Best Brendan Dowd Podcasts (2025)

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NASA's Gemini Space Program With Jeffrey Kluger 37:50

Play Pause

2h ago37:50

37:50

Send us a text Let's launch! Jeffrey Kluger joins me to talk Gemini: Stepping Stone to the Moon, the Untold Story. Buy Gemini Support the showBy Brendan Dowd

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25 Years Ago, Bullseye with Jesse Thorn was a weird college radio show 51:14

7d ago51:14

51:14

The Bullseye 25th anniversary celebration continues! This week, Jesse reunites with his old college co-hosts Jordan Morris and Gene O’Neil to reminisce about the early days of the show. We'll have vintage interviews with Patton Oswalt, David Cross, Matt Besser and Dick Dale, The King of the Surf Guitar! Learn more about sponsor message choices: pod…

1
Elizabeth I, James I, and the Death of the Tudor Dynasty With Tracy Borman 38:29

1d ago38:29

38:29

Send us a text Let's succeed! Tracy Borman joins me to talk The Stolen Crown: Treachery, Deceit, and the Death of the Tudor Dynasty. Buy The Stolen Crown Check out Tracy's website Support the showBy Brendan Dowd

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Roy Wood Jr., Jason Mantzoukas, Rebecca Sugar – Live at LAist 1:05:47

14d ago1:05:47

1:05:47

This whole month, we’re ringing in 25 years of Bullseye being on the airwaves. If you’ve heard our archives you might have heard Bullseye referred to as The Sound of Young America. That was the show’s original name when it started as a college radio show back at Santa Cruz’s KZSC. To kick off our 25th anniversary, we’re bringing you the first of ma…

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Teddy Roosevelt with Bret Baier 23:55

15d ago23:55

23:55

Send us a text Let's act like a bull moose! Bret Baier joins me to talk his book To Rescue the American Spirit: Teddy Roosevelt and the Birth of a Superpower. Buy To Rescue the American Spirit Check out Bret's website Support the show

51
Marc Maron & Brendan McDonald 1:06:33

9d ago1:06:33

1:06:33

WTF with Marc Maron revolutionized the medium of podcasting. Despite being one of the most popular podcasts in history, the show was run by two people: Marc Maron as the host, and Brendan McDonald as his producer. Maron and McDonald talked to Bullseye about WTF’s origins, their equal partnership in producing the show, and why it ended. Learn more a…

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Ana Fabrega, co-creator of ‘Los Espookys’ 41:04

25d ago41:04

41:04

This week, we’re looking back on some of our favorite Spooky season interviews from across the twenty-five years we’ve been doing Bullseye. Ana Fabrega is a comedian, actor, writer, and co-creator of the show Los Espookys. In 2022, Ana joined us to talk about the show after it had just wrapped its second and final season. Learn more about sponsor m…

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The Exoneration Fight of Leo Schofield With Pulitzer Prize Winner Gilbert King 40:20

24d ago40:20

40:20

Send us a text Let's get him out! Pulitzer Prize Winner Gilbert King joins me to talk his book Bone Valley: A True Story of Injustice and Redemption in the Heart of Florida. Buy Bone Valley Check out Gilbert's website Support the showBy Brendan Dowd

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Bruce Campbell 40:16

28d ago40:16

40:16

Just in time for the spooky season, we're reaching deep into the furthest, darkest reaches of the Bullseye archives for this conversation with Bruce Campbell. The cult movie actor starred in Sam Raimi's "Evil Dead" – an absolute horror classic. When we talked to Bruce in 2011 he spoke with our correspondent Jordan Morris about the DIY aesthetic of …

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Yaya Bey 41:28

20d ago41:28

41:28

Today on Bullseye, it’s songwriter and recording artist Yaya Bey! She just wrapped up a national tour in support of her new album, do it afraid. She talks to Bullseye about blending genres, and coming out on top after a tumultuous handful of years. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy…

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The Zorg, The Slave Ship That Ignited Abolition with Siddharth Kara 41:29

23d ago41:29

41:29

Send us a text Let's start a movement! Siddharth Kara joins me to discuss The Zorg: A Tale of Greed and Murder That Inspired the Abolition of Slavery. Buy The Zorg Support the showBy Brendan Dowd

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Nick Offerman 40:52

23d ago40:52

40:52

Nick Offerman (Parks and Recreation, Fargo, The Last of Us) returns to the show to talk about his new book, Little Woodchucks, and to share why woodworking is such a big part of his life. Plus, he gives Jesse a deep tissue massage. Yep, on the radio! Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy…

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'Slow Horses' creator Will Smith 36:58

1M ago36:58

36:58

Will Smith is the creator and showrunner of the hit Apple TV spy thriller Slow Horses. Smith talks with Jesse about the show's unique blend of drama, action and comedy. He also shares how he learned from Armando Iannucci, the best in the biz, while working on Veep and The Thick of It. Also discussed: farts! And how star Gary Oldman's character Jack…

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The Trial of Al Qaeda Terrorist Spin Ghul with Jake Tapper 40:48

1M ago40:48

40:48

By Brendan Dowd

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Gwendoline Christie 41:00

1M ago41:00

41:00

This week, it’s Gwendoline Christie! She’s best known for her part as Brienne of Tarth on Game of Thrones. Game of Thrones launched Christie’s career. Before it wrapped, she was cast in two Star Wars movies. She recently earned an Emmy nomination for her part in Severance as the lady who was in charge of all the goats. She talks to Bullseye about a…

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Why Digable Planets' Blowout Comb is one of the greatest albums of all time 20:54

2M ago20:54

20:54

Canonball is a segment that takes a closer look at albums that should be considered classics. This time around, Diallo Riddle and LUXXURY of the One Song podcast discuss the game changing album Blowout Comb by Digable Planets. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy…

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The Sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald with John Bacon 40:43

2M ago40:43

40:43

Send us a text Let's remember the Mighty Fitz! John Bacon joins me to talk The Gales of November: The Untold Story of the Edmund Fitzgerald. Buy The Gales of November Check out John's website Support the showBy Brendan Dowd

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Ghostface Killah 45:23

1M ago45:23

45:23

We're joined today by Ghostface Killah, a founding member of the hip-hop collective Wu-Tang Clan. In 1996, Ghost put out Supreme Clientele – that record cemented his legacy. If you pull up one of those 100 best rap albums of all times list, you're bound to see it show up. Ghostface joins us on the latest episode of Bullseye to talk about Supreme Cl…

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Sonia Manzano 51:27

2M ago51:27

51:27

For nearly 5 decades, Sonia Manzano played the part of Maria on Sesame Street. She was the first Latina on the show – it was a big step forward for Latinas on TV! In 2021, she launched her own show called Alma’s Way. It’s an animated kids series about Alma Rivera, a 6-year-old Puerto Rican girl living in the Bronx. This conversation was originally …

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Deadwood with Peter Cozzens 32:49

2M ago32:49

32:49

Send us a text Let's strike gold! Peter Cozzens discusses his book Deadwood: Gold, Guns, and Greed in the American West. Buy Deadwood Check out Peter's website Support the showBy Brendan Dowd

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Christopher Lloyd 34:34

1M ago34:34

34:34

Christopher Lloyd has performed in a number of iconic roles over the years and at the age of 86 he has no plans to stop anytime soon. When Jesse last spoke with the Hollywood veteran, they chatted about his remarkable career in acting and what’s been keeping him in the biz. They also talked about his most memorable roles including his part as Judge…

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Elizabeth Gilbert 39:43

2M ago39:43

39:43

If you know Elizabeth Gilbert's name, it might be for her book Eat, Pray, Love. Earlier this month, Gilbert published a very different memoir: All the Way to the River: Love, Loss, and Liberation. It centers around her relationship with her partner, the writer Rayya Elias and the aftermath of her cancer diagnosis. Elizabeth Gilbert joins us to talk…

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The Special Counsel Cases of Nixon, Reagan, Bush, Clinton, Biden, and Trump with Elie Honig 51:09

2M ago51:09

51:09

Send us a text Let's get legal! CNN's Elie Honig talks his book When You Come at the King: Inside DOJ's Pursuit of the President, from Nixon to Trump. Buy When You Come at the King Support the showBy Brendan Dowd

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Jinkx Monsoon 44:24

2M ago44:24

44:24

Jinkx Monsoon is a legend in the world of drag. For fans of RuPaul's Drag Race she is often referred to as "Queen of All Queens" – she's the only performer to win that competition show twice. More recently she's been performing on stage like Little Shop of Horrors and Chicago. Currently, you can catch her on Broadway in Cole Escola's Tony award-win…

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Jason Segel 42:02

2M ago42:02

42:02

Jason Segel starred in Freaks and Geeks, How I Met Your Mother, Knocked Up. But he's also an accomplished writer and creator. He wrote the classic romcom Forgetting Sarah Marshall, and revived The Muppets for a new generation.When Jesse talked to Segel in 2020, Jason had just created the weird and wonderful TV drama Dispatches from Elsewhere - a sh…

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Bob Odenkirk 50:44

2M ago50:44

50:44

Bob Odenkirk is an alt-comedy legend. He wrote for Saturday Night Live in the 90s. Then he got the part in Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul as Saul Goodman. He’s also a writer. With the help of his children, he released a collection of poems called Zilot & Other Important Rhymes. Bob joins us to talk about writing poetry and how he turned his worn…

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1999 with Ross Benes 33:42

2M ago33:42

33:42

Send us a text Let's revisit the 90s! Author Ross Benes joins me to talk 1999: The Year Low Culture Conquered America and Kickstarted Our Bizarre Times. Buy 1999 Check out Ross' website Support the showBy Brendan Dowd

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Genndy Tartakovsky 43:59

2M ago43:59

43:59

There aren't many animators more beloved than Genndy Tartakovsky. He created two golden era Cartoon Network shows: Dexter's Laboratory and Samurai Jack. He has worked on countless other animated projects including Star Wars: Clone Wars, Batman: The Animated Series, Hotel Transylvania and many more. Genndy joins us to talk about his latest animated …

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"Pirate" Captain William Kidd with Samuel Marquis 39:01

2M ago39:01

39:01

Send us a text Let's hang'em from the yardarm! Samuel Marquis joins me to talk his book Captain Kidd: A True Story of Treasure and Betrayal. Buy Captain Kidd Check out Samuel's website Support the showBy Brendan Dowd

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Alex Edelman 40:32

2M ago40:32

40:32

Alex Edelman plays Adam Cooper on The Paper, the new show from NBC set in the universe of The Office. Edelman is also an award winning standup and writer. His solo show, Just For Us, offers a very funny, very personal examination of white supremacy and Jewish identity. He talks to Bullseye about his unlikely position as the least impressive member …

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Documentary filmmaker Victor Kossakovsky 35:59

2M ago35:59

35:59

Filmmaker Victor Kosskovsky has been thinking quite a lot about rocks these days. Things like big granite boulders, crushed up gravel and stunning slabs of marble. He formed those thoughts, and some opinions, into his most recent documentary: Architecton. It’s a movie entirely about stone. Victor joined us to talk about Architecton, what drew him t…

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The World War II Women of the Italian Resistance with Suzanne Cope 40:25

3M ago40:25

40:25

Send us a text Let's tell the Germans arrivederci! Suzanne Cope joins me to talk Women of War: The Italian Assassins, Spies, and Couriers Who Fought the Nazis. Buy Women of War Check out Suzanne's website Support the showBy Brendan Dowd

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HAIM 37:10

2M ago37:10

37:10

We're joined by the principal members of the band HAIM: Alana, Danielle and Este Haim. In 2013, they released their critically acclaimed debut album Days Are Gone and the rest is history. HAIM joins us in the studio to talk about making the latest record: I Quit. They also get into growing up in the San Fernando Valley and the shocking lyrics in th…

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The Beach Boys' Al Jardine 49:26

3M ago49:26

49:26

Our guest this week is Al Jardine, one of the founding members of The Beach Boys alongside Brian Wilson, Carl Wilson, Dennis Wilson, and Mike Love. Jardine left the Beach Boys in 1998 and has toured solo ever since. He just released an EP called Islands In The Sun, and he’s touring it with Brian Wilson’s band. Al Jardine talked with Bullseye about …

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Catholic Saints and Canonization with Kate Sidley 30:44

3M ago30:44

30:44

Send us a text Let's get canonized! Kate Sidley joins me to discuss her book How to Be a Saint: An Extremely Weird and Mildly Sacrilegious History of The Catholic Church's Biggest Names. Buy How to Be a Saint Check out Kate's website Support the showBy Brendan Dowd

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Marlee Matlin 59:10

3M ago59:10

59:10

Earlier this year, Marlee Matlin was the subject of the documentary Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore. The film chronicles her life and career as a performer and her efforts to make movies and TV more inclusive for deaf performers. Marlee and her longtime interpreter Jack joined us to talk about the documentary, Marlee’s career in showbusiness and m…

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Fishbone's Angelo Moore & Chris Dowd 33:03

3M ago33:03

33:03

In the world of ska and punk music Fishbone are legends. We're joined by Angelo Moore and Chris Dowd, founding members of the band. Earlier this summer the band released their 8th full-length LP, Stockholm Syndrome. They talk about why the latest record is something they always dreamed of making. They also get into the bands that helped them visual…

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Saint Thomas More with Joanne Paul 50:25

3M ago50:25

50:25

Send us a text Let's make our own utopia! Joanne Paul joins me to talk her book Thomas More: A Life. Buy Thomas More: A Life Check out Joanne's website Support the showBy Brendan Dowd

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Paul Walter Hauser 37:58

3M ago37:58

37:58

Paul Walter Hauser has a great list of big movie appearances. He’s in Fantastic Four and The Naked Gun, and he’ll be appearing in movies like Americana and the Bruce Springsteen biopic. Hauser talks to Bullseye about his unique path to his current acting career, as well as his other labor of love: professional wrestling. Learn more about sponsor me…

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Punk rock band PUP 43:09

3M ago43:09

43:09

Punk rock band PUP released their fifth studio album Who Will Look After the Dogs? back in May. We’re joined by the band’s lead singer Stefan Babcock and guitarist Steve Sladkowski to talk about the new record. They also chatted with us about their live shows and how the mosh pits at their shows and more! Learn more about sponsor message choices: p…

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Scott Anderson on the Iranian Revolution 52:51

3M ago52:51

52:51

Send us a text Let's predict a revolution! Scott Anderson joins me to discuss his book King of Kings: The Iranian Revolution: A Story of Hubris, Delusion and Catastrophic Miscalculation. Buy King of Kings Support the showBy Brendan Dowd

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Akiva Schaffer on 'The Naked Gun' reboot , The Lonely Island and more 48:25

3M ago48:25

48:25

There’s probably nobody better to direct and write a movie like The Naked Gun reboot than Akiva Schaffer. He has a resume full of brilliant, dumb, joke-a-minute work. Together with Andy Samberg and Jorma Taccone he is a member of the comedy trio The Lonely Island. Akiva wasn’t sure he wanted to direct The Naked Gun at first, he gets into why. Plus,…

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Arooj Aftab 29:46

3M ago29:46

29:46

In 2021, Arooj Aftab became the first Pakistani to win a Grammy. It was a Best Global Music Performance for her single "Mohabbat" off of her 2021 album Vulture Prince. Her latest album is called Night Reign. Like Vulture Prince, It's ethereal and beautiful and kind of haunting. In this conversation, Aftab talks about the influence of Meshell Ndegeo…

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Argentina's Abuelas de Plaza de Mayo Who Fought to Find Their Lost Grandchildren with Haley Cohen Gilliland 48:48

4M ago48:48

48:48

Send us a text Let's find family! Haley Cohen Gilliland joins me to talk A Flower Traveled in My Blood: The Incredible True Story of the Grandmothers Who Fought to Find a Stolen Generation of Children. Buy A Flower Traveled in My Blood Check out Haley's website Support the showBy Brendan Dowd

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Eugenio Derbez 40:34

3M ago40:34

40:34

Eugenio Derbez has arguably earned the title of most successful comedy actor in Latin America. And in 2013, his film Instructions Not Included helped make him a star here in the United States. These days you can catch Eugenio in the show Acapulco, which is entering its fourth and final season on Apple TV +. Eugenio joins us to talk about the new se…

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Megan Stalter 29:39

3M ago29:39

29:39

Megan Stalter is an actor and comedian. She plays Kayla Schaefer on the hit show Hacks. She's the wildly inappropriate, yet charming assistant to Paul W. Downs' manager character. When we talked last year, Stalter had just starred in the movie Cora Bora. She played the title character, a singer/songwriter in a long distance relationship that she se…

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Amelia Earhart and Her Husband George Putnam with Laurie Gwen Shapiro 54:54

4M ago54:54

54:54

Send us a text Let's take to the skies! Laurie Gwen Shapiro joins me to talk The Aviator and the Showman: Amelia Earhart, George Putnam, and the Marriage that Made an American Icon. Buy The Aviator and the Showman Check out Laurie's website Support the showBy Brendan Dowd

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Severance's Tramell Tillman 26:52

4M ago26:52

26:52

Tramell Tillman plays Mr. Milchick on Severance, the bizarre, fascinating sci-fi workplace show on Apple TV +. Tramell Tillman is great as Mr Milchick. He shares how he collaborated with Ben Stiller to create the character. He also talks with us about his upbringing in Baltimore, his experience being raised in the Baptist church, and his early appe…

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Congress has voted to eliminate government funding for public media 2:01

4M ago2:01

2:01

Act now to ensure public media remains free and accessible to all. Your donation will help this essential American service survive and thrive. Visit donate.npr.org now. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

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Folk guitarist Hayden Pedigo 40:52

4M ago40:52

40:52

Hayden Pedigo writes sprawling, beautiful songs around the acoustic guitar. Hayden just put out a new record called I'll Be Waving As You Drive Away. He stopped by the studio to talk about his songwriting process and even brought his guitar by the studio for a live performance. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices …