Simon Pegg talks about nerds' epic climb up the social ladder -- from schoolyard runts to mainstream successes. His new memoir is called Nerd Do Well. Plus, stand up comedy from dork enthusiast Jackie Kashian and picks from our favorite geeks over at the AV Club. 

Comedy with a sweet, if vulgar tone. First up, Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein, creators of the new IFC sketch comedy show Portlandia. Then Adam Reed, co-creator of Sealab 2021. His current project is the animated spy comedy Archer on FX. Plus comedy from sketch group Cream and Jordan Ranks America.  

Three ways of getting a laugh, whether it's the confrontional style of Bill Burr, the bizaare sweetness of Kristen Schaal, or the way Greg Behrendt tears down his former idol. 

Standup and sketch comedy hand-selected by the staff at The Sound of Young America. This year's edition features emerging standup Hannibal Burress, Parks & Recreation's Aziz Ansari, material from MTV's legendary sketch comedy group The State, and much, much more. Just the kind of curated comedy you can expect from The Sound of Young America 

This week, the metal-est public radio holiday special ever.  Murder and arson in Norway's black metal scene and some holiday music from metal god Rob Halford of Judas Priest. It's the most wonderful time of the year. 

The man himself. A conversation with radio and television personality Adam Carolla. He's perhaps best known as the former co-host of the radio program Loveline and the television program The Man Show. After having replaced Howard Stern on morning radio in several markets for a short time, he's gone independent with his own daily podcast. Plus comedy from Holly Mills and Karen Kilgariff. 

Comedian Greg Fitzsimmons reads from his new memoir Dear Mrs. Fitzsimmons, John Brandon's novel Citrus County, Jordan Ranks America and Alex Blagg teaches us how to jack our web strat. 

Two emerging rock bands this week. Matt Berninger from The National talks about coming into his own as a front man, and Dr. Dog explain their fondness for a trusty lo-fi 4-track recorder. 

Jesse talks with producer, writer and director Judd Apatow, one of comedy's most important voices. Plus, sketches from Simon Rich that appear in Judd's new compilation of humor writing call I Found This Funny.

We're pushing to the edge this week. Chris Morris finds a way to humanize mass-murderers in Four Lions, his new comedy about a homegrown terror cell. Lee Unkrich, director of Toy Story 3, talks about why it was important to address death, and why that's OK for kids to see. Plus, a news update from the Kasper Hauser comedy group.

Dave Tompkins on the history of the vocoder, William Gibson on his latest novel, Jordan Morris ranks America and a classic bit from Coyle & Sharpe.

Mike Birbiglia on his one-man show Sleepwalk With Me, which is the basis for his new book. Plus, SERIOUS lessons on morality from God's Pottery and the AV Club suggest films from the recent Toronoto International Film Festival.

Three ways of getting a laugh, whether it's the confrontional style of Bill Burr, the bizaare sweetness of Kristen Schaal, or the way Greg Behrendt tears down his former idol. 

Exploring the future of soul. Singer Bilal has a new album out called Airtight's Revenge. Producer Flying Lotus' most recent LP is Cosmogramma. His new EP is called Patter+Grid World.

The weird and wonderful. John Waters has a new book out called Role Models that packs a few surprises -- chief among them the influence of Johnny Mathis. Also, novelist Jonathan Ames tells the story of watching his own show -- HBO's Bored To Death -- at a fan's house because he had no television. Plus, a news update from Kasper Hauser. 

Henry Winkler is of course best known from his starring role as the Fonz on Happy Days. He's been busy since then, appearing on oddball comedy shwos like Arrested Development and most recently Children's Hospital. Donal Logue may be known to children of the 90s as Jimmy the cab driver, who hopelessly commented on pop culture between videos on MTV. He also has starred in cult films such as Tao of Steve, and is now on the new FX series Terriers. Plus, Brain Teasers written by Simon Rich and performed by Rob Huebel. 

An interview with actor Elijah Wood that spans his debut in a Paul Abdul video to his newest movie The Romantics out this month. Plus a conversation with Rob McElhenney and Glenn Howerton from the FX comedy It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia. Finally, the AV Club provides their September culture picks. 

Our 2008 interviews with these pop culture big shots. Ben Folds has a new album coming out in collaboration with author Nick Hornby called Lonely Avenue. The Kids In The Hall's new television show Death Comes To Town has just reached American airwaves on IFC. 

 

 

An out of this world episode. Mary Roach talks about the unspeakable side of space travel. Her funny new book is called Packing For Mars. Also, an interview Jon Glaser, who's written for Conan O'Brien and Dana Carvey among others. His show Delocator is entering its second season on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim. Plus, Prince finds his way into the Ten Commandements courtesy of comedy writer Simon Rich. 

 

 

Hanson is known for their mega-hit MMMBop but less known for the decade long recording career they've maintained since then. Their new album is called Shout It Out. Art and performance rock act Devo is best known for a mega-hit of its own, Whip It. Their newest album was constructed using Internet focus groups and is called Something For Everybody. 

Jim Lehrer is the host and executive editor of the PBS Newshour. He’s also the author of 20 novels, the latest of which is called Super.  Walter Mosley has penned 34 novels and his latest is Known To Evil. We also listen in to a confrontation between Batman and the Riddler, a comedy sketch written by Sarah Gee. 

We're northbound for the Calgary Folk Festival. Interviews with Corb Lund, a native Albertan country singer and indie songstress Annie Clark, who performs as St Vincent. Plus, the song that changed Roberta Flack's life.

This show was taped in Park City, Utah during the 2010 Sundance Film Festival. Kevin Kline has been in countless films and holds the distinction of having won an Oscar for a comedic role in A Fish Called Wanda. He spoke with Jesse after the premier of his new film The Extra Man. Taika Waititi's first feature film is Eagle Vs. Shark. Jesse spoke with him after the premier of his new film Boy. The star of Boy, James Rolleston, joined them.

This week on The Sound of Young America an interview with Daily Show correspondant Samantha Bee about her new memoir-ish book "I Know I Am But What Are You?" Plus pop culture picks from the AV Club and comedy from Nick Adams. 

Jazz singer Jose James has two new albums out -- the soul & hip-hop influenced Blackmagic plus a collection of standards titled For All We Know. Colson Whitehead's new novel Sag Harbor is a semi-biographical account of summer with an understated narrative. Plus, Jordan's latest rankings of America. 

Rob Corddry is best known as a long-time correspondent for The Daily Show. His new show Children’s Hospital begins its run on Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim this month. Matt Walsh and Ian Roberts are co-founders of the Upright Citizens Bridgade. Their show Players returns to Spike TV this month. Plus comedy from Superego. 

Mark Frauenfelder is the founder of BoinBoing.net and author of the new book Made by Hand: Searching for Meaning in a Throwaway World. Dan Clowes is a cartoonist known best for Ghost World and Art School Confidential. His new graphic novel is called Wilson. Plus, stand up comedy from Matt Braunger.

 

Comedian, actor and writer Andy Richter is best known as Conan O'Brien's long time sidekick. He talks about his career, and what it was like working on The Tonight Show while knowing it was in its last days. Plus, new picks from the AV Club. 

 

 

Hanson is known for their mega-hit MMMBop but less known for the decade long recording career they've maintained since then. Their new album is called Shout It Out. Art and performance rock act Devo is best known for a mega-hit of its own, Whip It. Their newest album was constructed using Internet focus groups and is called Something For Everybody.

 

This week, conversations with three outstanding up-and-coming comics: Nick Thune, Kyle Kinane and W. Kamau Bell.   

 

This week on The Sound of Young America, a full hour with San Francisco comedy group Kasper Hauser. Their newest books are Weddings of The Times and Obama’s Blackberry. 

 

The man himself. A conversation with radio and television personality Adam Carolla. He's perhaps best known as the former co-host of the radio program Loveline and the television program The Man Show. After having replaced Howard Stern on morning radio in several markets for a short time, he's gone independent with his own daily podcast. Plus comedy from Holly Mills and Karen Kilgariff. 

Jim Lehrer is the host and executive editor of the PBS Newshour. He?s also the author of 20 novels, the latest of which is called Super. Walter Mosley has penned 34 novels and his latest is Known To Evil. We also listen in to a confrontation between Batman and the Riddler, a comedy sketch written by Sarah Gee.

This week is about relying on yourself. Comic actor and writer Donald Glover is part of the sketch group Derrick Comedy, who recently produced the film Mystery Team entirely by themselves. Mark Duplass and his brother Jay started out making short comedy videos and moved on to feature length films like 2005's The Puffy Chair. Mark can currently be seen in the FX series The League. 

Mark Oppenheimer talks about growing up in a culture of debate and Julie Krausner on dating faux sensitive types. Plus, Jordan Ranks America once again and Donald Glover delivers comedy about that one time his teacher farted. High minded topics this week on The Sound of Young America. 

Interviews with Scott Adsit and Rik Cordero; music from Nellie McKay and Andrew WK; and comedy from Kumail Nanjiani. 

Guests from across the pond this week. First an interview with The xx whose self-titled debut was released last year. Then the stars and executive producer of the most recent incarnation of Doctor Who -- a series relegated to public television stateside, but a cultural force to be reckoned with in Great Britain. Plus, April's pop culture picks from the AV Club.

Comedian, actor and writer Andy Richter is best known as Conan O'Brien's long time sidekick. He talks about his career, and what it was like working on The Tonight Show while knowing it was in its last days. Plus, comedy from God's Pottery. 

Revisiting conversations with the cast of the Starz comedy Party Down which will soon launch its second season. Jane Lynch is now in the cast of the Fox hit Glee, Martin Starr is best known for his role on Freaks & Geeks, and Adam Scott shares his hometown of Santa Cruz with this radio show. 

The second show from this year's South By Southwest festival delves into the lives of two outsiders who have new biopics: Bill Hicks and Lemmy. First, a conversation about Hicks with Matt Harlock and Steve Hicks the director of American and the brother of its subject respectively. Then, Wes Orshoski and Greg Olliver, the creators of the new Lemmy biopic. Finally, the man himself, Motörhead frontman Lemmy Kilmister.

The first of two shows from the South By Southwest Film Conference and festival. David Gordon Green is the writer and director of the acclaimed drama George Washington but has recently transitioned into lighter fare such as Pineapple Express. Malcom Ingram is the director of the heart warming film Bear Nation. It explores the gay subculture in which larger, hairier gentlemen are not only accepted, but desired. 

An interview with Upright Citizen's Brigade co-founders Matt Walsh & Ian Roberts. Their new show on Spike TV is called Players. Plus comedy from Karen Kilgariff and the singing duo God's Pottery.

Character actor Luiz Guzman currently appears in the HBO series How To Make It In America. He's also been in one out of every four movies you probably see. Plus, news from comedy group Kasper Hauser and some of March's overlooked pop culture gems as decided by the AV Club. 

This week: fresh faces. Comedian and actor Aziz Ansari has a new comedy special called Intimate Moments for a Sensual Evening. Elna Baker has a new memoir on being single and Mormon in the Big Apple. Plus live stand up from Hugh Moore.

The third of three shows taped in Park City, Utah during the 2010 Sundance Film Festival. 'Lucky' is the new documentary from Jeffrey Blitz and Sean Welch that follows the lives of lottery winners through both their joy and their pain. Blitz and Welch were previously nominated for an Oscar for their film 'Spellbound'. Trevor Groth is the Director of programming at Sundance and talks about the selection process for this year's films. 

The second of three shows taped in Park City during the 2010 Sundance Film Festival. Drake Doremus is the 26 year old director of Douchebag, a dramatic comedy that follows a man and his brother on a quest to find his 5th grade sweetheart. Biker Fox is a Slamdance documentary about a Tulsa, Oklahoma eccentric known for bike tricks on busy roads and feeding wild animals with his bare hand. Drunk History is an HBO series originated on the web that features famous actors reenacting historical stories as told by drunken comedians. 

The first of three shows taped in Park City, Utah during the 2010 Sundance Film Festival. Kevin Kline has been in countless films and holds the distinction of having won an Oscar for a comedic role in A Fish Called Wanda. He spoke with Jesse after the premier of his new film The Extra Man. Taika Waititi's first feature film is Eagle Vs. Shark. Jesse spoke with him after the premier of his new film Boy. The star of Boy, James Rolleston, joined them. 

Sal Santana is the son of Carlos Santana. His debut album is a fusion of rock, hip-hop, electronica and soul called Keyboard City. Loudon Wainwright III is a folk singer, humorist and actor. His new album High Wide & Handsome is a tribute to the work of Charlie Pool.

This week we plunge into a world of aesthetics with the curator of London's Design Museum and an all-female, all-keyboard band from Brooklyn who scour thrift stores and pawn shops for the perfect vintage sounds. Plus a nun fight, so that's pretty amazing.

Television writer Jane Espenson has been involved in numerous shows, including Star Trek: The Next Generation, Buffy The Vampire Slayer and Battlestar Galactica. She's an executive producer for the new Battlestar prequel series Caprica. Gahan Wilson is a legendary cartoonist whose light macabre style has been seen prominently in Playboy and the New York. Plus, hear from the AV Club about some films out now on DVD that you may have missed in theaters.

This week: fresh faces. Comedian and actor Aziz Ansari has a new comedy special called Intimate Moments for a Sensual Evening. Elna Baker has a new memoir on being single and Mormon in the Big Apple. Plus live stand up from Hugh Moore.

On the show this week are two satirists. First Armando Iannucci – the unknown great behind classic British comedies such as The Day Today and I’m Alan Partdrige. His new film In The Loop is on its way to DVD. Plus comedy great Marc Maron. His newest CD is called Final Engagement.

To celebrate the New Year the Sound of Young America presents 2009's best comedy. Hear Maria Bamford, Kasper Hauser, Dana Gould, Patton Oswalt and many, many more.

Our holiday special with Rob Halford of Judas Priest and the directors of Until The Light Takes Us, a documentary on the brutal Norwegian black metal scene.

There's odd standup comedy, and then there's standup comedy so odd it gets you banned from a network late night show... after you've already taped your appearance. Comedian Brent Weinbach is on the show this week. Plus, comedian Al Madrigal talks about the odd encounters he's had after firing over a thousand people from their jobs.

This week is about relying on yourself. Comic actor and writer Donald Glover is part of the sketch group Derrick Comedy, who recently produced the film Mystery Team entirely by themselves. Mark Duplass and his brother Jay started out making short comedy videos and moved on to feature length films like 2005's The Puffy Chair. Mark can currently be seen in the FX series The League.

Live from the stage of Second City in Chicago. Recorded in 2007 with Steve Albini, Hannibal Buress, and more.

Ian MacKaye is central to the world of D.C. punk just as Alex Patsavas is central to the world of film and TV music supervisors. Plus Jordan Morris' Power Rankings of America!

Steven Johnson's book The Invention of Air uses the story of the guy who discovered oxygen to look at where information revolutions come from... and speaking of revolutionaries, the folks behind the basketball blog Free Darko talk about why they think our greatest American is eccentric hoops star Gilbert Arenas.

Nick Hornby's newest book is Juliet Naked. He also is the screenwriter of the new film An Education. The Sartorialist is a fashion blog of daily street photography. Plus, we hear from the AV Club guys on the month's best stuff in the pop culture.

Sarah Vowell's recent book The Wordy Shipmates is now in paperback. Mikita Brottman makes the case that reading isn't so much useless as it is overrated.

We're taped live at the Philly Improv Theater. The oddities of the Mutter Museum, the graphic art of Charles Burns and the comedy of Kent Haines. Oh, and Andrew WK joins us on stage in New York.

Interviews with Scott Adsit and Rik Cordero, music from Nellie McKay and Andrew WK, and comedy from Kumail Nanjiani.

The Trailer Park Boys' critically acclaimed TV series is created in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and follows their lives as they drift in and out of crime, jail, and relationships. Jesse is interviewing them this week, and won't let the fact that they're fictional stop him. Plus, singer Langhorne Slim plays from his new album Be Set Free.

MCs Brother Ali & Pharoahe Monch.

It's all about guys who have been through the ringer this week. Bucky Sinister is a comedian and poet. His new book is called Get Up A 12-Step Guide To Recovery for Misfits, Freaks & Weirdos. Nathan Rabin is the head writer for The Onion's AV Club. His book is called The Big Rewind: A Memoir Brought to You By Pop Culture.

Guest Mike Clattenburg is the creator of the hilarious cult comedy series Trailer Park Boys, and Rian Johnson is the man behind the teen noir Brick. His new film The Brothers Bloom is being released on DVD.

We spend a full, hilarious hour with San Francisco comedy group Kasper Hauser.

This week we look inside. Inside comedy writing with Mike Sacks and his new book about comedy writers, and inside the objects in our everyday lives, with Gary Hustwit and his design documentary Objectified.

There's odd standup comedy, and then there's standup comedy so odd it gets you banned from a network late night show... after you've already taped your appearance. Comedian Brent Weinbach is my guest this week. Plus, comedian Al Madrigal talks about the odd encounters he's had after firing over a thousand people from their jobs.

Jello Biafra, the punk rocker who ran for mayor of San Francisco on the platform that businessmen dress in clown suits; State Assemblyman Tom Ammiano talks about the gay liberation movement of the 70s, and the queer comedy movement of the 80s; plus, comedy from Sean Cullen and music from Zion-I.

Rob Siegel wrote last year's critically-acclaimed The Wrestler, and his new film Big Fan starring Patton Oswalt explores a different fringe society -- sports fandom. Plus, scraping the bottom of the barrel with Jon Friedman, host of the Rejection Show.

Hear why the price of ideas is trending towards ‘free’ from Chris Anderson, the editor of WIRED  We’ll talk about what that means for people who make their living creating thoughts. Plus, hear from Sound Opinions’ Greg Kot on how this all plays out in the music industry and Coyle & Sharpe chime in with their own idea of ‘free’.

There's a new generation of comic actors driven by the inspired silliness of Steve Martin and Pee-Wee Herman. On the show this week, Jesse will talk with two of them, Paul Rust and Charlyne Yi.

It would be tough to find any comedy group that better exemplifies generation X than The State, but the State were anything but stereotypical slackers. We'll hear how eleven NYU students got their own MTV show when they were barely out of college. Plus, Michael Ian Black & Michael Showalter talk about their new show Michael & Michael Have Issues.

Author and Famous Minor Television Personality John Hodgman talks about creating fictional worlds for his new book of humorous fake trivia. Plus, Gideon Yago talks about covering those who cover the real world on his show, the IFC Media Project.

On the show this week are two satirists. First I talk to Armando Iannucci – the unknown great behind classic British comedies such as The Day Today and I’m Alan Partdrige. He’s got a new film out called In The Loop. Plus comedy great Marc Maron. His new CD is called Final Engagement.

Bill Withers wrote and recorded some of soul music's most enduring songs -- hits like Ain't No Sunshine, Use Me, Lovely Day and Lean on Me. Then, in the early 80s, he retired. He hasn't recorded or toured since. This week I talk to Bill Withers about his life and career, and about why he left it all behind.

We plunge into a world of aesthetics with the curator of London's Design Museum and an all-female, all-keyboard band from Brooklyn who scour thrift stores and pawn shops for the perfect vintage sounds. Plus a nun fight, so that's pretty amazing.

Two masters of the joke. Comedian Dana Gould helped take stand up out of comedy clubs and into bars, rock clubs and book stores in the early 90s. After a stint as a writer and producer on the Simpsons, he's back with a new special. Plus a young upstart, John Mulaney -- he'll talk about his first Comedy Central special at age 26.

This week it's a crash course in media literacy. I'll talk about getting inside the news with Brooke Gladstone and Bob Garfield from On the Media. Then I'll chat with ad man Terry O'Reilly, whose CBC show The Age of Persuasion is all about the history and practice of marketing.

Guests Brother Ali & Pharoahe Monch

I talk with some of my favorite folks in the world. First Jimmy Pardo and Matt Belknap, who host the podcast Never Not Funny, one of podcasting's few true success stories. Then I talk with our old friend Jonathan Coulton, who gives us a bit of a house concert. His new live performance CD / DVD is called Best. Concert. Ever.

In the annals of Divadom, there is Maria Callas... Mariah Carey... and then there's the queen of them all, Miss Piggy. The porcine superstar will be my guest on The Sound of Young America this week, along with an anti-diva, the demure and hilarious Jenna Fischer, who plays the receptionist, Pam, on NBC's The Office.

We're live on stage at the Bridgetown Comedy Festival in Portland, Oregon, with music from two stalwarts of The Rose City's indie scene, Mirah and Blitzen Trapper, plus interviews with comedian Nick Kroll and comic writer Brian Michael Bendis.

This week on The Sound of Young America, guests Mike Clattenburg, the creator of the hilarious cult comedy series Trailer Park Boys, and Rian Johnson, the man behind the teen noir Brick. His new film is The Brothers Bloom.

Paul Bacon talks about being a second-rate policeman in New York. His new book is Bad Cop. Plus I talk with southern rap giant Bun B of UGK. He talks about the group's final album, which Bun put together after the passing of his partner in rhyme, Pimp C.

A celebration of the independent spirit. I talk with independent singer-songwriter Eleni Mandell, and with Lloyd Kaufman, the man behind Troma Films and movies like The Toxic Avenger and Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead.

A talk with Richard Zoglin, whose book Comedy at the Edge profiles the standup comics who in his view changed America in the 1970s. Then we’ll talk about the late Chris Farley with Tom Farley Jr, his brother and Tanner Colby.

This week it's a crash course in media literacy. I'll talk about getting inside the news with Brooke Gladstone and Bob Garfield from On the Media. Then I'll chat with ad man Terry O'Reilly, whose CBC show The Age of Persuasion is all about the history and practice of marketing.

The new Starz comedy Party Down is a show about failed actors working as cater-waiters. Jesse talks with three of the brilliant actors who play those failed actors -- Martin Starr, Jane Lynch and Adam Scott.

This week, two masters of the joke. Comedian Dana Gould who, after a stint as a writer and producer on The Simpsons, is back with a new special. Plus young upstart John Mulaney who has scored his first Comedy Central special at age 26.

This week on The Sound of Young America, comedy group Human Giant, graphic artist Chip Kidd, cartoonist and illutrator Adrian Tomine, plus music from PWRFL Power and Rhett Miller. All live from the stage at the Bumbershoot Music & Arts Festival in Seattle.

Steven Johnson's new book The Invention of Air uses the story of the guy who discovered oxygen to look at where information revolutions come from... and speaking of revolutionaries, the folks behind the basketball blog Free Darko talk about why they think our greatest American is eccentric hoops star Gilbert Arenas.

Distinguished actor Jeffrey Tambor is our guest this week talking about his San Francisco roots and his roles on The Larry Sanders Show and Arrested Development. Plus an interview with the sketch comedy group Whitest Kids U Know.

In the annals of Divadom, there is Maria Callas... Mariah Carey... and then there's the queen of them all, Miss Piggy. The porcine superstar will be our guest this week, along with an anti-diva: the demure and hilarious Jenna Fischer, who plays the receptionist, Pam, on NBC's The Office.

We've got some serious San Francisco Values on this week's show. Jesse talks with Jello Biafra, the punk rocker who ran for mayor of San Francisco on the platform that businessmen would be required to dress in clown suits. Then I talk with a slightly more serious politician, State Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, about his role in the gay liberation movement of the seventies, and the queer comedy movement of the 80s. Plus, comedy from Sean Cullen and music from Zion I.

How's Your News is a new series on MTV that follows a team of physically and developmentally disabled reporters around the country as they interview celebrities, talk to regular people and generally have a fantastic time. We'll talk with the program's creator and one of its stars. Plus another perspective on the news: The Daily Show's Senior Black Correspondent, Larry Wilmore.

This week on The Sound of Young America, The Hold Steady rock your socks off, plus comedian Andy Daly, whose comic monologues are endearingly chipper but sometimes terrifyingly dark. His new series Eastbound and Down starts on HBO next week. All that, plus a real poem called "Alien versus Predator".

This week on The Sound of Young America, we explore new worlds. Writer Neil Gaiman and director Henry Selick talk about making Coraline, the spectacular, immersive and kind of scary 3D stop-motion feature film. Plus Spike Feresten, the host of FOX's longest running late night program, Talkshow with Spike Feresten.