Shows
Now What? With Carole ZimmerA Conversation With Jeanette WintersonJeanette Winterson is a writer who grew up in a Pentecostal evangelical family in a little town in the north of England. She was adopted. Her parents were poor. There was no indoor bathroom. Winterson dreamed of escaping that life. When she was 16, she fell in love with a woman. Her parents were scandalized. Winterson left home, slept in her car and managed to get into Oxford. She's fascinated by the ancient fairy tales in The One Thousand and One Nights. Winterson uses these stories as a framework in her new book One Aladdin Two Lamps. We talk about good...
2026-02-1732 min
Now What? With Carole ZimmerA Conversation with Caroline PaulCaroline Paul is an adventure seeker. She's been a white-water rafting guide and pioneered first descents on unexplored rivers in Borneo. To experience wing walking, she strapped herself to the top of a biplane while it performed maneuvers like loops and rolls. She's also racked up credits as a luge athlete, that crazy sport where you race down steep, icy tracks on small sleds, lying on your back. Now, Paul pilots a gyrocopter, a machine that might remind you of a praying mantis with wings. We talk about how the thrill of flight relates to themes of love and...
2026-02-0344 min
Now What? With Carole ZimmerA Conversation with Jimmy WalesWhen Jimmy Wales was 3, growing up in Huntsville, Alabama, a door-to-door salesman sold his mother a copy of the World Book Encyclopedia. Jimmy fell in love with it. As an adult he had the idea of creating an online encyclopedia that would give everyone free access to the sum of all human knowledge. The result is Wikipedia, which Wales co-founded 25 years ago. Though not without controversy, Wikipedia is a runaway success. It's the world's largest, most comprehensive encyclopedia with more than 1 and a half billion unique visitors a month. That should only happen to "Now What?" I talk to J...
2026-01-2154 min
Now What? With Carole ZimmerA Conversation with Emi NietfeldUntil she was 10, Emi Nietfeld led a pretty normal life. It was when her parents divorced that her world fell apart. The parent she knew to be her father transitioned to a woman named Michelle. Her mother was a police photographer with serious psychological problems. In her book, Acceptance, Emi who is now 32, talks about the price she paid for working so hard to overcome circumstances that no child should have to endure. They include stints in a psychiatric ward, living in foster care, stays in a homeless shelter and a suicide attempt at the age of 13. So how...
2026-01-0655 min
Now What? With Carole Zimmer"Now What?" Best of 2025It hasn't been a great year when it comes to treating our fellow human beings with dignity and respect. But it's been a great year for talking to extraordinary people on "Now What?" Larry Charles is a true character who wore his pajamas to work and directed Sacha Baron Cohen in the movie Borat. Along with Gilda Radner and Jane Curtin, Laraine Newman was a hilarious member of the original cast of Saturday Night Live which just celebrated its 50th season. Alison Bechdel, the gifted graphic novelist of Fun Home, has a lot to say about living the life of a...
2025-12-231h 05
Now What? With Carole ZimmerA Conversation with Gabrielle HamiltonGabrielle Hamilton's father always told his five kids they had to do something practical with their lives and whatever they did, they had to be excellent at it. Mediocrity was a family sin. In 1999 Hamilton opened Prune, a 30-seat restaurant in the East Village, to rave reviews. She was honored with a James Beard award for Best Chef in New York City in 2011, followed by Outstanding Chef in 2018. Hamilton was also featured on the PBS series The Mind of a Chef. She realized her dream of becoming a writer with her best-selling memoir Blood, Bones and Butter. Now, she's got...
2025-12-0948 min
Now What? With Carole ZimmerA Conversation with Calvin Duncan and Sophie CullCalvin Duncan grew up in the ninth ward in New Orleans. His mother died when he was very young. He stole food so he'd have enough to eat. When he was 19, Duncan was arrested for allegedly killing a man during a robbery. He was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison, spending more than 28 years in Angola, Louisiana's notorious state penitentiary. That's when Duncan began studying law. In 2011, he was released from prison and at the age of 60, Duncan graduated from Lewis and Clark Law School. He's just scored another first. This November, Calvin Duncan was...
2025-11-2543 min
Now What? With Carole ZimmerA Conversation with Laraine NewmanPicture this. It was my first job in radio. I decided to do a series about women and comedy. The idea coincided with the birth of Saturday Night Live. The first interview: Gilda Radner. We sat on the floor, right across from Studio 8H where the show is still performed. Gilda told me all about what life is like when you become an overnight star. Then I talked to Jane Curtin about people asking her for autographs when she walked her dog. Somehow, in those years I missed talking to Laraine Newman. But I finally just caught up with...
2025-11-2520 min
Now What? With Carole ZimmerA Conversation with E. Jean CarrollE. Jean Carroll is a brave woman. In 2019, she sued Donald Trump for calling her a liar after she went public with the accusation that he had raped her in a Bergdorf Goodman dressing room. There was a second trial. This one was about defamation and sexual abuse. Juries in both cases found Donald Trump guilty. E. Jean Carroll was awarded more than $88 million in damages. Now, President Trump has asked the Supreme Court to overturn the judgement that he defamed and sexually abused her. She's written a book about the court proceedings called Not My Type. We talk a...
2025-11-1245 min
Now What? With Carole ZimmerA Conversation with Paul KrugmanPaul Krugman is proud of his accomplishments including being chosen as the sole winner of the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences for his contributions to new trade theory. When it comes to trade, Krugman is no fan of President Trump's tariffs. And President Trump is no fan of Paul Krugman. Trump has called Krugman a "deranged bum," a description Krugman considers a great honor. After 25 years as a columnist for the New York Times, Krugman decided to leave the paper and go out on his own. He now writes a newsletter on Substack where he has about 400,000 subscribers...
2025-10-2841 min
Now What? With Carole ZimmerA Conversation With Jake TapperJake Tapper anchors several programs on CNN including the Sunday morning public affairs show State of the Union. Tapper has been reporting on politics at the network for more than 12 years. He recently conducted a controversial text interview with President Trump. Tapper has written two books so far this year including the best seller Original Sin about Joe Biden's mental and physical decline during his presidency. Tapper's new book Race Against Terror is about a member of Al Qaeda who was tried in a U.S. criminal court for killing American troops in Afghanistan. We talk about jihadis, democracy and...
2025-10-1444 min
Now What? With Carole ZimmerA Conversation with James Comey (Re-Release)Former FBI Director James Comey is at the top of President Donald Trump's enemies list. Trump has made no secret of his dislike for Comey, who was in charge of the FBI probe that looked into whether Russia had interfered with the 2016 election. In May of 2017, Donald Trump fired Comey. The President has prodded the Justice Department to go after his political opponents. Now, Comey has been indicted for allegedly lying to Congress. Critics say the country has entered a dangerous phase in which the government is taking revenge on its political opponents. In August 2023, I spoke to James...
2025-10-0143 min
Now What? With Carole ZimmerA Conversation with Robin GivhanVirgil Abloh is a designer who broke the mold when it comes to the world of design. He had a degree in architecture, not fashion when he started out designing tee shirts. Kanye West became Virgil's mentor at a time the rapper's own career was taking off. Virgil went from designing streetwear to becoming the first Black artistic director of the French luxury fashion house Louis Vuitton. Robin Givhan, a Pulitzer-prize winning Senior Critic-at-Large at the Washington Post was so fascinated by Virgil's wide-ranging talent that she wrote a book about him called Make it Ours. We talk about V...
2025-09-1646 min
Now What? With Carole ZimmerA Conversation with Rax KingRax King is a writer. Her first book of essays is called Tacky. Her new one is Sloppy. King prides herself on being a model of bad behavior. Name a vice and she's got it: overspending, shoplifting from Brandy Melville, lying, former cocaine abuser. She likes to wear low cut tops to show off her numerous tattoos. A prominent ink decoration that curves around her neck says "I'll go on." It frames her Bitch necklace. King also co-hosts a podcast called Low Culture Boil which she describes as trash-themed. We talk about the allure of being a bad girl, why wa...
2025-09-0249 min
Now What? With Carole ZimmerA Conversation with Kenneth ColeFootwear runs in the family. Kenneth Cole's father had a shoe manufacturing company in Brooklyn. Cole's brand is also known for the social issues he embraces, from combating HIV/AIDS to calling attention to the stigma of mental illness. The new documentary A Man with Sole looks at how Cole's company took off after he parked a trailer in front of the Hilton Hotel, installed a red carpet and sold 40,000 pairs of shoes in three days. Cole also figured out how to revive his company when the going got tough. I spoke to Kenneth Cole in his Manhattan headquarters a...
2025-08-2034 min
Now What? With Carole ZimmerA Conversation With Laurie WooleverLaurie Woolever was chef Mario Batali's assistant at a time when his hit restaurant Babbo was attracting celebrity diners vying for reservations. Then she spent almost a decade working for Anthony Bourdain. Woolever made haircut appointments for the TV host in New York and she found places in Singapore or Mumbai where Bourdain could practice Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu when he was on the road filming his long-running TV show Parts Unknown. After the shocking phone call in 2018 letting her know that her boss had taken his own life, Woolever felt lost. In Woolever's memoir Care and Feeding, she talks a lo...
2025-08-0545 min
Now What? With Carole ZimmerA Conversation with Maira Kalman (Re-Release)Maira Kalman is one of those multi-talented people. She writes children's stories and books for adults. She's also a contributor to the New York Times, creates covers for the New Yorker and sets for operas. Her latest book, Still Life with Remorse, includes family stories, paintings and vignettes about historical figures like Leo Tolstoy and Franz Kafka. She also likes to dress up like like those characters and make funny films about them. We spoke in Kalman's Greenwich village studio and laughed a lot about life's craziest moments."Now What?" is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Lucy Litt...
2025-07-2146 min
Now What? With Carole ZimmerA Conversation With James CarvilleJames Carville's nickname is The Ragin' Cajun. He became famous when Bill Clinton hired him as his lead political strategist in 1992 and Carville helped the guy from Hope beat George H.W. Bush to become the 42nd U.S. president. Carville's aggressive tactics are highlighted in the documentary "The War Room." He's also famous for being part of a couple who are on opposite sides of the political spectrum, former Republican strategist Mary Matalin. Carville now co-hosts the podcast "Politics War Room." He also spends a lot of time trying to figure out how to help the Democratic party r...
2025-07-0838 min
Now What? With Carole ZimmerA Conversation With Larry CharlesLarry Charles is a true character. He liked to wear his pajamas to work. He was one of the original writers of Seinfeld. He also wrote and directed Curb Your Enthusiasm episodes. In between, Charles made a movie with Bob Dylan called Masked and Anonymous that was never released. He also directed Sacha Baron Cohen in Borat and Bruno where Cohen ran down the street in an orthodox Jerusalem neighborhood wearing pink hot pants. Larry Charles wrote a memoir called Comedy Samurai. The book is very funny. This conversation is hilarious. "Now What?" is produced with the help of Steve Zim...
2025-06-2458 min
Now What? With Carole ZimmerA conversation With Paul HawkenPaul Hawken has racked up several notable accomplishments in his life. As a teenager, in the mid-60s, Hawken headed south to join the civil rights movement. He's always had a strong sense of social justice and he started several companies that emphasized operating in a socially responsible way including The Erewhon Trading Company, a natural foods wholesaler, and the garden supply company Smith and Hawken. And through it all Paul Hawken Has thought a lot about our environment, the climate and how people relate to one another in their lives. He's also written more than 10 books. His latest...
2025-06-1046 min
Now What? With Carole ZimmerA Conversation With Penn JillettePenn Jillette and his partner Teller have created one of the most successful and lucrative careers in show business by using mind bending effects and revealing the secrets behind their magic tricks. Teller is the short one with sleight of hand who doesn't speak. Penn is 6 feet 6 inches tall. He's the juggler who talks and plays the double bass. They're the longest-running headliners in the history of Las Vegas and they have a TV show called Penn and Teller: Fool Us. In his spare time, Penn Jillette writes books. His latest is a novel called Felony Juggler. We talk abo...
2025-05-2744 min
Now What? With Carole ZimmerA Conversation With Alison BechdelAlison Bechdel is a cartoonist and graphic novelist. She first started getting attention for her comic strip Dykes to Watch Out For and later wrote a graphic memoir called Fun Home which is about her father's troubled life and her own experience of coming out as a lesbian. In 2015, Fun Home was produced as a Broadway musical and won 5 Tony Awards. Her new graphic novel Spent is about an artist trying to come to terms with her past success. And here's a spoiler. She includes this in her story but Alison Bechdel doesn't really run a sanctuary farm for pygmy goa...
2025-05-1336 min
Now What? With Carole ZimmerA Conversation with Sophie GilbertWriter Sophie Gilbert has a theory about the early 2000s. In her new book Girl on Girl, she's written about some disturbing trends in popular culture focusing on the way that girls were portrayed in magazines and TV shows. Britney Spears, the "Princess of Pop," appeared on 8 Rolling Stone covers dressed in scanty outfits and striking provocative poses. Lindsay Lohan became a pop idol at the age of 17. Keeping Up with the Kardashians followed Khloe, Kylie, Kris, Kourtney, Kim and Kendall. The reality show glorified celebrity and set what some consider to be unrealistic standards of beauty. I talk to G...
2025-04-3048 min
Now What? With Carole ZimmerA Conversation with Amy IrvingAmy Irving's film career soared in the 1980s. She was featured in the film Yentl, a role that earned her an Academy Award nomination. In the movie Crossing Delancey, Irving plays a single woman who falls in love with a pickle merchant. In real life, Irving married Steven Spielberg, a relationship that ended in divorce. She co-starred with Willie Nelson in the film Honeysuckle Rose and that was the beginning of a life-long friendship with Nelson. Irving's career has shifted away from acting and towards music. She's got a new album which features Willie Nelson covers. It's called Always Will B...
2025-04-1545 min
Now What? With Carole ZimmerA Conversation With E.A. HanksElizabeth Anne Hanks is a writer. She's also the daughter of Tom Hanks. Her mother Susan was married to Tom Hanks before he became a movie star. Elizabeth grew up with her mother and older brother in Sacramento while her dad's career in Hollywood took off with lead roles in movies like Big and Forrest Gump. Elizabeth could relate to something the character of Forrest said in the film. "Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get." What Elizabeth got is a childhood she writes about in her memoir called The 10. It's the stor...
2025-04-0155 min
Now What? With Carole ZimmerA Conversation With Pico IyerPico Iyer is a travel writer and a novelist who has spent time in far flung places like Ethiopia, Tibet, North Korea, Bhutan and Nepal exploring the history, culture and food of diverse cultures. In contrast to his life on the road in places, Iyer is now spending more time exploring his inner life. That's what his latest book called Aflame Is all about. Several times a year, Iyer visits a Benedictine monastery in Big Sur which he finds to be a refuge from the crowded noisy world he usually inhabits. Iyer examines the benefits of just sitting still and...
2025-03-1854 min
Now What? With Carole ZimmerA Conversation with Jeffrey ToobinPardons are about presidential power. Many presidents wait until the end of their term to issue them. Not Donald Trump. He has pardoned more than 1500 people who took part in the assault on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. President Trump has also issued more than 70 executive orders, another instrument of presidential power. They focus on shrinking the government, imposing tariffs on Mexico, China and Canada and freezing foreign aid. Many of these actions are facing lawsuits and judicial rulings. So, what will the federal government look like when the dust settles? I talk to legal scholar Jeffrey Toobin...
2025-03-0434 min
Now What? With Carole ZimmerA Conversation with Laraine NewmanPicture this. It was my first job in radio. I decided to do a series about women and comedy. The idea coincided with the birth of Saturday Night Live. The first interview: Gilda Radner. We sat on the floor, right across from Studio 8H where the show is still performed. Gilda told me all about what life is like when you become an overnight star. Then I talked to Jane Curtin about people asking her for autographs when she walked her dog. Somehow, in those years I missed talking to Laraine Newman. But I finally just caught up with...
2025-02-1749 min
Now What? With Carole ZimmerA Conversation with Rick StevesRick Steves is a travel writer who's on a mission. His name appears on guidebooks to nearly every country on the continent including Croatia and Slovenia as well as France and Italy. His television series Rick Steves Europe debuted on PBS 25 years ago. Steves advises travelers to get off the beaten trail and head for villages where they can see the way local people really live. He's also a passionate advocate for legalizing marijuana. Steves' new book is called On the Hippie Trail. It's a detailed journal about a trip he took from Istanbul to Kathmandu when he was 23 yea...
2025-02-0437 min
Now What? With Carole ZimmerA Conversation with Alan LightmanAlan Lightman likes to look at things very closely. Lightman is a physicist at MIT who has written 7 novels including the best-selling Einstein's Dreams. Lightman, who writes poetry in his spare time, calls himself a spiritual materialist. That's a belief that you can find the spiritual within the realm of science. Lightman was also the host of the PBS television series Searching: Our Quest for Meaning in the Age of Science. His latest book is called The Miraculous from the Material. It contains essays about the marvels of the universe like Mandarin fish, the northern lights and the Rings of S...
2025-01-2038 min
Now What? With Carole ZimmerThe Best of "Now What" 2024We're speeding towards the end of the year, a time for remembering and reflecting. When I think of "Now What?" I think of the extraordinary people I was privileged to speak with this year and that's why this episode is a Best Of. Jane Fonda, who just celebrated her 87th birthday, shared a lifetime of experiences including information about her sex life. And when you talk about inspiring, there's no one who shines like Suleika Jaouad. The best-selling writer and painter talks about how an illness she's been dealing with since she was in her early 20s, has taught h...
2024-12-251h 00
Now What? With Carole ZimmerA Conversation with Rabbi Andy BachmanI first met Andy Bachman when he was a rabbinical student and he tutored my son Jon for his bar mitzvah. Bachman later served as Senior Rabbi at Congregation Beth Elohim, the reform synagogue in Park Slope, Brooklyn. In August, Bachman was supposed to participate in a discussion at the Powerhouse Arena bookstore. When he arrived, he found a sign in the window that said the event had been cancelled. Bachman later found out the discussion had been called off because he's a Zionist. This is an important conversation about intolerance, war and political divisions. "Now What?" is produced...
2024-12-0946 min
Now What? With Carole ZimmerA Conversation with Amanda Palmer: Re-ReleaseShe used to make her living standing in Harvard Square as a statue known as the Eight Foot Bride. Then Amanda Palmer founded the punk cabaret band The Dresden Dolls. And she's not afraid to tell you what's on her mind. Palmer shares her feelings online and when she performs on stage. Her fans are passionate about the musician and the person. Palmer has more than 24,000 supporters on Patreon. She's recently been named an honoree of the She Rocks Awards which recognizes women who have broken barriers in the music industry. "Now What?" is produced with the help of Steve Z...
2024-11-261h 00
Now What? With Carole ZimmerA Conversation With Gracie and RachelGracie and Rachel met in high school and they've been playing music together ever since. You can hear the connection they feel with one another in their lush harmonies, haunting melodies and lyrics that express vulnerability and emotional depth. Gracie and Rachel tour extensively and record on Grammy-winning singer Ani DiFranco's Righteous Babe Records. I spoke to them in the Brooklyn loft where they live and create their work. At the end of our conversation, Gracie sat down at the piano and Rachel picked up her violin. They treated us to a live performance of Ideas, a song about em...
2024-11-1254 min
Now What? With Carole ZimmerA Conversation With Garrison KeillorGarrison Keillor spent 42 years as the host of "A Prairie Home Companion, a folksy show that was performed live on Saturday nights and broadcast on hundreds of public radio stations. Keillor, who likes to wear red sneakers, brought his audience news from Lake Wobegon, a fictional town in the state of Minnesota where he grew up. He also performed in skits where he played Guy Noir, Private Eye. Keillor likes to sing patriotic songs and recite poetry. He's also written more than 15 books and many articles for the New Yorker. Keillor is currently at work on a novel which...
2024-10-2943 min
Now What? With Carole ZimmerA Conversation With Don LemonHe worked for CNN for 17 years. One day last year Don Lemon woke up to find out he he'd been fired. He'd won Emmys for his reporting and also hosted Don Lemon Tonight where he talked about controversial topics with politicians and newsmakers. It was after Lemon began co-hosting a morning show that he ran into trouble. He made a comment about a former Republican Presidential candidate in a discussion about age: "Nikki Haley is not in her prime, sorry." After leaving CNN, Lemon made a deal with Elon Musk to host an exclusive show on X. That fell ap...
2024-10-1540 min
Now What? With Carole ZimmerA Conversation With Stan Milford Jr.Stan Milford is a Navajo Ranger who spent more than a decade investigating paranormal activities. Milford says he examined hauntings, witchcraft and skinwalkers. He also looked into reports involving dozens of witnesses who claim to have seen a creature known as Bigfoot on the Navajo reservation, an area of 27,000 miles that runs through 4 states. Milford says he took the reports of all these incidents seriously and understands that the people who experience them can be deeply affected by what they've seen. Milford, who describes himself and his partner as a real-life X-files team has written a book about a...
2024-10-0135 min
Now What? With Carole ZimmerA Conversation With David RohdeDavid Rohde is a National Security reporter for NBC News and a longtime foreign correspondent. He won a Pulitzer Prize for his reporting on the war in Bosnia. When Rohde was a reporter for the New York Times, he was kidnapped by the Taliban and held for 7 months before he managed to escape. Rohde's latest book is called Where Tyranny Begins. He looks at all the ways in which former President Donald Trump tried to interfere with the Department of Justice including the FBI. "Now What?" is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Lucy Little and Jackie Schwartz. Au...
2024-09-1741 min
Now What? With Carole ZimmerA Conversation with Griffin Dunne.Griffin Dunne grew up in Beverly Hills in a family of storytellers. His father Dominick was a celebrity journalist. His uncle, the screenwriter John Gregory Dunne was married to the Pulitzer prize-winning writer Joan Didion. Griffin starred in Martin Scorsese's 1985 black comedy "After Hours" and he made a movie with Madonna called "Who's That Girl?" He also played Uncle Nicky in the streaming series "This is Us." Griffin has written a memoir called The Friday Afternoon Club which is a great read. We talk about family triumphs and family tragedy. And we also have plenty of laughs on this e...
2024-09-0349 min
Now What? With Carole ZimmerA Conversation With Charles Busch: Re-ReleaseCharles Busch made a name for himself as a playwright and a leading lady in drag with productions like the off-Broadway cult classic Vampire Lesbians of Sodom. Busch was recently inducted into the Theater Hall of Fame for his Tony-award winning play The Allergist's Wife. He appeared in the TV show Oz where he plays a cross-dressing homosexual. When it comes to playing male roles, Busch says he's nothing great. It's when he puts on gowns and wigs that he feels like a star. Sitting in his duplex apartment with his famous closet filled with sparkly gowns, we talk about h...
2024-08-2052 min
Now What? With Carole ZimmerA Conversation with Susan SeidelmanShe's a film director who made a movie called Desperately Seeking Susan. It's a caper that revolves around mistaken identity starring Rosanna Arquette and a then unknown Madonna. Seidelman went on to direct She Devil with Meryl Streep in her first comedic role. But Hollywood is a tough place for women directors. Nora Ephron came on the scene and directed Sleepless in Seattle and You've Got Mail in the 1990s. And 25 years later Greta Gerwig had a big hit with Barbie. Seidelman eventually started working in TV, directing the pilot episode of a series that was to become a cultural ic...
2024-08-0643 min
Now What? With Carole ZimmerA Conversation With Chelsea DevantezChelsea Devantez is a writer and comedian who has a good time being outrageous. She grew up in a family that moved around a lot when she was a kid. They never had much money. She was a victim of domestic violence. Chelsea had always wanted to be an artist. And her dream came true when she was hired to perform as part of the improv team at Second City in Chicago. Chelsea got her next dream job when Jon Stewart hired her to be the head writer of his streaming series The Problem with Jon Stewart. Now, she produ...
2024-07-2353 min
Now What? With Carole ZimmerA Conversation With Chuck DI started to think a lot about music when I knew I'd be talking to Chuck D, the rapper and frontman of Public Enemy. Some critics point to the group as a revolutionary voice in hip hop. Chuck D and Flavor Flav formed Public Enemy in 1985. Their songs became known for political messages on albums like Fear of a Black Planet. But in the decades since becoming a legendary rapper, Chuck D has developed his talent as an artist illustrating 3 graphic books. His latest, Rap Pilates, is about the exercise he credits with helping him to perform high-energy concerts. We tal...
2024-07-1044 min
Now What? With Carole ZimmerA Conversation With Nick KristofEver since he was a kid, Nick Kristof dreamed of being a foreign correspondent. And that's what he spent decades doing, traveling to more than 150 countries to cover conflicts and crises. Kristof is a two-time Pulitzer Prize winner for his reports on the deadly Tiananmen Square protests and for columns focusing attention on genocide in Darfur. Kristof has also been called the moral conscience of a generation. We talk about all the close calls and terrifying moments he describes in his new memoir Chasing Hope. And we talk about why he's an optimist in a world torn apart by conflict...
2024-06-2541 min
Now What? With Carole ZimmerA Conversation With Gail GodwinGail Godwin has written 18 books. Many of her novels were best sellers including Evensong. Three of them were finalists for the National Book Award. Her book Grief Cottage features a boy who has a relationship with a ghost. Godwin says she herself has seen ghosts. When she was a reporter, an apparition dressed in a medical uniform used to visit her in the middle of the night. Godwin's new book is a memoir. It opens with the story of how the writer, who's 87, went into her back yard to water her dogwood tree, wound up falling on her face and...
2024-06-1130 min
Now What? With Carole ZimmerA Conversation With Jhumpa LahiriWriter Jhumpa Lahiri grew up in Rhode Island after her family emigrated from India when she was a toddler. Her first language was Bengali and she spoke English in school. When she was 32, Lahiri won a Pulitzer Prize for Fiction for her first book Interpreter of Maladies. It was an honor but it also put a lot of pressure on her as a writer. Then Lahiri fell in love with the Italian language and when she moved to Rome, she discovered a kind of freedom. Now, Lahiri writes her books in Italian. Her latest work of fiction is called Ro...
2024-05-2843 min
Now What? With Carole ZimmerA Conversation with Carrie SunWhat's it like to earn hundreds of thousands of dollars a year working as the personal assistant to the billionaire founder of a famous hedge fund? Pretty tough according to writer Carrie Sun. Sun's memoir Private Equity tells the story of working 24/7, being at the beck and call of a demanding boss and feeling so stressed that she developed an eating disorder. There are also the perks like a $2500 gift certificate to Soul Cycle, a Derek Lam coat worth $6,000, surfing trips to Montauk and a bird's eye view of the world of the ultra-rich. We talk about what you o...
2024-05-1439 min
Now What? With Carole ZimmerA Conversation With Frank BruniFrank Bruni used to be a restaurant critic for the New York Times. Now, he's a Contributing Opinion writer for the paper and a Professor of Journalism and Public Policy at Duke University. Bruni has written a book called The Age of Grievance about what's going on in Trump World and the MAGA Universe. One of his theories is that the people who are the most furious feel they're losing because someone else is winning. We talk about the erosion of democracy in our country and why so many people seem to be so ticked off. "Now What?" is produ...
2024-04-3046 min
Now What? With Carole ZimmerA conversation With Brett GelmanYou may know him from his role as Murray Bauman in Stranger Things and as Martin in the BBC comedy Fleabag. Brett Gelman has dreamed of being a famous actor since he was a child growing up in Highland Park, Illinois, where he wanted to make the other kids laugh and wound up feeling like an outcast. Gelman has written about his childhood and his neuroses in a book called The Terrifying Realm of the Possible. He's run into problems publicizing the book after making impassioned speeches about his support for Israel in the conflict with Gaza. Get ready for a...
2024-04-1643 min
Now What? With Carole ZimmerA Conversation With Bill BradleyBill Bradley is one of those wildly talented people, a star athlete with a brilliant mind. He went to Princeton University where he was the 1965 NCAA champion of the year. Then it was on to Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar. But basketball still called to him and he joined the New York Knicks, playing on the dream team which won two NBA championships. After life on the court, Bradley decided to try politics and was elected to the U.S. Senate from New Jersey where he served three terms. Bradley has made a film about the many chapters of...
2024-04-0248 min
Now What? With Carole ZimmerA Conversation With Ed Begley Jr.As a child, Ed Begley Jr. watched his dad act in films like Sweet Bird of Youth, a role that earned him an Oscar. His father's career inspired the younger Begley to go into acting where he has appeared in hundreds of films and TV shows including Better Call Saul and Young Sheldon. In his twenties. Ed Begley, Jr. drank too much and abused drugs. Addiction is now in his past. Begley is also a passionate environmentalist. He took public transportation to the Oscars ceremony which his daughter Hayden filmed and posted on Tik Tok where it's gotten more than...
2024-03-1940 min
Now What? With Carole ZimmerA Conversation With Lucy SanteLucy Sante is a well-known author and critic who has written more than 10 books. Her latest is the memoir l Heard Her Call My Name. It's the first book she's written under the name Lucy. Lucy started out life with the name Luke. At the age of 67, she decided to fulfill a long-held desire to transition to a woman. It's now been three years since Lucy came out. We talk about the challenges of changing her gender, whether she thinks about things differently now that she's a woman and what kind of clothes she likes to wear. "Now What?" i...
2024-03-0540 min
Now What? With Carole ZimmerA Conversation With Suleika Jaouad Who faces death at the age of 22? Suleika Jaouad did. After Suleika was diagnosed with a rare blood cancer, she had a bone marrow transplant. At the age of 26 Suleika was declared cancer free. Suleika is the author of the best-selling memoir Between Two Kingdoms. She's married to Jon Batiste, the former band leader for the Late Show with Stephen Colbert and a 5-time Grammy award winner. Two years ago, Suleika's cancer came back and she had a second bone marrow transplant. She has thought a lot about life and death and all the moments in between. Our conversation...
2024-02-2059 min
Now What? With Carole ZimmerA Conversation With Jane FondaNo one embodies the concept of change and durability in one lifetime like Jane Fonda. She started out as what some might call a Nepo Baby, the daughter of Henry Fonda, an actor who was considered Hollywood royalty. During her long career, Jane Fonda has appeared in more than 50 films, earning Oscars for Best Actress for her roles in Klute and Coming Home. Fonda became as famous for her politics as she did for her acting roles. Her anti-Vietnam war activities earned her the nick name of Hanoi Jane. She also became a fitness guru. Now that her successful Netfl...
2024-02-0640 min
Now What? With Carole ZimmerA Conversation With Dr. Anthony FauciIn 2023, 83-year old Dr. Anthony Fauci retired as the Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, a job he'd held for 38 years. Once called "America's Doctor," Dr. Fauci had often been vilified for his role on the White House Coronavirus Task Force under President Donald Trump. In the past year, Dr. Fauci's critics have only gotten louder. In his book on the scientist, Presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., a staunch anti-vaxxer, wrote, "I think he is a genuinely bad human being." I caught up with Dr. Fauci to find out why he thinks he's the t...
2024-01-0950 min
Now What? With Carole ZimmerA Conversation With Lisa CortesFilmmaker Lisa Cortes brought a 1950s rock 'n' roll legend to life again in her rollicking new documentary Little Richard: I Am Everything. Richard, who was known for hits like Long Tall Sally and Tutti Frutti, was a complicated personality who felt he never got the kind of recognition that he deserved. But in Cortes' film, celebrated musicians talk about how Richard influenced their work. Mick Jagger says he studied Richard's dance moves and Paul McCartney credits Richard with teaching him how to shriek. I talk to Lisa Cortes about making films that set the record straight when it comes...
2023-12-2638 min
Now What? With Carole ZimmerA Tribute To Norman LearI was so lucky to have spent a few hours with Norman Lear who recently died at the age of 101. Lear was 95 at the time we talked. In the 1970s he created a television empire with shows that dominated the network ratings like All in the Family, Sanford and Son, The Jeffersons and Maude. These series changed television forever by tackling subjects like racism and social inequality. Lear was also an outspoken liberal. In 2001 he bought a rare copy of the Declaration of Independence for more than $8 million and arranged for it to tour around the U.S. as a way...
2023-12-1237 min
Now What? With Carole ZimmerA Conversation With Charles BuschCharles Busch made a name for himself as a playwright and a leading lady in drag with productions like the off-Broadway cult classic Vampire Lesbians of Sodom. That campy theatrical spoof was followed by Psycho Beach Party and Pardon My Inquisition, or, Kiss the Blood off My Castanets. Busch also appeared in the TV show Oz where he plays a cross- dressing homosexual who smothers his Mafia cellmate. When it comes to playing male roles, Busch says he's nothing great. It's when he puts on gowns and wigs that his imagination really takes flight. We talk about glamorous wigs and how...
2023-11-2852 min
Now What? With Carole ZimmerA Conversation With Paulina Porizkova Re-ReleasePaulina Porizkova, who was a supermodel in the 80s, has one of those rags to riches stories which she talked with me about on "Now What?" in December 2022. That conversation has just been honored with a Clarion award for Best Podcast given by the Association of Women in Communications. Life has not always been star turns for Paulina who was born in Eastern Europe. She began modeling in Paris at the age of 15. When she was 19, she met her future husband Ric Ocasek, lead singer of the Cars. We talk about Paulina's memoir Unfiltered: The Good, the Bad and t...
2023-11-1346 min
Now What? With Carole ZimmerA Conversation With Walter MosleyWhen it comes to the word prolific, Walter Mosley fits right in. He's written about 60 books. His latest is the sci-fi novella Touched. Mosley's first work of crime fiction, Devil in a Blue Dress, features the character of a black private detective named Easy Rawlins who lives in the Watts neighborhood of LA. It was made into a film starring Denzel Washington. Mosley was also brought up in LA with a Jewish mother and an African American father. Growing up as an only child, Mosley has said his writing imagination might come from an emptiness in his childhood that he fille...
2023-11-0146 min
Now What? With Carole ZimmerA Conversation With Roz ChastRoz Chast is an award-winning cartoonist who started working for the New Yorker 45 years ago. Her comics examine our everyday neuroses and anxieties. As an only child growing up in Brooklyn, Chast worried that a fire could break out in the wall and burn up her family. Or that she'd suddenly have an appendicitis attack and wind up in the hospital like Madeleine in that children's story. Chast hates to drive and is terrified of changing lanes. Now, she's written a book called I Must be Dreaming about her nightmares and all the wacky things that go on in ou...
2023-10-1644 min
Now What? With Carole ZimmerA Conversation With Avi LoebAvi Loeb is probably the most famous practicing astronomer in the country. He's the founding director of Harvard University's Black Hole Initiative and was the longest-serving chair of Harvard's Department of Astronomy. Now, Loeb is also one of the most controversial astronomers in the country. In 2018, he proposed that an object named Oumuamua that had been detected by a telescope in Maui may have been a probe from an alien civilization. Earlier this year, Loeb claimed to have recovered material from an interstellar meteor that could be evidence of an alien starship. Some of Loeb's colleagues accuse him of making...
2023-10-0350 min
Now What? With Carole ZimmerA Conversation With Gay TaleseGay Talese is known for his dapper wardrobe and distinctive writing style. He became famous as a writer who helped to define the New Journalism in the 1960s. He wrote block buster best sellers like Honor Thy Father about the Bonanno crime family. The Voyeur's Motel focuses on a motel owner who spied on his guests. Talese also calls himself a voyeur. He spent 8 years researching Thy Neighbor's Wife, his book about sex in America. That research included managing a massage parlor and living in a nudist colony. Now, 91-year old Gay Talese has written a new book called Bartleb...
2023-09-1942 min
Now What? With Carole ZimmerA Conversation With Amanda PalmerShe used to make her living standing in Harvard Square as a statue known as the Eight Foot Bride. Now, Amanda Palmer is the leader of the punk cabaret band The Dresden Dolls. And she's not afraid to tell you what's on her mind. Her fans are passionate about her. Palmer has 1 million followers on X (formerly Twitter) and 10,000 patrons on Patreon who support her work. She's open, honest and outrageous. "Now What?" is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Lucy little and Patrick McAndrew. Audio production is by Nick CIavatta.
2023-09-0559 min
Now What? With Carole ZimmerA Conversation with Ben SmithBen Smith had a front row seat to momentous shifts in the media that changed newspapers and magazines forever. In the early 2000s, readers began flocking to websites like Gawker and the Huffington Post for gossip, news and information. After Smith became the founding editor of BuzzFeed News, he decided to publish the Steele Dossier, the controversial report containing allegations about a conspiracy between Donald Trump's presidential campaign and the Russian government. We talk about Traffic, Smith's book about the media revolution and the race to go viral. "Now What?" is produced with help from Steve Zimmer, Lucy Little an...
2023-08-2238 min
Now What? With Carole ZimmerA Conversation with John Waters (Re-Release)John Waters is having a moment. The filmmaker, who's also known as the Prince of Puke and the Duke of Dirt, is getting a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He says he hopes it will be near the one celebrating Alvin and the Chipmunks. Plus, LA's Academy Museum of Motion Pictures is honoring Waters with an exhibit that features some of his old cameras and props like the exploding wig worn by Debbie Harry in Hairspray, which is celebrating its 35th anniversary. And Waters will be making another movie, his first in more than 18 years. It's based on...
2023-08-0945 min
Now What? With Carole ZimmerA Conversation With James ComeyAt 6 feet 8 inches tall, people say Jim Comey could have been a basketball player. Instead, he became the top law enforcement official when President Barack Obama appointed him FBI Director and he led an investigation into former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server. After concluding that there was no national security breach, less than two weeks before the Presidential election, Comey said the case had been reopened. Many people blame him for Clinton's election loss. Then his new boss, Donald Trump, fired him. Now Jim Comey is a novelist. He tells all on "Now...
2023-07-2453 min
Now What? With Carole ZimmerA Conversation with Dave BarryDave Barry wrote a humor column in the Miami Herald for more than 20 years that earned him a Pulitzer Prize for Commentary. He also writes books. His latest is called Swamp Story. It's very funny with a totally ridiculous plot that takes place in the Everglades. There's a character who runs around pretending to be a creature called the Melon Monster and a support boar, as in wild pig, who pees on a politician during a press conference. Barry has also played lead guitar in a band called the Rock Bottom Remainders. His band mates include other writers such as St...
2023-07-1241 min
Now What? With Carole ZimmerA Conversation With Nicole Daedone: Re-ReleaseIn June 2023, something shocking happened to Nicole Daedone, founder of OneTaste, which was once one of the fastest growing companies in the U.S. OneTaste defined itself as a sexuality-focused wellness company dedicated to spreading the word about OMing or orgasmic meditation. That's a practice that involves an individual methodically stroking a partner's clitoris. Federal prosecutors indicted Daedone on charges of forced labor conspiracy. The government alleges that she "intentionally recruited individuals who had suffered prior trauma." Daedone pleaded not guilty and faces up to 20 years in prison. I spoke to Daedone in November 2022 in a wide-ranging discussion of...
2023-06-2752 min
Now What? With Carole ZimmerA Conversation With Andrew McCarthyAndrew McCarthy was still a teenager when he acted in his first film and became a member of what's called the Brat Pack. That's the group of actors including Demi Moore and Molly Ringwald who starred in 1980s films like Pretty in Pink and St. Elmo's Fire. There were a few bumps along the road like drinking too much alcohol and taking drugs before McCarthy became a travel writer. McCarthy also directs episodes of TV series like Orange is the New Black. And he walked 500 miles across Spain with his teenage son, an adventure he writes about in a new book c...
2023-06-1436 min
Now What? With Carole ZimmerA Conversation with Letty Cottin PogrebinShe's a long-time activist for women's rights and she's also a Founding Editor of Ms. Magazine. Letty Cottin Pogrebin is the author of 12 books including How to Make it In a Man's World. Her latest is called Shanda which means shame in Yiddish. It's about the secrets families keep and the ones that Pogrebin uncovered that wound up changing her own life. Pobregin begins her book by revealing a story about how she had to confront her own shame after she was diagnosed with a benign brain tumor. And why she felt she had to hide the news at all...
2023-05-3043 min
Now What? With Carole ZimmerA Conversation with V (Formerly Eve Ensler)It's hard for me to believe that "Now What?" has just celebrated its 100th episode. We marked the occasion with a first: a conversation taped in front of a live audience at the Center for Fiction in Brooklyn. V (formerly Eve Ensler) and creator of "The Vagina Monologues" told stories about her remarkable life. The room was filled with fans of the podcast, friends and family. And as the conversation unfolded, we were all bound by a sense of togetherness and community. Now you'll get to be a part of it, too. "Now What?" is produced with help from S...
2023-05-161h 09
Now What? With Carole ZimmerA Conversation with Jeannette WallsJeannette Walls' memoir The Glass Castle became an international bestseller that sold over 5 million copies. Walls' father Rex was an alcoholic who dreamed of inventing a gold-detecting gizmo that would make him rich enough to build a glass castle. The family moved around a lot, usually before the rent came due. At one point Jeannette and her siblings were left at their grandparents' house where they often had to scrounge food from garbage cans. Now Walls has written a novel called Hang the Moon. about a gutsy young woman who becomes a rum runner during Prohibition. We talk about wha...
2023-05-0341 min
Now What? With Carole ZimmerA Conversation With Gloria SteinemShe was my first guest on "Now What?" and now she's come back to help me celebrate the 100th episode. There's no one quite like Gloria Steinem. But don't call her an icon. She doesn't like it. Gloria thinks of herself as a writer and an activist. She dressed up as a Playboy bunny for a Show Magazine article to tell the intimate story of what it's like to be treated as an object at work. She was an important leader of the wave of feminism that changed the world in the 1960s and 70s and she's the author o...
2023-04-1231 min
Now What? With Carole ZimmerA Conversation with Martha WainwrightShe comes from a famous musical family. And she's always felt like she was number 4 on the totem pole behind her brother Rufus, her father Loudon Wainwright III and her mother Kate McGarrigle. These days Martha has come into her own, talking about her life in a memoir called Stories I Might Regret Telling You. There are tales about her parent's divorce and Martha's wild days as a druggie, drinker and party goer. She also talks about how she got comfortable in her own skin and how much she loves being the mother of two boys. In a conversation tha...
2023-03-2942 min
Now What? With Carole ZimmerA Conversation With Tig NotaroTig Notaro had been doing stand-up for more than 10 years when she got up on stage in 2012, grabbed the mic and began her set with these words: "Hello, Good evening. Hello. I have cancer." Many critics called the set historic and ground breaking. When it was released as an album called "Live" it shot to number 1 on the comedy charts. in her Netflix special "Boyish Girl Interrupted" Tig went further. She unbuttoned her white shirt, sharing her mastectomy scars with the audience. Now she's married and has twin boys and remains an unusual comedian. You'll find out more about wh...
2023-03-1535 min
Now What? With Carole ZimmerA Conversation with Bruce JacksonBruce Jackson grew up in a public housing project in Manhattan and got arrested when he was 10. Some of his friends became drug dealers but Jackson went on to become the first person in his family to go to college. After earning a law degree from Georgetown, Jackson represented hip hop figures like LL Cool J, Heavy D and Busta Rhymes before leaving music behind to take a high-powered corporate job at Microsoft. We talk about Jackson's book Never Far from Home and what it means to grow up African American and poor in New York City, striving to gra...
2023-03-0144 min
Now What? With Carole ZimmerA Conversation with Dr. Anthony FauciWhen the U.S. was hit by the Covid 19 pandemic, President Trump often praised unproven treatments. While trying not to contradict Donald Trump, Dr. Anthony Fauci, one of the top infectious disease experts in the country, became a calming presence, advocating practical remedies like social distancing. He also became the target of right-wing conspiracy theorists who sent him death threats. I talk to Dr. Fauci about his role in developing treatments for once-fatal diseases like AIDS and how his life changed in the challenging years of the Trump administration. "Now What?" is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, A...
2023-02-1545 min
Now What? With Carole ZimmerA Conversation With Judy WoodruffJudy Woodruff got her start in the news business at a time when you didn't see many women on the air. Her first job was getting coffee for her bosses at a local TV station in Atlanta. That was nearly 50 years ago and she's covered Presidents and crises ever since. She's also spent the last decade as an anchor on the PBS NewsHour. No happy talk, no screaming and yelling. She's even been parodied on Saturday Night Live. We talk about how she's handled tragedy in her life and we laugh about the good times, too. "Now What?" is p...
2023-02-0144 min
Now What? With Carole ZimmerA Conversation With Dani ShapiroDani Shapiro is a writer who is very interested in family secrets. After Shapiro sent a sample of her saliva to a DNA company to find out more about her heritage, the results that came back rocked her world. Shapiro discovered that the man she spent her life calling dad was not her biological father. We talk about identity, what we hide from one another and the family secrets in Shapiro's new novel Signal Fires. "Now What?" is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Alex Wolfe and Andreea Coscai. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
2023-01-1845 min
Now What? With Carole ZimmerA Conversation With Mark EpsteinWelcome to 2023. It's a good time to take a fresh look at who we are and how we might want to change. Dr. Mark Epstein is a psychiatrist and a Buddhist. In his new book, The Zen of Therapy, Epstein writes about how he uses his spiritual beliefs to help his patients understand the importance of their own personal and unique stories. We talk about the need to laugh at ourselves and how to feel comfortable in our own skin. "Now What?" is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Alex Wolfe and Andreea Coscai. Audio production is by Nick...
2023-01-0441 min
Friggin Fabulous RadioCarole Zimmer Interviews Linda Danz-Repost-122222Award winning host of the podcast "Now What With Carole Zimmer" and NPR Reporter, Carole Zimmer, sat down to interview Linda Danz, author of "A Birdhouse In Brooklyn" for Friggin Fabulous Radio. Carole and Linda discuss Linda's novel, which takes place in the aftermath of the events of September 11, 2001, and is a story of the lives of disparate people brought together by circumstance. They also talk about the book publishing industry, how to self publish, age discrimination, how to re-invent yourself and more! http://abirdhouseinbrooklyn.blogspot.com/ http://www.amazon.com/Birdhouse-In-Brooklyn-Linda-Danz-ebook/dp...
2022-12-2235 min
Now What? With Carole ZimmerA Conversation With Paulina PorizkovaShe's been called one of the most beautiful women in the world. Paulina Porizkova also had what many considered a fairy tale marriage to Cars lead singer Ric Ocasek. But after Ocasek died in 2019, the former supermodel found she'd been cut out of his will. Porizkova writes about that in No Filter: The Good, The Bad, and the Beautiful. We talk about what it takes to recover from grief and heal from a deep sense of betrayal. "Now What?" is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Alex Wolfe and Andreea Coscai. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
2022-12-2147 min
Now What? With Carole ZimmerA Conversation With Lucy SanteLucy Sante is the award-winning author of numerous books. Her latest, Nineteen Reservoirs tells the story of the massive and disruptive project undertaken to bring a clean water supply to New York City. While Lucy was writing the book, she was also going through a major change in her own life. Named Luke at birth, at the age of 66, Sante decided to do something she had thought about all her life: transition to a woman. We talk about the complexities of gender and identity. "Now What?" is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Alex Wolfe and Andreea Coscai. Aud...
2022-12-0733 min
Now What? With Carole ZimmerA Conversation With Nicole DaedoneIf you've seen the Netflix documentary Orgasm Inc. you've been introduced to One Taste Founder Nicole Daedone who created a company dedicated to spreading the word about a practice called orgasmic meditation. OneTaste closed its doors after a Bloomberg BusinessWeek article included complaints of sexual assaults and financial improprieties. Daaedone is at the heart of much of the controversy. In an exclusive conversation, I spoke with Daedone about who she is, what went wrong and whether she's a visionary or a villain. I'll let you decide. "Now What?" is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Andreea Coscai and Al...
2022-11-2351 min
Now What? With Carole ZimmerA Conversation With Larry BeinhartWoodstock, New York is famous for the music festival that actually didn't take place there. It's also known for famous musicians like Bob Dylan who once lived there and for its writers like Larry Beinhart who wrote the political satire American Hero. The film Wag the Dog is based on Beinhart's book. Beinhart has also written a mystery series featuring the private detective Tony Casella. Much of the action in his latest book called The Deal Goes Down takes place in Woodstock where Casella lives and agrees to become a killer for hire. I talk to Larry Beinhart about movie...
2022-11-0931 min
Now What? With Carole ZimmerA Conversation With Constance WuConstance Wu first gained attention playing a tiger mom on the TV series Fresh Off the Boat. While she was in the series, Wu was cast in a movie called Crazy Rich Asians, a critical and commercial success that made Wu a movie star. But then she made a mistake. She tweeted about how disappointed she was that Fresh off the Boat had been renewed. The backlash was swift with fans calling Wu spoiled and ungrateful. I talk to Constance Wu about the perils of social media and lessons learned. "Now What?" is produced with the help of Steve Zimm...
2022-10-2640 min
Now What? With Carole ZimmerA Conversation With Bradley Tusk and Adam SchiffThe midterms are right around the corner. With politics in the air I found a couple of interesting people to shoot the breeze with about where we're heading. Brad Tusk is a political consultant and venture capitalist who helped a company called Uber gain a foothold in New York and became very rich as a result. Tusk has opened a book store called P&T Knitware on the lower east side of Manhattan. You'll also hear from California Congressman Adam Schiff who's running for re-election. Schiff, who is the Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee led the first impeachment of D...
2022-10-1255 min
Now What? With Carole ZimmerA Conversation with John Fetterman: Re-ReleasePa. Lt. Governor John Fetterman is running for a Senate seat in Pennsylvania against Dr. Mehmet Oz. He's a most unusual politician. Fetterman is 6 feet 8 inches tall. He's got a row of tattoos on his right arm that memorialize the dates that people were killed by gun violence in Braddock, Pa during the 13 years that Fetterman was Mayor. He's also known for campaigning in shorts and hoodies and he's got a Masters degree in Public Policy from Harvard's Kennedy School. I sat down with John Fetterman in 2019 to talk about his appeal to working people and his interest in r...
2022-09-2839 min
Now What? With Carole ZimmerA Conversation with James LapineWhat does it take to create a work of art with another person? Talent, inspiration, hard work. But the most important part of the equation may be whether the creators hit it off and find themselves on the same wavelength. James Lapine found his best collaborator in Stephen Sondheim, one of the greatest theater composers ever. Their first work together turned out to be a Broadway show called Sunday in the Park with George. They went on to create Into the Woods and Passion. I talk to James Lapine about his relationship with Sondheim, who died suddenly last year, and t...
2022-09-1443 min
Now What? With Carole ZimmerA Conversation with Gabriel Byrne: Re-ReleaseWhen people ask me who are the most interesting characters I've ever talked to for "Now What?" I always think of the Irish actor Gabriel Byrne. Byrne has been in many iconic movies including Miller's Crossing and The Usual Suspects. He also played the brooding psychiatrist in the series In Treatment and became a heartthrob at the age of 59. He's now performing in a stage version of his memoir Walking with Ghosts. This is a beautifully written piece in which Byrne talks about the years he spent as a thief and his calling to be a priest. I spoke to Gab...
2022-08-3151 min
Now What? With Carole Zimmer"Silent Cancer" DocumentaryThis is a special episode. It's about my brother-in-law Joel Zimmer who was diagnosed with back of the tongue and tonsil cancer caused by the HPV virus. If you were to tell people that there's a form of cancer that's sexually transmitted they'd probably look at you as if you're crazy. But there is and cases are on the rise. HPV now causes most of the throat and mouth cancers found in men. You'll hear from Joel, oncologists, sex experts and President Joe Biden, whom I interviewed in Washington, D.C. about his family's own experience with cancer. Thank...
2022-08-1729 min
Now What? With Carole ZimmerA Conversation with Ken AulettaSince 2017, more than 80 women have come forward to accuse Harvey Weinstein of sexual harassment or assault. In 2022, the former movie studio mogul was sentenced to 23 years in prison for rape. Throughout his career Weinstein was riding high with films like Pulp Fiction and Shakespeare in Love. So the question is how did Weinstein manage to lead a parallel life that lasted for decades in which he abused women. I talk to writer Ken Auletta about his book Hollywood Ending and the culture of silence in the movie business. "Now What?" is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Annika Hoeim...
2022-08-0339 min
Now What? With Carole ZimmerA Conversation with Kal PennHis breakthrough movie was Harold and Kumar go to White Castle, the buddy film where the stoners ride a cheetah in New Jersey to get burgers. Penn's parents came to the U.S. from India and the actor is a long time vocal advocate for more diversity in Hollywood. Penn played a doctor on the TV series House and the son of Indian immigrants in the film The Namesake. When he took a break from acting, Penn served in the Obama administration as Associate Director of the White House Office of Public Engagement. He's written a memoir about his adve...
2022-07-2051 min
Now What? With Carole ZimmerA Conversation With Delia EphronWriter Delia Ephron ran into a rough patch that lasted for years. First, her sister Nora died. After Delia's husband passed away, Delia was diagnosed with the same type of leukemia that killed Nora. Doctors told Delia her own chances of surviving were not good. She tells that gripping story in a memoir called Left on Tenth. But not all is doom and gloom. Something unexpected happened to Delia in the midst of all the loss; she fell in love. "Now What?" is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Alex Wolfe and Annika Hoiem. Audio production is by Nick...
2022-07-0646 min
Now What? With Carole ZimmerA Conversation with Bessel van der KolkHis book about healing trauma, The Body Keeps the Score, has been on the paperback bestseller list for more than 4 years. So why are people so interested in trauma, terrible events that sear themselves into our minds and won't let go? Psychiatrist Bessel van der Kolk has spent decades working on ways to free people from the traumatic events that have shaped their lives. We talk about ghosts past and present, psychedelic drugs and what we have to do to feel comfortable in our bodies. "Now What?" is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Alex Wolfe and Annika Ho...
2022-06-2237 min
Now What? With Carole ZimmerA Conversation With Tina BrownQueen Elizabeth is celebrating 70-years on the throne with people pouring into the streets to toast the longest-reigning British monarch. But the 96-year old Queen has had her challenges in recent years. Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle quit their royal duties and took off for southern California. Prince Andrew got himself in trouble with allegations of sexually abusing underage women and hanging out with Jeffrey Epstein. Tina Brown, author of The Palace Papers tells us what's next for the House of Windsor. "Now What?" is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Annika Hoeim and Alex Wolfe. Au...
2022-06-0842 min
Now What? With Carole ZimmerA Conversation With John WatersHe's known as the Prince of Puke. John Waters' film Pink Flamingos starring Divine is about a woman who's competing for the title of Filthiest Person Alive. In Multiple Maniacs Divine gets sexually assaulted by a giant lobster. Waters' films like Hairspray and Cecil B. Demented have become cult classics. Waters may be a counter culture hero but he's also a successful brand. His latest work is a novel called Liarmouth. I talk to John Waters about being an oddball and why he draws on his moustache. "Now What" is produced with the help of Steve Zimmer, Gabe Zimmer and Annika...
2022-05-2445 min
Now What? With Carole ZimmerA Conversation With Anna QuindlenAnna Quindlen became a star at the New York Times writing about motherhood and what it's like to go to the supermarket dragging little kids along, an event she said should be included in the Olympics. After being awarded a Pulitzer Prize for Commentary for her Op-ed column Public and Private., Quindlen announced that she was quitting her job at the Times to become a full time novelist. She's now putting the finishing touches on novel number 10. I talk to Anna Quindlen about being prolific, her grand kids and the looming threat to abortion rights. "Now What?" is produced with...
2022-05-1151 min
Friggin Fabulous RadioCarole Zimmer Interviews Author, Linda DanzAward winning NPR reporter, Carole Zimmer, sat down to interview Linda Danz, author of "A Birdhouse In Brooklyn" for Friggin Fabulous Radio. Carole and Linda discuss Linda's novel, which takes place in the aftermath of the events of September 11, 2001, and is a story of the lives of disparate people brought together by circumstance.
They also talk about the book publishing industry, how to self publish, age discrimination, how to re-invent yourself and more!
http://abirdhouseinbrooklyn.blogspot.com/
http://www.amazon.com/Birdhouse-In-Brooklyn-Linda-Danz-ebook/dp/B00ODD5GD6
2014-12-1035 min