Bullseye with Jesse Thorn

We’re taking a moment to remember Dolly Parton who died on August 25, 2026. The trailblazing icon of country and western music joined us on Bullseye back in 2012. She’d just released a book called Dream More: Celebrate the Dreamer in You. Dolly talked with us about her impoverished childhood, how she had dealt with fame over the years, and some of the songs that could still make her cry.

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Documentarian Alysa Nahmias has directed and produced films about PTSD, navigating the world with disabilities, the criminal justice system and other serious topics. Her latest film is called Cookie Queens follows the lives of four young girls as they sell Girl Scout cookies. It may seem like a departure from Alysa's previous work, but it's a story that's not just about cookies. Alysa joins us to talk about how she landed this subject to tell a story that's about the pressures of aging out of childhood, economic class and the harsh realities of capitalism. 


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We’re talking with Mike Kinsella and Steve Holmes of the emo band American Football. The band just released their fourth full length album, simply titled: American Football (LP4). Mike and Steve join us to chat about their early years playing music together in high school, how they eventually came to cut a record in college, and reveal what happened to the house pictured on the cover of their debut album.

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Geena Davis is a genuine legend in show business: Beetlejuice, Thelma and Louise, A League of Their Own and many more. For over two decades, The Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media has gathered data on representation of not just women but of all marginalized groups and how they're being represented in entertainment media. She gets into her work with the institute, her acting career and how she almost became an Olympic archer. A version of this interview originally aired in May of 2016.

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Rakim changed the rap game forever. He’s one half of the groundbreaking hip-hop duo, Eric B. and Rakim. And a legendary solo rapper in his own right. Rakim joined us on the show back in 2023. That year marked 50 years of hip-hop. He talked with us about how he met Eric B, shared stories about his late friend and fellow emcee, Biz Markie and much more.

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The character actor Dale Dickey has a career that spans nearly four decades and more than 150 roles. When she's on screen you know you're in for a treat. Dale's now in her mid-60's, and she's just been nominated for her first Emmy for her performance in Apple TV's Widow's Bay. She joins us on Bullseye to talk about the Emmy-nominated show. Plus, we get into the time she played Shrek... at various kids parties in the greater Los Angeles area.

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Comedian, podcaster and actor Stavros Halkias joins us on the latest episode! He chats with us about starring in the new Anthony Bourdain biopic, Tony, when he discovered a passion for joke telling, his distinct look and much more!

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Isaiah Rashad, our guest, dropped his third album this past Spring. The record is called It’s Been Awful, and doesn’t take long into listening to it to tell that despite the obstacles life has dealt him – Isaiah’s thriving and maybe making his best work yet? Isaiah joins us to talk about the new album, his favorite Prince song, parenthood and much more!

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Did you know that folks that support Bullseye directly get access to a bonus podcast? Put You On is the show where Jesse and a guest answer recommendation questions from our audience members on just about anything: books, movies, cooking! We've had people like Linda Holmes, Alonso Duralde and more. This month we were joined by Derek Guy – the famous Menswear Guy from social media. We're presenting a bit from that episode in the feed. You can listen to this full episode and see what we've been working on by clicking here. 


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Sean Clements is a writer for the big and small screen. His latest project is a feature film called The Dink. It's a movie about pickleball starring Mary Steenburgen and Jake Johnson. The movie was inspired by some of Sean's experiences with the sport – which he was very skeptical about at first as a pretty serious tennis player. We also get into his work as co-host of the comedy podcast Hollywood Handbook and what it's like to make celebrities uncomfortable on that show.

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Grammy-winning bassist, producer and singer Meshell Ndegeocello is back on Bullseye! Earlier this year she produced a tribute album dedicated to the late blues guitarist BB King. She joined us to chat about the new record, her early days playing with go-go band Rare Essence, why she loves being a band leader as a bass player, and much more.

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John Early and Kate Berlant have been performing as a comedy duo for over a decade now – their brand of comedy is a little surreal, a little unhinged and always laugh-at-loud funny. John and Kate joined us on the program a few years ago.They talked with Jesse about their comedy special Would It Kill You to Laugh?, how they balance their creative partnership with their independent work and why Kate should have eaten a tuna melt before sitting down to her NPR interview. 


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Rapper Jeezy helped bring trap music into the mainstream in the early 2000s alongside other pioneering rappers like T.I. and Gucci Mane. These days, Jeezy has his very own Las Vegas residency running throughout July and August at Planet Hollywood. When he joined us back in 2023, he’d just released a memoir called Adversity for Sale: Ya Gotta Believe. He chatted with us about the book, the first time he found his love of music, and much more.

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David Wain is a comedy legend. Alongside Michael Ian Black, Michael Showalter, Ken Marino and many other heavy hitters, Wain co-founded The State, the massively influential comedy troupe responsible for Wet Hot American Summer. Wain returns to Bullseye to talk about his latest project: Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass. He talks about writing the screenplay which involved locking himself up with Marino – literally! Plus, how he got Jon Hamm to agree to make a cameo in the film.

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Judy Chicago is an artist who works in sculpture, performance, needlework, and even fireworks. She has been making art for over 50 years and currently has an exhibition in conjunction with the Venice Biennale called 'The Materiality of Judy Chicago' She joins us to chat about the career-spanning exhibition, the art skills she gained from classes at an auto body school, and much more!

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Earlier this year, as a thank you to the many people who supported this show during the MaxFunDrive, the Bullseye team did something pretty silly and fun: we promised to crash an open mic. We showed up at the Lyric Hyperion Theater in Silverlake, Los Angeles. Jesse talked with Guy Branum about his incredible solo show: "Be Fruitful" and so much more.  If you'd like to support our show, it's easy: click here.

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We’re talking all things Taskmaster! The British game show in which comedians compete against each other through a series of odd, sometimes very funny, tasks. The show’s creator, Alex Horne, and his co-host, Greg Davies, join us to chat about some of their favorite past tasks, why most of the contestants are comedians, and how they come up with tasks for the show.

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Jinkx Monsoon is a legend in the world of drag. For fans of RuPaul’s Drag Race she is often referred to as "Queen of All Queens" – she’s the only performer to win that competition show twice. Monsoon is set to make her debut on London's West End this August in London in Cole Escola’s Tony award-winning play Oh Mary. We discuss Jinkx’s latest gigs on the stage and how she found herself through drag performances. A version of this interview originally aired in September of 2025.

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Barney Frank died earlier this year at the age of 86. He served in Congress for 32 years, representing Massachusetts’ 4th district. In December of 2015, Frank joined us at a live show in Boston to chat about a book he had written called Frank: A Life in Politics from the Great Society to Same-Sex Marriage. He also talked with us about his early political career, why he felt his public service was incompatible with his private life, and more.

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Craig Ferguson joins us to chat about his new documentary series, Craig Ferguson: American On Purpose. He talks to us about his love for America and his experience with becoming an American citizen. He also talks with us about his time hosting the Late Late Show and how he dealt with the stress of making new episodes every day.

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Hello! His name is Andrew Rannells. And we would like to share this amazing interview. It's an interview about The Book of Mormon, a long long time ago… Rannells played Elder Price, the lead role in the original run of the smash hit musical. We get into his journey to the Broadway stage and some memorable scenes from his roles on television including HBO's Girls. A version of this interview originally aired in February of 2013.

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Allison Janney has played many memorable roles, including CJ Cregg on The West Wing, Bonnie on the CBS sitcom Mom, and as Tonya Harding’s mother in I, Tonya. These days, you can catch her in the new movie Miss You, Love You, as well as the Netflix drama The Diplomat. When Allison Janney joined us back in 2014, she was starring on two TV shows – Showtime’s Masters of Sex and CBS’s Mom. She talked with us about her time on those shows, her early days of acting, and much more.

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Katie Dippold created the new horror-comedy on Apple TV, Widow’s Bay. The show uses plenty of humor, and it nods to the horror greats, but it is not a spoof. It’s earnestly scary! She talks to Bullseye about maintaining the delicate balance of horror and comedy, writing movies that have been on the receiving-end of intense internet discourse, and what she learned writing for Parks and Recreation.

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Ben Vereen is an actor, dancer and singer – a classic triple threat. His work in theatre is legendary: Sweet Charity, Hair, Jesus Christ Superstar, Pippin and countless others. These days you can catch him on The Gray House on Prime Video. Ben joins us to talk about the themes the show shares with his previous work on Roots, and what's changed about his craft after decades of iconic work.

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Kneecap is an Irish hip-hop group comprised of three members: Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap, and DJ Próvaí. The band’s beats are pretty intense, and their lyrics are fierce and as political as they come. Kneecap joined us to talk about their new record Fenian, how they’ve been influenced by Irish rebel music, starring in a film about themselves, and more!

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Ann Wilson and her sister, Nancy, founded the rock band Heart. She’s also the subject of a new documentary: Ann Wilson – In My Voice. She joins Bullseye to talk about finding her voice while covering Led Zeppelin songs, navigating the masculine-centric world of 70s rock and roll, and maintaining a sibling relationship through a 50-year career.

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Juvenile became a household name in 1998. That's when he dropped his breakthrough record, 400 Degreez, featuring Back "That Thang Up" among others. Earlier this year, he released Boiling Point – his first album in over a decade. He joins Bullseye to talk about touring with a live band, choosing to make party records, and auditioning for Cash Money Records from the backseat of a car.

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Poppy Liu joins us to talk about all things I Love Boostersand the message she hopes audiences take away from the film. She also chats with us about her upbringing in Minnesota, how she got into comedy acting, her role on Hacks, and much more!

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We’re joined by LaKeith Stanfield! He’s reunited with rapper and filmmaker Boots Riley for the new film I Love Bosters. LaKeith chats with us about the movie and what it’s been like working with Boots on another project. He also talks with us about how he got cast on Donald Glover’s Atlanta, how he got into making music, and more.

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Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis have been working together for 40 years, producing some of the biggest R&B records of all time. When they spoke to Bullseye in 2021, they had just released their first ever album as recording artists: Jam & Lewis, Volume 1. They talked about the album, the hits they contributed vocals to, and the jaw-dropping synthesizer work they do on the Janet Jackson single “Love Will Never Do.”

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To say that Andy Serkis is good at so many different things is an understatement. He’s revolutionized the practice of motion capture, is a genius real-life actor, and does work behind the camera as a director. Serkis joined us to talk about his animated adaptation of George Orwell’s Animal Farm. He also shares his thoughts on the impact AI has had on technology in film, and much more.

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Zach Galifianakis was on the road to become a huge blockbuster actor. At the height of his fame he kind of did the unexpected – he moved to a small rural town in Canada. He has kept working in showbiz, but lately has more important things to do like tend to his garden. Zach joins us to talk about his latest projects The Audacity and This is a Gardening Show. Plus, what it's like to be raising his kids in Canada and how his neighbors react to his fame. Spoiler: they could not care less and he likes it that way.

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In the mid '80s, an art collective known as the Guerilla Girls drew attention to issues of discrimination and representation in galleries and museums all over the world. They wore gorilla masks while doing it. Jesse talks to a founding member of the Guerrilla Girls, who goes by Kathe Kollwitz. She reflects on the origins of the group, anonymity in the art world, and what the group means now more than 40 years later. A version of this interview aired in 2019. 


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Ann-Margret is your classic triple threat: she can sing, dance, and act. And she just turned 85 years young! When she joined us on the show back in 2023, she had just released an album called Born To Be Wild. She invited us to her home to chat about the record, her iconic Hollywood career, and much more.

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Tig Notaro is a standup comic, actor, podcast host. Last year, she produced a documentary called Come See Me in the Good Light. It was shot during what would be the last year of poet Andrea Gibson’s life, before they died in July of 2025 after a years-long battle with terminal ovarian cancer. Notaro talks to Bullseye about processing the death of Andrea Gibson in the middle of doing press for a film about them, and she reflects on the sheer chaos of simply living life, even though she doesn’t have to tour for work right now.

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Kenan Thompson has been doing sketch comedy on TV for decades. He is the longest tenured cast member in Saturday Night Live history. Kenan recently co-wrote a book called Unfunny Bunny. He joins us to talk about why he wrote a children's book about collaboration and why after all these years he finds comfort in performing on SNL. We also get into some of his most iconic sketches including Black Jeopardy, What Up with That, and his time breaking into showbiz on All That as a teenager.  

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We've got a sneak peek of something really special: A brand new series where Jesse and the Bullseye team give tailor-made recommendations to you. Yes, you! For our very first episode we're joined by Pop Culture Happy Hour's Linda Holmes! 

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Riz Ahmed is back on Bullseye! He chats with us about his role in the new Hamlet film and his personal relationship with Shakespeare’s work. We also get into his early days as a battle rapper, if he plans to keep rapping as he gets older, and much more!

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Kristen Schaal is the best. Her voice is unmistakable. You definitely know her as Louise Belcher from Bob's Burgers, but she's also had unforgettable parts on 30 Rock, and more. More recently she's been taking her talent to the stage. Her new show is called The Legend of Crystal Shell. Kristen joins Bullseye to talk about the new show and some of its mature themes. We also get into her voice work and her tenure at Bob's Burgers.

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Join Jesse as he ventures out into the real world for a special bonus episode called Bullseye’s Gold! For the inaugural journey, he’s talking to people at the Paper World Stationery Expo 2026 in Anaheim, California.


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Griffin McElroy is the host of the podcasts My Brother, Mr Brother and Me, Wonderful and the actual-play podcast The Adventure Zone. Now, he is also the author of a new Choose Your Own Adventure book called The Stowaway. Griffin McElroy joins Bullseye to talk about how his gaming history informed his writing process for The Stowaway, navigating the enthusiastic support he’s received for The Adventure Zone, and his family’s commitment to each other in their work.

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Sunn O))) is a drone metal band comprised of two guitarists, Stephen O’Malley and Greg Anderson. They’ve been making music together for over 25 years and just released their 10th studio album. The duo joined us to talk about the self-titled record and how they started making music together. They also chatted with us about what goes into putting on a Sunn O))) show, the gear they bring on the road with them, and much more.

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Agriculture pushes the boundaries of what it means to be a black metal band. Late last year, the quartet released their second album, The Spiritual Sound. It appeared on many best-of-2025 lists, and you don’t have to listen to much of it to figure out why. The band joins us to talk about the record, how they preserve their vocals after doing a lot of screaming, and much more!

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Comedian and podcaster Jimmy Pardo joins Bullseye to talk about the 20th anniversary of his show, Never Not Funny. He talks about the progression of his interactive, improvisational comedy style, how it led him to make Never Not Funny, and what he’s learned from weathering many eras of standup and podcasting.

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The latest season of Daredevil: Born Again just dropped a couple of weeks ago. Vincent D’Onofrio stars as Kingpin, the show’s main antagonist. Last year, he joined us to talk about reprising that role in the show and even shared some details about how the costume he wears for the part was made. He talked with us about some of his most memorable roles, including parts in Men in Black and Homicide: Life on the Street.

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This week's guest is Richard Kind. He is not a star. He does not want to be a star. He is perfectly fine with that. Richard loves to be the kind of character actor that shows up, lays down four pages of unforgettable dialogue... and goes on with his day. We share some laughs with Richard Kind. He gets into working with John Mulaney onEverybody's Live and the career he almost had instead of acting. Plus, what it was like to work with Martin Short on the cult-comedy Clifford.

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We're joined by music historian and professor Rickey Vincent to talk about the legacy of Sly Stone. He talks to us about what made the funk icon so special and why there'll never be another like Sly again.

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This week on Bullseye, George Takei returns to talk about his new graphic-memoir: It Rhymes with Takei. His memoir focuses on his personal journey through discovering his identity as a gay man, hiding it, and how it felt to finally come out publicly. Takei talks to Bullseye about this, as well as his experience living in incarceration camps, and his roots in Los Angeles.

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Being able to make light of extremely heavy topics is what makes Atsuko Okatsuka a brilliant comedian. Her new comedy special Fatheraired on Hulu last month. Atsuko chatted with us about how recording videos on social media with her family brought them closer together, what it was like bringing her grandma on her honeymoon and much more!

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The one and only Mark Hamill joins us this week. He chats with us about his latest role in the epic, life-affirming drama The Life of Chuck. He also tells us about what inspired him to take his acting skills to Broadway after Star Wars. Plus, he shares what got him into voice acting and does his iconic voice as the Joker from the animated Batman series for us.

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What was it like to work with Paul Reubens? The man behind Pee-wee Herman. Pee-wee as Himself is a beautiful, touching documentary about one of the most talented and unique voices of our time. He died in 2023. We're joined by filmmaker Matt Wolf. He talks about what made Paul Reubens a dream subject for a documentary and how he got Paul to open up about difficult topics. Plus, Jesse talks about his own experience working with Paul on the Pee-wee Herman Radio Hour for KCRW.

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This week on Bullseye, we talk to Ego Nwodim! She just wrapped up her seventh season as a cast member on Saturday Night Live. She talks with us about her roundabout path to comedy, including nods to her hometown in sketches, and a whole lot about her incredible SNL character: Lisa from Temecula.

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Mary Randolph Carter is an expert on all things junk. She's written many books on the topic including her latest called Live With the Things You Love: And You'll Live Happily Ever After. We asked Carter if there was ever one piece of junk she acquired over the years that stuck with her so much and lived inside her head rent free for so long that she wishes she made it. The object that came to mind was a very peculiar clock.

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This week on Bullseye, we talk to Carson Lund, director of the new slice-of-life baseball film, Eephus. The movie is about two rec league baseball teams meeting to play their final game on a field, which will be torn down the next day to make way for a middle school. Lund talks to Bullseye about representing downtime in baseball, and rejecting the grand finale you might expect in a movie about a sport.

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Video game creator Keita Takahashi joins us to talk about how he got into designing video games and how he pitched the idea for his popular game Katamari Damacy to the folks at Namco. He also talks with us about his new game, to a T, which comes out soon. A version of this interview originally ran in April of 2024.

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Lisa Kudrow's big break was on the massively successful sitcom Friends. She portrayed the street-wise, but kind of clueless Phoebe Buffay. She's one of Friends' most beloved characters. Before she broke out on that show she envisioned a very different future. Kudrow on her early career in science research, the cruelty of middle-schoolers that set her on the path to acting, and being mentored by Jon Lovitz.

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This week, it's Bob Mackie! Mackie has made a career out of dressing big personalities in kinetic, sparkling garb. His life and career were profiled in an incredible documentary late last year. Bob Mackie: Naked Illusion covers the era-defining design work he did and the extraordinary life he's lived. Mackie talks to Bullseye about his early affinity for performance outfits, marrying costumes and comedy, and getting started in the business working with old Hollywood legends.

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Writer, director and showrunner Tony Gilroy joins us to talk about the new season of Andorand what makes the show so different than any other Star Wars program. He also shares what his plans are after the series concludes, and tells us about how he almost entered a career in music instead of film.

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Jesse talks with one of the greats: Laurie Metcalf. For nine years she played Jackie on the hit TV show Roseanne. These days, she's starring in The Conners, the ABC produced spinoff of the show. The Conners is wrapping its 7th and final season right now. On the latest episode, Laurie talks about her Oscar-nominated role in Lady Birdas well as her role on Roseanne and The Conners.

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We're taking a moment to remember singer and R&B legend, Angie Stone, who died on March 1, 2025. She was 63 years old. When Stone spoke with Bullseye in 2023, she had just released her newest album: Love Language. She talked about having her heart set on performing from a very young age, the influence of her family on her career, and auditioning for Sugarhill Records with The Sequence.

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Jo Firestone's new comedy special Good Timing is the culmination of months of work from her and a group of senior citizens she taught how to do standup comedy. It also features interviews between Jo and the students and behind the scenes footage from the classes. Jo joins us to talk about the new special, and what she learned when teaching stand-up comedy to senior citizens. She also talks about researching her role as a doomsday prepper on one of our favorite TV shows: Joe Pera Talks With You.

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For nearly 5 decades, Sonia Manzano played the part of Maria on Sesame Street. The role came to be during her college years while she was studying acting. She had just gone back home to New York for her first gig, which was a role in an off-Broadway musical called Godspell. While she was there, she auditioned for a part on Sesame Street, and her life changed forever. Now, Sonia has a show of her own called Alma's Way. It is an animated kids series that centers around the show's title character, Alma Rivera. She's a 6 year old Puerto Rican girl living in the Bronx alongside her family, friends and community members. Sonia joins the show to talk about her new PBS Kids series Alma's Way and her many years on Sesame Street. She'll also share what it's like when she meets fans in real life. Plus, she talks about her time performing in Godspell.

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Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is one of the greatest basketball players of all time: an NBA Hall of Famer, six-time MVP, 19-time All-Star and, of course, the master of the skyhook shot. He excelled at basketball in high school, went on to play college ball at UCLA and was drafted first overall in the NBA, where he played for 21 seasons. Since retiring from basketball, he has written books and columns, and he even worked as a writer for Veronica Mars. He's also an outspoken advocate for social justice, and his most recent project is the documentary film Fight the Power: The Movements That Changed America. We talk with the NBA legend about this new documentary, playing alongside Magic Johnson and his roller disco days. Plus, he shares why he was never able to play a game of double Dutch as a kid.

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Actor Steven Yeun played fan-favorite Glenn Rhee for 6 years on AMC's wildly popular series The Walking Dead. He's also appeared in critically-acclaimed films Okja, Sorry to Bother You and 2020's Minari. He joined Bullseye in 2018 to talk about his work in Burning, a film that earned him a Best Supporting Actor award from the National Society of Film Critics. Steven chats with Jesse about Walking Dead fan culture, growing up in Detroit and how unpacking the minefields of assimilation impacted his adult life. Plus, he'll share with us the second-best hockey comeback story of the 90s.

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This week, our guest is David Letterman. The one and only. He and Jesse talk about the Late Show, about his triumphs and failures, and latest TV show: My Next Guest Needs No Introduction, on Netflix.

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Jason Segel has had a lot of interesting roles over the years. He got his start on screen in his late teens on the short-lived cult tv show Freaks and Geeks. From there he starred in a bunch of other comedic roles including: How I Met Your Mother, Knocked Up, and Bad Teacher. His writing debut was Forgetting Sarah Marshall. In 2011, he revived The Muppetsfor a new generation. His latest show is kind of a departure from all that. AMC's Dispatches from Elsewherefollows the lives of a group of regular people who discover a hidden world. It's mysterious and strange – kinda silly, too. We'll talk with Jason about how he works humor into the tone of a show like Dispatches from Elsewhere. Plus, plenty of chat about Freak and Geeks, and what makes the Dracula song in Forgetting Sarah Marshall work.

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Lin-Manuel Miranda is the star and creator of the biggest musical this century has seen: Hamilton. These days, he's got another show on Broadway: Freestyle Love Supreme. It's an improvised hip-hop performance where the performers get their prompts from the audience. He's also starring in the new HBO show His Dark Materials. It's a fantasy series based on the book by the same name. Lin-Manuel Miranda talks about how his career has changed since Hamilton. We'll also talk about the time he turned down a part in a Marvel movie.

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Joel Kim Booster is a writer and comedian. He's written for "Billy on the Street," "Problematic with Moshe Kasher" and Netflix's "Big Mouth." And as a standup, he's appeared on Conan, Comedy Central's "@Midnight" and more. These days he's starring alongside Kal Penn in the brand new upcoming NBC sitcom "Sunnyside." Joel joined Bullseye to talk about his unique upbringing, his approach to comedy and why Asian-American representation matters. Plus, Joel explains the science behind playing the "hot idiot."

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[r] Jesse sits down for an in-depth conversation with Danny McBride. McBride co-created and stars in the hit HBO series Eastbound and Down and the newer Vice Principals, which is getting picked up for a second season later this year. McBride says that if you like the characters he plays because you relate to them, you probably missed the joke. Then, legendary jazz bassist Miroslav Vitous tells us about the recording session he'll never forget. Finally, Jesse tells you why Taika Waititi's movie about two guys killing pigs in the wilderness is twee - and why that's a compliment.

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Our selection of the greatest comedy albums from the last year with stand-up from veterans, newcomers and even a set recorded live in the woods at MaxFunCon. Featuring: Kyle Kinane, Emily Heller, Ron Funches, Sara Schaefer, Hampton Yount, Karen Kilgariff and Drennon Davis, Mike O'Brien (with Jason Sudeikis and Bill Hader), Eddie Pepitone, Sheng Wang, Guy Branum, Aziz Ansari, Eugene Mirman, Eliza Skinner, Matt Braunger, Wayne Federman and Beth Stelling.

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Interviews with David Cross of Mr. Show and W/Bob & David and Tavi Gevinson of Rookie Magazine, plus comedy from Aparna Nancherla and music from Pharoahe Monch and DJ Boogie Blind. This show was recorded at The Bell House in Brooklyn, New York.

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Jesse talks to Syl Johnson – the soul singer who has been sampled on countless hip-hop records — about turning down the record deal that ended up going to Al Green. Julie Klausner sits down with Gillian Flynn, the author of Gone Girl. Her characters are connivers, schemers and would-be-killers. But she kinda likes 'em. Plus Matt Berninger from the band The National remembers sitting in a golf cart on a driving range, being pelted with golf balls, and taking solace in music of The Smiths.

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Bobby Moynihan first appeared on Saturday Night Live in 2008, and starred on the show for nearly a decade. He did a few impressions, but his strength was portraying offbeat characters. Drunk Uncle was always a fan favorite. When he joined us on Bullseye, he had just published his first children’s book, "Not All Sheep are Boring." He chatted with us about his kids book and life after SNL. A version of this interview originally aired in 2022.

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This week we're joined by two founding members of Devo: Mark Mothersbaugh and Gerald Casale! The band kicked off their farewell tour in 2023 – and it's still going strong with new tour dates added. When the band joined us they talked about how the band was founded and what it was like playing shows in their hometown of Akron, Ohio. Plus, they get into having one of their most popular songs used in a commercial for a cleaning product. A version of this interview originally aired in 2010.


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Fab 5 Freddy stops by to talk with us about his new memoir: Everybody’s Fly: A Life of Art, Music, and Changing the Culture. Freddy, who was the original host of Yo! MTV Raps, takes us on a journey through hip-hop, from his early years attending DJ parties in the Bronx to tagging subway trains. He also chats with us about his friendship with Andy Warhol and much more.

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Do you like football? Chuck Klosterman is a culture writer who really, really likes football. His new book is called Football. In it, he examines the cultural impact of the sport, as it relates to American life. He joins Bullseye to talk about the ups and downs of being a life-long football fan, and why the sport can matter to everyone, regardless of fan status.

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...and now for something completely different! This week, we're celebrating the work of Monty Python. One of the most influential sketch groups of all time. This special episode features interviews from the founding members of Monty Python including Terry Jones, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam and Eric Idle. 

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We’re taking some time to remember salsa legend Willie Colón, who died last month at the age of 75. When Colón joined us back in 2014, he talked with us about finding success in music at a young age, what he envisioned for the future of salsa, and much more.

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Joyce Manor is a three-piece punk band out of Torrance, California. They just released their 7th album, I Used To Go To This Bar. Barry Johnson, Chase Knobbe, and Matt Ebert from Joyce Manor talk with Bullseye about growing up together in the SoCal punk music scene, touring as a small act before the internet, and constantly being labeled as “all grown up,” despite being in their late 30s.

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Noé Montes is a photographer based in Los Angeles. His work is currently on display at the Riverside Art Museum in a breathtaking exhibit called Noe Montes: Regional History. Montes' work often documents migrant farmworker communities like the one in which he grew up. Montes joins Bullseye to talk about the importance of telling a story through his subjects and photographs. 

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Raphael Saadiq returns to Bullseye to talk about writing one of the biggest movie songs of the year for Sinners. He also chats with us about playing bass guitar as a teen in church bands, the origins of Tony! Toni! Toné!, and the final tour he got to go on with his late brother D’Wayne.

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We’re revisiting our 2022 interview with jazz legend Ron Carter. These days, the man is 88 and is unstoppable. He recently joined forces with gospel icon Ricky Dillard on a new record titled Sweet, Sweet Spirit. When he was last on the show, he told us about the first instrument he ever learned to play, collaborating with A Tribe Called Quest, and much more!

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We’re taking a moment to remember actress and comedian, Catherine O’Hara, who died on January 30, 2026. She was 71 years old. Catherine O’Hara is a comedy legend. She helped launch SCTV. She starred in blockbuster comedies. For all of its six seasons, Catherine played Moira Rose on Schitt’s Creek, a comedy that follows a wealthy family who are forced to relocate to a rural town after losing their entire fortune. When Catherine joined Bullseye in 2013, she talked about the difficulties of being a woman in the SCTV writers’ room. Plus, creating memorable characters with Eugene Levy, and her own secret comedic formula.

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Yahya Abdul-Mateen II has been acting for just under a decade now, and in that short span of time, he’s portrayed a lot of superheroes and supervillains. He’s starred in Aquaman, the Watchman series, and now, he’s starring in the new Marvel show Wonder Man. Abdul-Mateen II sat down with our friend and correspondent jarrett hill to talk about the new series, his dreams of one day owning a farm, and much more!

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Joe Cappa is the creator and primary voice actor of the show Haha, You Clowns. Like many Adult Swim shows, it features a very distinct style of animation. However, underneath the somewhat disconcerting visuals is a wholesome and sweet show. Cappa joins Bullseye to talk about his fascination with comedically buff characters, learning animation while working at an ad agency in Oklahoma, and borrowing from real life to create his first show.

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Shonda Rhimes is one of the most accomplished TV writers and producers of our time. She’s written shows like Scandal, How To Get Away With Murder, and Grey’s Anatomy. In 2023, Shonda spoke with correspondent jarrett hill about creating shows without the restraints of network television and the insecurity that accompanies success, no matter how big you make it.

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A new HBO Max documentary just dropped called Mel Brooks: The 99 Year Old Man! It’s about, well, Mel Brooks! And yes, he turned 99 this past June. We’re revisiting our 2013 conversation with the film and comedy legend, where he chatted with us about fighting in World War II, the genius of Gene Wilder, and much more!

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Elliot Kalan has been the head writer on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and the Mystery Science Theater 3000 reboot. Now he’s written a book about joke writing. It’s called Joke Farming: How to Write Comedy and Other Nonsense. He talks to Bullseye about developing a process for writing jokes reliably, writing topical jokes, and writing jokes for voices other than his own.

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Susan Orlean has spent a lifetime noticing the little details about others when she writes. The Orchid Thief followed an obsessive outlaw who collected rare flowers. The Library Book was a history of LA’s central library and particularly the suspicious fire that nearly burned it down. For once, she’s pointed her attention at herself in her memoir Joyride.

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We’re taking a look back at the life and work of the great actor Isiah Whitlock Jr. Whitlock died in December, he was 71. Whitlock performed in hit movies and TV shows like The Wire, Da 5 Bloods and Goodfellas. We’ll revisit our conversation with the late actor from 2021.

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Walton Goggins does it all. Master of comedy, action and drama – take his latest project Fallout.Goggins also gets into his love of horseback riding and growing up with a father who’s larger than life. Plus, how The Ghoul, one of the characters he portrays on Fallout became an accidental sex symbol. A version of this conversation originally ran in 2024.

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Science writer Mary Roach returns to Bullseye. She joins us to talk about her latest book: Replaceable You: Adventures in Human Anatomy. It's a history and snapshot of how humankind has gotten better at recreating body parts. A heads up, we will get into medical procedures, surgeries and those which include the removing and reattaching of body parts. It's a bit grisly. But stick around, we also talk about "superclean" pigs!

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Regina Hall joins us to chat about starring in one of the year's biggest movies – One Battle After Another. She also tells us about her background in journalism and when she realized that her true calling was to be an artist.

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