Alchemy with Anthony Mason

The legendary Holland Taylor stars in the new Apple TV series Brothers, with Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson. It’s another iconic performance from the actress who also had memorable runs in Bosom Buddies, The Practice, and Two and a Half Men. We talk about all of those and her love of the stage where she got her start back in the ‘60s. 00:00 Inner Mansions 01:07 Playing Matthew McConaughey’s Mom 03:08 Building the Look: Wig, Tan & Jewelry 05:11 Bosom Buddies & Spotting Tom Hanks Early 06:35 A Theater Kid at Heart 07:42 First Broadway Show & Lamb Chops with Geraldine Page 11:07 Finding Stella Adler at 35 13:53 The Trouble with Method Acting 17:27 Broadway Debut in The Devils 19:38 Going On Unrehearsed for Janet Leigh 23:42 Replacing Eve Arden in Moose Murders 25:10 The Ann Richards Obsession 29:00 Opening in Galveston in a Tropical Storm 31:28 Why She Left Two and a Half Men 33:38 The Practice & Legally Blonde 37:13 Living Inside Ann on Broadway 41:19 “I Am Satisfied”: Her Final Performance 46:00 Life & Art with Sarah Paulson 49:14 Acidic, Alluring Women 52:30 Signing the Guest Book New episodes of Alchemy every Wednesday. Follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and ⁠YouTube⁠ so you never miss one. ⁠Sign up here⁠ to get Alchemy in your inbox⁠. Stay connected with Anthony Mason on ⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠ & ⁠Facebook⁠. For brand partnerships: [email protected] For press inquiries: [email protected] For bookings: [email protected] About our Founding Sponsor, ⁠⁠The FLAG Art Foundation⁠⁠: The FLAG Art Foundation is a nonprofit contemporary art exhibition space in New York's Chelsea Arts District. Since 2008, FLAG has staged more than 100 exhibitions celebrating nearly 1,000 artists, with innovative partnerships including the Parrish Art Museum, the Serpentine Galleries in London, and the Harlem Children's Zone. FLAG is free and open to the public. Follow FLAG on ⁠Instagram⁠⁠. About Anthony Mason: Anthony Mason, the host of Alchemy, is also a Special Correspondent with CBS News. One of the most versatile and experienced television journalists, Anthony co-hosted CBS This Morning: Saturday for seven years (2012-2019), and then the weekday CBS This Morning broadcast for two more. But he may be best known for his interviews with artists like Bruce Springsteen, Aretha Franklin, Dolly Parton, Annie Leibovitz, Judi Dench, David Hockney, and André 3000. He has won a dozen Emmy Awards. In 2023, the Songwriters Hall of Fame presented him their Patron of the Arts Award. And for the past three years he has hosted the GRAMMY Hall of Fame Gala.

Over the past decade, Carly Pearce has been one of country music’s most successful female artists with half a dozen platinum singles. She's won four ACM awards and another three CMAs. Her new album, “Honest Woman,” takes a bold look at the price of that success. 00:00 "I lost the ability to see myself" 01:02 Dollywood at 16, Nashville at 19 04:46 "Dream Come True" and the house at the end of the cul-de-sac 07:27 The award, and the text messages the next morning 10:36 The heartbreak ballad that felt like career suicide 11:33 Cleaning Airbnbs in a ten-year town 13:32 The caveman and the diamond 15:32 "It was whiplash" 19:29 Was it all worth it? 20:53 Circus animals: the truth about touring 22:56 Going back to her bluegrass roots 25:30 "There's no timeline" 28:30 The weirdo music kid who started writing at 11 31:11 The songs that scared her 32:31 "Church Girl," faith, and the backlash 36:03 Finding her sound with Dan Tyminski and Molly Tuttle 38:20 Losing busbee and what he told her at the end 41:20 Kelsea Ballerini, her safe place 44:53 Her mom's note: "You are enough" 49:00 Finding the joy again New episodes of Alchemy every Wednesday. Follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and ⁠YouTube⁠ so you never miss one. ⁠Sign up here⁠ to get Alchemy in your inbox⁠. Stay connected with Anthony Mason on ⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠ & ⁠Facebook⁠. For brand partnerships: [email protected] For press inquiries: [email protected] For bookings: [email protected] About our Founding Sponsor, ⁠⁠The FLAG Art Foundation⁠⁠: The FLAG Art Foundation is a nonprofit contemporary art exhibition space in New York's Chelsea Arts District. Since 2008, FLAG has staged more than 100 exhibitions celebrating nearly 1,000 artists, with innovative partnerships including the Parrish Art Museum, the Serpentine Galleries in London, and the Harlem Children's Zone. FLAG is free and open to the public. Follow FLAG on ⁠Instagram⁠⁠. About Anthony Mason: Anthony Mason, the host of Alchemy, is also a Special Correspondent with CBS News. One of the most versatile and experienced television journalists, Anthony co-hosted CBS This Morning: Saturday for seven years (2012-2019), and then the weekday CBS This Morning broadcast for two more. But he may be best known for his interviews with artists like Bruce Springsteen, Aretha Franklin, Dolly Parton, Annie Leibovitz, Judi Dench, David Hockney, and André 3000. He has won a dozen Emmy Awards. In 2023, the Songwriters Hall of Fame presented him their Patron of the Arts Award. And for the past three years he has hosted the GRAMMY Hall of Fame Gala.

We traveled to a special place this week: Long Pond Studio in upstate New York. It's the home and workplace of Aaron Dessner, a member of the indie rock band The National and a GRAMMY-winning producer behind some of this year's biggest albums. We discuss the alchemy that's happened there with artists like Gracie Abrams, Noah Kahan, Marcus Mumford and Taylor Swift. 00:00 Welcome to Long Pond 01:03 Sleep Well Beast, the first album made here 02:11 Building a studio that lets nature in 05:58 How folklore put Long Pond on the map 06:57 The chance meeting behind Mumford & Sons' Prizefighter 10:38 Taylor Swift's out-of-the-blue text 13:08 "Cardigan" arrives at 3 a.m. 16:49 Making space for artists in the room 19:29 How Aaron starts a song 25:02 Dad's drum set and growing up with twin Bryce 28:44 Music as a refuge 30:21 Where does music come from? 34:35 Producing without "peeing on a tree" 38:46 Chasing hits vs. the "ugly ducklings" 42:24 Meeting Gracie Abrams and writing in the room 46:25 Pop pressure and making "That's So True" 50:55 "I still feel like a kid" 53:05 What's inspiring Aaron now New episodes of Alchemy every Wednesday. Follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and ⁠YouTube⁠ so you never miss one. ⁠Sign up here⁠ to get Alchemy in your inbox⁠. Stay connected with Anthony Mason on ⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠ & ⁠Facebook⁠. For brand partnerships: [email protected] For press inquiries: [email protected] For bookings: [email protected] About our Founding Sponsor, ⁠⁠The FLAG Art Foundation⁠⁠: The FLAG Art Foundation is a nonprofit contemporary art exhibition space in New York's Chelsea Arts District. Since 2008, FLAG has staged more than 100 exhibitions celebrating nearly 1,000 artists, with innovative partnerships including the Parrish Art Museum, the Serpentine Galleries in London, and the Harlem Children's Zone. FLAG is free and open to the public. Follow FLAG on ⁠Instagram⁠⁠. About Anthony Mason: Anthony Mason, the host of Alchemy, is also a Special Correspondent with CBS News. One of the most versatile and experienced television journalists, Anthony co-hosted CBS This Morning: Saturday for seven years (2012-2019), and then the weekday CBS This Morning broadcast for two more. But he may be best known for his interviews with artists like Bruce Springsteen, Aretha Franklin, Dolly Parton, Annie Leibovitz, Judi Dench, David Hockney, and André 3000. He has won a dozen Emmy Awards. In 2023, the Songwriters Hall of Fame presented him their Patron of the Arts Award. And for the past three years he has hosted the GRAMMY Hall of Fame Gala.

A few years ago, my daughter shared a song with me and said, “You need to listen to this band.” I've been a fan of MUNA ever since. Katie Gavin, Josette Maskin, and Naomi McPherson came together in college at USC back in 2013, and have since built a devoted following. The indie pop trio has supported Harry Styles, Kacey Musgraves, & Taylor Swift on tour. We spoke about their fourth album, “Dancing on The Wall,” mental health, taking creative risks, and why bands still matter. 00:00 Introduction 01:31 Meet MUNA 01:43 Are Bands a Dying Breed? 04:09 The Band as a Mental Health Support System 05:21 The New Album: Dancing on the Wall 09:06 How MUNA Came Together at USC 12:33 Katie's Origin Story & Naomi Becomes the Producer 16:04 Early Validation 26:50 Conflict, Creative Process & Working Alone 31:37 Katie's Solo Project & the "Open Marriage" of a Band 35:25 Friendship vs. the Band – MUNA vs. boygenius 37:07 What Does Music Give Each of You? 49:44 Drive, Ambition & the Need to Be Seen 53:09 Building Community and the Song "So What" 55:17 Getting Dropped by Their Label 58:41 "Silk Chiffon," Artistic Integrity & Taking Risks 1:01:29 Signing the Guest Book New episodes of Alchemy every Wednesday. Follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and ⁠YouTube⁠ so you never miss one. ⁠Sign up here⁠ to get Alchemy in your inbox⁠. Stay connected with Anthony Mason on ⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠ & ⁠Facebook⁠. For brand partnerships: [email protected] For press inquiries: [email protected] For bookings: [email protected] About our Founding Sponsor, ⁠⁠The FLAG Art Foundation⁠⁠: The FLAG Art Foundation is a nonprofit contemporary art exhibition space in New York's Chelsea Arts District. Since 2008, FLAG has staged more than 100 exhibitions celebrating nearly 1,000 artists, with innovative partnerships including the Parrish Art Museum, the Serpentine Galleries in London, and the Harlem Children's Zone. FLAG is free and open to the public. Follow FLAG on ⁠Instagram⁠⁠. About Anthony Mason: Anthony Mason, the host of Alchemy, is also a Special Correspondent with CBS News. One of the most versatile and experienced television journalists, Anthony co-hosted CBS This Morning: Saturday for seven years (2012-2019), and then the weekday CBS This Morning broadcast for two more. But he may be best known for his interviews with artists like Bruce Springsteen, Aretha Franklin, Dolly Parton, Annie Leibovitz, Judi Dench, David Hockney, and André 3000. He has won a dozen Emmy Awards. In 2023, the Songwriters Hall of Fame presented him their Patron of the Arts Award. And for the past three years he has hosted the GRAMMY Hall of Fame Gala.

On this week’s episode, we’re catching up with an old friend. Ben Schwartz is on tour with his improv show “Ben Schwartz and Friends.” He’s voicing Sonic in the upcoming fourth film in the “Sonic the Hedgehog” series. And he’s just completed a passion project – a new TV series that he’s written, directed and stars in based on his popular Funny or Die web series “The Earliest Show.” 00:00 Intro 01:06 Four improv shows in two days 03:03 Walking onstage with no plan 05:42 How to escape a dying scene 07:22 Listening, callbacks and four empty chairs 11:19 Ben interviews Anthony 13:00 What he learned as a Letterman page 14:27 The pre-show ritual 16:38 Why stand-up felt lonely 19:25 FLAG Art Foundation 20:29 The Earliest Show: making TV independently 25:41 Betting his own time and money 30:03 Selling 13 scripts and getting none made 35:48 How to keep hope alive 39:20 Why Anthony started Alchemy 44:42 Sonic the Hedgehog 4 46:44 Finding comfort in '90s movies 48:06 "Creativity eats darkness" New episodes of Alchemy every Wednesday. Follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and ⁠YouTube⁠ so you never miss one. ⁠Sign up here⁠ to get Alchemy in your inbox⁠. Stay connected with Anthony Mason on ⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠ & ⁠Facebook⁠. For brand partnerships: [email protected] For press inquiries: [email protected] For bookings: [email protected] About our Founding Sponsor, ⁠⁠The FLAG Art Foundation⁠⁠: The FLAG Art Foundation is a nonprofit contemporary art exhibition space in New York's Chelsea Arts District. Since 2008, FLAG has staged more than 100 exhibitions celebrating nearly 1,000 artists, with innovative partnerships including the Parrish Art Museum, the Serpentine Galleries in London, and the Harlem Children's Zone. FLAG is free and open to the public. Follow FLAG on ⁠Instagram⁠⁠. About Anthony Mason: Anthony Mason, the host of Alchemy, is also a Special Correspondent with CBS News. One of the most versatile and experienced television journalists, Anthony co-hosted CBS This Morning: Saturday for seven years (2012-2019), and then the weekday CBS This Morning broadcast for two more. But he may be best known for his interviews with artists like Bruce Springsteen, Aretha Franklin, Dolly Parton, Annie Leibovitz, Judi Dench, David Hockney, and André 3000. He has won a dozen Emmy Awards. In 2023, the Songwriters Hall of Fame presented him their Patron of the Arts Award. And for the past three years he has hosted the GRAMMY Hall of Fame Gala.