Beginnings

Episode 329: Jill Eisenstadt

31 Aug 2017

Contributed by Lukas

On today's episode I talk to writer Jill Eisenstadt. Jill is the author of the novels From Rockaway, Kiss Out and Swell and with her sister, director ...

Episode 328: Zhubin Parang

24 Aug 2017

Contributed by Lukas

On today's episode I talk to Emmy-award winning writer and performer Zhubin Parang. Before coming to comedy, Zhubin graduated from Georgetown Universi...

Episode 327: Miles Kahn

17 Aug 2017

Contributed by Lukas

On today's episode I talk to Peabody Award–winning writer-director-producer Miles Kahn. Miles got his start in entertainment as a writer and directo...

Episode 326: Mattie Lubchansky

10 Aug 2017

Contributed by Lukas

On today's episode I talk to Queens-based cartoonist and illustrator Mattie Lubchansky. Mattie is the Associate Editor of the Nib, a daily political c...

Episode 325: Jeremy Pikser

03 Aug 2017

Contributed by Lukas

On today's episode I talk to screenwriter and activist Jeremy Pikser. Originally on his way to be a teacher, Jeremy instead became a screenwriter afte...

Episode 324: Sam Sinyangwe

27 Jul 2017

Contributed by Lukas

On today's episode I talk to policy analyst and data scientist Sam Sinyangwe. Sam grew up in Orlando, FL, and has been involved in organizing and advo...

Episode 323: Isaac Oliver

20 Jul 2017

Contributed by Lukas

On today's episode I talk to award-winning playwright, author, and performer Isaac Oliver. His debut collection of essays, Intimacy Idiot, was named o...

Episode 322: Aye Nako's Jade Payne and Mars Ganito

13 Jul 2017

Contributed by Lukas

On today's episode I talk to Jade Payne and Mars Ganito of the indie rock band Aye Nako. Formed in 2010, Aye Nako is a New York-based queer punk band ...

Bonus Episode 35: A Beginnings Live Music Mixtape

06 Jul 2017

Contributed by Lukas

I'm moving to LA this week, so I wanted to take a break from producing an episode to settle into the new digs and recover from having to take two cats...

Episode 321: Jen Goma of A Sunny Day in Glasgow

29 Jun 2017

Contributed by Lukas

On today's episode I talk to musician Jen Goma. Based in New York City, Jen writes and produces music, comedy and videos. She is a member of the bands...

Episode 320: Joseph Kertes

22 Jun 2017

Contributed by Lukas

On today's episode I talk to writer Joseph Kertes. Joe was born in Hungary but escaped with his family to Canada after the revolution of 1956. He stud...

Episode 319: Bill Scheft

15 Jun 2017

Contributed by Lukas

On today's episode I talk to novelist, columnist, and Emmy-nominated television writer Bill Scheft. Bill started his career as a sportswriter and as a...

Episode 318: Stephen Falk

08 Jun 2017

Contributed by Lukas

On today's episode I talk to writer and showrunner Stephen Falk. Born in Berkeley, CA, Stephen has been working in television for a number of years, s...

Episode 317: Joel Church-Cooper

01 Jun 2017

Contributed by Lukas

On today's episode I talk to writer and showrunner Joel Church-Cooper. Born in Sacramento, Joel grew up in Santa Cruz, and eventually made his way dow...

Episode 316: Damon Lindelof

25 May 2017

Contributed by Lukas

On today's episode I talk to writer and showrunner Damon Lindelof. Originally from Teaneck, NJ, Damon has been a successful television and screenwrite...

Episode 315: Patrick Adams

18 May 2017

Contributed by Lukas

On today's episode I talk to songwriter, arranger and record producer Patrick Adams. Originally from Harlem, Patrick has applied his magic touch to mo...

Episode 314: Chris Leo of The Van Pelt

11 May 2017

Contributed by Lukas

On today's episode I talk to musician Chris Leo. Originally from New Jersey, Chris started playing music in the early 1990s with his brother Danny in ...

Episode 313: Ronny Chieng

04 May 2017

Contributed by Lukas

On today's episode I talk to comedian Ronny Chieng. Born in Malaysia, Ronny was raised in New Hampshire and Singapore and graduated from the Universit...

Episode 312: Nathan Lee Graham

27 Apr 2017

Contributed by Lukas

On today's episode I talk to Grammy Award winning cabaret artist and actor Nathan Lee Graham. Originally from St. Louis, Nathan's notable film roles ...

Episode 311: Negin Farsad

20 Apr 2017

Contributed by Lukas

On today's episode I talk to writer, comedian and podcast host Negin Farsad. Originally from Palm Springs by-way-of Virginia, Negin is highly accompli...

Episode 310: Caissie St. Onge

13 Apr 2017

Contributed by Lukas

On today's episode I talk to Emmy nominated comedy writer Caissie St. Onge. Originally from Fitchberg, MA, Caissie is a prolific comedy writer. She's ...

Episode 309: Amy Hoggart

06 Apr 2017

Contributed by Lukas

On today's episode I talk to actor and comedian Amy Hoggart. Amy grew up in the suburbs of London, and though she received an advanced degree in clini...

Bonus Episode 34: Naomi Ekperigin asks Is Showbiz a Meritocracy?

30 Mar 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Every so often I do these "bonus episodes" where I talk to a showbiz professional about the actual nuts and bolts of different topics in the Entertain...

Episode 308: Tim Kasher of Cursive

23 Mar 2017

Contributed by Lukas

On today's episode I talk to musician Tim Kasher. Originally from Omaha, Nebraska, Tim has been playing music since he was young. One of Tim's first b...

Episode 307: NE-HI

20 Mar 2017

Contributed by Lukas

On today's episode I talk to Jason Balla and Mikey Wells of the indie rock band NE-HI. Based in Chicago, NE-HI originally formed in 2013 to score a f...

Episode 306: Jason Narducy of Split Single

16 Mar 2017

Contributed by Lukas

On today's episode I talk to musician Jason Narducy. Jason began his rock career at the age of ten when he co-founded the band Verböten – one of th...

Episode 305: David Harrington of Kronos Quartet

09 Mar 2017

Contributed by Lukas

On today's episode I talk to violinist David Harrington. Originally from Seattle, David is the founder of the renowned contemporary classical group Kr...

Episode 304: Mara Wilson

02 Mar 2017

Contributed by Lukas

On today's episode I talk to writer and actor Mara Wilson. Mara started off in showbiz as a child actor in such films as Mrs. Doubtfire, Miracle on 34...

Bonus Episode 33: Jesse David Fox of Vulture.com on Comedy Journalism

23 Feb 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Every so often I do these "bonus episodes" where I talk to a showbiz professional about the actual nuts and bolts of different topics in the Entertain...

Episode 303: Tim Kinsella of Joan of Arc and Cap'n Jazz

16 Feb 2017

Contributed by Lukas

On today's episode I talk to musician Tim Kinsella. Originally from Chicago, Tim has been part of some of the best indie rock bands of the last quarte...

Episode 302: Nadia Sirota

09 Feb 2017

Contributed by Lukas

On today's episode I talk to violist Nadia Sirota. Based in New York, Nadia is a Juilliard-trained violist best known for her singular sound and expre...

Episode 301: Sammus

02 Feb 2017

Contributed by Lukas

On today's episode I talk to rapper and academic Enongo Lumumba-Kasongo AKA Sammus. Originally from upstate New York, Enongo currently lives in Ithaca...

Episode 300: Chris Claremont

26 Jan 2017

Contributed by Lukas

On today's episode I talk to writer Chris Claremont. Born in London, Chris' family moved to the States when he was a child, and though he originally s...

Episode 299: Joel Kim Booster

19 Jan 2017

Contributed by Lukas

On today's episode I talk to stand-up and writer Joel Kim Booster. Originally from South Korea, Joel was adopted at a young age and moved to the south...

Episode 298: Matt Pond PA

12 Jan 2017

Contributed by Lukas

On today's episode I talk to musician Matt Pond. Originally from New Hampshire, Matt began writing and releasing music in 1998 as Matt Pond PA. Debuti...

Episode 297: Amber Ruffin

05 Jan 2017

Contributed by Lukas

On today's episode I talk to writer and performer Amber Ruffin. Originally from Omaha, Nebraska, Amber began her comedy career studying at iO in Chica...

Episode 296: Josie Long

29 Dec 2016

Contributed by Lukas

On today's episode I talk to comedian Josie Long. Josie's originally from Sidcup, but grew up in Orpington, London. She began stand-up when she was 14...

Episode 295: Roy Wood Jr.

22 Dec 2016

Contributed by Lukas

On today's episode I talk to comedian Roy Wood Jr. A native of Birmingham, Alabama, Roy began his comedy career in 1998 at the age of 19 while attend...

Episode 294: Baron Vaughn

15 Dec 2016

Contributed by Lukas

On today's episode I talk to actor and comedian Baron Vaughn. As a stand-up, Baron's performed on Conan (twice), Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, L...

Episode 293: Mitski

08 Dec 2016

Contributed by Lukas

On today's episode I talk to musician Mitski Miyawaki. Originally from Japan, Mitski grew up all over the world, eventually settling in New York. Whil...

Episode 292: Azie Dungey

01 Dec 2016

Contributed by Lukas

On today's episode I talk to writer and actor Azie Dungey. Azie grew up in Philly and the DC area. After graduating as a drama major from the Tisch Sc...

Bonus episode 32: Andrew Ti on Irony and Appropriation

24 Nov 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Hey y'all! Happy Thanksgiving! With everything going on in the news lately (ahem, neo-nazis, ahem), I thought I'd take the chance to re-post a convers...

Episode 291: Matthew Shipp

17 Nov 2016

Contributed by Lukas

On today's episode I talk to free jazz pianist Matthew Shipp. Originally from Delaware, Matt moved to New York in 1984 and quickly became one of the l...

Bonus episode 31: Naomi Ekperigin and Election Depression

10 Nov 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Well. If you're anything like me and my almost-wife Naomi Ekperigin (Broad City, 2 Dope Queens, Comedy Central Half Hour), you spent Tuesday the 8th i...

Episode 290: Chioke Nassor

03 Nov 2016

Contributed by Lukas

On today's episode I talk to writer and director Chioke Nassor. Chioke's previous work includes writing and directing short films for NBC's Late Nigh...

Episode 289: Tom Snyder

27 Oct 2016

Contributed by Lukas

On today's episode I talk to Peabody-award winning writer and animator Tom Snyder. Tom is a writer and director well known in the world of animation f...

Episode 288: Affinity Konar

20 Oct 2016

Contributed by Lukas

On today's episode I talk to author Affinity Konar. Affinity studied writing at SFSU and received her MFA from Columbia, and is the author of two boo...

Episode 287: Anthony Atamanuik

13 Oct 2016

Contributed by Lukas

On today's episode I talk to comedian and actor Anthony Atamanuik. Over the last year, Tony has received a great deal of deserved acclaim for his accu...

Episode 286: Sasheer Zamata

06 Oct 2016

Contributed by Lukas

On today's episode I talk to actor and comedian Sasheer Zamata. Originally from Indianapolis, Indiana, Sasheer moved to New York after college and be...

Episode 285: Paul Hammer of Savoir Adore

29 Sep 2016

Contributed by Lukas

On today's episode I talk to musician Paul Hammer. Paul is main singer/songwriter of the indie pop band Savoir Adore. Originally a duo with Deidre Mur...

Episode 284: Jen Spyra

22 Sep 2016

Contributed by Lukas

On today's episode I talk to comedy writer Jen Spyra. Originally from Pittsburgh, Jen was a senior writer for The Onion for many years. There she a...

Episode 283: Sarah Pappalardo

15 Sep 2016

Contributed by Lukas

On today's episode I talk to writer and performer Sarah Pappalardo. Based in New York City, Sarah is an improviser, playwright, and documentation who...

Episode 282: Beth Newell

08 Sep 2016

Contributed by Lukas

On today's episode I talk to writer Beth Newell. Originally from Lynnfield, MA, Beth has been writing, performing and teaching sketch at The Magnet Th...

Episode 281: Bhaskar Sunkara

01 Sep 2016

Contributed by Lukas

On today's episode I talk to the founder of Jacobin Magazine Bhaskar Sunkara. Bhaskar is the son of immigrants from Trinidad and Tobago, and has writ...

Episode 280: Nato Green

25 Aug 2016

Contributed by Lukas

On today's episode I talk to writer, stand-up and union organizer Nato Green. Nato lives and was raised in San Francisco, and the city's progressive ...

Episode 279: Elaiza Santos of Crying

18 Aug 2016

Contributed by Lukas

On today's episode I talk to musician Elaiza Santos. Originally from Queens, Elaiza is the lead singer of the amazing chiptunes pop band Crying, who...

Episode 278: Sofia Alvarez

11 Aug 2016

Contributed by Lukas

On today's episode I talk to playwright and TV writer Sofia Alvarez. Originally from Baltimore, Sofia graduated from Juilliard for playwriting. She is...

Episode 277: Suki Kim

04 Aug 2016

Contributed by Lukas

On today's episode I talk to Suki Kim, a novelist, investigative journalist and the only writer ever to go live undercover in North Korea to investig...

Episode 276: Barbara Manning

28 Jul 2016

Contributed by Lukas

On today's episode I talk to musician Barbara Manning. Barbara is prolific songwriter originally from California, where she spent part of her childho...

Episode 275: Cole Escola

21 Jul 2016

Contributed by Lukas

On today's episode I talk to Cole Escola. Cole is a comedian, actor, and writer; one of the 2014 OUT 100; as well as one of Time Out New York's Top Te...

Episode 274: Adam Wade

14 Jul 2016

Contributed by Lukas

On today's episode I talk to storyteller Adam Wade. For the past thirteen years, Adam has been a fixture in both the New York City storytelling and c...

Episode 273: Sarah-Violet Bliss and Charles Rogers

07 Jul 2016

Contributed by Lukas

On today's episode I talk to writer/directors Charles Rogers and Sarah-Violet Bliss. Charles and SV broke out with their film Fort Tilden, a satire ...

Field Guide episode 30: The New York Television Festival

30 Jun 2016

Contributed by Lukas

I used to do bonus episodes of the show somewhat regularly called "Field Guides" where I'd talk to people about the actual steps they took to create ...

Episode 272: Wes Miles of Ra Ra Riot

23 Jun 2016

Contributed by Lukas

On today's episode I talk to Wes Miles of the indie rock band Ra Ra Riot. Originally from New Jersey, Wes has been playing music for most of his lif...

Episode 271: String Noise

16 Jun 2016

Contributed by Lukas

On today's episode I talk to avant-garde violin duo String Noise. For over half a decade, Conrad Harris and Pauline Kim, the husband/wife violin duo ...

Episode 270: Oli Chang of High Highs

09 Jun 2016

Contributed by Lukas

On today's episode I talk to musician Oli Chang. Originally from Australia, Oli is one-half, along with Jack Milas, of the celebrated ambient dream-po...

Episode 269: Chris McCullough AKA Jackson Publick

02 Jun 2016

Contributed by Lukas

On today's episode I talk to comic and TV writer Christopher McCullough AKA Jackson Publick. Chris began his comics career after a superhero spoof of ...

Episode 268: Will Sharpe

26 May 2016

Contributed by Lukas

On today's episode I talk to actor and writer Will Sharpe. Will grew up in Tokyo and London and went to university at Cambridge, where he was presiden...

Episode 267: Open Mike Eagle

19 May 2016

Contributed by Lukas

On today's episode I talk to rapper and podcaster Open Mike Eagle. Originally from Chicago, Mike moved to LA where his hip hop career began, first as ...

Episode 266: Ohal Grietzer

12 May 2016

Contributed by Lukas

On today's episode I talk to musician Ohal Grietzer. Born and raised in Ashkelon, Israel, Ohal moved to New York in 2001, where she began collaboratin...

Episode 265: Todd Goldstein of ARMS

05 May 2016

Contributed by Lukas

On today's episode I talk to musician Todd Goldstein. Originally from Boston, Todd started ARMS as a musical outlet for himself when he first moved to...

Field Guide episode 29: Karan Bajaj on Writer's Block and Travel

28 Apr 2016

Contributed by Lukas

I used to do bonus episodes of the show somewhat regularly called "Field Guides" where I'd talk to people about the actual steps they took to create ...

Episode 264: Bonnie McFarlane

21 Apr 2016

Contributed by Lukas

On today's episode, I talk to stand-up and writer Bonnie McFarlane. Bonnie hails from Canada, where she grew up on a small farm in Alberta. An accompl...

Episode 263: Josh Gondelman

14 Apr 2016

Contributed by Lukas

On today's episode, I talk to Peabody Award-winning and Emmy nominated stand-up and writer Josh Gondelman. Originally from Boston, Josh is currently b...

Episode 262: Dylan Marron

07 Apr 2016

Contributed by Lukas

On today's episode, I talk to writer and actor Dylan Marron. Dylan is a Drama Desk-nominated writer & performer based in New York City. He is the voi...

Episode 261: Larkin Grimm

31 Mar 2016

Contributed by Lukas

On today's episode, I talk to musician Larkin Grimm. A descendent of the Brothers Grimm themselves, Larkin grew up in a monastic order called The Hol...

Episode 260: Scott "Spiral Stairs" Kannberg

24 Mar 2016

Contributed by Lukas

On today's episode, I talk to musician Scott "Spiral Stairs" Kannberg. Scott grew up in Stockton, California where he met his childhood friend and fut...

Episode 259: Curtis Gwinn

17 Mar 2016

Contributed by Lukas

On today's episode, I talk to TV writer Curtis Gwinn. Originally from Chicago, Curtis grew up in the suburbs outside of New York City, eventually fin...

Episode 258: Gareth Reynolds

10 Mar 2016

Contributed by Lukas

On today's episode, I talk to comedian Gareth Reynolds. Gareth's parents originally hail from the UK, but Gareth was raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. H...

Episode 257: Jacqueline Novak

03 Mar 2016

Contributed by Lukas

On today's episode, I talk to stand-up and writer Jacqueline Novak. Easily one of the best and most creative stand-ups in New York, Jacqueline has bee...

Episode 256: Phil Matarese and Mike Luciano

25 Feb 2016

Contributed by Lukas

On today's episode, I talk to the creators of the new HBO show Animals Phil Matarese and Mike Luciano. Phil and Mike are from New Jersey and Long Isla...

Episode 255: Geneva Carr

18 Feb 2016

Contributed by Lukas

On today's episode, I talk to Tony-nominated actor Geneva Carr. Geneva is a film, theater and television actor originally from Jackson, Mississippi. ...

Episode 254: Streeter Seidell

11 Feb 2016

Contributed by Lukas

On today's episode, I talk to comedian and writer Streeter Seidell. Streeter first gained popularity as part of the cast of CollegeHumor's online vide...

Episode 253: Alex Ross Perry

04 Feb 2016

Contributed by Lukas

On today's episode, I talk to filmmaker Alex Ross Perry. Alex was raised in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, and attended NYU, where he graduated from their f...

Episode 252: Rick Moody

28 Jan 2016

Contributed by Lukas

On today's episode - the sixth anniversary of Beginnings - I talk to writer Rick Moody. Rick was born in New York City, and attended Brown and Columb...

Episode 251: Andrew Keoghan

21 Jan 2016

Contributed by Lukas

On today's episode, I talk to musician Andrew Keoghan. Originally from New Zealand, Andrew is a Brooklyn-based indie pop/folk artist. His first album...

Episode 250: Laura Cantrell

14 Jan 2016

Contributed by Lukas

On today's episode, I talk to New York-based country music artist Laura Cantrell. Born in Nashville, TN, she came to New York to attend Columbia, and ...

Episode 249: Xenia Rubinos

07 Jan 2016

Contributed by Lukas

On today's episode, I talk to Brooklyn-based singer, songwriter, composer, and pianist Xenia Rubinos. Originally from Hartford, CT, Xenia was raised i...

Field Guide episode 28: Making a TV Show w/ Naomi Ekperigin

31 Dec 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Happy New Year's Eve, friends! Instead of a new guest this week - I didn't want them to get lost in the holiday shuffle - I thought I'd try something...

Episode 248: Gabrielle Smith

24 Dec 2015

Contributed by Lukas

On today's episode, I talk to musician Gabby Smith, the woman behind the band Eskimeaux. As Gabby puts it in an interview with Stereogum, Eskimeaux be...

Episode 247: Daniel Kibblesmith

17 Dec 2015

Contributed by Lukas

On today's episode, I talk to comedy writer Daniel Kibblesmith. Originally from Chicago, Daniel has has done many cool comedy things in his career. Th...

Episode 246: Ed Askew

10 Dec 2015

Contributed by Lukas

On today's episode, I talk to painter and singer-songwriter Ed Askew. Born in Stamford, Connecticut in 1940, Ed left in the early '60s to attend Yal...

Episode 245: Mehran Khaghani

03 Dec 2015

Contributed by Lukas

On today's episode, I talk to comedian Mehran Khaghani. Born in London to Iranian parents, Mehran grew up partly in Iran and mostly in the suburbs of ...

Episode 244: Kevin Barker

25 Nov 2015

Contributed by Lukas

On today's episode, I talk to musician Kevin Barker. From 1995 to 2002, Kevin was a member of the wonderful indie rock band Aden, whose four albums w...

Episode 243: Aya Cash

19 Nov 2015

Contributed by Lukas

On today's episode, I talk to actor Aya Cash. The daughter of a poet and a Buddhist teacher, Aya grew up in San Francisco. After moving to New York, s...

Episode 242: Kurt Heasley

12 Nov 2015

Contributed by Lukas

On today's episode, I talk to musician Kurt Heasley. A Floridian by birth, Kurt spent his early years in Hopatcong, NJ and in Virginia Beach. In 1988,...

Episode 241: Anika Pyle

05 Nov 2015

Contributed by Lukas

On today's episode, I talk to musician Anika Pyle. Originally from Monument, Colorado, Anika moved to New York with some friends to play music. And in...

Episode 240: Ted Alexandro

29 Oct 2015

Contributed by Lukas

On today's episode, I talk to stand-up and activist Ted Alexandro. A New York native, Ted has been performing comedy for over 20 years and was called ...

Episode 239: Briana Marela

27 Oct 2015

Contributed by Lukas

On today's episode, I talk to musician Briana Marela. A Seattle native, Briana knew she wanted to be a musician from a young age. In 2010 she released...

Episode 238: Marina Franklin

22 Oct 2015

Contributed by Lukas

On today's episode, I talk to stand-up and writer Marina Franklin. Originally from Chicago, she moved to New York in 1997 after getting her Master's d...