York Times columnist answers the question, "Is what's good for writing columns the same as what's good for democracy?"

Maureen Dowd Etiquette Web Extra

Hear the "Neruda" and "Mozart in the Jungle" actor share thoughts on Cuba in the wake of Fidel Castro's death.

Gael Garcia Bernal On Fidel Castro's Death

Carey Jones writes about drink and travel for Saveur magazine and won a James Beard Award for Best Food blog. Her book "Brooklyn Bartender" dives deep into cocktail culture. She knows what she's talking about, basically, so Rico was surprised when she revealed her drink of choice for our Martini Madness tournament.

Daiquiri History

Coming June 23rd, "Look Up and Listen!" is an hour-long audio odyssey designed to reacquaint the busy human with the wonders of nature! Hosts Rico Gagliano and Brendan Francis Newnam -- two hopeless city slickers-- will stumble their way through the woods (and ultimately into space, and around the world) gleaning wisdom about the great outdoors from unexpected sources: Neil deGrasse Tyson, Feist, Fleet Foxes, a talking wolf, and more. This aural adventure is meant to be experienced OUTSIDE, so grab your favorite audio player, pack a night picnic, lay out a blanket...and look up and listen.  

"Look Up and Listen!" is a supported by the NEA, in conjunction with the National Park Service. It's produced by the "The Dinner Party Download" -- a national arts & culture show from American Public Media. For more information about this project, head to www.dinnerpartydownload.org/lookup.

Look Up and Listen! - Trailer

Future Islands built a pet-friendly playlist for us, but in this bonus audio, they come up with a great idea to take your party to the next level.

Future Islands - Seltzer Keg

In this bonus audio, author Annie Spence shares a slightly scandalous love letter to a novel that she recommends to every teenage girl: "Forever" by Judy Blume.

Web Extra - Annie Spence

"The Dinner Party Download"(www.dinnerpartydownload.com) is a smart, funny public radio show about everything excellent in culture, from the company that brings you "Marketplace." Think NPR meets Vanity Fair. In each episode, hosts Rico Gagliano & Brendan Francis Newnam talk with some of the world's most interesting celebrities, and along the way equip you with bad jokes, fresh drink recipes, hot food finds, odd news items... and etiquette tips from the likes of Henry Rollins and Dick Cavett. Past guests include Michelle Williams, Judd Apatow, Kid Cudi, Sir Richard Branson and others. Wallpaper magazine calls it one of their "30 Reasons To Live In The USA."

The Dinner Party Download

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