Downtown: The Podcast

Claire McNear, Ray Stevens. Author Claire McNear discusses her great new book on Jeopardy, “Answers In The Form Of Questions” and Country Music Hall of Famer Ray Stevens looks back on his more than six decades of making music and making people laugh.

John Oates, Dr. Demento. John Oates discusses his new album, “Live In Nashville” and his long partnership with Daryl Hall. Radio legend Dr. Demento fills us in on his new collection, “First Century Dementia: The Oldest Novelty Records of All Time.”    

Chris Hillman. Singer-songwriter-musician Chris Hillman talks with us about his new memoir, “Time Between: My Life As A Byrd, Burrito Brother, and Beyond.”  

Don McLean, Don Danneman. Singer-Songwriter Don McLean talks with us about his new album, “Still Playin’ Favorites.” Singer and guitarist Don Dannemann looks back on his time in The Cyrkle, who scored huge hits with Red Rubber Ball and Turn Down Day.  

Thom Zimny, Jonathan Lethem. Director Thom Zimny discusses his new documentary of the making of “Letter To You”, the latest album from Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band. Novelist Jonathan Lethem previews his new book, “The Arrest”, and looks back on classic “Motherless Brooklyn” and “The Fortress of Solitude.”

Rosanne Cash, Merrill Markoe. Singer-songwriter Rosanne Cash returns to discuss the making of her new song, “Crawl Into The Promised Land” and the importance of the upcoming election. Award-winning writer Merrill Markoe talks about her new book and first graphic novel, “We Saw Scenery: The Early Diaries of Merrill Markoe.”    

Richard Schiff, Loudon Wainwright III. Actor Richard Schiff talked with us about the recent West Wing reunion on HBO Max and shared his thoughts on the coming election. Singer-songwriter Loudon Wainwright III discusses his new album of standards, “I’d Rather Lead A Band.”

Patty Smyth & Barry Livingston. Singer-songwriter Patty Smyth talks with us about the making of her new album, “It’s About Time”, and actor Barry Livingston discusses his early work on “My Three Sons” and “Ozzie & Harriet” and his transition into a character actor in films like “Argo” and “The Social Network” as well as “Mad Men” and “Bosch”.  

Michael Ian Black, Terri Cheney. Actor-Comedian Michael Ian Black discusses his new book, “A Better Man: A (Mostly Serious) Letter To My Son", a terrific look at parenting and what it means to be a man. New York Times best-selling author Terri Cheney talks about her latest, “Modern Madness: An Owner’s Manual", a powerful look at the day-to-day life of someone dealing with mental illness.    

Chip Monck, the legendary lighting designer, talks about his long career from lighting Dylan and Joan Baez to the Monterrey Pop Festival, Woodstock (where he also served as Master of Ceremonies), the Stones at Altamont, and Ali-Frasier and the Rumble In The Jungle.      

Jeff Pearlman, Colin Fleming. Jeff Pearlman returns to the podcast to discuss his new book, “Three Ring Circus: Kobe, Shaq, Phil, and the Crazy Years of the Lakers Dynasty”, and writer Colin Fleming discusses some autumnal pop culture delights from Hitchcock to The Beatles.    

Kim Richey, Grayson Hugh. Singer-songwriters featured this week on the Podcast. Grayson Hugh looks back at his success with "Talk It Over" and Director Ridley Scott using two of his songs in "Thelma & Louise", details some of his struggles, and fills us in on his new project, "Save Your Love For Me". Kim Richey talks about her latest album, "A Long Way Back: The Songs of Glimmer", featuring new takes on the songs she first recorded more than twenty years ago, and she discusses the songwriting process, and her work as a backing vocalist for people like Jason Isbell.  

Jonathan Schaech, Angela Cartwright. Actor Johnathon Schaech fills us in on what he's been doing during the pandemic and discusses his new movie, "Blue Ridge". Angela Cartwright looks back on her work on The Danny Thomas Show, The Sound of Music, and Lost In Space, and talks about her many years creating art, photographs, jewelry, and more.  

Radney Foster, Sloan DeForest. Singer-songwriter Radney Foster discusses his music career from Foster & Lloyd to his acclaimed solo work, and his recent short story collection, For You To See The Stars. Author and film historian Sloan DeForest talks about some of the remarkable women of Hollywood history, chronicled in her book, Dynamic Dames.      

Stephen Tobolowsky, G.E. Smith. Actor & author Stephen Tobolowsky talks about life during the quarantine and upcoming episodes of The Tobolowsky Files and guitarist G.E. Smith discusses his new album with LeRoy Bell, “Stiny Hill”.