Talk Easy with Sam Fragoso
Talk Easy with Sam Fragoso

Talk Easy with Sam Fragoso

Lemonada Media

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Episodes

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Talk Easy with Sam Fragoso is a weekly series of intimate conversations with artists, activists, and politicians. Where people sound like people. Hosted by Sam Fragoso. New episodes every Sunday.

Recent Episodes

Actor Monica Barbaro (‘A Complete Unknown’) Takes the Stage as Joan Baez
MAR 2, 2025
Actor Monica Barbaro (‘A Complete Unknown’) Takes the Stage as Joan Baez

In celebration of Oscar Sunday, our conversation with actor Monica Barbaro. Her portrayal of Joan Baez in the Bob Dylan biopic, A Complete Unknown, earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress.

At the top, we discuss how director James Mangold drew inspiration from Miloš Forman’s Amadeus (7:00), the vocal lessons Monica received in preparation for the role of Baez (10:15), and her affecting rendition of House of the Rising Sun (16:00). Then, we dive into Monica’s California upbringing (18:00), her pivot from dancing to professional acting (24:00), and the winding journey that led her to A Complete Unknown (29:00).

On the back-half, we talk about her breakout role in Top Gun: Maverick (38:00), her evolving relationship to perfectionism (39:30), the deep, autobiographical research she did to portray Joan Baez (42:00), and what she hopes for in the years to come (54:15).

Thoughts or future guest ideas? Email us at [email protected].

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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58 MIN
Oscars Week with Jesse Eisenberg (‘A Real Pain’)
FEB 26, 2025
Oscars Week with Jesse Eisenberg (‘A Real Pain’)

In the lead-up to Oscar Sunday, our conversation with actor, writer, and director Jesse Eisenberg.

At the top, we unpack the journey that shaped his film A Real Pain (9:18), memories from his travels to Poland (15:40), and what he observed about his family growing up in East Brunswick (22:23). Then, Eisenberg reflects on his first jokes written on post-it notes (29:20), his breakthrough acting roles in Roger Dodger (31:35) and The Squid and the Whale (34:37), and formative visits to his aunt Doris in New York City (35:32).

On the back-half, we talk about his transformation in The Social Network (41:15), the erotic dream that inspired his play The Spoils (42:48), the real anxiety he explored while writing A Real Pain (46:39), lessons on directing from Richard Ayoade and Greg Mottola (51:14), and why he cares so deeply about his art (1:00:10).

Thoughts or future guest ideas? Email us at [email protected].

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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60 MIN