Overheard with Evan Smith
Overheard with Evan Smith is a long-form interview podcast hosted by Evan Smith, featuring in-depth conversations with public figures such as politicians, authors, artists, actors, journalists, activists, and business leaders. Each episode explores current events, culture, and ideas, often with a focus on news and a touch of humor. The show is produced by Austin PBS and recorded in Austin, Texas. It aims to give listeners thoughtful, unscripted exchanges with influential people.
Episodes
Rahm Emanuel: Will he run for president?
Former U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel talks to Evan Smith about his political future, why the American Dream feels out of reach for so many Americans, and what he would do differently on healthcare.
Robert Draper: Can Democrats win in Texas this year?
Journalist Robert Draper is a domestic correspondent for The New York Times and an author of six books. He has written about prominent figures on the right, from President Trump to George W. Bush, and the influence of Charlie Kirk on the direction of the GOP. Here he discusses what it's like to cover American politics in this extraordinary moment.
Margaret Brown: Yogurt Shop Murders
Margaret Brown, the director of HBO"s "Yogurt Shop Murders" discusses how the cold case was finally solved after more than 30 years, and her career making documentaries.
Pamela Colloff: Weaponizing the criminal justice system
Journalist Pamela Colloff is a reporter at ProPublica and a staff writer at The New York Times Magazine. She discusses her book "Catch the Devil," the criminal justice system and a con man in Florida who weaponized it.
Mark Kelly: "They're not going to shut me up."
Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ) discusses the Trump administration's efforts to demote him, the war in Iran, if political norms will return to the U.S., and his his wife, former Representative Gabby Giffords.
Jeffrey Goldberg: "The enthusiastic lip smacking embrace of indecency."
Jeffrey Goldberg, editor in chief of "The Atlantic" and moderator of "Washington Week With The Atlantic" on PBS discusses the the state of U.S. politics, how the publication has grown its subscribers, and how the magazine will remain "by humans, about humans, made by humans and for humans."
Emil Wakim: On being an SNL cast member in its 50h season
Comedian Emil Wakim discusses his career and how he made history as the first Lebanese-American cast member of "Saturday Night Live" during SNL's milestone 50th season.
Tim Miller: Trump's second term is worse than he thought it would be
Political commentator, writer and host of The Bulwark podcast, Tim Miller, talks about the Trump administration, the Iran war, immigration and deportations, and the future of American elections.
Jon Ralston: How Harry Reid became a political titan
Award-winning journalist Jon Ralston has covered American politics for more than 35 years. He discusses the current national political landscape and his biography, The Game Changer, about Nevada political titan and former Speaker of the House, Harry Reid.
Hetty Lui McKinnon: Bold flavors make vegetarian dishes memorable
James Beard Award-winning author Hetty Lui McKinnon discusses her cookbook "Linger" and how she thinks her recipe's bold flavors make these vegetarian dishes memorable.
Daniel Lubetzky: How the Holocaust shaped his life
KIND Snacks CEO and Shark on "Shark Tank" Daniel Lubetzky discusses his career, the influence of his Holocaust survivor father, and his efforts to build societal bridges on common ground.
Neko Case: How her childhood led to a genre-spanning music career
Singer-songwriter Neko Case discusses her difficult childhood, how she found music that led to a genre-spanning career, and she talks about her memoir "The Harder I Fight The More I Love You" and her eighth studio album, "Neon Grey Midnight Green."
David Byrne: His career with the Talking Heads and new album "Who Is The Sky?"
Legendary singer-songwriter, visual artist, writer and filmmaker, David Byrne, discusses his career as the founding member of the Talking Heads and his album "Who Is The Sky?"
Jeff Tweedy: Triple Album "Twilight Override"
Founding member of Grammy Award-winning rock band Wilco, singer-songwriter Jeff Tweedy talks about his solo triple album "Twilight Override."
Mitch Albom: Best-selling author to philanthropist
Best-selling author Mitch Albom discusses his sports writing career, authoring books including "Tuesdays with Morrie" and "Twice." He also talks about the nonprofit organizations he's started in Detroit and Haiti.
Ibram X. Kendi: "Malcolm Lives!: The Official Biography of Malcolm X for Young Readers"
National Book Award-winning author Ibram X. Kendi discusses his storied career, racism in America, and his book "Malcolm Lives!: The Official Biography of Malcolm X for Young Readers."
Joyce Vance: Trump administration and the changes in federal separation of powers
Former U.S. attorney and MSNBC legal analyst Joyce Vance discusses the changes in federal separation of powers and her book "Giving Up Is Unforgivable: A Manual for Keeping a Democracy."
John Bolton: Former National Security Advisor gets candid about Donald Trump
Former national security advisor John Bolton discusses current politics including Donald Trump, the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, China, NATO and border security.
Richard Linklater:
Golden Globe and BAFTA Award-winning film director Richard Linklater discusses current events in his career and his two newest movies, Blue Moon and Nouvelle Vague.
Jane Goodall: One of her final television interviews
In one of her final television interviews, the world-renowned conservationist and ethologist, Jane Goodall, discusses her legendary career with her groundbreaking studies into the lives of wild chimpanzees. Committed until the end, she recounts her work through the Jane Goodall Institute.
Christopher Cross: How early success was a "blessing and a curse"
Christopher Cross, a five-time Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter, joins Evan to talk about his long and legendary career, his massive success early in his career, and what the future holds for him.
Historian Peniel E. Joseph: how 1963 was a pivotal year for Civil Rights
Dr. Peniel E. Joseph, a lead historian on Black power, discusses the tumult and hope brought on by the civil rights movement, how it relates to the moment America finds itself in right now, and his book, Freedom Season: How 1963 Transformed America's Civil Rights Revolution.
Jonathan Capehart: Journalism was "a calling"
Pulitzer Prize-winner and co-host of The Weekend on MSNBC Jonathan Capehart shares stories from his life, career, and his hope for continued progress in America.
Jason Isbell on how new album required an emotional deep dive
Jason Isbell, a six-time Grammy Award winning musician, discusses his career spanning his time as a member of Drive-By Truckers, his solo work, and his new album, Foxes in the Snow.
CNN's Abby Phillip examines how Trump is attempting to reshape the presidency
Abby Phillip, anchor of CNN NewsNight, discusses the network's coverage of President Trump and former President Biden, as well as the evolution of her nightly news show.
Atlantic Journalist Ashley Parker on the Signal group chat leak
Ashley Parker, a three time Pulitzer Prize-winning staff writer at The Atlantic, joins Evan to discuss the magazine's coverage of the Signal group chat, her approach to covering the Trump administration, and her experience at other news outlets.
NPR's Katherine Maher on the Congressional hearing, bias in public media
Katherine Maher, President and CEO of National Public Radio, joins Evan fresh off her testimony in front of Congress to talk about the hearing, NPR's mission, and the perceived bias in public media.
Lawrence Wright's new novel explores the clashing cultures within Israel and Palestine
Lawrence Wright joins Overheard once more to discuss his latest novel, The Human Scale, as well as his knack for timely storytelling, and how he hopes fiction can inspire change.
Dr. Celine Gounder and the state of public health in America
With outbreaks of measles and bird flu dominating headlines, Dr. Celine Gounder, CBS News Medical Contributor, joins to discuss current public health issues and how Americans can keep themselves informed and protected.
Jason Reitman on recreating early SNL and his father's legacy
Academy Award nominated director Jason Reitman joins Evan to discuss his latest film, Saturday Night, as well as his growth as a filmmaker and his relationship with his legendary father, Ivan Reitman.
A Post-Mortem of the 2024 Election with David Axelrod
David Axelrod, former chief strategist and senior advisor to President Barack Obama, looks back at the 2024 election, analyzes missteps by the democrats, and discusses the future of the country under Trump's second term.
Rep. Jasmine Crockett on how Democrats should push back against Trump
In a time of government upheaval on the federal level, U.S. Representative Jasmine Crockett joins Evan to discuss her efforts to challenge and resist it, and offers ideas on how her party should respond as well.
Michele Norris Explores America's Views on Race
Peabody-award winning journalist Michele Norris examines how her latest book, "Our Hidden Conversations," provides a window into America's views on race during a tumultuous time.
Former FBI agent Frank Figiliuzzi and the unsolved cases along America's highways
Former FBI agent Frank Figliuzzi discusses his book, Long Haul: Hunting the Highway Serial Killers, and his career as an investigator at the bureau.
Fargo Showrunner Noah Hawley, mastering the art of adaptation
Noah Hawley, creator of the TV series Fargo, joins Overheard to discuss his career in entertainment from novels to movies, and his creative approach to adapting films into series.
Kirk Goldsberry on the analytics revolution taking over basketball
Kirk Goldsberry, sports writer and one of the leading experts in basketball analytics, discusses how deep statistical analysis is changing the sport of basketball and how the NBA scouts talent and approaches the game strategically.
Voting Rights Journalist Ari Berman and the antidemocratic movement in America
Ari Berman, the national voting rights correspondent for Mother Jones, discusses his new book, Minority Rule, which charts antidemocratic efforts throughout the nation, chronicling how a wide range of voter suppression tactics threaten the survival of representative government in America.
Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff reflects on a whirlwind 2024 campaign
Douglas Emhoff, second gentleman of the United States, discusses the presidential election, the issues he sees facing the nation, and the future of America.
Bradley Whitford
Actor and producer Bradley Whitford, from hit shows such as The West Wing and The Handmaid's Tale, joins the program to chat about his long career in film and television and political activism.
Charlie Sykes
Charlie Sykes, the former editor at large of the Bulwark, joins Evan to discuss the changing political climate across the country, particularly on the conservative side. Sykes provides insight on Trump, the election, and the key issues that will sway voters this election cycle.
Margaret Cho
Comedian Margaret Cho joins Evan to chat about her comedy origins from a young age in San Francisco and how she keeps the passion for stand-up burning years later.
Judy Woodruff
Judy Woodruff, former PBS NewsHour anchor and special correspondent, talks about her career, media, and her new reporting project "America at a Crossroads" as she explores what is at the heart of the great political divide in America.
Kara Swisher
Longtime tech journalist, podcaster, and author Kara Swisher joins the program with her insight on the people behind the tech industry and artificial intelligence. Swisher's latest book, a memoir, is titled Burn Book: A Tech Love Story.
Barbara McQuade
Former U.S. Attorney Barbara McQuade discusses the age of disinformation, the negative impacts of social media, and her new book, Attack from Within: How Disinformation is Sabotaging America.
Indigo Girls
Amy Ray and Emily Saliers of Indigo Girls reflect on their storied musical careers,the changes they've witnessed in the music industry, and their recent resurgence thanks to the Barbie movie.
Paula Kerger
Paula Kerger, president and CEO of PBS, discusses the impact of public television on communities and the way PBS has addressed issues around media, culture, education and technology.
Jonathan Eig
Bestselling author and award winning biographer Jonathan Eig joins Evan to discuss his book on Martin Luther King, Jr., King: A Life, and the demystification of the man who has been made into a larger than life figure.
Martin Baron
Longtime journalist and newspaper editor Martin Baron joins Evan to discuss his storied career in journalism and his first book, Collision of Power: Trump, Bezos, and the Washington Post which covers the 2016 Presidential Election and Jeff Bezos' purchase of the Post.
Ben McKenzie
Ben McKenzie, star of hit shows like Gotham and Southland, discusses his new book, Easy Money, and the impact cryptocurrency's rising popularity has on everyday people. Ben also reminisces on his career and what got him into acting.
Katie Benner
Katie Benner, a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist and Justice Department reporter for the New York Times, discusses the indictments against former president Donald Trump and the legal fallout of the cases.
Jake Tapper
CNN anchor Jake Tapper joins Evan Smith to discuss his new book, All the Demons Are Here: A Thriller, and journalism and news media's relationship with truth in the modern age.
George W. Bush, Former President of the United States
In this special episode originally co-produced for 2021 SXSW by SXSW and The Texas Tribune, Evan interviews former President George W. Bush. They discuss current politics, baseball and immigration, the topic of President Bush's book, "Out of Many, One: Portraits of America's Immigrants."
Carol Leonnig and Philip Rucker, Journalists
Carol Leonnig is a Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter who has worked at The Washington Post since 2000. She won the 2015 Pulitzer Prize for her work on security failures and misconduct inside the Secret Service. She was part of a Post team that was awarded the 2014 Pulitzer Prize for revealing the U.S. government's secret, broad surveillance of Americans through the disclosures of Edward Snowden. She
Rick Wilson, Political Strategist
Rick Wilson is a longtime Republican political strategist, writer, speaker and political commentator. He is the author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Everything Trump Touches Dies. His award-winning column with The Daily Beast is a must-read in the political community. Rick also writes for The Washington Post, Politico, Rolling Stone, the New York Daily News, The Hill, The Bulwark and The Spe
Bill Bradley, Former U.S. Senator
Senator Bill Bradley served in the U.S. Senate from 1979 – 1997 representing the state of New Jersey. In 2000, he was a candidate for the Democratic nomination for President of the United States. Prior to serving in the Senate, he was an Olympic gold medalist in 1964 and a professional basketball player with the New York Knicks from 1967 – 1977 during which time they won two NBA championships. In
John Cameron Mitchell
John Cameron Mitchell is a screenwriter, director and actor whose cult rock musical Hedwig and the Angry Inch won Mitchell Best Director at the Sundance Festival. He was also nominated for a Golden Globe as Best Actor for that same film. His recent Broadway production of Hedwig garnered him Tony Awards for his performance and for Best Revival. Mitchell has directed other films including How to Tal
Robyn Hitchcock, Singer-Songwriter
Robyn Hitchcock is one of England's most enduring contemporary singer-songwriters. A surrealist poet, talented guitarist, cult artist, and musician's musician, Hitchcock is among alternative rock's father figures. Since founding the art-rock band The Soft Boys in 1976, Robyn has recorded more than 20 albums and starred in Storefront Hitchcock, a concert film recorded in New York and directed by Jo
Isabella Rossellini, Actress and Model
Isabella Rossellini grew up in Paris and Rome. At 19, she moved to New York City to work as a translator and journalist for RAI-Italian Television. She began her modeling career at age 28, and in 1982 began a 14-year run as the exclusive spokesperson for the cosmetic brand Lancome. Ms. Rossellini, who is the daughter of film legends Ingrid Bergman and Roberto Rossellini, made her cinematic debut
John Grisham, Author
John Grisham is the author of thirty-three novels, one work of non-fiction, a collection of stories, and seven novels for young readers. A master of the legal thriller, nine of his novels have been turned into films - The Firm, The Pelican Brief, The Client, A Time to Kill, The Rainmaker, The Chamber, A Painted House, The Runaway Jury, and Skipping Christmas. There are currently more than 300 mill
Scott Pelley, Journalist and Author
Scott Pelley has been a journalist for nearly five decades. He is the most awarded correspondent in the history of 60 Minutes, and he is the former anchor of the CBS Evening News. His work has been recognized with three duPont-Columbia Awards, three Peabody Awards, the Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Journalism, and 37 Emmy Awards. In his memoir, Truth Worth Telling: A Reporter's Search f
Saeed Jones, Poet and Author
Saeed Jones is the author of Prelude to Bruise, winner of the 2015 PEN/Joyce Osterweil Award for Poetry and the 2015 Stonewall Book Award/Barbara Gittings Literature Award. The poetry collection was also a finalist for the 2015 National Book Critics Circle Award, as well as awards from Lambda Literary and the Publishing Triangle in 2015. Jones is a former co-host of BuzzFeed's morning show, AM to
Susan Rice, Former National Security Advisor
Susan Rice began her service in the public sector in 1993. In the Clinton administration, she was a foreign policy analyst on the National Security Council, and assistant secretary of state for African affairs. Under President Barack Obama, she served as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, and national security advisor. She is currently a distinguished visiting research fellow at the School
Aarón Sánchez, Chef
Aarón Sánchez is an award-winning chef, TV personality, cookbook author and philanthropist. He is the chef/owner of Mexican restaurant Johnny Sánchez in New Orleans, and a judge on FOX's culinary competition series MasterChef. He co-starred on Food Network's Chopped and Chopped Junior. A third-generation cookbook author, Sánchez has written three books. His latest is a memoir, Where I Come From:
Jeff Tweedy, Musician
Jeff Tweedy is the Grammy Award-winning founding member and leader of the rock band Wilco. He is one of contemporary American music's most accomplished songwriters, musicians and performers. Rolling Stone magazine cited Wilco's 2002 album Yankee Hotel Foxtrot as the third best album of the decade. Since founding Wilco in 1994, Tweedy has toured solo, produced three albums for iconic soul and gospe
Tim O'Brien, Author
Tim O'Brien's acclaimed novels include "The Things They Carried" (an NEA Big Read, which the New York Times said belongs on "the shortlist of essential fiction about Vietnam"), "If I Die in a Combat Zone," "In the Lake of the Woods," and "Going After Cacciato" (which won the 1979 National Book Award in fiction), among others. In 2013 he was awarded the Pritzker Military Library Literature Award fo
Tilman Fertitta, Businessman
Houston native Tilman Fertitta is an accomplished businessman and self-made billionaire who is often referred to as "the world's richest restaurateur." He is the sole owner of Fertitta Entertainment which owns the restaurant giant Landry's, five Golden Nugget Casinos and Hotels, and the NBA's Houston Rockets. Fertitta is one of the largest employers in the nation, with more than 60,000 employees.
Bari Weiss, Journalist and Author
Bari Weiss is a writer and editor for The New York Times opinion section. Before joining the Times, Bari was an Op-Ed editor at the Wall Street Journal and an associate book review editor there. For two years, she was a senior editor at Tablet, the online magazine of Jewish news, politics, and culture, where she edited the site's political and news coverage. Bari regularly appears on shows like Mo
Stacey Abrams, Political Activist
Stacey Abrams is a New York Times bestselling author, serial entrepreneur, nonprofit CEO and political leader. After serving for eleven years in the Georgia House of Representatives, and seven as Minority Leader, Abrams became the 2018 Democratic nominee for Governor of Georgia. She won more votes than any other Democrat in the state's history and was the first black woman to become the gubernator
Jeff Flake, Former U.S. Senator
Jeff Flake served six terms in the U.S. House of Representatives and was then elected to the United States Senate where he served for six years. Working across the aisle, Senator Flake was the lead House Republican in a successful effort to prohibit spending earmarks, and the lead Senate Republican to restore diplomatic relations with Cuba. Flake did not seek re-election in 2018 and became a contr
Keb' Mo', Musician
Keb' Mo' has cultivated a reputation as a modern master of American roots music in the 25 years since the release of his debut album. After 14 albums, he is a musical force that defies typical genre labels. He has co-written with The Dixie Chicks and collaborated with the likes of Bonnie Raitt, Jackson Browne, Natalie Cole, and Lyle Lovett. His guitar playing inspired two instrument makers to name
Roger Clemens, Former Major League Pitcher
Major League pitching legend Roger Clemens got his start at Houston's Spring Woods High School. He then attended San Jacinto Jr. College and went on to have a successful career as a University of Texas Longhorn. Clemens was the winning pitcher in the final game of the 1983 College World Series. Roger was drafted by the Boston Red Sox and one year later named Rookie of the Year. Clemens is a seven
Terrence McNally, Playwright
Terrence McNally is an award-winning playwright and LGBT(Q) activist whose remarkably far-ranging career has spanned six decades. He has won four Tony Awards for his plays Love! Valour! Compassion! and Master Class and his musical books for Kiss of the Spider Woman and Ragtime. He is the writer of the book for the musical Anastasia. He was recognized with a Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievem
Presiding Bishop Michael Curry
Presiding Bishop Curry graduated with high honors from Hobart College in Geneva, NY, and received a Master of Divinity degree from Yale University Divinity School. Throughout his ministry, he has been active in issues of social justice, reconciliation, speaking out on immigration policy and marriage equality. Presiding Bishop Curry maintains a national preaching and teaching ministry, having been
Ani DiFranco, Singer/Songwriter
Singer-songwriter and Grammy winner Ani DiFranco has been known as the "Little Folksinger" but her music has embraced punk, funk, hip hop, jazz, soul, electronica, and even more distant sounds. Rejecting the major label system, she became one of the first artists to create her own record label, Righteous Babe Records, in 1990. Her collaborators have included everyone from Utah Phillips to legendar
Anna Palmer and Jake Sherman, Journalists
Anna Palmer is a senior Washington correspondent for Politico. She covers Congress, politics and the business of Washington. Jake Sherman is a senior writer for Politico. He covers the House Republican majority. Together, Palmer and Sherman co-authored The Hill to Die On, an insider's look at divided American politics and the Capitol Hill players battling for power.
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand has served as the junior U.S. senator from New York since 2009. A magna cum laude graduate of Dartmouth College in 1988, Gillibrand went on to receive her law degree from the UCLA School of Law in 1991 and served as a law clerk on the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. After working as an attorney in New York City for more than a decade, Senator Gillibrand served as Specia
Edward Zwick, Filmmaker
Ed Zwick is an award-winning film and television director and producer. He co-created the television series thirtysomething and produced My So-Called Life, Once and Again, and Nashville. Zwick directed the Academy Award-winning films Glory and Legends of the Fall. Zwick received an Academy Award as a producer of Shakespeare in Love. His 2019 film, Trial by Fire, starring Laura Dern, is the true-li
Jose Antonio Vargas, Journalist and Activist
Jose Antonio Vargas is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, Emmy-nominated filmmaker, and a leading voice for the human rights of immigrants. He is the founder of Define American, the nation's leading non-profit media and culture organization that fights injustice and anti-immigrant hate through the power of storytelling. His memoir, Dear America: Notes of an Undocumented Citizen, was published by
Susan Page, Journalist and Author
Susan Page is the Washington Bureau Chief of USA Today, where she writes about politics and the White House. Susan has covered six White House administrations and ten presidential elections. She has interviewed the past nine presidents from Richard Nixon through Donald Trump—and reported from six continents and dozens of foreign countries. She has appeared as an analyst on PBS NewsHour, CBS' Face
Douglas Brinkley, Historian and Author
Douglas Brinkley is a highly regarded and best-selling author, CNN Presidential Historian, the Katherine Tsanoff Brown Chair in Humanities and Professor of History at Rice University, and a contributing editor at Vanity Fair. His most recent book, "American Moonshot," is a chronicle of the turbulent 1960s and JFK's audacious plan to put a man on the moon.
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