Best Lucy Patterson Podcasts (2025)

1
The Face-Off Between Harvard & The Trump Administration 45:15

1h ago45:15

45:15

The Trump administration has frozen around 3 billion dollars in Harvard grants and contracts, and is trying to stop the university's ability to enroll foreign students. In response, Harvard is suing. Terry Gross talks with Harvard Law Professor Noah Feldman. TV critic David Banculli previews CNN's live telecast of the broadway production of Good Ni…

1
To Shed Luke Skywalker, Mark Hamill Turned To Voiceover Work 46:09

37m ago46:09

46:09

Mark Hamill played Luke Skywalker, one of the most iconic heroes in movie history. His latest film, The Life of Chuck, is an adaptation of a Stephen King novella. He spoke to Fresh Air about auditioning for Star Wars, voiceover work, and the advice Carrie Fisher gave him. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Pr…

1
With 'I Love Lucy,' Desi Arnaz Changed TV Forever 45:00

24h ago45:00

45:00

The success of I Love Lucy is often credited to Lucille Ball's comedic talent, but biographer Todd Purdum says Desi Arnaz was more than just "second banana" to Lucy. He also helped shape the modern sitcom. Also, TV critic David Bianculli reviews a documentary about John Lennon and Yoko Ono. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.c…

1
Best Of: Sarah Silverman / Cole Escola 48:19

3d ago48:19

48:19

Comic Sarah Silverman talks about her new Netflix special, PostMortem, about the death of her father and stepmother, 9 days apart. She talks with Terry Gross about how the special came to be. Also, we hear from Cole Escola, creator and star of the hit Broadway comedy Oh Mary! It's an intentionally ridiculous reimagining of first lady Mary Todd Linc…

1
A Veteran Stunt Performer Shares Tricks Of The Trade 45:13

4d ago45:13

45:13

Filmmaker and stunt coordinator David Leitch says it's easier to do stunts himself than direct his stunt performer friends. "You are responsible for their safety," he explains. "Your heart goes through your chest." His film The Fall Guy is about the unknown performers who put their lives on the line. He spoke with Terry Gross about barrel rolling c…

1
Sarah Silverman Finds The Funny In Grief 44:37

5d ago44:37

44:37

Silverman's father and stepmother are buried under one tombstone that reads: "Janice and Donald, who loved to laugh." The loss was a starting point for Silverman's "cathartic" Netflix comedy special, PostMortem. She spoke with Terry Gross about their final days, finding the joy in grief, and she reflects on the boys' club of the comedy scene when s…

1
The Zodiac Killer: Part Two | #401 1:03:31

6d ago1:03:31

1:03:31

Last week we left you with the absolutely massive cliffhanger of a 408-character cipher, which in theory contained valuable information on the Bay Area’s most infamous killer “The Zodiac”. But first it needed to be solved. And amazingly it wasn’t cracked by the police, or the FBI: it was solved by a 41-year-old history teacher and his wife, and we’…

1
The Talented Mr. Vance 45:10

6d ago45:10

45:10

The Atlantic writer George Packer calls JD Vance the most interesting figure in the Trump administration: "He's capable of complex thought, and I also think he may be the future of the MAGA movement." Also, David Bianculli reviews the HBO movie Mountainhead, written by Succession writer/creator Jesse Armstrong. Learn more about sponsor message choi…

1
Author James Patterson On The Art Of Collaboration 46:35

7d ago46:35

46:35

James Patterson's books have sold over 400 million copies worldwide. He says he often gets ideas for them late at night. His latest, The #1 Dad Book, offers advice for fathers. He spoke with Terry Gross at a WHYY live event for the "Lifelong Learning Award." Also, Martin Johnson reviews a new album from accordionist Will Holshouser, and we listen b…

1
Questlove On Sly Stone And The Burden Of Black Genius 45:47

8d ago45:47

45:47

For the holiday weekend, we're revisiting our recent interview with Questlove. His documentary, SLY LIVES! (aka The Burden of Black Genius), examines Sly Stone's enormous impact on music — and the price he paid for it. "Sly will invent the alphabet for which most of pop and R&B or Black music will write from for the next 60 years," Questlove says. …

1
Best Of: Education & A.I. / Having A Child In The Digital Age 48:24

11d ago48:24

48:24

Professors and educators are now turning to A.I. to prepare lessons, teach, and even grade students' work. We talk with New York Times tech reporter Kashmir Hill about the ongoing debate in higher-ed about A.I.. TV critic David Bianculli reviews One to One, a new documentary about John Lennon and Yoko Ono. Also, writer Amanda Hess talks about mothe…

1
Remembering Broadway Composer Charles Strouse 46:46

11d ago46:46

46:46

We remember Broadway composer Charles Strouse, who died May 15 at age 96. He wrote the music for the hit musicals Bye Bye Birdie and Annie, which included such songs as "Put On a Happy Face," "A Lot of Livin' to Do," and "Tomorrow." Jay-Z sampled "Hard Knock Life," from Annie, on a Grammy-award-winning rap recording. Strouse understood why: "I want…

1
Walton Goggins Was Raised By A Village 45:07

12d ago45:07

45:07

Walton Goggins talks with Tonya Mosley about growing up poor in the Deep South, the travel that changed him, and collaborating with his wife. He says his unconventional childhood shaped his approach to acting, from Justified to The White Lotus and The Righteous Gemstones. David Bianculli reviews a new two-part HBO documentary about Paul Reubens, wh…

1
The Way Home Podcast: Caleb Morell on The History of Capitol Hill Baptist Church 42:02

13d ago42:02

42:02

The Way Home Podcast returns from hiatus! Today, we have Caleb Morell on The Way Home Podcast! Caleb Morell is the associate pastor of the historic Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington, DC, and its influence on Baptist and evangelicalism across our nation’s history. Today on The Way Home Podcast, Dan and Caleb discuss the long and rich history…

1
The Way Home Podcast: Caleb Morell on The History of Capitol Hill Baptist Church 42:02

12d ago42:02

42:02

The Way Home Podcast returns from hiatus! Today, we have Caleb Morell on The Way Home Podcast! Caleb Morell is the associate pastor of the historic Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington, DC, and its influence on Baptist and evangelicalism across our nation’s history. Today on The Way Home Podcast, Dan and Caleb discuss the long and rich history…

1
The Zodiac Killer: Part One | #400 58:59

14d ago58:59

58:59

Violent attacks, sadistic taunting, and uncrackable puzzles; in some ways “The Zodiac” laid the foundations for every murderous TV psychopath and movie villain of the next half-century. For our 400th episode we decided to dedicate three whole episodes to the potentially the most famous serial killer in history: how he operated, how his puzzles were…

51
Professors Are Using A.I., Too. Now What? 44:14

13d ago44:14

44:14

Colleges and universities have been trying to fight against students using tools like ChatGPT to do class assignments and communicate. But here's a twist: Professors and educators are now turning to A.I. to prepare lessons, teach, and even grade students' work. We talk with NYT tech reporter Kashmir Hill about these conflicts on campus. Also, she s…

1
Inside The "Cover-Up" Of President Biden's Decline 44:11

14d ago44:11

44:11

CNN host Jake Tapper's book, Original Sin, co-authored by Alex Thompson, describes a president who struggled to function: "One person told us that the presidency was, at best, a five-person board with Joe Biden as chairman." Tapper spoke with Terry Gross about moderating the disastrous Biden/Trump debate, George Clooney's op-ed calling for the pres…

1
Cole Escola's 'Stupid' Dream Came True With 'Oh, Mary!' 45:35

16d ago45:35

45:35

Escola gives former first lady Mary Todd Lincoln a wild second act in the Tony-nominated play Oh, Mary! "This play is about a woman with a dream that no one around her understands," Escola says. The actor spoke with Ann Marie Baldonado about growing up in rural Oregon, the inspiration for the play, and making sense of its surprise success. Maureen …

1
Best Of: Ramy Youssef / Danny McBride 48:31

17d ago48:31

48:31

Ramy Youssef's new animated comedy series, #1 Happy Family USA, is about an Egyptian American Muslim family living in New Jersey, after 9/11, trying to blend in and doing everything they can to avoid being seen as a threat. Youssef spoke with Terry Gross about the series and his own experience during that time. Also, Danny McBride talks with Tonya …

1
Zombies Frontman Colin Blunstone 46:22

18d ago46:22

46:22

There's a new documentary about the '60s British band The Zombies. It's called 'Hung Up on a Dream' and it's streaming on Amazon Prime. We're listening back to Terry's 1998 interview with lead singer of The Zombies, Colin Blunstone. The band had a reputation for being clean cut and well mannered. "People want rascals and rogues and naughty boys. So…

1
Navigating The 'Wellness' Epidemic 45:35

19d ago45:35

45:35

Journalist Amy Larocca says our society's obsession with optimization and self-care has reached a fever pitch. She unpacks what it really means to take care of ourselves in How to Be Well. Also, Justin Chang reviews the Chinese film Caught by the Tides. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy…

1
Sarbjit Kaur Athwal: Life Without Honour | #399 1:28:11

20d ago1:28:11

1:28:11

When her sister-in-law never returned from a trip to India, Sarbjit Kaur Athwal knew exactly what had happened: her mother-in-law had made no secret of her plan to “get rid of” Surjit – the outspoken thorn in the family’s side. But Sarbjit also knew what she was up against: a strict code of honour; the threat of shame and total rejection by her com…

1
His Cancer Meds Were Nearly $1K A Pill. How Did That Happen? 46:22

21d ago46:22

46:22

ProPublica reporter David Armstrong began investigating the pharmaceutical industry when he learned a single pill of his cancer treatment costs about the same as a new iPhone — but costs 25 cents to make. His investigation into the discovery and marketing of the drug Revlimid revealed strategies employed by pharmaceutical companies to ward off comp…

1
FROM THE VAULT - Fred & Rose West: Parts 1&2 1:38:33

21d ago1:38:33

1:38:33

With the release of a new Netflix documentary on the Wests, we dove into the archive (way way back to episodes 27 and 28) to get you up to date with our in-depth two-parter on one of the UK's most infamous cases. -- Incest, rape, murder and torture dungeons; the girls take on one of Britain's most notorious serial killer couples - Fred and Rose Wes…

1
A Beginner's Guide to Empathy 23:35

22d ago23:35

23:35

In this episode, Lucy and Tracy delve into the critical role that empathy plays in design thinking; emphasising its importance in creating products and services that truly meet the needs of users. They discuss the consequences of neglecting empathy, share personal anecdotes, and provide practical tools and steps for fostering empathy in design proc…

1
Ramy Youssef Animates A Muslim Family's Post-9/11 Life 45:10

22d ago45:10

45:10

Actor Ramy Youssef was in 5th grade and living in New Jersey when the Twin Towers fell. His new Amazon Prime animated show, #1 Happy Family USA, draws on the experiences of his own Egyptian American family navigating Islamophobia after Sept. 11. Conan O'Brien was the recipient of this year's Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. David…

1
'Righteous Gemstones' Creator Danny McBride's Love Letter To The South 44:34

23d ago44:34

44:34

The Georgia native has seen how Hollywood traffics in stereotypes about the American South. He talks with Tonya Mosley about making creative work that challenges them. His HBO show The Righteous Gemstones, which satirizes televangelists, just wrapped its fourth and final season. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices…

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